Um, and so did I. >> What is the estimated cost per student? >> It right now it's sitting at $2500, $24.99. >> And that includes the airfare, hotel, >> that includes that includes absolutely everything except for a meal on the way there to the airport and then the way home. So those besides that, the time you're there, everything is covered. Transportation is covered in that cost 100% everything is there. Um, typically you will be on one bus if we have more uh and and I'll give an example. When we go to Washington DC, we actually have more kids than what would fit on a typical bus. So they have a double-decker. So all of our kids were on a two-story bus the entire time. This is the way it's been for the last several years. Um, and so but if we have more kids and adults that need it, then there would be uh two charger buses is how that works.
I think you shared that with Bill and I. >> Yes, I did, sir. >> That's what it was. Okay. >> Okay. So, uh, just a reminder of the revenue source for, um, the 2024 to 2026 short-term facility plan. Um, we still do have the bonds that were sold that we keep to help with the, um, uh, fund balance. This goes back prior to my time being here, but that number does continuously go up because we're able to earn um, non-t taxable interest on that. And then you as you can see this was our net proceeds the 28 million455283 from our two sales of alternative revenue bonds that we split into split into to avoid arbitrage. The remaining uh balance of those funds is $13 million. And every year we annually apply for the school maintenance project grant. Uh one year uh 2025 uh use that $50,000 for the work at CIT Elementary roof and then 2026 that's going to be used for the additional classrooms at the middle school.
So Mr. Regan would have 30 staff members, for instance, teaching staff, 10 for each grade level. And if he's got some grades that have significantly more students, he might shift someone who was teaching kindergarten into first grade, for instance. So the numbers stay lower at the first grade level and they're pretty comparable at the kindergarten level. It's not an exact science. It's hard. We're in the process of enrolling kindergarten students right now. we get we might have 185 students right now enrolled for next year but by the time we open the doors in August we could have 210. So, we start making these decisions about, okay, we've got 18 now if you have 10 staff, but well, wait a minute, we have a retirement. Let's not fill it. So, now we have nine. And then all of a sudden, now you've got 210 kids coming in.
Thank you. >> Catherine, we're okay. >> Okay. Uh, I'm just going to scroll down there really quickly. Okay. So capital budget as I shared it moves some things around based on feedback from uh the town um as well as um some of the buckets we have available. So let me move into um so uh just to share Berlin I remind everyone Berlin um has free cash available. Whoops. Um, so they wished for us to assess those capital items to them. Um, and if at all possible look at ways to spend some of our own cash to offset operations. Uh, Boilston because of the roof project that's coming up at Boilston Elementary. Uh, they feel like they are going to be tapped out on free cash. Um, they did say they are willing to do, and you will see it in the mix, they're willing to to do the bathroom project for Boilston Elementary.
We see that the basketball game in a different way watching and waiting a turner to get involved. So, I just am super proud about that. So, I wanted to make sure that was brought forward because I didn't have a chance to mention that on um Thursday. And then the last goal I'll mention before I turn over to Dr. Pidwell is, you know, um it's it's less dynamic in terms of what I have to say, which I'm sure you'll appreciate at this point, but you know, just the idea of, you know, financial uh sustainability. Um you know, that's something that obviously we're all part of. You know, we're proud of our budget this year. We're part of our staffing for this year again next year. It's a constant source of of um evolvement for us to try to get it right to to fit into the things that we so know how we're working to to maintain your goal.
Your involvement, generosity, and commitment to our schools have made will make and will continue to make an impact in our students, our teachers, and our families because I'm part of that family. My children come here and um I at this time I I can't volunteer. Um however the last 20 years I I have volunteered and and I guess we just take turns. So um eventually I will come back and volunteer maybe next year. Um however um it's important that each one of us tonight go home and be grateful for those parents for yourself that we are here in Asuza Unified School District and we have so much to offer here. So, invite your friends over. It's time to register. Uh, open enrollment. So, make sure you spread the voice. And thank you again. And u I would like to congratulate all the parents tonight for being selected uh by their peers or their parents for the parent of the year.
So what I understand you're saying is that the students are responsible to raise the funds and if there is not sufficient funds raised then there would be tax credits applied. Is that what >> tax credits would is a part of the funding of the fundraising process. So that's that's an option that they have to do um in the very beginning. If they don't even with the tax credit meet that the top dollar whatever it ends up being then the parents the responsibility falls to the parents. >> But so they the families do the tax credit to specifically for that student. >> Right. >> Correct. Then for each parent that would only be $400 for the couple and there's quite a balance after that. So the idea is talk to co-workers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, those types of things and raise the money that way. We've had really good success over the years of being able to do it with eighth graders.
>> So we are we we are a recipient of that grant. you're saying already we >> um yeah we pretty much get it every year. Um >> we get it pretty much is by default. >> Well, I mean as long as you file, you know, as long as the work falls within the parameters and you meet the deadline. Um that's one thing that is has continued to fund. >> Okay. >> So, in conclusion here, um you guys can see the remaining contract balances at all the buildings in the district. Um, and then what we have here is a surplus of $7,375,000 when we close out this project. So, uh, the plan is to close this project out, and then we will go ahead and prioritize anything else, um, the district needs, meet with the capital project sump committee, and then balance that out, uh, along with the needs of the district.
The numbers, you know, just don't work out. So, there risk involves with this, but uh we just think it's the right thing to do. As you can see, we are starting to level off though with an enrollment. It's just the shifting of of where they are by grade level. So, uh, some some classroom we do have some class sizes that are significant of 240 plus kids, but that's not the average right now. I always say we're we're right around a 205 to 210 is where I would land for the most part. I think it's critically important that we I talk about this every single year. People in this community have great value for the dollars we spend on education. We are ranked 362nd of 396 school districts in per pupil cost. Think about that. Just think about that for a second. There are only 34 districts who spend less than the national public schools per pupil.
that's one of the more significant items. So that that came in about five minutes before this meeting officially. So we're we're trying to juggle some things, but we can have those conversations. Um getting into regional debt. I'm not going to dwell on that. That's regional agreement stuff. Uh so this is the Tanto regional debt. Uh there are two bonds that make that up. One expires in 2031, one expires in 2033. uh total uh debt payment for this year is 1,543,150. Berlin share of that is 557335 and Boilston's is 985815. Um that is an overall decrease in debt payment of $2500 which isn't that much but uh it helps. Every little bit helps. So, here's where we get to. Berlin requested us to put our capital and one-time needs into assessments. So, we've taken everything we gave last time that was Berlin Memorialbased and this is what we're recommending to be assessed to the town of Berlin based on their their their request um of their fin.
We we appreciate your support for the things you brought to Drew. Just to clarify, um the high schools actually reducing staff certified teachers by 4.2 staff numbers. Just so everybody as we spoke about budget our elementary is reducing by 1.0 um staff members next year. So FT R is true. >> So for our learning environment and belonging goal um last week I was able to kind of just celebrate you know doing a lot of stuff trying to build that culture build that positivity. We're proud of of what we're doing. Um, but one of the things just to kind of really highlight is this idea of updating our school climate improvement plan and our school climate committee um has always existed, but with some of the new legislation gave us a nice opportunity to just slow down and pause and kind of take a look at what we're doing.
And I want to thank you for your hard work and your dedication. And I'm I know that some of you work and of course you have children but you still take the time and you participate in many events. I've been to many school sites and I've seen many of the parents always participating and you know parents we need you. we need you, you know. Um because I I I feel that the students also when they see their moms or dads or grandmothers, I'm the grandma, right? And they, you know, their nana's there, you know, it makes them really happy when you see them. My granddaughter was playing volleyball and one time we didn't go and she said, "I didn't play really good this time." I'm like, "Why'd you guys lose?" "Oh, cuz you weren't there." I'm like, "Don't blame me." Right. But but but it's like, you know, she thought she wanted someone to be there.
This would be a completely new new thing with fifth graders. um the reason why Boston, the reason why fifth grade, it is a part of their curriculum um to study about all of the things that have happened um with our great nation that's connected to Boston and that is something that they go in great detail to in their curriculum which is why the teachers thought that this would be a good it would be the a first for Contental School to do this a an overnight fifth grade trip and b um to Boston. So that's >> would it be two nights? >> It's more than that. days and three nights. >> So, math and we're looking at spring break, right? So, it's not going to take >> So, so right now their plan is to go spring break next year. So, basically a year away from next Monday essentially is what it would be.
>> And, and that money can only be spent on specific things. It's not just it's got to be what was earmarked for, what we borrowed the bonds for, >> within the within the structure of the sale of the bonds, which was pretty general. Just so that people don't think that that's just we can do whatever we have to stay within the parameters of the bond. >> Yes, sir. Okay. All right. Well, thank you very much. Um, going back to the agenda, that actually knocks out items two and three unless we want to have any further discussions on the flooring at the middle school. Thank you. And the last agenda item is, forgive me, I got a lot of paperwork here, but I don't have a copy of the agenda. Um, >> yep. Uh, the we're getting to the point where we are approaching the 2025 levy calculations.
Yet, I would wager if you take the top 30 and compare our results that we're in that top 10 on the other side. It's a catch 22, right? I mean, it really is for a community. I've said that for the 16 years I've been here. It's a catch 22. We really perform well, but the challenge is going to become when we start losing educators through attrition and not having the same opportunities for kids. That's where we could run into trouble. Uh we've done Michael talks about how uh each district or the the town has has looked at uh cost efficiencies. We've created some unbelievable programs internally in the National Public Schools for our special education um students. Uh and you know, we have 127 students currently involved in our special programs K through 12, well postgrad or post high school now. Um saving upwards of 11 million over the course of of the creation of these programs.
Then we get down to let me get this into presentation mode again and I'm back to sorry >> it's okay >> I just wanted everybody to be able to see it and um got there >> then we get to Boilston Elementary Boilston interestingly enough as I've started analyzing I think I I shared with the school committee when I was hired that that getting through um all of the the the accounts and the budgets um was probably going to be a two-year project. Um year one was all of the basic general fund, all the things are in operations. The next is looking at debt capital END. Um which I thought might be more consistent. Um as it turns out, the Boilston Elementary Capital Account has a fairly solid positive balance. um enough to cover Boilston's one-time and capital needs for this year and meet their request.
Um, to be able to review some of our climate data from previous years um with spring in particular, slow down, really talk to staff, use some of our professional development times to make sure that they're understanding. We have some new terminology around challenging behavior concepts. Um, and then one of the things that we did which uh was just a really nice opportunity was to use some staff staff focus groups um to just take a look at things that we already have in place in the school. Things we want to expand on new ideas to just work towards how we have our students feeling that inclusivity and belonging throughout throughout the school. um different ways to identify students who may not be feeling um super connected or super supported and then to reach back out to them. So now the idea for the spring is to do that same kind of focus group exercise with students.
So, I I feel the same way with these students. And I really appreciate that you do take the time to be there one way or another. And I'm very proud also that one of our past colleagues, Chilin Cruz Gonzalez, is the parent of the year of her school site because when she did um I I'd say retired from the school board, she said, "I want to use my time and go to my son's school." And she's doing just that. And um I'm very proud of that. I think that she just was sitting up here also. And also with um Lynn Greer um congratulations and uh I don't want to rain on your parade, Mr. Greer, but when I first met her at Magnolia, I asked her if that if she [laughter] was married to he's calling her the mother, right? And I'm like, are you married to Eden girl?
The the dates in the company were obviously we've got to get board approval. Um but then we've got to go out to quote for three different companies and get bids, look at what they provide. Typically with we've done this I don't even know going back how many years but a very long time um with Washington DC and that's common practice. We even have to do that with DC every every couple of years where we get three new bids on that. So that's that's kind of our process. >> When you said security what did you mean security? Is it the parent the I mean the staff that provides security or >> No. So part of the company, just like with DC, they hire um security guards that come and sit in the hallways. That's not a part of our chaperons, not a part of our parents, not like if I'm the administrator who goes, "That is not my job." Um it is a long day of sightseeing and overseeing kids.
Uh, I've been in touch with the Will County Clerk's Office and the district is does have the possibility to adjust the 2025 levy in the amount of $53,448. Uh, if we wish to abate that, uh, that's like a one-time relief to taxpayers that will not impact our levy amount going forward year after year. So, um, considering that we did receive $639,000 from the village of Mon, um, for the, uh, close out as a surplus for TIFF 3, just throwing it out, there's a possibility if you guys are interested in abating the levy adjustment. That's another item that we look to take action on March 16th because the levy calculation needs to be signed and returned to the county clerk's office by the beginning of April. Now, we've done that in the past. >> Yeah, we've done it for several years, but not last year. >> We didn't do it last year >> because of how things are pretty tight here.