001Mrs. >> Welcome to the Watsbury Area School District where we're student centered and future focus for world class education. I now call to order the Monday, April 13th, 2026 work session. Would you all please stand and pledge allegiance? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Have a roll call, please. Mr. Blazer >> present. >> Mr. Brumagen >> present. >> Mrs. Heatherington >> here. >> Mr. Warick >> here. >> Dr. Pushkin >> here. >> Mr. Snippers >> here. >> Mrs. Will >> here. >> Dr. Williams >> here. >> Mr. Young >> present. >> All right. Let's go ahead and continue to finish up with our finance session and then we will
002move into our work session. This guy. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. Uh so now looking at rental reimbursement and because it's reimbursement it's revenue it's a negative number right so it falls below the axis but um in 2526 it was a little over 500,000 we're going to remain the same in 26 27 27 28 28 29 2930 and then in 3031 remember we're going to be paying off one series but then We're just going to have two left. We're going to get some rental reimbursements back because the payments go up. It's a percentage of the payment is the rental reimbursement. We'll get more reimbursement back, but it's still less than the 500,000. And then we'll get a little bit of rental reimbursement in and then the last three years there's nothing. But the payments are
003then reduced by a little bit. So it balanced itself out to where we're still paying at 1.96 million for a period of the next period next years. And then um so that's subsidy coming from the state kind of plan on but not fun. And why is it called rental reimbursement? That's the most confusing part. >> I have no idea. >> Okay. They call it rental reimbursement. I think it's because you are renting someone else's money, >> right? >> Debt service >> and then it's you're getting reimbursed >> for >> borrowing money >> for the purpose of construction. >> The state helping us with our debt. It's a little incentification from the state. So again, >> see, they they incentivize you for debt and for raising your taxes. >> All the good >> they want you
004to do more because they want you to do it. Yes. >> In a more local fashion. >> Yes. >> Or they don't want to do it. >> That's it. Well, that's both. Yeah. >> Well, they could raise sales tax to increase revenue, which is still out of our pockets, right? >> There's several states trying to abolish property tax right now, so we'll see where the future goes. Um, so earlier you did say if we can get there 2035, we have $2 million, which right now our debt shortfall is 1.4. So call it a wash if you want. Inflation's going to be in there. >> So, but again, so I'm going to ask Dr. Berlin before he retires to forecast, do we have anything in 2035 that we have to take a new $22 million loan
005out? You know, are we building new schools? We have our turf. you know, do we have to do a loan for a new turf project in 10 years? You know, are we going to be taking on new debt or because we're paying for our mechanicals out of the money already discussed, are we going to be debtree? >> Pretty I mean pretty a disaster. That's where we've set things up because we have insurance. if that's where we've set things up that when we drift down to that point if we've maintained up until there we're not growing student body wise so we don't have to expand things structurally in these buildings we've over the past 13 years I've been through all of them um so we don't foresee huge expenses now if you just stopped doing all
006these little summer projects takes 100,000 500,000 a year replace that. If that stopped for a period of 5 years, then you start to see the cracks and you know that's when decisions have got to be made on how you want to handle that. My recollection was we replaced HVAC units at the elementary. We replaced the windows. We've done some roofing projects. We obviously done multiple paving projects. We've done >> we renovated the entire middle school, >> right? We've replaced the carpets. replace the ceiling and flooring and the kitchen equipment is being turned over. >> Uh different budget, not not general fund money. >> Yeah. But >> we're I mean we're kind of getting down to it. Um there's a few rooftop units on Senica like the auditorium and the gymnasiums. Those are two big units
007that are independent. >> Those are the oldest. Um but you're looking at a rebuild of what's there. necessarily a total total replacement. >> Is there efficiency in power and gas usage and >> which we committed money towards >> not funds for >> not enough to fund the entire project but we've started the bucket for it. >> Right. Right. >> We do have we have turf money set aside. Um >> yeah I have $450,000 at the time that we put the turf in. That's what they said it would in 10 to 15 years when it needed to be replaced. That was the cost. So I immediately set that aside so we knew we had it. Now the board can recommit those funds to other things come a disaster or something that they feel more um strongly
008about using it for. Um but my recommendation is to let it sit there so we don't have to borrow money to do it. >> So There's there's a lot of knowns, Mr. Broen, but you know, we've kind of set things up so it's would be possible to drift to zero or near zero debt. Uh the unknown is student enrollment because, you know, that that changes the picture. But there's I think you know there's notches on you know stairs that you would hit uh like if you lose 30 students or 40 students across the number of grades. It's not like we can just you know close two classrooms or send one bus home because the geography hasn't changed. But but at some point you lose enough students your revenue your ADM is going to go down
009and you're going to get less state subsidy. So provided the district is in good shape as maintained then you have to look at contracting in the best possible way. But we I've seen the actuary tables and they show across the country pretty steady decline of students because of the fertility rates, birth rates and things. But is that going to remain the same? Who knows? So just to wrap up total net debt service this year 2526 is almost it's 2,ion54,000 54,000 next year 1,971. the following year 1,972 1,973 1,972. So it's hovering right around that $1.92 million range every year for the next eight years and then in 2034 um it goes down by 30 $35,000 still $1.9 million. And then naming. >> Yes, sir. For sure. >> And I will say that that is also
010the year that I reached 25 years of service. So >> she said the state is a conspiracy theory. >> The only Vicky's got some back. Yeah. >> The only thing we didn't talk about was the Knox memo, the proposal. Uh I had put it out in the in the week update >> in a nutshell. Um the state budget has not been on time. I think 15 out of the past 20 years and every time they do that they put you know school districts in the middle and even though we have hold harmless and you know the money that school districts received the previous year is essentially guaranteed for the current year they withhold all of it until they're done throwing the political football around. So Tim Walker at Knox is proposing to put together a
011class action lawsuit. Uh and if there were enough districts, uh the cost could be reasonable. Um so this is more of a strawful thing. Other boards, you know, in IU5 are having this taking the same look, same discussion, you know, do we want to get involved in this or not? um he said it'd be in his memo was a hundred some thousand dollars. So you know you he start dividing that by 10 districts or 15 districts uh and then maybe it's a coalition that grows to outside of county. Um but I I think the first step is how interested are we in doing this? I now looking at the merits of the case, they want to piggyback on the the in inequitable funding lawsuit uh lodging because their contention state constitutionally we were not meeting
012our obligation for an adequate efficient education. So you can extend that argument to say well when you do not release funds for six months and districts uh especially poor districts that are very heavily subsidized by the state start to suffer as a result of that. You're depriving those kids of something that's guaranteed constitutionally to them state constitution. So it's a pretty sound argument. you know, it's not frivolous in my opinion. So, that's what it is in a nutshell and just gauging interest with Tim Walker heading it is probably, you know, your first check mark for the positive. I would be curious to know what feedback is from other districts in the straw polling. I think everybody's probably going to say the same thing. If there's not 10, we're not in, you know, as far as
013what you're willing to put up for the argument. I mean, obviously, we've been fortunate that we haven't had to full short-term debt to cover any shortfalls as these cycles have gotten longer and longer and longer each year, but many districts have, and I'm sure their interest is much higher. What's everyone here think? When we get right back to the same scenario with the last lawsuit that yes, we won. I see we in a term. and then we're supposed to get this money somehow someway along the way. But we haven't seen any of that money other than them sliding a little bit more money into the basic education fund coming in the ready to learn block grant >> because you know if if it yeah the regular block >> with qualifications on how you can spend
014it >> correct wouldn't it just get to the point where they said the state says okay we owe this much money so we'll just jack up your PS compensation and then just counteracted that money. I mean that's the way they play games here clearly. You mean the only difference here would be is that the legislature would be required to continue to fund at a current level rather than to cease funding waiting for the new budget. So that's the only difference is it's not a bundling but it's a non-stop of payment pending a new budget. Now when that new budget comes out correct me if I'm wrong here. The new budget comes out you know end of November like it usually does >> and education funding is cut by 10%. your funding is going down in
015November, but you were funded at last year's level until that new budget's passed. So, the onus is on the legislature at that point and ultimately the governor's office and final signing of a of a budget. >> If if their desire is one or the other, obviously, if they want to have a budgetary increase and education spending because it looks good, sounds good, and feels good. As a politician, you can drag a budget out >> till after election time, >> right? and sign the budget, but we're still being funded. So that's where this comes into play is it allows for uninterrupted funding. And that would be a legislative action, not a PTE function or, you know, a bucketing, a rebucketing of funds. >> And oh, by the way, this budget that's being passed in November, the
016law says it has to be passed by June 30th. >> Yes, >> we pass our budgets by June 30th. >> They're not Yeah, if there was a way to be able to if it was in a way able to hold politicians accountable, I would say let's do it. But it really is not doing >> well. The only accountability they'll get is >> there's no accountability. >> It has to continue to fund which doesn't roll back on them. >> All it does is have us stop complaining because they didn't pass the budget June 30th. But it does I mean if you absorb the cost our district you know puts in our8 or $10,000 against you know 10 or 12 other districts and I would imagine that it'll spread like wildfire once you get one intermediate unit
017that's vested in the idea district 10 you know to start um you know would be for the greater good obviously for districts that aren't in our same financial position which is excellent by the way. >> Thank you. I would ask to put in the settlement to reimburse the districts for their legal cost. >> Any others? >> Mr. President, I would agree with well both. You have to be cautious of what the actual ramifications are of any lawsuit. Um to Mr. Morve's point, you know, you're spending money. You're never get you're not really getting anything in return. We've got good financials. Vicki just went through it. We got good, you know, we're always doing increases, but you know, we have good systems in place. So, it's not like we're trying to recoup, we're not suing to
018recoup $2 million, right? It's just a timeline thing. It is an accountability thing of, hey, you guys withhold funds, you know, for five months. Um, my personal belief has always been to stand up for yourself. You know, I think this is one way, but not only stand up for yourself, but to stand up for others that can't. Those other those poor districts that might not have that can't stand the fight might join in with you if more financially solvent districts can. So, >> And they'll benefit as a result. I'm very cautious of how we spend our dollars as I think we just talked in the finance committee. Uh, but I am personally one that wants to stand up when I think we're right. Good point. >> Your straws. >> Okay. Well, obviously would this would
019entail looking at the thing. >> If there's two districts, we're going to take our straws back, >> right? And of course, >> taking my kickball, going somewhere else >> to be class action. They need to figure out how many districts are going to sell. >> That's what they got to do. Yeah. And before we would do anything, it would it would be a board resolution. jump into something. >> Attorney Kennedy, has she had a uh she had an opinion on any of this from any of our other solicitors other than Tim? >> No. No. I He's the only one so far that he came. >> Yeah. He came to the superintendent all this. >> Yeah. Okay. I just Yeah. Didn't know because they get into the deep weeds of everything. They give us a little
020bit more. Well, it sounds like I could say tenatively the board is >> interested. It's not a no. >> Correct. >> Yeah. The fact that Tim's the one picking it up is >> that's good. >> Tim's definitely in position professionally to be able to move forward with it. >> Mr. President, >> any others? Yes, >> that concludes our finance. Um, I wanted to thank Mrs. Bendy for adding the dead service presentation. And I think that was very helpful uh to remind us where we're at, where we're going, how that may or may not impact the budget. So, thank you for your work on that for presenting tonight. >> And I think that will conclude our finance committee. >> Thank you, Dr. Pushak, and I'm sure and I've already heard the echoes from the entire board
021thanking you, Mrs. for excellent work that you do and we know that you're very mindful um everything when you're working through us on a budgetary perspective and you do an excellent job each and every week bringing that information as well not just today. So we thank you for that. Uh we'll now move on to our work session for this evening. As a reminder, uh the work session is here to set the agenda for our regular board meeting next week where we will vote on the matters that are brought up this evening. Um, everything's open for discussion at this point. Uh, so if you have any questions on any of these, uh, please make sure you speak up. Now, uh, Dr. Berlin, will we have a school report for next week? >> Yeah, the middle school,
022uh, would like to come and talk about their student service projects. >> Excellent. We love when our students come and visit us at board meetings, so we'll look forward to it and have it added to the agenda for next week. >> Yep. >> It's now time for guest and citizen comments. Do we have anyone signed up to speak this evening? Yeah. Thank you. For next week, will we have a superintendent report? >> Uh, yes. I do have a couple of things I want to update the board on. >> All right. Thank you very much. We'll now recognize Mrs. Bendix for the business administrator report. I know we'll have one of those next week >> as always. >> Thank you, Mr. President. for tonight just the treasures reports general fund as of March 31st 12,164,912.91 year-to-
023date budget versus actual report will be ready for next week. Capital projects still $18.65 in that account. Cafeteria fund has $856,38410 as of the end of March. Cafeteria profit loss report will be ready for next week. And the student activities balance as of the end of March total collective in the activities accounts are $62,545. For the bill lists for this week, uh checks written prior to the work session since the last board meeting for general fund $167,745.33 and cafeteria spent4 3266. The rest of the list will be ready for next week. And that is all I have. >> Thank you, Mrs. Benning. Does everyone have any questions for Mrs. Bending? >> She's already got to speak for hour and 15 minutes. We can keep going. All right. Hearing none, we'll see those move over and
024look forward to the updates next week. There are no items under legal advisement to move over. Uh so I'll now recognize Dr. Andrew Bush for finance. >> Thank you, Mr. President. three items under finance for the board's consideration next week. Uh the big one is 7A, which is the proposed final general fund budget. Again, it's proposed. Um Mr. President, may I ask business administrator to remind us of the timeline for the budget actions just to refresh the recollection of the board? >> Absolutely. So, the the board is responsible for passing a final proposed budget by the 30th of June. Since our board meeting in June, I believe is on the 16th of June. There is and and there also has to be 30 days between the passing of the proposed final and the final budget.
025Since our board meeting in May happens on the 19th or something to that effect, there is not 30 days between May and June. So, we have to pass our proposed final budget prior to the May 1 date when they announced the assessment and the homestead farmstead um in April. So, that is the amount that it is as of today. And then we are required to post a legal notice letting our um community know that we will be passing the budget in on June 15 at 7 p.m. and that the budget is available for um inspection. So this attachment that is attached to the agenda is the proposed final budget as it is of right now in the PTE required format that will be available to the public. >> Thank you Mrs. Bendig. The second item
026under finance is 7B which is the food service management company cost reimbursible contract renewal. And the third and final item which is 7 C is the child nutrition procurement plan. So three items under finance at this time for next week's meeting. Mr. President, thank you Dr. Pushk. Are there any questions on these three items? Hearing none, those will move over to next week's board meeting. Thank you, Dr. Bush. >> Thank you, Mr. President. >> Chairman will now recognize Dr. Jesse Williams for buildings and grounds. >> Thank you, Mr. President. We only have one thing on the agenda for next week under buildings buildings and grounds and that is the basketball back stop replacement at the elementary school. Although that number there is a little bit more expensive because I went through that um quote is
027there a $5,000 thing on that as well on that. We are doing the demolition ourselves. Okay. So, we're not paying them to do it. >> Yeah. I saw like an additional thing on there. >> Okay. Mr. President, >> yes, Dr. Are these the mats that are on the wall beneath the basketball? >> They're not. It is the metal structure that the basketball hoops are attached to the ceiling. The I believe they're gray and the basketball back stops and the padding around the bottom of them. the whole thing will come off and be replaced. Apparently, they don't go up and come down as they should. So, they're all going. >> Thank you. Those are the side pivot ones, right? >> How many are four? >> Six. >> Yeah, those are very >> Yeah, those side swing
028ones. Those are >> Yes. >> Excellent. >> Any other questions on those? Hearing none, those will move over for next week. Thank you, Dr. Williams. Chair will now recognize Dr. Jeremy or Dr. Ha, you got an upgrade. Mr. Jeremy Blazer for personnel. >> Too many doctors. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh there are six items under personnel uh for next week. Uh A is appointments to recommend the appointments as listed. B is resignations to accept the one resignation for retirement as listed. Uh C is our service substitute list additions. D is the conference request. listed and E is the leave request listed as well as F the tuition reimbursement seen in the attachment. >> Thank you, Mr. Blaze. Are there any questions on these six items? >> Mr. President, >> yes, Dr. Are there any
029net savings in positions at any of the buildings with these summer moves, summer new hires? only the retirement. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Will be a net change. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Bending, any others? Hearing none, those six items will move over to next week's regular board meeting. Thank you, Mr. Glazer. >> Thank you. >> I recognize Mr. Steven Warbe. Policy. >> Mr. President, currently there are two items uh under policy and the item A is the first reading of uh three policies. Exemption from instruction, therapy dogs and district social media. That'll be the first reading uh next week. And then uh item B is the second reading of policies and that includes uh attendance, weapons, service animals in schools, emergency preparedness and response, safe to say procedures, relations with law enforcement agencies and
030school security personnel personnel, excuse me. as for the attachments as well as Dr. Moon has given us an executive summary of those policies both first and second reading. So those are the two items on the agenda for next month. >> Thank you Mr. Mov. Are there any questions on the first or second reading policies? Hearing none those will move over for our regular board meeting next week. Thank you very much Mr. Mor. >> Thank you Mr. President. >> Chair will now recognize Mr. Eric Snipper for curriculum. >> Thank you Mr. President. Uh five items for next week under curriculum. uh a special education plan. Subject B is a language instruction education program service contract. Uh subject C is homebound instruction. Subject D is junior senior prom. And the last subject B is the senior banquet.
031Place those on the agenda. >> Thank you, Mr. Snipper. Are there any questions on these? We just so happen to have someone here to answer any questions on the special education plan if you have any. Thank you Dr. for being here. Going once twice. Quick question. Just a very quick >> very quick observation in the team that was put together in the special ed plan. I saw the group of folks and whatnot. Um Mrs. McGawahi wasn't on that list and she has helped us out immensely. >> The gift plan is different. >> It's still not under the special education heading. >> There's actually a um separate um I think it's next year. There's a separate gifted plan. >> Okay. The Oh, then that helps me understand. I always thought it was under the same umbrella.
032>> Nope. This is um specifically chapter 14 services. Chapter 16, which would be gifted, is a separate plan. >> Different deal. Okay. Thank you. >> See you very quick. M. >> Excellent. Any others? All right, hearing none. Those will move over for next week's regular board meeting. Thank you, Mr. Sniffer. And thank you, Mosowski, for being here this evening. Chair will now recognize Mr. Greg Remington for technology. Mr. >> President, we have one item for next week, technology a uh smart futures career planning software to approve the uh agreement between school district and a smart futures provider to student career planning software for the 2026 school year as attached. Any questions on this one? Hearing? None. That'll move over for next week. Thank you, Mr. Burton. Chair and I recognize Mr. Wolf for transportation. >>
033Thank you, Mr. President. Just one item under transportation. Although there currently is no attachment listed um transportation request just to approve the transportation request and ratification of field trips since the last meeting as attached if there are any. >> If there are any. >> Yeah, right. Condension. Yeah, there will be. We're anticipating some >> look forward to seeing those for discussion. >> Thank you, Mrs. Will. >> Chair will now recognize Miss Leah for athletic. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I will have one item. One item. >> Wow. >> Um, volunteer list additions to approve the one person list and that'll be it. Hopefully, maybe possibly. >> Excellent. Thank you, Miss Hington. Are there any questions on the one person edition? Hearing none, that'll move over for next week for a vote. Uh there are
034no items that are miscellaneous for this evening. Um but we will recognize Mr. Steve Morgan for the county technical school joint operating committee. Will there be a report next week? >> Mr. President, I have a report on the March operating committee meeting. >> Excellent. Thank you, Mr. Mor. And now recognizing Dr. push for the Northwest tri county intermediate unit. Will we have a report as well? >> Mr. President, short report on March and then I will update the board as I do every year on the state mandates booklet >> the number of state mandates and the cost to them which is always fun and exciting to remind folks. >> Dr. Can you get me one of those? >> I got you. >> I'll try. >> Make a little note. Grab a case. Yes. On your
035way out. >> Uh, very interesting reading every year. We appreciate the summary that you bring with that. So, thank you. It's now time for board correspondence and dialogue. Is there anything for the goodie order this evening? Mr. President, Dr. I'm happy to see that all board members have an item under their designated category. >> No one will be left. >> No man left behind. >> Any others? Hearing none. This meeting is adjourned >> and we oh sorry before adjournment I have not started the hour yet. Uh the board will be meeting in executive session after this for personnel. Thank you. >> Yeah. Could I have a motion? Second. >> All in favor? >> No.