001Good morning and welcome to the August 22nd, 2025 meeting of the Spen Hill Community School District Board of Education. I ask that you rise and say the pledge of allegiance. 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. Thank you. Uh item 2.01 is uh public hearing on the 2025 2026 revised districtwide school safety plan. Do I have a motion to open the public hearing on revised district school safety plan? >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? Okay, it's 4 Z public comments, public that I'll enter a motion to close the public hearing and revise districtwide school safety. I have a second on that second. All in favor?
002>> Item 2.04 is another public hearing. So, do I have a motion to open public hearing on the revised district code of conduct? Do >> I have a second? >> Second. All >> in favor? I pass zero. You have any community input? Okay, I'll entertain a motion to close the public hearing on the revised district code of comments. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I pass. Okay, that brings us to 3.01 01 comments from the public on consent agenda item only. Any board discussion on any consent agenda items? Okay. Entertain a motion to accept the consent agenda as prepared. We have a second. All in favor? That passes 40. With the passing of the consent agenda, there's a new member of the board of education. Mr. Lewis, do you want to uh share? >>
003Yeah. Um, so before I mention Claire, I just want to mention we also have a new 12-month guidance secretary that was appointed. Um, she couldn't be here. Miss Marcy Rulo. Very excited to have her. Very excited to have a new fresh face in the guidance office when you first walk into the building. Uh she's going to be a great addition to the team and she apologizes she couldn't be here today. Um but with that we have our new inaugural student board member, Miss Claire Amos. You want to stand up? Stand up. Uh so [Applause] so Claire is a senior at Spacken Hill High School. She is currently our uh senior class treasurer. She's also the NHS treasurer and she intends to run for the student government uh position of treasurer as well in the fall.
004She does enjoy managing money and budgets and uh dotting eyes, crossing tees, and she's great at it. So, um that is why she continues to get elected in these positions. She uh is taking a number of AP courses this year, two Duchess uh community college uh college connections courses. Um she has a part-time job at Nothing But Cakes down the road. >> Cakes. That's that's a board favorite cheerleader. >> Yeah. >> Super committed to the district, positive, always smiling, uh friend to all, and I have no doubts that she will set the standard for what uh the student board member should be. She has full intentions of being uh open ears, open eyes, listening with intent, and providing feedback. and I think she'd be a great representation for the student body. So, we're happy to
005have her. >> Um, I'm just excited with this opportunity and get a chance to be here and be good. >> Congratulations. >> Since you were approved, you are now part of the board. >> Mr. Fuller, we have an empty chair. Should we uh >> I believe so. >> Mr. Louisations next meeting that'll be one of you >> and uh >> you might be on this side or other we got to figure out how to do it but there's a board member absent today so >> welcome very much looking forward to this >> yeah I I'm I'm very excited about this this is uh it's all new for us as well um but the the concept of having a liaison acting in student government that they'll present us with some of the uh different perspectives of
006the things that we do here at Spectico. It's going to be really interesting for us to the district long term. So, welcome to looking forward to it. >> Okay, that move on to item 6.01. 01 discussions and updates tech facilities in Boston. Okay. Okay. Just Uh so our first part we have PowerPoint to take us through a few uh some questions that might have arisen or just some items that we wanted to discuss. Uh first one should be relatively quick, but uh just wanted to make sure the board was informed of uh some things that are going on in our technology department. We have some retirements coming up um and we're just trying to uh reook up that. So Mr. >> Yeah. So to you you may already be aware of um for retirement. So,
007they're two pretty big things that um we're very much aware of. So, Kathy Hoey is retiring um that will come in March and Dan Bush is also retiring. So, they are they have been key people doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff. Um, so we're th those are retirements we've we've anticipated um and talked a lot about because we've got to plan well for that and we're anticipating a good succession plan um postings in early fall for both of those positions. But if they both, you know, just up and left tomorrow, we'd have a lot to figure out. So, um, looking at probably a slight title change, civil service title change for th both of those positions because their current titles really don't reflect well, um, the work that they're actually doing. Um, we
008are also planning to have a really solid overlap time um, so that Kathy is working with her replacement, Dan is working with his replacement. So, you know, it's not like we're going to, you know, have somebody hired a week before and then they leave. So, we know that transition time is really going to be important. So, posting early fall and then begin interviewing. Um, and they'll be in good shape, but they're going to they're two they're two big ones. Also, you would imagine um one or both working a day or two, a week or a month. after a new person's hiring if they're willing just be aware of that. I know both would be interested in it. One would be that would be probably transfer the knowledge. They both been here 15 years. >> Yeah.
009Yeah. I think she's 20, right? >> 20. Yeah. And you know, her job has evolved, I think, in a way over the last 20 years that nobody ever >> imagined when she was originally hired otherwise it would be different. Um, so and she, you know, that they both have done and will continue to do a lot of really good work to help it be a smooth transition. Um, good notes, good records, good good everything. So, we'll have a a good smooth hand. >> What is daily? question. >> Yeah, Val, take over. >> Okay. Um, just wanted to update you on a few things that's been going on in the business office. Um, a facilities update. Um, give you a status of where the assessment plan is, an overview. We were asked um a lot of
010questions about school lunch. So, we're planning to give a wonderful presentation in October. And I just wanted to kind of give you an overview of what that's going to look like, the information that we're looking to present to you and then kind of give you a update on the financial plan. Next slide. There you go. Facilities. There's been a lot going on in the spring and over the summer. Um, as far as the fields, baseball and softball fields, um, the works that's been completed is, you know, pitchers mound, the batter's box, the infield edging. We've replaced the clay in the infield. Um, the air rating and the receding will be done this fall to keep those fields in in good condition. And also part of that was a boundary and topography survey that was done
011by Clark Harrison. um that those surveys have been completed and we're waiting for Clark Patterson to you know give us a formal document with any findings that they have as a result of those two surveys. Um some other work that's being done in the district is the outdoor classroom at Todd. That work I started I believe this week or last week. Um it's estimated it will be done before the first day of school hopefully. Um, but that's the estimate right now is to get all of that done before the first day of school. Um, it's going to be kind of pressure washed and aesthetic renovations, sand blasted, those kinds of things to make it usable um, space for the Todd students. >> Let me jump in. You might have noticed on your way in or
012or maybe notice on your way out, they've already uh done some work on it. Uh, I'm sure it's better already. uh shortened some of the sides to make it uniform. Um and it's going to be all cleaned up. Uh it will be painted. Uh it looks better. So I think it's going to actually look for parts um to actually be an outdoor classroom. You probably see before there's some outdoor seating there that that we had. Uh, and Dan has told me that they use it, you know, especially probably this time of year out there. Um, so that that is coming out better than than I probably even imagined when we saved that. So, and I know the history of that. So, that used to be used to be uh what do you call those class
013modular units there? Um, they actually stayed on our grounds even though we weren't using them. It kind of became the what's the favorite word? You know it attractive nuisance. Is that the term right? >> Yes. An attractive nuisance. >> Um so it started to animals started to get in there. Uh it wasn't it wasn't controlled anymore airwise. So you know you got mold and stuff. Um so we were able to get rid of that uh during CO. Uh we were going to use the space. Uh but we held on to the the apparatus that's there. It was kind of the overhang to almost make it into a little bit of a I don't know stage amphitheater, which it's not, but um we've had it. It was there. So, this is just completing it, cleaning it
014up. And I think it's going to be a pretty cool addition that uh was probably not intended for its use, but I think it's going it's going to look nice. It's all been black topped and cleaned up. And then Val's going to talk about next makes it look nice, too. want to continue. Um the next thing that we've been talking about is the fencing. We replaced fencing at both uh 03 um secondary school egg and Todd and at Nassau. Uh the Todd was replacing that wooden fence that's back there. So that's now been all completed. And we also replaced the damage fencing at Nassau and Hagen. Um there was some damage to the fence and some of the poles. So all that work has been done. So those fences are now back into their original
015shape. So that looks good. But once you're coming into especially coming into um Nasson Hagen, those fences right there are now back to the way they should be. >> And you notice the fence after classroom starting to come together. um the tennis courts that needed complete resurfacing. So that's been completed. It's been resurfaced and washed um and also painted. So the tennis court will be ready for the upcoming tennis season. >> They look good. >> It looks totally different. >> So that's good. And the final thing that we did was um some of the outside steps that tied the concrete steps towards the back where the cafeteria is. Those were redone um with the steps were redone and there was new railing put in. So that all worked and that was mostly safety related work
016because the stairs were in um a deteriorating condition and we've had a couple of people actually kind of stow and fall on the steps. So it's good that that's now back into a It's no longer a safety hazard hazard. So back instead, >> any questions on the this slide? >> Um, we've been talking about an assessment of our facilities um over several meetings and what we've started is an actual facilities assessment project. Um, so far complete to date is CPL did complete the building condition survey and basically that takes a look at kind of the infrastructure of the building, a lot of the mechanicals, um, the outside the painting, you know, the outside walls, those kinds of things. Um the next step that we have started the department for you today is we've had a
017meeting um Anthony the facil the facilities director and I had meetings with all the building administrators and what they will be doing once the teachers and everybody goes back next month is they will be having meetings to document their individual needs within their buildings. So they're going to form like building level committees and just come up with a what's the laundry list of things that they think need to be addressed in their buildings um both on a physical plant as a you know HBAC or new classroom furniture classroom dynamic. um if they want their libraries redone. Those are the kinds of things that we're looking for the principles to come up with a big list. Um, also in progress is an energy audit that's being um, overseen by CPI. And what they're doing is looking
018at all of the energy usage in the district and hopefully identify where we can have some cost savings either um, restructuring things or replacing some of the equipment just to become more energy efficient. Um they'll also be incorporating into that energy usage for um when we get those electric buses and what those chargers will impact on the district usage for electricity and other power sources. Um the final thing that's kind of in pro process is we're also looking at a district level assessment. So that's kind of a a higher level scope. We're looking at from, you know, a top level what things that we think need to be upgraded, addressed, made more efficient. So these things that are all in progress will definitely overlap and they'll identify a lot of the same things but that
019will give us kind of the the first step at where we need to things that we need to address in the district for you know upcoming projects whether it's you know things that we do within the budget or if at some point we do another capital project. So at this point, we're just trying to get a monthly list of things that we can consider for those next projects. >> So AC inventory. >> Yes, >> those are things that we we have identified. There's a few things we've identified. The AC, the gym, uh the auditorium, the high school, um security cameras. We need to take a look at that kind of stuff. So those are things that you know have already been identified and will be in that list of things to be considered for projects.
020>> Is a big one especially uh bigger spaces and buildings it's already emerged but we still got to go deeper. That's something that's going to be a good cost in order to do that right units. Um but there's a lot of stuff that that we see as something that we need to consider due to the beginning of degree days to whatever it seems like it's getting warmer longer you know uh could talk about maybe some of our classrooms. So, um that's a big conversation and and uh minimal I think we really have to look at some of our larger spaces so that um but then a full conversation would be those spaces there will be different levels. >> So what would policy about? Yeah. So would apply to the gym as well because the gym
021is smart. >> Sure. Any any instructional space uh would count. Um the benefit of having bigger spaces air conditioning is is if some of the smaller spaces are too warm, we could move a few classes into one space. So the high school which is air conditioning, but we do need to, you know, upgrade that. um if there's a certain floor or a certain area of the building where it's really warm those classes that space and play. So that's that's the importance of having the the cafeter is not just the water. But that's another space that I hate to put you on the spot, but um my electric bills at home and at my office are through the roof. And uh I just I just don't know if you've >> had uh any thoughts about taking
022a look at how much more we're actually spending on energy and >> that's what the energy that's what the energy assessment is going to tell us. They're looking at what we pay for electricity and then they're going to actually look at you know the things that use the electricity and see if we can reduce cost by having more efficient electrical units and appliances. >> You have more options. successful part of it >> for solar and the effects of the solar we have already. >> Yes. All of that's going to be they're going to take a look at everything that we have and come up with an overall assessment for the district of you know where we can improve our things. >> Great. Dan probably knows this but when they do that um it actually benefits
023the district because we might have created more efficient equipment but it actually would be a savings in the long run because save on it. So, it's usually a win-win. You know, we will get uh we'll upgrade the stuff we have so don't break down and uh actually get savings. It's like buying new appliance one wasn't as >> Clark Patterson is doing the audit audit. Is that right? >> Um actually, they are managing the audit. There's um another company that they subcontracted in who's physically on site doing the assessment and that's his part and that was just part of the whole energy audit. Um when Timu came and he talked about the grant that we got from the state, all of that's going to be paid for by that grant, >> right? >> And they've done
024these audits in the past, right? So they've got some back some records and >> and you know be able to compare EPC. >> Yeah, there was an APC done I think maybe 10 years ago for us. So it's been a while since we've had an energy on it. The timing seems to be right for all this system. This is folding into our needs facilities assessment. Um any type of review we're doing talked about last year. Um but fold all this in look at safety. Jeff's not here but he brought that up. you know this this is going to be a major focus of our district this year and probably next year businesses but this will set us up for the future especially if you take the time to do it right right now you could
025jump in take the time to do it with a with a critical eye um this would set us up um you know hopefully for the next decade >> that was my question most of these Even if the commercials have like a long-term guarantee, right? They're guaranteed to last 12 years or so. I mean, with the throwaway culture that we have, like guy and I had two years later, it's obsolete. You need a new one, assuming that most of these things have some sort of like, you know, just shelf life. I mean, >> guaranteed. >> I'm very familiar with the high school when I was principal there. We've had a major renovation. Um but now that some of the things that happened with that being timed out week later was I don't want to speak definitely
026but I'm saying in my head uh you know you can start to see now it's you know 20 years you know later but um so yes you know like what we're doing now will be done again you know a decade from now you know and handle some stuff like that >> but it's not like a sevenyear guarantee and you probably will get 12 but you kind of a thing. >> I know that comes necessarily later when you're actually looking at those products, but you know, just putting it out there, you know, >> their warranties. Sure. >> Yeah. You want to talk about that at all? >> What about the warranties >> or just, you know, uh the big picture like she's saying like it's after we do this in two years, we're not going to
027need another air conditioner that we just >> No. No. I mean, even when we did the last capital project with the roofs, we those I think have 30-year guarantees. So, yeah, we will be looking at any major major renovations to definitely get the longest useful life that's the most practical for a school district because again, we're a small school district. Um the last project, capital project was $25 million, which is kind of big for us. So we want to make sure that when we spend, you know, if we spend that kind of money again, it's something that will last, you know, another 15, 20 years before we have to to do something again. Um because that way we can stagger when we will have these major things again. I mean the roofs, you know, we
028probably have another 25 years. So, you know, 25 years from start looking at roofs and in the middle of that, we'll start to replace things like HBAC and hopefully time it and get useful lives that we're not replacing everything all at one time. It'll be staggered. >> That's really useful life. >> You look the way we did. So hopefully the roof, you know, hopefully everyone stay hopefully you won't be on the board when we need new roofs, right? Unless you want to be. But um think about the parking lots. The parking lots were something that we were able to do via the last one. You know, we actually uh pretty strategically be able to get that done cuz no one ever wants to do parking lots. You know, it's not, you know, fun, but um
029we probably I wouldn't think parking lots would have to be done for 30 years, you know, actually I think the high school parking lot was original from when we did it when we when we just redid it. So, it's things like that. But now, so we don't have to worry about that at the moment, you know, but some of the Hback, some of the stuff that will emerge will kind of be their turn now. This will be a big this will be a big team project you know uh know principles are already working on it and trying to identify things in the building and you know every building will have to be involved teachers community board like this the school this is a a big thing for >> so much soccer field high school um
030are you thinking about that or are you going to leave it as glass? >> Nothing else. This is part of the process. >> Yeah. >> Would you think about doing that? >> I would imagine this all the stuff will come up through this process and we'll have to sit down and you know figure out how to prioritize and put your rise to the top and uh you know last year could be in there. I do know Marco was talking about something promoting something like that just recently. So, I don't know if there's something recently that happened or I know that they were doing something to it, but I have a followup. Well, I have another uh to add on there or ask, but it's just for my own application, like we use natural gas or
031using heating oil. How do we how do we find more efficiency in any of those units? And is that going to be part of the energy assessment as well? will be part of the engineering assess group and it'll look at all everything mechanical in the district and what it's running on and to see if you know if we replace anything what would be the best energy source for that. I know that everything is everything is being looked at. Um costwise, they actually asked us for a couple of years worth of electrical bills >> in order to to kind of see where we are now and see where they think we maybe find some efficiency, some savings. >> One thing just to keep our eyes on also, and I know that the city did this, but
032they don't allow green gas connections at this point by city ordinance. you know, there's a little bit of a push against natural gas, which not sure I'm in support of, but definitely is a much more efficient in terms of BTUs and dollars per FTU at times. So, be interesting to see how works. >> Okay. Yeah, they are in progress. I think they're hoping to be able to give us, you know, finish up their their work and start putting together the report um in the fall. So, they're looking at like I think an October, November timeline for that. >> Anyone else have any more questions on this? We'll go to the next slide. Um, we've been talking about school lunch a lot. Um, so rather than just kind of ask the question, answering the questions peace
033meal, um, I spoke to our food service director and we thought it'd be a really good idea to give the board kind of a comprehensive overview of school lunch. um from Lisa's perspective, what it takes to run the program both from a regulatory um aspect, nutritional aspect, um what the financials are in running the program. um looking at her staffing, looking at the current menu options, highlighting, you know, some of the things that we we've tried to introduce in the past couple years and then look at future considerations if we were to, you know, do different kinds of menu options. Would that necessitate additional equipment, additional staffing? So, we just wanted to give the board kind of this is where we are now. this is where um the food service director is thinking about going
034in the future and more importantly get your feedback you know as to what kinds of things you'd like to see um and so incorporate that something that we can work towards you know starting this year and you know in future years um I know there's been again a lot of things about the menu options and we have done some that some of the menu options We have also taken into consideration some allergy requirements. So, you know, we'll discuss all those things that we have done today and again definitely looking for your input and feedback um as to things that you would like to see in services program and you know how we can best get those things accomplished. So that'll be um that presentation in October. um Lisa French will and I will be doing
035that presentation just to give you guys some background and to let me invite you to >> if I could just you know Val just just mention that um I would appreciate I think it would be helpful if as part of that presentation you could try to address from your point of view and from Lisa's point of view what what uh if any problems you know you're you're uh identifying within the school lunch uh program because you know there's a a lot of talk about this. It's a public issue. Uh but we're not experts by any means, you know, in terms of the regulations, in terms of the financing, in terms of staffing especially. So, you know, I for one would like to know, you know, if we're going to implement any changes, what kinds of
036problems you're trying to solve because I don't know that that's clear to me. Um, you know, obviously people want more diverse menus and so forth, but you know, there's it's a perennial time of memorial almost is this year. Yeah, I'd appreciate some perspective from the inside, you know, what what you're hearing from students more broadly, you know, and from the staff and Lisa and your perspectives, you know, what what improvements you think really are are needed. >> Yeah. No, absolutely. I think that is definitely one of the things that we'll talk about um just so that she'll probably give you an an overview. and she gave it to me. I was a little bit depressed that for, you know, they always talk about nutritional requirements and I was always into depression. It was kind of
037like meal to meal, but what she explained to me is that there's like a week's worth of nutritional requirements. So that um there's a limit on the amount of sodium and the amount of sugar during a school week that she can serve. So, she's got to plan her week her meals in order to not only go over the daily requirement, but also not go over the weekly requirement. So, I mean, those are the kinds of things, logistical hoops that she's got to go through that she wants to talk to you about so that you get a better idea of what she's doing to run the program and the limitations on who she can purchase from and those kinds of things. you know, give you some operational insight and then go into, you know, things that
038we can do and we'll try to do to improve, you know, service and menu options, give some more diversity to the menus and get feedback. So, I know Lisa does meet, at least at the high school level, she does meet with the students um I think a couple of times a year to get their input on the meals on the meal options. And when she introduces a new menu option, um, her staff definitely tracks how the kids perceive it, so she can know if that's something that she should continue to use or if the kids are not really feeling it, you know, she'll try something else. >> When you go down the school lunch street, like it's it's broader than than but it's something that we should talk about when it does come up. Uh,
039this will be another big uh uh effort for us to to to do this uh correct. So a little bit like what you said, we need the whole picture. A lot of times we talk about one piece of screen versus so let's do it right. Let's let's have that conversation so that um the board could know the community could know what exactly goes into it. Um so school lunch is my 31 years and John's 30 years and almost 30 years. Uh, school lunch comes up a lot, especially when I was a building level person, you know, you'd always hear about school lunch in some way. Um, but that doesn't mean we we can get better, you know, and I think we've gotten better in the past when we got some feedback, but, you know, I
040think it's just time maybe for this comprehensive uh look. Um, you know, some the board has requested this before, you know, recently. Um so let's let's do it. Let's dive into it. And uh in the past Lisa has spoken you know some meaning about uh and you know there's definitely a lot to consume because everybody uh for school lunch that I think the board will benefit from having like a full presentation here asking all the questions and really trying to do something with that information. Another part of part of this that I'd like some uh information on possible is food waste. you know what what kinds of food waste issues I mean any large institution deals with this as a >> it's a part of the picture and yeah >> and Claire as you're hearing
041all this you could almost see how you could really be helpful you know throughout this school year facilities and stuff with schools and this so the timing of you being on here uh you know today you're getting off easy right today's your first day but uh uh you can kind of see uh your value to us uh as we kind of proceed. >> So I before we move on on that I I am an expert in eating. So, uh um I I would love to have some more conversation about the farm tot type of concept, the the integration of local partnerships and how we can even turn that into an educational opportunity as well because, you know, the the agriculture industry really could give us a boost in in uh in young folks having interest
042in it as well. So I I think it'd be really important to try to incorporate some of that into the discussion with people. So >> interesting you brought that up. Uh I can't speak too well about it because there's something that is so new, but we're trying to partner with county uh health association. It's the behavioral, you know, I used to say all the time. >> Yeah. um they are trying to start something in the community where where we have uh students help meals uh and actually using stuff that's local. Uh it's it's going to be a pilot. It's going to be small amount of people starting it in middle school. Um but shouldn't even mention it because it's so early. But it's just interesting how uh Dan brought that up. you know, we might
043have a little uh you know, looking at some possibilities with that pilot. I think our average students are going to be involved in that. Um so, uh that that could be something that could be interesting. could be different to what Daniel talking about, but but same type of concept, you know, trying to be local and not have waste, you know, do you know if any of our students uh participate in the postse? >> Uh they do. Um I've actually I have meetings over there and I've actually sometimes in the newsletter you see a picture of me with someone in their their chef. Uh I believe I had one last year, a gentleman. Uh so that we do um there's definitely a few kids who who are part of that each year. I don't know what
044it is right now, but um that's a source of input. Anything else for lunch? >> Finally, um the district financial plan. Um right now I'm waiting for my auditors to give me the okay that my 2425 numbers are good so I can update that plan. Currently the plan projections are really just based on um CPI indices and the exist and for you know the salary piece existing staffing and contracts. It's also assuming assuming that the district is kind of just go going to go go along status quo. Um, one of the things that I'm looking to do, especially because now we're into this whole um, assessment part of history is, you know, one of the results when I we get the results of the assessments, I want to incorporate those into the financial plan to
045give it a little bit more substance and meaning. Um, basically a financial plan projection should support the direction that the district is going. So using the output from the assessment and getting an idea of the kinds of things that the district is looking to do over the next you know 2 3 4 years those are the kinds of things that will be incorporated into the plan. So the plan will say well the district wants to do you know these five things over the next four years and the plan will say well this is the financial resources that would be needed to support that plan and that way we can evaluate whether it's realistic for the district to be able to financially support those goals and objectives. Um so one of the things once we come
046out of this needs assessment and some things are starting to kind of come to fruition the the numbers on on the financial plan will have a little bit more substance. The assumptions will reflect what came out of the needs assessment. um think a direction that the district wants to go. Additional academic programs, not only just, you know, the physical plant, but the academic programs that the district might be looking to incorporate into, you know, the student curriculum. Those are the kinds of things that will be incorporated into an updated financial plan so that you know the board and the district can say okay we're these are the things that we want to do and these are the resources that are required to accomplish that and we can take a critical look to say how realistic
047and feasible is it for the district to be able to financially support the goals and objectives. So that's, you know, that's where the plan is going to be. Again, I want to give it a little bit more meat. So that you know 24 25 right now we're still just kind of working with CPI and what we think the state's going to do as far as revenues and state aid is going to concern but once we get the um a little bit more meat and get some results out of the facilities assessment and then take a look and see if we want to do any additional you know academic related programs incorporate that into the assumptions and then do a financial projection to to say this is But these are the resources that are needed to
048support those kinds of objectives. >> Good example of that would be just part of that and then the facilities and these assessments. Yes. >> I think um you know just one of the things I was mentioning um in my in my own mind and starting to just bring it out to light, you know, basically over the time I've been on the board, I think our budget's gone up, you know, from 45 million to 57 million. I'd like to have in that financial plan because we're talking about districtwide goals and all that review of needs also just review of efficacy of what we've done to date that's been part of of the uh increases in the budget as well. No, absolutely. I mean, a large part of the increases in the budget, I mean, when I
049do my budget presentations, 85% of it is out of the district's control between contracting salaries, healthc care costs, um, Boseies, you know, Boseies, their budget is just like ours. Their budget keeps going up and they pass those costs on to the component districts. So I yes we can look at that and that's part of um the assessment that will be done to create efficiencies anywhere and everywhere that we can for that part of the budget that we that the district can control. So yes, that's definitely part of the the financial plan looking at things that we can identify going forward that will be beneficial both from a financial perspective, an educational perspective and an energy efficient perspective >> in all this timing is is again good. Um so our budgets have been less you know
050our taxes has gone up less than 2% over the past 10 years uh definitely the past six and we what we'll find is that we've become more efficient because uh the 85% that was talking about has been going up the higher% Okay. So, the timing of this is good. I think we're going to start to see this around the state county and counties is how sustainable is that model? I think it was good at the time, right? Control uh taxes and things of that nature. But you can't have the bills be higher than 2% and we increase under 2%. Like I think it's good. It's probably correction probably enabled us to become more efficient. Um so the importance of the financial plan is not only Dan saying it's also how do we keep doing that
051into the future because there is going to be a time you just logic um we and Val has done an amazing job with special ed wise and all that stuff with with cost. I think you're going to start to see some other districts really struggling with that and might go first. um and we're going to learn from them because I do think you're also talking about state aid um and the uncertainty of where that is. Uh there there's a lot that um I know that B talks about that all the time state aid projections and um something called foundation aid that was a little bit questioned this year but then everything was was okay. you know the governor ended up keeping it in a way that was accepted all of us. So this is something
052that we're going to deal with in the future the near future we have set ourselves up very well. Um but you start reading articles and all those things that we get these briefs a little bit about uh some districts that kind of gap soon. Any more questions or any of the slides? this one in particular anymore. >> So, another topic that has come up uh a lot and probably wanted to get some clarity and maybe even create something here today or at least uh find out if there's any questions that we have answered is uh we have a policy committee uh here in the district. uh Sandra put together uh some information uh regarding uh the a possible policy committee. So, you know, this is something for us to really discuss today. The action should
053come to uh consensus, you know, will start to uh put something. So, yes, we've been uh touching on this subject for quite a while and um so before before I started, I just went to different districts, called my colleagues, and just see how it's working. um I recommend that they need but basically what I've been doing is really working. So when we do get updates from from NISPA what I do is I send it to the attorney uh for review and if there's new you know policies we do the same thing. So the committee also we do the same thing just as listed on this slide. Um so basically it would be a meeting um where we would meet and you know, their new policies, but there's a little bit more involved involved than that.
054It's just not um reviewing policies, could be new policies, and if there's no policies that are like in the hopper for like one or two, 3 months, you still need. Uh so, this is like a a commitment, you know, where if there's no policies out there, it doesn't mean that there's nothing to be done because there is there are policies that have not been reviewed in quite some time. So when the policy committee also will do obviously free time but it will also review uh your policy manual where um like I said it hasn't been done um and this is something that we've got talked about you know for quite some time it has not been done but little by little it's it has just in case you know we just want to make sure
055that everything is um so that's basically what a policy committee does. It's like two trains. You have the the ones that come out right now that we have to deal with and then there's the ones that you you you don't want to be too old. So trying to do both. But sometimes one trainer the other train. >> Um so okay so now here here's the big question which is um policy. So like I said with all of my colleagues it's really the same. So in other words I'll say you know who's on your committee? Um, and it's always, you know, one or two board members, you know, and I spoke about it like there's only five, so I know one or two. So, but that's that's the first question. Um, superintendent or does the district
056work? Of course, I I would be there. Um, and then other staff as needed depending on the policy. So, use Lori as an example. um if there's something related to special ed um you know she would you know possibly be there in the business office we would you know lock out to attend um you know I have to be honest with you the the code of conduct code of conduct that is a policy um you know maybe princip but these these are the key people that really to be there um the only thing that I'm also serveing with my cls is um it's committing. So you meet regularly or monthly, you know, every other month. If there's a meeting and two people are over there, you can have that meeting, you know, so that that
057week to the following month. So like I said, I have emails out to my clerks just surveying them say, "Hey, you know, how's it working? if you have, you know, 12 meetings in the month are are we right on target, you know, or is everyone, you know, participated because I think I would like to know that too because, you know, if you I'll give you an example, you know, walk through school district, their meetings are all on the website and then it's just it's a meeting and there's minutes and it's like a full long just and then but I want to see what the other districts are doing it too just so I have to say um so basically if we would have a meeting and there's like five policies to review we would review
058them and then you know if if everything's fine just like how we do in our in our meeting where you see the red line which is often the attorney um and you will approve it all the committee will all agree that these policies are ready for the first read and then the committee recommends these policies for Um so basically that's what does um it's great because you you see you know the policies you know and um so this could work. It's just that I just want to find out a couple more things um you know for my colleagues but you know for you have questions on it like in other words um you know there's a chair person you know you know so obviously you know I would do like you know agenda but there
059has to be a chair person we need someone to you know to commit to that um So Paul had other, you know, a couple of different ideas that, you know, could work as well, but this is all, you know, something that, you know, we can all talk about and see what works best for us if um and and it also dives into like reports, you know, like this report, you know, which is which is great, too. Um I've seen that done with other districts where they just do a recap. Doesn't have to be everyone, but it's something that is good to see. um in that. Um so this is where we are. Um so if you have any suggestions or you know open it up and see how you guys think of at least starting
060the process here. We're going to have to brief going to have to definitely brief them on this important discussion. Yeah, I thought I mean this this topic comes up occasionally at the Duchess County School Board Association meetings talk about you know the issues they're dealing with houses and my understanding is that some of the committees are the whole board space that's kind of how we evolve >> but I'm happy to bring this up and talk if I continue to attend those meetings um as anyone can but I'd be happy to ask these questions get you know some perspective from coordinators themselves works what obstacles and everything my assumption is the reason why we haven't had one of our size district so subset and get things done. Um, but I mean I think the board has
061really looking. Okay, it's good. We just need input on how we have. So some thoughts on on how how it should exist. I think the uh I think the suggested setup makes a lot of sense to me. I'd be happy to volunteer district about that as well. And this is something I think really helps the board members understand some of the the things that the administration has set out to do. It helps us understand those issues that might arise during the course of our time being. I think it's a good thing I'd like to see forward functioning the school board couple things to consider, right? Um, one way that I think one of the school districts attorney have be involved is if it's only one person or if it's two, maybe one of the people
062um, rotates per session. So, um, might be something to consider because I think each board member for every, you know, want to be a little more involved. Um, so just volunteers, maybe these one, maybe the other one rotates or maybe on one hunt. These are these are the type of things give us feedback on cuz then that might lessen the burden on you know if uh so whatever September is Joanne and the five she's going to come to meeting and the five things she's going to kind of become the expert on it you know and then report out at a meeting and then the next time with Rich and next time next time Dan that might help commitment I know it's sometimes tough with that, but that's only if that's something that you want that's
063just a suggestion that probably works for square five person. I don't know if that works. Um, you know, so I guess maybe decide do you want two or one and then once you decide that you want it to be the same person or people or you want to do that um each person um the only thing is is is those meetings would would be important to have uh time. It'll be timing because a lot of times things come, you know, like for example with the uh the cell phone thing that guidance came out very late. So you would have to emergency in order to get them using a Google meet or something. So some of that might happen too. So it might not be able to be just planned. Um but some things, you know,
064the cell phone based on the government's budget and I came late and this did that. So there is someness that would work but then there might be some that second thing that we would have to just adjust. I guess the question I would have is does every policy going forward have to go through first or could it be in this thing that comes out and is new and still just presented to the board without having So the thing is about so they will come out. So uh they sent out an update a couple of weeks ago. We're having a hot topic out there. So what they'll do is they'll send out information and say these are the policies that you know maybe are affected you know based on this new information. Um so I'm just
065really happy I do. So I take a look at the policies and say there's four of them. um send it to the attorney and some of them I know it doesn't relate, you know, to our district, but I still send it to the attorney. If there's information that needs to be changed, um then my guess is I would agree. In other words, the attorneys are ready to review it and then she'll have like the red line already done and then they will review it. Um >> we also so everything we don't just the business says we just take so everything gets removed. So often times it will be the attorneys always get it first because we don't want to review it if we're doing something that they say you know we did not do but
066again if it's a special ed thing then in our cabinet meetings or agenda we'll always say gives it you got reading to do >> and Laura reads it uh you know sometimes it's comes my way you have to look at it often times resources or something John's looking at it so everything gets reviewed do which this would sort of be what the policy committee would do. Um I mean I guess we could do some that Yeah. I don't know if we want you know I don't know why you would have a committee if you're not going to review. No, I guess my point was was if there was some emergency policy or something that the state mandated something that has to go through the community process. >> Technically, everyone has gone through a community process,
067but the committee wasn't built this way. So, everything nothing has ever just been put on something that always goes through some sort of review. Um what sort of happened is after we review all that we get to the whole board and you were almost like you were acting as a as a policy you get the first reading or you know perfect send it out even before all that which you started. Um so uh but everything would have to be important. Yeah. So so kind of related to that you know a question regarding logistics. So you know the way things been operating you know we here at board meetings but obviously there's a lot of work that's gone on prior to that and that's been during school day. So obviously I don't think but if board
068member or members were involved that potentially would present a logistical problem you know uh you know if the require if if the presence of board member or members on the committee necessitates meetings outside of the school day. I can see that being a problem for you. I mean, as you say, depending on policy could could require input from several administrators. Okay. So, now we're talking about, you know, multiple meetings a month perhaps, you know, requiring additional time on your part, which is to me it seems like a problem. Well, like I said, you know, some of them need monthly bon. So, um, and I can look at, you know, we're going to look at two years back to see how many times we've got updates from see um, you know, how often, but but like
069I said, also there's no policies to review. There's other >> Yeah, there's other ones. And that was one of the things that was brought up that there are policies that we have that we have not reviewed since, you know, some of them have a 1990 something date on them. >> I mean, scheduling logistic wise, you you could look at some districts. was on a certain day before um but then that would mean you know if there's someone we have to call in not not one of us principal or grounds or something you know so that's something to consider you know I don't know it's sometimes hard for everyone to get here at the regular time which is fine because we have our lives but you would do. We'd have to figure that out. So, that's
070a scheduling thing that would be legit. We could have it during the day if someone happened to be off or come in. Um, that obviously probably work best for the rest of the staff. Those are things we have to look at. This is something that the board is looking to do. So, we have really get your feedback on how you want to do that because last thing we want to do is do it then we can't have the meeting and this. So you want to kind of iron some of those some of those things up now with feedback. >> I would suggest before you know that I mean when I think two districts do before agreement and open that work it's only it's an hour you know maybe is that dependent on really you know
071policies. Only issue with that is if something needed to be on that board meeting, you know, uh so really if you're meeting before a board meeting, you're probably meeting for something to go to a future board meeting, which is which is fine. >> Uh but if you happen to meet the week before the board meeting, then that would make that board meeting eligible for whatever report you would have to give or whatever action might have to happen. So just there pros and cons everything. So, it sounds good to have it that day, but really then that would be for something uh which is fine. We just have to really be praying in the head and you see another I see value in the rotating idea and you know I also generally I think it's better
072idea to have multiple people rather than just one board member multiple perspectives Uh I've got both as input during committee meetings and and also in terms of follow up to the rest of the board. >> So people on the committee most people on committee would help um especially I mean we're all we're all kind of assuming that it will be a policy will be looked at and revised and approved all in one meeting. There may be some that are more complex that might more than one meeting of the or more or a more lengthy review from the policy committee. So I think having multiple people on the board especially if a conversation transcends multiple policy committee meetings to be able to, you know, kind of remember and reflect what has already been previously discussed or
073what the questions are that are still outstanding. So we don't need to make a decision today because Jeff is not here and so Jack has to be part of this conversation and making this decision. So thinking about starting this up to you >> cuz we we're capable of operating the way we've been operating but this is a h I don't want to have it addressed >> and Jeff was definitely >> so we could bring this out But some of those some of these questions will have to be answered who you know one or two can't be more than two just on this um how do you want to do rotating you want both to rotate one will rotate when stay when the meetings occur you think that would be best and what else is That
074might be it. So, are there any questions right now? So, that will be come back next week. Good. >> Not a question, not a question per se, but just, you know, sort of brainstorming a little bit about some of the possibilities that we discussed. I mean, I I I think it'd be helpful to have two members. uh and I potentially both rotate, you know, uh you could have a system where you have two members uh and one would rotate off so that so that one member would stand for two consecutive meetings and then and then you know there' be a rotating there. So coming in that would give some continuity but also some some flux and change some flexibility possibly. I mean this work >> I do think it'll be a stress on the same
075person welcome to take that stress like I'm fine with that but I it is uh I also think everyone wants to be involved so this might be a way to get everyone involved by it and actually part of the process say Joanne's not part of it and no one else is doing she's part of it really help the board become part of a little bit of what you're talking about you know getting that number one I think that might might help some of the things we talked about I never thought about the two with the with the you let the board's feedback on that what you said so having two people who rotate but you know for the first month one only one only goes to the the first meeting but the the other one
076goes to two meetings and then next one comes and that person stays for two meetings that's very interesting >> yeah we schedules for that to keep track of what's going >> and what but what I could see happening that would might be helpful with a system like that let's say it's Joanne that's the Joann's turn to come but there's just something she can't do. >> We're just going to swap her with Sasha and then Joan, I'm going to take Sasha's spot when when that comes up. It might just be a little Sandra work. >> Um, but that might give the flexibility for everyone's life in every one >> because I think they're at the last minute, >> Right. Yeah. And I think these kinds of things my experience always take a little bit because a
077little learning curve you know so being there for two meetings in a row would still take that a little bit and give everybody more exposure to the process more insight in the process might be more meetings early and once we get it down you know so we will talk about this again at the next meeting um we'll bring some of these concepts I'm hearing rotating I'm hearing this might have some links so we're not saying we're agreeing to that but we'll we'll kind of bring that concept up again at the next meeting um and maybe discuss frequency and uh other other districts what they'll do is they'll the board meetings are set just like have our board meetings are as a little no. I mean, I'm thinking that's probably the best way to do it.
078I'm thinking, you know, just get those on the calendar. >> Yeah. Once it's decided, it's good. So this next topic uh might be something we don't we we we actually wait but uh the purchasing policy uh was talked about a lot of of possibly looking at to see um if there should be a change on that specifically you know if we really drill down it was about the frequency I think of when we do uh some RFPs to some of our uh uh agent that we do, you know, architects, uh, attorneys, uh, and some others. So, couple things we can do here, and I'll ask the board. this could just be one of the first policies that the policy committee once we have it in place reviews and and does that or you know we've
079been talking about doing it so I didn't want to not talk about it now function the way we previously functioned in order to address it um so really I guess the first question is would you like this to be once the policy committee is established package then or is it something that you um want done sooner and if it is sooner we can really talk about it. >> So M let me jump in really quick. I handed them the policy that's still uh under review based on the order. So what they're seeing right now is a lot of red line from that. We didn't bring it for first read. Well, we just have to ask them about highlighted section included in this. Okay. Perfect. It's really um until we update this uh you know we
080really will move forward with any any RFP asking until we get this updated if we want to which I think timewise might be okay. uh about if if the policy committee takes a look at it and this is the first thing and then you know we're talking having a decision on this during this calendar year not the school year like if we would know what this is you know sometime in 2025 would that give us enough time that if we were to go out we then would have time to go out like how timely is this if we can get a decision on this to November. Whatever that decision is, will that will be able to be active? >> Um, yeah, that's November should be fine >> because that gives me more that gives me
0816 months to put out an RFP responses. >> But the RFPs only start early spring or was it before? >> Well, it depends on what the RFP is for. Yeah. >> Um, for any for things that like attorneys that work on a fiscal year, I usually do that in the spring so that they're ready for July 1. >> You need to expand that. You don't you don't do it in the spring. You start it a lot earlier than that, but we make the decision in the spring, right? >> Well, I I usually I prepare start to prepare the actual RFP in November, maybe December. come up with a list of who we will send the RFP to. It's usually sent out and advertised probably in January and then give them about um a month depending
082on what what the RFP is for. Give them about you know 3 to 4 weeks to respond and then we get those responses back get evaluate the responses. Some RFPs may require a site visit depending on what is like our construction manager might be a site visit whereas the attorneys or the auditors is not necessarily that. So those kinds of things expand the time frame for the RFP. So that's why we usually start I usually prepare the document in November, December so that I can get it out by January and definitely have you know responses in and get those responses approved before July one. >> Thank you doc. Um just uh first of questions you wanted to talk about this now or or this be something uh policy to reverse policy make a suggestion. Yes.
083>> Can I make a suggestion? It depends on the suggested smile that the revisions that they're seeing now. So that was based on the audit. So So we've had that for about a month now. So I'm just worried by the time we establish a policy committee like how important is this like the revisions that we have from based on Portland and if we wait to do how important is that we have to do this? um it's important that has to be done. It's the internal audit. What they're really asking us to do is to have the policy match the practice. And because that less frequently than every 3 years was a bit ambiguous, that kind of spurred the the discussion on how often we should do RFPs. I think it's um the internal auditors will
084probably be back late winter. So, I'm hoping that we would have this resolved by late winter. >> And if we're not >> or is the policy in place >> if we're not actually going out for an RFP, we're not >> Well, there are some that's okay. >> We can operate the way we've been operating for the ones that need to be done. I think the internal auditors one is up after this school year. So I will be doing an RFP for them just because the last RFP expanded or ended in the 25 26th year. So I have to do one to them for July 1st of 206 and that's not in violation of this policy. again less frequently than every 3 years. It's not less than 3 years. I think the question was do we
085want to put a definitive number in there like every four years, every 5 years? Can could you just point to the part of the the policy number three? We got a smaller version. It's on page seven. Middle of page seven. Methods of documentation. >> My suggestion would be typically the word basically the wording typically every 3 years but not more than five time. >> That would be my personal suggestion. Right. It's good for government accountability, transparency to the taxpayer, and it keeps professionals on their toes. And if we use a wording like typically every 3 years, doesn't mean we don't you can't do it after year two. You can do it at four. But once you get five. >> Oh, correct. I mean, that's Yes, that's always the case, especially if you know there's a
086reason that we want to change, >> right? Uh, I guess we need to decide is something the board wants to talk right now take that suggestion or or how we want to proceed with that back to I guess my original question to be established or this is going way of doing it um put something together. I was going to ask how many we have in the beginning. I don't remember our state. September just one in September and how many? Yeah. My concern would be yours too. I mean want to hand screen the process. I mean I just that's why I wanted to make sure I didn't know >> my question was when are the orders coming to make sure that this was done that first part um so I would suggest do the paper give
087us you know review it and then try to um find that we'll talk about the next point to try to um I guess then we could have a conversation and suggested something is like want to speak to a suggestion um >> yeah every three years but no more than five >> how would that fit into that paragraph so the district will typically rather than periodically or typically but not less frequently than every 5 years issue professional service. Is that how it would be? Yeah, it could be the district will typically issue special services. You also might want to look at wording when you say will be flexibility say should there will periodic >> it has will >> it says will but it says will periodic >> but this should open it up too >> that's
088something I won't put it and our attorneys about a busy >> say, you know, more flexibility have the better, but we also want to do what what the board is thinking might be a way to do both. I don't know that um something with both uh after we process this. That's to me that sounds like policy policy, but Like I said, whether it's government accountability and the transparency side if you have the will typically that kind of to me that kind of covers the you know should >> typically. Yeah. >> Sure. Yeah. I mean, seems to me the only real substantive change then is that we're seeing not not more than five rather than less frequently than three. But I do think we're typically there flexibility that so this is why we've been talking about
089this. But the but the no more than five does not responsibility. Once you get to five, you have to hunt. So it it gives an opportunity in year three, things are real swell and you just keep going along with it. But it also there could be a certain school year where it doesn't make sense to make a change. There's a capital project. Doesn't make change to change professionals and all of that. So it gives us a little bit of flexibility, but it also kind of meets that thought in my mind of a board member's term is 5 years and then that gives an opportunity for a board member to understand that request for the board of LSS and have some say in the professionals that represent the district. I just feel that in that makes
090sense. four come up in the past. So this >> so this would what we're talking about is essentially extending the window from 3 to 5 years. >> Depends. Right now it's in it's not really says do it before three or it could be we should do whatever. So we're just we don't even have to get into what it says now. We're trying to say what what do we want it to say? >> Um, and how flexible we want it to be. Right now, I'm just pointing this out. These are questions that we don't know if you remember I I'd seen an email about this before where I you can read that two different ways completely >> and we have, right? Yeah, it's either it has to be no more than 3 years or it's you
091shouldn't do it unless 3 years has passed and it's just it's too ambiguous. Yeah. >> So, we're changing it. >> It's just a matter of what changes. That's why I wanted to introduce a little flexibility with the 3 to five number. I thought that made sense for me. >> I really like that. So why don't we take a shot at at putting wording together? Let's send it to them long before the next board meeting, right? So then they can review it almost acting like the committee of the whole, right? Review the wording, give us feedback back, and then maybe have time to be able to read possibly have the first meeting in September. >> Yeah, I would think so. So the change probably goes to that that sentence. >> Everything else is already redlined anyway.
092So >> right and that will all the red line that is the order and then we just >> that was red line based on the old. So, we'll just continue with that. Taking the board feedback, put something together, and then we'll send it. All right. Any questions with that? So, we got a little more meeting uh our attendees. Um we've had a few meetings with our building and district administrators uh retreat quotes, you know, regular meeting and then also some retreats where we've been uh asking them to kind of discuss with us what they want to focus on next year and possible goals. Um had a pretty rich dialogue. Um last last time we met but really the first time uh we met um I just want to discuss a little bit here of work
093and then what here uh some hear from the board on um our discussion and work to see. So there's definitely some individualization that each building is looking for with certain uh goals for it. Perfect example would be high schools that have two new administrative or two people in administrative roles. Um so they probably want to have something around that. Um what really has emerged from from all this talk is artificial intelligence uh is really a concern by uh uh our building administrators, our district office uh as a seminary which said as a professor. Um, so that is something that has emerged as something that I think all buildings and the district as a whole would like to focus on and have a go around. Um, John or jump in elementary So that emerged. So you
094you saw a little bit here today uh project assessment facilities. um that's kind of emerged as as a focal point for every district office the board even I think you know requested that so that that AID needs assessment like John um two things that would all seem natural for us uh we're going to we're going to be doing it's not we have to do Um and then I think buildings will then have individual building uh things with the access generation which is another size. Um some buildings might uh utilize that to continue on. Um a lot of energy is continuing around that anxious generation. Um I think some of the stuff Some of the work we did last year has been attention. Uh I recently had a Google meet with an area principal who who's
095trying to emulate what we did last year. Uh bringing the focus of the district and trying to have those conversations and trying to use kind of our blueprint to help spread it. Uh I literally just got a I got a call yesterday or the day before uh to be on a panel uh because uh the state industries association is getting a lot of uh people asking you know how do how do we do this? How do we utilize this? So, uh, I and maybe someone else from our district will be on a panel or conference in October to kind of talk about what we've done and try to help the state. Uh, the elementaryaries I think really wanted to buy and some of the stuff you saw at the end there. So, I'm thinking one
096of the three could be in the building. Maybe not a district goal anymore, but I think you might you might see some still some more talk about that. Um continue what they started and then building. Well, I would just add really AI piece that and I think it's the perfect time. Two years ago would have been too early. A year from now would be too late. Like we though we don't have policy and practice stuff, we've done a ton related to AI, um, you know, I think about where we were as a district like the day after Jerry came the first time for conference day and then what a different place we were in a year later. So, I think we've exposed staff to a ton of really good PD. Marcel has really been critical
097I think along those lines and done great work in all of the buildings. So we know a lot more now. I think if we had done this two years ago we'd be changing everything. So I think now is like we're in a really good spot to do this work. >> If you remember some of the conversations I had before about how we try to implement PC really set the stage really set the stage two set the stage for aid. Um, we had Jerry in before people knew about Jerry. He's now a hard debt, but he's he's linked to us. So, we kind of he's actually coming in Tuesday. He's coming in Tuesday uh through the tech academy um doing a whole morning uh with those staff that want to go. So, that's a good point.
098you know, if we were ready to have this be a goal and to really flush some things. >> We're not afraid. Two years ago, I would have said I'm afraid of this. Uh we're not now. We're good. >> Yes. I need feedback from the board. >> Yeah, that makes sense to me. I mean, I think you're, you know, uh that makes sense. I mean this is there's a learning curve there that we've all been going through with with AI. It took some time to understand what the implications would be, what the uses would be. Of course, those are changing and expanding all the time. Um I I would say that from my perspective up to this point, you know, um well, I guess what I'm trying to say is from what I've seen up to
099this point, I anticipate increasingly a kind of AI clash, you know, in the educational world. And I think the perception has been not necessarily I wouldn't say necessarily here at spectacle but but I think the perception has been that in K through 12 world AI has been kind of embraced in a lot of ways and I think increasingly in the higher ed world it's being resisted so you know I see this even with students you know at the higher ed level already a kind of backlash or kind of skepticism about data but I think we're you know we're now moving into a world as you say in this transition ition where where students have been exposed to AI in in high school or earlier, you know, period levels now are coming into higher ed environments
100where AI has been really, you know, you uh in some cases quite skeptical. But, you know, also at the same time, and this is why this issue is so complex, you've got AI companies pushing the technology that act on students increasingly. I mean, at the end of last year, uh, all the major AI platforms. We're offering, you know, a higher level access, you know, free to students for the last month of the year, now starting again this fall. You know, these this is a competitive marketplace. These, you know, these these platforms are trying to push this on students um in ways that's that high schools are still really grappling with how to respond to um it's getting more and more complicated. So, so that's what I guess it's a clash from a lot of different
101directions, but I think it's starting to take shape. >> To be clear, we're not going to tackle the higher ed. >> Oh, I know. But that's where our students are going. You know, that's where our students are going. And I think that clash is trickling down into the lower levels since the page 12 should >> everything we've seen and we're going to learn more you know it's like the internet just came out going anywhere. No, it's not. It's complicated. Terrific opportunities, but also terrific dangerous. >> They've taken over software too, right? So, word, you know, it'll say it'll suggest how I finish a sentence. >> Pilot will take over Microsoft Word. >> It's been doing that for a while. It has been, but it seems to be like it's more now. It's really in your
102face now. There's there's consistently things where, you know, you know, download this accessory to as an app to help you with this software. And also, it's really interesting because to me it also stops the the focus of of what you're doing sometimes, you know, like because you might you're sitting there and all of a sudden you suggest All right. Okay. So, as a student, I'm not sure if I'm learning when I'm writing something, it's already given me that. So, I don't know like does Google for our Google Docs and everything like that. >> Is that already incorporated in there that you can't, you know, kind of control that or is that part of of the programs that kids use when they're writing documents? Now, >> that's a good that feature like that happens with me.
103I think I can turn that off. >> Yeah, you can try it. But I don't know like is that happening right now for students? I'm not sure. But I think we can control. >> Yeah, just thinking about right now for me when I think of how much you know box like if that's and I'm sure it can write something that sounds exactly >> on the Gemini. So you can click on it's in our Whatever waffle is there any waffle um Gemini there stuff happens all the time you type text >> do we have policies in terms of students using >> we would like to do all that with the school guidelines, drills, policy, procedure, whatever whatever come which we know beforehand. So just looking for feedback on on the goals because we will we will
104eventually take over presentation of uh those we want to district any thoughts. So AI, >> this is just what we had suggested as that's AI and needs assessment. You know, those two things we're really going to be really going to focus on anyway, but I think everyone and you know I appreciate your point about the timing. We know enough now we can anticipate and we need some things changing it's wait any longer would be too late. Yeah, I agree. There's something that just clicked for me in the last few months where I started to embrace it a little bit completely pushing it away and then I said, "Well, I'm looking at very seductive and I think I think it's because it's been so in our face, right?" Well, believe me, you know, I I don't
105want to digress, but you know, I I've read a lot about how seductive it is and some really compelling stuff by uh smart smart people who know what they're, you know, doing talked about the slippery slope and the way it could emulate the way you write. There's a creative writing professor at Yale who started using it, sort of experiment with it, but then ended up even as she was trying to be vigilant, getting seduced by it, you know, in ways that um was changing the way she started to think about her own writing and her own um identity even. I mean it's um the implications are just go in so many different directions and and yeah these I mean we're facing a competitive marketplace where people are you know are wanting students to use this
106stuff. So yeah it's high time it's a great tool. We want our kids to be thinking and using that brain >> to come up with all this stuff themselves. and you can use it as a tool. Help them understand how to use it as a tool, but you know, implore the concept of you being creative and figuring things out on the road. Yeah, that's I think that's so so to me I I feel like it seems that there's an app out there that you can upload your own things to, you know, research stuff we've gotten and my husband actually had it create a podcast for him disseminating all that information only on the information he uploaded to it. And it literally was two different voices talking back and forth about all the information that he
107uploaded. So he could just listen to the information that was having to sip through all those papers and everything. It was creepy. way one way. Oh, Jerry also >> it was I mean but again it's it's interesting in terms of of a tool you know if if you're you know as a business person or whatnot if you're traveling and you can set that up for periods when you're traveling when you're not able to read but you can still actually be productive there's win there's wings to to based on the information that you give it as opposed to it pulling from the complete internet. >> But I think these other goals are mentioned makes sense to me. Sure. >> The need assessment makes a lot of sense to me. The anxious generation initiatives among the buildings
108um seemed like logical. I sort of expected that last year. A lot of those programs they're talking about was talking about talking about were implemented they're looking to implement them this year. So those would be exciting to see how those work out those programs work. >> With the AI goal, is there any like subcategory goals to that? like it's just a very broad >> we would as as we've learned you know we would definitely uh come when we present people with uh some think >> it's going to lead to some tangible things >> I know that's something you know uh the nebulous uh might not work this year so let's let's we're going to try to define things um so that you at the end. I think we didn't agree that the next generation was
109a success, but we didn't have to say what was going to happen before it actually happened. So, we're going to try to put something together maybe a little both. We'll say some specific thing, but hopefully other things will emerge too. I want to keep a little open so that >> absolutely that natural greatness, you know, can can occur, but maybe somewhere we can do it in >> I don't want to put something together. working on other ideas um or want to add something. So what I'm hearing is a focus on AI next generation. So this in turn will become a board goal through this process and then we do our presentation flesh it out things to it. That's that's the direction to go. Yeah. One of one of the things I was I'm always looking
110forward to for you know financial aheads and value talked about that earlier. the needs assessment with some of those financial plans and assessments. And so we when I first brought up the idea of the financial plan concept in my mind was it's a living document continue to update every year. Use it as a tool ourselves to see how trends are going. What we're looking forward to the obvious questions you have out there every year state and whatnot. We're always going to be it's it's a tool we can use at least to me in projections as we're moving forward to that's something that we just do with naturally. So like I don't know if that would be a goal but that would we you talked about how the needs assessment and that stuff will inform that.
111So basically by doing the needs assessment with then a natural outcome of that will be a more informed financial plan. >> We can't hear you might be on mute. >> You're on mute. I believe that >> was there was there was a news baby. the financial yes putting adding more meat to the financial projection would come from the needs assessment. So um that's something that especially you won't necessarily see in my projections for 25 26 but definitely when we do projections for you know 27 28 28 29 when a lot of those things will come into fruition could come into fruition not will but could come into fruition and where we have the resources to support a >> and I do think Val has discussed this with me before that the needs assessment really be
112a multi-year goal. Not that we have to do it, but like some of the outcomes might be in process. We still need to go through. So the board understand that um it actually makes the bill more valuable because but just understand that at the end of it there might be some things that need to get done because it's just a get done in the time frame. Kim, on that point, I I guess I assumed this earlier, but maybe just to determine relation, would um you know, energy infrastructure, charging infrastructure or electric buses be part of the needs assessment assuming but that's all part of stretching >> a little bit with Dan talking, but that would make it another reason why it would be outcomes that might happen next or sooner after because as as things
113change. But all the work we're doing will will benefit us except the outcome might not be fully seen. Some things will good could but there will be definitely things that happen and in some respects uh AI would be that way too but I think AI will definitely have some things in place with policy if we do this and uh definitely have All right. Any other core comment or input on goals? The only thing I would mention see some information. I think that seems to be general things. We tried to incorporate all the feedback that we got into uh these thoughts. Jeff has said for a little bit. So that would be included in the facilities uh assessment. So that that folds nicely into it. Um >> again, you always hear me use the word align.
114you know, trying to trying to have things align like I don't want to have, you know, safety over here and facilities over there and we can put it all in all the same direction. Good. We will close uh that actually we'll close our discussion and update uh presentation for the meeting. Uh we'll just see 601. All right, that brings us to uh item 7.01, board correspondence. We received an email with regard to feedback on the new technology policy and the uh principal of the building has reached out to the parent who wrote that email. I think that's the only one I have. That would bring us to 702 comments from the public on I'm sorry. >> It's okay. Um I did also attach one of the um documents for um the business meeting, the annual
115business meeting with resolutions. Um we set that about maybe like two weeks ago. So what they're looking for um you participate in last year the annual business meeting. It's nice that they do it virtual. Um, but if anyone is interested, I believe Deb and I was in October participating. Um, but I'll just FYI for now everybody. My recollection was it was the October 16th, I think, which was the third Thursday. I always have planned board meetings at night and it's at 4:00 and so that that ts didn't they start it way earlier though last night >> I started about the same time but it was they tried to make it a more efficient. It was more efficient about four or five that first one >> uh three years ago. So two years ago >> I
116mean it's not it's more listening >> was a little bit more efficient. >> Yeah. We actually do a podcast of >> Thank you, Sam. Uh 7.02 comments from the public on non-aggenda items. 7.03 comments from the board. Any comments? Claire taking me down. Happy hop. Uh 7.04 comments from the superintend starting. We're getting there. So uh wonderful day before we had our new staff in. We got you sat right here and sat in your seats. um when we hired and I know people decided to jump in but when we hired each individual into the interviews we're very excited about who we're hiring can have them here collectively and talking with them and you know teaching them about push back and get a little this and a little bit of some of our growth mindset and
117um just very impressive professionals for us um just was a tough right we were all energized Yeah, it was really nice to hear at the end of the day. They said they felt at ease, less anxious. So, >> yeah, just one of them subscribes to >> it was funny. We were talking about how, you know, definitely mom endorsed uh some of the stuff we're talking about. Um just energized. I asked them to share some quotes that impacted them and just just some great great words of wisdom and just very happy with us. Then it's school starting. So we are uh you know we start the Wednesday after Labor Day. Uh Tuesday after Labor Day all staff will be in conference day. Good to go. Claire, are you ready? >> Oh, yeah. >> You don't have
118to be ready yet. We're not there yet. We are getting close and the buildings are starting to come together. Uh, you know, we had a nice lunchon for our 12 month staff uh the other day. Uh, you know, as always, I guess that sometime education work during the summer. Um, we have a lot to do. Definitely had a nice, you know, thank you for getting We'll be ready. It's coming. >> All right. Very good. Thank you. Item 8.01. The board will vote to return to executive session for the purpose of discussing a matter related to the employment history of the particular person and seek the advice of legal counsel which is protected by attorney privilege. No further business is anticipated after the executive session. Do I have a motion to adjourn to executive session? I
119have a second. >> All in favor? Thank you. See you next time. [Music]