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Uh, I I don't mean to correct the chair. I've been thinking about this for a while because this has been conversation that has come up once we started with the budget workshops that there was concern regarding the the budget and and moving forward. So, this is something that it's Since the beginning I've been thinking about since the last cut of the 200,000 of what we would possibly reduce the the budget. So, I did have a list before yesterday because it was something that I needed to think about less than 24 hours. As many of you know, uh, March 23rd the Board of Finance at the budget workshop, Juice had requested the Board of Education have $200,000 taken out. In response, the district identified reductions that included, as some people said, type a good suggestion for the elimination of some bus routes and transportation. So, we are looking at looking at that as an administrative team.
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Matthew Bennick, [applause] Catherine, Tema Captain, [applause] Zack Chason, [applause] Addison Coffee, >> [applause] >> Carly Camune, [applause] Brooke Donovan, [applause] Piper Dueling, [applause] Ellie Dragunov, [applause] Molly Fleming, [applause] Adeline Galvan, [applause] Jocelyn Grace, [applause] Carter Hayes, [applause] Sean Kennedy, [applause] Brendan Kilpatrick, Lauren Kilpatrick, [applause] Kylie Wallace, Gabriel Najim, [applause] Lydia O'Grady, [applause] Patrick Roth [applause] J C Southerntherland [applause] Han Colin Pedo [applause] Maddie Tessier Terski [applause] Michaela Black is Emily Black. [applause] Congratulations. Congratulations. [applause] Each year, the Chesher High School athletic department recognizes one male and one female senior athlete with the Steve Tarfon Athlete of the Year Award. The male and female athlete of the year awards are presented in honor of former athletic director Steve Tofone for his 20 years of dedication and service in shaping the proud tradition of athletics at Cheshure High School. Based on their outstanding athletic achievements, leadership, and character on and off the field, athletes are nominated by their head coaches for this award.
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We're also hearing that during the school day, some instructional time can be spent managing device use and that students are often able to work around restrictions. That creates challenges for both teachers and families in maintaining consistent expectations. I've learned that the district uses Lightspeed Systems, which includes tools that could help address these concerns. For example, it appears possible to provide parents with the ability to pause devices or set limits at home, restrict YouTube to approved educational channels, or apply stronger controls by grade level, apply more consistent filtering during the school day to reduce the need for active monitoring, support more developmentally appropriate and intentional screen use. So, I guess my question would be, is there an opportunity for to provide parents with access to these tools even as an opt-in option or pilot program? I don't see this as limiting technology. I know that we need to use technology, but I also think that we're the adults here.
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So, the um June 1st is when we can start registering. There's a lot of great information, particularly for school board members. So, I just wanted to I know I put this in my week in review, but I just wanted to highlight it here as well. Um I understand we have some board members who would be interested in going. Um all board members are encouraged to go, and I uh we put in here uh policy 2:125, which is board member compensation and expenses. So, this uh policy uh essentially says that the board can spend up to $5,000 um sending or reimbursing expenses, which is essentially what we'd be doing. The district actually could pay for it ahead of time. There are some exhibits that we'll be moving back into policy after uh next week. We'll talk about those in just a minute actually with expense estimated expenses and then expense reimbursement for things like paying for the conference in the hotel and things like that.
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I know most people can't hear it, but um yeah, it's it's kind of bittersweet. I mean, [laughter] but we're not quite there yet. that this is a milestone where shows that we're getting there. So anyway, uh yeah, it's it's been a wonderful experience. >> Um you know, I've had bumps in the road, but I mean I just couldn't ask for anything better in terms of, you know, an educational experience. So thank you everybody. Thank you. >> Very well said. So continuing on with that kind of what you spoke to there, I'm happy to present to you that we are receiving um identification as a performance by school district 2627 school year. So I think it was last month maybe I had you pass the resolution because we weren't sure if they were going to do that and we needed to apply for a waiver through a different channel and stuff.
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FY24, you spent 5% more. And so on. And so, it's been varying. You know, the FY26 estimate this year, it looks like we're in a good place where we are going to spend less, but we really don't know that final bill from the special ed cooperative. If we were to estimate it at 300,000 and again, we're not quite sure, you know, >> [clears throat] >> the FY26 true total cost could more look like this where we would be spending more this year than several prior years. So, the key part with most of these slides is, you know, the FY27 the last column in purple, and this is our estimate of how much you would spend extra next year if you operated alone rather than through the cooperative. And if you can see that projected increase is very similar or in some cases less than what you have been spending year-over-year in terms of increase.
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Good job by Mack to find Pelletier. Just misses high on it. Good job by Crimmins back that up. Gets Julia gets the ball all the way back to McKechnie. McKechnie with the ball back in there. McKechnie's turn to find a seam. McKechnie turns around and McKechnie with the ball. McKechnie you're normally not knocking people down. [laughter] Using all 105 lb of her. >> That was great. That's why I don't think you get a charging call on that. >> So, McKechnie still with the ball. Looking to set up the offense. At some point you wonder if Minnechaug's going to come out and try to pressure them, but >> You would think. I mean, I think when you start getting closer into the fourth quarter, but they know that Ooh. They I think they know that when when they do that They got to round them. >> Yeah.
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We want to go through and we're educators. We're disciplinarians. Yeah. But we're educating students. Where are they going to learn how to follow rules? Where are they going to build the accountability? I think it's vital how we step in and how we prepare our students not only for the workforce, but for life, what they're going to be doing. Starting with skipping class. It doesn't happen a lot. I came from a district that I felt like all I was doing was chasing students who weren't going to class. Here at Greater Lawrence, we don't have that issue. The reason why I'd say primarily the the most skipped classes come from our wind block and it I it's more of a pattern of confusion with the students because it's a different schedule. Our normal schedule works on the power on the power school database. Um, we have what's called my flex, which is a separate uh unit that students sometimes forget to check.
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They were very helpful to us last time during the superintendent search, so I'm sure that we can count on our partners at this time. >> I bring it up because that was widely um publicized and that was really good and that's like what we need for all of these important initiatives that we do. Absolutely. I mean we do have a marketing person that we financially pay money to too. Yeah. Put stuff like this out and this might be right up their alley. Should be. Oh yeah, I expect they'll be working on this. Hope so. Um we can at the very least task them with doing so. Um Okay, so I will change the dates to reflect the timeline that we've just discussed as as revised in these documents and then I will work with the superintendent to get a web page up specifically for this with all the information that we also just discussed and be able to reach out to the recorder.
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As well as reductions to certified and non-certified staff where attrition were possible. Following the referendum on May 14th, the Board of Finance requested an additional reduction of $375,000, bringing the total requested reduction to approximately $575,000. So, tonight I'll be handing out a sheet to the Board of Education and the community with a proposed reduction that we have considered very carefully. What I do want to say is I do listen, and I do write things down because I want to make sure that I take things in. Because there's a lot of things that were said through public budget workshops, that if I didn't write them down, I may forget some of the great ideas that people said. And there the majority of the reductions that you're going to hear tonight, you've actually heard from the community at large. And I want to thank them for sharing their ideas with us.
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The nominees are then voted on by the entire Chester High School coaching staff. This year's recipient of the Steve Trafon Male Athlete of the Year Award has been a four-year member of both our football and boys lacrosse programs. He has been recognized by his coaches and teammates for his leadership and was selected as one of this year's football captains. During his time at Cheshire High School, he has distinguished himself not only through his athletic accomplishments, but also through the leadership, accountability, and commitment to others that he demonstrates each and every day. Next year, he will continue both his athletic and academic career at Salv Regina University. Congratulations to JC Summer. [applause] [applause] JC is out on the lacrosse field tonight. Um, in today's landscape of high school athletics, the three sport athlete has become increasing uh increasingly rare. Even more remarkable is that this year's Steve Trafon female athlete of the year has not only excelled in all three of her sports, but has also served as a captain for each of those teams.
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Our kids are not. They don't understand what it can do to their brains, that do their systems, and I feel like we have a role that we need to fulfill, a responsibility that we need to show them that there are responsible ways to use screens, and there's a time for fun, and there's a time for learning. And they don't get to decide necessarily how much time they spend on screens. Um so, I'm just hoping that the district, the board, will consider partnering with the parents in the district and letting us if nothing else, letting us control what our kids are able to access in our own homes. Thank you. Our next speaker is Emily Mazagol. No, it's Mazagol. Thank you. >> I'm so sorry. That's okay. Nobody gets it right. Hi, I'm Emily, and I have a second and fourth grader in Hooverwood Elementary School.
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We try to look up the conference amount for this year the dollar amount and it's not published yet because it doesn't open until June 1st, but we were recalling it's in the neighborhood of about $450 a person. I know that Dr. Ketchatori is going to be going. I'm sure Mr. Glanzman would be going and I believe they're probably the entire new cabinet is going to be going because there's a lot of administrative professional development for them. And I know Dr. Ketchatori would love it if as many board members as possible could go. It's a great opportunity for board members to get professional development. But I wanted to bring this up because the board will have to approve the expenses ahead of time. And June 1st is when we can start registering people and it's always helpful to register as soon as possible because hotel assignments and things like that are also done in the order that people register.
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We don't have to and stuff because we did receive that status again. So that goes back to the hard work of our students, our staff, our families, everyone who contributes. So hinted at it earlier when we were talking about Officer Meyers that I'll just read this to you. It's a notification that he received on behalf of the Insa Executive Board. We want to extend our congratulations for being selected as your region school resource officer of the year. you are nominated by a peer or administrator who strongly believes you have demonstrated exceptional performance in your duties as an SRO. We look forward to showing that appreciation at an award ceremony at this year's INSA school safety conference. So congratulations to Officer Meyers and he is very well deserving of that. [laughter] >> He is very well deserving of that >> sort of that held that at >> I do not know.
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And so, this is why I'm saying this is there's not a substantial significance financially from spending if you would compare your year-over-year trends now to what we'd spend operating alone. So, that then goes to my point of well, what would you prefer to do in terms of quality? And that's what should drive your answer here. So, just some additional information about what made into the 4.6 million estimated if you were to operate alone. Uh You know, obviously you're going to have new costs for the first time like having a director of special education where it's right now you rely upon the special ed cooperative. There's going to be some shared services like therapists and and so on and other positions that are going to shift from the cooperative to your payroll. However, it's going to be relatively net neutral because you are going to be able to save in other areas and we're going to receive the federal money directly for the first time where it's now the money goes directly to the cooperative.
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They're really just like packing the box, playing that tight zone. I don't almost pull it back and make them come out. >> Yep. Yep. But I mean they're they're they're waiting for us to make a mistake. McKechnie with the ball. McKechnie gets the ball over to Sand. >> Ooh. That's That's a check from behind. I was going to say. Sand with a 12-m attempt. Sand smartly kicks it out to McKechnie. McKechnie over to Parsons. And McKechnie just sitting there waiting. McKechnie looking to do a dodge. McKechnie does roll, goes around. Looking to find somebody. Nobody there. McKechnie pulls out. You can almost do this for the next 6 minutes. Go ahead. Yeah. Make them make them play you. >> At some point I would be That's what I would be doing. Make them come out. Spartans are I mean they're only up five. Still a lot of time left, but Now McKechnie goes around.
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So, when we're chasing kids who didn't go to a class, then we're finding out where, we have that conversation. Where were you? Uh, they were at a different teacher getting help because perhaps they were changed into a block last minute by the teacher and they didn't realize it. Um, typically I get that once. I'll remind them. I'll talk to them. And if it happens over and over, I'm going to hold the student accountable. Uh what do we do when they skip class? Um you know, obviously they have to make up the time. Uh detention is a great deterrent. Um they're skipping a 45minute class. They get a 2-hour detention. They're going to figure that part out themselves. But it's also important that we communicate with the with the parents, that we have the discussions with the students. why it's important. Again, the goal, we need them to go where they're scheduled because they're scheduled for a reason.
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When those things are ready and available, I will notify the two of you so that we can start plastering this all over Facebook, WhatsApp groups, Instagram, like wherever our family is and community are. >> Nextdoor. Next yeah, where wherever the people are. That's where we will that's where we will put this. Um and it's helpful actually that if that we're all able to do that because I think we're all connected to slightly different permutations of the different groups. And so, by working together, we reach more people. Um great. So, I think that that piece of our agenda, we have reviewed, approved, and gotten a uh an outreach plan together. Any further any like last thoughts or comments about those things before we move on to our next setting our next meeting date? My only thing is the um screening committee composition. I'm wondering if we should have a member from the city office there to kind of help guide us financially or what our keep us within those like this is realistic and this is unrealistic.
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So, tonight you will see some reductions from the administration that focused on technology, infrastructure and hardware, and software. You also see reductions in professional development. There was also some feedback that we received that we should be looking at small capital projects to make sure that we're able to finish the projects that we are actually budgeted for. What I will share regarding some of the grant conversation, we will apply for grants. Some of you know that if the referendum if there is a referendum for a bonding project, the roof is something that is grant reimbursable. So, that is something that the town has to commit to and then our rate was just was 38%. Approximately 38%. So, we will be be we will get reimbursed for that. So, the the the caller was absolutely correct, Mrs. Blachly, by saying that the only ones since I've been here is been really the HVAC, which has been reimbursable.
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This unique accomplishment speaks not only to her impact on the field, but also to the dedication, character, and leadership she brings to Cheshire High School every day. Following her junior lacrosse season, she was recognized as a USA lacrosse academic all-American. Next year, she will continue her athletic career and academic career at Fairley Dickinson University. To steal a line from her mom, good for you. Congratulations, Tony. [applause] >> [applause] >> It is now my pleasure to reintroduce Mr. Dan Lee who will present the Ryan T. Lee Foundation Excellence in Leadership Scholarship. [applause] The Ryan T. Lee Excellence Leadership Scholarship named in memory of my son Ryan and sponsored by the Ryan T. Memorial Foundation is awarded annually to a senior student athlete who served as a captain of a Chester High School sports team. The recipient is chosen by a committee comprised of teachers, coaches, administrators, and support staff based on this following criteria.
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