001I aliance 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. >> Anyone reporting the meeting? Like you miss back here. All right. Um, >> Mrs. >> Here, >> Mr. Hers here. >> Mrs. >> here, >> Mrs. Phillips >> here, >> Ms. Rodriguez, >> Mr. Shippers >> here, Mrs. Taylor >> here, >> Mrs. Torres >> here, >> Mrs. Seven and >> Okay, thank you. Just want to welcome everyone um attending tonight. Um, there are a few upcoming meeting dates. There is a scheduled finance, budget, and facilities workshop June 10th. That's Wednesday at 5. Um, here in the community boardroom, there is a board of school directors meeting on June 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Actually, that's 5:00 p.m.
002Is that correct? Now, >> we're going to bring that up today for discussion if it's okay discussing that. Okay. Um, and an executive session will be held following tonight's meeting to discuss a safety item and a personnel item. Is there any public comment this evening? Okay. All right. Then we will move on to routine approvals. Um, and the approval of the minutes by can be done by voice vote. It is recommended that the board of school directors approve the following minutes. The May 4th, 2026 board meeting minutes. Any discussion? Oh, no. We need a motion first. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Okay. Um, all those in favor, please say I. >> All those opposed. Okay. Motion passes. and we'll move into the board liaison update um for the various committees. Um first
003on the list is curriculum. So that's Mrs. uh Zitzky who's not here and Mr. Hershey. >> I do not. >> That's good. All right. Um Mrs. Phillips, facilities. Uh thank you. Um yes, facilities. We met um well we had a combination of facilities and finance. We met May 13th. We had um a rather good discussion regarding the West Reading Elementary Center playground. Um I'm going to state that what we discussed Missy Dr. Wood, excuse me, is going to be talking about that and our hopeful, you know, what we've come to uh decide as to how we're going to allow public to be able to use that facilities. Uh we had a brief update of Flannry Field and everything is pretty much finished as to date. So uh we had an update or we actually have
004a proposal of the junior senior high school signage and a whiteboard proposal. Uh we are going to be adding additional whiteboards to the junior senior high school as well as replace and add new signage throughout the junior senior high school for safety recommendations by the BCU BCIU safety coordinator. We were given a presentation for a trial run for a robotic mower to be used at the junior senior high school courtyard. Um, we also were given an update on an athletic donation, a very nice donation by the Fippo Boosters of $4,895 to replace their period segment clock for the use of their football practices. And we're supposed to have another meeting this Wednesday, correct? >> So, but I think we're essentially >> and that is it. So, thank you. Thank you. >> Uh Mr. Shippers, my
005news. >> Yep. We had a um lengthy discussion on the budget and drill down further on our various capital needs and um all bubbling up towards a recommendation I believe that we're going to hear tonight for final approval of the budget. Um and so it was very helpful to hear about the state of or the state of the economy but more importantly the state of our current finances in the various buckets in that wonderful slide that we all love. So tonight hopefully we can all come to a final consensus on the final budget. That's it. >> Great. Thank you. Um and policy Mrs. Sorenza. >> No report now. We've got a whole bunch of policies coming up down the road. >> That's good. Thank you. All right. And we will move on to superintendence report,
006Dr. Ward. >> All right. Well, thank you very much, Mrs. Uh, congratulations to our faculty, administrators, graduates. We made it to the end of the school year, so that is exciting. Um, it certainly has been a challenging one at that. Um, but it's nice to to be here at the light at the end of the tunnel, I think, for a little bit of respit and rejuvenation for for all of involved. Um, I do want to congratulate the graduates of 2026. It was a beautiful commencement ceremony on Friday evening at the Scottish Wright Cathedral. Um, also want to to thank the schoolboard members who were able to be there as well as our administrators who were able to attend with our faculty and and our families and and friends and students. Um, a special appreciation, a
007note of appreciation to Mr. Pete Beck. um he served as our featured speaker on Friday evening and um he shared words that um honored and celebrated our graduates while also uh remembering the memory of Dr. Jones and his great impact on our students and our school system. So, uh thank you again to Mr. Beck for his words. Um we I also want to mention that even though school was finished on Friday, we were still very busy today. We had our um annual mini conference and so we had about 80 80 or so educators um involved today in different sessions throughout the morning and um some application time this afternoon. And then in addition this morning our school counselors hosted an advisory council meeting. Um it's the first time since just before COVID that we were
008able to convene an advisory council and so we're glad to get that back up and running. Um and so I participated in a bit of that this morning. Um and it was great to see a variety of stakeholders present. Um we had teachers, we had school obviously the school counseling team, we had parents, um we had members of uh faculty from uh rack as well as Alurnia, so some post-secary institutions locally. Um, and so it was it was a great um opportunity for us to share our current um goals and and 339 plan, our school counseling plan, but also be given the opportunity to receive some input from from others within and outside of our organization. Um, and then tomorrow we're hosting our Y missing area business education coalition. So that is our second meeting
009of the coalition uh which we were able to have our inaugural meeting back in March. So we're coming together again. um and uh really talking and and honing in on more of our work. So, look forward to doing that tomorrow. Um so, despite being in school year, it's a little less busy, but this week is still pretty busy. So, but we're we're grateful to be here. Um and so with that, um I also did want to to share some information regarding um the West Reading Elementary Center playground. um as well as access to to another um uh field, our planner field. So the administrative team did research several options. Um we also we took a look at what other school districts are doing um and how they're handling access by the public to um school
010district facilities. So after looking at different options, we are recommending that we utilize key cards to gain access to both the West Reading Elementary Center playground as well as the Flamy Field, particularly the track area. All right. Um this access would be relegated to residents of Wing Area School District. Uh, and then the residents would be charged a $10 fee for the cost of the card. Um, that cost will not need to be or the card will not need to be renewed annually. So, it's kind of a onceanddone $10 purchase. And really, that covers the card and a little bit of handling time and some of the processing um that we would need to do. If somebody were to lose a card, they would be responsible for paying for a new card. Um, we would
011not issue another one for free. Um, but that card, one one card could be programmed to enter the West Reading Elementary playground and the Flannry Field. So, one card can get you both access. we have the ability to um create access to one or both of the um the fields and the playgrounds. Okay, so that's what we would do. We would you that card would gain access to either or vote. Um we already have the the the the necessary system at the west writing playground. I think I shared that before. Currently at this point in time, we are installing the system at the Flannry Field area. Um, so I think that work actually began last week and takes just about two weeks to to finish. So our goal is um that we would be able
012to uh make this come to fruition um in the next couple weeks. So before doing that, want to make sure that everybody would be aware we're also finalizing documentation which would include a community use form. So um we would be posting that on the website. We're also going to be, you know, having it here at the district office, but um a resident would need to complete the the use form and um just show proof of residency through a driver's license. Uh and then with the $10 payment, which can be done here at the district office, then uh we would issue the the key card. Uh so the community use form actually details the specific times that people can access the facilities. Um so you know, we're looking I if you say dust to dawn, dust
013to dawn is a little different in summer versus late fall and early spring. So, we have it kind of delineated in the community use form and then um we'll have new signage put up that's a little bit more not quite a little bit more general um at the uh both West Reading Elementary Center playground and at Flannry Field. Um but when people again register, they get that information specifically. So, we know we want to make sure to get that information out there. And for the people who aren't watching today or or don't don't get a chance to watch um the uh the recording, we're definitely going to and we already have messages ready and prepared uh to send via parent square, but we know that only gets to a certain type of community member. Um
014and then also posting on social media outlets as well detailing the directions to apply as well as you know those related instructions. So ideally we'd like to see the playground open on Monday June 15th. So that's a week from today to those folks who possess the key card and then also the first week of July for Flannry Field. Just again because it'll take a couple weeks to finish up that system there. Um, so realistically, um, should this sound like an A-O okay plan with everyone, um, we'd be able to start getting that information out there, disseminating that as early as tomorrow and people can come and pick up the key cards. We have them ready ready to go. Um, thanks to combination of facilities as well as Mr. Arms who designed the template. Um, so
015we we kind of have all of that that ready to roll. um you know for the accessibility. Again, we want our public to be able to take advantage of these resources. We also want to protect the um school district's property as well. And so we're trying to come together um in a kind of a a compromised situation here to to give the best of both worlds. So um I'll I'll turn it over for any questions you may have. And thank you. So it's just those two locations, not the hills quite right. >> At the present time, it's just those two because of the fenced in locations that we have, etc. And that's where we have the systems to be able to allow for ecard entrance. >> What are the signs for uh placement there about
016how you can get your card or restricted access? Yeah, we're going to have a general sign made that's basically going to point you to the website where all this information is and yeah, it would be say something along those lines of restricted access and ways to get in touch with us. >> Is there going to be in the form any sort of um expectation spelled out of, you know, if you something is damaged and we know you were the one who was there when it happened, you're liable. even if it was your kid's friend who you brought. Like, are you explaining that out for people? >> Yes, I'm pulling it up right now as I'm looking at it here. It's fine. Um, so it does state that, um, up here a little bit more. So,
017uh, people are responsible. So if if if the participant fails to keep and obey the facility rules and regulations, you know, we can take away the privileges, meaning we can revoke and make the card not being able to access the the system. Um it is for the residents and this, you know, and the student athletes if it's like the track we're talking about particularly. Um, and the issued card is the property of the W missing area school district and I am responsible for guests who accompany me when using the facility. So I may be the key card holder. If I bring four people with me and one of them does something inappropriately um I will be responsible and we do have the cameras so we are able to see who comes in with room etc.
018So, >> um, what happens? So, like, let's say during track or during soccer, when there are games or practices there, are the gates open or, you know, when kids go over to practice, obviously they have to be open and I assume they're not all going to have a key card. So, >> how will we sort of moni monitor that, I guess? >> Um, so the gates will be open. So, like, um, when it's practice time, specifically at field, we'll be able to access that, not a problem. Okay. coaches have keys uh and they'll have access to the facility. Um if they open up the larger gates to get in, whether it's the athletic trainers and that's not going to prevent people from walking in, it's going to be up to either the trainers or the
019staff there to say, "Sorry, this per the signage, the facilities closed because it's during the school day. Um it's practice time." And you know, um varsity sports or just sports in general have rights to the field. And just same as uh At West Reading, there's any type of school function that takes place afterwards. They have the rights to use it before the public does. So, they will be, you know, asked to leave or we can schedule it if we know it. enough um when their car doesn't work again. If it's after if it's when the hours that are designated to start for the public use kind of spills over, we can if we know it's on the schedule, we can deactivate or essentially just delay their entry into access to the system >> because obviously
020we'll have spectators too for games and things like that will be >> but then at that point it'll be um well the ticket booth and everything. So there'll be someone monitoring their people coming in, right? Thank you. >> I just have a couple questions. Um the agreement or use form doesn't specifically spell out that if something happens while that key court is used that they will be subject to prosecution and restitution. So after the sentence that I read, it then says, "Any misuse of the card or the facility may result in privileges being revoked and charges for any necessary repair or replacement?" Okay. And if we end up revoking a card for misuse, does it specify that without a refund? >> Um, I don't think it specifies that right here. Might be a good idea.
021>> Probably put that in there, too. Yeah. And then >> on the flip side of that, if we have a district resident who feels they are unable to afford to pay for the card, >> is there an application process where they can gain access at no cost or at a reduced cost? >> We haven't discussed that per se. Um I don't believe the other districts do offer that to our knowledge. >> Okay. I mean, it's not a guaranteed right. It is a privilege. So, I can see that. I would just hate to see any of our students prevented from having access because of an economic disadvantage. >> This spells out here that you have to be over the age 18 have a card. >> So, your parent would have to have the card hold the
022card. It would be preferred if the card holder was with the >> but we understand how things transpire. like >> Thomas. So to be able to get a card, you have to be overly, >> right? But if I'm an economically disadvantaged parent and my child sees all their friends at the playground and wants to go over and play with them, but I don't have an extra $10 to buy the card. I don't know how we would do that. Maybe we could talk about that, like whether it's based on free and reduced lunch um students, things of that nature. and if we want to limit that to students, not just community members. But I just wanted to throw that out there because I always got to add something extra. >> No, I think that's great. You
023know, we c again, we don't want to deny access to students who are eligible and who would take advantage and, you know, um of the opportunity to get on that playground. Um you know, I think it's it's a little different. I think at the at the track, you know, that I think we're trying to more contain to our own residents. Um, but we certainly want to make sure that our students with the right to play at the playground have access to the playground. So, I think we certainly work with the families. Um, and and this really does all align with policy 224 and then here at the district, you know, property and such. So, we tried to take a look at that when mimicking this, you know, creating this uh this community use form, too.
024So, >> I mean, Mrs. did you have a waiver of liability in there and you use it? >> It's kind of all incorporated into that community use form. >> I think in the communications, not in that, but as you communicate this out, it'd be helpful to say as other districts >> have implemented so that this is not seen as just a YO thing, right, >> based on what happened at the West Ring area. This is actually something that other districts have. >> Yeah. And yes, local districts in the county again and then also I know a couple outside of the county who actually just this season um are implementing such you know access situations. So right at the bottom before they sign it's there's an agreement um and release of liability included in there. So
025>> thank you for doing that. Yeah, short period of time. Well, the team the team really came together and we did some again research and >> um again consulted a couple of other districts as well for ideas and uh was very helpful. So, we felt it necessary um you know there are districts that do an annual fee. We we didn't feel like we wanted to go down that path. Um and and realistically, we're not making a profit. This isn't going to eat into our deficit of the budget. Um, this is really just to you want a key card, here's the key card. It's pretty much it almost all set amount, you know. So, um, wouldn't be fair in that regard. >> And the playground over the summer, forgive me, it I've had it's >> I
026can't keep up with my correspondence with you everything that's coming across Parents Square and Schooly, everything. >> Are we doing a garden, a community garden to encourage parents and their kids to come? So, not sure if you'd call it a community garden, per se, but everything that they worked to grow inside and they're moving outside and it's grown beyond that. But, um, we need people to help water it. Um, and so that was, I believe, a parent square message that went out to the community to say, "Hey, if you have an extra hour or two, you know, these there are certain times that are set for watering and those kind of pieces." We know that some of our our um students and our faculty who are involved in extended school year itself will help out,
027but we also wanted to see if anybody from, you know, the greater community would help too. So, we do have some signups going on there. Um and in that regard, there could be a time when there are people in the um playground when others are watering, but that's just a little bit more supervision, but it's not going to be there all the time. We we talked about do we only, you know, do we forgo the key card idea and do we say if somebody's there watering then that's supervision but that's only going to be for a little time and that could vary. We just didn't want to be that um unscheduled. You know we wanted to really make sure we put together something that again was sustainable. So that's direction but it's going to be
028a hop in place over at West Running Playground this summer. >> Yeah. What what are the hours for the the garden? Oh, for I don't have the garden hours in in front of me. I don't know that. >> I wasn't even sure. I wasn't even aware there was signups going on. >> Yeah, there is something that went out probably Mr. Salt >> to you right now. >> Okay. Yeah, I I know. Here we go. Message came through here. Um, so gardening times, Monday at 9:00 am, Tuesday at 3 pm, Thursday at 9:00 am, and those that I guess that went out on a message dated May 22nd. So, um, so just trying to get some help out there and making sure that everything that has been planted will survive and be fruitful. >> Fair fairly
029certainly have most of the planters planted. So, there's quite a bit out there. So maybe in the marketing we could also say part of the reason why we decided to do these key cards is because we want to protect. You know this is like a big thing that they that was that is a you know I hope parents who are watching this understand that we survey our students and our students came up with the idea as to how they wanted to make this playground. So like I hope I hope parents understand that our kids had a big say as to how the playground was created. So >> that was certainly one of their ideas was the wallard was definitely >> absolutely >> well thank you guys for everything. >> So we'd like to we're planning
030to move forward unless there are any objections here tonight but to move forward with that plan. Thank you. All right. Um, so moving on, I'm going to turn the mic over to Mr. Capelli and he's going to provide a bit of a facilities update. So, >> thank you. Um, two quick updates for you. One is regarding school code section 242. It's about lead in drinking water. So, a couple years back, it was the 23 24 school year. Um, we hired a consultant and basically tested every sink, every water fountain, any any sink that's involved in cooking and we came up with some deficiencies. We found minimal burn district our size, but we found some deficiencies and we remedied them. Um, so since then, each year we're required to just have a discussion with the public
031to make you all aware of that. Um, currently as of right now, you know, the deficiencies have been taken care of as far as, you know, and all of our and another layer of this also all our water fountains and our bottle filling stations have additional filters in them as well. So, from the drinking water and a cooking perspective, we feel uh the missing area school district's good from a drinking water um perspective. So, tonight is kind of just a formality to have that discussion. And if you have any questions for me or comments um I'm happy to to answer them. >> And just to share um this is a new annual requirement that we bring this up for discussion and brief presentation here. So that's why you might say why why out of all
032of it sudden are we mentioning this um we must now do this annually as per school. >> Yeah. So we'll try to make sure it's done during a workshop next time but um Yep. It's about Okay, one more update quick regarding Flary Field. Um, back in May during one of the code inspections uh from Craft Codes and McCarthy Engineering, um we were basically added a requirement um to our infiltration trench, which is basically a large drainage trench that goes around the baseball field. Um McCarthy was there uh doing an inspection and they're now requiring us to put in cleanhouse which is exact essentially pipes in the ground that connected to the infiltration trench to be able to essentially clear any clogs or do any maintenance that we may have to do. So they were not
033on the original bid documents because they were not a requirement at that time during the during the review process but they required us to do them which then means we have to change. So the change order for that requirement is roughly not roughly of the exact amount. It's uh 6 thou oh no I'm sorry 8,3540 to add those cleanouts and also as part of this change order we had one other unforeseen condition come up in right field of the baseball field which is essentially the last area they put paving in. It kind of connects the entire track around. Um, we had some grading issues and we had to add additional retaining walls, which is that cementic block, that retaining wall that's up on it would be the first base side the visitor dugout. Um, so
034we had to add a good amount of additional retaining wall to meet the grades. This was something that just came came up during construction, very similar to other unforeseen conditions that you don't really know till you get into them. similar to the asphalt that was in front of the track building. Um, that ad is a little bit more than that. That's about $19,335. So, it's going to be a total change order ad of 26,000. Sorry, I should not go off by the top of my head. $27,370. Um, and that would be up for approval on the 22nd. Um, sure there's going to be questions, so I'm willing to answer anything. when that area was designed like way back when. Um why weren't we aware that we would need an additional retaining wall there? when the
035grades basically, yes, surveyors come out and take general grades of the area, but when you get down into construction, there are unforeseen things that come up. And when we got into it, the great without going up and showing you, I'd be happy to we could take a field trip up there. Um, without showing you, basically what happens is the gate in Reich Field, if we didn't make this change, we weren't we wouldn't be able to open it. because they brought that up to put a roadway in essentially. So when we had to bring the road up even higher or no I mean sorry to lower it to let the gate open, we had to add additional retaining wall to make that all work because of the bank that essentially remember where all that rock is
036there was >> that whole wall essentially got pushed back. So that's why the routine also I'd be happy to show you in person or on the plans but it was unforeseen circumstance. >> Okay. And the the gate is there because we need access to a roadway or it was felt it would be >> the gate actually is there was existing and that gets you on the field and off the field. >> Okay. >> If not. >> So it it's not a roadway per se. It's like where the visitors come in to get to the field. >> Um, it's more of a maintenance access. No, this is back in right field, kind of behind High Road. Okay. >> So, the area I'm talking about is kind of off High Road and right field of the baseball.
037>> Okay. >> So, it's more for maintenance, but the walkway, the ADA walkway that goes around the entire property goes right through there and then through shot and then back to the track to go over. Okay. >> It was the last area we paved. Uh the paving's done now, but it was the last area we paved and that's why it was caught so >> Okay. >> The McCarthy thing was a total unforeseen. We But that happens from time to time for code efficient enforcers. They they can add things whenever they want because we have to follow. >> So the code they're enforcing wasn't existing at the time that we started the project. They didn't whoever did the review on the on the project >> didn't tell us to do it then, but then when construction
038started happening, they caught it. So, I I'm still trying to get some information on it, but essentially it wasn't caught when we went out to bid, it was caught during the project. Very similar to um if you remember, one of the changes we had was some signage on the building. um they reviewed the entire building plan building signage ahead of time, but when we got to that point, they made some changes. >> It's pretty common practice. >> Really quick, yeah, Mr. Cap, when you say that when McCarthy first reviewed the plan. >> Sure. >> So, they go to McCarthy, it's the furos, basically code enforcement engineer, they review everything. We send it to them prior to construction. They're the ones that didn't catch this and tell us about it. >> Correct. It wasn't it wasn't
039on our design because they would have caught it. They as in McCarthy could have told us and then we would have made the change before um it went out to date. So it's McCarthy who didn't make the notification to us prior to this. >> It wasn't caught until we were already out to date. Therefore, it could have been included in the price for those. >> But it was an existing burrow requirement. It was it is an existing requirement. It just wasn't on the initial construction documents. >> Review failed to provide us with that. >> Yeah. Which kind of makes it seem like >> them. That's and that's where my head is going. They missed it. >> Why are we paying for it? >> We have to pay for it. We would pay for it. >>
040It would just been upfront in in the cost. with them are that they expect versus now regardless McCarthy's McCarthy is not going to take responsibility for you know our financial burdens. So when it comes to it they'll just say oh well sorry missed this you have to include it now. >> So whether it cost us a little bit more or not that's that's a we would have had to pay for it anyway. because it's cod and however they do their review is, you know, >> and and you could make the argument this is probably more accurate price because they did it on a TNN basis. They weren't putting an estimate to it. So you could >> TNM >> uh time and material, sorry. >> Um so they did it kind of just on a time
041and material basis rather that yield. But to wizard's point, we are we'd be paying regardless. >> Okay. And I don't remember, did we have a contingency budget in the original amount we approved, 10% or something like you would typically do on this kind of project? >> We did not have a contingency budget. >> Okay. >> But I will say even with the two larger change orders, the rock and the water line, we're still under 5% for the entire project. Change order. >> Yeah. So overall, we did pretty well even with the margins. So, this will be on the uh board agenda for the 22nd. And if anybody has any additional questions prior to that, I'd be happy to uh >> one one question I got and I know only enough to be dangerous. So, >>
042this is like a whisper down the line from a few baseball parents. >> All right. Is it is it the way it's been described is that the bathroom facilities for the visitors require the team players in the middle of the game to either have to try to run across the field to use the bathrooms during a game or try to work their way around the mountain carve out in the back. Is there a plan to put some type of portage John's or something on the visitor side so that they don't have to cross the field in the middle of the game? >> I didn't hear this information. So, um, we are planning to put two porta potties at the facility for next year. Um, I could get with them and kind of fully understand what
043they're talking about and yeah, put the porta potty anywhere really. We could put it up on >> close to the high road. >> That would be great because apparently during the game you've got these kids sprinting across the field in between the bathroom and back. >> Fair enough. >> Uh, and then waiting at the sideline to play stops. They run back to the dugout. If there's something over there for them, that'd be that'd be great. >> Okay, I'll make it over there. Thank you. Appreciate that. >> That's all I have. >> Dr. Thank you. All right. Now, turning it over to Mr. Ber for the probable final budget presentation of this school year for next. Okay. All right. Well, thank you, Dr. Thank you um to the school board. This should be the final presentation
044on the 2627 budget hopefully for the for this year. Okay. depending on how this goes which I so we will go to the famous slide um on tonight's budget uh or excuse me on tonight's agenda we actually are approving both hopefully approving both the fund general fund budget and the food service budget this presentation is only we'll be focusing on the general fund u budget but they'll both be on the agenda tonight for approval Um this is just a 12 year uh millage history for the district. Um we've all seen this slide before, but I just want to show it one more time. Um because we are recommending and what's in the budget is a 3.5% uh increase or 1.238 increase in in the mills for the district. Um just want to point out this
045is the first time that we went to or exceeded the act one index uh in the 12 years here. Um is Unfortunately, the highest tax increase we've had going back to 2008 2009, which was a 4.94% tax increase, which was a 1.2425% increase uh in in the mill. So, it's been kind of a a time frame that we haven't had a significant tax increase with the district while other districts around us have been either going to the AC index or you know, or higher. So which is which which is a test to our school board is just unfortunately how this kind of worked out with this current financial economic conditions that we're facing. Unfortunately have to go to that that index as we went to um basically looking at the county's um mill rates you
046know all 18 school districts for 25 26 the current fiscal year that we're in. We do rank seventh out of 18 um 18 school districts. Moving forward to um next year, I only got 15 school districts proposed millage rates so far. So I'm missing three, but still going to give us a pretty good context of what's going on. And the average uh increase countywide is 3.405%. Now that 3.405% 45% does include a 0% tax increase at one school district and a 1.9% tax increase at school district. So really it's skewing that a little bit is higher than 3.4% as the average of the other 13 school districts that reported. So moving forward for 2627 we should still be at number seven out of 18 school districts um because there are significant tax increases as I
047said countywide. Um, Governor Mifflin is looking at a 4.5% tax increase and Wilson is at 3.96% tax increase. So, not that that means anything other than all around us is this is kind of the norm that's happening with districts just because of how funding is is is moving forward. Firstly, we look at assess values and we look at what the state is you know actually providing versus the mandatory you know um requirements the school district is facing and how everything around us is just the cost is just increasing exponentially revenues are just not keeping pace. Okay. Uh any questions so far on what we've gone over as far as millage where we are tax rate wise, countywise? So what does this mean for I did change this slide up a little bit. Uh I kind
048of like this a little better. So our average assessed value in in our district is $138,628. This actually is a little lower than what I presented to you earlier in the budget season simply because we've now um received all the countywide data from the assessment office to get to to set our tax bills. So when I pulled it again, you know, today it was was about $1,000 lower. So there was assessed value changes and we know that we had significant residential properties um have appeals and when those appeals uh throughout the uh the year this year that you know lowered that average assessed value. So what does that mean is a 3.5% tax increase on that average assessed value is about $171.58 annually which is about $14.30 on a monthly basis. I did want to
049kind of pull some more information because 138 seems low. That's our average. You haveund you have, excuse me, 33% of our once again just residential assessed values are greater than $150,000. And at $150,000, the annual tax bill is about $5,490. So a 3.5% increase on on that would be roughly $185,000, excuse me, $185.65. and uh which is about $1548 a month. So as we're looking at that 3.5% tax increase and this is once again just for the district. We saw that slide I believe last month on what the total taxation would be if you're a West Reading resident versus a white missing burrow resident. Um so it's a little higher on the west reading side simply because the um burrows west reading mill rate is higher than missing. So that is an increase unfortunately to
050our residents. But once again as we go forward in this presentation we understand why we need to do that 3.5% tax increase especially for when we look you know 5 years out from now. Any questions as far as that 3.5% tax increase essentially what it means for the district and what it means for for our residents. Okay. Homestead did go up. If we look at that bottom chart there on the right hand side, 2627, we did get an increase in our total amount of our homestead value. It went from 5, excuse me, 849,000 to 852,000. And it did, unfortunately, it did increase the reduction up to $368.32 uh per homestead um applicant. Um the assess value did go down slightly just because of our military increasing. Okay. Final revenue budget. So right now our uh
051for 2627 the final revenue budget would be 48,196,654. As we know that makes up of that's made up of three major sources. Our our local revenue, our state revenue, and our federal revenue. Local revenue once again 77% of our total budget of which 80% of that 77% is related to property taxes. So, as we just spoke about with our reductions of assessed value and changes to any type of properties that go on or exemptions, that's our biggest revenue source. You shrink that shrink our revenue dollars. So, that's where, you know, we're fighting many different, you know, battles here. That's the largest one, right? Is protecting that assessed value. uh and as the um common level ratio which has a big factor in you know assessment appeals and reductions I I did get word that was
052lowered again for the county uh which I'm assuming we're going to see another slew of assessment appeals come uh when it opens up on June 15th. Okay. We are we are recommending to appeal one actually two properties two parcels. We spoke about this probably in March uh two apartment buildings. We are going to uh file that appeal on July 15th and we'll have that on the board agenda. Okay. Uh for the 22nd, not for tonight. Any questions on revenues at all? Okay. Uh final budget expenditures for 2627 are coming in at $50,418,730. So this pie chart represents by object code or essentially by category. So you can tell here once again as you've been through this before salaries and benefits make up 70% of our total budget. So if you add in the 5% of
053our total budget to set aside for debt service, 75% of our budget is essentially fixed cost right now. Okay, which leaves 25% available for transportation, cyber charter school tuition, um you know out of district placements, supplies, repairs, everything else. So we start thinking forwardly about you know how are we going to um you know kind of change the narrative as far as our deficit and work on expenditures and increasing revenues. There's there's limited amount of revenues that we can really work with until unless we decide to go into benefits and salaries, right? The biggest piece of the puzzle here. So um you know lots to think as we move forward about how we're going to kind of you know combat our our our deficits. Okay. Um, so it's a it's going to be a little
054bit of a challenge, but we've got some plans. I just wanted to show also a comparison between once again broken out by that object code about our 2526 budget versus our 2627 budget. Okay, it's about a 6 um, excuse me, a 6.56% increase from 2526 to 2627. Once again, our biggest increases were obviously benefits with that increase to our health care was was significant. That was a significant increase to our budget. Also, um you our debt service did increase a little bit because we did that new issuance and other purchase services increase and that's where you kind of have your cyber charter school um you know tuition that kind of lies in there. There was a reduction a little bit in um in our tuition amount based upon what the the state did last year
055with passing some cyber charter reform but number of students increased. So whatever we offset with that reduction in how the tuition is calculated was was combed by the number of students now attending summer schools. So, um, you know, and once again, just inflation in general, how much it costs for for us to send a child out of out of district has just exponentially increased and they're fighting their own, you know, budget issues also. So, it's just going to get passed on to us. >> Mark, do we have that >> of that how much the cost is >> for for cyber charter? >> Yeah, I I can provide that to you. um we calculate obviously on I have the whole history of that. Once again, there was a reduction both in the regular and the special
056ed. And we we actually saw like it was kind of good at first like mid year we saw we changed our tuition rates for that change like oh we we're going to see a little bit of a credit turning light and then I get the CCA bill this month there's 32 kids split 1616 and our cyber our special edies is very high. Um and once again say that varies by district because it goes based upon your budget. So you know however your budget is set up versus you know like us versus exit or Wilson each rate is different. >> So you know as whatever savings we were surprised that we're going to get is just completely wiped out. Even though our technically our rate is lower because of the changes it just was negated by
057increase in portion. So um some work work to do there but we'll get there. So just to summarize once again as we look at revenues versus expendures our revenues total revenues are at 48,196654 expansions at the 50,418,730 it's leaving us with a deficit of 2,222,76. Now the bright spot is that when I came to you in May for the proposed final budget we were at a deficit $2.3 million. So we did get that down a little bit. We had reductions uh and expenditures of 139,000 that was mostly due to uh wages right so we did make some changes in wages as Dr. Wooden and her team and Dr. and her team were hiring teachers. We got a little bit better news than what we budgeted for, which was great. Terrific. Good work there. Um, which
058we were able to lower the um, budget expendure in those categories by $539,000. Um, on the very dim bright spot was we did have revenues increase by $9,272. So, there's a little bit of excitement there um, for our revenues. So once again, this does include that 3.5% tax increase and obviously we're going to use fund balance to um close that close that gap on on the deficit of the $2.2 million. Any questions on the proposed excuse me, misspoke on the final budget that we'll be voting for this evening. >> Where are we taking money from >> that 2.2? Yeah, >> it's coming out of just a right now we coming out of the unassigned fund balance. >> So those areas that we talked about to pull money from certain areas, are we doing that or
059are we not doing that? >> Right now it's just coming out unassigned. the board will when we um get through the audit for this year ending 6:30 2026 we will reshuffle the the fund balance and we can take a look at that and see where everything was from the final numbers which I'm going to talk about right now so you really good segue okay oops I went the wrong direction on here sorry this is the this is the only small printed one I have and I apologize it's how it comes out in the the system but as as we're kind uh talking to Mrs. Phelps about the fundamentals. So we did project to use $700 uh,470 in funds for this year's deficit. So this is a projected year end for year end 2526. So I'm
060projecting to only have a deficit of $431,000. So we're actually avoiding to use 269,000 in fund balance that we plan to use this year. That makes sense, right? So essentially plan to spend $700,000 bills came in a little lower spend about $460,000. Once again this is not audited. This is just a projection based upon the most recent numbers that I have in our system. Okay. So when we get to kind of looking at our fund balance ending 6:30 2026 when the auditors come out we'll review that with the board. I'll give you some projections. So theoretically, our fund balance amount is going to be higher right now than what we projected it to be. Okay? So going into 2627, we have a higher fund balance than what we think or what we thought we would
061have. So it's going to help us a little bit as we forecast it out. And I'll show you that in a second. Okay. So any questions on where we're ending or hopefully ending this year? >> So just for perspective and maybe point for taxpayers. Um, if we had tried to do a balanced budget, the tax increase would have been closer to five. Um, it's a great question. So, if we were to do a balance with a tax increase, um, we probably be over 5%. Yeah. So, >> we would have if we would have went to which we could have, by the way. >> No, no, no. I understand. But again, it's went to the liquidity index plus the exception within $1.2 million revenue. So you're looking at basically another $400,000 revenues which would lower that
062about 1.8 if we would have lost other revenues that we spoke about earlier at $400,000 that we would brought down about 1.4. So if you would have added in the other additional yeah you probably would have been about 5.6% 6% tax increase if not a little higher to balance it just with a tax increase and not no not taking and taking account the other revenue that we unfortunately lost that we had no control over >> right plus if we didn't have the assessed value change it probably would have been a little bit softer than 5.6 So yeah, essentially that's what I would probably go with. I can I can actually do run that number. >> No, I think that that's a rough estimate. I just think it's a helpful correct >> way to look at
063this >> which once again in the system that we live in even with that act one exception max you would have been able was 4.6 would have still been at least a whole percent just because of that's the system we live in which if you kind of start thinking about it in the out years, it's it's not sustainable, right? You can't grow your revenues as fast as you can if your expenditures are going at 6.69%. It's impossible. So, um not trying to do doom and gloom here. >> There's other things that you say, okay, well, about curtailing expense, and that's where we have to kind of shift some focus to. Um, are there ways that we can work this school district live up to our expectations and still be able to kind of shift some
064things a little bit better to maybe save some. And there are there are possibilities. So, we're working on those. We already started a pretty comprehensive realistic list, not an unrealistic list. I have some great unrealistic ideas, but um, you know, we're working on that list. will be presenting it to the board throughout next year preparing for the 2728 budget year. Okay. So just looking forecastwise, excuse me, on the out years if we look at 28 29 30 31 they're using fairly moderate um you know assumptions here as far as revenues and expenditure growth on both sides. Um and in accordance with any type of you know known factors we have going out five years looking at a 2.3.04 3.8 and 4.65 deficits. So, as we go through looking at the at how our revenues and
065our expansures grow versus our fund balance, we're going to have some issues come 2031, 6:30, 2031, we'll have about a month of uh of expansures in our reserves, which per um board policy we cannot do. Okay, that's where it gets, you know, that's where we start having the the panic conversations which we won't have because we're not going to like that. But as far as if we just on our current path, just for perspective, right? If we don't do anything other than raise to the wind index, the projected aquin index for the next five years and everything carries forward as far as no changes and no expansures keep going up the way they are, this is where we're headed. We have plenty of time. Okay, that's the big thing here is we're going to keep
066working at this to get this to be uh to reverse this. Okay, I kept it short. I did a lot of graphs. So, not to make small printed objects here. Uh but once again, this will be on the board for your approval. I just want to thank you for all of your time and efforts. This was not an easy budget year uh whatsoever and we spent I think it was a lot of time constantly uh going over the same type of information. Um not too much great stuff in this budget. Uh but once again um you know it's it's going to fund the school district and we're going to provide our expectations of education for all of our students. So more work to be done next year. >> Just a quick question. Do do school
067districts or have you all ever use outside consultants to look at efficiencies? Just this fresh perspective on where cost savings might come based on best practices and those sorts of things. >> I'm not sure if that ever happened as far as like um well I can I can say it it probably happens. Um I'm not sure about the the the cost versus the value. Um, you know, we've had people come in to take a look at different things. And I'll just give you a small kind of lowhanging fruit examples. Um, we had a consultant come in um on a percentage basis of what they found to review all of our uh communications bills. So, as we know at home, there's always a new tax on whether it's your cell phone or your cable bill, which
068our cables taken care of because that's through e- rate and IU, but just we went through utility bills essentially and they did find savings as far as taxes that we shouldn't have been paying whether it was a small sales tax or some kind of motor use tax that we shouldn't be paying because we're taxes. So, in that part we did. Now, that's not best practices type thing. That is someone coming in to look for efficiencies and say, "Hey, you shouldn't be paying these things." Um so we do go through things with our our our M East Pasco group which is between school uh county and and bursts. We always talk about best practices but I don't know if I've ever had or knowledge of anyone actually bring a group in to kind of evaluate. >>
069Yeah. I didn't know if there was some I mean businesses do it all the time where we can achieve greater efficiency McKenzie and all those. I didn't know if there was an educational equivalent of that where they come in and help you think outside of the box on a percentage basis of what the realized savings could be where the lowhanging fruit is and where some of the more structural challenges are >> and probably be like a group like um some similar to like Deoparact to kind of move in. They'd probably do the same thing. I mean you can't see everything when you're inside the box. >> Y >> um but we do have some creative ideas already. We've already started a very good comprehensive list that um I I don't think will be um to
070um I I don't want to use the word controversial but painful is to say to be able to start making some moves. Um so really excited to once again get to a point where we can start sharing those things with the board uh to to kind of move the needle a little bit on this. But it was a great suggestion. We can always reach out. I'll see um Mr. summer uh next week and actually I'll see him on Friday so I can just have that conversation >> just to see what resources might be available. >> Sure thing worth exploring. >> It's definitely worth the conversation too. >> Right. >> Thank you. I appreciate your time. This is it's a whole team effort. >> Um >> good job on your charts. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Well,
071thanks. I I I did um did make some changes today to make it a little bit more user friendly. turning over a leaf and not making it just numbers. So, >> thank you so much. >> So, with that, I think we're ready to move into our voting items. So, it is recommended that the board of school directors approve and ratify the following finance and facilities items. Um, and I can draw attention to and thank the Burrow of West Reading and West Reading Basketball Exchange for the $500 donation. Um, also to officially uh thank the One Missing Area Education Foundation for the three grants that are listed in the agenda. Uh, $450 for AI Robotics Rubik's Cube Solver, $1,659.88 for the DJI Plushue Osmo Gimbal, and $14,300 for the next generation's 3D printing for student design
072and fabrication. So, thank you again to late for supporting those grants. Um, also just drawing attention down to number 13, which is the item for the final budget of the school district of 26 27 fiscal year. So, that is item number 13. So, again, the all-incclusive file uh finance and files facilities items include numbers 1 through 17. I have a motion. >> Any discussion? Call Mr. Please. >> Mrs. Horenza. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hershey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kim. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Phillips. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shaver. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Taylor. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Torres. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. Second. >> Moving on to personnel and policy. Uh it is recommended that the board of school directors approve and ratify the following personnel and policy items as presented. Numbers 1 through
073um 12. again. Uh you'll notice on um I believe it is let's see here it's under appointments under B athletic staff. We have now um adjusted to this. So you'll see in the agenda each of the fall athletic appointments, the name of the folks in those roles and the stipened amount included on the regular agenda. So that's a little change than uh in prior years where it was an attachment to the board agenda. And uh also uh we do have the first reading of uh those policies um numbers 103, 104, 122, 123, 216.1, 220, 819, 823, and 913 that were included in the Friday update packet. So just wanted to point those out. may have a motion. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> Okay. Roll call, Mr. Ward, please. >> Mr. Hershey. >> Yes. >> Mrs.
074Kim. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Phillips. >> Yes. Mr. Shippers, >> yes. >> Mrs. Taylor, >> yes. >> Mrs. Torres, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sorenson, >> yes. >> Motion passes 70. >> Thank you. >> At this time, I would publicly like to welcome Miss Carrie Stucker, uh, who is here in the the audience and she has just been approved as a fifth grade teacher at West Remy Elementary Center for English Language Arts. So, welcome. >> Thank you. And that concludes my report. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Dr. >> Um, is there any old business? Is there any new business? Any updates from organizations? Okay. I write to know requests. I don't think anything. Okay. I can entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those
075opposed. Okay, motion passes. Leaving his turn.