We don't want to pay for them to go somewhere else. We want them to stay here be part of the alumni that comes from here and goes on to the colleges and university. We also don't want to pay for the busing and all that goes along with transporting to a to somewhere else. We don't want to do that. We want to keep our kids here. >> So we'd be paying for it one way or another. But we're paying for our kids to be educated here. That's what we want in our schools. Anyone else questions on the science stuff? Science piece. >> I just wanted to say like the lack of the extra teacher. It not just the courses that they're not being offered in science. It limits the kids that are trying to take those science courses from taking other courses because it their schedule is so tight.
Okay. Thank you. Seeing none, uh can I have a motion? >> Motion to approve. Motion by board member Arianis. Do we have a second? >> Second by board member Greer.
whatever it was. I thought it was 575. So 5:45. Where is it? Okay. Um All right. The 545. What does that include? >> You're asking if that includes the $750,000 that is moved out of to to debt exclusion. Is that what you're asking? Um, CLA, I'm asking if it includes the override and the debt exclusion. >> And it does. It does. And >> does it include the Menddees school yet to be bonded >> because uh >> I don't. >> Yeah, she's asking if that includes the the Mind School. It has to be bonded as well. >> Okay. So, that's not in there. And I noticed the newest uh debt exclusion has escalated. to 14.5 million. Um, will you be asking us for debt exclusions >> right now? No, we're not asking for a debt exclusion. >> Well, I mean, it could be as soon as we vote this in, you can show up with a debt exclusion, >> right?
There's no flexibility. Like my daughter's French for class. All of a sudden, half the class disappeared because they had to take a specific AP class. that was only going to be offered at this time and it it really it snowballs through the entire school limits the general offerings. I doubt that I doubt French 4 will be offered next year if science remains the same way that it is right now like it trickles down through all the other um classes >> and that goes the same thing with offering some of these chemistry and biology classes that if they're not in the pathway they can't take those courses later on in their career. >> Anything else? >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Is it three minute chat? >> Told you. Daylight savings. It's all right. >> Berlin parent Shelley Sini. >> Hi.
Any discussion? Uh, student board student board member Purpus. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Colleagues, we're going to take a hand vote. Board member Greer. >> Yes. >> Board member Ramos. >> Yes. >> And I'm a yes or yes. Thank you. We're moving on to item 15.1 through 15.7. These are administrative reg regulations, board policies, exhibits, and bylaws brought to us for our first reading.
I could I could >> That's all I want to know. And then okay so it's 575 plus the as and say that's 100 675 plus the normal >> how are you coming up with a 100 Julie >> I'm just coming up with 100 just based on my own knowledge of what I [clears throat] think's left the interest right now the interest rates quite high unless uh when the Federal Reserve they've got a new guy in there unless he drops it but let's say it's >> what's the reserve rate Now, Julie, >> uh, >> what's the funds rate? The federal funds rate. >> I They dropped it a couple times, so I don't know. You know, um, it's still pretty high. They dropped it, I think, two quarter I think it was two quarter points. I do watch those. >> Two quarter points. >> Yeah. >> Two basis points.
Um I'm Shelley Certini. I'm a parent from Berlin. I had a student at Tanto in middle school and at Berlin Memorial in fourth grade. Um, I don't have nearly as much detail or um, anything to offer as our student and our faculty have, but I just wanted to speak as a parent uh, in favor of these priority one uh, items that are on here, specifically the ones that are focused directly at our students, their education, uh, their academic achievements. Um I think that it is important for you as a school committee, for us as parents, for the school community to um show everybody that we've um value the education um and that that is important to us. Our admin team has um spoken of what they think are the most important things that should uh be included in the budget. And I think we should take the time as you are here tonight and I'm happy to see that listening to the um faculty that have spoken, the students that have spoken.
Are there any questions on these items? >> Okay, seeing none, we are moving on to 16.1 adjournment. Do I have a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by board member Ariani. Second. >> Second by board member Ramos. >> Third by board member Greer. If it makes you feel happy.
>> Okay. Say it's 575 plus 100 plus the normal 300 increase. >> What's that, Julie? What's a normal 300 increase? >> Most people's taxes go up and that's just and again you're at people's taxes tend to go up two, three, 400 a year. You've got to include >> how do you how do you have do you have the data for that? Uh, you must have the data because my taxes [laughter] go up every year. >> I didn't make the claim. >> Okay, I wouldn't pretend. Everybody's taxes have gone up. They've gone up $3,000 since 2013. Um, they've gone up. Um, okay. So, there's that. The debt exclusions. Um, okay. um and the 575 or 545 whatever it is it's never that whatever we have been told it's always been higher. Okay. And then my final thing um we are not in this together. I keep hearing that because the people have not been included [clears throat] in any way.
Um so I just wanted to give my support for these items specifically the ones that are directly related to our students achievement test scores um and their academic achievement. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> That was the end of the list that signed up, but does anybody else want to say anything? Yeah. Come on. What's your name, please? Robert, >> can you spell that please? >> From Wilson, 120 mil road. Um, I am a >> Can you spell your last name, please? >> P R T. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead, please. >> Um, I'm a Tah parent and I'm also the district's special education parent advisory council co-president. I'm here to share some thoughts from the CPAC board um in support of the ELA coach in the reading specialist position. Um from previous meetings the 2025 testing data from Tahanto shows that 20 to 25% of the students roughly one in five entering middle school are already reading below or far below the grade level.
[laughter] Any discussion. Student board members preference vote. >> Uh yes. >> Thank you. Okay. Um colleagues, please place your vote. We could take a hand vote. Board member Greer. >> Yes. >> Board member Ramos >> C. Board member Arian >> C. >> And a C for me. So four C's and one absent. Oh, one yes and three C's in absent. Meet adjourned at 910.
Um, >> I I'll disagree with you on that, Julie, and I'm going to interrupt you because I disagree. I believe everyone's had an opportunity to to to speak their piece. At any other meetings that we have, there will be forums that you'll be able to speak at and come to. Uh, this is just a tri board meeting where I gave you the opportunity to ask a question. Uh, this is not a platform for you to provide you additional uh commentary. This was a question that you had to ask. You needed to ask it. I believe it was answered. Uh maybe not to the best uh that you liked anyway, but it has been answered. And uh I'm going to I'm going to move forward because right now, >> one second. What you just said is exactly what I'm talking about. You never let people speak and if you don't like it, you shut it down.
The gap doesn't appear overnight. It starts in elementary school and follows the students up through the grades when there's no intervention. Um as Mr. Dhy said the reading is not just an ELA school. It's how students access every subject or student reading below grade level. is not just struggling in English, they're also struggling in science, history, and on. Middle school teachers just don't teach reading at this level. They're content teachers. Um, there are two components to this literacy gap that must be addressed. The first part is catching it early. An ELA coach at the elementary level can address foundational gaps before they grow, nipping the problem in the bud before students even reach the high school. And the second part is supporting the Tah students that are here now or reading specialists can provide targeted support to those students who are already in our middle high school classrooms today.
>> I'm not shutting it down because I don't like it, Julie. I'm shutting it down because it's not on point. >> There's a big difference between the two. a very big difference.
Early intervention through reading support can reduce special education referrals, helping students get the help they need before they fall further behind. But without it, the gap does not shrink. It grows. So on behalf of the CPAC board of directors, we urge the school committee to approve the ELA coach and reading special position in the FY27 budget. >> Thank you. >> Uh thank you.
>> Whatever it's >> and you a loted the time I said three minutes and it's beyond three minutes and I would be unfair if there was anybody else that had their hand raised. Okay. And it's not because I don't want to hear what you have to say or I disagree with you. You've had the opportunity.
Any questions for CPAC? >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> You you said you were speaking on behalf of the full board. Michelle, >> you you said you were speaking on behalf of the full CPAC board. >> Thank you. Yes. Thank you. >> If you have any of those prepared notes like you have there, if you can give those to Jen, that will help us for our minutes as well too. So any that >> Thank you. Um, anybody else? Yeah. Come on. Name, please. >> Christina Meros. >> Thank you. Um I did have was taking notes as we were talking and I appreciate everything but um that's all pretty useful. So >> um I just wanted to talk to sort of a broader issue obviously that we're all dealing with because I think a lot of parents don't fully understand what's been happening like year after year after year.
Three minutes is gone. Thank you. All right. I just want to thank everybody for being here tonight. Um uh well I didn't see any other hand raised to be very honest with you. >> Okay. >> Is is there anything else that that Michael or Jim you guys need from us in >> in closing? >> No. At this point uh we have again tomorrow evening school committee will be listening to the the full presentation that I presented tonight. Uh and then we will have our public budget hearing which is required by law uh most likely uh the first meeting in April because we have to post it for two weeks in um in the press. Uh and then that number will be coming forth to the select board and the fincom is our recommended budget number. >> All right. >> And outside so we'll have two obviously right the override number 6.18 and the 3.25 is what I >> is also going to be a public forum.
So I wanted to talk about that and then I did have a couple of things on the investments um and some feedback. So just if you guys can hear um obviously thank all of you and all the administration for what you're doing. This is a tough budget season. Um I wanted to start by naming something clearly for the community. Um the financial situation facing our district and I think Aaron talked about this in his presentations before. Um there's a bunch of links in there about how other school systems are sort of going through the same things. Um the cost of running our schools is rising faster than the available funding to support them. Um what happens year after year, schools are effectively being asked to operate with less and over time that leads to fewer staff, which we've seen already. Um fewer programs and fewer opportunities for students.
>> Yep. That that was what I was going to mention. Yep. So, sure. >> So, just to let everybody know, we're going to be um hosting a um a public forum on Thursday, [clears throat] March 26th at 700 p.m. here in the select boardroom um and also on Zoom so we can um have people participate either in person or or online. Um, I know that the select board has talked about being a sponsor, you know, basically um hosting the um the public forum, but I would also um would love the the school committee to be like a like a partner with us on this. Um, and that way we'll we'll co-host it together. Um, it's really a listening session. Um Jim and Michael will present a few slides on what is happening, but it's really a a an opportunity for people to ask questions and for us to hear comments from the public.