001Good afternoon, welcome to the Berlin Board of Education podcast. Today we're here with Brian Benigni, Julia Dennis, and Ashley Dorsey going to talk about [music] the Berlin schools public public schools important information. So the superintendent, director of finance, and the Berlin Board of Education president here in the radio station for this podcast. So we'll start with some budget increase talk. What percent increase was presented by the superintendent of schools? [snorts] So the budget increase was presented at a 5.34% increase. This increase had no new staff other than two paraprofessionals and our supply accounts at all schools were held at zero for the second year. So this was one of the leaner budgets that we came in with and moved forward to the Board of Ed for approval. Great. All right. Right along to that approval,
002what was approved by the Board of Education of the budget? Yeah, so the Board met a number of times just to understand the process, to have the superintendent and his administration present their budget. Then we had asked questions, we took the time to have workshops to get those questions answered, really discussed this in the workshop setting, and the Board voted on a 5.34% the same that was presented by the superintendent. I think one thing to add is we believe, you know, the members of the Board that voted in favor that this is necessary to continue to deliver on the promise that we give to the parents and students in Berlin public schools. So the Board voted on the 5.34%, but it wasn't quick. It wasn't, you know, the first time we heard it. There was
003much discussion and you know, deliberation around that. It was an 8 to 1 vote if I recall correctly. >> Yeah, it was 8 to 1. 8 to 1 in favor of 5.34. One one Board member disagreed with the 5.34. >> [snorts] >> Okay, great. Moving on town council talk. So what was the increase percent recommended to the town council by the Board of Finance? So right now we're in the the kind of like the middle stages and right now it's in the in the court of the Board of Finance and they've met several times. I think they met about three times to go over what they want to put forward for referendum and they put forward a increase of 3.34% for the Board of Ed, which is actually a reduction of $1,084,000 from the superintendent
004and the Board's adopted budget and 1.99% decrease from what we've requested. So right now we're in the we have a public hearing tomorrow and it's still in the court of the Board of Finance. They could increase, decrease, or reject, or or or send as is to the town council after they vote on it tomorrow and then more to follow as to what's going to happen after these meetings. Just important to note that the Board of Finance has the ability to increase. When it gets to the town council, they can either maintain the budget or decrease the budget. They cannot or move it as to move it forward as it is. They cannot increase it at that time. It has to come from the Board of Finance. Can you talk a little bit more about what
005that increase the impact it will have on our schools and and students? So the increase or the decrease? The decrease. >> Okay, so the reductions. So you know, there's a number of areas where we can and will have to make decisions on reducing. I think the first thing that's important to mention is once we are given our number, then the Board decides what to do with that. And a number of things can change from now until then, but you know, where the Board currently stands and again, this will all really be determined by the Board after the referendum and once it's all finalized, but we are reducing the number of unanticipated outplacements for special education. We are removing a request to add paraeducators, so we're not reducing what's currently there, but there was a request
006to add that, so we're removing that. Benefits, Ashley can talk a little bit about that. There was some cost saving, right? Well, that was more when we asked for new staff in the budget, we also have to put their benefits. So since we're not moving forward with any new staff requests, we produced their what we would have anticipated for their budgets out of that line as well. And has the town come back about the benefits and that being reduced or not yet? Benefits will not be reduced. If anything, benefits will will increase. Yeah. Okay, so that's on benefits. As of right now, we have it as a 10% increase to our current premium. So whatever we're paying in our premiums now, we're anticipating a 10% increase. And can you talk a little bit about how
007the benefits how we work with the town to Yeah, so we work together with the town. There's a coalition and we work with different union groups to kind of make sure that some of the percentage increases don't become astronomical. Um in the industry itself, you're some some insurances are going way above 17 to 20%. So this coalition is actually very beneficial and we're we're we are very fortunate to be part of it to help reduce the cost or or minimize the cost to the the employee themselves. Thank you. We're also reducing transportation. Do you want to talk a little bit about the reduction in transportation? We're reducing transportation by $30,000. We currently have a contract with NBT, the Berlin transportation, fortunate to be with them. They're looking at the overall transportation increase about 3.1% being
008that our contractual obligation is at 3%. That's really squeezing down on transportation. Utilities is another that was involved with a $20,000 decrease. Supplies, even cutting further reducing current supply lines. Beyond buildings, all schools not receiving any increase, we're cutting another 166,000 in supplies. Equipment, typically our equipment line is our technology. We're in a one-to-one situation at the middle school at the elementary K-12, but the middle school and high school students have Chromebooks. And typically in sixth grade, they get a new Chromebook. It usually lasts sixth, seventh, and eighth. In ninth grade, they receive another Chromebook to use that typically goes through the high school. We're reducing $300,000 in equipment and all other expenditures at 25,000. This would have brought us to a 4% budget, not a 5.35. And when we get beyond this, beyond the
0094%, we're now looking at staffing positions. Over 80% of our budget is made up of staff. Typically any educational budget is predominantly staff and people and the Board's position is we look to we look to reduce staff at the last resort. We're really trying to maintain our staff. We know the staff makes the greatest greatest impact on a student's achievement. And so we're looking to decrease that, but I'm going to let Julia, if you want to talk about what staff positions we would be eliminating. That's with the budget below 4%. So yeah, we just gave you guys the rundown of the 4% and what that would look like, but we have a 3.35%. So we're going to keep going with the bigger cuts. Um I think it's important to notice that the ones we just
010talked about like the reducing the number of unanticipated outplacements or the request for paraeducators or contracted services, transportation, utilities, equipment, so on and so forth. That those have the least impact to the students and that's really what we want. We look at these and say where can we trim from that's going to have the least impact on the students because again, it goes to our belief of what are we doing to deliver on the promise of providing the best possible education to all Berlin learners. And so that means staying away from things that will impact students or the expectations families have for Berlin public schools. So to get us to that 3.35, everything we already talked about plus an in-school suspension position. We had a resignation that will not be filled. We have a a
011math teacher at the secondary level, an ELA teacher at the secondary level, and another ELA teacher in the secondary. Two ELA teachers, one math teacher, all um >> [clears throat] >> all are reduced. The two ELA are reduction in workforce and the math and the ISS, those were resignations and we will not be filling the positions. But typically when someone retires or resigns, you look to fill their position, not just eliminate it. Um you know, we are in a position where we're saying, I guess we have to go with bigger class sizes. I guess we have to do without certain things. And those ELA positions currently are at the middle school. They would be the two middle school sixth grade ELA positions. Both teachers, if that was to take place, typically there's five teachers on
012a team in sixth grade. This would mean that there would be four teachers, which means that the cloud number of students in the class would rise above 25 also in all those classes. Not typically a reduction we like to do. Um and as you can see we really drew that line at the 4% saying a 4% would not a lot we'd still make some cuts that would impact the district with and technology and with other positions but it wouldn't impact people in positions. So, um the 3.35 does bring us to a point where we do have to impact teaching positions. And I I want to add to this because, you know, we as a board want to hire and recruit the best possible staff and and, you know, faculty and staff to be in front
013of the kids. We want the best. Um you know, but we're not going to be able to get the best if there's reductions in workforce and then Berlin gets the reputation of where is where a school district where you might get cut. You're going to make us change or you're going to take a risk going to that district working there and now your position is eliminated reduction in workforce. So, I think, you know, but these are the difficult choices we have to make. Um and we don't like making them and this is where our our jobs get hard. Yep. I think that's also important when we have a position that we have somebody that's retiring and we elect not to fill. There is some there's this idea that oh you're not really cutting somebody because
014you're not paying the unemployment and things like that and that's not the case. Um it's still a position that's not being filled which means um class sizes get larger, student selections at the secondary um they're not as as as broad or they don't have as much variety. Um so, that idea that oh if it's uh retirement that you're not filling it's not really a cut. It it is a cut. The position was there last year and it's no longer there this year. I think the bigger question is when we start reducing positions. Um I don't know if the public is aware but, you know, the the ability to recruit and hire teachers is definitely more competitive than it's ever been. And we feel as though having a late even a late budget that comes in
015in May, the end of May, doesn't allow us to hire open positions that we have until other districts have had an opportunity to recruit and hire. And and the other position is that when we're when we're recruiting people for these positions, if you have a budget that that constantly reduces people that are currently here not retirements, the likelihood of teachers wanting to come to that district to feel stable in their employment, especially teachers when they're leaving other districts that they have tenure in, it doesn't become attractive to them. So, we've worked really hard not to be in that position recognizing that hiring and recruiting the best teachers has the greatest impact on our students. The best educators should just be teachers across the board. Um we've have made reductions over the years. These reductions, you
016know, from various from not having a assistant superintendent for years, from reducing, [snorts] you know, an ISS person this year to reducing various positions at the high school and teachers over the years. So, it's not as though we haven't made these reductions and they are difficult choices but they're necessary choices when 81% of your budget is staffing. Um and we we get to a point where you you can't go to supplies anymore and equipment and balance the budget. So, Okay. If I could speak to the supplies a little bit um I don't I don't know if you you kind of hit it home but we're actually taking a reduction with with the proposed budget at as is all operating budgets in the building will actually be less than it is this year. Um and we're
017looking at about a 15% reduction in buildings across the board. And with the re of inflation and it it's going to be tough. It's going to be a tough year for our operating budgets as well. And then that goes into the next, you know, three to five years. Every year we're going to be in this tough position. Um but, you know, I think we're always as a board we have to make difficult choices. That is part of our job. It's not fun but we have to do that and these choices impacts our whole community but most importantly the kids. And we often hear you make it work. And yes, we do. That is our job. That is Ashley's job, Brian's job, you know, to explain to us to help us make those decisions. And they
018make it work. Anyone who is responsible for budgetary oversight is expected to make it work. That is their job and, you know, if Ashley didn't make it work then we'd probably be having different conversations. >> Right. It's actually um we're required to stay within the limits of the budget that is passed. It's it's if I can't go past it um cuz it's statutory regulation requires me to stay within that limitation. >> can't just spend it down and then >> I can't I can't spend it down past the budget and say, "Sorry, can I can I get a little more?" Uh no. So, I think that's a misconception. So, I know the mayor has said multiple times like, "If you run out of money, come to us. Come to us and we'll give you money." Um
019but with the statutory regulation, are you able to do something like that? So, I Certain areas. I think it's certain areas. As the special education cost is one of them that is protected by that. Um I We have safeguards in place um when we get So, because another thing that comes in a lot of times is well you asked for this, you got this and you had money at the end of the year. Well, that's because that goes through very uh strict monitoring throughout the year, budget freezes if we need to, making sure there's also fluctuations in a budget. Sometimes we have a staff member go on an unanticipated medical leave and their salary is not paid or we have vacancies or we have a high cost tuition student um who moves out of town.
020So, there are things that are going to contribute to year-end funds at the end of the year um but they're not guaranteed and the surplus isn't budgeted. So, it it's it's based on managing what we have and making sure that we're doing that in a way to not put you not put Brian in a pickle because I don't want to be on the that side of the conversation >> No, we'll absolutely I know you wouldn't want to be and I feel like in your position that would really stress you out getting that close to the bottom line. Like that are we creating a good work environment, you know, for everyone which I mean there's been some years where we've had a budget freeze for about three quarters and it wasn't until we really got past
021the fourth quarter where where we're into the fourth quarter said, "Okay, we're going to we're going to make it. Go go ahead and and get the things [clears throat] that you need." Mhm. I think the other piece that's important to note is that, you know, it's it's like many people say um you know, the Board of Finance and even Town Council that you have a surplus. The surplus is typically between 1 and 2%. Um I'm not a I'm not a finance guy but I am a math major and you're between 1 2%. Everything I've read is 1 to 3%. Especially on a 50 $52 million budget you've done a great job. But the other part that's important to note is the money where it's spent. I think the bigger concern is once the Town Council
022and the Board of Finance put a number forth for the board. By state statute the board to gets to decide where that money spent. It's not under the discretion of the Town Council or the Board of Finance where all of the town funds are. So, being that the case, they're looked at it's like a surplus. That surplus is used to buy the technology that we're cutting out of the budget every year. So, the surplus that we have is used to fund servers, Chromebooks, laptops, projectors, all the various technology it takes around the district. And that that report is given to the Board of Board of Education. It's a public record. Everyone can see it. So, when you talk surplus there is no replacement cycle for technology. So, surplus is really used for technology. So, to
023say it's a surplus that can be used anywhere you want, yes it could but we wouldn't have the technology for students and staff to educate them. So, I think there's a little misnomer in in how that surplus is is thought of without having a replacement cycle for technology. All right. So, we've talked a lot about what the board has been doing. So, now we can kind of flip it to the other side of the the table and what what can the taxpayers do to increase the the budget allocation in the BOE budget? Yeah, and I think this is something that we always talk about every year. And and it's whether people want it increased or not, right? Like what do we need from the community? We need the community to come out and vote, right?
024And every year we spin our wheels trying to get the word out but there's only so much we can do um by statute because once numbers are set we can't talk about it further um and we're really limited in what and what we can say and how we can say it. So, you know, I think members of the community can attend Town Council meetings, Board of Finance meetings and let the elected officials know that you support additional funding for the Board of Education. This could be done during audience as citizen portion of the meeting. Uh you can send emails right to them. Um we but I think also showing up on on the day of the referendum and voting. And a lot of times people say, "I didn't even know we had a vote or
025I didn't know how to vote or I didn't know what to vote for or the questions were confusing." And I think all those things are valid points. Um you can always reach out to any of the members of the Board of Ed if you want to have an individual conversation one-on-one. Um but we are limited in, you know, saying telling you how to vote. Like I could share how I would vote but I can't tell you how to vote. Um and that's something I'm very cautious of. So, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31st, we have a um public public hearing, right? >> Yes. At McGee at 6:00 p.m. Uh and that is an opportunity to hear the budgets presented by uh the Town council as well as the Board of Ed and then you can express your
026voice your concerns. Um, there's also a number of town council and Board of Finance meetings that you can attend and then we have the referendum. I think it's important to note that, you know, in between now and the referendum, there's really five meetings that you can get to. One, the Board of Education meeting on the 27th. Yeah, we really have no the board does not have any authority beyond this point until the referendum and that's one day before the referendum. And as Julia said, the 31st is the budget hearing. There will be microphones set up. Anyone that attends in the public would like to speak. And that's a great meeting because you have the board there, the Board of Finance and the town council. And what's nice about that is that is the only meeting
027other than the April 7th meeting that's a town council meeting in the chambers where they actually set the number for the referendum. And I think it's important to note once the number for the referendum is set by state statute, I cannot use any taxpayer paid for information systems such as email, voicemail, school messenger, nor can the board to communicate anything about the budget. So often times people say, "Why don't you share more with us?" We're doing our best to get as much information out to you early while we can, which is now because the number has not been set. But once it's set, we are not able to do that any longer. So, we do apologize for that but it's not our it's it's not our doing. It's a by state law that we can't.
028So. But I don't go ahead. >> And I think that includes even just reminding them that the vote is on April 28th. So, the referendum is April 28th. And you should mark your calendars now. And and typically the number the percentage of the population that votes is somewhere around 7%. >> Yeah, it's very low. So, we're hopeful that an additional 7% at least will come out and vote and I hope to support the budget. And if it is at 3.35 that you're asking to, you know, increase it so that we're able to fund the positions that we talked about earlier. I think the hardest part for us as a board every year, and it doesn't happen every year, but the years it happens when people are finding out about these reductions in May, in June,
029July, August, September, and that's when people are coming to the board meeting. That's when they're saying, "But I didn't know." We're very limited in what and how we can share. But you know, we're going to try this out this year with the podcast and see see if it helps. Um, but I think you know, you need to you need to start asking the questions now, not in June or not at the start of the school year. I I know one of the things that was very controversial was the high school parking and the fee. And we had those conversations a year ago. They were happening. They happened from December, January, February, March, April. So, when it's all forth, but then people weren't happy that that was one of them one of the reductions and they
030said, "But why didn't we know?" And we said, "But all our meetings are listed like we're limited in how we can you know, share information." So, you know, only the Board of Finance has the ability to increase the board's budget either before or after the final, you know, the proposed um, budget tomorrow night is presented. But after this budget, it cannot be increased until after the referendum. You know, and I I don't know if you guys want to add anything to that. No, I just think it's important to note that the up until the 7th, the Board of Finance can increase the percentage that goes to the town council for approval. Town council does not have the authority to increase. After the referendum, they will then take a look and typically the mayor has said
031that he looks at how the votes went because it's reputation of the community. So, our hope is that the community comes out and vote and sends a message that says, "No, the board needs some more funding. It's not adequate at 3.35." But there are only certain times that it can be increased by certain groups. So. So, it's out of the Board of Ed's hands at this point. It's now with the Board of Finance and the town council. >> the number is, you know, we've publicized the board has shown what they would cut at this point. And I don't want to speak for the board, Julia, but during discussions, we did talk about if it went lower than 3.35, which I hope it doesn't, we would probably have to go into more positions because we don't
032have the ability to cut further. So, I think that's important to note. And like I just go back to that 4% being the line that we drew that said that does not that allows us not to cut any people, any positions if we had the 4%. So. >> [snorts] >> I I, you know, and just to kind of wrap things up like I think all of us sitting here, we're proud of Berlin Public Schools and the board will stand by that as well. Uh I think Berlin Public Schools just continues to improve um, you know, with our options and opportunities for all students as Brian likes to say, that's the focus, right? And we have so many for students. Um but when we have to make reductions, you know, that limits opportunities. You know, if
033you don't have kids in the district, it it impacts the real estate market. But at the end of the day, you know, I know for me as a teacher, like I do this for all Berlin students. And it's also important to look out for the teachers and the staff, the parents and the custodians and all the different groups because they work here. And we want this to be a a positive place where they want to come to work. Um, when the budget is difficult or contentious or there's fear that people might lose their jobs especially in this economy, it's not a good place to work. And then that's not what's best for kids. All right, Brian, Julia, Ashley, thanks [music] for coming into the high school radio station and sharing all this important information with
034the community. Um, make sure you guys make it out on the 28th and go vote. And thanks for tuning in to this first edition of the Berlin Board podcast. Thank you. Thank you. >> [music]