001I'd like to order for Monday, April 7th, 2025. Can we please stand for the pledge of allegiance? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible and justice for all. Evening everyone. The mission of reaching 15, a collaborative community committed to excellence, is to educate every student to be productive, ethical, and engaged in a global society through proven and innovative learning experiences supported by its strong community through decision making the space in the best interest of all students. We're going to start with our student representatives, Miss Tess Perkins and Brendan Fence. All right. As for Papon High School, April 10th, we have French Honor Society induction. Our spring recess is April 14th through the 18th. And our upcoming events, we
002have the regional art show April 25th and 26. The spring spirit week is April 28th through May 2nd. And we also have a pep rally coming up on May 2nd as well. As for Memorial Middle School, thank you to the MMS PTO for sponsoring their recent cultural arts assembly with internationally renowned beatboxing group, the Academy of Noise. These students enjoyed MMS's spring play. The sixth graders enjoyed a social at the school and the seventh and eighth graders enjoyed a dance. Congratulations to the MMS debate club. Recently competed in the middle school debate state championship this past weekend. And MMS participated in our March Madness event for Rosham Middle School. RMS enjoyed two recent assembly programs courtesy of the PTO. Members of the Danbury hot chicks visited RMS on Thursday, March 20th. And Saturday night was
003Ro Shambo night at the Danbury Ice Arena with RMS students receiving a free ticket to the game. Students also enjoyed the beatboxing enrichment program on Monday, March 24th, also sponsored by the RMS PTO. Four sixth grade students participated in the sixth grade honors choir at Central Connecticut State University on Friday, March 21st. So, congratulations to those students for being selected. And the fourth quarter started last week. They are making their way through the home stretch of the school year. All right. Thank you, Tess. Moving on to the elementary school. The region held a successful book and congratulations to the Super Yoshi readers from PES for winning the event. Um, at W School, students celebrated March Madness reading month with lots of wonderful events including PJ Story Hour and Dressed Like a Book today. Students also
004voted on a beach student spirits day and it was blast. Uh at Pont Rock Elementary School, author and Deborah Cuban came to visit. Students made first leaders during advisory for Earth Day and the PC hosted their civic teacher event which was a great night and successful fundraising. Also at EES the annual pie competition was a blast. Um a group the Soulshine Arts visited put on an engaging assembly and officer Liz and her dog came to visit. Moving on to Middlebury Elementary School, they had a successful month of read across America and they successfully launched an after school club of unified activities. Coming from the fine applied and technical arts department, as you may know, proper three very successful shows of strike musical and then from the athletics department, these seasons are underway. Great. Thank you
005very much. Any questions on the reports? All right. Um, next we have a student presentation by the robotics team with Mr. Nelson. Much like we do with our musical groups and a lot of our performing groups and artists that come to visit us throughout the year to do presentations to the board event about their programs, uh, we invited the robotics team who had the privilege of competing this weekend. um after going through numerous uh different competitions at the New England District Championship, right? Right. I keep on calling it regional championship and I get corrected. But um I did uh have the opportunity to see them Friday morning in two of their matches which is great and a very exciting event was my first robotics competition to be at. So it was uh very cool and
006these competitions aren't possible without parent invent. So, I just want to take the opportunity from the school district perspective to thank them for their support of the day and I'm going to turn it over to these uh five individuals are going to show you what they did. Hi everyone. So, before they as as they're setting up which as you guys know the robotics team uh team 264 uh we're called the Panther Project. We've we were founded in 2006 or seven I believe. So about 19 years we've been running and we had a pretty successful year this year. Um it's called we'll show off our robot and how game works, how robotics works each year. Each year we get a new game or it's like a new theme. This year the game was called recape. So
007it's kind of like aquatics themed game and pull the games list. So the goal of the game this year, so they called this the reef. This is one6 of the reef. And so there's six sides to this. And the goal of it was to remove this algae. So we removed this algae and then um we had to place coral on it. We can only place the coral on it the algae. So those pieces won't fit in here if you don't. So kind of a you know save the environment, save the ocean thing. And we'll give the demo of that introduce myself. I'm Matthew Whitmire. the build captain network or she's the programing up. We have them all the time. Alex, can I ask you a question? What's the significance of the 264? Um, it is
008completely I mean sort of random. They gave you the numbers in the order that you registered. So we were 206. Um, so if you look behind me, this is a video of one of our matches from the road I competition. Um, it's a little hard to see. Um, we are that robot right there. Um, the first 15 seconds of the match is completely autonomous. No drivers can control the robot. Everything it's doing is programmed and it's it's doing it on its own. Um, and it will go for a little while. It might not show the whole thing. That depends on how long it takes the robot to come workable again. Um but this is just an example of one of the matches played many times this season. So do you have you have multiple rollbacks?
009Yes. So the game is played with it's a 3v3 lines uh three teams per side and working with the team together and we'll show you bit more closeup of what it's actually doing. Um, so so if you direct your eyes down there, we will show [Music] story. That is the does one other thing. It climbs on this steel cage. But the thing that massive Yeah, it's like it's the thing in the middle right there. You can kind of see the robot climbing right there. Um, rainbows. Um, okay. So, back to this. So, um, this was the robot we took to our three competitions that we have at this year. One was Waterberry and we did really well at Waterberry. We have one of the second place uh facilities here. Um and then we had a
010really successful uh second event as well which was at URI. We placed we ended up placing fourth at that competition and then recently we just competed at the New England District Championship where we uh were invited to the CIA uh championship here in which is an offseason event. Uh but that's here in Connecticut where the top 24 teams I believe in Connecticut uh compete. So we'll be there in May. So we've had a pretty successful season uh after a while and it's really good that we had that support from the school and um back here we'll talk a little bit more about that. So I just want to talk a little bit about the successes our team had in both outreach and fundraising this year. Um this year our team raised a total of $20,000
01110,000 of which were within a two-eek period um in the weeks leading up to the New England district competition. Um we also had incredible success with outreach. Um I don't know how many people look at the voice of newspaper sitting over there. We had an article about us in there that um posted about us on 15 um like all their social medias and on their website which is something that we have not had in years. Uh so that was an that was incredible. I just wanted to thank everyone who was involved in making that happen. I know we had like media coordinators for the school um and board members involved with that. We also wanted to thank the school uh we were we had the ability to use the auxiliary gym for um almost the
012entire season where we were able to set up almost an entire field and practice which is also something we've not had in years. Um and that really contributed to our success and we hope to continue to use that states in the future. Um I also wanted to talk a little bit more about the um CIC that part mentioned um CP state champs but it is comparable to like the CIC is that like the swim team and other sports teams attend. Um again top 24 teams in Connecticut out of around 60 go to this. We were ranked within the top 10 Connecticut this year. Um I have a rule info sheet over there about that and I invite every member of the board and everyone in this room to attend this event. It is an all
013day thing. You can show up whenever you want. Um and it is really good to support the team just by showing up and seeing the competition with it finance. Um last thing I wanted to talk about was longer longer term support. I'm not going to talk about really the details of that now, but I do want to let the board know that in the future we are planning on um submitting like more formal um means of support that is available to the team and stuff that will help us succeed for in the future and continue to do as well as we did this year and better. I think that's all we had. I know we didn't have to take up too much of a week's time. So, I appreciate you hosting us here tonight and
014letting us show you what we do. Thank you so much. How long? So, they release the game that we showed up there. January first weekend. So, a couple months about not long. Um, if anyone had any more questions about our team, about anything related to us, we'll be outside later on. I wish I could go outside to ask more questions, but I'm ask first. Um, the kids that are here, what year are all of you? Is there like speaking of longevity of the team? So, us four right here are all seniors and all the other members are freshman. A lot of freshmen. This is not how many total. Thank you guys. All right. Um before we move on to the next item on the agenda, I just wanted to say that um Miss Pavalo has
015just joined us. My phone is here. I know, right? I know. Okay. All right. So, next we're gonna have student recognition, Mr. Roni. Thank you guys. Uh this is obviously one of my favorite times of the year we get to honor our uh championship teams and our all state athletes. So I'm going to start off with uh first our all state athletes this year. This past winter we had 11 different athletes that made workers selected to all state team. Um so the following athletes have been selected by coaches from around state or have achieved all state status um in their state championships meet for state championship meets for this past winter season in their respective sports. Um the first person I want to honor she cannot be here tonight unfortunately she is working um is
016Salmani for girls basketball. Um if you guys remember Medina was also an all state captain for us in the fall for girls soccer. So, um, she's had a tremendous year and she has to play a spring tour. So, we won't be able to recognize her again in the in the spring season. Um, next, um, is one of our hockey players, Joey Kovatch. Jo Congratulations. And next I are involved by our sweat and dive team facility. In no particular order, first up is Luke Alino. Brendan Brennan Jane is brother Hunter. Thank you Marty. Smile. Hello. He's the uh last of the long list of rankings that have uh been a major part of the uh champion. ship, you know, help us out a little bit and see if they can create some more. Next is Peter
017White. Last member is actually a diaper. I'm going to die for a while and that's currently This seems like it's getting uh like fairly repositive, but that's not a bad thing at all. So, our next next line of business is um congratulations to our our boys swim and dive team for capturing her fourth consecutive class state championship. This was coach Franino's 21st state championship. Um, in addition, and this is not a typo, the team also won their 13th, yes, 13th straight Southwest Conference Championship this year. Um, they also finished third overall at the Open Championship with me, which in itself is an outstanding accomplishment. So, I'd like to congratulate all the team members and the coaching staff. And I have all them line up to shake hands with the members of the board. Congratulations somewhere
018else. We got a couple more of these coming. It is just left. I gave him a little congratulations. Hey, lastly, I would like to take the opportunity to uh both recognize and congratulate Coach Mino. Coach Mino will be inducted into the Ketum High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He will be honored at their induction ceremony on Thursday, May 8th at the Aqua Turfs. So congratulations on this welldeserved honor and thank you for all that you've done and continue to do for your efforts here at High School. Thank you so much. All right. Um, next we have a pull of the minutes. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of March 5th, 2025, our budget workshop? Anyone? Thank you, Heather. Second. Thank you, Sally. Any changes? All right. Um, we'll we'll do a
019roll call vote because Shannon's remote. So, Shannon has vote on the approval of the minutes. I go ahead, John. Shot I Manzo I Heather Rogers I Steve I thank you. It carries. Next. May I have a motion for approval of the March 10th regular meeting of the board of education? So thank you Heather. Second Sally second. Any questions or comments? Okay. All those in favor? Canon. I'm sorry. You want to start with Canon. Hi, Sharon. I Mark I Manzo I Heather Rogers. Steve. Great. Next. May I have a motion for approval of the March 19th budget workshop? So, thank you, Heather. Second. All right. Um, any questions or comments? Minutes. All right. We'll go down. Shannon, how are you? How do you vote? I [Music] Heather I Marks Hi Marian Manzo I Heather Rogers I
020Steve. All right it carries next finally the month March 26th budget workshop. Thank you Heather. Second. Thank you Sally. Any questions or comments? All right. Go ahead Shannon. I say I Heather. I Marks. Hi Mary Mano. I Heather Rogers. I Steve. Yes. Be difficult. I know. Okay. All right. Thank you. It carries. Um next information proposal for committee of reports. Um policy and curriculum committee. Miss Heather Dwire. Um yes. So policy and curriculum met earlier this evening where we continue our review of um 1330 policy which also included um just clarifications to the schedule that we had already passed but um hopefully nothing uh drastic there. Um what I really want to talk to you about is this heavy package that sits before you. This is the first read of um many policies um that
021actually uh are the work of uh policy and curriculum committee over the year. Um this first policy um investments of funds we moved um to go to the full board at our last meeting, but this next block of um the first uh 5,000 series student policies mostly related to um student health. Um those were that's kind of ongoing since actually the beginning of so um we have a lot of things uh to cover in this packet. Um but since we're going uh numerically we're going to start with the investment applies. This is the one that we just did. Um this policy it is uh really responding to legislation which allows regional um boards of education to create um an educational expense account which um works similarly to capital and non-recurring expense accounts which we already
022have one of those um but that account capital and non-recurring expenses is really just for capital expenditures whereas education expens expenses um according to statute was much more flexible. Uh we wrote this policy such that the educational expenses um we really stipulated that the board's intent of that count would really be special education expenses um unless approved by twothirds majority board. Um so we were trying to kind of narrow the scope the scope of what those funds might be used for. Um so that is the first and also I should say that between the capital non-recurring expenses and educational expenses both of them together any contribution that would make would not exceed um 2% uh of the partner budget. So um just for clarification so you could put 2% in one instead of 2% another
023it's 2% total and whatever that allocation is will be decided by the score. Um so that is the first policy. The second I won't go through these one by one but the second are mostly um policies related to student health. Um and I will say that many of these policies and and this is why this packet is so so heavy. Many of these policies are driven by statute. They started with um you know paid policies. Um they tend to be um you know very descriptive and they have as you can see some of these pages references as well. So, um we did not make too many changes um to those those uh starting policies um you know maybe some minor changes here and there that are specific to our region. Um we also have most
024of these policies reviewed by um the board's medical advisor Dr. Sam to ensure that they were um consistent with you know current medical practice. So that is this next uh this is the first read. So um take it home have some nice bedtime reading for the next couple weeks. Um we will come back to this again and have a second read. Um if there are any questions or amendments that you want to make. All right. Thank you. Any questions for Mer I mean are they mostly these mostly cage like no um I don't tell like what the changes were but once posted policies that came in did did we have any of our homegrown policies that we do you remember? um off the top of my head [Music] um you know some of these were
025were homegrown policies. So, um I do believe the um 5141.7 the concussion policy I think that was ours. Um uh 5141.124 um that that was ours. Um most of these others these um most Most of these others we started right a question. All right. Next we have finance and facilities committee. Um and I think um Mr. Martino is going to take over the report for that brief update. Um finance and facilities met today at 12 o'clock. reviewed our current financial statements for March which again predicted a fairly reasonable fund balance coming into the year end. We also reviewed the uh design of the memorial tennis courts and bringing them into playground space. Our current short-term investment revenue which kind of increased our projections about $295 for the year interest. our movies rating which as the
026board knows we got a double A2 rating pretty positive feedback the movies on the overall health and district and we also talked about all the summer projects coming down the line um going to our schools right any questions for Mr. Martino on the um financing facilities report um next we have PTO advisory miss so um The PTO advisory met on Monday, April, sorry, on April 3rd, Thursday, April 3rd. Um, and I apologize, I was not able to attend the meeting to to travel. Um, so I'll report, but if Mary or Josh would like to add anything, please go ahead and do so. Um, there was a focus conversation related to the cost of police at PTO events. And there was also um discussion related to the new assembly held at PHS on the 26th of
027March during which time Josh talk with the juniors and seniors. Uh the next meeting will be held on Thursday May 1st at 9:30 at any questions for Miss Adam. All right. Thank you. Next we have the superintendent report. Superintendent Smith. Couple things. um middle school commencement and then we started publishing that will be uh June 11th at both schools 9:30 to 11 that is always based on the last day of school. So the big day of the spring storm or other event that uh causes a a school cancellation that is DHS graduation will be um Saturday June 14th that will not shift uh right after the spring break. We'll announce details of start time and things like that. All board members, you're welcome. If anybody wants to go, please let me know. Uh legislative update,
028we're coming to the point in the session where they're coming out of committees. there are still a very large number of bills that could impact the public schools. Uh and now that they come out of committees, we'll start to see which gains traction and uh which start to have cost or staffing implications for next year. Uh we work really hard with legislators. anything that has cost implications or staffing, at least give us a button next year's budget cycle to build to it and don't put things on July one that go into effect that are going to cost us funds that have already been allocated elsewhere. Um, April 15th, the district is going to start the first of our main electrical switch uh repairs and shifts. That's going to be the high school. So, during April
02915th, there'll be some disruptions to power or internet. that is in the middle of spring break, so I don't think it's going to be back soon. So, teachers, just uh 12 month staff. Um this Thursday at PES is our next community conversation that will be facilitated by TechCon. Uh it'll start at six o'clock. The um meeting will be followed by a tour of the school for anybody that's interested. Um, and as we started tonight's meeting, it occurred to me that I should let you know that hopefully by the end of break, we will have a uh audio setup in here that uh is not um that is more ideal and conducive to professional uh structures. And while we have staff working very hard to manage the acoustics in here, um Lieutenant Thunder and brought in
030some professionals to help us rewire the space. Um and we won't have to have this table here. Um and uh it may be a phased approach where we maybe some board members can see what we're we're presenting from their seats and kind of turn around that may be a phase two. So stay tuned. Great. Any questions for uh Mr. Smith and Mr. um do we have a time for DHS graduation? Uh that'll be released after the break. Any other questions? All right. Next we have comments from citizen. The board of education will recognize citizens of Middleberry and South Berry and citizens are asked to state their name, their town of residents and to limit their comments to three minutes. Any comments? Oh, I did totally skip board member comments. Hold on all the citizens. Yeah,
031I apologize. Next we have board member comments. I apologize everyone. Just excited to get to Go ahead Tom. Have comments? Uh, thank you for acknowled. board member comments. Anyone else? I actually had a board member comment. So, I'm glad that you remembered um before a prior or after our last meeting, we um the board was invited to do a pasta master class um in the culinary room with the international culinary students and the Italian pre students. Um, and it it's tough because board members are working. Um, but uh, Dr. Romano and Miss Dwire and I were able to attend the master class. It was so much fun. Um, we just had a really great time making pasta along with the students and we learned that imperfection is perfection. Fantastico. Um, so just a really rewarding
032experience to take part of a class in that new culinary room and to see um, a vision come to to life with that. So, um, thank you to Sally and Heather for humoring me with all my Italian repetitions. I didn't bring We ate it all. She volunteered to bring in another night. Yeah. All right. Any other board member comments? All right. Next, we have comments from citizens. The board of education will recognize citizens of Middlebury and South Berry. And citizens are asked to state their name, their town of residence, and to limit their comments to three minutes. Any citizens? Amy? No. Okay. Uh, next we have regular business requiring board action. May I have a motion for approval of the fire panel at Purog High School? that the board of education approved the fire panel
033at Colorado High School in the amount of $387,851 from the repair bond funds as Thank you. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Tom. All right. Uh Joe, can you This actually was approved by finance. We originally quoted at 233,000, but upon review, the prevailing wage rates weren't used. So that is the state approved rates for projects over $100,000. So we have to reset bid recor rate. So that's the new quote down at 287,000. That's a replacement of the current fire panel and upgrading additional strobes and smoke. All right. Any other questions for Joe? Does that finalize everything? Yeah. For the high school. Yeah. High school. Any other questions? Right. I'll call the vote. Shannon, do you want to go ahead? I go ahead. Sean. I Heather I Manzo I Heather Rogers I Steve
034I Jeff Olson I Great thank you everyone to unanimous carries. Next may I have a motion for approval of the 2025 to 2026 staff rates for facil for facility use move that the board of education upon recommendation from the finance committee approve the 2025 2026 staff rates for facility use as presented. Thank you. You got a second? Second. Thank you, Tom. All right. So, can you This is increase based on so contract and also a $3 increase in as the board kind of discussed on top of it. So, this is a percent increase based on questions, comments, discussion. Nope. All right. We'll put it to a vote. Shannon, how do you vote? I Mary Mano I Steve I F. Great. It carries. Thank you everyone. Um next we're going to have the approval of the
0352025 2026 school budget. Um, like I said at our prior meeting, I think um I'd like to start the uh process with the proposed budget increase of 449% and then we'll have a discussion um about what to do with that. So, may I have a motion to approve the 2025 2026 school budget? move that the board of education approve the 2025 2026 budget increase of 91,83,524 which represents a 4.49% increase. Thank you Janice. All right, so I'm going to have we're going to have discussion now. Um question on the motion. Go ahead. The increase was a 94. That's the question. Sorry, I did that wrong turn. Okay. So, Heather, can you done this before? Yeah. Can you withdraw your motion and instead do this motion? I'm sorry. Nope. I would like to withdraw my motion.
036Okay. I would like to make a motion to approve the 2025 2026 school budget and move that the board of education Oh, sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm just reading off of the page. It's a little repetitive. Uh to approve the 2025 2026 budget increase of 3,916,17 which represents a 4.49% increase. The total proposed budget would be 91,82,524. Thank you. All right. Have a second. Second. Okay. Shannon Kavalo seconded. Okay. So, we'll open the floor to discussion. Um, again, this is the superintendent's proposed budget amount. Um, and the board can discuss whether to accept that, whether to move that number. Everyone will have an opportunity to discuss their position and we'll try to coalesce from there. Anyone want to start? I can start. Go ahead. Go ahead. Thank you. So, I'd like to voice my strong
037support for the proposed board of education budget as presented, which is an investment that I believe is both necessary and responsible. This budget just isn't about numbers on a page. It represents our continued commitment to the plan that we've already set in motion. one that prioritizes safe, effective learning environments, support our teachers and staff, and ensure that our students have the resources they need to succeed. The most critical component of district's proposal is our aging school facilities. Many of our buildings are decades old and in the urgent need of repair, particularly our roofs, which have endured years of wear and tear and now showing signs. There aren't cosmetic issues. They affect everything, including air quality, safety, energy efficiency, and ultimately the learning experience of every child who walks through our doors. We can't continue to
038delay this work. The band-aid approach year after year only increases our long-term cost, which is exactly how we got here in the first place, and it puts our students and staff at risk. This budget is fair. It gives us the opportunity to take meaningful steps towards repairing and preserving our school infrastructure, creating safe spaces for our children that reflect the values of this community. Equally important, this budget allows us to maintain current flat sizes which we've heard from parents, ensuring that students continue to receive individualized attention they deserve. It supports our ongoing work to drive datadriven decisions with the new staff, track student growth, and provide targeted support where it's needed the most. I understand that any budget increase requires careful consideration. But this plan is not about excess. It's about honoring a thoughtful state
039strategy that is already in motion. It's protecting our investment in our public education and delivering out a promise we made to the children. I urge this committee to support this budget. It's not just about fixing roofs or small pieces, about building a foundation of future success. And I fully support the budget as presented. Thank you. Thank you, Shannon. I can just say I 100% wholeheartedly echo Shannon's comments and very well said, Shannon. say um for the reasons that I've stated in the past several meetings um we want to see um yeah there are various numbers on the table for people but um at least a $300,000 Um but uh you know to the budget I'm not necessarily interested in kind of how that will play itself out. I mean I think there were several paths
040that were maybe discussed. Um but ultimately we improved the final number and you know um I think 300,000 you know over the course of a 90 some million dollar budget. Um there's there's you know wiggle room in there. So if you know in six or nine months and you know it it could have been 150 special educ this you know like that can just probably be tweaked. Um, you know, so I don't I don't think personally I'm not looking to have a huge discussion on exactly how that 300,000 um would look if there was support for John. Uh Steve said um I still think we have a budget for salaries. I'd like to see 500,000. Um I could go down. Okay. I'm in support of it as as currently stands. Um I initially had some
041concerns about um the revenue line and the debt service and sort of transparency related issues there. But I think um a like provided a pretty detailed accounting of like what we're going to be doing with that money that we need it for. Um and I also think and honestly even just within the last few weeks the changes of what's happening in the national postal scene and how that would trickle down to to our needs. It's yes this a year where we have a little bit more money left forward than we have in previous years but seems like it's probably the worst possible time to um see best possible time to actually have that because there's so much uncertainty coming our way. Um and the other thing that I really appreciated was um the deeper look
042into capital reserves and kind of where we as region um with that that information that you put together where we stand which is the lowest of any regional district in the state despite the fact that our budget is the largest. So I think that um for me that was I just appreciate that information that was a learning point that I didn't have in my sort of frame of reference as I was making my initial comments about the budget. So taking all those things together, I'm fully in support of the budget that we're on. Um actually agree with a lot of what's been said. Like I do think this is a fair budget. Um I agree with everything in it and I'm not I wouldn't recommend um removing anything from you know proposals exams but um
043fact of the matter is we're in a very unique year where we have the ability to achieve all of that for these costs and it's a unique set of circumstances and we keep saying it it's unique it's unique it's usually don't have a year like this but uh my consistently saying I think we can remove three $400,000 out of this budget um without impacting next year's operations. So everything we've talked about is in addition to uh potential reduction. It's not an either or situation. We can have everything we've talked about. We can make um you know an increase in our reserves. We can address capital needs. Uh we can keep everything in the budget that's currently in there and we can pass along you know $300,000 savings to our taxpayers. I think that's that's the
044fair and right thing to do. I think about where we have been the last two years and how generous our community has been in supporting two difficult budget years that they've answered. We're going to we're going to ring that bell again in the coming years with some big projects. So, if we have an opportunity this year to pass along a little tax relief and bring that number down and still achieve everything people are on this table talk about, I think we'd be well advised to take advantage of this situation. Great. So, you're 300 to 400. Um, yes. So, I could I could make a motion I can make a motion to want to keep going around. Just keep on going around, but I just wanted I just want to get a feel for that's where
045else go. Um, I would agree with Steve and Tom and I see myself at about 300. Are they? Okay. Okay. I successfully wait until we end. Um I um I agreed that um you know as presented this is fair budget um had indicated some willingness to consider some options. I I do think once we start talking 400 500 that is getting a little uncomfortable for me because um you know as others have said I I do feel the weight of capital projects and the risk in the region with our aging buildings and particularly the um the longevity that the plan to to make any um improvements to EDS or DS has those schools are going to have to several years. Um have not talked about any significant capital improvement in those buildings and to me
046they're the most risky. Um and and I also felt the weight of our capital reserve as compared to other regions. Um, you know, I I did have at the finance meeting earlier today um with capital projects that are in reverse. Um, and I don't don't feel that there was anything in there that's, you know, said this is a a lot. Um, you know, rather than me, then, you know, it's a lot of that that may be subjective on my part, but you know, um, I didn't feel like um, you know, there wasn't much fluff in that. Um that said I did indicate that I was willing to um I think frankly the math um indicates that I should um I would see something closer to 250 and 500. I just have a clarifying question because
047I heard one four to five majority was three. So you're proposing a $50,000 reduction three just to be very clear. I think I only heard one four or five or maybe five. I would really prefer not to do um you said one right? No four over there and I heard it's three time so you're He said at least 300 at 250. Okay. Um I appreciate everyone's comments and perspectives not only from tonight but from our all our prior um conversations. Um I do rem remain concerned about our reserves um which we've just started funding in 2018 when we came here. It was 200,000 38 318 when we started. Okay. And we we're now up to a million too, which we have learned that for regional districts, we are at the bottom in terms of how
048much we have in reserves. And I'm never been comfortable being on the bottom. I always like to be somewhere in the middle, particularly since we are the largest district in Connecticut. um we should definitely it it perturbs me um that we don't have um enough in reserves and also with our wonderful Moody's rating um that we have learned about recently and talked about at finance um part I mean we're at a double A2 which is fantastic really pleased with that um again I said in finance thank you to Joe and Jos for everything you've done um we were noted for our sound fiscal management of um the region and very much appreciate that. But if we ever wanted to shoot for a higher rating, one of the things we would have to do is to
049have more reserves. Um so that kind of um supported the idea that we should be looking to um beef up our reserves and again the towns have significant reserves. ipating. Middleberry is over 14 million, South Berry's over 30, and again, we're at one. Um, so it's definitely something I'm mindful of. And I also remember Vince Criano saying at our board of ed, board of finance meeting, it takes a while to get up there, which I understand as well. Um, and you know, similar to our pension and how we're trying to, you know, reach a an optimal funding of our pension, it's a long-term plan to get there, and I'm willing to do that, too. Um, but I'm really mindful that we need to be um putting money in our reserves to um reflect what other
050regional districts are doing as well. Um, that being said, I really would like us as a board to come together as much as possible with consensus um on on a budget. Um, and I do think that I have seen areas that we could move a bit particularly with the uh revenue line and the proposed budget. um to go up on that as we've heard in finance today um that there's some room um to to go up. Um and we talked at prior meetings also about the special education consumpy moving that down 100,000 and seating the educational expense fund that Heather talked about in the first read um with some additional money. And also we've talked about perhaps reducing the proposed budget with some nonreoccurring expenses regarding um the AC split for the booth fencing golf
051cart replacement and tech boos um in the amount of around $75,000. So using our um year end money to to fund that. So, I am definitely not at 500. I'm definitely not at 400. Um I I'm kind of actually in the same line as Heather. I would ideally like 250 um to try to find that sweet spot of recognizing um some uh unencumbered funds that we have and at the same time trying to squirrel away as much as we can into our reserves. Yeah. Yeah, just one thing I think people don't I keep saying I've said it last time I was here the salary budget is always half percent more over budget because budget 100% full all the time or not so I think there's money in there yeah I don't I don't agree with
052you but I'm just I was saying my piece like everyone was able look at past five years of salaries what we budget what we spent It's always fun. Yeah. Um, so as I was saying, um, like I I do think that we need to find that kind of sweet spot. Um, and I I ideally think that the 250 um, would be that. Um, and I would hope that we can find some kind of way to all coales together on some number. You know, me trying to get everyone to come together. Go ahead, Heather. Had a question for Joe. Actually, you had said that we predicted a reasonable fund balance for year end. So, that's a healthy leftover. Yeah. Where the tuition lines came in together this year with some uh movement out of of outplace
053students, we definitely saw a shift to deposit. We're currently at as a financial 1.7 million to the good, but that includes our debt service. Correct. That's service dollars um that are obviously still remain transferable, right? And in some projects as you talked about in wagons. All right. So any other comments or movements from where you are like No. Go ahead, John. I can go down, but I think 300 is you you would go in 300. You would go 250. Okay. Anyone else? Anyone want to do a motion to amend? All right. Go ahead, Tom. It's okay. We don't vote on the existing motion. So motion on the floor, right? The motion's on the floor. Right. You could you could either call the vote or someone could do a motion to amend to try to get
054um a different number than the number that's proposed on the floor. So personally, I I'd like to call the vote so it's very clear where we are with this budget per board member for the minutes. So I second that. Great. Second because it was interrupted. I would have second. So does the motion to amend? Have to vote on you have to vote on the call to vote. Yeah, I think we require a higher standard to close discussion and call vote than it would to be a motion during twoirds of reporters, right? I think it does require 23 a majority vote to call the vote and end discussion. That's true. We have to vote on that to know whether two. Right. Right. So it had so two/3 vote on calling the vote and then it would
055then go ahead and do the vote on the motion. Am I feeling that right Josh? Like two authority right to end of the enforcable ended motion right? So, no, there's not a motion on the table to amend. Tom was going to start doing it, but then that got interrupted. So, that's an interesting question because see Tom has started Tom started his motion. Consider that a call to order. If you want to sequentially get in front of it, that would be 64 anyway. It's already said, so it's just a matter of put it on paper. We know who it is. Yep. Exactly. 23 people versus the minutes. Hold on one second. Hold on. Hold on. So, I just was checking to see if that had to be recognized, Jennifer, but it does not seem to be
056that way. So call the question and it's seconded. Uh then you can take a vote. We need a two3 majority to All right. So Sharon called the vote. Shannon seconded it. So then we would have to go and have see if there's a twothirds vote to call the vote. Okay. So this is a vote on whether to call the vote for a vote. Right. So Shannon, how do you vote? So if I want to leave, if I don't know what I'm saying, I don't know what I'm saying here. So, okay. So, let me let me I apologize. It's confusing. So, Sharon has asked to call the vote on the motion for the proposed budget of 449. You you seconded it. Yeah. Well, I just don't know like if I'm saying yes or no and what
057that meant because when it say amendment, right, and it says no. So, I am a yes on the call to vote. On the call to vote. Okay. No. Sharon vote. Okay. Sorry. Got it. So, Shannon was a yes on the call to vote. John is a no. Sharon, yes. Sharon, yes. Sharon, yes. Yes. Heather, Marian Manzo, nay. Heather Rogers, nay. Steve, no. Chibles, yes. Just as we all predicted, everyone just votes in the lines. Okay. Just So now we're back to the discussion on the motions on the 449 proposed budget. So is there a motion to amend? Yes. Okay. Go ahead. So I would move that the board of education amend the proposed budget and reduce it by $35,000. The reduction will be achieved by increasing revenue projections by $130,000, reducing non-recurring property by $75,000,
058and the special education zoom by $100,000. This would reduce the budget increase to 3 million $611,000 600 3 million $6117,000 which represents a 4.14 increase to the 2025 2026 budget. Second total. So the total would now be 9 90 9,777,542 and that would be a 4.14% year-over-year. Okay. So Tom made the motion. Is there a second? Okay. So now we're going to have a discussion on the motion to amend the budget. Um, can I explain why? Yes, go ahead, Sean. Yeah. So, um, I've set consistently three to $400,000. Um, three is is really my for um so that's I put the number at 305, you know, in hopes of coming down try to find more of a middle ground. Um, you know, I suggested a couple of places where those dials can start in this
059discussion. If we want to adjust those dials, I'm open to that, but the discussion had to start somewhere. Um, so I haven't hear any other suggestions if we want to trade those off, but I'm hoping to achieve the number of $35,000. I'm okay with your reductions. I'd rather leave it more up to administration where they want to take it. So, I I hear that. Um, and I do think that we need to provide Josh and Joe some guidance because we need to let them know what direction we'd like to do because if they try to achieve the reduction through a way that the board might not be happy with, that's going to put them in an awkward position next year, right? So it there I mean we're not going to say do this by cents
060and dollar amounts and all that kind of stuff but just a general guideline. Um request time take some amount of salary. No it isn't. We budget. We are always over budget. We have a contract. So we can't say that we're going to reduce the salary line. We're not going to return salary because we always hold a budget to sell it. We budget to what the contract whether or not we spend it all is different. We never spend it all. Okay. Y I just think that speaks to the number like I appreciate having to give the direction. Yeah. But And if again if we're sitting here next year and money has to come from somewhere and we have not hired people then I think yes it's I mean you don't hire someone then yes there's money
061in the line item network you obligated to put there right that you could then use I think that's right yeah go ahead so in in your proposal which I I appreciate there's two risk factors for next year that would be realized until the end of the year, which is if we overspend the special ed continues to fund, which we're reducing by 100K or revenue as a show of plus 13. And so, you know, I feel like I feel like that's responsible in the sense that when we come in next year and we find out we're we're off budget on special ed, Josh and Jordan, say, "Well, you took 100K. We planned for it. This is where you took it out of or if if they move it around or if revenue came in short." Um
062and then 75 just making sure I understand it your proposing not that they have to be bound by it but I do agree uh my biggest concern about cutting arbitrary numbers was where it was coming from and just you know throwing numbers out and saying all right by 500 is is is fool's er but I think this was a a good proposal right um and that 75 was coming from the over yeah can you talk to the 75 yeah so we would use this year's year end balance yeah the the challenge for us would be not to recommend purchasing something that would just kick the can down the road and we then have to fill that hole next year. So in the proposed budget that you have, we propose increasing the technology lease to replace
063subscriptions. We do that out of this year's budget and then not increase it doesn't reduce what we budgeted for this year. It just holds it flat. Um so that would be 40,000 of that 75. The other three items I weren't clear when he said this at the last meeting. It's really three things. There's a fence that Dr. Jones talked about that would go behind the storage shed. There's a replacement of the golf cart that um Ron had spoken about and the um split for the sound booth to keep the uh heat and air conditioning control for the equipment that's in there. Those three things together total $35,000. to buy them out of this money or this year's u unexpended funds and then we can remove them out of next year's fund if they don't come
064back following year so we can hold that line. So I appreciate that line. The biggest are the revenue and the special ed and so is there precedent that should make us cautious on that or is there precedent that says this is the right cut because we've been way I know I asked this question in finance earlier which isn't really a fair question. However, trend lines do sometimes carry some weight. So, the uh the revenue is something that until recently we haven't started to act. Last year budget was the first year we captured any funds. Um and kind of the the interesting world that we're in now is that the volatility of the stock market has actually made our stiff account, our short-term uh fund a higher interestbearing account. So this year we project or next
065year's budget we projected 150. This year we've already projected that we'll be at 295. So I do think there's space in there because it's a new account. We've been conservative how we project that and now we have actuals and we have 3/4 of a year of actual. So I think that's fair. I also think that the main uh driver of that interest so for us unlike town we don't hold on to our revenue. When towns collect tax revenue, it sits in their investment funds for us. We get monthly installments from the towns. So, we don't hold on to that money very long. That being said, the biggest driver of the money that comes from the towns goes to our salaries. That line is going to go up by 4% next year. Um, and a year-to-year
066change of um salaries is projected at $2 million. So currently this year that line is a 40 $49 million line. It's going to go up to 51. So the principle that gets invested, we don't collect all that the first year. We do that in 12 month installments from the town. Um but so we feel that that while there is some risk in that and I can't speak to what the uh market interest rates going to be on that. Uh we do feel that between increased principal and the fact that we're already at a pretty healthy number this year but there is space to move and had we had the data that we have now back in November when we started to project this we probably would have gone higher than 150. How high do you
067want to go? I think I leave that to you guys. I mean, again, we're projecting 295 this year. I don't know, to Dr. Romano's point, I don't know what next year is going to bring, but I don't think it's going to be the 150 that we budget. So, how you want to dial that, I think, is up to you. Um, the special ed piece, um, with this board, I believe we started that line, I'm not even sure we had that line back in 2019. Um, and we've built that over time to where we are now. The 125, which is what it used to be back in like 2020, um, wasn't enough. We've done a couple of things. One, we budgeted more strategically for special ed before, like in 2019, that account was the one we
068didn't have. When we had it, we used it the first year uh, or the first of the month. So, July 3rd, that contingency was gone. We've been strategic about how we budget for special ed. So, we haven't touched that as fast, but special ed volatility is the biggest line that we have. The new piece that came into last year is the educational savings account and the policy that you saw before you tonight. So, if there's a commitment to start to fund that account, it may reduce the need to have as much in the operating budget. And I do think that that's going to be a shift over time. I would recommend that being a shift over time. Um and as that account grows the need for the operating may become um you know a little
069less. So uh we've talked about the concept of taking the year end balance of last year I want to say 230 but I feel like it's 26 232 is that right? A lot of numbers in my head. So 23. So there is an opportunity to put that 232 into the account once it's created if you wanted to take some of this year's year end balance and see that potentially you could have more in the savings account than you did in the operating budget and if you gave that from again I didn't recommend encourage you to zero that account out but over the next couple of years if you wanted to do some kind of balancing um I don't think that that is the most risky thing that we could do. All that being said, I
070I'm very comfortable with um you talked at finance about $800 something,000 worth of repairs. Yes. Projects that projects that need to be happening. Can we do those still with the $300,000 reduction? The projects outlined for finance were mostly coming out of year end dollars, not next year dollars. Okay. All right. But that doesn't Okay. Yes. That won't intact. Okay. 75. Right. Got it. Okay. Heather, what happened to like our fiveyear capital plan? Like I know we've been doing a lot of like year end. Yeah. Well, a lot of the things we outlined there weren't fiveyear capital. Um we looked at five capital board in December, January. I forget when that but yeah, we're continue to revise the capital plan. There's items there. the roambo um pneumatic thermostat. So those kind of sound I'm sorry just
071I do appreciate the the the thought behind the proposal really the budget as originally proposed it's going to shut down. Um and I do agree that we should not be um dictating where that reduction comes from. But my one caveat that I have been very passionate about is it cannot impact instructional education in the classroom, class sizes, staffing, um all of that work and all of the um information that has been provided year over year about how important our teachers are and instructional time with our students are, the curriculum, all the things that we've been working to Shannon's point earlier is part of a long-term strategic plan. I just I want to make sure that that's protected and it's hard for me to wrap my head around any reduction not impacting a student. And it
072is hard for me to understand any reduction because I immediately think it's hitting our infrastructure, our teaching and ultimately our classrooms. So, I would just ask for the utmost care when you are looking to where that money comes from that it protects those class sizes, the instruction, and the foundation and support that we're giving our students and our teachers to really ensure that we are moving the needle. I'm extremely concerned about volatility of next year. We're talking about gains on certain bonds and certain things. We also don't know what we will or will not be providing in grant money and reimbursements for next year. So we're talking about $300,000 audit money, not in my mind relative to a $91 million budget, but next year the sway and the shift could be significantly bigger. So I
073just if there's any wiggle room, I've heard a floor of 300. I know that's probably not your comfort zone. if there's any way to further minimize the reduction so it's not 300 but 200 you know if we could at least kind of modify it slightly um it makes s a little bit better with me but um certainly I want to make sure that we can um provide the level of what I think is needed and clearly um is needed to support the district so be careful I So one thought to your point just from a point of kind of calibration. So I'd heard uh I think it was the last board meeting talking about potential for 400,000 in that educational uh reserve fund. Um if you at the end of the we don't have you
074know we haven't finished this year but if we were able to do that and you took the 232,000 from last year and you left the um education or the special ed contingency fund at 190 you would have just shy of 800,000 between those three accounts. Collectively they add up to about what we get in federal IDA money now. So to your point that if we're concerned about the volatility of the national fabric, all of the information we've received so far is that it's unlikely that the federal government no matter what happened would zero out special education function. I say unlikely because I'm unable to predict that. That being said, um, if we had 800,000 kind of all in in special contingency, it would insulate us to some extent against the volatility of what happens. Now,
075I can't talk about all the other accounts in the budget, but that is the bulk of the federal money that we get. So, to your point, there is a path to insulate us from some of that that will protect us from um under instructor. But I also think it's important to understand that we also know we have a bottom number we have to have in order to pay our staffs and and we cannot erode on that amount and that's truly what we're on for in future years to come. Um I appreciate the information that you shared. Um and thank you for allowing me to I agree with you Sharon. I agree absolutely that there's an untouchable part of the budget and I I I agree with you about class size and instruction and everything. To
076me, the, you know, $300,000 reduction proposal has to do with, you know, that that dialing of the the stiff account um revenue. I'm I'm sorry, the stiff account revenue, the um you know, trying to do whatever Josh talked about about funding exceeding that special education um cost um and the non-recurring expenses. So I don't think that's touching to me that I wouldn't want to touch the class sizes or anything like that. So I agree with that Tom and oh Heather Heather and then Tom course I want to go last but I um yeah I think those are excellent points and um and I agree like we would not want this to touch um kids experience in the classroom at all. Um, and I believe in, you know, I I have fought in the past to
077increase special education contingency because I think that is a risk in our budget and it's a risk um, you know, that potentially impacts services that we provide to our most vulnerable students. Um, so it's it's not likely that I would ever consider um that negotiating Um, but I do I do appreciate that we have this opportunity to rather than have this kind of, you know, year-over-year um not really a not really a contingency fund. It's it's just, you know, a compromised number that we come up with every year of money that possibly we can hold for these situations. Um, which potentially, you know, may not be enough. Um, it's very easy to see with tuition costs and transportation costs being what they are that enough. And um I I think the the only reason I
078even um consider it as part of a recommendation is is with the thought uh that we are going to build that educational expense account and we are going to leave it leave the region stronger um you know with more reserve to handle that type of situation should arise. Um, so that I just want to make it clear. Um, because I know my half does go up when we talk about special education contingency and certainly have in the past. Um, so I just I just wanted to have that context. You know, we have this tool now and um, and I think it's a better than that line item. you actually touched on what I was say, but let me um let me also say like I really do believe um when I say this and and
079I've said it a couple times and if if my impression is wrong, you know, I really hope someone would correct me, but I wouldn't pitch this idea um if I thought it would in any way directly impact next year's operating budget. I know it's a big number and it sounds like one has to, but I think there are some I don't want to minimize, but accounting opportunities that allow us to do this without touching any of those instructional assets that you're talking about. Um, you know, it keeps all of that it keeps Josh's budget in place. And to Heather's point, you know, I just want to be careful about the narratives because it's, you know, yes, you said it perfectly. year reducing the contingency but only because you know the way I see it we're
080going to be able to strengthen that line item two or three times over depending on what kind of contribution we're able to make but this kind of forces our hand to be a bit more deliberate about building that educational cost fun to back stop that number we're going to be stronger and have have more reliable safety net moving um so I Just want to make sure that that's super clear like I am making this and we can talk about whether we want to stick with these numbers or give Josh more leeway but you know if we give Josh more leeway and he says great I'm going to reduce staffing then I feel like no no no that's not what we wanted to do here and I'm I'm hoping you're hearing that loud and clear I
081want to take advantage of the opportunities that are afforded us uh to find the savings not use any kind of classroom or instructional supports or anything else that is absolutely necessary. Steve um uh just I a comment. So, I think with the uh the reserves like the chart that superintendent sent to us through email, um a lot of those districts, I would argue um you know, have poor scores and um bigger class sizes, they might want to spend some of their reserves on beefing up instruction. Um, we have um made choices. Um, well, how do I say this? If heaven forbid we do find ourselves sitting here in a year or whatever and something catastrophic or something has happened or we wish that we just had even more than three we just had you know
082a lot more money tucked away like we've all made that choice regarding regardless of how we voted because if we really want to fund capital if that is really that upsetting that we just don't there are options. Like we're acting like there aren't options. like we could still honor um plan um uh for academics but maybe postpone the two new hires for a year and then find capital a little more like so there are we are making these choices um and I just you know I just don't it seems like we must do this and you know capitals like this add-on we could we could take capital more seriously if if we chose to we are choosing not to. So I I just I don't want to hear maybe in a year, oh like I
083wish we all had focused more on capital regardless of how the world turns out because we can do that right now and we are we aren't choosing not to I don't I don't agree that we're not we're we're not even numbers and not focusing on capital and a lot of us have been extremely concerned about capital and I and I don't want to lose sight of the fall that you know we we do have a long-term capital plan we talked about our fiveyear capital plan um we've talked about projects do we talked about how that's been impacted by you know past you know kicking those cans down the And that's and that's what that we're swimming in right now. And um you know so you know I agree there's this you know there there we
084can turn but you know I do think the message to the community is that um you know we should remain focused on capital improvement because we do have these aging schools. We do have these aging groups. we we've talked about plans to address them and um you know there are capital projects that I wouldn't want to put at risk either. So just want to make that I'm the outlier here. I'm just going to say it makes me very uncomfortable to go down at all and that's simply because a month ago I would have been like yes right that sounds good. we have tariffs and trade wars and if the roof fed PES goes or I mean suddenly what the other ruby projects we have are going to come in much higher. I mean I think
085everything is going to get a lot more expensive right and potentially get a lot more expensive and to me that amount while I would love to reduce it that much just in this in this environment it doesn't that makes me uncomfortable and I would rather have that flexibility and next year if I'm wrong I would love to you know that's that's great I just think we're entering a very very uncertain time economically um it makes me impossible to to not have like those extra resourc. No, I mean I stand on my original one which you know I think the budget should stand as is, right? Like I strongly feel that we are going to be sitting at this table next year, right, having these conversations and we're talking about cutting $300,000. I get it's a
086I get it's a a sign, right, to say like, okay, we did our best, but I feel like this is a very fair budget, right? We sat with those boards of finance and they all wanted us to put money in capital. They all wanted us to improve our instructor. I don't agree with Steve that it's a choice that we've had these components, right? There were many years of zero budgets. We keep kind of kicking this can down the road over and over and over again and it gets us into a situation that five years from now we said what if we did this, what if we did that, right? Where we should really fund the plan that we are talking about. But seems that ship has sailed. So, right, I I'm definitely not okay with
087500,000. I'm not okay with 300,000. I'm going to vote no. Right. So, that's kind of where I stand. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else have any other comments? Nope. Okay. So, then we are going to vote on the motion that the board of education approve the 2025 budget increase. No. Did we vote on the amendment? We did. Got it. Okay. So, now we're going to put Tom's motion to amend the original motion on the budget. Great. So, we're voting on the amendment. On the amendment to the budget. So, Shannon, how do you vote on the amendment? Do you want to read the amendment one more time? No. No. Okay. So shaman nay. Yes. You're you're for the amendment. Sharon addict against the amendment. No. No. Heather Imark. I Mayor Manzo. I Heather Rogers. I Steve I.
088Okay. So the motion has been is now amended. Right. So we're going to vote on the amended motion. Make sure I have my numbers right. So move that the board of education approve the 2025 2026 budget increase of 3 thou 3 million 6117 which represents a 4.14% increase for total 90 million777524 $4. 24 is on my phone. Can't do it. 2012, right? We move 305, right? Just take 305. Yeah. So, it's so Okay. So, I'm going to read that one more time. The amended motion is to move that the board of education approve the 2025 2026 budget increase of 3 million $611,017 which represents 4.14% increase for a total of 9077,524. Right. Okay. All right. Any discussion on this amended motion? I know. All right, then we'll go to vote. Shannon, how do you vote
089on the amended motion? No. Hey, John. Yes. Sharon, yes. Romoto, no. Heather, I Marian Manzo, I Heather Rogers, I. Steve, Jeff Olsson, I All right. So, it carries. All right. Just want to thank everyone um for a good discussion and um compromise. We just appreciate it. Um and our budget vote, the referendum is when? May 7th. May 7th. Okay. So, May 7th, 202 with a 4.14% increase. Um, announcement of future meetings. Monday, April 28th, PNC meets at the high school media center at 6:30. Also, Monday, April 28th, we have a regular board of ed meeting at 7:30 where we will be discussing portrait of a learner, multi- language learner, and security and crisis management. May I have a motion to adjurnn? Thank you, Heather. Second. All those in favor? Any naysay?