And I always say more hands make light work, so if they all work together, it wouldn't seem quite hard, right? The little red hen was really not happy this time. I should live so long, she caveted. she to see this bunch of lazy no good nicks put in an honest day's work. I'll just do it myself. The little red hen took the wheat to a special Passover mill where a miller grounded into flour. Then she slept the flour back home in a big heavy sack all by herself. Would that have been lighter if her friends were there helping? Right. Many hands helping out. Before she knew it, it was spring, the morning of the first night of Passover. Do you know that Passover is 8 days long? The Little Red Hen had cleaned her house top to bottom. There wasn't a crumb of bread to be found anywhere.
Um, well, Jim has talked about uh restructuring uh the school's budget and and he and his team have done I I think really a remarkable job digging in deep to their budget and and retooling it. um in a way that again with limited resources um at least provides a vehicle um that can that can help put us on a path of sustainability if it's funded correctly. Uh and if you you know I'm looking at it a little bit broader beyond one department. I'm kind of looking at it as the community and what can we do to address these pressures from multiple angles, right? Um this is not you can't just depend upon an override to fix your financial problems. You have to look at things um comprehensively. You have to look at things holistically and you also have to look at things for the future as well.
Um but no one's giving any guarantees right now. So 8, nine and 10 really are justformational largely um uh items that are in the regional agreement. Um even 11 sorry uh 7 to 11. Uh so when we get into it then once we get to the assessment portion of the budget. So the budget's broken into two pieces. The budget piece and then the assessment piece. We have items that come off of the assessments to the towns. The first is chapter 70. that's from the state uh budget as well as chapter 71 transportation reimbursement. And the third item that comes out of uh the state is charter school reimbursement. Uh chapter 70 and chapter 71 are divied among the three schools as assessment offsets in accordance with the regional agreement. Charter school reimbursement isn't mentioned in the regional agreement, but it's always been assigned to Tanto in accordance with the splits.
I want to thank our our superintendent of buildings and grounds about Craig for being here in case we have any questions later on agenda regarding our facilities. Um I I too as the superintendent of schools want to thank the the board of education. It is board of education appreciation month. So we want to thank you in my 30 years. I've never seen an entire board um come in together basically and go to an athletic event like that. So that's pretty commendable and our young ladies and our student athletes did an unbeliev of those basketball this year and I've seen them come out with that much fire special for them and wish them the best. I think they're the last We have everybody else. >> Um, I just want to let the board know that the board of education budget went to the board of finance last Thursday.
It is my great pleasure this evening to recognize Longfellow School's parent of the year, Miss Denise Hernandez. Miss Hernandez's family and members of the Longfellow community are here tonight to help us celebrate her. Please help me to welcome them. Mr. Hernandez is a proud mother of two wonderful children. Eli is a preschooler at Longfellow and Gracie is a second grader at Hodgej. Through her example, she works diligently to create a secure and loving foundation for her children, and she teaches them the importance of respecting themselves and others. Her commitment to her children's education extends well beyond her home. Miss Hernandez is an active volunteer at both of her children's school and she also dedicates time to supporting her daughter's gymnastic program. In addition, she represent parents on leadership team at both school sites where where she collaborates with staff members and fellow families and advocates for the success and well-being of all students.
He is kind to me by being quiet and respectful when I'm teaching. I really enjoy having Ford in our class. Congratulations for Miss Flask. >> Hi, I'm >> Olivia has grown so much this year through hard work and determination. She is kind to others and always willing to help when she sees someone in need of support. Olivia shows a great ability to learn from her experiences. She's a joy to be around and brings happiness to our classroom. Congratulations, Olivia. Miss Will. Hi, my name is Camden. >> Camden has become a fabulous first grader. He shows kindness to his teachers and friends with his words and friendly smiles. Camden uses classroom supplies and school equipment safely. He's super responsible because he completes his work on time, has a positive attitude about learning, works hard every day, and he follows directions quickly. We are so glad to have him in our classroom.
That's where we're at with that. So that's uh relatively small roughly $60ome,000 for those two projects. And then we have uh the middle school and the high school. Um I do want to speak to you guys and once I get to the buildings I can get more specific about those, but there is an addition uh project for this summer at the high school. And I can also talk to you about the possibility of uh item number uh the third item on the agenda tonight um possibly redoing some flooring and the middle school classroom. So um with that being said, total outstanding projects we have, including contingency, is just over $6.6 million. Okay, elementary schools. I can roll through these really quick because nothing has happened in the summer of 2026 at any of these buildings. Um, turn your attention here to the middle school. Uh, we're doing very well with the project at the middle school in terms of the interior construction.
Time to make the matzah, the little red hen announced to her friends. Who wants to help? Everyone deserves a second or um a fourth chance, she reminded herself. But what do you think the little red her hen heard from her friends? Do you think they want to help her with the matzah? Can you predict what they said? Let's see if you're right. Not I said the sheep. Sorry Bub said horse. Nay, laughed dog more than a little bit rudely. Think again. The little red hen was not happy. She was not surprised either. Okay, okay, she said. So, I should starve. I'll just make it myself. Doesn't mean I have to. She has to go hungry, right? She'll just cook it for herself. Then the little red hen washed up carefully. She put a big bowl on the kitchen table. Then she set her timer. According to Jewish law, Passover matzah had to be finished in just 18 minutes.
We've got a comprehensive plan where the community has indicated that those demands that they they that they have are only going to get more um and so what can we do to put us in the best position uh for the future. So it's really a four measure comprehensive financial and servicing restructure that I'm proposing and some of these are going to require uh deeper discussion. first would be budget restructuring and an override measure uh which we've talked about. Um prioritizing facilities and fields. Um, one of the things I'm I'm proposing is spinning off buildings and grounds from our current DPW structure and which will give us the opportunity to put more focus on our capital um capital needs and our fields not just in terms of maintaining what we have but looking at expanding them in the future. Um, another thing that, um, I'm proposing is that we take some money that's in the general stabilization fund and create a health insurance stabilization fund since that seems to be what drives um, a lot of issues in municipalities in Massachusetts uh, in FY27.
Um, excess and deficiency, we're confident we'll have 200,000 available. Medicaid reimbursement is consistent with what we've received in the past. Uh, investment income is consistent with what we've been receiving on investment income largely interest. So, as we get into the next group of slides 13 to 18,formational regional agreement information, uh, you're welcome to read it. Um uh slide 19 gets into sort of the big budget picture. Uh districtwide has a fairly significant increase. This includes a move of our curriculum director um from uh Tahanto as well as partly at the elementary schools to the district office. Um so that money moves out of Tahanto. You'll see Tanto's increases lower um as a result. um Berlin Memorial and Boilston Elementary. All three schools in fact um have the uh in the health insurance increase baked into it as well. So we'll talk about that a little later.
I believe we sent it over. We sent hard copies and sent PDF copies to um them so they are prepared for you to present next u Wednesday evening. Um but our team will be there also Mr. B myself Mrs. Robins and I also ask uh Mr. clean also be there just in case there's special informationation questions and if there are uh technology questions that come up at the board of finance just like a technology question tonight question. Uh last week I had the opportunity and almost a whole administrative team I think went over there because we had an administrative council meeting and we all went over to the the library to see the uh youth and art reception at the the camp library. I believe work is still up in the library. So if you can get an opportunity to go over there, there's some real special artwork.
One parent shared that Mr. Hernandez truly leads by example. Her dedication to education, positive spirit, and willingness to serve helps create a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone in the school community. Another wonderful example of her generosity was her involvement in creating and building Longfellow's float for the Golden Day parade. She collaborated with other families helping wherever needed. On one evening, she even hosted all the children in her home so that other families could focus on completing the parade, the float for the parade on time. Beyond volunteering, Mr. Dennis actively participate in parent training and community events to learn new strategies and gather resources to support her children. She is highly creative and enjoys sharing her love of art through crafts and projects with others. Mr. Hernandez, thank you for your dedication, generosity, and commitment to our community. Longfellow School is truly a better place because of you.
Keep up the good work, Camden. Congratulations, Mrs. RODRIGUEZ. >> HI, my name is Yes, Liam is such a sweet and kind student who always shows care and respect to me and to her classmates. She consistently does everything she needs to do in class and is a wonderful example of making safe choices at all times. Yes, Liam's positive attitude and gentle heart make our classroom a better place every day. You are awesome, Miss Liam. Keep shining. Congratulations, MISS MILLS. HI, MY NAME IS PAYTON. >> We are so proud to recognize Payton as our of the month. She consistently shows kindness by checking in on classmates when they're hurt or feeling sad. Her her principal, too. She checks in on me. Her caring nature and big heart make our classroom a better place every single day. She's been working hard to show responsibility by asking thoughtful questions, putting in her best effort, and staying focused on her learning.
We'll be opening up the exterior wall for the two additional classrooms over spring break, weather permitted. Um, as you guys have been updated with the photos in the weekly FYI, interior classrooms are fully drywall, taped, sanded. Um, and then we'll be looking to paint once we take care of some of the electric uh mechanical and electrical equipment in the ceilings. Okay. We do have a cont uh an amount in here that's been in here since the previous presentation for uh classroom furniture for the additional four classrooms along with the four small group spaces that we created and the two teacher workrooms which will be done in the rotunda areas of the 2015 edition this summer. We have a design fee and then also a contingency amount of $380,000 and five $385 $380,584, excuse me. Okay. So, this leads me to the point to speak about replacing the flooring at the middle school and the original portion of the middle school, the 9205 edition.
From start to finish. That means from making it to cooking it. 18 minutes. Do you think she can do it? The little red hen mixed the flour and water quickly, quickly. Quickly. She kneaded it quickly, quickly, quickly. She rolled it out nice and flat. Quickly, quickly, quickly. Remember, the time is ticking. She pricricked it all over. Prickly, prickly, prickly. Then she put it in the oven to bake. And usually you bake it at 500°. That's a very high temperature. The matzah was ready. Just in time, the little red hen prepared the sader dinner. She boiled eggs, simmerred soup, and mixed geli gfelta fish. She washed parsley, chopped apples and nuts, and stirred batter for a cake. Finally, she set the table, putting out a beautiful Passover agit, should he come, God willing. She finished with a covered plate of homemade matzah. The little red hen sat in a chair and waited.
And then one that is in its very nent stages is renovating the Valentine property for school administration use. Um, this $3.5 million override includes a $2.75 million permanent override and a $750,000 debt exclusion shift, which has already been voted on. Uh, and we've talked about this structure uh quite a bit. But the way the reason why it's important to do it this way as opposed to just a $3.5 million permanent override is this provides at least a little bit of tax relief for taxpayers. Um especially in the outer years. Um as that $750,000 does not compound the way the 2.75 does, it provides a little bit of relief and I believe it's after 22 years it drops off. It's a ways away, but um it does drop off. And it's important to note that once we have the new tax rate and the new values, so what both of these would result I if is an increase in $545 on the average single family home that's valued at $737,000.
So then we get into district-wide uh budget. This is mostly salaries, but there are a few items that have been shifting. Uh there will be an overlap in our superintendent's contract, so there's a little increase there. Um when we get into uh legal services um you know I think it's very apparent that we spent more than this last year and we may well spend more than this this year. I I'm hoping that by 27 we start to return to some degree of normaly um with legal expenses. If we don't my next budget for 28 would have to include a very significant increase um just historically. But for now, I think I'd like to try to keep it down and we can address that if it comes. Um, pupil services has a few things that are in there. There are some new IEP requirements that require some additional training, uh, as well as, um, training on safety care, which is something we've done in the past, but we haven't budgeted for it.
I want to thank all our our teachers for being there. This week we had about curriculum committee at 9:00 am on March 12th. The musical I I got to see a preview of it last week besides all the pre that I got in the hallways as I was walking by. We have early release for conferences as we mentioned the board of education presentation. And then a date that you should definitely pencil on your pen in on your calendar is March 23rd. That's 6:30. That's a board of education budget workshop that if the board of finance uh reduces the the budget at all, we'll have to come back and just talk about where those deductions may come from. Not required to be a specific reductions. It can be broad reductions, but need to come together on March 23rd if there are any reductions. And again, thank you for all you do, your service and special month board of education appreciation month.
Good evening, board vice president Rodriguez Pñena, board of education, cabinet, and attendees. I am Marcela Fana, principal of Magnolia School, and I have the distinct privilege to present to you our parent of the year, Miss Victoria Hernandez. Victoria doesn't just participate in our school, she strengthens it. As the proud mother of three daughters, two who currently attend our school, and another little Mustang on the way, she models what meaningful parent engagement truly looks like. She ensures her girls arrive each day prepared, confident, and ready to learn. She fosters a love of learning at home and celebrates growth just as much as achievement. And the result, two little girls who are thriving and shining. But her impact reaches far beyond her own family. She is an engaged and thoughtful member of our school site council and community schools advisory committee. In our parent booster club, she helps organize events and build school spirit to enrich learning for all students.
Because of this dedication, she shown wonderful improvement in her grades. Payton is a clever is clever, always willing to lend a helping hand to teachers and classmates, and often reminds others to make smart choices. She leads by example and truly represents what it means to be a positive role model. We are so proud of her growth and the kindness she shares with everyone around her. Congratulations, Payton, from Mrs. NEVADA. >> HI, my name is Rebecca. Rebecca has always been an amazing student. She's kind to everyone and extremely respectful to her peers and to the adults around her. Rebecca is always on task and shows responsibility daily. Rebecca knows how to be safe around campus and shows her peers how to be safe as well. You go, girl. Congratulations, Miss Wade. My name is Santiago is a determined student that works so hard to succeed in school every day.