>> Yeah, great question. So, on the special pay side, there are no fees. Um, so the special pay side, there's no fees to the employee. Um, so you know, their money can sit in that account as long as they want. There's not going to be any fees. We do a fixed interest rate on both accounts of 3.25%. So, they're going to get that uh 3.25% just by their money sitting there. That's going to be on the special pay side. The medical side has two different fees. One is going to be a $5.50 monthly um account fee. The other is going to be a $4 claim reimbursement fee. How to say that in standard English? When you submit a claim that says, "Hey, I had my health insurance. I had a crown. Um, I had a doctor's visit." When you submit that claim, that one form, not each claim, is going to be $4.
Um, the reason we are suggesting or requesting a pilot approval is because we can get it in place for the start of the school year to go through the full adoption process. As you know, and had just witnessed, takes us a good chunk of the school year. Um, and then we would launch a full adoption process next year to decide, do we stick with the pilot, do we select something else? Um, I think best practice is still even in a pilot, we do the the transparency piece. We communicate it with our public. We put it on display so folks know that we're piloting this, give them an opportunity to give information. It just gives us a longer data collection period really. Um, just some additional information I added to this for you. Um, just in terms of AP US history, if you're not familiar, um, AP US history's focus, it might be different for some of us, uh, from our high school experience is rather than some of those dates and times as Mr.
So, so thank you. Um, I did have one question and I'll throw it out to whoever wants to answer, but um, you know, we ask our runners to raise $3,000. I'm curious how you're finding the fundraising if if it's um challenging, the if the amount is doable. like we we're trying to kind of gauge what um like if if what we do long term to see if that number that amount is still um the right amount and we also want to make it doable for our runners. So, if anybody you want to come on up to the come on up and >> and as she's as you're going up because we know that for a lot of other organizations it's like $10,000 or so, you know, we are considering do we ask people to raise a little bit more? So, it would be good to get feedback.
I I I would say that's mostly true, but you did say at the first um finance subcommittee meeting for the record that the MAP interventionists are not on the >> No, that's fair. >> Right. So, I just want to be super clear on that. But I would say the the other you know the other potential positions or program or you know things that we were considering right in which we I personally was having a difficult time making a finalized decision on those without you know the alignment and recommendation of a leader in place. So in my mind those are certainly one some of the top areas in which we should still be vetting out. >> Well and I think that that's something we talked about like at the finance subcommittee. I mean, I think we have to look at like athletic scoreboard, like what we're paying at each athletic event, too, and if managers can do some of it.
>> Do you have any questions? >> Miss Sylvia >> I was just wondering do they by any chance consider our location? >> Yes they do. As a matter of fact why are they what you're >> they do they do um they They categorize us um by the size of the school, by location. Um the spending report just came out. I believe you probably all got the email from the AG's office that came out last week, but you it tells you all the districts that are grouped together >> and it's not necessarily because we're in a res on a reservation, but it is rural. It is the number the the size of our ADM, the number of students that we serve. they we may be cate categorized in one area for one thing but then in transportation we might be categorized somewhere else because of the number of the miles that we claim for route miles.
So, what we'll have people do is they'll save up six months of claims and submit it. That way, they only have to pay the $4 fee once. Um, let's say you submitted 10 different claims, it's going to be $4 time 10. So those are going to be the fees for the participant is $5.50 on the monthly administrative fee. So for the actual account and then every time they submit for reimbursement it's $4 and that's going to be just for the medical account. The special pay plan has no fees. >> I'm just asking the right question. I have a um I have a different question which is if my understanding is we already offer an HSA right a health savings account plan I think >> oh okay >> so little and the great question though because I do want to get into the difference of HSA because we say H which isn't heard as much as HSA that's actually a good segue >> so so is this like I'm worried about redundancy I guess right >> so this is going to be after retirement so an HA big difference between an HRA and an HSA.
Bigness, I'm sure, will tell you, it's really about using those resources to analyze that historical context, um, and to bring those pieces to lice to life. Not lice, sorry, where's Miss Lopez? Freudian slip, sorry. Um it's it's those pieces of critical thinking and analysis of those texts and materials from time. So um we had three books um that we or options that we brought to you and Mr. Vignus, if you want to make your way on up here, please do. Um he can speak to these a little bit more, but I gave you basically a summary of each of these texts, um some of the usability and features of it, and then some of the reviewer feedback. Um I can read the slide to you but you can read it too. Um just these are all highly rated and recommended u materials. So American history by Alan Brinkley.
Yeah, that um that's actually what I was going to say is I've met a lot of other um runners who are also running the marathon for some of those organizations and I when we're running it's very stressful and it's a big struggle for them to be raising 7500 $10,000 or constantly asking people for money and I've met the minimum already so it's not something that I do have to worry about at this point. Um, so I do think it's a manageable amount, at least in my experience with the fundraising I've done and the people that I've met. Um, it's been nice to have met that and be able to just focus on the kind of running and anything I raise from now on is just a great addition. So, >> right. >> Thank you. >> Great feedback. >> Good feedback. >> Thank you. >> Good question.
>> I think for me, I can guarantee the budget process will look different next year than it did this year. That's one thing I can guarantee. What exactly it'll look like, you know, I think will be a partnership between many people that play into it. And it's going to start much sooner, I think. I mean for me coming in in December it definitely felt like not enough time to make these critical decisions in which we should ultimately be talking about throughout the entire year of discussions. So >> well to be fair and for clarification it does start in TSO in like October. It doesn't come right and it doesn't come it just doesn't come to the board until December. >> So that so are you talking about our process? >> I'm at the finance committee I guess. Sorry, I'll I'll specify in the finance committee.
So each category has we may we may be in different group peer groups is what they're called but um that's probably for another board meeting but we if you have an opportunity look at at that report also on the AG's website. >> Thank you Miss Carl. >> Thank you for presentation. Number five this evening is the Barber Cub athletics presentation. Um President Mia. >> Yes sir. >> Um this uh well um I just wanted to make um a note that the the overtime was a board request number 009 and right now Mr. Um, uh, Russell is going to be going through also request 014 request. >> Appreciate it. >> Mr. Russell, >> I have the floor. >> Skodnik, well, President Buia, please forgive me for interrupting and and board members, Superintendent Diaz, thank you very much uh for for hearing me tonight. I'm honored to be here with you.
An HRA cannot be employee funded. It can only be employer funded. So an HA, the other really nice thing about it is you can pay post tax health insurance premiums with this. So when someone finishes up on COBRA and they're now going to ASRS, they're going to bridge it to getting on to Medicare, they can use this money to pay for their health insurance premium. You cannot use an HSA to pay post tax health insurance premiums. You can use it to pay COBRA. You can use it to pay Medicare, but if you're under 65 and you're going to be going on to ASRS, you can't use HSA money to pay that specific health insurance premium. That's another huge advantage of using an HRA over an HSA. The other big advantage is there's no limits on the HRA. So, an HSA, I think it was $4,300.
Um this is a McGraill text. McGra Hill is one of our partners already because we use our science through them. Um they were one of they're the they were the other finalists for the ELA. So we've already spoken to them about the cost on this. Each of these are super affordable. We're talking about roughly $1,500 for a pilot. uh depending on how many sections we make next year. Um the second one was the one we mentioned last month, fabric of a nation. Um again, highly rated. Um and then the third one was experience history from McGraill. So I'm going to turn it over to Mr.
>> Anybody else want to respond or >> Yeah. Anyone else? I I I do want to just shout y'all out a little bit. So, um you know, again, uh just thank you so much for putting uh putting not just your hearts but your bodies on the line for Ashland and and improving our community. Um I did want to ask just how you know how generally how the fundraising was going, but I also want to remind people who are watching that everyone that you saw here tonight still needs your donations. So you can go to the town website and and donate donate to all of them if you can. So help them make their minimums and help them uh you know strengthen our programs here in town. But um just would like to hear a little bit more about the fundraising experience if anyone else has any anything to share about that.
I would like to be having more of these discussions on an ongoing basis, vetting some more of this information out before it comes to like a budget presentation in December. I think it's [clears throat] in my mind. >> My only question, sorry, go ahead. >> No, I was saying our district is always one of the earliest ones and so maybe we could reconsider that we don't have to be the earliest one because there's a lot more thought into it. >> That's um Yeah, that's all by the town charter. Uh unfortunately we don't have any suggest that immediately [laughter] >> and with the timing of it it's it's sort of it's funny because you think we start >> we start so much earlier than most districts that we should be done a lot sooner but we actually end much later most districts also. So it's a very long process.
Uh, we have a presentation. Mhm. >> Can you make that go? >> There you go. >> Oh, it is here. >> Well, I'm honored that you would ask about the athletics to begin with. I think it's really wonderful. Um, as a as a math teacher, I always relied on athletics to spur my kids forward. So, it's a it's a wonderful it's wonderful. It's an integral part of our high school uh and our middle school. It's it's truly an important uh thing. So, uh yes. So, uh I guess next slide. There we go. Yes. So, why athletics? Well, athletics are a very very important and a powerful extension of the classroom. uh students who participate in sports tend to have better grades, better attendance and better engagement in school overall. All these things are true, but the thing that I think is most important is number one, it increases academic success.
My wife and I were trying to put as much as we could into it last year, um, and it was about $4,300. An HRA has no limit of, uh, on funds that you can put into it. Um, one thing I do want to touch on with the special pay plan because a lot of people will also ask this question. I'm working with a financial advisor. I I just want them to deal with my money. With our special pay accounts, um, the money goes into a 403b. It's just called either a transfer or a rollover. You're able to move that money without any fees or penalties into your 403b. So, the initial landing spot is going to be the Palon Benefits um 403b. You can fill out the same. It's on it's on the bottom half of the distribution form. It's just a rollover form that says um I want my money to go to my Fidelity 403b, my equitable 403b, whoever your um carrier that you're using is, and there's no fees on our side.
Vnas because he's the expert and he can kind of share with you >> um which direction he might prefer to go and you can ask him any questions you might have. >> Thank you, sir. >> Hello. Good evening. >> I'm Mr. Vignis, the AP US history teacher. So, whatever.
Yeah, go ahead. Come up to the podium. So, personally, I don't know if this was even allowed, but I put flyers in my neighbor's mailboxes. So, sorry, but it was effective. And then, you know, being new to the town, it was like I felt like people, my neighbors would come up to me and congratulate me and they were excited to talk about it. So, I felt like having that personal connection was really good for the fundraising. Um, I asked a lot of my co-workers. I put flyers up at school. I'm a teacher, so I was like just pretty much making it very visible to everybody. So, I think the more you reach out to people that like your your circle and your family and tell your family to spread the word, too. You know, that was pretty effective for me. And I felt like everybody got so excited about it and now even more friends, they're like, "What else can I do to help?" So I feel like >> like I think the amount is is manageable as well.
[laughter] >> Yeah. >> Interesting. >> But that has to do with the town process not correct. Um and and so you know internally um the process as we said start does start in September. Um I compile all of the workbooks that go out to the different buildings and department heads and and leaders and things like that. Um I give them about four weeks to compile their individual budgets. So, so while I'm doing all that initial work to to to put all these workbooks together and get the historical data um for them, um then they have four weeks and it's a little bit quiet for the four weeks in October because then those workbooks are due back to me um at the end of October. In that month of October is when I'm rolling over salaries. I'm working on our workbooks, you know, the business office, uh board of ed, superintendent, all those um budgets that are we're responsible for at TSO.
It helps it teaches kids about success and about uh about the way that their community uh is ready to and willing to support them. It gives them another way to shine. Uh the purpose, next slide. Uh the purpose of athleticsbased uh excuse me, of educationbased athletics, our our goal every day, every time is to get out there and win. But that's less than our purpose. Our true purpose is human growth and development. And our purpose is to to help help our kids be engaged in school. And our purpose is greater than our goal, which is to win. And we're going to do that a lot. But it's really all about the academics and about learning. Uh we are we're served by a lot of good people. So our next slide u these our our our athletics program is supported by uh Miss An Maria Montana.