>> On a second. >> Any further discussion? >> Okay, let's do a roll call vote. Uh Nathaniel, how do you vote? I vote in favor. >> Bill, how do you vote? >> Yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> Mega, >> yes. >> Back at him, yes. The motion carries. >> And for um do I have a motion for approval of joint school committee uh minutes of January 13 of 2026. >> J Cook. So moved. Thanks. Do I have a second? >> Second. All in favor? And for the region, do I have a motion to approve the minutes from January 13, 2026 of the joint school committee? >> Have a second. >> Second. >> And we'll do a roll call vote. Um Lindsay >> Lindsay. Yes. >> Kevin. Yes. >> Mary Louder. Yes. >> Jeff. Yes. >> Angie Johnson. Yes. So that is done. So then theformational items.
Is there any discussion or I guess I'll Is there any info we need to be updated on, Dr. McCord? >> Nope. The attorneys have looked at this and um it's good to go. >> Okay.
Seth, is there anything that you want to call out on these? I read through them and I actually did have one question which I know is weird. Um, so except when it has in there the paragraph that they've not received the new special education director leadership institute and it's going to have a something out of Louisiana from a private company. Does that affect us in any way for our driving? I I didn't know. >> No, it's just unfortunate because um Except has been such a a strong leader in in providing support especially to Kate McCarthy. went through the program and and had a mentor and now um the state instead of investing in our local town has decided to out outsource it to a company in Louisiana. So now everything will be virtual people with >> people who aren't necessarily local. >> That's what because I read it and I thought this is very strange for me and I I just wondered like how it did affect Okay.
Are there any questions or discussion amongst the board? >> Well, I think this was a really good process and I'm very happy that we landed on Dr. Ryan as our next superintendent and I appreciate the way the board worked together. It came together pretty well and pretty quickly. One of the fastest easiest hires that I've had to go through. So, I appreciate that. >> Thank you. Anything else? All right. Then, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor of approving the new superintendent employment agreement employment agreement for Dr. Jared Ryan for July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2029, say I. >> I.
Well, that's not fantastic. No, >> but it did say they were going to still try to resolve or something. I don't know. >> I don't know. It made me It It gave me pause. Yes. I'll just say that. >> Thank you for noticing that. I noticed that and it jumped out to me and I thought why why would we do that when we have the local I don't know. Okay, >> that's neither here nor there, I guess. Okay, so um the other thing to take note of is on April 28th, 2026. Um I think our original start time was was not was it 5:30 all along or is it just that we want to make sure? >> I think because there's a meeting that night, isn't it? >> Yeah, it's um meeting for Sher. So we meet earlier so that >> get so we can back up.
>> Any opposed? All right, thank you. We've already taken care of 9.2 through 9.4, 9.05 employee benefits trust EBT medical and dental insurance rates for 2026-2027 school years. Is there a motion? >> I move that we um increase as recommended the employee benefits trust medical and dental insurance rates for 2026-2027 school year. >> Thank you, Ms. Humphreys. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Brainard. Dr. McCord. >> Yes, Mr. C. Thank you, Mr. President, governing board members. I believe as Mr. McIntosh has uh informed you in the past, um this year the employment benefit trust EBT committee as well as the employee uh benefit trust board voted unanimously to recommend a 21.4% medical premium increase for the 26-27 plan year. This premium increase results in an increase in budgeted expense to GPS the amount of uh a little over $3 million. Included in the 21.4% premium increase are additional premium cost share to employees enrolled in the trust plus and trust savings $1,800 plan all coverage tiers and the employees enrolled in the trust savings $2,500 plan, which is the dependent coverage tiers.
>> Okay. So just everyone take note that we're here a bit early an hour earlier >> so we can all be together. Um hopefully not longer just earlier. >> Okay. So with that being said now we will take a motion to move uh to close this session and we move into executive session um not to return to open session. So with that being said, can I start with the Sherburn School Committee for that? >> May I have a motion to >> just roll call to go into exe? >> Thank you. Roll call to go into executive session. >> Mayor Kella. So moved. >> Bill. >> Oh, sorry. May I have a second? Yes. Thank you. >> Nathaniel, how do you vote? >> I vote in favor. >> Bill. >> Uh, Bill, yes. >> Kate, >> yes. Mega, >> yes. >> And Becca, yes. The motion passes.
Note that the total uh determined increase in the medical plans, including the plan design changes, is 24%, but due to the health of the employee benefit trust, a 21.4% premium increase was recommended. The potential drawdown of EBT reserves is approximately $671,728. And two, the EBT Committee as well as the EBT Board also voted unanimously to recommend a 1.7 increase to the dental insurance rates for the 2026-27 plan year. >> Thank you, Dr. McCord.
and for the over. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to uh move uh to the executive session >> not to return >> and not to return to the over meeting? >> Jesse also moved. >> Thanks, Jesse. Do I have a second? >> Kate Cook second. >> All in favor? >> And for the region, do I have a motion to end our regular session and to go into executive session, not to return to open session? >> Mary Louder. So moved. Do >> I have a second? >> Kevin. >> And I'll do a roll call. Lindsay. >> Lindsay. I Yes. >> Kevin. Yes. >> Mary Louderder. Yes. Jeff. >> Jeff. Yes. And >> Angie Johnson. Yes. And with that being said, then we are closing this meeting at 7:40.
Any questions or discussion? >> Yeah, I I just wanted to say, you know, I'm on the Employee Benefit Trust Board and seeing those numbers was pretty staggering. I know this is not easy for our employees for this much of an increase. I think um but for if you look at the numbers and look at the stability of the plan to be able to pay for those claims, um you know, it is necessary. I hope that we can look at options to, you know, make maybe have more stability in costs for our employees. Um but, you know, I just I know this is going to be a tough one on a lot of people and I'm glad that our Trust Committee and others kind of worked to um make this, you know, impact them employee the least as possible. So, I just want to say that.
>> Thank you. Anything else? >> Well, I I do think it's challenging. We're in a challenging circumstance nationwide. And I think that uh I appreciate the hard work that the Finance Department has done and the um Office of Talent Talent Management has done to keep this um as low as possible, but it is is a very concerning. It's it's a lot more out of someone's paycheck um than previously. Um especially when we've had some really good years where we didn't have a lot of increases. But I think this is just a nationwide problem, not just our problem. >> Yeah, I'll I'll just add to that I that I I understand that the increase is is hard and and challenging and and we feel that. Um as my fellow board members said, but also more specifically, the percent increase for our GPS plan is considerably lower than the percent increase of of neighboring neighboring districts, and a very very smaller discount than or sorry, increase than the percentage nationwide uh of just general insurance plans.
And so, it is a very tough environment, but in that tough environment, I think Governing Board Schools has done a a very great job um at minimizing the impact, even though we understand it is it is still uh an impact. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, if there's nothing else, I'll call for the vote. Uh all those in favor of approving the Employee Benefits Trust EBT medical and dental insurance rates for 2026-2027 school year, say I. >> I.
Any opposed? Thank you very much. 9.06 Paging and Notification System Upgrade Logicalis. Just kidding, I know it's I know it's I know it's Logicalis. Is there a motion to approve the paging and notification system upgrade Logicalis? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Brainard. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Ms. Humphreys. Uh Dr. McCord. >> Thank you, Mr. President, Governing Board members. Uh we we ask that you approve this replace the end-of-life paging and notification systems at three GPS schools to include an elementary, one junior high, and one high school utilizing the I Uh, the one GPA cooperative contract. Uh, the pilot project purchase involves transitioning Gilbert Public Schools from aging analog systems to a modern district-wide IP-based mass notification system. Installation will include deploying IP digital displays, multi-colored strobe lights for visual alerts, and weather-resistant uh, POE pluses audio horns for outdoor areas.
The implementation process will include professional services that includes the installation of CAT 6 CMP cabling, hardware deployment, bell schedule setup, and full zone testing. The estimated cost of this is $1.5 million, and that'll be funded through E-Rate. >> Can you say that last part again? >> I can say it six times fast. The funding portion? Is that what you're asking? >> Yeah. >> Uh, estimated cost is $1.5 million, a little bit more, $1,569,051, and it's funded through the E-Rate reimbursement, correct? >> Funded, yeah. >> So, that one point that's that's not the cost of the entire replacement. >> That's just for the pilot program at these three schools. >> Okay. >> Can I >> And I have two gentlemen here that are a little more technical than I am. John Castellano and Scott Hasty. And a little taller. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Can I Can I >> Yeah, so So, that was that was one of the concerns I had with this was um, what's the word word pilot I guess associated with it.
And uh, that the one one and a half million dollars is is a big ask for a pilot. So, if we I asked clarification, but if I can just have you guys clar- clarify for uh, everyone listening and and all my fellow board members that that it's not an actual pilot per se. This is This is full implementation at these schools. So, it's it's actually a full implementation at some of our schools. It's a pilot in that we're going to learn from it for implementation in future schools, but this would be the full cost at these locations. And I'll just I'll just If I can just speak to cuz I did have uh questions and concerns and and I just want to speak to those and and um and they were resolved for me. So, I want to let everyone know kind of my thought process on this.
Um So, one I mean, this is a a pretty incredible system that does a lot of a lot of great things. Um but it's it's also not just a uh an elective want upgrade. Like we we have our current system that's that's kind of falling apart at the end of its life cycle. Um specifically um at some of the schools that we chose to adopt first. So, so this is a needed upgrade. Um and and again, this is a a full replacement at these schools. And then at future schools, I think the implementation and the and the roll out of that will depend on funding sources in the future. And so, uh depending on what funding sources are available, we may be able to do a quick roll out. And if if funding resources aren't available, we'll be more judicious and conservative and and do a slower roll out based on on the life cycle of current schools and and the funding available.
And then through the E-rate uh E-rate, is that correct? That that these are uh partially reimbursed. Is that Is that No, or can you tell me more about the E-rate and and the funding on that? >> Sure. This project is not E-rate eligible. However, the E-rate reimbursement funds we receive through that program for our broadband, our network, and our uh internet systems, and some prior projects with our network. Those funds, that's what we're talking about those funds. Those can be used for this purchase and that's what we're we're taking advantage of here for this. So, just to make that clarification, right? The project itself is not E-rate eligible, but the E-rate reimbursement funds are eligible to be used for this. And I'll ask Ed if you want to add anything to that or not. >> If If I can just make sure I'm understanding. So, so other things, the things you just mentioned are reimbursable.
So, we pay up front for those things, we get reimbursed, and then those funds that we got from the reimburse, we can then apply towards this. >> Correct. And you saw on the slides earlier the E-rate fund in the in the dollar amount in that fund right now, that's what Yeah, we're just talking about there. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Mhm. You're welcome. >> A question that I Sorry, my mic is kind of funny. Um I I would like you to explain because part of this process is that we're making a ADA compliant. So, explain that part about why that's important and why we need to do that part of it. >> Sure. And And just quickly, just so so everyone understands. Um so, our our our intercom system uh at this point, our our newest one would be 19 years old, right? So, a large portion of the project is the cabling and the wiring, right?
Cuz when those were put in, obviously IP uh stuff wasn't really even around, if if you will. So, we can't use that existing cabling for this entire system, right? So, that's a large portion of this this project. So, that takes a uh uh uh it is a large amount, for sure. Um the ADA compliant, so uh all of the classrooms will have small display panels and they'll be equipped with a strobe light, uh which which hits that area right there. They'll also be strobes in different areas of the campus as well. So, I know that was a question I asked when we had the bond discussion. Um but there will be placement of those. So, you would know if the school is in lockdown cuz those strobes would be visible even outside of the classroom. >> Okay, thank you. What is the physical installation process like?
Is this something that can be installed in schools overnights and weekends, or are we talking about tearing open walls and replacing extensive wiring, and it's going to have to be done over the summer? What What are we talking here? >> Yeah, this wouldn't be during the day school day project. It would either be at night during the school year, um or summer time projects. With this particular project, um we would hope that it would all be completed, well, it would be if we move forward, before the start of next school year. So, it would be a summer time project for sure. Um there's not a lot of ripping of walls open other than, you know, the old speaker systems in the classrooms. Those would be replaced for sure. So, um but as far as in being too invasive, that's about it. Cabling though is, you know, all runs up above us, right?