Four to one after three. >> Yeah, it was that smart pitch there by Price knowing, you know, he's ahead on the count. Batter's protecting the plate. Let's put the ball somewhere out of the zone. That's going to make it very difficult for the batter to hit, especially with his fast ball. um his fast ball's hot enough to get on when it's in the strike zone, but when it's low like that or the outside, it's almost impossible. And that's exactly where he puts it. So, you know, he he's he's got great command and he's also very smart um you know, with his uh pitch placement. >> Yeah. For Price on the season only, he's pitched in four games and totaling 16 innings. So, about four innings on average. So you wonder if things start to unravel as he gets into, you know, not even the later innings, but just as he gets past the first time through the lineup, if guys start to sit on that fast ball.
That's 3.58% for us next year. And then special education, we continue to see mandates without funding. Um highlighting all of these things, 3.5% 30 to 40% on health increases, 3 to 4% on salaries. We don't know what our out of district tuition rate increases are going to be just yet. Um Our tax levy can only increase at 2%. So as a percentage, we're exceeding that before we've even started. Uh tax levy for us is 1.7 or 1.8 million dollars. That's the true number that we can control to increase. It is our largest revenue source, but it is not 100% of our budget, but our benefits alone are going to account for 4.1 million dollars. And then of course, we don't do nothing about it. We do have cost savings and energy efficiency measures always. We're always looking for how can we become more efficient and how can we save in the district?
I feel more confident in understanding and approaching the question and understanding that I can figure it out. I would say stay confident with your answers and trust your gut feeling. We really wanted to focus on how the ACT can help prepare them for future postsecary options. So whether that's looking at college placement, whether that's looking at merit scholarships, that's money that can be awarded based just on the ACT performance alone and really how the ACT can also help to show and highlight their strengths that they already have as a student. It really does matter for like your future. A lot of colleges do like take that score into account on whether or not they'll admit you and like what your major will be. The HTTP prep is really about and the HTTP test itself is really about highlighting those strengths and opening up as many opportunities in the postsecary world for students.
>> Uh sec. Is there a second? >> Second >> and a roll call vote. >> Annoti I got IO. >> And Trisha Kendall. All right. Great. So town meeting is uh th Wednesday Thursday. Wednesday. >> Wednesday the 6th. So, be there. Be square. >> I also think it is the last article on there, so you can probably make your summary pretty short and it'll probably >> I'm going to have slides and dog and pony show and all kinds of stuff. >> Last. Wow, we're dead last. Oh, nice. Okay. All right. >> All the action will be like four amendments before that. So, yeah. There are four warrant articles, but >> uh next on our agenda is 240 to 260 Pleasant Street. >> Who do we have? >> Wayne Bell. >> Okay. [cough] >> Evening, Madam Chair, members of the board, Wayne Bell Design Collaborative here on behalf of um Metro West Christian Academy.
>> Buy him dinner. >> So, a nice breaking ball, but I think it it broke very far outside. But hey, it's a strike. >> Yeah. Nothing in one. >> Nothing in two. >> One strike away from getting out of this inning. >> After a couple quick innings for Ashland pitching, this has been a long one. >> 02. It's a ground ball to short. Shriber charges. sidearm to first in time. >> That'll wrap it up. >> That's Yeah, that's that's that's the Michael Shriber shortstop play that I'm used to seeing that, you know, just professional looking. Just coming in, grabbing the ball on the run, firing that bullet over the first base. That's that's the uh when I think of Shriber, I think of that play. But a big inning for Norton nonetheless as they get two more runs >> and now a five run deficit for Ashland.
And, you know, we've seen that fast ball look great, but the off speed we've seen only a few times. It hasn't looked like anything crazy. So, >> yep. You wonder if Ashland is finally starting to figure it out as the first time for the second time through the lineup. The start had some really good at bats. >> See what happens in the bottom of the inning if your prediction or or suspicion uh maybe comes true. >> But he does seem to be serving up um you know just a big healthy dose of fast balls but all over the place. The one thing he's able to do with them is place them all around the strike zone, which which is imp. You know, >> it's the same pitch, but it's in all these different locations. >> And Norton will have the top of the lineup up for the third time through Jack Reagan.
We do have energy savings initiatives. So we are exploring the idea of an energy savings improvement plan or more commonly referred to as an ESIP for long-term utility savings next year and many years after that. We participate in the direct install programs that um uh South Jersey Gas and uh PSE&G offer. And we're members of the ACES, so we participate in um leveraged energy savings. It's similar to how we joined the JIF, we joined the ACES to capture um gas and electric with member districts. Operational efficiencies, we're always looking for is there a way that we can be strategic with our full-time equivalencies through restructuring. Maybe we have an a a retirement and that retirement for us might trigger a way that we can become more efficient. Um and we're always reviewing our staff to see that uh um we are aligned to our enrollment and our program needs.
I want to just take a minute to really thank the board because a lot of those items that you heard listed in there, Albert IO, no red ink, those are recent subscriptions that we've, you know, brought to our attention and been able to bring into the classroom to support ACT, especially as Dr. Huffman um explained, we're making a lot of transitions during this time um from the SAT to the ACT. and this incredible group of folks who are with me tonight are a representation of the commitment of Andrew staff, students, division chairs because this was a whole team effort and certainly this is the beginning of a long journey of dedication to making sure that students feel confident and that they have access was highlighted in the video because every student in Andrew High School deserves the opportunity to perform their best on this exam so that it can open doors.
Um I have a couple of the partners in crime uh joining us as well. Um, so I think where we left off the last time, um, unless I was misreading the board, um, I I think that the general consensus was that we have responded satisfactorily to the peerreview comments uh, presented by GCG and it seems like we're past the engineering issues. Um and I think the only and then we got into the uh further discussion on the synthetic turf. Um and the the board had asked um us to take a look at a little bit more information um on the on the on the product um that's uh being considered and um you know look at I guess you know one of the concerns was uh you know the levels of PAS uh in the project. So, we had forwarded the the board um um through um Jasmine um I think it was last week, Jasmine, we had sent you some information that uh our client had collected from Smart Turf.
>> Well, you know, three more at bats, nine outs. Ashlin could uh put five runs up, get this thing tied. >> It'll be Turncliffe, McCoy, and Laro. 89 and one do up and Price will head back out to the mound. for a fifth inning of work. Like we said, he only averages about four innings a game on the season, but Ashlin will see him for a fifth. And he's pitched very well. Five strikeouts across four innings. Just one hit, one run, and couple walks. Those have all been in the last couple innings. >> Yeah, Price is doing a great job today. You see, he has, you know, his command is, uh, phenomenal. He's just putting the ball all around the strike zone. Um, mixing up the pitches very well, I say as he throws that one in the dirt. It >> seems like every time I say something, whoever's out there just does something to >> make me a liar.
He's one for two so far. >> Where's Chris now on pitches? >> He's thrown 57. >> Okay. through three, >> put in a much better third inning. >> Yes, the third inning really helped. >> I was at the top of the lineup. So, it'll be Reagan, Price, and Ferraro for the Lancers. Spatica gets back to work >> now. Now a three-run deficit after the Clockers got on the board the home half of the third. >> Norton bench comes alive here to start the inning. >> That's ball one. has the second highest bag average on the team. So >> 10 for 25 coming into it as he takes a strike and it's one and one that just hit the outside edge. Hey Jack >> Bradica working quickly. Here's the 1-1. Swing and a miss. Off. >> Yeah, nice off speed pitch there, HUH? >> SO, Brad's ahead of Reagan.
Technology and software review annually, we're looking at the softwares that we are using and the technology we're using. Is there something better out there at a competitive rate that makes us more efficient? Transportation optimization. Can we restructure our routes? Can we utilize our vendors in a better way? Every single year. Um and that work goes on constantly. It's not just an like a one-time thing. I can tell you that our transportation department is constantly looking at route restructure. Um and then purchasing and procurement controls. So, we will leverage cooperative pricing. So, we'll go out to organizations that have already done the solicitations on a broad scale to reduce cost and or using state contracts. Um We prioritize preventive maintenance always for our districts for our excuse me, for our buildings. And I as I indicated, we are participants in the BCIPGF that pools our risk with other districts, helps to stabilize our cost, and reduce long-term exposure to significant claims.
So very excited to introduce we have a few of our students here tonight with me. We have Nanviet Henry and Tulene as well as a couple of our amazing instructors, Miss Palumbo and Miss Mulligan from English and math as well as our division chairs Jackie Debold for math and business and Miss Christy Baker from English, music, media, and EL. Thank you. the students tell us one strategy that you learned through all of this preparation. Um, one strategy that I learned taking this was like time management cuz when I'm taking tests, I'm like always under stress. I'm always like rethinking all my choices. But like taking so many practice test, all these enrichments, all the no writings, it helped me like familiarize with all the questions. So my time management was like really good during all the tests. Thank you. Great. Um I think it's similar to what he said.
Um if you'd like, we can and and to be honest with you folks, um I hated chemistry in school. I hated chemistry. And when I opened up a few of these documents, it was riddled with chemistry. I'm not going to pretend to be a chemistry genius. Uh so I'd prefer not going through the particulars and pretty much go on the summaries presented uh by Smart Turf uh and the test results. So with that, um uh I don't know Jasmine if you'd like me to share my screen with what I have um or if you folks want to share your screen as we go through it. I think quite honestly, Madam Chair, I think that this portion of the presentation from our side uh is going to be brief. Um, and we're looking to let the documents speak for themselves. >> That's correct. >> So, with that said, yeah, knowing how much I like to talk, so I I do appreciate that.
>> Jinxing them. >> Still a nice night. No chance of rain, I don't think. Yeah, it's been great. >> It's darkening up. Maybe a drop. >> The birds chirping. >> Feels like spring. >> It feels Yeah. Except for the the gloomy look outside. It feels like spring. >> Yeah. >> But that seems to always happen in baseball season. April and May, it's just rainy, cold, and >> it really makes you appreciate those couple of nice days you get. Look >> like Monday uh the Clarks will be in Milis face the Mohawks and then >> busy week next week. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, >> away at Millis, home here against Medfield, and home here against Hopkins. >> Yeah, that's a big that's a big chunk of your season right there, or at least the remaining part of your season. So, >> Turn Cliff, lead off, >> and take a first pitch strike.
One ball and two strikes. >> Looks to get his second strike out of the afternoon. Ground ball to third. Conry to his left. Fields and fires a bullet to first. And another nice play by Connory there in the hot corner for round number one. Good, you know, good contact there by Reagan getting the ball into play, but >> great fielding there by Finn over in the corner as you said. >> So, the pitcher Price will bat next. He's one for two >> as he takes a strike. He scored a run in this game. >> Pitch right on the outside edge again. Here's the one. >> That's upstairs. >> Ball on a strike. >> Two balls in a strike at off speed. Just miss. Here's the 2-1. >> That's a good fast ball even at two. >> Norton bench has some energy this inning. >> Do right right in our air here.
Um and then continuous budget monitoring. That work is constantly going on. And you know, as you know a school district, we don't have the luxury of not opening the mailbox. So, our bills go out usually twice a month at this point. So, we are early to the trends. And then let's talk about our capital projects for next year. So, we're going to have some investment and that investment is going to happen through a withdrawal of capital reserve of 1 million 23,000. We're looking at security enhancements across uh multiple buildings, but we're going to upgrade some security systems and access controls. That work does kind of go on at each year. Our annual toilet room renovations looking for improvements for functionality and compliance water flow standards. We will have classroom refurbishments across the district. Mr. Hoffman's going to be glad to know we will finally get that abatement he's been asking for, I believe.
Um time management. I also um attended these prep sessions which were at night. Um, they were from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening. Um, and I think that helped me a lot on the ACT. Um, give me a second. I also studied on the ACT official website using practice quizzes. Good. Cool. Good. Thank you, Henry. Thank you. Uh, for me, I would have to say the spaced repetition and the the spread out practice tests that we did in class. So, um, we actually started review uh for the for the ACT at the start of the semester. We did diagnostic tests already to pinpoint the specific weaknesses that we needed to focus on. And I found that very helpful. And and integrating class time to really focus on those weak areas and spread it out throughout the semester, I think is what like really made an impact on helping me understand the style of the ACT and the pacing, the timing, and um yeah, I found that very helpful.
So, uh, so with that said, uh, uh, Jasmine, would you like me to share the screen or how would you want to >> all set if you would like that we can follow along while you speak? >> Okay, that's, uh, let's see if I remember how to do that. Share. There we go. Thank you. You folks can see my screen. Uh, so move a couple things. >> There we go. >> So, there we go. >> All righty. So you folks saw this document before this was presented at the last meeting and it was basically the smart turf uh system um which you know I've done a little bit of uh review on this and looking at the number of fields um out there in in the US that still use um a rubber type surf turf system. There's still quite a few out there. Although it did say that um there is a changeover in uh turfs to about a thousand turfs per year across the US.
>> He's 0 for one. Bryce delivers the 01 is outside >> this is only actually the second time through the order. >> Yeah, just finishing it up. >> That one's low. Two balls and one strike. Hey Austin, >> Ashlin bench now is making some noise which is nice to hear. >> Definitely that one just outside. >> Yeah, >> I think they already hit the corner at the >> side of the strike zone on that one, but umpire calls it outside. >> Austin ahead three and one. That's a strike. So the count is full. It's a nice fast ball on the outside corner. >> See what he comes with here. >> 3-2 >> ground ball to first. Nice play by Ferraro. He'll take it to the bag himself. >> Good swing from Turn Cliff, but it is out number one for Price in the fifth. >> Yeah, nice contact there by Austin, especially, you know, 3-2 count.