001session >> and we'll hear more about later. And now we go to the pledge of allegiance. There's a flag in that corner of the room. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> We have a roll call. Um, all board members are currently present, including our student board members. Nice to see you guys here. And now we have a public hearing about SRA. So this is a resolution about the roof repairs. This was the emergency roof repair that happened right before the school play uh the middle high school play. And >> yeah, this was in case we had to utilize our capital reserve fund due to insurance issues. We wanted to make
002sure we could have the ability to do so. And the secret had to be done. Um as you can tell, it actually has all been completed and it looks beautiful out there now. But this was part of the process to do it. So in order for us to use capital reserve, you have to do SRA and that's part of it. >> So if anyone is here to talk about SRA, we welcome you to speak about it. Not at all. Uh with that, we go to item 1.6, which is for the good of the order. Um I do want to say that the school play was phenomenal. Hades Town, it was amazing, and it has been nominated for six separate um awards through the Proctor's Music Bowl Theater Awards. Um, and >> I'll second that. It
003was great. >> Yeah, good job. >> It was very well done. >> Um, and is there anything else for the good of the order besides the agenda, the calendar? Um there's something that we wanted to talk about is that the board had developed a calendar of annual activities, things that the board and the district go through, you know, school year rotates through uh with different items and different potential topics for presentation and so on. And we wanted to see if the board is still interested in pursuing such a a rolling calendar that would, you know, be merged in with obviously things that come up and so on. So, is that interest? >> I support it, but I think it coordinates us and sort of keeps us accountable for >> paying attention to things that we're
004supposed to be doing. >> Okay. Topics that we'd want to cover. We drafted this. I think this was draft. >> I drafted. >> Yeah. over the summer kind of left >> it. >> So, we'll keep keep working on it and have available. >> So, thank you. And it reminds us of things like there's a board retreat that typically happens in the summer and NISPA resolutions um has a meeting. It's very fun. Sometimes five to six or seven hours long um so on. So it reminds us of the budget vote and the times for that is coming up as well. So all right. So we'll keep with this and make any changes and so on and keep it rolling there. Um with any other comments we'll go to the order. Nothing. Okay. With that we move
005to item 2.1 the opportunity for the public to be heard. We have a open podium. If anyone would like to come to the podium and say anything, we ask you to please um introduce yourself first. All right. Then we come to another reason everyone's here today, which is the budget presentation. Um and Colleen and Frank, we thank you for all the work you've been doing to get the budget to this point. where we can vote on it. >> Okay. Budget presentation. I will zoom in a little bit as we've gone through this each time. Um we always I always share on the budget presentation our vision statement, our mission statement because this is what guides everything we do and every decision that we make in the district is based off of these items. So, we
006want to make sure that every decision that's made is doing this as well. Um, as we look at our goal statements, these are the board goal statements that are also out. So, I add those as well because these all guide the process that we have. And I think one of the biggest ones especially for one for me and I know all of you who are also taxpayers in this community is we are faithful stewards of the community's financial commitment to public education because we are here but we are majority of taxpayer funded and we recognize that and we understand and I am grateful every day to the community that we live in and to the community support that we receive each year. So so we have to recognize that as we do our budget and
007make sure that we're doing what's right by students. That is the end goal because our outcome is the students of our community. So our goal in the budget has been to provide as many sustainable opportunities as possible for students and staff, adjust enrollment trends and realities, limit the impact on local taxpayers to what is only necessary and fiscal responsibility ensuring long-term and short-term sustainability while ensuring no long-term reliance on fund balance and reserve use, which we have continued to do. So, we we're mindful of that and we're weaned off the long-term reliance on fund balance, but we have to be mindful of that as we continue to move forward. Another thing that we've done over the past year, and I just want to state because it's not within the budget, but it does offer sustainable
008opportunities for staff and students, is we've received a lot of grants. Um, we've Albony County grants, different types of grants that we've received totaling roughly $60,000 a year in grant services, which allows for professional development for our staff members, for our students. So, I'm thankful to all those supports that we've received, but that adds to our balance. It's not part of our budget, but those grant opportunities have been very successful for our community. So, one of the things that we're working on is student focus, maintaining all program, services, and staffing, addition of a self-contained special education classroom through a nutrition cup. um that as we've talked about in the past and I know Colleen has that in there as well is we have roughly $400,000 coming onto the budget to um students of outplace services
009in order for us to lessen that impact and also give the ability to have an outstanding program inhouse for our students to become blackbirds and community members because as we outplace they are not blackbirds they are where their community are here now they are our community um this allows us to do that with a self-contained classroom K1 we not had self-contained classrooms in the district as long as I've been here. And and the last time we had a self-contained classroom, I believe was I'm going to date myself here 2011 and 10. They did a K2 K1 classroom. So I remember them doing self-contained for those students as well. Um technology, this is going on our ongoing upgrades through -ate and funding replacement wireless access points. It's continual. Um, we continually have to update our servers.
010We continually have to update our systems. Um, and also our Chromebooks are part of our IP replacement plan as we continue to move forward just like we would textbooks and everything else. We still have to continually upgrade. And we're continuing on operations and maintenance of the district and the $100,000 capital project has still been budgeted in. Again, that is a cap reser not cap reserve, sorry. That's an expense based aid. So, whatever we spend, we do get a portion of that back. All right, transportation. Our bus purchases this year, the 72 passenger diesel bus, a Suburban student transfer, and we are looking at an EV72 passenger related charger and accessories. This will be the district's first EV purchases. A lot of districts have already got EV purchases and they are not purchasing again this year
011because they've already done so. Um, we have not done so yet. We haven't had the infrastructure. We do now. We set up a reserve and part of our fleet plan states that we can. Currently, there still is the state initiative to move forward. That has not changed. So, it is time for us to buy our first EV bus, which were able to offset that cost with the reserve that we did for last year. Any questions on transportation? And as everybody knows, but I always will state this again, this is a separate vote. If it goes down, we lose that aid ability and we would have to upfront cost that in the future, which would not be good. So that's why this one is so important to continually keep on putting on the ballot because we
012use the aid year over year to offset cost. Capture that correctly, Kelly? >> All right. Okay. Now I get into numbers, which is all coming. >> Okay. So these are this is um our proposed budget for 2627 and it represents about 36.6 million for our budget this year general fund budget which is roughly about a little over a $2 million increase or 6%. Primarily the biggest items in this year's budget as we've been talking about has been our employee benefits, our debt service and then um some of our salaries. Um but majority of it if you think of if you take the employee benefits and the debt service that's a little over a million dollars. So that's half of your budget and all the other items are your typical items obviously with salaries and benefits
013that are in accordance with CBAs and some of those estimated um increases for CBAs that aren't in place right now. Um all of those are included in those values. general support. When you look at the general support category, that's usually your board of ed expenses, legal expenses, your business admin, it's all those support um costs to keep the district running, personnel. Um and then when you look at supervision and instruction, that's primarily your um curriculum instruction and your staffing for all your pupil related services. >> Questions? Again, not much has changed over the past time, but we still want to get through it and walk through it this way. So, go ahead, Kelly. >> Okay. Um, majority of the cost as we looked at our general fund, we took into factors, obviously the estimated expenses
014for um all of our current programming and services. Nothing has been reduced. Everything has been maintained in that category. Obviously, there's always your cost of living expenses that are applied to those. um contractual increases as we just mentioned for all of our um collective bargaining agreements and then obviously um some of those assumptions that we made for those that were still pending um settlement on those ERS and TRS rates are those um pension cost ERS went up to 16.7 while on the on the other side TRS decreased um by a little over a percentage point which was phenomenal which helped us obviously with our budget planning again our prime primary cost drivers are the our debt service which is the cost of funding our capital projects but on the on the opposite side of that
015and our revenue that also we do get building aid to help pay for that debt service um benefits we had substantial increase in our health insurance costs this year that's just it's not even just us it's nationwide um in particular in the consortium that we are in there is rates as high as 22 to 25% I call ourselves kind of lucky because we were only at not only but we are on the lesser of the the spectrum at 14.75 as our highest. Um so those were all applied and obviously had a substantial impact on our budget this year and fixed costs as we know such as electricity and utilities especially as we increased our footprint has gone up as well. We are a part of an energy consortium which helps mitigate some of those electric
016um and utility costs. Thankfully, we signed on this year, which helps mitigate those, but it's still relatively high. Our expenses categorically, if you look at a little bit different, um, we broke it down by some other categories, which are salaries. Salaries and benefits represent more than half, se 70% of a district's budget. We are a servicedriven industry or company as you like to refer to it. Um so those drive up majority of our make up a good portion of our expenses. When you look at salaries overall it's really um not that bad. Obviously when you look at it's 5% when you look at everything in total um biggest drive biggest items debt service and your benefits. Boseies is another um item which is a big um support for our district. A lot of those um
017expenses that we have through BOSIES, we also if we spend it this year, we'll get some of that Boseies aid in the next year. >> That's a big help for us. Everything is expense driven. >> Over the past few years, we've really went and tried to maximize expense based aids. >> Y >> so utilizing BOSI services or capital projects or anything that we can spend and get money back on the following year is a way for us to kind of control revenue. >> Correct. Um so that's why sometimes you'll see the Boseies going up but we also are very mindful of if it's not something that we need we will cut through the Boseis program and not allocate. So there are small cuts such as like um the survey system that we utilize we're no
018longer going to utilize that. >> The Mcast system we can get through a different service for free which is our fishing system that we use to test fishing and have staff. So those kind of cuts we're not going to utilize. We're not using those systems any longer because we found other ways to get those for no cost at all. >> Right. >> So, we're maximizing those systems >> and we did go through every line item in the Boseies and maximized and did everything that we could this year. >> Do the employee benefits in this pie chart go for the general support staff as well as the instruction >> all the any everybody. >> Okay. So, this those are just salaries >> for for each for the I don't want to say color for the general
019support pie. Yep. And for the those are just salary just salary. >> Those are for as part of the pie chart. Those include salaries and services contractual all part of that general. >> But does it but it does also um include benefits as well. >> No benefits are separate separated by >> those groups are combined. >> Correct. Okay. >> So that just really gives you a visual on how much of the district spending how it goes. So your biggest um obviously your biggest expense is your supervision and your instruction because again that's what we're in we're here for education and then tied to that we have um the general support. General support again as I mentioned is really all of our support services um legal services all your personnel um everything to support the operation
020of the district and then everything that's tied to those um salaries is as I mentioned in employee benefits the district is required statutoily to provide a three-part breakdown of categories of our administrative our capital in our program. As you look at it, the small we had a minimal increase in our um admin this year, 164,000. Our primary biggest obviously, which is should be is directed to our program, which is one close to 1.2 million of our $2 million increase. And then you look at capital. Capital is your debt service. It's all your building operations and maintenance. Um included in that is our $100,000 capital project, obviously going toward our building um improvement plans. Can I ask another question? I'm still trying to math it out in my head. Um, in slide number nine, thanks Frank.
021>> Uh, keep going. Uh, the general support goes up 7 and a half%. here. And then here it said when this most recent slide, oh boy, slide 13, it it only goes up like I 5%. So why is there a >> is it 5% of the three% breakdown? >> Right? So here it's much lower. That is that's the difference in your three-part breakdown. >> Okay. So the breakdowns it's administrative taking different slices and >> because there's certain >> So what is the general support up in slide nine include that it's going up 7 and a half% that you know like what is so much so g when you're in reference to this part here >> comparatively to this part here. So previously general support >> so general support will have some program >> okay >>
022portions to it >> and then some of that like so if you look at general support legal legal is not part of your program that's part of your administration. >> So it's how it's broken up. So you have your general category and then there's how it relates to admin and programming and capital because when you get in the reason we have to do it in the three-part is because when you get to should you have to go to contingency there's certain level of administration that you can't exceed from the prior year and then you would have to reduce that and then some of your capital too. So it's the piece of the pie if you go into contingency. So where does Okay. So for example, where does legal fall in here versus general support? >>
023It's in general support. >> Okay. And is an administrative here? >> Yes. Because that's an administrative function. It's not a programming function. >> So what's in general support in slide nine, but not an administrative here? >> I'd have to go through the categories. Okay. >> There's a whole broad range of it. Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. But you can see why I'm saying >> of course understand how fit together like Legos. >> Yeah. >> Okay. administrative is >> take it apart and put it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Of course. >> I can definitely give you breakdowns if you want me to send it to you. >> Sure. Okay. >> Who doesn't want more numbers? >> So revenues. Um we looking at revenues this year. Um our total projected is 35.3 million which again
024when you look at an increase of 6303 that is just to show that we have a balanced budget um over last year. But our net our actual net revenue increase exclusive of fund balance and reserves is 8.34. But when you look at our fund balance and reserves, we actually have less use of our fund balance and reserves compared to last year by over 600,000. Which is great because we want to make sure we retain some of those fund balance and reserves as we move forward in some of those years when state a gets a little less lean, other items get less lean. We want to make sure we have something in there. So fortunately this year we were able um to reduce the reliance on fund balance and reserves by over $600,000. So that is
025actually showing the increase of 6.3 reducing that 8.3 but the 8.3 is really all of our revenues exclusive of the reduction in fund balance and reserves. Our state and federal aid overall was 11.45 four five foundation aid which is always the aid that you hear of most um when you talk on the state aid we had 1.33%. Which really when you look at the state minimum state minimum is 1%. So we were.33% higher. It's a plus. It's a plus which only results in like 80,000. Everything else when we look at our state aid is primarily driven by expense based or pupil driven aids. Was last year the year that we had the $3 million transfer from reserves? Yes. For the capital project? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. >> So, if you
026look at this again, just shows you a visual of our revenues and what primarily makes up those revenues that are coming in. Our tax levy obviously makes over half percent over 60% of our revenues coming in. And then the balance of that primarily is your state and federal aid. Everything else is your pilots for the first time this year. We are having um some pilots coming on. Next year um potentially we may have a good portion of the pilots coming on. Everything else is interest that we gain on the use of our money and other small revenues. But again, if you look at it, it's state aid and property and property taxes. For this district, it's 60% and higher. So, as we discussed with our tax levy, the maximum tax levy is 4.18% or 930,81.
027Um, as we discussed over a period of time, I haven't heard otherwise to not do that. So, as we prepared the budget, I did go out with 4.18 as the proposed budget. Um, and that is again that's a simple majority. We don't need super majority to be able to pass that. That is within the 2% tax cap that we can go over our foundation aid increase. Even though we saw state and federal tax and we were getting more money this year as an increase, I want to be clear. It's because we spent money. Like I think that's super important for people to understand is yes, we did get an increase in state funds. That increase came from our debt services and how much money we spent on our capital project. So that's part of the
028system itself. foundation. I we're seeing a $79,000 $184 increase year-over-year. That does not sustain growth. That does not sustain what we need to do. And even with our our debt services and everything else, if we don't do our debt services and if we don't do capital projects, we're going to have what we had six years ago, which is deferred maintenance, and we're going to have bigger issues on our hands. So, we want to be able to continue our capital infrastructure as we have. So, that's why you're seeing an increase of 1.18 million. But that is because of our debt services because we spent it and now we're getting that back. So budgeted. It's not found money. It's not new money. I just want to kind of be clear on that when people see that. >>
029And then the interfund transfer from debt service funds. Kelly, do you want to explain that quick? >> Yep. So as a district, it's a legal fund that's set up separate from the general fund that we are required to set aside for the purposes of paying debt. So, we will be using $450,000 to our debt service. So, how did that money get in there? So, when the district finances the capital project, we will go out and finance through a bond. If our project comes in lower than what we finance for, we are required to put the excess funding back into our what we call our debt service fund. And you can only use that for the use of paying off debt service. So, it's not excess money that we have. It's a capital project comes in
030and we do something um that reduces our expenses that allows us to set aside this funding for future um debt service payments. >> So revenue considerations our cost not keeping pay revenues we know that our expenses exceed revenues by almost 1.3 million we talked about. So the way that we're bridging this gap is we're using fund balance $868,384 in ERS reserve um to be able to offset that cost along with tax. So long range plan as we kind of talked about we do want to become less reliant on our reserves and fund balance because if it does end at some point back in you don't have structures you will see that go away and then we'll we'll have a bigger issue. We're going to continue to look at fun other funding opportunities and hopefully those
031pilots that come in, they will offset some of that cost that we're looking for. Um, again, someone I gave a presentation today and I said pilot and they asked me what does that mean? I keep forgetting that we say these things all the time. Rachel, I know how you feel about acronyms. Pilot is payment in taxes. This is true in the United. Um, but this one is a larger scale one that we do. Um, and it could really impact us in the district. It could also negatively impact our tax cap, but there's a possibility that could change. We'll see how that goes on. Next is the property tax cap. Do I need to go through that? These are the levy increases that we have done over the past years. So, really is kind of in
032line of where we are. bit middle comparison to the last two years. >> You want to explain this estimate? Not >> it's an estimate. >> It's very >> Yeah. >> early estimate. >> It's very early. So, the tax roles have not been published um for any of the towns yet, nor has the equalization rates. So based on what we are, if the board approves it tonight, if we go out with a 4.18% levy increase, this is based on equalization rates from last year and the taxable cess properties from last year. So if you did a year or year year over year using the same primary um equalization rates in the taxable base, if we go to the 4.18 for the town of Burn, you're going to see an increase of around $16026 per year. Gilderland
033a little less than a hundred as well as the town of New Scotland and the village of New Scotland. >> Village of Borisville. >> So in the municipality roles it actually says town and village in New Scotland. >> It does >> because they call it a Swiss code which is >> Yeah. So on the on >> and this is for $100,000 worth of >> $100,000. Right. So, if you have in New Scotland, >> a $500,000 house, your taxes are going to go up five times the 160 >> because that's on a $100,000 house. >> She's going to do the calculations. >> She's doing it. >> No. No. >> So, if you look at the town, the village of New of New Scotland, which is really the village of Borisville, >> it would go up roughly
034>> 500 if you had a $500,000 test house. And again, those are subject to change. Most of the tax rules come out May 1st. Albany County is a little late in um equalization rates. I'm used to having them by now. Um so I'm fortunately I couldn't give you >> and that's based on the base from last year. So any any new additions to the tax correct is that taxable property at the bottom >> that makes a difference because that'll that can change how much is a portion to each town. >> Yeah. But again, I want to stress for anybody watching this later on, these are assessments. These are estimates. Please do not go by these. Equalization rates we do not have control of. We do have control of the tax and that is it just
035because I live through the equalization rate. >> Change in the house that I bought here >> August. >> Yeah. So, yeah, it typically is August, but just so people understand that. >> Right. Next steps. Um we vote to approve the budget tonight possibly. Um May 5th is the budget hearing at 6 o'clock and then the vote is May 19th. And then we're missing >> May 5th, not May. >> That one. >> May 5th public hearing. The budget hearing is also May 5th. And when do ballots have to go in, Jess? April 20th. >> Y that's not on here. So if you're running for school board, ballots have to be in by April 20th. >> Any questions? >> Thank you for that. Um what better lead in to you guys than the student board member report.
036>> Yes. So um sports started back in March and we are also coming up on Friday and then we had to play was nominated for six awards from the high school theater awards and that would be best for tier. the execution nominations that is 16 >> and there's a sprinkling >> I don't know heard 100 people went >> very nice >> I was there kids had a good time >> heard the decorations were were fired The decorations were very nice. >> Paper flowers. >> Yeah, those were really cool. >> I have some parents help with them. It's a great job. I was not one of them. No artistic talent. >> Well, thank you guys. >> Yeah. >> All right, Frank. >> All right, my turn. Your turn. >> Okay. Couple quick housekeeping things that I
037want to get into. Um, first off, the fifth grade play is this weekend. So, it's play season all across the board. So, very exciting. And it's awesome that they're up here because I get to see it and hear it. So, fifth grade play this weekend. Don't forget. >> What play is it? >> I don't know off the top of my head. >> It's called Dare to Dream. >> There we go. >> Thank you. So, I don't know that, but I've heard it. It was very good and the and the set is really interesting. So, >> thought it was a neat way to do it. Also, we have our Blackbird Community Fair, our third annual one that is on April 25th. So, just another thing to keep in mind. Um, and then I think the probably
038the most important thing and I think most interesting thing tonight is um, UPK. So, our universal prek program, it's on the agenda tonight for approval. Um, which is awesome because we were able to find a CBO, a community based organization provider willing to do it at the current $5,400 that is out there for the state allocation. So that's even better at this point because if the state allocation doesn't change, >> it's $5,400 and we're guaranteed 16 students. >> So if the state allocation does change, they could look at possibly adding another small class andor adding another teacher assistant to it. The way prek works is if it's 16, you need to have one teacher and one TA. If it's 18, you have to have two TAs. So for two more, it still adds a pretty
039financial heft to it just for two more students. So, but we're very lucky that um the Capital District YMCA, they have um purchased and they're working through where Christ the King used to be. So, they are now servicing through that program and they're going to offer our prek program next year. So, super exciting that we're able to do that considering we were one of the first adopters of it. Then, unfortunately, due to um circumstances, we weren't able to. The cool thing is I anticipated approval tonight. I hope I'm right on that. >> Be expensive. >> Yeah, it would be a really it was it was a gamble. >> It'll be there with a Sharpie. >> So, this should be out in the communities by tomorrow or by Friday. It goes out to every person who
040lives in Borisville district. Um, and it basically says, "Hey, we have UB and here's how to register and the timelines for all those things." So, I did anticipate a rule because I haven't heard otherwise. So, but this will be going out into the community >> because there's been a lot of questions >> that's what I figure because it came out publicly. I've had >> I had neighbors who have kids that are four years old. They're like, "What's going on?" I'm like, "Guys, I can't talk about it. I'm so sorry." But now I can publicly talk about it and they will get this. So, pretty exciting. Um, and then I want to give a project update. >> Yes, please. >> So, I again, you all know how I am with slideshow, so I want to apologize.
041Um, so as you know, we're going in stages. Our first stage that we've been working on, I'm going to call the old cafeteria and kids club area because that's what basically everybody knows that as. Um, and then our new our new part is our old transportation facility, which will be our new cafeteria, a new office space, and then new nurses in area. So, those are the big spaces that I'm talking about. We already redid classrooms, the music classrooms, the art classrooms that are on the second, third floor. We already transitioned those to typical regular classrooms for next year for general education classrooms, but we haven't transitioned down. So, they're still in those rooms. So, tonight I'm going to talk about the first floor, which I call the basement, which is the old cafeteria and kids
042love area. So, first and foremost, we are getting released tomorrow. Substantial completions went in. The architects have to review it to make sure for health and safety issues. And then we should be anticipating getting the ability use those areas and release those areas by the end of this week. Again, what they have to make sure is do they have all the covers on the outlets? Is it safe? Are those health and safety issues? Are they there? That's the number one component. Some of the things are not done. So, there's still floor molding that's not finished. There's a couple items that aren't done. So, we're going to be living in an unfinished kind of like a house sometimes, right? But the majority of the majority of the work will be finished. and but we're waiting on
043some of those things for the end of the year to other things to go. So, schedule. So, I'm showing you first floor where the O floor is. We got three out of four of those rooms. One room is delayed. So, we're waiting on that room to get finished. Um what's not shown tonight is the new office area even though the cabin is in that office area, but half of the office doesn't have a roof. So, I can't we can't get in there yet. So, that roof is coming in on May for the final completion of that area. I'm not showing the nurse's office because that's fully not completed yet either. And neither is the hallway going in to the new cafeteria because again there's no roof. So we had to put a new hallway in.
044We had to extend the wall and put a new truss and everything else. So that's coming in May and we should have all that set by June. We should be able to get um and then in the summer we're still going to have work being done. The cafeteria should be done by July 15th is what they're telling me and released to us. So I'm guessing by the end of July we'll have all that just to be on the safe side. Site work still has to get done. The stairwell has to get finished and work has to be done. The stairwell is going to take a good two months. That is a very extensive project to finish in the elementary school. If you've been in the elementary school, you know how important it is to get
045that stairwell done. So that stairwell is going to be done in the summer. And then a lot of the site work is going to be done as soon as we can get out there and also not impact the school. So site work is the concrete, the outdoor play area, the new grass, all those components. The the outside of the wall, the e is for the top of the building. So those things >> any questions so far >> for the summer programming that happens at the elementary school >> here. >> As far as I'm aware, because of the site work that's going to happen and everything else, we just need >> Okay, let's start with something fun. A restroom. So if you have ever went to the elementary school to the large gym and you have
046seen the restrooms that were down there pink and blue really really mad just that's that's the adult restrooms that we have for our faculty and for the community that come in five you know 400 500 people those rooms were not pretty. So they finished the painting in there they've updated them so they're actually really nice. This is what a new bathroom looks like. I know it's not something to be proud of, but if you've ever been there, trust me, it's it's a definite upgrade to those. So, this is a really cool picture. Let me explain it. This is looking towards where the stairwell is towards the gymnasium. The gymnasium's on your right over here. >> And this is the coaching area. That's a piano, which will no longer be there because we have a place
047for it. Oops. This is the new um ceiling tile. It's like a wood corkboard >> for sound. So the idea behind this was our our auditorium in the elementary school is our gymnasium, right? The meeting space for our community is that area. So we want to separate the two. So now as you walk into that area, you will look like a gymnasium or and an auditorium and something where community want to be. So it just offsets that a little bit. So, not really much of a change, but after we get the um the vinyl decal in there of the meeting space, it will look really nice. And the lighting in there is not the correct lighting. That's temporary light. So, that would be a new updated light as well. And so, but just to give
048you the idea behind it, the molding, as you can tell, on the floors is not done, but the flooring is done. Those are rubber floors. Um those rubber floors are have more traction. They have less sound, echo, and you don't to strip them or anything else. You just wash them. So, it helps with maintenance and every comparison. I would love to put them in the whole building at some point. Now, we go the opposite way. This is now looking This is the hallway looking down to where the old cafeteria was. On the right hand side here is the entrance way into the music rooms. This is the entrance way into the storage area for band and music. Because if you've been in the elementary school again, you'll know that the whole basement is filled with
049storage. So, we're getting it out of the hallway for safety reasons. And then the other room down here is the art room. But if you if you take a look, you'll see that the rubber tiling goes all the way down all the way down here where that little black hole is. That is the hallway that will go into the new area and into the new cafeteria. But really bright. I mean, that's a basement. Look how beautiful that is. All right. Music room. This is the old cafeteria and part of the kitchen that is now one of the music rooms. >> Exciting. >> Next, this is the band and storage area. >> So, we will be able to put pianos, music stands, chairs. You need to have lessons in here, but other than that, it's storage.
050So, and it's a well needed storage area for the majority of those rooms. Those are Wagger students. I just want to clarify just being in the music world. Wanger is you can buy ones that are not Well, these are Wanger. You buy the ones that are going to last four years. Wanger are the ones that will last four years. Those are those are the ones that are durable and you want to have them durable, especially for this is the art room. So that's >> nice window. >> So that's one side of the art room. That is the other side that goes in. And back here. She has storage. So, there's storage everywhere because currently right now the art room has storage in the elevator shaft, which we don't want that there any longer. So, we're
051going to move all that storage down there and everything will be that will also clear up that area for health and safety purposes. And then everything will be self-contained in the art. That is it. I just kind of want to share the positives that we're finally starting to see out of it. So, from the outside you can't see it, but from the inside it's a huge change. >> It's exciting. Thanks for the tour. And if this old area right here kind of where that cabinet is over, that was the old office for kids club. In here was one of the rooms and then we split the other two rooms over there. So it was kind of a mishmash. Now it's two very solid rooms. >> Any questions? >> That's all I have. >> All right.
052With that, we move on to item 4.1, the minutes of the regular meeting. Would anyone like to move them or discuss them? Is any >> I'll move it. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I have financial reports and claim auditor reports. Are there any discussions on either one? And if there's okay with a consent agenda, would someone like to move them? I'll move. >> I'll second and I'll mention the claims audit reports during audit. >> Excellent. All in favor? >> Excellent. Okay. Personnel items. Uh want to call attention to a retirement and um General Kelly. >> Sean Kelly. Oh my. I'm sorry. Sean Kelly wishing you all the best in retirement and thank you. Um, we also have a number of people who are up for tenure and if it's okay, um, I'll call
053names and if you're here, could you stand and just stay standing just to Yes. No. If you don't want to, you don't have to. I'm okay with that. So, I >> No, this is totally optional. Um, I'm just gonna call everyone's name out and then we'll then we'll vote. Um, Jamie Mercier. Rebecca Wolf, Dina Bibbons, Sarah Hyatt, Amanda Marx, Kimberly Miller, Samantha King, Alyssa Martin, Jane Sherwin, Maggie O'Brien and Marcy Terry. Um, with that sh would anyone like to move the personnel items? >> I'll move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Congratulations. Okay, with that we have cse res um recommendations. Oh yeah, you guys want to go home? >> You don't have to stay. >> You don't have to feel obligated to stay. >> You can stay. You're welcome to stay. You are
054so welcome to stay. But if you'd like to go home, you're also welcome to go. So whenever you want, just scoot on out. No one no one no one minds. Um >> but it's so much to be here, right? Uh CSSE recommendations and Boseie substitute teacher appointments. Put them together in the consent consent agenda if anyone would like to comment, question or move. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I All right. Um approve agreements with the VTA. Uh comment, question or move? >> I'll move it. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I think we should skip 5.7 just to see what happens to Frank. >> The UPK contract. He's going to have a Sharpie and change it. >> Or would anyone like to discuss, comment, or move? >> Second.
055Okay. >> Um >> I think it's great that it worked out. >> I know this is an amazing This is a little miracle right here. >> Um this high. Uh >> all in favor? >> I congratulations. Good thing that those are already out of town field trip field trip requests uh to Six Flags. I believe that's for the um class ninth graders I think. And then senior trip to Quincy Mocket. Um comments, questions, chaperones, all in favor move. Someone want to move it. >> Do the seniors not like the beach? Maybe they also go to the beach. >> Fancy market. >> You voted for fancy market. It's always >> fun to do the beach. >> Second. >> Who moved it? >> I'll move it. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All right. Okay. With
056that, um, if we can think back to 6:30, Argie, could you, uh, discuss the review the audit committee? >> Sure. So, we had a brief audit committee meeting. Uh, we talked through the claims audit reports. Most of the items identified there were for emergency repairs. We had roof issues and other things come up um that were flagged by our new claims auditor, Michael Wolf. So, welcome to Michael Wolf. Also, um he noted one issue with um high caloric and high sugar content items being outside of our policy. Um I flagged that for Colleen. She clarified that that those are not meals. So technically they're outside of our policy, but still something we might want to take a look at in policy committee. Um, I think if we were to get rid of the coffee club,
057we'd all >> it wouldn't go up. >> Big trouble. Um, but I think that's the source of those purchases. Um, we talked through the reserves, um, some of which were covered in the budget discussion. Um, also reflected in the property tax report card, which is part of the agenda for tonight. Um, Colleen told us about a spending freeze that the district put in place for this current fiscal year. purpose of that is to make sure that we can can project and anticipate our spending for this fiscal year. Um, and we have a good idea of where we'll be going into next year. Um, and then the uh Colleen and her staff have started the pre- audit work with our outside auditors. Um, and they'll be in to start their testing on on certain accounts. Other
058than that, we're in good shape. >> Awesome. Curriculum committee, did you guys meet? We will be meeting on Wednesday afternoon. >> Fantastic. Have fun. Um maybe meet outside >> or rainy. Uh facilities committee. Would you like to redo the >> uh we did not meet right? I >> think you did. I >> Yeah. >> Didn't that confuse me? No. No. I don't >> I don't think >> we were going to and we can >> correct. Yeah. >> Okay. >> But Pauly, you >> if you did, we'll do double. Yes. Okay. >> All right. >> Matt, would you like to review the policy committees March 16th meeting? There will be more of Certainly question. We also policies. also first of policy. Something that was already being connect. >> Thank you. It was a great watch. Um,
059with that we move into item 7.1, uh, the discussion of a potential NISBA resolution. These are due by July 17th, which is, I believe, a Friday. Um, and I, this comes out of a conversation about the increasing costs of health care and the fact that those costs, as Colleen, you pointed out, we're lucky, I mean, we are that the highest one was like 14%. But 14% is an astronomical increase relative to things. And that will continue to go higher and higher. And like we know the laws of compounding interest and this is a similar situation. >> You know, we're relying on your medical too. So you could get a claim in the next year >> that could drive up our what they call experience rating >> and that could send us much higher. >> I'm
060going to say very fortunate >> and not having those high costs. So it could They had an incident where there was a $2 million claim which broke one district very high and if we have one of those >> yeah we have a problem >> it's called experience right >> so the the thought was that perhaps as a board we could have a conversation about you know how to how to ask NISB uh NISBA has this whole process where districts can make resolutions propose a resolution ution and then someone sits at the NISBO business meeting on behalf of the district and every district has someone who can do this and they vote whether or not this is a resolution that they they should move forward or not. And if it is moved forward then NISBO would
061theoretically I think act as like a lobbying body to the New York uh state to try and support this resolution. So the thought is that perhaps there would be a way that the state could be more actively involved in supporting districts in relieving them from health care costs in some way. And not to prescribe it, but perhaps to do a carveout or to allow uh some some way of helping to cover the costs of health care, having uh health care costs go through the state instead of through districts. But this is something that we as a group would need to want to do. And if other districts were interested, they can also sign on to it. Just so you know, NISBA often has resolutions where multiple districts sign on to it. We could also reach
062out to NISBA and talk to them about it. So is there any interest in that? I I just feel like we are sitting here sticking our fingers in the hole of that is not our making. I think it's something necess for example these exclusions exclusions for example If there's growth above a certain amount in retirement contributions, then that increase will then be excluded from the tax cap. So therefore, although it's not it's not it's not a transfer of who's responsible for those healthare costs, it at least at least relieves the district or a district from having to deal with those costs. So that's one, you know, >> yeah, >> I think that was you. >> Um I think that person retirement is that important statute system who typically work for less than public make that
063decision. And so we employ healthare something that But the issue we have no control to us push that responsibility fully offers without forward certainly not fixed 100% uh but that ideally you situation where healthare costs go up so much that they sit to me for your employees or not. That's the system that we wealth and we're past. So longwinded. And just to be clear, it's not in any way an attempt to reduce the healthcare coverage and benefits that we're currently providing. It's an attempt to try and find a way to pay for them without limiting the educational opportunities for the students, which is the reason that this district exists. So, just make that completely clear. It is entirely to support education and not to limit healthare. Any other thoughts or >> I agree with Matt
064and insurance is really important. Um I think it would be there's no harm in trying to get the school board to to take interest in this and to lobby. Um it's it's kind of a universal problem. I mean it's it's affecting everybody whether you're private sector, public sector. Um and the current system we have isn't really working well. Um but I think that the devil's in the details. you know, I'm not looking for us to go on a state plan that's high deductible, blah blah blah. No. Um, and but I'm saying, you know, when you bring in >> the groups, there's going to be different expectations of what that looks like. >> And I also would be interested, Frank, I don't know. I mean, is Kashik trying to do anything? I mean, we had a,
065you know, we we used to be in a different consortium. We went to Kashik because we wanted them. it was a bigger group and we we thought that was a good and I think it has been a good decision but it's I mean at this point it's like a runaway train and I would think and am I mean are they doing anything to >> so Cashic and Hampshire and those groups are all looking at ways to minimize cost to districts >> but this is a bigger issue than just local >> oh I know I know but I just would like to see that they're trying to figure out cost >> without impacting the bottom line of what we're offer >> right Yeah, I'd be fine with a resolution that would direct or request NISPA to
066advocate on behalf of school districts in containing costs containing or mitigating costs related to health insurance for employees. >> I don't think we should prescribe the solution, right? >> There's, you know, it could be like a solution. It could be uh legislatively capping rates or even creating a reserve if your spending goes above a certain amount, right? We could brainstorm a whole bunch of ideas. I don't think we need to be that specific, but just flagging the issue for NISB and requesting that they advocate on behalf of districts, I think, is the way to go. >> And I would think every district is going to be interested in this because everybody's experiencing the same thing. So, I don't think you're going to have trouble finding support. Would anyone like to work on developing one? Your
067next meeting is the 22nd of Would anyone like to work on something so that maybe the policy committee could look at a draft of it at your next meeting perhaps to bring it to the board meeting on the 5th of May because I think that this is something since it's >> we have May the May and June and July meetings. >> It's August. It's Jul it's due July 17th to Nisba. >> But first of all, the first person to get it in, the first district to get it in, theirs is usually the one that they melded on to. >> So if other districts were to put in a NSBA resolution, >> so we want credit. >> We want we we want our if well maybe someone would have better ideas and ways of framing it
068than we would, but it doesn't it doesn't hurt to get it in earlier. So, if we could it would that work for folks to have the policy committee look at it on the 22nd and then come back on the 5th maybe with some draft >> language. Not to say we need to have it for discussion >> discussion from there >> because I look forward to >> who's got helium hand. >> All right. So, you would like me to work on a buck draft? >> No, you're not. >> We can I can I can help support. Yeah, >> I can help. >> Oh, thanks guys. >> Do you want me to help? >> I'd be happy to help with that. >> Oh, yeah. There's a NISB packet now. So, if you want my help, I'm I'm
069there for you. Okay. >> Um, >> yeah, that's gonna be three-hour meeting. >> We got that grading regulation. >> Yeah. Oh, that'll be nothing. you guys 15 minutes, I guess. All right. So, there's nothing to move there, but um Barbara, you good with that? Okay. Thank you, >> Robin. >> Um so, we'll move to the uh resolution on the SRA roof repairs. And um I'm going to go and say also the emergency resolution regarding the roof repairs if we can combine those two. Item 7.2 2 7.3. Any comments, questions, or anyone like to move them? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Uh 7.4. We have a school district budget. Um >> a big thing. >> It's a pretty big thing. Comments, questions. Thanks to Colleen and Frank for >> very much.
070>> Keep on keeping on moving it. Question. >> I'll move it. I'll I'll just say like I know we're paying close attention to our reserves. I hope that when we see the final numbers and the property tax roles and equalization rates that it all kind of comes out in the wash. I think we've had good luck in prior years where we've come out okay even though for property owners it looks a little dire. like, you know, if you have a $500,000 house, that's a significant >> increase in your in your property tax. Um, so hopefully it doesn't end up as bad as it looks. Um, at the same time, I don't think we have a choice other than to go out at the max cap because if we don't, we're hurting ourselves in future years.
071And we've got the concern that we've talked about with the pilots, >> which we don't know if we're going to get. >> Um, and even if we do, under current law, they don't they they don't get counted into our cap calculation and potentially we could have a negative cap. So, I think we have to come out of the max cap. >> Um, and hopefully when it all washes out, hopefully not not so bad. >> Can I just clarify one thing? I think about a really good point is our tax levy this year is roughly $900,000. If we go out at zero or negative next year, that 1.2 million is our tax. That is everything that we would be able to get off of that because it's not adding extra to the district. It's not anything
072new. So, I thought your point was really strong on that regard. You have to go because next year you might actually be losing money with that tax cap and the ability to be >> compound interest rule. >> Yep. I moved it. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> Okay, we have a property tax report card. Questions, comments, or move it? >> Move it. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. This is a resolution for service agreement for um $135,000. This is So, there would be no one in house doing the repairs. No, this is the purchasing. >> When I looked at it, it said this service agreement >> 7.6 refer to as a service agreement because we're financing for 5 years. >> Yeah, it's not service though. This
073is >> IP is an installment purchase for both to buy hardware. >> They call it a service agreement. >> Oh, it's not a service. >> It's not for service. >> Sorry, Jeff. Okay. It's their wording. >> Okay. Required by fores. >> Okay. >> But it just seems very details. Are those contained within the coaster? >> It's part of the co. It's part of the coaster. Correct. >> Yes. Yep. >> Oh, I had >> it is very mud. >> Clear as mud. All right. Questions. >> And again, the IP purchase you go through both, you're able to get money back in doing so. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Also, no one's going down the radio shack. Um, anyone want to move it? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. We have policy 7.7, uh,
074policy about facility dogs. Uh, this is the second read. I just want to say that for folks with allergies, I hope there is no discomfort whatsoever. I know that there are ways to avoid it, but >> we said there's mitigation, right? there's allergies, the dog's not present, >> right? >> Yeah. And a second a second carrier giver sort of thing. And >> the district has had service dogs in the past >> now. But I noticed in the resolution, they're very clear not to call it a service dog. It calls it a facility dog. Do they wear >> like a vest that shows that they're they just come in? >> Yeah, the owner would bring them in. >> Okay. >> Any more comments or would someone like to move it? Second. >> I'll second. >> All
075in favor? >> I >> um the first read of instructional animal dissection and the first read of conditional appointment for student safety. Both any questions or comments? Does the policy committee want any us? >> Okay. Uh Stuarts has uh offered a donation of $250 that would go to the drama club, the high school drama club. Questions, comments or uh move it? >> I'll move it. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. With that, we have a second opportunity for the public to be heard. If anyone would like to come and speak, we have that opportunity. Please remember to introduce yourself and don't trip on any wires, please. >> I want to lengthen the meeting by the long walk. >> Hi, my name is Carrie
076Connelly. I just want to mention two things. Um, I was involved in helping uh with costumes for the play. And I just want to applaud the cast and crew. They were amazing. That show was next level if you got to see it. But um when the skies opened and the roof opened and the school was flooded, I the custodial staff and whoever was involved in the cleanup, it was amazing. I I was here a lot. So I think I was here maybe I guess we had school Wednesday, so I would have been there maybe Wednesday, but the difference from Wednesday to the show, they did an amazing job. Whoever was responsible, that's number one. Um so thank you to them. Number two is um I heard in the budget presentation um maintaining services through attrition
077and I kind of made a little red flag go off in my brain that if so if we have attrition that means someone's leaving so there's a teacher shaped hole in here somewhere and I know it's a difficult year budget-wise so that means class size or something else there's a cut in there even if it doesn't look like a cut. So as a teacher I class size is so important. We know that it's the the research is very clear that it's one of the most important things we can do in a school that factors we can control and class size is huge for parents for teachers for kids for social emotional reasons all the above. So if there is a hail mary pass from the state and there is some more money I would just
078ask you to please look at that um you know all the physical changes we've made are great and or were needed but if we are not um keeping our class sizes the same or even better you know and that includes numbers of TAS things like that um it's a loss so just something to think Thank you. >> Thank you, G. >> With that, we have a opportunity for the board to be heard. Does any board member have anything to share? Um, and then we move to dates to remember. Uh, board petitions are due. April 20th, there is a budget meeting for Boseies. We have to vote on the Bosey's budget at 7:30 in the morning on the 29th. I've heard back from two people. I need one more. >> April am no >> 7:30 in
079the morning. I've heard from I'm gonna call you out. Matt and Kathy, you both said you could be there. Got to hold you to it. I will be there. I need one more person. >> April 29th. >> I'm looking at you, Rob. >> Don't know if I can. I can do it. >> All right. >> RG will be ready to be a backup. >> Okay. So, if anyone wants to come to one of the shortest meetings in the world, I recommend that one. It will probably be three minutes. Um, and then there is a budget hearing on May 5th. Is it at 7 p.m. or at 6 PM? Because it's been noted at different times. >> Okay. Okay, somewhere else it said six. We're going with seven. Um, seven. Okay. Uh, thank you to everyone
080who's gotten us to this point. And with that, uh, would anyone like to ask questions about adjourning or just move it? >> I'll move it. >> Or just second. >> All in favor? I. >> Thank you all for being here. Congratulations to the new tenure. Thank you guys for being