So >> or sell it. >> We could try to do that. Um we'd have to find someone who could come in and safely take it out and and do that. But yeah, I mean eventually we could absolutely do that to recoup some money potentially. >> Yeah. Can someone provide this document to me at some point so I can look at it? >> Yes, absolutely. >> So, back to um options A and B, I guess what I would share is um you know with with that money, these would be the order of things that I would recommend. Again, should the boiler come in at a lesser price or cost, uh it would allow us to select more of the options as we go down, right? So, um we've also been looking into um making our systems more efficient and our opportunities to utilize information better uh so more effective in an HR system.
Oh, I'm sorry. >> 6.5 million. >> Do we I So, two questions. One, so we move it out at the beginning of this fiscal year. We can't let it sit there until we need it. >> That is probably what we will do. Yes. And so that the longer it can sit there the better because then we can My other question is >> and this is a great chart. I I'd love to see this on a yearly basis. >> Okay. >> Um I'm seeing a negative interest in 2022. >> Oh yeah, that was a bad year for the market. >> Oh, okay. So this is sitting in what is this money sitting in? Um this is in usually uh usually CDs but there's also um it's the majority of it's fixed fixed income so like bonds and CDs okay >> um if it is invested into uh equities at all there is such a limited uh we can only do like certain I just >> that just is so stark that you know we lost you know the interest earned was negative 102 could see that it would be low, but to be negative of interest earned, that means it cost us to have it in some kind of >> Yeah, it was um it was not a good market year.
Right now, uh the way which we um keep personnel files um is both hard copy um and using Google. It makes it extraordinarily hard to access information uh or run reports. Um equally we use the evaluation system in the same way uh through Google. Um, again, very difficult to run reports uh to see who is in process, where they are in process, if we need to um check up on processes, um looking at feedback, um looking how professional learning goals align to improvement efforts and district improve like all those great things that you would want to do for alignment and coherence. >> So, HR software, >> correct? Um, well, I wouldn't say it totally that way. We do have a system for onboarding and absence management. So, that would be an HR system. And we do have like payroll. And I mean, I know that's businesshr, but we do have payroll and things like that.
>> It was not a good market year. >> Um and so when we like I know so when we were looking at the stabilization fund before, we hadn't taken out money. Um, we hadn't we had voted for at Ashland Town Meeting in 2025 to to take out 2.2 million, >> but that hadn't hit yet. >> Like, >> so do we >> So, can you talk a little bit about the timing of that? Like, so >> because now we're looking at FY27 budget, which we allocated the the um 1 >> 1.8. >> Yeah. Um but we're still we still haven't total like we haven't >> haven't even spent anything yet. >> Right. Right. Because we'll we'll in fall town meeting we'll allocate free cash and pay out from the stabilization fund or how does that I guess how does that work? >> Yeah. So when we make the transfer, so at fall town meeting, we'll we'll get our uh free cash certified um in the fall and so free cash has to be certified to know what you have and then that goes to town meeting and so we appropriate that free cash based on our financial policies and that's where the uh appropriation is made to the stabilization.
Uh, we just don't have any like true HR, which is like >> learning talent management. Yeah. Any of that. So, that is exactly what this would be for talent management. Um it's it's one that um I I've gotten a few quotes from a few other vendors as well. Uh this one would integrate seamlessly in a vendor in a uh our absence management and onboarding system that we already use. Um so information from onboarding would go directly into this which is very nice and it creates its own profile and then we can build out from there. Um our current HR staff is very familiar with this system. I'm extraordinarily familiar with this system. Um it would a lot of needs that currently right now are not being met um and support us. So that would be my next recommendation because I do think um you know how we're able to offer um our employees an experience and use that information to help support their growth throughout their time with us is critical.
>> But that's the transfer in >> right the transfer out the 2.2 2 for 2026. It's fiscal year 26. So that's already been taken. >> I'll have to look and see like what exactly is taken is taken out because we probably do do it that way and not take it out unless we absolutely have to >> or at the end. >> So could this then Well, here's a qu and this is where it gets crazy, right? The free cash is basically our budget, right? So we budget x amount and then we do our expenses throughout the year and at the end of the year we say okay this is what we budgeted this is what the difference is and this is now free cash. So if we don't wind up needing to pull the full 2.256 that we said we were going to pull from this reserve.
Um and then you can see kind of the list as it as it goes down. So these would be my recommendations for the use of the funds. I would also recommend that we engage in conversation this evening about these if you have questions but not do anything with this until we meet again on the 23rd because of two reasons.
Does that lower our free cash or or and do we adjust this that says we didn't have to pull out the 2.2 or does it just bring our free cash number higher because we didn't use all the money? >> Let me get back to you on that. I want to make sure to understand >> because there's like revolving funds. We do the same thing with revolving funds. Um there's a bunch of different accounts that and then it's like okay well how do we want to do we want to keep more money in stabilization or revolving funds at the at the end of the year. So there's a lot of different questions that this can bring up and so that's why I wanted to get back to you within answer. >> There's the different permutations >> and it's been appropriate. That's the thing. >> Yeah. Well, that's the thing, right?
we will have uh the bids right for the boiler and Casey will also know better um because these monies are anticipated right so we're landing the plane till June 30th so we'll even be closer to landing the plane so the numbers will be even better reconciled at that point and so between that and the boiler we'll be in good position to make some decisions on what we should potentially do with the monies >> so any discussion or questions that anyone has on this >> just the first >> what's highlighted on the first two pages? Why >> if if you notice in the column uh funded if you go across it says yes that means that those things were stayed in the budget. So those actually stayed in >> Oh yeah >> the original% >> they were included in the original 6%. >> Okay. So you would have seen those in maybe other times when you were looking at the budget, but you wouldn't have seen them ahead of time because these were the rest were all in advance.
It's been appropriated, >> right? So, that's why it's saying it's been pulled. It's been But that goes to if we're not transferring it out until we need it. And that's why it's some it would be good for us to be sort of tracking the budget on a quarterly basis as well to say, okay, we don't really need Okay, now we're now we're actually pulling it out. >> What do we need? What do we really need? >> What do we really need right now? And I think that's a fair question, something that we need to understand better. >> Yeah. I and I I mean I'll let me get back to you on that because that's these are very involved questions. Now you're talking almost about like what the difference between an audit and a budget is. Actually, this is a really good >> segue. Um >> uh Brandy and I had talked a little bit and one of the things I I'd want to propose and maybe we could answer this question with a bunch of others is um would the board want me to do and work with Cindy and Steph to do maybe a two to three hour session on a Saturday just on the financial cycle.
So I just wanted to highlight those because I didn't want to be unclear about that >> that those did go forward. One note though from going from the initial 6% uh superintendent recommended interim superintendent recommended budget to where we ended up a lot of those highlighted things were eventually removed. just to be clear. >> Yeah, I don't have the document in front of me, so it's kind of really hard to um even digest this, but I do remember seeing that um there was a request for an ADA compliant sink in the art room um at the high school. So, my question is, do we have students who are disabled that are unable to um do what they need to do in art class? Mr. Bando, >> we can look into that. >> We did keep that on the list because we do want to remain in ADA compliance.
Um because what I'm finding where a lot of people get confused if you're not in it is at any given time we're working in three fiscal years. >> Correct. >> So I've got the FY25 audit being completed right now. So I've got stuff going on there. We're in FY26 and so we have everything involved with that. making sure the tax bills are out, all that good stuff. And then we're been talking about FY27. >> And so I think just kind of giving the board a sense of okay, what's that cycle look like? Um, and what all is involved in each of those components, >> I think would probably help in a lot. >> I like that idea. I would also recommend we offer it to the finance committee and school committee and if we can either record it somehow, >> we have to make it available for the community.
Um, so if funding were available, Erin, that is one of the things that remains on the list for options A and B that I am sorry, but you will we will send this packet to you so you can see it. Um, right. It's on the list if we have the money to fun. Um, so right. >> Yeah. >> I'm just curious if it's impacting students, right? Are do we have students in our class that can't access a thing? And if we do, um, you know, my question is how do we, you know, do we have to be ADA compliant? >> Right. Thank you. And we will look into that. We we do also know that there are other locations in the building where students who do need it, we could bring them, but it would probably be most uh efficient and effective with time if they had it in there.
>> Well, that's what I was just going to say. so that the communities can see it as well and understand because >> right >> the community doesn't always understand either >> right >> and it's and it's it's >> obviously complicated and I was when Michael and I were talking about it >> I was saying you know >> they're doing this year round we generally don't pick up the budget until like Februaryish January February through town meeting and then we don't see it again until the next year and that's where where we've talked about trying to have quarterly updates on where we're at with the budget, what have we spent, what is allocated, what, you know, come February or March, do we need to review what we've been spending and make some changes. >> Yeah. I mean, I know we we generally see what the year- end transfers are like and things like that, but >> Yeah, because that'll be coming up at the next meeting.
Um so we'll look into that though. We'll get back to you on that. >> Thank you. >> No, no question. Just more of um I think this would be good to bring to the board of finance um at next week's meeting. I think they meet next Wednesday on 10th. So um you know we can bring this also forward to inform them. our thought process and and ask for feedback there too.
>> Y >> but we're definitely not as >> Oh, we're not into daytoday, right? which which we should we shouldn't have to be but we should one we have to understand it and two >> get the information so that we feel comfortable with where things are at. >> Yeah. I mean you should know the difference between an FY24 audit number and FY25 um >> Okay. >> Yeah. So I think the idea of a Saturday morning I mean >> reach out to the staff and and and do that that'd be great. >> Okay. know how people feel about doing it in the summer, but I think sooner >> Well, I um I feel like doing it >> like I think sooner than I think the sooner the better. >> Summer is a good time to do it. >> Yeah, I think it's a great time to do >> especially while while it's still kind of fresh in our >> fresh in our minds and also things aren't maybe as crazy.
>> Anyone else any questions, comments, concerns? All right, we will move on to healthy food and beverage exemption. I believe this is just a crisis or >> recommended motion. The Brookfield Public School District will allow the sale to students of beverages not listed in section 10-221Q of the Connecticut General Statutes provided the following conditions are met. Number one, the sale is in connection with an event occurring after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend. Number two, the sale is at the location of the event. And number three, the beverages are not sold from a vending machine or school store. An event is an occurrence that involves more than just a regularly scheduled practice meeting or extracurricular activity. The school day is a period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. Location means where the event is being held and must be the same place as the beverage sales.
>> So, >> let's hope you know. >> Um >> thank you. >> Does anyone have any other questions on the stabilization funds? Are we good? >> Can we get this shared with us? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Because it wasn't in the packet. So, >> yeah, >> that'd be great. Thank you. >> And and I think I included this um or a version of this in our budget document this year. And so, we'll also include it, you know, in future years. We we added a couple things to >> Yeah, most of this was I think it was like in March that it was we've discussed. >> Okay. Well, I know what my life was like in March. So, >> feels like an eternity ago. if it came through an email. Yeah, >> I apologize for missing it. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Yes, I do.
>> I'll second that. >> Any questions, comments, or concerns on the healthy food exemption? Okay. All those in favor, please indicate by saying I Caroline. >> Stephanie, >> I'm Wendy. >> I >> and Joy. >> I >> All right, that's 6 nothing. Thank you very much. All right, let's move on to new business. The CLES reading intervention program. recommend a motion that the board approve the CLES reading intervention program as recommended by the CAPE subcommittee and assistant superintendent that various. >> I'll second that. >> Thank you.
>> I was gonna ask. >> Not in March. I wasn't. >> Okay. >> Now to April, but not in March. >> So, the next item on our agenda is discuss the summer meeting schedule and essentially a retreat. Um, so typically we have in some way, shape, or form reduced the number of meetings that we generally have in the summertime. um some combination of you know for July and August or July or August >> partly depending on people's schedules partly depending on um sort of like what comes through from um that we need to what business we need to make sure we take care of >> um any thoughts as to schedule July August what you all want I'm not going anywhere. So, >> no more no more big travel. >> No, no, not this summer. >> Do we want to do we want to make sure do we do we want to plan to only have one meeting in July, I guess, is the first question.