001Hello everybody. We're going to get started. If you would please rise and join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance 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, we're going to begin tonight with our budget hearing, Dr. So, I'm going to introduce Mr. Andrew Cassell, our assistant superintendent for business and operations. Thank you very much. Here to uh run through the budget hearing presentation this evening. So, it's been a busy couple of months in preparing for this budget. Uh, as you can see, we've had a whole slew of presentations here at board meetings, at PTA meetings, and um, really we had some wonderful presentations again that highlighted different aspects of this budget. But tonight,
002I'll run through a brief condensed version of a lot of these things that were already discussed, but please feel free to go back and check out some of these presentations. It's mustsee TV. And of course the budget and trustee vote is going to be held on Tuesday, May 20th. So for the 2526 uh budget year, our tax proposed tax levy is going to be 2.49%. Which represents a budget to budget increase of 1.93%. Our maximum allowable uh as you can see is 2.68. Here in Seafood, we always try to relieve the taxpayer whenever possible. So you can see the history here, the last seven years. Again, whenever possible in a budget year, we like to provide as much relief as possible. And this year, we're doing that as well by not going to the maximum
003allowable. Here is a look at our revenue for the 2526 year. Of course, projected revenue. Uh we're on the cusp of a finalized state budget. Uh so either way uh we're looking at a much tighter year as far as an increase in state aid 8 in 2526 and that made this a particularly challenging uh budget to put together and and and proud that we're able to maintain all of our programs and curriculum programs and all the highlights from the curriculum team as well all the as well as all the upgrades that we're going to be doing uh despite that low number in our state. In addition, if you look at the red box with some of our other revenue, you can see that this is the last year the budget we're living in here in
0042425. They were able to use the reserve for tax reduction. Uh so that is now uh that reserve is now going to be depleted at the end of this year. Just a reminder, reserve for tax reduction was put into place uh 10 years ago from the sale of the Seaffort Avenue school. And again, we're only allowed to use that for 10 years. And this was the 10th and final year. So to relieve again the taxpayer and the community in such a tough year with state aid, uh what we decided to do is to use some of our other reserves. So we're using $350,000 from our TRS reserve and $275,000 from our EAR reserve to make up that $625,000 gap. And you can see our pilots went down slightly. our appropriated fund balance. We're still using
005a million dollars from that as well. So, we're doing anything possible to to help the community and maintain programs. Of course, here on the expenditure side, you can see uh some of our our major categories. And again, uh contractual uh salaries and and benefits make up the majority of the budget and some of the increases. Uh transportation also represents a sizable increase. The district recent rec recently went out for an RFP for transportation. Uh we had one proposal that was submitted and as included in this budget vote is a renewal for a 5-year transportation services agreement for all of our services that includes home to school, athletic events, field trips, and summer transportation uh with the educational bus company. Additional propositions on the ballot. Uh so in addition to voting voting for the budget in
006proposition one, we also have propositions two and three. And it's really important to again highlight uh as we've done numerous times throughout this budget process that these two propositions come at zero additional cost uh to the C for taxpayer. We'll be simply using some of our reserve funds to complete these important projects and upgrade our facilities. So, proposition two is we're calling the safety and security upgrade proposition. We'll be authorizing asking to authorize to spend up to $1 million from our capital reserve 2018 fund and that those funds will be used to install a door jar system at the middle school and high school. We currently just concluded the installation of our door jar system at the Manor and Harbor. Again, door jar system helps keep our students and staff safe. It helps maintain our
007single point of entry. It helps uh let our security personnel and administrators and staff know if a door other than the main door is being used for any reason when it shouldn't be. Uh so again, high uh safety and security item. In addition, security camera upgrades and additions throughout the middle school and high school is included in this proposition. And lastly, a new elevator andor major refurbish refurbishment of the high school elevator cab. Uh again, that is the original elevator at the high school and it is definitely in need of an upgrade. So, this is all in proposition two. Proposition three is our infrastructure proposition where we're asking to authorize the spending of $6.5 million from our capital reserve 2024 fund. And once again, these these are money this is money that we have saved
008in our capital reserve. It comes at no additional cost to the taxpayer. And these funds are going to be used to uh a complete rip and replace of the manor and harbor roof. And in addition uh to address water and drainage issues that are affecting the high school wrestling room. Uh we have a multitude of options that we're going to explore. You can see them listed here. that includes a subslab drainage system, interior ground injection, and excavating and waterproofing. Uh so we're going to kind of most likely do one of these items at a time to see if that alleviates the water coming into the building. Uh the nice thing about the last option is you know through excavating and and paving an area we can have serve two purposes to not only help the
009site from from water issues but also serve as an outdoor courtyard seating area for students. So this is proposition three our infrastructure proposition. Here are pictures of the harbor roof. Again um pictures kind of I don't even do it justice. There's uh it's it's it's a mess and and it's it's time. Uh so we're looking forward, just as a reminder, we look forward to doing the middle school roof this summer. Uh so this is the cycle that we have to follow at state ed. So we're asking permission to use these funds now for the hard manner and they'll be done a year later next summer just like we asked last year for the middle school and now we're getting to that finally this summer. So that's the way the spending cycles work in in our
010state. And here are examples of the mana roof. Again, couple hours after rain, it shouldn't be continuing to puddle puddle up and pull like this. Um, so again, it it needs to be done. And again, once again, this by by self-funding the roofs the way that we've been attacking this over the last two years, this is saving the district and taxpayers approximately $7.9 million just in interest that we did not have to go out and borrow these funds. So, that's really important to highlight. Again, also included in the budget, our 2526 transfer to capital section uh are some other projects. We'll keep Mr. pasta busy this summer. So, we have at the Manor playground, we have a turf replacement. We have money in the budget already from this year to do the one on the
011left. We're going to come back and do both of them together this summer. Uh we had some delays in materials, but both materials, all materials will be in by July. so that we can tackle both of these turf uh both of these playgrounds and turf them just like we did harbor last year and the front manor one the year before. We also are going to have an inclusive playground addition here at the manor uh likely between being sewing and this will enhance accessibility for all of our learners here at manner. Uh just to go back to the list, other other upgrades included in this is our CDP classroom renovation at the middle school, a high school cafeteria B renovation and a high school dust colle uh our high school dust collection system in our wood
012shop is faulty and not collecting dust properly. So that needs to be replaced. And lastly is the middle school library. And again you can see here the pictures do not do it justice. Uh similar to the manor and harbor how we did uh beautiful upgrades this past summer. We're we're excited to do some upgrades to our middle school library as well. So again, that's uh those are our major projects. Again, we're really proud of all these upgrades in addition to the incredible highlights that was highlighted by the curriculum team a few times now. Uh so we feel really great about this budget that we built given the restraints that we had and we would appreciate everyone's support on the 20th. hours of 7 a.m. and 900 p.m. here at the manor and as well at
013the harbor. Be happy to take any questions and comments. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cass. You have questions? Just a question on the 7.9 million. What was that again? Save the 7.9 million. Yeah, just so the feed at home so they could hear you. You mentioned that you save 7.9 million in interest. Explain how that works. Certainly. The question in case anybody didn't hear it at home or hear uh was how the $7.9 billion Let's go back to that. So, uh, when we did a when we had our building condition survey done over two years ago, it was it was very evident that all four buildings were in major need of a complete rip and replace of all four roofs. Uh, they're all overdue. Uh, several years ago, we the district,
014this was going back two to three decades, had done spray coating to try to extend the warranty of the roofs and they're all beyond warranty and beyond repair. So having four roofs that need to be replaced literally tomorrow is challenging. So there were two ways that we could do that. We could either go to bond and borrow the money and the way interest rates were we were getting prices of it would cost 7 borrowing 15 to20 million plus $7.9 million in interest that we would have to pay back over time. So we decided to take a more prudent approach of uh some using some of our reserves and self-funding it slowly. So we did we got had funds for our middle school roof. Now we earmarking funds for for our next two roofs manner and
015harbor and then the high school will come again likely in a year or two. So by doing it that approach we saved uh on paying that interest and instead we're earning interest by keeping our reserves in our uh New York class investment to earn interest. answer your question. Yeah. And um I just that that's a good question and segus into what I wanted to say which was that this is a great budget. Um it's fully aligned with our board of education goals. Um we absolutely commend you Mr. Val and Dr. the administrative team for putting together a really solid bud budget under the allowable tax cap. Um, so to be mindful to the taxpayer. Um, but really the strategic investments and savings over time have led us to a place where we are able to
016self-fund these really expensive projects that some other districts would not be able to do. They would have to go take a loan from a bank and pay 8% plus in interest and then the taxpayer has to pay $8 million in addition to the loan amount. So, uh, this takes a lot of forethought and, uh, deliberation and consideration. Um, and we're very fortunate to have a conscientious team, uh, a very talented team, uh, who can plan ahead and, um, you know, make these strategic investments that are really literally paying dividends. So, thank you. We could we we appreciate all of your hard work, especially as we are now winding down the um, the tour that you do throughout the district. So many presentations a lot of late nights. Um, and and we appreciate all of your
017hard work. So, thank you. Okay, that's going to conclude the uh budget portion of the hearing. So, I believe I need a motion to adjourn the budget hearing. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Okay. And now we are going to roll into our regular meeting and we'll start with Dr.'s administrative report. Okay. So, um, as is customary, I highlight for the board, um, when we have retirees. So, there are going to be celebrations at the June 11th board meeting where we'll speak more extensively about these individuals. Um, but I did want to speak a little bit about our two teachers that are on for retirement. Angela Fideline, who started with us part-time back in January of 1999, and then she became an elementary math teacher. um in 2005 and she's taught grades four, three, and
018two. Um I do want to also point out that Angela is one of those people that's incredibly kind and incredibly charitable and just has a really really nice group of children. So, um she will be deeply missed. Also, um retiring this year will be Candace Kaplan. She's here at the Manner School. Um I I hope I mentioned that Angela right now is at the Harvard School, but um Candace is at the the Manor School. Um she started with us in 2001 as a substitute teacher. Um then she worked part-time for a while in 2007. She had her probationary position. Uh she's an elementary classroom teach. She was an elementary classroom teacher and right now she does our AIS math program and um she's run various clubs throughout the district um over the years as well,
019but again we'll speak more specifically about them. um on the 11th um aspell um the next two or two um retirees from the clerical unit and uh they're both near and dear to my heart because they're central office clerical and spent um a great amount of time with both of them. So um first Lori Provenzano. So Lori Prevenenzano um has been with us in the central office since 2020. Um before this she was the typest clerk in the guidance office at the high school. um since 2014 and prior to that she had actually started as an Eid at the Harbor School. So um Lori is one of the kindest, nicest people that more times than not you will see a smile on her face and she always has something positive to say to somebody. Uh
020it's it's besides the fact that she's super talented um in our business office, she's going to be deeply missed because she's a ray of sunshine every day. So um and then again more to be said by um others um on Lori uh Carolyn Deline as well. She's she's really close because she's um the other half of the office by um HR and Carolyn has been with us for a while. Uh she started with us in the between 95 and 98. She was a part-time clerical um aid and now then she went to become a technology aid in the high school for four years and then after that she became a tech clerk and she worked in the high school library and then she was in the curriculum office from 2006 to 2013. She went over
021to the business side and and worked as an account clerk and accounts payable from 13 to 2019 and then most recently um she's done the reporting for us and um basically been a jack of all trades um on the curriculum team as well from 2019 to 2025. Um she has a bunch of wonderful things going on in her personal life. She's uh she's got a lot of weddings coming up. She's absolutely a joy to work with every single day and she definitely makes us laugh. There's not a day that she doesn't make us laugh. So, uh she will be deeply missed as well. So, those are our four retirees that are on for board approval tonight. I did want to highlight a couple of other things. We're in the season now that things are happening
022every week. Um, so, um, you know, I'm not going to go event by event, but it suffices to say that all the buildings are happen right now, um, both on the fields, on stages, um, concerts, and of course the academic awards that, um, are about to ensue and academic ceremonies that are about to ensue in the month of June. So I did want to point out that we did have a a really nice point of pride in that on April 30th um we had two visitors. So we've as everybody knows our elementary schools are habits of mind schools of excellence and the author and creator of habits of mind Dr. Bennall is um now in her 80s and is vivacious and amazing as she was 20 or 30 years ago when I first met her.
023And so she was here with her colleague Allison Zamuda because they're actually looking at um an AI platform for habits mind that can be used by teachers and students and when we went to the conference to present in Rochester last month um they said you're doing really cool things will you help us will you be our beta group so there were a bunch of teachers uh students were fabulous fabulous in the concept of this product. But um it was a really nice day and then um Ben and Allison had a chance to spend time with our students. Uh they came and they saw some programs here at the manor. We would have gone down to the harbor as well. just we ran out of time and it was just a really nice day of um
024just really having a lot of fun celebrating what we're doing and thinking about the next level of incorporating those those traits that make individuals more effective learners. So that was that was super cool. Um, I do want to also point out that um, the other night we had 21 students that had their that participated in the athletic signing um, celebration. The booster club does an absolutely incredible job with this. I you just walk out feeling like you just want to go back to college again. It's a really great job and I thought um, they changed it up a little bit this this year. The coaches were able to speak a little bit more about the individual athletes. was very personal, very lovely, and I can't thank the coaches, Mr. Whit, um, Miss Naval, and most
025importantly, the booster club for putting and, you know, of course the athletes and their parents, but the booster club for putting forth such an amazing night and event. Um, as everybody knows, right now we're in the throws of state testing, um, grades three through eight. Um, both of our elementary schools, we had done a we're in the throws of math right now. I did also want to point out speaking of math that we're at the end. So I'm for board approval is um is a suggestion for who what our new math program will be. It's called illustrative. One of the nice things about illustrative is it speaks to some of our other major initiatives that we're doing in the district. So the NWA data speaks to illustrative and then some of our programs for both
026enrichment and support also speak to it. So, does as well as Mac. So, we're really excited about multiple platforms that will be working together to provide students with appropriate challenges for whatever level they're performing at. Um, and then again, something hugely exciting, we have two wonderful donations tonight for the board to accept to scholarship funds. So, the Bonjouro family, um, Mr. Bonjouro was an alumni of schools and very generously is setting up a very substantial scholarship fund. And from that scholarship fund, they'll be two students that are each awarded $3,000 scholarships each year. It's for students who would like to pursue a career in the in in a trade industry. And then there is another scholarship, the Margaret Heckler Memorial Scholarship, that's in the amount of $1,000. I think it's just absolutely phenomenal when people
027want to continue to give back to the next generation of learners and those that are going to be the leaders of tomorrow. So, we're really most appreciative of that and really excited about that. And that concludes the administrative report. Great. Thank you. Okay, thank you for that. Uh moving on to some regular business. Um, I need a motion for agenda item 3A through E2. Move it. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Okay. This is the resident comments section of the meeting. Would anybody like to speak? Okay. I'm just going to read this and then I'll give you the floor. Okay. In keeping with its philosophy of open communication and informed decisionmaking, the board of ed welcomes input from the community. However, it is important to note that while the board of ed meets in
028public, it is not a meeting of the public. Respectful input and behavior by each member of the community is appropriate and expected at all times and should observe the following rules at board of education meetings. The board of ed will listen to comments and input from the public. Debate between members of the audience and/or board members is inappropriate and will not be permitted. The board is not permitted to address personnel or individual student matters in public. No person shall present orally or discuss at any board event meeting charges or complaints against any individual employees directly or indirectly. The speaker shall identify themselves and confirm the residency as Seafford within the Seafford school district. The normal time allotted for individual speakers shall be 3 minutes. The board may in its discretion decrease or increase the time
029allotted for individual speakers. To allow for public participation, a period not to exceed 30 minutes shall be set aside as a specific agenda item during each regular and special board of education meeting. The period may be extended by a majority vote of the board of with all that. Hello. Please state your name and confirm you are a resident of Seabird. Frank Dean Dean N. Uh I've been a resident for 44 years. Um my question was actually on the budget. I don't know if that was my opportunity before to ask another question or is this allowable at this point in time? Sure, you can ask a question. Okay. The the we received in the mail a Seafford school district budget notice. Put a lot of financial information on there. Um one of the sections uh breaks
030down the spending by administrative component, program component and capital component. I noted that the budget for this year versus the budget for last year on the administrative component was an increase of almost $700,000 and almost 10%. I was wondering if you had a breakdown of what that represented and why why it's such an increase. Did you have any other question? No. Did you have any other Okay, you can have a seat and maybe we can Thank you. Thank you for your question. So, so Mr. Dean, all of those materials are on the website um within the budget section, but we'll be glad to we don't have the breakdown for you tonight, but we'll be glad to give you a call tomorrow and we can we can address what some of the increases were and why
031there were increases. Okay. I mean that's that's something that's something that I think the taxpayers of Seafood would appreciate that kind of information and not have to go someplace else to find it. It's a rather substantial increase 10% when cost of living is up 2.95 and I think it's something that should be provided to the people that are paying the taxes in this community. So I think it's an important information that I don't need a personal phone call for. It may be something that you should be presenting to the public so they're are fully informed about how the money is being spent. Okay. I mean, we have had several budget presentations that have gone line by line through the different codes, but um we'll be glad to break it down for you. Okay. Yeah, this
032is something that I just received recently. No, I I understand. I mean, and we'll be glad to explain it to you. Okay. Okay. and and the the white pamphlet that you're talking about there that's required to be sent to community members by law with at a certain time frame that's which is reasonable and rational right why you receive it when you receive it but a lot of what you're talking about is u made available to the public on the website um obviously there's always more that can be disseminated but we can't do everything orally so a lot of the stuff that you're talking about is available it's just on the website but the superintendent said she's happy to reach out to you um and have that conversation. Okay. Thank you. Are we doing the next
033few together? Okay. So, I need a motion for agenda items 6A 1 through six. Move it. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. And now I need a motion um to add to the agenda at agenda item 67 um the MOA uh between the district and UTS. Move it. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. And now I need a motion to approve um agenda item 6 A7. Move it. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Need a motion for agenda item 6B1. Move it. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Need a motion for agenda item 6 C1. Move it. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Um, and I need a motion for agenda item 6 C2. Move it. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. I need a motion for agenda item
0346C3. Move it. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. And I need a motion for agenda item 6C4. Move it. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Okay. Miscellaneous discussion items from the board. I have uh just a couple of things. Um really just items of note um for the public that um if you need to register to vote, the deadline uh for for the budget hearing uh for the budget rather, the deadline is May 13th. If you need an absentee ballot, um you can pick that up. They are now available. You can pick that up from our um district cler Carmen Blette. Um and um you can pick that up the day before if you're dropping it off, right? Um and you need to mail in your absentee ballot. You need to get it
035a week. You have to mail it a week before. So, that's that. Um, anything else from the board? Miscellaneous? No. Okay. And closing comments. Um, like Dr. Por said, uh, we are now in May, which is crazy time of year. Fun events, jam-packed calendars, concerts, academic, athletic awards, graduation, moving up ceremonies, all really great things. We love going to them and celebrating our students. Um, thank you again to the Bonjouro and Hegler families for their scholarship donations. Really very very generous and um uh it's great to um award some of our students in that way. So thank you to those families. And now I need a motion to anything different. We have to return to Yes. You have anything? Okay. I need a motion to return to executive session. Second. Any discussion? All in favor?
036Hi, thank you for joining us.