001Um, thank you, Caitlyn. I would like um I would like to call um the special board of ed meeting to order. Today is January 10th and it's 5:30. So, um Susan um as as we have had the conversation about you and I um is um is is really kind of talk about the transportation. you were having a lot of information and um a lot of concern about what was happening and um as we begin to um to uh create our budget um or take your budget and make it ours um we want you wanted us to know what's kind of going on. So I would like to say thank you to Sam because I know that you've been you and Ken have been working really hard at negotiating around this. So, I am that's the
002scene. That is um that is where that's where we're going to start and I'm going to sort of pass that the torch on to both you Susan and your staff. So, as you know, this is really one of the main drivers was this newly um created bus bid and two bids came in and I'm going to have Ken actually sent you some documentation and notes around this and then actually a graph and a chart around what the monies look like as we go through five years with this bus company um should we want to do that. So, the bus company, if we accept a bid, um, we're in it for three years and then we can have an extension of the other two years. So, we have looked at this. We've scrutinized. I've the staff
003has been wonderful about researching, finding out who else is out there, who's been bidding, what else is going on in the state. It's actually a topic on my agenda for um the superintendent on Friday to find out how people are doing with this. But um we actually reviewed some of the information that was sent out and Ken has um really kind of a logical way of going through this with you and then certainly want to entertain any questions or ideas you might have. Um it's not signed off and so we've had some bus drivers actually say that um they're not getting the bid that someone else is and that is not true. There were only two bids that came through and you know we want to share really both of um you know both of
004the bids and while this isn't a negotiations the bid process is quite different I really felt I needed the board to be in on this because it's such a driver of the budget so I want your insight so I'm kind of asking for your um thoughtfulness and letting me know if you have other questions or things we should be looking at. So, I'm going to turn it over to Ken and Sam to kind of walk us through a little history walk of how this process works and what our findings are and even some thinking we've had around this of how we can make this more palatable. >> Uh, sure. So, um, we did provide Susan uh, Sam and I did write up, um, kind of like a brief on on what we did, but, uh,
005in case you hadn't looked at it or just maybe just to to to talk about some of the points, um, we gave a little bit of history on the current contract um, that and it's actually a contract that's been extended a couple of times. Originally, it was um, I think it was 2011. Uh, so it is an older contract that we've been extending. Um and so it but once we um once we decided we want we were going to go out to bid, we we did have a preliminary discussion with STA uh prior to bidding to find out what uh an increase might look like had we wanted to entertain um an uh an extension and it and it was large. It was a large increase. Uh so we we definitely thought that going out
006to bid was the best idea. Um, we worked with a transportation consultant, Mike Kennedy, uh, who has some experience both with our district as well as the area districts. Uh, you know, we we we discussed among other things, uh, we discussed who would pay for fuel, where the buses would be housed, uh, and the and the six to six, um, um, uh, schedule that that we currently have. uh it was decided that um that fuel it was best if we continue to purchase the fuel uh versus have the transportation company purchase it because they would be uh making assumptions on where that cost would be going and adding a markup on top of that so it would be more efficient if we bought the fuel ourselves. Uh we also were uh uh wanted to keep
007the buses within town uh both from uh an efficiency standpoint so they don't have to travel as far to get to our students uh but also for the fact that uh we may be able to recoup some uh some property tax uh with having those buses housed within uh within our borders. Uh and then finally on that 6 to6 um it was uh we didn't find any other districts in the state that currently have this 6 to6 schedule. So there was nothing really to compare it against. Um six to six is difficult for transportation companies to um to predict in that you know they'd have to be ready at any time with any bus uh for that 12-h hour period. Uh so it's hard for them to to manage and and what they end up
008doing is just tacking on some more uh costs to the bid. So we thought in an effort to keep those bids lower uh we would remove that six to six. Uh in addition uh during the pandemic we didn't get the benefit of that six to six because we weren't doing any of those extra uh runs and so whatever extra we might be paying for that is is not really wasn't being utilized during that time. Uh so uh we we came up with the the bid specs. We we contacted six bus companies um and we also put it in the newspaper. Uh we had three bus companies that came to our pre-bid uh um uh conference to discuss. Uh that was uh DATCO out of New Britain. We had First Student and STA that came to
009the pre-bid. Uh and in the end on December 6 when we uh when we actually opened the bid, there were just two bus companies that put in they actually put in three bids. Well, SDA put in one bid and uh First Student put in two bids. one for an all all new buses and one for a mix of older and uh and and newer buses. Uh once we calculated those bids, the uh the lowest uh lowest amount uh was STA. Uh they were lower. Um I don't know if you if you I can put up this uh >> maybe I'll put up this. >> Yeah, that would help the money schedule. >> We do have >> Let's see. Um there it is. All right. Hopefully you can see that. Uh so this is just totaling
010uh the the cost uh for those three bids. Uh you see in the yellow that's what the cost is for this year. And then um you'll see this three columns. One was SDA's bid and the other two were first students uh two bids. And all three are going up the first year by approximately a million dollars or more. >> Correct. Yep. >> Nearly. And and after. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. And so, yeah. SDA, for instance, go go goes up 21% in uh year 1 and then 5% thereafter. Whereas first student um had uh their two bids were 32.4% and 26.5% increase in the first year and three and a half% uh increases thereafter. And then the bottom line is also good to look at after all that time. What is the percent increase? >> Yep.
011Um I we I did talk to some other districts. I spoke with uh New Britain, Talin, Trumbull, Ngatuck, Danbury, Griswald, Waterford. Um and they're all having um they're all experiencing double-digit um uh increases. Um, only New Britain, Taland, and Trumbull have actually gone out to bid at this point. Uh, New Britain and Taland came in. Their their bids were very very close to the bids that we got back. Uh, Trumbull is opening up their bids uh next week. Um, and uh I I think what's happening is that these what we're getting on these bids is these are the market rates uh as of now. Um there's been quite a you know a lot of change in the in the bus uh area um increase in wages um and and and and so I think it's
012driving a higher a higher cost um >> and I have to say I I was a little concerned after meeting with colleagues and um Waterford had said that they really had closed a deal at you know something 3 to 5% for the next five years and but when we went to investigate percent doesn't always tell you everything. So they had a bus contract that was much higher rate per day and so we had been fortunate to be with STA and have something that was much more reasonable. So, while it's up 21%, um, from what, you know, Sam and Ken and I have really researched, it seems to be what others are paying. So, it's not, you know, out of the norm for what other school districts are paying. >> Trumbull is anticipating a 20% increase
013in their bus contract, which they're going to they're going to open up those bids next week. But that's that was their anticipation. Um, so at this point, uh, the recommendations from Sam and I would be, um, that we go back to the lowest bidder, which happens to be SDA in this case, and just, uh, see if we can, um, maybe I don't know if we can help to to to that that that that year one uh, increase is just so large. Is there some way that we can spread that over maybe uh, some years or or a year uh, or something like that? But that would be the recommendation that uh we have at this point. >> So I understand from the bidding process that you can actually negotiate with the top bidder. So there's
014some things that we want to make sure are happening. Um you know as we've had with the six to six to have some of those field trips in place within the parameters of Grten. Um you know there's some other things too that we want to lay out um to see. I'm really concerned that our bus drivers are still using a piece of paper and when they are new to the bus company, they're looking at the paper and driving the bus sometimes. And I really think they need to have some kind of really good navigation system. There's a law that says they can't be, you know, on their phones or or watching a map, but they can listen to directions. So, I think more work needs to be done with our legislators when we get our
015legislative breakfast to allow bus companies to have the kind of navigation systems we all have in our own automobiles to really safely get our kids back and forth. The old days of the paper routes need to be gone. They're not effective and they cause a lot of concern on the day-to-day practice where buses are late, new bus drivers get lost and it really needs to be improved. I I I hear your concerns and those are incredibly valid, but I kind of want to stay to the money first and then we can talk about okay supporting you around the safety of the bus drivers and more importantly the the >> I only mention it because this would be a time that we could negotiate some of that within. So we could agree to something and then
016say but also we want to >> got that. Thank you. Um, I'm going to, um, recognize Rita. >> Thank you. Let me lower my hand. Um, I have three points that I'd like to bring up. Um, the first is that Connecticut is going to be, you know, at least 30% of all buses in the state of Connecticut, including school buses, need to be electrified by 2030. And we have gotten um me emails. I have brought this up. We've gotten emails from parents wondering, you know, have we applied for some of this funding? Volkswagen, it's actually comes from a settlement from Volkswagen. So $9.5 million is being used by Griswald, Middletown, New Britain to electrify a portion of their buses just to start the first year. But there's 55 um I think it's million dollars in
017this v Volkswagen settlement and beyond that there's $5 billion for transportation and the climate initiative in the new transportation and infrastructure um act that was passed by Congress. So I want to know how aggressive we have been about looking at this with STA. What are their plans? Um, my second point is I don't want to see a five-year contract. A lot of that has to do with the electrification of the buses. I think that that's way too long and and I think we need to be to let them know that this is a really important for our state as well as Massachusetts, Rhode Island. I mean there are 15 states that have signed on to this initiative and they have these boot camp um that that these initiatives that you know administration could be signing
018on to going to these meetings and trying to find out like Griswell did and Middletown how do we get some of that funding that is very important to me. The other thing is um you you know we need to talk to them about the fuel since we you know it's going to be changing. We need to either have hybrid buses and this and the state funding is for buses that are 2009 and older. So we have to find out. I know it said in this contract that some of the buses might be new, other ones were going to be older. Well, how old is old? What are they talking about? And does this talk about seat belts for students? Um, so there I have a lot of questions about this. I mean, it's fine if
019you want to go to STA. I just don't want to see a five-year contract, and I want to know more about what we're doing as a school system to electrify our school buses like we should be doing. Thanks. >> Thank you, Rita. Liz. >> Yeah. I just wanted to ask is the five-year contract is that standard for around our region or is it I mean I I don't know is that the norm is that we go for a five-year contract or is it you know would would a three-year contract be better um or or available? >> So So it is a three it's a three-year contract with a two two additional year extension individually. So e one year or or or two years and that is that is that is somewhat standard >> and the
020two years are at our option. We determine that. >> Um Kim, can I ask why we're the only system that does six to six for our buses? >> Well Rita, you certainly can, but that was going to be my question. But okay. And I guess can I extand can I expand your question Rita? Um, is that is there a way for us to not I mean do we have to have if we have six to six is that the whole fleet or can we say a certain time of the year because I do know that there is meets and all that stuff but is there a way to kind of and would that negotiate our price down and and Ken and Sam I'm not even pretending that I know about that and after they answer
021my question Matthew I'm going to recognize you. Thank you for letting me jump in. I think that needs to be clarified. This is not originally this was not a six to six, >> but we have included costs for the middle of the day for our preschools because we need to get our preschoolers back and forth. And um so I'm going to let Ken and Sam talk to you. This is not what it used to be, >> but it does include the cost to transport all our children during the day back and forth to school. >> Correct. This this this this is not uh so what we bid out was not six to six. it was it's a it's a it's a it's a daily rate uh and then it's the uh it's a it's a
022midday run rate and that's and those are the numbers that you see there which is comparable to what we have right now um as far as >> except for field trips >> and to have them at our beck and call all day long for 12 hours. >> Right. So, do we need to rethink how we do things >> as far as >> I I I don't know. >> Change the hours of school again. >> Oh, yeah. That that would be fun. All right, Matthew. And then Beverly, Matthew, I know that you've unmuted, but we cannot hear you. >> Is this any better? >> No. Yeah. Could you get a little bit closer? You're um It's actually very faint. >> Sorry, I didn't cut my wings. >> Um my instinct >> and I I expect Jay
023Jay or or the other guys could know. It's my instinct that when they build a three-year with extension contract with the uncertainties in fuel whether there's a recession that drives prices down tremendously or uh a boom time which drives them up that somehow the first three years they're going to build in a cushion to guarantee against inflation in the last two years. So I'm wondering and it's above my pay grade. I'm wondering if we decided to go for a three-year contract without that extension whether the fact that there was no potential liability to the company for unexpected expenses the last two years of the five-year contract whether that alone might not enable them to shave some of the cost off the three-year contract. >> Just an idea. Ju >> just to be clear. Um, so
024the these these numbers do not include the cost of fuel. The the district purchases its own fuel and delivers it to the bus company. >> You're correct. I did not express myself well. uh if we're in an inflationary environment and they're going to have to replace some buses if they we go with old bus some old buses I like the questions that were already asked but they're guaranteeing to replace them with new buses or with old with other old buses if the existing old buses u see the end of their days >> there's a minimum age uh in the bid specs there's a minimum age of of bus Uh, >> do we have any exposure from maintenance? >> Well, they own the buses, so they'd have to m they maintain the buses. >> Okay. >>
025Thank you. >> Nothing will guarantee they replace them with new buses. They have other um districts that they have contracts for. So, for instance, they lost a contract in uh at the other end of the state uh recently. uh if if those buses if our buses ran out of time uh that they could replace them with buses from another district or they could purchase new buses, but they there is a limit on the age of the buses and of course uh these buses are inspected by the state on a on a continuing basis. So um they have to be up to snuff right uh at all times. Matthew, I'm assuming that you're done with your questioning. Thank you, Bev. >> Uh, thank you. Um, Sam, when they talk about new buses, they're going to have
026some old buses, some new buses. Are they like 2023, 2022 buses, or they're just new and then the old buses? >> They did. They did give Oh, go ahead, Sam. I don't um No, you can uh you can jump in, but I don't believe SDA stated uh in in their proposal any number of new buses. Um they they they just uh maintain the fleet uh uh up to a certain uh certain age of those buses. Uh it may have been 10 years. I don't remember at the moment, but I could pull that out. >> Okay. because I thought they going to have some >> new buses and some old buses. So, I was unclear what that meant. >> How new were the new buses? >> Okay. >> The new Go ahead. >> The the new
027bus uh um uh bid was from first student. They they they ones that bid the new bus completely new buses and then a mix of of newer and older buses. >> Okay. All right. That was just okay. My mistake. I'm sorry about that. Um since we don't have them from 6 to 6, how much extra is that going to cost us for extracurricular activities for busing? Do you have the idea about that? >> So the the numbers that uh that are on that are shared on that sheet that includes that includes the all the the midday runs and the late buses. Um what it doesn't include are any of the uh extracurriculars that uh that go outside of the district and are not six to six because you know presumably they it' be the same.
028Um um um we'd still have to pay for those uh with the six to six and in the in the next one. Um so um what what we what we don't have uh if we don't have the six to six would be the uh kind of the the buses within district um uh that go to uh for instance the the within within district locations like like Bluff Point or or even over to Mystic Aquarium and uh Dennis uh Peekquat I suppose. Um, so, so that currently wouldn't be part of this, but um, as S Susan stated, that that's something that we'd like to continue the discussion with STA about. >> Okay. And I agree with Rita about not having a five-year contract, just having a three-year contract. >> So, this is a three-year contract, but
029it has an extension. And one of their ways of wanting you to extend if you have really good service is that, of course, the percentage goes down over time. the first year you really pay the largest amount. >> I'm going to recognize Dean. >> Thank you. So, two unrelated questions but related to buses. Uh, and the first has to do with um the interest in electrifying and and I'm not sure how the state mandate is supposed to work, but is the proposal by some board members, the the the urgency expressed by some board members, is that that we acquire buses ourselves that the district now own the buses? >> No. >> Okay. Because that's going to be tires and brakes. uh and actually more often than >> not with the state. It's just they're giving
030the money to the bus companies. >> Middletown is getting six new buses. Griswald is getting buses, but they applied for this. And I'm just wondering whether or not we as a school system has done this, have gone to these boot camps, have understand that there is a large part of money out there, but you have to seek it and the money goes to the bus companies and they in for so many buses. So, let me >> I actually attended one of those at learn and I think I've spoken to the board about that. The cost is like $400,000 and from the grant you get about $200,000 and you really have to be in sync with your but bus company to be able to go after these grants. >> Um, that's >> and there are some
031problems with these electric buses still not getting back home kind of thing. >> Leaving leaving aside the issue with the buses themselves, I do remember the $400,000 figure. I do remember somebody saying that the subsidy is about half of that. I are we genuinely talking about partnering with a bus company where we buy them electric buses. I mean, why should we care whether they get a subsidy or not? It sounds like all we can do is say, "Hey, the next time you bid, we want to see a good size of your fleet be electric. Otherwise, we don't want to talk to you." Is it Is that what you're talking about? >> Yeah. I mean, we're paying for fuel, >> right? I'm sorry. >> We have to pay for the fuel for these buses. So that's
032on top of the contract, >> right? >> The way the grant works is the district has to seek the grant, >> right? >> And then the funds the bus company has to pay for the bus and get the reimbursement. So it there is some collaboration that has to happen with this, >> right? And I really don't think that the next bus contract if it's an all-electric fleet, we get the buses for free. I think we're gonna wind up paying for the juice. >> Wait, >> if I were the bus company, why would I pay for the juice now? >> Free. You won't get them for free. It's just that it's better for the environment. >> Okay. It's better for the environment here, but not where the coal plant is burning to make the electricity to
033run the bus. But okay. >> And and the $400,000 is for the bus alone. It doesn't include the infrastructure that it takes to have the charging stations for a school bus. at a bus garage somewhere. >> The state, according to what I've read, the state is helping with that with this um Volkswagen diesel admission environmental mitigation trust. >> Right. So, I am wondering um Susan and I'm we meet every Tuesday morning and we had a conversation about setting up an agenda to because Heather has agreed to kind of come back and and have more conversations and I'm wondering if we can add this to um to our agenda about taking a look at what is the requirement that the state is having for the district. Rita, I I hear you and I am with you.
034I think that we need to be moving to more eco-friendly um ways of transporting our kids. Um and however, I do hear Dean's part about the fact that we're still not good enough around how to produce our electricity and it is being fed and and fueled by coal producing plants. And so, but we're also being sent another mandate where our town has to pay for it. And so I guess I would like to hear from our legislators about how they're going to either help us get more than just half of the money or get or get the juice for the for the buses. But like what is the realistic plan for that? Because if we're going to go if they want us to go electric, okay, but then how do we do the transition um
035from point A to point B? Um, and um, >> you're forgetting that we pay for fuel. So, it's much less to pay for an electrified bus. I mean, that's why our buses are now changing in the state of Connecticut and why our um, north, you know, our our local trains are all electrified now. >> So, once again, I I I'm not forgetting about I I I'm going to push back on that, Rita. I'm not forgetting about the fuel. I'm just saying I I think it's really important that we hear from our state legislation about what is the state thinking about that so that we can then have a a much bigger a plan about that. But I'm also afraid that we're getting off the subject and I'm I'm for blaming and I and I'm going
036to take ownership of that. Um but that we we really need to be given guidance to Ken and Sam about we are now seeing that percentage for the first year. what I'm hearing. Matthew, I do see you or hand up, but let me just finish. I I do I do see that 20 I don't have it's on my screen and I'm trying to look at people. Um I I do see that 21% Ken and Sam, what I hear from you is that's okay. I much rather see people's faces. Um is what I what I hear from you is that you're wanting to see if you if there's any negotiation around that 21%. And are you guys are you guys as as the people who are working for working for Susan but ultimately working for us
037because um as as the board, are we are are we are you feeling comfortable about those other three years um um in terms of pay uh for increases? >> I don't think any of this is comfortable. Well, I I mean I mean the reality is is that >> the reality it is that this is huge like 21% the first year >> is huge. Um, and however, this is this is above my pay grade in terms of understanding is that if this is what you're seeing and can I do appreciate the fact that you've gone out and you've and you found out information from other school districts, that's that's pretty darn amazing. Um, but I I guess for me is I'm just trying to I'm just I'm just trying to get a handle about understanding what
038your recommendation because I got lost in the electric vehicle. >> And I had a second question, but Okay, I'll wait. >> My god. Is that why the two I'm sorry, Dean. >> Yeah, sorry. >> I'm gonna let you continue and then Matthew. >> Yeah, I'll finish. Um, and I said it was unrelated uh to the electric end of it. years ago when we had to redistrict because it was a racial imbalance. I'm not sure what school or school set us off. I wasn't on the board at the time, of course, but I remember the bus routes had to be redone because kids had to be shuffled around to meet the state requirements. I also recall that our representatives at the time, all three Democrats actually, um, said, "Boy, that's really unfortunate." You know, maybe God,
039I can't remember. I think it might have been Representative Mukawasher who suggested that Grten actually challenge the state on the on the racial balancing and see what happens. I thought that would put the ECS grant at risk, but in any event, it may be one of these things that cannot be parsed out of our budget, but do we have an idea? Are we is our route system is our requirement for buses based in any way on needing to move kids from and of course the high school and middle school are not in play but having to move kids from elementary school to elementary school to satisfy the state requirement with regard to what the state would call state balancing. Are we what are we paying a premium for that? And if so, what would that
040be? Can we tell what that is? Nobody knows. That's okay. I didn't expect that answer. >> I can tell you that when uh Dr. Graner. I first talked about uh having all magnet schools uh way back when he was still here. We talked about busing at that time and we were pretty sure that uh by going all magnet in the district, it was going to increase the length of bus runs because you're moving somebody from North Pleasant Valley Road all the way to Mystic River School, for instance. Um and that the bus runs would be longer. Um, so that might increase the the cost of the buses. So I I think there probably has been some effect there, but uh I don't know what that percentage would be or what that number would be. The
041figure that I recall again when when we had to redistrict and add runs uh to to move kids around um was something in the neighborhood of 700,000 additional for the uh for that service. But I mean it could have been because we had sort of a where we were and now what we have to spend to change. But if we're not in the middle of redistricting or you know we're sort of busing kids around or they're asking to be bus they want to go here and they're doing it on their own it we probably don't have a baseline for comparison. So we know well we would be spending this if kids went for example to their nearest uh available elementary school as opposed to saying we got to take one person from here and send
042them over there and vice versa. But all right I'm gonna Matthew and then Beverly Matthew you are are muted. You'd think I'd have figured that out by now. >> Uh, I listened to Dean's comment about the source of the electricity being cold fired power plants. So, while we were chatting, I quickly went over and asked the question, the source of Connecticut electricity. It took me to the Connecticut government portal on source of electricity and it says that all plants supplying electricity in Connecticut are gas, not coal. >> That's it. Thank you. >> It's still CO2, but >> in a perfect world. >> Okay, so let's move on, please, Beverly. >> Thank you, Kim. You know what? This um I I hope Susan that you and Sam and Ken can negotiate a better deal with them
043and spread out that 21%. But the real sad thing about the increase, which is a million dollars if I have it about right, is that it's going to affect the other things that we want in our budget. And that's the sad thing. We're we're we're not going to get 4%. We're really going to have to start looking at where to cut. I I can't see the town council, the RTM agreeing to 4%. And that's the sad thing about this large increase in the bus budget. And um that's just too bad. I um I think I share your sentiment. Thank you, Beverly. >> Rita. >> Yes. Um I would like to see whether or not I know there are towns around us that no longer have the late runs because of the cost of the buses.
044What is the impact of that? We're also busing children all over town because of our Magnus schools. Does that need to be re rethought? Um, and that we used to have the bus buses 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. because we had kindergarten runs when our children went half day to school. So, yes, you're talking about preschool now, but before there were the kindergarten runs when everybody went half day. Um, but it it's just such an expense and it just seems like, you know, there's like not much we could do about it. But I'm hoping that we could find some savings by talking to the bus company, seeing whether or not we need to do something about these late runs that are costing more. What do the other towns have if they don't have six to
045six? I would like to know what that is. And that that was that's one of my questions. if anybody can tell me why we're six to six and no one else is. >> So, so Rita, um I think you're bringing up some really good points and I don't know how the rest of the the board feels, but Susan, I'm wondering how how hard would it be for you and your staff to kind of take a look at what the impact is if that we didn't offer some like what are there's obligatory runs that we have to do. I hear that. That's not what I'm asking for information on, but I I'm wondering are there the spaces and places that we're doing because it seems to be it was working, it's helpful, but if if this
046is what it is, um like is is that going to be one of the areas where we have to kind of like shore in? And so I don't know if I know I'm not talking complete sentences, but I'm wondering if that is information that you could get to us and whether that's the will of the board. >> I think they've parsed out what the after school bus runs are, right? But I I question um us la um interfering with the access that we've provided for kids in this community, whether they're no matter where they live to all the afterchool clubs, activities, sports, um tutoring, you know, supporting their classes. And if we start messing around with providing transportation for kids during the school day to get them back and forth to school or even after
047the school day, that could be really um impeding many students who wouldn't have a ride back and forth after school. So, we could certainly look at what that dollar amount is, but I'm really interested in working with this bus company to say if this is the money that it takes to run your bus company, how can we lay this out better so that it can be more digestible for the board to be able to for us to be able to pay for this in the next three years? But, you know, I we can certainly give you those numbers. I don't think they're going to be that much money for when I think about diversity, equity, and inclusion and access to providing our children what they need before and after school and during the school day.
048That would be number one priority for me. >> I guess Dean, I'm going to recognize you, Andrea. I will absolutely recognize you. But if I if I can just um jump off Beverly and Beverly, if I'm not if I'm misspeaking for you, I I apologize and please correct me. But I think Beverly's end statement was like this is really sad because we are going to start to need to take a look at that and maybe having that information about because that it's a logical conclusion is that well then we'll just cut off some of our bus service and so take a look at what that is so that we could have that information because as a as a collective board we could say absolutely not like we're never going to do that or we could
049kind of say This feels really yucky, but this is what we have to do in order to be able to to provide a budget that makes sense to the district and also to um and and to the and to the community at large. So, I'm going to >> You certainly have that information and can provide it. >> I I I I think the board would really appreciate that. Thank you. And I think that that only tells I mean, Susan, you and I talked about that this morning, like what is our story, right? >> Right. >> Okay, Dean. And then Andrea. >> All right, that's this brings up a good question, which is in some bid situations when you invite people to bid and they submit bids and you have the lowest responsible bidder, if that's
050how you want to describe it. Uh the v the descriptions vary. you in those situations, stay with say with state contracts, you cannot just say, "Well, okay, low bidder, unless it was somewhere worked in the terms of the bid, uh, let's negotiate for a different price." You're going to have the other biders, number two and number three, say, "Wait a minute, we could have negotiated, too, but we thought we had to provide the the alpha and the omega price, so we did. And now you're turning around and you're negotiating with the with the winner for an even better price." Well, on that basis, we could do better. So you have uh you have legal actions there. How when we said we want when we say bids are we asking for bids or do we ask
051for like quotes? So not really bound by anything you know must >> policy around this Dean. We follow the policy around this strictly. >> Okay. It's buried somewhere in the book. Yeah I'm sure. >> Yeah. Um I just want to make sure we don't run into any uh you know any third rails like that where we have first students say wait a minute what are you doing negotiating with STA you know you gota we know we can negotiate too if you want I think >> I'm sorry I didn't hear that was directed at me >> no sorry my my phone turned on and I'm trying to like turn it off so it doesn't speak any >> Andrea Yeah. >> No. >> Okay. Start. >> Okay. I know that nobody on the board wants to take
052anything away from kids. I know that. And I but I I really want to emphasize what what Susan said. And I don't know, maybe it's it's I'm not worried about the money as much as I am worried about the kids. And I know everybody else on the board feels the same way, but given what um Dean just said, is there a possibility to reopen bids? And would that obiate that problem of saying, "Well, you should have told me." And if we reopen the bids, would that solve that problem? >> So we we we can throw out these bids and and and rebid. Um there is some risk there because uh the bids are they're public um information. Uh so there is risk that um they'll just bid up to the to the highest bid. Um
053it's it's it's one of our options. We could throw out what we have and rebid >> but we might be paying more >> in the end. It's a risk. >> The discuss that Dr. Aerman did, you know, when I first heard it, we did discuss that. Does this need to happen? >> The the concern was that there were only two companies that bid. Um if we had more participation from the other bus companies, then uh we might be in a different situation, but um there was only two two companies. Um and so the yeah, it'd be a risk. >> Thank you, Ken. William. Yeah, I think that's my biggest concern being that we had so few bidding that both of them would, you know, up their bid if we if we uh, you know, withdraw
054these current bids. Um, I don't think anybody's going to make it better, you know, especially with the economy the way it is. So, I'd be worried about that. William, are you like do you have another question or a comment? >> Nope. I'll lower my hand. >> Okay. Thank you. I just I'm I'm just Liz. >> Susan, I was just wondering um and if I I'm sorry I was late, so if I missed this, I apologize. Operator error, but um Going with this 21% increase, how impactful is that on the bottom line of your budget? >> It's worth a million dollars increase >> worth. So that's in addition to what you've already >> that's in the proposal in the proposed budget. We we knew about this, so we added it in the budget. So it's in
055there. >> It is in there. So it's not an additional thing that we have to worry about. >> No, but it's it's a big piece of it. It is a big I I'm I totally hear what you're saying. I really do. Um I can't uh And again, I apologize if you've done this. Was what was the reason for the the uh increase? And if I missed it, I like I said >> that those are my very words. Liz, how come it's so much? Why what's happening here? And I had just um spoken with colleagues that seemed to be coming had come in last year at a much different rate. And but then I I looked at not just the percentage increase, but um you know, I have to commend both Ken and Sam for doing
056their due diligence and their homework and finding out what others are doing. And so what has been proposed in the bid is not different much different than what's happening around us. Um, when you look at the dollars and cents, I think we had had a few years there, especially when we extended that, it was really in Graten's favor, the cost that we had. And now it's really more like what other people are paying. And as as we seem to be getting these bids in around the state, it is kind of in line with what we're seeing, but it is a big chunk to bite off the first year. So, we definitely and with our um I just want Dean to know that with our policy that's set by this board of ed, there is the
057ability in the bidding process to talk to the people who gave you the best bid. So, we're just, you know, we're not negotiating per se. We're just talking to them about ways that we can really make sure our kids and, you know, are getting what they need. um you know whether it's some additional field trips, whether you know it's um looking at the payment schedule over the three years. So it's worthy of having conversations with the and it's in the policy. It it states with the lowest bidder >> as long as as long as the instructions to the biders makes the biders aware of the policy, right? >> It's not just internal. >> Right. Exactly. Well, they should would have to have the policy and I'm not sure we did have a consultant, Ken and
058Sam. Do you believe the consultant made the biders aware of the policy that we have on bidding or would that be there be responsibility to understand that? >> I would say that uh no, he did he I doubt that he made them aware of the policy. He we never uh he he never asked us about the policy policy that we had. This would be a general practice uh within the bidding process. >> Right. >> Okay. So, I don't know what the end result of tonight's meeting is going to be, whether you had intended to call for a vote or consensus, but personally, I would um encourage uh Ken and Sam to sit down uh with STA as as we've now understood that um the process allows for that. I have some specific um suggestions about
059what I would say to them if I were to sit down with them, but I'm not sure I should telegraph that um in the meeting. Um but I think there are some some pathways um that uh that could um that could work. And so I I think we've had a long uh productive relationship uh with STA. Um I know opinions may vary on that. Uh however, I think a lot of that was uh due to the you know the staffing issues and and all of that. Um I think that um they showed very good faith a few years ago when they provided the out of town uh field trips for free. Um, I believe they're someone we can work with and I believe that uh that Sam has an excellent relationship and um I would
060trust him to to sit down and and pursue this further. >> Thank you, Jay. I I think Jay I think that the reason why the board needed to be brought not to be brought in is that that this was that this was um we would always be brought into the into into this process. But I think that at this point during the budget is that so one that the board had a sense about what what Ken and Sam were looking at when they were dealing with STA, but that also if there was a strong I I I never was thinking about taking a vote tonight. I think it more was, you know, keep us for me it's kind of like what are the questions that the board has? Do we have ideas? Can Ken and
061Sam and Susan kind of let us know what what's been going on up to this point? And um I think that I think that this has been a very fruitful conversation. I feel like I even now have a better handle about that. Um and um that is something that I think that we're going to have to add to our thoughts about the budget. Um and if we if we are looking at coming in at a certain t at a certain percentage, what does that mean? I mean, we're getting we're actually getting to that point where probably we need to have that conversation with with Susan um around that, but um I don't I Jay, I never thought it was going to be a a vote on it necessarily unless the board is moving towards that,
062but just kind of like for me it's kind of like it sounds like you guys are in the better are are are moving moving very forward in a very deliberate um way. um and go forth and keep us posted on that and I will recommend >> and this has been helpful to me because I've jotted down your ideas your thinking even around electric buses you know um and Jay I I'll look to you if you have some other ideas um but I think this has been helpful so in those conversations we can articulate better what the needs are and you know one of them I'll say is can we structure this a little differently so we don't take this hit all in one there. So, >> yeah. And that's You know what? I'm just going
063to put it out there. Uh because I mean, it's it's it's not as though it's it's any anything that nobody else would have thought about, but maybe we go back and say we want a four-year deal and so it's not as front-loaded so that we can reduce this this year's hit a little bit. Um you know, again, how many years have we been with STA? >> Long time. It's It's been a long relationship. >> Yeah. And before >> Yeah. >> I mean, personally, I would I would definitely entertain, you know, locking it in for another year or so if it meant that we didn't have to pay, you know, this enormous 21%, you know, upfront. Just spread it out a little bit. And um I don't know, only Ken and Sam and STA can figure
064out if that if that makes uh financial sense. But um I think that this 21% is just um you know uh it's just too much of a shock. >> Definitely sticker shock. >> Are there any thoughts or concerns? Ken, Sam, Sam and Susan, do you feel like you got what you needed from the board knowing that we're probably guys we're going to have some more meetings around this? Um, Jay, I really like that idea and I don't know if that's even possible. I'm sure you guys have thought about it, but even to kind of go back, we want to kind of keep this relationship because I think Jay, to your point, we have worked really long with them and we've had our we've had some some struggles with them even kind of more recently than
065not, but I think that they've worked with us and and partnered with us very well. Um and so but does this feel like this has met the needs for for your staff for the board to be um updated on the stuff and to and to have some >> I very much appreciate it. I thank you. Um, and I'm glad that so many of you were able to be here tonight. Um, and you know where to find me. If an idea pops in your mind, you know, shoot me an email, give me a call. Um, or Sam or Ken just because, um, we have like we have this also this window of opportunity of this 45day. So, you know, um, it's been a long wait for them to hear back from us as well. But I
066did want to get the board's feedback before we made any decision. >> And then Sam. Oh, Beverly >> Susan, when do you plan on speaking with them again? >> Well, I would say we should speak with them this week. I don't know where we are in the 45 days. Ken, I know that it was earlier December when >> we got to have it we got to have it done by the 19th. >> Yeah. This week. >> Yep. >> Next week. next week. But um it's coming up. >> Yes. Uh Kim, um this I think this meeting has given Ken and Susan and I uh good direction for us to move forward on this. >> So I'll be contacting SDA tomorrow and Susan and I Ken and I will meet and determine uh when and where
067we'll meet with them and continue our discussions. >> Thank you. Beverly, do you have more questions before I recognize Rita? No, I don't. >> Thank you. >> Um, I just wanted to make a statement that I believe that next year our budget it'll even be more challenging because the ESRE and the art funding is going to be leaving and we're going to have a lot of teachers that we're going to have to think about, you know, if we're going to be rehiring. So maybe if you had to have a year where it was um the percentage is higher, maybe this would be the year. I don't know. >> So just something to think about for our in the next >> year. That's a good idea. We did talk about that as well. >> Yeah. >>
068Thank you. >> So board, what do you what what say you? I know that policy has been waiting to get their meeting started at 6. Um, and so I think that this is a good place to end. I'm looking forward to hearing about your conversations, um, S, Ken, and Susan. And, um, once again, you guys, this is such a phenomenal board. We're so very thoughtful, and I I feel very honored, um, to be part of it. So, thank you very much for your conversations tonight, last night, and then I and last week. Um, I just think that, um, the district is very lucky to have all of you and, uh, have all of us. So, thank you very much. And so, I will entertain a motion for adjournment. Rita, >> I'll make that motion to
069adjourn. >> Oh my goodness. We have it seconded. And all those in favor of adjourning, please say I. I. No. >> I. >> And some of us stay on for policy. >> and people can hang out with me if you want to. I'm going to the town council to hear about the fields. >> Bye >> everybody. Thank you.