001All right. Good evening everyone. Uh I am calling uh this meeting of the finance and facilities committee to order. It's June 3rd. It is just 6:01. Um so hey, look at that. I get to check off one thing on my list that called order. That was easy. Um, next item is a review of the May 6th meeting minutes. That's attachment number one uh to the agenda. Uh, Jen or uh Jay, do either of you have any comments or suggested changes to the minutes, the May 6th minutes? No, nothing to add. I'm all set. All right. I'll entertain a motion to accept the minutes. I move to accept the minutes. Jen, your turn. I second. Very well. Moved and second that we accept the May 6 minutes. Any discussion? All right. Hearing uh no desire. All
002those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carries. Minutes are approved. Thank you. Second item on our list is the director of finance report and that is to include the treehouse update. So whoever feels competent to address these issues proceed. Okay. So I thank you all for doing this fully remote. We are like all hands on deck and short staff. We've got so many things going on this week and next week as you can see. And so I appreciate everybody being fully remote. I started out at the NEA retirement right down the street and saw a lot of wonderful teachers who were retiring and teachers who had retired. So it was really a wonderful event and beautiful day for it. So I would say that um I've talked with
003um Jeff Nichols who is the director of the treehouse program and since you know he has come to be director um he has really boosted I mean after COVID and during COVID we've really been able to support our families in so many ways um even during you know that time when we were doing hybrid but afterwards with the programs in five schools and um the summer programming which is awesome. They really get field trips and field experiences and learning experiences and um it's just awesome. They support our reading and math initiatives as well. And I couldn't be more grateful. We're actually going to be meeting um Clint and I are going to meet with Jeff Nichols to give him support on things that could be done over the summer to help our kids continue to
004read and do math and also to have the right resources. um we can go over the um the you know enterprise fund and what we have is showing a 753,000 dollar balance in that account but it is an enterprise fund. Parents pay for their kids to attend and then we have to have the resources to always have a month ahead or a couple months ahead to pay the bill for the staffing is really the most essential. But there's also so many other things that go along with that. And um it is a self- sustaining program. So you have to be ready in good times and not such good times. So you don't want it to fall then on the backs of the board and it never has. So they've really been able to carry enough
005essential funds. But we do look at some of these dollars and look at ways that we can refurbish like we're looking at a refurbishing technology plan. So Clint is going to work closely and I'm going to let him talk a little bit about this, but we're going to be meeting in the next couple weeks to make sure that kids have technology resources. We have some new math technology with I Ready that we'd love the kids to be exploring and we still have some Dreambox over the summer. So to be able to do that, to be able to have epic books that they can read, you know, so it is a program after school and in the summer that has some, you know, instructional capacity and has kids continue to learn along with lots of great
006field trips and STEM experiences and all that kind of thing. So Clint, you want to talk a little bit? I know that we we have not met. We've met briefly, but we're going to be sitting down and I'm going to assist with and Ann Marie going to assist with some of the things that we can do educationally. But I think that using some of these funds to refurbish technology both in the program and in our schools is going to be an essential ingredient. Yeah, to piggyback on that, you know, there's really two sides of the technology coin here for Treehouse. It's the administrative side where we provide tools, hardware, software, and so forth to support their program as well as the instructional side. And I think this is a real opportunity for us to pull
007back some of those devices that we provided through operating funds, through technology funds, and so forth. So, we have a time to refurb, put those back into um into play for our students and so forth. Obviously, as we all know, the current budget situation is not going to supply the full amount that we requested to get us to where we need to be, especially in the world of Chromebooks, things like that. So I see this as an opportunity to pull some of that back that has been exclusive to Treehouse to refurb over the summer and provide to students during the school day while at the same time working with Susan, Jeff and Marie and so forth to make sure that we have new technology equipment specifically for Treehouse during the school year during the summer
008months so that we can support those programs again administratively but also educationally as we proceed. And I yeah, Jeff Hoff and I have a a meeting on on the schedule for following graduation because I asked to give him asked him to give me till then so we can uh button up this year appropriately and uh through the 13th. But I'm excited about this opportunity. I'm excited about working with Jeff. Um and I'm excited that we can expand this to additional educational opportunities as part of the Treehouse um services. Overall technology is going to be a key role. that um one of the things we've done in the past is to provide let's say a class set of Chromebooks in the library that could also be used for Treehouse. So that you could be using them
009during the school day with kids and then you could be using them in Treehouse. So there's a lot of ways that we can help support our technology needs during the day and after school in this program with some of these resources. So we will be giving, you know, once we've laid out the plan, we'll definitely give it to the board and share that with them. Um, but it's it's exciting to be able to, you know, it's a lot of synergy and collaboration in this effort because these are our kids during the school day and before and after. And one of the things that Dr. G and I found when we first came on board is a lot of our kids were crossing the bridge to go to the other side, not just for a magnet
010school, but also for before and after school care. So, Treehouse has really filled a gap that was a need in our families and COVID. Jeff talks about CO all the time because he and his wife reap the benefits of their kids being able to have a structured learning environment on the days that they weren't going to school. They went to Treehouse. And so he really um when we first met him and he was so excited about this program, he talks about how it really positively impacted his family. And we have a 21st century program that he helps support. Treehouse helps support funds come from the state government to help the middle school. We had the program in the high school and we've reapplied for it. It's been extended in the middle school and we're really
011hopeful that it will be extended in the high school. So really it's a K12 initiative. So we you know while we have TW K while we do have Treehouse in all five elementaryaries, it's also in the middle school and in a sense it's also in the high school. So, and supported partially by um you know grant dollars and then the rest is by enterprise by family you know having their children involved and paying for it. And I think I gave you a price list too. I had asked him for some details and I sent that out to you. I hope you received it. Kind of wave at me if you got that. um because he had a lot of details in there about um the cost. I mean, it's still very um nominal fee and
012we have care for kids if families can't afford these prices and it's on a on a scale. So, you know, it's really access for all kids and families. Susan, if if I might, I want to first thank you for the ex view and Clint for the explanation of the program, the worth of the program and all of that. I I have a suspicion. I'll let Jay speak for himself and Jen speak for herself. Um there is one question I think that reasonably comes to mind and that is we we started the balance last year uh with over $700,000 and we we've added to it. Um, so I suspect and again I'll let them ask the questions that one of the things that's an issue is boy that's a lot of money and what's are we
013just accumulating more money than we need to but again uh Jay Jen do you have any questions um either about the program itself or about the fund go ahead Jay or Oh so here's my thing about the before and after school programming um totally fine with it. Right. So, I used to sit on the board of um United Way um Central Northeast Connecticut. So, um that Harford School District had a lot of before and after school programs, but it was different providers and it wasn't just one provider at all of the schools. Um, not only did they provide like after school like whether it's studying or just keeping kids off of the street, um, but they also provided wraparound services. So, um, I can't really judge right now without knowing. I just know that this
014is um you know rather expensive and um I guess I need to understand like how many students um are benefiting from this like before and after and to see if there are other agencies um within our district um either through the support of United Way to um see like what other opportunities are available um not necessarily saying this is a bad program but just to understand like what's available and understand costs of other programs. So that's my comment. I think we have done cost analysis Jen and it's probably one of the most affordable programs that there is especially with the sliding scale with care for kids. Um Grten has had has had opportunities in schools where different schools had different programs. It was really important to Dr. Grineer and I to have something that came
015from the schools that was an enterprise fund that was really tied into the schools and connected to the schools for the learning opportunities, the enrichment opportunities and to make sure that the funding was affordable to our families. So instead of having all these other different programs now I'm sure parents do have other programs that they take their kids to even after school you know neighbors or you know people but this is something that is in every school before school and after school um even on um PD days and holidays they're able to come. So, um, our families have really been very positive and excited about having this for their kids available. Yep. So, some of the programmings that I mentioned and I'm just saying like my um ex oops my exposure I making sure I
016was not on mute. um people didn't have to pay. Um so well there are that are on a sliding scale Jen and don't have to pay much for anything but these are the ones that the ones that can afford they don't have a lot to pay um you know they it's you know for them it's um I think it's affordable or they can be on the care for kids and get a sliding scale so that it is better for them. Yeah, it's just different programming and different ways of management. It's just looking um outside of the box that we're normally in um to see what um what is available. Like I said, not that I'm saying this is good or bad. It's a great benefit, but um you know, with our funds being limited and
017it um and so not pay for this. Okay. No, nothing at all. It's it's self- sustaining. It really whatever the parents have paid for recycles and it's used for our students in the program. I'm saying that we're going to do this collaboration with some technology so it'll benefit both Treehouse and our kids during the school day. So, it's a kind of win-win situation. Yeah. No, that Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Jen. Absolutely. I'm going to recognize Jay. So, I do know we had uh another program that used to use space in the schools that was much more expensive. And my understanding is that Treehouse is either uh equivalent to to other programs in the community if not uh more affordable. Um and so I I I understand, you know, that it's a wonderful
018program. Um but I am concerned. Um so it is an enterprise fund such as the um food services is. It does obviously it's turning a profit now. Um and in the beginning I think it struggled to to do that. Now it's obviously um generating more of a profit than I had anticipated. But I think it's incumbent upon us because it's an enterprise to um determine the best use of those funds. I mean once we have a budget for what Treehouse itself needs, uh unless there are some restrictions like there were with food service, I think it's incumbent upon us to use um some of these funds wisely uh to support education um and not to to allow a major surplus to build. Um again, I don't know. I know that um you know there was
019discussion about the the food services and that has to all be approved by the state. Um I don't know what the status of this is and maybe Ray can check with Casbow on other districts that use enterprise funds. Um, but you know, I think that there are some opportunities out there for us to um to use this for educational purposes, especially uh since the budget was not uh budget request was not fully funded. I think it's incumbent upon us to study that very carefully. I think that's why we're doing this collaborative effort looking at the technologies. day. We thought that would be really a good way to support both the program and the schools at the same time. Um, we always have to have a few months of salaries, you know, in the rear, you
020know, in existence so that should anything happen, you know, um, we're prepared to be able to pay our people and pay for the resources. And summertime is always more expensive. you see $100,000 in staffing and it's definitely more in field trips and all kinds of other enrichment opportunities. So, you know that that's really a very viable program. It's only at CK during the summer, but we fill it up and lots of families love having it. So, um you know, we just want to make sure that we have that it's self- sustaining and you're right, if there's some extra, I think there's some synergy in collaborating together. So, I'm certainly not suggesting that we I'm sorry, we I'm not certainly not suggesting that we drain uh the account, but you know, I think we need to
021be strategic in what is actually needed by the program and because it is an enterprise fund, I think it's incumbent upon us to make sure the dollars are working for the benefit um of the students and just want to make sure before we start doing that, you know, that that we are in line uh in the market for um the price that the families are currently paying. Maybe there's opportunities for more scholarships for some families. I don't know exactly what the reimbursement is with Care for Kids, but I think this definitely needs to be studied um and get, you know, an ongoing um financial um review of what what the program really needs and if there are any surpluses, you know, that they're they're used responsibly for the the good of uh the rest of
022the students in the in the uh in the system. Thank you, Jay. I'm going to recognize Bev. Thank you, Dean. Um, I was going to say the same thing that Jay said about scholarships or even thinking about maybe reducing the price that um, we charge families um, if it all, you know, once we review the finances if that's a possibility. Thank you, Bev. Yeah, my when I look at this thing um because I don't have the prior years figures. I mean, maybe when I look at my, you know, 10- foot high stack of papers for the last five years, I'll find another sheet like this that'll give me information from the prior years, but it I understand the need to have a fund and you know, you need to be there to you know, handle
023the rocking of the boat. I'm gonna be using a lot of metaphors here, but you know, is it the case where sometimes we need to get a bucket of water, sometimes we need five buckets of water, but in fact the well is like a h 100red feet deep and we're just never ever going to run out of The way it looks is we started with $712,000. Now we've got even more money. Have we been accumulating all this money over the years? Is this a h a special fat year of some sort? I I think again I'm not looking Don't anybody get us wrong. We're not looking to raid this fund or something like that for other purposes, but you know, if we have a cushion plus plus plus, what do you do with a, you
024know, with a big fat c what looks like a big fat cushion if you don't take into account maybe prior lean years because it looks like there's more than enough in there for the current operations. I could be wrong. Maybe this is exactly where we ought to be. Maybe the maybe it's the wrong target. Maybe we could be using this for, as people said, scholarships or or something else within the program. Um, that's the question that comes to mind. You know, what what happens to this money? Is the seven is a 750 going to become 800 next year, going to become 850 the following year? I mean, are we on some sort of a trend that I don't know. So, one of the things I know that um the director is very cognizant of is
025most of his workers are a para educators that are working beyond the school day and you know it's a port of income and so that they want to keep up and you know make sure that their um salaries are kind of aligned to or in addition to that. So he's always, you know, going to Lori to work out, you know, any raises that are occurring. So really keeping up with those salaried accounts to make sure that they're earning sufficient funds for that extra work is pretty important to him. So the salaries and you know I don't think there are necessarily extra benefits to it but there are salaries and and the summertime you know it's it's a program that kind of starts right after we let out of school and and doesn't finish up until
026we go back. So it really almost expands some of our pareducators work during the whole school year. So that's a really that's another positive and we want to make sure that he can pay them you know for their services and pay them well you know so that's something we can look into as well. Yeah that's that's my question I'm sure that's all our questions which is just what kind of a reserve is appropriate for this uh you know for this function. It's always nice to have you know as I said the cushion but I think the question naturally arises you know you see the pluses and minuses over the last year it's you know plus 20 - 48 plus 37 bounce back and forth or a net plus 40,000 at the end of the year
027but the balance is an order of magnitude you know greater than the than the pluses and minuses so is and I remember this 700 been something that's been pretty standard but I do remember some days when we were really struggling with it and con had some concerns. So, you might see a more like $300,000 and that's only like three months worth of salaries. So, um we've seen it, you know, I mean it would be interesting to do a trend analysis and we can certainly look into that to see what it has been over time, but in my tenure of 11 12 years here, I and when I first got here, we didn't have the programs that we have now. We had it like in one or two schools. We had other programs but this really
028pulled together probably in 201617 as a program and it was my push to and Mike's to put it in each school so every school had a program. Yeah. So so I guess my my question would be what do the prior years look like? Is this one year snapshot appropriate? Is it an accurate picture? Does it actually over five years or 10 years, right, fluctuate much more, you know, than than what we're looking at here? Uh, and if it doesn't, if it's been sort of steady and we've sort of been accumulating and we've been fortunate, it's always more on the plus side than the minus side, are there plans to expand the program to actually take advantage of the fact that it seems to be on its feet and and and being funded? I realize we
029may not be getting the answers tonight. I would be curious to see what the last well what all of the programs balances have looked like over the years. I mean, we accumul accumulating a nest egg that we're just never going to, you know, be able to to use and it's kind of unfair if we couldn't expand or at least give people a break when they're paying for services, right? Because I mean, so basically, you know, our expenses are 792 this year. With a balance of 753, we could just about could almost have everybody pay nothing. We would have been a little in the red. I don't propose that, but it looks like it was that kind of a year. But anyway, thank you. Anybody else have any questions about this? Um, yeah, that's what I
030was going to say was like, oh, we have 753. You just said it, Dean. It was like we could pretty much cover um 90% of our expenses, you know, including the other expenses. Um, so I don't know if like policywise like we say, hey, we always need to have like a cushion of 500,000, 400,000, whatever is appropriate, you know, Lori Pond know what um an appropriate reserve is for payroll. I know Susan mentioned three months but um you know from an HR perspective and then anything above that you know we just sort of take it right and then use it for other um other things benefit benefiting the kids. Okay. Thank you, Jen. Uh Jay, anything else? Uh no, thank you very much. All right, Bev, anything else? Uh so what's the next step for
031the administration dean? Where do we go from here? Yeah. Is there anything to be done here other than maybe getting more information to figure out whether this is I know that Rey is kind of in the middle of you know making sure as we're closing out the year that we've got everything accounted for and just to double check on things. I think if we do have some time, I think to look back and be able to track it over time to see um you know the con consistency of what that number is um as far as the overage and um you know like I said I remember times when it wasn't like that and we were concerned um about making payroll for the next three months you know like I don't want the board to
032ever have to pay for this that it should be self- sustaining sustaining And um but you know there might be other things that we can provide in the program and some things that like I said with a collaboration can benefit our school district and our program. So yeah, so I'd like to have an I would like to have an idea of what the trend has been and also I'd like to have a firmer idea of what how exactly we could uh you know since we do seem to be very well funded how we can take advantage of this right while still ingredients I think we can come back to you with Absolutely. Thank you. Can you can you come back um when August July? Oh yeah. I mean, we got to close out the year
033to get this thing all situated and Rita has to come in and Ray's already working on some of this, but um we can absolutely come to you back, you know, by the end of the summer. Okay. Yeah. Well, I was gonna I was gonna say July of 26. Oh, I have to. Come on. I guess I'm ambitious. Yeah, you guys will miss that when I'm gone. Yeah, you will miss. I hope not, Ray. I I hope I hope we're we're satisfied moving forward. We'll miss you, but not too much. Probably not. Okay. All right. So, you'll come back with some more information in August. Yeah. Okay. Yep. All right. So, without further ado, Ray, do you have anything you else you want to add on the director of finance report? At at this moment, no.
034Um, I I did attempt to run a report to uh today, but being in the middle of payroll, it's it's not a pretty picture right now. So, uh, I It's okay if you don't want to tell us bad news. No, it it it it blows up everything because it doubles up uh your your your obligations and adds it with the it's a mess until you clear it and push those incumbrances through. So, I see. So, that's why we say never do anything during payroll. Let payroll take its course. Uh, and that's that's exactly the truth. It's just a for me I'd have to manually uh redo every incumbrance and it's not that's bad enough I have to manually do 20 or so and um I and I have to constantly double check my math on
035those because I like I've always said I don't want to give you guys bad numbers. So So basically if we if we had a report now, if we had a snapshot now, it would really paint a false picture. Uh yeah, it wouldn't be accurate. It would it would anytime and any even moving forward and regardless of the softwares even with munis if you don't there it's it's easier to clear the software I mean clear the incumbrance and to move the incumbrance forward uh but if you don't push that button that clears the incumbrance you're going to be hosed up. I I experienced it myself years ago. So if still have to pro follow process and procedure just like any other software. So all right, any questions for Ray? Yeah, Jen, did you have a Were
036you waving? You're on mute so you know. Jen, you're on mute. Oh, Jen, you're on mute. Oh, there. Okay. So Rey, um, are we 1530 payroll or are we every other week? So do we have 24 24 pay periods or 26? We have 26. 26. Okay. So, we can't say that we're going to um propose to move our finance meetings maybe like the second week of the month because payroll is always going to because if it's 15:30 and we're always going to have an issue whether it's you or whomever um is running um the business office that we will never be able to get a report because of payroll is always running at the end of the month. That's no that's that's not a true statement. Um we will manage, you will be able to
037get a report. Um, it'll be as of whatever specific date is determined because you got to remember even though you've got uh let's say there's just 26 payrolls. And it it's funky because I have to be careful on that because teachers get paid from September 1 through August 30th. Everybody else gets paid July 1 through June 30th. So there there's some nuances there as well. So that that's why I said some of what you're saying is true, some of some of it is not. But regardless, you can still have your report. It just those 26 weeks may there may be a a a three paid month. You know what I mean? There's always if it's 26 Yeah. There's like two extras every year. Yeah. So there will be one month where there's three. So again,
038we'll manage somebody will manage to get you a report. It just it's the timing of it. That's all it is. So you can't ask for you can't what I'm saying is if you ask for a report in the middle of a Tuesday of a payroll week, it's not going to be accurate. That that that that is true if it's on a in the middle of a payroll week. Okay. No. Okay. So, we can't get end of month reports. That's not what I said. No. Yeah, we can't get end of the month. It depends on, you know, we have been getting end of the month reports, right? But it's the um during the payroll week like this hits right in the smack in the middle of the payroll week. So, you know, we'll have to wait.
039Okay. Right now, the latest report is the one that I would I would say would be the one that we just received. What? Last Wednesday. Yep. Yeah. That's the latest accurate one we can we have. Correct. Correct. Okay. Correct. All right, Jen. Uh, unless Jay's got a question. I'm going to recognize Bev. Hearing none. Bev, go ahead. Okay. Um Um, Ray, before you go, I asked Susan if you can explain from last year that $280,000. I still got a question about that. So, I really need you to explain what happened with that $280,000. Okay. So, you want me to beat this horse some more is what you're asking. Yes, we do. Yes. Until people understand because if you don't beat it and people don't understand, they're just going to question it and it's going to
040get worse. Well, it first of all, it shouldn't get worse. Number one. Number two, this was put in by my predecessor as a placeholder during your um processes last year. I was told everything was set and I'm not blaming my predecessor. He he meant well and they it just was never disseminated across the function codes. And when it went into the system and got uploaded, it just literally took its form against that object code and and and uh function. It was never caught. As a matter of fact, that was the last approved budget that was to be loaded. It was never picked up during the budget season. So, there are numerous issues that went wrong, whether it was me, the former business manager, but there's plenty of blame to go around if that's what we're
041going to if that's what they're looking to do. I mean, no, no, they're not looking to blame. They just want to know what happened. They want to understand it that was put in as time, folks. It was nothing more than a placeholder that got loaded into the operating system. Bottom line, it did balance your budget and and bottom line back in February, I think it was, we were asked to fix that. So, we did go in and fix it because I saw a comment on an email that wanted to know was that legal. The consensus from the board was they wanted it fixed. So my department, me, fixed it. Okay. We redistributed the the negative funds the way it should have been done last year and it was a reduction, right, Ray? Reduction of the
042budget, but it wasn't put in the right categories. It was put in separately and it did cause a problem. Correct. There was nothing more than a negative 280,000 that was dropped in. Okay. It never it was not picked up by I don't know how many eyes, but it wasn't picked up and um it was an honest approved mistake that was loaded in. There's no other there's no other explanation. So it's I'm sorry. Go ahead. No, no, go ahead, Dean. I was going to say, so at the end of the day, this is we're not talking about uh extra money or or a deficit of some sort. This is an accounting. It was a placeholder that was put in to balance to to show this is what your budget would look like at the what 87
043million or whatever it was. Right. Right. Okay. And then it was cut up and distributed to the verit of the five burrows or something. Not until February. That's that's the that's the issue. Okay. It was shown if you remember the budget book back in January, February, it actually appear uh reappeared raised its ugly head and showed a negative 280,000 on one of the lines. Yeah, that's when it appeared. So that that's and and that's that's the truth. That's exactly what happened. Um Jay, you've got it your hand up. So, um, Ray, thank you for your patience on this. I know we've been over it many times in different ways, but my understanding is that the board approved reductions to uh, curriculum coordinators and that savings was then put as a placeholder in sort of a
044general uh, district-wide account, right? And as you said, it wasn't distributed over all of the other object codes. Um, so to Dean's point, no money was lost, no money was added. Uh, it was just not properly uh distributed because I think it was one of our last minute decisions that your one of your predecessors had to fold into a budget to hit the February 28th charter deadline and I think he simply ran out of time because we made so many changes at the last minute to the budget. That's my recollection. Yeah. To be honest with you, I wasn't here, so I'm gonna take your word for it, Jay. Yeah. Yeah, I am totally with you, Jay. That's exactly what it was. So, I guess the only thing I could ask is, is it possible for
045somebody to just give us the object codes that were affected and the amounts just so it's in a report so that the next time somebody asks, we just I have the journal entries right here. Yeah. If you could, if there's some way we could just send that to the entire board and then we can move and then we can move on. Can we can I ask one favor? Can we put this to bed then? Yes. I mean, it happened. It's over. It's gone. That's what Bev wants. That's what I want. That's bringing it up. And Ray, I think you and Lori and I look at it tomorrow just to verify and because I it my memory is just like Jay's. It was definitely the curriculum coordinators. Okay. Yep. So, we'll review it and we'll send
046it out. Okay. And then we can we can move on. Absolutely. And our next meeting can can actually talk about what we're going to do for the students for the next year rather than continuing to go back um to the history. We can just have an answer and we can send it out anytime anybody has a question about it. Yes, we did. Thank you. Sorry, Bev. No, that's okay. That's okay. I'm just relaying the message. That's all. And And can you send it out as soon as possible so we can put this to bed? Yes, ma'am. That was one of the one more thing has had to correct for us in in this whole cycle of people coming in and out. So, we do appreciate that. Yeah. Thank you, Ray. Thank you, Ray. I mean,
047we know. So the journal entry that was processed in February if it was truly for the curriculum coordinators were the reductions taken where it was originally intended. Um that's question one. And then second Ray before you leave if there's anything in this current year budget besides the one that's in our agend on our agenda for tomorrow that needs to get transferred. Let's do it now so that um the budget is in a good spot when the new person starts and doesn't need to answer like if you know of any additional items that need to get moved. But you you're talking about in the 26 proposed budget or in the this one prepare the current one. So, um, one I know you have one, right? But if there's any more like that, um, I don't care
048what amount it is, just try to get it fixed um, before you leave. And, you know, for our next official board meeting. So, um, that the comparison between 25 and 26 for the when we revisit this in January of 26, we're not going to be talking about like, oh, yeah, they should have been here, they should have been there. So, if you can help Susan and the person coming after you, that'd be greatly appreciated. I'll I'll trust me, I'm trying to make the smoothest transition I can. So, anything I can do to help her will um do I I'll do trust me I'm much appreciated. Yeah. Um, as a matter of fact, what I was doing a good part of the day was creating the temp the new template within MUN, uh, not Munis, uh,
049E fininance for the upgrade of the, um, template for the EFS filing because, yeah, I have to manually create the first template so that she can have it because we did the upgrade. She the template's not there. So, I need to I I've got several weeks of on and off work just to make sure that's ready to to go for her as well. And that's not due until the end of August, but if you're not used to einance, it can be a little tricky. So, which we're trying to help you out where we can here. Thank you, Ray. Jay, you've got your hand up. Yeah. Uh before Ray leaves, I just want to say, you know, we do appreciate everything you've done. We know you came in to uh situations on two different occasions and
050so we appreciate all of the hard work you've done to to bring things uh into uh compliance and thank you for um on boarding uh Rita. Yeah, it's my pleasure. Same here, Ray. Same here. Welcome. Well, as as as a board, you guys have uh for the most part, you've been pretty enjoyable to work with. every once in a while. I may sound like a cranky old fool, but for the most part, you've been enjoyable to work with. Except when Jay When Jay gets mad at me, then you don't want to make him mad. Yeah, that and that that was a very graceful answer. Thank you. But thank you all. It's been appreciated. Sure. I think you're right. Jay is always the soul of Tact. Um, so without much further ado, if we're we're done
051with finance for now, then we move on to facilities. You think we can finish by seven? Not rushing anybody? I doubt it. Bye. Bye, Ray. Bye, Ray. So Sam and um Ernie and I and Chris too has been so helpful with the C. I know he's already presented to you, but we really are looking into the future and I want him to be able to talk about how his enterprise funds have had helped support the C initiative, especially at Fitch that our numbers didn't come in as high um from the state end to help afford it. So, he's had to help us out. So, Re Ernie, I'll let you take it on from there. We tried to explain it. We did give an answer back to the um community member who had questions. I think
052the board was on that. Um so we are we have a whole website now and I'll make sure I have it in board notes so you can check it out on free and reduced lunch and community eligibility programs so that families will understand this better. Thank you Susan. So, um, like Susan mentioned, um, folks, um, good evening, by the way, is that we did answer a community member, um, Rebecca Bea created a really nice, um, letter and was sent out to the parent, um, you know, explaining about C and it is very confusing. It's, it's something that really takes some digesting and stuff. And again, you know, C is was a great opportunity and still is. Um, we have five schools that includes Fitch currently that are C. And Ernie, Ernie, can you tell us
053what C means? Some people may not know. Yep. So, uh, C stands for the community eligibility provision. It is a USDA program that allows eligible schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students. No applications are needed um once you once you become um certified. A way to become certified is it's based on directly certified programs such as SNAP, TANF, foster care, migrant, homeless, and runaway status. Um, and that's the confusing part because students that qualify for SNAP, which are directly certified by the state of Connecticut, they get what they call um, which is the key term, the identified student percentage, also known as ISP. That is the only thing that the state recognizes when they certify a school to become C. They don't take in consideration paper applications where a family may be
054free. It does not and I know Superintendent Austin and I and and several of us have have just you know where we don't know how to make this part work but our military families don't qualify because they get another benefit um that is not recognized by the state. Um they get Triricare where SNAP benefit kids get Husky. We brought this to legislation. I brought it to my military superintendent liaison meeting. We've brought it to Bob Ross who runs vet veterans affair and has the ear of the governor, but it doesn't seem like they're recognizing that that's a missing ingredient. So, we really have to make sure our military families sign up for the free and reduced lunch. So, at least the kids who need the free meals will get them. And that's why we have
055Charles Barnum and NEA that currently do not qualify. So, in order to qualify a school, a school has to be currently 25% or higher. That's when we pounced on it last year and says we have an opportunity to add Fitch to our four school grouping. You're allowed to group schools that may not quite make it. So you take some of the high schools and you add a low school to it and you bring your ISOP where it's um acceptable by the state and that's what we exercise for Fitch because as this board knows and I know um um Bev and and Jay you know in the past boards last year a couple years back we've all looked for ways how we can feed as many children free uh breakfast and lunches. This was a great
056avenue that we exercised and we were able to add Fitch uh before the new rate goes into effect potentially in September which the USDA or federal government is putting it back to the 60% which is going to kick off a whole slew skew of schools throughout the country not not just Connecticut but by doing that what it did is it took my full four schools and this is where C reimburseed ment comes into play. My four schools, we used to get 68% of the $445 reimbursement and then the other uh 41%, excuse me, 32% I was getting the 44 which is for the full pay. So that's I'm putting out a lunch for 44 cents essentially um with with our our current situation. Um that dragged us down where it cut into my um my
057surplus or or it cut into my my minimum and that's being ultra-conservative that I am. That's when I raised the alarm to Superintendent Austin as well as as the finance uh committee because I don't want to be another cost to you guys going forward. So, we need to correct this situation. The only way I can correct it is by removing Fitch this year, which we're in the process of doing, and we're still going to be able to keep the four schools. Um Chris and I have been working with the state all week and we've worked with um Lauren as well make sure our numbers are all matching uh which is the directly certified students once again. Um but we'll be back into the high 60% with the four schools. So this year it's roughly cost
058me and I don't know if Ry is still on but he can attest to it as we were going through it over the last uh few weeks. Uh it has cost me roughly about 390 to 410,000 by the time I finish the last day of school. That's the cost it was draining me this year by having Fitch on board. As I indicated, this is the first time in 15 years I've ever faced this situation um with the high cost of goods that we all know. And this percentage here has just killed me. You tried, it just didn't work. I'll be the first to tell you. Um I thought it would work but I didn't know the drain was going to be um this much. And also I lost 130 133,000 of supply chain funds which
059the USDA gave us over the last three years to offset some of the high costs. They removed that um you know they just remove things don't give you any advanced notice. So between those um it's it's cost me money and my surplus right now I should have on in a minimum is 525. That gives me roughly three months operating expenses that I have to maintain according to the state. Um I roughly have 630,000 in my account. Um, so you know, I'm getting to my danger mark where I I need to let you guys know and and let you know why we're switching back. Um, and that, you know, I think with the four schools, I'll be able to carry it next year going forward. Yes, Fitch is now going to become the third pay school.
060And again, that brings another set of issues. we have to think about, okay, there's going to be unpaid um meal balances. Now, with Fitch High School, right now we have two schools. We're running roughly about 25,000 with just Charles Barnum and NEA. Um we have been trying to do Chris um um my assistant has been fantastic with calling families and stuff. Um trying to do the best we can. She's working with families. they've been setting up some of them been setting up payment plans with her. Um, but some families who they put their applications in on paper, it indicates that they should be able to cover their children's meals, but they don't. Um, that's an ongoing situation. Um, so we've been working with that. Um, but you know, adding Fitch next year is going to
061be another cost potentially to this board. on top of the 25,000. Um, so that's another thing we have to consider because your funds can't cover people who don't pay their bills. Correct. Can we ask Clint? Can we ask Clint to promote Jen? All right. Uh, thank you, Ernie. Um, Jen, before you go away again, you have any questions? I don't know how that happened, but I didn't demote you. I want to be on record. I did not demote you. I demoted myself. My phone like on networking issues and then like I logged in but then not as a panelist. So, I was just sitting there. So, it's my own fault. Um, no Ernie. Um, you know, we truly appreciate all the work you do for our kids and we always all have the best intentions
062to try, as you said, to feed everyone. So, um, unfortunately, um, the finances don't add up. Um, and so that's like an extra exposure that we have potentially um from this current year budget that we need to Susan set aside like roughly 20 you know somewhere 20 25,000 that we don't have um um to you know potentially cover um receivables that we're probably not going to get. And I don't know if you remember last year, I think Ernie had it gotten up to about 80,000 and then there were a lot of donations and I feel like we should have done a GoFundMe page and but you know Fitch was not on it then and you know it really did make a difference with the payment but the team has come together with Rebecca Bus to
063make sure that we do everything we can possibly do to get families to fill out these forms to along with impact aid put it through parent square, make it so accessible, have the teams come out during open houses, and all seven schools are going to have open houses this year for sure. We're not going to miss anybody. And just really to say how important it is for them to fill out because there's no reason why any child in our district who needs a free and reduced lunch wouldn't get it. But and you support them, Ernie. you have people coming in, you know, even up to the table during open houses, but also coming to Mary Morrison and sitting down with them and really helping them fill out these forms, right? I mean, we try every
064avenue, Susan. Like, you know, there there's folks that um um don't speak good English or any English. So, we have someone in the building that can help. We go out to Luckily, I'm in the community all summer long at my summer sites. We we invite people to come in, fill out uh meal applications right there with us. We have laptops sometimes with at the locations. We'll help them fill out right then and there. I mean, sure, we're going to we're going to continue to keep trying. I'm going to look for every little avenue or or provision or grant that I can. If it means feeding kids, you know, um free breakfast or free lunch or whatever it is, I'll keep turning those stones. Um, this one I thought was a great idea by adding Fitch
065and and it did. It helped, you know, 900 students every day for breakfast and lunch this year and these families for a whole year. So, these families saw that benefit. Unfortunately, the burden was was more than I could swallow um this year. And and if I if we we as a group continued down this path, um I would become on your side and become yet another burden that you all don't need. Um, so that's why I'm trying to correct this ship now and move forward. Um, but I'm open to any ideas or whatever. And, um, we did bring in $6,000 to date off of the meal balance. I didn't tell you that this morning, Susan, but we do have 6,000 of meal donations funds that's going to be knocked off of that balance. Um, good.
066So, you know, there still if we can at board meetings that this these donations have come through. I mean, we have to recognize that. So, please send them to us. Thank you. Right. Thank you. Uh Jay, you've got your hand up. So, yes. Uh so, first of all, Ernie, uh since the last time I saw you, um I just want to take a moment to to recognize, you know, congratulations uh for being selected as the food service director of the year for the entire state of Connecticut. We are very fortunate to have you here. Thank you. And we appreciate everything that you do. Uh we know you work very hard. Uh I know that that bringing Fitch on board into the community eligibility program was um a wonderful idea. Unfortunately, with the shifting finances, we
067understand that, you know, it's not it's not going to be possible this year, but but we still have so many students that are getting their lunches paid for than we did before. And I know it's it's confusing to the community why some schools qualify and some don't. And I mean, the other opport the other option would simply be to not participate and everybody pay. Um, you know, I don't think that's uh a good alternative. Um, I think we just need to be grateful for where it works and when it works and uh make it so clear that it only works if everybody files their their paperwork, right? Um, and and that's so important that we keep that messaging. And I think now that we have parent square, which is, you know, we've learned that that's
068been so effective in um communicating, you know, Rebecca did a whole uh meeting with us about how the uh opening of the um the report cards has shot up dramatically through the use of the power school technology. It was just incredible uh the engagement that that and so maybe we can utilize, you know, Power School more to to get that done. But we owe you and your team a debt of gratitude for taking care of our students all these years uh over the summer um the the various um drives that you do to get boxes of food out to to community members that need it. I know all these programs are, you know, probably at risk. Um, you know, we're reading about how, uh, community meal programs are at risk across the country. Um, but
069we appreciate everything you've done. Um, and I guess my only question is the state had agreed to pick up the reduced um, the reduced meal costs. Is that something that's going to continue in the next school year? Has the state figured that out yet? So, that's a great question, Jay. And um I'm going to let Chris answer that if that's okay. That's fine. I recognize Chris. Oh, thank you. Hi, everyone. Um so, right now on the federal level, nothing looks good. Um, they're going to decrease uh SNAP. They're going to ask food service departments to ask for income verification for applications. So, it's not going to be if this passes, it already passed the House. If it passes the Senate, then anybody who fills out a free reduced application, whether it be on school cafe
070or paper, will have to give us verification of their income, which is a whole another ball of wax in itself. On the state level, there is nothing right now. The governor originally said for next school year reduced eats free and for 2627 it was free breakfast for all. That has been as of this moment wiped off. And this is confusing for families. They're feeding us breakfast and they don't feed us breakfast. They're feeding us lunch. So it's like really very confusing. it it is extremely confusing and as soon as I've been following this very very carefully as soon as anything comes of it any final answers you know Susan and the board you will be the first to know after us and then we will continue forward it's extremely I we and I had said
071this last time we had teachers that thought breakfast was free for everyone so it's very very important important that when the decision is made that everyone becomes aware. So, we have a whole website that you and um you all and um Rebecca have worked on. We've got this parent school messaging. My final edition of School Matters is going to have a whole excerpt on this to go home to families and prepare our Fitch families for this and to really hopefully generate um some, you know, some interest and support of filling out these forms, right, Susan? And and one other thing with um and we were talking you and I were talking about this before. I have been sending out negative account balances four to five days a week for the last few weeks. They are
072responding. Oh, good. Not the big big ones. Not the $1,500 ones, but those who owed $500, they're now to aund down to 150. Good. So, it is I know a lot of families have really been trying very hard to Yeah. And we appreciate that. Yeah. I've screened a lot of phone calls. I've talked to them and you know unfortunately as I had said before the rumor mill has gotten out. Those balances are deleted at the end of the school year. They know we're still going to feed them, which of course we should, [Music] but it it has been known that we're going to feed them and at in September they're going to have a zero balance. And I know that you do a wonderful job encouraging families that might have a balance to fill in
073their forms and to get support when needed just to make sure that we've done everything. Absolutely. And a lot of times, Susan, we send them the forms with the with the reminder letter, just, you know, um we're sending tons of forms. Um thank you, Dean, for letting me recognize Chris. Um Chris sits on our School Nutrition Association of Connecticut, uh public policy and legislation. It's important that we have a member of our team that's right there in the know. um you know with the daily and weekly updates that uh come out of um Hartford and that come out of uh the the USDA. All right. Uh Jen, any questions? I see your hand up. Yeah. Um I know we say that we send out forms um you know Power School. Is there a way that
074it can be not a form but almost like a like how you fill in information either on your cell phone or on the computer and and then it once they hit send that's like an electronic signature. So maybe it's easier that way than actually filling out a form and just like typing it into your cell phone and then we capture the data that way. I'm not really sure what the technology is behind the scenes if that's expensive or what. So, so Jen, we we have online application. It's very simple and and and user friendly. Um it is okay. And it's on our website. So, we can um do a link and then like Okay. So, maybe we send like a PDF and a link or whatever. Okay. Yeah. No, that's covering that. Oh, yeah. No,
075that's perfect. And they're still not filling it out. No. Well, I think if they're in a C school, they don't feel the need to fill it out. Correct. Um, but now we have three schools that aren't C, so we really need them to fill it out. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Dean. Um, just a quick question based on what Jen just asked. Is it easy to get to that link? because sometimes it's not easy to get to all these links. So that's what I'm asking. Is it really friendly, consumer friendly for them to get to that link? Okay. Right. Chris, I expect has something to add to this. Yeah. Um Bev, so easy. There is a I I mean so easy. There is a link on um our page of the website that takes
076you directly there. You have to create a profile which is it literally took I'm going to say 30 seconds to sign it. We did discuss and something that we'll continue to discuss that the menus will not be on the website next year. You'll only be able to get them on school cafe which means tell her why that's so important. It's so important because you have to create the profile in order to look at the menus and on the profile the first thing you see is fill out a free reduced application. Right. So I don't think it any better. Good thinking. Good thinking. All right. It's a team effort, Bev. Yeah. Uh Jay, I don't see your hand up. I'm going to go to Jim. Could we Okay, now this is really getting bad. Um if
077the rumor mill is going is out there saying that like, "Yep, we're going to wipe out your balance." Can we have it like we're only going to wipe out your balance if you fill out this form? I don't think we could do that. But it's just like or something like, "Hey, really look at this form. I said I asked Ernie if if they fill out the form, can we go retro and reverse the charges? He said, "No, it's too late for that." But yeah, certainly would help them in the future, right? Yeah. No. Yeah. Like, oh, this year you ended with a balance. we're gonna, you know, forgo whatever amount you owe, but please make sure I know we can't be mean, but please make sure next year like consider filling out the form. I
078don't know. I don't know how much more we can try to be nice. Well, sounds like we're totally on the honor system here. And while most people are honorable, and I'm sure there's some percentage, some small percentage that figure that they're getting away with something, and that's unfortunate. um given any sizable, you know, goodsized crowd of people, you're going to find um folks that will not behave the way you were or or I might. I like the way I think I would like to behave anyway. So, uh Jay, any questions? Uh no further questions. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Jen, any further questions, Bev? Nope. Thank you, Ernie. And u if we can help you in any way, just come back to the board and let us know. Thank you, Bev. You guys always do.
079Thank you. All right, moving on. Sam, is this uh this thing you? Yeah. Building and grounds rental rate. We have to keep up with the sign of the times. Would it be helpful if I up? Huh? Yeah. 2018. [Music] So, uh, for tonight's, uh, report, you can see that, uh, I didn't have to do anything. Uh, Ernie did his part with Chris, uh, and, uh, Erica put this together for us, and the directors, uh, all have reviewed it since then. Uh, and I don't believe there were any changes made, uh, from the time that she did that. So, um I guess the uh the question is uh what you've all seen that the uh prices they're um fairly reasonable I believe and uh I think the next step would be to move this to the
080full board uh for approval. Can you just explain a little bit of why we're taking the heating utility sir charges out? Is that encompassed in the actual rental fees now? It's it's all inclusive. Yes. Okay. It's too hard to figure out all these little nickel. Yeah, it was it was got be a pain to uh add it all up. So, uh much easier for the business office to have it all encompassed in one in one price. What about custodial? We see that up at the top. And then that should come into the district to support overtime for our custodians is what I understand. And I think I heard John Bird actually say that at a public meeting and I think Rey is doing that now where those funds do come or have started to come.
081Well, Ray would have to answer that, but the last I heard it still wasn't coming, but changed since then. Sam, can you put that back up again, please? I'm on it. I think Clint did it for us. Okay. Let me know if you want me to scroll, Bev, or other. Yeah. Do you mind scrolling? Thank you. Thank you. That's fast. That's too fast. If you go back, how did you come up with the new prices, Sam? Cafeteria went from 400 to a,000. How did you come up with these numbers? These uh we we took a look at other area uh uh venues that uh have similar uh operations uh other school districts and such. And uh they are in line with those How long have you had these old numbers for? Uh 2018. I 18
082I think was the last time we updated them. Okay. That explains why some of these have a large jump. Yes. Yeah. Well, it also includes uh as we said it includes the uh uh electricity and heat uh included in there too. Now explain though for um inind services from what I understand like the wreck department and some of the town departments those wouldn't get charged. Is that correct? That's correct. We don't charge parks and wreck. Um I know that our like River does the food um Thursday meals and so I'm sure that also is town sponsored. Meals. That's correct. We're we're paying the overtime for the kitchen staff in there or do they not do we have to provide the kitchen? They no at the uh community meals at Fames River, they have their own
083staff using using our kitchen and uh the custodians are already on duty there. So, we just had that little bit extra clean up on those nights. All right. Well, that works. And they are very thankful that the school district allows them to use the kitchen. I used Well, and it's such a good location, too. It's in walking distance for so many neighborhoods. They get over 150 people that come. That's fantastic. on Wednesday. That's great. On behalf of 552 is another site, right? Yeah. On behalf of their organization. Thank you. Well, it's our belief that they are town buildings. They are not only schools, but when school isn't in session, they become community centers. Well, all right. Uh, Jen or Jay, any questions for Sam on this? No, I'm all set. I was always bringing up
084on like our board meetings like, oh, park and wreck should pay something, but because it's heavy use of our building. It's not like light use called shared services. Yeah. Well, and you know what our fam we don't want our families to have to pay more. Yeah. So when they belong to a rec league whatever you know it if we upped our prices or they had to pay for it then it would actually fall on the backs of our family. So in a sense it's um like you said if we already have custodians there it's a little more clean up on those nights. And Mhm. Um certainly we want, like Sam said, for our community be able to use our buildings. And they're not ours, they're the towns. Yeah. After all, it's the community that's paying
085for those buildings. That's right. They pay the taxes. That's right. You're right, Beverly. Yeah. They're not for free. For free. All right. Uh Jen, anything else? Nope. Jay. Uh, so speaking of community use, other than things that are directly related to uh the town, I noticed that um it's being proposed that we strike uh the waiver of fees for nonprofits. I was just curious um what the thinking was there. Um, is it are we not getting people using them or um, you know, even if we don't want to wave the fees for a nonprofit, um, do we want to have a different structure for nonprofit or is that just not something that that nonprofits have asked to do? Well, I I I can speak to the uh uh the uh the field use, for instance.
086Um and uh some of these groups that are using our fields are nonprofit um uh because they filed the proper paperwork, but that does not mean that uh they're not charging the kids for the programs and it uh and that the uh coaches uh and leaders of those groups are not being paid well for them. Um, so I think that's part of the thinking there. Yeah. So, so, so you are charging for nonprofit. Are you charging? Yeah. Okay. Yes. Well, they almost have their own enterprise funds that are self- sustaining so that it can pay for the staff and the fields and everything else that comes with it, the equipment. We have dance programs like that as well that use the auditorium and they do generate funds. The stage of the high school. Yeah. Yep.
087So they, you know, they can afford to to do, you know, cover the cost of the auditorium. I was I was going to add a comment that we there's a there's a a popular uh division that people make between for-profit and not profit and nonprofits are um generally people generally think, you know, they should be treated with more care. The finances are different. Not for profit means literally not for profit. That does not necessarily mean that they have the tin cup out begging for money and therefore they need some special financial attention. Some do. Uh some don't. Some are actually quite healthy businesses. They simply don't technically generate a profit. They qualify as a 501c3 or other type of organization like that. They have paid staff. They raise healthy amounts of money. They'd always like
088to raise more. They charge for their services, etc. but they're not forprofit. So, um I for one was never in favor of a blanket well forprofit over here, the not for-p profofit over there because I can find some pretty unhealthy forprofits that are in the red and some fairly healthy nonprofits that are, you know, paying people um etc. just as as was pointed out before. So, um yeah, I I'd look beyond the label of for-profit and not for profofit to see who should get special treatment if if at all. Um, and I'm not sure that we have that that kind of a crystal ball. Um, is that uh anybody else have any other questions? So, is is the back of the page that we received? This is just basically the the cleaned up version of
089the front page or Yeah, Erica did all that work uh and and and presented it. So, I I looks like I've checked the numbers. Check the numbers match up. Okay. the other sheet. I only have one more comment and then we'll go. U I understand these are from seven years ago. Um and that Okay, so high school cafeteria jumps from $400 per per day to $1,000 per day. And yeah, it is seven years ago, but it really represents something like a 16% increase per year on average to go from the 400 to a,000. So that if a thousand dollars is reasonable today was was the 400 unreasonably cheap seven years ago. Um that that's just you know for just an academic question I suppose. Um but if you say that you've checked and these are
090you know basically the going rates if anybody would wanted to use facilities they can go anywhere in you know in the area and be faced with the same charges. Right. That's that's what you're saying. Erica does a really great job helping us out. She looks at Cab. She looks at all the uh towns around us and you know, she helps us do some of the leg work to make sure that we're zeroing in on the just right number. Okay. We don't do it by ourselves. Any other questions on this topic? All right. Is there anything else you want to add uh Sam for your report? Uh no. Um, other than the fact that, uh, we'll be seeing everybody next week at the 8th grade promotion and the high school graduation coming up soon. And and
091no rain, only sunshine. I can't. That's in the budget somewhere, right? Yeah. You say so. You're the boss. Both events. That's what I'm saying. Both events will be streamed live on YouTube. Yes, that's good news. Exactly. We budgeted for a weather machine last year. Um, okay. Anybody have any other questions beyond SEP and facilities use rate schedule for Sam? Bev? Yeah. Sam, um up at the up at the high school at the baseball field, do you have um are there portaotties up there that people can use up at the baseball field? At the high school? Uh don't they were there? Uh I believe well they should be there because the schooners start tonight. Their first game is tonight so they should be there but I'll verify it. Um we uh Lauren ordered those a few
092weeks back. So I believe they were all delivered. I'll verify it tomorrow. Okay. But how many do you did you order? One, two, three. For for the baseball field is one. One. Okay. Yeah. All right. Is there another one close to the baseball field or the other one's pretty far away? Uh there was one near the tennis court I believe. So if that was filled again this year, uh there should be one near the tennis courts as well. Okay. Is that close to the baseball field or No. Well, the Yeah, tennis courts are relatively close to the baseball field. Yes. Yeah. But but the tennis courts are higher than the baseball field. If you're in the baseball field, you'd have to walk up a little hill to get to the tennis court level, right? Or
093are they? If I recall, it's slight grade. Yes. Yeah. I know that we've al we've also had to get um to make sure they're handicap accessible. So I Can you check with Lauren to make sure that we have handicap accessible as well because I know we had to add those. Um, I don't know if it was over by the softball or at Grten Middle School by the turf field. Well, I know we definitely do that for graduation, but I'll I'll verify it. Yep. Can you just send us a a note, Sam, about that, please? Yes. Thank you. Uh, Jay, I recognize you. And then John, uh, so from the guy who is always complaining that we're beating dead horses, um, I'm going to beat a dead horse. Oh, no. So, Sam, I know. I'm so
094sorry, Dean, and everybody else. Um, this is not Harry, this is not a Harry Watson meeting. Um, so, uh, with regard to the EV chargers, was this something because these schools were, uh, used grant funds from the state, did they require these chargers to be placed? Um, and are there any restrictions? Uh, number one. And number two, have we talked to the town about um their vendor for putting equipment on them to uh to charge people? So they are no longer giving electricity away to anybody. Yes. First, first of all, the vendor that we talked to was the same vendor that did the uh that that is working with the town on their charging stations, and that's where we got the price for roughly $2,500 a piece to upgrade them to uh charging for the
095charging stations. So, are we talking 25 $50,000 to do that? That would be $5,000 per pole. Each each of the poles essentially has two two charging charging cords on them. So be $5,000 a piece. So if there are four at the middle school so it it if there are four at the middle school that's $20,000 right there. So um business that was the um and the second question was sorry Jay. Well, first of all, I mean, do do we do we have them here because they're required by the states got granted? It was it was part of the project, but before Rick Norris when Rick uh uh was still here, when Rick Norris was still here, he checked with the state and he verified that uh there are no uh restrictions on um there was
096no requirement for us to uh have them be free of charge. Okay. Uh so we have the ability to do that. We do any of these vendors will any of these vendors do the conversion upfront like we did with solar and basically take our uh fees out of the revenue stream until they're paid for and then split. I I'd have to look further into that. Um the the company that the town used um they charge you to do it and then they get a certain percentage to maintain them of the of the collected fees and and then the balance goes to the town probably or to the board of ed or struck. Yeah. Just wonder if there just wonder if there's anybody that'll do it up front and take all the fees until they're paid
097for and then split with us, you know, once the initial investment is paid off. I'll do I'll do some more looking into that. I think we had talked about shutting them down for summer until we get an answer and get this stuff really put into place the way we need to. Yeah. and maybe put those charging those $2,500 uh you know remove those so they're not vandalized over the summer. Um because I really don't want to be replacing those every time. Uh yeah, that $2,500 keeps coming up because that's what it costs to fix one of the every every time somebody misuses them and and they need to be repaired. It's it's about $2,500 to repair them. That's a good all the more reason why we need to make money off of them. That's a
098good suggestion, Jay, to remove them. Remove those on cables during the summer. Yeah, until we find a vendor that'll work with Yeah, I think we have to do that. Dean, you can shoot me down. You You can shoot me down because I know it's not specifically on the agenda, but I really would like to uh there there are communities that are uh rewarding their employees for coming up with budget savings. It's a whole thing that I don't even know if it's allowed in the state of Connecticut, but I'm going to make a referral on that. Um, I think it's time we had the people that are out there in the field and can see, you know, where we can find some savings. I think we owe it to the taxpayer to make sure that, you
099know, we're running as lean as we possibly can. So, I'm going to be making that referral. And that's it. It actually came up in our safety committee meeting, our, you know, regional state safety committee meeting in Grten and that was kind of what their suggestion was to take them down for summer, too. So, I think we have support on that. Yeah. Suggestion box, Jen, I think I Yeah. Um, it's just a quick one. I just wanted to understand, have we heard back from the state regarding the roofing for Charles Barnum? Because we had to resubmit. We did hear back again and it was uh sent back to us uh to make some uh changes and resubmit. Oh, so this is like the second time we have to resubmit. Yes. And and Rey has asked the
100architect to coordinate with He wants to coordinate with the architect and see if we can get the numbers and everything straight and resubmit it. We did talk to someone in Hartford and I got on the phone call too to see how we can expedite this better and to get from them. Something crazy like um we had um an actual um number of let's say 999,000 but we've been given a million dollars. So, I don't know why that being off, you know, I don't know, was it a cent? And I said, "At least it's, you know, that we've been granted a a penny more so that we can pay for this, not a penny less." So, it was something crazy like that. That was the other holdback from last time. So, we're trying to get someone
101in Hartford who can help support and get us through. Okay. So, more than likely not. We're not going to work on a roof this summer. So, it's probably going to be summer of 26. No, it won't be a summer project. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. And we won't we won't do that roof during school either. That that building is not Well, we've done them before. Some schools can be done, but uh the structure of that building won't allow that. Yeah. For the kids. Yeah, totally agree with you, Matt. Sam, how how are you doing on your I'll call your list the tracker sheet. How you doing with that? Your to-do list. Your to-do list all the time. Cuz at the GA meeting, one of the teachers still said in her classroom at Charles Barnum, she has
102leaks around the air her air conditioner. Yeah. Actually, uh, we sent somebody over there just the other day after, um, I don't I don't know if it's the same person or not, the pictures to him, but, um, Toby went Toby went over there and cked that particular classroom that, uh, was sent to us by Seth just the other morning after the rainstorm. Okay. Thank you, Sam. Appreciate it. Jay, uh, very sorry, but have we reached out to our representatives, our senator and representatives about what how if they can help us uh, get through the uh, red tape and bureaucracy at the state level? I think that's a great idea, Jay. We'll give them a call tomorrow. I We're frustrated because even I had to get on the horn and even the woman who I was
103talking to said there was someone else we had to talk to. So, um, and it's over silly things like that example of, you know, having a CIP that was, you know, a dollar or a cent more than what the actual invoice was or the actual quote. So crazy. Well, they always they always invite us to reach out if we need anything. Yeah, they do. You're right. This is one of those this is one of those situations where it's it's really become ridiculous. So, I think we need uh someone to step in and say, "Hey, you know what? What's going on here? the money has been uh set aside, you know, by the town for years and the state has a program. Um, you know, why are we making it so difficult? So, anyway, thank you.
104Well, that and the CI C and our military kids, those are two big topics that I want to talk to him about. So, I was going to say, Jay, that that the state's actions remind me of insurance companies when they keep sending back the the bill, they keep changing their coding. Oh, I'm sorry. So, it's another 30 days, 60 days, 90 days. Yeah. Um, all right. Any other questions before we adjourn, Bev? Okay. I just have one thing. Um, I listened today to a webinar I think that Cave might has sponsored on the federal update on education and policy and um the good news I'm just going to tell you the good news um is about impact aid. Um impact aid the funds are still being requested for impact aid. Uh there has been no
105cuts yet for impact aid. So that is very good for us because that's $1.6 billion for funding requests for impact aid. So if it go continues to go through with the federal government and Congress that um we'll be looking pretty good next year. But so far it's still there. Fingers crossed. Yeah. But we don't know if there's going to be any policy change, you know, you know, in the in the policy for impact aid, but the funding will still be there. Always strings attached. Yeah. All right. Anything else for the good of the order or the ungood of the order or the double plus on good of the order? Okay. I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. [Laughter] Motion to adjurnn. I'll entertain a second. Okay. I'm going to read your lips and say that's a
106second. All those in favor? What? I Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you very much everybody. Good night. Thank you.