>> May I ask a question? >> Absolutely. >> Where this is so interesting. We're um 14 students per teacher. How does that compare to other districts? 30 30 32 kids. This is saying but this is saying with all of our kids in the school our special needs classes are smaller but they still take all the students divided by the number of teachers and that's the average >> 14 that's 14 >> compared to other districts we have this material >> yes >> you should you should have the link in your If not, I can make sure that you all get this. Um, the next chart is the district's average salary compared to state average. Um, so since 2017, you know, we were $5,000 apart and now we're at 11. >> So, so this is interesting. Um, in 2024 they were at 65 and then down to 54.
>> You did >> and that was going to be a $300,000 building. So Dr. we in a subcommittee uh as we were trying to uh prioritize where all the money was going and the little bit of money that was coming in to cover it, we did not feel like that was uh we had a lot of other pressing uh items at there. So we we delayed it for now and we'll look at it a little bit later. >> And so the 50,000 offsetting 250,000. Okay, understood. Thank you. Okay. Any other old business? You know what? I'm not sure if it's old business, but I'm going to give it a shot because we did talk about it. I don't know if you got a chance to see your email regarding our board policy on expenses, board member expenses. We have talked about this a couple times in public and I just wanted a clarity.
It's significant dollars. However, they were pretty clear that the state coffers are not going to be there this year, that they're not going to rely on those. Um, chapter 70 is at $75 a student. Last year was $150. Do I think there can be some movement there? I do. I think that's if there's going to be movement, it's going to be there. And could that mean another $240,000 in revenue uh for Chapter 70? It does. it could potentially do that. We're pretty conservative and Michael and I have always been that way because I think it's the right thing to do. You just don't know >> until July to be honest with you. Uh when um that's why we've always made the adjustments at the town meeting in the fall. So >> I just one quick follow-up question just real quick. Um, so the 2.75 that that um that you're proposing that we're recommending for the schools, do you feel what what is your sort of confidence level that that will fix the structural issues >> and we won't be back here again next year?
>> Yeah. So, before before I do that, I will just reiterate Coilston's in is in a situation that's different than Berlin. We're at our levy limit. So, if you recall, levy limit is this thing referred to as Prop 2 and a half. That means I can we can not be we can only raise taxes by two and a half% real estate property tax. Turns out that's about $440,000 a year of new new money to which about 350,000 in new growth gets certified each year. Typically it's going to be a little less because there wasn't as much building this happening this last year. So that was where that 800,000 number started from which we split 40 5050 400,000 in each side. Now it's 100,000 additional. So we now have 500,000 each side. Uh on the town side, uh we made some cuts in our budget. Uh we were at well over 250,000 above that number and we're really close to it at this point.
So um what we discussed today was it had to do primarily with that depth improvement and um what what we found out was um through the uh through the selections office was actually in in our capital improvement plan there's interest that that's acrewed. So, one of the ways that we're paying for the boiler that that uh broke down in the high school was there was interest to the tune of like $140 some odd thousand dollars. Um and and so the town said, you know, hey, good news. You don't have to go through a long process of coming to us and then to a town meeting. You have interest that's acrewed uh on that account and and actually the select can also have interest that's accured on your account. So uh what we're trying to come up with is a process or a policy u that'll allow us in the future as interest is is in for example the interest on just our our field our turf field that we put money away every year and I think that's somewhere in the upper 700,000 range that creates interest and so that's something that we have never known about in the past.
Even though they didn't win, they played an amazing game and I know they made us all proud. We had our second annual bite of reality event last month in partnership with Foothill Credit Union and thanks to Mr. Knight for arranging the event. Each of us received a mock life, career, family, salary, and credit score. We set a budget for the month and had to go to each expense station such as housing, transportation, utilities, food, entertainment, and more to spend our monthly budget wisely. If we didn't spend it wisely, we had to go to back to the bank to get advice on making adjustments to our spending to live within our means. It was an eye-opening experience. A little stressful, but it showed us that money does not grow on trees. Overall, it was an amazing experience that I hope continues for years to come. We also had our first FASPA application last month.
Explain that. I I didn't understand that like how do we go up and then come down? >> So in 2024 um >> believe that was the year of the big the big 301 payment where they got like 13 14 grand. I want to say that's what it was. Um, >> so the the up and downs depend on the 301. >> The 301's included in it. So that's all part of it. So if you look at the >> at the gray on the on the bar graph, the gray there is all of the 301 monies versus the actual other funds for your salaries. That doesn't tie to your No, it does. >> Say, do we have some retire? >> We did. Um, >> I paid >> is that I thought Freeland retired right after this 24. Um, >> Davis um >> over >> Yeah. So they're working retirees >> here for lifetime.
I think last meeting board member Janine was questioning how >> I say Janine. I said Janine. >> It was me that asked the question >> and I think Oh, I think too it came up. It was I think Janine needed some clarity and you did probably ask her to >> just what we're supposed to do if we go over and how it works, >> right? So, yeah, I did email you guys the policy. I don't know if you had a chance to look at it, but real quick, it does have if we we are allocated $4,500 a year fiscal year. And again, this is the policy that I sent you guys. And it says once you exceed the $4,500, the board member will seek approval. So I'm like, approval from who? And it goes down a little bit further. It says, "Roll call vote. All board members expenses requests for travel, meals, and or lodging in excess of the allocated amount of those which do not fall within the guidelines listed below must be approved by a roll call vote at an open meeting of the of the board.
I know that >> next year. No. >> Okay. But >> I know that there's still going to be capital needs and there's still going to be >> So part of what I capitals is a different conversation, right? We're talking operational override here. We're talking trying to fix a structural deficit from from an operational standpoint. And the one thing I've committed to since the beginning with this budget and with all budgets is that hey, this is part of the reason why we're looking at those 13.2 positions, right? That's part of the reason we're making adjustments now to ensure over the next five years that we have a good solid foundation of operations. That's not to say that we're going to have to dip into the school choice down the road for salaries. We may have to. Why? Because we're not taking into account the the hundreds of thousands of dollars of federal government grants that we're not we may not get.
Uh again, the town side, we level funded all the expenses. Uh the biggest hits basically were health insurance. You guys did really well. Ours went up 12.1%. for town side employees between contracts, uh, union contracts and health insurance and pension. We used up our $400,000 just like that. >> I mean, what more can I I mean, there's not much I can do. >> So, okay. >> Thanks, Howard. >> All right, >> Aaron, Al, anybody specific questions for Howard about the information? I I would just say including the additional money Howard's speaking in there, there's probably still a gap between where it can be and and where we are at present. Um I guess as I alluded to before, I think conversations can and should continue. Um and you know, we have we will continue to look for any opportunity we have to sharpen our pencils uh relative to uh both towns assessments.
Um, so we're trying to come up with a policy that allows us to um hold our our capital improvement money and also allows us to use the interest um that that we gain there. So there's more conversation going on that between selectmen education and finance. So that just to let you know that's that's in play uh a little bit. And Jordan, you were to if you want to add anything to that or >> No, I think that that was great and that we're working on a better system. >> Correct. Michelle, anything you wanted to add to that? >> So So that that's where we are. More to come on capital improvement. I think I think we're breaking some positive ground there on how that'll work. And this this all come stems out of the emergency that we had with the boiler in place when the boiler in the high school went and how how was that going to be handled?
It was really nice for our families to be able to come to Sierra and have our counselor, Miss Solzano, and Citrus representatives walk us through the application process. I'm glad we had the extra help because some of the questions can get a little confusing. So, it was nice having the extra support. Last Friday, we had our first basketball game of the season. I can't say that basketball is our best sport, but everyone had a great time. Thank you to the city of Isusa for allowing us to use the Memorial Park gym again this season. On February 19th, our audio tech students had their first gig at Magnolia Elementary for their light up the night with kindness dance. It is safe to say that our DJs Anthony, Steven, and Melody did not disappoint. It was a fun-filled night for everyone involved and the Magnolia kids seemed to really love it.
>> Yeah. >> How does that reflect, Greg? The ones that go to ESI, >> it's not included with with salaries. that time had a couple teachers go to ESI as well. >> Yeah. >> As well as Mr. Rico, what year did you go ESI? >> But this is teacher salary. She wouldn't have been included in that. >> You want to get back to us? >> Yeah, I can. Let me let me dig into it a little bit deeper and I can tell you why. >> Keep going. student achievement. So, this gives you the same information that Miss Guavas gave you. I think it was last meeting, meeting before. Um, students meeting math was 41%. And this is this is total this is just not this isn't grade by grade, but overall 41% hit math where our peer groups were at 31 and statewide average was 33.
Unauthorized spending will not be reimbured. So So basically the $4,500 and I think that kind of foot the bill. I think that's how we came up with it a while back to at least go to the national and the ITE here in Illinois that we have every November to cover those expenses and maybe maybe a little bit more. I don't know. So, so, so I think it incumbents upon us that we look at what we're spending, talk with Cheryl, see can keep a running track of your expenses and >> so take it from there. So my take on that too, >> yeah, >> is if if you're close and you're going to multiple once you're getting to the 45, nothing should be I would assume nothing is booked by our district. >> Yeah, I would point once you hit that number >> is for Cheryl to keep track of us or we keep track of our own of both.
That those positions should slide into the operations, right? We're not taking that into account yet. That could potentially happen. it it's it's a challenge um for sure you know projecting 5 years down the road but if we strictly were policy driven and said 3.75% which is where we normally start um and you said Jim that's what you've got to work with we'd work with it and we'd make that work without looking for an override >> Jim have you done any research into like what's a typical budget increase in other communities. >> Yeah. So, I mean there there's a text chain going around right now with the schools uh superintendent in this community or these surrounding communities and it's anywhere from 3% to 6%, right? We typically right around that 5%. We we've been fortunate. I I will always stand in front of you and say we've been very blessed in this community that the schools have been supported and that Michael and the select board and the fincom and school committee have always supported the schools.
>> Yep. >> And and we thank Howard, right? We literally met with him at 4:30 today. Like that's as as soon as we found that out. So we felt it was important to get this information to you guys as well as us to. So we're still processing it, but we thank the the town for certainly allocating the money in this direction for schools. >> Well, since we're in schools here, I like to I always like to educate. So if people are interested, DCR website, you can go look up the assessment for pilot. Uh had the biggest increase, by the way. It was really surprising. By the way, Berlin has 76 acres in DCR land. You got a little tiny increase. >> Uh all these increases were for towns in the Wuset watershed, zero in the quad. >> Sorry. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Art.
How quickly can we handle this? We had classrooms down 50 degrees Bob we had had to move quick. So having said that now we're trying to figure out okay what happens next time and how do we access funds and a little comment little conversation with the CEO this morning on it. I think we're moving down the road that'll create that policy that that actually will be fine with the charter. So more to come. Okay. Any other questions on that? Okay, next to policy. We're catching up on several policies that changed relatively minor fashion within the state legislation that came out in July and we're getting to the end of that and we have a bunch of those tonight to vote on first or second read. The couple of new ones, this one seeking looked at tonight about the selection and removal of library materials and library displays.
Thank you to our teacher, Mr. Hernandez, for making sure everything was set up and ready to go. And to Magnolia for your support and giving us our first official gig. Speaking of gigs, our audio tech students will have their second gig next door at the ISUsa Adult Education C Center's annual job and resource fair on Wednesday, March 25th. We are excited to have it so close and hopefully we will be able to hear our students on the turntables. Over the next couple weeks, we have more opportunities to collaborate with Magnolia. Earlier today, our our Earth Science students and teacher, Miss Morales, went to Magnolia to provide a lesson on phase change by examining how salt lowers the freezing point of water. Next week, we will be hosting Magnolia students at Sierra for a steam science museum. We love the opportunities we have had to collaborate with Magnolia over the last couple years.
PLA we were at 47%, our peer groups were at 39, and statewide we were at 40. And then at sciences we were at 34%, 27% peer group and 28% statewide. >> Um, and over here on the right, you can actually switch in between each one of them. >> Yeah. So that that just gives you the saying they give you a well really a four or five year comparison based on the co years not being in this but that is the auditor general's district um spending analysis and I will again make sure that you guys I will send this out to Okay. And you want to move to the financial report? >> Sure. >> All right. So, here we have our district financial report. As always, we will take a look at our M, our funds. Looking down the right side of the column, we see everything is still positive that we still have money left in the we're looking at very last column there >> is zero cash in the bank.
>> So it's some checks and balances. Okay. >> She left. >> Um, she does keep a running log and but um, and I think that we need to give it to the individual so that they know that they're running out because sometimes individuals may not know what they're >> right. Right. I don't keep track of it. >> I believe it is up on the individual to do their due diligence and, you know, try to stay within that. Sometimes what happens is people will go to a conference and it will go over. >> Yeah. >> So then it's already been spent. Yeah. >> I guess the question is, do we bring that to the board? If the board denies it, does that individual then has to pay a check? >> Well, and get reimbured for it is the idea >> because the idea is when you're at 4,500 >> Yeah.