So, um if selected, um a school could win up to $1 million for the renovations. Um and if this is something we want to push through the weekend, put something together, your pictures and your videos um to apply for this grant. So, so we are applying for it? I just wanted everybody to hear that right now. Uh uh We're limited in securing our funding for the football field in front Let's get the football field first before we go to the next one. Let's get the football field first. Uh that being said, um we will continue to see great opportunities and partnerships that support the football program while maintaining campus safety, which includes not having open campus requirement and sound financial practices that include not having natural funds as a requirement as well. I shared with you the limited amount we have in our capital. We would It would be devastating to our capital budget to use several hundred thousand for a project like this.
Oh, I'm sorry. Um no, it's okay. Everyone gets it wrong. Um I attend the dual language program at Plank Junior High. Um and me and my classmates and I have been preparing for and planning a trip to Memphis, Tennessee for a school trip in I forgot which museum, but it was about Abraham Lincoln and we're supposed to um fundraise and plan and work really hard for this field trip. Um unfortunately, it was canceled at the last minute with no real explanation. I think that that action of canceling Memphis field trip was unfair. The school already approved the trip and we had enough people and we had enough money. The teachers that organized this have made quite an effort to make enough money and flyers for this trip. So, why would it be canceled just a few short weeks before it happens? According to the information that I was given, the trip was canceled without reason, so I would appreciate a detailed for reason as to why.
And so, with this worldclass organization, we find ourselves then, transportation needs to be that as well. And I know that we'll get there. I think my biggest fear is always spending enough time, you know, did we did we spend enough on on making sure there's going to be a positive outcome with this challenge? challenges will always come along. I really feel like we've done a good job spending the time needed to come up with a good product and we'll continue to work. I think we've also developed some good relationships along the way. They trust Kevin. They know that that Kevin has their best interest in mind and we'll continue to work with them to make sure that that they have what they need. We love our bus drivers and we can't do it without them. So, you know, we appreciate everything they've done. I think it's been a really good process.
Um but anyway so we'll go through this and see what it means for us and then continue to um feel the cards we're dealt. That's that's a positive way to put it on. Spin it right. Right. Other than that [clears throat] like we're in uh testing mode. We are in six weeks of school left mode. Lot just lots lots going on. Lots of good stuff. So and busy. That's it. And of these 65,000 additional meals Yeah. are there limits to what they can do like reimbursement [snorts] wise or just food in general? There's no limits. Okay. All right. It seems like a lot. It is a lot. 65,000 meals. They've added they've had to add a couple staff members but obviously it's food service [clears throat] as you know pay pays for itself. >> [laughter] >> So if that number's 200,000 we're getting reimbursed. Okay.
So, I mean, at some point if we can't fix those lights and we have activities out on that field, we're going to have to bring in rental lights to push up to have, you know, those sorts of things, but you take a look at them, you know, they've been reinforced in those things before. So, I reached out to to your question, I reached back out to the two bids that we got earlier this this fall because I thought with the technology stuff, I'm like, "Holy cow, I don't even know what to expect these to be." So, the emails I got back today both said they are still going to honor the prices for both of these. So, there will be no change, but one of them came in um at just right at $220,000 and then the other one came in at 200 and Sorry.
If the bank got their cut out of our capital budget and and the auditor general will notice that. Um I I want to highlight also um It It's important also to avoid setting a precedent for funding projects for non-district organizations on district property, okay? Such actions could jeopardize the district's financial stability. And this is happening. You know, Mr. Hawkins, you first brought this to my attention a few uh last year when this happened. The case with Isaac Elementary School District were placed in receivership based on the auditor general's recommendations. And Isaac Elementary was at high risk before they went into receivership. So, I just wanted to share this uh hear your comments on it, please. Want to share before we do anything any further. Um A few of the the things I have heard here, just speaking as an administrator for anyone flying a drone over our property, that's safety concern for us.
I would also like to point out that most of us, including me, I have never been on a school field trip. This is a big opportunity for us to see the world with friends since COVID destroyed any opportunity opportunity for. Thank you. Christopher Barnes Good evening. Good evening. My uh son attends the same school as uh the Fish family and my daughter is slated to go to that school in a few years. These allegations are extremely concerning. Every day when my son goes to school, they go through this little motto, we are Boulder Hill, we are accountable, we are respectful, we are engaged. Where is the accountability for the adults that are supposed to be trusted with my children for you guys to provide my safe learning environment? We can hear you. Oh. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Carrie Ryczek Good evening.
board members. Any question for Dr. Finley and what he just presented? >> I guess I just wanted to clarify a couple things and make sure that what I'm taking away is uh your words, not just my uh thoughts on what you're saying. Um so you verified that no one will make less when you look at a whole compensation package doing the same work as before. Apples to apples compensation stays the same. >> Yes, that's correct. that uh with even if it's just the $37 per route versus the $30 route, many would make um at least some more um but not as like a percentage, not as like a raise. >> That's right. Yeah, they they'll make more for the additional. A lot of them weren't making that 37. And then also now any raise in the future will be on that base pay which is now at a higher rate.
It's incredible. Kindergarten round up? Do you have decent numbers? We had good numbers. Yeah. Um Landis had 111 the first day. Columbia had 68. I think I got that right. And Fairview had 47. For the for the first day. So and people they'll continue to come every single day. So those are pretty solid numbers for that time. We'll see what happens.
200 just a little a a little under $225,000. So, regardless if this is the direction we want to move, um we're going to have to get a third a third bid on these. Um both of these are completely turnkey, taking the old ones out, doing all the electrical work. The lighting on these are also for a 100-yd football field for two reasons. One, if we ever have to transition transition to a bigger field, we have the lighting for it. Two, we ever do something for the track, then it's going to be we're going to have lighting on the curves where we need lighting at for the curves. Um They would take the old ones out, put the new ones in. Um all the electrical work, haul off the old, all that stuff would be included in the prices for these. Um so I mean, you guys can do the math and kind of kind of get where if we're at $220,000 minus $60,000, I mean, you're at you're still at $160,000.
The one person that's flown a drone over our property I've looked at Chief Tibbet to work with the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office and like who else is doing drone flying and drones over our property? That just I'm just I'm using your words, uh Mr. Hawkins, the safety is is paramount, so It was used for the people that were Okay. So, I'm just concerned about I'm just sharing with you all of you guys. Okay. Um access I have said and I want to clarify this for everyone for the record. I have said yes all years to access. People who come on campus might Okay. Yes, they can check in but they have to check in. School and district office gates, our facility staff, we have Daniel, Angel, Jose, and Chief are here and they work from 6:30 to 7:00 in the morning. They can come and walk in the morning and put their kids in the track.
My name is Carrie Ryczek. I'm speaking tonight to express my concerns about how the district is handling inappropriate behavior and misconduct by staff. We are all aware of recent um firings and and other things with staff members of one kind or another. We are aware of the current lawsuit. We are aware that there is also uh what's happening at Boulder Hill. I totally understand that you cannot discuss employee hiring or firing or an active lawsuit in any way, but my questions are bigger than that. What are we doing? What policies are in place to ensure that this does not continue to happen in our district? What action plan does the district have to handle a situation when a student reports misconduct or makes an allegation against a staff member? In other words, as long as we'd like to pretend that these were isolated incidents, clearly they are not.
>> So when drivers accept a route, they would be able to accurately predict before they sign up. So they're not just like taking a route and estimating what their check might be. >> Absolutely. >> So they have that predictability. >> And then a question um how do we compare with schools near us and those that like we are most comparable to similar size or similar? >> Yeah, it's very competitive. We we did a thorough um review of that and we know that our pay is competitive that starting rate for the three tier and then it goes up from there. some of our drivers um who have been around for a while are making 28 $210 a day and that's very competitive um with the surrounding districts >> that like first second territory or we like middle of the pack when you see >> yeah I would say we're one of the top right now and and and the thing you know some of the districts are smaller than us so they may run small shorter route they may do a two-tier route instead of a three tier but for those that are doing the three tier routes we're very competitive And some of the school corporations do hourly.
Any questions? All right. Next up public comments uh second opportunity. If you'd like to make a comment. Any run for sheriff in the audience? >> [laughter] >> He thought he'd sneak in back there. I will. I will. I did learn something tonight. I stopped and wanted to ask the principals here. So uh our calendar and things like that I may be knocking on her door to steal that in a few months or so but I did learn something here tonight. So thank you. Also he learned that I get it my children get it honestly. Yes, I did. They're also talkers just like me. I did whisper that to her, yes. >> [laughter] >> Thanks for joining us. All right. Board member comments uh Vicki Oh. start with you. Okay. Well, Miss Miss Keenan and Dana thank you for your presentation. I know transitions are hard and you guys have had a lot to deal with.
Um kind of been working on capital outlay item list, keeping our modular up. Going where that information is on that, and I think you guys have that document in your email as well. Um with some of that included, I I just wanted to to make sure a couple other things. We are going to have to work on our vehicle transportation rotation a little bit as well with our capital outlay budget. Um Um Jamie did put in for the bus grant from last year. They have funds left in there, and they're dispersing the funds here within the next couple months, and they have enough funds left over that she's even thinking that it might be not 70/30 that we pay, that it could be 70 that they pay and 30 that we pay. So, she's working on that to get that in. So, if that happens, it would be in our best interest to go ahead and purchase a bus, and we'd be probably looking around that $70,000 mark.
They can come and walk next week if they want to. Parents and I believe they don't have to check. Grandparents don't have to be fingerprinted with background checks. But if people who don't want parents or grandparents, my obligation as an administrator would be that if you come on campus, you need to have finger prints. You could keep them safe as well. I don't know how to say Um and so but but the campus is available for people to come right now if you like to check in. And we have the security cameras at the district office that have 24/7 365 remote memory. Right, Chief? If I got it We have that for all years, so if somebody comes on who's not supposed to be having them, but by having them come in the morning and we have staff We don't have staff at We have staff there and they're present and we're getting more security cameras starting this week from Mr.
What will you do to to create policies to both prevent this from happening in the future and have an action plan to handle further incidents? Would it be immediate leave during the investigation, a second adult in the room until further questions can be asked? Are the policies different for student teachers or temporary staff versus full-time staff? Is the current background check system doing enough or should more be done? Something needs to be done to make these victims feel like they are being heard, believed, taken seriously. We owe them that. Currently, that is not happening and that is not okay. In a world where everything can be made public, the district needs to stop operating in a let's keep this quiet until we know more and instead be proactive in stating that these behaviors will not be tolerated and follow up that up with publicizing the policy or action plan that has been established.
They do based off the run. >> That's Yes. >> And some school corporations don't do the stretch pay. >> That's correct. Yeah. >> Can you Dr. Go ahead. >> Can you just for public understanding, can you explain the stretch pay? And then also, do we have any other non-certified groups that are on stretch pay in our district? >> We don't actually. Most are paid for the that they work during the school year. And for the transportation employees, and we've done this for quite a while now, I believe in Avon is stretch their pay out so that, you know, one of the things if if they have medical benefits um that are being taken from that pay, then they can stretch it out throughout the course of the year rather than just being paid for the time that they're at school when school's in session. So that means during those two week breaks in the fall, two week breaks in spring, that time over the summer, they're still receiving a consistent paycheck.
You've done a great job. So kudos to you guys and your entire team. Um as I was like just listening to everything I we should be so incredibly proud of what we do and all our staff. I mean it's just really heartwarming to hear what we're doing for for the kids and families in our community. [clears throat] So thank you. Great. I would agree. Okay. Oh. I was just going to say I I can't believe it's April. >> [laughter] >> But uh same thing. Just thank you very much. Um Miss Weisenberg and Miss Griffin for your presentation and all that you do. Very very impressed. Mike, I have nothing more to add. >> [laughter] >> I'll move real quickly. Uh I'll save everything for next time. I'll let you start with you. Mel, uh in when we approved the consent agenda we not only approved some hirings tonight but we approved some quite a few years of um school experience in the retirements.
If not, we do need to trade a Suburban in for a van on our transportation rotation to be back on it. So, those are some costs like with the capital outlay expenses that in the report um I put in there as well. Uh there's still a couple unknowns as far as like fire alarm system and that. Some of that stuff still estimates. We don't have that pinned down for the modular unit yet, but some of the items um on our capital outlay list is pinned down on what those are going to cost moving forward in the summer. So, this is something we can afford. Um with that being said though, that does take our budget for this year, if we did purchase these, okay, down to about $230,000 left. That's not cash, okay, that's our budget authority that we have to spend. With that being said, we have a hail storm or a tornado or something coming through, we're going to have to spend 100 150,000 on uh deductible for replacement for that.