BCSD - Budget Workshop for 2026-2027 Berlin CSD Budget Re-vote

001Yep. >> To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Yep. Katie, can you use the handheld tonight? Just because that one's we're not hearing that. Thank you. >> Colleen has one over there that should be on. >> Good evening everyone. stand over here wants to first row. We have a 16 slide presentation share. >> Okay. So, >> and the clicker is right there and you'll just need to open the presentation down. >> First, I want to thank sincere. Thank you to everyone who went out this evening. I see a lot of familiar faces. I see students in the audience. I see instructional staff in the audience. I see retired employees in the audience. I see

002administrators in the audience of course of education parents in the audience. Some of you have dual roles between being staff members and also being parents as well. Um I want to thank you for engaging this process. This is what we want when it comes to budget form. We sincerely want people here to have discussions about our school budget, about what's best for our students, what's best for our districts. So thank you for being here today. I'm joined today by Holly Mills, a business official. Holly and I worked on a presentation we want to share with the community, with the board for consideration. Thank you for those out there as well. >> Yeah, just all >> so we can all see you. Just come on over. >> So the first slide is what it's all about.

003It's the reason why I became an educator 25 years ago and the classroom uh students. It's the reason why I continue to pursue a career in leadership. because students is the reason why I chose to come to Berlin to lead this district to work with board of education community because of students. Our budget is about our students and I hope we can keep that as the main focus because we're not always going to agree on everything. We all know that. But as residents, uh, we pay taxes here and as as teachers, educators here, administrators here, and foration members here, I hope we all have one thing in common that we're all here because we care about students and what's best for students. I hope we have healthy dialogue around our students and how to support

004them with our school budget. That's why Colin and I have this presentation today to talk about our programs and our students. So, I want to start that. they can reach over pulling the wonderful photos today for kids slide over you guys here so we can see the presentation online too. >> So let's talk about the budget vote on May 19th. A quick summary um the proposed budget was 26 million of change was 2.16 increase which was at the maximum allowable cap. We were planning to use $849,145,000 in reserves, $1 million in fund balance, and that made up our proposed budget that was rejected by voters. Across New York State, uh we were a bit of a anomaly since we were under the cap. Those districts that stayed at or under the cap, 98% across New

005York State did pass school budgets. We were not able to. So that leads us to a very important question. What revisions I'm gonna sign Rachel Steve. What revisions, if any, need to be made in order to put up a successful budget to our community? That is really our central question today. What revisions, if any, need to be made to this budget to make sure it passes for our students? So options that the district has after a budget fails, the board can immediately move to what's called a contingency budget after failed vote. And Ali will talk more about representation. The board can put the same budget for voters a second time in June or the board can put up a new budget for voters in June. So at this point in time I can share with

006you the board has decided that we are either going to go with step two number two or number three. So we are not going to go directly to a contingency budget. We are either going to put the same budget off or a revised budget and that'll be up to the board of education to decide. That is why we're here today so they can hear our feedback. The budget revote will be on Tuesday, June 16th from 12:00 to 9:00 p.m. The location will be right here at Berlin Middle School High School in the cafeteria. We will have a half day for students uh till 11:45 and this location will allow our community to park in the parking lot and come into the cafeteria doors for easier access to the building. Uh we are going to have

007a board meeting that same evening. Uh so this will allow us to uh streamline district operations and have the vote here at the Mosco High School. So please pay attention to that location and the time and date. We'll put that out broadly across the community in the coming weeks. So let's start first with budget facts versus some misconceptions. as superintendent. Um, I have your advice and I've heard a lot of of things that are out there and it got me thinking thinking with Colleen, think with the board about a few things that I wanted to put out there for the community to make sure people know what the facts are. And I would always encourage people if you're not sure if something's true or not, please ask. We will always pick up the phone and

008call you back. We will always email you back. We will always sit down for a face to face conversation. may not be the same day or as soon as possible. So if you hear something you're not quite sure whether it's true or not, I encourage you to please reach out to colleague or myself or a board member, okay? And ask, is this true? This is what I'm hearing, okay? Because I want to know the facts. So one thing I've certainly heard is if the budget fails, are we going to merge with another district? Right? That is not not that opinion. It's actually not not effect. The district will be required to adopt what's called a contingency budget if the budget fails. Right? If the budget fails a second time, we will go directly to contingency.

009We will not be merging with another district. A merger would require very lengthy uh study done by state education department. It would cost money by this district and the other district that we merging with. We would need approval from state ed to do so. And we would need to have a vote out to voters both in this district and in the other district and voters in both districts have to say yes in order for merger to take place. My personal opinion, but from what I've seen and heard out there, there would never be a merger of the district. We have friends who were we are merged with right now in athletics. It's called Lebanon. I believe if there ever was a study on them that probably would make the most sense to talk about new

010Lebanon being a possibility, but right now that's not a conversation that's being had. It certainly could in the future, but it's not tied into our district budget right now passing or not passing. Many of you may know I also principal in Tamak. I would tell you great people, great community. There's no conversation with Tamak and I don't see that happening at any point no matter how many times put out there in the world, right? It's a decision that gets made by the board and by the board in the other district and a lengthy conversation lengthy process. So I put that to rest right now that there's no merger study being done in this district. The district had approved a 12% increase for administrators. That is probably the biggest myth that I've heard so far and

011one that's most untrue. So what has happened and Colleen is going to explain in more detail in a moment is there has been some recoding of the administrative budget. There was a prior administration here several years ago that did not code things properly and with new business official and new superintendent. We are trying to increase transparency and accuracy and honesty with our community. And in doing so, sometimes it means putting things in front of the committee that may be eye copying. And you may wonder why, right? No one is getting a 12% increase or anything close to that in this district. But we are putting things in the administrative budget line that needed to go there, right? Because frankly they were in the wrong place. The BA, which is the administrative association, has not settled

012the contract. So they do not even have an increase for next year. Right. We are currently negotiating with that unit. I thank Mr. Burns for the process that we have and he understands the position the district is in. He's not asking for 12%. I won't go into more detail than that. But I will say right now that that is a complete myth and there is still some things that have to happen before a contract will get settled to the district and it will not be 12%. Unless the board were to decide for somebody's commission. I can't looking at budget classification three part budget which is capital program administration there certainly can be some items that have some overlap choices need to be made for example test performance analysis and data reporting who's using it mainly

013the administrators who's it benefiting the teachers there are some choices that different administrations may like curriculum development hours. Are they working for the administration or are they working for their classroom hours? All these types of questions that occur when we're working on a three-part budget. Some other items in there, graduation commencement ceremony in a prior year, we put the graduation expenses entirely in the board because the board wants to see a board collaborative process. Would that be linked back to the program? Is it more appropriate for the program? Perhaps legal cost. Currently, we count 100% of our legal costs as part of the administrative budget that is not required. A proportional estimate can be quoted as programmatic for things like special education of legal matters that come up. So, there are choices that can occur

014from year to year in any budget. >> Here's the best way to look at this slide. If we wanted to keep the initiative, the optics, the administrative costs as low as possible, we would take every one of these items and simply remove them to the administrative budget. What Miss Mills is trying to say is that many of these items are typically found in the administrative bud budget. They weren't all there previously. So, they were moved over the administrative budget, which makes the budget look like a huge increase when it's not. Right? I hope everyone is understanding that concept. These are things that the board does have discretion over many times and it could be removed from that. It can lower that. We're playing a game of smoke and mirrors when it comes to where things

015are put and where they're placed. We're not trying to do that with you, right? We're trying to put things where we believe they belong in the correct spot. In doing so, we understand that those raise questions are good questions. They're they're questions people should be asking. Again, we want people asking where they believe something like 12% increase, which is outrageous, right, for any school district, I think, in my opinion. Um so those are some of the board I put that in front of you for consideration. It certainly could be shifted and moved different spots. This power will be shared afterward as well put on website so you can certainly review that later on. So these are some budget item increases. Some of the items that are in there that have caused that that increase the

01612% in there. We put the dollar amounts there. These are these are just the increase amount. These are not the actual total costs. We look at legal fees. Our legal fees are now $35,000, right? They're higher than that. That's just the the increase that we're accounting for in there for each item. I don't want to read that to you because I'm not able to read what's on PowerPoint slide to you. I want you to see some ideas there that are causing along with normal yearly increases causing some of those items to go and for people to wonder why it appears that administrators are getting such a big increase. I do want to bring your eyes down to the note at the bottom. Get a chance to read that. So, it does say administrative budget. And

017sometimes people will say, well, cut administrators and they make all the money administrators. Well, administrative budget includes anybody who spends 50% more of their time in an administrative or supervisory role. You can probably envision who those people are in supervisory roles. And it also includes district secretaries, right? district office staff, building secretaries each building, and all district support staff as well are included in those salaries as well. And I want to bring your eyes to the big yellow piece right there, which a little bit confusing probably went back and forth. How do we best explain this? There's been so much back and forth. So multi-tiered student support system which is framework for supporting students who would otherwise potentially be identified special ed and need special services. This is a framework to support students who may

018be struggling in 202425. Best way to put this in that school year that was a teacher in that role that supported the district K126 this current year that moved to an administrative role. Right? That was decision that was made last. Okay. To put that that person in that that role. The board has since my recommendation was to remove that position as administrative position and place it back in the DTA thus reducing the number of administrators that we have. That is a fact that I put out to the community and I'll show you that show that graphic in a minute as well and I believe this is where the NPSS position belongs. It's how it's structured my prior district for that as well. It can be an administrative position but it's not active. And we don't

019have to have additional administrators. We're not going to have them. We don't need them. In fact, this person can do more in a teaching role than they can in a leadership role. And it really is a leadership role still. But part of this is to bring academic intervention support for our students. This person now in this role, whoever will be is hired, will be able to teach reading to our students in the middle school. And we have data that shows that our students are really struggling with reading. And we need more reading support. In fact, some of our community members have come to me and said, "Mr. Rizzo, we need reading support for my child. My child's reading three levels below where they are. I need a reading teacher. Can you give me something?" And

020I said, "I don't have a reading teacher for you." Mr. Ros and I have talked about this. We've tried we can to provide sports. Without a certified reading teacher, it's impossible really to provide that reading intervention. So, this MTS coordinator is going back to the BTA. I thank the BTA for their collaboration on this. Um and that person will be in a similar role to what they're doing now supporting MTSS K12 and students who are struggling but also teaching as well next year. Right? So there is a reduction in our administrative staffing. Right? We're not keeping extra administrators if we don't need those administrators for that role. And that's where we're planning to keep keep that position at this point in time. To be clear, this role had come into the administrative unit during the

021fiscal year during the time of budgeting still a teacher. That's why the prepar salary and all benefits associated with it. There are a lot of things in administrative budget that people might not think of. You may just be thinking of your district office staff and your principal. But here is a list not all inclusive but hopefully I got most of it of what is included in administrative but all of our board of education costs anything associated with meetings board trainings memberships or doc software go to to presentations workers vote software which is this year stipen and as I mentioned that we include the graduation expenses there tax collection includ software tax collector stipens all our legal costs, liability insurance, audit services, both external and our claims auditor, financial services that come into play especially when

022we are setting our tax levy and talking about a capital project. Business office all the staff there's administrative administrative costs which include their overhead and their capital costs are mandatory for us to pay. We don't get a choice in the number records management, shredding, contract data, storage, those type of things. Central printing and mailing. In the past, this had been spread throughout the budget. Um, now it is a central service where we provide all the paper in one budget line. We provide all the phone copies in one budget line and all the postition supplies associated with those things. Public communications, our website, social media, text message notices, newsletters, advertising, all of those things are administrative data processing and reporting. Our school tool software that we take attendance on that also is used for a lot

023of state reporting. uh testing services that would be required to purchase data analysis tools and essential service work all go into that category. We have personnel services those include our subpoller job postings employee benefit processing fees. Uh professional development and service those are things that the administration might select like conference days, superintendent conference days, staff evaluation tools, uh curriculum curriculum development pay. It's not directly related to this question. Admin and support staff salary. So that's anyone with 50% or more of their time in an administrative or supervisory role counts as an administrator plus any of their support staff and then the benefits of any staff that are included in there. So the way we are dealing with benefits now is we take the entire benefit pool because in any year an administrator might have a

024family plan but the next year they might do a single one. So the fairest way to deal with that in my opinion because there can be different choices on this is take the entire benefit pool and proportionally divide it across admin capital um and program based on the salary number included in those budget lines and that will forever stand as a consistent number that is comparable if we continue that practice. So I'll say from this clearly there's a lot of different things that can impact administrative budget and increases to a budget aside just from the staff itself that are in there. So continuing on with facts versus misconceptions. There are too many administrators in Berlin school district. Well that is an opinion. Um can't say fact can't say it's not a fact. It's an opinion.

025But the fact is district has reduced the total number of administrators from the prior year. That is a fact. And I'll show you a graphic in a moment. This number, also looking at similar districts, does align with neighboring districts of similar size and is significantly less than districts with larger student populations. Right? So what do I mean by that? Well, if you look at our neighbors to the south, they have a directly to our south, they have a smaller student population, right? We have the same number of administrators, the exact same administrative positions, right? Um as they do. looking at who's across to the north, who's across um has one additional administrator. They're a little bigger than us. They have a middle school principal and a high school principal. Looking at Brunswick, we have the

026exact same structure as that school district. I would say right now, this is an opinion. It is my opinion that we do not have too many administrators. In fact, we need good leaders in our schools. We need good leaders to help lead the work of supporting the district vision and strategic goals that the board creates. Without good leaders, it's very hard to move a district forward. We need a team that wants to work as a team that we're responsible together. We need good teachers, too. And we need community that wants to support teachers and educators and we need a board and a school that wants to be responsible also with taxpayer money as well. Really, we need to all work together. We need to do so for students, right? Everyone's tied to opinion. I share

027sort of my opinion. I think everyone's of value. I don't think we have ex excess in this district and I say that with all due respect coming from other districts. I've worked in very large suburban council districts that have layers upon layers administrators and I've worked in very small districts. Um I'm very proud of my roots. I came from a small rural school like this. So I think I can relate to the district and I can tell you in all honesty having come from teaching in a sort of servant council school and as an administrator I don't believe you have too many administrators. And if we do, I certainly would engage in the conversation and ask, please let us know which administrators you think we should be looking at. We will certainly have that conversation.

028I'll bring it to the board and certainly consider that feedback as well. But I think right now it's just in terms of that piece. It is an opinion that everyone's entitled to. Um, and I want to show you our structuring so everyone's clear in terms of this hopefully informed about our structuring in our schools. So this is what Berlin looks like. You see the superintendent, the principal elementary school, the middle school high school principal, the guard director slash assistant principal for the middle school high school, PBS director, um NTSS coordinator, school business official, network administrator, superintendent of grounds and transportation coordinator. So this is last year's this current year budget right till 25 26 and I'm going to show you the change okay show you how we've reduced now we've gone down to niches and

029part of that's with a new director of instructional technology innovation right we've now combined some roles between technology and curriculum to have that person really take on two different responsibilities with one job and we've also removed the MTSS access coordinator position from the administrative unit. So we are now at nine administrators and again everyone has an opinion. This is where I would say if you still feel we have too many administrators please reach out. I would love to hear feedback in terms of where where we possibly could further reduce because if we can reduce something we don't need it and certainly we will engage that conversation right some of those positions are mandated positions as well just just so you director you have to have EPS director run to run that it would be impossible

030to share that with the district um athletic director for athletics etc etc hopefully we can see the changes there from 10 to 9 all right The director of instructional innovation and technology adds $20,000 to the budget. So this is another piece of information that was put out there and I want to make it very clear this is very much false. Right? It allows for the network administrator position enables to hire a certified someone with a school district leader certification. Right? It's called SDL or to be a district administrator. someone that has that licensing. They can oversee technology and instruction for the district. One administrator supports two key areas and I think that's really good bang for your buck when it comes to how money is being spent in the district that have this individual whoever

031it is who gets hired be able to support those two very critical areas. So the reason why this is false is because we do use neric to support technology and using the NER services we have right now look very carefully how much we're paying Eric how much we're subscribed to NERC um how much the new person could do in that role and essentially depending on what they get hired at it's going to be pretty much cost neutral worst case scenario it appears to be a $5,000 additional cost if someone was hired at the very very top of the salary scale but overall in terms of position was thought out to be something was planned to be something that was going to be as close to cost neutral as possible when the position was added. So

032no money being taken from students. In fact, we've got more support for students with someone who's highly qualified, which is going to improve our outcomes for students and support technology and at a cost that's basically neutral for the district, not a $20,000 increase. So when you see information or hear information, again I encourage you, please ask before you believe something that you may see put out there by someone that's not necessarily true. That is definitely not true. >> This is just a list in general for awareness of non-mandated general fund expenses. Doesn't mean the board is currently considering them. These are just a list of things that people might not know are not mandated and could be in the public budget for kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary and library services and the electives, distance learning, things that

033are not part of the core basic education, field trips, sports, clubs, extracurriculars, non-essential technology purchases, bus attendance not associated with IP services, conferences, professional development, our capital outlay project, any facilities upgrades or special projects that plans and equipment. We are not considering all things on that list. It is just a list that we work from when we're looking at non services. >> So when we get to the part of today's budget workshop where the board here's more feedback from those of you in the audience, these are the items the board can consider for reductions next year if those chooses. So you're aware these are not mandated or required and sometimes in a in a revised budget will be reduced or cut out. Then again for the board to decide part of the workshop recommendations. These

034are my recommendations of the superintendent of schools for the board of education to consider. We're also going to consider community feedback. Of course they're going to make a decision regarding a new budget. I worked with Colleen today and we put our heads together and I I am going to recommend to the board that we draft a revised budget not the exact same budget. I want to be responsive to the community to the voters. Um the original budget we put out was $26,799,680 and it was defeated. So I am recommending that we reduce uh by not rehiring a building grounds secretary. That's roughly $40,000 plus benefits. Hi and I are looking at some creative creative ways to restructure um our our secretarial support for that position. um it would need secretarial support and we do have

035some ideas for how we can repurpose the human capacity we have right now rather than hiring someone new. Second uh O's records management reduction right to reduce that down to $8,000 speak utilize our service but we would reduce that down. So the prior years we had an entire basement in the elementary school that had sat there for a long time. Bunch of moisture was sorted and accessed. We still have a lot of work to do. So we'll still continue that work. We're not entirely deleting that support but we can reduce it and then pick it up again in a later year. >> Uh we do collaborate with county um and we have our student assistance council who's here five days a week. I don't want to eliminate that position. I spoke with some birds in

036quite a bit, put our heads together how we be creative with it. We are assessing it right now in terms of effectiveness and working with county to get some ideas for next year. I'm recommending that we reduce it down three days a week. That's a reduction of $13,000 $13,234. So that's a reduction of the costs. I'm also recommending uh our mowing that we put on hold. We are in the process of onboarding a new facilities director. He will start July 1st. Many of you met him at the last meeting. Until he gets here um heard feedback from the board. They want him to be able to assess um you know our mowing, our plowing by waiting another year. It gives him the ability to be able to work with staff in order to assess that

037and whether or not it'll be an effective switch. So I proposing that we wait and hold off on that twice,6 remove that from budget. With that being said, if we remove the mowing, there's no need for a groundskeeper. That's also estimated $40,000 plus benefits. These were this was added in as a proposal to save money to bring in mowing in house and repling house and ultimately to hire a groundskeeper. Um I'm recommending we hold off on that. I'm also recommending that we look at the use of facilities and reduce some of the weekend overtime um to be very judicious with the use of overtime. I'm also recommending the in terms of equipment that we do not purge the treadmill for $8,000. uh we will try to get through another year without that treadmill. And then

038there's a special education uh tuition um savings that Colle Mr. Olsen, we have a student who moved out of district and we've had um funds for that student that have been earmarked and put aside and we want to uh take that money and and essentially reduce the budget with new budget proposal with that uh money that has been sent aside. So when the board gives us feedback about whichever items they would like us to look further about, uh there may be some adjustments. For example, if we're removing all of our moing equipment and the person was doing, I got to make sure our contracts are still okay in our maintenance budget and decide whether to just absorb it and do less projects because we did plan to do two or three project per year or

039how that gets offset. >> Again, these are just my recommendations. This does not mean this is what the board will end up doing. Lastly, the tax levy for taxpayers. Uh I recommend that we reduce that down slightly to 2%. Um it is it is necessary to have a tax increase. We are trying to u stabilize the district and set us up set this district up for long-term success. And uh we also want to responsive to the tax base and community. We understand that there was some assessments done recently and that people are concerned about next year's energy bills. um is a lot on people's minds understandably county. So my recommendation is to adjust that down to 2%. Alex's going to talk more about taxing calc at 2.16%. So there are some numbers about the difference.

040If you drop it down to 2%, you know, all increase would be $217,000. The reduction in the wedding would be just about $18,000. And then there are some breakdowns as we're shown for the original visual and this um additional proposal. All right. Contingency budget. So I mentioned in the beginning um if if the budget does not pass for a second time the district would be required to adopt a contingency budget needs to report to what that looks like. >> Sure. So I need a list of non-mandated items. These are the things that are more controlled in statute. So no tax increase over the prior year removal of the capital outlay project. removing non-essential equipment items. I think in our current budget, the only thing that the board may consider essential is furniture for prek. Um,

041it's a keep program still needs to sit. So, that would be essential to that program. Anything else might not be and that would have to be removed. Limited use of facilities. The outside groups would not be coming in. Restrictions on administrative budget items. Um, as you saw, some of those items, although they're called administrative, may also impact instruction because we do have evaluation software and data in there as well. Um, our technology will be limited to our state aid dollar amount. All the rest is considered non-essential equipment. And we reduce any items which are not required to maintain a minimum educational program to preserve property and to assure the health and safety of people's and staff membly from our state web pages. So what happens? How are these decisions made? The board of education, the

042evidence is from a web page from your state in it sole discretion where not subject to the statute which are listed there must exercise its best judgment in determining what those minimum expenditures essential to basic operation shall be. A public meeting is not required at that point. So I don't I want to end sort of where I started and um emphasize that our budget is about our students and we are here today to talk about what what we can do working together put hands together for a successful budget goal on June 16th right here at middle school high school so we can support our students and all the wonderful activities instruction enrichment that they are involved with. Uh we certainly hope to be able to to keep those opportunities there in front of our students.

043Um, I also point out, you know, our tax levy certainly the ver taxes on everyone is is a lot, but we are in a good position regarding where we're at with some of the districts at 2% 2.16% the districts that have gone out at 8% plus. I think it speaks a lot about the work that's being done right now in the board in terms of getting the district in better financial footing. Um the fact that we're not looking to go out at 8 n 10% that we're looking at a 2% plus increase says that right now things are trending upward periphulate the numbers. because we have to come back with a number to be approved by the board of education. Which of those things you would like for that? >> I think we need to

044get community feedback before we have any discussion. >> Can I also just add to um update for the board? We do we do have a meeting uh next Tuesday, June 2nd, which the board will need to um adopt the budget. There also is required to be a meeting on June 9th, the following Tuesday as well. um within the 7 to 14 day window of the June 16. So we will be having another meeting at that point in time has to be on that date. >> Correct. Thank you very much. My mic's not working, so I'm sorry. here. Uh, Sam Cover, art, our teacher and teachers union for president. Uh, I speak for things more for the voting community at home and here rather than to the board and to Brazil who I feel have been

045very supportive of our educational programs here this year, wanting to keep teachers, add teachers even and to keep and add opportunities for our students. I thank them for putting up a budget that reflected that and one that included zero teacher cuts after a tough last few years. To the voting community, please know that this Berlin is a different school than when you went here 10, 20, 15 years ago. Today's students have more needs than ever before and more diverse goals for what they want to learn than we are currently able to provide. We want to keep class sizes manageable. Continue to expand programming like business and technology. Bring back a librarian at the li at the elementary. Increase the math teacher. Increase MTSS reading support and maintain our clubs, sports, field trips, quest programs, our

046fantastic and award-winning art and music programs. You're welcome. uh advanced classes and various electives that kids love which a continued uh contingency budget will take away. Students want and need choices in their learning and those choices will be removed if this budget does not pass. As Superintendent Rizzo discussed, there's a lot of inaccurate Facebook conversation going around about administration. The district is redistricting and actually removing administrative positions. is not adding with the level of needs our students and school buildings have. We do need administrators. Painless to say so, but teachers need administrators for that support to work as a team for the betterment of our kids. Administrative duties that were once teacher statements of the past are now much more intensive and timeconuming than we have time for. For example, the portrait of a graduate

047and date that's coming down. If the teachers union is telling you that we will now have an appropriate amount of administration in the district with this budget, that's saying something normally saying the opposite. We can only pull from what state and federal funding we get, which isn't much. And we know that everyone is stacked right strapped right now in this economy. But we need to put whatever personal feelings we have about the district aside and think about the kids. Your kids, your grandkids, your neighbors, and what kind of school experience you want for them. Thank you. Um, the information that's been shown in both tonight and five or six previous meetings all been comparisons from budget to budget. I've stated on several occasions need to look at budget versus actual. I think the public needs

048to understand what the actual level of this is, including this year, which has been projected by the administration to spend $24.5 million. Please remember that 24.5. The prior two years again averaged about $24.5 million. The budget is 26.8 million or now we've seen a series of adjustments that'll probably end up being a couple hundred,000 less. So maybe 26.6 million $26.6 million versus an actual expenditure of $24.5, but still roughly an 8 to 9% increase year-over-year. I've asked repeatedly to show me the differences between what is actually being spent versus what will be budgeted for next year. The answer has always been by just giving you a comparison of the budget versus the budget. If you consistently understand your budget by million and a half million6 billion7 million8 then a budget-to-budget comparison really is meaningless. Now

049the major reasons for the increase supposedly the 24.5 versus the 26.8 million was health insurance expected retirements and funding additional teachers in the library. That doesn't add up to $2.2 million under anybody's math. So I think if you want the confidence of the community, why don't we start with what you're actually spending this year, show us what you're going to spend next year and let's have an honest conversation about the differences. What was described tonight was a budget versus budget comparison. For example, on your administrative costs, I have no issues with the administration. I have no issues with instruction. All I'm asking for is if you spend X and you're going to spend Y, then show us the differences and explain the differences. It's as simple as that. If you actually do spend your 26.8

050million, $26.6 million, whatever the revised budget may ultimately be. That will exhaust your existing reserves. Once you've exhausted your ex existing reserves, if you continue to spend at that level in subsequent years, where is that money come from? only one source of that come from without significant increases in taxes going forward. So simply provide the information to the community. If you're going to spend $24 and half million dollars this year, show us where you spent the $24.5 million this year and show me where to go next year and we can have an honest conversation. Thank you, >> Julie Edmond. Good evening. Um, I want to start by saying I was in support of the most recent budget and I appreciated um that there wasn't teacher cuts and some of those other things. I thought that

051was handled responsibly in my opinion. So, I'm also speaking to the public to the voters. Um, I'm here tonight as a parent to speak in support of protecting um the programs in our district that might get lost in a contingency budget. I could come to you with baseless statistics regarding the benefits of using art programs in school, but I'm not going to do that tonight. Tonight, I come to you as a parent with a child who struggles to find where they fit in this world. For some students, school is where friendships come easily and they naturally find where they fit. But for other students, finding belonging can be much harder. My son Timmy is one of those students. Timmy is a wonderful kid, but finding his place among his peers has not always come easily

052for him. Music and drama has been some of the places where he has found joy, confidence, connection, and a true sense of belonging. He's been in band since fourth grade and since sixth grade he's participating in drama and musical theater. He has challenged himself through NISMA and is already planning to track next year. These programs are not just activities on a schedule. We've given him opportunities to grow, to degrade, to build skills, and to feel like he's a part of something bigger than himself. Music education teaches discipline, teamwork, perseverance, creativity, and commitment. But for some students, it provides something more. And in my opinion, more important, a place that they belong. Art matters, too. Timmy tends to be a black and white thinker. Art challenges them to see things differently, consider new perspectives, and become

053more flexible in how he approaches the world. Those skills extend far beyond a classroom. When we talk about budgets, I understand difficult decisions have to be made, but I ask that we also think about what students lose when programs and extracurriculars disappear. It's not only opportunities, but also confidence, connection, and places where they feel seen and valued. Music and art reaches students who may not always connect through academics or athletics. It builds community, creates memories, and sometimes it creates the reason a child wants to come to school. So please voters uh please consider that when you're voting on June 16th >> Timothy Edmond. >> Um hi before I start I just want to say I have not become a public speaker so please forgive me if I a little bit. Um as my mom was

054saying um I have always had trouble um fitting in into the school. I'm see as kind of like um kind of like an odd egg. Um but I've really enjoyed the music and art programs. They really changed my life. The music program has um always helped me to find joy and just creativity in my music. I've always loved to play my instrument. It's just mind-blowing on how helpful playing an instrument can be. In the drama program, I find myself with more confidence because well, I have trouble public speaking. Um, it helps me to um gain confidence and to um do things I didn't know I could. It helped me get out of my comfort zone a little bit and lets me become a person that I never knew I could be. Um, and in the

055art program, um, I find that art has always helped me to, um, show my emotions in other ways that I never knew for so long. Um, I find that, um, art can be both transforming and, um, inspiring. So, um, voters, please consider these reasons in Um, >> before I start, I just want to point out here that budget vote. Last year, administration was $3.3 million for the budget. This year, it's now $3.7 million. That is a $400,000 increase for administration. while program components was 8.8 million and that is being brought down to 18 point or I'm sorry 18.8 million that is being brought down to 18.6. That's taking away almost $200,000 from the students which is now going to bring me to my speech I wrote. My name is Smith. I'm here tonight to voice

056my concern about budget and the priorities this district is choosing to set. Two years ago, we laid off teachers and aids. We cut the hours of bus attendance. Last year, we lost even more teachers. Teachers are children genuinely connected with and learned from along with more aids because we were told there was not enough money in the budget. At the same time, families like mine are struggling because we don't have proper summer school program or additional academic support. My daughter is one of them. There's children in this district who need extra help to succeed. and instead of expanding support, we continue to take resources away from people who work directly with them every single day. What's most upsetting is that this proposed budget would take nearly $200,000 away to students and support staff while giving

057approximately $400,000 more administration. If this district has $400,000 available for administration, then it has $400,000 available for the students. That money should go towards restoring the teachers, the gates of the paid off. It should go towards bringing bus attendants back to full-time hours. It should go towards academic support programs, services that directly benefit the children. Administration doesn't need to come before students. The people who spend their days teaching, supporting, transporting, caring for our children are ones who deserve best. Most importantly, the students themselves fits our heart best. We're supposed to be teaching these kids, supporting them. My daughter is struggling with reading and writing and her speech, and instead of her getting the proper help that she needs for summer school that I have asked for, and I'm usually against summer school, I get told

058she doesn't qualify because we don't have the proper program for summer school. What's also deeply concerning is the message being sent to parents and taxpayers. We're being told that if this budget fails, the district moves to contingency budget. So-called non-essential programs like athletics, extracurricular activities, field trips, and community use of district facilities could be cut or significantly impacted. Those programs matter to students. They keep kids engaged, connected, motivated, involved in their schools that threatening students. But losing opportunities because the community questions the budget is not the right approach. People should not feel like they are being forced to choose between fiscal responsibility opportunities for their kids. So tonight, I ask the board to reconsider its priorities. Take the nearly $200,000 that was going to be taken away from students and support staff and instead reduce

059administrative spending. Take the additional money allocated for administration and reinvest into the children of the district. Because at the end of the day, the purpose of this district is not to protect administrative growth. It's to educate, support, and invest in students. We don't have the proper programs. There's children struggling to read, write, math, basic math. These kids would benefit from a summer school program, extra help in the classrooms, and instead they don't get I get told that ESY isn't an academic program for the summer. It is um a structural program for the children with autism and down syndrome. And I understand they need that. But there's children like my daughter that need that academic support for summer school. I have told my ninth grader several times, you don't get your grades up and you fail,

060you stay back. You don't go up with your friends. I will not allow you to ruin the summer plans because you can't get your head out of your career and do your job. You are smart. You are intelligent. You know what you are doing. You know this stuff. You choose not to do it. So if I'm asking the district to help my daughter with reading and she can't get that, that you guys are taking away from the kids whether you want to admit it or not. And that's all I have to say. Thank you, >> Gretchen Martin. I'm actually just about um I'm Gretchen Dodge. No, Miss Gretchen Madison. Sorry. My gosh. It's been two years. Don't tell my husband. But I am here tonight to speak uh as the chorus teacher uh and one

061of the music teachers in the district. Um I am someone who's motivated by numbers and I wanted to share some of the statistics of the um music and drama programs with the board of wind voters. Um so enrolled in total in performing arts uh education. So students who are in uh ensembles like tourism bands through 6th through 12th grade. We have 129 students who are registered and perform as part of those ensembles. Um, not only do we do rehearsals daily, but they also put on five concerts a year. Two at the middle tier level, three at the high school level. Our high school jazz bands and chamber choirs also go around and we have two jazz cafes a year. Um, sometimes linked up with capital projects or budget host here, often aligned with board meetings.

062um because often we want voters out just as much as as everyone else. Um but we also take these two performing groups around our community uh to the Grafton Senior Center um and other nursing homes in our area um and senior homes in our our area um so that they can play and share some music especially around the holidays that um sometimes just bringing some joy. Uh and we do that because our kids love to perform, they love to give back. Um, our students are incredible musicians. Uh, we have three students who went to the Hartwick Band Festival this year. They had to be nominated in and then they were accepted. We had two students who were accepted to the zone 7 area all state program, which means that they have to score usually a

06397 or above on their uh level six NISMA adjudicated piece. Uh, that does include reading. this year of our students who were adjudicated at a level six which means they're are eligible for all state. Um it does include a site reading portion and they have to be nearly perfect on their performance in order to score well. All of those students scored a 90 or above if they were being a champ which means that they got that feedback and some of the feedback is harsh. It's harsh feedback. This also included a student who received a perfect 100 score, which means that they were able to use the time in our classrooms to perfect their site reading, perfect their solos to the point that the judge had nothing they could complain about. And that is no small

064feat, but he's only the first student who I've ever had as a 100 in my entire time of teaching uh anywhere, including in Connecticut, New York. Um so this student has a very real shot at making it to the All State Festival which takes place uh during the winter. This is a highly prestigious festival. Um we have not we have not in recent history had a student who is qualified or made it to this festival. The fact that we have a student who is eligible who might be going is incredible. Um but this student has expressed to me that they are worried about their ability to make it to this festival pending the budget and pending their approval. Um we have brought 80 students to our trails and thrills festival which took place on May

06515th. Uh we brought all the middle school students um and some high school students down. They had to play for a group of adjudicators in Chickpea and we got to go to Six Flags. It was a wonderful time. Uh 80 students is a lot. It's a lot of students have a bus. It's a long day. Um but they earned it. We are with them because we care about these kids. Um additionally, we're hoping to add a new class actually because of the need for our musicians next year. We are trying to establish the AP music program. Uh this would allow our students who are continuing into the performing arts or who are hoping to continue in education get some early college credit. Um we have looked at some other options within um you know working

066with some of our other city schools and AP credit at this time seems to be the best option for those kids. We also know that that program can't run depending on what happens with the budget. Um, so I just wanted to share some of these things with you. These are the things I look at as a voter. Um, I am not a voter in this district, but these are the exact things that I would ask for. Um, and just thank you for your consideration of of our program. Um, additionally, the drama tears program uh has about 60 students who utilize our plays, our musicals as their escape, their form of expression. Um, we have students who are enrolled in drama for the first time this year and have never been on stage before. We had

067students who strapped tap shoes onto their feet and learned and danced their hearts out through blood, sweat, and tears sometimes. and then put on an incredible show that brings our community together. We know that based on what could happen with this budget, we might not have that program. Um, and we have worked very hard to rebuild this program into something that our community can share just as much as as we have. Um, so thank you for listening and taking some of these numbers into consideration and uh hope to see you at the day of voting. Thank you very much. Good evening everyone. So I want to first start um how a few speakers started to thank Colleen and the board and the business office and administrators. We know in this situation this this we need

068to speak to the voters. We we feel supported by you. We feel um so blessed that there was no teacher cuts in these budgets and even the the the rethink of the budget, no teacher cuts. Um so we know we are speaking to the community. We know that you value what we do. We really appreciate that very much. Um what I have for you tonight is we were when these situations come up, we know the people of impact are our students. So we talked to our students about this. So, I have a few um thoughts from some of our students that I talked to this afternoon. This is a very small portion and I probably won't even get through them all because some of them were very passionate a lot. Um but before I do

069that, I want to thank Timmy um Evan. I think he did an amazing job speaking and I have seen Timmy grow from sixth grade and now seventh grade. It is just a joy to have him. We will always have a place in our music. Always. Always. and we just adore you and you've been doing great things since you got here, but this year you've just had new um poised, more centered personality and you've done so many amazing things. We're so proud of you. Really truly. So, I have a few here. I'm probably again not going to read all of them and I'm not going to read every um entry fully because again they're long paragraphs. um from one student did not put her name so I don't know if she wants to be recognized so

070I won't say her name but I don't think I can put into words how great of an impact the music program in Berlin has on my life is truly ineffable without it I wouldn't have made some made some of my favorite people in the entire room um without it I don't think I would it would be an exaggeration to say I wouldn't be miserable without the arts whether they are physical or performing have given me life and finally able to be my truest self and both fulfill my passion with the arts department, especially with Berlin music program. I did share this with some of you. Again, I know you board members are not the ones we are trying to convince tonight. Um, but I thought you would want to see some of these words. Um,

071another student wrote, "The music program has been the best part of my time here as a student. As much as I've enjoyed some of the other classes I've chosen take, jam choir, jazz band, have been so much fun. I've been able to express myself creatively, creatively, and create music with talented students. It's been a light in my day, even when the rest of the day hasn't been the best. Uh, another student, music is so meaningful. It is a universal language that everyone can resonate with. It is a beautiful form of art and emotion that no one should go without it. Stripping music education from students will create less less well-rounded, understanding, interesting people. Creativity is the root of joy in this world and taking forms of creativity away from young people would be detrimental to

072their growth as people. Um I'm going to read one from Savannah Hammond because she's in attendance tonight and um she is very involved in everything we do at this school, sports, clubs, music. Um and this is just a few music we ask. If you ask the arts students, they would say the same thing. If you ask technology students, they would say the same thing. Um, if you ask the sports kids, they would say the same thing. A lot of these programs that would be cut in the contingency budget are what kids come to school for. Um, and really makes them feel wanted. So, Savannah writes, "The music department is a place where students can get away, get away from the reality of the things going on in your life and in the world. It's a

073place where you can express your emotions and take out your anger. It is a place that not only I have been able to make music, but it teaches me to keep working at things even though they are hard and can seem difficult. Our amazing staff as well who put their hearts and souls into their jobs and making sure we have many opportunities as we can. Music especially is becoming a bigger and bigger part especially in our school. I think we have an amazing set of students and people in an outstanding band. Some people from other schools and even teachers have complimented on how small our school is now could we sound and the amount of people we have in our crew. Some parents and community members leaving the concerts in tears because of impact of

074our music. That says something about how strong our Berlin program is and all the little kids that look up to us and think and wish that they will be that that it will be them. They don't have that opportunity anymore. You can't take that from them. also the students up the hearts and souls of this program. That's my and I do have others here. Anybody who wants to hear them, I know I'm probably close to time. Um but again, voters, this is for you. You know, even if you don't have kids in the school district anymore, you have neighbors, you have relatives. Um think of the the experiences you have as a as a school. um in a contingency budget, the kids will not have those experiences and they will not th flourish, they will

075not thrive, they will not um think outside the box, they will not be challenged in the same ways. So voters, please come out and vote this budget. Thank you very much. Quinn Miller I am as well speaking to the everyone around us is always telling us to be the change we want to see in the world. So I will I know people who only come to our school for our music and art programs or our after school activities. Why should we take that away? I've never really been a sports person, but I tried one. Loved it. It kept me engaged and being engaged if things will help us be better people. I'm a drama as well. That program is teaching me how to sing because no one else ever has. It's helping me with my

076grades. Why would you take that away? The music programs are also so important to so many people. to so many people, not just me. They help me cope with the stress of my studies. I'm sure it helps a lot of people. Student council is an activity that helps the people around us. That should not be taken away. It helps us learn how to help people and that that is important. Our science club will help us learn about competition and working together. So I'm asking you, why should we take that away? I want to believe that you think our last budget fail is a loss. But I also want to believe that you want us to be engaged. But how can we be engaged and be better people if there is nothing to be engaged in?

077And what about the teachers we would lose and the opportunities we would miss? The negatives are endless. So let's not have endless negative negativities. Let's have positives. Please be the change you want to see in the world. I know specific cuts have not been mentioned yet, but these things would be a huge loss to our students and our schools. Ariel Filbert is for good. My name is Ariel Gilbert. I'm a teacher and I'm also the adviser of the middle school student council. I'm going to speak specifically to the community about middle school council. So middle school student council isn't just a club. It's where we learn how to make a difference. Our middle school student council has been part of our school since 2007. Every year 35 to 50 students in grades 6 through 8

078choose to be a part of it because they want to help others be leaders and make our school a better place. Through student council, the students are not just planning fun events. They're giving back to their community. They've organized food drives that donated over 15,000 items to local food pantries. They're literally feeding the community voting for them. They've raised over $10,000 for Make a Wish, helping even students in their own community to get their wishes. They've also helped to raise over $46,000 for the Smith 5K to provide scholarships for over 25 graduating seniors. These clubs like student council are also vital on their college applications that show other activities that they're involved in. We work with younger students too. We go into classrooms to read with them and be homes. We make holiday cards for

079nursing homes and veterans to show kindness and appreciation. As school, we help create a positive environment. We plan spirit weeks, pep rallies, dances, and events like the walkathon. Provide a daycare for the community book club and family fun day. We also listen to students ideas and and concerns and share them so everyone's voice is heard. Student council gives students opportunities they might not have otherwise. It gives them leadership experiences, opportunities for community service, and trips that help them learn about the world. They have been two inaugurations and many sightseeing trips to Washington DC, Austin, New York City, Philadelphia, Salem, Kate, Marker's Vineyard, Ocean City, and Niagara Falls. Student Council is not just a club. It gives students a voice, leadership opportunities, opportunities to participate in community service, school spirit, and real world learning experiences. Student

080council helps them to grow into leaders, helpers, and active members of their community. It matters to the students and makes a difference far beyond our school. And I'm Courtney. I'm a parent. I have two students in student council, sixth and eighth grade. And next is Caroline Webster. >> Hi, my name is Caroline Webster. I'm in sixth grade. I have been in many after school clubs and activities. I've been future cities, trails of pearls, economical, science, Olympia, baseball, drama, marathon, student council, jazz band, art classes, course and next year I want to do sports. These things are important to me because they give me opportunities to try new things outside. Being involved in these things is not only fun, but it helps me gain new skills, knowledge, friends, and they give me something to look forward

081to in the future. Thank you. >> Go ahead. That list Good evening everyone. My name is Leia Morgan and I am the president of the class of 2028. And tonight I felt as though my voice need the budget fails again. Myself and nearly all of my peers redirect the due to the contingency budget. will be districtly forced to implement under the failure of the new budget. Many programs will be lost with them. Some of the programs that will be damaged significantly with this budget bachelor honor society all classes that aren't essential for graduation chorus chamber choir for band jazz band or sports teams and many more. While I am not an active participant in our sports or the local portion of our music department, many of those I interact with on a daily basis are.

082With the verification of these programs, we will be robbing our students of countless opportunities for learning and growth and potential internal revelation. While allowing this to happen, we're also taking away many of the ways we learn to helpfully decompress our emotions or crucial developmental skills such as communication and humor. We cannot allow such a large portion of the children in this community to be stripped of the things we love and thrive with them. How are we as a student body supposed to accept the devastation of this contingency budget when I can't wrap my head around the idea that next year, next school year, my identity in this building will be completely upgraded and nearly empty. If the upgraded, sorry, if the budget fails yet again, I will no longer be the events coordinator for a

083national or honor society chapter. I may not be able to keep normal class and I may not be able to keep any of the other other extracurricular activities I have already decided on during school year such as psychology and EMS class. I may not be able to continue my journey with French or band and more. I could go on for hopefully an hour or even more explaining in ways which I which failed budget will negatively impact both myself and those around me. But I'll end off with one seemingly simple question to those who fail to express their negative emotions around this necessary topic and feel as though the adolesence in our community need more than swallowing your arrogance in this forever changing economy that will not be stopped simply because some don't want to spend

084extra money in your child's education. Why? >> Sorry. Hello, Davidstein. I've got two students in the district and two more on their way. I wasn't planning on speaking tonight, but I felt compelled to. I think that uh you know, the board has pretty thankless job, right? Uh it's hard to please everyone. You're always going to be uh disappointed in letting someone down no matter what the outcome is in these situations. I do want to say thank you for not cutting any teacher um or educator roles throughout this proposal. I also want to talk to the community about what an investment education is. Education is what gives is an investment in the future of not just our town but our children, our country, our state. It I truly believe education is the foundation that makes this

085such a great place to live. And art and music is the soil from which culture grows. And that is an incredibly important aspect of a child's education. And we cannot let a social contingency budget. I think a 2% increase. In the grand scheme of things, no one likes increases. It is a nominal investment in the future of our children, in our town, and our state. And I hope that when this vote does this budget does go to a vote that the community can rally around investment in our children and our community. Thank you. >> Any additional public comment? So we can go back for board discussion at this point as can we put the slide back items that you're recommending to reduce a you guys mentioned about assistance counselor. Um I would I personally would

086like to see how that reduction will impact the student that is typically most at risk in the district. Um they handle children in crisis and substance abuse situation both personally and in their own life. And I don't I just I I need to get a grasp on what exactly that means for our student body. >> One one thing I'll say Mr. Burns and I are again assessing this program. We've been assessing it and one of the things I have gathered about it this year is the individual enroll does get pulled out quite a bit for meetings outside of the district that are not within her control. I believe that the three days a week that schedule would allow her to attend those meetings that she needs to go to anyways on the district. Um a

087whole lot isn't part of it. It's just that of course I've spoken with county already. So while it would reduce two days a week, I do believe that more in terms of she's already been pulled that quite a bit. Um and we're doing some I guess conversation about position and what it's what is targeted for and making sure it's for kids as we need needed to. So there's definitely some pieces here that we we want to look at on with it. I'm comfortable right now three days based on I think it was sub about currently what we're receiving and the case lo students it could impact the case a little bit there's about 40 students right now that are on case load so it could possibly reduce that I don't have exact number on it

088but again I'm comfortable with the reduction right now it wouldn't necessarily be something that we would have to stick with permanently for next year we can reassess it also request to increase it in the next year as well so that's a consideration >> so there's currently about 40 students and you just said that there may be a reduction to those 40 students. >> So what I was telling the case is it could impact the case exact exact verdict. We don't know for sure. We have to talk about what the schedule would look like. Um again I would be requesting that the days that she's pulled out is days that she's not scheduled to be here because right now the attendance is already concerned which is why I wanted to look at reducing it anyways because

089of that she's not here. I don't want to say how much but it's there's a lot of scheduled needs out of district. acknowledge that as well. It's impacting, you know, our ability to to have that continuity with our students. So, from a budgetary standpoint recommending, you know, this versus a full-time staff member or other services like reading intervention, I this is one area we thought we could could reduce without having to be as much of an impact as some other areas. Can I ask question is so what the person is here like do do students sign up to see them or is it just kind of like they need help right now and they go how does it >> my understanding is um it's based on students who are meet a certain criteria based on

090the family uh situation and you mentioned substance abuse is is a targeted area uh typically you know, it's not the student achievement. It's a younger student, but the parents maybe it's the whole one of the parents has substance abuse issues and there's there's counseling. So, it's not your normal counselor who just goes through a crisis. is more something that's students identify for the program that piece and we do have we do have a um I use more significant population of students that do qualify for it. One of the conversations that we've been having too is we we have a significant population of students who struggle with mental health and trauma as well and we're looking at we're looking at where where we can best allocate resources. This is always an area we need to attend

091to, but there's some other areas right now with some of our students in behaviors and some of the trauma and we're seeing that we're looking at ways to make sure we're hitting the right targets and things have changed in some cases where you know following the pandemic and where we are now um some of the student needs that we have that we're seeing especially sort of cohort of students right now that are really struggling we're looking at ways to be able to support them. So it's it's difficult to produce anywhere below we feel that programs we do have in place are really intended for students >> did you want to say something about you you look like you wanted to say something about it but we are constantly looking at how we are going to

092use our resources um you know year to year and here's an example where myself had quite a few discussions about meeting the needs of all of our students because they do come to trauma and other things. Um, be honest with the position that brought up because it's a rental county position which is great but Prince County provides us with a lot of things. We're not in control necessarily of her coming and going and this is not a criticism of her. She's going to different professional development like this has nothing to do with her person. She's wonderful, but there's certain frustrations where, you know, we're paying to have a full-time person. They're not they're not there full time. So, it makes sense when Mr. I just add this is not a rash decision was made because

093the budget just failed. It was actually a conversation that I was with Dave County a couple of weeks ago consideration for looking at our budget budget efficiencies in areas that when I renew a contract saying okay is this something we want to renew? Is it working for us right now? Is this the best use of our resources and taxpayer funds? Are there other ways to to allocate this this money? You know, some things that came out today are the community summer school. Um Dave will tell you that we have an athletic support program coming June 9th for students coming in the building which is new this year. I've been talking a lot with David about summer school this summer and while we don't have a formal summer school program we place start small with their

094eighth graders going to high school because we see kids going into ninth grade that really don't have summer support teachers. So we're looking at things like that right now that in my first year kind of we're assessing and looking at where we can fill gaps for students and this is one that already was being looked at to potentially reallocate the money. Right now I would just say you know we're look talking about potential fun reduction. I prefer to keep it. Um I want to make sure that it's working right for our students. But if there's an area where we have to look at bringing things down a bit for the community, understanding that, you know, what we're hearing right now, this is one that I would say I'd be okay with right now and more

095time to be able to assess um understand may bring it back full time for the next year. Just something that we need to look at more. It's not working as a week, but we want it to work anyways right now. So we have a conversation Thursday. uh David and I with Sar County actually talk more about the targeted goals for the program the students who I apologize it's really hard to talk to everybody the targeted goals for the program students who are on the case load you know how students are identified and and you know again how we hit the right targets with our student population right now as best as possible so that's why I put up there something to one of the things I appreciate very much is that we share value of

096social emotional wellbeing of our students. We know all there academics are after that. Our students aren't doing well, you know, social emotionally then they care about what's being taught class. So I know that Mr. and I were aligned with that and we we it wouldn't be presented if we didn't think that we would cover all of our students needs. meaning yes there's a case lo 40 but if person is here three days a week we would cover a good amount of those 40 students and we have other counselors to do it we would never present this we didn't think we could cover all the students I mean to be honest you know Mr. We said, "Hey D, can we cover it or not?" Because if we can't, then tell me. But we feel very strongly

097that all of our students will get the same intens of uh counseling and support. >> So these students probably also have plans or IPS, could be fours, could be none. It depends. Um I think Mr. did uh hit on that one of her primary focuses is substance abuse which unfortunately in our society is a concern. So she does bring a lot of uh resources from county. Um I and she will continue to be able to do that uh next year. So other students that may not fall under that uh I'm sure and I'm confident that we have other resources available to make sure that happens. Um the students that join with her we never stop them. You know you know there's a therapist counselor makes a connection with student we never say no stop. So

098we would look at each uh student case by case and ensure that each student got what they need. This is a position that if it was a little bit more money than they expect, I'd be in recommending to add a counselor K12. So we really can use that with the right now having someone in in our district that we actually super total salivart. There's probably better ways to still get at the substance abuse and still provide more social, emotional, and other supports for a broader group of students as well. But right now, the program needs to stay. We just need to do more assessing of of it effectiveness. I think we can do that within three days right now. I may come back next year and look to expand it. Uh but really, it's not

099it's not hitting the market right now as you know as a fiveday program. So again, something that certainly could consider if the board wants to keep it as as is. Certainly, of course, in the student program, that's both acceptable as well. Um, but it's an option that we have, but I do think we're paying for it really isn't where we should be at right now based on the number of days we're getting. We're not getting I think for five days from now and kind of has acknowledged as well to us that he pulled off. So >> it sounds like it's just in line with what's already happened, >> right? I don't I don't know the exact number but you know I mean four days a week we possibly it's it's pretty frequent. >> So how

100many how many students do we have enrolled right now middle school this program or how many students go to the elementary school >> I have it right here. >> Okay. Um the elementary school that so it's prek through 5 is 264. The middle school which is 6 through 8 is 144. And the high school 9 through 12 is 184. And that those are the students in our district. That doesn't include students that are outside the district. >> What are you outside the district? students that may attend programs outside for um like special like other um other public school special ed, private school special ed that like our district for services. So like the private school special ed is five. Um homebound instruction is two. We have um five students that attend the Hudson Valley division

101and PEK program and nine students total that attend the Bose specialized program. Yeah, on on bed's day, um the total in attendance for the school year was uh 612. >> Hopefully that answered your question. >> Um can you speak to the um the use of facilities line OT? Um what would that look like when we have events at the school on duty? So use of use of facilities would be contingency budget that be discussion the board would have to have if it was a contingency there would be a public meeting there would be board decision in terms of that but does it does um under New York state law the not allowed to use facilities can charge for it that's a option to look to charge but you can allow access to facilities without charging

102public entities and uh a lot of that has to do with the fact that you're putting lights on energy hiring facility and staffing and whatnot but it wouldn't be an option. So that piece is something that it's required that that gets out to the public public has to know that given the budget flyers required information about contingency budget so yeah that'll be a decision regarding >> I think the question is >> yeah and I talked about today a little bit we didn't put a specific number on it was really looking at the overtime expenses with with custodians and you know more values getting more judicious about the weekend's also keeping overtime as well in terms of hours apologize >> many schools do charge for anytime their regular staffing anytime their services go beyond the regular

103staffing so on If we had no one here, we'd have to bring in the facility. We have for many years just been paying that. So we would ask the club or the organization or whoever wishes to use the building perhaps to contribute to that. We have to assess the cost for that or stop offering one or the other. But that is a community service that we're currently providing for free for any time that our staff is not here and we bring them in late at night before they would not otherwise be scheduled. So is that just for community use of the facility or like Smith 5K or a carnival or you know other student based clubs and stuff facilities >> things that are sponsored by the school are included in the expected usage but an

104outside group is using facilities whether fields or building we have to look at which ones are actually sponsored by a club or by the school versus what's sponsored by some would reduce the students chance of being able to do something if it's we would have to take a closer look at which one which events we are staffing or have been historically staffing and come up with some kind of estimate with what that means for our overtime or substitutes. If you do money as well to your point, things that district 5K like that those things we we pay for. But if there's as organizations, you know, specific guidelines to it, then we can then start to charge for those overtime uses versus incurring the cost too. It's just another way too small, small things out of

105the big things. Another thing look at say, okay, what are some other areas we can, you know, to try to break things down a little bit. So it would be like your T Valley soccer, your Tak Valley basketball certainly could be outside organizations facilities >> and those organizations that if Tennessee what I was saying those exact organizations that we talk about if they were use facility Tennessee would have to be have to be foreign only they couldn't use it for free. So that could be an area where outside industry we talked about maybe shifting the overtime costs and now charging a fee would have to put somebody here in the building facilities the inside of the building right I mean it wouldn't matter if it was >> inside matter if it was soccer though maybe

106the outside is if contributes to the field in any way >> less less likely. I would think less likely outside Rebecca definitely >> I know that we have a lot of events happening all the time in the school. It always seems like it's affiliated with the school in some way with either a club or a sport or something. I mean, I don't have my finger to hold on in the polls like Rachel does, but like it just I'm just surprised that there are a whole lot of other outside groups that aren't affiliated with the school in some way that this would actually savings for the school. This one could also reduce. I know we have practices that occur on the weekend and we encourage coaches to fur. encourage them to schedule more within those hours

107where it's already covered looking at what that might be. I don't think anyone has ever done that analysis that we are recovering cost that would otherwise since the um I think it's right with the things and also with our security plan in the last couple years making sure the building is staffed that you know the building is protected and that are also protected. So that in some ways that increase analysis of what that would mean just whether we want to continue that or look into that for this next budget. >> I mean honestly that probably doesn't even budget. I mean it's it's one of those things that um those programs provide for our district children and I think that besides um I do know that they do have the PBRCC which has passable for um

108again I still think it's a needle mover in our budget if you really look at how much it costs I don't know what that number is and it's not up there so I don't >> sure in the next year you know many with the coding we talked about. We could break that apart if you want to track it for the future too. That's possible just to kind of see what it looks like. We have to have some conversation around what we think are optional charges that are going to go that line and just track it. >> So just a question to you on the highlighted line at the bottom. Um, are these recommendations going to get you to that 2% that you want to get to? >> No. >> So, we still have other things

109we have to come up with to get that 2%. >> No, not no. We're we're bring the impact that taxpayers down to% need or otherwise to reduce the overall overall budget. So we we have there's some reserves and fund balance so we can offset we also have foundation aid which right now we have finance budget but there's other revenue coming in as well it's not going to it's not necess% >> so these numbers don't reduce to that 2% we have to get additional cuts to bring it down to 2% back to pen and paper and getting rid of those students they're They're not teaching our kids anything. My son would go fill out a job application I had to help him because he didn't he's in ninth grade and go fill out the application. They're

110not learning their basic penmanship. Not everywhere is going to be electronic for everything. Do away with Chromebooks. go back to ping papers so the kids are actually learning something not relying on YouTube or getting by the go guardian or whatever the teachers are you know using supervis that would drive a big increase >> slide shows it shows the tax increase but you're just saying >> these aren't these are in direct correlation to get to the 2%. >> Okay. It makes you think that making those cuts to get us down to% >> recommendation in terms of committing to the board. This is not not these things get here necessarily. This is this is a tax levy impact. >> So 235 to 27. Okay. recommendations tax go to explore any changes that have occurred since the time

111last budget and then we look at They're using reserves and fund balance to support the budget. It would change. So it's going to change the amount that's either the fund balance or reserves. So these aren't a reduction in the tax lection in the reserves of use of reserve. >> I think where this comes from is a lot of people hear that the tax cap is at 2% 2.16 because that's based on the economic growth factor and there are some additions and reductions or whatever is going on in our debt payments. there's a misunderstanding that that.16 is some extra money and so making the concessions >> we can go out the same exact number 2.16% exact are the same and look at the reductions it's going to reduce the overall budget I think mentioned earlier you

112know come overall budget number come down to the 26700,000 number and down right now I don't have that for We just reduce the overall budget, final budget number, we still be using the fund balance and reserves a million dollar fund balance and reserves. So this is a way for the community for those voters because one of the things we heard is that we're concerned about the energy bills concerned about reassessment to try to assist in some way and putting a number out there that a clearly understands 2% the year two recession. We think 2% is the max. It's not actual. It's an asep calculation. That's one that it does provide a little more relief to tax taxpayers, but it would it would really be coming from fund balance and reserves is where the chain come

113reserves maybe in terms of use of reserves. >> I'm sorry. I I also just didn't realize that you weren't really offering any kind of robust summer program for kids like any kind of academic intervention or keep supper slides and that can you explain like >> there's never there's never been a summer program that's required I would like to build some summer school program and I'm trying to work with responsibly trying to find some funds some grants something for our students Um there is an apex program that's in place for summer stand there apologize for students who summer school for apex. So there is there is a summer school apex program students come in the summer time is that >> n that's 9 through 12 for a 9 through 12. So the the problem I see

114what I was assessing this year is there's nothing for middle school students and if you're going to target one group of middle school eth going to high school going to reg courses um that's really the key area I would like to start target first and start small >> for elementary school either >> you have but then there's also the elementary kids that are just being pushed through grades my daughter's going into second grade and still struggles with reading and writing and she's not getting the additional help. You can say, "Oh my god," all you want, but there's there pushing her through school. I recommend or I asked for her to be put into summer school. There is nothing for her. She doesn't qualify. >> I'm gonna leave. >> I'm sorry. >> I guess I just

115What are there? I mean, I thought there was something in place at the elementary school every summer, but that's for all grade levels. It's not >> I've never seen a summer school program for for students in any district I've been ESY is the only program that I've ever seen any districts don't typically have summer school programs for elementary students. A lot of that is is due to the fact that developmentally a not a regious level course work. a lot of the work that the retirement is made up in the next school year through academic intervention supports and other ways. Um even in middle school, you know, it's not always common, but you start to see more programming middle school level. Certainly by high school, we used to see a lot more schools take students in

116high school programs in the area center schools kids to Troy districts and through co they stopped accepting students in a lot of districts. Um, so Dave has the Apex program. It's a it's a credit recovery program. It's specific only for high school students because it's it's the courses that are in the program are aligned with the standards for high school courses only. And that that has been in place for students who fail. Uh, but there's not a middle school program here for middle school students at all. When I was a teacher district I was in, we did have a house summer school program for students who who did fail. So I was working with with gam some ideas again start to build something small um to support those middle school students really with eighth grade

117being first first grade level we start to look at >> at the very least then I think that we should be utilizing our public libraries who all offer summer reading programs and you know I mean I know that the libraries work with the elementary school with their summer reading programs and I know town has a great summer camp but I think that if we can't offer it as a school that we need to be working with other parts of our community that already offers some kind of reading program at least for kids for elementary age kids. Well, actually it's really all all kids. Maybe we just need to be more communicative. >> I think we are a little bit right you would know well Joey at elementary school I know works different programs. I know

118town does it. >> Right. So I mean just having like parents who are worried about their children with the summer slide reading, you know, encouraging them to look at the library programs and the schools involve Jod did have a meeting last week with all the librarians and Ariel too about that collaboration with the libraries. But yeah, she's just letting us know. And yeah, so that is >> the program's participating. >> This has been going on for years. >> Yeah, this has been happening. >> And we get like there's like a calendar that's sent home. I think it's Steventown Library where it's all these different activities that are happening. So that's during the school year, but during the summer, yeah, there's incentive >> summer school >> there. There I just want to say there was a

119summer school program at the elementary school. It's been a number of years now since we've had it. I think it was one of the things that had to be cut because of all of our budget cuts over the last few years, but we did have a I believe I don't know the exact time, but like it was a half day 8 through uh noon Monday through Thursday. Um that I know we provided for general ed students. DSY is a separate program, but this program was going at least for two years if not more. >> I was going to say that was that was very very short period. >> Yes, it was not a long period of time. It was it was I think it was only for two years. I would say maybe like 2019

1202020 perhaps sometime around there. If I had fun after school program enrichment and for tutoring that >> so maybe that was a 21 22 we had it's hard for me to remember the exact dates but yeah >> yeah that was that was to support learning loss through the pandemic there was additional funds there one of the things that we've been discussing transition fifth 8th and 9th and that's something that and I discussed quite a bit um try to help with the transition. One of the things we're doing next year is make it more of a mentoring one-on-one program to help the transitions. So see how everything goes but definitely do targeted interventions for certain students working night to help them with that transition. Ideally I would as a former middle school educator I would love

121to have a full comprehensive program for all middle school but there's also a cost to you know just right now try to put 200 hours of tutoring in place which would support maybe eight students. It's you know about $12,000 just for one grade level. So you start talking about three grade levels. Now you're talking about 36 $40,000 for just middle school students who who failed the summer. You know having a formless program allows you to capture kids who failed require them to be here with teachers working on skills and certainly that's a good thing. But again this is where you know going into the funds that we have our current situation you know that's why I work with the we have this uh June 9th day for students coming in who are who have failed

122before the year coming in and they work with teachers on that day trying to reduce number of kids who failed for summer support during the school year. So we're looking at creative ways and you know within the budget to be able to support support students. We sort of love to have a full comprehensive very important part of we're excited about that meeting. Can I just ask about I know had mentioned something about Chromebooks and although I mean I somehat agreed that kids should be you know using paper to some degree and I'm using computers all the time but is there like certain testing and certain things that they have to have Chromebook for. So it's not like they could be eliminated. I mean the Chromebooks every student were one to one. There's some grade levels

123in the middle school right now they they have um the Chromebooks are housed in the classroom now and they're not bringing home as much. Really is teacher discretion in terms of you know the use of Chromebooks for students and be able to use that digital. We are seeing more teachers that are you know working more with kids on on writing and not doing things as much digital but really teachers have that discretion whether they do so. I do just want to say on the record too that I just with Eric just spoke out loud and I was just commenting that really she should be copying during the public comment. That was all I said. So I'm not sure what else happened there. That was misunderstanding what she thought I said. So there was a comment

124somewhere out there in cyerspace about the cost of Chromebooks. Again could be a myth opinion. Um, do we know what that number is or does every child actually need a Chromebook or can they share or does that make any dent in anything? >> There's a there's a Chromebook without um not there's a there's a Chromebook replacement cycle for the Chromebooks to replace every so often. That's certainly something working with the new um director of curriculum innovation technology to look at the replacement cycle and we can look at you know how how often they're replaced and go back to teachers to talk about you know do we want to have technology in first grade hands you know we have do more assessment to the principles in terms of you know where do we want to start

125putting these devices in kids hand of value to them there's definitely some valid points there you know that apparently about the fact that kids around electronics a lot and do we need it or is it is it too much right now that Ariel I'm sure she's here or not did recently um the uh this generation an generation taking that as well just so shows that kids are sometimes detrimental to them mental health as well >> us today or this year but again maybe just going forward to see like do we really have so many what's the Yeah. So we don't have anything here proposed in terms of reducing there but certainly an area that we that position we can certainly assess that area. >> Can you go back to the other slide? I think it's

126so um um for all equipment and ground sweeper costs. Um do we know what our budget is? What are we currently house number $40,000 when we looked at when the board had asked us to make operational reductions idea was to look at the total cost of field maintenance but also provided feedback about the fields and keeping them in a better condition than perhaps they saw last year whether it's due to weather or leaders. But the mowing allowing the field all together plus the idea that this grounds keeper person ended up being could also have a flex schedule and cover some of the things that are causing our custodians to work overtime was all part of a bigger package. >> Okay. So yeah, so groundskeeper would just be the guy on the mower. >> No. >>

127So So $40,000 to have our fields and lawns mow and then it was an additional cost to have a parking lot plowed as well, right? >> It was Yeah. $68,000 total. 20,000 plowing, another eight would change the 68 total we had in there. And and one of the things we the board had discussed was waiting to get more information when the new facilities directors in place. So we suggested while we're waiting let's just you know right now we just pull it out of budget this year and give the new director next year really assess and then bring it back into the next year's conversation. If we know right now we're not going to spend it. It's going to just help right now reduce the budget immediately right now where we're at right now. spaces to

128get out >> instantly would happen right away. It would take some time for that person. We did talk with Terry here a little bit about these things through our facility meeting conversation about it, but we'll take some time to be able to get the data that I think that Frank point out that was originally on the table is going to be to do the job. >> I think we're discussing a one one ton vehicle that can potentially have more multiunction use the facilities and not include include that other you're saying we're to what did you just say? I'm sorry. >> Just the recommendations that are up there. The one that the board um seemed to be agreement that should not go forward not forward was the change of overtime change over time. >> Any others

129up there? I've heard that items that needs to be replaced that told that it may fail inspection. Like all things, we need a replacement cycle. We need to eventually work on that. If not this year, then in future years, if that treadmill were to fail inspection, we just have to remove it. And probably without a last for a year, then great. They can keep using it. But I don't know how often it is gym teachers and athletics director better positions to answer that. >> We just know if it were to not pass next budget that that would be equipment that we would not be able to purchase. It's something for consideration. Again, not something that you know say I strong about. We would prefer to have obviously equip safe equipment for our students. Right now

130we just know it's something adoption um for the board to consider >> but we currently have a trim. This is just in case >> that really is due for replacement. >> Okay. >> But that way that's as we know right now is still functioning but is scheduled to be replaced beyond that. >> Yeah. 2009. >> That's when we got 2009, but it hasn't failed inspection yet, >> right? >> So, once it's not even working, right? So, it just it's one of those things like our broken seats that just sort of adds to the sense that, you know, we're gonna have this live with all this broken stuff, right? So, it seems like we should take it out of there and not have a broken machine there at all. Just not be reminded that they can't

131use it or we replace it, right? It's like $8,000. I thought that was >> replacing both the price. >> So, it's two. Yes. So is that something we want to also eliminate? >> We have a personal fitness class getting two at a time because otherwise we just get replaced that it's not a huge amount of money. both once they're fail staggering equipment so everything doesn't fail at the same time I'd leave at least one in >> you know maybe confirm that it was two treadmills I thought we all was one >> you know and if it is if it is two maybe just give staggering >> makes sense. So we can we can verify it's cost each one and if place auction and next year we can second one >> do you know about this

132I mean you know about records this year boxes that are on label unsorted and determine which things need to be retained and reduce that amount. Previously we had a record digital company basically scanning everything whether it's a city note or a back folder. So obviously we ended that to get a more productive team in here that is very well versed in potentially rules. So they did help us significantly reduce at the elementary school board safe and the basement have a long way to go and we also are working on creating our own digitization. That's what we would hope to do next once all that sort of sorting is done where we set up standard file names and get everything in the digital so that our paper is less overall and still loss. So perhaps we'll

133still do some sorting with the money that remains in the budget but we would not make progress on the actual digitation. >> So right now you're saying that in the basement of of the elementary school there's just like cats and boxes of paper. banger boxes to digitize all of that. >> They're not digitizing so far. They're just reducing cold the articles that don't need to be retained by attention long. >> Okay. So, um we we don't even have the point yet where you know where we can have it. So we can have it all >> going on. So we have further calling the I guess you could say and we have some areas in which they have already pulled and could begin to digitize and set up standardized file names and set up a drive

134every year. You create a file for everything that would go in that year. Then you archive that file and create some system that would be standardized. So that now different departments different offices. So we just continue to do the calling part not necessarily in the business office. We've been doing digitization since I came and so we're going to continue on that path. We have our own system set up our share drive across the district. Colleen, I have one other question and this is based on comment from the public. I know that there's an appropriation status report that's provided to basis and I know that there is what is it 78 58 document that sent out regarding the budget. Is there a way to export that into Excel to do a sidebyside comparison of the appropriations?

135Yes. >> Yeah. and then compare that to um projected airport. >> Yes. Those if you're just doing line by line. >> Yeah. I don't think we have to break it down to we just do 1040. So you can see that you just send me the I can do it myself. I just to sit here and type this time. >> But if you send me >> and even you don't even have to send me the um report the summary report I have right here. Do you have confirmation that it is two treadmills from two treadmills from 2009? One is inoperable. We can't get parts of that shape. So 8,000 is >> just the law requires us to report budget bud. So the budget still that way. >> No, I get that. But it's just I can

136do I just have to sit here and type understand why we do that. It's actually requirement that we do that type. I think we have I'm correct if I'm wrong, but in order to start the process, we have to decide on the levy that we want to move forward with tonight. >> If we have the levy number, then Kie and I can take the recommendations that are there, keeping the treadmill in, removing the ground overtime grounds keeper, removing it from the recommendation if we allow it. So everything else that's on there, we would we would go back and we would revise and we would change the use of fund these reserves with the million dollar fund balance apply to change these reserves and then we would have for next meeting next week. We have updated

137numbers for you based on the tax cap tax levy that the board's adopted here went forward with and those uh recommendations and there'll be a public hearing on June 9th before the actual vote on June 16th. That be the next steps in process. We're on a very tight timeline in terms of getting the budget locations out to the community and soon we have information start things. Can you go to the next slide again to the what were the 2% look like again the board has I mean discussion to whatever you would like to have the increase be the 2.16 change to whatever number you apply 2% was to keep a clean number that people understand. Sometimes people don't understand the 2.16. It's over the top. It's actually not. But we felt like it provides some

138relief to some feedback that we're hearing again from some of our residents who voted regarding concerns with assessments and taxes. And you know, it's it may not be a lot. We thought it was something that's why I was the 2% number came into play. >> Were you able to break down um to see which towns might have voted more no? I'm wondering about the two towns that were assessed for >> Petersburg. >> They were assessed as well. Is it >> 1980 >> I can't I couldn't see we don't look at that software if that shows us that get that data out but what we can see is the demographics which e groups voted um we had the highest percentage of voters that were in the age range of 60 to 69 was by far the

139largest voters that voted in the last budget, >> right? >> But does it doesn't break it down by tell us what where they live? >> I'm sorry. >> Which which towns people voted yes? Um, I can't see who voted. No, I'm just >> based on town based where I live. >> Which town? Well, it's hard to because >> so like we had like out of possible >> interest in our budget committee forums, we didn't have attendance anywhere. So we had the best attendance land was here most people came out we had two people that came >> I say there's something I understand >> a lot of people don't understand that actually but I'm just There's probably a lot of tax at least we saw that in Petersburg that they were >> Yeah, that won't be

140the case this year based on the numbers that I saw from the county today. So what that basically means is on an equalized basis which is the way you're going to ultimately apply taxes amongst the four towns is that Berlin will have a higher share of the overall effective tax burden because the equalization rate was adjusted so much further down that boosted up their equaliz >> sorry >> so this year yes because of the way they did the end of values in the past. Can I just ask a question? So just either for myself or anybody listening. So between 2.16% and the 2% side, let's say if you have $100,000 house, the 2316 assessment is what you would pay in tax, right? But if it's we decreased to 2%, you're paying 2,313. So you're saving

141$3. >> It's being spread over all of the taxpayers. >> Yeah. So although you're increasing it, >> it's not >> similar to like the capital project proposal. We saw that capital project proposal to tax for the taxpayers for a project that was you know $9 million was only going to be $8 whatever it was per $100,000 and it's sort of similar. It's only at $3 saving. It's not a it's not a huge reduction >> but cumulatively to us it makes it It's more powerful. >> I'm okay with moving it down to 2%. Still, it's not really going to make much of difference really, but I also feel voter turnout representation will be more people to show up and vote. I feel like I feel like if they do then we'd have more yes folks. We're

142not we're not uh we're not cutting teachers were being very responsible like this budget. I did did share with the community as well just in terms of question these schools there were a couple schools that would have had 0% those schools like Troy and Yel for example we had a merger they millions of dollars coming into the district lancing gets I think 11% foundationally a lot of financial aid they're out 0% but outside of those schools that are have a a lot of money coming in um our increase is um on the lower side compared to other other districts several districts over over the cap. So terms of your point about you know being fiscally responsible stewards of taxpayer money where where this is I think it also speaks to where the district is right

143now again that you know we're as a district opposition where we're we need to put out a 7 8% increase speaks to the fact that we're going in the right direction in terms of things. We need more time to continue to look at reductions and efficiencies without impacting students, but we're I think where we the range we want to be right now is compared to other districts some situations that they're in right now. >> What's the longterm planning? We can't just continue with the bill and taxpayers 2%. So in the coming years that's a great question and one that we've we've been talking a lot about. >> Yeah. >> One of the things that we talked about prior we continue to do in all areas of the district operations we should be more proactive though

144we have time now we should be making shrink that deficit. >> Yeah. there's if there's areas that right now we can't assess and reduce down we certainly >> I'm just being realistic% money forever just being realistic there >> well we have you know we have some of the highest cost per pupil I stated expenditure special education cost and general education costs my first year in the district that's that's a big wondering for That's an area that we're looking at in terms of why is our cost per pupil so high in terms of what we're getting out of that for the educational value for the students. Um, so that's something without going too specific right now in terms of thing we're looking very very closely at least services is truly what's happening right now in terms

145of why is that and doing some >> I didn't know you guys had a plan like you're expecting more retirees in the future about >> I just know you guys something you don't want deficit or state aid is cut future >> there are retirements so that is unfortunate because sometimes hard to replace some teachers especially in certain areas we have special education teacher for example that are very hard to replace how that's helpers um so attrition is a big part of getting things you know where we hire retired you guys >> yeah there's a study so right now there's a study going on special education we're doing a special education audit review that's just started and that's going to probably going into the summertime potentially in the early fall I hope to have um some

146data from from that regarding again our expenditures on students and that would help to make some recommendations for for next year in terms of you know how we best support our students and for example our code top instruction that the best way to provide service to students. Um so there's there's absolutely things that right now it's going to take some time to get some data and be looking at for next year. >> That's a big one. taking out this stage% too. I also want to mention energy too. Obviously fuel costs been very high. We had a we had a capital project that went out. We are you know I'm definitely going to be looking to revisit that. One of the things right now I'm honest to see restoring some early work is on looking at

147the grants. There's some great grants out there for geothermal for example. If we can pursue an energy grant for something like a geothermal system that would be paid by New York State we understand the one on the list right now is a high district and that I think responsibly we need to to look at and explore options um that would put our district in better situation from you know again driving down our costs maintaining the programs we have keeping the lights on the buildings. So those things I hope to the board look at. >> I just want to make sure we're being proactive. >> I just want to give you some concrete examples. >> Yep. Absolutely. So part of that Ken just mentioned, we actually are listed as a priority district for um grant funded

148for bringing both both this building and elementary school into a geothermal system which >> what's the cost? >> We're actually looking at doing an energy it's free to do a nice sort of energy audit and what they do is they um they have our energy bills. I just noticed at the solar tone like yesterday and they'll look at our energy bills and then they would project cost savings on using a geothermal system. What I'm told is there's significant that's the word I have. I don't have any data for right now. It's very very early on significant potential for major savings. I mean major with geothermal system >> I'm assuming >> yeah I just want to give a couple examples I want to say yes >> absolutely >> I board too I hope to have more

149information on I think the July 1 meeting actually presentation on what geothermal is and what that grant will look like. It's something that that district want to explore further. Um, so July 1 right now is what update in terms of bringing more patient over to you all in the community. >> July July 1st reorg since the June 16th. And just grab that slide just one more time just make sure the board collect is a guest. Yes. Mostly made reduction to yes. Student assistance counselor. We're okay with the three maybe three to four days. We can still >> I just don't want students to not have situations. >> You can't tomorrow. I think the final day next week that tomorrow actually Thursday so mowing will wait in this budget cycle and take that out coming out

150the ground keeper out we are going to not touch the Houston facilities and facility over time equipment we're going to replace one treadmill for this year and then Question is on the forum. Any other additional comments on budget? Thank you to the public for coming out and providing input. And at this time we have an executive session for personnel. Second by Ela. All in favor? >> I we don't anticipate any action after