But I think the town does. Okay. I think that's Thanks. And it I I honestly don't know if it's worth that. I'm just going to say it. I don't because of what we've heard from the public. And because of what they're asking for. I I don't like it. I don't like to say that. I know it's a topic you don't want to discuss, but from what I've heard I really think we need to I I think we need to say definitively we're not going to cut arrows. And I think we need to take some really close looks at other administration. Yeah. Um if it My thought is um you found another $100,000 in cuts. I don't know if that's going to make the difference because we're at a 1.38% increase in taxes, which we're told is about $65 a year. I don't know. I understand where you're coming from, but I don't know figuring the wind what level is it.
Will they be allowed to do that or they still will be like, no? Um the only feedback that I've received from them, and they spoke up in our in our department meeting as well. There were two teachers in the meeting that were a part of the field test and both of them said that they tried a novel because we had a course fee that bought the novel for the students before we knew we were piloting this. So, they felt like the need to use that novel. They said it was kind of a train wreck. So, they they were telling their department members, we don't want to do this in the first year. I don't know, we'll get to that point and I'll check in with those people to see where they're at, but they did not recommend us getting into the novels during our first year.
Uh under number six, they talk about the student athlete concussion and head injuries. So, I think they just removed concussion cuz it was repetitive. And then legal reference was updated. Okay, and the last one, 8:90, parent organizations and booster clubs. Again, minor update on page one. They changed uh where it said district to board and then they took out the word or a little further down. And that was it. So, we'll make the updates on the couple that we had a couple of changes either from press or that we changed with the students. I missed one. Oh, yeah. Can you go back? And I'm so sorry. 173, it's it's page 173 of 80 if you're on here, but it's policy 7230 uh misconduct of students with disabilities. Under behavioral interventions, it's that last sentence, just changing children over to students. That would just be my suggestion again just for consistency.
Keep coming to get the high school the same. It's It's getting better. Things are getting better here so just tell your friends who don't live in the town district, we'll take you. Just keep them coming." I will make one recommendation for next year's meeting for this. You probably all agree with me. Our meeting was the project here for everybody. >> [laughter] >> And then doing it was we met with Peter. He was fast. He did a good job. I will mention that last week we attended a safety conference at Katie and Tommy and I were able to attend with Mr. Harrison, our safety director, and Mr. Peters. I actually learned a lot. I really enjoyed it and my eyes were opened to some of the craziness on the internet. >> [laughter] >> I don't know how to best phrase that, but yeah, it's kind of eye-opening and I think we're looking into having some future discussions and bringing some people in to also educate our students and parents and keeping them up to date on this scary world out there.
And if it works the way he he presented it, that's what I want to see. And that's what the handbook says. We're a policymaking bo uh body. The policy has been written. It needs to be followed. The the expectations needs to be raised. The accountability needs to be there. And you need to grow that confidence within the building. That's where the morale comes from amongst other things. And I'm not throwing it on your office at all. I'm just saying, you know, when when when teachers see support, they want to be they want to feel, oh, well, we're empowered, too. Okay, that's how it grows. That's where the strength comes from. Um, so I'm I'm confused about the the suspensions and I know, don't tell me about the laws. I know about that, but I also look on Desessie and we have sus other other places are suspending students.
It could be zero, right? I mean, maybe that's the town is saying we've had enough on reval and we just can't help you with operating. So, I just if Board of Finance has suggested this is a cut, they it's their job to to examine um and then analyze what the public has said. So, I you know I understand that and you know what I would say Can we look then at the question of development? Are there changes we can make here? Can we put freshman development back? And look more closely at that. I just think it's something that we need to talk about. I really do. I'm supportive of that as well. And um I think with the technology that we have I don't mean to go over you but with what we're doing with technology and with our seven technology professionals I personally think that that's a place we could look.
So, we really tried to listen to them. So, they this program that picks the novels that for the teachers to read, like the teacher doesn't >> No, that the we tried to weave it in on our own and it blew up a little bit for us and they they said I would not want to I would not recommend us doing that. So, that was part of it. But Savvas has their book club and they have both the resources and the books that would come with it if if to go in that direction. And then the only other question I have, and this is more towards Tony, is Tony everything that we're voting on for this um 9. All of them, is it in our budget? Were these allotted for in our budget? This um to be honest with you, I haven't gone through the list myself because there's so much stuff on here today.
If everyone's okay with that. So noted. So, we'll make those changes with the students, uh the other change about keeping in that number four, and um otherwise, we will put all of those in section seven if that's okay. And thank you for bearing with me during all of those. And that brings us to the end of the meeting. May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? So moved. Second. All in favor? Yes. Yes.
So, it was good good information. Okay. I'm going to keep remembering things cuz I'm older and I should have written them down. Middle school had the gauntlet uh which was quite an experience for me. I was asked to be the taxi driver. I'm not sure why they chose me to do it. Um it was quite interesting to see the kids' faces and the questions. You you interact with them and you know, I think most of them did a really good job. Some of them just need to relax and and just be who they are and and have a little confidence that you know, it's it's interesting talking to people they've never seen before, but uh Katie and Bob were here and I was here and it was just it was just a fun thing. Uh they did say they want the taxi driver not to be so loud next year, so um if we have a taxi next year, maybe we'll get a quiet one.
Now I'm not saying you know take their first born. I'm not take saying that. I'm just saying sometimes all these other strategies are not working and sometimes that intervention is the one that may make a difference and you know I mean I don't care send them home with a a research paper and have them come back to you and a unique research paper so that the parents are in with it too because that's all part of the process and safe right so it's family engagement So, I'm concerned about that one consequence of suspension for all of this. Um, and you know, whether or not they all go to Saturday detention or detentions and all that, I I I don't know. But I those were my comments and you know, again, kudos. The presentation is great and Bill, you could go to go on the road with what you said.
So Good suggestion. Good job. I would be open to working on that. I I I think we at the very least need to say that we're not going to cut Paris. Um definitely say that. And I wouldn't be opposed to looking at Paris. I had the idea but I had the idea but because of the other cuts we're making technology maybe it's an area that we can look at. Okay, so let's put a pin in that. I think that's good suggestions. Let's go around and then we're going to come back to that. How's that sound? All right. I agree. Hi. Um I agree with I support the current cuts. I also feel that the community has spoken greatly about further cuts. Um what they are I'm not sure. Prior to even coming tonight I've been writing my own list at home and my own speaking about technology.
Um but [clears throat] my understanding is that is true. Yes. I have a question but it doesn't relate to Savvas. Is it all right to move on to a different question? I just have a quick question because I have the email um and I don't know if I heard this answered or not. So I apologize if you guys already did hit on it. I'm just taking a lot of information. One of the things that this um writer had brought up is like the cost to student stamina by taking away novels. Is that something that's been discussed during this process and is there a concern about the students not having more or more lengthy text to go through? I understand there's a variety but um what has the feedback been regarding a possible hit to their stamina? I don't I I I it'll be interesting to see how this year progresses and it'll be something that we look at.
The kids are great and I I couldn't believe how many words they shook our hands or they made eye contact, and I mean, the parents have done a good job with getting kids to be able to communicate with meeting numbers. It was fun. Yeah, and I always appreciated being invited to come. All right, I'll leave it to your administrators. I have a couple of things, but tell me tell me something. I think we're good. Sorry. Okay. No one signed up to speak. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to say anything, please? Should I walk up there or Okay. You can take the mic. You're probably loud enough. >> [clears throat] >> All right, Chris Schmidt, band director at the Cal High School. I'd like to I'd like to thank the board for allowing me to speak today. Uh just wanted to bring up a just a few things.
>> So, >> no, no, it's appreciate appreciate all the feedback. I think you know as a committee you hear from whether it's different uh stakeholders their parents you could hear from students you could hear from teachers clerical administration we understand that I think as you get that feedback and pass it along to Mr. Lavoy and then it comes back to us. We always want to take that I meet with the team quarterly. Um you know we go over things such as you know what are these incidents? How can we best monitor the building? Uh communication is a big one on it. So uh it's constantly evolving. Uh we want to make sure that we're supporting our staff and our families especially. Um obviously we don't want to have the kids outside of class. We want them in class holding themselves accountable and learning those skills to be ready for their co-op and for their academics.
Jordan I appreciate Jordan I appreciate you the patience of being here for the past 10 years weekly but that You have been patient and you have heard me. I do want to say that I've known you for a long time and worked with you other capacities for 20 years in education and you do care about students and kids and I appreciate that that you always put students first prior to test scores. As much as data and test scores matter, I've seen you firsthand care about students well-being, their their well-roundedness, their brain development. So, I appreciate that. I think you have heard parents regarding technology. I think it's a microcosm to a much bigger issue, but I think because we're a small town and we have a wonderful community that's engaged and and aware and debate about what's going on. I think it's important that we continue to talk about technology.
There are so many extended pieces within the Savvas curriculum like um even as an English teacher back in the day like I would always skip Act 4 of Hamlet which I was required to teach to my students because nothing really happened in it. And like we need like I kept spending like a month teaching that that play so like we skipped Act 4, I did a little summary and we moved on to Act 5 where the real action happens. So um there are many extended um pieces within this that I think our students will still have opportunities to practice their reading stamina. But it would be something we monitor for sure. Uh so I have a question about 9.7, the approval of the stop loss insurance. >> [cough] >> Um could you explain what that is and there's the rather dramatic increase? Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> So 0.7?
Uh number one, graduation's coming up. Our band students are excited to play for that every year. Uh making sure that they're they're they're well taken care of is a big priority of mine. So, if you you see any band kids, tell them thanks because that's basically the only way I get them to show up to show up that day is [laughter] with thanks. And because we we have such a great culture here. Um we we have so many people that are interested in Cal, and I sing the praises of this district everywhere. It's a really awesome place to be. So, really thank you. Uh also want to bring to your attention, we just received our banner for the band program. We got our like umpteenth year year in a row of getting our All Music Award from the ISLA the SD School Music Association. Uh that means that we achieved a gold rating in the marching band season in either a regional or a semi-state.
So um we're going to continue to do that um as they're but we understand that feedback's going to come to to all of you in a variety of ways. Um and we're going to go through um this presentation or items in it as as best as passionate as Bill was. Um and I commend him and our whole team for that passion. But you know it takes all of us as a school. There's not a specific title or or or department that's like exempt from that. Our teachers, our our clerical, our paras, our liaison all have to work together for that safety. Um I mean safety probably hopefully was the most commonly spoken word here. Um, I always keep in mind in my return here when I talk to different families and I'm in those hearings when we have those ones uh that are 37H um and I ask why do you want your student here?
I do wonder if there's more subscriptions, um, licensing, areas of technology that could be cut. I struggle with on the curriculum committee knowing some of it. You know, I excel and I know the world has gone so fast in technology for students, but I I think it's faster than is appropriate and healthy for brain development. I think it's out there. I think the research and the the evidence is out there and the negative impact. And so, I really appreciate you, Dr. Grossman, taking a stand and saying, "We're going to look at this. We're going to do something." I I I think there's got to be something more in technology, but then again, you know, you're already have a good solid start. You know, it's going to tip the scales so much that we don't want it to be a detriment either. Um, I I would say too, I I don't know, I'd rather see higher education, a quality education for K through 3 than trying to do this based on the test scores.