001This is a special presentation from the Brighton Central School District Board of Education. >> Good evening. Welcome to the Brighton Central School District public board of education uh public meeting for Tuesday, April 7th. This meeting is called to order. To begin with, we allow for public participation. I have two cards here. Uh Dan, please raise your hand in back. Dan's over there. If you'd like to speak, please get him a card. I'll first call up Betsy Cox. >> Good evening. And um >> Good evening. >> As most of you know, I'm Betsy Cox. I'm uh longtime resident of Brighton and have continued to express concern about um the the project. And now with the changes that we all know are are happening um in many of our backyards, just a couple of things to um
002to mention and kind of ask again for uh ongoing communication which we feel again it's it could be much improved. Um we are personally have the that big mound that's behind our our home and many of our homes um is now covered. However, the covering has already started to uh disconnect from the the mound and I did have a meeting or on phone meeting with the DEEC represented who stated that those are supposed to be inspected daily and if they are not uh continuing to cover with the winds we've had to have that resumed and and replaced and and made secure and and this has been since Friday. So, it would be really appreciated if um you're able to continue to uh preserve our safety as as much as possible by doing that inspection. Um
003which it sounds like it's supposed to be a daily um inspection. Um we have neighbors with two very young children who the only way they've even heard about this newest um development with some of the toxicity is through um through our our neighborhood email chain. and and once again kind of one is a teacher in another district said I I'm not really sure why we haven't heard directly from anybody from the school um we've talked about the town involvement which apparently is not um doesn't exist at this time um but I would say in order to try and and rebuild some uh relationship and um some consideration for neighbors might be to try again and do more reaching out to the people directly impacted by this Um, again, the mound is something that we see
004from pretty much every window in our house. Um, except for the front obviously, but for for every other room in the house. Um, and it is concerning um that again is there has there been any exposure to date? Um the the other thing I would would ask and would encourage again as a way to build community would be to really honor a community meeting with the DEEC, the town, the school, um the neighbors, maybe to even express some um feelings of apology or uh concern on our behalf of what we've all kind of been going through um literally uh every minute we're in our homes. And I think with this latest concern, speculation is uh something that we I think all as humans do. And if there were some accurate information that we could have
005provided to us, we could ask experts. Um our dog became sick Friday and it was in the vet for several hours today. Probably coincidence, but he's out on that field. We still continue to walk along the perimeter. Have until recently. And he's uh drinks from the the the puddle sometimes. So is that again it's probably a coincidence but I think our minds go to oh boy now there's toxicity in our backyard is this contributing to some issue. So I would truly value as a individual person, neighbor, parent, physician, educator, more information, people that we can speak with. The DEEC gentleman was extremely helpful, probably the first person who actually listened to concerns and I would really uh again beg and ask you for more uh community um information moving forward. So thank you. >> Thank
006you very much. Uh, David Mer. >> Uh, good evening, Superintendent McGawan, members of the Brighton School Board, I'm David Maer, a local parent, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight. As you can imagine, like many parents and residents, um I was shocked by the details presented at the last board meeting regarding the district's release of information about elevated contamination levels at the construction site. Uh from a young age, we are taught that words like arsenic, arsenic, mercury, and lead are incredibly dangerous and harmful. For example, the science around lead is crystal clear. lead is unsafe at any level. So hearing that elevated levels of these contaminants weren't covered due to the district's activity was jarring to say the least. At the last board meeting, Superintendent McGawan stated, quote, "We will be
007coming back to the community to schedule forums and specifically going to the neighborhood streets around and with the mailer to invite people to learn more and to ask questions and ask questions to the experts that are advising us," unquote. It's now been two weeks since the announcement was made about the contamination at the site and a month and a half since the core sample test results were reviewed and shared with the school district officials. Um, but it seems like the community forums have yet to be scheduled. And so I'm here to ask the board to move swiftly and publicize these forums. And I'd like to ask if the board can tell us tonight when those meetings will take place and what specific plan the specific plan is for informing residents both living in the neighborhoods
008along the field and brighten residents generally throughout the town about these public forums. Thank you again for the opportunity to speak tonight and I look forward to hearing from you on this important topic. Thank you. >> Yes. So those those meetings are scheduled. It's April 22nd at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. They'll go out with emails, school messages, uh the the rotating screen in front of the high school, and uh Dan will do some of the social media communications around those dates and times. So, I would tell you it's our normal communication uh pathways, if you will. >> We we are planning on getting a mailer out as well, David, and that was just confirmed tonight. There's a lot of people involved in getting them to the table and we want community members to be
009able to ask questions of the environmental engineers and DC people to be there uh to the best extent possible. So trying to get all of them there and coordinate schedules was the was the difficulty. >> So you bet mail. >> Yes, we will mail that out as well. >> Yes. >> To all residents or specifically the neighborhood? >> You know, we will we will likely send to all residents so they're aware of it, not just the neighborhood. Uh originally when I said that at the meeting it was absolutely the intention to make sure that neighborhood specifically knows but we'd really like everybody to have that information acknowledged. >> Thank you. >> And thank you um Val Shireena. >> Good evening board. >> Good evening. >> Thank you for the opportunity to speak. it was unprompted.
010Uh but I do want to ask one very important question to me as a parent of young children in the um town of Brighton and in our district um is the universal prek. I know that we had a conversation with Dr. um McGawan about it few months back. Um we are the only district well there is another district all the surrounding districts but one have universal prek um implemented for all the four-year-olds. Not all four-year-olds. At least there is an opportunity to four-year-olds to have a lottery participation and be selected for universal prek sponsored by the state and it seems by the district in combination. Um and now with the commitment from the state to implement universal prek for kids as early as two. Um is there any movement on this in our district? We
011just met on this actually today and we are looking at the ability to use prek funds and issue an RFP to local providers to embark on starting a program not funded through the general fund. So the budget presentation is tonight. We are unable to devote resources to it. But if we can use state UPK money exclusively with private providers, that's the program that we would like to design. So we're still in the phase of researching our ability to do that and we'll work with the state to determine that. >> Wonderful. Um I believe there was an allocation to Brighton Central School District of money from the state based on my conversation with the state representatives that there are money for us to tip tap in and I think it's a wonderful opportunity if we can
012make it happen it will make a huge difference for whatever many kids that we can accommodate. Um, and my follow-up question is, yes, now we're discussing a higher tax increase that will be dedicated to the school budget. Um, but I have not seen anything UPK related in the pamphlet that was shared. Um, in the budget for the school district about UPK. Um, but given the information you just provided, it's not going to be funded through the district. It's going to be funded through the state. Um, is it a consideration in the future? Again, everybody else are not increasing their tax as high as Brighton is proposing, even the districts that have a standing up programs for years now. Um, I think it's a missing piece for our district and for the families that have to
013take the burden of yet another daycare cost that could be maybe offset by the state and the district participation. I think it will be a wonderful u commitment from the district if we can see through. So there I would welcome you to stay for the budget presentation so I can go through some of the challenging factors relative to revenue that we're encountering. But I would say to you that uh we would absolutely like to the problem we have is space. So right now we would not have the classroom space to offer program within the district which is the goal of then working with private providers to provide that. >> Y and I think that's the practice that other districts utilize um in Rochester as well. Thank you. >> Thanks again for this opportunity. >> Thank
014you. Yes. Thank you. That was the last of the cards I've received. I thought you were getting I thought Dan was going to give you another card. So, okay. No, that's okay. >> Um, next up we have you all have received a copy of both the agenda and now the amended agenda. Any edits, uh, changes or corrections to the amended agenda? >> Motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Moved by Karen. >> Second. Seconded by Susan. All those in favor? >> I >> also have the amendment uh the approval of the minutes for March 20 24th 26 our last meeting which was the executive budget proposal and budget hearing. You all have had a chance to review those minutes. Any corrections, edits or changes to those minutes. >> Motion to approve. >> So moved. >>
015Moved by Carrie Lynn. >> Seconded by I'm sorry you jumped in front of me but that's good. Um seconded by Clayton. All those in favor? >> I is approved. um give Dr. McGawan a chance to talk about the administrator tenure recommendations we have on our docket to approve tonight. I will note before he does that these will be celebrated at our June tenure recognition. So though the approval is up for tonight but we'll be properly I'm going to say it that way celebrating these folks um for uh tenure approval. The four people on the docket are Colleen Coggins, Caitlyn Feny, Terresa Moer, and Shirley Wheeler. I'll give you the chance to make any comments you want to make. Well, I just, you know, would like to point out um first of all, Mr. O'Neal is
016here. Mr. O'Neal, thank you for coming. Thank you. And for the gift of your daughter, but we are really excited for all four of these individuals. I think Teresa is also here. Teresa Moer is here, right? Caitlyn's here. >> Yep. But Colleen is also here. Colleen Coggins is right next to her. Shirley Flores, Shirley Wheeler is not here. uh she's a prop new mom and we're very excited for her. But these four individuals are outstanding leaders in our district that contribute so much to the experience for our children every day whether it's in the area of safety security in Teresa's case, Colleen's case at French Road and um Caitlyn's case in in in the PPS area and the student services area and surely also working with Colleen as a teammate at French Road. These are
017outstanding leaders that care deeply about the school in our district and leading each and every with their heart, with their soul, with their mind, and really improving outcomes for each one of our students. So, we're incredibly proud of their work. I I don't want to uh steal the whole introduction for June, which we will celebrate them thoroughly and talk about all their accomplishments, more specifically as individuals, but very excited to recommend them for tenure to you tonight and have us acknowledge that this evening. Thank Yeah, I I'll note uh on behalf of the school board because we know all four of these people and everything you said is true, but also they're really good people and that's as important as anything. So that's usually because of their parents. So I'm looking at Kayla's dad right
018there and say thank you with that. Uh questions with regards to these tenure recommendations. Motion to approve tenure for these four individuals as stated. >> So moved. >> Moved by Esther. >> Second. Seconded by Karen. All those in favor? >> I. >> You are approved. Congratulations. >> And on behalf of this school board, thank you for taking on the responsibility to work with our kids and our staff. It is greatly appreciated. The kids are better for it. >> Thank you. >> Now, we're going to change the vibe. Um >> um our next two items have to do with the budget and uh the board and Dr. McGowan and our deputy superintendent leadership team have spent a tremendous amount of time working together on this pushing pulling flexing um you know doing all sorts of things
019to figure out how best to get this done in some very challenging circumstances. The presentation here tonight is the product of all of our work together trying to figure out h how best to climb this hill I guess is the way I'd say it Dr. McGowan but I'll turn it over to you for the presentation. >> I think that's a great way to say it and it's a big big hill. So we've been coming to you for months with rollover budget information with budget uh projections looking at revenue looking at expenses providing a significant amount of detail and explaining to you the critical gap that existed between anticipated revenue and expenses. We gave you two meeting or two weeks ago at our last meeting a preliminary budget proposal. Uh part of the reason for it
020being preliminary was that we were still working through numbers and hoping to have a finalized state budget by April 1st which is the deadline in the state of New York. We do not have a state budget yet. You are still required to adopt a budget to present to voters for their vote. And so this is the revised and refined uh budget presentation at this point in the proposal that we're asking you to act on. And it really revolves around this idea of thinking about the spending plan relative to our future in our community and our schools and the idea that we believe in that deeply and that we believe this is a spending proposal that continues to invest in that future. It is the budget proposal as it stands right now. We may need to
021make an amendment based on the finalization of the state uh budget proposal. Frankly, the the aid numbers that have been presented to us, we don't expect to change very much. Uh so, in all likelihood, this is as close as as it could possibly be. Tonight is about uh providing this proposal to you, asking you then to of course adopt that and the property tax report card, the budget then being presented to voters on May 19th. The May 12th meeting is the annual budget hearing as well. Remember the key budget guidelines that re we have reviewed several times that you set for us back in the fall highlighted I think is important to point out. We wanted to make sure we're prepared to respond to the pressures from inflation, labor shortages, and really limited growth in
022terms of state and federal resources. and really looking all the way at the bottom there at uh all revenue and financing strategies to both as best as we could comply with the property tax cap because that is always the goal at the outset and understand the long-term impact of course on financial planning. In the middle are the guidelines that we think are also essential to continue to think about. How do we support from a revenue perspective, you know, the the value and goal statement that the budget is the numerical expression of how we devote our resources to our annual strategic planning to the priorities that have been developed over time in this district. Mental health and wellness, academic excellence, the family and student experience and operations. That also, by the way, has served as a
023lens for us in terms of making proposed reductions that we're going to discuss with you tonight. How do we minimize the impact in every way possible to the student experience and to student programming? That is a goal and that's been the analysis since two weeks ago of course as well what the impact of proposed reductions would be and what else we could do to mitigate those uh potential impacts. The recurring revenue versus recurring expense uh perspective is important to keep in mind. Remember that draft budget gap right at the bottom of that scale was 3.66 66 million or 3.33%. That's considering this idea of using the same uh amount from the reserves and the appropriated fund balance. And we'll detail reserves and how that works as well. How we are actually using a significant amount
024of reserves to reduce the property tax levy and support this budget. New revenue 2% assuming that 2% right that property tax cap number on the lefth hand side that would net $1.2 2 million in new revenue. Foundation aid was a 6% increase. That would net another $1.2 million in new revenue. Those are our primary revenue sources in this district. So put together again, we're talking about $2.4 million new money coming in. New budget pressures on the right hand side on the other side of the scale. An increase in salaries contractually agreed to. Again, we lean into the idea that we should be compensating people appropriately, be competitive in the marketplace. And that was a $ 1.9% million $1.9 million increase or a 4% increase of spending in that area. Right? That doesn't describe every different
025uh compensation increase for every employee, but overall a 4% increase spending in that area. A 6% increase in spending on health insurance or $1 million. And that's for current employees. So right there, just those two numbers, that's 2.9 million. And as I said before, the anticipated new revenue is 2.4 million. So we're already past that with just those two items. 23% increase in the cost in the spending, the proposed spending on retirey health insurance. Those plans went up an exceptional amount. So it would result in a 23% increase in that budget line. Another $1.1 million. So that running tally in my head is now we're 1.6 behind the potential revenue coming in. and a 10% increase in Bosey's cost or $1.2 million. And that's made up of increased use perhaps for a particular student program,
026but also the same cost pressures that we experience. Remember, Boseies is a cooperative that we buy into with all the other school districts. They also are seeing the same difficulties relative to health insurance costs, retirey and current employee, utility costs. All the same cost pressures exist there that exist for us. So these are only the big numbers, right? They don't include issues like utilities that people are experiencing at home, other insurance costs, supplies, materials, equipment, service agreements, everything that is increasing pretty significantly that we're experiencing in our homes as well. And it doesn't include new resources that would be required to meet new mandated student needs. Right? So, there are variety of programs that we are required to provide for particular students. We struggle in this dialogue because we don't want to pit one group
027of children against another or blame something on a group of children. But the community deserves to know that's just a reality that we have a particular fixed cost uh for some programs that are mandated. The draft budget allocations really break down to a very similar pattern from previous years. You can see the employee benefits uh line makes up 20 26% uh 18% and benefits contractual 8% benefits payroll non-eing staff instructional support extracurricular 6% teaching staff administrative staff 25 and three% respectively the Bosey's costs on the lefth hand side all other and Boseis special education occupational education I would put those in the category of absolutely spending as well on the instructional program the smaller percentage is supply services which again go to support the program in place and debt capital of 7%. We again lean
028into that idea that the large majority of our spending is on the people that are delivering a program. So that budget starting point again would have required a 7.93% increase in taxes to continue the programming as it existed right without making reductions. Looking at the anticipated revenue that $2.4 $4 million and all those expenses on the right hand side of the the page and the others that that weren't detailed there 7.93%. Obviously unacceptable not something that are we felt comfortable presenting to the community and in the feedback that we got from people community budget forums through the thought exchange it seems very clear that that would not be an acceptable circumstance for people. In fact, articulated very clearly at at least one of the community budget forums was the idea that listen, we understand that
029expense may be increasing to a point uh where you need you may need to be over the capped number, but you also have to show us that you're doing something to reduce that as much as possible. We would need to see that and understand that. And that's really uh the the result of that is is the work presented tonight. So we went ahead then and reviewed all staffing allocations in every program, the current financial position in terms of again the reserve accounts and within every budget line, what we think we could do to trim back in those uh planned areas as well, financial position and what can you do then uh to mitigate a tax increase. We gathered community feedback like I mentioned through the thought exchange and through community budget forums. forecasted the mandated
030cost increases and then looked also at opportunities for efficiency everywhere in the budget. Every budget line, every experience, every opportunity was analyzed for whether or not it could be reduced and what the impact would be on the student experience. Likewise, the impact on our community as well. And then discuss the impact of reducing spending to lower that tax burden. Again, that idea of impact and assess the tolerance to raise the tax levy over the state's tax levy limit. And that was a lot of the discussion in the community budget forums as well. I think this is really important to point out to the community just numbers that give people a sense for why in in our experience are we having this happen? Why here? And there's a lot of different factors. This is an important
031one to keep in mind over uh the last several years. If you go back 2122 all the way to present, the blue line on the left hand side in the chart shows our tax levy growth. Right? So dips under 2%. It was over 2% a little bit about almost 3% back in 21-22 but all the way then to 1.95% that tax cap number for 2627. But take a look at the other expenses. The consumer price index, right? So in layman's terms, the index is used to describe for people the rate of inflation or how much things cost for people. It's a bit of an antiquated index around particular commodities, milk, eggs, groceries, etc. But it's generally used by economists to say this is the rate of inflation or how much things are costing people. What
032it doesn't include though is the dramatic increase to health insurance, increases to salaries, right? So it is considered by many not the most accurate measure. Let's say for a second though it is that it's spot on. Look at the CPI increase over time, right? 2122 was less than the tax increase but then exceptionally higher in 22 23 23 24 25 26 and still projected to be higher next year. In other words, if it is a measure that we accept as the growth of cost of things, well then revenue ought to be relatively similar if we're still going to be able to pay for those things. Look at the increase in minimum wage. Again, like I said, CPI doesn't include minimum wage or health insurance. Way higher than CPI. health insurance way higher than that measure
033and yet our revenue is far under that approximately 2.2% is the average tax increase in this community over the last 20 years and CPI over 20 years 2.6%. Those things are a real struggle for us. And then looking on the right hand side again pointing out that tax increases have not kept pace with other expenses. This is the cumulative changes in the tax levy compared to the inflation in key areas over the same period of time. You can see again the blue line being the tax levy, the gray line being health insurance, the the most significant increase cumulatively over time, minimum wage, consumer price index. We're just not even close to keeping pace with what those expenses are. So the executive budget proposal at this point has been reduced to requiring a tax increase of
0343.98%. Our levy number being 1.95%. And it required to get to that point a significant number of spending reductions just over $2 million or 1.85% in spending to do that. So, the choices really to be made are the preservation of programs and services versus sustainability and responsibility to the community, requiring $1.24 million or 2% in additional revenue beyond the New York State property tax levy limit. And the levy limit requires 50% plus one. The 3.98% requires a 60% vote. And the reality is as much as there is a lot of mythology around the property tax cap and over time assumptions made and in the past created by politicians these artificial barriers, the levy limit really now only requires a 60% vote and it does not penalize the taxpayer in any way. There isn't a rebate
035loss. There is not an impact on STAR. There isn't a penalty. It is just that 60% of the community needs to approve that instead of the simple majority 50 plus one. We've been asked questions about reserves and I think it's important to point out to people exactly how the reserves are being used and what that means. So we don't spend 100% of the spending plan each year like any successful organization business hopefully your home you don't spend right to the penny of the revenue that is coming in. So there are planned balances throughout the budget, contingencies for when costs are more than what is predicted. But in areas where the cost wasn't more and maybe it came in less, were able to devote additional resources then at the end of the year to a variety
036of reserves. Those reserves include things like the unemployment insurance reserve, retirement contribution reserve, both the TRS and the ERS contribution reserves, an insurance reserve, an insurance reserve for cases pending in the child victims act uh realm, insurance reserve, taxi reserve for when people challenge their property tax assessment, a reserve for employee benefits, the capital reserve that we've spoken quite a bit about, technology reserve, a reserve for bus purchases, the appropriate ated ERS reserve and then appropriated fund balance and unappropriated fund balance and that would be the larger savings account so to speak. These reserves are funded by the contingency that is left at the end of the year and and the board publicly adopts where to put those funds. Now, what's interesting about this is and important for people to realize, we are already devoting
037$4.75 million in reserves in this budget plan towards next year's tax levy. In other words, we are reducing the tax levy by 7% through the use of those reserves. So, when the question comes, well, are using reserves? You have the opportunity. It's a rainy day. It's pouring and we are using them. The challenge is making sure that next year at the end of the year you can put $4.75 million back into the savings account to use towards taxes. If you can't, that's a loss of significant revenue that has to be made up somewhere likely in further program reductions. So any increase to using the savings account to pay our bills is dangerous territory because you have to be able to duplicate that revenue year after year after year. If you have an unexpected expense and
038you can't put put that in the savings account, you're going to have to cut program significantly to make up for that. To put it simply in household terms, the savings account right now we are using a significant portion at the end of every year to pay down the levy for the following year to avoid other further reductions. And we feel comfortable relatively speaking that at the end of the year we'll be able to put the money back in the same account to again pay the following year towards the tax for recurring expenses. The other reserves and particularly the one I want to speak about tonight is the capital reserve can be used to pay one-time expenses. They can be used to pay specific expenses authorized by the taxpayer. So the designated reserves, things like the
039capital reserve, the retirement contribution reserve, the insurance reserve, those can't be used for anything but those particular expenses that were approved by voters when that reserve was set up by voters. You can't use money from the capital reserve to pay for anything in the general fund. the general fund expenditures or the general fund expenditures, the capital reserve can only be used for capital expenses. The good news about that is that that capital reserve can be used for the project that we're working on and the other projects throughout the district as it has been to pay the down payment on those so that that doesn't have to be budgeted in the general fund. And then state aid helps us pay for the rest of the project without increasing taxes in our community. We talked about this
040in years past as the car payment. And once we had a certain amount of debt service in the budget that existed in the budget, we would maintain that debt service for the foreseeable future so that as we paid off debt, if we took on new debt, it wouldn't increase that particular budget line in the general fund. But then that also means we're able to use the capital reserve to pay the down payment. Put even more simply, if you needed to replace your roof at your house and you went into your savings account to do that, and that was your capital reserve, your savings account. I'm going to go replace my roof. That's a one-time expense. And then I can rebuild that savings account to pay for another onetime expense another time. Perhaps at the end
041of the year in my household budget, I have money left over. I can designate it to that savings account that I'm just going to call, because in my house, we call it these things, the capital reserve account, right? and I can rebuild that and then when I have enough in there I can put that again towards capital but I have set it up with my bank that I can't use it for anything else but my other savings account if I start taking money out of that to for a recurring expense but I can't put money back in at the end of the year well that recurring expense is still there it's not like I can hold off on paying a teacher like I could hold off on replacing my driveway if that was my next
042capital expense So, I think it's really important to point out that those reserves can cover that one-time opportunity, but we're already pretty far extended in using appropriated reserves to pay for recurring expenses. If I took money out of my savings account to put a down payment down on a car, great. But I also needed that savings account to pay the monthly car payment and I have no other way to fund that at the end of the year or replace that and I'm just continue to eat away at that. I'm going to have a problem when I get to the end of that savings account. So that's a big difference between those uh two accounts. Really important to point out we can't use that towards the general fund. We can use the appropriated fund balance which
043is exactly what we're doing to the tune of again $4.75 million and able to reduce that by 7%. Really significant number. With regards to the capital reserve, can you just talk for a minute about the process of we have to complete the work, apply to state ed for the job they approved, and then they pay us after it's completed as opposed to giving us the money. Can you just walk through that process because I'm not sure that's clear to everybody either. >> Right. So state is state aid is always paid after you incur the expense, right? So that is the process. It's it's not, you know, stealing from Peter to pay Paul. That is what you are required to do and then when that revenue comes in, you can replace that. So you you are
044reimbursed the year after the expense >> and we're reimbursed with our own tax money. So it's not like >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. And and our community is paying into that, right? So when we're doing projects and getting state aid on those projects, well, it's either us or it's somebody else. I think that our community and their income tax should come back to this community in the form of that state aid as well. Which is also why I'm sorry I just wanted which is why we have to go through the arduous process of approvals with the state before they'll say okay we'll a lot tax money to pay for that. >> Correct. That's absolutely it. >> So the preliminary executive budget proposal then is to you asking for a spending increase of 3.72%. The
045reductions from what we previously presented include an elimination of 12.3 FT or full-time equivalency positions. That's a $1.29 million reduction. Another uh $.3 million benefits related payroll related to the elimination of those positions. And then an elimination of our other contingencies with within the budget to places we feel uncomfortably comfortable, right? reducing margins in places where there is a risk to that uh by another $.5 million. That would require the levy to be 3.98% and 60% voter approval. Now, we'll detail the positions in a second, but I do want to point out at this point when I say 12.3 positions, nine of those positions, nine of the 12.3 are being reduced through attrition. In other words, positions that currently exist that will not be filled going to next year that are either currently vacant or
046will be vacant. People leaving positions, retirements or positions that were budgeted for this year that were not filled. So, a total of nine positions, nine of the 12.3. The 3.3 are parts of lots of different positions across uh the spectrum of positions in our district. 3.3 out of the 12.3. So we we feel uh both good that we were able to preserve as many positions as we were. I say good with a gigantic asterisk because this still affects human beings and it affects program and it it required sacrifice to get to this point so that the tax increase could get down to 3.98%. So we did quite a bit to get there with an impact by also minimizing that impact as much as possible by looking for positions through attrition that we could make that
047reduction balancing that with the need to look at impact on student program. Really important to point out the investment that we're asking people to make when we talk about investing in the future prior results do if you continue to vote the resources uh get duplicated. If the resources and if the effort and if the strategies continue to be what they have been, we are able to continue the excellence that's on the screen before you in terms of our points of pride. Very high graduation rate, 97% of our students earning a regent diploma in 2025. Of the 96% graduating, 62% with advanced distinction and 77% of our graduates taking at least one AP course. That is a phenomenal number. 91% of our kids plan to go to a two or fouryear school. Ranked number two district
048in Rochester by niche.com in 2026. The high schools named a national blue ribbon school of course in 2018 and TCMS has again been redesated in 2024 as a school to watch. Wide variety of athletic opportunities, music opportunities. Our students and staff have a tremendous opportunity to be very successful here and achieve that level of excellence. detailed on the right hand side any number of awards and honors again for each of our schools throughout the district uh achieving a very high level locally and nationally. Our graduation rate though in 2013 was only 89%. Again in 2025 that was 96%. And as you can see, the groups detailed in this particular uh presentation and when we talk about our results, marginalized subgroups of students are now all achieving at a very high level. And that determine was
049made through your leadership and many people in this district saying it was not okay to have success and excellence for some kids. It had to be about all kids. And over time, that's required an investment. You can see over time the significant number of teachers. In the past 10 years, we are 31 teachers more than we were 10 years ago. That is specific programming that has helped our students be infinitely more successful than they were back in 2013. We've also devoted more resources year after year to social emotional learning, mental health, creating more access and opportunity for all of our students. Again, creating that circumstance where excellence is for all kids. And we continue to look at extracurriculars as part of what helps students achieve that level of excellence, whether it's clubs, activities, the arts,
050athletics. That's a big part of the experience here at Brighton that we'd like to continue to maintain relative to unit and function. Uh this particular slide accessible to everybody does detail the changes in staffing in different parts of the district in both the administrative budget, the program budget, the capital budget, the three parts of the budget that we are required to detail, of course in presenting our budget information. In 2526, the administrative budget, there were 43 positions. That does not mean 43 administrators, by the way. That's those that are in the administrative budget with which include a wide variety of positions throughout the district. that was adjusted during the year onetenth of a position that is 43.110 or the same going into next year in the program budget which includes all of those teaching positions
051up on the top and you can see changes both in enrollment changes some gaining positions some losing positions we uh began the year at 560.24 this budget year we were at 560.48 to fluctuation in student needs and going into next year reducing that by 1130 overall to be at 54918. And in the capital budget 55.5 went to 55.9 down a position to 54.90. So the total staffing allocations go from 658.74 down as I mentioned 12.3 positions to 647.18. And again that detail is available for our community to take a look at in terms of which positions uh where you can see a reduction overall in teaching positions of 5.3 two academic support instructors. Uh two additional clerical positions six pair professional positions being reduced school aids as well and then flat in the school nurse
052area and custodial maintenance and an addition of one non-unit support and occupational therapist also in the program budget. The class size issue is one that comes up often and people ask us about and there certainly is a priority in our community. We acknowledge for us to have small class sizes. The notion of small, the word small is certainly a subjective uh description. I would argue that our class sizes remain relatively small to other districts, to other communities, to other schools, other places. And in the projected class size next year, kindergarten would be at 20.4. This year they are at 17.6. If we had reduced another teacher, which was certainly a possibility, they would be at 22.48. My point being, we are maintaining small class sizes, although they will be larger than they were this current
053year. We are not going to the extreme of reducing further that would have created larger class sizes. There will be 11 sections at first grade, 21 students. In this current year, they are 19.7 in the first grade. Second grade is 21.9. This year they will be 22.1 going into next year. So relatively flat. Grade 3 21 to 23.1 24 22.2 to I'm sorry grade 4 22.2 to 22. So again relatively flat in grade 4 21.3 grade 5 22.6 are projected in 12 sections again for fifth grade. But I think looking at that right hand column is really important to point out. By not reducing additional elementary sections, we are able to keep classes small, not as small as this year, but still able to maintain small class sizes. Something important in our community. The impact
054on tax rates, what does this really mean? The bottom line that people ask us often with a levy increase of 3.98% and no other change in our tax base or equalization, we're looking at a change then an assessed value tax rate per assessed value in Brighton of 29.84 3089. Remember there's equalization between Brighton and Pittsburgh 285 $285 on a home valid at $250,000 in Brighton $295 in Pittsburgh. So our proposition to the community is this. We are requesting a tax increase of 3.98%. To fund a budget that responsibly trims responsibly trims, but it maintains programming that really preserve those points of pride. It's an investment in the future. It is helping to invest in excellence. That's a cost of $285,000 again on a $250,000 home. The alternative contingent budget would require a tax increase of
055$1.95%. An additional $1.24 million in reductions and really does diminish our points of prime. In our last presentation, we discussed those with you. Those are the non-mandated programs. Unfortunately, in the arts, in athletics, in foreign language at sixth grade, across the board reductions in electives, increases in class size, a real struggle to maintain who we are and how we do our work. And that would be a cost of a cost of $139 per year. Again, this executive budget proposal requires 60% approval. No penalty from the state or impact on STAR. Excuse me. The capital project proposal funding the capital uh work that is being done is also important to point out that will be voted on alongside this proposal during this budget vote. Thanks. This would be a request to draw $3.5 million from the
056reserve fund leveraging state aid and we would draw remaining funds from the smart schools bond. We're asking for authorization of $13.6 million. This is to continue work that was previously authorized. the counseling office renovation, kitchen modernization at French Road, boiler room renovation, equipment replacement, uh also French Road, language classroom renovation at the high school, athletic field scoreboards, uh incomplete again from the 2024 authorization and replenish the construction reserve uh the contingency reserve as well that we needed to use for other work that came up along the way. There's also a new scope, addition of the secure entrance vestibule at the middle school, attendance and security buildout. Also at the middle school, replacing the skylight that's now leaking at the middle school using LED panels. The greenhouse roof replacement, new gutters, sophet insulation, new scope, re-engineering
057from a safety perspective. I think this is really important. Not sure if you've heard, but it's difficult in the middle school parking lot, particularly arrival and pickup time. That needs to be re-engineered and redesigned. that would be included here. Main entrance modifications uh at the middle school, the demolition of the canopy that again is aging very quickly and falling apart. Generator replacement again that's all new scope. These are really the the necessary items we feel replacing the generator also at the high school will be part of the new scope. This is also that construction contingency is what would help pay for the difficulties we're experiencing relative to the soil issue currently in the project at the high school. And the steps that actually we feel now are really positive relative to our ability to mitigate
058uh that difficulty unforeseen unknown, but now we have an opportunity to uh do something about it and this would allow us to do that as well. Important again to point out, capital project funding, including in the referendum and for the TUR project, will not result in additional taxes. Will not result in additional taxes and that the capital funds are legally designated for specific purposes as authorized by voters. So, the community has to authorize that. Key issues to reflect on and consider. We believe that the tax increases again have not kept pace with the expense increases. They've been lower than the CPI increase. Utility increases, salary cost, health insurance significantly lower. And if the cost increases continue to outpace the revenue increases, the gap needs to at some point be filled or eliminated. We can, we
059think, soften the impact of that by combining a tax increase and also making the reductions that we've detailed for you tonight. Staying under the cap would require significant additional uh reductions, dramatic to pro. Going over the cap requires 60% approval and the community does not lose any rebates or pay any penalties. Remember, all of that allows us to continue to focus on our points of pride. The work that's done here, the incredible work that our staff has done to get children to the place they are right now, the excellence that they're achieving academically, in the arts, athletically, again, recognized locally, recognized nationally. This is what our kids uh really deserve and what we need to continue to support. And this budget does that. In terms of next steps, we kind of um tried to emphasize
060the fact in that pink box in the top that we can't yet assess the impact of the final state budget because it hasn't been finalized. Fortunately, we don't expect there to be a big change uh based on that. In our district in particular, our numbers are likely relatively set based on, you know, the legislative advocacy work that we're involved in and can look at. Doesn't seem like that will change. uh budget adoption. Again, we're asking for tonight on the 8th and the 15th. So, tomorrow and on the 15th at 1:00 and 7 o'clock, we will have budget information sessions, walking through this slide deck, and then answering questions that anybody in the community has so that they really have all the information. And uh we're happy to talk to any group, anybody who would like
061more information, any individual, any group of people that would like to hear more about it, uh please let us know. Of course, on the 22nd as we announced tonight at 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock. So, in other words, the next three Wednesdays, one o'clock, 7 o'clock in this room. It will be fantastic. Please come because we would like to tell you more about a lot of different things. And on the 12th, we have, of course, the budget hearing and the budget vote on the 19th. Really important to keep pointing out this is an investment in excellence. This is thinking forward for how do we continue to support the excellence that has existed, achieve those great results for kids because we believe in that in our community. We believe our community values that at a very
062high level. Can I answer any questions for you? >> Clay. >> Um, so first off, I want to commend you and your leadership team um for putting together a great presentation. Um, I won't speak for my colleagues, but I I feel like it addressed um, you know, the four corners of the room um, in terms of what needs to happen sort of immediately uh, short term, but then also long term. Um, my only question is um, and I just want to it's an interpretation question on slide 15 where you laid out the actual cost difference. >> So, is it fair to say that for roughly 150 bucks um, previous uh, that Yes. >> 16. Sorry. Um for about 150 bucks. >> Yeah. >> We would be okay with one option. One, you know, as folks
063are sitting at their kitchen table talking about how much they can spend. Is that >> uh Starbucks cup less? $146. Yes. Yeah. That that is the that is I I've often been asked uh by friends and neighbors just just tell me how much that's what I'm hearing. And that's spot on. I'm glad you asked it that way because that is the difference. Um, you know, definitely recognize because I'm paying it too that that that bill is not an inexpensive one to start with, but if you think about that increase, I promise you, you are spending more next year, a lot more on gasoline in terms of an increase. Now, we want to be aware of that, too, right? because that's an increase that we realize people are stuck with >> for sure >> and I
064don't think that mobile cares or so cares what we're doing but we do need to care about what they're doing >> for sure >> but that's that point of CPI too outpacing significantly >> I am sure that by percentage your utility bill is going up more than that going forward right so we've really tried to keep that increase less than all of those other increases that people are experiencing right and help people as much as possible with that but Bottom line, for 146 bucks more in a home value of $250, $250,000, >> that would be the change. >> Thank you for that clarification. >> I have a question. >> I don't know. >> Well, you can extrapolate that then to the rest of the value that that's a number we've used as a benchmark for
065understand, but that gives you a sense for the the order of magnitude. >> That was that actually was my question. It's like you read my mind. Is is the average Brighton still valued at around $250,000. We used to use a benchmark of $200,000 when I first started this work and we we moved up to this idea of the the mythical $250,000 home and we had talked last year about the potential need to go over the tax cap and we chose not to, right? Because assessments were suddenly in question, were suddenly um inflated. We said we have to table this for another year, but we know it's coming. But but I am curious about that average home value right where we where we stand there. >> I know we started to look at 250,000 several years
066ago because we were using 200 but I don't know what that current number is and we won't know the average home value until the assessor comes in office. >> Right. We the the card gets put before the horse a little bit in in this particular >> but that 250 was after the pandemic right where you we made an adjustment. Okay. Sorry I'm new. >> I feel like we switched I feel like it was longer ago than that. sort of point like we used to base it on the $200,000 home >> and then000 >> according to Reddit >> real estate. Yeah. So we'll probably give you a different number. Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh not a question uh but a comment from my standpoint. I know our principles are in the back of the room there. Um
067and you regularly acknowledge your team as we've been going through this for the last few months. I would acknowledge them and the leaders of the various functional areas whether it be security buildings and grounds and those folks who are the ones we turn to and said we have to get to this number. What's the best way? >> And they don't they do it with a ton of grace. I wouldn't call it because no one likes to think about some of these things, but they do it with a ton of grace. And I appreciate that they're that much closer to the kids trying to figure out what's the way to minimize impact to the kids just within that 398. So, I'll acknowledge the four principles in the back. I'm not sure. I think a couple Stephanie
068and and and uh Teresa, Kaylin, and Teresa left, but some of those folks were also functional leaders. the work they did in trying to find areas where we could minimize the impact to kids to try to get to a more reasonable number under the seven point whatever it was. So just on behalf of the board our thanks to them for the work they've done on this because it's not been either fun or easy. >> The entire team has worked out there to minimize the impact on kids and the adults in the organization as well and finding the right balance between those two things. Uh they they wish they weren't working in that circumstance to do that. It's difficult praise to take but it also impact on the community and uh to individuals whose jobs are
069impacted as well. But I appreciate you acknowledgement, >> but I think it's also important to note with with the team working so hard and looking at the cuts in the most thoughtful way we can. No one wants to hear the word cuts. I was a former teacher in this district. You don't want to hear the word cuts. The way that the team has really looked at this and examined it has actually saved programming. Am I correct? Significant. >> Yeah. So, unfortunately, cuts are something that is brutal to do. And again, being a former teacher and knowing the stress that that puts on our buildings and our principles, our team is incredible in this district and they always do rise to the occasion of, you know, meeting the needs of our kids in in that way.
070And so, you know, looking at this number, I thought it was going to be a lot worse than where we're at moment, especially with the uh attrition with the position. So again, huge thanks to the team back there for really working through expressing what you need in your buildings most explicitly, but also being able to work with um you know, the things that we have to face right now. >> Other questions or comments from the board? >> Thank you, Dr. McGow, very much. >> Thank you. for the uh the approval for the resolution of the adoption. Is that a line item or is that a general >> next number seven? >> It's just >> straight approval to confirm. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Well, with no further questions, I will ask for approval of the
071resolution for the adoption of the 2026 2027 budget and the 2025 2026 property tax report card. >> So moved. >> Moved by Karen. >> Seconded by Christina. All those in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. Thank you again for your presentation. Next up, we have our reports. It starts with our financial reports. Both the financial summary uh period ending 228 and the treasur's report uh ending 228. You've all had a chance to review those reports. Are there any questions with regards to those reports? As you know, they require a separate approval. >> Motion to approve the financial reports as presented. So >> moved by Clayton, seconded by Carrie Lynn. All those in favor? >> I >> Samantha. >> Good evening. Math team had an amazing season. >> You know, Samantha, I'm going to ask you
072to hold for a second because I think some people are leaving. I want to make sure we hear this. >> Okay, >> that's okay. >> I just want to make sure we're all set because the students about to present. So, I want to make sure everybody >> Hey, Lauren. I I just We have a student that's about to present. You guys all set? >> Thanks. >> Samantha, >> good evening. >> The HS math team had an amazing season with more than 100 students competing and Brighton finishing third in the division. Um, boys tennis won against HFL yesterday, April 6th. And in lacrosse, Teddy Carl set a new section 5 record by scoring 12 goals in one game. On March 28th, Brighton Model UN took part in the annual United Nations Association of Rochester where multiple
073students won awards. DECA competed at states where five students qualified for the national competition. Our bright and believes day was a huge success with many acts of service and our district dodgeball game being a huge success for our senior class fund. Key club participated in a leadership event in Albany on March 13th. Galaxy Club hosted their suare on March 13th where many students performed. Our spring sports assembly will be tomorrow, April 7th during the school day and the combined orchestra and symphonic concert tomorrow. >> I like that we hear about athletes DECA performance and great lacrosse performances from you. So, thank you for giving us that diversity of sort of results. >> Thank you very much. Great job. >> Uh next up, uh board of education. We have our first our Monro County School Board
074Association reports. Uh district ops. Karen and I attended the last one and it was with regards to strategic planning. We heard from a consultant who worked with the Webster School District, talked about some of our strategic planning. I won't speak for Karen, but I was grateful that we have gone through a blueprint process that we regularly update and we could present that as how we're doing it and I've got some very positive uh feedback on that. I'll note that our next or last uh session for the school year is at the end of this month on April 22nd. >> Um and either Karen or I will be at that one depending on how the soil It's me. >> That's right. So, I'll lead that and Carol will do the one:00 session for soil and then
075I'll do the 7 o'clock session for soil while you do there. Okay. >> I like direct. >> Uh, next up is information exchange. >> Um, we actually have a meeting coming up on the 5th to 15th. >> Great. Thank you. and legislative. >> Uh our last meeting of the year is tomorrow. We have our annual visit uh from our regent uh Regent Norwood can't be with us, but we'll be with Regent Hell. We have questions for him about the state's portrait of a graduate and the new graduation requirements um that are coming down the line for us. It's always a good time to meet with Regent Hail and then we'll see Regent Norwood at our annual meeting in May. >> Great. Thank you. From Boseies, I'll provide this quick update from Mark Kanovich, our former
076board president. We are grateful for his representation for us and others on the Boseis board. Um for April, reviewed and discussed the Monroe One Boseies provided transportation services, including projections on future costs and planned bus replacements. Mark did let me know that they are still trying to work through the state mandate for electric buses and trying to figure out what that all means in an environment where a grid right now actually can't support them all. So, a lot of stuff happening there. We'll hear from the governor and our regents and others in that regard. >> Do we know if the Boseies groups were able to apply for the waiver that the other districts are? >> It's not here in the update, so I don't know. >> Yeah. I'll quickly know reviewed Monroe One data privacy
077security updates always very important. Approve their 26 27 capital and administrative budgets and that their annual meeting will be held this Thursday, April 9th at 5:30 in the Monroe One Center. component superintendents or board members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Other board member reports I'll start at the end of the table quite and work back this way. Um so I didn't have a fax business and tech program eval meeting. The next one is coming up on the 6th of May actually so I don't have anything to submit unfortunately. >> Perfect. Okay then >> uh curriculum council on the 15th and just attended our district spring concert and it was absolutely incredible. It was all grades, middle school through high school. It was amazing. It was such an awesome job. So, thank >> Esther. >>
078Um, hiring practices committee met on March 19th. We are continuing to fine-tune uh the questions we asked during our during our interviewing process uh for potential of potential staff uh in particular potential students, I'm sorry, teachers. And we're searching for any red flags that show any bias and broadening our questions, including more open-ended questions to allow the person being interviewed a chance to provide more authentic answers rather than telling us what they think we want to hear. >> Um, so it's really interesting uh diving into that. Um, I also had the honor of being one of the panelists of the inaugural women's history month assembly at Brighton High School on the 26th of March. It was a pleasure sharing the stage with uh other accomplished women and to have the opportunity to speak to the
079future gener future generation and questions. Um, it was just as important, I think, for the young men in the audience to hear what we had to say in addition to the young women. Um, Sarah Zincan, who was the president and founder of the Women's History Club, did such a wonderful job. It was really an honor to be a part of that day. >> Great. Thank you. >> Uh, I will be a panelist for the prospective board members candidates um this weekend. Uh, speaking to folks from all over the county who want to run for the board of education where they live. So that's always a an interesting morning. >> Thank you. So >> first off, I had two students who were in attendance when you were a panelist. Um and they also agreed um that
080it was a wonderful event. Um and they of course, you know, loved hearing from you and all the other accomplished women on the on the panel. So that was an excellent thing that was organized. Um on March 18th, I had the good fortune to attend another meeting of the physical education curriculum review. um that is um a curriculum review program run by Dr. Rio. Um at this particular one, we reviewed survey data from all students K through 12 as well as all the PE teachers um sort of about um student experience and you know curriculum within PE. And the most exciting finding from that survey data is that most if not I mean the vast majority of students feel welcomed and accepted in physical education here in Brighton K through 12 um regardless of gender
081or anything. And so you know as someone who studies that for a living that is higher than most papers I read. So, um, and being able to participate on that, um, committee shows me why the PE teachers are so invested in really tailoring our athletic programs in PE to lifelong fitness. They're so invested. So, that's such a powerful space and I I love that I have the opportunity because we talk about math, science, reading, writing. PE counts and it's it's it's really important and our teachers take it seriously and the students feel it and it reflects. You know, there's always things we can do. that's why we're having the curriculum review. Um, but overall we're starting from a good place. >> Thank you. That's very encouraging, Dr. Lee. >> Um, I don't have a lot
082to report. I attended a teacher board policy meeting and we discussed some different ongoing professional development programs happening and some executive skills um, professional development that's happening in the schools. And I actually attended since you were on vacation with your wife. Um I attended the president's um Monroe County School Board Association dinner >> which I led although I am not a school board president. >> Yes. Which Karen factor went up significantly once I was out of there. That's good news. >> It was really interesting. Karen proposed some scenarios for us. >> So those are those are right those are questions actually submitted by board presidents from across the county that they want to discuss with their peers. And I will say what happens at board presidents stays at board presidents. Right. That's a >> it's
083an important mantra. But it was it was an honor >> really nice to >> be there with you and be in a room where it happens. Although I don't belong in it. >> It was great. It was really great. >> It's a great learning opportunity. >> Every school district is different. >> So it's really wonderful to hear from all the different board president. >> Yeah. In the county. So thanks for being on top. >> Worked out great for me. We celebrated a birthday. >> Yeah. Um, I'll quickly note just from a construction standpoint, there's a ton of stuff going on as you all know with the high school projects and everything else. One little um, and it's a it's a great example of how hard the team works over at French Road. If you've been
084driving down Edgewood at all, there's been some work in front for a while. >> And so, uh, if you're at all familiar with French Road, and I'll do this as quickly as possible. That courtyard in the middle of the school would flood a lot. We end up getting some water and stuff on the inside of the school and drainage was a problem. It would eventually drain, but buildings folks worked with a few folks and sent the camera down the drain just to check it. About where you saw that digging, there was a big pile of cement that was actually in the pipe blocking the flow. So, they pulled the pipe out, worked with the town and removed uh the cement and that hard rain that came the other day. We didn't have a drip of
085standing water in French Road. So, um soil's got to be fixed and all that, but was grateful for the continued creativity that team go. take a look at because we were going how do we fix these walls and the answer is how do we get it to drain faster and you start by looking at your current I think you find some leaves and stuff but it's actually >> a cement blockage which isn't going to go anywhere so just as always greatly appreciate the team and all the hard work they do u just really good stuff >> with that uh Kristen fresh back from Holland give us a BTA update please >> all right at Council Rock in library class second graders are learning to use Destiny Discover the online catalog and kindergarteners are exploring the
086early reader section. Mrs. Lion's second grade class did an extension activity related to their study of past, present, and the history of Brighton. It was also steam related, and they learned how to make paper. In Mrs. Galuchia's art class, three Council Rock students had their artwork displayed at the New York State Art Teachers Association Region 2 Student Art Show. On Friday, April 20th, friends and family are invited to the opening reception at Robert's Wesleyan College to celebrate their creations. And retired teacher Abby Shonfeld came for a second visit to Mrs. Robinson's class to do a watercolor art lesson. At TCMS, students in the E3 club competed at at RIT in March. They had to build and code a robot to complete a specific task. and TCMS students swept the competition, placing first, second, and third
087against local school districts. Additionally, two students built a Lego power lift device to lift as many metal washers as they could, and they came in third place. The science Olympiad team placed third in the region, advancing to the state competition at the end of April. Out of 21 events, they meddled in 15. Students in Mrs. Leu sixth grade class wrote 100 words about their reading for their latest RAP assignment. The project was timed to coincide with Bright and Believes Day and TCMS's 100th anniversary celebration. RAP stands for write, reflect, analyze, participate, and it's a post readading routine developed by Jared Amato, the author of Just Read It: Unlocking the Magic of Independent Reading in Middle and High School Classrooms. And this book has been the subject of a book study and professional focus for TCMS
088ELA teachers. As mentioned in my report last month, um the TCMS extended study sixth graders had submitted their invention ideas to RIT and two actual groups had their ideas selected. The easy basketball trainer and an automatic football snapping machine. So, RIT students have worked to create prototypes with the students serving as consultants during Zoom meetings. And these prototypes are going to be shared at Imagine RIT Saturday, April 23rd. In seventh grade technology, students in Ellen Hart's class learn more about the engineering model concerning constraints and the properties of motion. And she's shared a video that you've got in your report. Um, and you might remember there was a little discussion around district dodgeball last time I was here. Well, Ashley Ellis reported that the TCMS student body came out to support the event and with
089their support, we won. >> Julie Whipple's sixth grade class recently had a special visitor, Ben Vot's mother, Dr. Alexis vote who brought the fascinating world of optics to life for students as an optical engineer and the chair and professor of the optics program at MCC. She shared her experience and passion for the field in an engaging and hands-on way. She also highlighted the many opportunities in the field, noting there are over 150 optics companies in the local area, and she talked to the kids about career paths available at all levels from entry level positions to PhDs. Um, at BHS, we had did have five students qualify for the DECA National Championship. On March 4th and 5th, four groups of students from the Teen Institute Club went to fifth grade classes at FRES to help students
090find their leadership style and learn how to apply it to make positive change. These members developed the plan during the 2025 Heart of New York Teen Institute conference because they wanted to make an impact on their community and share what they learned. Friday, March 13th, three students attended women in law panel at the Hall of Justice, and they had the opportunity to do like a speed dating visit with various women who have careers in the legal field, including a probation officer, an interpreter, a court reporter, legal IT, and attorneys. And they learned that the court system is made of many different roles and responsibilities that extend beyond judges and attorneys. Math team update. Um they had 107 students compete in at least one individual round for the four meets and they wanted you to know
091that these are students who voluntarily stay after school to do math once a month. And the final results for the year was that they were third in their division. Um one of their juniors was ranked number one in the county and named MVP and 14 students ranked in the top 70 of the country of the county. And lastly, the BHS Latino Student Union organized a volunteering event at Centro Deoro, a day program that's for bilingual older adults. They ran bingo and made prizes to give out and played other games with members of Centro Deoro. And they said it was a great experience with 19 kids volunteering to go down. I appreciate that you come here to let us know about all these great things and we've had a lot of visitors lately >> and I
092often wish that they would stay to hear about all these really great things. >> They're watching us on YouTube. Sorry >> because it's pretty it's it's I think the best part of my job is getting to collect all the goodies and hear what's going on. >> It's one of the best parts of our job listening to all of the things that we can support in our district. without fail. I am always impressed with the diversity of activities underway and the level at which we have participation. So, thank you >> Dr. Dan PTSA. At Council Rock Primary School, students and families enjoyed the second grade family fun dance in February featuring a DJ from Back to Rock. In March, the school hosted a highly successful Steamfest where students explored interactive science stations and demonstrations. The event
093was supported by more than 70 parent volunteers. Upcoming events include the ice cream social and a book fair which will be hosted by unreliable narrator at French Road Elementary School. Recent highlights include a successful bingo night, movie night, and a well-received March book fair. Fun food Fridays continue to be a favorite with February featuring pears with ginger and a seaweed snack planned for April. Looking ahead, families are reminded that yearbook orders are due by April 17th. Fres is also preparing for its second annual color run on May 5th. A fun, engaging fundraiser that includes color powder run and a color blast party after the run at 12 Corner Middle School. Uh the PTSA hosted a successful sixth and seventh grade activity nights earlier this year. Looking ahead, the eighth grade dance will take place on
094April 25th, and we have another sixth grade activity night planned for May 1st. Planning is also underway for the uh teacher and staff appreciation week in early May and the PTSA is currently seeking donations of volunteers for that week. Uh seventh grade activity night is also scheduled for May 15th. At Brighton High School, the PTSA provided snacks for staff meetings in February and March, hosted a family game night, and helped celebrate Brand Believes Day. Uh districtwide fundraising efforts remain strong. Spirit wear sales have concluded and exceeded this year's goal. The PTSA silent auction will be held on April 20th at 6:30 at the Sheffield. The special education committee continues to offer available programming and resources, including an IEP 101 session featuring a guest speaker from the Midwest Family and Community Engagement Center, a parent forum
095with assistant uh stu assistant superintendent Dennis Spola andformational programming on testing accommodations and OPWD services in collaboration with the special education PTAs from Pittsver and Penfield. The diversity, equity, and inclusion committee is currently working to provide sensory items for classrooms with distribution anticipated in May. And finally, the PTSA uh transition planning is underway. The slate of candidates will be published on April 2nd with election scheduled for April 16th at the central PTSA meeting. >> Great. Thank you very much. As always, for you as well, a wide range of activities that the PTSA is supporting. So, thank you, >> Dr. McGallen. Any questions from the superintendent? >> A couple things. Uh first of all, just a again the 22nd we've scheduled 1 and 7 p.m. forums to discuss the turf project and where we are relative
096to the soil. >> Yes, I'm not going to be the one >> and I was well established. Uh but you know we've been asked and there were a few media reports last night about the soil and about timelines and about uh details that that we we do want to make sure we're communicating and we will provide certainly on the 22nd more information and provide these responses to uh in a frequently asked question kind of for our community. But I want to make sure I'm keeping all of you up to date, too. Um, I'm going to read a little bit, but but speak to these because I want to make sure I'm accurate after having both Terracon and SEI follow up and give us more details and information. Um, we definitely as a district and the
097design team uh were aware that the the land had a history of particular use and it was definitely anticipated that there would be glass, ceramics, bricks, general debris, other inert materials. Uh, again, inert materials discovered during development. Several people have made comments about the history and they were here and one sitting right to my left uh about playing football on that and that that was not unknown that there were these materials, right? But the key is although that may not have been unknown, bricks, glass, other inert materials, what never could have been known is what the soil uh did contain as well. Again, we thought it was general debris. And over the past century of use, the similar debris and historical film have discover been discovered in previous projects. So, this was not a shock.
098In fact, we planned for which I'll tell you about too. Uh, no evidence though to date that we would have encountered soils that contained anything other than inert materials uh previously encountered. Therefore, no indication that some form of soil toxicity may have been present or needed to be explored. The design team required the excavation and removal of 1,00 cubic yards of unsuitable soil. So, let me repeat that. It was designed knowing that we'd be removing 1,000 cubic yards of unsuitable soil that filled with debris, glass, brick, right? But not uh anything other than inert materials. And those would be materials that failed to meet the construction criteria found during construction. and designed uh we designed an 8 inch layer of uh imported structural fill to be installed in the subgrade under the turf system due
099to the prior knowledge again of that site and the expectations regarding the historical fill. Our site bid included $2 million in additional work. So that was unknown. So that question like well how could they not know? Well, we did and we planned for it. Again, inert materials that would have been present there. Really important again to to clarify the presence of historical fill suggested potential unsuitability for construction compaction. Right? So soil being labeled unsuitable for the compaction required for construction which is part of what the testing was done but no indication of contaminated soil or composition uh that would have needed any other mitigation um at all. And then during the design phase no assessments alluded to signs of contamination. The pre-construction geotechnical report based on random soil uh boring locations throughout the field of
100work confirmed the expectations that we had historical fill on our hands and materials that didn't meet the standards for solid compaction again to avoid future settlement when constructed. On top of that and the report's findings at that time really didn't warrant any additional investigation throughout all the pre-work of the design process. no indication uh that there may be contaminated soil and the pre-construction geotechnical report again experts doing that report for us confirmed that we what we had already anticipated soils contained historical fill and a composition that didn't meet construction standards relative to that compaction to construct on top of it but the geotechnical report consisted of random soil borings again results didn't show any evidence that warranted further investigation so we just I think it's really important to point out to people Yes, we did
101know that. Everybody knew that apparently that there was glass, brick, other in dirt material, but never any indication that there would have been any kind of contamination of that snow. So, I think on the positive side, if there is one to discover that now and have the ability to mitigate for that through this project, I think in the long term actually makes it a much safer situation. I don't just think that I'm a useless doctor. people who are environmental engineers uh have raised that as a as a a real strong consideration and point to make in our community that this solves a problem that we didn't know was there but now can be mitigated going forward. So we'll keep people posted on the 22nd one and 7 o'clock looking forward to talking more about that
102and we'll continue to keep you posted as we work with the experts the DEC with tervironmental engineers and the department of health of course to make sure we're doing right by our community. Any questions for me? Thanks everyone. >> Anything else you want to hit? >> Uh, no. I think people have heard my voice plenty tonight. >> Okay. Next up, we have approval of 2025 2026 budget amendment and payment from CVA Insurance Reserve. Is there anything you want to hit on that or >> No, I I in 2019, I'll give people a quick backdrop. Um, you know this, but community members should know. 2019, the state passed the Child Victims Act signed into law by Governor Cuomo, which impacted uh schools, churches, other youth organizations and allowed people a window of time and it was
103eventually extended for two years uh to essentially pursue litigation with organizations if they were felt as though they were a child victim. uh particularly in sex abuse cases and that allowed them to do that when the statute of limitations had expired on those particular issues. Like most organizations throughout the state, we continue to sort through a particular child victims act cases that impacted our district. Really important to point out that does not involve any current or recent staff. Right? These are uh cases from quite a long time ago. We are working directly with of course our attorneys, the attorneys uh for those that have made particular claims and the reserve that we detailed tonight is set aside to settle any of those claims going forward. Right. Some uh that currently exist that we continue to
104work through the process of those. This particular agenda item deals with with one of those partic particular issues and requires your authorization to settle that particular case out of the reserve. there's an appropriate amount of confidentiality around these four. >> Correct. We wouldn't discuss circumstance, victim. Um, we're very transparent in what it is. It's important to point that out. Uh, but it is not anything that we would detail relative to individuals. >> Thank you for that. Other questions from the board with regards to this item? >> Motion to approve. >> Moved by Clayton. >> Seconded by All those in favor? >> Next up, you've seen the bids. We have two bids. Approval of cooperative bid for fine paper. Approval of cooperative bid for music. I'll quickly state that this is what Dr. McGowan alluded to
105before. Our use with Boseies binding with all the other school districts to squeeze suppliers for the best possible prices. Um questions with regards to either of these bids? Motion to approve. >> Moved by Susan. >> Seconded by Carrie Lynn. All those in favor? >> I. Next up, we have some second read policies. And um I did have somebody ask me this a while ago, uh Dr. McG with regards to non-resident students. Do we let kids from other areas come in here, go to school? Obviously answered that no, we don't have that as a program, but there are circumstances in the event of a split between parents or um a student moves halfway through a year, we do make some accommodations and things like that. I was fine with the policy. Is there anything else you
106want to say about this one? Yeah, you know, historically some people in the district might remember a time and it really has not existed for 16 years, I believe, when >> uh we allowed tuition payment for people to attend the district and uh the state allows that as an option. We found it problematic in a variety of ways, particularly the inequity that it can create for kids and families. We've continued to explore ways to be accommodating without further uh you know creating an equity problem relative to those who could afford tuition versus those who can't. The circumstances right now where a non-resident can attend the district is through particular special programs the district is engaged in such as the urban sper program. Students who are a resident through the end of their junior year uh
107qualify for a senior exemption to attend senior year without paying tuition. And what we are proposing in the second read of the policy is although we have a current opportunity for students who move out during the school year to remain in the district for the remainder of the year paying tuition that if that occurs after three quarters of the year that they would not need to continue to pay that they wouldn't have to pay tuition in that circumstance. that it seems as though staying in the district for the remainder of the year is a benefit to the student and that collecting tuition at that point is not necessary. Prior to that, tuition is we think fair to taxpayers, residents of the district. Also encourages what we would suggest is probably a positive practice which is
108to get acclimated to your new school. >> So this just really gives flexibility for the fourth quarter things on the Did you have a question on the annual organizational meeting? just on the annual organizational meeting and it just took me several times to read it through because you know at this annual reorganizing meeting um you know it states that you know it will take place it will be held in July on or before the Monday after the 20th day in July of each year. So I pro I read it like 17 times. So it seems like it's that Monday on or after the 20th day in July and now it makes >> the 20th day of the weekend on the 21st. >> Yeah. So I think I spent way too much time on this one
109particular second read but I think I've got it. >> So my answer was it's ambiguous enough that it allows for if everybody's out during the 4th of July we could sort of schedule around some of that stuff. But it's obviously for the election of a president, vice president, as well as the tax levy. >> The the annual meeting used to be historically required many years ago on or about July 1st. >> Okay. >> And then it expanded, but it expanded now for all districts in the state of New York. There were carveouts for small city districts. I have no idea why uh to be held within the first uh two weeks. This is just language from the state of New York saying this is the new rule. Okay. You have to have the reorg meeting
110by this period of time and is there >> Monday after >> I should point out it is there language that we are providing to you. >> Thank you for the question. >> Thank you for the answers. >> Basically get it done before the 20th. >> Got it. >> Okay. Then obviously this is timely concussion management. So you've had a chance with the first read on these policies. Now I had a chance for a second reading. Any questions now with regards to 83 policies? >> Motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Moved by Karen. >> Second by Susan. All those in favor? >> I have here a consent agenda which includes approval of personnel changes, approval of recommendations from the committee on special education, approval of recommendations from the committee on preschool education and fundraising activities.
111Great uh great hear from our athletic department uh raising for Brighton food fight. Almost there. Just almost there. >> Thanks to our Brighton athletic department for the organizations they're looking to assist. the Brighton Food Pantry and the Snap Company. Um, just again another Brighton believes sort of really cool thing. With that said, finally, correctly. Motion to I'm sorry. Any questions with regards to the consent agenda? Motion to approve. >> So move. >> Moved by Esther. >> Seconded by Clayton. All those in favor. >> Prior to us adjourning, as always, we'll thank Mike and the Chuck Taylor and Bill of Rights. uh budget forums tomorrow and the 15th 1:00 and 7 o'clock and I know that we're going to sort of spread that out amongst ourselves. So we'll get there to all those and then for
112the soil also on the 22nd at 1:00 and 7 o'clock. Our next meeting actual meeting is April 28th. So it's not two weeks away. It's three weeks away. You'll note that we may have a special meeting with regards to BOSEISE on the 21st which we'll get to and I'll update you all via email on that one forum as we discussed >> previously with that. Anything else for the good of the order? >> Motion to Oh, I'm sorry. Clayton, >> sorry. I just wanted to give a quick shout out to the middle school uh leadership. Uh my kid was on the DC tour. Had a great time um socially and actually learned some things. So, >> wow. bonus. >> Thank you. >> My my thing is always thanks to all the people who organize and all
113the chefs that go because that's >> the bus driver. >> Absolutely. Great. That's a great call out. Thank you very much. With that motion to adjurnn. So moved. >> Moved by Clayton. Second. >> Second by Carrie Lyn. All those in favor. >> We are ajourned. >> This has been a special presentation from the Brighton Central School District Board of Education.