And um I I'm pleased to see that we scored on the higher side for this. And I I do think this is representative of what last year has looked like. I think um we definely haven't been perfect and there's been areas where I feel like we've um in some ways fallen short um with with things, but I feel like we have been open about those areas where um we we could have been better and we've owned up to that. And um I'm hoping that that builds trust with our community and that we can continue to build on that. And I know I I hear over and over again like um the issue of transparency and and wanting to feel like we're not hiding anything and that we're open and we're honest. And um I I see that we're strong in that category, but I also hope we can just continue to build that relationship and that trust with our community um even when we've maybe haven't been perfect in our in in certain >> bills.
Um, it's not easy for me to get up here and and put this out there. But at the end of the day, we're not the only one in this position. Um, and we really had literally no choice um but to try to to figure out how to continue to keep what we have, which is not much as it is, um, to be able to service our kids. and this was pretty much our only option. Um, it's not to say that we won't have to make difficult decisions moving forward. Um, it's a challenge every year, but we'll just keep put one foot in front of the other and hopefully not come down this path again. So, that's our budget details. It's not pretty. I don't love it, but it's the hands out right now. So, you can go ahead. Um, district costs saving measures. So, we're still in the public employer trust for health and prescription.
The next item on the agenda is the approval of district code of student conduct. Can I have a motion? I'll make a motion. I'll second. Okay. Uh Mr. Diaz. I. Mr. Taylor. I. Mr. Otto. I. Mr. Redzio. I. Mr. Kilis. I. Mr. Gaber. I. Mr. Forcarino. I. Mrs. Hassan. I. Mrs. Petrie. I. Next item 10.3, approval of the cooperative pricing system. Do I have a motion? So moved. I'll second. Yeah. Mr. Diaz. I. Mr. Taylor. I. Mr. Otto. I. Mr. Redzio. I. Mr. Kilis. I. Mr. Gaber. I. Mr. Forcarino. I. Mrs. Hassan. I. Mrs. Petrie. I. I vote like this. So, go to the comment. Okay. What? I heard. What about 11? Approval of I think just skip it. Okay. Uh next, um we're I'm going to open it up to the uh public for public comment. There's no public comment. We'll close that portion.
Let's keep going. Get in front. >> All right. Right between each board member. There we go. All right. Hold on. Count student of the month. One, two, three. >> Mr. President, members of the board, uh, long story short, that concludes our final superintendent student of the month. I really want to give this group you know uh Miss Aron and myself always give them a lot of flowers every PD but long story short we didn't practice we didn't practice the testimony but Miss and her team must have read my mind because they had their student ready to read their testimony. So that just shows this team's always uh we'll take them seven days of the week and twice on Sunday. They're a great team. That's all we have. >> Thank you. And as always, I invite the rest of you all to stay the entire meeting, but if you would like to set yourself up, please feel free to go and have fun somewhere.
Congratulations to two of them, Lauren Hilg and Genevie Nenko. [applause and cheering] Next, we have the Waterlue Independent Order of Oddfellows Scholarship. The Waterlue Independent Order of Oddfellows is awarding four $3,000 scholarships to seniors planning to attend college. This organization is a global, altruistic, and benevolent fraternal organization which aims to provide a framework that promotes personal and social development. Congratulations this year's recipients. Let me read all four. Lily Arnold, Molly Mlan, Madison Mlean, Mason Nabolski. [applause] [cheering] Next, we have the Louiswis Hutch Schlafley Schlafley Columbia Rotary Club Scholarship. It's a $2,000 local scholarship awarded to a senior who will be attending college in the fall. The applicants had to be in good standing at the school and answer three essay questions. Congratulations to Max Anderson. Congratulations. [applause] >> Columbia Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship, a local scholarship that is awarded each year to seniors planning to further their education.
And when you do, take a neighbor or two with you. Everyone votes here at the high school and p polls are open from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. The deadline to register to vote is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8th, 2 days from today. In-person early voting will be held in town hall from May 9th through May 14th, except for Sunday, May 10th. Hours are available on the town clerk's page of the town website. You may also request a mailed ballot. The deadline for that is 5:00 pm on Tuesday, May 12th. A few words before we start. Tonight's town meeting will be different than what we are used to. So, I wanted to explain that before we get underway. As you are all aware, I assume you are all aware, there's an operational override in the ballot in the upcoming town election. Okay, who didn't know that?
I know. >> I agree with you. I don't know. So if you see her before now I want to know which >> I feel bad I have a gift cards >> to what >> nail they give better pedic I I'm gonna say she was >> only All right. Thank you so much again, ladies and gentlemen. We will now move into public comment. The board of education welcomes public comment.
>> Not s on. Thank you. On the warrants. On the warrants. >> Okay. All right. Let's move on. Okay. I don't have any hearing of persons wishing to address the board. So, >> President, we need to vote on that last motion. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Uh, can I get a roll call vote on the boards, please? >> Thank you. >> I Yes. I >> I. Thank you. Number seven, action items. A, resolution 26:15, legal holidays. Do I have a motion? >> I'll move approval of resolution 2615. >> I'll second.
Sorry if I'm being vague here. >> No, I think it makes a lot of sense. Um it is definitely a time when people are nervous about government at, you know, big government at a big scale. And in those times, it's really somehow going to get reflected on local government, even little old us. And it's it's important that we do what we can to stand up to that and massage it and make sure that people do feel like that for their concerns to be heard. >> I mean, I I've heard it said at at previous meetings like, you know, we could have done that better. And I think that that's important to continue to to have that conversation with the community so that they know we're um we're kind of a work in progress and we're we're striving to be more and more um transparent and I think that yeah hopefully that's building trust.
Like I said, those initial rate increases were really high. They were coming in over 30% for prescription. Uh we made some changes. Oh, so the overall benefit package actually came in at 14.32. Um still high. In the past, we've been kind of around 9 to 10. Um obviously, these are just going up across the board. Everybody's in the same boat. We also participate in the Burlington County Insurance Fund. Um they usually send a a rebate check every year um that goes back into our um to offset some of our insurance costs. Um electric we do um savings in electric that give us electric savings. E-Rate um which gives us I think close to $10,000 towards our Comcast service bill every year. Um so that's nice. And then our semi programs that I talked about on the first um slide. Shared services with Ed Services Commission.
Yeah. I have to turn the page. Okay. Are there any comments from any any trustees? Trustee comment? Alan? >> this moment to congratulate all the uh candidates from Diaz to Razzio to Mr. Gaba. Uh guys ran a campaign and the people spoke and that's what democracy is all about. I want to congratulate uh Hassan for being the uh the vice president being elected by the trustees here as well as Ms. Terry. I believe this is the first time you're going to have a uh a duo of females, women, uh to be in charge of a board. It's never happened in the history of Garfield. So, uh the congrat- I congratulate you [applause] and um we're looking forward to work and moving this district forward. Congratulations to all. Thank you. Any other comments? Alan? Congratulations to uh my fellow running mates uh and everyone who ran this election.
Congratulations. Okay, next thing up on the agenda here is visitors comments which we don't have consent agenda and I will make the motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I will second. >> If there's no questions for comments for the vote. >> All those in favor say I. I. >> Motion carries three to zero. First up under personnel is to classify an hourly increase for account payable for >> Yeah, Mr. President, members of the board, um in in the April board meeting, the administration asked for an increase in hours for Susan Leon for the classified salary schedule. The administration is also requesting an hourly increase to $18 per hour for the time spent in the finance office. The above increase is recommended. >> Okay. I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Any question or discussion? And not call for. >> All those in favor say I.
Each scholarship award is for $750. Community service is a major factor in the selection process. Please come forward to accept your award. I have five, so please hold the applause till the five are done. Justice Alers, Max Dreer, Skyler Durban, Lauren Hilguck, and Cheyenne May. [applause] Mandy Ebler Foundation Scholarship Award. Mr. Ebler and Mr. Ra will be presenting. The scholarship supports Monroe County student athletes as they continue their education beyond high school. It recognizes character, athletic involvement, academic effort, ambition, and community impact. The $1,000 scholarship award goes to Max Anderson. [applause] The $2,500 scholarships being awarded to Camry Johnson. [cheering] [applause] Simo Monroe County Alumni Scholarship. This $3,000 scholarship is being awarded to a senior who has been accepted and plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University. Applicants of the scholarship were judged based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service, work experience, and an essay.
Excellent. Thus, the elevated interest in tonight's meeting. Though there's an override in the ballot on the 19th, there's no override on tonight's warrant. And while the override will be will be mentioned tonight, it's not up for a vote or discussion. Instead, the budget we'll be voting on tonight assumes the override will pass. But sitting here tonight, we don't know what will happen. To address this uncertainty, instead of asking for a motion to dissolve to dissolve after we complete action on our last article of the evening, I'll instead ask for a motion to adjourn until June 3rd at 7 p.m. If the override passes, I'll need 24 registered voters to join me join me at 7 p.m. on June 3rd right here to call town meeting back to order and immediately dissolve it. If the override doesn't pass, we'll need to come back on June 3rd to reconsider the budget and certain transfers based on the lower available revenue.
Each speaker will have up to three minutes to speak. It can be on any topic at the start of each regular meeting. A maximum of 20 minutes is allotted for comment on any item at all. Discussion of school personnel, individual students, or individual members of the board is prohibited. And with that, we will open the floor up to Mr. Mark Morash. That's perfect. Just before you start the clock, between all of that illustrating and the concert downstairs, arts, arts, arts, arts, arts, arts, arts. Thank you for giving me 10 extra seconds to do that. That being said, Mark Moash, 25 Mistill Drive, Brookfield. Here we are again with the student discipline policy 5144. In the section actions leading to disciplinary action. In August it read a walk out from or sit in within a classroom or school building or school grounds. Today it reads a walk out from or sit in within a classroom or school building or school grounds or actions that substantially disrupt school operations.
>> Any discussion? I just had a question. Um I just I had a question about the March 29th non-duty day. Yeah. So, I uh checked with Lydia and she said that for like for employees that are 260 days, depending on how the calendar falls on like Mondays through Fridays, sometimes there has to be a day in there that becomes a non-duty day because sometimes there's 261 days and so we just they choose one of those to to be on duty day. So that that just means like those people don't come in to work on that day. >> Okay. Thank you. It was just I was just >> I I do have a question. Do we have um builtin snow days? >> There should be on the calendar. >> I think I missed it. >> Yeah. April 12th to May 28th. The blue makeup days. >> Yeah.
That would be one area I just would comment on. One thought I had, um, I know we didn't really, just because of the nature of the the Brown Act, we didn't really have the opportunity to talk about what this would look like ahead of time. So, I know it can kind of feel uncomfortable in the moment, but um, I liked Tom's idea of breaking this down in each section. And I don't want in any way to feel like that we're bound to this, but I think it'd be nice if we could in some way, we don't even need to like write down the the verbiage or anything, but kind of come up with like what would be a great goal in looking at this first section, like what does anyone have an idea of what they would see as a good goal moving forward next year?
Um we try to use them. I know that we use them for I think occupational therapy and physical therapy because they are they do come in um lower than anyone else. Um we did apply for three grants that if awarded they're going to help with new academic instructional initiatives. So Mr. Lee and Miss Fley have been working on those grants and we just haven't heard anything yet. So hopefully that will help >> hopefully soon. Mhm. Um and then the 262 27 budget includes um we're maintaining all of our existing positions as well as all the co-curricular things for our students. Um we do have the one additional certificated staff member that we are going to hire and it also maintains our in-house district transportation for all residents and students grades preschool through 12. Albert tax, we already kind of talked about it. This is just kind of a breakdown of it.
Uh congratulations again to Mr. Gaba, Mr. Diaz, and uh congratulations Ms. Terry uh on your presidency, as well as Miss Esani, on your vice presidency. Uh looking forward to another successful year with the Board of Education in Garfield. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone? Mr. Esani? Uh I want to congratulate um the incumbents, Mr. uh Diaz, Mr. Garba, and Mr. Forcarino. I also want to uh congratulate Mr. Redfield on winning a term on the board. Um I want to thank all of you for uh nominating me for the vice presidency. I don't take any role of leadership or representation lightly, so I thank you for trusting me to be here. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Any other comments? Uh yes. Uh thank you guys for all the support, my fellow uh running mates. Congrats to all of you. Mr. Forcarino, congratulations. Sean, 19, you did good.
>> I. >> Motion carries three to zero. >> Next up, we have classified issuance of notice of appointments and contracts for 2627. >> Mr. President, members of the board, the following support staff are being recommended for issuance of notice of appointments contracts for the 2026 2027 school year. You have your names in all the different categories. District Office of Finance, School and ESS Office, the Education Support Services Office of Cafeteria, Facilities, Instructional Staff, the above list of classified support staff is recommended for issuance of notices of appointments. >> Okay, I have a motion. >> I'll make the motion. >> Second. And if there's no question or discussion, call for the vote. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries three to zero. >> Next up, we have extra pay position for the 2627. >> Mr. President, members of the board, the following staff members have expressed an interest in the corresponding extra pay position for the 2627 school year.