Farmington Board of Education Budget Meeting - 01/31/26

001I'd like to call to order the Farmington Board of Education uh budget workshop meeting on Saturday, January 31st, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Can we all rise for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance 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. >> All right. Item three, inviting and receiving public comment. I don't believe we have anybody here for public comment. So, we'll close that. Um, next item on the agenda, item four, is the budget overview. Um, so I'd just like to start by saying good morning to everybody. Um, I'd like to welcome my fellow board members, the administrative team, um, the support staff that's here. Thank you all for being here today. uh your time

002and engagement reflect our shared commitment to our schools and most importantly to the students we serve. Um I also want to thank the superintendent, the administrative team and our support staff for the significant work involved in preparing this recommended budget. Developing a school district budget is also always a careful balancing act, aligning educational priorities with fiscal responsibility. These decisions are complex and require thoughtful discussion and transparency. As board members, we serve as fiduciaries of public education. Our role is to balance financial constraints with educational priorities, ensuring that budget allocations directly support the district's mission, vision, and strategic goals and enable all students to to achieve academic and personal excellence. The purpose of this workshop is to review and better understand the superintendent's recommended budget for the 2026 2027 school year. We will review the budget

003book page by page, discuss, excuse me, discuss each line item, and tenatively approve each page. This is not a final decision-making meeting, but rather an opportunity to ask questions, hear the rationale behind the proposals, and ensure that we are fully informed as we move forward. If questions require more detailed followup, the administrative team will return with answers at our meeting on Monday evening where we will continue the budget review and consider adopting the 2026 2027 school district budget. So with that context in mind and with our shared focus on advancing student learning, opportunity, and well-being, I invite Superintendent Janini to present his recommended budget for the 2026 2027 school year. Well, thank you everyone. Uh I'm I'm glad we could be here today. I think we've seen uh more winter weather this week than we've

004experienced here in New England quite a while. Uh but we all chipped in to make sure that uh we could be together. Actually, this image came out uh earlier this week in a different way, but >> Oh, wow. uh we decided to adjust it just to show you that uh no matter what uh was thrown at us, we were going to be here together to get this budget passed. So, and it's a cost cutting uh measure at the same time. So, I want you to know we're starting off on a high >> I've already gotten the grievance from FPSU that you're taking >> a nice little AI discussion. >> Little little levity a little levity for your Saturday. Thank you for being here with us uh and giving up your time today. So today I

005present to you the 2026 2027 superintendence recommended budget. I'd like to start by recognizing the numerous individuals who contributed to this project. Um including every member of our team who you see here with us today u but also to our leaders and staff members uh at the building level and across departments who were an important part of this process. So thank you to everyone. I'd like to begin with our mission statement which speaks to the commitment we make as a school district to enable all students to achieve academic and personal excellence. Just as a strong portfolio requires a clear strategy, the budget development process is guided by our district's vision of a global citizen and supports our core beliefs, theory of action, equity framework, framework for teaching and learning, and the board of education's visionary

006goals and priorities. Together, this framework acts as our investment thesis, ensuring every dollar is strategically allocated toward developing engaged collaborators, empowered learners, and disciplined thinkers. With these guiding principles in place, a process unfolds that includes establishing priorities, building from the ground up, which we refer to as zerobased budgeting, considering the proposals made by those same school leaders we mentioned just a moment ago, um, and making refinements. This resulted in a reduction from initial proposals of roughly $1.2 $2 million uh which would have made today's recommended budget begin at 5.9%. We also explore cost uh saving strategies and then hold additional meetings to continue to review and revise in preparation for today to sustain high returns. This year's budget targets specific growth areas, demonstrating a responsiveness to student needs and enhances highquality teaching and learning practices.

007is across our district. The major drivers for the 2627 operating budget can be summarized through the lens of a shift in student services. We continue to respond to the evolving needs of our students through strategic shifts in staffing, programming, and services. Furthermore, these proposals align with this year's legislative recommendations for special education. To appropriately fund our self- insurance policy and remain responsive to evolving medical trends, a 9.42% increase is recommended in healthcare and benefit funding. Inflation costs impact every organization. However, we continue to see cost increases well above 3% across supplies, equipment, and services. The shifts made in this budget allow us to strengthen learning environments and maintain program quality despite rising costs. Our people are our greatest assets. The budget supports contractual increases while retaining our highquality educators. It represents responsive staffing shifts linked

008to fluctuations in enrollment at certain grade levels and changes in student needs and required services. And finally, in technology, hardware, licenses, and costs continue to increase. This budget continues to assure ensure that our district has the capacity, infrastructure, software, and equipment necessary to meet the academic and business needs of a highly competitive K12 educational institution. In addition to these major drivers, this budget maintains and advances academic excellence through innovative programming, promotes continuous improvement and student centered teaching, learning and programming, supports contractual increases, supports increased student need, addresses significant cost increases in certain goods and services, addresses continued state and federal legislative mandates, and contains costs through zerobased budgeting. reductions and efficiencies to mainta maintain and advance current programming and maintains class sizes in accordance with BOE policy. To contain costs, our teams worked to replace

009expensive external contracts with internal professional positions, negotiated long-term low fixed rate contracts for the supply of electricity, and leveraged federal programs, resulting in increased network security, increased bandwidth, and added resiliency. Here you see the total proposed Farmington School District budget for the 2627 school year of 86,961,855 representing a 3,720,872 or 4.47% increase over the previous year. Momentarily we will review the major drivers for the 2627 budget by series. Presented here is a high-level overview of each account representing the changes from last year's to this year's recommendations. A thorough review of each of these budget sections along with a line by line preliminary approval will soon be led by Assistant Superintendent Zatun. The dividends realized by our community's past investments are evident through the exceptional performance of our students. The 2024 25 school district annual report

010and results include information across an array of student performances and achievements that indicate the place Farmington takes as a top performer in Connecticut and beyond. We continue to see marketleading returns including those you see here. Academic success which includes data points like 85% of all AP exams scoring at a three or higher. Our students achieving top rankings in national math science bowl and science Olympiad competitions and US News and World Report consistently ranking Farmington High School in the top 5% of all high schools. Farmington remains a front a frontr runner in innovation as you see represented here with achievements such as our economics team qualifying as one of only eight national finalists. Our students securing awards in the Harvard precolgate economic competition and at IR and at IR a medical moment deeper learning experience receiving

011the Connecticut Association of Schools Educational Citizenship Award. Farmington takes holistic approach to excellence in education as well. Our student athletes find success on the field with over 20 Farmington athletic programs qualifying this past year for state tournaments, securing five conference championships and two state titles. Our student artists excel as well and the district's music program was recently recognized as one of our nation's best comm one of our one of the nation's top communities for music education in 2025. Farmington remains a high value investment relative to the market. We rank 131 out of 166 districts in Connecticut in pure pupil expenditure. spending $2,68 less per pupil than the state average. This demonstrates our ability to deliver top tier results with exceptional fiscal discipline. Before moving on to our page by page review, I'd like to close

012by saying that this budget is a commitment to maintaining a high per high-erforming portfolio that benefits not just our students, but the entire Farmington community. These investments will move us ever closer to our goal of seeing every Farmington student become an empowered global citizen. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jess. >> All right. So, next item on the agenda is item 4B, budget book review of superintendent recommended budget. Page by page review of the 2026 2027 budget book. Good morning everybody. Can >> I >> just have a >> No, >> this one he gave me the faulty one. All right. All right. Morning everybody. Uh just want to >> Good. Good. >> Excellent. >> All right. Uh once again just kind of review quick review over the for the budget book to kind of get everybody

013you know calibrated. Uh what you have there is uh first foremost you should also have that acronym guide with all the little um you know acronyms and different things. But feel free if throughout uh in education we are classic at just throwing things out there. So feel free to stop, raise your hand, and ask a question uh if you're if you're not sure um what something is in reference to. Uh as you look the beginning for the superintendent's opening budget message on the first page there kind of with that overview just highlighting the cost efficiencies, containment and avoidance, academic excellence and equitable opportunity, economydriven costs and increased student need impacting cost and special services. Then we have the various uh introduction with the table of contents to kind of make things easier for you. We

014have uh each p uh section should have the budget summary, pie chart, core documents and budget summary by objects and then each budget section uh so for example like in salaries starts with a pie chart that you can uh also see up on the screen that will kind of follow along. Um the board will have a motion for each page and then we'll share and highlight uh each section and be able to uh ask questions per page uh on anything there. And then in the back you're going to see kind of support sections uh that has uh just you know a lot of uh helpful information uh information that you might want to to pull in there. We won't spend uh time in there per se but they're just there as a kind of reference

015documents for there. Um before we begin uh as as Jess kind of said I just want to thank the entire team. Uh we have D, Darlene, Beth, and Ann, you know, uh we have Sam, Matt, Wendy. Uh we have Veronica obviously here at the table, uh just for all the hard work that they've put into making this presentation hopefully clear, concise, uh and helpful. Um so thank them for, you know, spending their Saturday with us this morning. It's much appreciated. So with that, uh we will go to the hund series, which is salaries. >> I need a motion. I move to tenative tenatively approve page one central office salaries in the amount of $629,193. >> Second. >> Go ahead. >> So this first budget driver salaries the 100 series accounts for approximately 66% of the

016total recommended budget. So obviously this is you know that significant driver of our overall budget. The budget increase in the salary line is 4.23%. 23% uh and reflects negotiated contractual obligations, shifts in staffing based on program needs and enrollment shifts as we kind of talked about at Wednesday's board meeting. Um and also reflects all the association salary increases for the coming year are are highlighted um on this slide. The first uh one we have is central office. Um as you can see uh here this is you know the leadership here that we have at you know the central office uh within the superintendent assistant superintendent uh positions uh that currently have a will have a $30,474 decrease which is a decrease of 4.62% in central office. >> Any questions? >> All those in favor? I

017>> I opposed abstensions. Motion carries. >> Um >> so next item uh page two. I need a motion. >> I move to tenatively approve page two principles in the amount of $2,845,353. >> Second. Great. So when the principles align obviously principles to provide sound educational leadership and administration at the building level u provide special education services leadership of schools meet federal and state requirements. Uh this account includes development of strategic goals objectives and plans to improve student learning conducting a strong consistent staff evaluation program practicing efficient management and budgeting techniques and program improvement. The 2627 FASA contract which is the Farmington Association of School Administrators uh provides for 3% contract increase with step movement. Uh there is the additional 1.0 FTE being requested for a secondary supervisor of special services. Uh so there you'll see

018overall has a $254,219 um increase for a 9.81% change. >> Questions? Okay. All those in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Okay. Motion carries. Um page three is blank, so we don't have to approve that page. Um so on to page four. Can I have a motion? >> I move to tenatively approve page four, preliminary professional staffing page for 20 2526. >> Second. >> Okay. So page four is just uh you know kind of an overall summary of the staffing that we had shared from uh Wednesday with some of the shifts that we had kind of talked about. This focuses on professional staffing. So you'll see the certified teachers doesn't include the you know pair educators uh you know custodians, monitors, tutors and so on. This is really like I said in to the certified um

019staff that's there. uh just to kind of give some context with some of the numbers. Once again, you know, you've seen presentations and you've seen various numbers. The numbers here just might be slightly different than some of the numbers you've seen because this is really our budgeting sheet where we put the numbers and so some of these you might see a 0 2 or 3 that's getting shifted to a grant that won't be part of the operating budget or vice versa. We move something from a grant there. So that might just if you see some discrepancies uh uh that that are there as opposed to the presentation on Wednesday where we talked about what we're you know what we're kind of adding as total kind of FTE staffing. This is really focusing on how we're

020paying for that >> questions. So we're approving these FTEEs and then there's another approval for the next page which is the actual salaries associated with it or is this all? >> Yeah, I mean this is I mean this is really kind of just you know a summary kind of you know uh data document kind of a thing but yes this is just kind of approving >> the FTES and then there's another one for >> yes for the teachers. Yes, >> I'll save my question then. Thank you. >> Um just a clarifying question. So some um a staff member who's a part of the care team where do they appear? Is it in? >> So care team care team would be part of teachers. >> Okay. Okay. >> But the OT would >> Okay. Do they

021appear like under their school? Is that how it they appear? >> So the care team currently >> in special education? >> Yeah, it's under the special education. So he's talking about location. >> Oh, okay. I see. Gotcha. All right. Any other questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed extensions. Motion carries. Uh, next page, page five. I have a motion. >> I move to tentatively approve page five, teacher salaries in the amount of 38,614,559. >> Second. >> So here, um, you know, this is for our, you know, our teachers. Um the uh when we do our SK uh budgeting for this you know we work with our K4 pup people teacher ratio of approximately 19.5 to1 within board of education policy a secondary school ratio of one teacher to approximately 90 students. Uh

022in addition to the regular classroom teachers we have school counselors library media specialists music teachers physical education teachers art teachers and other educational specialists are included in this uh line. Uh increases in this account are result of contractual increases that start will start for the 2627 year of $1,000 plus step advancement when applicable. Uh $2,200 increase general wage increase for teachers at top step there. Overall there's going to be a net decrease of 3.39 FTEES uh was reflected in the operating budget. Uh the application of teacher turnover uh is applied here in object 117. And so to to clarify that, typically what we'll do is do a a teacher turnover u you know of moving in there and we've applied uh around about $150,000 uh each year in there. We've had some conversations, I know

023Angela, we've had some conversations before about, you know, each year, you know, we kind of do this zero budgeting and we kind of say, okay, this is all of our salaries and this is what it is. But then the actuals right come in where we end up with you know uh anywhere between I try to say 300 and 500,000 in the plus and then our subline we always end up you know in kind of this you know deficit there and we kind of and and there and you've brought up that point of you know at what point do we kind of use actuals to kind of help that that budgeting. So, uh, we've taken that feedback and, you know, so this year instead of applying 150,000 to teacher turnover, we're applying 325,000 to teacher turnover.

024And then you'll see in the subline, we're actually increased that $100,000. So, so really we we've we've shifted it. Um, we're trying to balance that out so that the at the end of the year, uh, it it reflects more accurately on there. So, um, you know, we're kind of doing it with what we'll say we're doing it with baby steps to kind of try to kind of move in that direction because we want to make sure that most importantly at the end of the year that we, you know, have this budget that finishes in the black and finishes in positive and and making sure we don't make too many adjustments there. Um, but we, you know, like I said, we've taken that feedback and we've made a little bit adjustment on that teacher turnover line

025to to hopefully more accurately reflect actual numbers. Happy to take any questions. Can you repeat the um figure that you made the motion with? >> Yeah. 38,614,559. >> My book is different. >> So, yes. So, so yes. So, you're going to note a little bit of a difference. Um Wednesday when we talked um when we had the discussion, we talked about that February 1st is a is a contractual uh deadline for teachers to announce retirement. So since Wednesday, we've had a few more uh teachers submit their, you know, retirement. And so what that does is whenever we have a a retirement, you know, most of the time, you know, if you're retiring, you're probably at the top step. So we do this teacher turnover formula. So if you know, someone's making uh I'll just use

026easy numbers right now. If you're making $100,000, most likely a new teacher or someone when we hire someone new is probably not going to be at $100,000. They might be at $75,000. So we'll see this actual or anticipated savings of about $25,000 there. But the retirement contribution because they've earned this retirement kind of payout is let's say it's $5,000. And so we then take the retirement number and we have to add let's say 5,000 but then teacher salary we can move something. So we're still saving you know some some money and and and I'm making it a very simple formula on this. Um, so between those we've, you know, we've got we've have some more anticipated savings in the teacher salary since we've been able to print this book. So to try to also be

027fiscally responsible, we decided not to like take all your books and print out brand new ones for it and we just make uh updated motions uh on it. Okay. So So overall, you're going to see, I think on the teacher line, I think should be about $120,000 uh in anticipated savings there. When we get to subs, you'll see um I think it's probably gonna be a $20,000 increase up there for an overall savings of about a h 100red,000. Uh and then we'll talk that you know the the number that we talked I think sorry the 4.47 I believe is now I think of 4.35. So >> So look at that. We've already saved money and we're already we're already going probably in the right direction to be uh uh fiscally responsible. Um Dan, following up

028on uh Ann's catch there, can we get just so we have accurate information, can we have the dollar change and percent change? >> Yes. Um so let me make sure I have the So the teacher salary once again as James said would be 38,614,559. The dollar change actually I think Beth is going to have it for me. 1,226807 >> for 3.28%. >> Thanks, Beth. >> Okay, any more questions? Go ahead, Angela. >> So, Dan, I appreciate you commenting because I mean, those of you who have been on the board, I I struggle with this line item every year. I continue to struggle this year. So to just reiterate kind of what Dan was explaining, you know, at the end of every year, I look at the fiscal that ends in June. So that's the final

029financials for that particular year. So in the last three years on the salary line, the 2022 2023 school year, we had a surplus of almost 800,000 in the salary line. The next year, 600,000. And then this past year, we ended with just under 700,000 as well. If you look at the December financials that Dan presented on Monday, we are on track right now for a surplus of 600,000. Granted, that's in the middle of the year, so we have another six months to go. And I know, and thank you, Erica. Um, I know that it's going to be offset somewhat by the subline, but it just feels like to me for zerobased budgeting, there's got to be something else here besides like the contractual increase, like it's not making up for that amount in my mind

030for some reason. I I still can't reconcile it. Um, is it teacher turnover that we're using more subs? And is that like is there a broader issue here that we're not capturing? Um, because just that just still seems like a lot to me last year to be $700,000 over. Um, and granted some of it I think was explained a little bit on Monday with the three kindergarten teachers that we didn't execute on. And you know, there are explanations that I can reconcile some of it for. But then that gives me debt back to a baseline of okay, we are over by 700,000. I can reconcile that. But now we're getting an increase on top of that this year. So for me, it's just still hard to reconcile. I don't know if anything you're going to

031say honestly will, you know, I'm not I'm just kind of walking through it and giving everyone my perspective on this line just because it's such a driver of the budget and that's such a big line for me. I'm gonna have to review everything a little bit more. I do appreciate what you guys are doing in terms of trying to make that subline make a little bit more sense with it, but just I can't at the end of the year those those numbers in that bucket just something seems like we could be budgeting something better somewhere. So >> So uh I'll give a couple kind of you know perspective and like I said and and and maybe uh it'll help. Um, you know, first foremost, I think the the the challenge to that once again is

032you start with here are all the teachers. we're going to turn over the salaries and everything is based on the fact that if everybody worked you know there there 180 I think 185.5 contractual days and everyone uh or even if they took sick time and they had sick time but you know if whether it's people taking um you know FMLA leaves or you know uh you know mid-year resignations and you know all sorts of things that happen over the course of just a dynamic you know organization right where where so many things there's so many moving pieces that it it it fluctuates. But the challenge is no one ever knows from year to year what that what that piece is. And so just to your point, I think, you know, when you did those three

033years averages, one year was I think was 700,000, one year was 400,000. And so from there, there's this $300,000, you know, like variance of of things that you might potentially have to now make up in other areas. And so when it feels like a lot of money that let's take it as a you know I'll say5 or $600,000 you know a year out of an $85 million budget it's actually a very small percentage of of piece that that kind of you know that overall would would would impact you know kind of that overall budget. And then if you you know another way to kind of look at it is you know if we take you know the 500 600,000 you know uh for once again for round numbers if the average teacher salary is $100,000

034that's five teachers right and so very quickly you know five teachers can have an impact on on on a variety of things and once again and I'm taking that purely as those numbers if we if we actually then look at the subline which is usually probably about what a 100 200,000 there so now that variance is is more probably closer to three $400,000 a year which is probably even a smaller percentage of the overall budget and now we're talking about maybe you know two or three teachers that could could create such fluctuation in there. So um it it's uh I agree fundamentally with that idea about you know how how to do it but I think you know the there's I think maybe a practical reality in the side of like you know we can't

035be wrong right I I shouldn't say that I mean there's always but the idea is that you can't be wrong where we never want to have to now go in front of the board or the town of finance and say hey we sorry we need more money right that we need more because we hit that perfect storm where we had um you know you know uh four or five more um you know either resignations or family medical leaves or you know you know a long-term disability or you know a ver or any of the things and once again in this case all you really need are probably four or five that could really disrupt this overall part of the you know I think the the 37 or sorry the $ 38 million budget right so

036that's I think why it's there so I I get it when when you look at the numbers, it can create this kind of that that feeling that's there. And and like I said, I totally understand like where that perspective is coming from. And I think us trying to do the teacher turnover and kind of shifting theirs is hopefully us trying to acknowledge some of of how that feels in there. Um, but wanting to make sure that underlying we still go to our core of making sure we provide a fiscally responsible and and uh that doesn't impact the quality of program. >> So that's >> yeah, I appreciate it and thank you. I'm going to take a better look at this for the final vote on Monday, but yes, appreciate everything you're doing and I do

037like that we're trying to take that into consideration a little bit more on the subline. So, thank you for the context. >> Oh, you're very welcome. Dan Dan said it well, but I would just reiterate quickly that we're we see that shift as um responsible budgeting, we're we are also responsible for providing our recommendations in the budget. And so as that shifts, instead of making too radical a change at once, you know, we're I don't want to describe it as a baby step because for us this felt like a big jump um and something that then it gives us a year's worth of data on that move that can continue to inform our practices in future years as well. So just, you know, echoing what you said, but just putting that spin on it as

038well. >> No, that makes a lot of sense. Thank you, >> Matt. Thanks, Andrea. Um just just two for me one clarification right so the 38,615,000 that's related to page 4 the 392.8 FTEES that's how much total sort of FTEES fall into that dollar amount >> uh >> or is it >> yes >> okay so that's how many FTEEs fall into this dollar amount I was just curious okay and then two on the increase of the 1.2 2 million. I was wondering if it was possible to provide a breakdown of that increase for example contractual percent versus the FT FTE reductions versus the step like how do how do I think about that increase mix? How much of it is contractual? How much of it is the district deciding to reduce FTEES for example? I

039don't know if that's possible but that was my other question. Thanks. Um well this that's a great question. This is why we bring our incredible team over the payout. Um and so what we will do is or we've done in the past and if it's okay with you um they will um work on that. If they are capable uh well they are very capable uh if they're able to get that for us during the course of this meeting. Uh we'll do that. If not, this is typically something that we would kind of put on that question list and we could bring that answer to you for Monday, >> right? >> Does that >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Sorry, real quick. Do we uh Ann and Beth, do we have a good a sense

040of the the question of what we're looking to break down? >> Okay, perfect. Any other questions? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> Abstensions. Motion carries. Um, next page, page six. Can I have a motion? >> I move to tenatively approve pages 16 through 18, employee benefit health insurance in the amount of 10,572,636. >> Sorry, I think we moved over. We moved over. >> Sorry, we should be director directors. >> Oh, it's down a little bit. Sorry. >> Just following top down. All right. >> Where is that one? >> Scrap that one. Yeah, it's right here down in the bottom. >> I think it's because in the past we they typically went and did the benefits to go because of the story of the salaries and then the the retirement

041that's on that. >> Oh, got it. They typically jump stepped out for >> Oh, yes. Yes. Bill would step. Yes. Correct. Okay. >> So, you were right. I'm reading it correctly. >> All right. So, we're going to page six. >> We're going to six. Okay. >> Six. Yeah. >> All right. So, scrap what I scrap the >> You want to give context for any of that or or >> um >> if not we can just keep going. >> Yeah. No, I mean I think most people know so the former chair um Bill's uh wife is a teacher here in the district and he would step out during um certain page reviews that had to do with um >> teachers. So, we condensed the salaries and the benefits one. So, he didn't have to step out,

042come back, and then step out again. >> I see. So, we went out of order, but now we're back to order. >> Yeah, we're back to order. >> We don't have We don't have to do that anymore. >> All right. So, scrap the last one. >> All right. So, I move to tenatively approve page six directors in the amount of 1,438,137. >> Second. >> All right. Um, and so the directors are some of the instructional support people across, you know, technology, media services, equity access, school to career opportunities, student activity services at Farmington High School. Um, so that covers that. There's also what we put in here is we put a reserve uh typically for any type of negotiations that we have. In this case, we'll have an upcoming one a spring for for nurses

043contracts. So the directors is just kind of this catchall for when we put in uh reserves for for contract negotiations. questions. Go ahead. >> How much is in the reserve for the nurses? Is that like a Is that the majority of this of this or >> No, I think that is um Beth, you want to just double check for me? I think I think I have a number >> 30,000. >> Yeah, I think it's approximately 30 >> 30,000. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I opposed extensions. Okay, motion carries. Uh, next page seven. >> I move to tentatively approve page seven, advisers, coaches in the amount of $647,784. >> Second. >> Go ahead. >> So, this is uh, you know, coaches salaries, co-curricular

044programs, uh, uh, advisor stipens. Uh, many of these are outlined in the FBA contract. uh that is there with a new teacher contract. One of the things that uh was negotiated was a 0% increase for the next three years in this uh area. Um and then we also created uh a few years back is the dynamic nature of programming at schools is we've moved beyond just having like yearbook and newspaper and you know these traditional clubs and clubs kind of come and go and and and and have different things. So they created this appendix C which has this out kind of general outline for teach for uh principles to be able to assign stipens. So it's you know either like level one for $300, $600, you know, and it kind of moves forward there. And

045so they have an allocation to be able to kind of stay within the allocation but to provide stipens for for those opportunities. um what we've seen uh before and and principles have been kind of doing this before and they've been using uh student services and some other areas in their their budget sometimes to pay for some stipens. So what you'll see is uh a kind of a larger increase here because on object 319 where a lot of where a couple of the principles had been spending for it, we wanted to shift it back here where we believe it truly belongs in that like appendix C allocation. So even though you see um uh the $55,311 increase, you're probably going to see I believe it's a $60,000 decrease once we get to object 319. So overall

046it this is uh kind of a flat. It's just really from an accounting purposes. We want to kind of put money where it probably should be coming from. And so that's um that's why you'll see this uh dollar change here. >> Questions? Matt, >> is this where um like clubs are essentially funded, right? The people kind of managing and overseeing. So more clubs. Yeah, the clubs and stipens and you know all the you know the the you know the various um >> uh you know like you said I'm trying to think of some of the examples but you know some of the you know whether it's robotics or some of the math team or you know the economics team that we talked about you know these are things where the stipens got paid for that

047that wouldn't traditionally be as part of the FBA contract. >> Got it. And and I guess we're comfortable with the kind of level of clubs we have, right? Because this is about flat you said based on shifting from the other object. So this sort of keeps the clubs flat year to year is how to think about it. >> Well, it keeps their stipen Yeah. their stipens flat. So, um, uh, often times in the teacher contract, the the coaches stipens and the, um, club stipens would kind of maybe like move like like a percentage of a master's, you know, like there was some formula where their their their pieces were there, but within the negotiations, um, you know, the they in the negotiations, they, you know, opted for, uh, other areas, you know, the b salary

048and benefits and and agreed to have this part for three years. Do they also do a one-year proposal of the club and then begin the stipen the second year? >> Yeah. So each each of the schools has like an allocation for those appendix C stipens. And so because once again the dynamic nature of it um maybe I'm really into uh anime, right? And so I'm as a freshman I start an anime club, but then you know the the reality is after four years and I graduate anime kind of drops, right? And so this way it creates an opportunity to to not have to like keep, you know, keep this club going, but now there's a new club that something else is is, you know, big. >> Um, I won't even try to come up with

049an example for for lack of embarrassing myself. >> Um, and and so now you can just shift it over there. So there each school has a process where these adviserss propose what clubs they want. They propose what what level it should be at. The principal looks at the allocation, looks at, you know, attendance, programming, what they do, and then approves their the stipen level for the appendix C. Thanks. >> I was going to say there's more information in the supplemental section um under I think under salaries that goes into more detail about the different clubs at the different schools. Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Additional questions. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I opposed abstension. Okay. Motion carries. We're on to page eight. >> I move to tenatively approve page eight teacher teacher

050substitutes in the amount of $965,656. >> Second. >> So here uh as you can imagine substitutes uh you probably have a good idea what substitutes do. Um couple factors here is uh just that you know the difficulty and challenge in finding uh substitutes. we have increased um that that rate uh a little bit to try to um you know trying to recruit more and keep bringing in quality subs. Uh but you'll also see part of the large increase there that 25% increase is the $100,000 that we've shifted from the teacher salary line to kind of more account that that account usually at the end of the year runs you know a couple hundred,000 um you know in the red you know offsetting the teacher one that runs higher. Um and so once again that was

051just a a shift in attempt to try to more at the end of the year more accurately reflect uh what actually happens. >> Okay, questions go >> in here is also to provide homebound instructional support services when required. So that those are technically not subs though. Would those be T or those considered subs for homebound instructional support services? >> So that would I think probably vary on each you know situation. oftentimes we would have it do it. Uh it would be subs who could do it. Sometimes if you have maybe more intensive programming, you might need to get certified teachers to to to kind of do that. And then that would you know the the the duration of it, right? If it it's something that would need to be and I don't know the exact

052time, but if it it's you know going to be an extended period of time, maybe like months or something, it might move to more of a kind of a certified type uh position. If it's something where it's just maybe, you know, less than 10 days or something, it might just then be a sub to to kind of cover some of that homebound tutoring. >> Okay. And do subs get any type of training or anything that's built into this part of the budget? Because like I agree, we we want quality subs. Like I'm totally on board with that. It just seems like there's a high turnover of that. like you know I mean this seems like something again like is there a broader issue that's >> I get why we need to teachers are out obviously

053but is there anything else in here that >> um you know we could do better or like I'm just trying to think like how on some of these line items that >> yeah so is there more to it I guess >> um not really >> I don't I don't think there's no but we do to your initial question we do provide a training for them in the beginning of the year and it works with a couple of the building principles and does some programming and kind of you know talks a little bit some classroom management strategies, right? Because you know sometimes if you know you're a sub, you come into a classroom that you know and and you're like you know uh you're having you know students are being challenging and and you're like you

054know I don't need this right and and you know kind of that piece to it. Um so we try to provide some you know strategies for them and and how to handle things and and and they're you know they are required to still go through you know the mandated reporter training and all you know all the various things that that that they're responsible for. Um so so we have some of those pieces to it. We we do look to see where, you know, our other districts are paying subs to try to make it competitive. You know, if you find that it's easy for them to be making $20 a day more at this place than that district, then then we have to try to look to adjust and and stay competitive there. But having said

055that, I I don't know if it's that much more complicated than, you know, trying to be able to keep >> Yeah. >> keep bringing in good people, try to advertise, find maybe, you know, people in the uh the community who might be willing to to to to do this and because it provides a lot of flexibility, right? >> Totally. Okay. Thanks for coming. >> Yes. So Dan, can you talk just a little bit about building substitutes versus other substitutes because I know we we really have kind of created a strong program of building substitutes that can be used and kids are familiar with and Yes. >> but I imagine that doesn't meet all of the needs for substitutes. >> Correct. So we know we have our building substitutes um who are the ones who would

056you know kind of uh you know reporting every day kind of covering that that's there. You know, we also have um some of the curriculum support substitutes who allow for the teachers to be able to do professional development training and and so they can kind of there. And then you also just have your kind of your daily subs which are when we've used up our building subs um that that are at each various building and now just need to cover you know other you know the absences, sickness and and and other you know personal leads and such from there. also percentage wise, do we have a handle on does that work across the district or is it just as you know could you say when we have the substitutes in the school it's 90% building

057subs and we bring in I imagine there's a lot of fluctuation there >> um I you we could probably you know run a run you know report from frontline race up you know to to kind of see where >> I'm just curious like even anecdotally >> um >> how I guess one question would be how that gets coded in the if they're in a building for PD, we just have to kind of sus. >> I didn't want to make any complicated I don't need a complicated report. I was just >> um >> listen, I'll say I haven't heard from much from the principal saying like we can't find this. I know, you know, a couple years ago it was very challenging, right? They were, you know, it was we have eight absences, we only find

058five subs, we're we're patchworking three. I I haven't heard it as much from them. So So I think maybe we're coming a little better. I know especially you know once again even though co's now been a while after that it was you know nobody wanted to come in buildings it was really challenging >> um but but I haven't heard it as much and you know having said that I know I think just before December break you know there's a lot of flu going I know that there's always these hot >> kind of times where things are difficult you know Fridays are historically challenging you know to find subs and and and so you have those isolated things but I don't think it's been as bad as in the past >> right but this line covers

059both building subs and >> per DMR as needed. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Well, and I would say also when teachers are out on those extended leaves and you need a sub for a long period of time, they actually go into this line, too. >> Any other questions, comments? >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I oppose extension. Motion carries. Page nine. >> I move to tenatively approve page nine tutors in the amount of $710,11. >> Second. >> Uh, as you can imagine, this is, you know, to help students in special services, math, English, language arts. Um, provide instructional support. Um, they are part of FPSU increase of, you know, they have a 3% GWI >> questions. quick. >> Go ahead, Eric. Go ahead. >> Uh because I've heard about

060the tutor. So, but I just now realized the support to students in special services. So, this would not be like I know the I hear a lot at the high school where like a student is just needs all of a sudden needs help extra help with math. There's a se an area where they can go get ting. Is that this does this is not this is just for I guess maybe delineating. It's just for to support students in special service. Is that like special education or >> No, no. This this includes uh the high school tutors, right? >> Yes. >> I think it's right. Okay. Yes. So, sorry. These are just general. It doesn't general population whether you're a special ed student. >> Correct. Or general ed. Yes. This covers all of our our tutors.

061>> No, just because I heard a lot of positive in one of the events, Veronica, that we were in >> just so much positive from the students about how much value those tutors brought to their just dayto-day. And I Yes. Okay. So, thank you. You're welcome. Yes. just pay you the way it's written. Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions, comments? All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstension. Motion carries. >> All right. Page 10. >> I move to tenatively approve page 10, AIDS instructional support personnel in the amount of 3,780, 325. >> Second. >> Um, and you know, this is one where I'll just, you know, kind of clarify. We're uh we haven't updated our budget book as much. It's technically now PAR educators uh as the state of Connecticut tells

062us to um for kind of naming them um to providing educational support, you know, uh academic programs, intervention services, uh across a variety of settings. Uh they're members of the FPSU. They have the 3% uh general uh GWI. Um, we do once again there's the 3.1 FTE shifting off the operating budget onto the grant and and other funding sources. We have the 1.86 FTE decrease of the the two uh special ed pairs to offset the recommended the.5 the school psychologist. So uh overall uh increase of.36 uh FTE to reflect uh the current need. So happy to take any questions. Like I know there's a lot of shifting in the numbers on there. Angela. Oh, >> go ahead, Angela. >> I was just wondering if there is any sort of open paraprofessional FTEES for students who

063may move into the district or students who qualify for a PAR throughout the year. How does that how do I think about sort of open heads within this section? >> Um, so that's a great question. So sometimes when we have that we'll you know uh Wendy will work with us and say we have a new student you know you know uh either they they're coming in with one we'll do you know kind of evaluation have a PPT and and if need be then what we do is we take a look and and you know we'll meet our our legal mandates to provide that and that's you know that's a great example of a place where now we're we look to find money and to shift and and whether that is you know maybe uh you

064know where we are in the PAR educator lines that could get offset by the teacher line being, you know, in the surplus, right? Or, you know, somewhere else where we might have it or depending on at what point of the year if now this qualifies for excess cost, you know, grants, you know, then that might offset that somewhat. Um, so for a variety of different places, but yes, that that's um we would, you know, we would meet our legal obligation to provide the student with the PAR educator and then we would just find the, you know, the the the funding allocation to make sure it happens. >> Got it. either in this page or in a different page >> or another area. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Angela, >> can you just explain

065a little bit more the grant portion and other sources? I just when I hear grant, I want to make sure it's like a sustainable way of paying for it and not I know with some of the grants in recent years, we had them, but then when they became that we didn't have them anymore, we had to find money to pay for that portion of it. So is is this when you're saying it went to the grant and other funding sources so it's not in this line item you p pulled it somewhere else or correct explain that a little >> you know absolutely so you know at the um either each month when you do the budget we talk about the uh various like federal and state grants that we have >> so the IDA is

066a you know the popular one title one you know title two title three you know title those various grants >> those and and we've also talked about that year to year that funding has been relatively we'll say relatively stable. You know, we don't usually get the increases that probably meet the 3%, you know, contractual increases. Y >> So each year what we do is we'll we'll shift ones over um you know back and forth just >> honestly for no other reason just accounting purposes, right? It's like sometimes it's just easier to not try to to try to take a whole contract and then um you know if we if we have a you know I think I tried using it last year and I'll try to do it again. we'll use $100,000 as if that's

067our our thing. And if I have four teachers who are making $25,000, it's just easier to put them on that grant because it's now it's easy. But if I have people who are making like $35,000, now it's like 35 35 and now it's like uh now I have to take like 0.4 of somebody to finish the grant to make sure we're using all that money. So, and we'll just try to look to see where where we can kind of make it fit in really as cleanly as possible without having to make too many adjustments of, you know, Danatune salary is 87 on operating budget and 0.13 on the IDA grant such like that. So, so it's really mostly just accounting and and and shifting of there, but not changes in dollars. So the the to

068answer the the I think the base question you had is the sustainability is most of those are coming from the grants that we believe are these federal grants in Title One that we we have a pretty good idea of what we're going to get year in and year out always hoping for more. Um but you know borrowing something radical where all of a sudden now the federal government says you're not getting any IDA money we wouldn't have to worry too much about how to how to shift that onto operating. >> Okay. So, and is this like the first year we've done this shift or to your point just really accounting? >> No, we we we do these kind of shifts each each year a little bit um you know u you know back and forth

069and and it's not uh like I said even some of the teacher ones and some of actually I think some of the teacher increases >> that that we had are because of shifting you know shifting them off grants onto salaries and so here it's kind of shifting from salaries to and and vice versa. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Any other questions? All right. All those in favor I opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries. Page 11. >> I moved to tenatively approve page 11 office personnel in the amount of 2,585,256. >> Second. >> So these are, you know, our various administrative assistants um who like many of these other roles just, you know, play such a pivotal role in our, you know, day-to-day operation. Um uh and so this is you'll see uh overall decrease of 0.5

070uh FTE reduction and that is for the reduction of the one of the health clerk positions uh that that we have to kind of offset some of the the shifting that we're doing uh and but they are part of the FPSU. So you'll see just a general kind of increase of 3 uh 3.0. >> Questions. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I opposed extension. Motion carries. Um page 12. >> I move to tentatively approve page 12 nurses services in the amount of 1,113,67. >> Second. >> So nurses related services. Uh can focus a little bit on the related services pieces that we talk about were um you know like you know the OT, PT, KOD, some of the other things that that we've kind of talked about. So I'll just kind of

071go through here on the account goal. You know, they provide the professional emergency medical services to students and staff members to maintain accurate medical records, administer immunization and screening programs, and provide related health services. Uh to provide full-time medical services at the seven schools in Farmington. Uh the 2026 27 nurse contract is under negotiation with anticipated salary increase in object 115, which is the one we talked about before on that director's account. Uh there is an increase of 0.5 FTE for a nurse. Uh we uh anticipate at Westwood's Upper Elementary School. Uh an increase of 1.0 uh FTE to reflect a shift in funding from the object 340 of other professional services for the physical therapist. An increase of 2.0 to for the uh from 320 for the occupational therapist and KOD. And so that

072results in a 3.5 FTE increase in this account. Uh and so part of this account is also offset by projected revenues. So uh let me go through there's a few things there. Uh the physical therapist also is that was one we started doing this occupational therapists that were shifting over last year. We did the first one that was last year. We talked about doing the uh for physical therapists last year but we uh already had a person in that position then um and that was offset. So that when that person retired, I think it was in, you know, it was a late retiree. It was after the budget had already been set. We kind of made that shift there, but it wasn't accounted for in the in the budget book yet. So that's one's kind

073of like a cleaning up from the from the year before. Um the um occupational therapist and the codas, one that we talked about, Wendy talked about at the board meeting from uh from Wednesday. So we have that uh and then uh like I said we'll see afterwards the uh shift from professional educational services and professional services for the physical uh there later on. And then when we talk about being offset by projected revenues what we do have is we do have some students who have critical medical needs. So they require a one-to-one nurse often times that um those needs qualify for uh excess cost um and so you know when when they do qualify for excess cost that excess cost will then get applied to here to offset the nurses related um uh object line.

074Happy to take questions on any or all of those explanations. Um, is the 0.5 FTE for the nurse at Westwoods related to like a a critical medical need? >> Uh, not not individual, but that we have seen an increase there of um medical needs to to provide some additional support. And just as an addition to remember that uh starting this year, we moved the prek to Westwoods. So that's also kind of help uh uh um not help but um increase some of the demand at that school. >> Thank you. That makes sense. >> Any other questions? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed extension. Motion carries. Uh page 13. >> I move to tentatively approve page 13. cafeteria security monitors drivers in the amount of $747,45. >> Second. >> Uh so once

075again, we have our monitors help provide supervision to promote a safe and positive climate and culture in our schools. Um this includes security monitor for all of our schools. They are now part of the FPSU. Um and so they will be seeing a 3% GWI. Um and then the additional increase where you see that um the larger increases uh there was a shifting of a position from grant to operating budget. So that is one where we went from from grant on on to operating um there >> questions Matt >> I'll ask the grant question this time. Did we lose did we lose the grant or did it just kind of were shifting around in its accounting? >> This is this is one or I'll double check from him but I believe this is one where

076we you know we lost the grant. Um and and so it you know just to maintain kind of the security of course of it. >> I'm just curious how much that was if he either now or later. Y >> um yeah we try to find what >> to monitor. >> Yeah that that shifted from the grant to operating. >> Uh yeah I have um >> you're looking for the lost grant amount. >> Yes. >> Yeah. find a ballpark. I'm going to guess it's going right by like 30 35,000. >> That's fine. That's fine. I was just >> about 28,000. >> That's fine. I was just kind of looking for, you know, how much is sort of uncontrollable, right? So, thanks. >> Roughly half >> basically. >> Yeah. Yeah. Roughly. Yeah. Yeah. That half a contractual

077increase. >> Any other questions? Angela, >> you know, I I don't know if I'm if it's in this or maybe I missed it or maybe it's in a future one. Where does the residency person that we hired is that in the monitors or was that in the directors? What was >> I believe um that's directors. Directors that already that was that came in there. Okay. I was just going to ask if you've seen our like benefits of that in terms of you know it was sold to us as like a savings because we would find people that taxpayers were paying for that necessarily shouldn't um be here. >> Yeah. And I apologize. I didn't see it in that. >> No, no, I no. And um just, you know, kind of go back on that. Uh

078I can tell you, uh emphatically that yes, you know, we we've been able to um you know, you know, I think I will say three-fold. One, we've been able to identify families who uh don't actually reside in Farmington and we've been able to kind of work with families and have them withdraw and go to the schools that they do reside in. Um the other one is where it's also been uh beneficial is uh because to be able to dedicate that uh as students uh or maybe families who try to register their their children because we've been able to have kind of the uh extra set of eyes to scrutinize and and and look at that and be able to establish that. Um we've been able to have families uh you know not register uh because

079they didn't qualify you know for because of residency. And then this one I can't really quantify but we get more of a sense you know from other people is you know there's there's this you know like word on the street that you know that Farmington's really monitoring right and so I think some people who thought like oh it's just easy all you have to do is do you know aren't doing it right and so you know you can't really quantify that but but there there's a sense of that that is you know now that Fington does have this position and it's much you know I don't say it's much more rigorous but it's just more uh oversight of the process that um is also helping in that regards. >> Okay, awesome. Thank you. Yeah, I

080just wanted to monitor a thought of that. >> Yeah. No, absolutely. >> Thank you. >> I would say in in addition to uh unlike a lot of the other work we do, it's not always a collaborative process. So, it is very time consuming. Um so again, when we think about the numbers that we've seen, it's >> Yeah. Yeah. And you know, and it's a it's a you know, it's a long process. you have to, you know, demonstrate a lot of evidence to, you know, there and and and so u but yeah, but I I I can confidently say yes, it's it's been a a good return on investment for Farmington Public Schools. >> Okay. Awesome. Thank you. >> Yeah. And I just want to comment too because I was part of several of us were

081part of that uh budget discussion when we added the residency coordinator. Um my understanding was before um we budgeted and hired for this person that building principles were responsible for doing a lot of this work and really that's taking away from students and learning. >> Yeah. Absolutely. >> Absolutely. >> And and there's times we do this and they prove residency. So there's we that helps avoid relationship problems between school office staff and families as well when it's done through that centralized system. So >> yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstension. Motion carries. On to page 14. >> I move to tentatively approve page 14 custodial services in the amount of 3 million uh $18,527. >> Second. >> So, you know, I think we

082all know how hard custodians work and how important they are to, you know, the lifeblood of our organization. And so you'll see um you know here we you know they're part of FPSU and so the you know the 3% uh GWI there >> questions all right those in favor >> I opposed abstension motion carries on to page 15 >> I move to tenatively approve page 15 staffing by category Second. >> So once again, this is just uh now uh I'll say a wider uh view of our just staffing by category. You know, that first one, I think page four was really the professional staff. This now includes kind of, you know, principles, directors, the tutors, really, you know, the you know, all all the human personnel, all the human capital that we talk about. And

083then below you'll see kind of that almost uh description and an itemized description of all the changes that that are there. All right. Any comments or questions, Beth? >> Uh, so would we see custodians, which we just talked about, under maintenance? >> Uh, yes. >> Okay. >> And also the 1.0 um under the principles and directors is for the special services position. Correct. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Just one for me. And this is excludes. cuz I'm looking at the special services the IDA grant shift. So any FTEEs under grants wouldn't show up in these numbers or would or how do I think about that? >> Um so yeah so this would be yes this would be what we're covering right for >> so the minus 2.98 excludes any position positions shifting in and out of

084grants. >> I'm trying to make sure I phrase it right. Yes. So that would be um so yeah so minus 2.98 >> from operating budget >> right year yearover-year. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you Angela. >> Yeah. I mean that's a good question that Matt's asking and again that kind of piggybacks onto my other question. I mean I know it's impossible for grants to only do like one time year expenses like perpetually and that's just hard to find those types of projects to constantly cover. But it does concern me like if grants go away then we're absorbing that into the budget, you know, and again this probably is answered from your prior response in that you feel those federal grants which I took a look at after you mentioned them are pretty stable like

085we get those same amounts every year. >> Yeah, absolutely. And and you know to be fair from a from a process standpoint if if the grants were to go away we don't have to move them to the operating we you know this is why we would have these discussions and we have to decide do we want to move them there or we would have to talk about cutting those positions or cutting other things to offset right so those would be the questions that that you know we would have in these meetings to kind of make those decisions. Yeah, it's just historically I think and everyone feels this way. It's hard to get once you make a position hard to get rid of it. You know, I mean it there's emotional attachment to it there. There's

086all of this. So, no absolutely it's just something to think about and you know as people those are people too. You want to think about you're getting rid of a a person or whatever. But yeah, I mean it's just a longer more global discussion. But >> yeah. No, no, no. Uh uh absolutely. >> Okay. Thanks. But that's a so to Matt's point, these are the FTS only covered by the operating budget, not by the grants. >> Yes. I'm just I was just going to have Ann and Beth give me that like final nod sometimes when they give my confirmation. >> Right. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed extension. Okay. Motion carries. We are on >> I think we're benefits. Yes. >> So, we're going to be looking at pages 16 to

08718, I believe, right? Yeah. >> For this. All right. So, you're back. >> Yep. Got it. First page. >> Yep. I move to tentatively approve pages 16 through 18. Employee benefit health insurance in the amount of 10,572,636. >> Second. >> So, here we have the 200 series benefits. Uh so this next budget driver uh or we call the 200 series accounts for about 15% of the total recommended budget with a 9.42% increase driven by claim trends. Uh accounts in this 200 series include employee life insurance, life uh long-term disability, other as well as FICA/ Medicare, retirement contributions, unemployment insurance, workers compensation, and other employee benefits. questions, comments. >> Go ahead, Anna. >> Um, how often does uh the town look at joining uh the Mihip program, the municipal employees health insurance program that piggybacks on

088the state benefits? >> Uh, that's a good question. Um typically what so what our process is we work with a consultant one digital who will kind of um each year help do an analysis of for us you know for various options for you know currently we do the self- insurance program uh as opposed to doing like the state partnership in there. Um, I would have to check. I don't know if they've um, you know, done any comparisons or or any piece to look to see what the the benefits of doing the the municipal this municipal program would be >> because it's my understanding if you're part of the MIHIP, you save money um because you cannot be part of an HSA. So, the town could not put money into an HSA because you can't have

089that if you're on a MIHIP. >> If you're on this MIHIP, would that would that be in lie of doing the self insurance? >> Correct. I can look to see if they had ever, you know, done that, you know, as a as a comparison or analysis and and, you know, we can work with one digital to also um see. I know uh I believe, let me double check. I know each year they do the comparison with the um state partnership plan and I believe you know going to the state partnership plan would be an additional like $1.2 million. >> Correct. But this is not the state >> but this is not this is >> No, this is not the partnership. >> No, we can definitely look into it. >> Okay. >> All right, Angela. >>

090Dan, I might be misremembering here. So remember last year when we had that vote where there was an establishment of another account where there could be roll over. It was like the superintendent one. >> Yeah. >> Didn't we was there excess in this account that we rolled over into that account that or No, it wasn't this benefit line. >> The non-lapsing account. >> The non-lapsing was it from this? >> No. So the so the non-lapsing account was just money that we had at the end of the operating budget. >> Okay. that in lie of giving it over to the town, we were allowed to put it, you know, for for our purposes. >> Was it in a specific bucket though or No, >> no, the non-lapsing is just in a It was the nonaping >>

091excess from though. It wasn't I thought for some reason it was on the benefits line, but it wasn't in >> No, the No, it came from No. Oh, so where it came from was >> the state when we do our excess cost, which is, you know, for any of special services over four and a half times per pupil expenditure. >> Y >> they give it they give us a percentage of what that is. >> Okay. >> We budget what we think it's going to be. >> The state came in told everybody it's actually even less than what most people did. Everybody was like, >> you know, kind of in a panic mode. The state then passed this additional $40 million. Got it. >> So at the end we So they didn't tell us till I

092think it was probably like March or April we were going to get this extra $300,000. At that point, we already made whatever adjustments we needed to. Our operating was going to be fine. So, instead of just, you know, trying to, you know, frantically spend $300, we just said, "Hey, let's be responsible. Let's put it in a non-lapsing account, which would allow us to do to offset any types of, you know, uh uh unexpect unexpected u costs that we might have." >> Okay, that's very helpful. So, nothing to do with the benefit plan. >> No, nothing to do nothing to do with this. And is is that in this budget any do we see that non-lapsing account anywhere or that's truly >> No, that that is just a separate um separate Yeah, just a separate side

093that currently has I think like I said a little over $300,000 um that as a uh that as a board it would be you know if we you know um you know a good example Matt you had talked about the a student moves in in the middle of the year needs a pair professional the budget's tight it's going to cost us $40,000 I might come to you at a board of education meeting and say, "Hey, I'd like to recommend using $40,000 from the non-lapsing account to pay for this pair professional." So, we don't, you know, uh um so we so we don't worry about running in the red at the end, you know, at the end of the year or, you know, a boiler breaks at IR or something like that and it goes beyond

094what we want to do in capital or major projects, we might say, "Hey, we'd like to use some of that $300,000." And so in order to spend that, we would come to a board meeting, tell you what we want to spend it for, and you would need to approve it first. >> Yes. Thank you. Sorry. >> But yeah, not part of the operating, >> but that Thank you. >> And and I also think it ties into what we spoke about earlier, which is the strength of that account allows in some of those other areas to reduce tolerances over time because then we say, well, we know where we could go if needed. um in the event that you know some student moves in something a major piece of equipment breaks or needs repair like we

095have that >> but now for but for full disclosure it's kind of like tools in the toolbox um and I'm going to you know kind of give you some of the the the thoughts that we have on a daily basis is that money could be applied to a a budget right like you could having said that to your point before about concerns like with a grant right if you do it for one time and then you apply it. Sure, you're saving money and you're lowering your budget this year, but now next year you have to now make up that $300,000, right? And so, so you you want to, you know, we we talk about it in terms of a fiscal cliff. You never want to kind of create a fiscal cliff where by lowering your

096budget so much, you don't know how the next year you're going to pay for it because then the next year you got to like get yourself out of a cliff and then go up there. So, so you always want to be, you know, kind of very like thoughtful about it because I know sometimes people like, well, why don't you just put that money in? Well, that's great and it buys you time here, but but then, you know, two years from now, you're you're you have more fiscal challenges. >> No, that makes a lot of sense. And there's no rules on that account, so it can accumulate over time. >> The the limit on it is we can't do more than 2% of your budget. So, for >> 2% of this budget can't be in that

097account. >> You can't you can't reserve more than 2%. Okay? you know, so we could, you know, I so I think, you know, it's you figure 85 or let's say it's $80 million budget. It's like $1.6 million you could you could put in. >> Okay. >> Thank you. That's good. >> So we currently have le less than a half a percent. >> Yes. >> Right. It just we could be some a tool more of a tool depending on how much >> and before this law was passed traditionally that was money that would just go back to the town. Yep. you know, and and in there. So, >> and and you would and you could, you know, hypothetically too, live in that world of let's say we got into next year and you were going to

098apply money from that fund to staff. We use the example of a parah, you are still taking that on for the next year. So, again, it it it gets you through that year, but you do then have to adjust and make moves and recognize that that's going to have an impact in your future years. So it's a it's it's you know good to have but you have to just be really mindful about how that gets applied to your budget for the coming year. Yes. >> Best for one time expenses. >> Correct. >> Yes. Like like that that boiler IR you're not expecting every year to have to fix that that boiler, right? So you're just going to like be able to fix it and get you through that little bump and and then you kind

099of keep going on over time. Correct. >> Yeah. Legally, are there any restrictions? Can you put that in an interest bearing account so you earn money on it? >> Um I I don't I think it sits in a like a you know a kind of a >> the town holds the account and it's just held for us. of that in an account oursel is separate from the town like I don't I don't believe we yeah we like we don't have the control per se of it and I don't think I don't think we have the ability to put in something other than just a you know money mark CD but once again it's the town who would control it so they would be much responsible for it >> I would hope it's in a interest

100bearing account >> yeah I'm sure I'm sure it I'm sure but yeah definitely a council concern All right. Any other questions? >> Ira, just one quick one for me. So, how many employees do I think about are part of this 10.6 million? Is that the 664 that we had just approved from page 15 or is it uh different? I was just curious about the big picture of it. >> Not every employee takes >> No, you have handy how many of our fine >> staff utilize >> the health insurance. We don't have it readily available, but we can pull. Thanks. Thank you. >> Any more questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Extensions. Motion carries. So I think we are on page >> 19. >> I move to tenatively approve page 19, life

101insurance, long-term disability or LT, right? Yeah, that's long-term disability and other in the amount of $293,854. >> Second. >> Um so once again, you know, uh you know, provide as you said, life insurance, um long-term disability per negotiated contracts. Uh you know, this number comes based on we look at trends, um you know, over like you know, a multi-year period to kind of come up with that number. questions, comments. All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries. Page 20. >> I know. You got to find it. >> Yeah. >> I move to tentatively approve page 20 FICA Medicare in the amount of $1,678,54. >> Second. So as you can see this is just uh meeting our federal uh requirements uh for you know employer matching contribution of 7.65 for social security

102and Medicare benefits for those uh qualified classified employees. Um and and this is another one where um you know we we look at um you know what what the requirements are and trends and and and match up to to come up with uh our our number >> comments questions. All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. Uh page 21. >> I move to tenatively approve page 21 retirement contributions in the amount of $114,823. >> Second. >> So this one uh actually I'm going to have Beth and Ann just to because this is now remember we talked about salaries and retirement. So this one's now gone up in the percentages and changed. So, um I know James just gave us the request amount. Do you one of you have the dollar change

103amount? >> Yep. So, the new change is still a decrease of 84,848 or 42.49. >> So, once again, that's that shift over from the the retirements app um that we uh we talked about that came in this week. How many retirements came in this week? >> Uh, this week I think was three. I think totally we have five. Um, >> six. You're going to get it on Monday nights. I believe six. >> Oh, six. Okay. >> Six total. >> Check my email to see if there are any more. >> Six. >> Technically. I think they have through today and and tomorrow, I believe. So, >> um I I don't know if this is the right place to ask it or if you can even answer this question, but how does that impact the four elementary

104teachers um >> and that I think we all have concern about? >> Yeah. No, absolutely. Sure. I don't believe we'd have any elementary resignations yet. However, you know, much like I spoke to them about, it's a hard question to answer at this point because what it doesn't mean is that someone with a certification might be interested within district and moving to one of those positions. So, at the moment, there's not a direct correlation to those positions, but there could be a domino effect of what transpires with people who carry multiple certifications. >> Yeah. So, it's still a moving chess chess board. >> Yes. Yes. A lot will happen between now and then when we make those final decisions and have to formally, you know, let those staff know that they're a reduction in force. >>

105Okay. >> Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Okay. All those in favor? >> I opposed abstension. Motion carries. On to page 22. >> I move to tenatively approve page 22 unemployment insurance in the amount of $20,000. Second. >> So, uh, this is defund any obligation, uh, the board of education may incur from the state of Connecticut unemployment bureau for former FPS employees, >> questions. All right. All those in favor? >> I I opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries. >> Page 23. >> I move to tenatively approve page 23, workers compensation in the amount of $273,11. >> Second. Once again to provide workers compensation insurance as required by law for all of our employees. Um that's again reflects our zerobased budgeting. >> Questions? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abensions. Motion carries. On

106to page 24. >> I move to tenatively approve page 24. Other employee benefits in the amount of $2,200. >> My person Oh, so sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Cuz I just love shoes. >> I know. I just love this one so much. I I jumped the gun a little. Uh, this is to provide a pair of safety shoes for each custodian per the FPSU contract. >> Guys, how did the price of this not go up? >> I was going to say I was just going to say the same thing. >> These are the shoes that that superintendent was shoveling with. >> Yeah, I had to >> notice his LLB slipped to be in line with OSHA regulations. But but is the reason it didn't go up because it's what contractually >> is going to shoe prices probably

107went up. >> Yes. They'll have to they'll have to bargain shop. Yes. They Yes. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. um on to services and page 25 or do you want to >> I was going to say do you want me to do go ahead >> let's services there so uh 300 series now is the next budget driver 300 series which accounts for 15.62% of the total recommended budget uh this is a very volatile series of the budget due to categories of costs within the series uh there is an increase of 1.28 28 in the services series. Uh this account provides for special services, consultation services, and tuition costs for outplacements, major facility projects, KA summer school and technology- based operational systems as well as professional development. The

108increase is driven by special services costs due to student need, which was reviewed at our last meeting during the preliminary special service presentation, as well as an account supporting transportation services, facilities, and electricity. Um, quick question, Dan, before we go on to the first page. In my notes, I have it as 15.64. However, I don't see any kind of other adjustment on any of the other pages. So, I just want to make sure that it is 15.62 and not 15.64. Oh, that is um actually the fact it's in blue is probably I probably have the outdated one that wasn't updated so it should probably >> Yeah, but I don't see >> Oh, you don't see anything else that >> that's why I was I wanted to clarify that before. >> Yeah, >> we moved on.

109>> Let me look. >> When we change those two amounts, it changes your overall base which slightly changes the percentage. >> Oh, got it. So I had given you both just so you had them but that's what that 15.64 and 15.62 are. >> Got it. >> So right we took 100,000 out of the budget. Now we have a new budget number. So each of those percentages >> Got it. So the dollar amount has changed. It's just the percentage of the overall budget shifted slightly because of the salaries and the retirement contributions. >> I don't know what the 15 you guys keep referencing. >> It's actually we're the only ones that have it. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> sorry. So, basically, you know, kind of talk about it. See, we're just talking about that 15% of the

110overall >> budget, but what we were saying is what we're saying is uh there's a slight shift with the salaries and stuff from 62 to 64. But, you know, if I think if we just said it's about 16% of the overall budget, >> that little pie is what you're talking about. >> Yes. Yes. That put us in better uh better standing. >> Okay. Well, yeah. And any move any move we make moving forward. It's just motions up here. We have a blue slight. >> All right. So, page 25. >> I move to tenatively approve page 25, summer teachers in the amount of $491,816. >> Second. >> So, this is providing our summer learning opportunities for students. uh uh uh all the schools uh including special services, ESY and ELLL programs. Uh this includes personnel and

111supply costs. >> Questions, comments? Matt, >> just I assume this is correct because the budget is above flat, but just the number of sort of weeks slash days for ESY and ELLL for the summer. This is consistent with last summer. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. question. Any other questions or comments? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I I opposed extension. Motion carries. >> On to page 26. >> I move to tentatively approve page 26, public relations services in the amount of $50,400. >> Second. So here uh public relations allows us provide funding for our community newsletters and community relations K12 board of ed meetings as well as other district and communitywide events. >> Questions, comments? >> Matt, >> thanks everyone. Um while I'm on communications now, so I was curious, does the

112newsletter go what universe does the newsletter go out to? Is it just uh families with students in district? Is it the whole town? How do I think about the distribution? >> Every household gets it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Other questions? >> Go ahead. >> So, it seems like a small amount. So, I mean, it's $50,000, but just for the communication itself, like, do we ever do a survey? Do people read this communication? Like, is that the most efficient way to get our messaging across? I mean, again, my questions are more globally centered here. like I'll vote yes to $50,000 in the scope of this budget. But um >> it's just just an overall thought of, you know, the content of the im, you know, I don't know. We're we're at 2026 now. Like should

113we just think about how we're communicating and getting these messages across and maybe that is it. I don't know. Maybe everyone loves it. I I'm not saying they don't, but just a thought. >> Uh we have had those conversations. um we haven't landed on a specific um path forward in terms of what to do next. I know at least at the moment that's our practice for informing the community at large about all of the amazing things that are happening here in our Farmington school system. But but it is a good question that I do think we need to um be considering because it's really how people consume information today that I think is the answer to what might happen next. uh we do have our annual survey that we we send out regarding our communication

114and there's opportunity for feedback. So might be something we explore as well is are you how are you consuming and and which uh we've had that conversation about the website before too like um we can look and see which pages are most you know widely used and visited. So what does that tell us about the way um because at the end of the day that you know it's the consumer of the information that matters right we could put a newsletter together but if you're not reading it then you know doesn't doesn't have a strong value so it's a good question >> do you know what the uh the response rate is on that survey >> I off the top of my head no but I'm sure we can take get that information for you in

115it's okay >> um yeah well there's two parts to that answer as well. There's there's a number that we'll receive and then a percentage of, you know, families that respond and there's, you know, when we think about it, there's like a sweet spot of what you want to say. You realize you're never going to get a hundred of, you know, 100% of those responses back, right? >> Um, but then there's a point we like to see where it's like this tells us it's good information. It's representative of the community. So >> the >> and just also >> along those lines with uh the survey that survey we're asking how do they want how do they see you know the best communication forms of communication that would eliminate those who aren't parents in schools and at

116least you know the mission of the community newsletter is to inform the entire community. So you could get very different answers depending on which part of the population in the community you're >> could and so it may be that there's something done in partnership with the newsletter for example that you know there's there's the print version and there's some other you know way that we're sending that information out however we might decide that to be >> right right I'm good you okay anymore more. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. We are on to page 27. >> I move to tentatively approve page 27 student services, excuse me, in the amount of $65, $150. >> Second. So this provides funding for uh orientation programs, assemblies, transition support between schools,

117college career readiness, uh commencement, uh you know, commencement. I think between the high school and and IR are probably the biggest biggest drivers of of this area. >> Questions? Angela? >> I have questions on these like small budget items, but these provoke the most questions to me because I would love to see what the breakdown is of where like this money goes because I feel like there's this constant discussion. And I can speak to the elementary schools because I was closest to that. When there's an assembly, the PTO has asked for money for that assembly or how are we going to pay? And it's like we have all these line items for things that seem to want to capture this, but then it never it never seems like that money is available when these assemblies

118come up. It always seems like I can speak for the PTO, they're asked for a lot of money to cover these assemblies. So is each school I was never informed if each elementary school was given x amount of dollars from this budget towards and they could apply it to whatever they wanted to. I would just be curious like what is the breakdown of this um in terms of how the schools are are allotted that just to >> Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Um that's something like I said we'll >> Mhm. on that. >> We'll work to get a a >> or like what assemblies did this cover, you know, to make it more tangible to understand like what did this exactly cover last year, you know, just some just some starting point. I'm understanding the scope of

119this bucket. Yeah, >> because it did go up um significantly from two years ago the 2024 2025 was 23,000 and then last year it was approved as 62,000 and now it's requested basically the same as last year. >> Y >> do you know Dan if something got shifted into this item between 2425 and 2526? Yeah, I'm gonna I'll probably have >> Beth a small portion of that is the piano has to be moved in here. >> Oh, yes. Yeah. So, we had that uh piece of it where the elementary, you know, that's probably >> who's the piano. >> Oh, so when they Sorry. So, when the elementary schools do concerts, they'll usually bring in someone, you know, you know, the a retired music teacher will come and play the piano and and so that >>

120that can't be a large I mean, we don't >> No, no, it's you know, whatever. like a couple hundred couple concerts times four schools, right? So it's not but I mean >> but but yeah so that's where the that's where the dollar change here I think was shifting the 2438 that was in another line you know once again I think elementary principles might have just put that in I don't know I'm I'm making something up but like supplies and we're like well this isn't really a supply so let's more accurately reflect it so let's find a better place to put it and so we shifted that kind of similar we did with the coaches and adviserss when they were putting them in different places so >> and I also um we do more of commencement

121als also and is gradu >> Yeah, I was going to say I think I think the commencement >> gradu Yeah, I think it's like >> I think those are the overriding drivers of this >> school like a more formal commencement that requires all the Y. >> So I think that's too much. >> Okay. So >> yeah, we'll check on >> Yeah, just be to or >> and and to be honest, it's probably one of those where even the account goal, the description probably needs to maybe be basically say this is pretty much for commencement and graduation more than than than than actual how the money is being spent, right? So as you know, I kind of look at that. So that's a kind of a good footnote to kind of >> Yeah. Yeah, >> cuz

122even um like I know for like the fourth grade moving up ceremonies last year, like there was a panic for chairs and there wasn't enough chairs in the district to go around and there was talk about having to rent chairs, but it's like we have these line items for these types of um things. Why is that not open to the you know, it just it would be it would be clear I think to your point to state exactly what this is for so there's a little less confusion and no I think that's a great point. So, >> and a good example of what a line of demarcation could be, and I we we'll go through the breakdown because I think some good questions have been raised, is is it a guaranteed experience for students? So,

123are all fourth graders having a promotion ceremony? We need chairs and materials for all fourth graders. Then it's something that might live in a district line. whereas a specific school is doing an assembly and having things then yes the PTO would be asked because it's something specific to that school and that helps us there's other lines to come that I think >> a similar mindset about that could be right like what when do we pay and when don't we >> yeah and I will have follow-up questions on some other lines that I have in previous years which similar thought process of like can this just be clearer for if the expectation is it's always there because this is something every child is going to get or is it school specific or grade specific or whatever.

124>> Yeah, same idea because not all of our uh where it gets easier is once they move to Westwoods, but when we think about our four elementary schools, they're going to have activities and events that are unique to those communities that you know we're going to um again that's where the PTO's are going to come in for those pieces. But if it's something that everybody does, we just had like the eighth grade orientation night here that's open to every family and eighth grader to come and participate in it. So, it's something we should support through these lines because it's a district event at that point. So, but it's a good question. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Thank you. Yeah, I I was just thinking of something and I don't know if it comes under this line

125or like a supply line, but I know um when uh students enter 9th grade, I think during their freshman orientation, they all get their like class t-shirt. >> Yeah. >> You know, so would that be something that would be included in here? >> Um I have to I would double check. I know it's in their budget request. Yeah, let me check. But it's like something that they get every year um >> that's specific to >> the high school. >> Mhm. And that might be an example again of a guaranteed experience for every student who's going to be a part of that versus >> um you know an individual school doing a an activity that's unique to them and and their community. So >> any other questions, comments? All right. All those in favor? >> I

126opposed abstension. Motion carries. We are on to 28. >> I move to tentatively approve page 28, other student services in the amount of $29,650. >> Second. >> So this one, um, I'm going to go back to when we talked about club adviserss and stipens, how we shifted that money. So here you're going to see that decrease of $60,59. I believe on the other one we added $55,000 to the clubs and advisors just to more accurately reflect where money is going. So the remaining uh request here of the 29,000 is pretty much mostly um drama uh especially at the high school like high school drama production um for the base in there. They actually offset that obviously through, you know, ticket sales and and you know, program guides and different things. But, uh, as you can

127imagine, putting on, you know, the the high quality production that they do, just the licensing fee for a show is is, you know, upwards, uh, you know, is pretty expensive in there. So, that's what, uh, this covers. >> Questions. All those in favor? I >> I opposed extension. You have to know that Matt is all right. Um All right. Page 30. >> Oh, 29. >> Oh, sorry. >> No, no, it's okay. >> Did I skip that? Oh, no. We're doing 29 through 31. >> I move to tentatively approve pages 29 to 31. Professional education services in the amount of $421,875. >> Second. So uh this kind of like completes or not completes but kind of connects that story of the shift that we're doing as when we talked about the increases in salaries and nurses

128and related services. Um so this account covers consultation services including occupational therapy student evaluations the center for children with special needs CCSN and other consultants as required decreased use shifting and funding requests to personnel reflected in object 121 and budget efficiencies. The object also contains curricular accounts which funds the development and revision of high quality contents based units of study design by teams of teachers. Student data drives the spending for these curricular items. So once again you can see one you know we kept using the term offset right offset. So here's you can see us kind of paying for some of those positions that we're looking to add in the salary schedule. Um but at the same time to note that while uh the decrease in there that there still is um you know money

129in there for any continued consultation services that we need to have right it's not we're we're not not going to work with CCSN not not going to work with Cheshure uh you know fitness and and those we'll still use them but just be able to um you know be either more strategic or be able to do quality kind of more in-housing in-house as as needed. Happy to take any questions. >> Go ahead, guys. So, I feel like I should have caught this last time. PTO came up. I know it's coming up again. I think in one other place, too. But why are they not together? Physical therapy and OT. Is it because some were continuing to do outsourced as consulting and some are? >> Um, tell me a little more you mean about them not

130being together. >> Uh, in the same line. So, Where are we now? 29. Professional education services. It says it includes occupational therapy. >> Oh, I think that's probably the descript. I mean, we would physical therapy probably could just have been included in professional. So, yeah, that's probably just more of a I'll say a >> you know a technical program like an account goal we could probably include including physical therapy, occupational therapy because it would also include like speech language right within professional you know like >> any services. >> So any any any of the services in there. But I think to Beth's point there earlier there was an increase in like OT, >> right? Is that what you're saying about? >> Yeah, we did talk about OT, >> but then maybe I'll bring it up

131when we get to 340. There's physical therapy under 340 and occupational therapy under 320. It could just be how those services you're saying. Are they different or is it all the same? >> Well, I know it's different. >> Yeah. No, the different but some some of it is just shifting it from the different, you know, uh whether it's line 340 or line 320, >> right? >> Um and and kind of shifting those those pieces in there. So, I'm just going to get them. >> You have to put them somewhere, I guess. But I just thought it was >> Yeah. >> interesting that they weren't together. >> No, I could see that. I could see that. >> And that and to be honest, that's probably something where, you know, Wendy and I can kind of take

132a look at and look at the 340 and the 320. Oh, >> sorry. They had been separate. We are now moving them into 121 together. So historically when they had been contracted the way the accounts were set up, PT was coming out of 340, OT was coming out of 320. This budget is shifting them all into nurses and uh related services. >> Okay. So we could almost cross out the small amount left in 320 for OT. Um but yes, otherwise the majority of those dollars >> it's going to go there. to 121. >> Yeah. >> Under just updating the descriptions of >> Yeah, the description is getting >> um on page 30, can you um talk a little bit more about what FHS future planning includes? >> It's improvement of curriculum. FHS future planning. Um,

133so the FH future planning is really uh if you see the account details for a lot of the different areas there. It's kind of early in the year to know exactly which projects are going to be funded. So that's one of the places that if like one department goes over what's allotted there, which is not that much, he's able to move it into the future planning. So it's almost like a catchall for all high school projects. Other questions, comments. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed extension. Okay. Motion carries. I We are on to page 32. >> I move to tenatively approve page 32 supporting educational services in the amount of $20,26. >> Second. So this supports a variety of uh programs, family outreach programs, good start, project pada um you know

134other connect learning experiences connected for students um some summer programming at the high school. Uh the decrease you're going to see here is results from uh NIAS. They uh the high school did you know they uh NASA has shifted how they've done it. So they've kind of done their, you know, instead of this like one kind of overexpansive every 10 years, they kind of do this quick stop in almost like a little bit of a formative assessment and then they'll come back in a couple years, but it's still much smaller in scale and a little bit more manageable. Um, so the decrease there is uh they're kind of now they've kind of they're going to be getting their like formative report which then they'll have a little bit more time to kind of make the

135adjustments before kind of like that official visit and accreditation uh that comes through. That's where we're being able to save uh the $15,142. >> Okay. Questions, comments? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstension? Motion carries. On to page 33. >> I move to tenatively approve page 33, professional employee training and development in the amount of $184,122. >> Second. And so this is, you know, our professional development um account provide inservice training for our faculty and staff aligned to our board of education's goals and school program development plans. Uh includes mentor stipens mandated by the team program um which is Connecticut State Department of Education for future certification. Uh you can see here a decrease of almost $3,000. >> Questions, comments? >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I

136opposed extension. Motion carries. Page 34. >> I move to tentatively approve page 34, other professional services in the amount of $37,469. >> Second. >> And so once again, here is kind of like we talked a little bit about before the the shifting over there. Uh provide some professional services by the district. also includes this also includes some of our legal fees, audit fees, legal negotiations, legal services for special education. There you have the physical therapies that we talked about first responder OSHA program, insurance consultant services, first aid courses. Um decrease is the once again we talked about the personnel reflected in 121 and the budget efficiencies. So once again, you're going to see that significant decrease of 124,000. The offsets is part of the shifting in special services planning. >> So Jan, this says physical

137therapy services, but that's not in here anymore. >> That one, >> correct? That's that will no longer be in there. >> Yes. >> So maybe just updating the >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions or comments? All right. All those in favor? I >> opposed extensions. Okay. Motion carries. Uh page 35. >> I move to tentatively approve page 35 data processing services in the amount of $493,267. >> Second. >> So here to pro provide our core applications and systems for our district operations. Uh this account houses all critical operational systems. The increases are attributed to annual renewals which are are at an all-time high. Some operational systems have been cut and continue to review is ongoing. Increases due to contractual increases in data services. >> Questions, comments? I would just say when we

138spoke earlier about you know inflation and the impact on our district uh you know what what we think about in terms of inflation in the economy at large doesn't necessarily equate to what we realize as a school district when contracts go up 7 10 15% and you know we're we're trying to maintain the services um and the you know tech systems that support our district throughout the year That's just one example of a time when we see heavy hits. All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed extension. Motion carries. We're almost hitting the 2hour mark. So, does anybody mind if we take a 10-minut break to uh do what you need to do? All right. So, we will take a 10-minute break at 10:52. All right. So, we're back from break at 11:05. Um,

139and the uh next page is page 36. >> I move to tentatively approve I move to tenative tenatively approve page 36 water in the amount of $74,544. >> Second. >> So, I started this part last year where I just usually say self-explanatory. And if for some reason you don't think it is, feel free to ask for clarification. Uh, so water self-explanatory. >> We're using less. >> All right. Um, any questions? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstension. Motion carries. Page 37. >> I move to tentatively approve page 37, sewer charge in the amount of $18,358. >> Second. >> Self-explanatory. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I >> opposed. Absention. Motion carries. Uh page 38. >> I move to tentatively approve page 38. Disposal services in the amount of

140$100,443. >> Second. >> Self-explanatory. >> Any questions? No. All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstension. Motion carries. Uh we are on to >> page 39. I move to tentatively approve page 39 equipment repair in the amount of $19,779. >> Second. >> So, this one I'll just kind of clarify a little bit. You're going to see in the next few between uh building equipment repair, building repair inhouse, building repair contracts, just a slight delineation. Uh I'll have Sam feel free or Matt to chime in if they want. The equipment repair is really kind of just those, you know, day-to-day kind of operational type repairs that that occur in a building that that that you know we spend money on. >> Questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed extension. Motion carries.

141We are on to page 40. >> I move to tenatively approve page 40, building repair inhouse in the amount of $445,700. >> Second. So, uh, once again, this kind of continue to improve the townwide, uh, you know, um, maintenance throughout the day-to-day, uh, HVAC systems, components, interior, exterior surfaces, kitchen maintenance equipment. Um, what you'll see here is the increase, and this is just us phasing back some of the things from, you know, having a new high school. So, there are some things that, you know, the first year of a high school covered under a warranty, uh, some things that are there. And so, now you just need to kind of start phasing some of those pieces, uh, back in. So that's the the increase there. >> Questions, comments? >> All right. All those in favor?

142>> I opposed. Absention. Motion carries. On to page 41. >> I move the tenatively approved page 41, building repair contractors in the amount of $238,150. >> Second. >> And same thing with the contracts for the building. You're going to see an increase just to phasing them in from the the high school. what you'll um obviously you can see on pages 43 uh through a little bit more itemized detail on those uh afterwards, but that's what the the increase there is for. >> Okay. Comments, questions. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. Page 42 or actually Mine goes from 41 to 51. >> You do have pages like the buff pages of detail. Is that >> I don't have uh >> anything for 42. >> I don't have anything between

14342 and >> it's 42 because it's major projects and it was approved at the board of ed meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So for so >> so building repair projects 433 is our major projects. Um, so I'm gonna if Matt's going to correct me if I'm right, that's was approved at that >> that was just our prel we just preliminary we preliminarily give that overview and the total that we had given during the prelim was around $270,000 for the major projects that were proposed. And then I don't know if you want to carry carry on with the rest of the explanation there. >> Yeah. Yeah, I was going to I was going to do the rest. I just didn't know if there was a reason there wasn't a motion for it >> or It's approving

144the object I think. >> Okay. >> But it but 42 is missing. So they would need to tenatively >> I think that's probably is that because of these pages here once you do >> 44. Oh, okay. >> No, I know. We don't have motions for the pages. >> It's okay. I'll wing it. >> All right. So 43 to 45. >> 42 to 50 >> to 50. I don't >> not on each page. I think we just bring them together, right? >> I think it's collective that we're >> you are you're doing you're doing the section which outlines the projects the major projects but for whatever reason you still because >> 42 >> you need we need a motion for 42 >> through um 50. Okay. That's why and so the amount is >> accurate I

145think in your book if it's >> 107400 right? >> Yep. So, you have the accurate amount. >> Um, and so we just have to say that it's um, >> right? >> The, um, building repair projects. >> Got it. >> Yep. >> All right. I move to tentatively approve pages 42 to 50 building repair projects in the amount of $17,400. >> Second. So, uh, if you recall, um, and I want to quiz you on when we did our major projects presentation a couple board meetings ago, the total was about $270,000 that we were requesting. Uh, we've reduced that by $162,850 because the state has um put in last year, but we weren't sure. It's one of those things where the state tells you something, you don't want to kind of do it. Kind of like excess

146cost until you kind of know. But they've confirmed that um that Farmington well everybody in the state say but Farmington was going to be allocated called a drip grant that we'll have for the next two years that'll be about 160 $170,000 and so I believe it's district repair and improvement program. It's you know grant so that you're not even applying for it. We just we have that. So um to try to be good fiscal respons um you know the uh the request there. So, some of our major projects are going to be paid through that grant to take some of the pressure off the operating budget. >> I don't think these I'm confused how the numbers tie though because if if you're looking at page 43 through 50 like it gives each school and then

147it says like so on page 44 it's like you know at the bottom total repair request 136,000 page 45 118,000 46 92,000. So you're saying all of that? >> No, all of that's not part of the major projects. So like some of those I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, Sam, some of those are part of >> building repair contracts. >> Yeah, you'd be looking at the subtotal major repairs, >> by building, >> which you'd have to you'd have to add up lines. So it's the combination between 40 41 and >> 42 the 214 >> it's it's really the the spending across 432 431 >> right >> and probably even 430 in there Sam some of the equipment repair >> you're looking at the total repair cost requests all all of the above the annual

148repairs contracts and repairs It's objects 430 through 433. >> Correct. >> Lay it out. That's what I was just saying. >> Highlight what we're like looking at. >> We've um you know, it's kind of like when you asked about some of the other things of like the uh the newsletter. >> Yeah. >> We're consistently having conversations about what is the best way to present this information. Yeah. >> And and to make it more clear. So, uh, you know, my commitment to you is next year hopefully there'll be something that can kind of outline this a little bit with a little bit more clarity for you. >> Just to clarify though, I think the number that we're approving total is is that the total ad of all of >> you're approving each line list is all

149the projects that fall under those three lines. I think that's where the confusion's coming from is if this chart was either organized differently by line perhaps or then >> because you've approved the 109,779 for equipment repair. You've approved the $445,700,000 for in-house building repair. the $238,50 for building repair contracts and now we're discussing building repair projects, otherwise known as major projects. 433. >> Part of the confusion might be equipment repairs isn't just maintenance. So that's not listed on these pages. >> Oh, got it. >> Equipment repair that you approved first is not included on these pages. So equipment repair could be technology, could be equipment at the school buildings. There's a small part of that that's maint. >> So included on these summary pages are the 431, 432, and 433. >> But the one we're

150actually voting on right now is 433, which would be the add up all these project repair lines. >> Only the major major repair >> at the bottom there. >> Yeah. So Sam, if if if I'm correct, so pages 43 through 50 support pages 39 through 41. >> 39. No. Uh actually 40, 41, and 42. >> Okay. >> So if you I think you guys all have this copy from the presentation for Monday. So this Angela is what you're approving. >> Okay. >> The spending on here. But then from this project, you know, you'll see um you know, the bathroom partitions, the um the classroom carpets, the East Farms courtyard, but some of those were going to apply to that drip that state drip grant. >> Okay. It's honestly a little confusing. I'm not getting the

151numbers to tie, but I don't want to waste everyone's time. Maybe we could just get some maybe just lay it out a little bit or just a table or something. Like if I add up all those lines, the subtotal major repairs on these pages that support that from 43 to 50, I'm getting 112,400 as that that line item which I don't see anywhere. >> Did this chart get updated when >> maybe I'm missing something? >> So here here's what I I'll just say just what I what I just did was I took pages 40, 41, and 42, added those all together. That was a $791,250 and that subtracted every line in from 43 to four to 50. Um, and it looks like there's a $19,100 difference there. >> Okay. >> On the on the right

152side >> on the right side >> on the black. Right. >> You just finding money places. All right. Let's bring this back cleaned up. Yeah, >> I think it's it's it's close. >> I think it's all there. I think we voted on some things already which we didn't realize had the supporting data. >> Correct. >> It's how it's organized. >> Absolutely. >> I think in our attempt to provide more detail, Jim saying it created more confusion on >> No, but 40 43 to 50 seems like more like an appendix of like all of what we were just approving. >> We're adding another column and saying what item it references. So if you had like a column that said this is four, this references account 4.31 or 4.32 like I don't know that would >> in

153the charts from 43 to >> Yeah. >> All right. >> So there like a correlation. >> Yep. Take another go at it. >> Yep. >> So again, I mean this is like a tenative approval to move something forward with um the you know with further discussion before adoption. So, um, >> we can bring we'll bring >> we'll bring it forward. >> Bring it back cleaned up. So, >> just one last thing on when I total the the total the summary pages on the major improvements, it's 107400. So, as far as this next one that you're voting on, we're good. What might have happened on this is we're taking two different formats and we're plugging in these numbers on this summary page. So, we might have missed some project that tallies that 21,000 that you have.

154Yeah. >> totals that you voted on are correct based on our our budget format that we start with for sure. >> Thank you, Sam. >> All right. Any additional comments or questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I abstain. >> Okay. Um opposed. Motion carries. All right. So now we are on to page 51. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> I move to tenatively approve page 51 uh lease of building in the amount of $0. >> Uh second >> resounding second. >> Uh so this is a lease that we don't no longer need for storage. Uh and so we were able to to not need it anymore and then take it out. And this actually will be taken out um you know in future years. >> All right. Comments. All those in favor? >> I

155I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. >> 52. >> Yep. I move to tenatively approve page 52, lease of equipment in the amount of $225,9. >> Second. So this is our copier services contract that we work through the state of Connecticut um you know bidding process. Uh there is a result increase and that's a result for additional equipment >> and those were these were the additionals at the high school. Correct. When we once we got settled in the building and realized that there was a need for additional equipment that's where that came from. >> Correct. >> Questions. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I opposed extension. Motion carries. Uh page 53. >> I move to tenatively approved page 53 transportation services in the amount of 5,27,712. >> Second. >> So this is for to

156provide all the transportation for all of our Farmington students. Uh this is this does include in district and out of district placement of students um for you know with school and vehicles provide late bus service for the high school and middle school and some upper elementary students. Uh this increase reflects the contractual increase of 5%. Uh which is a contract we have with specialty. Uh part of this account has been offset by projected grant revenue. that we've applied the anticipated from excess costs because once again we talk about excess costs once you meet past four and a half times uh the tuition um you know providing you know uh individualized transportation especially for an out of placement you know adds up and so we expect to get revenue from there and so we're applying that

157here um to to lower that u cost on the operating side so overall even though we have the 5% with specialty the overall increase is 3.41% 41%. >> Questions? >> Question. >> Yeah. >> Is any part of specialties contract the increase is that reflective of performance? Is there any tie-in to performance? >> There's no the contractual increase. There's no uh impact on performance. There are some, you know, types of, you know, built into the contract. If uh you know bus runs run like a you know x period over what they're supposed to period there's like fines and different things but there's nothing that like there's no performance like if they do this they can increase the contract by this percentage or things like that. So nothing nothing will >> those those fines and and fees

158and things like that would show up in the the monthly >> those would just come up in the monthly invoices. So, and you know, there wouldn't be something we would really be able to, you know, we want everything to to happen. So, you don't anticipate any of those as as revenue to apply, >> right? >> Any other questions? >> So, Dan, this increase is purely based on the contractual plus the additional being applied to it that from the grant that you were saying, correct? >> Yeah. From the excess cost that that's in there. So, and we're also we're we're receiving we're we're seeing some of the additional savings are uh once again in efficiency in runs. Like when we went out for the contract, you know, um I forget I think Matt, you might know,

159it was initially the contract was for >> 40 buses >> for 40 buses. I think we're, you know, we're running somewhere in like the mid30s. It fluctuates a little bit plus or minus on, you know, where that is. So, not needing the 40 buses from what we contracted in is, you know, allowing some additional savings. to Ann's question. How much would you say if any recouped last year from like a service perspective like if they you know contractually something didn't um go as we had wanted or there was a lot of issues last year obviously with timeliness and stuff. Did would you like how much did we recoup from that? Anything? >> Um I remember early on like those first few months I think there was I want to say I thought it was like

160somewhere between5 $10,000 that that that was there. I don't I don't think off the top of my mind if there was anything at an in addition after you know after that piece to it. Um and as as to the best of my knowledge I don't think there's been any you know this year from from from any types of things but I think we've also uh you at least from my perspective seen a much better level performance and increase in in performance in there. Yeah, I just think, you know, again, more my global look outlook on things like this is a lot of money and I would in expect impeccable service for it. You know, I mean, if I was running a bus company and was charging this and their savings obviously, if we're running less

161buses, that's more money to their bottom line. I'm sure they're getting there's more profit there. I would just want to make sure we're holding them to that standard if we're going to continue um to fund this to this level and we're not recouping anything for issues or like I I just it's a lot of money like you know when you think of the buses and the service level they're getting almost you know they're getting five $5 million for their services. So just a more global thought. >> Yeah. No, no, no. Absolutely. And uh you know I think um you know to their credit uh I know you know um Matt and I met with them over the summer and we gave them some very clear directives as far as expectations and things that we wanted

162to see and you know to their credit they've they've kind of met those you know they've they've kind of met those things and I think we've seen that increased performance. I think if you talk to Tim I think if you talk to Mike they would still tell you they're reflecting about how to improve things. You know, I think even this weekend there's a a new bus run at Noah Wallace to try to relieve some what we feel is like, you know, you know, technically meets it meets this the the definition of what they can do, but we feel it kind of is not the level we want to take some pressure off the crowding and and things and some behaviors. And so they're making some adjustments on those runs. And so so it is constantly

163looking out. You know, we have these weekly transportation meetings to kind of make sure everything's going there. So, um, you know, and knock on wood, I think, you know, we're we're moving in a good direction and a good partnership with them and and and getting to that level. >> Yeah. And I would agree. I think from last year's commentary from families, it's definitely better 100%. But I think there's still room for improvement. You know, I don't think we're at >> No. Oh, no. No. >> Perfection yet. So, >> I listen, I think we all take that approach, you know, model of continuous improvement, right? How do we keep getting better? How do we keep getting better? Never want to be like, "Nope, we're good. Let's, you know." So, no, 100%. I would agree. Thank you.

164>> Hey Dan, just a couple for me. So, and I apologize if I missed this first one. So, 24 to 25 versus 26 to 27 is over a million dollar increase. Is that all contractual or is what's that sort of million dollar change there? >> So, if you look at 2425 expended 4.1 versus that was that was at the new contract. million new contract. >> Okay. Yep. >> Great. Thank you. And and the 5.2 is all specialty. There's no other uh transportation vendors. >> None of our Yeah. >> Got it. >> And do any of our transportation include aids on the bus, either regular bus or special transportation, or is that separate section of the budget if we use any of those? So within there when they if they if they have a monitor on

165the bus you know for you know either per IEP or sometimes it's just you know sometimes we're struggling sometimes with some behavioral things on there then they'll provide the the monitor there and that cuts we get we get charged for that in the monthly invoice. >> Got it. Okay. Thank you. >> And I'll just uh just take a minute and I know I've said this at previous board meetings but I just wanted to thank you Dan and Matt for the immense amount of work that went into this. I know when we signed this contract um we were supposed to be relinquishing the the uh the transportation responsibilities of the district and pushing that to specialty and I know that has been anything but in over the last year but I will say that it is

166like night and day difference and I know to Angela's point and to everybody's point like there's always work to be done and improvements that can be made. I'm happy to hear that they're continuing to do that and continuing to look at ways to improve. Um, but I mean the fact that my email traffic has been significantly lessened by the the late buses, it's just specifically at Union for my kid and um and I also see it anecdotally um at the line at I the parent line. I drive my daughter to school um so I could get that 15 minutes of us time um but you know that that that time um is awesome and um but the time is lessened because that that line is is is significantly lowered which means that people are using

167the service. >> Yeah. No, >> which we pay a significant amount of money. >> Thank you. Uh, you know, really line share go to, you know, Matt team, Don Driggs, uh, you know, like really everybody, you know, uh, you know, Matt Martelli with athletics and I mean, just everybody, uh, a really big, uh, team effort. So, but >> no, but just wanted to call that out. >> Just a comment too, and I think this is more of us like our like they are on time. I am finding them to be on time and I'm like screaming at the kids, you got it. is keep going. You know, it's like well it used to be like oh you know we had we so but no I like we are so mindful now and then you see

168other I see down the neighborhood too like the kids are out there waiting because these buses are at least from my perspective and what I'm seeing in our dis our side of the district and hearing from families they're getting there and it's like okay and Britney dropped off on time too. So that's a very good improvement and all the great work that you're all doing with them. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? All right. All those in favor? I opposed? Abstension? Motion carries. Page 54. >> I move to tenatively approve page 54, field trips in the amount of $47,497. >> Second. >> So, this is uh field trip transportation for all students. kind of, you know, did a little deep dive on this one. Uh because there's a, you know, a lot of the

169field trips now when they when they go on various things, you know, students are, you know, you bring in whatever $7 for this field trip to this. This is really kind of more some of those um part of those extracurricular opportunities and things. So the the you know, the math team at the high school goes to, you know, uh I don't know, Newington High School for a competition. So instead of asking the math team when it's maybe 10 kids to have to pay you know for for a bus and now they're all going to pay there we would pay for some of those extracurricular uh type ones that that are there. So um you know you know debate or you know various you know I think there's like robotics and different things when to pay

170for those transfer this is where those expenses uh get get put in >> and if we have to do specialized transportation for students on field trips as well. So, >> okay, >> Angela, >> this was a favorite of mine, too. This is one I had asked about previously. So, I do appreciate that commentary because this was another question to your point. Like, I felt like every time we went on a field trip, it was collecting money and then there wasn't enough money for the buses. Can the PTO give you money for the like it was just always confusion. I mean, it's more I know, um, Jess, you had just said if there was specialty transportation needed, no pun intended, for like a field trip, then that would be, but it's really more club- based like

171trips. It seems >> Yeah. Yeah. A lot of it's based and some and sometimes for the field trips it would be like supplementing, right? Like it might be like we'll use some of this here and then now it's just, you know, you know, have the student have to still, you know, pay. It's like, you know, we'll we'll we'll split the difference, right? like we'll pay for a little bit but then have the students pay you know or families pay like $5 or $10 or something. >> Is there like though a you know an equitable way to demonstrate like is each schools truly getting part of this pie because I'm not sure they are honestly like to say like are the elementary kids getting a portion of this that's being used for their buses? I don't

172know what the answer is. My gut says no but maybe it is. Um, so I don't know if there's either a way to like is field trips really the right description or and again this is very small amount of money in the scope of this budget, but it was just something that I think sticks out like what are we really get what is the the town what are the kids really getting for this for this this line item you know. >> Sure. Sure. for thought. >> That's quite a quick I'm sorry, a quick question. But the sports transportation that's also included in this, would that be? >> No, that is part of transportation services. >> Oh, transportation. Okay. >> I mean, even okay, but it is just like math team and debate club and robotics

173club or whatever. Like that's fine. >> You just want it coded and more accurate. No, >> people if you're looking at it, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Listen, we have a line for custodians shoes. I mean, so I mean like I mean it's so >> a description I think here. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um but to follow that up I think it's similar like Angela and I had comments about that object 3 318. It's a very similar conversation. So, do the elementary schools in particular, do they get a certain aotment, you know, and so maybe one school pays more than the other because they're doing more I and I think some of it's curricular >> like we used to have a fourth grade trip that was curriculum based on the curriculum >> and hopefully

174the vast majority of our trips are tied to curriculum. And so as someone who's signing those, I'm always looking to see like, okay, let's just make sure this um but but you're right, but if we were to look at this, we know that the the bulk of the money, it's it's not it's not equally distributed because I don't think that was ever the intent of it. So I guess the other conversation we'd have to have at some point is again what what's the criteria for money landing in this line? Is it something that is universal for all students or is there a desire to have a certain amount allocated by school to offset field trips throughout the year? So those are two different things. Um but again about um fifth of this or so is

175specialized transportation. So, if the school goes on a field trip and we need to provide specialized transportation for a student or a group of students, that's included in here as well, that's a piece of it. And then a big chunks the high school, I believe. >> Yeah. Um, so >> that's correct me if I'm wrong, but when when we break this down, each school has like a, you know, whatever like a $3,000 allocation or or you know, I'm >> sorry, I might be making up numbers here, but I mean, the whole total we're talking about is, you know, less than $50,000. So, if you break that across seven schools, >> elementary schools are on 600 each. The high school is obviously the highest. And then um I was comparable around 2000 and there's special ed

176in there and then there's alternative. >> Yeah. >> So when you when you kind of do you know all uh of those pieces like I said you know like a $600 at a school goes >> to say is that dollar? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Pretty much. But once again like I said it's it you know it's less than $50,000. It's it's a you know Yeah. >> It's a small amount. Any more questions, comments? All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed extension. Okay. Page 55. >> I move to tentatively approve page 55, telephone in the amount of $110,500. >> Second. >> Self-explanatory. >> Any questions about the telephone? >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Opposed? Abstensions? Okay. Motion carries. Page 56. >> I move to tenatively approve page 56 postage in the

177amount of $52,317. >> Second. >> And relatively self-explanatory. I will note that it also includes some of the HR recruiting and staffing expenses uh that are built in. But >> questions, comments? Okay. >> Go ahead. >> So like the mailing of the newsletter would fall under here or the mailing of the like get back to this newsletter that I'm obsessed with. So like I'm just trying to understand. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Yes. And but you know uh also um you know any type of mailings that go on from schools any of the you know when we do like uh special services and you know um uh you know for Wendy I think you know like the the IEPs and 504 notifications still so many times go through mails you know. So it's just you know

178kind of the you know I I'll say the operating of of still even though we're in a 21st century there's still a lot of 20th century uh communications that still exist such you know telephone and and things. So >> got it. Okay. Thank you. I have a question. >> Just out of curiosity for like HR recruiting um do you do you use like services like Indeed or um do you solely use like the Farmington public school website? Um, >> yeah. No, I mean we use the pharmacy website. Uh, Ann, you want to give like a overview of the the the various services we use? >> Indeed. We use, you know, our website. We use CTV. >> Yeah. >> Um, those are our main sources of advertising. Every once in a while when we have to

179go outside for a nurse or specialty, but that's very rare that we pay a service. I think we've done it once. >> Yeah. Mark. >> All those in favor? I >> I opposed. Extensions. Motion carries. Page 57. >> I move to tenatively approve page 57 data uh data line in the amount of $210,33. >> Second. >> Pretty self-explanatory. Just basically our network services >> questions. All right. All those in favor? I >> I opposed extensions. Motion carries. >> Page 58. >> I move to tenatively approve page 58 printing in the amount of $31,982. >> Second. >> Pretty self-explanatory. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed extensions. Motion carries. Uh page 59. I move to tentatively approve page 59 public tuition in the amount of $257,96. >> Second. >> So this is for providing tuition

180funding for students to attend outofd district public schools for an IEP in accordance with the state of Connecticut statutes and IDEIDA. Highquality specialized in district programs have been established to ensure students are educated in Farmington with access to the school district's extensive programming programmatic offerings and services. increase is based on projected enrollments for 26 27 but this object can be extremely volatile. Part of this account has been partially offset by projected grant revenue. So once again this is an example of excess cost. You know you send someone to uh an out of district placement. There's a high likelihood it'll exceed the four and a half times per tupal expenditure which then qualifies for you know partial reimbursement. And so some of that anticipated revenue uh gets applied to here to help bring down the cost

181from the operating expense. >> Angela, >> so this is I'm just trying to wrap my head around like what this would be. So I'm more familiar with the next line item which would be like private tuition. So that's if we outplace a student that needs to go to like a private institution, you know, not institution schooling, that would be private. But so we he there's cases where we're placing students that are Farmington residents into other public schools. >> So So Wendy's going to talk about it is it is a misleading it's a >> So the easy way to equate this is if you think of our very own Farmington Valley Transition Academy. We're a public entity. >> We own that school in conjunction with Simsbury. However, we also have other districts that send those children

182to us. Okay? >> So, that would fall under a public tuition line because we own that entity. So, there are some districts that have programs that might have characteristics or things that our students might need. And so, there's still special education placements, but they're public entities. So, that's one thing that falls under that line. Okay. The second thing that falls under that line too is we do have families that opt for the magnet school system. And if they opt for the magnet school system, we are still responsible for the IEP and all of the programming. And we would have to pay the special services tuition for those students to attend and still get their services. So that would fall under the public line as well. >> Oh, that's interesting. So if they are at a

183magnet school but have an IEP and they're a Farmington resident, it goes under >> We are obligated to fund those services because they are a resident of Farmington. >> Is that true for um other private schools or is that just magnet schools? >> No. So there's a whole different mechanism that goes with private schools and the only private school we have here is Miss Porter's and so that's a whole different thing. We don't. It doesn't fall underneath that. >> So, if you attended a private school out of town but had services, Farmington doesn't have to pay for those services. >> No. >> Interesting. Okay. Thank you. >> And you can see the public tuition, it's, you know, um $258,000, which as opposed to when you get to the private tuition, we're talking about $2 million,

184right? So, so there there's not it's not a big window when it happens, but I when you say I understand the confusion when you say the public like public tuition, >> right? why why it creates that that level of confusion. >> So Wendy's point on the Firmington Valley >> transition academy. So is that offset by do do people pay us to come there and is that in this line item as well? So Farmington Valley Transition Academy is kind of like you know on a separate like I'll say a separate budget right you don't see it there it's kind of self- sustaining same >> concept but yes ultimately by bringing in uh you know students from other districts into there it helps offset that and for us to be able to send those students to Farmington

185Valley Transition Academy which for us kind of ends up being relatively from their budget not within here budget neutral does though have an impact on our operating budget because if we didn't have that program each one of those and I believe we have 15 students currently there each one of those 15 students we'd be paying for most likely an out of district placement which would have a significant amount and then that would be coming probably from one of these two lines. So that program, although we don't we don't really get to see that kind of benefit, does help tremendously keep the operating budget at a what I would consider a manageable level. >> So cost avoidance. And I just want to make clear that those the private tuition lines and the public tuition lines for

186when our students need that um specialized placement, it will fluctuate from year to year because it's all dependent on the student needs and then matching them with the program that is most appropriate to best meet their needs. So some years private line might be higher, public line might be lower and then other times depending on the student needs it'll fluctuate and of course those students fluctuate through the year. So that just changes and it's very fluid. >> Okay. Awesome. Thank you very much >> Erica. Just for clarification because Wendy you mentioned magnet schools but there that's not this is the for those like um because there is that whole magnet open choice program that's different than this. That's because you mentioned magnet schools and so these are for like certain >> um >> special education

187kids, students needing specialized programming with that is being operated in a magnet school versus the accessibility of a magnet and choice program that we all have access to. Correct. >> That's different. And there is a tuition exchange for those. So one >> one student per that's not necessarily part of this budget. I just want to be very clear because you mentioned magnet schools. Sorry. >> It's okay. Matt, >> so what happens if someone wants to go to Bristol Tech? Will we be able to cover that tuition too or >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So that and that's so a student chooses uh to go to uh Bristol Tech. Um I think now the Southernington is I think the other program that we have we would you know there's a tuition that we pay uh

188and then and we cover that. And then and then the technical schools are their own local education agency. So it would actually for the technical school system, if our students choose to go there, it would be a disenrollment from Farmington and an enrollment in the technical school system because they are their own local education agency. It's a little bit different. >> Yeah. Thank you. I think Wendy answered my question one or two ago, but um so we do see that fluctuation I think here where we see public tuition 2024 2025 was 552,000 and now we're looking at more 260,000. So that's just dependent on the actual students and what you have kind of your class or cohort. >> That's an exact example. >> That's quite a difference. Yeah. >> Any more? >> All right. All

189those in favor? >> I opposed. Extensions. Motion carries. Page 60. >> I move to tenatively approve page 60 private tuition in the amount of 2,31,234. >> Second. And this is, you know, similar to public public tuition, but now this is for the private tuition for private placements that that are there. Um, obviously you can see it's a it's a much higher amount. Uh, however, once again, this we do apply anticipated revenue from excess cost grants uh to to kind of uh bring this down and and and that becomes part of, you know, Wendy and I on a regular basis of kind of making those adjustments and and anticipating uh where those is to keep those in line. questions, >> Erica? Not necessarily a question, but I think to tie it back to what Wendy presented

190because just knowing that there is a lot of attention being paid at the state level right now through the legislature to sort of standardize and reg to standardize they use regulation, the term regulation, but standardize a lot of those uh costs and the quality of educational services for that. So there I I foresee in the future that there's going to be some significant changes in this area. >> Yeah. A lot of changes. Matt, >> um I was just wondering if you could comment on the increase and how much sort of an actual increase in student need versus sort of expected or unknown increase we're building in based on our assumption of potential increase. >> Yeah. I mean, uh and feel free to kind of add in, you know, each year, you know, we kind of

191take a look and you see where your you know, kind of the rollover is, right? like students if uh the kind of a placement um you know is you know let's say if it's in nth grade and you expect them to be in 10th grade and so you kind of map that out and extrapolate that uh but at the same time you have conversations with you know the at the IEP to see how they're doing right is is there progress and we anticipate maybe this one will kind of move back into the district or move in there and so some of it is anticipated you know you have things where there's referrals you might have things where there's due process going on and so so there's you know there's always a lot of these different

192things so it's a little bit of taking the actual numbers where we are but also kind of projecting where we think we we might be. >> If you remember back to my presentation where I took the trend line of out of district placements from like 2017 2018 through current, I also use that to make estimates of like where we'll be and how many outplacements that we have. We take a look at the current students we have, what the situations are, what the current movement is, and we make the best projection we can for what we will need. It will never account for if one year we have an anomaly and five students move in who already have an out of district placement that we're obligated to support, but we make the best projections we can

193based on what we know about our student population now and based on the trendline data that we have. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um, do private institutions also, um, let you know in advance or how far in advance do they let you know if there is going to be a cost increase like to their tuition? >> Oh, that is that a bad question? >> That is that is the loaded question. That is why you see the and Erica knows that is why you see the legislation the way that it is right now in their efforts around cost control. So, we're doing the best we can right now to project what the revenues are and we'll be getting some rate sheets peacemeal, but literally as we're trying to give you our best projections now, tuition projections

194for the schools are like rolling in by peace meal and they will continue to roll in like through the end of February and into March. So um we also take the trend line data and that and like what has been the institution's past record right has it been a 3% increase has it been a 5% increase I say it's a loaded question right now because I will tell you transparently like while this legislation is now out there and everybody knows that some cost control is going into effect. I also think that the institutions and other districts trying to figure this out are also being proactive and sending in cost increase that look a little bit different than they have in the past. So we're doing the best we can to reconcile all of that and

195make the best projections we can. So, >> okay. >> But we laugh a little because it's not uncommon that in May or June all of a sudden we'll get a notice that, you know, you know, a placement is now going to go up significantly higher than we anticipated and we're like, you know, and and and so it's just the fluctuation and and and kind of there. So, um, >> one of the one of the, um, good pieces of news in the new legislation is it it used to be that we were getting information like that mid year and that all of a sudden like costs would change and go up or there'd be a rate increase midyear. The legislation that came out this year strictly mandated that nobody is able to change the costs of

196the tuition that they projected from last year midy year. So that's one instance of this legislation that's already gone into effect. And then I believe like between 27 and 28, we're supposed to get more information about how the state is going to kind of like align this and and make these um cost controls um more consistent across placements. >> Yeah. >> And and the reality of that um you know, I get my my next insurance premium and it goes up 20%. I can call and shop around and and do that. Here we're talking about students who are in a program with established relationships in a routine. Many of them who like, you know, thrive on that routine. And so to be able to, you know, you don't want to go to a family and say,

197"Hey, sorry. We're trying to cut cost and we're going to go send you to another program and have to start a whole, you know, like it's it's just it's just not what it's not what we're about, right? And so it's, you know, Wendy is and you know, Wendy will come to me and I'm like, we we'll make it work, right? Okay, we're going to make it work because that's what the kid deserves and that's what should, you know, that's the the program that the kid should be in and and and we work through there. So, >> any other questions, comments? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Motion carries. On to 61. >> I move to tenatively approve page 61, tuition to educational service agencies in the amount of $340,51. I'm

198gonna pass my second thing because I'm have to step away. >> Oh, that's right. Okay. >> I don't know if you want a second or whoever, but I'm gonna step out. >> Okay. >> All right. >> I need a second. >> Second. >> Uh, so this is account uh support special services cost for students of magnet schools as well as tuition costs for the Farmington Valley Diagnostic Center. Uh, based on students receiving special services that are attending magnet schools. Um, so you can see a small increase. Okay. Questions, comments. All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Extensions. Motion carries. >> Next. Page 62. >> I move to tenatively approve page 62, tuition other in the amount of $48,000. >> Second. And so this is providing the mandated educational services to the adult community

199of Farmington. Uh educational programs and personal development, vocational prep, statemandated academic courses, uh high school completion, GED, CDP, NEP, citizen preparation, multilingual learners, and workforce development. >> Questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I I opposed. Motion carries. Page 63. >> I move to tenatively approve page 63, travel in the amount of $98,261. >> Second. >> So this is for uh travel uh stipens for administrators, teachers for contracts, um uh expenses for conferences, training, professional development. >> Questions? >> All those in favor? I I >> oppose extension. Motion carries. Uh 164, right? Page 64. >> I move to tenatively approve page 64 natural gas in the amount of 354,540. >> Second. >> So, uh pretty self-explanatory except when you have minus 10 degree days and you're going to have your units cranking pretty hard.

200But um but overall uh Sam works really hard with his team to try to uh you know uh manage it uh as fiscally responsible as possible while keeping the building safe. >> Comments, questions? >> Right. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstension? Motion carries. We're on to page 65. I move to tenatively approve pages 65 through 67 electricity in the amount of $1,47,37. >> Second. >> So pretty self-explanatory. >> All those in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carries. Uh >> session session >> 66 is the detail. Yes, >> I think we keep going. >> Okay. >> Is that grouped in with other? >> We could do that. We want to break that session as part of like a work. >> I prefer to do the work just in the interest of time. >> Yeah. >>

201Okay. What time are we scheduled for? Noon. >> Oh, it's all set. >> It's all set up. We're ready. >> All right. Do you want to move? >> So, you want to move to session and then we'll >> and then we'll do we'll go back to Okay. >> Yeah. I move to uh move to executive session at uh 11:57. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposion. >> Say the reason. >> Oh. Yeah. Executive session for uh possible approval of an employes leave of absence and consider a motion to adopt uh Oh, no. That's it. Not that one, right? >> Both, right? >> It's both. >> Yeah. Yeah, it's both. It's the It's the Uaffiliated. Um, no, this isn't the >> That's when we come back. >> Yeah, I think it's up on the

202screen. >> Let me go to the slide. Yep. Amend it. Just do it again. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um I move to uh executive session at 11:58 um to for a discussion of non-affffiliated contracts for year 2627 and a discussion of an employes leave of absence request. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions. All right. We're in executive session at 11:58. >> All right. Right. I move to return to public session at 12:53. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> All right. We're in regular session. Um, so next item we have is the supplies. >> We are on page 67. >> Yeah. I think Dan is gonna >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. 400 series supplies. the next series of supplies or the 400 series which accounts for we'll just

203say 3% for the total recommended budget. >> All right. Uh so we're on page 67. >> Yep. >> I move to tentative tentatively approve page 67 instructional supplies in the amount of $593,98. >> Second. >> Hopefully uh self-explanatory. These are just you know day-to-day for for the schools. You'll see a slight increase of a little more than $2,300. >> Any questions? Just quick for me. This is enough supplies to get us through the year. Are we scrimping to the end? How do I >> Good question. Yeah. So, one of the things I wanted to mention here is just you notice the percentage change. Um, what that what that accounts for is our teams doing like inventories, ensuring that we are doing that zerobased budgeting. Um but at the same time really going through sharpening our

204pencils and taking out things that are not necessary because we feel like we have what we need within the line. So while individual item lines may be going up like the cost of pencils may be up you know 7% or 6% the overall line is very modest increase based on the work that our teams have done. So good question. Anything else? All right. All those in favor? I >> I opposed. Motion carries. We are on page 68. >> I move to tenatively approve page 68, student activity athletic supplies in the amount of $315,434. >> Second. >> So, this is a comprehensive intercolastic athletic program at the high school and provide for some interchool competition at Irving Robbins. supplies, equipment, officials, pool, ice rental, first aid, training supplies, other related costs. Um, also other extracurricular programs

205both at the high school and middle school. Also provides for student planners, >> comments, questions. So, I've been on the board long enough or maybe just in the room as a parent or advocate for a number of years to know the student planners is always a question because over the years students, you know, feedback that they're not using them. >> Do high schoolers still get them? Is it more of a middle school thing now? I've not seen one in my house for several years. I don't know what that means. >> Yeah, I believe it's more uh I think at the high school now they don't do it where everybody gets one. I think they they ordered far fewer of them and should decide if if it's it's a request and and you know kind of

206that that piece to it. Uh I'm not posit I can check on the middle school to see if that's something where they're still giving to everybody. >> It's also >> Westwoods and also it includes the um their uh like school rules and everything. So that would be a copying cost anyway. Um so it's already included in there and it provides a page for like a parents decide that. like their handbook. It's like built in. We got that. >> I want to say it's not just I in the high school. I know my I have one in Westwoods right now and we have one. >> Yeah. Westwood. So >> yeah, >> it could be where Yeah. >> Yeah. And he doesn't need >> it drives me crazy, you know. But um I think part of that

207not to talk here, but it's just like it's about these organizational skills, right? That's where the intent is of that. And yeah, there's it's yeah it's but I I see hear what you're saying and I thought where you were going is um I know in the past and I know I think if Angela was here she might say that I don't know but in a sense of the fees to student athletic you know I it seems to be going up but it hasn't gone up. >> I don't think it's gone up many years. >> Yeah. $125 per student per season with a $500 family cap. >> Yeah. Um, I don't know if this is the right place to ask this question, but we we uh charge for um athletic events. You know, they have to

208buy tickets to go to the basketball games, the soccer games. Where does that money go? >> Student activities. It goes to a student activities account that is then used to offset. So, the fees that we collect, the $125 per student per season with the cap doesn't fully cover cost of officials and the the expenses for the the uh CIC athletics. So, th those ticket fees are used to offset expenses related to those particular sports. >> Okay. Thank you. use like I can think of a specific example. >> Uh they when they were moving to the new central office, the fieldhouse area, uh the dryer had like you know that they use for you know equipment and some of the stuff finally like just comped out and so I mean you know obviously it could have

209been maybe a capital could have been maybe a major project could have been equipment repair but you know Matt had that in the funds from like ticket revenues and stuff so we just had it go for there. So it's a little so you know various types of things to kind of once again take some pressure off operating I also have just a quick question. I don't even know if this is this fits here as well, but um I know with this beautiful new building that we have here, are we um I would assume we're looking into, you know, hosting CIA ter, you know, state tournaments, wrestling, basketball, whatever it may be here as revenue generating activities. >> So they they don't they don't >> or is that more is that more of >> they don't

210necessarily generate revenue like when they come here, we allow them to use the facility. So like you know it's like a inind thing with CIA to to allow them to use it >> where you could potentially have revenue is it's like if there was a uh you know I don't know semifinal volleyball and the volleyball boosters wanted to set up concessions for it you know they probably maybe like do something there but it's not it's not like it would be a direct school revenue for for us on those. And just to follow up, so the ticket prices, yep. >> Tickets to those CIA events at the end of the season, that's paid directly to CIA. That's not actually being paid. Okay. Yeah. Okay. >> CIA sets the ticket prices, the ticket prices go through them

211in the app. And so we're just really giving them a place. So because once again, if we made it to the semi-finals, there's a school who's allowing their field to be Yeah. So it's so it's a big kind of a thing. But but the fees for the the the door prices, the ticket prices for nonCIA just during regular season that goes to the school and that specific program. >> Yeah. >> It really bothers me. We have to pay for athletics and then we come to the door to watch our kids play and we have to pay again and grandparents pay and kids pay to see their friends and I just it doesn't sit right with me. But that's the bigger >> Yeah. I I agree because I go to athletic events too and at in

212other school districts and you don't have to pay the ticket fees. So it's >> I get that question a lot when I'm sitting there at Tungstus meet is like why why where does this money go? Why do we do that? So all students should maybe be >> right the parents are paying too. >> Can well let me follow up like right sometimes you go it's a senior price, it's a kid price, it's adult price. What would like parent of a player price be? And how would that actually impact this budget line item? Right? Because that's what kind of what we're talking about. >> Would we have to increase this to offset the two bucks each parent pays or five bucks each parent pays? I don't I don't know the answer to that. And no one

213needs to look that up. But >> why don't we get some information for you too so you can kind of really look at what we're >> basically asking how much revenue does this generate. >> Obviously I assume most of the attendees are the parents so >> or family members. >> Yeah. >> But at least apparent like the parents make >> I think it's a good question for us to review to review that >> that system. >> Yeah. Definitely. >> Just one go ahead Ann. >> I was just going to say is it possible to go back to cash also? I get a lot of complaints from people that especially older people they can't figure it out they don't know how to work they didn't buy it ahead of time why do I have you know

214if they don't have a card why don't you know I can't get in I don't have c you know that kind of thing >> it is interesting >> payment method and I would imagine using the uh electronic payment sources you're paying a fee so you're losing money to begin with on the full cost of the entry fee >> yes although I will say is and I'm not definitely sure for for us with the CIA they require to use like their system and app you have to prepay. They won't sell tickets at the you would be something of a large that's outside of our control. Right. >> Coming to I mean the line when you're trying to get into the football game because everyone's trying to tap and pay and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

215If you still have that little >> window for cash, that would be great. >> Sure. >> I thought they did do cash though. >> I think it depends on the booster club. It's kind of Could it be Could it be what they're set up for? >> Maybe they could use some >> We'll talk to Matt about it. consistency. >> Okay. >> Oh, just uh one >> we got three. >> What do you think? >> You're looking at me. >> More against cash. >> Yeah, I'm I'm okay with cash. Um um it's more of the self-service by the way, I think, over there than anything, which uh messes some people up on your phone. Um but uh extracurricular like the musicals or plays that occur here. Does that kind of fall under this or is that

216separate sections? So like the musicals was uh non sports. >> Yeah, I think it was the other student services. I think the exact >> That's okay. All right. Thank you. >> I think that's when Matt stepped out when we did the music one. >> You know, we voted on the arts one. >> Yeah, >> there was a line. I think that's >> right. Anything else? All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed absention. Motion carries. We're on page 69. >> I move to tenatively approve page 69, office supplies in the amount of $68,173. >> Second. >> Self-explanatory. >> All right. Any questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I oppose. Extension. Motion carries. We are on page 70. >> I move to tenatively approve page 70. Library supplies in the amount of $9,995.

217>> Second. Second. Self-explanatory. Does this just one quick? Isn't there it just says library materials? Is >> there's another one for library books. >> Okay. >> There's one library for library books. This is just like the like the materials. >> Okay. >> Not books, right? >> Not books. >> Okay. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I oppose. Abstension. Motion carries. We are on page 71. >> I move to tenatively approve page 71, testing materials in the amount of $48,51. >> Second. Um so here you can see just variety of testing materials um board goals funds sport administration of the PSAT offered at the Farmington High School. Um happy we take any questions. >> Is the increase just in terms of um cost increase of the testing or are we doing additional testing? >>

218No, I think it's just another example of Yeah. >> Yeah. what we're being charged to do business. Yeah. >> Gotcha. >> All right. Any other questions? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries. Page 72. >> I move to tenatively approve page 72, health supplies in the amount of $17,152. >> Second. >> Self-explanatory. Band-aids, ice packs, etc. >> All right. Any questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I I opposed meions. Motion carries. Uh page 73. >> I move to tenatively approved page 73 audiovisisual computer supplies in the amount of $214,65. >> Second. >> So this not only includes the the audiovisisual materials, but you can see also uh some of our network and security licensing is included in this. Once again, you see that large increase. That's the,

219you know, while we say 3% inflation, we're finding that in a lot of these areas that it's it's much larger than that. >> Yeah, that's correct. We also have the shift from 650 um as well. So, you'll see eventually us bringing from 650 down a little bit. >> Questions? All those in favor? >> I I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. Uh, page 74. >> I move to tentatively approve page 74, custodial supplies in the amount of $231,100. >> Second. >> Everything but the shoes. >> Okay. Questions? All right. All those. Yes, Sam. >> A quick call back on this back to the pages 43 to 450. What we determined was that the um the difference that you were talking about the $18,000 is because uh uniforms are listed on those summary sheets, which is the $18,000

220difference. It doesn't it's not included in those 431 to 433s. It's actually included in this amount, but that $18,000 difference is is the uniforms. >> So, no savings. >> All right. Gotcha. All right. All those in favor? I >> I opposed. Absention. Motion carries. Page 75. >> Thanks, Tim. >> Um, I move to tenatively approve page 75 gasoline in the amount of $247,936. >> Second. >> Self-explanatory. >> Yep. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. Page 76. I move to tenatively approve page 76 textbooks in the amount of $236,925. >> Second. >> All explanatory. >> Any questions about the textbooks? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Extension. Motion carries. Page 77. >> I move to tenatively approve page 77 library books in the amount of

221$49,49. >> Second. So, uh, although self-explanatory, just explain a little bit of the decrease, we we kind of, this is once again kind of doing some reflection of seeing how we have kind of always done it and we kind of just rolled over and we we ended up looking at doing it more from a a per pupil expenditure from there. Um, and and thought that that would be kind of a not only just a more equitable, but you know, kind of meeting the needs. Uh we're also just seeing generally speaking a little bit, you know, uh the library collections are are in pretty good shape kind of there and as as things are moving more toward a digital thing that this is an area that we could we could find a little bit of cost

222savings without having a huge negative impact on on the student experience. >> All right, any questions? >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Page 78. I move to tentatively approve page 78 library subscriptions in the amount of $1,349. >> Second. >> So this is just slightly different for this is the library databases when they do the research and they you know the uh the various uh icon I think is one of them and and some of the other subscriptions that they get >> questions. All right. All those in favor I >> I opposed extensions. Motion carries. Page 79. >> I move to tentatively approve page 79. Professional subscriptions in the amount of $5,598. >> Second. >> Self-explanatory. >> Questions? All those in favor? >> I opposed abstension. Motion carries. Page 80. >>

223I move to tenatively approve page 80. Technology related supplies in the amount of $335,84. >> Second. So hardware uh software type of supplies and then this is circling back to before that um offsetting from the 617 to there. So you'll see here the decrease of 15,000 and change >> questions. All right. All those in favor >> I opposed extension. Motion carries. We are on to equipment. So the 500 series or equipment series accounts for a little more than 0.5% of the total recommended budget and reflects an increase of 16 almost 17%. >> All right. Pages 81 through 89. >> I move to tenatively approve pages 81 through 89 replacement of equipment in the amount of $48,21. >> Second. So pretty much self-explanatory facility technology equipment. Oh, sorry. Matt's getting me moving to be on the

224500 series. >> Thank you very much, sir. >> Uh, happy to take any questions. You can see the next few pages are are get some detail there. Any questions or comments or all those in favor? >> I opposed extensions. Okay, motion carries. Uh, we are on >> 90 through 98. >> I move the tentatively approved page 90 through 98, new equipment other in the amount of $63,25. >> No, the request is 427. >> Oh, sorry. Got it. Other shouldn't this be 93? No, this one's right. I'll do this one. I move to tentatively approve pages 90 through 98 new equipment other in the amount of $427,418. >> Second. >> Yes. uh some facility and technology but pretty much the Chromebooks one to one program that we have uh where they get them CR 35 and

225>> these were the dollar changes >> the dollar change. >> Yeah, because this is that has to be re redone >> rewritten. Okay. >> Well, we have to approve the correct amount because that's not the right amount. >> Which one did you just read, James? >> That was uh 90 to 98. >> Oh, no. This one's right. That's a small one. >> Yep. >> This one just was the dollar change instead of the total request. >> So, this one was right. The last one was right, too. >> The one before was >> Correct. This one just needs to read that. >> Yep. >> All right. >> We're good. >> Yep. Any questions? >> Questions? All right. All those in favor? I >> I opposed. Motion carries. We're on dues and fees. >> Dues and fees.

226600 series accounts for less than 39% of the total recommended budget and shows a decrease of about a decrease of about three and a half% account includes memberships and organizations that support our strategic improvement efforts. This also includes the town of Farmington's negotiated liability, umbrella, and motor vehicle insurance for the school district. >> All right. So, page 99, >> I move to tenatively approve page 99, insurance other than employee benefits in the amount of $275,000. >> Second. >> So, once again, focusing on the insurance, the various uh liability umbrella policies and things we have they have >> questions. All right. All those in favor? I >> I oppose abstension. Motion carries. Page 100. >> I move to tentatively approve page 100 memberships in the amount of $61,121. >> Second. >> And these are the variety

227of professional memberships that we have between teachers and uh administrators. >> Questions? >> One Andrea. So um sorry about vision. I should sit back. Um, so I know during the superintendent search and we used CABE's services for that, we talked a little bit about that association and I know we dropped out of that many years ago before my time on the board, but I remember when that decision was made that we were really looking at the budget and cutting even every little expense that we could. But um, if not this year, I just figured it's coming up in the budget now. There is a professional association for board of education members and we may or may not at some point decide that we would get good value from that. I mean I think some people

228took advantage of their training. You don't have to be a member. >> No, >> but obviously you get a cut rate and >> sure >> there are other resources. So just >> but maybe we decide just like kind of >> I alart is a better way to take advantage of >> if you don't mind me jumping in. That was my question is was Kane part of this and for the new board members we went and it was it was great. So again I was curious how much it would actually cost but um yeah we could we could get a um like a fee structure from them and one thing that shifted over time was using the policies. So we use the shipment policies right now and so it used to be different but um I

229we certainly something we can explore and again have them come out and speak to you as a group about the types of services that they offer and what types of trainings and whether or not that might be interested and then uh something you're interested in and and I'm I'm sure they'd love to work with us because cave wants to be involved in as many boards of education as they can across the state. >> They very much would like to work with us. So impressive. >> It was like salivation. >> Yes. Yeah. Um so really though um just like we do with anything in our budget, right? We've got to do a cost analysis of what they offer, what types of supports, and then as a board, is it something of value to you or is

230it something we feel that we could do, you know, our own professional development through other avenues? So something we can explore for sure. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? All right. All those in favor? I >> opposed. Abstension. Motion carries. Page 101. >> Drum roll. >> I move to tentatively approve page 101 grand total in the amount of $86,858,554. >> Do you have the >> second? >> All right. So, that's a a number that's adjusted from what's in our in our book. >> Yeah. But remember that's a different the number you have in your book is should be adjusted from there. So that on the screen should be the >> updated number. >> Can somebody read what the dollar changes because so I don't have to >> 3 million >> 17,571 or 4.35 in.

231>> Thank you. All right. Um I shouldn't say any discussion. All right. All those in favor? I >> oppose. Abstension. Motion carries. So that brings us to >> item. >> I got to find my >> Do you want to do real quick any updated questions? >> Oh, yeah. Do you want to go through those updates? >> Yeah. So, uh, at the break, uh, Beth and Ann were able to work to answer some of those questions and then just see if there's any questions you still want from the team going into Monday. So um for Matt your question about the breakdown of salaries. So I want to try to because I wasn't able to kind of articulate it you know in a nice chart but so if we just rolled over contractually the salaries the teacher

232salaries it would have been about $1.45 45 million. Once you took out the um reduction of staffing, the you know the uh you know teachers and there was like a 02 library and the various staffing in there that would have taken out that 575,000. there's an addition of 350,000 within like the you know care team member and additions in there which then brings us to one point the you know like a 1,226,000 kind of like what the increase was. So that's where you kind of get some of that shift. Okay. >> So then the rest of that would have been the uh contractual health insurance question. Currently we have a Uh I think it's about 665 employees, 494 are currently on our insurance. And for student services, um commencement was the largest part of that

233which it was about $29,000 and then uh sorry about $36,000 of was sorry 29,000 for the high school commencement, 7,000 for IR commencement. So that was about 36,000 of the 50,000. And then about 15,000 was uh kind of like the high school transition, those t-shirts, convocation, some of those beginning opening uh activities that they do in the beginning of the year. if there's any other outstanding questions that we that you want us to we're going to try to you know I think we have that explanation with the uniforms there but we can still look at trying to come up with a a better way to break down the various costs uh for those >> for pages 43 through >> Yeah. 42 through 50. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Was there anything else outstanding? I mean, if

234after today we'd >> go through our stuff and >> Yeah. >> thing. >> All right. So, that brings us to item seven, new business. A uh possible approval of employees leave of absence request. Um, can I have a motion? >> Yep. I move to approve an employees request for leave of absence of Allison Fitzpatrick for the remainder of the 2025 2026 school year without compensation. >> Second. >> All right. Um any comments? All right. All those in favor? >> I I >> opposed extension. Motion carries. Um, and then that brings us uh to item 7B, which is a consideration of a motion to adopt the 2627 school budget or adjourn and continue on to February 2nd, 2026 budget workshop. >> Yeah. >> I move to adjourn and continue to February 2nd, 2026 budget workshop. >>

235Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I opposed extensions. All right. So, we are adjourned at 1:21 p.m.