Board of Education Budget Workshop # 3 ----February 05, 2026

001Everybody's got microphones. All right. Good evening. I call to order the Rocky Hill Board of Education's uh third and final budget workshop for Thursday, February 5th, 2026. It is 6:44. We apologize for the delay. Uh could you please rise for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the stands nation. >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> So, we are here this evening to continue our discussion about the 2026 2027 budget presentation. Um, however, before we begin tonight, we had some um exciting things happen in district this week and so I'm going to turn the microphone over to board member Mr. Clemens. >> Thank you. Um, those you watched the news last night in channel 3, the girls basketball team, which is 12-1 uh was the uh WFSB team of

002the week. They did a interview with uh Coach Asadorian and Kelsey LaMay and Katie Harding. It was a nice little piece he did on the girls. They're off to a phenomenal start. And our boys hockey team is undefeated, 12-0. This is the best start this team has ever had in the history of the program dating back to 1998. So, they're off to a phenomenal start. They're [clears throat] number one in their division. And uh we have a good postseason for two of our teams. >> Thank you. >> You're very welcome. Thank you for bringing that to our attention earlier today. It's always nice when we can give a shout out to our students who are absolutely amazing and always make us very proud here in Rocky Hill. Okay. So, this evening, um, I am actually

003going to turn the microphone over to Doc, uh, Dr. Zitto so that we can go through. Everyone should have a blue folder in front of them. Um, we're going to start through that. We're also going to be, um, hearing from Mr. Lamont this evening to go over the CIP and talk facilities um, and then answer any follow-up questions. >> Dr. Zita, >> thank you very much, Mr. So, um, I'm going to work through the folder. Uh, a lot of clean up from what you had last time in terms of questions and follow-ups and uh we'll work through each document and answer any questions you have. So the first thing we were asked to do was to uh provide a quote. It's the first page for the uh server for the UPS backup. Um you could

004see that the uh total parts and warranty on the items are $49,000 with an installation of 5,500. I want to thank Ron and Chris for putting this together. So, we'll start there. Are there any questions from board members for either Chris or Ron about this quote that we were asked to give for you? >> Do we know how long it would take to get all of the supplies that you need? Is this something that would come in right away or something that you foresee could be uh on hold due to a variety of different reasons? this kind of stuff in supermarkets. I'm still waiting on a finalized quote. Call it budgetary basically. It should be high, but I'm still waiting for them to give me a formalized quote. This is basically list price for one

005of the websites for the vendors. I have my vendors fighting over it at the moment. >> Once you get all of the parts, um, how quickly do you think it could be installed? >> We're figuring it'll be about a day. >> Oh, it could be a one day project. We'll have to do some coordination, make sure we don't, you know, vital services are up and backed up in a different way before we transition, but our electricians estimate about a day. >> Anyone have any other questions besides me? Go ahead, Mr. Clemens. Um uh first of all, thank you for this quote. I know you got it done quickly. Just to jog my memory, originally this was a on your wish list or is you had this budgeted. Was this budgeted for 2728? Is that where

006this battery and power in the bottom? >> Uh the 35 I think we had it. Yeah, that was Yes, that's >> okay. >> So So this 55 would be in addition to the 617. That's for this year. >> Uh we have 517 in in >> 517. That's right. It would be addition to that. >> All right. Thank you. >> Obviously, we wouldn't have to do it next year. I just kept >> Oh, no. I fully understand. I just want to make sure >> down the road. >> I'm looking at your great chart here just so where things are. >> Absolutely. >> That was a number from a couple years ago that I just kept >> obviously. [laughter] >> Any other questions? >> Just one more followup. >> Sure. Uh you mentioned when you gave your

007uh talk last week, you gave your presentation about the uh new prices coming in anywhere I think it was between 10 and 30% increase. Did you get those prices >> specifically? No, but uh I did get a refresh right before those new prices and Chromebooks alone were about $40 a piece more from two weeks prior to that. >> $40 each more. So, I haven't gotten any updates from my vendors since then, but everyone that I'm speaking to is basically warning me to try and buy early, which >> Gotcha. >> depending on how this all shakes out maybe helpful. >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Anyone else? >> Okay. Thank you, Chris. >> Second second item, some minor adjustments as we through have a blue sheet in front of you from Scott on putting this together.

008You can see the uh projected increase [snorts] to match uh the contract offer we had from NBT 14 and 12%. So we raised the field trip line item [snorts] and then uh follow up with the park and rec department anticipating the reimbursement on the price for the fair professionals who work in the bright beginnings program reduce that line by 45. So the net impact is 27,143 overall on a budget. So it drops it slightly to an 8. That's pretty straightforward. Um, again, the budget is a working document, so I anticipate more fluctuations if you add things or subtract things, but that's kind of where we stand right now. I think a running score as we work through kind of know where you are. Any questions about those two items? I think we discussed them pretty

009extensively. >> Okay. Next document you have has purple and white document. Um, I'm going to ask Wendy to dig into this a little bit. It's information that we were asked about with the uh grants and consultants that are handled by Wendy's office. >> Dr. Zto. Um so at the last meeting I was asked about the consultants that we have hired um this year and uh where they were being paid from. And um I do want to correct for the record that Um sometimes it's hard when you're being asked questions on the spot to remember almost a million dollars and where it's going. Um so we do have some consultants that are paid out of the um BOE professional development line item and you can see that in the um column and then we have others

010who are paid out of the um various grants that we receive. Um most of these I can go through. We've um hired an executive coach. Uh we have a lot of new uh building level administrators this year and we wanted to provide them with an extra layer of support. Um you know there's a lot to learn um in the district and so we also have a um a lot of new people up here at central office. So we wanted to make sure that we were supporting not only our teachers across the district but also our administrators. And then um we hired ASUS to deliver our restorative practices training both to our admin team and um as to our teachers throughout the school year. And then we hired a CRE consultant to align our MTSS standards

011to best practice. And we also have a diversity consultant that we hire out of the open choice grant. And the amounts for each are listed in the right hand column. Any uh follow-up questions on the consultant report? And then moving on, um I provided you with a breakdown of the different grants for 2526 by line item um with the total grant allocation in the right hand column. The first page are all federal grants. If you turn to the second page, these are state level grants. And then I also provided for you um and I spoke to this last time, the immigrant grant, which is an additional federal grant that you need to qualify for. And then the additional state grants, some of which are competitive, and I noted that as such um on that page.

012I'm happy to take any questions if there are any. >> Any questions, Mr. Costco? >> All right, you can hear me. Okay. Um, this is more sort of a Thank you for this breakdown. This is super helpful. I appreciate it. Uh, it's sort of a general question that I feel like a little silly that I don't know the answer to this after being this is my third year on the board, but I want to just make sure I do understand it correctly. is with the grant money and just thinking about it in total 1 point whatever million you know 1 million plus all these grants federal state all combined >> that money we get from all these different places and that is separate from our 60 million whatever dollar amount we come up with so

013we have our $60 million budget um because that's town money we're asking for basically going through that process so these grants are separate from that >> so I'm clear on that that's correct so then two related questions that is when We look at our FTEES. >> Yeah. >> And we look at, okay, there's, and I know there's a page in here that we're going to update and go through, 200 or whatever, 400 and some odd, you know, 200 some odd teachers, 400 some odd total. When we look at those FTEEs, are the ones from the grant >> grants were plural included in those numbers. So that FTE is like totally employed by the district, some of those on the FTE pages are from our budget, so to speak, and some are from grant. Is that

014correct? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, they're all included. I just wanted to make sure because I was like, wait a minute, there's all these little half FT here and one here and one here. And then I'm like, all right, that adds up to a bunch of folks. Yes. >> And I just those are included. >> In the same way, and I know Dr. Zudo, you talked about this with our per per pupil expenditure and there's the formula and the state does their stuff. We give them the stuff and they come up with the numbers. Is that grant money included in that? I mean, I would imagine that's included in the per pupil or Maybe we don't know the answer. And it's sort of an off-the cuff question. I apologize. But I thought of that. I

015was like, "Huh." And it's the same across every district anyway. So it doesn't matter too much. It was just again, I know it's not as easy as saying 60 million divided by, you know, 2400 2500 students. It's not quite that simple. >> The formula. >> All right. >> And and and I apologize. >> Now he's looking for that. I just wanted to also share that um we received a communication that um the federal government um has approved these title grants that that we're speaking about. Um and so their fiscal year is a little different. It's September um 30th. So they're going to be funded through 2027. Um, so I just wanted to be to make sure that you understand that as we're planning for the budget that because this is the 2627 budget we're looking

016at that these grants are fully funded through the next budget cycle >> through September 30th of 2027. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Sure. Yeah. That's weird. Yeah. Okay. I sort of get it, but I because I mean I read the news every day just like everyone else and the budget thinks a total nightmare >> at the state and federal level, but okay. Thanks. >> All right. To answer your question, >> yeah. >> Um, yes, it does include Okay. those grants. Is it >> I would think so. Just because again I mean thinking about a larger city that gets you know hundreds of millions from some of these grants in total it would be silly not to include it but I just kind of wanted to like >> net current expenditures includes

017all all current public elementary and secondary expenditures from all sources. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Um >> and we and I do remember you know working with Chuck at the end of the year. >> Yeah. >> When we upload [clears throat] our information to the um EFS system >> has to be everything. It does. It is. Those are listed there as well as expenditures. >> Okay, cool. Because you get all these other little funky grants that, you know, 20 grand here, 30 grand here, and they add up and they go towards that. So, awesome. Thank you so much. Thanks, Jess. >> Any other questions? >> I do just have a question. [cough and clears throat] >> Thank you. Um, so I'm just looking at the consultant report and the ones that come out of the board

018of ed funds and I'm looking at the and maybe this isn't the right place to look, but I'm learning here, but um I'm looking at the professional development breakdown in the object budget. So in the object budget, it's kind of broken out by by admin and per school. um and to improve instruction like there there's just different line items. So I think it would be helpful to see kind of how this equals out in within the different line items and how the other professional development funds are used. >> I'm sorry I'm not following. >> So on page 14 of the object >> budget is the professional development line items >> object is the object >> yeah of object object >> sorry >> and I'm just I I apologize that I don't I just >> yeah

019I see what you're looking at >> so it's broken out kind of like by school right like admin at for the high school GMS Weso Um, and then there's general admin up top. >> And then the second one, I'm assuming that's improve instruction. >> Um, and I'm just looking at the the amount. So, I'm just kind of curious how the 34ish,000 coming out of the professional development lines on the consultant report relate to these different line items >> like like what the split out is. >> Yeah. So the ones that say um professional development admin by schools, the administrators have in their contract >> um professional development funds that are for them. That's what those line items are reflecting and there are two administrators um per building and then at the high school there's three.

020So that's why those numbers look the way they do, >> right? Then the um improvement of instruction that is the general in uh fund that we use for professional development. So when you look over on this chart and you see professional development BOE funds, it's coming out of that line. >> Okay. And then general admin, >> I'm not 100% sure. I think it may be district Central office PD. >> Okay. Do we Sorry, I have a lot of questions kind of just bubbling up in my brain. Can I just like hold them and ask them after just so I can get my thoughts in line? So I >> Sure, that's fine. Yeah, go ahead. >> I'm still catching up on my notes because >> trying to follow the pages. >> Mrs. Duran went through that

021very quickly. All right. And any other questions while we're on this topic of professional development? I just want to be fair to everybody. Okay. Um, Mr. Danowitz, when you're ready, please let me know. Uh, I do think you were probably finished with um the grants overview, correct, Mr. And? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do you do you want me to come back to this when you're ready with questions or do you just need a minute? We can take a minute. >> Um well, I have some other professional development questions that aren't necessarily rel related directly to the consultants. So, I might just hold them and ask them all at what I >> think what we're going to do is probably move on to the next purple page, which is special education grant overview. Is that okay?

022>> Is everyone good with that? Okay, beautiful. We're going to move there then. So, um, you have the special education grant overview. You have a snapshot of one year there. These are two-year grants. They roll over, but you can kind of see when we took the 598 and how that breaks out. Most of it is staffing. So, you see uh almost four teachers to Tom's question earlier are funded out of the federal grant, parttime speech language pathology. A lot of times an individual person some of the salary coming from the IDA grant and some from board operated. Um, as they move up the salary schedule, sometimes a person who's in the grant might get switched out for a person on the salary schedule. That happens to because the grant number doesn't go up to match

023people's races. So you can kind of see most of it is dedicated to staffing and then you see some some stuff with outside evaluations uh direct consultant compass program you know very very comprehensively broken out Jesse can respond to any additional questions you have it's basically three grants IDA 611 is huge the 619 is a very small grant funds basically 17th of the salary if you're a special ed teacher and then we talked last meeting about the seed grant the total allocation 93,000 we broke it out for you I know you wanted to see a little bit more under the hood on how we break up the >> I'm happy to answer any questions >> questions Mr. Costco, >> good assumption that I'll have a few questions or clarifications. So, thank you very much again

024for this. It's super helpful. Um, and and again, part of the reason I asked the question is to point it out, not just for me, but for other board members in the public that we do get a bunch of money from these grants that fund a lot of positions. But actually, Dr. You made a good point in that the grant the increases in the grant amount yeartoear don't necessarily keep pace with you know other increases such as teacher salaries and benefits and such certainly not benefits at 16% a year. Um so some of that increase in those things ends up getting absorbed in the budget the board budget right just because you have to naturally but besides that increase generally we're able to kind of fund the same number of FTEEs roughly I would imagine

025over the years because these numbers don't go down as a rule right and I mean you've been here a few minutes but >> they don't go down so they generally heading in the north direction at least a little bit or sort of flat but up a little and I think the seed grant is the same sort of thing. They've committed, you know, statewide x number of $30 million. We get our slice of the pie. That slice of the pie should generally stay fairly consistent. The way we understand it, right? Okay. Good. Just because I don't want the people to think that like because sometimes it's tough with short-term grants and none of these are that like most of these I say none. Most of these are all long-term ones that are going to be perpetually

026happening. So, we don't have to worry about absorbing positions that we >> got under a grant and then oh, you know, budget's going up. These are positions that continuously get funded. I just want to make sure I had that clear. So, okay, cool. >> And that's it. And thank you for the breakdown. Super helpful. There's a lot of really good stuff I think that that we're all doing with the money, you know what I mean, with the positions and and some of the specific ones. Certainly on the behavior side I think are really important um for again students, families, um uh administrators and staff I'm sure really pleased with that. So, um no, thank you for this. I appreciate it. Thanks. >> Any other questions? I also appreciate the breakdown. I think it's a [clears

027throat] lot easier to understand when you see everything written out. So, thank you for the time and effort it went to break everything down for us because I think um I'd love to see it this way every year. [laughter] >> Happy to do that. >> Thank you. Um the next item you have a sheet that breaks down the private outpaced and the public outplaced and tuition and the expected reimbursements. So you see the uh total cost for each line item there number of students 10 private outplace seven public outplace 23 internal students uh the eligible amount for excess cost reimbursement the 70% anticipated reimbursement 30% we know we won't get back and the overall hit to the general fund and we've gone over this in detail but I think Mr. had requested that this level

028of detail break any questions you have there but uh I will credit Sandy and the predecessor in the special ed office Sandy Stevenson really started to go after the internal funds which early when I was here that wasn't being done credit to them and Sandy was heavily involved in that and significant amount of money coming back on the internal Any questions on this document? >> Go ahead. >> Sort sort of and this is great. I I don't really have any questions. More of just again a clarification. I because I wasn't even aware and I'm I'm aware a lot of this stuff with the number of students that are potentially eligible for excess costs who are in district. So that's again great and terrible. I think I said last time >> work to track it down.

029I imagine >> but but it's it's a good thing to do because you can see that >> it's worth it, >> you know, return the return on work. >> You can get some dollars back >> if we as we track it really closely. >> No. Yeah, that's great. and and just seeing the for that line item, the internal 23 students, you're looking at, you know, 753,000 in total, you know, that's eligible and and that's that's a a chunk of money, you know, that's that's a chunk of money. And the excess cost and and getting that again half a million dollars back from the state is is pretty incredible. And that number 70% is has been consistent over many years and and there's always bills to increase it and they never pass. So, no one ever

030expects, well, I said no one that's works in this area expects it to go anywhere anytime soon because the state ain't got the money to put into that. It comes up every year. There's a bill in the legislature again this year to increase it, but it's not going to go anywhere. Um, but but that's really helpful and I appreciate all the hard work that goes into doing that and and that brought back in the state into town again half a million dollars for those those students. So, that's that's great. I I appreciate that greatly. Thank you. Any other questions? >> Um, any other questions on that from anybody? Okay. Before we get to CIP, >> um, I was asked to about the board's goals from 2016 to 2018, have a copy of those in your

031packet. I skipped over CIP. We'll come back to that later on. Um, and the reason I was asked about it was the the history on the world language position. So the world language position at Moer was part of the edspecs. Actually I looked at that a little bit too. Ron reminded me I helped prior write those ed specs way back in the day when the building was designed. But um as part of the edspecs it was a definite board goal to expand world language down to grade four the opening of the four five school. So when we open the school the board staffed that position there. As I said earlier, it's much more of an giving kids exposure to French and Spanish and kind of an appreciation for different cultures. Nobody's expecting kids to become

032fluent in either language after a couple years of fourth grade with great instruction. And we gave you the uh kind of the schedule earlier rotating every three days. But that's u that's the background. That's why that position was there because the board was very um very precise in their decision to have that position. Um, we, you know, just, it's interesting as I look back through the history, we did, uh, offer Italian here at one point. We had a grant one year. We tried Italian at the high school. >> Marina, you remember that? >> Yes, I do. So was I. But uh, we we found out that our high school wasn't large enough to uh to offer four languages. They were kind of stealing kids from the Latin program. And then both numbers were down and

033French was a little bit down and ultimately were flamed out. So we we're still with three languages to remind everybody, French, Spanish, and Latin at the high school, which is fairly sufficient. It's usually three or four sections of Latin a year. And Mr. Bennett's done a good job of kind of keeping that enrollment where it is. He also teaches a mythology course uh typically. So he's doing three or four classes of Latin and it's got a five period schedule. But uh that's those are the three languages. Spanish numbers are always robust. French significantly since when I came here, French numbers were were in danger and the department worked really hard to get workers to take French. Um, but just let you know, we had Italian 1.2. Tried it. We lasted >> four or five years

034and then the numbers started to decline. We just couldn't justify the staffing uh for the Italian program. So, that's kind of just the history on world languages. Uh, but it was a board goal back in the day and that's why the position was placed. >> Happy to answer any questions on world. I I will say I do remember Frank Morris and Brian Dylan um pushing for the uh world language back in Mo at Moer and we were all on board with that. We definitely were all on board with that. We thought that the exposure to the children >> um at that age was perfect. >> Yeah. And when the board put it in as a goal I you know I didn't authorize the position we hired. We had that position there last year was was

035removed because we we went through a whole meeting where we had to reduce by 650,000. >> There were some tough choices that were made by the board. That's that's kind of history. So I'm effort to answer any other questions anybody has about language. >> Miss Tucker, [clears throat] >> I think I struck the world language. I I don't want my comments to be misconceived. World language is important. introduction to it is important. Um, I would like to see it more effective. I feel like 25 days of a half hour of Spanish and 25 days I don't think I did that math right. Um, half half a year of Spanish, half a year of of [clears throat] French for 30 minutes. I just I don't feel like it's an effective dollar. Like I wish there was

036a way to do more with the dollars. I don't know what that more is. Do you double it up in fifth grade and not do fourth grade? Like I'm not against it. I think it's important to introduce it. I just feel like for the dollar we're paying, we're not getting the effective use of it. That's my I just didn't want I didn't want to the feeling to be like I'm against world language. That's not what I was >> No, it's an excellent point that you could look at starting in fifth grade. kids get more time. The function of one teacher is that the individuals spread so far >> so >> to see all the kids in the school. It's it's a rotation every three days. >> We try to give them exposure to both languages

037because ultimately in seventh grade they're going to make a choice between French or Spanish. The sixth grade is similar thing. They only get kind of a touchy grade six. Seventh grade is where they really dive in, >> right? >> But the positive is at least you're hoping the kids are a little bit excited about it. Wow. Now I'm in seventh grade and I've had three years of kind of the training wheels in in French or Spanish and now I get to make a choice and >> and really dive into, you know, full year of Spanish one. So >> yeah, >> you know, I don't want to ever kind of do anything to to to diffuse that excitement. You want kids to to be excited. You don't want to stamp that out. >> But certainly something

038that could be looked at. >> You're right. If you just offered it in grade five with one teacher, look at the schedule, get the kids It's really it's a philosophy question on when you want to start the intro. I know at the time um the board kept saying well Glastbury starts in first grade starts in first grade. We're not Glastonbury >> but I understood that thinking too like if we can get it down to at least fourth grade we're starting to compete with those districts. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions Mr. Costco? >> Yeah just to follow up. Thanks, Amber, because it's an interesting thought. I I like the thought because I I'm not remembering. It's been seven or eight years since my daughter was in sixth grade, but um they do both in

039sixth grade and that meets every day, right? It's a regularish class. I sort of >> subject basically. >> No, >> a quarter. >> It's a rotation. >> It's on a rotation, too. Okay. So, there's a >> It's a marking period of one language, a marking period of another. They're on like a rotation. >> All right. So it's similar in a way. >> Yeah. They get like like 45 days in French and then 45 days. >> Gotcha. For half the year and then half your other stuff other special detail. >> Uh that that's close enough. I I think that's >> right. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Four quarters and one is Spanish, one is French. Okay. >> I got Yeah. Yeah. I gotcha. And this one is more of a rotation all year in fourth and fifth

040like >> the history actually is when when moer was constructed and it was put the edspecs. >> Yeah. >> We didn't start world language until seventh grade. >> Right. I remember that said you know we can't >> offer it at Moer and then basically have a gap year with no exposure and then >> jump jump into seventh grade. So >> we work to staff GMS as well with with a teacher that could [snorts] at least a similar kind of level of exposure. So the kids are essentially getting three years of exposure to both languages and then they make a choice going into seventh grade. >> Awesome. Thanks. Yeah. And and I I do remember that with Moer when we were building I was like why are there world language classrooms and I remember that whole

041>> process so that appreciate that >> was one of the seven board. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, it was great and and just >> give you that context >> and just on on record uh we're better than Glastonbury already so we don't need to compete with our glass. Sorry for anybody in the audience that lives in Glastonbury. >> Anyway, >> again, before we get to the CIP, if there's no other questions on the or language, >> um, you have there I caught an error on the personnel summary. [clears throat] >> Um, you have updated sheets from districtwide. It's specific just to the elementary classrooms. We have um 56 teachers um under code 40 elementary [snorts] classroom. That's 55 teachers in regular classrooms and another elementary teacher who's assigned to the compass program with an elementary search

042who works with special ed staff as well. We als your old sheet indicated 57 because we had a person this year who draw drew a salary for a portion of the year on maternity leave never actually covered a classroom but was listed as the 57th salary. So those other sheets weren't wrong, but the actual employed number as we [snorts] speak is 56. We're going to 57 in the budget proposal. And you see u that's reflected on the West Hill sheet is the one sheet we have to update. There's now 20 classroom teachers accounted for at West Hill and 20 for next year as well. So that um kind of covers that. And then the only other document you had was working with Dr. to give you a draft CI and I know Mr. Fredo you

043indicated you wanted to get into this tonight as well. >> I did. You kind of did the housekeeping paperwork. >> I'm going to ask Ron to come on up to the podium and you can you all have kind of a little bit easier on the eyes. We move this up a little over here to uh kind of take you through it. Thank you. >> Good evening everybody. >> Um, I guess you know with with the CIP in front of you, I guess we can start with any initial questions that people have to start with. I mean, or would you like me to go through line item by line item because I know it sometimes gets confusing as to why things are where they are. >> Um, well, if you start line item by line item,

044the big hot topic is the HVAC. >> Would you like to start there? >> No pun intended. Hot topic. Um, sure. We'll start there. So, as you know, um, we've completed two phases of the HVDC project. Um, and that's going back, um, to the 23 uh, 22 23 school year. Um, so the numbers that we have on here are based on a 2019 estimate when we started the project. So, this only continues to go up in price the longer we keep putting this out. And we we've been able to do some projects based on what we've had available funding. Um, recently the state opened up the HVAC replacements to the non-priority grants, which will help us because we'll we can get 44 to 47% back from the state. So, that helps us, but that changes

045the process of how we do them. I can't just [clears throat] get a million dollars tomorrow and get something in and hope for reimbursement. We have the same process that we just went through for with the roof. We, you know, there's resolutions to be written. The town has to guarantee that the town's share is is available and set aside for for funding the project. So, it sort of changes how we do it. I would love to get it all done in one shot. Um, but you'll be finding me $3 million to do so. So, um we become very creative on how we get projects done over time and phasing them in. Um and we can continue to do that. Um probably with two fairly large phases, but um you know, that's what that's what we're

046looking at now. And there we were not given any money last year um for um for this current fiscal year for um anything. So that's why there's nothing planned for this summer. and knowing that we have to apply for grants and whatnot, we have we're going to have to move it out. Part of the other reason why there's nothing going on this summer is the roof is happening at West Hill um where our ESY program is typically in the summer. I can't have kids in a building when we're doing a roof. So, they're being shifted over to Stevens for the summer. So, we're a summer at least one summer out from even starting another project there on this on the HVAC. questions about HVAC. >> Oh, Miss Manila had her hand up first, so I'm

047gonna start over here. >> Go ahead. That's okay. >> Oh, sorry. Um, Ron, can you just explain which rooms in Stevens are not air conditioned? >> Not. It's probably easier. Well, every room, every classroom space has air conditioning in it. I, you know, I want everyone to know that it's not a central air system. Um when I I think it was the first summer I I I started here, I had custommade um sleeves put into the windows so we could put large window units in. When I when I started here, the only air conditioned classrooms were the classrooms that had medically necessary reasons to have them. Um we expanded on that. So um the only spaces that now where where students um there there might be some a resource office um the cafeteria does not

048have anything but but the majority of their day they are in a conditioned space. It's not ideal. It's a little noisy. Um and we want to go in the right direction but I just want everyone to understand that kids aren't in 100 degree classrooms in our buildings and they never would be. um you know, we we we've always done what we've had to do, whether we bring in portable air conditioners or we have we have means to do so. So, it they're not they're not unconditioned. Um but as far as new construction wise, um it's probably easier to tell you what is done. Um, so brand new air conditioning um and heating is in the front wing, which is classrooms one through 1 through 12 and and the gym. Those are the the two brand

049new spaces, the two spaces that have brand new HVAC systems in them. So that's the front wing 1957. I know people like when I when I use those numbers. um the gym. And so what doesn't have it is 1967, which is the back wing. Um and the original kindergarten classrooms don't have anything new in them. Those are off the main office. Um and then some resource type classrooms and that sort of thing. Um spread out throughout the building. >> Thank you. >> Questions, Mr. Ms. Dudanowitz or Mr. Kusker? Go ahead. She's letting me go first. Um, thank you for that. And I love always love the fact that the 1967 wing is the new wing. So, I just I love that. It's older than me. So, that's that's interesting and I'm starting to feel pretty

050old. Um, the um so with these two phase the way you got it phase out now, you have it split the $3 million split into two million and a half buckets. Again, I know the 2019 estimates, so the numbers are probably going to be north of that. Yes. Because things go up. >> Um, you have them planned out right now for not next, not this coming fiscal year that we're talking about today, but the next two after that. And the reasoning for that is both process that you talked about with grants and all that stuff as well as smoothing out the requests yeartoear as well. Is that correct? >> To try to try and keep a level um total >> yeartoyear total CIP. >> It's not it's not it's it's not a large burden in

051one year >> in one year for CIP. Right. So, cuz if we were to try to say, "Hey, let's get this all hammered out in one year." It's tough to ask for $3 million plus all the other stuff >> that's always been >> in one year. So, that's that's just just trying to thought think through that process of why is this not happening quicker sort of a question that we get. >> Um, and is it also phased because there's only so much you can do in a summer? Like I know there's always that like there's only so much you can handle in a part of it. That is correct. Um, we would not be able to do that entire building in one. So, you couldn't do the rest of it. It got Let's say someone

052dropped $3 million in our lap. It'd be difficult to do. >> I do believe we could complete the rest of it in one summer now that we've done two phases. I do believe >> we could possibly not. Okay. >> All right. I'm just trying to think of I just want to understand all the different implications. So, it's like, okay, if you know, some super rich graduate of Rocky Hill, you know, came back and said, "Here's three million bucks, AC it." Then, um maybe they work for an AC company or something. Um All right. No, that's that's great. I think I think that explains it because um I know we get questions about this one often, right? And and I also appreciate the clarification that everyone's got to say. So, thank you. >> Okay, Mr. Danowitz,

053>> thank you. This is very helpful. Um just a couple kind of like historical questions. So, you said this go and this predates me. So, like you said that this goes back to 22 23 school year. >> That was our first installation. Yes. >> And was it grant funding originally? >> It was not. Um however um we were able to retroactively apply for grant reimbursement um which Dr. Nosek and I have um been working on um to complete and submit to the state um for for reimbursement. So it was it was approximately um we were eligible for $760,000 worth of work >> um for for a grant word of which would get back about $340,000. >> Um we've actually spent more than that. Yeah. >> Um because the cost came in after the fact. So

054once they approve you for a grant, you can't if you it's ineligible anything above and above and beyond that grant. So we are recovering approximately 340,000. Um so we were retroactively so phase one was the only one that we had to retroactively go toward for grant money. >> Okay. >> Um but those were not on the non-priority. that was the special HVAC competitive grant that that we had initially. And I'm I'm only asking because, you know, I think there's been maybe misconceptions around um the funding for this. I think just like like publicly and how, you know, was it emergency COVID funds eventually at some point? Um and >> you know, because those lapsed or because we didn't use them, now the town has to pick it up. So, can you just clarify any misconceptions

055there? >> During COVID, we did use COVID funding to um complete the West Hill air conditioning. >> Okay. Oh, so maybe that's what >> Yeah, we only had so much um >> rooftop units. >> The rooftop units and and the interior units were done as well. So, that has a complete new system that was that was funded through CO funding. >> Okay. >> Um you know, we weren't um in charge of CO funding. The town was. So that's, you know, so they they understand. I just, so I just want people to understand that we didn't get a pile of money and say, "Let's spend it on this." We worked with the town to to be able to use that money for um for that replacement. So there were so obviously there were grants for that

056project, too. Another piece of the money that was important and was smart to spend on facilities didn't create a staff dumped it into personnel >> and then when the monies went away screwed right huge layoffs were very strategic about >> we did hire a couple of positions with co money but most of it was spent on facilities. No, that's helpful and like I appreciate the clarification because I think that's different than some of the messaging that's happening in the community. So, I think that's helpful. Um, >> thank you. I don't have any other questions right now. >> Any other questions about HVAC? >> Oh, sorry, one more. >> Oh, go ahead. >> They all So, you said they all have some type of air conditioning. What about heat? >> Oh, they all have heat. >>

057They all have heat. I just have to ask. >> We absolutely would have heard about it over the last 14 days if they didn't. I mean, obviously it it's older in in most of the building, but we're we're on top of it when when we know there's a problem. Um our staff addresses it. Um >> you know, sometimes it's hard finding some parts, but we we do get to it and we've had to bring in space heaters when there's a delay in getting things, but there is heat. >> And do we know on that is October 15 on? >> Yes. It has to has to be legally on on October 15th and I can legally turn it off on April 15th. But I don't. >> But you don't. >> I don't. >> Um >> I

058just had had one other question kind of pop into my brain. Sorry. I know. I'm like sorry. >> Must be because you're sitting next to Mr. >> It's rubbing off. Um, what is the energy effect like the energy consumption >> that we are potentially paying for window units >> because of the window units? Yeah, I'll be honest with you, the new equipment is going to cost more than running those window units >> because they're much larger. >> Um, they're energy efficient equipment >> that's in there now. >> Well, no. So, the equipment we put in is energy efficient. It >> doesn't mean we're going to use less energy than what we're using now because now you have to have multiple units doing different types of things. You have to have a unit that's bringing in

059>> we are bringing in fresh air, but we changed that out. So there' be a makeup air unit that has to be conditioned now that so now there's a compressor and heating source for that to bring it up to 60 or down to 60 before it goes to the classrooms. So there's more equipment involved. >> So I can't say that there's going to be a huge savings energy-wise. Um but you know because it but we will you know it probably will be a wash. It's not like we're we're throwing money out the window because of the air conditioning air conditioners that are there now. >> Um but you typically um you know we put in energy saving equipment at the high school during your renovation. Our electric bills are a lot higher now than they

060were um when the high school wasn't renovated. >> It's just because there's more of it. >> Yep. >> And and you know so that sort of thing. >> Yeah. Yeah, no, that makes sense. Thank you. >> I think you also mentioned in the past that there was legislation that was out about how hot or cold a classroom can be and I know you've been up on that. So, you you are very >> careful in all of our buildings to make sure that you're following the guidelines from the state >> and so far we have never achieved the the the warm the warmest part of that. Um, believe it or not, the the buildings even, you know, the cafeteria at Stevens, even though there's no air condition, stays fairly cool on a 90 degree day because

061we're bringing return air from from the other spaces and and it does get circulated through through the building. Um, so I I [snorts] don't I can't remember a day where we've been over 85 86 in any of the unconditioned spaces, but we do monitor that because we have to. >> Yeah. I don't think I've ever had one of my children complain about being too hot or too cold in any of their buildings. So, you're doing something right. >> I try. >> Okay. So, um moving on to the doors and windows at Stevens. Would you like to talk a little bit about that because I know that that could possibly well that it looks like it's projected out to 29. >> So, that is you know that some of these things that are out in the

062later years are or sort are sort of like the wish list items. Do we need windows and doors at Stevens? Yes. Can we walk in and out of our building with the doors we have now? Yes. Um but there would be an energy savings um there that it's single pane glass you know you know the glazing is starting to deteriorate and Miss Colado would like to tell you about the draft she feels across her desk every day. >> Um and Miss Duran had the same complaint but um so it they're due. Um it's a big project that that's that's not just you know calling window world and having them pop things in. That's an architect. That's also a reimburseable project. >> Okay. >> Um moving forward, >> what about um have you looked at window

063tinting to help with the drafting of >> um the the biggest drafts are actually more so it's more a radiant draft. So tinting isn't really going to do much. It it'll it'll stop some reflection and stuff and that sort of thing, but it's more it's kind of just like pushes through the glass and any any glazing that's there now. we we've gone through and we've we've had them come out and and seal things up, but we're, >> you know, again, 1957 and 1967. >> Um, so it's they're old. Um, so that that's really uh it's pushed out um because it's something that does have to be designed. So when facilities committee is ready to do that, you know, they'll have me go out, we'll get an architect to design the windows. There's also issues with

064possible um, you know, PCBs and in and caul and that sort of thing. So part of why we don't touch it, it's because once we disturb it could become more and more um but it is it is on our list and it's something that we want to do. >> Any questions about uh windows and doors? >> Yeah. >> Go ahead, Mr. Clemens. >> Um also mentions here about increase security. So the I know at Stevens there's quite a few classrooms that have exterior doors. >> Correct. that this would also remove those doors, right? >> My I would like to see those doors removed. Um it's one less access point into the building. >> Um I do go back and forth with our SOS SRO's a little bit on that. Um they'd like it to be

065a means of egress. Um they're not a fire egress anymore. Um since the buildings, they were only there for fire egress when the building was built. Since we've been sprinklered, >> no longer required to have that secondary exit. as if you walk through Moer, there aren't secondary exits through to get out of Moer. Um, so I I'm from the standpoint of it's one less door to be left propped open >> and one less spot for a bad guy to get in. >> Um, part of that would be the windows would have an egress point, an operable egress as part of the windows. Um, not operable so they can open it up because it's a nice spring day, but operable if there's an emergency that we can evacuate through that route. And those doors currently cannot

066be opened from the outside, right? There's no like there's no keyhole. >> They're they're they're well they are keyed. Um we've re keyed the entire building um since I've been here other than those locks because they are just they're just not worth replacing the locks on. No one has keys to them anymore other than staff. I mean and they're rarely used from the outside. >> Okay. >> Teachers don't have keys to those doors. It's really maintenance staff. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Another question. Mr. Abby. Thank you. Um, we discussed this in the uh the facility meeting, but again, um, you don't have budgets done yet for this, correct? So, I believe the 900,000 is pretty light. >> It's very light. >> Very light. Yes. It's probably at least a $3 million project. >> Yeah,

067it's it's a placeholder. >> Yep. And uh, which means yes, we we do need to get on that I think soon after the mechanical equipment HVAC replacement. Otherwise, we're just going to have taxpayer dollars going out the windows theoretically. Um, so I mean, and I'd hate to phase it out over a long period of time, it may be something that we have to look at doing a a referendum for, unfortunately. Um, because like much of these projects, they're big jobs, but to just spread them out, I just don't think it's effective. And um, so I just wanted to kind of make that statement. And I think that is eligible for non priority, right? >> That is eligible for non- priority. And you know, phasing phasing is possible obviously, >> but it's also, you know, the

068more we phase, the more disruptive it is to the school environment through summers for for multiple programs and that sort of thing. What's nice about Stevens though, it's chunked up in those wings where we can actually, you know, do something in one wing that we can't while something else is going on in the other wing. Um, you can't necessarily do that in some of the other buildings, but um it it is possible. >> Yeah. But no, I'm glad to see it on the radar, but I think we got to start getting the wheels moving here soon on that. Um, but I just want to make that statement. So, thank you. >> Okay. >> Any other Miss Manella? >> I'm sorry. I had another question about Stevens. It's not regard It's not on this list, but

069I had a question. Are the are Does Stevens still have portables in the back? >> Correct. >> Oh my. [laughter] >> Oh, boy. There there are there are there >> How come they're not on here? There are >> How old are they? >> Um, >> the originals are probably >> Oh, >> 88. Yeah. Yeah, they they they were installed when I graduated high school. >> Yeah, they should be I think we should put something on here first. >> So, as to replace portables, >> I don't >> we can't remove them because we won't have the space. Um, you know, if you're looking at expanding, um, you know, the talk might be to put an addition on that building. cost efficient probably. >> I mean for a long time they were the preferred teaching space. >>

070Are they still >> teachers want to be >> are they still >> really good air conditioning? >> Yeah they they they actually had air conditioning over some of the other spaces. You know we we we >> we keep them up. We recently you know did a full last was it last summer we did a full cocking and painting of the exterior. >> Um >> two of them are fairly new. They were put in just before Moer started. So, the two of them are fairly new and then there's the other three from it's easy access to the playground. [laughter] >> What What is a portable cost? Just out of curiosity. I really don't want that answer, but I'm just curious. >> Well, in excess of 100,000 is kind of >> Yeah, a a piece. And then

071you have to have architects design it. You don't have to. It's just the way we've done it. I mean, I know I know there's portable classrooms probably in Virginia that are on cinder blocks, but we don't do that in Rocky Hill. We would definitely have a skunk bigger skunk problem if we did that. Probably >> sure. >> Any other questions about Steven's school? >> I just go ahead. >> If we know that the windows and doors are so much more, does it make sense to increase the number on this chart? I know it's just a placeholder for out for >> I'll be honest, that's probably close to design, I would think. I mean so you know we that that would be the first step is we have to approve money to design >> to even

072get estimates um to properly go out to bid and get reimbursement. >> Okay. >> So at at any point we can start that process if there is some chunk of money in there. Um you know we can we can reach out to architects and get proposals to to do the design. >> Okay. So that's really I mean that would that's really an early starting point you know because we we are so heavy in the next couple of years on some of these projects. >> Um so it's you know obviously we want it done but it's not a priority like some of the other projects. >> Right. Okay. Well maybe add those words in design >> and just to make it a little clear. [snorts] >> Thank you. >> All right. Next on the list is

073the roof replacement at West Hill. Would you like to just talk a little bit about that? It's already in motion. >> It is in motion. Um we will be actually putting in our initial application for grant reimbursement um in the next few days. We're within the window. The state opens the window between the 1st and 10th of every month. So we've been um we got all our ducks in a row with the last with the town council having all their resolutions and committing to the 1.6. It's a little more than 1.6. um for the estimate, but [snorts] um you know that has started and we fully intend on hitting the streets end of March um early April to get a contractor on board to do that work. >> Go ahead, Miss Manella. >> So with

074West Hill, is this for the whole building or is it just over the cafeteria? From what my memory it was, it used to leak over there. >> Every every inch of that roof will be replaced, including the portables. >> I was just going to ask you about the portable, >> which the portables are non-reimburseable. Just so you know, the roofing on a portable classroom is nonreimbured, but it's such a small chunk of it that it's it's not going to be a problem. >> Okay. And then how how are I'm just curious. How are the skylights that uh >> um that's part of the project? >> Oh, is it? >> Yes. >> Oh, >> well, they don't have skylights. They have they have they have but it's actually windows >> built up off of the roof.

075So it's not a true skylight where it's shining down. It is shining from the side. So those will be you know there'll be new flashing. The windows themselves will remain >> but every the roofs of those will be you know replaced because there is actually roofing material on top of those. Y >> um you know with new flashing and whatnot. So um but they seem to work well. >> Okay. All right. I'm just curious because with all the snow that we had and >> Yeah, actually those those aren't leaking. We have leaks but those aren't leaking. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Y >> any other questions regarding the roof? >> Okay. I know uh a number of years back we had talked about classroom spaces there and enclosing the library and art room areas. >>

076Enclosing enclosings. Correct. There was like building a a wall up. Is that what what it was if I remember correctly? So, if if you've been in the building, um you know that the library media center is open to the main hallway and so is the art room. >> So, part of it was to put up um have glass, you know, glass walls installed in place with um part of it is um security and part of it is noise related, you know, and that sort of thing. Um and modernization. I mean, it's just we don't really have those large open spaces anymore. Um, so that that was part of um and one part of that also is the um the computer room has a a temporary wall that's never been, you know, so we were gonna

077we we were going to put a a full a full wall in in between the media center and the computer space, the the computer lab. >> Hi Maria, >> I have another question. Go ahead. Because in West Hill, all of the classrooms have the the accordion. >> They do. >> So, is that what you're said talking about over in the >> No, no, no. This would be so similar to what we have in place. Um it it'd be a it there's a half wall right now if you walk by the library. So, from that half wall to the ceiling would be >> would be glass. >> Okay. >> Um and then we'd also have doors closing off one, you know, that goes down the ramp and the stairs. So, so that that's really what it

078is. the closing up the cloud. I don't how often do they even use the folding walls in West Hill? >> The folding walls for the most part are already closed off. >> It was designed, you know, back in the 70s model and so you could open up all four classrooms, just have one large space and that was typical for the time. >> But you had the option to close those doors and make four classrooms with the exception of the reading room. I think um which it's like a suite now. Um it's a larger area with more people but doing the same type of work. Um I think they're all closed. >> Yeah. And I think once in a while teachers use the door between the two to keep an eye on, you know, right >>

079what's going on, but but they're not utilized in an openlo fashion anymore. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions about the space in I'm assuming that 80,000 would be like design. >> No, that would that's what it would be. >> That would be completely >> Okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. And I'm basing it on the other glass walls that we put in for as for man traps and and other type of things. You know, that that number is doable. >> Oh, >> yes. Go ahead. And that that would be summer 27 that project. I mean you have it in next year's budget. So it' be summer 27. >> So if we get that funny is it in next year's budget? No, that's in that's in the that's in >> it's in 26 27 >> 27. >>

080So that's the budget we're going for now. Right. That realistically could get done this summer if the >> if it got approved. Yeah. That's not that's not a year out. >> It's not a long one. Okay. So it could be done second part of the summer or whatever and done. Okay. As soon as as soon as if it's approved and the town council passes their budget and it's there, >> I can work with my contractors to to to get that going. >> Awesome. Thanks. >> We're not going to run any summer program at West Hill, >> so it's probably a good time to get that. >> All right. Um, moving on to GMS. And I know we have spent a lot of time talking about some of the upgrades that really need to be done

081there. So, the first is the front entrance canopy. and then I'll let you talk a little bit about the teched and media center renovations. >> Right. So, um obviously um the canopy was not re- roofed um as part of the re-roofing um because there's other structural concerns with that. Not unsafe, but approaching unsafe. So, it and it's dated honestly. It um so we have a con conceptual on that. That number's a couple years old, too. Um, however, that's something that may have to move in our very fluid CIP because [snorts] I do have it checked and as soon as someone tells us it's not safe, it's coming down. >> So, um, I need to, um, we need to keep keep an eye on that. Um, doesn't mean it has to go back up, but just

082so you know, there may be a day where >> the kids are standing out in the rain. So, um, so, but that is something that that may have to move at some point in time. you know, it'll be it'll be checked again this spring. Um, but if it's not structurally sound, we we do have to take action on that. >> Hi, Maria. >> Hi, Rod. I'm sorry. Is Is it um as old as the whole building, the canopy? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah, it's it's it's it was originally installed What year, Jay? >> 1963. [snorts] >> 1963. >> Perfect. Thank you. I'm so glad Mr. Mazi is sitting in the room tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jay. >> I know you did >> in 1963. >> He's not that old. >> Jess, real

083quick. >> Yes. Go ahead, Mr. >> Do you have a rough breakdown of that? Um 800 like what would demo be? Is it I have no like is it 50? Is it 100? Is 200 of the 800? >> The demolition pretty small, right? >> That's going to be the cheapest part of >> Right. So it could be pretty small. So it's something you could if necessary emergency come in >> more easily fit in. Okay. Thanks. The same thing with the bleachers >> at one point. >> They were down in a day. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. Demo is actually the most fun part of a project and usually the cheapest part. >> The only issue we ever had with demo was the >> Oh, yeah. >> [clears throat] >> Oh yes, Mr. Clemens.

084>> Um, yeah, the canopy. I mean, obviously we >> do we really need it? >> I guess my question. I mean, why I get I know why it's there, but I mean, inclement weather, why can't the kids just be brought right into the gymnasium? >> Part of it is supervision. I can let Jay speak to that. I mean, it's um, you know, once they're in the building, it's a little, you know, to corral them. you know, they're only out there for a short amount of time, >> but it's still it's it's still um you know, it's like actually we talked at one point and we actually redesigned the high school stairs when we had to do the stairs again to be able to put a canopy at the top of the stairs. It was built

085for that. I mean, >> I don't I mean, we don't have a canopy outside of GMS or Stevens or Moer. >> Yeah, we do. Moer, there is >> Moer. There's a canopy. >> There is at Moer. Yes. Yeah. I mean, Bottom line is, will we be able to operate this the school without it? >> Yes. Um, >> I'll tell you, it's going to be ugly without something there. >> Yeah, I was going to say it's more aesthetically pleasing with the >> canopy. I mean, the conceptual is is, you know, it's a nice steel pitched. I mean, it it modernizes the building. Um, but it, you know, that this is all entirely up to you guys. You can you can scrap it. You can say knock it down, put a sidewalk in, and call it a

086day. Um but you know that that's a discussion to be had but at some point like saying as soon as it is deemed unsafe it is coming down. >> Okay. Any other questions about the canopy? >> Okay. I'm gonna let you talk a little bit about the teched and media center renovations. I know you went through a beautiful PowerPoint with us at facilities a meeting. >> So um yeah, so the conceptuals were done and estimates on those conceptuals were provided and those are actual numbers that we have in there now. Um, so it's broken down. Um, we break it down by So I think I'm not sure which tech ed space this. I believe this is the wood shop, the 681, and then it's the module lab and then it's the library media center, excuse

087[clears throat] me. So obviously they're three separate spaces, so it's very easy to phase those in. Um and the discussion was to get to the tech ed before we get to the library media center because that is actually carrying up into the high school. So, um, we I actually had a a conversation with Castle Booze, um, last week letting him know where we stood. And so, we need a full construction design. Um, and he's going to provide us a cost on on the construction design part of it so we can actually uh, move forward with that. So just so you know, so it says 2627 that the funding would be in place for 2627, but it wouldn't be till summer of 27 before, you know, actually 28. It would be 28 before we actually start

088because, you know, we have to have the money and then we have to go out to bid and they have to, you know, we have to make sure that we have materials and all that in place. So everything there is about a year out from where the money's in place. >> [snorts] >> questions. We [clears throat] have a lot to talk about here, so we probably should have a facilities meeting again soon. Um, you know, I I'm I'm particularly concerned only because I don't want our students going to school in middle school and then going up to the high school and not having um the background that they need, especially in the teched department. Um, and I also think that this is an older building. It needs some TLC. Um, and so I do have

089some concerns here. Not sure how to fit it all in, though. So, uh, but maybe that's for another facilities meeting, but I appreciate you going through some of those design costs and when things would be able to kind of start. And I'm assuming all of these things can be we can apply for grants for all of these. Correct. Or no, >> not for the remodel of those spaces. No. >> Okay. >> All right. [cough and clears throat] >> Because it's technically a remodel. It's not a new space. it doesn't affect the the infrastructure, you know, itself. >> Okay. >> Um, so that is not eligible at this point in time for non-priority. >> All right. >> Because it would have been nice. We could have done the science classrooms that way too if it was,

090but unfortunately, it's not. >> Okay. Um, moving on to all of the um, let's see, one, two, three, four, five more um, things that need to be changed over at the high school. >> Right. So, um, you know, the tennis courts, and this is in conversation with the town. They asked us to put it in here in two separate years so we can get a chunk of money and then a chunk of money and then get it done. So, we've already done a resurfacing. We did a major one that they said would let was good for six to seven years. We're at eight to nine years now. Um we did do a second surfacing, but it's it's non-reparable at this point to the point of where CIA might say you can't have your event here.

091Um but that would be for a post-tension five it's five courts I believe or is it four quarts? I don't remember. But it would be full, you know, new fencing, post tension, concrete, tennis courts. You know, it would be brand new and it will last a long time. >> What's What's a long time? >> Good. Yeah, >> I will be retired. [laughter] >> No, you're probably you're probably looking you're probably looking, you know, at least 25 years. >> Okay. >> You still be here? >> I won't be here in 25 years. [laughter] >> Go ahead, Mr. >> Real quick. just summer. Which which summer would you plan that? What again? Is that a quick lead time sort of item? Like if we got the you want all the money in place so then it would

092be summer of 28. It looks like >> it it would be it it summer of 28. >> If this lined up if we got the money lined up be summer of 28. >> Perfect. Thanks. >> And we did research some grant funding for that. I I met with Craig Bowman. Um there are some some tennis you know u the tennis associations do have they're very small um you know and and there there is a lot of work that you have to put in and they also want to make sure that you have your your like your parks and wreck are providing certain tennis programs as part of it. So there's a lot involved in in getting some of that stuff. It's not impossible still but we did start researching it. >> Okay. Um, you know,

093and I know that like they don't want pickle ball on it. There there's certain rules. It's interesting stuff. >> Okay. >> Mr. Clemens, did you have a follow-up question? >> Uh, not so much on the tennis courts because we kind of skipped over building envelope >> which was put out 20 30 31. >> Yeah. Um, >> is that the repointing of the bricks? Is that what it is? >> Yes. So that that is it's a wish list. You know, it wasn't done as part of the renovation. We're not in any any danger at this point. We did reccock everything as part of the renovation. Um we are keeping an eye. The first place that would have to be done is probably the pool. That environment seems to hurt everything, but we're not we we're not

094seeing any infiltration or anything. But it it is it is something that we want to keep tabs on. Well, I guess my main question is this is for the high school, but what about our other schools since they're all also brick? >> Um, no, they're we're starting to to lose it. West Hill in particularly is starting to have some brick erosion um and some point pointing issues um because of the salt primarily that's used around the building. Um and you know, we we we have and I actually most recently um it's starting to deteriorate a little bit more. I mean, building's not falling down by any means. It's more aesthetic, but it is something that we have to uh start working at, but that some of that could be small repairs, not necessarily capital. >>

095Gotcha. >> Um so, um but we we could do a complete study and and and and have it looked at and see where we stand. I mean, I don't have a problem doing that if we're able to fund something like that. >> All right. Thank you. I think we can move on to the athletic complex field visitor bleachers. >> Sure. So um actually Dr. Zitto mentioned it earlier that during the renovation um the bleachers were slated to have ADA accessible ramps put in. Um but it was they were deemed unsafe. So that got scrapped and they got scrapped. They they weren't structurally sound anymore. and we haven't had anything there since 2015 I think now and we do get complaints that we don't have visitor bleachers um you know especially for some of our larger

096competitive events that are there when you know like the crown game for football we don't have a lot of events where we fill our stadium >> but the idea of mixing the visitors with the home crowd isn't always the best idea so um you know and it that number is probably pretty close to what it would be. Um might be a little bit higher. That that number is a couple years old right now. I'd have to redo redo that number um for the quote, but you know, I I think it's time. I mean, we right now we have portable bleachers in place. You know, Parks and Rec put um bleachers in that place, but it's just not enough. Actually, I received a phone call after the Northwest game from a Northwest um on a Saturday

097morning and I happened to my office, no one called me. My office phone goes to my cell phone and I just happened to pick it up. So, and it was very nice conversation, but he was very upset that he could not sit in the bleachers and kept stating that they're not high enough and I said, "I understand it's in our capital project, but so we we do get complaints about that stuff." Well, thank you for taking those calls on a Saturday. >> Actually, now that I'm thinking, I might transfer my office phone to your cell phone and [laughter] then, you know, some of those things might get done a little bit quicker. We'll see. [laughter] >> Question. >> Go ahead, Mr. Clemens. >> The uh what the capacity of those bleachers be? >> I don't

098remember off hand. It It's probably half the size of um our main bleacher section, but um I don't know what our total attendance is on those. >> So, so roughly about half of what we already have. >> Yeah, roughly. >> Okay. >> Thank you. [snorts] >> All right. And we've been talking pool for a while, too. So, that that has come up multiple times. >> All right. So, absolutely, we don't need any money for the pool boiler. It's just there the town is funding that the PO has been issued. Um we are waiting for the completion of the swim season. Um, and honestly, if we would have started it in the last couple weeks, we would have had a new ice hockey rink. Um, so that it could have helped save on some ice time

099money, but >> um, but so that no, that is in the work. That part that part is happening. >> Oh, nice. >> Um, >> so, um, the pumps, um, we don't have a quote for that yet. You know, we're the [snorts] town has some money in there. Um, Walt from Parks, um, is is working that out. you know, we're working on that together to to have a redundant pump in the pool. So, right now, we have one pump. If it fails, we have no flow. If we can't fix it fast enough, then we're down for a while. So, we're going to have a redundant pump system, and it's also going to be very drive motor. So, you don't need a, you know, full RPM pumping that pool water overnight. It can just So, we'll have

100an energy savings there. So, that's that's part of the design for that. >> Okay. Any questions on the pool? All right, moving on to the miscellaneous projects and classroom furniture. >> Right. So, um, this number's been in here for a lot of years and it's never been funded. Um, as a matter of fact, I just called Jason yesterday because a teacher needs a desk at GMS. We have no more desks. And I happen to have John doesn't know this yet, but I'm taking one from the high school to give to give to Jason. [laughter] So, >> but we have to do what we have to do. >> His desk, right? He's never in his office. >> So, [laughter] so it's it honestly it's it's very important that we start replacing the furniture in our schools.

101Um some of them have been repaired multiple times over the years. Um we're at the point where and we just don't have anymore. We we just don't have replacements. [snorts] Um I do at the elementary schools. We have spare desk. GMS is really the worst right. The teachers, you know, there's some duct tape holding their from Micah on top of their, you know, their desks right now. So >> that's why you don't want an office in my high school. >> That's right. We're getting new furniture at this building. So um so it it is important that that we start systematically whe you know and I will work with the principles. Do we do it by grade? Do we just do student furniture and not you know so $100,000 is a good chunk every year to

102to get us sorry to be where and the idea with GMS is to um model the moer furniture um you know that desk style that chair style um because they you know it so we'll be carrying that over it it's a good quality product and um you know it's already been board approved at one point in time um so it's it's really something that we'd like to carry forward for student desk and and teacher desks. >> Um so actually um I would and those are long need as well. So that's something that you know I'd have to order March, April to have in by September. Um so that's we want we want to make sure we we it's not a July one type order and have it in place for the start of school. So

103that that's something we have to actually work on for a couple of months before, you know, before we can get them in. >> Go ahead, Mr. Costco. >> I was just thinking about again talking about all these lovely 195767 years on the buildings. Do you have a sense of some of the years for Stevens, West Hill, GMS as far as the furniture? >> So um over the years, um principles have purchased through their equipment budgets, um you know, classroom replacements. During COVID, I bought we had to have kindergarteners sitting at desks so we can separate them. >> So that furniture actually now that they don't have to sit at desk anymore. They can sit at their their table styles. That furniture actually moved up to first grade. So we're not as bad te teacher furniture

104and you know filing can that stuff is in tough shape at those buildings, but I think we're for the most part it'd be nice to start replacing that as well. That's why we have it in for multiple years, right? >> But we're not going to get them all done in in one year anyway. So, it's going to be a systematic >> start replacing it. Typically would be a grade level at a time, >> right? >> Um, >> I guess the reason for my question is we're at the point we need to do it each year. We need to start set aside the money and start purchasing it so we can stay ahead of it and we don't have right >> terribly old stuff there. >> I mean, we we only have 30 desks that still

105have inkwells in Met Stevens. So, >> Inkwells. That's beautiful. Thank you for that reference. That's helpful. So, let's get those 30 out of there. That's helpful. That's even what better than the day dates of the furniture, the fact that they got >> some of the kids are still writing on slates, so [laughter] we're good. And the abacuses are still working, so we're in pretty good shape. >> Okay. All right. Thank you, >> Miss Manella. Um, Ron, so when was the last time my because I recall my middle son when he was in fifth grade at West Hill School and I remember being in a in the portable with Scott with Mr. Nosik in the classroom and I was like appalled at the at the desks, >> remember? And I was like, "Oh my god." Was

106that the last time that we did a cla a classroom? >> I I believe so. Oh my. Seven. Seven years. >> Yeah. So imagine. So some the furniture there is actually newer than the stuff. I mean Jason's furniture goes back to 1994. >> Some Yeah. Yeah. Some earlier. Some of the teachers furniture is is is 80s, but that was the the classroom student furniture was installed with the with when the pods were added on. >> Okay. Wow. furniture. >> Yeah, I was gonna say most of those [laughter] desks have his initials in it. >> Actually, there's still a piece of bazooka in room 702 that Jason stuck there. >> Oh my Oh boy. Okay. Okay. Well, because I remember back then there we we were pledging, oh, we're going to do this every year. >>

107And that was the one and only time and that was it. Seven years ago. >> Yeah. Well, I I was going to say that, Miss Morphe. So, you know, classroom furniture aside, um you know, the buildings belong to the town, but it's our responsibility to >> maintain them. And when the CIP is um not funded, we can't do these projects. Um and I'm looking across the board and and we've been talking about this for a very long time about things that need to be finished. uh and looking at money that has been put aside or a request that has been put aside telling the town, hey, we need to get this HVAC, you know, finished or and then to not see uh money put in is um is upsetting because now we're at a point

108where we have so many projects that have to be done, we don't have the money to fund all of them right now. And even talking, you know, 2028, it doesn't seem like it's that far away, but there's a number of projects that are on the to-do list. So, we have a lot to talk about. Uh we we desperately need this capital improvement plan to be funded fully every time that we ask. And um I'm hoping that keeping open lines of communication, I know our school leaison is in the room today uh that we can get some money put aside on a more regular basis to fund these projects. >> Go ahead, Miss Manila. >> Sorry, I just want to make one more comment. Um can I please just make a request? Um years ago under

109Frank Moors is it started we always had a tour of each school before the school year. in the end of August and the public was invited and we um and I I think Ron you led led the tour. >> I led several of those and they they went away. They went away at co >> Yeah. >> and they just never >> and I think that was a great idea. It was open to the public and we all took the tour with you and we started at West Hill. We went to Stevens and so on and so forth. And I think >> does a special meeting. That's how you do it. >> Yes, it was a special meeting. >> Kind of went by the wayside with restrictions and everything. >> Yep. And I special >> I

110think that needs to be picked up again because I think our um constituents needs to see what is going on in our schools. >> Happy to do it. >> I think that's a great idea. >> Open door communication. >> Yep. >> Can we make sure to invite town council? >> It's going to be open to everybody. >> That's what I'm saying. Let's make sure we let them know. Make sure they can't say they don't members of the public who participate in it. It's a caravan that goes from school to school with the schedule. >> Right. Exactly. >> Typically started at West Hill at 7:00 and then work back to the other side of town. >> Right. >> We did that at least eight or nine years in a row. >> Exactly. >> And it was

111great. And I I still remember um with when we had the NEAS with the the high school and I still remember going through the school and parents were mortified. Mortified going through those halls. >> Oh, prior to renovation. >> Yes. Prior to Yes. And I'm telling you that was the best thing we could have ever done is doing those tours. And I think that would be um a great thing to put on our agenda for a future tour tours. >> Did you say August? Is that usually end of August? We did it until co and then what we started doing with [clears throat] CO was Ron would come in and do a visual report at the August board meeting >> which he's consistently done each year. >> I think it's a good idea to go

112back to the physical. It's a special meeting late August >> typically a couple days before school opens and schedu schedule it out and you know then we'll convene in the lobby west hill and then we'll finish the tour there and go second typically what Ron will do is point out any new projects that were done over the summer much like he does now in the reports kind of switch to the report during couldn't be around each other we were I don't want to rehash but yeah >> that's exactly what happened so I think it's totally to go back to >> okay I'm making a mental note because I think we do need to um try to get that on the calendar for late August. >> Yeah. >> Even though you do a wonderful job with

113your presentation and I do appreciate the time and effort that you put into your slides and the pictures. >> Actually, I appreciate Dr. Zto trying to get me out of one of those, but I've always done both. >> I I did [laughter] I think we said with the visual stuff, we got more into it. >> Yeah. Detailed photos and >> Yeah. So yeah, the August meeting I typically would would do my, you know, you know, my dog and pony show for you all and then we would do the um and then we would do the the the open tour to to the, you know, town council and any residents and families that wanted to see it, you know, late August, you know, because we're still we're still doing a lot of stuff up until, you

114know, the first bell rings um on the first day of school. So >> it's really likely a couple days. >> Yeah. Great. >> Yeah. Well, I I mean, we could even have it maybe in the first week of September, you know, after school has started if that's >> which would be fine, too. I mean, however we want to do it, but I'd be happy to show everybody what's going on. >> And and I love that you want to highlight all the things that you did do over the summer, but I'd like you to highlight the things that need to be done so people, our constituents can see it. I think that's going to be very important going forward. >> Okay. >> Uh, Miss Dudanowitz. >> Yeah. I just want to build I just have a

115comment um to build off of what Miss Alfredo was saying and um this list is very reactive I think to to issues that have to be done and and seem to have all kind of been on the radar um for previous years but I don't see any preventative maintenance or um like >> that's that's not part of capital funding that comes out of my operating budget >> that comes out of your operating budget. >> Yes. >> So, do we know cuz like we're talking a lot about kind of how the how the buildings are starting to deteriorate. They're old older. So, but this list to me seems like all of the things that we have to do right now, but not necessarily projects that we're thinking about that we're going to need to have to

116do five, 10 years down the road outside of um like the renovation at GMS. But I've never, no offense, I've never set foot in GMS yet. Um, I know I should, but >> to our tour. >> It sounds like there's more that needs to be done at that school and if we know of what those capital projects are in the future, should we start planning for them now? >> Um, yeah, I typically are, you know, we do about 10 years out. Um, we can start throwing numbers anywhere you want. I mean, the I mean, be up honest, Griswald needs new flooring, um, you know, in all the spaces. um you know there's there's things like that. Um so we do have miscellaneous projects and um in in various schools that I do start tackling classroom

117carpeting and that sort of thing >> um you know where where it's most most needed. Um so >> that that sort of work does happen. Some of that comes out of my operating budget as well. >> So we do we do that sort of maintenance throughout. Um the last couple years I did the entire cafeteria floor at West Hill Stevens, you know, so those were completely replaced. So we we do tackle those, but they're not necessarily on the capital project. >> Understood. Um I just think like based on this conversation, it sounds like there are other larger projects that will qualify for the capital dollars, right? Um, and I'm just wondering if it makes sense like to your to your point when we go to see the buildings if this list is a little bit

118longer. Um, >> it will be >> will >> it have more of an impact? And I'm only saying that because this list is what we need to do right now, >> but it's not a it's it's not considering the larger projects that are going to inevitably have to happen, >> right? I mean, I think we can have we can probably add to the descriptions and and we're not going to have like prices moving that far out because, right, like I said, the CIP's always been very fluid. I mean, like anything can change on this. I mean, we could have something disastrous happen and, you know, we're not doing something, >> right? >> So, um, but yeah, I mean, for for future for for for future planning, um, we can start throwing in some of the

119stuff, um, that we have separate that I I typically try and handle with operating operating budget costs. >> I think it would just be helpful to see it all. >> Yeah. So, our our capital I think I think the number is it must cost $7,500 and last for I'll check >> five years. >> Yeah. Five. So, it has to have an impact of cost of 7,500 and and and be and be usable for for for five years out. So, we'd have to check on that. But there's a lot of those little projects that honestly if it if it came off of went into CIP and came off of my, you know, out of my away from my operating budget that I can actually do other things within the operating budget, right? um you know so

120it's absolutely something we should look at. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Maybe at our next facilities meeting we should start >> talking about those things. >> Sounds good. Thank you. >> Hi Maria. >> Miss Manella. >> Hi Ron. >> Um so I was at Moer school last night because my boys had basketball and just curious um do you have to do anything at Moer? I know it's brand new. We would like to keep it brand new but I was just wondering. No, and not not on a capital basis. I mean, things are starting to fail at Moer just like we're failing at the high school and now we have some, you know, LED drivers that are no longer in warranty and, you know, so things are starting to go, but nothing to that level. Um,

121>> you know, the AC, so 19. So, you know, we've had a couple of minor issues that aren't, you know, but there's nothing large scale yet. Okay. Um, we're we're still pretty good there. >> Okay, good. Thank you. Any other question? >> Oh, Thomas wants a koi pond. [laughter] >> Would you like that in the back area? >> Right around the >> But that that was that was a real request. I'm just putting it out there. I said no. >> Okay. >> Well, we did have someone trip over the lights in the past if I remember correctly. So maybe a koi pond would be nice there. No. Okay. Um Mr. Lamont, I don't want to diminish. I know there's been a lot of frustration about our capital improvement plan and all the things that we

122have to get done. But I don't want to diminish what it is that you and your staff do every year to keep our, you know, classrooms and the learning spaces in our district looking fantastic. They they really do are you walk into buildings and everything does look really clean and I know our kids are very happy coming to school here. Um, you just have to ask my three children as they uh always compare what my school looks like versus what their school looks like. And they're always telling me, "Oh, mom, your your classroom is so dirty." Um, and it has nothing to do with me. It just is a very old building that no one is taking care of. >> What year? >> You know what? I'll have to get back to you about that.

123But it's old enough for them to close it soon. So, um, you know, thank you. Thank you to you. Thank you to your custodial staff for everything that you do. We do appreciate it. Um, and you know, we will we will work on on this capital improvement plan and we will keep fighting the good fight to make sure that our schools have what they need. >> Thank you. And I will pass that along to my staff. >> Please do. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Were we going to go through his facilities piece or no? >> Oh, >> that other tab. I didn't know if you wanted to. >> That's right. I'm sorry. I didn't want to get too comfortable tab in

124there. Sorry, Mr. Lamonte. >> You have a whole another tab. I don't want to get too comfortable. >> You didn't even get to the tab that's in which Yes, [laughter] >> I'm ready to go. I just don't want you my tab. >> Yes, please. >> That's just quick. >> Sorry. >> I don't know if >> like the last tab that we haven't hit in this whole three days. >> I was going to go back to that. You're right. >> Thank you, Mr. Costco. Um, so no. Do Do you want me to go line by line or does anyone have any specific questions that they just want to point out because Mr. Lamont has been talking for quite some time this evening? Facilities and maintenance is the last uh tab that we need to talk about

125in the uh binder. >> Oh, thanks Dr. Nosik. >> I was getting parched. >> Yeah, >> Jess, no real quick. And no, I don't really have any questions. I just wanted to make sure we didn't skip it. That's all honestly. So, I know you have a budget. It's it's a very modest 2% 2.5% increase to continue to do all this maintenance that you talk about to keep our buildings going and you got lots of stuff in there and you got lots of staff that need to be covered and and I don't really have any questions specifically on it. I just wanted to make sure we didn't miss it. That's all. So, thanks. >> Thank you. Um, any other questions or concerns while we're in this tab? Mr. Haddie? >> Yeah, thank you. Um, yeah, I

126I I really I generally look at this quick and and I go right to the the variance, the differentials where you you pick up on things and the big one is really uh salaries or are we um is this just salary increases or are we adding any custodial? I see you're take are you taking out from Moser and moving to the high school >> there? There was a shuffle in staff. Um but um but we're not adding any additional any additional custodians. >> Yeah. I mean, other than that, it's just a bunch of little fine items that just add up pretty quick and and I'm not going to question the little ones. And >> just just on So, if you look at page two of mine, all 0% increases, just so you know, >> just

127wanted to point that out. >> Yes, >> just real quick. I'm sorry. And so those page two items are on those are what you're talking about that you're able to use those funds for each school to do the all the miscellaneous little fix the floor here, put the carpet in there. >> Yeah. A lot a lot of that is my like so I didn't like my purchase services for contracts and PM contract that that did not go up. I you know I've been able to hold that number. >> That's great. >> Pretty good. Um, you know, I was actually able to hold pretty much everywhere. Um, other than um some I I changed chemical vendors to keep those costs lower. Um, so we we you know, we've done a little homework to make sure we

128can come in at at decent numbers. I had an increase in uniforms because it just costs more to buy, you know, shirts and pants and and jackets and that sort of thing. Um I think um the only the only um custodial um supplies increase I think the highest one was at West Hill. Um and that was honestly it's not because of West Hill. It's because I had to take funding to um make up the difference for the chemicals and the cleaning supplies we used down at Dream. >> Um now that that's open, I was just I was using the West Hill account to to cover those. So, I had to I had to put it somewhere. And that's that's the building that they operate out of. So, you know, things are there. And it was

129a fairly low increase. I think it was $3,500 in in custodial supplies um to to make up the difference there. But it's it's it's actually, you know, where I could hold the line, I held the line. Um you I got some very favorable, you know, contract costs for for PMS and >> and that sort of things. You were able to to hold the steady. [snorts] >> Any other questions? >> All right. Very good. Thank you, Mr. Lamont. >> Are we sure? >> Thank you. >> All right. So now I think I can say that we have gone through every tab in the budget binder. However, I am going to open up the floor for any additional questions or comments um that have bubbled up in all three of our meetings. A lot was presented to

130us. Uh, I know that a number of board members sent questions online that were answered, but if there is anything else that you're having any concerns about or you need clarification about, now is the time to ask those questions. Miss Manila. >> Okay. I do have a quick question and it's in regards to the consultant report that was given to us tonight. Um, very quickly, I I added up the um totals for the professional development uh from the BOE funds and it came out to a total of $35,730. My question is, is is this also from account number 330, Scott? Is that professional? Is that coming out of that line item? Yeah, it's on page under object budget page number two. >> Are you looking at the summary, the object summary? >> Yes. Okay. only

131because um so there's there's a difference of about $63,000. So I'm just wondering where that difference is. >> What spends are >> Yeah. Because is that what you're trying to show us is >> No, no. I was >> This is just the consultants. >> Oh, okay. Just to break Okay, got it. >> Break down who's doing consulting. >> Okay. Out of that line item >> other expenses. >> Okay. All right. >> Okay. Thank you. I thought you were trying to break it down like, you know, and I was like, "Okay, where's the rest of the money?" Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Miss Tucker, >> I have a question. if we could go to the um object budget tab. Um and I I want to reiterate I think some questions that Mr. Addie had last

132session. There's five I'm sorry, four line items that the budget didn't change yearover-year. >> Can you just tell us what page you're exactly on please? >> So the object budget page one. >> Thank you. >> And page two I'll get to as well. So there's four line items that our budget from adopted 2025 to your proposed 20 2627 didn't change. The first line item being retirements object code 230. So our actual spend was 32,000 and we're consistently budgeting 69,000. Object code 250. We spent7,000 and we're consistently budgeting 27,000. On page two, and I'll get to my question. On page two, object code 400, purchase property services. We budgeted two, I'm sorry, actual 270 and we're consistently budgeting 332. [snorts] Object code 519, the field trips were cons we're budgeting, we spent 90,000 and we're budgeting

133223,000. My question, which probably can't be answered this evening, is in total actual spent versus budgeting consistently, it's about a difference of 153,000. So, is there room in those four line items that perhaps we can now budget for the um the E and UPS backup or student [clears throat] furniture or teachers desks? Is there there room in those four line items to either just be cut period or reallocated to other locations? That's we focus so much on variances in budget and those just point out to me that consistent budget but haven't already spent and I think that's what you were trying. >> Yes. >> Not in that way though. >> Okay. [laughter] >> So, thank you for clearing that up. >> We can look into that for you. [clears throat] Yeah, >> just remember >>

134at the end of the day we do have to make line item reconciliations at the end of the year what our surplus is. It's typically not very large significant less than% of the budget,000 $55 million budget. There might be 300,000 left at the very end of the year. >> You have to have some ability to have some flexibility and I hesitate to go too low because unanticipated things happen, >> right? >> For example, concier department is getting evicted. there may be things we have to deal with. So to to try to, you know, it's probably a good thing we typically come in with a couple hundred thousand of surplus and it all legally goes back to the town. Any surplus gets returned. So it's not as if the money is being misspent. I understand your

135question, but I also just want to caution the board that you get a monthly report, you get a year end report. It's never a large balance. One year we had a really was with remote learning >> and that year was like $800,000 that was quite a bit >> but most years it's a couple hundred thousand. We're very clear with you as we come into the May report. Here's what's left. So, you know, we'll look into that. I just uh we do a pretty effective job of staying within our budget. We've never had to come back to the council for an extra appropriation, which you have to do if you run a negative, >> right? >> Never had to do that. And I think we generally manage it pretty well, but there are fluctuations of course.

136>> Thank you, [snorts] >> Dr. Nosk. Did you pull the microphone over because you wanted to speak or >> uh I know of the student transportation and even though it says field trips, most of it for athletics. >> Um we just increased that line tonight based on the transportation contract, but those other three items, you know, we'll definitely take a look at those those numbers. a little bit more closely. Um, I was telling somebody, I forget who it was now. Um, it's kind of like uh the price is right in terms of kind of Dr. [clears throat] Zto alluded to it. We have to get as close as we can without going over because even if you go over by a dollar, you lose. So, we can't do that. Um, you know, as you know,

137we're looking at some some negative accounts with the Paris um and also the health insurance. So, we have to have some offsets. I know the retirements are kind of unpredictable. Um, but we're getting to a point where um the people that that qualify for those um for those payouts are coming to an end um because that's being you being grandfathered out. So, phased out. So, um I know we have one that's going to have a payout. Um so, we'll definitely hit the that $30,000 mark. I don't know if we have another one. the end of the year, then we will hit the the 60,000 probably. But we'll take a definitely take a look at that. Um and I I'll get back to you on the employee benefits, the unemployment um and the purchase services. >>

138Okay. Any other questions? Mr. Addie, did you have a question? >> Um no, I just want to make a comment if I can. >> Oh, sure. Go ahead. >> That time. Um, yeah. So, to follow up on that, um, you know, I think it it it looks good, um, to the rest of the town if we are doing our due diligence and trying to pull some money out where we can, uh, is definitely going to look good in our favor. Um, for sure, uh, that we're not just sitting here rubber stamping everything, you know. So, uh, we've done a great job and I know we've gotten into the weeds on a lot of things that that are definitely, uh, you know, way in the weeds, but, uh, great job everybody. So, uh, we're doing our

139due diligence and this is what we're supposed to do. Um, and I and I know the 8.8 8.85% is a big number, but I'm glad we're not in the papers because it's a lot lower than what I'm reading about in many other districts. So, um, this is something that is across the state that we're seeing. So, Just want to say thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions or concerns tonight? >> Just one question. >> Go ahead, Mr. Clemens. >> Um what's the I know it's in March. Um what's the deadline where we have to vote on our budget to send it to the council? >> It's mid-March. It's 135 days before the end of the fiscal year. So we'll I'll put in the update tomorrow. >> All right. Appreciate it. >> All right. Thank

140you. >> Typically we we you for the second week in March. We move that up to meet the charter changed a few years ago. So we meet we hold the board meeting the second week in March to meet that deadline. >> There have been years where we've been concerned about inclement weather where you know I've talked to the chair in previous years and said we may have to slide the meeting up but we'll get you the date. Typically you're going to adopt that second meeting or that that second week in March when you have your board meeting. >> All right. Thank you. That meeting is scheduled for March 12th currently, but we can hold a special meeting if >> you need to correct this in the past. If you want a special meeting any time

141between now and [snorts] March 12th, it's been done in the past to come back and look at the budget again. >> It's completely within the board to do that. The only thing you have to do is follow the town charter. And that's why you know on the 12th ideally you're going to adopt your your budget and We have to submit that number to the town because as you know the town then has a couple months where they work there through their various departments and then in May they make their final appropriation for all of their departments plus a separate approation with the board of ed and the CIP as well. >> Any other questions? I was going to follow up on the the PD questions that that I was going to ask, but um >>

142I think just some of them are from my own personal knowledge, so maybe I can reach out to you by email and ask those questions. Um but just kind of my my other comment was kind of building off of what Maria was saying. Um, I also totaled up those those same three um and realized that that's more than 50% of what that line item is that you said it was the the improving instruction. So, I'm just kind of curious. We talked last session about uh you had mentioned PDC, which I assume is the professional development like committee that you guys have put together. Um, so I'm just kind of curious how because there's a breakdown of the admin, but the remaining staff we had indicated last week can go out for professional development. So I'm

143just curious how much is typically spent for staff to go out. Like I don't know how often they they do go out for PD. Um, but I would assume that it would be the remainder of that line since the rest of it seems um very specific and and how the line items are are broken down. >> Yes. Um, a large number of staff do go out to professional development. I am approving professional development uh workshops weekly. So, um, some of them have a cost, some of them are free. Um, but we do encourage the staff to participate. I'll give you an example. A lot of our PD is very focused on um regular classroom instruction and we have, you know, all of our specialists. So, our your art, your music, your PE, your library media.

144So um [clears throat] this year we uh encouraged those staff members to attend um the regional the I think I mentioned it before the rest we belong to crack. So >> they are going to the the monthly curriculum council meetings to get updates to get their own professional learning within their content areas. So um you know that's something that we are promoting for them to do. Um same thing with special ed um teachers who teach ECE and AP courses are required to do PD um annually in order to teach those courses. So we make sure that those teachers get those trainings. Um so yeah, there's a lot of other trainings that teachers are receiving. >> Okay. Um and I'm only asking just because that leaves about 15,000 in that line. for for the rest of

145the district staff to utilize. So, I didn't know if that is [clears throat] more than what you would typically use, less than what would be typically used. >> I mean, I can give you a little history on the account. Um, and you know, typically it it was it was funded at about $72,000 a year, that line item. >> Y >> um and then in 2526, which is this current school year. Um, I did request a reduction in that line item because when you looked at the expenditure at the end of the year, there was money left over. >> So, not only was there money some money left over, but I also was able to write some of those things into grants, so they offset each other. So, um, I able to maintain what I thought

146we would need for this school year. So, I asked for 57869. I received 586 50,869. >> Um, and this coming year I'm requesting 62,869. Um, and the proposed budget has >> I'm sorry, I don't see that number. I see >> that's because that's what I requested. about what is being put forward as a proposed is 50,869 >> and um you know one of the things we're looking at is what are the mandates that are coming annually what what PD has to be occurring and is there an expense associated with that. >> So um earlier um I shared that there was actually a state statute It's uh 10-222I and that state statute required us to provide professional development in specific areas >> which are listed on the consultant sheet restorative practices the MTSS. >> So those

147are specialty areas and we went and contracted out with our res and we used the um individuals who are leading that training across the state. >> Okay. >> So, and I know >> you know and that's that had to be done this year. >> Yeah. >> So, um it changes year to year. >> Yeah. I'm just I think my con my my overall concern is that the 2425 actuals were almost 71,000 >> and that's about 20,000 short of of the proposed budget. So, I just I think my biggest concern is just making sure that staff still have >> um the opportunities and the ability to go out for their PD. >> Um in addition to I mean, yes, I understand restorative practices and MTSS was was legislatively required. Um >> yeah, >> but just in

148>> Yeah, >> in addition to those >> Yeah. And and it is going to be tight this year. I'm not going to lie. It's going to be tight. Um we are paying the staff for PD days to present. Um we've never done that before. So we did a technology PD day and a wellness PD day. We have a lot of presenters. Um, so we are internally paying our own people to share their expertise with one another. And um, you know, I've said it before, there's a there have been a lot of legislative mandates that are in the world of curriculum and instruction. Um, science of reading, play-based learning, that's another one that I've sent um both administrators and teachers to. That's outside training. Um, so I have not denied anything. >> Oh, no, that's not

149what I'm I just I'm not >> I'm just saying, you know, I think we'll be fine. I'm actually projecting out to see like I'm doing a little a internal audit right now to see like what do we have left for the remainder of the year and what did we send people out for the remainder of the year last year in these months towards the end of the year. >> Yeah, I think it would it would be helpful to see that. Yeah. >> And monitoring it, but I was trying to be um creative by utilizing grants >> and fiscally responsible as well. Um because you know we also have a very large demand for curriculum writing and so I'm trying to balance [snorts] all of those different needs. >> Thanks. Um and just one one more

150question. So um assuming that the consultants are you know have contracts or you know a written agreement in place >> um are those all only for this school year? >> Um the current contracts. Yes. >> Okay. So I know like in I think it was the curriculum committee meeting um where you were talking about how they did a little bit of like the train the trainer >> um type of a model. So, is there any opportunity for any of those staff to continue training our our district staff rather than contracting out some of that PD? >> So, we use train the trainer for restorative practices and we have a nice group of people who have led that work um with their peers >> and um Dr. Diaz and I um have been working together on

151the plan for next year. um with the voice work. >> Okay. >> And there is some overlap between the work that aligns to restorative practices and um the equity work. And so we're looking at um building some of that into next year. Um but you know that's that's now a board goal. So we're gonna we're going to do our best to work towards that. >> Thank you. I don't have any other questions. Okay, Mr. Costco, >> I had no questions until you talked so much about PD. Um, but so I guess it's more of a comment really, not a question because I I appreciate the line of questioning because I think it's important and again I taught in the past and I taught some specialty courses where the PD that you need is that kind

152of weird PD that you got to go out for and stuff like that. So, um, so I I just want to make sure that we do what we need to do to make sure. I mean, it's not a lot of dollars. I mean the difference between 50 and 70 is 20 grand and it's overall not a big number in our budget. I know a lot of small numbers add up to big numbers. I get it. So we have to be careful but just we want to make sure we we fund it appropriately. And I guess it's not a comment to you but just broadly to the board and everyone just like it's worth making sure we fund that so teachers can go out and get what they need when they want to. And I know

153you're saying you haven't had to say no, which is good, but you're also kind that's tight and there's tight rather not that be too tight, you know, and in spots here we're able to build in a little bit of cushion. You know, >> there was one that came to me that was thousands of dollars. >> Yeah. >> So there, you know, that that one had >> Yeah. If it's a good one though, you know what I mean? It's like in Florida or something or somewhere nice, you know, >> one I would have liked on. >> That's all. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions or comments in regards to the budget for the 2026 2027 school year? >> No, not tonight. Okay. So, [clears throat] um there just a couple things that I'd like to

154say. Uh first and foremost, I want to thank all the board members sitting here for your very thoughtful questions. Uh, I know I had you come for three full nights talking about budget, but I do um feel that it is our job to go through this budget book and make sure that we have crossed our um tees and dotted our eyes to make sure that the numbers are matching up. I want to thank um Dr. Zitto and your staff for all of the presentations that you've made in regards to the budget. you've answered a plethora of questions and all of the documents that you handed out were very easy for us to read and pay attention to as far as um you know watching the numbers and we appreciate you taking our questions on the

155spot and in email. And I'd also like to thank our school leaison who has been sitting in the back. Amy Forsier, I'm going to mention you again and I know Mimi Thorough has also been watching online. It is so important that you're here tonight and you've you've been here for all three of our budget meetings so that this information can be relayed back to the town council and the mayor. Um I have also sat in meetings with the town council executive board and the mayor as well trying to stress um how we really need an operating budget that is fully funded this year. Um I also would like to thank again our administrators who've been sitting in the room. It has been some very long nights and I appreciate your patience as we've gone through

156the budget and thank you to the teachers union who is also here tonight as well. I think that we have done a great job and I look forward to um passing this budget very soon. Uh I probably will call a special meeting just so that we can talk about it one more time uh before we adopt um our board of ed meeting in March. And that way if there's any other questions that come up between now and then, you have an opportunity to ask those. Um, and so with that, I guess I'm going to take a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn, >> Mr. Costco. Thank you. And second, I'm sorry, I heard over here. I think Mr. Clemens, thank you very much. I appreciate it. It is.