001All right, let's do it. Stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation with everybody who's watching us um this time I'd like to make a motion for an executive session to have a legal discussion with council for the purpose of providing and advising relative to the petition and proposition. Have a motion. Okay. And a second in session. paperwork. Oh, Peace. Thanks everybody for sticking around. A motion to reserve or return rather to open session and second. All those in favor. Agenda changes. Um, I did have the addition of you petition for proposition to eliminate the tax for memorial library. Uh, agenda related public comment period. Are you speaking for Okay, this Yeah, I'm going to talk about the
002budget. So that's on the agenda for tonight. Okay. Uh um I'm Millie Smith. Um so I have uh several concerns regarding the budget. The first being that when the agenda was first posted on Friday, there was no budget attached to it. So, um, at that point, you know, you can't ask a board, in my personal opinion, you can't ask a board to v to vote on a $92 million budget and not have a budget attached to it. To my surprise, on Monday afternoon or late morning, uh, the budget was attached and I was able to review it. today is and and I know due to public um meeting laws, you only have to publish it 24 hours, but here's where my concern lies. Yes, the budget was published and I spent several hours deciphering it
003because for one simple reason, I still have not for the last 18 months, I have not received a satisfactory response in terms of where did all our CO dollars go. I had a meeting with Mr. Ketrick and Josh back in October. And back in October of 2022, I was told that there was still $14 million hanging out there that had not been appropriated. I'm not a finance person. I don't claim to be a finance person, but reading budget laws and with school boards and small small district communities, some of these things have to be in plain language so that I can understand or anybody can understand for that matter. And some of these things on here are a little difficult to understand. Um, so after I was able to review the budget, I'm actually taken
004very back that our budget last year was 82 million and this year the budget's 92 million. You can add all the numbers, but there's no clear-cut explanation to community people like me, like a lay person, as to why our school budgets going up $10 million. Number one, just under $10 million. Number one. Number two, our tax levy is 3.5%. Now, I sat here and I listened to the presentation about the tax levy. And the language that was used during that presentation was that we should not be leaving money on the table. And that jargon to me is very disturbing because there's still no explanation as to why we're increasing our tax levy to 3.5% when historically it we've tried to maintain it under two. Last year was 61. But worse than that, you're asking taxpayers
005to pay more taxes for the school budget towards the school budget. you're increasing our um budget by $10 million. And my question as a community per um interested party is what are we getting for that? What have we seen in terms of instructional improvements, COVID recovery with the aftermath of of we know all of our graduation rate is down, our math scores are down, our English scores are down. What are we doing? Where is this money? Where is it tangibly seen? Back in 2021, there was a capital campaign improve improvement that um vote for $13 million capital improvement projects. I don't know what the status of that is, but I read the report back then and it was supposed to be improvements to wild leaf case and water town. I haven't seen anything. I don't
006know where we're at with that. There's no communication about that. Um, we have positions at the high school and at the middle school that haven't been filled as of yet. We have I have a list. We have We need an art teacher at the middle school, a music teacher, a tech teacher, homes career teacher, and a health teacher. At the high school, we need social studies, math, English, science. Social studies, math. Those are your core subjects. Business department and art teacher and technology teacher. You look at the budget and the salaries. Okay. Aotment on the budget has gone up. Um $3 million $3.8 million. We're going from last year's budget to this budget. You know, I you may have all the answers to this, but that is the reason I'm standing here because I don't
007know where all this money is going. And if we still have this many teachers and these many positions available, where is this money going? Our employee benefits is increasing by a million dollars. Why? These are the things that need to be discussed with the community. I understand that there's going to be a hearing done probably a week before we all have to vote. The community has to vote for the budget, but I've been coming to these meetings and everyone knows that every single time there's a meeting, I think I've missed two. I have not heard any budget discussions. I have not, and I could be wrong again, I might be misinformed, but I haven't heard any board member talk about budget sessions or scrutinizing the budget or going through this. I mean, the transportation is
008going up half a million dollars. Is our services increasing? Are we getting more for half a million dollars? I don't really understand that. It's it's very worrisome to me that you're asking taxpayers to pay more of a tax levy, participate, give more on top on top of all the increased state aid that we've received. We've just been allotted another $8.5 million. I have no idea where that money is going. We got um Mrs. Congress asked at the last meeting. We just won the lawsuit for the Juul uh lawsuit. $62,000. I understand only 50% of it is coming, but I don't see that money delineating anywhere. And then when we look at the budget, you're talking about appropriated fund balance. That means that's what we're going to plan to spend. I looked at all the reserve
009accounts. I have no idea where this money is going. The 13 million 14 million that were left in October, no idea where it is. Yet, you know, this might be a small little thing, but we have all this money that we're asking community people, and I'm going to speak for the athletic parents and people involved in athletic, but yet we have no streaming. Our varsity teams do not have streaming. So, during COVID, on a whim, everything was streamed. These kids are playing varsity sports and no streaming, which is very important for kids to learn, go back into their sports and look at what's going on. It's good for training purposes, but there's all and I've I've talked to several people about this and there's all this hoopla about someone was going to pay, the board
010approved, someone said no. Uh we have to go through through Boseies, we have to do this, we have to that. yet the varsity season has started and we have all this money, but we can't even stream something that potentially costs about $12,000 a year. I mean, this is very disheartening to me. Um, I really would like to ask the board if if I saw I don't know if you guys got the budget earlier than I did. I hope you did. Um, but I would really request that the board take a really hard look at these numbers. This is not easy. This is something that needs to be done in sessions. You know, I know my husband on the city council holds budget sessions. They're very timely. They're time consuming, but it's very important to try
011to figure out where all these numbers are going. I don't think that you are doing your due diligence to our community taxpayers when we're supposed to the board's supposed to be the stewards of our taxpayer dollars that you're just going to blindly accept a tax levy of 3.4 when you've got nothing to show for it. And I I don't mean to offend anybody, but to say you're leaving money on the table is a little offensive. Like what are you leaving money on the table for? There's no reason. The only thing that you presented that you're going to bond for is a $1.4 million turf. That's it. The other capital improvement for $13.1 million. I don't know what the status of that is. You're putting a turf. Our athletic fields are a disaster. I don't understand
012if we're going to bond for something. I my understanding and I don't want to say wrong numbers because I know this then you know people start saying the wrong things but I've been told that our fund balance our reser our savings account that's what fund balance is is very healthy. So if our fund balance is really healthy does it really make financial sense to bond for $1.4 million is that really a good thing to do? And in addition to that, we're only going to do the turf field when everything surrounding it is just a disaster. I mean, we've been talking about this for years and we haven't really seen any product. We really have no end vision here. We haven't seen anything that's been done. So, what I'm asking the board to do is to
013please reconsider tonight. You should not approve this proposed budget. you should really scrutinize these numbers and you should really look at what we're doing and what you're asking your taxpayers to contribute. There's a lot of information here and I can't believe that the board has really taken the time to decipher out these numbers instead of just taking what's you know the the finance has said okay let's do this and you guys are just going to be like okay it's not good it's not good and I am asking that you guys really reconsider this thank you John on 237. Just on that discussion, um I got a question of what things are allocated toward, but the office of state controller based on my my discussions with assistant superintendent Hart has a goal of 4% for fund
014balance based on the report card that was put in the meeting agenda. It looks like even after this proposed budget would be approved, it'd be at 5.8%. So I think there's some allowance there. Uh the differentiation I think if you wanted to keep the real property taxes static, I live out in town. Tal residents realized a 10 and a half% increase in their property taxes last year in true dollars. Okay, 10 and a half%. Um, I think it'd be a sign of good faith if the school district board of education in the discussion period tonight had that discussion. Ask the assistant superintendent for finance what the impact would be if you borrowed about $600,000 from the fund balance. You'd still be over over that 4% controller target and you'd keep your real property tax levy
015static. You know, this economy is not good for anybody. So I just ask you to consider that as you discuss this proposal. Thank you. Thank you. Communications. I have a couple communications. Um, sir Adams received a letter from the Rotary Club um, thanking the district for um, approving their use of the Watertown High School for the 2023 uh, swimathon on February 11th. From the athletic director and boys swim team coaches to Mike Borquin, from the custodial staff, everyone went out of their way to make things run smoothly as um eightarians swinging the event. Excellent. I have that. And I have a letter that the board received from Grace Wrights. Grace is one of the four candidates running for the board um for the Jeff Lewis Bose board um coming up. Uh she is seeking reelection
016and would appreciate the board's support on April 25th. So that will be on the next the next. Excellent. Um board and staff reports and we'll start with Mr. Brian Aras facilities. Thanks for coming on. Yeah, thank you guys. Thank you uh members of the board, administrative team, members of the community, staff members. Thank you guys. Um and actually this will shed a little bit of light on where the 13.1 budget is going. So um um for starters here at WY on the lower north side of WY will begin construction as part of the capital improvement project Thursday the 5th. um they've already kind of been in there removing ceiling tiles, getting where they can in phase 2A, which is what we're allowing them to get into. Um that'll take us into November, possibly January of
017next year. But on the first portion, we'll include the dental and abatement work for the new OTP, art, choir, music, band, RTI, and social work spaces. Um contractor trailers are are already in place up on the hill. um as well as three storage containers for parts and equipment as they arrive. Um I'd like to extend a huge thanks out to Mark Mkeley and his custodial and cleaning crew here at WY. Um my district maintenance team as well as Dan Mincer and his staff for all the help and teamwork required to make this project come together. Um at Nickerbacher, we have received a delivery of the replacement boiler section for the down boiler. Um Seamans and our maintenance crews have agreed that we will wait till summer break to begin that work since we essentially made
018it out of the heating season. Um the new playground demo and construction will begin April 11th and is anticipated to be finished by the 14th. Um if everything runs smoothly, it should be ready to use by the 17th when school reconvenes. Um the renovations to the library will also take place um on the week of the 10th where they will remove the tiered risers in the corner and recarpet the floor below it. Um Sherman Elementary, I have Nitric Electric coming out. Um they're going to arrive on the 10th to install an electric monitoring device to determine electrical fluctuations in the building's main switch gear in preparation for main panel service to be coordinated this summer. Um over at Starbucks Elementary, um I met with Stacy Albuno from Appel Osborne for a site survey to address
019the sidewalk repairs needed as a possibility to be part of the next capital outlay at Ohio Elementary. Um I met with Mr. DeMarco from the Office of Planning and Community Development as the planning committee would like to continue to plant trees at Ohio to provide visual improvements but also aid in removing some of the standing groundwater which poses issues each year. Um and then districtwide kind of alto together as well as Massie Street um district learning center. Um we've cleared out spaces and have made a new home for the district's K through six instructional coaches that were kind of dislocated from the WY spaces below and they're now home at Massie Street. Um we're about 85% ready for the family opportunity center through NCPPPC um which is another program that's moving into Massie Street. Um
020we received 10 air purifiers valued at around $20,000 through camfill um using Boseis Esser funds and we'll be distributing them through uh to the district's nurses offices. Um we will be ordering pallets of cold patch and traffic paint to address the muchneeded parking lot damage throughout the district. We'll be renting a lift soon to repair parking lot lighting issues throughout the district. And also over spring break, um, Wayfair will be coming through and we're going to be refinishing the gym floors at North Starbucks, Sherman, Nickerbacher, and Ohio. That's that's basically it. That'll get us through April. That's a whole lot. That's a whole lot. And then there's even more projects as part of the 13.1 um budget happening. So at the high school, again, I was just trying to keep this within what's in sight,
021the short term, what's happening immediately, but at the high school, we already have slotted in um June and July. All the bleachers are being replaced with ADA compliant bleachers. Um it was um an alternate that got chosen. The roofing um repairs to the auditorium are going to begin. Case Middle School is going to be getting all new exterior doors and door frames. And what I read off at WY is again it's just phase 2 A 2B 2C are going to be even more extensive but that's a lot of where that money is going. So Thank you guys. Thank you for coming. It's not like you're busy. It's we're glad to have you. We'll see you back in couple weeks. Yeah, as as often as I'm allowed. Okay, moving right along. The FAFSA committee report by
022Mr. Philly Doer. Yes. So, not to be redundant, but u report just gave that's what for what we did went over the um facilities updates, talked about what is going to be done. One thing I'll add with that is uh it's very exciting and busy spring break and a lot of project are slated to be complete. So um for to the kids coming back for that. Um we also talked a little bit about the turf um anticipating that um being um being redone um such as the way it's going to be stripes, lines, graphics um logos, things like that. Um we also discussed the intermunicipal agreement with the city of Watertown. Um this is basically kept things status quo the same um where they're uh does lifeguard training police testing maxi street for K9 training
023um um with a couple possible changes um including use of golf course to using a playground and a pool um other than that we discussed items related to an ongoing contract negotiation um and that brought us up to this Okay, good update. Thank you very much. Superintendent of Schools report. Okay, I'm gonna let Josh go into the budget being the New York State budget. Uh we're right now sending a group of five people. We're working on Narcan, the the idea of NARCAD and how do we become uh eligible to to administer if if needed. We're looking at there are three options. We're looking at the partnership operation where we would partnership with a recovery center uh and they would be actually the I'll say the boss in a sense and we were looking at that.
024I'm sending uh five people if any board member or two board members I'd rather not have more than two but five that's seven. So one or two wants to go let me know and I'll email you uh I guess April 18th 18th uh I'll let I'll let you know when it is and where where it's going to be. Once we get that, then we're going to sit down. We still have we're going to go through liabilities, all that, you know, and stuff. And then we hopefully we'll be able to come to the board and say, "Hey, here's what we think. Here's all the facts that we can find and uh make a determination." I'm going to say this and and I'm going to say it uh I'm going to say probably within the next two
025or three years, all schools will have some form of uh either partnership or via center. uh I would say within the next few years and uh please just let me know if you that's it. Thank you. Assistant superintendent for personnel and student services report joint security. Oh yeah, I didn't know that. Let's do that one first. Okay. So on behalf of Stacy Eager Converse, uh he congratulates Karen Beaker on being selected for channel 50's golden apple award. Karen is a 15-1 teacher at Watertown High School and she works hard on our PBIS team. The graduate committee, the professional learning committee, and more. Also, congratulations to the Watertown High School 15-1 team of teachers and students as part of their development of life skills and focus on budgeting, food preparation, and presentation skills. Students worked in
026grade level teams to compete in a casserole cookoff. Casserles were baked. Spaghetti chicken, bacon ranch casserole, gater t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t taco casserole and chili dog casserole. CeCe served as a panel judge and all of them were outstanding, thoughtful in presentation and tasted delicious. Great works by all the students and thank you to the teachers Lorie Babcock, Mike Simmons, Tom O'Reilly, Karen Beaker and their aids and assistants for a job well done. The diversity, equity, and inclusion committee has developed segments for faculty meetings to support a focus on inclusivity and being reflective in our practices. The first two segments focus on how we build respect with our students and the importance of a name to one's identity. Things like
027misprononunciations, misspellings, nicknames that are not requested, etc. During faculty meetings, 10 to 15 minutes will be spent with staff reflecting and discussing these topics. Stacy attended the Fort Drumrum Educational Lia Committee meeting in mid-March. The meeting focused on all the supports and programs Fort Drum offers for our students and a spotlight was featured on the therapy dog program at Carthage that was started to support students mental health needs. The MTSS integrated committee met twice in March to discuss the current state of academic attendance and behavior supports in the district and to establish goals as part of this pilot initiative working with Case Wy and Starbucks that will filter out to all eight buildings through our communications goal. The goals established for work going forward are finalize the development of panorama data dashboards including determination of
028early warning sign indicators and guidance expectations regarding the use of the dashboards to inform MTSSI decision- making. Use a collaborative stakeholder process to develop a communication plan regarding the district's implementation of MTSSI. develop K through2 instructional staff's capacity with relation to universal screening and progress monitors including understanding of the computer adaptive assessment systems utilized by Watertown ICE Ready and STAR and strengthening capacity to efficiently and proficiently interpret screening and progress monitoring data. We will be continuing this work in late April and early May to start working on topics around attendance related to these three goals. That's Stacy's report and I'll move right to mine. Yeah. Okay. All right. So on March 8th, I met with grades kindergarten through six and grades 7 through 12 pupil personnel services staffs. We discussed educating students and families regarding
029social media safety especially at the K through six level. Communication regarding tutoring, communication with parents about students. We are perfecting form letters to parents and also we talked about nan as well with the 7 through 12 group. did a series of interviews since the last board meeting, social studies, junior high science, WY assistant principal interviews, technology, special education, and senior typist interviews. On March 16th, I had the great pleasure I met with food service staff uh down at Watertown High School for about 50 people in attendance there. We had great discussions on pertinent issues. I met with our medical director a few weeks ago to discuss how best to meet the medical needs of particular students within the school setting. I also attended a tabletop exercise meeting to prepare for a simulation to be held
030in the area of technology which will be held in May. Stakeholders from around the district were there. I also attended the administrative cabinet meeting and I am continuing to facilitate contract negotiations with our team with collective bargaining units around the district. Excellent. Thank you very much. Assistant superintendent for finance. So I just graph just to try and help people visualize where all of our money is coming from and where it's headed to. So you can see there.8 million is coming from state sources. That money sales uh tax revenue, state aid, etc. 74 70% of our revenues there. Next biggest being our property taxes. Now we're able to keep it low only needing to get just under 600,000 in order to get a balance budget this year which would represent that three and a half% increase.
031That is the 19 just under 20% of our total revenues there. We are appropriating 8.2 2 million from this year's budget to in order to balance or carry forward federal sources of 400 grand primarily back date. You can see there there is 250,000 coming out of reserves which was pulled in order to help offset the tax cap calculation because you would have been upwards of five six% instead of up around the three and a half% with a four change calculation that we had. There is money coming out of reserves to help off Josh. Can you just so we understand reserves coming from like unrestricted fund balances? It's not out of the fund balance. now is pulling out of our capital to help offset the debt of the debt service payments because part of the calculation
032is the amount of debt that we have that we actually for the appropriated fund balance the 8 million. So last year it was 9.9 is that yes to keep keep knocking that down happy. So does that am I reading this right? That that leaves 4.8 Okay. Looking at the report card. You're on the unappropriated. Yeah. And that's anticipated at the end. So just talk just about why that's We're underestimated. Yes. Restricted. Yes. Why it's important to have iron available so we can it's not tied up. So you see our restricted 92 is really going to be more of our reserve funds appropriated is there to balance our budget and there are less restrictions on or unrestricted which is why OC wants to see that down closer to 4%. So if we have something we have
033to spend it on um I don't know any sort of emergency then it's not going to be special vote and a whole big deal to get it out of reserves if we had to spend something out of reserves depending on what the rules prior year was continuing to trend back is our Josh our reserves that we have typical for schools. No, I think we're really low for the amount of work that we have in this district. It needs to be done. We are behind the eightball. We're have to borrow money. Um when stuff comes down to it, we have that feasibility stuff. We know we have master stuff. So um so say we had 100 million project. If you take state aid away or when you factor in state aid, if we had $10 million
034in reserves to put towards that capital project, that would get us $100 million worth. We do not have $10 million per cap at this point in time. I think we're five. Um, so we're halfway there to where we should be without causing some major tax implications to everybody when we need to do the work. That's a waterfall chart. This just kind of shows the year the variances. See again our flip fund balance coming down as we try to try and make OC happy. It is a double-edged sword though. If we do want to borrow, obviously bank wants to see us have cash, get us better rates. So just conflicting things there. Federal sources remaining flat. Our other revenues that variance is largely because our pilots are increasing about $98,000. Property taxes that you see there
035is the 600,000 necessary to balance the budget. Service is pulling the $250,000 out of there. interstate sources. Um, you know, it's comprised of transportation aid uh going up, which again is tied to our expenses. The post aid also going up. I know they like to they kind of have uh it's higher than what we would typically actually receive with a based on whatever submits to state. our foundation agent is the is the significant increase there which finally gets us up to the full funding that we should have been at four years now. Um, and keep in mind, so I guess the main reason I'm sorry I left I glossed over that main reason the budget wasn't put out on Friday is because we were hoping to have governor's budget and any state aid changes uh
036or budget was due on 41 as it stands. It should be out by 410. Um, we don't have to have it. I just always like to have it in order to kind of solidify state to have a number as far as budget goes. We have what we have now and it was as of one and we'll stick with that number. $95,000 of that I believe somewhere in the 10% range was set aside. We still don't really have any guidance on that beyond one little paragraph in our budget book. That was for high impact two set. So once we get over to the expenses, you'll see on the instruction side that goes up3 4 million. One billion right off the top is just ting based on what little information we have from that. What we need
037to do just kind of shows how we're trending. Um, if you look at the overall, it's still right there around that 2% when you combine it. Here's our side over here. Instructions. It's kind of the largest chunk there. about 45% of the budget but $41.5 million. Employee benefits are the second largest chunk. Keep in mind it's not just our employees but everybody who has retired from here that um operations and maintenance. Brian just told you he's going to do it if it's seven points. Not really, but a lot of his work is he's got a lot of stuff in my account first. Uh transportation see that 3.8% 3.8 million 4% of the budget. OC's again it's that's one of those where more you spend hypothetically you're supposed to get a lot more paid back on
038that the vast majority of it's going to be on Iraq special ed that service what we capital projects we are doing then general support staff it's going to be district office and everyone support district Josh on and constructional transportation those are contractual most part those transportation some of that increase is going to be based on usage too as we have seen and you know I used to get a folder with maybe two or three screenshets and now it's a full folder that we're starting to see so it's nice to see everything getting back up but that also increases cost but at least our kids are getting back and is how far back is service. Usually debt service is 15 years. If we incur it this year, it's paid out over 15 years. Usually we're lining
039up our our bonds and our payments that service and this is a so again this is about what's over one of about half a million and most a lot of that's going to be tied to it because within Boseis is our lower stuff which is a lot of our IT our computer items. So, you know, we're beefing up security and our multifactor authentication, um, increase in license licenses, additional computers. We're continuing smartboard placements. Um, I know Jeff's told us how far along we are. I think we're over half this point. Service again, that's payments on for capital projects and where we are there. benefits. So, health insurance right now we're looking at a 1% increase this year. Medicare part B while it did um still that is our retirees reimbursing them for Medicare after they
040retire to move over there. So, it's still level 20% ago. PRS. It was nice to see. Well, they still don't have an official number, but the number they advise us to use for the budget is about half a percent lower than it was the year before, but embedded in there. It's also going to be our TRS contributions for the TRS. So, that's in there in case we ever see some massive swings, we can pull out of there and kind of help help district with that. Um support is the next one there. Overall small increase did have to raise legal or legal services 10%. and hopefully included in in there have some payroll succession planning and benefits their construction mostly of raises. While we are in negotiations authority of that um we still have to have
041a factor a lot of it's going to be contractual raises additional increases on our computer assist related instruction operations and that's everything specialist have new truck which actually we should have had this year, but they couldn't. Was it six or seven months? Crazy. Huge lead time on the truck. Yeah. If Ford decides to build our truck. Yeah. Um there was snow removal equipment in there, mowers, ground maintenance equipment, and you know, he just mentioned the gym floors, but obviously wasn't every school. So, we had additional work on our gym floors. um you know as it's in realization we'll have repair sidewalks brick work that you mentioned our capital outlay target for next year is Starbucks um it's going to be a lot of sidewalk work and some window replacements that we have there was playground
042and transportation also on the agenda tonight we're looking at the contractual raise we are seeking one-year extension If you look at the property tax report card, the number that's automatically filled in are in there for our CPI is at 8% where we're able to have for student and at a max absolute max percent but or CPI whichever is the as it stands CPI is trending lower. That's right. So I guess this is more broken down as what is embedded in those expense categories for instruction. You see the dark purple is this year, light purple is last year and then the variance is going to be the line which is so primarily on the raises on the instructional side the one million high impact tutoring set aside that we have looking at four additional teachers as
043well as filling the spots that we do have as it stands in the budget. was listed as M our social studies ELA and one of those was going to be slash adults and then Stacy did not hear she wasn't able to jump in and say also trying to get a second driver's ed car because we do realize that it was there especially over the summer but easily classes and then you see the other And a big variance on my side is going to be on the students with disabilities. And said we saw a large increase on our interpreters and visual impairment of the next is benefits. Let me just next slide just went through that the 1% increase. um health insurance Medicare part B again also included there I just touched on the TRS as
044well and workers comp that is linear along with their salary increases that's always going to increase and if anybody's been watching the workers comp board they're encouraging anybody who's ever had co to go file more or less there's any possibility that it could have been at work they're just I don't know why it's going to so there is we are hedging that is straight from the state and advising pretty much anybody who's been on the webinars so uh oies is the next slide and increase primarily you're see with the uh with Oric and it our CI budget which is education $2 million same with our amount that we have spend on it because we have our lessons on one devices are all getting replaced in software and everything that we now become accustomed to had
045to have when CO hit in in order to teach remotely. And now a lot of this stuff is kind of carrying forward because students, teachers, the functionality and needs general support and it's primarily in this side is just primarily going to be contractual salary increases. And you see u you see the variance on the legal services up 10%. And If we were to is it feasible if we were to table and get together with you and we could sit down and just have a little more inepth discussion after we've had it. It was no fault of your own. The budget was up yesterday. Um, but I think speaking well only for me, uh, you know, in most rooms, I'm the least intelligent person. Definitely in this room. Um, so I'd like a little more time
046to be educated on it. Personally, I don't know how everyone else feels tonight. Timeline needs due latest was the 24th. That's not going to give us enough time to get if there's going to be changes. It's not going to give us enough time to all of our any sort of lure for working on the news stability notice is still fine. Um 24th is a drop dead date that that has to be in. We have to forgo the newsletter. That's fine. People actually read it. Takes a significant amount of time to do it. So no, it's your call. We just got to have a special meeting somewhere in that after um that makes sense to everybody. No, it does. And thank you for letting us know it wasn't posted. I wish it was got it done
047early. Hopefully they'll actually do it on the day. We've talked about next year's scheduling having this spread out a little more. We can do that. It's good for everybody. So in this direct proposing having a special meeting I would that that's what We have a hard items for consent agenda. All the consent agenda items A and G are here by approach. Can I have a motion, please? And a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I any opposed motion carries items for action. solved that the proposed budget of 92 million657,925 of the Watertown City School District of the city of Watertown for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2023 is hereby adopted and same and the same shall be submitted to approval by the qualified voters of the district at the vote school board election
048to be held on May 16, 23. table. All those in favor table is thereby approve. favor. That is also that the Madison OC's cooperative and the education service agreement for 2024 school year are hereby approved. And second, any discussion? All in favor? I motion cars. Whereas a result of competitive duties on January 2nd, 2018 for the Board of Education awarded a contract for student transportation services for first student incorporated for a 5-year term expiring June 30th, 2023 and whereas the board and per student desire to extend the contracts for the new leader. I will therefore be at resolved upon presentation and recommendation of the school district's administration that the board of education of whom the transportation contract extension with her student incorporated and authorized the president of the board of education and the schools to
049execute any documents necessary to effectualize such extensions. Going and second discussion with favor. Any opposed? So that the general construction award for Nicerbacher Capital Outlay project with Northern Tier Contract Incorporated is hereby motion. I'm sorry. Right. Any discussion? All in favor? I post. Motion carries. The agreement by and between the rent and green counties OC's also known as 3 for in internal audit and risk assessment services for the 2024 school year. Is there approach? I have a motion. Second. Any discussion? I any opposed? Motion carries. Resolve that the following revised board of education policies are hereby approved and adopted. 7601 concussion management 8101 response to intervention. I have a motion, please. And a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Resolved that the following revised board of education policies are hereby deleted. 7701 student
050complaints. Excuse me. 7700 student complaint. 7701 student volunteers for school and public service. 88001 students learning objective objectives. It's goals. Uh 8002 school calendar and school day 8003 curriculum development resources and evaluation 8004 pilot projects a motion a second. Okay. Oh, is this uh part of the attempt to get the board policies down that you've been working with this? Yes. Excellent. All in favor of that. Any opposed? Motion carries. Resolve that upon the recommendation of Roger Adams, interim superintendent of schools, the appointment of Patrick Dunham as 12 K12 assistant principal and the district is hereby approved. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All favor. Any opposed? Motion carries. Resolved that upon a recommendation on the new school of schools. Roger Adams the board of education hereby approves the following resignations for retirement
051leaves of absence appointments probationary instructional term non probationary instructional permanent part-time provisional substitute instructional substitutes non-instructional motion please and second any discussion All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Resolved that the proposed new course, ghosts, and spirits for the 2324 school year at Watertown High School is here by I have a motion, please. And a second. Any discussion? Take a field trip. All those in favor? minutes. Disposal, recycle, or donation of the damaged and unused piano from Nicerback Elementary. I have a motion, please. Sorry. In a second. Discussion. you want just curious it get thrown in the trash or so I would try to essentially donate it if not find somebody who's willing to scrap it before I pay the price that's disposed of uh the city of the county refues how do you go
052about that um so I can throw it on a international to start let it run its course on there and then I would probably seek internally somebody's was willing to take it rather than me deliver it with our own equipment and guys try absolutely you interested that's what I said no I want I got rid of things like I know there's somebody else I'll put it out there in favor I the disposal, recycle, or donation of approximately 100 damaged, outdated, and unused textbooks tutoring center is hereby approved. I have a motion to this. Right. And a second discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Carries. Resolve that the educational student trips as presented are hereby approved. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Resolve that the disposal, recycle or
053donation of damaged, outdated, and unused books at the library Starbucks elementary is hereby approved. I have a motion. and second. Any discussion? All in favor? Any oppos? Motion carries. Please that the donation from Masses Ranch Watertown for two gallons of maple syrup to the Watertown High PBIS senior pancake breakfast. This donation is gratefully accepted and approved and will be acknowledged in writing. I have a motion. Go and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries and thank you to the Massie family. That's very nice. Whereas on March 24th, 2023, the district court received a petition signature on the ballot at the school district annual meeting and general election in May three. And where is a proposition as set forth in the addition of shall the board of education of the water
054city school district be directed to reduce the annual tax levy for the Roswell Pete Flower Memorial Library from $75,000 to $0 thereby eliminating the tax entirety. And whereas the education law provides such petitions regarding the question of establishing or increasing the amount of funding of the annual contribution for the operating budget. A registered public or freeze associated library was where the signatures by voters of a municipality and the number equal to or at least 10% of the total number of votes cast in each municipality for governor at the last guminatorial election. And whereas it appears to the school district that the petition is not signed by number of qualified voters equal to at least 10% of of the total number of votes cast in the municipality for governor at the last electoral election. And whereas
055it appears that there may be further deficiencies and improprieties impacting the sufficiency of the petition. And whereas the board of education has the authority to object a petition requesting the placement of a proposition on the ballot when the proposition would not be permissible to put forth to the voters. No. Therefore, it is resolved that the petition is rejected as insufficient for purposes of placing the proposition therein before the voters at the May 2023 annual meeting and general election. Therefore, the proposition contained in the petition shall not appear on the ballot. I have a motion co. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. That is the end of resolutions. We have reached the non-aggenda public comment portion. our meeting tonight. If anybody would like to speak, I would please. Um, thank you for
056allowing public comment. My name is Stacy Neto. I'm at 20820 Weaver Road in Watertown. Never spoken off of agenda, so if I do anything out of turn, I do apologize. And I've only brought handful of literature that I would like to pass around. There's about six and I think there's none of you tonight. So, I'll go over the other if that's okay. Um, this is in relation to the conversation we had at the last meeting regarding $2,000 that was awarded the district for the jewel lawsuit. And I was really um hoping that maybe we could look at some of those funds for education of the children in the district so that they have a better understanding. We do have posters up at WY. However, those posters have garnered some conversations that are rather disturbing because
057they don't understand what the posters are conveying because they're fifth and sixth graders. They need further education on this matter. What I gave you is um a high school athlete who was headed hopefully to be a Navy Seal who was vaping and at 16 he ended up in ICU. By the time he came out, he couldn't even walk. Every muscle had atrophied. He had to have a double lung transplant. um lucky to be alive and now he does public speaking, he does events. Um, we've brought speakers in before and I know they're pricey, but I think that's a great place to put some of that $62,000 so the kids could see somebody their age, at least the high schoolers their age, um, and the younger ones, somebody that's not old and gray like I am,
058speaking at them, but to them instead about the real uh, risks and the real injuries that can come from doing what they think is safer than cigarettes, which is what we're hearing here from our students, that it's Isn't it safer than cigarettes. They don't understand. So, I would I would really like the board to consider looking at spending that some of those funds that we are going to receive from that lawsuit in a manner in which will benefit all of our children in the district. Thank you, Stacey. Thanks for um as we talked last meeting. Yes. Do you have any information on how to contact him or is there any There's some hashtags and I have been looking but it seems that they all lead to like social media. I've been looking for a rep
059and I will continue digging to try to find somebody. Um he's the president of this fit for life I think he's calling it fight for wellness um that he has organized and he does have a staff so I will continue digging. Um certainly I'll do as much digging as you ask me to do. If there's multiple speakers you want me to check into, I'd be happy to do that on my own time, not a problem. Anything I can find. If I can offer further, I will. Yeah, please keep us updated because it sounds like a whole thing. Absolutely. Thank you. Sure. John Eisenhower again, 23795 Woodland Drive. I just want to speak a little bit to the resolution you just rejected. Um, as you know because I've shared this in emails in 2008 Kevin Murphy
060New York State Department of Education Commissioner decision the commissioner ruled that education law includes only two provisions aligned with leving the tax on behalf of the library. Quote one education law section 591A and two education law section 50 2591B1. The latter by its own terms does not apply to school districts. The citation you just noted regarding municipalities does not apply to school districts as determined by the Department of Education Commissioner following the amount of last time I follow the records access officer for the district. And the public needs to know this. And I asked what was the numerical number you used to determine that it did not meet the number of voters who cast a vote for governor in the last election. He said you do not maintain those records. you've made an arbitrary and
061capricious decision. I will be challenged this in an appeal. That said, I followed up by foiling the Jefferson County Board of Elections and asked them the same information. How many people in the how many voters in this Watertown City School District cast a vote for governor in the last gubernatorial election? Their response was there's no way for them to determine that. They do not maintain those records. So you have no basis for making a decision that says if we didn't meet the signature requirements. Your own policy states 100 signatures. We met that. 2591B1 is not applicable to school districts. Commissioner of education has stated that 2591A she said is a matter of fact that's how the library established the funding without even petitioning. Although 2591A requires any authority in 255 and authority in 255 is
06225 voters. So the other aspect of this which is an arbitrary capricious decision I asked what other factors did it appear we did not meet. I was given no answer. None. You've provided none tonight. You've given me no specificity. So, how the hell are the voters in this school district supposed to figure out how to place a ballot proposition on the ballot? Anyone? Do you all feel good about this decision? You're afraid the library is going to sue you because you argued a fourth department with you had this power and you likely knew that wasn't the case. Shame on you. Shame on you. And this will be resolved whether it be with the commission of education or the courts. Thank you. Any comments? Anyone else tonight? Uh upcoming dates, Friday, April 7th, servants of Good
063Friday, the buildings will be closed and then uh 7th to the 14th on spring recess school. Wednesday, April 19th, Thursday, April 20th. Friday, April 21st, the New York State ELA assessments are going on in grades three through eight. Tuesday, April 25th, we have an FAF committee meeting policy discuss. I'm glad I had one of these people to correct me. Policy committee meeting at 5:00 PM at the district office. Uh, and following that meeting, it's our regularly scheduled board of education meeting at 6 PM right here. Mr. Soie, do you have any remarks? Yeah, I just want to give a shout out to all the teachers, substitute teachers, administrators, and counselors, as well as aids, monitors, nurses, and the busers. Shout out nurse. We haven't met since the musical event, so I want to shout out.
064It's awesome. Congratulations to all. It was a job well done. Um I want to speak to because I feel like this is probably brought up about the Narcan that is being brought down by the state. We're just getting ahead of it and being proactive. So in case that is brought up later in the media. I want to bring that up. It's not just because we're Watertown High School. It's just because we're being proactive and I appreciate popular evidence for the Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Goer. Um I attended music in our food last week. Um excellent say that WY did an exceptional job as did Mr. Richardson want to echo the comments about the musical so good I went twice um and and since it's once a year and we have so many accolades for
065so many other extracurriculars definitely shout out to everyone involved in that. It was amazing. Thank you. I have a lengthy report tonight. Everybody, everybody sent me something. Hope you're comfortable. Uh Chad Fairchild at Watertown High School writes uh that Watertown High School students put on an amazing performance at the Adams family and 2,672 tickets were sold for that performance. That's excellent. Uh Dan Mincer Wy writes, "We are excited for all of the students who will participated in the Flower Memorial Library art show March 31st." WY students also had the chance to watch the Rev Tours Echoes performance of student written sketches from across the state, including one sketch by one of our very own students here. He also says, uh, I may have an additional update on our teamwork makes the dream work challenge. The
066students have almost earn their challenge. I'm assuming and hope they will soon. I don't know if I'm supposed to read that, but that's fine. We didn't get an extra. Yeah. Uh, Mike Lin at Starbucks. Starbucks would like to thank our students and families for continuing to communicate with our teachers, staff, administration in such a positive manner. each and every day. It is greatly appreciated. National School Librarians Day is today, Tuesday, April 4th. Yeah. All right. Yeah. Thank you, Veil Robert and Allison Spooner, for all that you do for our students and staff on a daily basis. Thank you for creating an environment in which children are excited and motivated about learning. On Tuesday, April 4th, uh which is today, Rev Theater will perform the Magic Paintbrush for second grade students in the morning. The bad
067guys book kickoff will be held on April 28th for our K through two students. A movie and classroom activities will take place throughout this time. This will be an active and fun experience. On March 30th, our second, third, and fourth graders traveled to the high school for a performance by Beat Down Percussion. This group plays each Sunday at the Buffalo Bills home games and put on quite a show to the students and staff. Starbucks second graders wrote a thank you letter to the Starbucks PTO for helping sponsor this activity. Third grade wrote a letter thanking Mr. Gansf for organizing the event. and fourth grade wrote a letter to downbeat percussion for for providing such a positive performance with student interaction on stage. Uh he also goes on to say a couple more things. On Friday,
068March 31st, our grade three students traveled to TV7 for a tour of the facility. Letters being sent thanking the station for this opportunity. Our MTSSI team, multi-tiered systems of support integrated tiered, met on Friday the 31st at Massie with our school leadership team and our district leadership team. Much discussion was had regarding attendance and disciplinary referrals and the program as a whole. We will continue to work on goals specific to our building. Starbucks staff and administration would like to thank our school psychologist Chris Largo and our school counselor Lynn Bradley for the continuous support they give our students, staff, and families on a daily basis. Please take the time to look at Parent Square for our updates on school functions and activities. A special thank you to our students and staff for continuing to practice
069the three Bs of being respectful, being responsible, and being safe. Finally, for Mr. Lennox, a reminder that spring break starts this Friday on Monday the 17. Jessica Blair at Oh, I'm not done. Jessica Blair in Ohio writes in, "The Ohio elementary second graders had their spring concert last Thursday. Miss Carne and her students shared several silly songs with their families friends, including Skin and Marinka, Dinky Dink, Hamsters Can't Play the Piano, and Down by the Bay." We had over 150 family members and friends join us this wonderful performance. In addition, several of our classes have participated in field trips in the past two weeks. Third grade classes took field trip to the seven news station to tour the station and learn about meteorology and that aligns with the weather unit they're studying. The first grade
070classes took a field trip to the Flower Memorial Library where they got a tour and got to learn about how the library is organized and also the many opportunities the library offers for children, their families in the community. The kindergarten classes had a visit from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, Watertown Police Department. Two officers came to the school and presented their role in protecting our community. They also each brought in the K9 officers to share their role in the department and demonstrate how the K9 officer is a uh how the K9 rather is an officer on the force as well. We are very thankful all four of these community organizations for welcoming our students and sharing how they support our community. Ashley Barnhart Berto at Nickerbacher writes in, "Our first graders had a musical performance
071on March 15th. It was well attended. Our students did a remarkable job singing their hearts out while they also used sign language and signed many of the songs that they saw. Our steam fair was held on March 16th and was very well attended. We had 32 students who presented science experiments and projects. Many students and their families who didn't have things entered attended this event as well as many of our wonderful our other wonderful Nickerbacher faculty and staff members. We had a great turnout of community organizations as well and thank you to everyone who participated and also to Lisa Blank and Tara Elmer for their hard work in making our student fair such a success. She also goes on to write, "Earlier this month, our students in grades three and four were read the first
072chapter of the book Amari and the Night Brothers. Our students loved hearing the first chapter of this book and many have asked to read the second book which the library is looking into purchasing. Uh on March 31st, we held our monthly student of the month celebration where we recognize students. Our fourth grade students voted for the yearbook cover. They were given five student drawings to choose from were asked to vote uh for the picture they like the best. The winner was announced last week and a big congratulations goes out to Ivy Horton whose beautiful drawing will appear on the front cover of the yearbook. The remaining contestants pictures on the back. Finally, our students in grades two, three, and four enjoyed an amazing performance at the high school by downbeat percussion on Thursday the 30th.
073Thank you to our PTO for funding this unique opportunity. Thank you to Mr. Gansth of Sherman for organizing this event uh for all of our elementary buildings to come together as one cycle and family. Almost done for those who have waited. uh North Sandra Kaine uh writes in that Rev Theater was at North this week for second grade and kindergarten. They always do such an amazing job and it's a wonderful experience the district provides for the students. Terry Ganset Sherman right Sherman would like to say thank you to Miss Spooner and Mrs. Gamage as today is library appreciation day. We'd like to thank them for everything they do at Sherman and for our students. A big shout out to Mrs. Haynes and her first and second graders. They recently held their concert, but an amazing
074one. Like to thank all the Sherman staff for what they do daily for our students. Special thank you to our third and fourth grade teachers preparing our students for the upcoming ELA assessment. And finally from Mr. Uh, special thanks to Tara Ramy, Barb Paige, Janessa Lev, Antonia Marsala, Ashley Wro, Taylor Pervvis, Mrs. Parks, and Mrs. Matuziac for their support with our students. Final update comes from Mark Taylor, our athletic director. Modified sports in our district started yesterday. I have some numbers of participants. Uh, girls lacrosse 29 participants, one coach plus one volunteer. Boys lacrosse has 29 people involved with one coach plus one volunteer. Uh, seventh grade softball has 13 participants and one coach. Eighth grade softball has 19 participants and one coach. Seventh grade baseball has 20 participants and one coach. Eighth grade baseball
075has 23 participants, one coach. Boys track has 32 participants, one coach and one assistant. Uh, girls track has 22 participants, one coach and one assistant. And a final note from Mr. Taylor, total athletes cleared for day one with 197 students. Believe it or not, that's all I have. So, at this time, take a motion, please. Any discussions? All those in favor see the next step.