001Can anybody hear me? All right. What do you want? Oh my god. Okay. Okay. I'd like to call to order the special meeting of the board of education at 5:31 p.m. Uh, will you call the role? Sure. Mr. Burgerer here. Miss Conway here. Mr. Corey here. Mr. Cronin here. Mr. Pis here. Mr. Ukalo, I'm here. Calling in. Thank you. Miss Hona here. Mr. Kiscoco here. Mr. Knight here. Mr. Putnham will be late. Mayor Carbona representative. Miss Ferguson here. Miss Pleuski excused. U Miss Labby here. Mr. Pagola. I did see him. Excused. Okay. Miss Schulty here. Miss Veans is excused. And Mr. Wilson here. Excellent. Um no agenda approval. It's a special meeting. Can't change it. Um, so we first up have some policy items. The first one is restorative practices response. Um, I don't know
002if this is it is Miss Schulty. Yeah, it's Gary's subcommittee. So if he if he needs me to speak to it, I can. He's in and out. Well, I do have a You know what? Yeah, we need to All right. Try now. Can you hear me? Yes, that's better. All right. Well, you you can explain what discussions with what the discussions with Jess um were. I mean, I I didn't there's no clear definition of, you know, restorative practices. It's just a one line X. It's just two words. It says restorative practices. So I wanted some some background to that because restorative practices really it's an entire plan. It's an entire plan usually put together but in this case I guess it doesn't apply. It's just incorporating some restorative practices, right? Is that correct? It it
003applies but well to just I just just to chime in on that to point Gary to what Jess clarified for us. While we do have to adopt this statute the the changes, we don't have to modify our discipline policies or our level of expectation that our administrators will continue to enforce board policy. Correct. Correct. Regardless of not regardless of what's in there, but it's in addition to but we don't have to sacrifice any of our current positions for that. That's my understanding and the way that we have and Gary to your point the label restorative practices while someone has um you know kind of coined that term. I I've been trained in that program and what I can tell you is I would wager a bet that anyone around this table who has raised children
004has employed the use of a restorative model. So your child misbehaves, a consequence is handed down. After the consequences served, I'm going to bet that you brought your child in and sat down and there was a learning experience why what you did wasn't good. How are you going to repair any harm that was caused to someone else as a result of your words or your actions and how are we going to strive to make sure this doesn't happen again? It's just common sense. It's good parenting. It's that's what we do in our school. The key is the key is handing out the consequence first. Correct. And that's what having conversation. Right. Correct. I think we just want to make sure that Yep. that doesn't change. That's exactly how we operate now. The consequences handed down.
005We have very clear expectations and very clear consequences for infractions, right? And then after the fact, there's a re-entry meeting. It in this case, it's called a restorative meeting where if there was a victim, um the victim and the the person who caused the harm are typically brought together by choice. No one is forced into that situation. No. Right. Okay. Just want to clarify that, too. Sometimes parents are invited. So, you know, if there's an adult, if there's a staff member, it's, you know, and again, I almost hesitate to to want to say that it's called a restorative meeting. It's it's just it's just a meeting. It's it's just a meeting. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's my chief concern is especially related to bullying which is defined expressly in the policy which I assume means it's
006defined expressly in the statute um that we would be uh in even just encouraging necessarily uh a bullied student to sit down in uh some sort of meeting with the person who is harassing them. Uh I mean I have spoken to people in the community who I'll give you an example. Um I I spoke to a woman couple of years ago now. Um she's a grandparent raising her transg granddaughter regardless of how individuals may feel about the nature of transitioning etc. The the key point is that this is a child that we're talking about uh who transitioning or not was being bullied and harassed by her fellow students uh for the way that she'd presented as a as a transitioning student. Um, and it got so bad and the parent had such difficulty in working
007with the district to re in this bullying and harassment that she ultimately elected a grandparent, mind you, to retire from her job so that she could pull her granddaughter out of school and homeschool her because she was legitimately afraid that her granddaughter was going to harm herself. Um, so my concern is that we're going to take students like that and put them in a room with a guidance counselor who's going to encourage them to be nice to the people who have driven them to the point possibly of quite literally self harm. Um, I don't want that. I agree with you. Um, so I'm wondering kind of is I I could agree with you on that. Yeah. Is there a limit to like are we going to look at this holistically and say okay these people
008these students have bullied and harassed their fellow students so badly that a restorative meeting just is not going to serve a purpose. Correct. It's not a blanket everybody has to now go to XYZ so we can check a box. It's at at least that's not how we do it now. Right. Okay. And I don't believe that's the intent. I don't believe that's the spirit or the intention of of any of this. I mean, I can give you and that's a very sad example. I can give you another example that really happened of two children who had been very good friends and then had had a falling out and there was a situation that resulted in, you know, some very cross words exchanging. And then in that situation, you know, are you guys, come on, you've
009been really good friends. Would you be willing to sit together with a mediator and try to hash out really what went wrong? It's that's a different situation that that would be that would be warranted, right, if they were friends before. But right, so we would examine each situation, decide if it makes sense to put these students to try to Okay, that's that's really that was my main concern. I guess I gave a long-winded example, but I just want to make sure that we're not going to put students in, you know, deeply unpleasant situations if it's going to be unproductive. Sure. Or even more harmful, right, John? I I agree with that. Hold on. John John. Go ahead, John. I'm sorry, John. I can't see. The problem here is the complication between our use of this
010word to describe some of these fairly normal and intelligent things we do versus the field of social sociology that's taken over this termative practices and put their socio babble into it. So, it it just gets coded to get all this incre. But uh what we're talking about is a not harmless, but it's certainly not a politically charged version of this practice, right? Whereas it could have been. And yeah, were you Yeah, just one thing because I I think it states that someone's going to be assigned the the task or or the role of maintaining this policy in terms of documentation. I I thought I read that but not for the restorative just talking about the restorative one. I think he's talking about like the safe school climate. That's the other one. that it well yeah
011person whoever it might be has to be like like what I brought up and what I I've mentioned in the past I mean some parents object to their son let's say their son or daughter being who may have been punched or you know beat up a little bit and bullied and being forced in a room and it did happen a couple times but it was a couple years ago maybe um that whoever is in charge has that understanding that there has to be a reasonable a reasonleness test I guess and it's I guess it's not required if the parents don't want it. I don't know. But as long as there's supposed to be a contact at every school and then there is a district contact so that the one at each school should be working
012closely with administration to do exactly what you're you're suggesting, Gary, so that it is implemented with fidelity and then there's a district-wide person that kind of makes sure everybody is getting what they need at the sites. Right. And I think that I think the board is considering this at a really good time because we now have the summer where we're going to be having a lot of facetime with our school administrators to review this and many other things. Right. So it'll be it'll be right there. Exactly. and you can express to them our um not necessarily concerns but just our our affirmation that we don't expect any changes and you know how board policy is handled and and all that. So I think that was our main thing. Yeah. Yeah. Right. I otherwise I think
013I mean Jess has reviewed this and it's something that I guess we should take on and get it approved. Yeah. We have we have we have Yeah. We have to anyway. Yes. Yep. Yeah. So, this was more for clarity to get us all on the same page, right? And it has to be implemented by July 1st. Yeah. So, July one. Yeah. Good time to do it. Anyone else? Okay. Uh so then we uh I guess I will hear a motion to adopt uh this policy. It doesn't have action. There's no action item. You have to wait till the Oh. Oh. I thought the expectation was that these were lumped in discussion and action. But if we do it, we still have time for the full board on June 21st, right? 25th. Yeah. So, yeah. So,
014it's just moving it that way. We have the discussion tonight and not at the board meeting. Okay. I see. I see what we make sense to me. Okay. Uh, so are all of these discussion items with the exception of the line item transfers just while I'm looking at the agenda? Well, and and uh possible action personnel or are we also looking for action on the budget later? Right. So, no action for the budget. I think it was to just reiterate our numbers for the year and um lead into the discussion on personnel for adoption at the end of the Okay. So, the only action item that you that you are seeking then and that we have is possible action. That's correct. Okay. Yeah. Just wanted to make sure I was reading this. Um, okay. So,
015we have next the non-lapsing reserve funds. Um, so I think most folks know by now um that the law uh does now enable um boards of education to establish their own non-lapsing funds um for the city's attorney that's no doubt listening. That's section 10-248A of the general statutes um which uh establishes as we have discussed that the board of education may establish a non-lapsing account for unexpended funds from the prior fiscal year um provided the deposited amount does not exceed 2% of the total budgeted appropriation for education for such prior fiscal year. um and that expenditure from such account shall be made only for educational purposes and that each such expenditure should be authorized by the local board of education. Um that's all quoted directly from the enabling statute. Uh we have a policy here
016in the packet um which effectively says the same thing um that the superintendent may request the board of education to approve a deposit into a non-lapsing fund. will name it the fund for educational expenditures um of some portion of any unexpended funds from the prior fiscal year as long as it doesn't exceed 2%. Um it does establish that any expenditure from that fund will be authorized solely by the board of education. So anytime the district is looking to spend money, you would have to come to the board for a vote in accordance with this policy uh discussion and a vote. Um only for educational purposes as the law says when we go a little further than the statute requires uh say generally on one-time non-recurring expenditures like capital, extraordinary expenses or emergencies uh which may
017be necessary but not otherwise budgeted for. It doesn't say that that's the only things. just I think we want to emphasize that our preference is always to expend that on stuff that's not going to be a recurring expense because we never know if we're going to have a surplus. Um and that also it's uh going to be accounted for in the normal course and subject to audit. And finally that the board will review the the balance of that fund at least on an annual basis uh probably around budget time because that just makes sense. um we'll do sort of an annual review as part of our either uh budget and board of ed meeting or just a board of ed meeting uh where we'll go over what's in there, what's been spent, etc., etc. Um
018that and then just to add to that, I would imagine that it would also come up anytime you needed to make a transfer or wanted to to spend it. Right. Right. And it would be included it'll be um in your budget monthly report. So yeah, we'll have more than more than Yeah. Yeah. So that'll be that'll be good. Great. Um, so that is the synopsis of the policy and again I did give some quotes from the enabling statute for anybody with concerns about whether or not this is legal. I'm done. Does anyone have anything to add? I have just one thing. Can that come back come back to bite the board a bit? I guess if we start to acrue or increase the balance that's in the account. I know the city can't cut any
019city. We can't cut the can't go prior go lower than the prior year, but um I guess they can keep track of it with us and decide whether or not they want us to transfer funds or is that not just end? They they have no ability to tell us whether we can transfer funds in or out of it. Um okay. If you look at the packet um you can see on page six and seven the enabling statute um which uh doesn't um it doesn't say anything about the city. So it says quote each such expenditure shall be authorized by the local board of education for such town. Um, okay. So, not only does the city have no authority to govern the establishment or non-establishment of the fund, uh, it also does not steward it, nor
020does it have the ability to approve or deny expenditures from it. Is that okay question, Gary? Yes. Yeah. Just to piggyback on that, that being said, it was in every budget packet from the city during bud their budget season just a few weeks ago. So, they're following it. they know they haven't while they can't reduce our budget as a result because of MBR they can certainly take it into consideration you know as they this time I mean that's just the reality of it's a transparent thing they can see it right and all as as is everything we do um we are the most transparent board or department in the city of Torington this is true anyone else I would agree okay so then that we'll dispense with that discussion item and place that on the
021board's regular meeting agenda for further consideration and action. Next up is the uh school climate plan. I assume this is the existence of this plan is required by statute. Is that right? We currently have a plan as of July 1st, 2025. Every district in the state of Connecticut is required to replace their existing plan with the CABE plan as written and with no flexibility to make any edits or changes to exactly how the Cape plan is written. That's an interesting change. I've never known this to ever happen before. Um yeah, I have a colleague who's a member of the General Assembly and I'm gonna yell at him about this tomorrow. Yeah. Um about that. Okay. So, bearing in mind then that the law evidently requires us to adopt this exactly as written. Um I guess
022the mo the real purpose of the discussion is to note that and to have any questions answered about it by members of the board if you have them. Is there any difference as to what we currently have? Um significant difference. Yeah. I mean but ours was long to begin with, right? So, so not except that I think there is some incorporation about the restorative practices policy. There's some reference to the new restorative practices policy that other than that the statute is largely the same. We've always had to have a a safe school climate coordinator in every building. We've always had to have a district one. Like those have always been in place with our existing policy. Yeah. We've always had to keep bullying logs at all the schools and that kind of thing. I remember.
023Yeah. So it's it's what we've been practicing. Yes. Anyway, yes. It it won't be a large heavy lift, not a big shift for us. Right. We'll know it's a we'll know it's a problem if when we get there. Yeah. Right. Right. Requires lots of people to notify lots of other people about things which is largely in line with what we do like you know the principle having to notify law enforcement if they think bullying constitutes a crime. Well, that makes sense. We've always done that. We actually have a checklist that says that. So, so, so we've always done that. Anyway, excellent. Um, and the the require that all school employees annually complete the training described in the statute related to identification, prevention, and response to bullying. Is that a current requirement? Okay, we already do
024that. Yes. Um, okay, that's all I have. Um, did I see Glenn's first? Yeah. No, but that was similar question I had. Okay. So, so what's the purpose of the shipment appendage? That's just ship. We just in case you all asked about Shipman's model policy, they don't have a model policy because they basically said they're not allowed to write a model model policy anymore because everybody's required to only adopt K. So, we just wanted, you know, in case the question was out there is what's Shipman's position? We wanted you to have that information. Okay. Good. Anyone else? Do we have a statute number to go along with that? Is that in there that says we have to? It's all in there. There's a bunch of statuto references. My guess is the primary is going to
025be this first one listed, public act 19-166, but they are all listed as well as letters circulated by the department of education and a bunch of different segments of the statute. Um, which means sometime in the next decade, the legislature will probably combine them all into one statute, but until then, you have to jump around. Yeah. And they're not even all new. No, no. It just kind of points them all points in all different directions. Yes. Okay. Um so we will tag that on to the board's regular monthly agenda as well. Um we now have line item transfers that uh you are seeking. I don't see them in the packet. But honestly, I think I have a hand. So, this is timely. Um, because of our fiscal responsibility and oversight, we are recommending uh with
026the balance that we foresee to be transferred to some other line items. Um, one being everybody's getting a copy of it and what you'll see in front of you is the line item. I'll get read each one. Yes, I'll read each one um for each line item. Um you know where it's coming from on the left and then the next column is where we would like to place it, the description and the full amount. Um and if you go to the bottom line, um right off the get-go, just because we were just talking about the non-lapsing reserve, we do have um we are forecasting that we will have 2% of our budget from last year to be putting into a non-lapsing um reserve fund. So that request is for 1.574454 million to go into uh
027the non-lapsing reserve fund that but that's not a request it's just a transfer the request to us right but not a request to the board. So all these line items are a request to the board. Right. Yes. Um so jumping up to the top, we are looking to transfer some funds um from the benefits line item where there was some funds um available into um the supply line item and this would go to support the IM math program that everybody is in love with and we can't wait to get rolling out um and some uh supplies that are needed as well for that. The next and that amount would be $900,000. The next line item again coming from the benefits would be going into um our license renewals. Um I have have spoken with the
028auditors and we are allowed to um purchase licenses for this year and for following years as long as there's a discount um with that purchase. So um we were looking into that and we have found some nice um packages that we can look into. That amount would be $125,546. And the final uh request would be again coming from uh the benefits would be going into uh the district maintenance account uh for many items that Dean has been hoping to do. Um and that amount is $600,000. So the total line item budget transfers um are equivalent to $3.2 million and that includes the non-lapsing approximate 1.5 million. No. Uh, so I guess I have a few questions before I turn it over to the rest of the group. So this this maintenance line item, the 600,000,
029I mean this is for this current fiscal year. So will we have things that we can encumber $600,000 for before the close of the fiscal year? Yes, he has a very um specific budget that he has set out he's been hoping to do that will be helping us for this fiscal year and of course obviously benefit and they monitor the budget every month. No, of course. And and I'm just I guess um I just have a series here. So sorry. Um so uh bearing in mind then that I guess I mean we didn't specify this as an action item although our agenda does also doesn't specify them as discussion items. But assuming that the discussion we had a few minutes ago about placing all of these on the board of education's regular meeting agenda near
030the end of the month. Um the board has to approve these. So the board won't approve the actual expenditure of the funds until the end of the month. So you guys would have to I don't think we have to I don't think we have to No, it's it's anformational line item transfer. There's technically it doesn't need board approval for a line item transfer. The board has to be informed as it should just from basic protocols and and preference. We would never just transfer money like that without the board's knowledge. So, this is anformational item for the board. Obviously, you with board support uh that makes it a lot easier as opposed to board transgression. But uh per per statute, the line item transfers can be done internally with the board's just knowledge of them. Okay.
031I don't know that I'm in love with that, but that's a further that's a later discussion I have. Um you could argue with Yeah. Okay. that conversation tomorrow, right? Um my last question is what is the nature of substantial savings? So I I know a significant amount of the transfer to the non-lapsing reserve is from savings this year for health care that would be carried forward via that fund for uh additional expenses later. But is that also where this 1.5 million for maintenance and supplies is coming from? Correct. All right. So the the vast majority of this significant savings is uh because of the savings that we achieved with our 21 month look ahead plan for health insurance. Correct. Okay. Yes, that's what I have. Mr. Bersar, I'm just curious about the $600,000 getting all
032that encumbered in the next month. None of that has to be buying off state contract. There's no bids or quotations that need to go along with that in order to for us to approve that expenditure. So, be Yep. Donna can speak to it, but I Dean does have his list and his working list that he shared with the facility subcommittee. So, I know even tomorrow evening, I'm sure he'll share a lot more from that list, but a lot of the items that have already been, you know, I know one of them, for example, is the partitions at the new intermediate school. Yeah, that's been a hot bed topic. So, I think, you know, things of that nature, he's been working very hard to go out and to do all of that. That's why the the
033money is needed to to get this up and done so he can work on that this summer. Agreed. I'm not trying to be a Debbie D, but we still need to follow purchasing. That's correct. Over a certain amount, get our free quotes. We're not super super we get hit with an audit. Okay. Even if it's on state contract, you know, I just I personally don't go out and get one number. If there's two people on the pay state contract, let's get two or three to keep it at least three. Yeah, we'll get three quotes. It's a lot of work to do in the last month. I think there's been preparation in place and anticipation for this. So, I think the the homework's been done ahead of time. So that'll be I I I just hope
034so because you know we're on the radar and then they're looking for excuses. Absolutely. No, it'll all be audit proof. Mr. I'm going to assume we're going to see what this is the intent of the 600 is tomorrow night at our facilities thing. I don't know first time hearing of it just as you. So yeah, just as he'll be able to speak to it I'm sure at you know tomorrow's meeting just as an update. Oh, sorry. Okay. Um, first, I'm so happy that we're able to bring um the new program in. I know it's a lot of money, but it's really worth it. Um, I don't Can somebody tell me a little bit about what the licenses and renewals are? I just I'm not familiar with what that would be used for. Sure. So, that's
035just like the star platform or power school. we do have to pay a reoccurring license fee and if you you know purchase multiple years you usually get a discount you know about 10% or 15%. Um so that's considered in this um when this budget was put together. Okay. Rachel has some licenses that she can pre purchase as well um for a discount. So there Yeah. No, that makes sense. I just wasn't sure what it was. And and um I'm also I mean I know everybody has questions about the maintenance line, but I'm happy to see that some things will be taken care of because yeah, the buildings really need it. I I do just and I I don't necessarily phrase this as a question, but I would just say with the maintenance line, it has
036come up before in disputes over board events surpluses with the city um about spending uh on things that are capital expenses out of maintenance. Now, there's some wiggle room on what is and is not a capital expense, and I don't want to do the mayor's work for her, but I would just caution uh that that is something that draws scrutiny um and could put us in a pickle. So, I just hope that we are doing our homework and that the facilities committee is doing its homework uh to make sure that all this is permissible operating expenditure. Donna is all over the differences in what she'd fight over that van. fight over the van. Yeah, we're not here to fight over and for everybody to finally accept that we were right. So, I just don't want
037to have to go. I just got it right. I'm with you and I assume that's to your point Dean's going to come tomorrow night with a I won't be there. So, I would imagine with a list that kind of gives us an idea what we're doing. Just even the board sees it and weighs in as well. Hopefully the bathrooms at the middle. They are closets, so there's doors. Yeah. Among many other things. Uh does anyone else have any uh and along the lines of the things that the city is concerned about budget transfers within our own budget is one of them. Now, you just said that you can move money money any way you want. Okay. Here's what Tom Mooney said in his column in the in the case. You're talking about the deficit article.
038That's because they were in a deficit. No, I'm not deficit with two weeks to go. Correct. Yeah. Except that he said boards of education are authorized by section 10222 to make budget transfers over the course of the year. Responsibility reserved for the board of education except in limited circumstances. Then it goes on to talk about emergencies on the board unable to meet. So you are of the opinion that you can move the money around any way you want without and we've talked about budget transfers in budget committee meetings. So statutoily, the superintendent can make line item transfers. I would never make a line item transfer without notifying the board of education, especially at this board or any board I would work with for um and for the community purpose. It just would not be prudent,
039would not be fiscally sound, would not be smart. I think that this bringing it to the board's attention and making the board aware of what we're we're doing and in terms of getting things moving I believe 100% because we are allowed to do that. Okay. And we can also um we can certainly place these on the monthly meetings agenda for further consideration of the board. Um Mike, I guess in relation to that uh if it is the the board's pleasure to do that, um is it possible to uh encumber these expenses and not actually expend the funds until the board of education meeting or will that cause a real financial panic in your office? It does put us under a tight timeline to liquidate. Uh so we want to definitely be liquidated by the end
040of July, you know, encumbered by June and have items in our hands. I mean, the ideal goal is to have them in our hands by June 30th, but we know, you know, the reality of that. Are you asking that because you want to have you want to put more Well, I'm I'm preparing for the next question I have for the board broadly, which is to again to the point that Mr. Mr. Bren, if it is the board's pleasure to uh want to vote on this and put it to a vote at the monthly meeting, that it sounds like would be quite stressful for our our folks in central office. Uh but I do want to put that question to the board and not make that decision myself. Um so if enough folks would like us
041to do that, uh we certainly can place it on the board. Can I just ask what we did last year? Does anybody transfers? It was no longer transfers. No transfers. Okay. But I think to your point, I mean, if I mean, while it would put a crunch if there is if there is no and unless I'm misharing the group, I haven't heard anyone in strong opposition to transferring line items. I think if we were to move in the vein of having in theory the board support and waiting till the 26th, we can do everything on the back end. However, on the 20, sorry, 25th, on the 26th, that number has those numbers have to come out, right? I mean, and that's what's going to draw scrutiny from the city literally 4 days. So, so I
042think if if in theory and I would say because this is a special meeting and it is public and it is recorded, I would strongly encourage every board member to voice their opinion to say that they are in support of this so that we can move forward and that the city does not think we're waiting until June 26th. I think that's just prudent and sound in terms of you're not making a vote. You're just giving your opinion in terms of supporting the four line item transfer forward this evening. Well, and that's sort of what I'm asking is, you know, where where sitting because I think so like personally I'm fine with transferring these funds, you know, the release of them I I think all make sense uh pending the sort of detailed overview of the
043maintenance project. Exactly. Um, so if these specific line item transfers that have been discussed in our public documents are broadly speaking um, not objectionable to the board, we could then at our leisure over the next year raise this matter for consideration uh, as a policy matter if the board would like to head in a direction where it would like to vote to improve line item transfers. Um and that would be you know I'm not I'm not staking out a position on that but uh because it's been raised as a concern I think that could be the way forward here is you know if there is objection then we will further consider this but if there is not a voice objection to these specific transfers um object the superintendent reasonably believes that he has the statutory
044authority to move them and I believe him um having not read the statute. So I guess as the primary razor of this issue, I would turn it to John to answer. I would object to doing it tonight. I will not object to it being done by Barfall at the end of the night. Okay. And that's good practice so that we can get started and do what we said. And if you're not objecting and he's not objecting along with, as you say, policy changes that specify what will and won't. Have we made line item transfers in the past? We have and sometimes the board's voted as I recall and sometimes it has not. But Ellen's been on the board longer than anybody. So we have at a regular budget meetings as we go along. So instead
045of waiting until the the end. So if we can make that a practice going forward. Well, you have to wait till the end because we don't know how much money we're going to have. These are specifically transfer surplus. But yeah, right. But Right. But it was my understanding was it had to be in the same category. So you couldn't go from benefits to supplies, but you could go from benefits to another line item within that sub account over the sub, right? But reading I have a suggestion reading reading article it seems like it can be because it's our budget it could be within anywhere in the budget. So I think to simplify it, I hear the concerns. I hear Mr. Kisco's concern. If the board wants to make the four line item transfers official on
046June 25th, as long as we hear everyone's opinion, you've thankfully stated it. Mr. Kisco has stated, if everyone is in theory, you can do prep work. We can do everything we need to do in theory before spending and writing the check because come June 26, Donna's going to hit transfer, transfer, transfer. I think it's then we know we could do the orders and things that we need to get done. If that makes sense. Yeah. Gary, then Kristen, I'm fine with it tonight knowing what the these items are. But I would so there's clarity on all this. Get Mooney to weigh in, get the final answer so we know what it is. If we're going to make policy later, let's know what the real answer is. It may be I I have no idea what it
047is as to whether or not what we can and cannot do or if the super um has the right to do it. So, let's get this clarity and I'm okay tonight, but however you want to do it, we could do it and then we get clarity moving forward. Excellent. Kristen, um you know, this is probably going to piss some people off, but um what do I do here? Yeah, this shut Gary. Um, this is something that I said in the um in our retreat. Um, you know, this this city, this town and all of its residents have waited a really long time to have um a central office team that we can trust a very long time. And as residents and parents of students in this district, we've been screwed. And I'm not afraid to
048say that publicly because we have um I'm confident in the the team we have in place. Um and actually just the other night I was talking about Donna and I said if her salary is a million dollars, she'd still be worth it because of all the hard work and the grants and everything that she does for for the the district. Um I really think that we need to Sorry, this is going to aggravate people. We need to stop nitpicking and everything and trust our team. Very well said. Sorry. I'm agreeing with you, but I think about I'm agreeing Kristen. I think though to protect to pro we we agree more than we thought we would, but to protect the superintendent and Donna and I don't mean but just from anybody including the city, we should
049know exactly it's legal and not legal so it doesn't come back to bite anybody later. That's all I'm saying. right abright with that article. I I don't know. I'm not a lawyer. Nobody is. Yeah, I totally agree, Gary, too. So, it seems like the superintendent has no objection, and it sounds like it's all workable if we place these on the agenda for the board's regular monthly meeting. Uh in that intervening time, we can get that opinion that Gary's seeking. As long as there's still money in the legal budget, the city's going to put that put that line item here. I have a a message with Jessica now. So, right. So, we'll we'll get the the definitive answer in the meantime. We'll place it on the board's agenda. We will ask the board to take a
050vote uh hopefully in the affirmative. But, you know, uh can't say for sure. Um and then we will uh just one more thing. and we will place this matter before the policy committee for its consideration where two it sounds like very differing opinions on the matter can be thoroughly debated and we'll see what the committee's uh and result is uh um I forgot what I was going to ask it was along the lines of what you were uh summarizing if I think of it I'll it was right before the policy committee um when he said hopefully the affirmative is oh right so the thank you so alternative I want that was good. The alternative my understanding is we give it back to the city. Yeah. Which is not desirable to clarify the alternative is it
051goes back just so everybody knows right but but everyone everyone can cast their vote as they wish. I will be voting in the affirmative to transfer these to approve these transfers the time to vote to give any money back. I think we all agree at the table that nobody is intending to not spend the money for the betterment of the district and the children. I think just with the the two pieces of information on the table, we want to protect the superintendent, Donna, and the 10 board members. I mean, ultimately, and at the end of the day, if something crazy happened, the 10 board members are responsible for we have a $3.2 million. Yeah, absolutely. We just should find out. We have a plan and we will follow it. Um, and that I think concludes
052this matter. We will continue in our Zest. Perfect. You can proceed and hold off on existing all the necessary leg work assuming that the board will vote in the affirmative and if it doesn't then you won't have to do any more work because you'll just end up transferring. Just send a check back. We do transfers. Yeah. Oh, it exists. What does it say? Board of Education may transfer any unexpended or uncontracted for portion of any appro appropriation for the school purposes to any other item of such itemized estimate. But expenditure shall not exceed the appropriation made by the fiscal authority combined with such money as may be received from the other sources of school purposes. The board of education may which may be the legal gray area. We had this discussion. The board directs the
053administration to develop regulations to asssure appropriation is blend to the policy above. The superintendent will present line item transfers on the board's consent agenda. On a regular board meeting, the business manager will recommend to the board where the funds could be transferred from. And two, in case of an emergency transfer, just like he said, the superintendent should report those transfers to the board of education at its next regularly scheduled meeting. So, in fact, it must be presented as part of the board's consent agenda at the board's regular meeting. So we are right to move it along to that date and we will do so. Thank you Ellen for reminding us of a policy that probably hasn't been changed in quite some time and 1973. But yeah, so a 24 year old policy that I forgot
054existed and that's why we're add that to your agenda. Policy 30 40 Gary Gary and then update the policy. Yeah, I'll check the minutes. We're going to change it anyway. Right. But but Ellen, I think that is good because then we can make sure to follow our own process appropriately. As long as me and Ellen Rock and everyone, she's been asking for that all year. Right. Uh so next we have budget 2526. Uh oh. So in order to announce what you know formalize what we are aware of that we received that we can spend on the 25 26 fiscal year. Um what those numbers are. Do you have that Donna by any chance? I'm sorry. 78 million are that's been the same number. I should have 72298. That's it. Yes. Yes. Correct. And it was
055just We should It's been the same number for so long, but um it was more of a lead. So, you said um just to have that quick um overview to lead into our the discussions that we need to have on personnel um because as we know that money doesn't cover our contractual obligations at this point. So, we'll have some conversations going forward in our executive session. Ellen, you had a question. I think um I know we need to talk about this in budget. Um but and I think we need to do that over the summer. Next year, next fiscal year. Not tomorrow. Not tomorrow. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, we know that we got zero, right? We know we got zero. I I know that the team will present over the course of the next month,
056either at budget and or at the board of education meeting, obviously there for its vote, uh, what that budget looks like. And it sounds like that's pending some discussions in executive session. So there will not there's no budget presentation tonight, but we just wanted to raise that as a topic. Um because it's going to be well could be a little messy. Um does anyone have anything to add about the budget? I'm not even going to go off today because I uh I don't want to have a hard include that's a zero for capital improvement. Oh yes. And that's right. That is the most egregious part because I don't know what egregious now supposed to do about things like leaking roofs and crumbling masonry. I for one will hold the mayor personally responsible if a piece
057of crumbling masonry falls off for school and hits somebody in the head. Um and I think the entire community should if something dangerous, unsafe, injurious, etc. happens because of the lack of our capital improvements. even something as simple as curbing when somebody breaks their leg because we haven't been able to replace our curbing in years and years. Um, I will hold Mayor Mayor Eleanor Carbone personally responsible for the injury to that person. Uh, even if the courts won't, I certainly hope the community will morally. That's I'm not going to say. Can I just elaborate a little bit more? Excuse me, Jenny. Um, I know they in during their meetings they were saying that it's not sustainable to have a 0% increase uh year-over-year. Um, just want people to know that this is our second consecutive
058year and it looks like there's going to be a third consecutive year and three years ago our increase was so minute it should essentially be zero. So, the district has been operating on three years of flat budgets. Um, and very almost zero dollars for capital improvements as well. So, you know, noteworthy source is we've been dealing with it for a long time and the city departments are crying about it maybe doing it for one year. Um, you know, now everybody's going to feel the pain. Yeah. Yeah. As I recall, the one vote in the board of finance against the budget was because uh as that member stated, they're upset that uh police and fire are getting a zero. And while I love our police and firemen, uh you know, I wonder where the upset is
059that our students are getting a $0 increase the third consecutive year. Uh there's only been one increase that I can recall in my time on the board that's been substantial and it was I think four or five years ago now. We got one increase of about 1.1 million uh because the city was flushed with co cash co money. It was Yeah. And that's the only substantial increase I can recall in the last eight years and it still didn't cover the need. Mr. Way less than inflation. Oh, sorry. The the city implied because of the phased in approach to property taxes and property valuations that this was a two-year zero that all departments have to do it for two. So, as we're talking about this in the coming months, this is not just a zero this
060year. This is a zero next year. Now, maybe that will hold not to be true. We looked at statutes and things, but that was the implication in that meeting for everybody to consider. And that's why it's great news that there will be no matter who it is, a new mayor come December. Um, so maybe they'll be able to be uh a little bit more creative and or fiscally responsible at the city side um so that they can appropriately budget for education. Well said. That being said, does anyone have anything else to add on this matter? If not, we have a possible executive you put executive sessions, which I guess means we could do multiple backto back. It's It feels a little dodgy. Is that just Is that a typo? Yeah, we only just one. Okay.
061Um, who are you seeking to be invited in? Kim. Okay. So, everybody around the table with the exception for I will hear a motion to exe to enter executive session inviting in those aforementioned individual. Mr. Ask a question first. Can't we go into executive session to just talk about what are essentially budget matters rather than individual people? It's personnel related. But I looked at the and last year we did the same thing, John. We did the exact same thing. Last year, uh I mean, as long as you're going to tell me we can do it, I'll vote against it, but we'll do it. Uh I I've been union president too I was union president too long to just buy into this. Uh, if we're going to be talking about Can you not say nasty things
062though? If you want to comment, that's fine. Don't be derogatory. If we're going to be talking about people who will be identifiable because there are so few of them, we need to have given them the chance to be here. We won't be doing that. Okay. Okay. Is this personnel matters or specific personnel? Personnel impacts personnel, not specific people or else they would have been invited to school. So it's personnel matters if you prefer to phrase it that way. Yes. I I would I would say bearing in mind that we obviously can't expect a superintendent to give us the details. I would say the best move here would be to enter executive session and if it comes to be that the board as a body reasonably believes that the matter being presented by the superintendent should
063be discussed in open session, then we will exit the executive session at our leisure uh and have that discussion at that time. Um, but if our administration team is telling us that this is an executive session item to protect uh, you know, certain individuals, groups of individuals and their rights, um, I believe them until I know what the fine details are. Um, and with that, I would fear a motion to enter executive session inviting any form people. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Uh, made by Mr. Burgerer, seconded by M. Conway. All those in favor, please say I. I opposed opposed. Okay. Uh so that's 8 to2. We are in executive session at 6:22. Okay. But yes. It's Okay. The board is in open session at 6:39 p.m. We have uh the last
064agenda item, possible action regarding personnel. Um so I will in accordance with that hear motion to eliminate the following positions for the 2526 fiscal year. The two interventionists, three alternative education teachers, one BCBA, one grant manager, one custodial position, four pareducator positions, uh and one parent liaison. Um, just before someone makes the motion, I want to clarify because the way I've read that could be confusing. This is not laying anybody off. We are eliminating positions. We are not hearing a motion to issue any pink slips or lay off any people. With that said, I will hear the motion. So move. Second. Okay. Made by Mr. Kisco and seconded by Mr. Knight. Um, I will invite uh discussion on this. Again, just to emphasize, um these are positions. Um the some of them are vacant and
065not to be filled. Uh others are presently filled, but the administration will ensure uh that the employees currently occupying them are held harmless uh via transfer in accordance with their collective bargaining agreements and the superintendent statutory authority. Is there additional discussion from members of the board on the question before us? Um I just want to throw out there uh in relation to the the grant manager. I know there is some concern um because that that role really is essential and until very recently Whiz Levy occupied it full-time uh without the addition of her current extra responsibility. Um you know a lot of the grant work my understanding is done kind of in the spring when you have to start submitting the grant proposals. So by that time of the year um if there fingers crossed
066if there are some dollars that can be transferred one thing that may be helpful is there there are people who do grant work on a contract basis and while it's more expensive hour for hour versus having somebody salaried um you know at that time I certainly think the board would at least consider if there's a need for that and there's a line item that funds can be transferred from I would rather pay somebody for 10 hours of work a week for a couple of weeks to make sure that we are in compliance getting things done on time. Um then have everyone at central office scramble to to do it in addition to their other jobs. Um so it's not really desirable. Um contractors are expensive but something totally throw out there. Anyone else have anything
067to add. Okay. If not uh I'll put it to a vote. All those uh begrudgingly in favor please say I. Any opposed? Okay. that that motion is carried. Those positions are eliminated. For the record, I abstained. I just I just can't I'm torn. Totally understandable. This is not this and we'll ensure that your vote reflects as an abstension. Um, with that I have to hear a motion to adjourn.