001Um, do we have to stand for the pledge? >> All right, let's stand for the pledge. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Invocation. Lord Jesus, help us. Amen. [laughter] Pledge of allegiance. We did that one. Special accommodations. We're good. And then public hearing. >> No public. >> All right. Yeah. Yes. All right. Let's go into discussions. Dr. Boyd. >> So, uh, I'll just jump in. You guys can stop me anytime you want or take it in any direction you want it to go in. So, we have our >> what? >> All right, there we go. Red light on. All right. Did you have yours on? Okay. All right.
002So, uh at our last schoolboard meeting, I provided the projected revenue and funding request for fiscal year 27. Uh this is this evening we had our public hearing and had one uh board com or excuse me one public comment and our responsibility our next school board meeting is to approve the budget as presented before we turn it over to the county for review. Uh so tonight is really our e the opportunity we have with as much data as we have. We're still absent of some data that we need like our healthcare renewal amount. Um And so, um, what I what I'll do is just kind of, um, talk through some of the things that have developed since then. And if you guys have any questions, comments, concerns, uh, I can certainly attempt to address them.
003I can tell you on the front end, Mrs. Brody has been amazing in uh, providing data and information for me in this process, and she is a wealth of information for King George County Schools now. So, um, I can only hope promising things for the future as we, uh, learn each other and learn King George County Schools together in terms of finance. So, that's been wonderful. Wonderful. Yeah. Uh, she did provide for us. I'll start with this, uh, list of notes that I think is very informative. Uh, that's that's the sheet that's in kind of a portrait uh, orientation. Um if you remember uh in terms of salaries the average salary increase based on what we proposed uh is 4.07 uh% across the board. Some steps are bigger than others. If you go higher down
004the scale I think it's more like a 4.56 uh% increase but the average overall from step one to 30 whatever it goes up to anyways all the way up to the end of the scale the average increase is 4.07%. 07%. Uh we did adjust compression at step 9 and uh as I mentioned to you guys last year, Jen was able to adjust some some compression steps at some other at uh six, seven and eight as well. Uh which really created a level of equity that we haven't had in the past in terms of adjusting those compression steps. So, we really feel confident in next year being able to put a huge dent in it and fingers crossed maybe getting all of the compression out by next year if we're lucky. Uh depending on what kind
005of budget season it is. Uh moving down, health insurance right now, the current employer contributions, so the amount that we pay for health insurance this year is 5 million overall for the entire school division. As you know, Heath came and presented to us and uh he is conservatively predicting an 18% increase. One of the biggest decisions that we have to make this evening uh and and really unfortunately we kind of have to do it in the absence of data. U but I think the variables are somewhat manageable in terms of what we have to consider. Uh Heath told us to you know conservatively expect an 18% salary or 18% healthcare increase. Uh how that breaks down is the school board pays all the increase. It would be an additional $1.3 million to the school division.
006So the healthcare increase, if the school board decides to pick it all up, if it stays at 18%, it's $1.3 million. If we share the cost of the 18% increase, the increase to the school division is $1 million. And then we we spread the additional $300,000 across all employees. On that note, I'll just go to that this right now. This next page I handed you, this was the paper we used last year to make this decision because where we were wrestling with last year is, you know, what difference does this make for the average employee when we're talking about our healthcare increase. So I gave you two examples. If you first take a look at the top dark blue box, what you see there is a teacher that's on step 14 on the current pay
007scale. Their gross income is $5,68.83. Everyone follow me? Okay. Their current premium cost, now this is for a single. So to pay for health care for them right now in this year on a single plan, $115.65. 65 comes out of their paycheck. So you take the gross income, subtract the premium, and their paycheck comes home at $4,95318 and they have a single plan for healthcare. You follow me? Okay. So the next two, the yellow boxes are the two uh possibilities, the two examples. The first example is the school board covering the entire 18% cost. So, with our new four 4% salary increase, that teacher moves from step 14 to step 15, and their new gross take-home is $5,3008. If the school board picks up the entire cost of healthcare, their premium stays the same at
008$115.65. So, their total take-home subtract their healthcare is $5,1843. and their raise from this year to next, healthcare included, they get $231.25 more in their paycheck next year than they do this year. Okay. The next example is if the school board decides to share the cost with the employee. Again, their take-home is $5,3008. their healthc care goes up to $13647, which makes their total take-home $5,16361. And their total raise this year over last is $21043. So, what that means for that employee is the difference of about $21 in terms of take-home. Now, that difference is for a single plan. If you take a look and Jen did a great job of creating a table in in the slide that talked about healthcare. I think it was slide six in our presentation maybe. No, I'm sorry.
009It was not slide six. It was a little further. Yes, I'm sorry. >> Sorry. I would love to see this like at a lower step where it's they're filling it a little bit. >> I don't want to say a little bit, but they're making less money, I guess. Um and at a family plan as well, but it's okay. Not today, but that would be nice to see. >> No, we can see it right now. >> Yeah. And then because don't we have it in that table? So let's let's see if we can pull that table up real quick. >> And before you go because I I'm trying to understand this table. Um it looked simple at first, but so this bottom total raise month that's at the top number right here, the very first monthly
010gross. Is that included in the monthly gross? >> Uh show me what you're talking about. >> So right there for the middle one, the yellow, you see where monthly gross 5,300. >> Yes. And at the very bottom, total raise, but the total gross raise is that not 23125 included in that 5,300. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, so, so the best way to look at that, if you look at the dark blue above, that teacher, that same teacher we're talking about this year takes home gross $5,68. >> Yeah. >> You see that? >> I That one's easier, but this one messed me up a little bit because the raises at the bottom when it's already included at the top. >> It's already It's in that top number. >> Okay, that's all. Thank you. Yeah.
011>> Yeah. >> Boy, I had a question. Um, I've only been on the school for what, three or four years, but I don't know historically. Um, has it has the premiums always increased by this much, this percentage, or is this something more recent? just >> it's usually from what I mean they range that >> I don't need it. I'm just trying to think of like if we set uh way back whenever we I started you know like an are we there yet? Like because if we keep every time we keep getting these increases, if we keep paying them, it's going to break the you know, I mean, I would love to be able to do that, but we need more money. >> No, that that's a good point because what you're saying, so way back
012when these were set before we were all sitting in these seats, those percentages were not 88% for the employer and 12% for the employee. As the school board every year continues to take on the entire cost, the percentage for the school board increases and the percentage for the employee decreases. So to your point, if we could if the school board continues to take on the entire cost moving forward, I mean it could, you know, escalate up into easily the 90%. You know, also what concerns me about this, and you guys might think I'm way off, but I feel like these insurance people, they see a trend with us, and so, oh, they're paying they're paying the hole. They're paying the whole and now we're going to increase it. So, they'll still accept it because they're
013just going to make the teachers catch this. And then next year, it's going to go up again, and we'll pay the whole thing again. They're just going to keep on doing this. >> By all estimates, healthcare costs are going to continue to go up for for a decent amount of time. So yeah, I I think whether it's the employer or the employee >> and and you know I do Heath doesn't work for Anthem. He Heath is, you know, works for us really. But I think even those that aren't in the healthcare industry will tell you that the process we're going through right now of it continually ticking up. And then also in in a more micro view of it, we usually get a very high estimate on the front end. And then we get a
014number back that that is not as high >> which which is why Jen provided the next example on this page which is a 14%. Um, if you look at that second bullet in the healthcare section there, it says 14. So, we we went as far as to say it might be 14. >> I think last year we had they told us 16, then they dropped it down to 12, didn't they? >> They told us 20, I think. >> Yeah, they told us 20. Okay. >> And then it dropped down to 12. >> I think it's going to be 12 again this year. >> 12 or 14. Um, I would suggest that we do consider looking because we've been saying this for the past three years since I've been on the board that we want to
015start looking at another opportunity for healthcare or just pay attention. >> You mean >> because I don't know if we have any other uh we have any other people offering us, but we're not looking either. >> We are. He's looking. I mean, I I'll tell you right now from what he's been able to assess, number one, his first strong point to us right now is that we don't look right now like a very desirable group to adopt. Does that make sense? >> Maybe. But he he represents only a handful of insurance companies. >> No, he he can go out he he can he can work with any insurance company. >> But does he? Um I I don't I mean he he doesn't work he he's not doesn't work for health care a health care company.
016He can go solicit a request from anyone as far as I know. Now there's there's only certain healthcare companies that you know work with schools and take on schools. >> Yeah. >> Um so I hate to take money like we're going to give you a raise but you're going to get pay more for insurance. But the these numbers look good. The difference is $21, you know, but the more if it's a family, it's more, you know, whatever. And $21 might be a lot to, you know, a single teacher. >> I feel like triple for the family. It's probably going to be close to $70. >> Actually, I think it was close to 100, wasn't it? >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm torn because I I want to do this, but at the same time it's gonna we're
017going to have to give up something else one of these times, you know, one of these years because we continue to pay it. So I >> now are our raise is bigger this year than than we have had in previous years. So that's something to consider because I think your point is exactly right. At some point we're not going to be able to keep towing that line. >> It ends up being the same as last year. So when we are looking at the um steps and the salaries for neighboring counties um that doesn't tell us what other counties are paying towards their health insurance. So if um the numbers that we're looking at are they competitive with the other counties or does that put us at a any bit of an edge? >> I think
018we're ve Yes. I think we're I think it gives us an edge and I think we're very competitive in terms of what I've seen in our surrounding counties in terms of health care plans and and also what we pay in terms of the premium. I think I think we do pretty well in that in that venue. >> But you're right, it's not easily seen when when it when you're talking about when you're just looking at salaries, you know, >> straight up salary numbers. It looks like King George is lower than we'll say Stafford cuz they're the highest overall. But then does Stafford make their employee pay more of their health insurance? So is more of their um their monthly gross pay being taken out by that whereas they wouldn't get as much of a gouge
019here. >> So Stafford $21 compared to $20,000. [laughter] >> It's not they're not feeling it as much. They they they're making close to $20,000 more dollars a year >> depending on what step. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um >> but they have a lot more to deal with too. So >> but then also to Colleen's point about looking at other companies. I know he's looking at that. But if anything else in our daily lives increased in cost 10% or 12% year over year over year at some point that cost gets you know >> unsustainable. unsustainable that kind of growth like we can't see that in the housing market. It would just collapse everything. So >> I'm just looking at that just from a practical standpoint of that kind of uh crease increasing every single year. That's
020that's a huge increase. >> It is. >> So I think an important decision that we have to make tonight is is what our approach is. and and unfortunately we kind of have to do it in the absence of data. Now if the number comes in lower, take a look at that bullet. If it comes in at the example is 14%. If it comes in at 14%. Now the school board covering the entire cost is only 1 million compared to the 1.3 million. And then if we share the cost with the employer, now the school division is um paying $850,000, right? Versus the original $1.3 million. >> No idea when these numbers are going to come in. >> We were told January 31st and I I both Beth and I reached out to Keith today and
021he said across the Commonwealth right now, no one's getting their renewals back yet. I mean, if we I don't know if I can't even say this, but if we largely agree on everything else in this budget and this is the last thing and we get the final numbers, can we get together and talk about it? I mean, instead of deciding tonight or is that is that too much? I I feel like we're all on the same page. We're all kind of talking the same. And I know Carrie's her question is going to be what it was last year was are we looking at other I'm not saying that we need to switch insurance companies but maybe they need to look a little harder how we can lower I know they are cuz he Keith said
022something on programs that we can offer but that wellness program didn't really he didn't it didn't sound like that we can utilize that as well as like other bigger corporations can where we can get our our staff into like health and wellness programs and that lowers their premium >> if they're involved in it. >> Yeah. >> I I wish he would look a little harder how we can say yes to that somehow >> to the wellness program. >> Yeah. Something that was help because it's really a it was a handful of of staff members that are using the health insurance at such a high rate. >> It's about half of our our So it's about >> 30 I thought it was 30 out of seven oh how many do we have enrolled >> in our
023healthcare program? So of our 700 employees it's about half. It's about >> and like 30 of them, wasn't it? 30 or >> 38? >> That used over 125,000. >> Yes. Yes. Are you talking about the high claimments? >> Yeah. Cuz that's what he was focused on saying that's what's making it go up go up go up >> because of October. So, um, if you're not in, you can I guess my question is, uh, can people not enroll in this health care program and then they don't have that premium being taken out of their paycheck? >> Yes. >> Is that what you're saying? >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, that's a good point. If if they don't if they do not take the health care plan at all, then you would take let's take the darker yellow
024section. You would take the $231 raise and add $115.65 to their raise. So if they don't use the healthcare, am I saying that right, Jen? Yeah. Then then they're in then their raise would be about $3454$46. So looking at it on a macro level, if everybody elected to take the health insurance, would their overall premium be less? Because then we have more people paying into it that aren't using those benefits and we don't have as many the ratio of people who are using a lot to what is >> Yeah. I don't know if they're going to do it that way. >> I'm just asking I'm not asking to force anybody. I'm just >> It's like I hate being forced to do, you know, pay for something I don't want. So, I'm just trying to get
025an idea. >> That makes sense. >> But is that how it would work with in this uh like for the programs that we've got? >> You mean next year if we had more people prescribed to our healthcare if we would get lower cost? >> No. >> Darn. >> Yeah, I know. [laughter] >> And to be honest with you, these rates are actually these premiums are not bad considering what's going on in the world right now. Um Yes. I I can tell you that when we talk to folks that come to King George, that are in King George, that have been elsewhere, we offer very good health. >> It is good. I'm I'm dealing with it myself now. And so to see these the cost of it, you're not going to go anywhere right now and
026get lower rates. It's so expensive right now. >> This is this is not even like I can't find these prices anywhere outside of a >> like a government or school county thing. >> No. If you go out to a single on on the >> on the private market, >> no, you're you're paying very high premiums. >> So, it is a benefit when you talk about us being competitive in our surrounding school divisions. Now, it's not one that's always, you know, front page news, but I can tell you if you shop it, it's it's we have very good healthcare. So, Mr. Frank No, I'm just I'm just saying we have to approve this on the next meeting, which is the 23rd. So, we got from now until the 23rd to get something to come to insurance.
027>> So, what we can do is if we want to table that decision right now tonight, I can keep you guys in the loop on any updates. We can make a decision. It's really going to crunch us on on time, but I can I can totally understand the desire to want to make that decision with some firm numbers. So, is that is that the decision on healthcare right now? Collectively, >> I I I would agree. Yes. >> Okay. >> Because I think Mrs. Cleveland would like to be there on the voting. She absolutely couldn't because of work. She's not even in the state. >> Okay. Um, moving down. and that took us on a on a a a good conversation, but if we continue on the notes sheet, uh so that on the revenue side,
028Jen has done a great job of of really understanding and appreciating where revenue stands and where it's going to look next year. Um based on basic aid funding and rebenchmarking, looks like we're going to get an extra $1.2 million from the state for those two reasons. This this is just basically the general assembly making adjustments to the way public schools are funded. Uh and and it's a windfall for us in that respect. We'll get an extra $1.2 million, which is honestly why that local request is is lower than it's typically been. Um the second bullet there is is what I just mentioned. the the request right now uh to our county, to our local government is $2.1 million. And I've talked to a lot of you guys about what those big ticket items are uh
029that contribute to that $2.1 million as obvious obvious the lion share of it is compensation. So, we're we're looking at an average about 4.1% salary increase, which I think our staff will appreciate. We've adjusted compression. Uh the second thing that's a big factor there is the question about healthcare and we'll we'll table that right now. Uh budget builder is the third big pillar in in that budget request. You remember we're at about uh just under 1.5 million. It's about 1.4 uh in terms of that request. Some of those things in there are one-time expenses which um we'll talk about here shortly. Okay. This >> 2.1 we're asking back from the county. Sorry, that's pretty much what we didn't spend for last year. Is that what we're asking back? >> No, that's that's uh that's a
030request for additional funding in this budget year. So, um what that basically is is is uh onetime expenses, but also continuing costs like salaries and things of that nature that we would need $2.1 million additional from our local government right now as this budget sits. >> Yeah, I was I understand that. I was asked like last year we remember when we didn't have money we spent and so we asked permission to get that back. >> That's the fund balance. Okay. >> So I'll talk about that next. >> Thank you. >> Um so I I'll stop right there for a second and answer any questions about the $2.1 million request to the county. So again, when we make this budget whole and when we sign off on it, what we're going to deliver to the county
031is a request for additional funds in the amount of 2.1 additional additional local dollars. Remember, right now there's some variability in that number. And quite frankly, knock on wood, the variability is in our favor. um that $2.1 million is assuming an 18% healthc care increase that the school board has entirely adopted based on those numbers right now. Okay. So if we make a different decision there that 2.1 decreases. If it comes in at less than 18% that 2.1 decreases. Um the fund balance right now we know that the fund balance is $3.7 million that we didn't spend in fiscal year 25. Before I jump deep into that conversation, there's a possibility of lowering that 2.1 with some of the one-time expenses that we have in this FY27 budget request. I'll talk about that when we
032[clears throat] get to it. Okay. Mhm. >> But I is is there any questions about that that $2.1 million request? Is are we good there right now? >> And as I said, I think, you know, I can't speak for the future, but it it there's a strong possibility that that number could decrease. >> Okay. How do we how do we get the board of supervisors to you know because TC the whole time he was there you know you're spending 54% of our budget and actually uh we're getting 44 million I think it is or about 44 million from federal and state and the county is only putting in the other to make up the 72 million that we need which is about what 39 9. >> Yes. 38. Yeah. >> 38%. >> Which is right
033around the local composite >> but it's not 54% of it budget. It's only 38% of the budget. And you know >> so so the fuzzy math there and TC's not there anymore. >> But then you talked to the board. You kind of >> I think I think for the most part they understand it now. So, so the math there was that, you know, the county would take in our federal and state funds, consider it >> revenue, >> and and then say that we wanted 54% of their total revenue based on the fact that they also have the state money and federal money earmarked and on on schools. So, it's not 54%. Right. So, if you really, as your as you just pointed out, if you take out the federal and state funds that are automatically
034contributed to the school division, uh, and take a look at the amount of money that the locality provides to King George County schools, it's about 38 39% depending on the budget request, which is which is I think right around our local composite index. really most school divisions across the country, I mean across the Commonwealth >> pay more than the local composite index. Um, and we we had those numbers at one time. So, I can tell you that our local composite index is about 36%, we're at about 39. That's that's well within what is paid across the common. Um and and right now that that number has a strong possibility of going down. So any other questions about the total number? I do want to talk a little bit about the fund balance and where that
035sits right now because that contributes back to this conversation. >> So in our 2 by two, uh Mr. Frank, Scott, uh Sully, and Kathy Bender were all present. Uh and we had a very good conversation about fund balance. Right now the fund balance uh the money that we did not spend in FY2 5 was about $3.7 million. And as I explained to to our board of supervisors members that night um when we present a budget estimate on the front end similar to this budget, it's an estimate of predicted costs. there are there's a lot of variability in in those costs. I do believe with with Jyn here, uh she's going to tighten up some of that variability as much as she possibly can, but nevertheless, you can't perfectly do it. I mean, there's going to
036be variation in salaries. There's going to be variation in where we hire a teacher on a scale, variation in who chooses our healthcare and who doesn't take our health care, variation in the amount of diesel fuel that we use every year. I mean, there's so many areas where that number varies. So, as a result, um, in terms of fund balance, uh, it was a good year last year. It was a $3.7 million savings. So, um, following that conversation with our board of supervisors members, I thought they were very appreciative of of the conversation and the approach that we've taken in, um, requesting the fund balance back from them. Uh upon leaving that meeting, the request was, and again, this is just two board of supervisors members, was to prioritize a list of one-time expenses that
037we could use uh for this year's $3.7 million fund balance. And I think if you look at the list that we've compiled, it's a list that's beneficial to not only the school board, but the board of supervisors as well. So, it's that last handout that I've provided you guys that I've kind of broken up into three categories. Uh, the first one is in our current fiscal year. So, again, we're talking about a total of $3.7 million as a fund balance. In this fiscal year, we've included four things that we would like the board of supervisors to consider. Number one is uh the local share of the state bonus. So currently right now in Governor Yncan's budget now that may change he has provided in this year Governor Ynan similar to you remember last year it
038was a similar situation where in his uh budget he provided a bonus this year and it may change he's provided in FY26 a bonus with a local match requirement. That was that was the bonus last year. As it's written in the current governor's budget, it's 2% of their base salary. Okay? So, every employee, it's 2% of their base salary. That may change, it may not change, but as I'm sitting here talking you to to you today, if that makes its way all the way through the 2% or excuse me, the local match that we would have to come up with, and again, I think a lot of school divisions are going to struggle with this, but it's a great use of our fund balance. >> Yeah. So $448,000 would be the local requirement for the
0392% match for for the for the match on the 2% bonus in Governor Yncan's budget. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. I I just did it at 52,000 and it was $1,200 or $1,120. That's at the lowest. >> Right. So now that might change, it might not. But as I'm sitting here this evening telling you that the budget we're working off of right now >> because didn't we split it last year? >> Last year was total last year was just a a base uh you you worked with it last year. >> Last year what they did was um they knew that school divisions could not come up with the match. So they waved the match and then they said you can take that pot of money which they've just which they've just given you for
040SOQ funded employees and spread it out between all your employees. >> Yes. Okay. what they've said is 2% but then they've said they've given school divisions an out and said if you um have completed an equitable action of 2% over the last two years so instead of 3% 3% which was the minimum requirement if you if you did a total of eight over the two years instead of six then you you can qualify for that budget money and that says to me that then it's unrestricted and you can use it how you wish >> but if you didn't do that if you didn't do that. You have to have a match. >> Yes. >> And so we're a wait and see right now. But in terms of the fund balance, it would be a good
041use of it. >> So we expecting a state bonus as well or is it just at the Okay. >> Well, then yeah. Go ahead. >> Yeah, it's it's a it's a it's a a larger state bonus and the 448,000 is the 448,000 is the local match required to receive the state bonus. >> Okay. All right. Uh, in this budget year, as we did last year, when it comes to fund balance conversations, we like to, uh, reimburse the activity fund. That's the same amount as last year. Uh, so again, this is cost like graduation. This is other costs that they accumulate at the building level. Uh, we have an estimate for snow removal and school nutrition loss because of the winter storm, $63,000. All right. So, the way that breaks down, as we've been able to
042figure it, is about $50,000 of loss revenue from school nutrition, uh, based on nine or 10 instructional days because the 10th day was the asynchronous day. And it was a total of about $10,000 for snow removal. Originally, it was going to be $18,000. Uh they ended up doing the high school, the middle school, and some of the bus garage. So, it wasn't the full amount. Uh but we also rented those two excavators. So, it looks like that's about a $10,000 uh setback for us in terms of snow room for that one store. >> Dr. Boy, I'd like to I was going to say this in my comments and didn't do it. Uh, but a shout out to Bill for recommending Burgess to us and then a shout out for Burgess cuz $10,000 for what he
043did out there was really a reasonable totally agree. We we couldn't we couldn't have even gotten back to opening school if it weren't for Burgess and and Bill's recommendation to reach out to them. So, yeah, it was a godsend. >> Welcome. >> Yeah. So, as you all know, we always carry lunch debt. This is a conversation every year. You remember Anita comes forward to us. And I won't get on my soap box tonight about how that happens and how I feel about how that happens. Uh but nevertheless, and and if anybody wants to ever hear my soapbox speech on that, I'll save it for another night. But we're carrying right now $198,000 of lunch debt. Uh, Miss Miss Anita comes forward to us every year and asks for us to consider ways to cover those
044costs. She then reaches out to local churches and civic groups and any organization that's interested in helping. I think this is a a worthy cause to help with that if we certainly can do that in this in this uh budget year with with fund balance. That's everything in FY26 uh that we would like to consider. If you look at FY27, uh what you again see is four items. So the first one we know about the history and social studies curriculum is listed at $686,000. Uh we know that in our budget estimate there's a certain amount of money might have to help me with this, Jen, that we have to put forth for textbooks and expenditure. Go ahead. >> Uh the state gives us revenue for textbooks with a required local match. And then that's going
045to be one of those things at the end of the school year we're going to have to certify that we spent that money on textbooks. So we looked at what was in the budget builder to see it includes textbooks, online programming, that kind of thing. Um and we looked to see and we were pretty close but the $668,000 will take us we won't spend enough of the state and local money. So reducing it by $156,000 still leaves us in compliance with the state. That makes sense in terms of the amount of money that the state provides us in the local match. So in other words, with fund balance, we can request $529,615 from the fund balance to pay for the history and social science curriculum. The remainder would come from required state funds that we
046have to spend on >> okay [clears throat] >> curriculum uh in in this budget request. And again, all of these numbers that I'm mentioning right here are in our FY27 budget request, which as a result, if they're satisfied through the fund balance, it would decrease that $2.1 million by a certain amount. Uh, King George High School camera and NVR upgrade again was in the budget. King George High School laptop replacement, $120,000 in the budget. We went through these last time when we presented this door repair and replacement of 45,000 in the budget. All those would decrease that number in the budget builder by those respective amounts. Dr. Boy, we've talked a little bit, we've seen [clears throat] the results uh from down at Northern Neck about cameras in all the classrooms. is that can [clears
047throat] have we figured what we going to do there as far as a budget? >> Yes. So, we have um right now Hillary and John are looking into that. They've got two quotes that they're looking into right now. Now, we didn't put those as you know this conversation has come up since the initial budget request. >> Um so, I would be interested in where you guys stand on how we want to consider that moving forward. the two requests right now. Uh one is from audio enhancement which is a new company. Uh those cameras have more um a better ability for instructional purposes. So not just like security in a classroom but the vision the ability to uh provide playback to provide audio um resources those type of things. Uh that looks like it's going to
048be somewhere in the ballpark of $500 to $700,000 to cover. Uh I think the estimate was about 93 classrooms at the high school. Um the number from our current vendor uh in terms of uh cameras, I think it's APV, I might have that wrong, but I think that's who we currently use for cameras. Those cameras are just the security cameras. Like we have no audio function. They don't listen. Those are just the security cameras that we have in the hallways. That number looks like it could be somewhere between $400 and $600,000 um based on their current cost estimate. Now, none of those are included in FY26, but they could be included in the fund balance conversation if that's the board's desire. >> My question was one of the big ticket items was the server. Does
049that estimate from them include the server to store all the It does. >> Storage isn't part of the conversation, >> right? That's not as bad as we thought then. >> No, I I think yeah, we were expecting a much higher number. >> We're talking 93 >> 93 was the estimate John had on additional classrooms that we need to have a >> and that's how many how many cameras in each classroom? >> One camera in each classroom. I would say um for the rest of the board who hadn't seen that in action, maybe when we when you take your next field trip, we've already been there, but maybe we can arrange another one for the other board members to see how that works and how advantageous it would be and hear the the success stories. >>
050Yeah. >> That we heard. And >> maybe one of those trips we're taking too may have a similar technology as well that we could, you know, maybe some of those board members could see it as well. Did we have a number on that um for the the cameras in the classrooms >> that it would cost right now? The two estimates we have they're they're a relatively wide range. They're between >> audio enhancement is between 500 and $700,000. It's a rough estimate right now based on 93 classrooms, one camera in each classroom. And then the current vendor we use with the current cameras at the high school, again, 93 classrooms. They believe it'll be somewhere between $400 and $600,000. >> Okay, >> Dr. Boyd, I'm back at the top, but this activity fund reimbursement, what is
051that again? >> So, each of our schools has an activity fund, right? This is the conversation we've had about um >> Yeah, I got you. >> Yeah. So, so, uh, some of the common expenses I always bring up are the schools are responsible for paying for things upfront that we usually reimburse them for. >> Okay. >> Um, graduation is always one that comes to my mind. That's a big expense that they pay for upfront. Uh, we try to reimburse them so that they can for for expenses like um referee fees and uh, stuff that, you know, really doesn't contribute directly to students. if we reimburse them for some of those high dollar expenses, referees is one of them. Security um that we pay for from our local sheriff's department, some of those things if we
052can reimburse the schools, then they can focus that money on kids equipment and things like that. >> At first, I thought when you said security, I we pay for them to come to like the games, but you're talking about in school security from them. >> No, no, I'm we pay for them to come to games. Yeah. So, so like right now if we like for example a football game on a Friday night, we might have depending on the game five six deputies that that we pay their hourly rate. So, you know, depending on what their hourly rate is, you know, if we get Sheriff Giles to come to one of our football games, the hourly rate is is pretty high. Um, yeah. So, we pay that right now. >> Maybe we could do like a
053big muscle dad mentor program when we come in. [laughter] and save us some money. >> Yeah. I mean, we appreciate having having a >> No, I know. You know, honestly, on a Friday night in King George, where where else would you be? I mean, it's that is the hub of activity in King George on a Friday. So, anyways, >> and it is an opportunity for the community to get to know the local law enforcement. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> And and usually those deputies are our SRO's, you know, which is double benefit. Yeah. they get to see the kids in the evening. So, [clears throat] how would you guys like me to to consider and handle the the conversation about cameras right now in terms of the classroom? You know, I I did say, you
054know, it's it's less than a month ago that we kind of saw this, thought it was valuable. I I think we all believe it's valuable. I think there's there's in full disclosure, there's a number of stakeholder groups that I would like for them to weigh in. You know, parents, um, students to a certain level, teachers to a certain level. Um, we do have estimates. It can be part of the fund balance conversation which would move the project forward very, very quickly. Um, it isn't something included in our budget request right now. So, I think that's part of a consideration for fund balance conversation. You know, when we're asking for something from our board of supervisors, that request would be asking for something new. Um, not something and not something that that we're really kind of
055pulling out. That makes sense. Mhm. >> I think the fund balance area would be where we need to go there because we're not asking for more from them and board of supervisors. So, and and it'll get us much quicker much quicker. >> So, are you saying right now that we you would like to consider it in this fund balance request or next fund balance request? >> I'd like to see it as soon as possible. That's just one person, but that's just >> No, I think the sooner the better in my opinion. >> I'm with Ed on that one. Um I'm kind of of the two estimates you gave us, it sounded like the one with the audio gives you more for the amount [clears throat] of SP um the amount of money you're spending. >>
056So even though that's the higher one, um also it sounded like it's possible to um if a student misses a class day, they could watch the video. >> I think that's a possibility. I don't want to go out on a limb and >> I don't know, but it's certainly a possib I think the audio enhancement company is one that's more geared towards >> the um instructional value of what they provide in the classroom. The the other estimate we have is is a security company that that provides security cameras. Um, audio enhancement does stuff like um they have the lapel mics and then also the um students that are hard hearing. They have the the the thing they wear around their neck so that they can hear the teach better teacher better. They have classroom audio
057systems that are set up similar to in here. Um they're they're a more instructionally geared uh >> is is one of them what we saw down there the same company or have we reached out to them or do you know? >> I don't really know exactly what they have down there. My impression when we were down there is that it's a security. It's it's more like uh the low >> has to Okay. >> Um well, I'm safety and security is like my number one thing. So, I'm I'm all about it. I don't think >> I think we need to be really careful while we're and and I'm sure you're going to look into this cameras in place because it'll take a student about five minutes to figure out >> that I'm, you know, if I
058stand over here, I'm not on the camera, >> you know. So, >> so in in terms of this funds balance conversation right now, I didn't do this on purpose, but honestly, [clears throat] if you look at everything here, it kind of adds up to $3.7 million. If we are to consider making the classroom camera project part of this fund balance conversation, >> what are we going to do? >> We would really need to I I think fairly remove $700,000 from this request. And again, this is all based on the assumption right now that the board of supervisors awards us this fund balance. You follow me? >> Yeah. Because we're only we're only talking one two. >> Correct. >> Yes. So >> So if the decision, you know, is to award us the entire fund balance,
059which what you have here is is about 700 or excuse me, $3.7 million in expenses. I I really haven't covered that last section yet. That last section is uh our CIP projects that are listed as urgent. So, you know, every year we do uh a CIP uh request. There's three categories for CIP projects. Urgent means we need them done now. Necessary means we're going to need them done within 1 to two years. And future means that it's we're letting you know that here in the near future, you know, five years or whatever it is, we would need that project completed. What I've done is listed the projects that are listed as urgent in in the fund request in the uh fund request school air handlers. Handlers. What is that? that's part of the HVAC system.
060Um I think those are um Buffalo air handler units that uh are very old at this point that that are be in need of replacement. >> So I have a question about that too. I remember back during CO we spent a lot of money to add something to all of our HVAC systems and all the school. Is that part of this >> here or is that part of the cost in there? >> No, that's not part of the that's a component of the HVAC system. So, um if I remember correctly, that was when Dr. Benson was still here. >> Uh that was um >> VA Vaves or something. It had to do with the variable air control that was um you're going to have to pardon me. I don't know this very well, but it
061but it was these it was a louver system within the current HVAC system, HVAC system that allowed for air control within each classroom or each part of the building. Uh those were updated with COVID money. Uh that last little bit of of um ESR money, I think is what it was. And that was when honestly it was right around when Dr. Benson was leaving. But these air handler units, I think they've been around since the '9s. these Buffalo air air handler units in in King George Elementary School. I I will say that these projects, these capital improvement projects, we we reach out every year in in the CIP pro process. Every county in the division does and they request these projects. They're not always satisfied and they're not always a part of the conversation for
062the fund balance. So, if we don't include something in the fund balance, it still goes through the CIP process. It it can still be approved by the board of supervisors. It just means that it's coming from other money besides the fund balance, which is other money that the county has to come up with. So, >> which one are those five things that are there? Um, PTOIC Elementary roof 800 >> and and school bus refresh 650. Which one of those can we put into the capital gains instead of putting it out of fund balance? I mean, we put both of them >> Yeah. >> there. But which one would you recommend that we do >> through the CIP? >> I mean, so that we have the 600 or 600,000 for the cameras. Which one? the one
063for 800,000 or one piece of 650. >> So, so if we were to emit one, >> yes, >> then there's a likelihood that it won't be satisfied. There's a likelihood that it won't be purchased. So, so for example, like if I were to tell you right now that just for sake of argument, let's omit the school bus refresh, right? Then now that strictly goes through the board of supervisors, they know what they've funded and potentially they decide this year they're going to pass on the school bus refresh, which means we don't we don't purchase whatever this covers. I think it's something like three buses this year and and retire three three older buses. Um that's the example with the school bus refresh. If we were to look at if we were to take out Tomic
064elementary school re uh school roof replacement, we know we have leaks in Tomic Elementary School roof right now and we go another year. I mean that's so hard to say. I can't predict the future. But that's what we would do. We would we would put it on the CIP side, hope that it gets satisfied. If it doesn't, then we're going another year with without a roof replacement. So, it's a hard it's a hard it's hard to say. >> The board of supervisors are aware that elementary is often they're so good and quiet they don't get as much attention and so Huh. >> I was being nice but yes and um so maybe we could communicate with the board of supervisors because I think if like Mr. Davis saw that he would fight for that PTOIC
065entry roof to be replaced sooner than later. Do you see what I'm saying? Like I think we might be able to but I don't want to take that off unless it's guaranteed because we don't need leaks and roofs >> because [clears throat] if they see school bus refresh, they're going to in their mind because they're not in it every day. Like we just gave so much money last year for school buses. >> They do every year. >> Yeah, I know. We buy what two or three buses every year and rotate them. >> Yeah. and and retire the oldest. Yeah, we'll do that every We'll we'll you know, if you skip a couple years on that, then you're stuck in a year where you've got to buy six, nine buses. Yeah. It gets very expensive. >>
066But we don't have to just do the CIP plan. It's the whole thing all the way up. They're It's a It's like slum picking. >> Yeah. It's hard, right? >> Yes. >> Yeah. I was just picking the big items here. We could put off the security cameras till the next year and budget, you know, budget for it. I'm just, you know, with way things with the way things are trending. >> I see. Yeah. Or we when we get to our meeting with the board of supervisors, kind of give them an idea of what we're trying to do. And if they say no, then we just put it on the CIP plan >> for next year. >> Yeah. >> So, leave this as it is. put it on our next CIP and and our next fund
067balance conversation is what you're saying in both places. >> What I'm saying is I guess leave it as it is, but when we go to the board of supervisors meeting, tell them what we're trying to do with cameras and see if that's an option. >> Okay. >> Do you know what I mean? Like do you agree with that? Cuz I think I think having cameras in the classroom would combat a lot of what we deal with in disciplinary hearings and different things like that. I >> I don't disagree and protect our teachers and things like that. Now again, this is this is all based on assumption that we get our fund balance. >> Mhm. >> Right. >> And that's not confirmed. >> Yeah. It's not confirmed. >> But you did a pretty good job. [laughter]
068>> Last I I think good job. >> Yes. >> And again, it's not anything that I did. I I think it's the relationship right now we have with our board of supervisors and the relationship the school board has with the board of supervisors and the approach we're taking to being fiscally responsible with our money. >> There's going to be money that goes back and and you know >> I I think if you recognize that it's money that's going to go back and we could contribute towards these bigger ticket items. See right now many of these items on this list right now benefit if if we were to If they were to satisfy everything in the FY27, that middle section, then that $2.1 million goes down that we're asking for. If they were to satisfy everything
069in the CIP plan, those urgent projects, then that's all money that has been contributed to the school division that now will pay for the CIP projects that the school division needs. So now they can turn their effort to everything else that's needed in the county and use it for CIP projects that the school division isn't asking for. So I I think there's a there's a mutual relationship here, a symbiotic relationship that benefits us and benefits them um if they allow us to have our fund balance back. Not to mention, you know, what it means for my staff to be able to save money appropriately the way that we're that we want to save it. not June 1st, spend it down as quickly as we possibly can for things that we don't need. This approach is
070one that really kind of provides us and and the county an opportunity to use money for bigger ticket items uh that we couldn't do otherwise because we only operate on an annual budget. Unlike the county, they have a fund balance in the county, right? They have a piggy bank in essence that has millions of dollars. School divisions don't operate that way. So, we have to come to them for these big ticket items. But if we can satisfy those through a fund balance conversation, then now we've been fiscally conservative. We've purchased what we need to purchase and as a result, we can afford some of these bigger ticket items. So, I think it's kind of a win-win. >> Is this >> you said it would go down if like any of this was covered any of
071these three tiers. So, if they gave us our fund balance, the 3.7 back, would we be still asking for the additional two? No, >> we would be we would still be asking for some of that too. >> Some of it, >> but not all of it. >> Okay. Cuz only some of this is in that budget. And this is extra. Most of this is extra. >> Exactly. Right. >> Would it be decreased by that 769 615 >> potentially? Yeah. >> Yeah. Right. I think um I don't know how the timing of this work out but you might consider sort of a layered kind of funding approach thinking about that way because you know there's some flexibility in the health insurance there there is the general assumption that there may be more state funds um particularly
072I know there's some legislation for um funding for atrisisk students so there may be more state funding and then the fund balance. So, it's almost hard to decide until those other things come out, but I don't know if the timing of that will work for your decision- making. >> I know it'll be tough timing because we won't know what's going on in the state level till mid-March. So she she's so I I do believe that there could be additional state funds for at risk is a big conversation right now on the state. >> Is that what she said? At risk children. >> Yeah. For at risk students. So so in essence what that means is we get more state funding at 2.1 again is it could also go down. >> Okay. >> Again. So you
073know one possibility is I don't know all these things are so important. I I don't want to put anything. It's a difficult thing to say, but >> you know, >> cuz the ones that you can kind of play with aren't going to make that big of a dent by pushing it aside. >> Yeah. >> The ones that really we can't afford to play with >> I think Kathy's suggestion is the right one is is we let the board of supervisors right now know that we're interested and they may be interested in the idea of cameras and classrooms, too. We know we know what it potentially could cost and we'll we'll see where that conversation goes and and ultimately worst case scenario is it's in our CIP request and fund balance request for the next year.
074>> That's good. It >> also gives me a better opportunity to kind of vet this with stakeholders. Yeah, I >> think when you talk to whoever talks to the board of supervisors, assume we all will just let them know the level of issues that we're dealing with and why it would be beneficial. Um, >> yeah. So, where we are tonight, we we uh we'll hold on the healthcare conversation as it sits right now. We're going to move forward with this fund balance request to I'll reach out to Mr. small Nick and let him know where we are. And we'll continue to have this conversation in our 2 by twos and and hope for a motion on the fund balance relatively soon >> and from the uh board of supervisors. >> Board of supervisors. >> Okay.
075>> Yeah. Is that Say that again. >> The you're you're saying hope for a motion on the fund balance. That's from the board of supervisors. >> Correct. Um and we're waiting on healthcare numbers is as [clears throat] long as everyone's comfortable with the numbers in the budget. Uh then we'll move forward with the 2.1 knowing that that number could potentially uh decrease based on many of the factors we discussed tonight. There any other um any other things you guys want to talk about in terms of budget picture? right now. >> I looked at all the things that, you know, we usually look at all the details and everything and I thought to myself, what are we going to take away? There's not nothing, you know, I mean, I think we've done a good job of
076we we've provided a very fair. >> Yeah. >> Now, we talked about new positions. You said you're not there's no new positions that are going in. So what are you going to do about the math for the high school? What are you going to do? >> So what we're going to do is through attrition right now mainly probably. So we'll shift existing resources that we have. We know that our that our enrollment is decreasing, >> right? >> We know that's going to provide some opportunity for shifting of resources. Um in fact I can tell you Dr. Burns already has a plan for for at least one math teacher that I think will satisfy part of that request. We might need additional. Um, we have prioritized the new positions requested. Some of the ones that I've
077mentioned to you guys that I know we need are math at the high school, uh, English language learner teacher at the middle school, additional special education teacher at PTOAC elementary school. uh those that we know are priorities working with Beth, working with our principles, uh and as we have attrition, meaning teachers leaving us before we're hiring new teachers, we're going to take a look at um you know, if we have just for sake of example, if we have a pair professional or two pair professionals that resign and we don't know that we need another pair professional, then we'll will consider hiring a math teacher as opposed to pair professionals. So that'll all play out uh in the hiring season which begins you know April, May, June time frame. But as a result of our enrollment
078decreasing and and our ability to shift resources through those means we're not requesting any new positions. >> Okay. We've, and this is something not related to budget really, but it is. We We've gotten quite a bit of flack about this maths and we got some more tonight about this math program that's going out. Are we What's I mean, what's going on there? >> So, I'll see if I can get you guys an update. We've had a couple updates. Uh and and I'll tell you with the math curriculum right now, you know, when the state redesides the standards, we are required to purchase a state approved curriculum. The state approved curriculums are minimal. There there's like can't remember the number of math state approved curriculums, but I think it was something like four. Uh so we've
079got one of those four right now. Um, we're working with the the the SABS uh and then we're also working with professional development things on our end to see if we can implement this moving forward in a way that's a little more effective for our students because I hear the same things. I appreciate hearing from uh the student tonight. So, uh we'll continue to have those conversations at schoolboard level with with our math specialists. >> I'd be interested in knowing what class that student is in. Do you do you happen to know what grade? The reason I am asking because there's there's a theme and I I just if you can find out I'd be interested in knowing. >> I can get several emails from >> Oh, yeah. Yes. >> We have her name written
080down public comment. We can look it up. >> No, I don't think so. >> We can go see Are you talking about today? >> Yes, >> she was. She did a good job. And and the reason she can't come out and do a lot of things is because she does sports all the time. So, okay. You know, she's totally involved in sports also. But I've gotten several emails from her. >> She seems very engaged. >> Yes. Yes. A great kid. So, if if there isn't any other questions, um what we'll do next time, well, what we'll do between now and next time is hopefully provide you guys with some healthcare, some firm healthcare numbers. I'm going to meet with Mr. Smallnick and start having the fund balance conversation with him and then we'll move forward
081with the the requests that we currently have. uh knowing that some things may shift not on our level. We hope we hope we get firm numbers with healthcare and everything else but we know state numbers are going to shift and we know uh some other variables are at play. So is there any other questions >> about budget? No. >> Okay. >> Other stuff. Yes, >> madam chair >> which I don't know that we can talk about. >> I thought this was just a budget conversation. >> Huh? Yeah. Yeah, >> I was going to make them. >> Yeah. >> Oh, no. I was I was talking about the votech. Do we want to talk about that? I mean, we can't because we were talking about budget. So, >> so in relation to the bud I mean,
082this is a budget work session, but I mean, I'm open to >> and in relation to we have a meeting on the we're going 20th, we're going to Caroline. Who's going to go to that? Do you have the list? Rachel. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And I'll go I'll go on the 26 also if you could. You sent that out today. >> I'll do that one also if no one else wants to. >> Um >> yeah, that's a full day. That's it's a long drive. But >> yeah, threehour drive. >> But you're driving. [laughter] Happy vendor. >> We would need we would like to have one. >> It's We'll see if Mets wants to go to that. Oh, he can't do that. >> Okay. >> And then there's possibility a possibility for Spoty uh tech
083center as well that we're still trying to schedule. Ashville available on 20th. [laughter] >> I thought I thought you were the boss. [laughter] >> The chief of staff. >> [laughter] >> I make a motion to >> second. [laughter] >> All right. So, we're still looking for