>> But it is possible that projects could be getting done and >> Yes. >> energized before >> this summer. Yeah, we're shooting for at least some solar this summer. So, there there's a shot. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I'm just The budget for next year is a Yep. >> It's a big deal. Wild card. Yep. >> If we could get that'd be fantastic. And I know that there's the big hurdle that Yep. popped up. But thank you for >> sure continuing on that path. >> Any other questions for Miss Taylor? >> Great. >> Take us into the medical benefits. >> Medical benefits. Uh so the medical benefits fund budget is $15,958,339. We have a monthly contribution of about $1.2 million, which is an increase from $1.1 million last year. Uh, as of March 31st, we are in a notable position with a balance of about $2.9 million compared to $2.7 million in March 2025.
So uh if we can't reuse the frame then that whole side of the building gets replaced. So it could be relatively expensive. Um but at least to have a design in place you know you'll have a design the due diligence will have been completed on existing conditions and then a probable uh construction cost estimate will give you the right number you know so say it comes in 3.875 and we've got to kick this thing down the road to year six. Do we have to how do we get a a more current number as we get closer to that? they just add we add a 3 to 5% escalation cost every time we do this exercise >> to try to keep pace with it. But windows are you know if you price windows they they've gone up 30% in the last you know 3 years. So, it's hard to try to make an estimate specific to, you know, a system or a product, but at least if we put at least a small percentage of cost escalation, we kind of, you know, stay with it for a better lack of uh of terms.
It's going to stay there. If anything, it's going to go up. Okay. So, yeah, Steve, that is something you need to be in the forefront of because it's here to stay and it is a now a legitimate component of any K12 educational system. Um very few districts don't have any virtual now. Okay. And it's given Indiana with you we're all transfer happy and things like that. You think it's easy to transfer from one district to the next? Try to do it virtual. You do that. Click the switch. >> We have 31 students residing in our district that attends. >> Yep. Now they don't get funded the same level of the in in uh class student but still >> 85% still >> yeah that was even the school court we'll be reading about that in the press for years and years and years to come. I'm sure that investigated a field day of that place see where that money went millions and millions of dollars.
Nice of them to support the high school athletics by being a sponsor. So, thank you to them. And for the sub, it was delicious. Draw controls haven't really been going Ashlyn's way. I would say that the majority have gone to the Marauders. Something that Ashlyn's going to hopefully clean up as the second half goes along. From what I saw in the first half, yeah, there's a couple players on Dedham that are obviously the the go-to for scoring. Number six, Dynamite Jr. Um Ava Landry, she's got three four goals already, so um I I Ashlyn's got their feet kind of in concrete, looks like, on offense for a bit, kind of waiting for somebody to do something. I think that's part of the younger roster today on the offensive end. But Yeah, and also another one for number six. That is all of them. Yes. And very similar move, though.
Uh, we had about $1.1 million in claims, which was a 69% increase compared to March 2025 when claims were $660,000. So, uh, but I will say March 2025 was the lowest claim month out of the 12-month period last year. So, it was it was very low claims. Um, but what offset the increase was obviously how much we're contributing on a monthly basis. We're also seeing an increase to our stop-loss reimbursements. Those are people are starting to hit that $175,000 stop-loss limit. And when we hit 175, we get reimbursed for anything beyond that. Um, so we were up $292,000 from one um $195,000 the prior month. So, we saw about $100,000 more in stop-loss reimbursements this month. And RX rebates were also up a very considerable amount, about $200,000 from the prior month. So, you know, we saw those help offset um some of the increase from March 2025.
>> Um, is there a So, you want to replace the windows. >> Yeah. >> Is there is there anything is it mechanical failures? Are the kids freezing in the winter and like boiling in the >> windows? Yeah, windows are the first the entire school is not climate controlled. So, we did a we did some major improvements on heating. So, that has helped offset the windows. But yeah, if when the next five degree day, we'll take a we can take a ride over. You can see it yourself. >> The wind blows and you know it's blowing because you're sitting 10 feet inside and you can feel it blow against your face. It's not good. >> Yeah. >> It's in a It's in failure mode. It's, you know, it's aged. >> I think when I see that number $4 million, the first thing I want to do is have a conversation with the council >> because school modernization is still in front of us.
But yeah, that is one you can actually have some [clears throat] that can encourage those nasty empty nesters to move out of [laughter] careful property tax charge on 55 households. That'll do it. >> People think I'm joking. I'm not. They keep or we get tax abatements for people and all that going out move. >> I can't ask. [laughter] All right. So adopt >> house was a foster house. [laughter] I give my dad's house down in >> northwest example. At one time we sent four kids local school hasn't been a school age kid come over there since and it won't be until the house is sold. New house new people move in. >> Guess I better turn before moving. >> I'm not kids. If any other questions come up know how to get a hold of me. >> Thank you. >> Good to see you. [laughter] >> Yeah, you got I think uh copies are also in your shared folder as well if you ever need to revisit them.
The They are and coming from her around the back in the net. And we when Brian was here in the booth, we did talk about it. It's a little bit different lineup than Ashlin normally is putting out there. Ashlin Forester had been playing defense for much of the first half. Looks like she's back on the midi circle now. So, we'll see if that's changed up, but it's a almost a completely different set of defenders that are out there at this point. Good check by Ashlin. Hopefully Massaglia comes up with this good. Nice. Okay, she did a good job getting out of there. That's Julia Fries taking the ball up the field. Julia's a good surprise this year. I love her aggressiveness on defense. Always trying to pick off those balls which is good. Yeah, she has done a really good job of that. I think she's leading the team in caused turnovers.
We're in a stable position, very stable position with 2.31 claim months in reserves, which is above our target of two months. and it's on par with the 2.3 claim months in March 2025. Um, and like I said, the contributions that we budgeted for are really helping us offset some of the increases. Um, and our medical benefits budget for next year is currently in a favorable position. Like I said earlier, uh, the claims funding is set at 6.97% with a net budget just north of $17 million. We have uh, budgeted stop-loss coverage at 16.1%. We are meeting with our broker USI on April 24th. They have an RFP out now to uh evaluate our stop-loss options. We are currently with CT Prime. The number of members, it is a captive. The number of members has uh gotten less and less every year. So, it's just smart for us to kind of look and see who else is on the market and what rates they're offering.
And $4 million is $4 million six years out. Let's just say that's what it is. That to me is a >> modernization question before we spend $75,000. >> Yeah. on a new in year, you know, this year for a new design or review of it. >> I mean, we've updated the heating plants. Uh, although the main heating plants will need update in probably the next 5 years, but the roof is pretty much 100% all set for that'll carry us for the next 15 years. So, that's good. Um, so there's been a lot of improvements over the years, but the windows are the windows are in rough shape. the spandro panels are all either buckling or fading and it needs to it needs I'm sure when the system was brand new it was spectacular but after you know 30 years >> plus it just deteriorates >> I get it I understand yeah I'm not I'm not questioning whether it needs to be done it's just what's the path to get there >> yeah no I agree if it's a school modernization is a big key a big part of that >> um obviously come back to that one once we kind of go through this once again.
And the I just looked the 2021 study. It's also in the shared back. >> Yeah, >> it's in some of the archives. I first thought it was that [laughter] >> I don't think this is right. >> This doesn't seem right. So about our uh the next topic >> [clears throat] >> um update on our conversations and our exploring the opportunity to look at our special education services and our partnership that we have with the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative. And so I think Andy's got the PowerPoint. I think I may have shared this with you as well. It's in certainly in your share drive. So, it's really going to be balcony level. It's really going to be um looking from the 25,000 ft level. When we [clears throat] originally started exploring this, certainly I had the hope that possibly by April and the April board meeting that we would have information or have the decision to make moving forward whether or not we make a recommendation to the board to uh continue moving forward and leave the co-op or resend our letter and stay in the co-op.
That one went a little high, but again, Ashlin was there to collect it and Let's see if they start moving their feet here. Love to see some picks and rolls and some cuts. There's a good one. There we go. Ooh, kick save from U. Good save by the keeper. That was a a very good look from Trip to Vitti. Unfortunately, the Unfortunately for Ashlin, the keeper did a good job, but Erin Hickey gets the ball right back and Erin stuck in the corner there. Hopefully, she can spin out of this. Yeah, that that's >> Some help from Maggie. a high pressure Dedham defense there. They're they're defending way out instead of just packing it in. That that one's going to be called. I'm sure it'll be a a free shot or No, she wasn't quite there yet, I don't think. Put her back behind the line.
Um, so that will happen on April 24th. So, I should be able to give you all an update for our next board meeting. So, that's the medical benefits report. Thank you, Emily. Anyone have questions on medical benefits reserve fund for Miss Taylor? >> Yeah, I just have a clarifying question because I'm still learning. Um, when he says stop-loss coverage has been budgeted at 16.1%. >> That's 16.1% of the >> current. So, it's increase. >> So, it's an increase to what we're paying currently. So the 2 point in parenthesis the $2.1 million there is a 16% increase to the premium we pay for our stop loss now. >> Ah okay. >> And that is not um you know that's that's fairly conservative stop-loss um budgeting but you know it's also kind of a tough market with stop loss especially when you're trying to switch vendors. So you know I'm I'm hopeful we can give you an update on the 24th.
The next one for Dodd is the athletic field upgrade. Um so some design work in year one that's the $50,000 and actually in year three at $300,000 uh is put in. Um and we have that renovating the or upper and lower fields, replacing existing back stop with a regulation back stop netting. Renovating dugouts, add fence protection and bleachers plus turf improvements. place store shed at Upper Field. >> The big the big dollar item for that. So, this is for civil design. The big dollar in that is that lower field that it's >> that thing's flooded forever, right? >> Well, it was built in a in a wetlands. So, >> Oh god. >> Um it's not there's no um um there's no active drainage system, >> you know, to keep that dry. So that part of that design effort would be to look at that to see what's possible whether is it just as simple as adding a drainage system is it does the field have to be elevated but yeah it's not a I would have not selected that location to put a ball field but >> I literally >> we have it we have it we have it we have to deal with it >> I have the memory from Dodd where it was like we always use the upper field and the lower field >> never went down there was just >> if it's uh I mean if it's too if you know if it's too wet I can't even mow the field.
So flat out, we're still exploring and we're still taking a look at the information and primarily the financial um information um regarding our co-op bill and the funding that it takes and how it's intertwined with state and federal funding and those funding uh windows which can be up to 27 I believe 27 months in length and overlap. Um, we just felt like this is a pretty big decision, very big decision, and it's going to impact the entire district, not to mention just the number of students that are involved and families. So, we gave our I gave ourselves a couple extra months to make sure that we had everything that we needed. So the anticipated um time frame now we're looking at May to be able to bring a recommendation and to bring you more detailed information financially at that time as well. Next slide, Angie.
Look at a wide open Ashlin Forester for the goal. Excellent. So, we we talked a moment ago waiting for them to start moving a little bit. That was a great example of it. Ashlin had been playing midfield for the early part of the season. She was on defense. Now, she just moved up to midfield and there she is cutting right through the middle. Maggie against was able to hit her. And Ashlyn back on top, 6 to 5. It's going to be a close one, Kev. Yeah. It's back and forth here. If they can If they can really double team or or or just stop number six, uh they may have a better chance here. Ava Landry just lighting up. Yeah. >> Goal. She's got that high to low, high fake, low shot happening. Lana's made a bunch of saves on her, but you Now we know who was scoring the goals.
>> Oh wow. Yeah that's a big Okay. Thank you. Just to to build on that point though, um Emily mentioned the uh group that she was working with from the town. I mean, I think everybody on the council was surprised to hear like we manage our insurance incredibly well as a community, both the board and town side. Um and that we're actually doing better than our peers. Um it's it's a function of how astronomically fast prices have risen in this market uh postcoid. It's it's ridiculous. And so all of us are feeling it. And I think it's because you know we see our numbers and like oh my god this is incredible. It is but others have it worse than we do actually because we're managing it so well. Um it it is frustrating though. I just had this isn't actually a question. Go ahead.
That's >> Yeah. No, I mean I remember like I didn't realize it was wetland but I remember seeing puddles like all over it without a lot of rain necessarily. >> Yeah. It's a it's a tough it's a tough space. So that's what that those funds are for. >> The question relate is just colllocated with that and it's not ours but the tennis courts. Do you know if those are >> it's kind of an abomination right now. >> Those are town property. They should be there should be a race. >> There's Yeah, there's like growing in there at this point. There's a lot of >> the fencing parts of the fencing are collapsed. Branches that had fallen. >> Should be should be demo. >> We actually looked at that as a potential reunification site and you know like if the kids needed to evacuate the building cuz it's kind of far enough it's it's out of eyesight and you can pick up on rolling acres and we can't because there it's it's just completely overrun with vegetation.
So tonight, of course, I think Valerie, you mentioned it. It's no [clears throat] decision tonight. It's it's basically to bring you up to speed on where we're at right now and what we've learned along the way. And we've learned a lot. I mean, we >> we've been able to make a lot of notes and uh regardless of the decision that's made in May, we know some things that we want to explore to do differently whether we stay in the co-op or not. Uh and again, preparing for that that May recommendation. [cough] [clears throat] Next slide. So, just a brief history, the co-op was created in 1970. So, that is something that I certainly don't take lightly and no one on our team takes lightly. Decal was a charter member in the creation formation of uh the co-op and it uh currently has 12 member districts.
Hopefully coach will make some adjustments here. Yeah, so far this game hasn't ever been more than a one-goal lead. It's back and forth, as you say. There's multiple ties and no no team has been able to get up by more than one through throughout the contest. Julia Freeze trying to get that ball from number six again, Ava. Trying to master high pressure here. Looks good. Nice check by Julia. Cali Brennan getting defense. Don't get beat. There it is again, right that that that curl, but forcing herself almost. It's almost like a charge. It's getting close. >> Yeah. There There's something I discussed with Brian in the first half. There There was a circumstance where it certainly looked like she was initiating contact. >> Mhm. But well, good for her. If If they're not going to call it, then do it. These refs This This one ref in particular I see down there usually calls pretty tight game.