So that much of health cost premium increased which is our portion that we have to cover that increase. Um and then second of all second thing is the tax levby cap. Tax levy cap is that we undert taxed uh in the previous years. So state allow us to catch up to uh up to 2% for the difference. We had a 26384 uh uh tax cap. That's the oldest one that will expire soon. So once it's expired, we lose it. So um I'm proposing to use it this time this year. So our total increase in tax levy after 2% cap is 1.5,98,428. Uh so total tax levy proposed is 60,128208 not go there yet. So um why are we uh applying the healthcare adjustment and tax levby cap over the years we have a um we have a balanced ex uh balance with a fiscal discipline keeping tax increases below 2% for the past few years building that um surplus.
>> Yes. >> Okay. And this is on our district website, so I can just hit a link. >> Yes. >> Verify exactly where it's at, please. >> We can follow. >> It's it's under the our story section. >> It's in our >> right where the be great to have uh public knowledge because I would >> ponder if people know that it's truly out there for access and visibility because again, we have talked about it, but I think it's where it the location is. >> Yep. information. >> Thank you. >> And when that was um um Brandy, when that was published for the the board, we spoke about it, I think, extensively at board meetings as well. So, a public is interested in hearing some of the previous board's kind of interaction with that, they can maybe we could access those dates as well when we >> September 2024.
Gene Ferme. Thank you, Mr. Um so, I'd like to recognize a couple students from our speech and debate team at the high school. They competed in a district speech tournament in LaPorte earlier this month. Uh the top two students in each event qualified for a national tournament in Richmond, Virginia in June. So, congratulations to Karam Urbini who placed first in international extemporaneous speaking and Shawn Morris who also qualified for the nationals in the same category. All right, you want to know what that is? That's you have 30 minutes of preparation to deliver a 7-minute speech analyzing foreign policy, regional conflicts, and global economic issues. So, young men, and good luck in the nationals. Uh have another state title to celebrate from Crown Point High School. Our congratulations to our Crown Point High School Vex Robotics team 1233J, also known as the Janitors, that's our team name, for being awarded tournament champions in the 2026 Indiana Robotics State Championship.
If you remember, I came to you with an estimated cost of just under 500,000, 498,699.50. And I told you that I was going to come back with a different cost. And so the team allowed me one phone call to the vendors. Just one phone call. And then I turned it over to Tanya Lochmyer, my administrative assistant, Lynn Brown, who they then picked up the pieces and took it from there. And I'm happy to report, exciting, if there's a drum roll, somebody do it, that now the total cost is going to be 449,409.50. Total savings of 49,290. The statement you have to use is I don't have any money and I can't afford the price that you just quoted us. And that usually wins about every single time. So, happy, excited, we need the K-12 curriculum again. Lynn's here. Thank you, Lynn, for your negotiation power, as well.
Yes. >> Thank you. Thank you, chair. >> Any other questions? Hearing no other questions. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Let's see. Moving on to the last item on this joint hearing agenda is relating to artificial intelligence. House Bill 1676, House draft 1, uh, establishes an artificial intelligence and education task force to develop guidelines and recommendations for the use of artificial intelligence in state public education. Um, testifying Keith Yashi for the Department of Education. >> Hello. chairs, vice chair, members of the committee, Winston Sakurai representing the department. We stand in support uh and want to share that we believe artificial intelligence is important to help uh guide provide guidance to support our students and educators and we've been working on this uh for the past four years uh with a work group within the department and also working as recently as last week with the University of Hawaii uh on artificial intelligence.
So over the years we didn't raise uh tax levy after uh above the 2% but we utilized the surplus um but because um but the uh there is a structural gap um for this year because when mandatory costs such as uh health co health care costs and utilities and other recurring cost grow faster than 2% tax levy cap. So there's a um structural gap that we need to cover those extra costs that the state aid cannot cover. So um uh we cannot no longer uh rely on one-time surplus uh without um going uh tax levy above 2%. um the influ the increase in inflation rate is grow really faster than uh this tax levby cap. So after we apply the uh health adjustments and then bank uh bank cap of a $200,000 um last year's the school tax rate was 1.1070 1070. This year's rate is 1.1151.
>> Oh, there you go. There's presentations available um through board docs also. >> Yeah. I have one last question. Um, in the one of the first slides, Teresa, it said we're going to are we going to get another update in April? And if is that what that said? I was surprised. >> Yeah. >> It seems so like what? So, what are we going to see in April? >> So, we're running a little behind. >> Okay. So, these are just updates and then this will be a more like are we hitting our target sort of thing in April. >> So, so it will either be in the second board meeting in April or the board meeting in May. Okay. Um so it will be an update. It will be a um measurement of the um uh objectives from year one and then proposals for edits for year two.
This is the one where there are over 60 teams. It's a huge competition downstate. Uh Mr. Marsnik has indicated it's the first time we took the top spot there. So, of course they've qualified for world a world championship as well to be held in St. Louis, Missouri, April 21st through the 30th. So, good luck to them on that. And um I just be amiss. I just want to wish coach coach Lon and the boys basketball team good luck as they compete for that state championship down uh Gamebridge this Saturday. They've been a pleasure to watch over the years and I just hope they can finish it off. So, good luck to that whole group. Thank you, Mr. Gene Ferme. 7.06, Chief Human Resource Officer, Mr. Kewa. Thank you, Mr. President board members. I'm just echoing uh comments made earlier about Barb Merrill. I wish her uh the very best.
Tanya Lochmyer. And so tonight, I need an approval that we can move forward. We'll order these materials after we get your approval, and then we'll get these in teachers' hands, hopefully before uh end of summer. Thank you, Mr. Peters. I think allowing you only one phone call was a wise decision. I'll entertain a motion. I'll reference this item. Since the price got reduced, I'll make a motion to adopt the science curriculum as presented. Thank you, Mr. Melcher. Is there a second? >> Second. Thank you, Mr. McLellan. Any further comments or discussion before we vote? Mr. Peters, I know we've we've talked about this, but I think it's a good time, as we go to adopt this, that can you give us a timeline on when this should have been done a long time ago, and why we have taken so long to get to this point of adopting that?
But thank you for the opportunity to testify. >> Thank you, Steven Shots. Excuse me. >> Aloha chairs, vice chair, members of the committee. Steven shots. On behalf of Deborah Halbert, vice president at the University of Hawaii system, uh we stand on our written testimony in support of this measure.
So increase in tax rate is8%. And in dollar approximately $39.54 uh per year about $3 less than $3 per month. Thank you to all who contribute to developing this budget.
So um our goal is the second board meeting in April. >> It could potentially, as Teresa just alluded to, uh shift to May. Um but >> okay, >> that is the goal for the next impact monitoring up. >> Thank you. I I think it's important to note that part of that comes out of two things. One is last year as our team prepared for this year and we were hit some with some preliminary budgetary constraints we went from having let's say four key priorities on each of our teams list and had to cut those down to one and so the teams had to shift how they implemented and so that was in I want to say was that June where we made some significant revisions to our plans for the first year that was prior to the August September announcement from the state that moved us to tier two which had a significant impact in terms of financial limitations.
It's been a pleasure uh working with her over many, many years here in Crown Point and I hope that she publishes a book to share what with what she calls uh the ingredients for her secret sauce over there at the beehive. So, uh Mrs. Merrill, I hope uh we get to read about that someday, maybe in a in a publication. Next, uh I've known uh Terry Mucha or Much for over 30 years uh going back to when she was at Highland and my wife taught at Highland. And I must say her bright personality has been consistent ever since I've I've met her. We are so fortunate to have a utility player like that come in as a sub and not just fulfill or cover. It It's It's have an impact. We were We were receiving comments from staff members about uh how much she impacted them in in her short time uh in both locations.
>> Good question. The state pauses. You remember, we've been on pause mode for about 3 years uh with science adoption, as well as social studies. Uh right now, the DOE is still not released our social studies vendors that's out there, and that should be well, that should have been 2 years ago. So, we're backing that up, and we're in desperate need of those social studies materials. And so, moving forward, you're going to have social studies, language arts needs to be in there someplace, reading for elementary needs to be in there. So, we've been on pause mode for about 3 years with this science um adoption. Yeah, I I think that's just a good call out that we had to move at at this pace the DOE we put it, and if they put a pause on it, we can't update until they release that. So, I appreciate that.
Haven't yet answer any questions if there are any. >> Thank you, Stephen. Edno, not present. Let's see who else. Uh, Hawaii State Youth Commission testifying on Zoom. >> Not here. >> Not available. Chair, >> I'm sorry. >> Not there. Chris Caulfield for Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus. He was here earlier. Chris, are you there? Okay. If not, let's see. We had 10 10 testimonies in support. None opposing. Uh members were open for questions. I have a question. I guess DOE. >> So you said you've been working on this for four years. Why do you need this measure? >> One of the things that that the measure provides is the opportunity to partner with more entities. uh we we are in support because we know that is important but we will continue our work if we need to because it is also important for our students.
Any questions? >> So, I would say to make sure that we get all of the comments on the microphones, why don't we all go back to our seats and we can have a discussion. up to you. Awesome. So, Thank you. So, first let me start by saying congratulations, Miss Lee. I thought that that was an outstanding presentation and if you hadn't said that it was your first one, I could have easily mistaken it for your 10th. >> Well done. >> Uh there is one group though that I think you left out in all of the the the accolades and everything else. Uh, I think it's fantastic to see the members of your team here to support you tonight. Uh, so Natasha, Derry, Angel, oh, I'm sorry, Paula, thank you so much for coming out and for supporting Miss Lee, not only tonight, but throughout the entire process.
So now the team has to think about what we had ambitiously committed to this year to the board and say okay as we finish this year one what's working well what do we need to adjust and what do we need to come back to the board to this board and say okay here's where we are here's where we are realistically able to leverage as we go into next year. website. I want to note that it was important to the team um to to have an opportunity to re-engage sooner than later and come to the board and say here's what we're seeing. >> Thank you team for your efforts and your presentation. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. And part of our strategic plan next step. So, one of our priorities in strategic plan is to go deeper into really what I would say is really an extremely important facet of our work.
So, Mucha, can't cannot thank you enough uh for filling in for us. And as I spoke to her uh this morning, I was happy to hear. She says, "Yeah, okay. We'll We'll see you, you know, when until you call me again." So, hopefully uh you know, she's still on deck for us. Uh that's great. I also want to uh add some thanks for the Crown Point High School students. Mrs. Ramirez uh spoke of the Chamber Town that our middle school students uh attended at the Dean and Barbara White Center there in Merrillville. We sent 20 student volunteers from Crown Point High School. Marty and the folks at Transportation set up a special bus, not just to get the middle school students over there, but the 20 volunteer students from Crown Point High School over there. Uh our 20 volunteers uh were actually um there were there were 100 volunteers needed to pull this event off.
>> Yeah. Thank you. Mr. Wall, again, how much was put back for that? Do you remember? It's almost $2 million. I know we got some money. Miss Babcock, I don't think she's on there anymore, would be able to tell us that, but uh we did call it out. I remember Mrs. Smith when when we had to combine those funds. I specifically said we need to keep that and kind of have that earmarked, and I think Mr. Bremberry is going to come off mute here in a minute. Yeah, I I believe at the time, I and I want to thank the board and Mr. Peters and several people, but we were right around 2.3, and that got rolled in, and so to to adopt an entire um group, if you will, K-12, for the price that Mr. Peters and his team just did, is not only good stewards of the money, but uh we as a board and as school community have done a wonderful job of preparing for this.