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Um, and, um, those section reductions still keep us well within, uh, the limits of the class size limits, uh, via policy. And [snorts] so our recommendation is to reduce in those areas, uh, so that way, um, we are not eliminating, uh, even more currently house positions, uh, we're just reducing based on, um, you know, enrollment figures. Um, when we think about that, um, we do hope, uh, that we are unable to, um, or that we are able to keep staff. Uh, we do believe that we will have re- you know, maybe attrition and other things that may occur where we're able to keep staff. Although we can't guarantee that and it's very early right now uh, to know exactly how that is going to play out. So we are obligated under non-tenure law to inform non-tenure staff who may not have a position next year before May 1st and so we want to come we are going to comply with that law to inform the the two folks about that.
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So, I'll give you a really great story. So, Mr. Labou on the other side administratively well before you're a BA or at central office, you don't know why the BA or the superintendent freezes the the budget every year at January. You get mad, right? You kind of kick and scream, "I can't believe this guy." Blah, blah, blah. And then when you get in the chair, you understand why it happens. So, you you tighten the reins and you save a little bit here and there, but but I I I do have to say that the Mr. Labou's you know, in his defense and this board has been incredible with making sure, and I mean this, students are first. All the programs that you've wanted we've done. So, I I think it's been pretty interesting. I think the overarching nemesis, if I may, with the higher tax rate and these unfortunate cuts we have to make is just that progressive compounding thing, you know, over time.
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You're not necessarily presenting options, you're presenting proposals. >> is this is proposing what we would like to see for within our renewal that as Jen said, it's it's been a little bit of time, so Got it. And what's awesome about the biology one is it it brings it up to modern age. So, like there's a whole unit on the COVID vaccine and like things like that. Like that's how recent it all is and that's what our kids will be able to start engaging in with the resource. Awesome. I'm really happy to see a lot of this curriculum work for science coming through because I know that our district has has had a lot of stops and starts in regard to curriculum work and often I don't know why, but science sometimes is like number three on the list, right? It's language arts, math or math and language arts and then science.
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Thank you, Dr. Stalbomb. When we approached our community in 2020 asking for their support of our operating referendum, we spoke about how changes at the state level had severely affected the funding available for public education. We also addressed how our teachers working conditions directly affect our students learning conditions and ultimately their learning outcomes. We were so grateful for our community support of BCSSE to invest in safety and security measures for our students as well as for our efforts to both recruit and retain great teachers, which has helped generate the historical student outcomes you're hearing about this evening. This graph shows the impact of the referendum on our average BCSSE teacher salary. As you can see, without the referendum, our average teacher salary would fall below the statewide average. While a 2024 report cited by the Indiana Capital Chronicle showed Indiana had the second lowest inflation adjusted increase in education spending in the nation from 2002 to 2020 at only 1.9%.
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Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Terrell. Uh I think we could roll into the 7.01 and maybe we can discuss Dr. Terrell's comments if you guys wish to do so with that. So, this is other board business of the board at this time. Does anybody have anything to share or comments? >> Uh question going back to Mr. Chiquena. Um is there any did did our elementaries at all lean on those I learn results at all for um high ability placement or Uh you know, you mentioned that that's not going to come out and we won't receive that until September. Is there any impact or modification needed on for not having those results? >> Are you referring to high ability identification? >> Yeah, did we use I'm basically general statement. Did we use those results as a school corporation for any you know, help in where or with students?
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Uh so, I will tell you I'm not sure about all that, but uh the Diligent Community Quote, remember they have owned uh BoardDocs. Uh Mrs. Gray did a wonderful job explaining that process. Um Mr. Klausing went through the transition, what that would look like, and Cindy tell me when exactly we would begin. I believe August you said? Yes, they will do all of the back end migration for us and yeah, it'll be Yeah. So, for your consideration tonight, Diligent Community Quote for uh replacing BoardDocs in our near future. Chuck, when does this take effect? Uh they'll start the transition um ASAP, then they'll start training us uh this summer, and then in August. >> one of these two are going to train me? Uh I believe I believe a team of people, Mr. uh Gary will uh will take care of you. That's it. It's going to be a big haul, but we got you.
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We're happy to take any questions. Yes, thank you to the committee. Dr. Smith to go along with that. I believe we've added a couple schools correct to our voting sites. >> Yeah. Dr. Nesbitt would you share with the board um you know the election board contacts us and obviously being one of the larger owners of buildings public buildings in the in the district we've agreed to allow which schools Right. We have seven sites. Five of them we knew about up in previously then about two weeks ago we learned online that Amy Beverland been selected through a Facebook post and then they called us emailed us this past Saturday so nine days ago to ask if Crestview could do it. That that that site used to be Nine Methodist Church there and Sydney First Street they had dropped out of Nature School so they did it but then they reneged and so call Lawrence Township Schools public schools we will help you.
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I mean, either you want to come here or you don't. It's not a big decision, >> right? So that but they have the minimum amount of time the 10 days. >> Okay. 10 days. >> So then after 10 days we call them to make sure and then after that we then start admitting more students. >> I'm just looking out for those people at the end. >> Yeah. So we did have a week of vacation. So nothing went out during that time frame. >> Okay. >> Yep. I can find out the exact number where we're at tomorrow and I'll email everybody so you have a better idea of what the exact numbers are as of tomorrow. >> Go ahead, please. >> I'm not sure cuz I didn't meet with her recently since we've been back from vacation. I'm not sure where we were having days. >> It was the beginning of March that this this happened.
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But again we do believe that there may still be an opportunity for them here in Brookfield and we are very hopeful that we don't lose two new educators. >> And you don't have any specific information on what grade levels and what the numbers would be. >> We do know right now that that can be in grades four and grade two. And we're just looking to see if it would be both in grade four or both in grade two. And Dr. P has to has to work carefully in this area because it's it requires movement of staff. And again [clears throat] trying to do it in a way where hopefully we can retain the staff that we have even with the reduction based on potential other factors of attrition. >> So how would it be a savings then if they're if the positions aren't being cut?
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I stood up here, you know, wasn't popular my first year here, but the health care I I said this was coming down the pipe the first year we got lucky with that extra money, but now we're you know, we're where we're at. So, that's a major concern. So, so just not to circumvent your question, but it's really was it's been there. So, we wanted we wanted at some point make this budget as healthy as possible meaning that we don't have to carry that over every year and use that towards that $18 million under adequacy. You know, that's the whole idea. So, if I could if I could talk about health care for a second wellness because this was a a very interesting comment up here. So, that program was approved. It's it's throughout Bergen County. I think there's a misconception there about how your premiums go up and and it's a lot of great rhetoric.
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So, thank you for all the work. I do have a couple questions that were coming to mind as I was um listening to present. Are these Are the cuz I heard and I think for um um for biology, you have I forget what you called it, the Well, biology and chemistry, I think you said lab manual and like a workbook of some sort. Are those consumables or are those What we're So, what we're proposing for the biology, it wouldn't be a consumable. It would be a uh class set and then teacher resource. Um and then chemistry does not have like a secondary. It is just one program. Okay. >> so, but the Earth does have a a second program. Okay. Uh a lab book uh that again would be classroom set and teacher opportunities to be able to access all of its features. Okay. Thank you.
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Our Indiana legislature did give local communities like ours the opportunity through referenda to address this shortfall. From an article released on the Republic's website today and similarly to our situation in 2020, Indiana continues to rank 38th in the nation in average teacher salary. And while still lagging behind the national average, thankfully due to our operating referendum, BCSSE has been able to move our average teacher salary at least closer to that of our surrounding states. Since passing the referendum, we have shared annual updates during our schoolboard meetings and posted information on our BCSC website on exactly how this vital community investment is being utilized. All of our classified staff receive additional compensation from the referendum and we now have almost 600 teachers receiving additional salary dollars to remain competitive with districts around us and throughout the state which has enabled us to retain these great teachers who have helped us with continued positive outcomes for the children in our community.
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>> Yes. >> Yeah, exactly. >> is the first year of the I learn checkpoint through year assessment system. We piloted it last year. So, even though we don't have those, we will not have the summative results on ELA and math here in May, we do have last year's summative results as well as the three checkpoints from this year and we've been using those in a number of ways. >> Okay. So, no impact for the I mean, in a nutshell, it's not going to >> It would be great to have those time It would be great to have results in a timely way, but the state is working through those new cut scores, um and we're uh you know, we have data from other sources that we're using, but um at the elementary level, we'll be meeting with teachers over the next couple weeks to update our curriculum maps and things like that.
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I turn it off and turn it back on again. All right, on that note the floor is open for a motion for the diligent community quote. Motion to approve the diligent community quote as presented. Thank you, Matt. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Gary. Any further discussions? Anyone want to volunteer now to help Gary? On that note all in favor of the motion say I. I. >> I. Opposed same sign. Motion carries 6-0. If we log in the board docs, it's probably working now since we voted. Probably it just all of a sudden started working. >> We had a lot of theories of how this may happen today. Yes. Moving on to G1, a substitute teacher handbook for 2026-27, Miss Babcock. Yes. Um so in your packet is the just the revisions version of this and this will be the first reading and we'll bring it back to you next month to approve.
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We'll host. And so we're hosting at seven sites. Amy Beverland, Crestview those are the new sites. Lawrence North, Fall Creek um uh Pardon me? Yeah, Mary Castle. Yeah, thanks. And Winding Ridge. Yeah. So um And you said that begins for the primary, correct? Yes, that's for the upcoming primary here just early May. Yeah. Okay. Week away. Thank you.
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So, we're now at the end. We're in May, beginning of May. So, there's been a couple of 10day cycles that have elapsed. >> Yeah. So, if they haven't confirmed, then they would no longer be on the lift by this time. >> But I don't >> look only eight, seven, >> right? 11 19 students in Andover >> have confirmed and there's a 45 no there's a 25 >> number a lotment >> has 25 seats 5% >> so you have to remember this report was done for our la the meeting that we pushed back by a So, we're probably two or 3 weeks behind what the actual number is. So, I'll find out what the actual numbers are tomorrow and I'll email everybody. Uh, this a question through you to the superintendent. So, we um this admissions conversation comes up in every meeting. Um, I think it's an important one and my phone doesn't stop ringing from all the parents and the letters that I get at my house.
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>> Because we would still be going from 50 teachers kindergarten through fifth grade down to 48. We would still be going down that much. Um >> You're so you're saying that >> if someone was on >> There are potential for the for things to resign, retire >> Yeah. >> move, yeah, many reasons why that might happen. Um >> So the total staff will still be reduced by two? >> Exactly. >> Right. >> That is happening. >> Which is still slightly unknown between now and and June or yeah, next school year. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Things are evolving, but nothing is certain. >> So, do we have those numbers like if we reduced grade two by two grade by two sections, what would there the class size be and if or if we >> 19.6 and the class yes, 19.6 reduced by two and the class size guidelines are 19 to 22.
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It sounds great when you're talking about high costs and all that other stuff. There are wellness programs out there. You've probably had it at your own work if you're not working in education. You know, they they your veins, they do all those things. And yes, those those those do uh incur health care costs that are basically under the umbrella of uh you know of what we do uh what we utilize um you know, on a daily basis. Is it important to our staff? Absolutely. Um I mean, what it does and why those programs are important so that we can basically stop future, you know, health issues from happening, etc. Uh this program that was just mentioned up here um is basically a you know, a wellness program uh talking about, you know, mobility and and uh obviously with your feet, with podiatry. But I I don't really need to talk about the program or or whatnot.
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But yeah, we wanted to have uh the ability to still have students physically and online access it, especially in scenarios where they may not be in the classroom uh to still experience those things. Mhm. So, in making our decisions, we shouldn't look at this as a 20-year investment. No. Or maybe you should. >> [laughter] >> That just keeps renewing and renewing >> I I know this is probably part of the rubric. >> have a cycle now. We [laughter] do have a cycle now. It's been a priority. >> I will say that as well. So, considering that cycle, these are 4-year preparations. So, to bring us back to this moment in the cycle. Um I know this is part of the rubric. Um I believe it's part of the rubric that you use you utilize to evaluate resources, but they have um language supports for multilingual learners.
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While the numbers and data certainly tell a very compelling story, it's the countless personal narratives that I've heard from our CA members that really resonate. The referendum has made such a positive impact on our local educators and ultimately that difference continues to be reflected both in student performance and our teacher retention metrics. It has strengthened and continues to reinforce the importance of Columbus as a fantastic place to thrive. I'll turn it back over to Dr. Stalbomb. Thank you, Mandy. Overarchingly, the goals of our operating referendum include attracting, recruiting, and retaining great teachers and classified staff, having safe schools at BCSC, and generating strong student outcomes. The next portion of our presentation will provide staff and student examples of BCSC's ability to actualize these goals through the operating referendum investment. I ask that the Columbus East Science Department join me. I am pleased to introduce the Columbus East High School Science Department.
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