001Okay, we're returning for part two of tonight's April 21st board meeting. The board has returned from executive session. >> A motion to exit executive session. Motion by Frank, a second. >> Second by Penny. All in favor? I. Any opposed? And a motion to enter public session. Motion by Rebecca. A second. >> Second by Frank. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay, we'll move on to presentations. The financial audit transparency presentation. >> Good evening everyone. I'm Michael Wolf. I bet you appointed me as your claims auditor um the beginning of this past year. And anytime uh I start out at a school, I always try to come in and meet the board. Also go over some of the uh roles responsibilities of what I do. And there is a handout called all the roles and
002responsibilities of the claims order. >> Yeah. Um the roles and responsibilities the claims order is just covering uh what I do, what why I've been appointed. Um, and one of the things about my position which a lot of people don't even realize and many board members don't even realize it even after taking the the trainings is that it the claims auditor position as an officer of the school district. It is also one of the more powerful positions in the school district. um with the the ruling that you guys are financially responsible for all the taxpayer dollars. Um you are the ones that have to review all the spending and review anything that goes on financially, all contracts. Um, which that would mean every single N bill, every mileage reimbursement, every Verizon bill technically should go
003in front of every single one of you at every single meeting for you guys to approve it. As you can imagine, that would take a long, long time to do. So, the state created my position of claims auditor for all the school districts across the state. Um, so with that in mind, one of the things they did when they wrote the rule to include a claims auditor is they actually took your responsibilities away from you. It's one of the weird laws or one of the more odd laws where they've actually created a position and given the board's responsibility to me. Um, one of the reasons they've done that is if somebody, say I were to say, you know, I don't approve this expense. I don't I don't think it's a good use of taxpayer dollars.
004Um and somebody were to say, "Well, fine. I'll go to the board and have them approve it." Legally, you can't. Legally, I'm the only one that can approve something. Um with that in mind, through proxy, I realize I'm signing more signatures on every single bill I approve. So, that's one of the reasons I take the job very, very seriously. Everything I look at, I imagine, would any of you guys have a problem with looking at? Would anything come up that you would feel uncomfortable uh that were pain? Um I can tell you, you know, in the year I've been here, nothing uh would would have made me lose any sleep. Um however, I want you to know that I am doing this. I am doing it on your behalf and uh I keep that in
005mind. Uh 99% of what I look at is kind of just cut and dry. No problems, no issues. Uh for the 1% that we have to look at usually when I say us, it's us claims auditors across the state. We have two tests that we run. The first test is basically is this a need to have or a nice to have? So is the expense what we're using is which where where does it fall? And then the final test that we do again if if something came up to us um that was really really questionable um the only thing I've seen I've been doing this for like 14 years that was one thing one school was trying to send like three teachers to Vegas um and uh so you know that one when it came
006up uh we do what's called the auditorium test and this is the perfect time because the auditorium test is basically fill this auditorium with taxpayers. Some employers may not have kids here. And uh tell and I have to ask myself, would the board president or the superintendent of schools be comfortable telling the board when the board budget votes a week away, this is how we're spending your money? And if I feel you're going to be uncomfortable doing that, that's probably something I shouldn't be approving. In the case of the teachers wanting to go to Vegas, that is what happens. So any questions on what I do on your behalf? Take that as no. Okay. Uh you do have the last three months reports. Most of the reports are going to come to you monthly. Uh
007from now on, as you can see on the front page is the amount of what I looked at. Just for example, in the month of March, there were 150 different claims against the school totaling $1.5 million. Out of that, there were four exceptions. Exceptions are something that I see. That doesn't necessarily mean it's an improper purchase. It just means maybe it's procedural. Uh it's a procedural item on how it went went along. Um because part of what I do is I look to see did the purchasing agent follow the procedures. Did they get quotes? Did they go out to state contracts? If it was a major major um something greater than $20,000 or 35,000 by law, you either have to go to state contract, did they have to go out and put it to bid?
008So, I'm looking to see were all the rules and regulations in your estate followed. Did they go out and hit the bids? And did they comply with the board policies that you had in hand? Uh you can see in the month of March, there was um three confirming POS. in a confirming PO just so you know means somebody went out and bought something then they went and asked purchasing agent for permission to go out and purchase it. Um it is the number one finding I have in all my schools and then there was a one um there was one invoice that had a $20 late fee on it. I'm giving you what I see at the time I'm doing my audit. Many times the business office is working on getting these leg fees either reversed
009or negotiated. Um sometimes it's uh and something as simple as um the vendor never updated the email address of the school district that it went to like a past employer and that causes the late. So, usually we can get out of um my information, I believe, uh my phone number, email, and everything is at the bottom of my reports. Um, as I mentioned before, I am your claims auditor, that's really and that goes 365 days a year. You guys go to have a board meeting or something some night, you see something in my report or you see something else that has to do with purchasing or procurement and you want to run it past me or ask me my opinion. Uh, feel free to call, feel free to email me. Um, even though I'm only
010here once in a while because I actually Berlin is actually one of the newer schools that's doing remote claims. We started that at the beginning of year two, which is only out of my 14 schools or out of 11 schools, only five of you as we're moving forward in the technology of this. I had one question for clarification which you said before. So when you do the audit there's you've never seen a board member involved in issuing purchase orders, recommending vendors or get involved in any expenditures or whatever the district has to do. >> Not here. And actually in my other 11 clients now the board the boards uh for every place I've gone to um they pretty much don't want to have anything to do with it because like when I know when the
011board members go to um their trainings when you guys first start out uh the required trainings one of the things they warn you about the most is micromanaging the school district. You know that's the superintendent's job. It's the business official's job. Um, usually when school districts have board members that come in, um, I do have one client. It's not a claims audited client. Um, it's an internal audit client because I also do those types of audits. But the board president wants to meet with the superintendent once a week. And I can tell you that school is not doing well right now because, you know, it's not being guided by the superintendent. It's being guided by the members of the board. That's that's not a good way to do things. Luckily, from what I've seen here,
012it doesn't seem to be the case. The IC who places the orders I see uh you know, all of the prep, all the POS have to be originated in one of the departments. There's a whole approval process that it has to go through before it even gets to Colleen. And then once it gets to Colleen, then it's approved. So, and that's part of my review. My part of my reviewing looking at these expenses is who ordered it? Did they have the authority to spend the money out of that budget line item? Uh when the item is, you know, one of my next question after Colleen approves it is, is that something the school should be spending money on? You know, is that an educational purpose? Uh the next thing along the way is um when
013it was received, did we receive all of it? Did we make sure it's in good working order? The person who signed saying we received it, do they have the knowledge base to know yes, it's working? And then finally, um the accounts payable staff and the business staff. I can tell you um the the business office here is absolutely great especially um going to this whole uh remote claims auditing process of scanning everything in and I can one of the things that is the puts the onus on the the uh business office is they have to make sure all of these things that I'm going to look at are there by the scandal. So all these invoices, the packing slips, the person signing off on it, they don't send it to me unless it's already done.
014So, and I can tell you that a lot of the stuff I get, I never have to call them up and say, "Hey, can you add this to it or that to it?" That's one other thing on your sheet. You can see that I did put a goal of having an error rate less than 3,000 three% and you guys were at 2.5. So that means you know you're you're about 98% of what goes through the the purchasing cycle is right on and I can tell you from my 11 schools if you are at 3% or less you are in the top 10%. If not you're even farther up. Yeah. I think I only have two other schools that have a better error rate. And how often is when you get the remote documents, how often
015are you missing something? Have it scan it to you? How often does that >> since I've been doing it? Um encounter on one hand. Yeah. Um and and sometimes when I've had to call and say I need something scanned, it's not been an error on the account payable card. It's got an error on the scanner. So, it's like half the page got scanned in and then it got smeared. So, I can tell it got championed in the scanner. But, um, as far as needing anything um, you know, maybe sometimes it's asking for clarification like sometimes, you know, I don't know everyone's signature. So, sometimes I'm calling up the AP clerk saying, "Well, who signed off on this? I don't recognize that signature. We'll find out who it is." just to make sure that it's somebody
016who is responsible for that budget code. If I was a board member and I was worried about the if I was a board member here, I wouldn't be losing any sleep from process. >> Any other questions? So, how often do you get these scans from >> every two weeks? And usually the way it works with the AD clerk, Darcy, she um she'll email me on a Tuesday and say, "We want to cut checks on Friday." So, I have four days to examine everything and go through it. Usually, it takes me three to four hours maybe in a in a busy day, busy week. Um, and then what'll happen is I I have to go in, they cannot even send a check out unless I physically go into the computer system and say it's okay to
017pay those bills. So, that's what one of the major controls that external auditors want to see. The New York State Control wants to see is that um there's something preventing the treasur from just being able to issue a check without somebody looking at it. So yeah, every two weeks, but then if there I'm also available um because as long as I have a laptop with me or I'm at home in my office, um I can approve something because every once in a while, you know, not to pick on teachers, but teachers sometimes forget that, oh, we have a field trip next week and we need a check. You know, that's one of the probably the more popular ones I'll get and you know, I'll stop what I'm doing and we'll go and issue a check
018for the field trip. This question really geared towards you just put the notes in there, but if there's an issue with let's say no confirming keto issue or expense reports that are provided late how does the district handle that internally? is a conversation that with many people. So if it happens I try to provide process but have been my staff affectionately correct through emails in which I go through and say this is how it's supposed to happen. This is what you did wrong. Um and once our department gets they know that serious and they need to adjust their processes like I guess >> yeah one of the things that I do also is being that through proxy on your eyes and ears with the purchasing process if I see like say say the think on
019the art department say the department four months in a row is on this report. Just in case Colleen didn't pick up on it, I'll be like, "Hey, this is the fourth month at the department's not maybe they need training, maybe they need some some sort of corrective action because I assume if you guys are seeing it four months ago, about one of you guys are going to say, "Hey, Colleen, why is our department on here four months ago?" So, I really try to put myself in your seat as much as possible when I do this job. Thank you very much for your time. It's a pleasure to finally meet everybody. again, you have my number and uh I know how to get in touch with you too because that's one one other thing too I
020want to stress is if I were to ever see anything that I felt was fraudulent, was anything that uh was of a questionable nature, um usually because I report to you and because I'm an officer to you guys, I would go right to you guys. Um I, you know, I wouldn't be going to the super or the business official usually if it's something to that extent. I can say not what in my 14 years I've only had to do that twice. But I got your back basically is what I'm telling you. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. The next is the graduation committee presentation. Good evening. So based on the last few years, we decided to do more of a collaborative approach to graduation. Stakeholders voice involved. Um do a little plug here. 8th grade
021moving up ceremonies Tuesday, June 23rd upper soccer field at 6 pm. Once you know it's in weather, we'll be in the auditorium. Commencement ceremony is Friday, June 26. We begin at 6. In the past, it would be 7 uh 7, right? 7. So, we're going to go to 6. If the weather does not cooperate with us, we auditorium, but I've spoken to Mother Nature told me we will have good weather on both days. side like I said it was collaborative process different stakeholders um I've met separately with staff students parents and community members to get input um to me I'll be very honest with you commencement ceremony is a very um serious event for some of our a lot of our students may be the only graduation they have in their life commencement ceremony they
022have in their and we want to make it memorable and we want to make it that uh families and students walk away feeling very good about their experience. So this year a couple of differences. We're going to be on the upper side facing the mountain. I have some pictures in a second. Um, we have a uh, what do we call that for the Wi-Fi? The new the hotspot, I guess. We actually we're at a Dan who does our live uh, stream here. We tested it out. We actually have electricity up there on the track. So, we're all set to go. Um, targets one hour ceremony. We're actually going to come from the upper baseball field. I'll show you. And come down into um to the track. And then when we're done, the processional is what
023and I know they've done this in the past. We're going to go out and then we're going to have families meet us in the gymnasium. We're going to have some food and drinks and celebrate like they used to do that in the past. Uh music will be the same. We're working on uh getting better microphones that are more suited for outside. Last year the wind was rough on us. Uh so hopefully we'll have better luck. The speakers will just be myself uh Mr. Rizzo Deval S and the students will decide who the guest speaker is and class of 20 26 president will do pledge of allegiance. One of the main questions I I've been getting is what are we going to do with uh people that may struggle to get to that field. So, working
024with transportation, we're going to have a van shuttle system going back and forth. And the genius behind that is Rachel Terretzki because I was thinking, you know, get golf cart, but she's like, why don't we just use a pan and that was very obvious. So, thank you, Rachel, for that. Spoke to uh transportation, so we'll have that set up. So, tickets always come up. We've ordered 500 chairs this year. Mr. Rizzo assisted on the white padded chairs. So, we got the white padded chairs. Uh, which do look much nicer. >> It'll be worth it. >> Yeah, I agree with much nicer. So, uh, and it's inside six tickets per family. Now, that one was learn I learned that one the hard way. I one time had triplets and I said six tickets per student. So
025the family expected 18 tickets. So now I say per family. Six tickets per family. So that's coming into the track and coming from up there. We'll have that be in the middle of the field facing everybody. Um so the Berlin I'm hoping that we can have it painted. Obviously, that looks like a Hollywood sign. That's what the AI does. But it's very important to know a couple things. The staff, the graduate chairs won't be on the stage, but they'll be faced in the audience. Some of the feedback we received was that the families could not see the students. Excellent feedback. So, now the graduates will actually be to the left, the right, figure that out. And they will be facing the family so everybody can see them. You'll see that the chairs going to be
026divided. So when we come in, walk around the track, they'll walk down and the families to see and take pictures and then get their seats. The staff will also have chairs facing the audience. Um the staff I would like the staff to leave uh the processional. So be a little different with that. But the stage will look like that. I want the balloons and flowers. Everyone agreed in that. Um, that's pretty much the graduation uh commencement ceremony that we're looking at this year. Like I said, the key points, upper soccer field, 500 uh chairs, recessional go into the gymnasium to celebrate. He went out. That's what we want. Not that we're rushing. But we're going to do one hour and we're going to start earlier so we don't have to worry about sunlight or anything.
027>> Yes, I put out there the coral in the feral, >> you know, that's a good question. Um, >> they were too far away. They were so coral after I remember walking to the parking lot last year speaking to Miss Bon said we agreed that they should come on stage and sing and then we'll yes we agree that the the band has to be closer but we're also working on getting uh different microphones that are geared for outside. That was part of the issue as well. >> We're going to be totally away from the road. Yeah. And we're going to be facing the mountains and >> parking lot. >> Not the parking lot. >> Storage units. >> Not the storage unit. We have the beautiful landscape of uh you know our mountains in the background.
028Like I said, I like paint. Um football field, soccer field where it says Berlin in the background. Um, originally we were going to get like a for the stage a black uh backdrop, but Rachel and I discussed we thought it'd be better without it because we have the mountains there in Berlin. So, we don't have to hide if you know what I mean. The um the the goal won't be there. It moves. So, it will just be clearly the mountains in the background and the stage stage that I think it's going to be great. And like I said, Dan came up, you already practiced and he said, "Well, no problem. Wi-Fi that was that and getting everybody up there was the main concern." So, we got that. >> So, if it's not limited to >>
029No, no. Like I said, we got 500 seats. So, we feel chairs. Excuse me. So we feel very comfortable that because I think I believe we have 45 or 46 graduates around there. So we feel comfortable in terms of having the receipt. Last year we had uh left over in terms of the receipts that >> we Yes, that is still Yeah. You know, we definitely uh was speaking about having two or three. I know my prior districts we had for people that elderly people in terms of it's too warm, you know, things like that. So, yeah, we're going to have to tons of very good points. Um, >> can you just clarify a little more where the graduates will be sitting? You said to the left or right of the stage, but facing the stage,
030but so not in front of the stage. >> Okay. So, the graduates you see, they'll be facing this to the left. They'll be on the grass, but it'll be angled where they could the crowd, they can see the crowd, the audience, the audience can see them, but they also can see what's going on. >> It's not going to be bigger. >> Yeah. No. And that's something like after this year, we say, "Hey, we need a bigger stage." And absolutely. >> My experience just as the principal guys never on the stage, >> right? >> They're just facing the facing the stage and what's going on as well. We will definitely after this ceremony debrief again and we continue to debrief chair. I'm excited about it. This has a lot of uh uh different voices involved. This
031is not one person. So I'm very excited. I think this is going to be great. I love the location. Um I think when people out there really appreciate, like you said, no honking horns, no cars coming by, no um nothing happening in the parking lot. just totally focused and centered on the commen. >> Yes. >> Can I be honest? I never knew that we we did that in the past. So it was nice to have you to hear from other people. I think Amanda, you one of the main people that brought that up, Amanda being a graduate here. Um so we all agree that's a great idea. Um should I do my snapshot? I'll do my snapshot so uh >> your administrative snapshot. >> So you're going to hear the same thing from uh Jody.
032This is uh grades three through eight testing week this week, next week. Um testing is always fun. Uh chaotic and uh crazy but all you know very positive. Um, a lot of planning that has gone into it. So, uh, tomorrow's the first day. I'm excited about it. We'll do a great job. Um, I won't speak about top 10. I will say that we got back from uh, Questar in terms of kids uh, our students getting accepted into CPE programs and new visions. Three out of our five students that applied for revisions got into were weight listed and then 11 out of 16 got accepted into the CTE program pre-weight listed but two kind of just they asked that their applications not go through. So right now between three we have 14 new students going into
033programs next year. just so the CTE that's the 11th graders >> yes >> so we had six excuse me 16 students originally applied 11 that have been accepted two that dropped out basically um and then three wait list >> so so nine would be going right now >> no 11 are going for sure >> two dropped out >> no no out of the five that did not get in. I'm sorry. So, 11 are definitely accepted. They're going to go. Two dropped out that they didn't want to move on to the process and >> so we have the potential for 14 students to go to programs. >> Yeah. Question. Yes. 11 for CTE and three for new visions. Yes. >> CT one year or two years. >> CTE is two years. new visions for seniors which
034I know you're doing. Sorry. Um so I mean the potential honestly could be 19 the the weight listed. So the three that are weight listed for CTE right now 11 been accepted. So that could be 14 if they get you know permission to go in and two weight list for new vision. So that be five. So technically the most that can go in at this point is 19 but we currently have that >> and they're on a wait list because their program that they're interested in is full >> that's what I understand. Yes. There's other students from other districts and but many times there's openings where other students decide they're not. >> Do you know approximately how many seniors we have for next year? 11th grade >> in the CT program. >> No, just like
035in general like so you have three seniors that are not going to be in school year. How many how many seniors are next year? >> Um >> it's under business reports enrollment you'll see a March 2026 report. Okay. And that that has all the enrollment data. Okay. That's a bigger class. >> 51 >> 49. >> Uh, so anyway, thank you very much. >> Thanks, Steve. Okay. Athletics presentation. Okay, I'm just going to um show you our participation rates for the last three years. So, this is for all slides. So the 2023 is blue, 2023, 2024 is blue, 2024, 2025 is red, 2025, 2026. Um, looking at that graph, it shows that our volleyball program seems to be trending in the direction we want it to be. It's increasing at all levels. Um and also this
036shows me that our modified sports programs um shows great interest um the healthy entry level interest. Um our JV programs I would like to see be more relevant. Uh I do want to honor our boys 2023 cross country team for being a loss champion. This banner will be upon in our gym. I have to say also congratulations to the 2024 or sorry 2025 boys cross country team. They were also also champions that will be home. So winter sports some great pictures from Rachel Chzky. Thank you very much. The same type of graph I'm using for the winter. Um, shows great growth in our girls wrestling program, cheer, bowling, and swim. It also shows um the modified levels are a really good healthy um entry level interest. >> So, modified boys. >> There were approximately 17
037students in the modified. >> Yes. >> But there was no um JB program for this past winter. Correct. >> Correct. Correct. the coaches felt that with the talent and ability of the athletes, it was best to split to two. >> Okay. So, there was two modified teams, but not >> there's we've had two modified teams the last two years and then um last year we were able to have a J of J boys team. Uh this year I think there was some um commitment issues with some of the boys at the beginning. So the numbers caused us to split to two teams, but we did have two modified teams, A and B. These are spring sports. So this shows me that our varsity levels seem to be very um consistent across the board for the
038three years. um that lack of the JB teams are something that we would like to build on. I will say it does seem like our athletes love our spring sports, our baseball, softball, track programs um are very well anticipated. Our students really enjoy our spring seasons. Um this one is definitely something I'm very excited to be able to bring to Berlin. our unified sports. Um we've been able to get such a more involvement. Um the students that have participated on these teams um have nothing but great things to say about uh being a teammate and I'm just really really happy that we were able to bring this and I thank you to all the volunteer coaches that put in their time for our students. So for next step, my goal for this year was to
039uh work on improving student and just kind of my action statement that every additional student who joins a team gains more than just a sport. They gain relationships, discipline, and a sense of purpose. More students involved means more students connected. And when students feel connected, they succeed in school and beyond. This is the impact of athletics. And this is the direction we are committed to as an any questions. Thank you. That's >> okay. It's your turn. Students came back last week to wrap up. We are now in the final stretch of the school year. Student council is getting excited to fill up next week. We've been recycling in the classrooms for about a month now and it has been successful. I personally see students utilize the bins responsibly recycling items. An exciting celebration was held
040last Thursday to honor the top 10 students in the class of 2026, including two juniors who are who are graduating a year early to make the final count. The school and the students families came together to celebrate their Mr. Burnsley already mentioned this, but last Friday, three juniors were notified by the new program that they selected for 2026 2027 program. Two of my classmates and I were accepted in three different programs within the divisions. Medical program, visual performing arts program education programs are highly competitive in the region among high school students every month to be selected. Teacher appreciation week is coming up May 4th and May 9th and student council has been brainstorming ideas on how we can celebrate the amazing teachers and educators that are shaping the next generation. The wellness fair is coming
041up on May 16th. Student council is promoting wellness by finding trees and they want student body that they enjoy having field day and student council is working on planning a funded day. May 22 as long as crazy weather. May 29th is junior and senior. Juniors are making final adjustments to ensure that everything goes smoothly to have some guest speakers. They're also planning to have fun activities as school. The next months are going to be very easy and very fun for everybody. Thank you. Thank you. On to minutes. We have minutes from the March 18th, 2026 regular board meeting. >> A motion by Frank. A second. A second by Kim. Um, Penny Hubo, >> yes. >> Kim, yes. Derek, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Elaine, >> yes. >> Rebecca, yes. Yes. >> Next is
042the minutes of the round table held on April 2nd, 2026. Can I get a motion? >> Motion by second. Second by Penny. Any comments? Okay, Penny had to vote. Yes. Kim, yes. Derek, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Rebecca, >> yes. Elaine, >> yes. And I have move on to policies. So, we have the second reading for policy number 8450, which relates to homebound instruction. any um so just so the public knows that we have a policy committee that reviews these policies and makes recommendations uh to the board um includes board members and also um includes administration any um comments I'd like to just say that I think that changes are great paragraph very smooth and flu made those adjustments I thought did a great I want to >> any other comments. >> Okay.
043Can I get a motion to move this to the third and final reading at the next board meeting? Motion by Rebecca. Second. >> Second by Elaine. Henny, how do you vote? >> Kim, yes. >> Derek, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Rebecca, >> yes. Elaine, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes as well. So if you may need we will vote on the final. At this time we will move to public comment for consent agenda items. >> Not for consent not for consent. We do have one um walk in resolution that I will read um and then we can vote to move forward with the consent agenda. This is blocked resolution resolved that upon the recommendation of the superintendent of school the board of education central school district hereby completes the position of director
044of instructional innovation and technology. So that is a walk-in resolution. Would anyone like any of the consent agenda items hold the donation? >> Yeah. H >> H. So we have the donation um that needs to be pulled. Any other items to be pulled? Okay. Any actually the motion first. So can I get a motion for uh A B C D E F G H J as well as the walk-in resolution? >> G sorry G I J in the walk-in resolution. >> I'll make a motion. >> Motion by Frank. A second. Second. Second by Rebecca. Any discussion? >> I had a question actually before the change order. Why is that within the original $100,000 scope? The other question I had is why are we um the project scope was created as you know before I was
045here last year but that was part of this that was part of the project that was created last year was to have those trials in place. Yeah, it was that wasn't so the change we did hold up um the project because we were trying to figure out the down spout coming coming down from the roof which right now was the time they're on sort of ter finishing up 30th we move forward allowing them to put the drywalls and the last section last last pieces left now is the down stop which we're trying to conceal that in the higher right now so this is part of the 500 this all >> yes correct so we're just trying to make sure that The pilaster is going to conceal it. That's within that's a lot easier. >> So
046the pipe coming down is 2 in. >> Show the sketch. >> I mean it's a tiny >> I just today that they have a solution in place with with the company. They believe they can fit in with the budget to conceal it. Okay. >> The other question I had is to do with the surplus. It shows on there as far as like there's laptop or something being disposed of because of Windows 11. Is that the reason being? >> Yes. Windows 11. >> Support or security. Correct. Any additional comments or questions? >> Okay, so we have a motion and a second for all but each vote. >> Kim, yes. >> Derek, >> yes. >> Greg, >> yes. >> Elaine, >> yes. >> Rebecca, >> yes. and how many yes. We move on to donation. Can I
047get a motion for the donation for the window repair the window frames? >> H is donation, right? >> Yes. Because frankly the donations motion by Kim a second by Rebecca how do you >> yes >> and yes thank you for your donation we move on to um president's Um, I'd like to just take a few moments to highlight several important topics that have come before the board and our community. First, I want to encourage all community members to attend our upcoming budget information sessions. We have held two so far and we'll be holding additional sessions um in Steventown and in Grafton. Um and we went out to the public to asssure that everyone has um accessibility to the information. Um these meetings are important opportunity to learn about the proposed budget, ask questions and stay
048informed about decisions that impact our schools and students. Um and we val we do value the community input and hope to see a strong presentation participation in the next two sessions. Um, as part of our ongoing budget discussions, we did have a community member that raised a comment u regarding the cost per pupil compared to other districts. Um, I'd like to thank that community member for the time and effort he put in to research information and provide it to the board. Um, we appreciate this question and engagement in um, it represents. We are beginning a more indepth review of our cost drivers. Um, and thank you to Ken and Colleen for taking that on. Um, this work will rely on quantitative data to better understand how and why resources are allocated. And our goal is
049to use this information to guide thoughtful discussions to promote transparency and help shape a culture focused on continuous improvement while being responsible stewardships of taxpayer dollars. And additionally, um, going along with the same comment, earlier this evening, the board approved a walk-in resolution related to administrative position. This action does not necessarily create a new position, but rather repositions the district to move effectively to effectively align our administrative structure with current needs. This adjustment um will help us better allocate and manage resources in ways that support students and strengthen our overall operations. As always, our focus remains on making informed, transparent decisions that best support student success and reflect the priorities of our community. And I figured you were going to talk about top 10. So yeah, >> I was not going to >> I think
050Katie, good evening. Thanks for joining tonight, everyone who's here and those who are remote. My dad sometimes I watch this on here. Um, I want to congratulate Principal Burnsley on a really nice top 10 program. First off, my first time seeing a top 10 program. Um, where I when I was principally recognized top 10, but a program like that comprehensive and just nice seeing the family partnerships and the families come out to support. Um, really well done. I also want to congratulate our saludiatoran Valentina Papov and our valatoran Malian van Schilling. I pronounced that correctly as well. apologize. Uh congratulations. Takes a lot of work to uh to rise to the top of of your class and that's quite quite commendable their character and their their effort as well thus far. So really nice program
051Katie as well for joining um look forward to seeing that future years as well that continue on. Want to mention the budget and I want to thank Kie for collaboration and leadership um with our budget and the budget presentations. Uh to reiterate what Katie said, we did have a presentation last week in Petersburg. uh didn't have a big turnout. We had a small turnout there. Uh today's turnout in Berlin was a little a little bit larger, which was nice to the Q&A. We're going to take our show next week to Stephen Town uh next Tuesday evening at six six o'clock. >> Six o'clock. Yeah, six o'clock um for another presentation there. I'll include a PowerPoint presentation. And then we're going to close out the uh budget Tuesdays with Grafton on Cinco de Mayo, which is
052May 5th with our final presentation. Uh, Grafton will be at the BFW and Stephen Town, I believe, is firehouse library. Apologize. One more time. We're on the spot there. Stephen Town, it's going to be in the library and draft. It's gonna be at the BFW. It's also going to be reminders continue to put out on social media as well. Trusty always top for us. So, thank you for that. Um, that's going to lead us into our budget vote reminder to our community. That's going to be on Tuesday, May 19th, and that's going to be from 12 to 9:00 p.m. at Berlin Elementary School. Please come out. We hope you have the information that you need to vote on the budget on the 19th of May. It's very important as Katie mentioned to have engagement and
053participation in in our budget vote. Um, I also want to mention something Frank had asked about and plan to touch on as the North Portico roof and last year's capital outlay project. We're looking to close that out by the end of the school year. Progress was made recently uh to install two drain pits for the scoping of the project for the water to be drained off of the north portico roof. We're still working on a solution for concealing the actual drain. Right now it's on the side of the building which is unsatisfactory. Want to try to conceal that in the pilaster. So trying to work within $100,000 budget with CSR to close that project um know in a proper manner. That being said back over to Keith. Thank you very much. Thank you. We'll move
054on to administrative snapshots in the business office you want to reserve for the the budget PPS and MTSS. >> Good evening. I just wanted to take this opportunity to share that um our own deputy Alice Delesio will be honored at a cast for dinner as a friend. She'll be receiving the friend of education award. I had nominated her on behalf of the district based on her excellent work here. Um the friend of education award is to recognize individuals whose selfless dedication supports and sustains the school community and deputy has certainly met those criteria. She's ingrained herself within the school community, forging strong relationships with administrators, faculty, students, and families alike. And as the director of PPS, I want to particularly appreciate her connections that she's built with special education students, and those within our stars
055program. Deputy Delesio's support goes well beyond just her relationships. She also serves as a nexus of information for the school and her department to support our families, students and her own department with our families and our community. So I want to thank her for that and um she is just an invaluable member of our school community and a true friend of education. The dinner will be on the 30th where she'll be receiving her award and I know that most if not all the administrative team is planning to go and support her. So, it'll be a really nice evening. Confident she's going to bring a good chunk of her department, too. So, it'll be a really nice evening to thank her for all that she does for them. >> Thank you. >> Hi. Um, so some
056good news in regards to MTSS. Um, we have been able to exit a few more students um since my last update. Um, and that's just like the teachers. I want to shout out to them have been working so hard to support the students. Um and the amount of exits this year is evident of all the hard work of our teachers. Um and then just after state testing, um I'm going to meet with the building principles to discuss any assessments and just kind of make a plan on how we're going to do those and then collect the data. and then um just continue to have productive MTSS meetings in both buildings um to really talk about the students and soon we'll be talking about um next year already. >> Thank you sir. >> Transportation. Good evening
057everybody. I am happy to report that we are in the beginning stages of training in new substitute bus driver which we all know are really hard to come by. So that's my biggest news for tonight. Um with that being said, if there's anybody out there in our community that would like to become a bus driver, anybody in here that knows anybody or online, um do not hesitate to reach out to the transportation department and we'll have you driving in no time. Um, we have a few charter bus trips coming up where Rick and myself will go and staff each bus, much like all of our drivers do prior to transporting students every single day to make sure that they're safe. Um, other than that, we're gearing up for all of the end of the school
058events and activities that will take place such as prom and graduation and field trips at both buildings. Following along with all that will be our summer routing for our indist um students. This year seems to have flown by. Believe it or not, we were down to 40 something days already of school for this year. Thank you. >> Thank you, Janette. >> Technology. Okay. Um, just a couple short things that I'll be working with for uh planning for summer school and the number of devices that we're going to need. We had meeting just last week about that. I want to also thank uh Rick and not Daryl and Jared for installing three smartboards during the April break. Two here at the high school level and one down at the elementary school. That only leaves a few
059more areas that need that are going to be covered over the summer school time. Then we start. Uh the other thing is that I'll be working in the next few weeks to plan for the collection from books as come to an end quickly. Thank you, Tammy. Well, good evening. Um, so like Dave mentioned, we are in the throws of state testing, so we began testing on Monday. Um, things went, you know, fairly seamlessly. Ariel was on hand in the building to help, um, really just solve some of our minor issues and thanks to the technology department for really being able to um, put in action and solve those things. So today we went started seamlessly. So that was that was nice. Thank you for all their help. Um students are working really hard. Third and
060fourth grade finish today their ELA and fifth grade will begin um tomorrow. So um we're working to continue that. We are also um wanted to say that our BES had um a bingo night and I know two people were um there with us and it was a wonderfully attended evening. We had over a hundred people in attendance and um it was just so such a great event to see so many families and kids and grandparents and just community members, people that didn't even have kids in our building and just come together and really just enjoy a couple hours of pure fun and that they raised a lot of money for the helping hands and drama club and the PTO. So, um definitely an activity that we're going to continue with year to year. So, thank
061you for that. And our next activity, our family event is our sock pop dance. That's this Friday. So, um, that should be a fun event at elementary. And lastly, we're just gathering up our games also for our end of the year events and trying to get them finalized so that we can those with Rachel and share those out to families so that they know ahead of time when those events will be happening. Thank you. High school and athletics have already reported. New business move on to the 2026 2027 election of members to the Columbia Green County's board of cooperative education educational services. John, do we have to do each individually? Okay. So, um there are four nominees for four Boseies uh board term positions. So, the first one is Miss Mary Deli from Columbia County.
062Her district of residents is Hudson City School District. Um there are on your desk um their biographies if any questions about them. Can I get a motion for um Miss Mary Dailyaly? >> Motion by Frank. A second. Second by Penny. >> Okay, Penny, how do you vote? >> Yes. >> Kim, >> yes. >> Derek, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Elaine, >> yes. >> Rebecca, >> yes. >> And I'm a yes as well. The next is for Mr. Joseph Garland. He is from Green County in the district of residents is Kasaki Athens Central School District. I get a motion. >> Motion by uh Frank. A second. Kim. A second. Kim. Penny. >> Yes. >> Kim. >> Derek. >> Yes. >> Frank. >> Yes. >> Rebecca. >> Yes. >> Elaine. >> Yes. And I'm a
063guest as well. The next is Mr. John Hill from Renor County in this district of residents is Valley Central School District. I get a motion for Mr. John Hill. >> Motion by Frank. A second. >> Second by Derek. Uh Penny Hold. >> Yes. >> Kim, yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Elaine, yes. Rebecca, >> yes. >> And Amma, yes. And the final is Miss Marya >> and she is from Winsler County District uh residents of Scodak Central School District. Can I get a motion? Um >> motion by Frank. A second by >> Penny Ho. >> Yes. >> Kim, yes. >> Derek, >> yes. Frank, >> yes. >> Rebecca, yes. Elaine, yes. And yes. And then next is the Reser County Columbia Green Board of Educational Services Administrative Budget. Can I get a motion to approve
064the budget? >> I'll move it. >> Motion by Frank. Second. >> Second by Kim. Any questions? Petty, >> yes. Kim, yes. Derek, >> yes. >> Greg, >> yes. >> Rebecca, yes. Elaine, >> yes. And yes, as well on budget developmentation. Tonight we are budget adoption to also funding reserves on this budget. We must adopt this budget no later than April 27th. Today we're in shape that whenever this budget is approved by the board, it must be the tax report card must be subitted the very next day. We're all set up to do that. We have the tax report card on the agenda this evening. Um when the board adopts the budget, since there were no major changes from last time, I did include a QR code there. So if anyone wanted the details of the
065ins and out, the additions and reductions, they could find all of our previous presentations there. And then the next step after this budget adoption will be our May budget period in addition to our budget Tuesdays. Quick update that we got today. This is a slight change. Um the project scope will be finalized on that May 7th budget hearing. The locker cost came in higher than anticipated and the architect was on site today to assess the condition of those high school auditorium doors and door hardware as well as some water found locations that have not yet been updated older styles and we'll get back to us what the final scope of that project will be. Whether it's replacing a door, replacing the hardware, doing hardware and some fountains will be a combination of things that have
066to fit in $100,000. The number the board will be approving tonight is at 26,799,680 for the 2627 budget. Prior budget is just below that. This is a change of $533,000 and a2.03% increase from the prior year, which is below the consumer price index. part of this budget will be run by our tax levy. You see the 2% in the formula there. That's the 2% cap everyone speaks about. You'll see our total levy number there, which is the 11 million. And just below that, also highlighted in yellow, you'll see our final tax levy increase percentage, which is 2.16. This slide was on here last time. So we're at the 2.16. This is our total history from the beginning of the time when they instituted the tax cap. And you can see at the bottom there, how
067does Berlin compare regionally? So last time I checked, there were 14 districts reporting this year. And the average increase in each of their levies was just about 3%. There were 11 districts that a higher percentage than Berlin's 2.26. And there were three districts that had a tax money increase percentage lower than our 2.16. So this equates in total to $23.16 per 1,000 assessed value, which is an increase of 38 cents per thousand. Then there are some figures there. So you could sort of do some math in between those numbers to kind of determine what the tax rate looks like. This is based on the prior year assessments. I know there are some new assessments in the townships this year and it doesn't account for the equalization. So we report the dollars per thousand to the
068state. How will we be funding the budget? So we have our 11 million tax levy. We have just over 13 million in state and about 700,000 in other revenues which leaves us with the 1.9 round up structural deficit. So how do we close that deficit? As with last time the numbers are the same. We are taking the maximum allowed value. So that is what we anticipate spending in the coming year for each of those costs to budget. That's 55,000 for comp 40,000 for unemployment. Our ERS quote this year was 550,000. Our TRS is much larger, but we're only going to take a little bit or lesser from that reserve because we're trying to build that reserve. And the appropriated fund balance that we currently have uh in this school year running our budget, we anticipate
069not being spent. So, we'll roll that forward as well and close the budget gap. If you want to go more detail, this is also the same. There were not any updates from my prior presentation, but this is the full breakdown of where all of our revenue comes from. So again, last year I said we got a three-year window and I explained in prior presentations that we had some unfilled goals this year that led to some savings which was just about $450,000. So that extended our window in which to respond to this 1.8 1.9 million deficit. So in the next three years, we really need to consider how to be more efficient in our district and come to a place where our revenue and expenses are matching and eventually to where our revenue goes beyond our
070expenses so we can put money aside to help with capital projects and reduce the tax impact. still some long-term planning that needs to be done over the next year until we arrive at this point again when we're building budget. Um you can see the history of how our district came to have a 1.8 million deficit. There is that co time which you'll see outline in the red box. Um there were some accounting issues with the understanding of how grant funds were to coordinate the general fund. And the next slide shows in more recent times how we have started to course correct for that. So we have leveled off the budget in the last several years. This next year we do anticipate there being somewhat of a spike because of that 450,000 amount of salaries that
071will automatically come back into budget plus our insurance. And our goal again is to allow us this time in the next year to make a plan to in the following year school year the 2728 school year budget development process figure out how can we adjust again to keep this more. So as far as the district's um flexibility and health there's a 4% allowable fund balance and with this coming year's budget it'll be just over $1 million. These are the funds that are held for emergencies and unanticipated expenses and they're more flexible than those that are in reserves. When they're in a reserve, they can only be used for the purpose that the reserve is created. So workers comp work and it can only be used in the amount we anticipate spend. So this is our
072most flexible fun. We do have 565,000 in excess fund balance that was put there strategically because of our ongoing infrastructure issues. Should something occur, we might need to mitigate those items before we can get to a full capital project that gives us a little bit of protection to deal with that. Last time the board had asked me some questions about grants and I did not have the figures at the top of my mind so I put them on this slideshow. Some general items about grants. Grants are intended to supplement not supplant basic education. So planting is when you take something the district already pays for and really needs to run its basic programming and you put it in the ring. And that is largely how Berlin came to be in this situation where those salaries
073and things were kind of hidden in the grants and then at some point the grant ended and had to come back to the general fund. So we have worked to remove salaries that are part of our core education from those grants. We're transitioning a little bit off each year so that we truly are supplement. So grants are intended to if we have a $1.8 million gap here. Those grants are the flexible money that we can use to do things like address our reading issues or really improve the experience for our students who have the highest need. We have grants that are title funds and we have grants that are specific to special education. So in 2526 we completed a comprehensive review of all of our title funds that resulted in a corrective action and part
074of that was making sure that all the items that were in there were truly supplementary. They weren't required for running our regular program. This year we were also required to set aside 15% of our IDA grants and one of the items that we discussed last time was disallowed. So um one of the bullets up there says grants are to be used to target to provide targeted support for atrisisk students. So really there are supposed to be something that all students can access. You can either take a specific group that is underperforming or has high needs and direct the grant money there or you can use grant funds in a way that would improve the overall school um performance in academics and that way you're also hitting those high-risisk groups. You're not supposed to use it
075for a very specific group that's not considered hyper. So that's why that has to come out, but it can be funed through the general fun. There aren't as many restrictions on the general total dollar value. That's the question that I didn't have at the top of my mind. So $57,000 in grants. And here is the breakdown of what each of those numbers for funding are and what each is to be used for. Title one again is improving basic education. We currently fund a teacher on special assignment who does some instructional coaching through that grant. Our title two is for supporting effective instruction. We currently fund our mentors in the public teacher leaders items through that grant. Title four is student support and enrichment. Um we use that one to prioritize schools with the greatest need
076and targeted support such as helping hands and our community active um advisor sites are paid through that grant. REA can be used for any of the items above but again has to be supplementary. So you must support initiatives there any of the four or any of the three title ones above it. Uh you can also use it for STEM and civic engagement types of activities for academics. So some of the advisor sens are listed there as well. The last two are very specific and intended just for special education program. And that end of the presentation questions you might have about the budget and the funding plan. I just have the time is that there has to be a cultural change in our abilities to accept that we have deficit sexually pocket so to speak and
077I think that you know as a district as a board I think we have to stay committed to making sure that we are data that is not biased data or taken data and um I know that you guys are looking at doing outside third party reviews of certain programs and I appreciate that but we have to move forward and you know use that shift the culture and say like this is what it costs to educate a child and we have to get our sudden kind of Why my concern is to sit up here every year and say we have a 1.8 million dollar deficit is ex is awesome to be honest with you is very likely in 26 27 return of those unfilled salaries will again. So the largest problem with having a gap like
078this is that our largest reserve which is the ERS has that three years that you're speaking about. So in three years time if we kept drawing for ERS we would then lose about 500,000 that we close the gap would be empty and that's our biggest reserve. So we be totally reliant on the remaining reserves which is why we're trying to fill up our TRS. So perhaps we can extend that window but we do have a window of time. doesn't have to happen in one year, but gives us a smoother ramp, smoother transition. So each year we make some adjustments over the next three years. I still think we can get there to the point where our revenue meets our expenses and perhaps in those years if that were to happen. We might still see that
0791 million rolling over and not being touched to serve the flexible on paper money, but we need to at least get that dependence on the reserves out of there. suggestions or ideas. We've done a lot of work on the operational side and certainly when we have new a new set of eyes coming in due to a retirement, they might be able to do some of the firework that's involved in inventory and other things. Some of the larger buckets we've already taken care of. So, we do need to be look beyond operations. And then my other question is um the state still hasn't passed their budget. So while I don't anticipate them increasing any additional funds there, if they do, how does that for our budget? So nothing would change inside of our budget would just
080reduce the total deficit if they were to add additional funds. >> Questions I have in budget. Um >> the question I have on the budgets um we don't have the detail of how we were going to change our facilities and grounds. Um Colleen did send me the specs in the plow truck. It missed the mark and I didn't get a chance to review the mowing specs. So I think the board will have to have a discussion before we purchase that equipment. We're in a transition right now and fortunately the superintendent business office does not have any data to support how we're changing. >> He missed the marker. Can you explain that? >> Well, the truck that was presented to Colleen sending specs on was a 10,000 GBW truck with 8 and 12 foot blade and
081I believe the contractor used a 195 DBW with a 9 and a half foot blade plus bucket loader. So there's no data that says how long will it take to plow the lot, how many times you're going to plow it with a smaller truck. So I don't think it's labor efficient. >> So it's like a pickup truck. >> It is a pickup truck. It's a 3/4 ton. It is. So I think before we start changing things and creating stuff, we have to help the superintendent business office collect data. I think we might be in flux for a year with a new person. they'll manage that to collect data and unfortunately their hands are tied. Um, put them on the spot here, but you're being blindsided and that's what's happened. So, some of this stuff we
082have to review before we put a capital investment is the right thing to do. Are we ready to do it? And is it cost effective? Because there's so many unknowns and we just don't have the data. So, I think before we expend it, I'm not going to modify the budget, but before we expend it, we really got to be sure or else roll over and do everything like we did last year until we make sure we're doing the right things. You got to have the right equipment. We get the wrong equipment. It's just wasting it. You're going to have a labor bill. Unbelievable. And it's not going to work. And then you have to have buildings open. You have to have the lawn mower. The mower was out of PLT in Massachusetts. I don't know,
083but that was on the state contract >> for the mower. Yeah, >> that was just an example of pricing. If we went out, we could do several things ourselves or state contracts for the best, >> but they're supposed to provide this data to you. I asked you earlier, I said, you resonate that you were a person know how to buy a plat. >> So, that's what I'm saying. The data has got to be supplied to you. you're excellent at what you do, but if you don't have the data, I don't want you being blamed for making more. So, we should be blamed in the community because everyone's watching, oh, we made a mistake and bought the wrong stuff and look at the mess. >> Something important to note is that last year during budget cycle,
084that voucher was put beforeholders as part of that budget is in the current year budget. If we don't spend that money, it does not pull over to the coming year. And in each area of the budget where there's equipment, you cannot just move our like right now we just spend the money for those salaries. I can't move that into equipment. There are very limited uses and rules around equipment line. So whatever is budgeted for equipment basically is the total amount we can't spend on equipment. So if we have a mower um for next year that's not going to be >> well we'll have to do so with money. I can't suspend it just because we have to spend it. It's the wrong thing. >> Yeah. put us further out in our planning >> um allocating
085before this budget goes up to break down which I mostly completed already or put us out for be able to provide that >> because the right truck might be twice the cost and we don't have the money right now we have to do things right and you have to have data to work with and I just don't see the data coming to you so hopefully with news advice to help you we can move forward in a positive No, I just want to echo what Katie was saying. I think moving forward and using our reserves and fundamentals every year just we really have to look at something next year. It's just too much. Just keeps happening every year. Personality. >> Yeah. But I think in order to move there you just have everyone in the culture
086doesn't change. >> I understand this stuff we're looking at is kind of small. I don't know what the changes but >> well there is some drivers that is driving the cost and that's what we need to look at. started precoid um different administration then it just escalated Okay. resolved that the operating budget in $26,799 or $680 as proposed by the board of education be adopted for the fiscal sorry the fiscal year 2026 through 2027 and a levy of taxes be assessed thereof in accordance with law can I get a motion to accept that >> a motion Second, Rebecca. Rebecca, any discussion? Penny, yes. >> Kim, yes. Derek, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Rebecca, >> Yes. Yes. Adoption of the 2026 2027 bus proposition resolved that the board of education of the Burland Central
087School District is hereby authorized to acquire one or two to one acquired fiscal 2627 to 66 passenger school buses at the cost not to exceed 355,000 which is estimated to be the maximum cost thereof. Two, expend such funds for the purpose. Three, levy the tax necessary therefore to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years in such amounts as may be determined by the board of education into account state aid received in for and in anticipation of the collection of such tax to issue bonds and notes of the district at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed 355,000 or enter a lease purchase agreement at the principal not not to exceed 355,000 to acquire such vehicles. That just goes with our bus replacement program and that's
088aable at 74% >> 59%. Yeah, that's not a motion to adopt the 2627 bus proposition. >> I'll move it. >> Motion by Frank. A second. Rebecca Penny. Yes. Kim, yes. Derek, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Rebecca, yes. Elaine, yes. And Amma, yes. as well. We move on to opportunity for public comment. Uh, thanks. Thanks, Thank you. My name is Hing. I'm from Petersburg. Um, I want to challenge this board and what I saw tonight and such an easy acceptance of a budget process that I think should be rethought. Let me explain. In the government world, you budget off of budget. In the corporate world, you budget off of action. If you look at the charts that was presented by Miss Mills, she showed that the budget this year, I think it was 26.2
089or 26.3 million. The budget next year is 26.7 or 26, $500,000 increase. But if you look at the one chart that showed the actual expenditures, it said projected. So effectively what's projected to be the actual expenditures for this year I believe it was $24.5 million. So you were able to operate this year somehow okay at a $1.7 million less than what you actually budgeted. So in my corporate world we would establish that as your baseline for budget purposes. And if you look at it from that perspective, then if you actually spend what is projected in your budget for next year, that's actually an 8% plus increase in expenditures. Not a 2% increase in expenditures, an 8% increase in expenditures. That's the way the real world looks at things. You look at if you can operate
090at a lower cost basis, then that becomes the established baseline when you formulate your budget in the following year. If you didn't spend the money, lose it. Sorry, that's the way the world works. We're able to operate at a lower cost basis. That becomes the baseline. And I think this board from what I saw tonight was too easy to accept that fortunately, we weren't able to spend $1.7 million for a variety of reasons this year. But magically, we're just going to assume that we will spend that this upcoming year and on top of that, we'll spend another $500,000. I don't think that's responsible budget. And I really would like you folks to reconsider. I understand that's the way the process works. But that's not the real work. If you can operate at a lower cost
091pace, that becomes your baseline for operations and budget, not on some fantasy budgeting that was done in prior years. When I came into town government at Petersburg, one of the observations that I had was they were always budgeting off of budget and they were never spending, but they actually budgeted. So what was happening was the taxpayers were having to pay more and more taxes, okay, more expenditures that didn't occur. You budget off of actual and don't budget budget. At least that's the way I operate. That's the way I was taught in the corporate world. And I understand it's different in government uh in the government in the school world. But I think you need to you folks need to look at and don't just accept, oh, it's a 2% increase over last year's budget, even
092though we didn't spend $1.7 million in that budget. I think that's too easy of an acceptance by this board. And that's the reason why those cost charts have gone up from $20 million to$26 million. Why your student population went down by 15%. I think you need to rethink how you think about budgeting going forward. I want to commend uh Mr. Venzo, Miss Mills because I do think they tried to slow down the titanium. I honestly do believe that they tried to make an honest effort in slowing down the touch, but you don't vector right or left a car. Slow it down and then you begin the turn. Okay. And I think that's what this school district needs to begin to consider going. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any additional public comment to the next date
093and location of the next board meeting which be a round table meeting in public hearing on the proposed budget which is May 7th at 7:15 at the Rowan Middle School High School. And then our regular board meeting will be Thursday, May 20th. Sorry, >> it's it's the Wednesday. Wednesday, May 20th. I thought that's what I Wednesday, May 20th in this Early Middle School High School at 7:15. And then we do need a um proposed or we need an executive session related to contract negotiation legal advice. Um there's no specific. Okay. I did a motion for executive session for legal advice and contract negotiation. >> Motion by a second. Kim. All in favor? I I >> opposed. Um and I do not anticipate any action being taken after the executive session.