Further questions. The chair's move for first reading board approve the FML A 15 to 14. All those in favor 80 again. Thank you. I recommend we approve as a first read the library collection displaying program and review and reconsideration 8131. Again, it's a first read. It's a very important policy um that that I would ask you all to take a look at between now and the second read. Uh it spells out exactly how something comes uh into the library collection, how something is taken out of library collection, and then some of the mechanical things when when is it time to dispose of stuff. Uh it uh it's important we have the policy and the procedures uh clearly explained for when something gets in our library and somebody wants something taken out of our library. John, you want to add anything to that? >> You did great with that.
We'll have one warrant article that says, blah blah blah blah blah, legal legal, $1,804,000 for Town Elementary School for operating. And then, there'll be other articles, blah blah blah blah blah, and then they'll get free cash, and one of the items listed under free cash will say $70,000 to fund charter student outside of the operating budget, which is not really how it says, but that's what it will do, right? And so, those things are they are they are separate line items. Yeah. Um so, in a year where the school budgets, I mean, they're always under very tight scrutiny at floor town meetings, um it might be slightly easier to have it be less scrutinized, especially because um when we're having the conversation, it is um I mean, I don't know what the what the budget was from last year, but there's no percent increase if you're talking about it, right?
It is it I I understand like it's incredibly frustrating for you, frustrating for me if everybody says this is what we have, this is what we're going to work with, but we all chime this like needs based budget, right? Cuz we were trained to think that's, you know, and if we're not going to accept the needs based budget, or at least accept that it's really important to acknowledge that even if we have to make cuts, the things we're losing and how important they are how vital they are to kids, right? So, the social emotional skills are so critical. We talk about you know, emotional intelligence and things like that in kids. It's It's really challenging to make these cuts. So, I don't like whenever like people get emotional and things like that, I I totally I completely understand and I want you to know that Al and I talk about this.
I would say it's it's not far off from what we already had uh in our operations. Um and so uh our our library media specialists and literacy innovation specialists have reviewed this as well. So just remind everybody this is a first read and I think uh Mr. Sher was correct that if you can make yourself more familiar with this it seems to be we get questions on this periodically and be good if board members are are pretty familiar with it. So um the the uh chair of policy has moved that can board of education approve the following policies as first read library collection display and program and review and re reconsider >> reconsideration 8131 all those 80 thank you very much and the last one is the first read the security and safety plan policy uh specific details as you know of the security and safety plan are not revealed.
Um not that I'm advocating for that. Um I think I actually hurting start having those discussions and probably adding slightly to that chance to that because I worry about our FY28 budget. And um, so you think we're better off asking for an increase and having that be Do we >> setting that precedent? Well, do we know This is a terrible question, Shannon, and I'm sorry. And if you don't know the answer, that's also totally fine. Do you happen to know, um, what we asked for appropriations for last year? For the operating budget? That 2 and 1/2% is normal what Pelham normally does year over year. It's Right. No, I know that. Do you know what the dollar number was from last year? >> yeah, it's on It's on the sheet. So, there's the FY26 budget. So, it's 1. Uh, 1,804 4 or 1,800 and 4.
Like we understand there are going to be emotions that are going to run high. If there are cuts at my children's school, my emotions are going to run high as well. So, I don't take that like there's no reason for anyone to think like if you, you know, get hot over this, I understand that. That's part of the world that we operate in. The the difficult part of this was the timeline, right? So, we got Berlin on March 3rd. We got Bolston's last night and then this morning we got another number from Bolston. Even after you guys walked away from that meeting last night, that the number changed again. So, we were trying to make a timeline and being respectful to the people of the cuts that we're making so that we've all worked in school districts where people are seeing for the first time a para is being cut, a school adjustment counselor and not having the individual conversations that all our admin team had to have with those people before word got out.
Those are for obvious reasons. Uh this in particularly spells out in detail uh what to do when a federal immigration officer should that occur arise at the front door of a school. So that's important stuff there as well. Well worth taking a look at before the second read next month. Thank you. So the chair of the policy committee moves that we approve the following polic uh first read the security and safety plan.
>> So, it's exactly the same. Right. >> And 1B is the exact same as last year. Correct. Yes. Okay. Dollar for dollars. So, I don't want to set that precedent at town meeting. That is, I feel pretty strongly against that, especially, I mean, Pelham school is fantastic and I don't want there to be, I'll speak for myself, any confusion that I think we should do anything besides continuing to have our fantastic little school. And I don't want there to be able to be conversation that says, "We didn't give you any more money last year. You figured it out. Do it again." Really? So, I'm going to go back to my 87,000 and I don't know how we got to the number we're at today. I feel like there's 12,000 that I still don't quite understand, but what I myself, kind of piggybacking on what Sarah Best was saying, when we had this conversation the last time, I was an advocate for advocating for like 1% 1.1, 1.25.
We live in a small community. Once someone finds out, it goes out. We just were being trying to keep that timeline, being respectful to the HR piece that we don't have a central office, right, and making sure that we we're we're talking to these individuals so they're not seeing it there. These These are tough. These are tough. Um and again, we want it all, right, but we need to make sure we're making cuts that we can also live with that if it if it doesn't work out the way we want, we're still going to be able to open up our schools in Pottery in the way we can to keep our sick kids safe and provide a good education. And thank you that because the hours that these guys I know I keep saying that, but the amount of time that they were not in their buildings and that were in my either on the office or on a Zoom call and not doing the jobs that they were supposed to do because this is it.
Any questions, comments further? All those in favor? I it's thank you. The next one uh I'll ask the superintendent just to give you some background on this. Um nothing to get too nervous about just yet, but it's part of the uh part of the procedure that we have to go through and event policy uh the budget. So based on um state statute, state law with um non-renewal contracts of nontenure teachers by May 1st, we would have to notify any nontenure teacher that their contract is not being renewed. And in this case, with our budget being the way that it is, that we already have received a $200,000 cut and the budget hasn't been approved yet, it would be irresponsible of me not to um not recommend to you to not renew teachers that are in their their first year of areas that we possibly could reduce our our budget.
I'm still comfortable with that. I'm also comfortable with advocating for the town to pay for all the costs of the charter kids out of free cash. So, I would be advocating for not what we have presented here, but a a 1.25% increase on the ask. And asking them to pay the 70,000 or the 76,000, whatever the that that that is, I guess, 70,000. Asking them to pay the 70,000 of revolving I mean of the charter. And in my head, knowing that they're probably going to get 40,000 back, so we're really asking them to pay like 35 at the end of the day cuz we wouldn't expect to get that reimbursed from back, they would keep it. And asking them for the 1.25. I would be comfortable with that. And I think I think the town people would vote for that. And just as I said the last time we were at the meeting, that we shouldn't present a a flat budget because I think the town would support us in asking.
When you take a look at central office in the entire district, this is it to your right hand side with the additional one more with Chris on it. So, everyone spent a lot of time not doing their job. We are not business people, right, but we put a lot of heart into deciding what we're going to make cuts on. So, I appreciate you saying that because we didn't do this lightly at all. Uh there's a motion on the table. Lisa, Jackie, do you have anything to add? No. All right. I would like to say one thing. So, so in guidance, what I would love to see is maybe the nurse moved down to .8 FTEs, the ELA coach strucken at least for this year, one para going back to BES, and the adjustment counselor at .8. And you know, like it breaks my heart not to mention band at all because I think that again is social emotional health of our kids, but at least we still have music, but hopefully that's a temporary one year thing until we organize an override.
and that would be increasing class sizes, things that we've spoke about. It's not a recommendation of this administrative team to do that, but if there is a massive cut and speaking to our district uh legal counsel and I did speak to our union president that I am recommending that um one of the teachers with Caitlyn Baker, she is a long-term sub for the year. So, state statute or state law says that we need to not renew um that. But with Tommy and Rose, Tanner Clark and Taylor Richardson, I did have a conversation with each of them to let them know that my hope is that this is formality and that they should not be out there looking for jobs that I will keep them up to date of what's happening, but this is it's not based upon performance as I told them. It's based upon budget.
I think the town will support the 70, and I think the town will support the 1.25. And if the town votes and they don't, we come back to a level service budget, which is 1/12, which is where we would be anyway if we asked them for no more money. So, why not ask? I I I just want to say 1/12 is not level. Level services or level spending? Level 3. It's the same because we're asking for the same amount of money this year that we got last year, so it'd be the same even if it's the same 12. It's not level services, that's level spending. But that's what we're asking for. We're asking for level spending. >> 1B is level. So, I I I would I would >> speak on one thing? I would not agree with that. I think wait, hold on. All right, I'm not sure but Sharon is right to give us information.
So. But I just have one question, Mike. So, we have this motion on the table for the number. So, we're going to walk out of here tonight and no one's going to know what's We don't know if we're going to take have an ELA coach or not have an ELA coach or we don't know if we're going to have a .8 or a full-time adjustment counselor. I guess I'm confused walking out of here voting on something I don't even know what I'm voting on. I'm just voting on a number and saying you guys make the decision or how Explain to me what we're voting on. >> what everybody is saying they want. No, I would like another meeting to solidify budget is going to be finalized. I mean, this is our That's what we do. That's one of our huge major jobs. So, you know, like that is shaping the education of our children and and I do really appreciate the time and effort that's been made.
And that that's where we are right now. >> Everybody understand that? Then the chair will make a motion that the um the contract of employment for Caitlyn Baker, Thomas Ambrose, Tanner Carr, and Taylor Richardson not be renewed for the following year upon its expiration at the end of the current FY 2526 school year. And the superintendent of schools is directed to advise such persons in writing of this action. Questions or comments? So we have one that is in uh fourth grade. We have one two that are in third grade. >> Further questions or comments? >> That let me can I just clarify that doesn't mean that if these individuals are reduced that number one all of them would be reduced. That's number one. And I don't want the community to think that just because their names are on here that that means the grade level that that's where the reduction would be if we had to reduce because that that's it.
Sharon. Oh, well, no, I wanted to talk about the first piece, and I know I figured it out, William. So, I add So, the there's the ad for the charter, but in the budget hearing, we did not have the actual ad of clerical in the salaries line yet. That was an ad outside, so that's the difference that you're seeing. Okay. So, I'm I'm okay with I I'm still not okay with the year-round plan. I'm not quite sure where I land on that, but to pass a budget, the budget I would be willing to stand for would be to ask the town for 1.25 more than we asked them for last year, and ask them to do the 70,000. I also want to clarify 1/12 budget is not a level service budget. So, I I I I just I do I do not I do not want that conversation that that that statement to go out there and everybody's like It's level funded.
Well, I think we have to bring that back to you, right? So, we're we're taking your direction, right, that you would rather see the ELA, you know, give up the ELA coach and and then this would have to be if there's a consensus among the committee. I don't know if you need a vote or not, but you know, consensus of some sort or a vote to provide us direction that you're comfortable making the cut say to the ELA coach and/or the following, right? Maybe the nurse saying, but you know, it can't just come from one individual. I I think I had this conversation at Berlin FinCom, right? Beth was there. We we don't we work for the committee as a whole. So, the committee is going to have to make a decision. If you're going to give us a direction, this is the direction you want us to go.
It's it's just going we would have to go by seniority. So if we lost um one section, we'd have to look at seniority who was hired for different things like that. This is not a favorite part of my job just so everybody knows. So if you or John or the principal hand deliver these to the >> I already did. I already met with them individually and then tomorrow I'll have to visit them again and say the board approved it and then if the budget um passes on May 14th I will certainly go and um tell them that the budget passes. >> Great. Further questions, comments? Chairs made a chair made a motion that the contract of employment of Caitlyn Baker Thomas Ambrose Hander Clark and Taylor Richardson not be renewed for the following year upon its expiration at the end of the current year FY2526 school year and the super schools is directed to advise such persons in writing this action.
It's level funded, but 1 1 1/12 >> We're asking for 1/12 is is is asking for you would get the same amount of money you got last year, which is the same ask we're asking the town for. To operate on a 1/12? If we ask for them to give us the same amount of money that they gave us last year, that's the same budget the state would give us, the 1/12. Sharon, explain a 1/12 for me cuz I my understanding is completely different. charter school to pay for. So, I think you have to take into consideration what the response may be in terms of recommendation to town meeting. >> Oh, I get that. I think the town people will vote for it and then we come back into a budget. We still have time to come back and do another budget. If the town voted it down, we don't have to go to the state budget till June.