2-1-23 Groton Board of Education Meeting

001I'm sorry. Say that again. >> Awesome. That's all I needed you to do. >> Yes. >> Can you hear? >> Oh, yeah. We can hear you very well. We You're very distant. I mean, it'd be great if you could be brought up a little closer. >> We're gonna have that all turned up. Thank you for your patience. It's good to see everyone. I would like to at um it is 6:03. It is February 1st. I would like to call the president of the board of education um to order. We will go until seven. Um uh and then we'll uh we will party with our next meeting. Um and so there you are. Um and just to let people know, I think we are going to actually be through with the book um tonight. Um if

002we can get to all of them. Um and then >> and then the um the work of the board will be to um take a look at percentages and what we want to see continue to be in our in in the budget and to give some direction uh to Superintendent Austin and um her staff. So I am going to now um have Ken lead us um into our next part. Right. >> 5-76 is teach learning. Uh so 5-76 shows the uh the teach learning. We have the data management position. We also have grades 6 through 12 curriculum coordinators. There are three half time teachers. So three times.5. So it's 1.5 F here and one cl. We go down to the expenses. Um the salaries we have a overall 3% increase six coordinators are per union

003contract benefits up uh 3.1% change to other purchase services which is travel under supplies, professional materials is up to $4,000. Uh this is the cost for books and other professional materials by the teacher. And then finally uh under dues,500 no change from prior prior year budget and just you know dues are CLC library consortium um ASC >> association supervision curriculum development >> total total for this function is uh 3 392,478. Um posing a >> I'm going to recognize Liz and then Vita and then Beverly question. >> Okay, but can you guys hear me? Yes. >> Um are the curriculum coordinators are they um completely salary or they have they're half and half. So they they're basically I think it's pretty because they do some administrative work. So they're basically a day that they teach and

004a day that they do theiration as an administrator. They're under the admin um partner. So in trying to understand these coordinators um there's three of them. ELA. Yeah, this in this part right here, the budget, which is 181586 for FY24, that just shows their administrative part of their job. >> And then in the regular teacher salary, it shows the other part of their job. >> You'll see a point Um, do you think that needs to be clarified because I can't make sure that we're very clear about where >> a quick question for you. Um Ken you said that there was I don't remember how you started the whole conversation but I was looking for support services and learning. >> Yes. >> Is that how it's um being hickey I was I was listening for support

005services and I didn't hear that. So does this have to be renamed or does this have to be pulled those words those letters out? I I don't know. So I was just listening for that writing. So >> what were you thinking of when you saw supporting services? Were you thinking special education? >> Yeah. I was not thinking I didn't I had my eye had scanned down and I went services. Oh okay. You know, I was thinking maybe central office because I saw the co >> and I was thinking, oh, the people at central office, not necessarily the just the um just the building coordinators. I'm just want to make sure we're clear. >> We can certainly update it so it's clear that it's changing. I just think it needs to pop out a little bit

006better. Just my opinion. Thank you. I can recognize Rita and then Beverly. >> Thank you. Um I would like to know who the data manager is and what exactly are the duties of the data manager that has an assistant also and an admin staff. Um well the we as you know Tom Londale had been our student dena manager and took another position through learn and so we have gone through the process and we've hired uh Laureni which will she will start next week. Um we can share with you the job description was which was really very similar to what Tom had followed and when we first introduced the concept of having a student data manager. I know we work closely with the board to get that position through and to look at the um job

007description. So, I'd be happy. We're just actually pulling that up along with the posting because we're going to be orienting her very soon. We're looking forward to having her. So, I can definitely get that out. >> Okay. For the couple of months that we didn't have a data manager, um that savings, um what would that be put towards, Ken? Um so uh this position was paid primarily through here. It is uh supported a little bit through. Uh so >> I would say that um the work of our central office team um has really supported that um including your superintendent and assistant superintendent. That was what I did a lot of as an assistant. But I would say that um savings probably um are going, you know, I don't know what they would be going towards,

008but we do have a septic issue that we've had to take care of a little bit. And so I'm sure there are things operationally that we've been able to take care of that would have been more difficult to take care of that. >> There are some where we're over budget such as that. >> Okay. Well, if there's any way that this could be reduced this department, I'm I would appreciate um seeing if you could find some savings there. Um I mean to have these curriculum coordinators getting paid under the admin contract as well as the teachers contract, it's a little confusing. Where do they get their benefits? Do they do they do their benefits with the administrator's contract or with the teachers contract? Are they 50/50? Is it 6040? If it's every other day, it's

009a it's I find this a little confusing the way it's situated here. And then you don't really get a like Liz said, a good picture of the salaries of these people. >> Thank you, Rita. >> Well, no, I mean, I really wanted a reply, Kim. I said, "How are you going to fix this so that you really see what the salaries are of these three people? Are they in the admin union? Are they in part of the teachers? What really are their salaries >> of these three people >> of the AGSA?" So they followed that contract but one day because the salary is not under the contract because it's really half it's half of a teacher salary at their step and then it's also half of an administrative salary at the lower rate. So we

010can absolutely put it in the narrative here. We can put it in the narrative where it shows up at Fitch High School or the I think we actually do have it there. Have it under the Gratville Middle School and the Fitch High School. But this is all >> I want to know why who made the decision to have them split and be under the admin contract as opposed to the teacher >> education. We Mike Rard presented this concept I think about three four years ago when we began >> right but I was curious if we could reverse that as opposed and you know I just want to know which would be the most costsaving keeping them under admin or having them under the teachers contract. They do evaluate teaching staff and that was part of

011the responsibilities that we so that mean you can't do that unless you're an administrator. >> I realize that but I I mean we have quite a few administrators in our middle school and our high school for evaluations. I mean there's an overabundance of administrators as far as I'm concerned. And then you have these other three people doing administrative work where our curriculum coordinators at one time when Liz was there they were under the administration but we've had other times our curriculum coordinators have been part of part of the teaching contract. So, I just would, you know, I just don't want to see so many administrators evaluating. To me, it just seems like an overkill, but that's just my thought. And hopefully you can resolve this in some way and reduce these salaries going forward. Thank

012you. That's it. >> Being Liz. >> Thank you, Kim. Um, my thoughts are with Rita and Liz. So, I'm not gonna I'm just gonna say ditto to what they said. Um, the curriculum coordinators, what subject areas are they um coordinating? I heard you say ELA, >> English language arts, >> humanities, which was what Cara had done and now Laura Johnson is doing. So, that's your social studies and world language and then STEM. Caitlyn Crowley is doing really science and mathematics and engineering. really got a full load. >> Where was the second one, Susan? I couldn't hear you clearly. >> Second one was humanities, which was world language. >> Oh, humanities. Okay. >> Right. Y >> Okay. And the clerical staff, they um work not only with the data manager, but with the curriculum coordinators. >>

013Yes. It's it's a superstar that we have in teaching and learning who's been there for quite a while. She really she does She she interfaces she works really closely with Phil Pi with the student data manager sometimes with B. So she really um wears many hats. >> Okay. And then when you hire the data manager, do you try to hire them like we do? I don't know if you still do the principles and the assistant principles with um 10% or whatever percent lower and then bring them up in a couple of years >> or just hiring them at the same salary. >> They start at a starting administrative salary and then like you said have an opportunity to move forward. >> All right. So you do you hire them at a lower salary and then

014move them up? >> Right. At a starting salary. And this is someone who has a 12 month job. So the student data manager doesn't have a 10-month job. Um, you know, and then with summer days really are around the the clock. So they are really a 12-month position. >> Well, I think what Beverly is getting at is that when if it's a new administrator to this position for this person, we hired them 10% lower than the beginning administrator salary. because they hadn't had the experience. So that I think that's what Beverly was trying trying to say that it's not the it shouldn't be the starting administrator said it should be 10% less than that and then you brought them up a as time you know went on >> that that's right that's what I'm saying

015>> yeah got it understood to be >> what was the answer Susan >> yes that's what I understood your question to me. That's why I said yes. That's what we did. >> You You didn't You're not doing it 10% less. You're doing it at the first step. >> I I don't have the figures in front of me. Lori's not here, but I that's what I understood was negotiate. >> Can you give us the correct answer to that question? >> I as soon as I get Lori back, I can ask. >> Okay. >> I just want to, you know, I don't Is my mic on? Yes. >> Okay. >> I want to clarify when I was teaching that pitch, my salary was um and I was administrator, my salary was split between the administrative union as

016well as the teaching union because I was doing both. So, I just want to clarify that's nothing new. That's something that had has been practice and was what I experienced way back in from 2000 when I retired until um 2012 when I and then I joined the teachers ranks and my >> I I said yes. I said except for when Liz was the coordinator split that I knew that it was before I was thinking of before that time. I just wanted any other questions on this page. >> No. >> Hearing none. >> Okay. We're moving on to 5-7. Um function 2202 the diversity equity inclusion. Um description uh the stipend for this for this year uh and next year are paid out of RSER A R P Series on page 5-79. Uh this is uh

017we're anticipating spending this similar to how we're uh utilizing this year with 11,600 under improvement service. No no increase this year. My question is um if you look at 322 in 21 22 it was 3,000 then last year went up to 11,000 this year it's going up. So when you say there's no increase to me that's there really is an increase of quite a bit. um each one of those lines, you know, diversity, the last one, total supplies was $10,950 and now we're up to 15,000. So that's a third more. I know you're saying, "Oh, no, there's no increase." But there really was quite a large increase from two years ago. So, you know, it just to me that I always find it a little disheartening when you say zero increase from the year before

018when if you look the year before that there's a huge increase. So, that's my comment. clarify 2022 uh we utilized ARSER to uh to fund some of the other there's that's why 2022 was lower than um budgeting >> 2122 was lower because you used more funding >> funding from our >> So you're just looking at FY23 which is the current year to last >> I I like to look at budget across you know >> it's always go the year before but when we calculate the percent increase we're calculating it from the pri from this point >> I know I understand that Susan >> I'm just making sure >> yeah I understand >> Ken can you give me an example or a couple of examples of instructional improvement services what are you talking about with that?

019>> I can talk a little bit I can talk a little bit about that. Um, generally that's the work that we're doing to update our curriculum, do equity audits, establish our equity teams in our school. Um I think you know if you go back two years a lot of the work that we were doing at TI was the the self-reflection which probably didn't require a lot of funds and now we're actually doing the work we're bringing in um different literature that our study to become more culturally re relevant instructors. We're also bringing in, you know, some professional development in district and a lot of it is geared on really revamping our curriculum to audits to our curriculum through as well as trying to build the skills in our teachers or culture. >> That help? >>

020You know what? There's so much of an echo. I didn't really get what you said. I I'm sorry, but that's okay. I'll that's okay. Just can you just send me a little note what what you're talking about? >> I can definitely do that. >> Okay. Thank you, Phil. >> Certain people there's a real echo so it's hard to hear. >> It would be helpful when the person talks that you say is the echo so that we can we can locate the mic. >> Well, Phil's was the most. >> Okay, that would be great. Beth, do you have any more questions? >> Nope. If he just if Phil just sends me the explanation by email, I'm good. >> Okay. I think he said he was going to. >> All right, we're going to move on. >>

021Go to page 5-8 function, improvement of construction. where let's see materials strategic professional resources and new instructional materials staff development 5-1 line 101 that is cost for uh writing curriculum instruction less uh need for that next year are anticipating an increase or continue increase their line 224 graduate credit courses. Teachers are certainly taking chance to do extra classes finding that We can't really hear Ken. >> Is that better? >> Yeah, it fades in and out. So, >> okay, >> that that sounds a little better. >> Under uh purchase services uh line 322, uh improvement services, uh we have an increase of 6 to700. Uh this line um funds are in >> Ken Ken that says 67,000 >> 67700. Yeah. >> Okay. I thought you said 6700. >> I apologize. Um this this line funds our

022in district PE days as well as funding our district uh DEI initiatives. Um and additional item have a DLNL as well. >> Yeah. And this this also ties in with um some of the things I was talking about previously the DEI all the strategic initiatives that we have in place including uh working with Dr. Cherry Paul Miner Dr. Kim Parker. We spoke about each of those in the past. We want to continue that work. Um, unfortunately, you know, >> you're going to need >> Yeah, >> we're using a number of acronyms to us. what the acronym means in learning which has its own embedded meaning it understand continue to go down the page uh we have an increase 5.5% under travel for workshop mentions $1,00 Under supplies, a decrease under computer software of 22,908. This

023is being driven by universal screener that we need to put in place mandated state mandated software and total for improvement of instruction, 127 30.6% I'm gonna recognize Dean, Liz, and then >> Beverly, please. >> Loud enough, but okay. Dr. Three individuals you named before, what were they again? Were they again? I should say Paul Kim Parker. >> Jerry Paul. >> Jerry or Jerry? >> I'm sorry. Her first name is Sonia and then Cherry Paul is minor. >> Y >> and Dr. Kim Parker. >> Okay. >> Um and then just to add to that because and I mentioned it for our English language training as well for teaching Dr. Ferraro. She's Marissa Ferrar. >> Okay. Uh, and you you said, well, you know, the numbers going up, but that's driven by their we have to pay

024the fee. Nothing. Can you tell me what it is we expect to pay? >> Well, we're I'm currently gathering those um toend the work. Um, and then we're, you know, we hope to be able to we've established some really great relationships with all four of these individuals. So, we're hoping to sort of work with them. They've had a positive experience in our district. um it's been positively received by our staff who are anxious to do the work which isn't always the case. So that that those are coming in now. So I'm trying I can't provide those as I get them. >> The work is really around literacy reading and writing across the disciplines. So really taking what we've learned about the teaching of reading and writing um in the elementary middle school and the high

025school they go they are at different levels. So Sony Cherry Paul works for elementary with the elementary Cornelius Miner works for the middle school um had been their staff developer when um when they were had TC with them and um and then the um Dr. Parker right now at the high school. So really with ELA, social studies, science, really digging into the teaching of reading and writing across the discipline, things likeformational reading and writing, close reading, vocabulary, some of the fundamentals and I think the pandemic didn't help us with some of those things. So it's been really a driver for getting um you know really getting our um instruction powerful supporters. 862 that's been aotted for this line items mostly going to these consultants partial third. Can you guess at all? >> Most most >>

026and the average that you get for a consultant like that they come into the district half a dozen or more times and then they zoom with them every month and and work with them all the way along. So those fees tend to be between 43,000 and 20,000. Um, and that's what we've been seeing even with teachers. >> Thank you. >> I just have it just seems to me when there's this huge huge increase which there is $67,000. Were they doing this? Um, were they doing this business or they were doing what they were doing for us but only we had only budgeted for 185? I mean, how did we get what we were how were we getting these benefits from these people? Were we not paying them? Were we being paying them through a a

027grant and all of a sudden we go up 338%? It's it seems to me a lot to swallow. So, I'm just kind of trying to figure it out. >> I think it's a combination of both. We were paying some through through grants. We were also in the in the first steps of our order. So, it didn't require um both visits maybe um you know, for example, Dr. Cherry Paul uh spent one is spending one day and plus she had one day with administrator. she'll be paid for six the next level of work she's had she has ideas for the next level work but it couldn't 10 days um 15 days and that would obviously it's a combination of the work increasing and and getting a little bit deeper building well as maybe the funds not

028being able >> I just find it Um, we have highly trained teachers and I just feel like we're having we're adding consultants here. Um, it just doesn't seem like we're our teachers should be able to do this. So this is why they're so good is we've had this embedded coaching all along and they are wonderful teachers spectacular but especially during COVID where kids have lost some learning. It was really imperative that they did have that they could rely on to ask questions of to really support them and to continue that embedded coaching. So it's you know these consultants very good at that and very have been very helpful and the teachers have given us very positive feedback about I'm just concerned that this is maybe you know we're now out of we're not out of

029co but we're back in school and I'm not sure about this expens I need to recognize and Thank you, Kim. I have the same um concerns on that line 320 322. Um Ken, is it possible that you can tell us um through board notes or whatever method you want to use how much we spend a year on consultants? How much do we spend a year on consultants? >> Um okay, >> I'll be right back. I gotta go. Rita. >> Yes. So, I my thoughts were the same as has what Liz expressed because I know we have an excellent staff and I'm sure there are people on staff that could do some of the things that these consultants are doing, but um I would like to see that figure at least cut in half set over

030385%. um maybe do more Zoom meetings, not have these people travel into the district, just it has to be reduced. I mean, we have to find savings in this budget and maybe that's one of them. That's my suggestion. >> Thank you, Rita. >> I hope this is working. Uh I've been listening to my colleagues and different and administration and colleagues. And so my understanding of what I heard is that a large part of this is powered by the need to compensate for this. My question you see this is a year after year. Do you see this one or two or three years to ground? How do you envision this? Well, in terms of uh instructional software and the different things like that, I think that's those costs not going to be there on an we're

031continually looking at um what's being used and what's what we're having the most success with and evaluating those there. in terms of the DEI work, you know, be honest with you. I mean, to me, that that doesn't have as much to do with CO as to sort of where we need to get to as a district. Um, you know, I think we'd like to think that we're we have all the skills we need right now. And I but I think, you know, even when we pulled the staff, you know, like I said, those first that first year or two that we've been doing this work was a lot of self evaluation. And I think the staff has come to our own conclusion that there's still a lot that we need to learn now whether or

032not whether or not we have to get the you know the platinum package that some of these we're offering you know absolutely we're going to have to do our due diligence to see Alex that um but again the you know anytime we're talking DEI I don't like to say it's it's oh it's a two-year plan because we as we know it it's something that we have to be into our and that hopefully eventually we get to that point we don't need the the training as much and so that's when the talk so does that make sense thank you um I concur with diversity equity and inclusion are things that we need to do the question that I heard raised to do with the consultance fees and uh As with any new enterprise, there tends to

033be a pretty sharp vertical curve in the initiation phase levels off to the maintain and keep things running smoothly. You give us any sense of your view of the herb on this? That's what I'm hearing my colleagues and goes up another 20% next year. Well, I guess I'll use our our our DEI committee's, you know, fiveyear plan. I think it's the five year. Uh so next year will be a year. So I think the goal was to make ourselves as much um you know self you know build our own capacity for those five years. these would last at least a couple more years. Um, but then again, I don't see, you know, these fees, you know, I do question the area of education I've gotten into public speaking consultant, they they can be astronomical. Um,

034I think it's a combination of finding somebody that's affordable and has the effect staff that these seem to have had. Like I said, all I can do is promise you that we'll do our best to negotiate with them and use our good graces that we sort of built with them to to get it down to a manageable. >> Look forward to next year's expected. If I could um wrap this piece up, what I hear um some of some of us on the board state is that we need to hear what the strategic plan is um around this use. Um though we all or we all see the benefit of having our staff have professional development in this area. Um and um I think that we're pretty excited about the fact that the staff seem very

035receptive of it. Um but not having a strategic plan in terms of what is our what is the forward motion and I and I believe that both I think um both Beverly and Rita and Liz spoke to that. Um and I think I'm just sort of reiterating what you're saying Matthew. Um but also if if to hear what Vita has to say is that we are going to have to start like it's going to become the board's budget and we are going to have to start making um cuts in someplace. And so if this is something that's very that I guess we want to hear I hear what you're saying but I want I want to know why this is really important. So maybe if if we could star this and that when we start

036to have our deliberations about our budget that we can have we can have more information so we can kind of take a look at it. Um I I don't know if that's a good wrap up about what people are saying but that's where I'm at. >> Thanks Kim. >> Um I'm going to recognize Dean. So Dean, if you could grab a microphone that would be great. >> I'll make it short. Don't all the I'm not excited. Okay. Can I just get a point of clarification? Is this item for DEI? I have down in my notes interd district PD district DEI initiatives and ELLL. So I mean is it is it all combined or is it there certain people doing certain things? I would love to have it written out so that we know what this

037is about so that we can have a better conversation. So if we could um tag that and have a because I think there's too many questions. So let's let's get some let's get a little bit more of a narrative behind that. I think that would be helpful. >> No problem. >> Thank we have a we have about 15 minutes before 7 o'clock. Um, Ken, in the pacing that we're doing, um, how are we doing? Do you see that we >> I think we're going to get through. >> Do you think that we could do technology page 598 to 99 and see where we are? >> So, so you guys, I'm just looking at pacing and um, that's why we're only on February 3rd. Um, so uh, so I think we're going to drop down to

038that and that's going to be 598. And I'm not trying to take your thunder. You're on. >> So, you're skipping the district administrators. >> I just don't think we're going to have enough time to talk about that in 15 minutes, but this will um chunk of time. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> So, yeah, we're going to go to 598 function 2540, uh, computer support services technology. Um let's see. Um we have FTEES. U director, we have u three technicians that work out of central office. We have five technicians that are based in the schools and one go down to 5-99 costs uh salaries uh the technician are contract and all for salaries of 210 an increase employee benefits up 3.8%. Under professional services uh we have line 331. This is uh cost for consultants

039for software implementations have00 or this year's budget. Uh computer network services uh an increase of 32. This is these are the costs incurred in order to network get internet total amount uh purchase services uh is 192600 increased 10.7%. Uh next line down, purchase property services, repair of equipment. Uh this is repair of uh the maintenance for the copers and other equipment that we have buildings. 441 is the uh lease payments for those copers. That's an increase of 10,000 as well. Uh so total for this uh purchase property services is a 20,3 increase. Uh next section down purchase services telephone uh cost uh increase $50,000. Uh this is new telephone system as well as new phone programm that's% overall services supplies um decrease in computer supplies of $7,500 an increase in computer software of 65,029 just

040to make everyone aware we we do supplement uh the computer software uh with the DO supplement that overall for supplies up 32% and under equipment um have increase of 17,800 uh so total for computer support services 154 4,000 10.1 just a general question >> and this is a general information you regard this particular item using supplemental grand funds for the items um where we use supplemental grand fun I'm presuming dangerous were that some grants are the grants are more function things so correct that for so when we were talking about using rat money we indicated That's a mandatory allocation grant worth some. [Music] >> Thank you. Um Ken, can you explain the increase in the computer software line? >> Yeah. And my second question will be too um can you tell me the the process

041of when you repair equipment and then when you replace it? Is it like in five years we don't repair it anymore, we replace it? Is there a process on how you figure all that out? >> If you don't mind, I'm going to take this one. Uh so the the majority of the increase in line 612 is related to we installed two brand new firewalls which are basically the main gatekeeper if you will that connects our entire school system and all the networks associated with it with the outside world. So really that was a a a long overdue upgrade for security reasons and really throughput because we're continuing to see every year more and more bandwidth needs from our staff from our students. Second piece to that was again in the security category uh we are

042now uh required by our insurance provider for uh so that we have cyber security insurance coverage. We've had to turn on two-factor authentication uh and a lot of that reflects licensing as well for that uh two-factor authentication or 2FA. Most if not all of you have probably used it. If you connect to Amazon.com or Facebook, what have you and it sends you a six code to your cell phone to verify you are who you are and someone else isn't masquerading as you uh and using your elsewhere. Uh we've had to put in place those things. One, I think it's good practice, but two, it is now a requirement for us to be able to carry cyber security insurance for that. Uh regarding your second question Beth, the uh we try to uh carry it especially

043at hardware we will use it as long as we can feasibly uh that it provides value in the classroom and we need to determine that value based on uh one is it usable and good shape for students use but two can it also with the software services and the network that we have. So we very much do our due diligence to keep those moving on. But if it if the cost uh is increases that value is more to repair than to replace or buy new, we would go to new. Also taking into consideration obviously the programs how we want to integrate and implement with fidelity so that we that is typically the how we do. We take it a case by case basis. We have teacher laptops, we have student laptops, we have student tablets,

044boards, etc., etc. Is that additional question for that, Beth, or is that >> No, that's it, Clint. Thank you very much, Clint. >> Of course, >> I'm going to recognize Rita and Vend. >> Okay. Hi, Clint. Um, I have a question. Do the schools feel as if they are supported with their with the five school based technicians? Is that enough support? >> Uh are they spread too thin is what I'm asking? >> I think we have a good balance right now. Uh we are always we are we we have been continuing to increase uh the reliance on technology. There's not a department. There is not an activity. There's nothing that we don't do there. It's not touch technology. All of our phones are now Vo phones which is voice over internet protocol. So all of

045that runs on our networks. Now um to answer your question directly, we do have adequate support. Uh could we always use more? Yes. Are we doing the best we can with with the research that we have now? I believe so. those five technicians in the buildings, we have two dedicated directly to uh the two schools on the hill, high school and the middle school. We have of the three remaining uh two each have two elementary schools which they split time 5050 between uh and are work closely with me and with those building principles to address issues to ticketing system and so forth. and the third has one uh the remaining elementary school but then also spends half of their time up on the hill as well because we do have twothirds of our staff high

046school and middle school so I have that person float in to support those needs as well so that's really the design we have and then the three at the at the central office one is specifically for network one is specifically for our systems and integration and then the third is for power school administration which is our student information system which is really the bread and butter of student data, attendance grades, so forth that we have. >> Okay. And my my I have another question and and that would be what percentage or what is the exact figure that we are receiving from the DoD supplemented impact aid grant since we're already spending you know over well over a million and a half dollars on this account. So how much else is it how is it supplemented?

047What is the figure there? >> That was actually going to be our next our next subject on on this. We have that. >> Oh, okay. So then I'll have one more quick question then maybe um the travel for administrators and workshops. It went you know like a couple of years ago of course during co it was $75 I guess and then it's gone up quite a bit. Where where do where do the people go for do they go for training or Thank you Google for training. We always try to do online as best we can. Uh but there are times when we'll have someone our power school administrator will go to power school university. Um we're trying to really improve scheduling to make sure there's more opportunity students being efficient with our staffing example that

048would be an opportunity that um I don't think we used this line item in the past. I've only been here for a year and a half. That's speculation. But as things open up uh more and more of the learning is returning to inerson uh activities and personally do feel there's real value in hybrid or online learning. There's also additional value in being ask questions network. >> Okay. Thank you. have inventory um of the of the equipment I'm going to call data processing computer printers whatever um in the in the schools and I know it's it's more difficult to do this with that technology than it is with say motor vehicle but do we have a schedule we can say okay we've got this equipment such as such equipment for each category. Uh we can expect

049a usable life of so many years after which we plan to retire. We're not allowed to keep a fun every year like the town can to sort of even out any bumps because basically if I understand it whatever we need in a given year or two, right, that's what goes in the budget. heavy years and some light years that we don't have in place very much of anything. What I'd like to see is is the ability to somehow coordinate outside uh the school town as a whole council maybe have um a fund life to even out that I don't know how that's going to work because a lot of times when it comes to this I really do wish we could have a little pot every year so that we could this could be funded

050and it'll be smooth long term have inventory like that. We do we have an inventory system. It is traditionally prior to me being here uh was a an addition to our library information system. The decision had been made whenever to use that. It's cataloging books and resources in the library and technology was being used as that. uh I have made a decision and we've now migrated to a new system assigned to the library information system desk system that we can directly connect you as a teacher with what equipment has you been assigned to what's a classroom how often has there been breakage or an IT help desk ticket request and whatever and we have a whole history of that so the short answer is yes answer is yes we have a brand new system that

051we've hung on to it as a library um and regards to Your final point I believe uh we are now releasing teacher and that does by and and we are following a long history of many many other school districts that have really started to do that as we got in interest rates are lower far lower uh and over time that becomes a way to even out those those high rows and low rows that only with teacher laptops we do that with printing we do not currently do that with equipment not true larger plans but I certainly not disagree way that we can predict and plan and I do have those plans of what we think ends be even that out better budgetary system and that was my follow say well if I refer to certain

052data information that I've got I can hear such and such looking at absolutely a large ask a lot of stuff's going to happen to retire. And if you saw the history on kind of that last chunk, the total equipment 7:30 through 7, those are typically one of the areas that we trying to make all the way back to Beth's question. We're trying to make this equipment last as long as we can and so forth. And we're doing our due diligence. Uh we had an injection of dollars for Chromebooks during COVID. That will certainly go away. uh made a real commitment where every student uh 6 through 12 has a 247 uh and we are one to one at the elementary level as well but those do not >> uh no I'm sorry >> um if

053there's no more questions for this um I am going to propose that the two items that were not covered today will be disced on Monday. Um, and that should begin to sort of final finalize out our budget conversations. >> Oh, I did have a question, Kim, when you when you finish talking. >> It's a quick one. It's just um the review of the DoD supplemental impat. >> So, could you send that to the board before we review it on Monday? Absolutely. We should do that. >> Thank you. Um so at this time I will entertain a mot >> motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Those in favor please say I. >> I. >> That motion has carried. We will in a couple seconds be going for next. Okay. So it's really done with our meeting.

054So council please join us at the table. I would like to have Yeah. Where's my gill? information. That was fun. How many? >> All right. >> Decisions. [Music] Thank you. What kind of response? >> You only have Kathy here. phone and I don't want I saw all my Oh jeez. Hello. Sorry. Yes. I thought it [Music] I know that are we >> okay if you can hear behind We are going to start the meeting. I know that you don't have your forum or your um you do now. We do now. >> Thank you so very much. So I'll let you go. [Music] >> Board of Education order. [Music] Hi, Mike. >> Yeah, you're kind of broken up. I can't really hear what's being said. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Um budget meeting council board and committee.

055The town council has a forum. All counselors present except for council. >> I would like to call to order the board of education um joint budget meeting with the town council and the RTM. And Mike, would you like to call to order your education committee meeting? >> I'll call to order the education committee meeting. >> Present are um Chair Mike Whitney, um Representative Joe, and Representative Kathy Chase. So if I could if I could be so bold to start. So I don't necessarily have the history in terms of how many years that this happened, but um for for those people who do or do not know um the Grant Board of Education um starts working on their uh next f fiscal year budget um in January. um the superintendent and her staff really kind of

056begin in October um to kind of um get things together um and then produce a budget that is hers um for us to look at for the month of January. Um and by charter we are um required to have a board budget um handed off to the town council the town manager by the 27th of February. And um the experience has been that at early February, late January, the board of ed and the town council meet um to talk about what is the town council's feeling about um town funds, their the budget, um their expectations, their questions, um kind of know maybe uh or ask questions about what we're thinking as a board. Um and pre the pandemic um uh the then mayor um Patrice um and Simma who was the moderator at that time

057um we decided actually that made a lot of sense to have the education committee um be part of uh the discussions at this meeting. So I I know that this happened for many years Dean. I know that you were on the town council for many years and that this was a conversation that that happened. Um so um that is sort of why we're together um tonight. Um I do know that um uh Superintendent Austin put together um the slideshow that we actually used primarily most of them um for the our public hearing um and um so they are there um uh to help uh guide any conversations or questions that people might have. Um I do ask that we keep this um to the budget. Um and um I'm also would like to just sort

058of suggest that let's have as many questions, discussions, thoughtful um points. Um but to also recognize that most of us have come from full-time jobs and um that maybe we can um hold this meeting no more than an hour and a half um would be my goal. Um, I do know that the board um did want to talk a little bit about um the discussion that happened um in the town council um maybe last week about the non-lasting funds and the board um is wanting to be able to take a very thoughtful look at that. Um but to do that um in and to have our staff get pulled away from looking at those issues along with trying to support you in our budget. Um I have referred that topic to the finance and facility

059board committee and we're looking forward to having further conversations with the town council um and the town. um but we would hope that um it would not go into effect this coming fiscal year um so that we can um know more about it and see the pros and cons of that. So I just wanted to let you know that um we appreciate um we also appreciate uh manager uh Burke um in making sure that we were aware of that. Um but I think that that's sort of where we are at the present moment. Um, another point of clarification, um, is we, um, put together several CIPs that you will notice, um, and I, um, that have a lot to do with the field. Um, it's the bleachers. It is the concession stand. Um, and, um,

060field has concession stand. Help me out, folks. Um, >> I'm sorry. >> And that's the, um, the facilities. um and we put those in in that we just didn't want to have them lost in the conversation because I know that the field committee we know that the field committee is working really hard um but there's a lot of concern that we have for those um items um and we just wanted to make sure that the the town could kind of look at that but we also know that it's way above um it's it's above capital improvement it's a bonding issue but once again we wanted to to make sure that people heard um with those concerns. >> Um and our other one um and I think that this was um brought to us um through

061conversations with uh Superintendent Austin and um manager Bert, John Bert, um about uh our safety and security and that will also be in CIP form and we can talk about that when we get into our conversations, but I wanted to let you know as you got them that they would be there. Um so I think that laid the land I think for where we are at. Um, and I think at this point, um, I think that the how we're how we're going to do that if it's, um, RTM education, um, members, um, Mike, we'll have you recognize, um, people, um, any town counselors, um, uh, Juan Melendas, Mayor Melendez, um, will recognize and I will recognize board members. And to procedurally note that representative is also here today on your health Um, I just don't

062know what the word you say health insurance is. >> So, I my sense is is that there's there might be people in this room that don't recognize the board of ed staff. So when you begin to talk if you could just um introduce yourself >> something a better >> no this is um I given I think we've done all the procedural things and the reason why behind this and sort of um um so it's about questions and so if you've got questions about the court or about our health insurance fun that makes sense. So Ken, would it be would it be easy for you to put that up? >> So really there were several topics that we thought that's why we really condense this into kind of slides because this really comes up year after

063year and these are some of the the major topics like revenues that support the town's budget. Um our public schools budget categories and what they're made of. How does the school budget run? uh grants that uh supplement the budget both categorical and competitive and now we have co we call them three um history of public schools budget um per pupil spending and comparing to other districts and then of course the health reserve and that is a real we feel it's a real civic response make sure that we can and then finally the CI priorities so those are some of the topics that we thought might be interesting to to really take a look at and we can certainly start with the health savings and okay have the slides available have them in front of you

064but for those who are this is my very crude attempt visually show what insurance reserve is its inputs and its outputs and then the the red in the yellow the the reserve the amounts that need to stay here within the corridor it's it's it's a term that the health insurance companies use and it indicates uh the minimum amount we have have to maintain so we have to maintain 25% annual claims minimum that we The yellow indicates above that. [Music] I don't know if that helps. >> Basically, the way this works is 25% of annual claims of $9 million is the amount of claims a year. You got to have 20 of that which is million keep a reserve another two million top of that just >> right because you can't go below that. All right.

065>> Have to have that claims beyond >> you basically keep 4.3 million >> actually keep this. So this is just a county requirement that you need to have reason insurance 9 million 12 million million accounts around based on the 25% and then you just the 2 million above it self-imposed >> uh no above that is self reserve in the board of >> requ >> and and then the oped is something I don't know if you're finished. I'm sorry. Uh no no I think I'm just trying to understand how so um employees put in a year the board of ed part of the budget regular budget um laser stop claims those so so every self-insured has what's called stop loss insurance so that's to guard the plan has huge losses. So our claims company does have

066all we're not going to cover those at 200. It's another >> per one. [Music] Like to look at opex. Sure. actually and had to draw us a picture because we were all studying this when you picture the model. >> OPED stands for other post benefits. This really covers our retired um population. It works very similar to a health insurance reserve. There is order. There's no minimum but claims as they uh and so it works in a very similar fashion from retirement board and then retire that is a certain once again this is buying reserve. This is insurance for retirees. Um you mentioned about the safety. Are you looking for grants? Because I noticed grants. Yes, we just we we know we knew that there would be one coming and we actually got several um emails

067today and we're going to be looking into so you know we've written the art grants so we've really put together a proposal and so we kind of ready you know to do what we have to do because I have that um we had um study done at the high school homeland security and we got some wonderful recommendations, things that we could do right away. Then also things that tied right back into the safety and report mutual link which would fire departments departments and the schools together so that should there be any kind of emergency with the panic button that a teacher or a staff member would have that they would have insight eyesight into the building exactly where things are happening. So I'm really feeling like this is and that was one of the recommendations.

068So um and then I understand too we just had we meet on a pretty regular basis understand and um we met as a campus Ros High School and Graten Middle School just this week and um out of that meeting we discussed the security plans and the state police were there because they overseas and the state police department already had this mutual so they were really recommended It's like a software. So, and then your camera. >> Pretty pretty cool. Thanks. >> And two questions on the record. The purchase services are 300 and then the supplies account 600. So um the graph behind it is really tells the story. If I put that up first and then I kind of tell you how um using the model the GPS there is some kind of feedback that is

069high pitched and can anybody else hear this because it's pretty annoying and I'm sure I hear they I'm sorry to interrupt. >> So you said that but that's not going to show what we're seeing on this page. >> Yeah. >> So this just starts with every school budget. um you know what it's made of. Um and so really the largest chunk in the blue you can see is salary and benefits 76%. What do we give our students in school? We give them you know the best teachers highly qualified the pair of professionals, the custodians, the cafeteria workers, the bus drivers and you know and bids and so that really is the biggest chunk of our school budget and then tuitions and contracted services. um are a slice of the pie. Transportation and transport costs have

070gone up. Um we really have a bid that um we are working on right now and I don't we haven't signed a contract yet, but they're working on getting us in contract and the first year it was 21%. So transportation is a big ticket item and it's actually it's in the green and it's a little larger slice of the pie than it had been in the past. um utilities if you know I know that my electric bill and heating bill everybody's fees have gone up. This is really a year of inflation and it's not only happening in our homes but it's happening in industry and in our schools. So um so that that cost is about 3.8% 8% and then non-contractual expenses at 4%. So if we flip over um we can address um it's

071played out 100 through the 800s are the categories that um define salaries benefits purchase service property services transportation supplies equipment and do so specifically your question was around can you repeat that for me so I can help answer it >> I'm looking at 300 presentation I understand the great well I'm going to actually 300 500 and so 300s are um your purchase services they um you know one of the things that has gone up is preventative maintenance and um some inflation in this case um Ken can be specific about some of those items that are in the 300s for us. Um, and then what else did you want to look at? The 500s. >> 500 and the 600. >> Okay. 500 of course is that transportation cost based on the bid and that was about

072a million dollar increase the budget. Um, and then the 600s are all of our supplies. So the supply costs have definitely we've seen inflation. Um they it also includes not only from paper and pencils and all the supplies that we have in the classroom but the the heat the electricity um so give and could give us some specificity around that and what's happening there >> under supplies there there was we do have a reduced we are seeing large increase costs well as diesel addition. Last year we had some leftover gallons that were able to use this year. That's that those that's what their property services professional services maint therapy or physical therapy or other doctor service rates going And you've really highlighted the big ticket items. If you see salaries are up 1.3 million. Um

073the so the transportation one point you know over a million dollars and then um I guess the the next largest is in the supplies with those everything from Yeah. What was under purchase purchase services? Preventative maintenance. >> It's it's preventative maintenance on equipment as well as um you know professional services that we utilize medical therapy, physical therapy. Um, >> oh, thank you. Um, I council, >> thank you. So, this is the first time I'm seeing a presentation and would it be possible to go through the whole presentation? it all. So, we're just we're sort of jumping around. [Music] >> That's what I had said in the beginning. So, I'm so happy that you said that. >> Rachel, the joke between Susan and I, that years past, people have said, "Please don't do the presentation." And

074so, I said, "Please don't do the presentation." She's like, "I want to do the reoriented first." Sorry. The first time I'm seeing it. So, thank you. We start the beginning up. >> I don't I'm signed in as GPS 19. Here we go. We're together. Joint budget meeting February 1st. [Applause] >> And then of course this is always Kim's part because she is as board chair always reminds us what our mission is and our goals and our belief statement. you want to say? >> I I but we I mean like what what I love about this budget is that the budget really does support our mission statement, our goals, and our BLE statement. So, um I'm just let you continue. I mean, like I think that this bud budget tells a story. Um and very soon

075it will become our story. Right now it's your story. are going through while I came out of the gate at this massionary cost. The board is doing due diligence on everything going through possibly you know reduce and carve and and look at some more find another grant. So um we'll continue to do that and then it will become their budget by the end of the month. So we'll move it along. These were the topics I I mentioned. So, we're going to start with the revenues that support the town's budget. The highlights, I think you've seen some of those before. There's some new legislation that's come down the pike, especially in literacy and some of those legislative mandates um then become ours without any funding. So, we have seen some of that and that's in this

076budget as well. So with the um town revenues and um Ken I'll ask you to speak to this but um really I call it a 2/3 oneird kind of problem that adds up to three. So about a third of the money that comes into the town to pay for education comes from different grants and other sources of revenue. The rest of course are are paid by us as towns pay you know taxpayers. So, um I'll have Ken just go over those different excess cost sharing. >> Um so, um we get from the state, uh education cost sharing grant, uh it's been at the $25 million number for the past years. Um in addition, uh we other funds uh from um from the state including magnet transportation as well as delta 10 federal impact aid. That's

077uh about $4 million. These are funds that we receive from the department education for the federal impact plan or Special edit cost is a grant that we get from the state that uh wants those uh those students that uh have high special participated in 30,700 >> and I have to say um I really commend my staff who's worked so hard getting the impact aid forms and the free and reduced lunch forms in um you know we haven't had to account for these things in the past couple years with COVID and there was um a bipartisan bill that was passed so that we didn't have to collect the numbers and now we're really working so hard to make sure we we think we've got um an an answer to all those that are in the military.

078And so we're, you know, and almost many of them have already filled in the forms, but there's other folks that might not realize that if they work or on submarines that they also can contribute. So our goal is really to get as many of those in tech forms because it makes a big difference. not only this four million but also we get supplemental funds that come to the school district that have afforded our one to one technology and um that comes to about 450,000 each year. So if we're below the 19% mark by um we might not get those. So it's really important we can go by the budget categories and different types opposed to some of these grants. There are the three C's categorical which are funds that come to us through the state

079or um federal government that we receive. We still have a lot of folks around but they they do they're kind of guaranteed not at the same rate but there's pretty much guaranteed competitive which we all go after. So, we've had our million dollar department of defense grant um language recently that we've received and we appreciate the council and supported us in it. And then there's the corona virus round and so we received funding for that too. Some of the many and then the history of budget. We really went back to 201617. We wanted a couple years before pandemic, during pandemic and then um into um this year. And you can see that when you do an average um of the percent increase decrease, we come into about half of those% those years. And then when

080we flip the page looking at our per pupil spending um from the same dates before COVID, during COVID, and after COVID, you can see that we're below the state average, which I can call that being very efficient and good stewards. But um we are getting kind of increasingly in the negative um from the Connecticut average. So and then if we flip over, we like to look at well how are we doing compared to other districts? How are we doing compared to our local districts, our neighbors in southeastern Connecticut? And you you can see that we are we're really holding a very efficient status when you compare from Old Saber to ledger. Um we just have a couple other districts that are below us in per pupil spending and then what is the local average and

081what is the Connecticut average um and then keeping in mind we're in the G D um district reference group and again we are you know at the lower end of perfutin spending when you look at some of the bigger districts like the Bloomfield Winchester um comes in next Hampton all the way to Ngata Um, and then looking at the jur average, we're below the jur average and then we just went through the health insurance reserve and the oped and the CIP which Kim had mentioned in the beginning. Um, we tried to put it all on one page, but we had had a septic issue that occurred recently that we have to take care of and we we've got it resolved for now, but we have more work to do on it. So, that was added

082on the second page. So, the first page, as you see, are you know, we've heard over and over again about the fish pitch high school athletic facilities. Um, we had proposed in a CIP to have a plan done. um it wasn't getting done but we were able to take some of our funds um from I think it was hard um to actually the fieldhouse study and then um you know with that we were able to find out um well I guess this one is really about so um this is specific and then the next one is the field so we've talked back and forth about eating brown the field for drainage reasons um and but there is that committee that the council pass on looking at all the fields and determining what really needs to

083be done. So, we've really put that on hold for several years. I don't know how far this goes back, but five years maybe. And then it's the field pitch um high school fieldhouse that we did the study, find out, so what is it really going to cost us? And so we had a team of um educators um you know including those of the high school and the athletic director um take a look at several of the proposals and I think it was done by slam was the architect and it came in at um 15 million 15 million. So like Kim said necessarily just um and for clarification that as we um would um wanted we put that in for a CIP last year um to have a study done um about that and but we

084went ahead um through our funds to do that and that's the estimate that we just recently recently. >> Northeast Academy. Um Sammy can speak to that. I know there there were some issues with air quality and of course Northeast Academy is built on an area that's kind of very close to um but because of the way that he's worked out the technologies in the in the school building, we've really resolved this issue. But there are um there is equipment on the roof that will have to be replaced eventually down the road. So you want to speak to that? >> Okay. >> Yes. So, uh, you may all remember or if you knew at the Northeast Academy, we had pretty concerning, uh, humidity, uh, concerns in that building. uh after we had engineering firm us on

085the look at things uh determined that uh some of that equipment uh would need to be replaced time. That's why you see those written out in years into the future. But uh since that time we have instituted active dehumidification and have actually mitigated problems under control presently does cost us because we are running heat at the same time running air conditioning. That's the way that we dry the air out. That's does cost us more in oil. You have to continue to keep an eye on that as to when to go forward the placement of those units. President presently we've taken care of the problem. We also wanted to have a plan on Hbacks. We've been able to take care of quite a bit of Hback kind of emergency repairs that we need um with our

086ARSable which is the ARPA version for um you know education where every child succeeds act comes into play. So we were able to do that that study on Hback and it doesn't look like we have anything on the CIP. you explain that or we just we know that work being done but I know that you have put in a grant. So Sam has worked with Shannon on a grant for HVAC and so we're hoping to hear soon. That's why dollar amounts that we're hoping to get. >> Yeah. The state put out a grant couple months ago and we submitted our application to that. It was supposed to be we were supposed to be notified before the end of January. I was told the other day that have them done by the end of February and

087report back to us. Apparently they were also told that at the state grant office that so many applications are the host almost all other grant work almost every district. We hope it will be repetitive. Keep your fingers crossed. Um and then the Finch Culinary Arts. This was our third plant that we went ahead and took it on ourselves. Culinary arts is probably one of the most popular courses at the high school. And if you walked in there, it's on the vintage side of pitch, which was part of a plan, two-part plan that was supposed to be taken care of years ago before my time. And so it really looks like kind of grandma's golden rod kitchen was really done as a home. And we really are in a place where um we're in a wonderful

088community that has a a amazing restaurant and culinary um career pathway. So we really want kids to be able to have that experience in a restaurant kind of style room. So we also want to be able to house more than I think we can only get six students on each side. So, you know, between making that course a half, you know, a halfyear course so kids can take that opportunity, you know, and having it have um a level one and a level two experience. Um we're hoping to get more students in there. We're hoping to make it high quality facility and in the planning um their estimation would be the cost to structure the inside. We've also gotten grants through the Perkins grant through um with regard to getting new ovens in. So, we've done

089as much as possibly do that upgrade the systems, but this would really help us that scheduling to really see that many of our students could see that as a career pathway and to be able to experience that while they're so that is really an important I would say that is really a important priority. And then of course you can see the the cameras and the security. And there again there is another grant coming our way but we wanted to put it on there because I do have this homeland security that I want. And then the bleachers you know you've been in the bleachers. You can talk about the um you had those. Yeah, the bleachers were um obviously built and they are out of present at this time and um while I was in a

090different district I build the contractors that we work there to get the estimate features for. This is straight from contract and includes new bleachers that would be code to hand access all those press box. Uh if you've been on those bleaches, you know they don't have backward prevent somebody probably likely. That's one of the things that >> and it would be both the um pitch and >> we we figured you know it was really our responsibility to find out to do these studies to find out what is you know what can be done and what would be the at least we knew what we share with you and then last page it was sent out on um was this issue that you already started taking care of but it needs more work I don't remember

091tunnels closer those cameras down those lines down the other chimney. They are original sewer lines. That portion photographs indicate that some bar scale go through. That's what developed. That's what caused the leak that we had was that blocked up so bad that another section of the pipe out. Some of the pipe is rotten and not exist. That's actually no. [Music] >> Thank you. So that was my next question was um under CIP what are your priorities and what I I really feel like the security would be the second but hopeful that I'm going to you know persevere with this grant and you know I have to find out a little bit more about when that will be coming through and Um a little bit more about the grant itself. Um the field of culinary we've

092done the study and um got a lot of the equipment that structure situated so that we can we purposeful for the students more usable um and get that in good working order. Um Dr. But the board might have another idea. This is your budget. This is my budget. >> Yes. Emergency. And then um I say on the average cost I mean Yeah. like we have people that are doing paying less than us but um the average of what's in our surrounding communities of sad and I sort of think it's our funding that's Um you can see that old Brook is quite the outlier. So anytime you're averaging you have to keep that in mind, right? But it would be nice to come up and be near as well as um when I look at your

093increase request this year, you're saying you would like the superintendence request is a 4.98%. And today before I came here I did look to find what the surrounding super and um at this time so I think forward about what's going on it is I think but it's not that we're done this is just what what is out there what I know to be true and um we're just doing a really thorough job, >> right? And that's why I say this is your budget and what you brought forward and I look forward to seeing budget. Thank you for the presentation. >> Thank you. Thanks for the presentation. I guess my view is that um I'm a firm believer in supporting education and I can understand the district's uh uh numbers but it's not what the number

094is. It's where the towns choose to allocate those funding funds. So for example, if I take $100 what I choose to spend on that versus what another person that may different which I'm all a firm believer making sure students are funded. What I worry about is where the district because as a council member I'm only voting on the number. You guys choose move those numbers within the district. So as a counselor be clear I vote on a number that's either raise up or down but what you choose to do with it it's not line. So my concerns and where I stand as a counselor in the community that I represent, people I spoke to and also as a parent of a, you know, two students that were in this district, underwhelmingly I see athletic sports

095not being funded in comparison to our community. Again, I support a raise, but where's the money going to go? I also see an underfunding in uh sports and activities that uh enrichment uh programs that support every student, meaning every student gets to play. No one sits the bench. Examples: barking there, fencing, crack, not try out, everyone gets wet. When we show up at our counterpart schools, likeminded with some that are in lower income areas, we do not perform at the same level. I constantly have to call the school and ask, "We barely had a coach last year. We hired an athletic director full-time and my son barely had a competent coach that could return because the other gentleman who was wonderful wanted to retire. I said, "Did we seek anyone?" It was down to the

096wire. A teacher stepped up that had no fencing experience in one day. But how was it that East Line could show them six four coaches paid in London? So again, I'm a firm leader in supporting the budget, but I firmly believe that the numbers that we give is where we move them. As far as the athletic fields been asking forever, a committee was formed of volunteers because the board of ed had not established a plan for athletic fields. A 98 graduate of pitch fields look the same as by law. It's not rocket science. the board of ads to establish with a fields committee on their own, not a bunch of volunteers that came forward because nobody was doing it. I encourage this board to look at ways of establishing a field and track it yourself

097and use it and then submit and then move. I am concerned that people have addressed the inequality in the fields fieldhouse. I think we need one. I also think bleachers are way outdated and not ADA compliant as proper word. Um when I know other schools for marching travel around den the the the state compliance we can fix it but it's still a travel down so it's restructuring and it's not just fixing it it's about having a plan a plan sometimes bro lacks off my opinion I see this soul we can fix those bleachers but they still have to come from way up top other schools map it out when it comes to the athletic field we can do these little patchworks look at our high school high school breaking I was not part of local

098government but that um idea to take a brand new building and put on a sinking building why I don't know bad plan lot of repairs so here we are again putting bandaids on things I think until you a plan of what your vision is or a master plan financially to fix little random things without a master plan is going to cause us problem and be in the position we're in we have potholes and holes in our parking lots at school the front is welcoming and as decorated as other parasites. They go around the old gym. The building's falling apart. The kids are coming out of fencing looking for water machines. There's a val right outside the door right when you walk in. Why do students not have access to fresh, clean, purified drinking water with

099a pump right there, but all the other schools, they have it right there. There's one way down, but students that are not in the building are not down. So, I just think it's great. And I, you know, as an educ as a person who supports education, I'll probably vote in favor. But again, I speak encourage this board and the these members to seek ways to fund. You say speak about uh know the money into having quality staff. I can speak firsthand that I know that there's a lack of math tutors in that building. Um kids that have 504s and IEPs that are performing at higher levels, they have nobody available. When you tell me that this number is representing staff and quality, I don't deny it. I have some great friends that work up there.

100But what I don't see is what percent of this budget, this is my question, what percent of this budget is going directly to enhance and enrich our achievement gap that make us an alliance district that dropped us during COVID? How are you hitting the minority community? How are you achieving making sure kids are college or career ready? For example, we were targeted as the life center for our graduation and our apps achieve rates. Why are we funding a half day career counselor? We have all these staff. You said I don't see it. Okay. Um I think she's wonderful. No, I think she's one person half day in a building with almost 20,000 students, four grades. We cannot fund a half half day career counselor and say that we are working towards enrichment to make sure

101they're college ready. Everything I go to I find people that they don't feel the accessibility is there. So I just like again I'm torn where to go. Voting it down doesn't fix these problems. What fixes these problems is where this body chooses to move the money within the district. So I'm asking to the the superintendent 1% of this budget staffing is going towards closing achievement gaps and helping kids that are not very there is an enormous amount and also we had additional funds that have probably tripled the number of tutors in the high school doesn't have my son's doctor currently they don't have any >> well I I will check on they told not not the fact providing support some kids are embarrassed help other students we could be fine the other thing we don't

102have SCAT prep any nothing no where are those programs we we just don't meet the need so I I think we fail in my opinion in areas there's a lot of people that are great wonderful great great people but we can only do so much money's not moving it That's it. We raised $5,000 for parents with my son raising thousands. Thank you uniform amount and numbers are all vague and we don't have enough strips and you know that's a that's an inclusive sport. It should be funded at 100%. The RTC program I've been asking for five years six years have a son graduating 2021. He's actively in the Navy. Have another son is looking upcoming an officer in RTC. I talked to the school, not getting started yet. I asked about the uniforms. They don't

103have proper funding. I guess they got ear for 50,000. Probably not enough to cover the uniforms. There's a lot of things I'm hearing from the schools that I'm hearing here. When I call the school, nothing's really started. It's going to start next year, maybe. So again, I'm going to say how I feel. That's what I'm representing to do. That's people who contact me. Our conditions of our tools need improving a medically enrichment as well as uh definitely in the reading and math and supports. We have to blend them. Coming out of co there's a lot of kids that are not grade level and have struggle and they need the supports in place. Free lunch. Is anyone going to go to the cave thing where they're where they're trying to work to advocate for free lunch?

104You know, I was told today and then there's some posts somewhere too. It's all over the forum. I ask my kids and other kids, hey, is it true people are being called out for being negative? Because you know what? My account is negative. I'll tell you right now, my account is $60 negative, but it's not the rhythm of paying on it because it's free for a year. We need free lunch in this district for all. It's okay if we have title one schools here and there, but they get to high school, they don't be, oh, not title one. Those schools funnel into that. We can wear this legend and we work towards making sure all of our children have the right to eat. Doesn't matter how qualified the teacher or this kids are not coming

105back as we fail. I speak for our community passionate about it. I'm not I'm not going to apologize for my passion. We need to find a way this budget gets brought to make sure even if the state doesn't do it that we can allocate the funds to feed our students. That's what I'm hear from the parents is they need the big food. So I encourage this this body to go back and look at this project and find a way to make sure our children are fed. Thank you. [Music] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's a little hard to hear um admittedly, but um nonetheless, I I just want to thank um everyone for coming together. Um I know we all have very busy schedules and don't all meet on the same day. Um so great to

106see that um see the leadership here and I want to thank Superintendent Austin for um her continued service to our community um especially at a very uncertain times um you know it's not easy um to run a district uh after the pandemic and a lot of unique challenges as have been mentioned but um very happy to see that this year um you know you've proposed a budget that I think you know um certainly are living within your means um still continue to invest in the areas that ensure our stu our students receive incredible instruction from our amazing teachers um and as you've highlighted um a series of uh capital projects that um in many ways we've um maybe can kicked over the years but um so important we begin to fund as you've highlighted um

107some of the school security grants um or some of the school security um projects that you've outlined. Um I did share with you via email, Superintendent Austin. Um a bond allocation that will be made available. Um the governor announced today um $15 million available for school construction, I'm sorry, for uh school safety upgrades um in our our schools throughout the state. So, um hopefully uh the um we can uh coordinate and work together on ensuring that Graten does um uh ask um um for for those funds. Um it is a pretty sizable um fund at this time. So, um I do believe GR's well positioned and look forward to working with you on that front. Um but um I do want to change gears just as far as other CIPs that may be coming down

108the road. Um as as you've also highlighted, you know, in Grten, um we are so fortunate to have a great uh federal leadership as well. Um you know, ensuring that we continue to receive robust uh federal impact aid funding and um you know, while that is so important, there are other opportunities, you know, um as Graten has done in the past, you know, punching above our weight with some of those DODIA grants. Um but as we've seen with ARPA um unprecedented funding that likely won't happen for some time allocating dollars to ensure that our our kids have uh you know safe and healthy programs in the summer. Um and um really excited our our council worked in in um you know the uh well past midnight um coming together um passing um you know really

109good um funding for really great uh programs uh that will benefit our students and and children. So, um I guess two-prong question. Um first question regarding ARPA. Um what steps are are uh is the school district taking to ensure that parents will be informed of some of these summer programs that will be available? And um are there um have we identified ways we can coordinate kind of that flow of information to ensure that the the students who who need those uh you know um can can take students that can take advantage of um some of these programs. um get the chance to. >> We've had great success even before the pandemic, but because of these multi-million dollar DODIA, we've had literacy camps, math camps, writing camps, STEM camps, and sometimes all three happening at once.

110And with the RVERS funds, we've been able to even increase enrollment. So, our parents really know about it. Um it's a free of charge and it includes busing and meals and um we have a very robust program. Our teachers love teaching in these programs and they're identified enrichment but they definitely are teaching reading, writing, math and robotics. So um kids love it, the teachers love it and that will continue um with we started that at the elementary level and um principal DS has continued it and does a four to five week program at the middle school that's really very popular program and steam as you know they are an international balor at NYP school um the middle school and because of the um magnet school assistant federal program of close to5 million when they were

111Cutler and Westside, they were humanity, STEM, and came together as steam. And so the programs that the kids take during the day have a lot of enrichment opportunity, all of that. But then the summer program has been very popular. And um I have to say that beyond the enrichment programs and the um high school um program that we have um the summer school and then the special education program, we have been able to utilize our highly skilled teachers and and literacy consult specialists and they and the te tutors work with students that have been identified through our SRBI process as needing more reading. So that that is another area that we work on and families um are able to and they we actually offer it in person and um on Zoom so that if that's

112more accessible for families that happens um also with our treehouse program in the summer they do a lot of that enrichment as well. and love to see our robotics team have their camp again. And so we're looking at all of those and we have a communication coordinator in the district and between Facebook and school messenger moving to um possibly a better vehicle for communications next year. Um we do get the word out um to our families and um and it shows we we do get good turnout across the district for all those programs. Thank you, Superintendent. And um I know you tuned in for part of our our ARPA uh discussions um a few weeks ago and um just you know through our deliberation it was very clear that counselors when we were you know

113voting on for example swim um uh a couple weeks of swim camp for example that we are very intentional about um ensuring that the students some of our really some of the most vulnerable um uh population we have in our our community you know um um identifying families that are, you know, ha have are high needs that um are in um you know, facing financial distress or strain that um they would um be identified to uh attend these camps and so um summer camps and and programs. So, um Manager Bert, did you send over that list yet to Superintendent Austin? >> Not yet. I can do that tomorrow. >> Awesome. Yes. That that way we can um start those um that flow of um conversation with the parents and get them engaged um so they

114can take advantage and and sign up early um that way they can plan plan their summers and um but nonetheless um you know two two other things. The um what I was trying to get to was we have um an enormous opportunity with the inflation reduction act. Um, you know, a few years ago, really before the pandemic, I know, um, both Mayor Patrice Granitski and and, um, our TM moderator, uh, Sim Ebban were, um, very vocal about the importance of decarbonizing our town facilities, in particular, our new schools, installing solar, um, and really making a concerted effort to, um, you know, um, you know, to decarbonize our our our school facilities. So um you know through the inflation reduction act there's going to be millions of dollars available for a lot of these upgrades to

115the extent that um it can be largely subsidized by the federal government. So, I I do think it would it'd be behoove this body, you know, members of the RTM council, uh, town staff, you know, board of education, staff, board of education, and really come together and and dig into the opportunities that may become available through the inflation reduction act to also defay the costs that would be directly imposed by taxpayers. Um so that's really one one ask I would have of of this whole group um this very group committed group of volunteers and and our um you know um board of education team. Um and then uh lastly um just as far as as um the kind of reliance of this budget on expectations at the state level if you can kind of speak

116to that. Superintendent Austin. I know we've talked extensively offline about ECS formula and so many other things, but um you know kind of what our baseline is, what what um we're basing our you know these numbers off of as far as kind of the state level goes. >> Oh, we do have a board legislative breakfast at Montville High Friday and I think we've got many attending. I hope you'll attend as well. But the house bill which will actually be a reduction for approxion which are the students who go interd district magnets at learnon um ledger bo. So we're watching that very carefully. Um they've asked for testimony from superintendent. will probably be talking about that morning, but I and I reached out to you and to Heather and Chris to find out more about that

117so that I can really be very particular about telling the story. Also, what this legislation saying, we are district people about what that's all about and could there be potential to write a bill at our state level to have a match that could contribute backward know I think we tell our story the better it's going the more support we might >> excellent and then just lastly on that point regarding um the inflation reduction act if you know a lot of these credits a lot of the the these grant opportunities um projects have have to shovel has to hit the ground in 2025 five. And so I just don't want to I leave any money on the table as far as what what um the town can do as far as infrastructure improvements, things that inevitably

118we'll have to do as a community no matter what um based off of how things are are going in in our world. So um just want to put that out there and hope hope we can continue those discussions and want to thank everyone. I I know it's getting late um but thank everyone for for taking the time to be here tonight. Right. [Music] >> Did you Did you call on me, Mr. >> Was that a yes? I'm sorry I couldn't hear you. >> Okay. Yeah. Thank you. I'm going to I know the goal was to try to close this out at 8:30. So, I'll make my comments brief and from more of a high level. I have more questions uh concerning how we can how we can lower this. The reason I'm saying this is

119because I when I do my calculations, I don't look at just an increase from year-over-year, the total budget. I look at what I call taxpayer support. And if you look at the total budget uh from 79, you know.2 to 83.1 or so, it's 3.9 million increase. But my concern is that uh the general fund increase is pretty much bear on the entire increase. And the reason being is that the non-general fund funds that are being received by the town isn't really increasing. it went from 30.74 to 30.71. Um so it's actually a decrease. So as a result of that that total $3.9 million um is really impacting the taxpayer support not by the 4.98% but by 8.2%. So the concern is that although we say it's a 5% increase or 4.98, the real increase to

120the taxpayers and how it's going to affect uh the mill rate and the tax rate is really 8.2%. So I first want to make that point and with that being said I'd like to investigate some areas that we can maybe reduce and I think two of the areas I need to get a better understanding how it's working is the health insurance and the OPED and I guess my my high level question before we get into details later on during the budget process is that I understand that 25% reserve but is that that 2 million additional health insurance reserve above the corridor is that something that's been done consistently in the past few years and is that really necessary. Is it more that you're worried about that money dropping to the general fund? So, you want

121to fund the health insurance because I look at that as a pretty sizable, you know, reserve, $4.3 million on, you know, what is $9 million of claims for the year. So, that's kind of my first question. My second question will be more in terms of OPED and that is the $1 million OPED reserve I kind of need to get some details and maybe not tonight's the answer but I want to get some details to are we funding the ADAC 100% and then this is above and beyond that or just some information on that because these are um and then with that being said what's the 20 what's the 24 budget for health insurance and is any of this any of this reserves being used and with the OPED Could any of that money be be

122used to offset the budget increase as well? So, two main questions on health insurance and opeds. And then my other question that I'd like some detail on over in the future is more regarding employees other how many new employees are being added to the budget. Uh were there any eliminations of employees and so forth. So, I'll stop there and if there's anyone that can provide me some high level understanding at this point that would be helpful. Thank you. Is that >> I think that's something we'll have to get back to you on. You had many questions. I really need to listen back. It's hard to hear. >> I don't know. It's hard to hear. I think both ways on the screen is here. But I will capture that and I even send you an email

123to make sure that we've got um if you wanted to even list them out and send me an email then Ken and I can take a look and work on that to get you the accurate answers. Certainly. >> We will make sure that it goes to all the town councils. >> And we'll make sure it goes to all the town counselors in RTM and >> RTM. Sorry. >> Great. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. >> Thank you, >> Chair Whitney. Do you have any questions? >> Yeah, I do. Um, it's actually back sort of to the athletics budget and then uh along with that the CIPs. Uh for the athletics budget, I was just kind of looking through the detail of how much goes to each high school sport and I was expecting to

124see a disparity between u the total going to predominantly male sports and female sports because football is an expensive sport, equipment heavy. Um and and indeed there is that. Um, but I also was surprised to see that uh boys and and girls soccer teams, the the girls soccer team in the budget is $1,000 less. It's the same thing for boys and girls lacrosse, uh, baseball, softball, and it wasn't that way, I believe, in last year's budget. Um, so I think I think that's it's that's a minor thing in terms of dollars to fix, but it's a major thing in statement of commitment and and equity uh gender equity in sports. Um, so so that's one thing as RTM education committee, we'll never be able to drill down that low, but while you're working as a

125board of ed, I recommend um kind of taking taking a look at that. um where we we do come in RTM education of course is the CIPs in a big way and um I think it's it's a great idea of course to not only make the case that these facilities are in need of of updating major overhauls. I think people will buy into that part, but also make a good case, a strong case that it's it's it's an expensive investment and it's going to be equitably for both boys and girls, uh, athletes and and band and everything else because I mean, my perception, rightly or wrongly, is that that field is mostly for for football games and of course the marching bands there as well. I know it's used for other things, but I think

126that um making the case as best you can for the gender equity of like investments in the fieldhouse. I'm sure it's going to be ADA um um you know uh coming up to th those standards, but also I know there was certainly it was built at a time when it was only for for boys and there's been changes for that. But really, you've got to make I in my view make that strong case because um it is a big investment for the town and it's it's every bit as important for um for us to invest in our girls as much as we do their boys. Thanks. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. Do you mind if I call on U members who are here in the audience? >> Yeah, I think that'd be much easier.

127And then um I'll also note that Representative Frickman is here online and he he may I don't see if he has a question but after you calling people in the audience maybe we'll we'll ask him too. >> Thank you Representative Chase. >> No when you saying who you were going to send an email to. >> Oh yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. It will go to this groups. Do >> you have any questions? >> Yeah. Representative Custoen. Thank you. Um, in regards to the free relaunch program, there's currently three schools in the district that don't have that. Is that correct? >> That's right. >> We have an idea what it costs to fund that, like what would that additional funding be? >> So, the board did take a look at that and what the decision was that any

128child who had free lunch or reduced lunch, the reduced would be taken care of by the board. So, it's only the students who can afford to pay for their lunch that are paying. So, um, but it does require that they fill in the forms. So, there, you know, there could be families out there that haven't filled in the forms and are paying um and but it was I I can't remember the exact number, but it was a very large sum to take on this year. I do know that it's um going through um Hartford right now to pay for um lunches completely and I'm very hopeful. We'll find out more on Friday at the legislative breakfast to see where that is. Um because it does make a difference that our kids have breakfast and lunch

129every day. >> And that's so that's for the whole district. Hopefully you'll find out on Friday. >> Yeah. And then if as we've collected these, we've also had uh the intention to be able to resubmit for these CS which make it eligible for an entire school and you can even link some schools together. So our goal is through this process to go back and make see if we can't get the other three on board. So doing it in this way that that would be more sustainable than just using ARPER funds that into the future because I think these C schools the four of them river Katherryn Konowski Mystic River and Graten Middle School um they go for what is it a three or a fiveyear period? Fouryear period right in between. So we we really

130do want to do this as a whole district and you know we're working on it. So hopefully between what the state has in mind and collecting all this data that we've collected we'll be able to go back and see it through. >> Thank you. Um one other thing I as far as the culinary area that needs you know that project would it be um feasible to have like a tour of members of RTM or town council if they want to lay eyes on that? >> Yes. I would like to steal it. I bet >> it's the whole vintage wing and that's where our career program is and we through a congressman Courtney grant we do have a full-time career counselor as well for the next I think I it's a year and a half we

131have and she's been able to do some tremendous work and really get these career programs moving along. So it is really um a a major goal of this board to get that moving. Thank you for asking. We'll make it B. >> I'd like to address a couple CIP questions. When you um talked about a grant possibility, would that be both for FNG for the um district safety for the >> whole package deal? I will put it in for all those needs and the panic buttons. >> Perfect. And when we talk about the sewer lines, is that something that can wait for the next budget or is that emergency work that needs to be done sooner rather than later? >> Are you meaning next year? >> Correct. >> No, it has to happen now. >> It's

132it's been patched. Uh but some of those lines of socal need to be done now. >> So should we assume this is going to be coming through ASAP rather than it being in the budget? Is this going to be coming through now immediately the sewer line? >> So, >> are you are you planning to hold this sewer line CIP for the budget or is this going to be emergency work immediately? >> No, I I can wait till we would do it during the summer when the kids aren't in the >> Thank you. That was my question. >> Thank you, >> Council Bordon. Um I just have a question. One of the things that people reached out to me and well I guess my question is this is the superintendent's budget and with no disrespect uh

133when the town manager gives us our budget we as a council then might say what can we do with and what can we not do with and we might move that number. It might be the same percent increase, but I encourage this board to find a way to fund the remaining students that are not being funded and ask those questions to see what else you can do without in this budget to make free lunch for all. A lot of people who don't qualify and the ones that are hardest hit are the people who are in the lower middle class who make enough to not qualify for anything but then they get nothing. And so some people were offended. I will I'll tell you this in the community. Single moms that had two and three kids

134that made just enough not to qualify for free or reduce. The district's giving free is free. Reduce is getting it free and everyone else is having to pay full price. So if you're going to give free is free and reduce is at a reduced, couldn't you at least if you couldn't fully fund it, maybe say we'll give them a reduced rate. That would be the bridge or the middle. You know, you can't help a class but not help everybody. It goes back to the equality in the field. So, I just encourage if we cannot fund free uh free lunch for all, maybe there's a way that we could bridge that gap to maybe make full pay instead of the high school 325 and then there's breakfast and it's almost $5, $6 a day. Some people

135can't afford that with three kids. It's hard to bring a high school lunch to school with the locker situation, the moving around. I know it's hard, but I just encourage I know you guys go back. The superintendent gave you a budget. You as the you as the board have a chance at the voted elected people to go back and relook at that. That's my ask. Um and with that, children are athletes. A lot of them are performing and because of not the school's problem, but because of federal guidelines, these serving sizes are as they are. I have a son who's 6'2 and I was talking to other people who have other kids. You get one slice of pizza and some sides. If you're leaving right from school for a football or a football game or

136basketball game and you already are free or reduced, what are those kids eating for that six o'clock game that they're driving to Bridgeport for? I went to the booster club meeting recently and there was a concern. I asked NFA, I was there for a fencing match and a whole basketball team came two hours early and I said, "Wow, what great kids. What are they doing?" She said, "They come first to eat. the school feeds them at practice. So, we can we can rally around our athletes and say, "Wow, look at Joey who wrestled." But if you look overwhelmingly a lot of districts, there's been kids that have passed out. They need they need food. And so, the free reduced kids, that's great. You're giving those free. Let's take it next level. We need to make

137sure the kids before they go to sports, a lot of these teenagers, I don't know anyone that eats one slice pizza for lunch and they charge a full amount at 325 to the next round. They can't afford it. We have to have a way to have a bridge program to make sure after school athletes can eat and perform at the levels that they can. That's that is my sincere ask. Um I I just hope that we can do that. >> Thank you. I just would appreciate not to be cut off in that way. Everyone else spoke as long as they wanted to and they didn't thank them to get me off, but if there is a time limit, I appreciate it. >> I am here to advocate for Thank you. >> I'm sorry. I have

138a representative. >> That's fine. I just asked for the same respect. >> No one No one cut you off. >> Representative Frickman. >> Oh, yeah. Thank you. Um, so I just had a couple questions. out one. I I wasn't sure if we looked at different options for that fieldhouse rather than replacing the entire facility. Did we look at options to not have locker rooms out there and just send the kids to have locker rooms back in the building and just replace it with bathrooms? Was that even an option or was it just I want to replace the whole thing bigger and better? >> No. The architect came back with two options. One was to completely uh uh knock down that building and build new and the other option was to uh add on to that

139project. But I I I don't um they did not uh go back into the high school. Everything was conducted down at the field. Uh meaning the concession stand and the fieldhouse looking at >> but I mean realistically though we could have the kids use the the building facility that already exists rather than replacing a fieldhouse because I think we're kind of unique right in regarding having a fieldhouse down there with locker rooms and everything because a lot of the high schools I've been at >> some teams do use the high school presently. >> Okay. All right. All right. So, I was just curious if there were options looked at instead of replacing that at all and just having the kids use the locker rooms inside the facility. Was that even considered or >> not as

140part of the study? But, uh, some teams do use the locker rooms presently at the high school. >> Not every not every sport goes down to the field. I'm >> That's what I'm saying. So we wait if nobody used the fieldhouse, we wouldn't need to replace the fieldhouse at all if we just used the building. I guess I'm I guess I'm think I'm wondering if the superintendent had thought about that or people looked at that as an option. >> They didn't look at that, but I I suspect that there would not be enough room at the high school to uh without adding on to make that uh to to uh to service that many more uh athletes. There are quite a few lockers down there in the field. I was present. >> Okay. Is it

141possible that the can the superintendent look into that um for future meetings? Because I I I'm wondering if that's a possible option for us instead of spending this kind of money for a fieldhouse. We could look into it, but there's other outside buildings that really are not acceptable that are correct with the lavatory space and then trying to you know provide um you know hot dogs and popcorn and all of that. So that you know it's that whole facility thing someone said it that making a plan for this like what is that plan going to look like so that we can be proud to walk out on that field. I I also think if I could just um interject for one second. I I also think that um and Rachel help me out on this

142that the Fitch fields the back end of Fitch that's what I learned um is is that stuff is part of the field committee's sort of plan. So we are just gathering information for the we just kind of gathered information for the field committee. >> Right. Okay. >> Yes, that that is true as well. and they're looking at different options as well. Um, I think the question that was just asked about using the indoor facilities is probably athletic director kind of type of question and I think they have proposed this to him and there has been a response that I think the athletic fields task force >> has received and that was >> in the negative of what the fieldhouse does and and how it's utilized and I think um it's it's not really conducive to

143use the the school when for that field house and that's why they why they have it. So, >> okay. Um I follow two more question well really one more question. So, I I noticed, you know, over the last year, we consolidated the bus routes um and in the hopes of saving money, yet we have a 10% increase in busing and transportation. And over the last few years, of course, we've consolidated all the schools, yet we have a 25% increase in supplies. And I know inflation regarding the rate of inflation and the price of stuff. However, the quantity should be less at this point based on what we paid for in the past. And I guess I'm concerned with I'm wondering about that 10% increase on busing especially knowing that we just consolidated last year. And

144so I was hoping that maybe for future we could have some answers on those two. >> We can look into that but we still have the same amount of students. So, um, you know, we're still dealing with very large a very large middle school, a very large high school, and, um, yes, the routes were consolidated, not for the purpose necessarily of funding, but for time and efficiency in routes so that kids weren't on the bus for too long. >> That's going to save us money though, right? >> It did not save us money. No, >> wait. The same amount of buses and the same amount of students. So, wait a minute. Well, we consolidated routes with less bus routes and it cost us 10% more. >> There was a 21% increase in a bus bid

145last year. That's the to this year. That's what the That's what you're seeing. A million dollar increase in the bus. >> I get Okay. I guess I'm I guess I'm really I mean I hopefully there's an answer more of an answer to that because I guess I'm really confused how we consolidated with with multiple kids bus routes to high school and middle school and yet we're still paying more money. That one confuses me. Um and then the consolidation of supplies. I'm still I know we have just the same amount of kids and actually maybe more kids as we go, but with less schools there should be some less supplies. No. Well, not necessarily. I mean, you still have the basic supplies and um per pupil spending. So, you can look at your per pupil spending

146and we're getting further and further away from the state average in the negative. So, that's called efficiency when you look at the whole package deal. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I just had a representative question real quick. We we have we have other uh counselors and representatives will ask a clarifying question just in response to that just because it it goes with that other other representatives will have the floor. >> It's a moderator >> clarifying question. Okay. >> Representative Chase. >> Thank you madam moderator. Um I'm not sure if you can answer this because tonight is the first time I've heard of the inflation reduction act. >> I need to. >> So yeah. So, if um I have questions about it. So, what can it be used on and can it be

147used on your CIPs? And that would be fabulous if it would. >> Find out Friday morning at that legislative breakfast. Yes, great. Absolutely. >> Find out what the uses are, how much you can apply for. >> Yeah, >> that would be fabulous. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I believe that's everyone. >> Councelor Jones. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um just a I have a question, a couple questions on the the educa the grants review uh revenue is that which is 6.5 million is that included in the page is that included in this 30 million is that where that money goes is it separate above >> separate >> so it's so out of the 80 >> so is it included in the 83 million No. >> So it's it's really 89 million right is what

148you're really bringing in. So this is a separate and above right >> money that comes from those grants. >> And they're very specific. The categorical give you very finite ways that you can spend that money and for what reasons a lot have to do with closing the gap especially with the title funds. So those are made specifically our alliance grant in the past have also done that. And then the competitive grants. We write these grants for specific reasons and they're usually for education and professional learning and things that we can sustain over time after the grants are done. So those are really created to you know to go along with our teaching and learning plan and to really sub um >> supplement. So I guess not supplement. So your real supplant >> your your real

149budget is really almost 90 million when you add all the money to it. Can you just talk a little bit about the on the coronairus grants? $3 million. Um how much longer are those grants going to go on for? >> That one goes through 2024. And um and like I said, we really tried to make sure they were for um education acceleration, those tutors that we supply in the summertime >> to really have >> recovery from the corona. >> So you have you have one more year on that. >> One more full year. >> Is that when that money runs out, is that going to affect your budget in the school system that you're going to lose three? We've already got a plan for how we're not going to have a cliff that we really

150utilize these and we've moved things around so that we've been able to support them in other ways too, especially when it comes to staffing. We have a a couple staff members, but we have some ideas on how that's going to, you know, how we can continue that. >> So, you have a plan to absorb that money. So, we could stop and you're okay with it. Um and then if I just if you go to the um expenditures per pupil. So as we moved up from 2017 18 1920 it sort of grew at a you know at a I don't know $100 a year or something rate that you grew and then COVID came in there and sort of threw the numbers out of whack. So the extra money that was from CO was really money

151that was given to the school system to do things like PPEs and medical supplies and it it really wasn't directed to student education. It was more medical is that >> so these are the operating budget. We take the entire operating budget and we then divide it by the number of students to get your per pupil costs. So that didn't include those extra categorical grants and the extra ARP esser grants. Those were specifically around the operating budget. Okay. >> Divided by the number of students to get that per pupil spending. >> So the increases from those two years which you sort of see as outliers is sort of odd. What would that just give me one thing that might have contributed to that? Like where was that money spent that made that go up so much?

152>> I think we could get back to you on back to you. I want to do a good job looking into that. I'm just sort of looking if you took that money out of the system sort of what's the natural growth that you had every year. I it just sort of seems if you take those out and brought it to the normal number you're 179 would really be 17,000. So I'm just looking at what's a normal progression if you didn't have sort of COVID in the middle of it and you may be still have effects of COVID in there which is why the number is sort of out of the range >> especially when you look at the estimate for this current year going back down. Yeah, it's going down, but it's didn't it's not

153going down to where it would have been if you had sort of the normal growth. So, that's why I'm just looking at that. So, um yeah, if you just kind of wear that >> question, I'm gonna look into it for you. >> Your growth was normal. It's going along at a certain rate and suddenly it spikes, which is understandable because of COVID, but it doesn't come back down and maybe the curve is still it's still on the curve. >> Um so, that's just kind of explanation. And then the other only other thing I'll say is um I was born in 1954 so I understand the uh the age of the system. >> Thank you. >> Very good council Boralon. >> Uh thank you. Um I my clarifying question was to uh the the gym area

154where the changing rooms are locker rooms. Those are have not been updated in how long? I I'd have to look uh look back on the records, but I it's been quite some time. >> Okay. Since you were at Fitch High School that probably >> Yeah. So I I'm concerned. I mean, if we were to make that the fieldhouse rate, it it still has what they call, and I hate the word, is this what they use in the military as the showers, as my son called it. They still have the gang showers, which are the old spindle with no curtains. Everyone just kind of I implore everyone to go into that locker room. Again, I graduated 98. It looked like that when I arrived in 9495 and I heard it look it so that whole wing

155is completely outdated. So, uh there's a lot of work to be done. Um as far as the piping, have you reached out to the state to see if there's any funding for that? Because I feel like that's critical and I just wonder how we can do more preventative maintenance so we don't get to the point where it's disintegrating in the ground 50 years later. Is there a plan in place budgetwise that you guys do throughout the year? because I'm sure that pipe was bad a year ago, five years ago, 10 years ago. I just I'm just curious because I I've never seen this come up on a on a on a CIP. So that's >> just happened. >> Right. But before like you know in my house I don't let my roof get to the

156point where the water's coming in. I know that someone comes out and says in 10 years you're going to have to replace your roof. >> Yeah. The these sewer lines are under slabs where they're not accessible at all until they come through a tunnel. So that's that's how we discovered it. It was when it started leaking in the tunnel. Those lines are disintegrated under the slab areas where they are not accessible. But yes, we've we I I've talked to the state about potential grants and we are continuing. We have a grant person at the board and we're looking into other areas uh other places to find uh grants if if they're available. >> Okay. Um Uh just also again to reiterate with the sports uh uh reference to Mr. Whitney, I agree the equality for

157male and female athlete athletes need to be addressed. Um you know overwhelmingly a lot of things aren't budgeted at the same level and I just really think that we should I also encourage the board to consider looking at ways to provide feeder programs in the middle school to enhance the high school pro program so we can be even more competitive. A lot of schools are bringing in eighth graders to marching band when we go to competitions. >> We do. >> They're also bringing in um they're also bringing in color guard. >> We don't have eighth grade uh marching band as of this past year. We did we had one color guard person, but I was told there was some push back at the middle school level and not letting the band people come up. I

158don't know. Um but we that was something I had brought up. Um fencing. It'd be great to have a feeder program. Fencing, wrestling. um this is what other districts do as a way of enhancing the high school programs because we're seeing a decrease in numbers. So any way that we can start funding in this budget ways to have a color guard, a marching band program, and those programs are only going to enhance the quality at the high school level. And that's where I think we kind of fall short. A lot of the kids get up there, never heard of fencing, and you know, it's great they come on as freshman, but we can do better. Let's, you know, offer that enrichment much earlier on. So those are things that I I hope to see in

159in years or if if not this budget, there's still time to kind of look back and look at ways that we can uh collaborate and uh do a little bit more. Thank you. >> We are a campus now. So there are the all these opportunities being right next door and getting out at the same time. So >> right, that's what we were told with the the bridge. So this would be a great way to bridge those programs and start allowing for a collaborative campus of of you know extension and enrichment programs. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um I would like to uh make a motion for adjournment for the board of education. All those in favor? Can I take a motion, please? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> I I I'm just doing the board.

160We have to do all three. Does that Andrea? >> Yes. Motion to adjurnn. >> I'll second that. Rita Oakman. >> All right. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Oppos. >> Motion has carried. Thank you. >> Good night everyone. >> Motion to adjourn. Second it. >> Okay. Motion to adjurnn by councelor Parker. Second by councelor Bordalon. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Extensions. Cares unanimously. Six in favor zero opposing. Councelor McBride has left us. >> And and I'll entertain a motion to adjourn the RTM education committee. >> Second. All right. Oh, I guess I made the motion that second. That's fine. Um, all in favor? >> I >> That's unanimous. We are adjourned. Thank you very much everybody. >> Thank you everyone. Stay well.