NPS BOE Meeting - Budget Work Session (2/10/2026)

001I think we have we have a quorum. >> We have a quorum and and we're recording. So, all right. Good evening. I'd like to call the meeting of the Newington Board of Ed to order for Tuesday, February 10th. The time is 7 7:01 p.m. We do pledge of allegiance. Please rise for the pledge if you have flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands one nation >> under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Uh all right, Deb, please call the role. >> Mary Beatus >> here. >> John Howerin >> here. >> Marissa Lensing >> here. Timothy Newton >> here. >> Amy Paratt >> here. >> A chararma, >> Ryan, >> Dr. Gail Stanley >> here, >> Jessica Weaver

002>> here. >> I have Mr. Sharma and Mr. >> Sam's on. >> Yeah, I saw Sam on. >> He's on there. There he is. >> Yes, he is. >> Okay. Um >> Mr. Steven is the only one. >> Yes, he is he is not able to make it tonight. Um so I'll just just quickly um while we're not speaking, just go on mute um just to eliminate any background noise. And for board members, if you have a question or um comment or anything, just just raise your hand with that little raise hand button so that I can just know who's because I don't see all of you at my screen. Um so just raise your hand if you if you have a comment or a question. Okay. Um All right. At this time, I'll open

003up to um public participation on any matter related to board responsibilities. We got you, Sam. Um, so if you're in a Google Meet, you can raise your hand to be recognized and then I'll ask you to state your name and address for the record. I am not seeing anyone with their hands raised. Dana Havens, go ahead. Hi, Dana Havens 113 Stoddard. Um, sorry I had a problem logging in for some reason. Um, after last night's comments from some of you at the table, I feel compelled to address again the walk out and the concerns raised during that discussion. The fact that the assembly was held in the back of the school where only students would be aware of it strongly suggests that the event was intended to influence or direct the thoughts of our students

004and our students alone. That is not what a walkout is supposed to do. Additionally, the erection of a stage and the setup of tables in the gym for letting for letter writing activities by school staff combined with reports from several students that they were strongly encouraged by their teachers to attend the walkout implies administrative support for the message delivered by the speaker or speakers. It is not the role of NPS staff to guide or direct students towards specific political positions. This concern is further amplified by the fact that the mother of one of the speakers was present yesterday and was promoting information that was incorrect or at best misleading, which leads me to believe that the same information may have been presented to our students. For this re for these reasons, I'm requesting again that

005an assembly be held that includes speakers from both sides of the aisle. It would be especially valuable to include a representative from our local ICE office in Hartford if they they do have an outreach program. So, I'm assuming we can outreach to them. Um, I'm making this request because it's your responsibility to ensure that our children are educated with accurate, factual information and receive both sides of the story, which actually is in your board policies um that I was able to access thanks to the email from um Superintendent Bummet this afternoon. It was also said at the table was that the students in who organized this were 18 and have every right to do so. They may be 18 but it's ridiculous to say they have a right to do whatever they want on school

006grounds. Um you know that they have to follow the rules and procedures and skipping class even if it's um that advisory class I don't think is exactly what you want happening. Um and uh that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, seeing no other hands, so we can move to our presentation of awards. We have a resolution honoring school counselors. Are you sharing it, Dr. B? There we go. And I had I was on mute so you didn't hear my wonderful. >> Okay, >> it was great. >> I wanted to uh welcome Seth Korn here this evening. Um and he is here to accept this award on behalf of our school counselors who do amazing work each and every day in our school system. Uh chairman Pry, would you like me to read it or

007would you like to? >> Um if you want to, I won't stop you. >> You got it. Whereas the Newington public school system is committed to honoring its school counselors and recognizing their contributions to the educational system and their tremendous impact in helping students reach their full potential. And whereas the New England school counselors are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development. And whereas the Newington school counselors are actively engaged in a partnership with parents for focusing on positive ways to enhance student academic career and social emotional development and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. And whereas the Newington school counselors

008are an integral part to student success and to help increase student achievement and provide a muchneeded resource for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. And whereas it is the desire of the board of education that school counselors should be made aware of their appreciation. We do hereby proclaim that Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 as Newington School Counselor Appreciation Day. Therefore, be it resolved that we urge all citizens of our community to join with us in actively expressing gratitude to our school counselors who represent an investment in excellence in the community. Be it further resolved that the secretary of the Newington Board of Education is directed to spread this resolution upon the minutes of this meeting and provide a suitable copy for presentation. And I can let Mr. core know that the suitable copy is in my office

009and it will be sent to him tomorrow. >> Fantastic. Thank you. Um remarks by board members or Mr. Korn. >> Can I interrupt? >> Oh, who? >> I got a question. Gail Stanley is under Tony Mey's name on the thing. So, in the future, can we correct it? What? >> The signatures on the bottom. It says Tony member. >> Just an FYI. >> Good catch. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Newton. That will be corrected tomorrow. >> Thank you. >> You got it. Um, Miss Weaver, you're on your hand up. >> Yeah. Sorry, I was doing my little sign language hands. Um, while we're on mute, but um I think uh just want to say thank you. I know Seth, you were here last night. Um and uh just want to thank you, you and your staff,

010for uh the incredible dedication that you do every single day. Um you already know how many students you serve and I always know that they are um we always hear lines out the door. Um so knowing the case loads that your team has um is not lost on us and knowing um the true impact that you have on our students uh day in day out uh does not go unnoticed. Um we hear all the time about um students who uh need to see their counselors because they love their counselors and want to be with their counselors. And I think, you know, I say this probably every year I've been on the board, but I think um I'm not sure how many folks outside of the education world and our our community always know how much

011counselors do now and what that um rigor is now and and what it needs to be. I think many have a certain connotation of oh they help me pick my classes. Um that is one component sure but um the amount of as we said social emotional education the amount of support that you are there for our students um it's much more vast than I think um as someone would say back in my day but before back in my day um I think it is just wonderful to always hear um the testimonials and always hearing of students who had an impact particularly I always hear of um you know we always hear teachers but certainly of counselors when I hear alumni um speak about their experiences at Newington public schools. So, thank you for all of

012it, all of that you do every day and um please extend our gratitude to your entire team. >> Thank you, Mr. Hollerin. >> I think Miss Weaver said pretty much everything I wanted to say, too. So, I will just share that sentiment. Um thank you so much to all of our counselors. Um, and I think if we could just take a minute to to think back to when we were in high school and sometimes it's easy to idealize that time. There was a lot less responsibility, a lot less adulting, if you will, but it was a very confusing time. And I think when you have to to weigh the fact that you're not only learning knowledge in academia, but also trying to figure out who I am, where do I belong, where am I going,

013having a really good counselor like we do in our Newington public school systems, um they help you with that aspect that's not necessarily in curriculum and that's growing. And I think that's learning how to navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood. Um, and that's a long journey and it can be very confusing and um, I think having a lighthouse to show you the way is vital to anybody's adjustment to the quote unquote real real world. So, just thank you very much, >> Mr. Sharma. >> Hey, I just want to echo what everyone else said. Um, so thank you for thank you to all our counselors. U, it's a lot of hard work day in and out. So, thank you for going above and beyond and, you know, helping our students. So, thanks. Thank you so

014much. >> Thank you. Um, yeah, I'll just I'll just add quickly. I um have had the pleasure of working closely with one of the school counselors at the high school and it's a it's a very fine line between you know being um just like the place where kids go cuz they need a place to escape and then you know that get back to class here's how we can handle things and working things through together. So, I think that there's um I don't know how they do it with so many students, but um they definitely take the time that the the student needs and then getting them back to class or whatever is on their plate and and what they need for that day or that moment. So, they're always there, their doors are always open

015and they always find time to make sure our students have um what they need. And then in addition, if I'm not mistaken, our um counselor is also in this realm. And so we have, you know, it's unmistakable the the value that she has added to the high school. And um I think we're very lucky to have that position and the the program like that that we do that was created by Dr. Braum and Miss Redmond. And I think it's just a very we're just extra lucky to have the the people that we have in the high school doing the job that they're doing. And we love our school counselors. Mr. orn let's put you on the spot. >> Yeah, thank you. Sorry, I didn't know I didn't want to interrupt everyone. Um uh I just

016want to say on behalf of the school counseling department, uh thank you so much for this recognition. Um this week, uh the American School Counseling Association, the theme of uh the week was amplify student success. And you know, uh, I chair the Connecticut School Counseling Association, uh, group and I talked to school counselors across the state of Connecticut and across the country. And one thing that Newington does do right is we definitely amplify um, our school counseling department. And we do a tremendous amount of work. And it's not without that support of the board of education and Dr. Brumit that uh, we're able to every day meet the needs of our students as best as we can. And it's just greatly appreciated that this recognition um and this opportunity to be a part of the

017community because school counselors are truly the hub of a community and they the first uh like I like to say our tier one uh individuals is they're a lot of times the first contact and then they are the ones to get uh support students and parents and families to that that next step. So greatly appreciate the words and the recognition and um it's nice for a position that a lot of times works behind the scene uh to get that recognition. So thank you so much for this honor. >> Thank you. Okay, next up is continuation of our budget review. >> All righty. So tonight, our first order of business is to review the administrative uh section of your uh notebooks. Last night, as everyone recalls, we went through each school and embedded departments within that.

018Tonight during administration, I'm going to first start with Lynn and then um we may have some uh comments as well from Marilena because it appears special ed is pretty much in every tab of our budget book. And then um we will go on to see if there are any questions about um facilities or maintenance because we did not cover that in any depth last night. So I will kick it over to Lynn as our first step in administration. >> Good evening everyone. Um if you are thinking of the things in the central office administration, the first one that I'll be talking about is the board of education program which is on the two four fifth sixth page of of your um budget book. Um that encompasses the legal services, teacher of the year, um the

019memberships for the Connecticut Science Center for all of our students districtwide, board services, our school resource officer in that department along with miscellaneous supplies and board memberships. Um we tried to um keep that as low as possible and had a minimal increase on those lines. Any questions or do you want me to just keep going and ask the questions later? >> What's your >> then I do have a question. I'm sorry I forgot to raise my hand. >> No, you did not raise your hand, Mr. Hers. Go ahead. >> Um, under the board of education line 330, the increase from 2,000 or 20,000 to 50,000 >> to purchase professional services. Yes. >> Hang on just a second. And then practice professional services is >> says it's so legal services and labor relations. >> Yes. Sorry.

020>> Is it because we have like contract negotiations coming up for um teachers union? >> We do. They'll be contracting with teachers next year. So that is our biggest unit and the most expensive contract to negotiate. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I was looking at the wrong number. That's why I couldn't find it. I'm sorry. My pages are messed up because I took them out of my book. It's Yeah. It's all legal services for labor relations and board of education operations. Yeah, my assumption was the teacher contract. So, thank you for confirming. >> Sorry, I was not right on that. Any other questions? Okay, I'll move on to central direction. Central direction funds the day-to-day business and educational operations for the district. It encompasses the business office and all the services within the business office

021staff and the superintendent's office and staff. Um we also tried to bring that down as much as possible. So it it has increases to our other purchase services which is the 599 line in the central direction and that is for policy services and things like that. Um, we also have reductions in some of the lines as you can see. We're trying to bring things in line. Um, are there any questions regarding those lines? >> Hi, Miss Beatric. >> Hi, just a quick question on uh line 119. Are we missing a staff person >> for that salary? >> The board of education salary. >> Central direction line 119. >> I'm sorry. Central direction line 119 had um a bunch of people that used to be in there that are now in their department that they work

022in. >> Okay. So, it's just a reshuffleling. It's not we're missing a staff member. >> Correct. We're not missing staff members. We've moved them to curriculum and assessment and to um HCD. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> And Miss Weaver. >> Thanks, Lyn. Um just want to clarify on um so further clarification on the 113 salaries. Um so that's reshuffling from the 2024 25. We had not had that one and then we moved. This is the um recoding. Correct. >> Correct. That is um the APS staff are now all in 113. So that is the um the clerks and the secretaries for the board of education offices. >> Great. And reduction in um dues. Just curious. Um I just couldn't see the cut. They missed it. The dues actually went up. You're

023talking 810. >> Yeah. >> Um the the dues went up was we included um and something for our um central office staff to become part of CASPO because I have it as going from 27,000 to 17. under central direction. >> I am sorry. I'm looking at the wrong line. I'm >> I was looking at board of whatever. Yep. >> I need 2410. Hang on. Sorry. >> You're fine. >> Could not have taken my book apart because now I can't find anything. >> Listen, I was there with you last night. I dropped it on the ground and >> Okay, the 810 for central direction. I just didn't see it in the cut item, so I wasn't sure. >> Um, it had duplications in that line, so we cut them. >> Okay, >> that is there. There

024were a couple lines that had the same thing twice, just different names, but it was the same thing. >> Okay, because I'm just curious because we we allocated pretty much the same and spent more in 24 2425. We spent 27 and then >> I will look into that for you because I I know we we found a duplication and cut it. So I will look into that. >> No worries. Yeah. >> Thank you. I don't know if it I just happened to see it. There's Casbow fees like dues and fees for it. Is there any chance maybe it got split between central direction and >> that is quite possible. technology >> because he has his his dues and fees too >> if it helps. Um they there is a separate IT like subgroup of CASPO

025that had its own fees but it's possible they got merged. I think my figure stayed the same though. >> I think it was split. Yeah, I think every year we do a thing of like the dues and membership stuff. So, if we could just get that again. But >> yeah, absolutely. >> I'm just skipping ahead. In it, it was zero $10,000 for the dues and like the other expenses line >> and sorry. Yeah, last year was zero. This year it's $10,000. So, it looks like it just got >> reallocated, recoded. Yeah, >> I'm I'm actually prepared to speak about that when I get there. >> That's quite possible. I think we still want I think the request on the table though is to get an accounting of all dues and fees. Did I hear that?

026>> I think that would be fantastic because it does seem to be split or in many different places. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And I know we've cut dues and manages in front. >> Yeah. We've removed oursel from a few um >> Yeah. >> over the last several years. >> Yes. Yeah. Maybe to maybe to show the evolution of that too. If you have like a three-year look back, that would be >> three years >> more work, but it's helpful. >> Well, we have from prior >> we have the other prior. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Stanley. >> Hey, thank you. Yeah, I noticed the dues and fees are also under HCD. Um, but sounds like we'll get that. Um, so I had a question about under the central direction, uh, line 550

027for printing services, are we really increasing our printing services by seven grand or that's what we allocated, but we had $11,000. >> We did not change it. We we kept it flat. We currently have $11,000 budgeted there. We budgeted $11,000 going forward. It was flat funded. >> Prior year we only used a little over 4,000. Is that right? >> It that that is what it says. Yes. >> Okay. >> We can look into that. Um Dr. Stanley because we are printing less due to you know digital opportunities. So if that experience this year was another 4,000 or so, we can look at that as a potential cut. >> Okay. >> So we will look into that and then that will be followed up next week. >> And then just to confirm, so this change in

028line 113 uh with the six secretaries, that's just a reshuffleling maybe from 119. We didn't hire six new people. No, those are the three um people in my office. Four people in my office and two people no three in my office and three in two in sped and one in um the other office. Um Jess uh sorry my brain tech. Yeah, >> the special education already has two secretaries under their program. >> Okay, these are these these are the same people that have always been in our offices. I'm just not shuffling them right for you. Sorry, I'm new here. >> That's okay. You explained yesterday, right? There was a the reclassification where the ASME secretaries are now separate from the um >> all all APSME were moved into 113 so that you could see the

029total effects of the town's union. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So and they were previously in 119 >> with all the other. >> Yeah. So anywhere we see 113 with zero and 2425, it's due to that split. >> Correct. >> Yes. And we will be getting a list of all non-certified staff changes or numbers. Um >> yeah, we the reason we didn't change the actual is because we were audited and we have the complete audit done. So it it would be disingenuous to change those numbers in this document. We can give you the the number separately, but we just didn't want to change it in the document because we've been audited and it it ties to our EFS figures. >> Yeah, totally. Totally understand that. I just want to make sure that it's

030we just that's a blanket statement for the whole book is the salary line for 113 was split out from 119. >> Yep. 100%. Just to clarify, I know I have in my notes from the other night that we needed to provide a full accounting of paras and rbts because there was concern or wonderings about the increased cost there. >> Did you also want an accounting of all of the secretaries um folks throughout the district? >> Um yeah. Yeah, I think so. I think I was maybe we said paras and rbts because that was the question that came up but I think all non-certified >> all nons okay >> so we don't have that tonight we're still doing our due diligence on that so we'll plan to provide that for next week >> perfect thank you

031>> Stanley that works for you too right the >> absolutely yep next week is great thank you >> okay >> any more questions Okay, I'll move on to building direction. The for the central office that is our security services. So, it basically has the um contracts for our security, our supplies for our security for the badges and IDs and um we cut the property and we were going to use CIP funds for that, the BOE CIP. that um is the reason you'll see it going from 76,000 last year, 60,000 this year to 40,000. We were going to utilize more of the capital improvement money for that. Any questions? Okay, for general supplies, um we tried to keep that in line. Sorry about the cat. Um, so we have a a minimal increase uh year-over-year of

032$2,000 for um our central supplies. The rest is salaries. Any questions? Oh god, Miss Weaver. Um just clarifying too like um just to kind of echo we're appropriating I would just asked to like how close we are for the general supplies if it's you know anywhere we can find $2,000. Um but if we did $838,000 maybe it's closer to 10,000 this year. Just trying to figure out kind of or is that already kind of like the cost of toilet paper? Can you hear me again? I'm so sorry. >> Yeah, computer off really likes to be at the board table as well. >> Embarrassed. I am so sorry. >> You are quite fine. >> Oh my gosh. So, there was a question uh about I'm sorry, could that be repeated, please? >> Yes, sorry. Um just

033saying uh like when we're budgeting for these ones, so the year-over-year it went from um 8,372 to 119. Are we close to that now or are we looking more at like 10,000 um >> you for the supplies? Yeah, just curious like how close we get to just if year-over-year, you know, that could be $2,000 cut or, you know, just here or there kinds of things. >> We um we didn't increase it at all. If you look, this year we have 119. Next year we're budgeting 119. The only >> Yeah. No, I just wasn't sure how close you were this year to the 119, you know. >> Um I could not tell you that off the top of my head. I'm sorry. I'd have to get >> I know. I know. I And I'll just preface

034most of my questions will be >> general supply >> later. Later 10. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. And is there any more questions or can I move on to transportation? >> Move on. >> Okay. Um for transportation, the biggest um uptick that we have is our outsource special transportation which has gone up exponentially. It's probably a 30% increase. Um the rest of it we have tried to stay within um very tight ranges having minimal increases um except for some of the supplies have gone up quite a bit but overall we kept it in line with a 300 288,000 300,000 increase to the transportation lines >> and Lyn I think I asked you this with the the the um overall presentation is the is the outsourced um special ed cost of transportation. >> It's part of the

035transportation um budget. It is a special ed cost, but it's part of the transportation budget. >> It's due to special education students being transported out of district. >> Correct. And every time a new student comes in and has to be out outplaced, the transportation expenses go up. >> Yes. When Marilina said yesterday that ESS um saved 1 point I can't I don't have my notes. Something >> $1.8 million. Did the transportation cost get included in that item or is it strictly special ed costs? strictly special ed cost. >> Okay. >> Just tuition. >> Interesting. So, we should maybe rephrase or reframe that because if we're also saving on transportation potentially of outplayed students, that is a higher number, a much higher number. >> Thank you. >> We can look into why that went up, whether

036that's the um >> No, I'm not I'm not concerned about it going up. I like I'm I understand that it went up. It was more of having ESS like if that comes up as a item to cut or you know that kind of thing. >> The num the the number that Marilina gave yesterday was $1.8 million saved that was strictly from the special education program. So it's plus we're saving that plus the transportation to outsource >> those we're keeping in district. So, I think it's just a bet it's a it's a we're saving more money than >> just the tuition. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um Dr. Stanley, go ahead. >> Thank you. Um and so just to for the outplace students, um are these potentially um open choice students as well? >> Do you want

037to get that Marilina? Um, as far as I know, that is that is not like that's a separate cost. Um, I don't believe that that is in um the transportation. I I I would have to defer back to you, Lynn. I know that we when we do our tuition costs, transportation, what we hold what we do on our spreadsheet is strictly the related services and the um the special ed costs. We I do not believe that we are charged for transportation, but I am not sure. But it could be potentially that a student arrives in Newington as part of the open choice and then we decide that we can't um adequately care for them or or teach them and we have to outsource them. Is that a potential? >> My understanding that is that still

038is coordinated through open choice. We work with Open Choice Transportation. they would transport them to their outplacement facility. >> Okay, awesome. Thanks for clarifying that for me. >> Sure. >> And and just a reminder, too, any open choice um special education costs are reimbursed to Newington 10. So, they're in our operating budget, but that's the um we get money back from Hartford to and then that goes into our board CIP. So, we're we're spending the money up front. It's in our operating budget, but then we're getting reimbursed for any open choice services that are provided for special education students. >> In addition to >> Is that 100% reimbured or that's that 4% thing? >> For special education, it's 100%. >> The 4% is the um 4% of our population. We're getting $10,000 per student >>

039into our operating budget. >> If it's 4% three or four, we're getting eight point. Yeah, >> between eight and 10 depending on that percentage. >> Yeah, but the special ed costs are 100% reimbursed um for those students from the the their home district, Hartford. >> Thank you, Amy. >> Yeah. Um Miss Weaver. Okay. Questions about um again just trying to like contextualize the year-over-year. Um so again, not expecting now. Um, but just curious because we went up on uh line uh 626. It goes from 224 to 328. Um, we go from 24 to 45, 15 to 21. And I know Dean explained a lot of the increases last time, but just curious um how close and again I know we won't know probably until year end and those kinds of things, but um just how

040close we are. 626 is the um diesel and gasoline. >> Okay. >> So um >> those those are based on the >> outlook for next year. >> Y >> and the um the 627 are parts and supplies for the vehicles and the tariffs has have caused those to increase quite a lot. It's about 30%. So we tried to keep that down and not increase it that much. Um, so we um are just trying to keep it in line and not increase things as much as they could be increased. Hoping for the best. >> Got it. Yeah, I was just curious. I was wondering about Sorry, I don't know what happened to my camera. It says it's on and I can't see myself. Um, anyway, uh, yeah, just was curious how close we are to actual

041fuel costs and if those because I know they've been lower. So, I just >> We're very lucky being able to piggy back on the town's um contracts. So that that is very helpful. >> Okay. Yeah. If Dean has like any of those if you have those actuals just for 2526 as close as we can if we're like on track to hit the 328 that would be just good to know. >> Yeah, we'll get that for you also. >> Thank you. >> All right. I think we'll continue on Lynn. >> All right. Um our insurance it has gone up um quite a bit due to the cyber security insurance going up and some of the liability insuranceances. Um any questions regarding those? >> Well, it's flat over last year and this year. Wait. >> It's gone

042up quite a bit from the actual >> the actual. Yeah. Okay. because I did not want to increase it more than what we had for this year because I saw that we had 775 spent that year, but the cyber security doesn't look like it was paid for that year. So, I'm not exactly sure, but I can look into that with the town because we piggyback with them on the insurance and I will check to see if that is something that could be cut. Dr. Stanley. >> Uh, never mind. I think I answered my own question. Sorry. >> That's okay. So, so Lynn, you were saying that the cyber that's that account 525. >> Yeah, that's and and I'm not sure why we paid nothing in 2425. So, I just flat I I kept it flat

043um anticipating that we would have to pay it this year. >> We have not yet. So, I'm going to check with the town and find out if that's a possible cut. >> Okay. And the insurance rates are are they I know we have like that standing insurance committee. Is that what this is for? Um the insurance committee is basically for the employee benefits side of it for all the insurance for the health insurance um and all those insuranceances. If you'd like I could move on to that. >> I'm sorry. What >> do you want me to move on to the employee benefits side? >> Oh, um yeah, that'd be great. >> Okay. Um, I took a a really long hard look at the employee benefits lines and I found that they were modeled and built

044using a maximum exposure framework, which I don't particularly care for. So, following an internal audit of our needs and trends, I transitioned the benefits to a more precisionbased model. This update aligns our budgetary needs more closely with our demographics and allows us to maintain the budget with a nominal increase of 2.22% over the current budget which we were um able to withstand an 18% increase in our benefits by switching to a different model from maximum exposure to precisionbased modeling. So, I I'm hoping that everyone understands that the insurance is going up 18%, but we're only increasing the budget by 2.22 for the employee benefits based on that audit. So I don't I think what I'm hearing and I worked in insurance but not employee benefit insurance but I think what you're saying is that the

045predictions like we the predictions of the claims were that there would be more right the more claims because it was >> the budget was built on a worstc case scenario model. I I don't agree with that. I thought that we should take the amount of money we need and put that in the budget. Not saying it's a worst case scenario. So, as far as you know, previous budget years have been also built on wor or have been built on worst case scenario. This year it's changing to like more in line with not worst case scenario like >> correct. I I'm I'm going with a precisionbased model which takes the what the insurance company has given us and I'm using that figure to go forward. >> Okay. >> Less the employee co-pays. >> So in the

046past it's been what the insurance company gave us plus some extra. I believe so. >> Okay. So, the number that's in the book right now reflects that model that you are using. >> Correct. >> And what happens if worst case scenario happens? >> It it technically can't because we only pay the 18% period. um that that's I I checked with our insurance carrier and they give us a dollar figure and that is what we pay. Um we only pay the first 100 it's either 150 or $175,000 of every claim. So we don't need to model it on the worst case scenario. They they build the the rates based on our experience for a rolling 12-month period. So it is what it is. They can't charge us more when once they give us that rate. >>

047Okay. >> And if the worst were to happen, if something catastrophic and claims are higher, then the the town has the absorbs that >> correct overage. >> We budget what we budget and if it if it if something terrible would happen and we had to pay more, the town absorbs it. >> Okay. Um I know that we don't typically get um anything back these days but that health benefit credit have there is there any indication where we are for this year >> currently this year um we we're running a little higher than 100%. It was 102% last time I looked. Um, but that's based on the rolling 12-month period. There was a 120% period that's part of that that will be dropping off. So hopefully the it'll go back down under the 100% mark. >>

048Okay. Thank you. >> In the next few months. Okay. And the last thing that I have to speak about is the community services. So um that pays for the custodial staff and the AV techs for our outreach for the parks and wreck and all the people who use our facilities. um some other purchase services and supplies for those. Um and we also have electrical and things that go back for that for the community services. Um tried to keep it from going up too much, but the salaries have gone up a little. So, um it's an increase of approximately 12,000. >> Dr. Stanley So the I don't think we have an accounting for what 119 is. I'm guessing it's a non union staff member at 20. >> The 119 is the students that do the audiovisisual

049for the football games and the um events that happen at the schools, the plays, all those things. We pay the student the students that do the audio visual for that. >> All right. Thank you. And the 113, in case you were wondering, is custodial staff. And I think that concludes all of the Lynn things. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay, Charlotte's gonna say good night. >> Good night, Mom. >> Good night, Charlotte. >> Next up, I believe would be educational technology and career tech ed, which would be Mr. >> Hi folks, it's great to see everyone remotely. Um, I'm going to present the educational technology budget um through um potential realized savings. We are only going to up uh educational technology $1,000 and through career techn education I think Kristen presented last night we

050had 335 in uh consumables. So, um, in the past, Craig and I, um, were under the same umbrella through edtech and it so he'll present the rest of the budget for it. Sorry, Jay, just a question. um rebu the things that you're buying due to realized savings. Are those like oneoff things or like next year would we expect? >> Yeah, it's all all subscriptions that we obtained for um educational technology tools and platforms. >> Okay. So, it's things we do buy every single year. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Dr. Brummit, did you want me to jump in next or are you following a different uh pattern this evening? >> Uh, no. Craig, you can go up. >> Okay, great. Good evening everybody. I really was looking forward to seeing you guys in person. It's

051one of the few times a year I get to say hello and also meet some of the new board members. So, good evening and welcome. As Jay mentioned, I'm I'm the other half of the coin with technology. uh Jay as our edtech director and as the director of IT uh I get to start a new chapter with you as we have our own new line in the budget. So uh for everyone involved for the new board members especially the information technology as I said is the other half of the coin uh we are the hardware the networking the operating systems uh we build the secure reliable network infrastructure um we handle all the connectivity for students and staff uh cyber security management those types of things fall under our program uh with the new uh

052budget and the new chapter as you look at our program which is code 2580 now um Because of the audits that Lynn mentioned earlier, we weren't able to bring the dollar figures over for you, but they are embedded within the figures that you find in 108 with Jay. So that was where our budget was last year. This year with the purchase services, other purchase services and supplies, the 400, 500, and 600 accounts combined, I'm looking at a 1% increase um for those across all of those services. that is very minimal given the fact that u we're we have to anticipate increases in contracted service costs uh due to tariffs due to technology hardware increases but I'm very optimistic we can make that work. Uh the only other increase you'll see in the budget there um

053you guys did pick up on that already. I think uh Amy noticed that I believe it was with the other expenses the $10,000 right we've had about four or five years of free services with a program called MSISAC it's abbreviated MSAC it's an information sharing group uh think of it like um neighborhood watch for local government schools and uh tribal entities uh they went to a paid program uh under the new leadership at the federal Uh the state of Connecticut did pick that tab up this year, but if we are able to continue it, that's where that $10,000 would be. That would be our annual cost to participate in that program. Uh I would like to I would summarize them essentially as being a partnership that gives us early warning, but also gives us support

054services if we're ever involved in a tragic catastrophic type of cyber event. So a little bit of an insurance piece to what they do um as well, but um that's really where that falls. So overall my increase um is 2.6% I think but and you'll see the figure in the budget there at 562490. Otherwise the the fees and everything coming over was as minimal as I could keep it. Does anyone have any questions on our program or budget entries? >> Um just curious what I'm sure it's in here on one of these pages but I'm having difficulty. >> It is a new book right? It's new chapter in a new book finding our way. >> All brand new. Um but there were some property items cut. Is that just Did it get moved or Dr.

055Bremit just said no? >> So she didn't just say no. We had a very um a very good strategic conversation. Dr. Breummet uh Lynn Jay and I looked at those things. Uh as you know we carry our hardware costs as much as we're able to within the CIP fund. >> These were figures. These were items that exceeded that balance. So, I put them in my request so that we could have a tactical conversation at the table. And with Dr. Brumit's guidance, Jay's review of the program, the curriculum, the mapping, where things are going, um the progress of some of the coursework, uh we do believe we're going to be stable and fine with without having to make some of those uh planned purchases, right? These are like life cycle types of things. So, seven years

056comes up on a piece of equipment, this would be the time to replace it proactively or, you know, whatever the right life cycle is. We have a mapped out plan for that. Um, and so that's why these came up. These were hitting their their age or they were bumped from a previous year came back again. >> Okay. >> We'll be okay. I don't we don't anticipate any significant impact negatively to any of the programs we offer. >> Okay. Yeah. I'm just seeing So, there's iPads it looks like, but then also like cameras. Are there cameras existing that just are time to replace, but they're still working? cameras are in. There's a there's a $3,000 line item in supplies which we put them there so that we could make sure we keep the the repair shelves

057full. >> Okay, >> that's all those are document cameras. They're little goose arm kind of >> uh tools classroom teachers use like we used to use overheads. >> I was looking at line 730. >> Yeah, >> sorry. Just kidding. Just kidding. Just kidding. >> No, I see. Never mind. Wrong wrong one. >> 690 was Are the cameras right here? >> Oh, good. Okay, perfect. >> And we do have we in our analysis of our needs, we do have iPads in in for lack of a better word in stock. So, we do not need to add additional >> Okay. >> 100%. Very very accurate. Yes. Thank you, Dr. Brava. >> Okay. Um, Miss Weaver. Hey, Greg. Thanks um for kind of giving that background on that um other expense there. Just a question about like so

058it was funded by the federal government and then the federal cut it and then the state absorbed it and the state absorbed it. Now they're not going to absorb it again. Is that fair? >> Unfortunately, yes. So this this group MSISAC um is is a support group for state local government agencies and tribal entities. They were a branch of CISA, the Federal Government for Cyber Information Security Agency, CISA. the with the new leadership um in Washington, they changed the funding structures as you know through a lot of different programs and this was one of those that was hit through CS through CISA. So they turned the MSISAC program into a pay your own way program. >> The state of Connecticut has been leveraging it as well and worked out a deal and had money in

059their coffers this year to buy it for every community in the state. So all of us were able to get a buy on this one for those that participated. We've been in it for about eight years. Uh it is a value to us. It is it is nice to have that extra coverage and protection. Um but if we do have to pick it up and the cost is there, we do still have cyber liability insurance as well. So we we have a really good toolkit, I think. And this is just a nice augmented piece we've had as a luxury for a lot of years. And the fact that we have to pay is unfortunate, but >> interesting. >> If you guys have the capacity, it' be wonderful to be able to keep it. >> Yeah.

060Very interesting. Thank you. >> Happy to share more at some point if you'd like. >> Appreciate it. >> Uh Miss Beatrice, >> um just a quick question. I don't know if I'm looking in the wrong spot. The student Chromebooks, where would that information be and how are we in our rotation? Are we going to need to order new for this coming year or are we all set with our rotating stock? >> That's a great observation and it ties pieces together. I think Moren talked about your CIP not long ago, a few months back. So the the technology a few years ago the board moved to uh incorporate the hardware life cycle purchases into our capital improvement budget. So the technology is a piece of the capital improvement fund. Within that we buy the student devices

061and the replacement staff devices each year and we continue to try to fund um and plan for strategically uh infrastructure improvements and upgrades. So they are all set. Our recycle I'm sorry our renewal program is consistent. We do three grades a year for our new board members. We do grades K, five, and nine each year. The students keep them for their life at that at that tier. So K goes five years, five goes four, nine goes four. >> And then just a quick followup on that. Um where are we with the um optin insurance program from the the families? Are we still seeing success with that or kind of 50/50? We we do we've been we're using that to buy the grade K devices for the coming year after two years of of funding into

062that program that will help us offset the capital budget as well. Gives us a little bit of runway for some of the other important needs. >> You're very welcome, >> Dr. Stanley. >> Hi, thank you. Um, I was wondering on the same lines of the Chromebooks, uh, where the maintenance and repairs are. Um, and if we're seeing and anticipating any reductions now that Chromebooks are not coming home in the, uh, elementary schools, >> we're still seeing, uh, a consistent, we are seeing fewer tickets, uh, on average across the district this year, uh, due to some of the additional efforts the schools have put in place. I think uh, we do still see uh, one out of every two tickets is damage. Uh so I'm watching that trend very closely trying to see where that's going

063to take us. Uh it's hopeful that we'll be able to save a little bit of money but quite honestly we we changed vendors two and a half year uh two might be might be three years now. I think it's three. That'll be exciting. This will be our third year with this new vendor. And we we I don't know how this happened. Um I almost feel like Alice in Wonderland having found this partner quite honestly. Um and not in a bad way but in a good way. Not like the Queen of Hearts and some of the scary stuff. I mean like really good things. This this partner has a program where they self-insure and we actually saved quite a bit of money moving our device purchases to this vendor and anything that happens for us when

064it comes to repair or damage, we simply put it in the box and send it back to them and they send us another one. They've been fant they're challenging at times to work with, but the program is so financially beneficial to the district it was impossible to look away. Okay. >> So, I don't see us encountering a catastrophic cliff ahead with any damage or things like that. >> So, is the maintenance and repairs put in the operation budget or that's all on the CIP? >> So, in our program line, you do see a 430 account under it. So, 430 I have $35,000 there annually. That is for for repairs, parts, replacement, stock, things like that. So when things are outside of warranty, when we have something fail inside of a server or network adapters or

065something like that fails, we have um equipment that we have to purchase. We have to bring a vendor in to fix something. That's what that account goes for. >> Okay. So that's a new >> It's a nominal expense. >> A new >> No, it's not new. It was in the It was in the 108 last year. >> Gotcha. >> Yeah. We we've been at 35, I believe, for four years. We were at 25 before that. >> Okay. Thank you. And kind of just piggybacking on, I flipped back to the 108. So the actual from 2425 looks like it was $8,000. Um, >> which line? I actually have the real number that because of the audit, it's not on paper for you, but I did the math. >> Okay, thank you. Um, so if it's helpful,

066um, if it's helpful in pencil for you guys, the the line 400 the or 430 you see at the end there was 35 last year, >> 590. >> Oh, sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> No, I want to be clear. So if you have a question, >> no, keep going. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Yeah. So, so the first line, the 400 across, which in parentheses is 430 35k, the 599, the next line down was 511605. So you can see we only went up a little over $3,000 there. The supplies was CIP last year. We're dipping a little bit in for the cameras. That's all this year. So we can make CIP go further. And last year the 800 line was 350. >> Thank you. >> That was my part of that whole umbrella figure. Yep.

067So, I was asking if you look at the 108 program, the actual amount >> Oh, 108. Okay, that's looking at mine. >> Yeah, the actual amount for 2425. So, a couple years ago. >> Yep. >> What? Oh, last year I guess was 8,344, but I feel like we budgeted 35. So, is that like I guess my question is is 35 what you actually will need to spend in your best of like predictability? Um, is that what you think you'll need to spend for repairs, replacements, or do you think that there's a little bit of room to knock that down? Like, if you look >> I I do see the I see the figure you're referring to. Um I don't I think we'll have to look into that number a little more closely to be honest

068with you because I we had been asked we had been at 25 for a long time and it was 35 going back. >> Okay. >> So um >> yeah like I don't want to >> we do I I don't spend it frivolously. It is it's there for things that we when we have a catastrophic issue um like a server fail for example that's out of warranty we have to get that replaced. That could be $20,000. Okay. >> We typically just >> Chromebooks, it's all >> has that that has nothing to do with Chromebooks. >> Okay. Okay. >> Nothing to do with Chromebooks. >> Yeah. So, just um just >> now Chromebook parts and all repair costs go to the vendor directly or come from Chromebook insurance. >> Okay. Yeah. Let us know your thoughts and

069opinions on line 430. >> I will. Yes. I'll I'll do another analysis of that for you. >> Thank you. Um, Mr. Hollerin. >> Yeah. Yeah, kind of along the same lines with 430 if you're able to look back and over a couple years because I feel like that line can fluctuate a lot. There's going to be years where your cost of repair are fairly low, but if you've got to repair a server, you know, like you said, that's, you know, 20 grand right there or if it's just something that is >> complicated um versus something that's routine. if it's cameras, right? Like those are cheap per um but yeah, if you can actually dig up kind of what that is because I have a feeling back just one year isn't telling the full story. >>

070I don't think it is either. Um I do have my spreadsheet in front of me, but I want to do my due diligence and bring you something that's clear and readable. Um because I have not budgeted at that figure in countless years. >> So I I'll work with Lynon and her team to to get an out the data from the couple years back. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. >> Do you want five years? >> If you could get five years, that would be ideal. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Thank you all so much for the questions. >> Thanks, Greg. Okay. All right, if we're clear to move on, it is now Jason Plum's turn to discuss maintenance and operations. >> Hello everyone. >> Hi. >> So, we'll start with maintenance. It's on top here.

071Um, we have salaries that have changed from the actuals in the past. So we have the the zero and the 423 have been divided appropriately. So we have full-time staff and we have summer helpers. Uh it's just the increase as contracts dictate. Uh same story on a lot of these that I'm going to be talking about. Uh purchase services. So for the 30 account, this this incorporates both the bus garage central office and districtwide activities. Um some of those district-wide activities are the unfunded mandate mandates that we speak about HVAC, indoor air quality and so forth. um in line 430. Um so these are just general repairs of the bus garage or the central office. Um it's an actual of 22. It's up to 36. So it's just kind of a construction index increase, small

072increase. Um and stop me if you have any questions. I'm just reading down the list here. Uh 599 is um contract services. So these would be um contracts, term contracts that we have with certain contractors that would be either for fixing the two locations or for a district-wide initiative. big hitter in that one would have been the um a hygienist that we had in to take a look at all the schools um and give us reports on air quality in uh like every third classroom and occupied space. >> Looks like Mr. Holland has a question. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah, I think you just hit on it too, but the actual a lot higher than the previously budgeted. Is that the hygienist mostly? >> Yes. Yeah, it's kind of a one-off uh thing that we

073did in preparation for this five-year indoor air quality mandate that's coming. >> Yeah. And I know they're not cheap and there's like four of them in the state. >> Yeah. They that particular one was not cheap at all. And um what they did is they went into each classroom and they set up a little monitor uh 15 minutes per classroom and checked for CO2, particulate in the air, um temperature, humidity, a whole list of items just to see what the air quality looked like. >> Cool. Thank you. >> Sure. Next one down is supplies. Again, these are district-wide supplies or supplies that we have for maintenance activities. Um, we same thing here. The little gizmos that I brought in to show you the sensors for the indoor air quality. They're a district-wide thing. We don't

074know which school they're going to, so we buy them in batch and we issue them out to the school. So, a big chunk of this is the sensors. Um, we do have a sensor purchase in this year. So, the 25 26 that's actually going to push that past its limits a little bit, but the good news is we are done buying sensors. So, that'll be the last of it. So everything levels out for your for your future. And then um property this was this was some items for maintenance for uh believe this might have been a vacuum for central office the actual and we have no uh no property uh budgeted for this next budget cycle. Any questions on that one? Yeah, >> Mr. Hollerin. Thank you. So, the sensors themselves under line 613 in

075the hygienist, that was all part of the unfunded mandate to get us in into compliance. >> Well, the sensors get us the information. um we have a request into the state to confirm um or deny that that will make us come into compliance, >> right? >> Um much like the Boston schools use their real time information. Um this would be kind of along those lines. Um but it seems to provide uh I believe proof if we had those three categories that I've I've had you in talk with you folks about. Yeah. Right. The CO2, the humidity, the >> Yeah. Everything's all right. then that proves that we're cycling air in through and our ventilation's proper and we're keeping the temperature right. So, we I I believe uh Lou and I believed um that that it

076does accomplish that. We just haven't been able to get a response on that. Um the 5-year mandate is a it requires in order to be compliance in in compliance, it requires 20% of your schools. So, you have five years to do it. You break it apart in five pieces, you know, relatively equal. And you actually have to have a um air balancer. So this is a construction-like person that comes in and measures all the air flows out of all of your duct work and air moving equipment. Um you'll have the hygienist along for the ride. So they'll be checking the quality of the air like much like they did for this initial run. So we kind of got a head start on that part. Um but in a couple of other things. So it's it's

077easy to solve if we can use the sensors. Um, but we're already kind of ahead of the curve on the uh, you know, with the air samples that we've done so far. >> Great. Thank you. >> Certainly. >> Okay. If no other questions, I'll move to plan operations. Um, again, you see the zero and the 265 on the left there. Those have been resorted so that they fall in the proper categories. They've gone up per union contract of what we need. Um 411 is our water. We held that flat. Um and we might even hold it flat next year. MDC is is holding flat, so that's a good thing for us. Um next item 531 is telephone. Um, we're holding that flat also um in case that we need infrastructure or something that comes up.

078Next is rubbish. Um, it's gone up a fair amount. Um, I think that's due to cost of fuel. Uh, I don't know what else is due to, but um, we get our figures from that from the town of Newington. So highway department handles all of our trash and they give us whatever you know the increase is known to to them from the trash company. So it just goes up per that. Um we factor in some um beyond that some dumpsters. So there each of these schools will have figures in there to account for what we use daily in our trash cans and then what we have for a little bit extra for those dumpsters when we purge in the summer and so forth. Um 597 is uniforms. Um you know it's it's depending on if

079we have staff roll over if they damage the uniforms. That fluctuates a little bit. It should be it actually went um just up just a little bit from the previous request and it's a little bit lower than actual but it's it's a good number. Supplies. So these are plant operations supplies. Um, these would be janitorial supplies, papers, chemicals, and things to keep the facility clean. Uh, rugs, things like that that we purchase. So, we're just a, uh, uh, small increase. Um, natural gas is line 621. Um, so we have some money in there for natural gas. just um for my research um natural gases are looking at about a 15% increase this year. You know, that's going to impact us at the schools and at home. Uh with the winter that we had just now

080or that we're in, um natural gas has a price normally and then when supplies go down, natural gas prices go higher. So, we it's a slippery slope with natural gas. when we have an exceptionally bad winter, not only do we use more units of natural gas, but per unit it costs more. So, we try to do our best, we have done well in the past to land on the natural gas numbers that work. And electric um we can look at our electric bills and kind of figure that we're we're going to be about looking back um 3 cents of an increase per kilowatt hour for the first 6 months and then they changed their numbers in January. So that would split our fiscal year. So for the last 6 months, we tend to see about

081a 3 cent increase. Um it's difficult to get uh the power company to give you those figures. They're much better at looking backwards and forward. Uh but that's what we're seeing historically. So I imagine we'll be in that ballpark. >> Um Dr. Stanley has a question. >> Sure. >> Hi there. Thank you. So I just question on like the telephones and the natural gas just looking from the year prior. Um so our actual spent on for instance natural gas was zero but now we're going to spend but we appropriate at 135 or do we are we using natural gas or we just using fuel and electric? >> Uh that is unusual. I would have to look into why it is zero for you. I can do that. >> Okay. >> I mean, I I know

082our building runs off natural gas central office. Um I'm not sure why it's a zero in the actual for 2425. >> And then same for like our telephones. That's a our actual was only 17K, but but we appropriated like 50,000 or 49. So that's a 32,000 difference between what we actually used and what we are requesting, >> right? And you'll see that through each school as we go through that there is a difference there. Um I I think that's due to our our migration toward more voice over IP using rely on internet and not a copper line for phones. But if the phones go down, we do need to repair them. So some fluff, you know, some surplus has to be left in there in order to repair it if we do have infrastructure problems.

083>> Okay. And 32 >> that may be an opportunity. >> Yeah. Um, just a just a comment and I don't know how easy this would be, but like things like plant operations and maintenance, they're in every um >> school. >> They're in every school. So, would it be possible to like just get overall figures? Like it doesn't even have to be broken down by school, but just like just the accounts um for all the schools combined or all the schools plus central office combined. Lynn, probably question for you. >> Each account totals. >> Yeah, just across the district just because like flipping like I know it's a learning curve, right? because like we we had a whole section before of plant operations and it had every school so we could compare but now it's like

084on multiple pages. So just to see it I think it well it would help me I guess a little bit just to see like our overall cost of the bigger the ones that are Yeah, that's what I'm trying to ask. >> I can get that for you. >> Okay, thank you. And then um my other question and I think um Jason you've already kind of answered it but in the past the um the town council has asked like why did we assume x% increase for electrical when they assumed a different percent etc. Um, and I know the answer has always been like we have a different contract or we've got solar panels or that kind of thing. So, um, I just want to put it out there and you can, um, you can take it

085back and look at it, but if we do get the town's assumptions, can we just make sure that they're in line with the board's assumptions for those? Um, >> yeah, it's it's really not comparable. Um, at each of our schools we have a different electric rate. It depends on if we use the electric at a certain time of day we pay a premium. It depends on the service size. I will tell you that I mean we had great figures last year. We we spent 103% of our electric budget. So our original budget was uh so we were at 1,ion87604 and we ended up at 1,ion152 221. So it's it's pretty honed in pretty close. >> Okay. >> Um we do have we do have solar coming on board for the last two two and a

086half years. So that's kind of I I think that demonstrates we did a pretty good job of estimating what the solar did. that's pretty close to the bullseye. Um, but yeah, I don't think they could if they're getting rates on a on a little tiny almost a residential size service and we have our schools, they're really they're completely different animals, especially now with the solar in play. >> We also have to pay the the generation rates for the solar every month. >> Okay. >> So, we we pay for the electric and we pay for the the solar generation >> and we get credits back for the solar. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Any Just wondering if there are any other questions for Mr. uh Plum. I believe we have followup. >> Yeah, we have one more

087fuel oil on the end here. That's for uh we have a a fuel oil burning uh oil burning furnace down at the bus garage. So, that'll lead you on my list, I think, on this one. >> Um, Miss Beaver, >> thanks. Sorry, guys. I've been struggling through three different laptops trying to get my camera back. We're back, though. I was like, where's Craig? Um, just to follow up on um Dr. Stanley's question, too. Um, yeah, would just if you could give more clarity on and just dig into the telephone services, the 531 line. Um, that would just be helpful. um like where's that just particularly on the central direction one um and then yeah I was just going to kind of echo um what was saying kind of all the assumptions um so I guess

088that was probably already answered for me but I guess the other question would be um if we have a list of the uh utilities slash some of the like water whatever which ones are we sharing with the town or which ones are we not just so we clarify kind of which ones we have to determine on our own if that makes sense. >> So it would be uh we get a benefit we don't really share it but the fuel oil we get a benefit from the town so we used to have um you know Joe's oil ever come out and deliver oil to our generator tank and to our bus garage. >> We now go to the town to get our oil so we get a really reduced rate on that. Um, >> so it's

089not fuel oil. It's not any of the electrics or natural gas or you know, uh, rubbish though we don't share that with the town. We benefit kind of like a again by a bigger contract. If that if the trash company has the board of ed wrapped in with the town and parks and everybody that they get a better rate, I imagine. Um, so really we're on our own with that to pay our own. Um, telephone again, we're on our own. water. We're on our own. So the at central office the only that would be the only area um where we on certain items act like a tenant, right? Because it's a town owned building. So that would be the only opportunity where we would share like um the electrics or anything like that >> and

090the natural gas is in question. >> Okay, got you. Um and then so we're buying fuel from the town. >> We do. Um yeah, we we can they have uh number two oil so for for uh for our ability to use and we can pump it into a tank on a pickup truck and take it in small portions to where we need it to to refill the generator or to refill the um the other equipment. >> Okay. Just curious, was it ever it's always been in our budget and not the towns overall that we would then like they budget for their oil. I'm just trying to see kind of in an ideal world, we would not have to we could pay them or we can reimburse them or some kind of thing, but it could

091be in an operating line of the town is where I'm going with this. >> Uh they still show it as a total purchase, but we journal entry it because if the >> Okay. >> You know, two different financial sources. >> Yeah. No, I understand. >> Yeah. >> Just trying to see where it's all coming out of one bucket. So, just trying to figure out >> one tank. Whereas if it's a little duplicative in nature for our budget to pay into their budget to then >> Well, in theory, they're offsetting the portion that >> Yeah, >> we could ask um maybe that's a question for for John and Matt. We could ask if they're offsetting the portion that we're paying. >> Thank you. That's where I was going. >> Yeah, Mr. Holl. >> Yeah, just a

092quick question on the phones again. Jason, you mentioned um like transitioning a little bit over to like VOIPE versus a traditional telefan and switching from like a twisted pair copper wire to to support VO. Do we have to use like fiber for that or something more expensive for the actual line to replace them? >> Uh it' be more Craig's world. Um he kind of operates those rooms. But yeah, I believe so. You got your hand up? Hi Sean, that's a that's a good technical question. Um, we use voiceover IP at the edge. Our phone service comes in over voiceover IP. But in order to put voiceover IP in the classrooms, we are looking at a significant six figure type of investment to change out that level of the technology. >> So we are on the

093final generation of of analog telephones in our buildings. we will have to face that that elephants in in the future. I am quite hopeful with the with the parts we've bought, the uh strategic partnerships we've had, I should be able to save that off for 8 to 10 years, I'm hoping. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Dr. Stanley. >> Hi. Thanks. Um so when I was looking at the breakdown for the plant operations from the schools I noticed for the water and sewer particularly for the elementary schools and then uh Martin Kellogg um there's a an ask um what over like $10,000 of what was actually used. Can we look at those numbers and see if we can tighten up a little bit? Okay. So that was for central office which shows a a

094zero, right? Which is I'm not >> No. So if you look at the plant operations um per school and so you'd have to go under the school tabs for instance like Anna Reynolds or Ruth Chaffy 411 which is water and sewer. >> Yeah. And it with if we have a summer that's extra dry we we're going to see that increase. So, it it does fluctuate a little bit. It's not real static. >> Um, >> it seems like we're consistently asking, you know, 10 grand above what we actually use. >> Again, it might be an opportunity if we want to if we run over, then, you know, where do we get it from? But it's um yeah, it's it's built to be able to withstand whatever weather we might have. >> Okay. But we can look

095into that. Just do a little bit of analysis. >> Yeah. I was just going to say maybe like a a look back of average over the last >> years. >> That's five years again. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. >> If it's, you know, because it's about $10,000 per five schools, which would be $50,000. >> So even if we cut that in half, >> you know. >> Yeah. and seeing the full picture too of um the building operations might be helpful as well. >> I will get that to you. >> Thank you. All right. Are we anything else from M for Mr. Plum? All right. I think our next up is I'm looking at my order of operations here. Miss Foy was going to cover homebound instruction and human capital development. Hi, good evening. So I >>

096sorry must be a delay. So >> sorry, >> it's okay. No problem. So I'll begin with homebound. um K12 that is on the second page as you can see listed 111 is the salaries. Um from this year until next year there is a little over about $210 increase. Um that increase is only due to a contractual obligation. There was a slight increase in the coordinator salary for that. The coordinator salary for that per hour went from 5628 to 57.93. So all other salaries including teachers who support the students remain consistent. So there is why that is that slight increase in the homebound program for K12. Any questions on homebound? Okay. Next I'll go right below that to our continuing and adult education program. Uh if we take a look at um I'll go down to

097550 where you see the first substantial increase from this year till next year. We go from 5,225 to 10,500. that is due to um printing and producing brochure brochures two times a year and sending them to all residencies in Newington um in hopes of um acquiring more people to come and participate in the adult education program. Um the next line item that you will see an increase in is right below the 582. That 582 line is for conferences. The $900 covers three conferences. Um, one of which Dr. Bruzzie who is the coordinator for adult ed. Um, it is one that he needs to attend. Um, it is called CAA I think it's CA or CA Ace C. Um, and that is a um conference for those who support and lead the work in adult education.

098If you look down to the last line where it says supplies line item, well number, not line item, supply 611, that also has an increase from 854 to 1,662. Um, I understand that is a substantial increase that's doubled. That's due to a new e a new web testing and e testing system that is required by the state. Now, um it used to be paper and pencil and it is required for the AB, ESL, GED, C DP and all other acronyms. Um it is required for all of that. It helps with pre-esting and then after 12 hours of instruction or post testing and again that was something that we had to encumber because that is now something that an adult ed is required by the state. So, another unfunded mandate. They're just everywhere, aren't they? >>

099Um I one of the things that they prefaced it with is that it's hope they hope that it measures um the attainable gains after the 12h hour of instruction. So, they're hoping that it'll determine some measurable skill gain. So, here we are. Miss Patty, any questions regarding adult education. Okay, I will flip two pages forward and then you will see well two pages backwards and you will see our HCD budget. Uh starting right at the top, the two salaries that are our salaries for the department. That's myself and Mr. Diaz is the first line item. And then the second line item are our three ATS. They were previously in, correct me if I'm wrong, Lynn, but I think it's we previously our salaries were allocated to central direction and that's why it was previously zero

100and now um it's indicated there. Correct, Lynn? >> It would help if I unmuted. I'm sorry. Yes. Okay. >> Thank you, Lynn. >> Sorry, where are we? >> HCD program HCD. It is on the four page on the right. Got it. Okay. Get away. Get away. Get away. If we look at line items 530 and 550. Um well 530 is our census, our prek census. Um the census previously um so it requires a permit. We have to get a permit to mail it out to each home. Then we pay for postage as well as we pay a company called Dylan Mailing to create that census. And what we were doing in the past is we were just sending it to homeowners. um we thought it would be best to now send it because Newington has

101an abundance of newly built apartments and we realize that they are continuing to build new apartments and structures and things like that. So, we're thinking in order to ensure that we are able to start each school year fully staffed and ready to go and have the number of allocated classrooms as needed that we start to send these surveys to everyone, those who live in Newington in homes and in apartments so that we're not scrambling at the last minute to provide the best supports for our students and we're not um you know incurring classrooms with increased class sizes um for adults and that each student is still able to get the individualized attention they need. So that is why we are paying those fees for our census. >> Can you just clarify is that 530 >>

102that is >> preschool >> 5:30 and 582. Okay, >> one second. My computer waits until it's my turn to speak to die. Okay, we're back. There was a reduction in line 582. That was just to uh we went from 60 to 80,000 because we uh moved 20,000 to an account for professional learning. So that we wanted to ensure that there was enough money allocated when staff throughout the district would like to attend different PL opportunities that align with our district vision, mission, and goal as well as their school goals. So that's why that reduction is there. line item 599, there's an increase. That increase is because um it's about $1,500 or so. That is for the professional development um our professional development, our PET committee. Um we like to bring them together in the summer

103to do some summer work and planning. They did a lot of work on the teacher evaluation system, the one that was rolled out about two years ago. And then in the summer, we meet to re-evaluate that and ensure we're still on the right track with um the way that things are going within the schools, make any adjustments, and to discuss some of the professional learning opportunities that could potentially go forward the next year. So that goes into um paying the hourly rate for the PD committee to meet for a very short amount of time. I believe um last summer we met for two half days for so completely one full day and it was a group of about four to five educators. And the last item and other expenses 810 went from 0 to 10,834.

104Glenn, correct me again if I'm wrong, but I believe it was allocated um somewhere else in the past and now it's here. This is for memberships and fees to different organizations. Um, if you'd like to know those organizations, I can get them to you. I do think that um, especially with Mr. Diaz joining, I think it's important that if we are able to keep those opportunities in there so that we can continue myself and Mr. Das to learn and grow together, um, I think that would be a great opportunity. And before I finish up, I want to backtrack because I did miss something. I said um I believe I said in 599 I only spoke to the increase of 1500 for PDC, but that overall cost that number 17750 includes that opportunity to work two

105half days in the summer with PDK. That also covers our stipens for our team mentors who are our mentors for our beginning teachers. Um as well as when we do get pair educators who come in the district, we give them an opportunity to take the pair pro and be reimbursed for it and they uh usually are excited about that opportunity. So that's what those funds are allocated for. So are there any questions regarding HDD? Thank you. >> I'm surprised Miss Weaver didn't ask about conferences. >> Oh, there she is. >> No, no, no, no, no. Because we moved it down. I was going to say. So, I mean, it's closer. It wouldn't be It's really only like 5,000 increase from the actual of 2025. So we were asking I think we last year there was

106also a request and then cut from 80 to 60. >> Yep. >> So okay this is where it's already in line where >> um yeah would just be curious too how much for that line though for 5.99 in the PC. Um because the actual is a 95 to then we are allocating 15 this year and then 1775 750 just kind of that increase over increase uh how close we are this year to spending the 15610. >> Okay. >> For that >> I will look into that. And that was 5.99 for correct 17750 line. Okay. >> Yep. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Um I have just a question back on I'm sorry back on the adult ed. >> Y >> um you said that the like the printing and mailing costs for the brochures.

107Is it are you finding it's helping like it was our enrollment higher this year than previous years? So, I asked the same question and because we're still in the midst of the cycle, we're not sure yet. Like, we're still going to keep going. I asked the same question. >> Okay. Glad we're on the same >> I wanted specific number. So, I will see if we do have at least an estimated number at this time to be able to provide that. >> Okay. That would be great. Thank you. >> No problem. >> Um and I'm sorry I skipped ahead. Uh well, Lynn, did you have something to add to >> I just wanted to uh remind everyone that the state funds $50,277 of the the um adult ed budget. It goes directly to the town and

108they use that to supplement our funds. >> Right. Okay. >> How much you said? 50,000. >> $50,277. >> Thank you. Um Dr. Stanley, >> thank you. Um, and I think you said this already, but can you um just restate it for me? What is the line? 550. That $9,500. >> Are you in HCD? >> Uh, yes. HCD. >> Okay. And what line was that? >> 550 for 9500. I feel like I'm on a game show. Alex Tbec, I will take wine. 5:30 >> and the winner is um that is also the that's the school census. >> That's the school census. >> Yep. So that's the increased mailing that we do. Before it was just homeowners and now we're doing homeowners and apartments. So we have to pay a fee for a permit. Then we have

109to pay the um the fee for the the stamps and things to mail. Then we pay Dylan Printing to print the surveys and then they use the permit and the stamps to send it out. all homeowners and a park. So, pretty much everybody in Newington receives the prek census >> and and what they're getting a census and this is to help us like clarify how many students are coming. I'm just >> Absolutely. Yep. That's exactly what it is. >> And we have ever done that before or >> it's year to year. Yep. It's every So, in the p Let me correct that in the past it's been every two years and we are hoping to now move forward with doing it more frequently every year. >> Okay. That seems like a lot. No. 9500. >>

110It's also the postage, not just the um printing. >> Yep. Yep. So, it's the postage, the printing, as well as the permit that we have to pay for to do that. I can get it all um broken out for you if you um without a problem. Dr. Stanley, >> I think maybe if we can compare it to what it was in the past and then we know like how much it's increasing. >> Okay. And maybe like I don't know if it's worth considering like since the apartments potentially turn over more often but homes I know there's like renters and everything but like for homes that are like owned owner occupied I don't know if we can tell but maybe for like apartments we do it every year and for all other residences it's every two

111years. like maybe if you could look into like what the cost of that difference might be if we can cut a little bit because I agree. I think it's a great idea that you're sending it out to the apartments because there are so many of them and you know we need to know we have the was the sense whatever uh the pages and pages of documentation that Mr. Fesy had gone over previously of like the estimates for um students but I think it's great to get that accurate information. Okay. >> But yeah, just if maybe we just do apartments every year and and owners or homes um every two. >> Okay. I'll get those figures. >> It's one for it's asking for students zero to five, right? >> Yep. >> In the house. Okay. >>

112I'll get those numbers for you for the yearly for um apartments and every two years for residences. >> Thank you, Miss Weaver. >> I'm sorry, Miss For just wants to go home. I'm just Um, but I just on the previous page for adult education, I just didn't know if we had gone over the um the last lines of the 599, 690, and 730. Um, and just was curious. Um, not like a it's not a bad thing when it's, you know, not in the final, but there was a couple that were not in the the last request, and one was a $72,000 item. So, I just didn't know what that 7:30 line was or the >> You're an adult ed, >> correct? That's what I had. I don't see >> Oh, never mind. Never mind. >>

113Okay. >> I was on different pages, guys. >> Okay. >> This is what's happening. I'm sorry. >> It's okay. >> Other supplies, >> guys. This is why you do trigger pages. Um the other ones just what was the uh the 643 and the 810? Just was curious what they were for the adult ed. Is that one right? Yeah. >> And 810 on adult ed. >> Correct. >> They're on the next page, Tisha. I don't know if that's >> Yeah, sorry. I just >> Oh, that would help. Yes. >> Oh my god. >> Do you want an answer? Because I have it in my hand. >> Go ahead, Lynn. Thank you. >> You're welcome. The 643 are workbooks for Kaplan, MathSense, Paperback Literature, Score Boost Workbooks, and Vouchers Workbooks. And the 810 is membership to CACE,

114which is the um adult ed conference. >> Thank you. Sorry. >> You're welcome. We're all We're all just discombobulated. It's great. >> And I had it. >> Thanks, Lyn. You're >> welcome. >> Teamwork. >> All right, that concludes Miss Foy's um items that she is speaking to, unless there are any questions. All right, it looks like um Marilina is back on for special education administration. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay, starting with special ed. Flip back to that page. All right, so um again, we've moved some things around. It looks like it froze there. We've moved some things around. So there's um there's some changes but basically uh what we did is we had you know a lot of our contracted services for like students with hearing impairments um those are now

115going to show up when we go over to the speech language um uh budget for administration. So we have our students within the schools who have um a FM. might have um hearing aids. They may have teachers of the hearing impaired. So now we've covered those in the schools. These contracts would now be students that are either at outplacements or their um the expectation for repairs um that we would need to do for like OT equipment. We had a student who moved in um has some equipment. If there's uh something that is districtwide, then that's what's going going to show up in this budget. So, that's what's going to So, that's what we're going to go over today. And I think it's really really important for just me to start again. um not to belabor

116the point but that we have um I believe I pulled some numbers and when we when I started um I believe it was like 2016 2017 but I pulled the 2018 numbers and we were at 585 students um and our prevalence rate was around 14.5%. We are awaiting our 101 certification number, but we are currently um looking at 704. We're doing our uh C dot cleaning reports literally on a daily basis and that 704 number has not changed. So I feel pretty confident about that. Um and which would bring us to 18.5%. So we have gone up um substantially 14 14.5% to 18.5%. 400 500 student 585 students almost 600 students is 704. So keeping all of those things in perspective and knowing uh how much um special ed costs have um have increased these

117are some of the increases that you're see uh going to be seeing in this um portion of the budget. So like I'll start with 330. So these are the unknowns right? So these are our students. We've done a good job of looking at what I called Ees. Those were the independent consultants that we've embedded into the into the schools. But these are the unknowns. So these are they can happen anywhere. They can happen at an outplacement. They can happen um even within our schools, but it is beyond what I've budgeted for for the schools. Um and these would include something called an um atl or an AACL. We are seeing many more of these. It's an augmentative communication um evaluation. And so what and that's why we're seeing an increase in our iPads because we're

118seeing so many students now who are coming in um who might be non-verbal and we we're moving from the low attack to the high-tech in order for to give our kids um their voices. A typical evaluation was around $1,000, $1,500. Um, I have a quote right now for an AAC um is $300 an hour with a minimum of 10 hours plus plus roundtrip mileage. So, this PO would need to be $3,000. And then again, that does not include the evaluator's participation in the PPT. So, the good news is is that we do a lot of our PPTs virtually, so we're not getting charged for mileage for when they're coming in um for the PPT, but they do have to come in to be in person to do the um evaluation. So, and that's a straightforward

119what we call at eval. That's a assist of technology eval. The um AAC evals would be those other um more intensive valves and that we're looking at would include eye gaze communication um and devices for students with more physical disabilities. So that's an estimated of a minimum of 15-hour evaluation and that is going for $250 an hour. So henceforth why you're going to see a little bit of an increase um in that allocation. Um >> has a question. >> Sorry. Just curious too and this would fall under I would say our requirement to educate students. Just clarifying that. And then also just curious um who sets the minimum hours that's I'm assuming by >> so so there and I I I don't know if you guys have heard but the state is looking at that

120right now right so it is basically whoever your evaluator is so if we're using neat then neat is setting the uh which would be oakill um so they're setting the rates if we're using soundbridge then crack is setting the rate so it it there is no there's no regulation. So they just kind of pick these. So all of a sudden I was like where did 250 an hour come from? But yes so it is not regulated right now and it is really and there's so there are very limited number of people who do these so it's a very very competitive market. >> Thank you. >> Just wanted to shine that to the process. >> Great question. Okay. So, um the next one we'll go to is the 561 and the 563. You'll see some um

121movement in numbers again with Lynn coming in and doing some um auditing. We had students who attend a CRE outplacement. Um and we were considering those as 563 private outplacements, but technically because they're run by CRE, um they should fall under the magnet. uh even though it's an outplacement, it's run by crack. So, we just did some movement of um numbers of the students who are attending the different facilities. And then for $5.99, um oh, you'll see that there is a $28,000 credit. That was my error when I was putting in my budget. Um, I guess you have to put like an A, B, and C. I put the $28,000 for Croc for CIRC, but then I didn't put in the A, B, or C. So therefore, it never carried over. So, but I I

122was like, "Wow, that's a really interesting number." But that is our CIRC. Um, so we're going to fix that. Somebody wonderful like Karen or or or um or Lyn will take care of that for me. But that is our CIRC contract that we utilize um to uh support co-eing. And then again >> um what's it supposed to be >> the uh uh CIRC contract for co-eing >> but it's negative 28,000. >> So So I it's supposed to be 28,000 but I didn't hit the A, B, and C. So it didn't carry it over. So, it looked like it was actually taking away $28,000. >> Okay. So, it's actually 28,000. >> So, that'll go Yes, that'll be 28,000. >> Okay. Thank you. And then everything else we tried to cut. Um, >> yes, >> sorry. So,

123just clarifying too, it was this was a move around two of other purchased services because the 599 we appropriated 268,000 and then it goes down to 28. not complaining about that but >> so so perfect timing. So um another change in um in think way things are done not on our level but at the state level. So, my idea grant, mine, you know, um was for two years, which I I don't know enough about other grants, but it's a very bizarre grant. Like, it'll be 25 27. So, I'm supposed to spend 80% of my grants in 25 and then you you can and then you have to and then there's you're supposed to pay the second half in the second year. We've never done that. We've always were very conservative and we saved those funds.

124The state is no longer allowing us to do that. So, we've had a reserve of funds. So, I was able we are going to Lynn and I are going to go through my idea grant and we're we were going to offset some of these things in 599 with the um idea grant. We don't want to put it in in as an offset because it's not going to be there moving forward because once I catch up then that money is not going to be there. So just know that it's a reduction this year because we can do that because we had been conservative and the state is making us like literally Lynn went in to go um open up the grant and it literally said nope you haven't spent your old money yet. You have to

125spend your old money before you can spend your new money. Um even though we have money that we could allocate to other things. So, we are going to clean that up. So, we're we do have a little bit of a savings here, but moving forward that's that reserve is not going to be there. Can you Did you say how much that was? >> Um, I believe it was 40 or $50,000. I can look into it if you'd like. >> Okay. No, that's okay. So, it's $50,000 that is going to be less this year, but then next year it'll be $50,000. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Most most likely. Yes. Is that is that one you you have to wait to apply or is this like >> that one's I mean it's pretty automatic and with

126our numbers going up it unless they flat fund because that's that's a possibility um if they don't flat fund then um we should get more because our numbers have gone up. >> Okay. >> And it's actually 85% that we have to spend down not 80. >> Perfect. And would that so would that kind of structure continue or >> it has to? Yeah. >> So you have to spend 80 how is that? >> So you'd have to spend 15% then the second year but 85. >> So 85 the the first year and then we the 15% would be left for the second year. >> And basically what they want you to do is use that 15% to follow through until the next grant opens. Just like title one >> every year it's just >> Yeah. Okay.

127So it's like >> but but we've had a reserve. We've always had a reserve. So just in case >> just in case is no longer. >> Okay. So like you're applying every year or every other year. Okay. So there it's not like I have 85,000 this year or you know what say it's 100,000. I have 85,000 this year and 15,000 the next 85 15 8515. It's not I still get like we're still going to get 85 the 15. You're still going to get the You're still going to get the 100, >> okay, >> 100,000. But again, then at that 15 and then you can start paying you can start using your other 85. >> Okay. >> And in some districts they actually spend the entire grant in the first year. >> Okay. Interesting. And so

128they're doing 100 every year since essentially like Okay. >> Correct. But I I'm always of the fact of try to be as conservative as possible so you have something to spend until the next grant opens because we don't get the funds on June July 1st. >> Got it. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> So, just to confirm, we're going to go down $50,000 or thereabouts in that line with IDEIDA grant offset or credit, whatever we want to use >> for one year. >> Yes, for one year. So, um 611 616 um as I mentioned before the PTO supplies. So, our students who require um some extra equipment, we needed um a um a Hoyer lift. Uh we need I guess they run on batteries and it's a really specific battery. So, little things like that

129we want to make sure that we are um covering. Again, we don't know where students are going to move into. I don't know what building um they're going to be in. So that therefore this um and our OT's PTS are districtwide. So um these little amounts live in um in the um 30 account as opposed to in the schools. Um 644 is our subscription to news to you um which is a um researchbased program that we use in our um more intensive programs for students who need a more um modified curriculum. Is that moved from a different place? >> Yes, >> we've had that previously. >> So, um, what we were doing before is that was one that we actually had at the schools and we took the individual subscriptions and put them all into

13030. >> Okay. >> And then, um, the 810 is professional dues and that remains the same. There was no change. And that's it. Any questions? >> Dr. Stanley. >> Thanks, Marina. Um, so for lines 561 and 563, um, if we've combined them, they're they're going from a 2.9 million and and now we're asking for 4.1 million. Is that so that's like $1 million because of the and we're thinking that that's the increase in about 100 special ed students. It just seems like a really large increase of $1 million. >> Well, we did do we did allocate 4.7 under the 563 line, >> right? >> Mhm. >> So, it's decreasing. >> It's less than what we allocated last year. I agree. >> Yeah. >> But it's still a million dollars more than what we used. >>

131So, again, those those are costs that are beyond our control. Um so if we have to we are just now starting to get our contracts for next year with the um shortage of related service personnel the the rates I I believe that that's what we're looking at right the other purchase the 561 those are the outplacements right >> right >> um so what the the tuitions are increasing the uh related services are increasing so we have to um forecast that. That has been the typical um and then what we have what we also have to do is depending on what time of the year the student goes out um there might be some additional services that have to happen in between. So we have to be able to um kind of forecast now without having

132the new rates. >> Gotcha. Okay. And then this may be a broader question for Lynn. So what happens to these funds if we don't use them? So we appropriate 4.7 million but we only use 2.3 million. What happened to that $2 million >> last year or? >> Yeah. Like in just in general when we're appropriating money but we only spend a certain amount. I love your cat. I have two black panthers myself and my and my daughter just photo or bombed us for to say good night. So family, right? >> Yeah, got all of them. Um the the money would either be utilized for something at end of the year that was un anticipated or it would be used to fund the non-lapsing fund. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> Sorry, I didn't want um

133and I guess to Dr. Sy's point too, like are we on track for that? I guess the actuals when do when do we know like we're on track for the 4.785 if we're seeing those increases already? like are we already over 2.3 million in that kind of spending account if that makes sense? Like we're probably going to hit an x amount by the end of the year is the guess. So what what we can do is we can give you the projected um of students we currently have but literally somebody can move into the district tomorrow, >> right? >> And that number will change. we have somebody who move out of the district tomorrow and the number will change. Uh you know the we're identifying kids obviously at an incredible rate. Um so we will

134you know there it's just such an unknown but we we can we can give you a forecast of what we know. Um because now for this year, the one good thing that came out of the most current legislation is what we were having was that because there was a shortage, we would get literally an email or a letter from the now placement saying that their SLP services were going from $150 an hour to $250 an hour because they now had to contract out for that service because their SLP left. So now they were paying a higher rate for the SLPs and they were turning around and putting it on the districts. The state has said they can't do that anymore. You if you've signed a contract, if the if the outplacement now has to pay

135extra for a service, they can't in the middle of a contract increase hour numbers. Um what they can do is go back to PPT and say, "Oh, we need to add three extra hours of SLP services." And then they can make up their money that way. But we have more control over that because we like why exactly do you need three extra hours of services? Um so we're a little bit more um in control of that. But it used to be that they literally during the contract could increase our our um rates because they had incurred an expense. And actually, if you look at the 561 and 563 lines, we reduced them by 724,300 because they had planned for this year to outplace those students that we ended up keeping in the district with that

136wonderful seed grant that we received. >> Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. is sorry without grabbing my calculator is those two lines are they close like from last year to this year. >> So they're they're close and not I'm going to knock on wood. Uh we've been pretty stable with our um our level of outplacements. We did have we we balanced out this year. We had a couple of students who moved out, but we had a couple of really significant um uh students with significant disabilities move in. And when they come when students with a disability comes to the district and they're already at an outplacement, we are obligated to keep them at their outplacement until we can determine if we have services and are able to um meet

137their needs in district. So once once a student moves in, we have to automatically um continue that placement. So we again we do the best that we can, but it's it's those unknowns Oh, okay. I'm Dr. Stanley. >> Thanks for reminding me about that seed grant. So, the C grant, how how many years do we get that for or is this potential >> two currently? >> Huh? >> We get it for this year and next year currently. Um, we're not sure if the they're going to put that into the next bianial bannual budget. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. I will be fighting for it with the legislature. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. I'm just wondering like are we do you think we're estimating enough money for you for these for the care of these

138kids because it went down a little bit, right? We actually increased our um estimate of the excess cost grant since we are getting more money than we had anticipated since the costs have gone up so much. We actually increased what we were going to estimate for next year to this year's actual 1.7 million. So that's another offset of $500,000 additional, >> which also should be higher, but it's not, >> which is should be much much higher. Much higher >> because it doesn't adjust for inflation ever. >> No. >> Yeah. >> All right. Moving to 2140, which I believe is our psychological services. Um the 119 uh line I believe is about $10,500. Um every year we have the opportunity to have school psych interns and that money is um to pay the interns. There is

139a school psych um deficit right now like they're not enough. I think we're getting a bubble. So, I think that they're coming, but over the last couple of years, um the programs at the schools at the um universities has changed and school sites can now do their internships while they're employed. So, they were skipping the whole internship thing and taking jobs. And so we were not um because we we only offer $10,000, of course they're going to take a salaried position as opposed to just a $10,000 stipend. So they um what we have noticed is that having the school sites is an incredible benefit to the district. Um, it's an extra pair of hands, but it we just have the and I think you've had the opportunity. Oh, maybe you guys haven't had the opportunity

140to meet our school psyches yet. Um, but or or for me to do I did I do my school psych? I can't remember. Um, but our school psyches have been around forever. like they're they are like lifers in Newington and they have an extreme uh knowledge base and that internship when you have student teachers who are decept. Um so if we have interns who will take that assignment, we want them. So that $10,000 is for um that to kind of entice those uh students to come. And then the $599 um we put in I believe $10,000 also for uh risk assessments. Um again, one of those unfunded mandates that is out there that we now have to do risk assessments on students. Um but it is a um evaluation that is very warranted because sometimes

141the risk assessments will um let us know if there are some um mitigating factors if there are some um strategies that we can put in place and I think Dr. Brummit has been able to um use that information rather than expelling um some of our students. So again, um, a very good, um, use of some funds. >> Miss Waver, thanks. Just curious, Marilina, is the intern year round or >> It is. >> Oh, perfect. Okay. >> A public policy intern, I would know. Um, that sounds really great. Um just curious for the um 599 we had allocated in the actual this might be just from the Lynn movement but it was 48 then it went to zero appropriated then it went to 10,000 so I'm just assuming this is a movement of accounts >> it

142is >> okay. >> Yep. We moved things to the Oh and that was probably um the consultant that we had hired and now that is a salary position. So now she shows up. I can't remember if we put her in the high school or if we um par part parcled her salary out because she really is everywhere. >> The school psychologist that Yeah. that we added last year. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> I'm jealous that they get paid because I do not get paid for my internship. So >> social work, right? >> Yeah. I know. I cuz cuz Sheree, our school psychologist, school of social work at the high school has one. And I go, "Who's paying for that?" She goes, "They don't get paid." So I'm like, "Here, you're supposed

143to let me know that because I think I have to pay for that." She's like, "No." >> Like why? Why is that? That's very interesting. I think you should I think you should talk to somebody about that. >> I know. I should >> because I'm telling you it's worth it. >> But I'm almost done, so it's okay. >> Okay, perfect. And then just quickly, 2150 um is our speech language. Uh 430 is for repairs. Um 599 again is for our soundbridge contracts that I had talked about previously. Um again those would be the students who are at an outplacement or maybe ECA or um you know one of the u magnet schools who have the um FM systems hearing aids teacher of the hearing impaired. So those would fall under um the 30 account. And

144then 730 is for hearing equipment um new purchases, kids lose their um the little pieces of their hearing aids and we need to replace them so on so forth. Um and that is um just a little bit of a of a cost there. >> Mr. Hollerin. >> All right. Thanks. Could you just help me understand line 599? I think that's an accounting move, but it seems large. >> It used to be in special education and it was moved where it belongs because it's for the hearing impaired. So, it belongs in speech and hearing. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome, >> Miss Beaver. >> Sorry. Is that solely soundbridge? Is there anything else in it? Um, so I can look into that, but pretty much sound bridges is who we use. There might be an American

145school for the deaf in there. Um, there might be some um ASL translators um depending on if there's a um there's a a company that we use to do uh translations for ASL >> and those are also hard to come by going up. Great. >> So much. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> It's all soundbridge. It's all sound bridge. Okay. And is that how many students does that service then? Like typically >> in the 30 account. >> Yeah. I guess I'm guessing it's dependent on the need level of need for it. Okay. >> Because there's different services within each contract. So, if they get a teacher of the hearing impaired, if it's for um the aiologist, so depending on the mapping, um there's all the different services that go into it. So, one student may have

146a $20,000 contract, another student may have a $40,000 contract. >> Okay. >> And there's 12 students that are identified. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> I figure it's over 10, so I can say 12. All right. Does that cover Maryland all the areas that you have tonight? >> It does. >> Well, you've been a very popular participant in our budget process. >> It has been an absolute honor to uh represent this department. >> We appreciate it. Lot lot of lot goes into our special education program to uh without a doubt. It looks like according to my notes, um, Miss Freeman has one more area to cover. >> Um, that's correct. Um, I'm going to, um, review curriculum and instruction, but, uh, Dr. Breum, I just want to review some of the curricular areas that are

147carried um, in the the 30 budget. Uh, just with a tiny bit of explanation. Um so in third if you start at the top at 1002 in art you'll see that there is a small amount for supplies and those are supplies um that are used for uh spotlighting our artists especially around the art show. You're probably going to have the question of why did we spend 3500 in 2425 and I don't know I know that it's down to 500. I don't know if we have scaled back on that, but um I I I don't know why there was a drop from two years ago, but I would add that any drop in expenses usually good news. Um uh next in English language arts, so that's program 1012. 599 is other purchase services. And um remember

148that yesterday we couldn't figure out where common lit was. Um it is carried there. So we keep common lit um usually often in the the 30 account. So when we have things that are um districtwide um it would usually be carried in that 30 account. Sometimes we'll break it down by school. And I'm sorry that's not where the common lit is. That is where um and benchmark training is. We did find common lit though. Um I think somebody asked a question about it at one of the schools. Uh Jessica, you did and so we figured out where that was. Um we now have put common lit into a bucket of um we anticipate to be able to purchase that with realized savings. So here comes this language. You can see that in the 599 account

149for English language arts um how there was an ask of 17,120. Both of those things are the benchmark training and the 10,000 came off for benchmark training because we actually now have a credit with the company. So that's money we don't have to spend. The 7,000 will be removed. It was one of the uh program areas. It was my error um in asking Miss Seir to remove that because the entire package will also be purchased um hopefully with realized savings. LL is carried in science, social studies, math and language arts. So we divvy up the price of that entire program based on approximately how many students are going to be using it. But it makes more sense again to hold it in the 30 account for um administration because it's a a district-wide use of

150a of a product. >> My daughter happened to be going to bed and saying good night to me when you said and she said I hate and I said too bad. >> Listen, it doesn't surprise me. >> Yes, Jessica. Uh, so just clarifying, you're removing the 7,000 because we're diving it in other accounts. Um, so the 7,000 should have been removed before this budget book got to you. I am telling you that that was my mistake. We have a beautiful spreadsheet and that I just did not put that on. I put the other um subject. So um that is a 7,000 that will come out of the budget. was is just asking for you or Lynn. Was that included in the budget request? >> Yeah, it it was it was included in in the original

151budget request. >> So, like if we cut, >> right, it's it's >> it will be it would be part of um it would be part of some of the um materials that we hope to purchase with realized savings. So, being able to kind of anticipate about where we are with our budget now. just saying we can reduce the superintendent's budget by this amount as well. >> Yes, ma'am. That's exactly it. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. In mathematics, we carry uh the 599 and that is also you'll see that it's more expensive in mathematics because we have more students in math that use it than ELA. And again, we're going to be purchasing that with um realized savings in 1022. That's music. Going have to flip the page. You're going to see um a really

152big bump there in supplies and also um in the other expenses. If you go and you look at the schools, you'll see reductions in all of these um digital platforms that our music teachers were using. Um there was one that was very unique to the elementary level. Um one middle middle school was using Noteflight and they were using Smart Music. Um and so after about the last four or five years, they have finally come to consensus about the program that they want to use districtwide. So you'll see a reduction in the schools, but it now it's just carried up the 30 again because it's the same product being used districtwide. Okay. Um, on to science that's as well in the 599 in 2010 is English learners which really should be called multi- language learners and

153what we carry there um are two items. Imagine Learning is a product that um if you think about Rosetta Stone, that's kind of something that people are like, "Oh, yeah, I know that." It's like that, but for young kids in elementary um and something that is a little bit more palatable for them as well. Um and then we're also carrying some Benchmark Express workbooks in there. Benchmark does an amazing job of um tailoring many of their texts specifically for multilingual learners um who are much um earlier in their stages of development. And again, that's going to be across all of the elementary schools. So, we carry it at the district level questions so far. >> Oh, man. I'm kidding. I'm just curious. So we're putting um for the salaries who's that sorry for salaries on

154multiling language learner is that there's because I thought I just saw salaries in other ones for other multil language. So, I just was wondering is that an admin or like >> No, it's not. It's a teacher. Sorry. >> 111's a teacher. >> Okay. Is that a districtwide one we're using then? Or >> so it Yeah, I don't um Lynn is going to be be is going to have to speak a little bit more to that. Um, multil- language learners, I'm sorry, EL teachers are actually all districtwide. Okay. >> Every year based on student enrollment, um, I assign I assign them to, um, their schools. Um, sometimes, uh, so this past year we have, uh, like 1.4 FTE at John Patterson. The year before it was 1.2 FTE. So, it's all about looking at the percentages.

155Um, so Lynn would have to speak to specifically why that one's carried in the 30 account. >> Our bilingual teacher that makes sense. >> That makes sense. >> In the budget, she's UA, so I put her in 30. >> Okay. So, she's not in the Wallace one. >> No, she's unaffiliated. >> Okay. Yeah. And and actually that Len, thank you for pointing that out. That actually does make a lot of sense because as we think about expanding the bilingual program, right now it's housed at John Wallace Middle School and as Ava continues to evolve that. Um we've had conversations about um how could she do some work at the elementary level. We actually want to be the the best program you can have would be at the elementary level where kids learn language um the

156best, but we also want um to be able for her to expand maybe doing some consulting at the high school as well. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Moving on to the last one. It's 2010 2210 and that's curriculum and assessment. Um, so it's a whole bunch of stuff that we do, but there's very few line items in there. Uh, one of the biggest line items that we carry is the salaries for curriculum writing. Curriculum writing is um, per the NTA contract. I think this year it's $4255 an hour. It will go up next year um, according to whatever has been negotiated. There is a big bump from last year in the salaries for curriculum writing. The reason for that is the year before we completely underestimated the amount of money that we needed for

157the curriculum revisions. So a lot of that was in the elementary area um of not really having a um a deep understanding of some of the revisions we would have to do after benchmark was in place for one year. Um but in working with Bev, we we did think that we um that was going to be a a priority. We wanted to make sure that that curriculum was revised, especially after one year of implementation. Um and when Lynn came on board, she was um very quickly was able to um sort of pull some salaries out from other areas that um she knew would would not be expended. Oh, sorry. uh some questions on curriculum writing and I would say just for the edification of the board um all of our curriculum is written by our

158teachers and overseen by an administrator. The only time that we do not have teachers write curriculum is if there is um a curriculum that needs revisions, especially because there's been um a change to state standards. Um if no teacher volunteers for any of the posting, nobody applies, then the uh curriculum coordin coordinator that oversees that program would do the curriculum writing. I think Mr. Sharma has his hand raised. >> Yeah, just a quick question. What's the uh what's the hourly rate for uh curriculum writing right now? And is it going to go up maybe like 4% next year? >> Right now it's 4255. I don't know what it is next year. Uh it's probably a couple dollars more. It would be in right in the NTA contract though. It goes >> How many hours How

159many hours do you think we did this year? >> I can actually tell you that. Let me just pull that up. While you're looking, next year it's going to be 4372 an hour. >> Okay. >> It's in appendix B of the teacher's contract. >> Okay. So, um the amount that I am requesting, we would have to do some math here. for next year you put in 240 hours. >> Yeah. >> At 4372 an hour. >> So we um and that includes the money for curriculum writing and it also includes money for online facilitators um for students that need to be supported in the different learning platform sometimes for credit recovery and then um sometimes per a PPT decision or a 504 decision. So, we anticipate like a higher like more hours, right? >> Yes. >>

160Okay. >> Yep. >> All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> So, the last um items that are carried in there that's a really big ticket is a power school. Um I believe that power school was reduced this year and Lyn, you're going to have to help me um if you were able to maybe negotiate a little bit of a um a smaller price from them. I am trying still to get them to cut it to 4%. They they asked us to pay seven. I I will not pay seven. I'm working on it still. I'm I'm working on it. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Hopefully they give you an answer within a month or two. >> And and the very last item that's carried in there, it's just resources for curriculum writing. Um

161so that usually is in the form of uh maybe working with instructional coaches and we're providing them some professional learning around uh different curricular areas or instructional frameworks. So we'll buy texts and we'll do book studies for that because they support so much um the implementation of curriculum. Um, it also could serve as resources for the curriculum um, writers if they were wanting to supplement anything, maybe some of the the content. That's Dr. Brema. Am I the one standing between the or saying good night? Well, there's there is one more thing to look at and that's the questions uh Q&A from the other night, but you are you are Thank you very much and thanks to the entire team for unbelievable work and the detail that's been presented tonight. I've got a very long list

162of questions and followup. So, we will do our best to have that ready for the board at our next meeting. Um, would it be okay uh for me to go on to follow-up questions? >> Did you want me to speak to the health and nursing services or >> is it okay? >> Sure. If we haven't covered that already. Yes. >> Um the health and nursing services is um very very small um budget. It's just purchase services professional 7200 and other purchase services of 11,590. So the entire budget is going up $300 year from last this year to next. So it's dimminimous. Does anyone have any questions that I can try and answer? >> Looks like Miss Beatric, you're on mute, Mary. >> Mary, you're on mute. >> All right. Am I correct to assume that

163the salaries for nursing services are buried in another line? Is it in >> They're in each school. >> School. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Sam, did you still have a question? No, I She answered it. >> It was about the total nurses. We answered that last night. >> Okay. But Sam has his hand raised, too. >> Oh, Sam. >> Yeah, Sam. Okay. I don't think >> I took it down. Sorry. >> Thank you. No worries. All right. >> All right. We're good then for that. I will move on to just some um follow-up questions that were carried over from last evening. Um so um everyone can see this page. You should see the questions and clarification page displayed. Is that accurate? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, uh I wasn't sure

164if we completed that answer last night. So, I did want to put here that we do have 10 full-time nurses, four at the high school, which includes the nurse supervisor and the district float nurse. He he goes to all the schools to cover, but he's based at the high school when he's not needed elsewhere. Uh there is one each at Kellogg Wallace. Kellogg does have a a contracted extra nurse due to significant medical needs, but that's not a that is not a permanent nurse. And each for uh elementary school has one nurse each. This figure does not include um the temporary extra nurse at Kellogg and the two students in the district, one at Chaffy and one at Green who have their own LPN due to um medical uh needs. There was a question last

165evening about the art teacher at Green that had a big increase and that indeed is due to that individual moving into the retirement increment. um program. That's at least an $11,000 uh increase to her salary. Um I also wanted to make sure I don't know if the any of the board members saw it, but under um at the end of the NHS back pages, there was a list a listing of the G98 interd district grant. It's listed there as an offset of $100,000, but we did not get that grant yet. Rest assured though that is not factored into this budget. So there's no budget impact there. We just didn't take it out when we removed the grant because we are not going to know about the grant until May. Uh we do need a little

166more time for a more comprehensive answer to the questions about paras. I can tell you that um one of the reasons we see an increase in the cost is one of our recruitment strategies earlier this year was to give each pair a dollar per hour raise. So that would carry into next year, but there we did need to do a deeper dive to get the board more accurate counts accounting of numbers and any other reasons why there's a more dollar increase there. Um so more to come on that next week. We did I think there was a question about um the outside evaluations right now there's 47,500 um in the budget for that common lit was cut but we did move it to a buy. I believe Kristen addressed that earlier and the reason why

167there was some disparity in the non-athletic NHS fund was it had some duplicated positions and those were removed and that did reduce the total. So, other than the parah questions from last night, I believe this covers uh questions that were not answered during the board meeting last night, but I'll turn it back over to to the chair for further questions or comments. >> Thank you. >> Um I guess I have a question on the G98. Is that something that we've gotten in the past or is that a new grant? That's the grant that that funded the uh Nor Easter Academy this year. >> Oh, Gina. Okay. Okay. I never heard it referred to as >> Yeah, we Yeah, we just use the coding. It's the introduced grant, but we're that just has codes. >> We're

168hoping to get it, but we won't find out until >> Fortunately, not until this budget process is over. >> Okay. >> But, uh we do really hope to keep uh affording that program. It's been a huge benefit. >> Yes, agree. Okay. But the program is in the budget. It is not >> it's not in the budget. >> We've the program cost approximately Lynn correct me if I'm wrong about 150 or 60,000 >> um >> approximately 150. So all we've budgeted for is um 48. >> So the part that the grant doesn't cover >> sorry 64 >> be okay because the program was teacher social worker. Yes, teacher, social workers, a little bit for uh snacks and um transportation. So, those are the costs um above and beyond in in addition to the salaries, but the

169salaries as always are the biggest component of that. It's a very small teacher student ratio. >> Um but we've worked diligently with our grant writers and the staff at the Noryer Academy did a great job giving me information to write the grant. So, I'm optimistic, but I just there's no way to know what other people are have thrown their hat in the ring for that grant. >> So, there's a portion of it 68,000. Is that what you said? >> The total budget for that program is 164,000 and 100,000 was paid with the G98 grant. So, we kept the 64,000 in the budget hoping that we will get that $100,000 grant and be able to continue the program >> into the new year. >> Okay. So, if you and I'm not necessarily suggesting this right this

170second, but if we we wanted the program and we can't rely on the grant, we would have to add 100,000 to the budget to continue it. >> That's correct. And if we don't do that, that 68 $64,000, would it go to like having a portion of the program or is it just like we would cut that if we don't want the program? >> That would be a decision we would have to make this coming spring when we get word on the grant about whether um maybe I could do some projections with Lynn about what that would cover. Um I mean a huge it would it really would be about that and I about what we want to do partially run it um limit the number of teachers uh you know >> cut hours cut days

171something like that. >> Yes. You know we did actually add a little time this year. It's a it's a two and a half hour block now instead of two because they were feeling there was not enough time. So there uh there could be some cost savings that way. We'll have to redesign it if we want to continue it without that grant. Okay. Um, thank you. Uh, Miss Weaver. Hey. Um, just a followup. Um, I think just a general question request. um for any of the ones where um so the example being the last line um reducing the total do can we just get the updated pages next week too or just where those reductions were just so we know like overall where those were like the one that Kristen was alluding to in in that

172one >> certainly I'll um ask >> work on that >> perfect that 100,000 is not in the budget >> she's talking about Um other adjustments >> the other adjustments about um >> sorry the like not athletic fund reduced from the total like those kinds of things just >> those were already done >> that's already in there. Yeah >> there was a special ed one and there's one that Kristen mentioned >> there was uh 7,000 in ELA and 50,000 in IDEIDA offsets. So we do you will see that as a differential. Um, and we're also continue just so the board knows, especially our newer board members, while this budget presentation is live and has happened, we're still working behind the scenes to see if there's anything um that we could reduce from the budget. Sometimes you

173get more information, uh, something comes in lower than expected. So, uh, we rest assured that doesn't hasn't stopped even though the budget process has begun. >> Thanks. And just to clarify, the 47,500 is for 2425 for outside evaluations or 25 26 up to now. >> I believe that's what we've budgeted for next year, but uh Lynn >> 30 account. >> Okay. >> Um Miss Petus, >> um just a quick question to backtrack to the G98 grant. Do you know an approximation to how many students are impacted by that program? Yes. Uh we typically serve 15 students per semester um or 30 for the year. So 30 I 30 in totality. >> Uh Dr. Stanley, >> thank you. Um I had a question talking about like how things were coded in 113 and I know that

174the union staff is being broken out. Um but what I don't appreciate so for example under the curriculum and assessment on 2210 um where those secretaries lived before and admins in 113 and 118 because I I never see anything go down for the cost of secretaries and schools and um we just seem pretty topheavy with our secretaries. So where did they live before or did we hire new people in that department? The curriculum and assessment was in 119. >> From 174, but then we've added like 386,000. >> The um that's 118. Those are administrators. They used to be in 23 uh20. That's not the 118 is administration. >> Okay. So they were in part of 118 down there. >> Correct. >> And so um Dr. Stanley I I can speak to my position but then

175it would also be Bev's as well. Um what used to happen is um as an assistant superintendent I I I am responsible for all instructional programs. So my salary would be broken out by little itty bitty bits across departments. Um, and I think in an effort to be more transparent, they just put my salary where in the department where we are. And that would be the same thing. It's not about me and Beverly, but for those two positions now, they just live in the department um where where we work. Is that correct, Miss Ber? >> Yes. And actually, it was more people that had been um aortioned. the secretaries were aortioned across all the different places for curriculum and instruction and also um social workers were put against art and math and it it all

176of the leaders were aortioned all over everywhere the same way the teachers were aortioned all over everywhere and we tried to streamline it correct it and put them where they belong >> I think she's saying Dr. understand that. Are you saying why does the 113 line in that go from 0 to 157 >> right >> from from 24 25 to 25 26 >> because they were down in 119 and aortioned across the all of the district for this one of the secretaries was aortioned for a little bit of everything because she worked in curriculum they aortioned a piece of them she had 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 in all of the programs across the district. >> Okay. >> Would it help Dr. Stanley um to have us show you much like certified the um total accounting

177of all district-wide um secretaries and by you know so you see the headcount would that help? >> Yeah, I think so. like um it sounds like we haven't had new hires, but um that might be helpful because >> no new hires. I will say that um potentially a few have been upgraded um due to increased responsibilities, but I think let's get that headcount. So, at least kind of compare apples to apples. >> Okay. And then for some of our priorities and and just um how how how and part of our mission um we have some paid positions that are grant-f funded for their salaries. Um is there a reason why we pay above what the grant provides? >> It would be a contractual obligation. Correct. >> Yes. Right. There are s salaries that the grant

178does not cover the entire amount. So, we would have to offset it. >> Okay. And that's written in the grant. Um, for instance, I have certain grants that like they're they're worded that the grant will pay up to 70% of the >> correct. There's limits. Yeah. >> As to how much you can actually put in salaries. >> Right. Right. Thank you. Any other questions? Um, okay. So, that's all you have, right, Dr. Ramett? For >> Yes, that is it for tonight's updates. Uh, clearly there'll be many more to come next week. >> And we're meeting on Wednesday, next week. >> Yes, I can show the board >> schedule. Yeah, we have next week >> Wednesday 18th and the 19th. >> Okay, perfect. Um, okay. So, and then obviously if anyone has any questions between now

179and then, you can um send them over to Dr. Brummit and um and yeah, we'll just continue from there. I think next time is that when we're going to adopt it for right where we adopt the budget as ourselves and then we can start cutting or whatever we want. Okay. >> All right. I will now turn it over to public participation on any matter uh related to board responsibilities. If you're in the meet, you can raise your hand to be recognized. Seeing none, move over to remarks by board members. Miss Weaver. Sorry everyone, but I have to say thank you again. Thanks to everyone who is online. Appreciate all of the uh the work and effort. Once again, uh so our round tours tonight. Uh and special shout out to to Marilena for explaining all

180of our special ed. So nice to have you back this year uh to present which I'm sure you enjoy just many hours of us digging through. Um but obviously one of our biggest budget drivers and one of those things that um you know we see a lot of frustration with uh when it comes to the funding mechanisms uh at the state and or lack thereof. Um so just want to say thank you to everyone again um for our part one and part two of budget process. Thank you all for for sticking through and doing a lovely virtual meeting. I hope everyone stays safe and um for those of you uh in our school district, I hope you have a good February break for those days. Dr. Stanley, >> uh I just wanted to thank you

181everybody for making this process as simple and understandably as it can happen or comprehend and especially Len. So this is fabulous. I I have access a little bit to the ones before that Tim has brought off from in case I wanted, you know, to peruse on my spare time. Um and so this is wonderful and and thank you u Marlenei uh for everything that you do and for advocating um because um it is highly important that we you know continue to provide um these services to our students um and everybody uh who needs a special education. and this is just a drop in the bucket to what they need. And so if we can provide it um to give them a good start in their lives, I think it's so important that we do that.

182Thank you. Anyone else? Yeah, I um again, thank you. And yeah, I I kind of I also want to point out the special education. I know Marilina, you've been here. Um this is probably the most you've spoken in a budget presentations. Um, but I think it's really great that we're able to see exactly how much is going into the special ed budget. Like before it was just one big chunk of money, but now we can really kind of start to see all the little pieces and understand the true needs of our students. And and like Dr. Stanley said, it's so important that we continue to to fund it and understand it and and make sure that that that they are getting what they need because um they deserve the same education as everyone else. Um

183so I think it really does highlight I think the the building part for me was, you know, not as I don't like having it spread across so many different pages, but the special ed um I think it makes more sense. So, I do appreciate the new the new layout. Um, so thank you for all the work and um that went into this and continues to go into it and we have a lot more to do. So, that'll be for next week. >> Motion to adjurnn. Second. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Stanley. Sean's at the wheel. >> I know. Where's Sean? I want to do it. >> You missed out. Um, all right. Uh, on motion second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> Thank you. Meeting adjourned at 9:53 p.m. Thank you everyone. Good night. Bye.