001Great. Um, at 6:30 we will call the meeting to order. We'll start with a roll call. Um, Mike Bullier, Rudy Delury, Kirstston Burlington, >> Pam Ferington, >> Marbor, >> Carrie Folino, Marborl, >> Drew Gin, Marorrow, >> Jessica Hall, Hein, >> Amy Romanchuck, >> Amy Roman, Marbor, >> Scott Soyette, >> Scotty, And over >> Lisa Touty and Heather Summer from Cuba. Okay, if we could all stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Okay, public comment. Hebrin, Andover, and Marble community engagement and attendance at board of education public meetings is welcome. The public comment segment of the meeting agenda is set aside so
002the BOE may receive public comments. Procedurally, public remarks will be limited to three minutes and citizens will be asked to identify themselves. Because the BOE is limited by the Freedom of Information Act to discussing only matters on the agenda, the BOE is not permitted to engage in the discussion of the comments presented. Is there anybody in the room that would like to make public comment? Anybody online? >> Okay. >> Actually, let me just add I just I just want to uh apologize to our presenters today. I've got an unavoidable conflict in half an hour. So, I'll be leaving in 20 20 minutes or so. So, thank you for coming out. I will watch the recording of of the rest of it later. But sorry, I can't be here for all. >> Okay, that's going to
003bring us to the presentations. >> So, uh we have a number of department coordinators and directors that are going to present tonight. Um you all board members that are here should have a copy of the presentation in front of them that uh the slide deck that's going to walk us through that. Um, and we're going to kick things off with uh Greg Lance, who is our our [snorts] >> It actually I don't think that amplifies his voice. Eric, does it that mic? >> It It does it for the people online. >> Yeah. >> Is it on? >> Okay. Uh, good evening. So, I have the summary of the math department. We are fairly similar when we're last year. There's a slight increase. >> That's the wrong presentation. Eric, >> I want you the other one
004sent to you. >> Say again. >> Sorry about >> you. [laughter] >> I did that for you. >> Thank you. Give me two seconds. >> I see a picture of my head up [laughter] there. >> That's Monday. [laughter] >> That's fabulous. >> Coming your way, our grand life. >> Sorry, we're just trying to loosen the crowd up a little bit. >> [clears throat] >> Oh, that's me. [laughter] >> So, uh we have had a little bit of reduction, nothing too significant. uh some supplies and things that the the new curriculum we're doing is closer to that actually. We also have our two textbooks for some class and we have some very important software.io us to also a fairly significant item as usual for our children. We have nine trips. So the next slide that slide
005is the middle school budget. See for delta 245 last year high school question. I had a couple the free version of the um textbook. Is that free permanently or free for this year? >> Free permanently. It's open source and design always have a free version. There are some add-ons you can have when we explore getting the future. >> Wonderful. And um just the math meets as a former participant myself is it do you ever host them here? >> Yes. I'll meet tomorrow. Oh, or afternoon. What else? JB4. >> Is it Is it just one town or is it a bunch of towns? >> 10 al together. >> 10 towns. Shoreline. >> Good luck. >> Thank you. >> That's all. Any other questions for Greg? >> Appreciate it. >> Next, we'll have Jen Stoiaak for social
006studies. Evening everyone. We have a clicker over here. Eric, your clicker. [laughter] >> Thank you. Um, so our budget this year is we are seeing a bit of an increase. Not significant. It largely stays pretty static amongst our categories and always comes in overwhelmingly pretty small. But um we're going to continue to support our you know comprehensive programming um through various instructional supplies and even some of our general supplies to support our um curriculum in the classroom. Um in terms of our middle school budget, uh for the first time in quite some time, we are requesting some textbook funding. We're looking to purchase atlases. our current atlases, I believe are turn of the century, quite literally from 2000. Um, so it'll be the first time we're going to purchase three sets through social studies service
007so our kids can now see what South Sudan looks like on a a real physical map country of 2011. Um, so that's really where our increase comes from the middle school. Um, in terms of instructional supplies and general supplies, the increase is really just cost of materials. Two years ago, I could get a class set of highlighters for$,650. Now, it's 26.50 or 2450. And that's the generic brand. So, um, every two years, we try to replace some of our markers and our colored pencils. We do a lot of project based learning in the classroom and we go through them fairly quickly. Um, in terms of our high school budget, um, we do have, um, continued requests for some textbook money. The social studies department has, at least our department has largely moved away from some
008of the traditional large textbooks. We're just finding that our students are not really utilizing them. It's very dense. So for our AP courses where we typically only use the textbooks, we are requesting the AMSCO books. We transition to them through our AP site from AP US. It's a very like comprehensive but compact um text that just covers and aligns with all of the AP exams. But our three AP courses for psychology, US history, and um European European history are now also concurrent enrollment with either Yukon or Eastern. And these books also support it. And they're only $23 a book. But if I buy packs of packs of 10, I can get a discount of $20 a text. And it's like the same thing as our $179 text. The kids actually read them. Um so we
009assign them with our summer work and then they're using those throughout the school year to supplement um regular curricular materials learn a little differently now and they're not really in our big textbooks. So, >> and lastly, I did request transportation increase, >> uh, a transportation increase. Um, our criminal justice class runs a fall and spring semester course, but um, our students have a prison field trip and they really do enjoy it, but in years past, we've only offered one in the fall. It's first come, first serve. So the spring kids have a go at it, but it's 20 students. We go to Cordonki in Mville. It's a very popular trip. We have students interested in the corrections, law enforcement, career pathways, so they learn the whole programming. Um, previously we were able to speak with
010inmates. Obviously, they were vetted and so forth. Um it's really up to the warden and what we're allowed to do when we go, but we would like to offer that to our spring semester students as well. Um so that's it. Um pretty small. [laughter] >> My daughter is competing in the math meet tomorrow. >> Congratulations. >> Keep supporting that. Any questions? >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Next we have technology with Dennis uh our director of tech and communication. >> Hi everybody. Nice to meet you guys. >> Um uh so we're kind of keeping it the same this year. We tried to right side make sure our first one here is we're focused hardware this year that focus on fine art class. So that's most of that parents is a much more modern solution. phone
011usage for us. Um, and like I was talking about before, we're just going to support the existing software we have to make sure the right size. We were we have a bunch of software that um counts a little high a little bit. Um, so we made sure that price on those went around and made sure that was working on some of those cases were able to step down which is pretty expensive. Um, and one of our our big initiative this year which isn't really expensive but something that will help with security district. Um, a lot of people here are do pretty good and have their phone hooked up because it's an optional thing at this point. Um the hardware spend we're going to have is on having hardware tokens that people can use right not
012use their personal devices for stuff. Uh we have so pretty good year for technology. Last year you guys invested really well hardware and firewall and social this way. So that's why that hardware line kind of jumped up. Um this year we're going to we're really knocking that down. We're going to kind of utilize investing along that. Um software we're able to stay relatively flat because we rightize so many things. We can implement those devices and still kind of have a little bit of savings. um our services line with a big cost increase there and all the school district across the state is pretty much phone service um hot line so copper line with those simple lines you have with your kid the landline in your house we utilize a lot of those for alarms and
013fire and things like that companies recent extraordinary cost now are over $100 a piece so we have correctly. So that that's that big jump in service. Um the rest of the things all it's all pretty good savings like I said a good investment last year there the multifactor authentication updates and that slice pretty pretty low keep that number down and it's applied you know relatively flat. We're starting to see some damage and some breaks with boards that have been installed across the district. Some of those are starting to fail. Some of the first generation ones I think six years ago on the wall. Um besides that, um just going back to software real quick too. Uh there's been some increases in some for there. Um and then a lot of some of the other software
014software we're using is contract >> the copper lines um that being is there a chance to replace them with something else? >> So there's some so we have done a really good job my first year burning a lot of digital lines like burning the elevator. elevators just usually that was a compromise. You install devices that can make those elevators digital problem with that is digital fault lines are susceptible to hotines. So a lot of your really critical items buildings can't you don't want to fire up. So looking at solutions people are coming up with stuff all the time. Both companies don't want you on support. >> We're trying to find solutions >> along those lines. What is it that they have to support? Wire already there, >> right? They they don't want they want to
015take those wires down. They want to run the things spacing. Actually, it's kind of a big fight. Various phone companies will insert poles in town. state doesn't actually they want to utilize that from fiber or whatever other may be and they want to retire the equipment buildings they want to have the marks in town and what's the the difference between the 661240 that you have for request for on the first slide and the 422 >> so the lease is not included in the >> so so the lease piece is not in the second slide. That's the difference. Okay. >> I got that consistent presented last. >> Yeah, I did. >> We also use parent square in our district. It's also teacher friendly. >> Yeah. So, I know a lot of that. I know um [clears
016throat] coaching wise too. You can make you can get away from third party app. So, right now teams might use teams use insight in that can't see all the time. You don't control it. parent start record. >> Yeah. So, I feel like our website is in need of a lot of help. Um, and you know, when Dennis brought this to me, he was hot on the idea of the communication piece, and I know Michelle was from for the athletics um, communication, but I'm trying to um, make our website more reflective of the great district that we are has been something I've been wanting to do for a while and four years into it. We're ready to go. >> Yeah. And Colin's point, I don't know if you know, we have a lot of Google sites
017that are attached to our website, right? So a lot of times you click on health department click on the health department you're taken away from our website to Google site that you know it's mostly managed by a lot more we can nify that picture and and a lot of things in their web pages are outdated but there's staff members that haven't worked here for two or three years and they're still missing someplace and when when they're kind of disjointed [clears throat] that that just happens from time to time. So, um I'm very excited about parents where we're going to start to migrate stuff over I think in the spring. >> Yeah, we should be pretty soon. They just got back with some of the migration. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions for >> sir
018appreciate it. Next we have Miss Vega Boule for world language. Hello everybody. So [clears throat] all right. So um pretty much a lot of things continue being the same. For example, the uh skills by literacy that we um at the same cost has gone down but a lot of kids who can assess for uh proficiency that aren't only limited. So I Um there has been a little bit of increase in regards to those up and down. One of my main is the AI resource. Um we are piloting a software in our French see how that software could benefit our student building their proficiency in speaking and their personal skills. [clears throat] Um assessment and also to just capability. >> Um do you have a decrease in our books, which just means um that we have
019some that we often use every year. They're not really necessary for every year. So, because of that, we did talk about getting and just the increase in techn [laughter] [clears throat] >> it it does [laughter] matter. So I do have a decrease and that's just mostly because of like instructional journals. Then the high school I also have a slight decrease even though I have um I do not and that's mostly from the software much and there's just a little transportation associated always with field trips. Yeah. So my transportation is generally for uh the French bowl which is for the Yukon French ski and also um does take students to which is a competition for all of the Yukon sorry Spanish class has potential to go as well. So it's just kind of great. Thank you.
020>> Next we have Becky Fontaine for English. Thank you everyone. Sorry I can't say on Becky Fontaine with the English department. So we're continuing our book um subscriptions and this is the first time we continue this into our high school department as well. Um, if you recall from last year, book break is where we have live virtual sessions with really famous authors that are part of these canonical books that we read. So, we had Lois Lowry this year. Um, we have Jason Reynolds. So, the kids get to interact with the authors. Um, so it's definitely something we're going to continue for both schools for next year. Um, on a fun side note, this there's over a thousand schools globally that participate and last month, one of our students was posted as one of the questions
021and so we got a nice little RAM call out. So that was cool. Um, our grammar book initiative that we started last year was actually very successful, as exciting as that sounds. So we've got those hard copy grammar workbooks in the seventh and eighth grade classrooms to help support um, not even learning in just those years, but in high school um, coordinating with Lori to even improve the language program. And yes, we all those parts of speech are necessary for those language skills as well. So we're going to continue that cost for next year. Um, similar to Dennis, I calibrated some of the online programs that we use. Um, so for example, Quill, our online writing program, I readjusted the amount of students, teachers that actually use the program. So, we're able to get a
0220% increase on that. Um, we brought some of those down. We, as a lot of other departments, are increasing some of that pencil and paper paper learning um, just to kind of accommodate for AI and use it in a supportive way while also improving our writing skills um, in a traditional manner. So, we'll see a bit of an increase with supplies cost and we're also going to join um the arts department for these scholastic art submissions. So we are um next year going to have students in the middle and a high school um submit poetry and short writing pieces to the scholastic program which is um cross country and then there's some local so we can start getting some more nominations for our students there and then we're also going to um increase or keep
023actually um our field trip that we added for our high school department. We had our Yukon Ess go to the Yukon library, get to meet some of the teachers, interact with the students. Um, so that was very successful. So, we're going to do that again for next year. So, as you can see for the middle school budget, the main increase is in that second line, the instruction supplies. That's where those parameter workbook lies. Half of that um money last year were able to get a grant. So, we're on our own this year, but seeing how successful it was um with the students, we're definitely going to continue with that cost. We did have a slight decrease in software. Again, that was kind of calibrating the subscriptions that we had. Um, and then a slight increase
024in the junior some of those submissions and students recognized. And then at the high school, um, a lot of these numbers stayed the same, but ever so slightly went up. Um, so it's only a $441 piece for the high school. Again, trying to um, adjust for supplies that we had from overstock last year. adjusting some of those online subscriptions. Um, and really a lot of other subscriptions kind of just stay the same. Any questions for English? >> For the grammar workbooks, would it be assumed the seventh graders bring it to eighth grade? So, you're only buying new ones for seventh grade. >> So, they're two separate workbooks for those grade levels because they're aligned with the common course. They have different parts of speech that they work with. And the eighth grade one built on
025on the seventh grade skills. >> Gotcha. I get into the whole thing. [laughter] >> Thanks, Becky. Appreciate it. >> Alexa Mitchell for science is up next. >> So mostly our goal in science was to maintain our hands on experience students. We want to be able to design experimentation experiences and so that's mostly our goal. You'll find that middle school most recently um we've been supported and adopting units which are NGSS or next generation science standard unit. And so that has supported the high school. Some things to know are that we're looking to provide textbooks to our learning science course which is that we're hoping to run um this coming year and so within our AP environmental science course we're looking to make sure that all the students are working with the same addition textbook um
026and so they would all across also within the biology courses of all levels we're looking to give our students access to what's called mini PCR equipment This would be um equipment that would run something called gel electropharesis which allows students to separate DNA bands and do some genetic analysis. The really cool thing about this is that historically this kind of analysis would have taken at least 90 minutes if not more. But this allows you to run that same type of experiment within 10 or 15 minutes which is suitable to our 46 minute classes in our share standard. Um so some of that is equipment and some of that is the lab supplies that go with the equipment. In addition um our microscopes within the standard biology courses are over 20 years old and so we
027will have to start using those. Um and then lastly you'll see that with the science course that will come along with a few field trips to state park and aquarium and our medical also to so mostly I kind of here but again overall school has a decrease because of the support program over the years. And then our high school has additional also just so the equipment line includes new microscopes and the PCRs. Okay. So we can assume that next year it will be less because >> Yes. >> Well, are you replacing all the microscopes this year or just gonna some? >> We're only doing some. There's four biology teachers and this is looking to replace microscopes for one of those classrooms. So in theory could >> you're going to want to do the other classrooms.
028>> Correct. So >> right now we're budgeting for two. >> Okay. >> And the relative cost the PCR equipment is how much relative to the microscopes? I mean just really roughly >> roughly I want to say is like >> PCR. >> Okay. Just curious. So the microscopes are 10,000 more >> a lot more than that. [laughter] >> The microscopes were a lot more expensive than we settled on a package that worked. >> Oh yes. [laughter] >> Yeah, the mini PCR. Thanks. >> Any other questions? All right. Thanks, Alexa. Appreciate it. And last, we have Michelle Landry for athletics. Ready? Um, okay. So, for the goals for the athletic department, we're looking to maintain what um you guys have seen from the previous year. providing our students and coaches and families with um information for post-secondary
029athletic opportunities. Providing our coaches with any necessary resources that they may need to um continue their high quality programs. maintaining all appropriate uniform cycles and equipment upgrades in order to provide and promote all our student athletes with fair and high quality um experience within their high school and scholastic sports and then providing um a structure to vertically align our middle school and our high school athletics um throughout the time. So you can see for our um high school athletic budget, there is a minimal increase just below $6,000. Um this is due to gradual increases in races. Um and then some savings in certain areas. You'll see that for services. We were able to decrease that um $7,800 due to our safety officers, which has been great to have. um our uniforms. Uh there's five uniform
030replacements coming up for the high school this this following year. So you'll see that increase in our general supplies. And then officials would be uh from year to year. And then our middle school budget, a minimal increase as well, $738. This comes from um things like our general supplies just when we're working just costing a little bit more money and then uh our officials increase as well. >> Excuseelle having trouble with the math. The differences are all negative but the total is positive. >> Yeah. Oh, so there there shouldn't be parentheses around the 220 and the 518 for the middle school. Sorry, that was updated. Um, >> Oh, right. Okay. Those are increases. >> All right. >> All the same teams that we've had previously, >> correct? >> In both middle and high school. So,
031one of the things [clears throat] that we didn't mention, it's not demonstrated in the budget, is there has been some parents that Michelle's been working with um that are interested in potentially starting a gymnastics team for Ram High School. Uh currently, one doesn't exist. Michelle was approached by some families. We had a meeting with parents that were interested. Uh it's certainly something that we're worth uh that we are definitely interested in exploring if it's an opportunity to give something more to our students. uh we would see it initially at least being a self-funded um we actually have a policy around self-funded athletic programs. We do we really wouldn't want to immediately make a significant investment in something like this unless we knew it was a sustainable program. Um this is often how programs are started
032off. Hockey started this way for us several years ago. Um and so we're still exploring this as a possibility, but that could be something that, you know, in future years, not next year, not even the year after that, you know, we want to make sure that it's we don't want to invest significant um financial resources into something that, you know, you have a small bubble of student athletes coming up to do something and then it phases uh phases out super quick. So, it's just uh that's just something put it on your radar that that you know we could see in future bike years several years down the Is it something that could go like the way hockey goes or the way swim goes where? >> So a different so the way that hockey is is
033a co-op and each sport has a different requirement of the amount of student athletes that you can have from your district and then moving together with other districts. There's there's many parameters around it but that's just kind of surface level for you. We have right now more athletes interested so the co-op wouldn't be an opportunity for us. um there is one other way to do it that just it it doesn't really make sense to force it to try to do it this year. So when we sat down with parents when Colin and I talked with them, we made the decision that we were going to kind of hold off, put the brakes on, do it the right way and really investigate and see how we can start this team in order to make sure that
034there is sustainability for them because we want it to be successful. We have a lot of athletes that come from a local gymnastics um gym here and I want to make sure that they have the opportunity to um play within the CIA and make sure that they they get the same opportunity as everybody else. So that's the way that we're going about it. >> We're optimistic. >> So how does selfunding work? >> So well, do you want to talk a little? >> Yeah. So, um, self-funding would mean that they that the families are taking on the full responsibility of what it costs. And there's different things that go into the cost for a team. Anything around transportation, uniforms, gym time, um, and and so forth. And so what parents and families choose to do is
035they're like, okay, like we're committed to this. We take that number, we divide it by the um student athletes, and then they they choose to take on that responsibility. Over time, I think it was around seven or eight years that hockey was in their co-op where we were giving no money to them, and then um three years ago, we started giving a little bit of money to them that subtracts from that amount. So, >> is there any idea what the cost would be? >> So, I don't have it on me right now. We did do the numbers. I can send it to Colin and he can get that to you, but we do have the breakdown of what it what it would look like. >> Yeah, absolutely. So, one of the thing obviously a major
036cost would be the the space to have practices. As Michelle alluded to, we're very fortunate there's a local gym here in town that presumably the student athletes would would go to. Um, you know, I think that there, you know, could be some conversations between, uh, whether it's the districts, the district directly or parents that are interested in running the program because all the parents that would be RAM parents of RAM gymnastics are also already paying gym dues. So, there was some conversation during our parent meeting about like, well, wait a second, if we're already paying gym dues as individuals, why would we have to pay additional fees to to get it as as a RAM space? We basically said that's not really between us and that's between you and the gym ownership. But, you know,
037basically they did indicate that they'd be interested in >> doing a discounted rate at least initially for us to help get the program off the off the ground. If I'm >> Yeah, that was the conversation for this year if we were going if we were going to kick it off that they would consider that. But there's there's more to it too. Um, coaches wise, we need to make sure that we were um, you know, interviewing, doing the whole, you know, gamut of hiring people because there are out of season coaching rules as well um, for any of our coaches that are employed within the CIC through our school. Um, and they are not allowed to coach any of their athletes outside of the regular season. So, if they were to choose to go with this
038gym, one of the things they were talking about was using those coaches and it wouldn't be allowed. Um, so we would have to, you know, go through all of that with them. There's there's a lot of bylaws, a lot of rules. So, we just need to make sure we're in compliance with all of them. >> What happens with insurance? >> Like if a kid gets hurt, is it >> we have students insurance that would cover >> that would cover basically the >> it wasn't on. >> So, if they're participating for something that we're promoting, it's it's out. we're promoting but not paying for >> because it's school sponsored. Even if we're not paying for it, it's school sponsored. >> Yes. >> The the the the cru the crux of it, the the conversation that we
039had and the parents, I think, were really appreciative of of Michelle, you know, you know, really initiating this conversation with them. And then, you know, I just said to Michelle, just tell them we're supportive of it. Like, if if this is an opportunity for us to create experiences for our student athletes that don't currently exist, then I'm all for it. Um, again, it's just about sustainability. We have to make sure it's a program that's going to be, you know, worth the investment from the longevity perspective. We'll keep you guys posted. >> Questions? >> So, I I'm completely in the dark about this. What What is this co-op program? How does a co-op program work? >> So, a co-op is when a one school can't um field a team. So they come together with other local
040area schools that also can't do the same thing and they come together and they make an agreement that they are going to bring their team together. One school is going to be the host school and then they have one team together. So for instance, we have our hockey team out of Rockville. They're called the Shamrocks. Um it's our boys hockey team. So that's our co-op with them. Um there's five five or six schools total um for that. So, but like I said before, there's rules and parameters around it. You can't have a cert for each sport. It's different, but you can't have more than a certain number of athletes um wanting to play that. So, you can't cut from teams if you're doing a co-op. Uh you can't drop or go above a certain number.
041So, every year they relook at it. And a co-op is for two years. They re-evaluate every two years for that. And they look at the numbers and the sustainability of it. But the funding is from the school. It's not apparent. >> So, Rockville takes on um a lot of the the financial responsibility. Uh they also have their student athletes paying a certain amount, but they take on like most of the the uh cost of it. And then each individual school can choose what they do. Most schools start out the way that we're talking about now where it is self-funded in a co-op. you have to prove sustainability and a lot of districts do have a policy as well. >> Thank you. >> Let's just say the CIA guide book and handbook and rule book is
042more weighty than our policy book. It's when Michelle explains these things to me, I just shake my head and try not to. >> There's 400 wonderful pages. I have it on one of my audio like apps and I listen to it all the time. So, yeah. >> Oh, fun. Yeah, we can get it for you. >> You borrow it. I'll >> have no problem sleeping. [laughter] >> Okay. So, this >> Yeah. Any other questions? >> Does anybody have any other questions? Because I'd like to let let the teachers go since they've been here since 7 a.m. >> Anybody online? Eric? >> No. Thank you very much. It's always super interesting um to to hear this hear how you guys are budgeting and I'm actually impressed, >> you know, when you see you're trying to figure
043out, you know, oh, this is $20 less. Like I it kind of breaks my heart a little bit that you have to worry about, you know, $20. >> Well, I just I also want to point out like their presentations, they're very succinct. They're dialed in. They know it really well, but like their three to five minute presentations are months worth of work. like that the amount of work that these individuals do with their departments and their um and their teams is substantial. So again, I appreciate all the stuff that you guys are doing to get this happen for us. >> Thank you very much. >> Have a good night. >> Yes. Take care. >> You got 12 hours. [laughter] [clears throat] >> Thank you for the tip on the door. [laughter] Sorry. >> Give it
044a talk. >> Good night everybody. Thanks guys. >> Bye. >> So, >> as they're exiting the one of the things, does anybody have any concerns about doing these meetings on Zoom? So, the teachers I mean I feel like >> they've been here since 7 a.m. They've been here for 12 hours. >> Yeah. >> Heather and I talked about it. I mean, it just it it's a really efficient way of doing it. I know that they would appreciate it and I think that we could just, you know, >> so we could do that. >> Carrie, you're >> Yes. >> You're okay. >> I'm okay with them doing it over Zoom. Is that what you're asking me? >> Yes. >> Absolutely. That's a long day. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, we'll plan on doing that for the
045one on February 9th then. >> Okay. Great. >> Yeah. Um should just the next thing is just if there are any questions or conversations about >> Okay. Yes. So any um any other conversations we want to have? Um >> I know I just presented the budget to you guys on Monday. I know it's a lot to digest. I know you're just getting your budget book. Um you know the thing that I would say is if you um and you are great about doing it. We even I greatly appreciate it. If you think of questions that come up as you are reading through things, looking at the budget book, reflecting back in the presentations, it's always helpful if we are given the questions in advance of these meetings because otherwise we're going to come to these
046meetings and might have to. We always try to be prepared to be able to provide answers and Eva is way better at that stuff, digging it up than I am. Um, but uh, you know, if there are questions you have, give them to us in advance if you're able and then Eva and I can make sure that we're all we're we're more prepared. Um, but you know, if you have questions that uh, you know, even come up as you're looking through it and it's a timely question before February 9th, don't hesitate to reach out to me even and I can make sure that we get you the answer. Um, and you know, provide it in via email to everybody on the board so that so that you know what the questions are. So, want to
047make sure you guys are well informed. >> So, do we have So, February 9th is the next one, right? February 9th is the next one and I believe there is a one that we have uh tenatively scheduled for February 12th um in case the 9th Well actually no wait a second I don't have we don't have to worry about a snow day on the 9th now because if we're going to do it online um so but if there is a need to have a third budget workshop we're able to get through the department coordinators and the directors in the two meetings. So the third one on the 12th is kind of like if if if it's deemed necessary. Um, I don't think we've had to do it for the past couple years, but if there
048are questions that come up, uh, and then obviously we have a board meeting coming up in the 23rd after that. Um, and we'll make some adjustments by then because we're going to end up having or we anticipate making adjustments because we're going to have might have a change in insurance. We might have a known number of uh, Colombia students that that we're putting in. Um, so there might be some adjustments in between now and the 23rd when we go to our >> And when do we need to? >> So, well, the the budget is adopted by the board on April 6th. April 6th or 7th of this year. I can't quite remember the sixth uh uh sixth or the 7th of this year. It's the Monday and then uh you know we've got about about
049a month until the referendum. So we've got two more full board meetings, the one budget workshop. Um we're going to end up having um a joint facilities and finance subcommittee meeting to just talk a little bit. Uh we we will have in our February meeting, full board meeting, we're going to have uh the report from the auditors to talk about any surplus money from um last year's budget. Um so that happens always in February. Yeah, April 6. Thank you. So April 6 is uh is when we go to uh the the board actually votes to adopt the budget and send it to referendum. So, I have a question. Um, two questions actually. So, for some reason I have a RAM budget presentation tomorrow on Friday the 13th. >> You do >> on February. >> It
050wouldn't be Friday. I believe that is >> Yeah, because Friday and it's Friday 13. >> We would definitely not do it Friday. >> Yeah, I didn't think so. So, I must have it wrong. That's why. When is when are we going tomorrow? That could be a typo, Drew. It could be a typo. Um, >> I know that they're not going to schedule on Friday. >> I didn't think they would. Yeah, I just So, but I figured >> I I appreciate you bringing that to my attention. I'll make sure I get it corrected. So, we So, there's currently two dates scheduled definitively. There's the one for Marbor and then there's one for Hein as well. those are set. Um, the one for Andover has not yet been set. Uh, I'm actually in communication now with the
051the town manager. I don't know if he's an interim town manager. Actually, I spoke with him today for the first time about trying to find a date and a time when they want me to present to Andover. Um, and I'll get those dates. But, but good catch on the Friday the 13th because nothing productive happens on a Friday night at 7 o'clock. So, we'll make sure that uh we'll make sure we get that fixed. Thank you. So the other question I had is is you know the big big driver of this is the increase in salaries for next year. Yeah, which are all built into the contract. >> Correct. >> So that's completely there. >> Correct. >> Paul, I just want to make sure I I'm reading this. I I didn't realize it was delivered
052yesterday and so I only got a chance um to look at just briefly today. So on just this page six and I think that was that just what you were looking for. So that that 4.2 is is the biggest >> Yeah, it's triv Yeah. It's 20 million. >> I just wanted to make sure I was >> it's the biggest driver. There's some bigger percentages smaller dollars. >> Yeah. I was reading that this was the the what we were looking at for the >> for the salaries. >> Yeah. just that this page was the general overview, >> correct? >> Yeah. I mean, it's it's it's fairly typical for salaries and benefits to be the primary driver of of any organizational budget. Um, you know, it's no secret to anybody sitting here. We've been very um we've
053been very focused on trying to increase the the the rate of pay for employees in the district. we are, you know, regionally um we have we have not been competitive regionally and I think the board's done a fantastic job to move to make our salaries and benefits more competitive >> [clears throat] >> uh to be more appealing to maintain staff uh really does a lot with morale um and and climate. There's still work for us to do in that area, but you're you're certainly is reflective of that. >> So, and these are they're not even questions that you can probably answer now. So, you know, when the when the insurance come I I'm just trying to think back to last year because I feel like, you know, and in really in all honesty when I
054saw the point 4.77, I was a little taken back uh because I know Harold increase last year. I mean, even if we look over the last, you know, increases, you know, it, you know, that's a big difference. >> Yeah. Um, and I was trying to think last year because I think our initial number came in higher and then the health then the insurance came in and it it came in and it dropped significantly. >> It did. >> I don't remember exactly. >> Yeah. So, so >> you're you're 100% correct. So, >> going back to what I talked about on Monday is um the 4.77 I understand I agree with you. It's it's a tough number to take, but I will tell you in the in the landscape of of where other school districts are, I
055can tell you that Hebrin is at a nine right now. >> Yeah. Andover is an 11 right now. >> Um I think I think Marble is at like a >> I think under 35. >> Yeah. Okay. So, so >> um and I'm talking to superintendent colleagues of mine from, you know, our area. Fives, sixes, sevens, double digits are not uncommon. So, while I recognize a 477 is certainly not a place where we're going to probably end up, >> yeah, >> I will tell you or remind everybody that um the 477 is reflective already of $800,000 taken out of the budget [snorts] from what budget owners initially had come. >> The process isn't new. People come and they sit down with Eva and myself and building administration and they kind of go through this is what
056I'm looking for. We say, "Okay, thank you." We take it all in. We ask them questions much in the same way that you're doing tonight. You know, what about this? Tell me about that. Um, and so it's a healthy conversation. It's productive. And then when you take all of the things that were originally requested, I think we were at a 7%. It was it was it's in my budget presentation. We were initially at a 7.42. So, you know, we we eliminated things like equipment, furniture, facilities maintenance and upgrades, reduction of summer school credit uh staffing, credit recovery staffing, reduction of six assignments, and then the elimination of four positions that had initially been in the in that and then there's other things as well. So, that reduction of again about approximately $800,000 of items that
057had been originally requested um brought us down two percentage points to to um to where we are right now. or actually, you know, almost three percentage points. >> Um, you know, typically, Pam, to go from where we initially ask to where we land when when the board adopts it is a lot of those things like furniture, equipment, and facilities maintenance things that need to get done that are in the budget. We'll say, "Hey, you know what? We're going to use surplus funds from the previous year. We're going to use budget surplus funds from our current year that we anticipate having to purchase to pre purchase to be able to reduce the initial budget ask we because I've already taken out $800,000 worth of things, you know, equipment. It's going to be hard for us to
058do that this year. >> The insurance number >> uh so we usually set that we usually set it in March. We're hoping to be honest with you to stay at the 15% we're at right now because there's a I'm not saying I have a crystal ball but there could be a a need to actually go higher than that moving forward. Typically we start higher >> and trend down. >> It all depends on what trend claims are. Um, and so, um, I'm I'm I'm >> And we dip Did the consortium dip into their reserves the last two years? >> We didn't dip into the reserve last year. I think two years ago. And so, in my first two years here, we did to reduce it. >> But that and that got it down to a really,
059you know, I think there were a couple years where we were 0% prior to me and then we were in like twos and threes. >> Last year, I think we landed at six, eight, we landed at an eight. >> Um, but I But the when we landed at that eight that was not from not from taking >> correct correct and and and we really again I don't want to speak for the consortium but there there hasn't been a desire over the past couple of years because we were able to use um you know money from the reserve because we had well above what was you know recommended and necessary. >> That was that was a big thing for a bit because we were building so much up in reserve. Well, what we why are we
060going to keep going higher? But I I understand now we've used a good portion of the reserve. Right. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, it's I I do >> and I and again, you know, when I when I look at this initial number, I know it's not necessarily the number we'll land on, but I I think I because I know what he and I and I didn't know exactly what Andover's numbers were looking at. I didn't know what he was, you know. So, you know, because we, you know, we are, you know, three towns, you know, um, you know, it's I I think Marvel maybe we're I I forget. I was just at the presentation, but I just got the presentation, but maybe it was three I think maybe three 344 something along
061those lines. But I did hear that Hebrew was coming in about nine and I didn't know where Androg was, you know. So again, I just feel like it for whatever reason, you know, they're so much higher. Uh, you know, just that we're, you know, we're cognizant of that, you know, considering this is a free town. So, >> yeah. No. Uh, it's a it was a 357. Pam, you're right. >> Yeah. I thought it was around there. I couldn't really >> And and and I agree with you. >> Been a long day. [clears throat] >> I I I agree with you. I think this is going to be a more challenging year because we've made reductions that in p I've already made a lot of those reductions that in past years that I would have still
062had to be able to say well we can reduce here we can reduce here um and and Pam this this kind of speaks to your um your point the lion share of our budget you know we're looking at almost 80% of our budget is is tied in with with personnel >> and it always is absolutely so >> but we but we've negotiated contracts Absolutely. And so, you know, there I've always been extremely um diligent. I've I've vocalized this to the board is that I've tried to make staff reductions through attrition. And we've been fortunate that we've been able to do that. But if if the desire of the board is to reduce to a number that they feel is more p that that you as a collective group is more palatable. um you know I
063I'm going to be hardressed to not have to uh start looking at staffing positions. >> Now we have we you do have two in and again this is we don't need to be sure kind of all through this tonight. I just like I said I really did not have much time to go through it today which was my fault. I didn't realize it was delivered yesterday. Um, but it did we do we did put in for you did put in for two? >> Yep. An instructional technology specialist and a new uh buildings and ground. >> So this number here >> page six. >> Yep. 34539 588. >> I'm sorry. >> The 34539 >> that doesn't match the numbers in your presentation. So these are gross numbers. >> Okay, that's fine. It doesn't say Oh, it
064says net here. Does it say gross? >> It says the following tables show the distribution of the gross operator. >> All right, let me underline that. Drives me nuts when we do this. [laughter] >> Yep, no problem. I get it now. >> I just have a question being new. Um, what happens on February 9th? >> More of what happened. more of what just happened now. >> More of that, >> but we have more of a chance to look at this. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then when does discussion happen about support of X Y and Z just throughout the process >> through through um it could be you know we're going to have a similar opportunity at the end of the meeting on the 9th to have conversations. we then have uh you know again
065if the if it's the board's desire to have another budget workshop on the 12th and actually hold that date um then we could certainly hold that meeting not have any presentations of department coordinators or directors and it could just be more of a conversation about where do we think we are what do we think we need to do what do we think is a palatable number that that that is actually something that could could pass referendum um that conversation can go into our February board meeting I think it's the 23rd third. Um, so, so there's going to be ample opportunities through the next month and a half, you know, our February meeting and our March meeting plus the workshops that we have scheduled to have those types of conversations. >> And my understanding is because
066the Hein population is higher than the other towns. Hein pays a s a higher portion of this. >> Yeah. So, if you look on on um one of the last pages of the budget bill before you get into the financial reports on page 54, you could see how it's broken down by town. It's determined by the enrollment uh based off of the October 1, 2025 enrollment. So, you can see I'm looking in the it says uh membertown levy and enrollment. At the bottom, it says net expenditures and then immediately under it says membertown levy and enrollment. So you have the um uh proposed 2026 versus the adopted 2025. So handover pays 12.65%, Hebrin pays 53.5 53% and Marorrow will pay 33.82%. So the distribution of the total cost of the budget is done by the
067population of of students that are in attendance here at RAM. Um, and then obviously that dollar amount is going to be offset by the revenue that we're generating from Colombia students, right? So the Colombia students help decrease that membertown levy. Um, >> because I'm just thinking with the 9% and this this is going to be really hard for Hein >> to pay, especially with an increase of people literally going to the super. >> I'm so worried. >> Yeah. No, and and that's been, you know, that has been that's been vocalized to me, you know, like that there's, you know, the numbers are what the numbers are and and there there are ways that you can try to decrease that impact of shifting. You can you can um try to average your enrollment. There are some
068school districts, regional school districts, that when they apply the membertown levy, it's based off of more like a three-year average or a fiveyear average as opposed to swinging with one year to the next. Because if you had a three-year average or a five-year average that you were using, then when you see that shift in enrollments sliding over to one town or another, um, then you can it softens that blow. Does that make sense? Um, and I know that there are school districts uh that that have made that transition so that it's not as much of a financial shakeup to a town every single year you see those shifts happening. It's if you see the shift that you've seen in Hebrin where you go from, you know, I'm making up numbers, but you go from 48%
069in total to 53%. You know, if you're average, if you're doing it on average years, whether it's three or five, however, that that blow, that financial blow is not felt quite as hard. Um, but in order for us to make that type of we can't unilaterally make that change to to decide are we going to go to a a rolling average as opposed to just using the def definitive number. There's a whole process that that's involved with doing that. Um, >> has and have Andover and He presented their budget yet? Like do we know what the number did but I didn't know. >> Andover's in an 11 >> but they presented their Oh, they did. So they presented and they're at 11 and Hebrin is at a >> they presented >> and they're at a
070nine. >> I I I didn't know if it was Oh, okay. I didn't know I didn't know if it was just speculation if they if anybody had else had presented. I don't know what other schools time. >> Y I believe yeah everybody's presented. So, you know, and to your point about Hebrin being finan having more of a financial burden, you've got a town like Andover who whose size is shrinking. The number of students that they're sending to our district is shrinking. So, they're coming into these situations now with a financial advantage because their member town levy is actually it's decreasing from the previous year. Um, so it's, you know, Andover is happy, but in years where the population might swing back over to Andover, the population might, you know, growth might swing over to Marboro.
071That that's the the kind of the rub that we always run into when we're, you know, regionally. >> We're we all have competing uh competing uh priorities >> and I know this is such a tough balance because you want to support what's happening and offer the students the world. [laughter] >> Absolutely. >> But you have to be cognizant of taxpayers. 100%. >> And I know it's gonna I mean just knowing these numbers this is it's going to be a tricky budget. >> Well, especially with the bonding that's going on. >> Exactly. So >> the towns >> um you know I just always feel like I hate to see budgets uh voted down. It just never um >> I've been back I've been through those years a lot. Um it's never good. Uh so you know
072just hopeful that everybody can come in with you know numbers that are you know reasonable. >> Uh and Carrie do you have any other questions or comments? >> No I do not. >> Anybody else? We have a motion to adjurnn. >> Move to adjurnn. >> Second is Jessica Hall. All in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Anyone opposed? >> Thank you everybody. >> Thank you.