>> I do. I do. >> Okay. >> I'll try to be I'll try to be uh I'll try to be quick. >> Um, good evening everybody again. Uh, it's been a busy few weeks, but certainly eventful. Um, tonight the board will vote on the 2627 budget. Um, and I know that I for all the administrators who worked tirelessly on the building level. I know I speak for the business office and everybody at every department head who worked on this. I think that um that we're we're proud of the budget uh and hopefully it's something that uh it speaks to our collective priorities and our future commitments. On another note, April 30th, myself and principal of the high school, Mrs. and board president were able to attend the Burlington County Academic Awards to see our students be honored. Uh it was a it was a wonderful and we are proud of the students accomplishments.
Therefore, calculating the annual school levy tax increase to be $317.85 or $2649 monthly. And that's with the the 6% tax levy. This budget does utilize what is called the healthc care adjustment. This adjustment enables districts to increase the tax levy beyond the 2% tax levy cap due to significant increases in health insurance premiums. The 2% tax levy would be approximately $3 million and the amount the board could raise taxes due to the healthcare adjustment would be approximately an additional $6 million. As stated before, this would create an all-in tax levy of 6%. Just to note, it was found that the vast majority of PA County school districts are utilizing the healthcare adjustment to balance their budgets. Lastly, a quick overview of the presentation. This budget uses the full healthcare adjustment of 6 million or 4%. The budget maintains all existing staff and programs with a 10% redu reduction to all supply lines.
I just want to say we see it and we love you. We really appreciate it. You too. [applause] >> Uh this is kind of, you know, off the top of my head, but I would say you more this year more so than any other year, you kind of made me expect more of myself and of others, and I really do appreciate that. And I think I've grown a lot this year, and you have instilled a passion in music for me probably for life. [applause] Um, I just want to say a few things. So, when I was first coming to high school, I really didn't know what to expect. But that first week of band camp, um, that was an experience that I will always remember throughout the rest of my life. And it really brought me into the high school experience and allowed me to carry it through the rest of high school.
Is there any discussion in regard to the calendar being presented to the board tonight? I I do want to say one thing. I I do think Thank you, Ms. Humphreys. Is there any other discussion? Yeah, I I would also just like to thank everyone who came tonight and everyone who has otherwise reached out through email, text um to to give feedback and comment um including the survey. Doing my very best through this process to listen to everybody and then make the decision that's best for GPS families. Uh I know when this option came up the last meeting uh uh personally, I'll I'll say I I did a poor job communicating my my thought process and feelings towards that and I apologize for that and the the angst that that has created. Uh I think had I done a better job communicating that, many many would understand and we'd we'd be on the same page.
>> We'll entertain a motion to approve those recommendations as read. I have a motion by Do I have a second? >> Second by Pat. Any discussion? All those in favor? Seven. Thank you. >> Next, we'll move down. Um, we have a waiver. Yes. Asking for approval to pay classified staff at Grand Creek Elementary for 42826. That was a day that only Grand Creek missed due to a power outage from implement weather storms that week. Um, when given the time we have in the year making up those at other times isn't really feasible. So asking for a waiver for them just like was approved from DOE for students and certified staff. Asking for your approval. >> Entertain a motion. >> So move. >> I have a motion by Pat. Do I have a second? >> Second by Kurt.
Did you have any questions about any of the data in that section or anything that they shared? Okay. So then the next section will be academic achievement and growth. And I have Dylan Boswell and Leslie Hill who are presenting for us. So we were going to start with our data. We know that you have seen a lot of the academic data for iLearn SAT and that kind of and those kind of items. So we wanted to start with that so you could just get a quick view and then we'll talk about kind of the direction we're heading. >> If you would like That's us. >> See what the next one is. We can tell. Is that operational? >> Oh, there we go. >> Okay, there we go. >> All right. So, these are um ELA um scores from third through 8th grade for three years.
You come to the front. Jennifer Himenez from Catella HIGH SCHOOL. Ma Dude from Laura High School, Jan Mike Arts from Savannah High SCHOOL and Sahara Flores from Orange View Western 7th through 12 school. I know everyone's gone now. All right, I'm going to take a moment to recognize some people in the room. Um, uh, we have, uh, Lacy Munger from APJ co-president. Thank you for being here. Jennifer Sasai, alter president. Thank you for being here. And, uh, Mark Torchino, administrator for, um, N O, thank you for being here. Uh, I think that's everyone and I believe Jeff Morgensson from Asta is here as well. Yes, welcome. Next, we'll be moving on to our student representative report. Um, Miss Leah Garcia. >> Okay. >> Her last one. Last board report. Last board report. Okay, last one. Best one. Ready? >> Yes. >> From Anaheim High School, we had the band spectacular and you can see photos right there from November 12th where students were able to celebrate and have fun.
Your dedication and support of all our students' physical and mental needs are vital to our students' success. Our parents and families feel so much better knowing that you are there for our students. Thank you for your care, dedication, and support for all our students and staff. On May 17th to 23rd, we honor and recognize the contributions of our classified employees. Our classified employees are up before the sun to ensure our buses are ready to roll and pick up students. They are the ones who prepare the meals so our students are well nourished throughout the day, and they work late hours making sure that our campuses are clean and sparkling for our students each day. They answer thousands of calls from parents, meet with them, ensure that our attendance is recorded, our computers are working, work one-on-one with our students to help them better understand math and reading concepts, keep our campuses safe, and so, so much more.
We had students in grades 10, 11, and 12 receive individual awards as well as one student receive a scholarship. In add in addition, last week was school administrator recognition week and uh I do want to publicly thank all of our building level administrators and our district level administrators for the work that they do each day here in Bordontown. Uh I'm sure everybody knows that this week is teacher appreciation week. And on behalf of the students and behalf of the community, I want to publicly thank our teachers for their tireless uh dedication to our school community. Last evening, I was able to be part of the senior academic awards here at the high school and I would like to send a heartfelt congratulations to all of those award recipients. As we approach the countdown towards the end of the year, I personally want to thank everyone in advance for for their continued support, continued partnership.
It covers all projected healthcare premium increases and it does still forgo the 11 additional positions needed at the new middle school. As always, it's a great day to be a Mustang and I will answer any questions and comments. Thank you. >> To my fellow commissioners, I'm going to go around the room. We'll do a round robin. You'll have one chance to ask a question and then we'll move to the next person and ask another one if you have additional questions. This way everybody has a chance to speak and be heard. I'll start with you, Commissioner Bronziac. >> Thank you, President Bassford. Just want to know ballpark figure out of the 21 municipalities in P County, how many of them have you are utilizing the um the healthcare adjustment? Do you have a ballpark figure on that? Out of the 21 municipalities, I don't have an exact number, but it was it was it was over 50% of them.
It it really brought me into band and being here today and playing this music. Even if this is my last concert, I'll enjoy it and I'll remember it forever. [applause] Hello, Mr. Cry. Okay. Um, I just want to thank you for everything. Like, band was something that, to keep it real, I was not going to do in high school, but you fought so hard to keep me on my tenor. So that's, you know, I'm making it now. But I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. Like Mr. Price, you made it so easy. Like you made, you know, I know the true meaning of music. Like, and it's not just to sit and play your instrument. It's emotion that you have to feel. And I really think that you helped me through that even when I was going through stuff myself. So I really thank you for that and I appreciate you.
It's it's actually in the hope of listening to everybody and all our alternatives that come up, even those that are in the minority. I think the survey results are super important and and we really appreciate the the staff who who filled that out and I think that I don't know what their participation rate was, but I imagine it was very high. Um for parents it was 17%. So I I really do appreciate the 12 and 1/2% of GPS families that chose the 222 and the 4 and 1/2% that chose the 111 and there are 83% that we didn't hear from. Um and so what we're trying to do is just recognize that while many people will be happy with my vote tonight there are also many who who won't be and and I hope we all just take a moment to think about that that the 222 for some families presents a real hardship.
Any discussion? All those in favor? 7. Next we're down to finances. We have a lot of donations tonight. >> Asking for approval to accept the following donations for Hayden Elementary. Mr. Mike Wasam, $83,56 for wireless transmitter with rechargeable battery system. For the high school, Daniel Richardson, $25 for key club fund. Graham Presbyterian Church, $300 for Panther Pantry. Super ATV, $250 for faculty PBIS for the middle school. Miller's Tavern of North Vernon, $250 for the eighth grade celebration for the Jennings County School Corporation Hope Food Program, Graham Presbyterian Church, $300. JCSC Crescendo Music Department, Countywide Fine Arts Festival for T-shirts, sound, and posters. Country Chevrolet, $250. Josh Leonard, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, $100. Mayor Gerkin, $250 for staff appreciation week. Allergic to dirt, two $200 gift certificates for full car detail. Autozone car wash bucket. Big Head Pizza, 12 $20 gift certificates. Cheeky Monday's Grill, four $16 gift certificates.
And so, we can see some pretty steady growth there um across the board. The next one will be math. Those are some dips we see, especially when we get to that sixth, seventh, and eighth grade that we're going to talk about. >> When we get here, we start looking at our uh special education data. And a really interesting point that we found or first, this is our I read data. Uh I read is really big right now. It is going from the third grade focus that it's been for many years now really to a second grade focus test. So, we're having to get kids more advanced faster, which has been a lot through our science and reading work, but developmentally wise, we got to catch up in that area. The state's continually moving that priority to second grade students passing that. Now, there's multiple opportunities as I move into third grade, but that's still a huge priority.
We have Anaheim's Got Talent, the college and career fair and dance production at Catella High School. Sorry, I'm a little sick. Sorry. Then congratulations highlighting Anaheim's very own girls fly football team who winning division 5 championship. We also have from Cambridge Virtual Academy. Cambridge Virtual Academy had their RSP summit number three. Okay. Um I think it's we'll wait for the Thank you. >> Okay, sorry. Moving on. From Cambridge Academy, students went to the Broad Museum Field trip where CVA students visited the broad, explored exhibits, and reflected on the artwork through writing. The trip also included lunch at Grand Central Market. They also had a senior luau lunch where ASB hosted a luau lunch themed for seniors where the class of 2026 enjoyed food and time together. The event created a fun memory and memorable experiences for the graduating class. Here are some more pictures especially from Stea Palooa.
You make a huge difference for our students, our staff, and our families. Thank you so very much for everything you do. I'd also like to say thank you to all the mothers. Mother's Day is coming up, and those of us who are mothers, uh maybe not by children by birth, but by children of the heart, uh who are there to support our children. Thank you. May is also a month of endings and beginnings. In May, we stand at the threshold, not quite finished with our past, but looking ahead to the future. We end the school year, all the dedication and hard work of our students and staff come to culmination with the end of the year. With promotions and with graduations, we say goodbye to 2025 and 26. However, with each ending comes a new beginning. Our graduates go onward to universities, careers, and the military.
I certainly look forward to continuing to build collaboratively as we build the future of town district. Thank you for your time and for your support. >> Thank you very much.
It was a lot of them. Thank you, >> Commissioner Paris. >> Thank you, President Basford. Um, I might have some answers for you, Commissioner Brunak. Uh, I looked up what proposed or actual increases are going to be in some of the towns around us. Um, Wayne is 8.01%. Nutley is 8.3. East Rutherford is 7.8. Patterson, even though they get a lot of state aid, is 8%. Woodland Park is 9%, Little Falls is 9%, Hawthorne is 7.2%. Uh Edison, which is a district kind of similar size to us, 12%. Uh Tom's River is only 4.6, but that's because they raised their taxes 12.1% last year. So they've had a 16.7% increase, which is again similar size district to ours and one that a lot of people like to compare us to. And Hackinack 9%. Um so the these increases are being driven universally by health care costs virtually in every district across across the state.
And every lesson that you taught me will be carried on with me throughout my life. And we just thank you and we love you so much. So rock. [applause] Um, honestly, I feel like everyone else said everything so well over me. I feel like there's really nothing more to add. But I just want to say thank you because going into like band camp in like March, like freshman year, I had no idea what to expect. I honestly thought I wouldn't like it, but it ended up being like the most enjoyable thing I've probably done throughout high school. And it really gave me a community to expand my love of music and grow. And that space was entirely fostered because of you. And you know, I like to all the opportunities you've given and everything you've done to make this program as big as it is.
And whether that be for work or for kids activities or family or things like that. And so as a board member I'm doing my best to listen to all the options then make the decision that's best for GPS families. And I think had I communicated that I I think people would have been understanding and and I take responsibility for my poor communication on that um at the last meeting and I I understand that the the process and communication could have been better about that. So thank you everybody for being here tonight and um look forward to the vote. I just want to say um kind of to jump off of some other people. Thank you for everyone who spoke today. Thank you to the people who have emailed us and thank you for the people who have done the survey. Um over you know 7,000 of our parents and staff members did that and I appreciate your voice and I appreciate you sharing with us what you prefer and what you want.