001I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Uh looking for a motion to approve the uh agenda for the April 8th budget workshop as presented. So moved by Rich. Second. Second by Cam. All in favor? I oppose. That passes. Moving right into our budget discussion. Do you have any opening remarks or go right to Christine? No, we'll go right to Christine with it. Thanks for everybody coming out. How is the sound? Great. Is it very clear? All right. We're excited. We brought a small crew to be able to be a test run for us. So, thank you for that. Thank you, Mr. Jordan, for all the the work and setting that up.
002But yeah, we'll turn it over for to Christine. And this is our April 8th uh budget presentation. So, okay. So, um the state had an April 1st deadline to enact the budget. Um there have been three budget extenders passed. The most recent one goes through tomorrow. I expect at least one more after that. Um so I have no idea when we will have an enacted budget from the state. You can see possibly be tomorrow or No, they extended it till tomorrow. They extended it tomorrow. I I expect they pass another one. They're not It's not school aid that is what's up for debate, right? So they're Yeah. Yeah. So, but as you can see, um the state hasn't met the that deadline in a number of years and one year even, you know, way before
003this. It was like August. So craziness. Okay. So revenues. Um so what's changed on the revenues since the March budget presentation? So um property taxes pilot still the same sales taxes same miscellaneous. So miscellaneous revenues increase due uh to account for the sale of the Boston Valley property. So now that is added in miscellaneous as we expect to close on that property sometime in July which would be the 2526 budget year. State aid is the same as it has been since January. Medicaid's the same. Use of reserves. Um we don't have anything budget in there for next year. And then fund balance um offering up $2 million of appropriated fund balance for the budget and interfer again is the same as it was in March. So the total revenue budget 88,949 955 compared to last
004year 83 911292 an increase of 5 million 38,663. So if we looked at assigned fund balance um basically revenues in excess of expenses is what our assigned uh fund balances and it's our unrestricted savings account. So by law school districts are allowed to we're limited to 4% fund balance. Um the 4% is calculated based on the upcoming year's budget. So that 88,955 times the 4% is about $3,560,000. What do you recall last year? What the amount? What did we budget from fund balance in order to balance the budget last year? 1 million. If you look at the slide before 1,1 177187, right? But we also budgeted to use reserves and less from the inner fund transfer. So if you add those three together, it's a total of aboutund thou $180,000 more um for this coming
005budget than than this current year. Yep. So I mean is this the right way to think of it? So even though we budgeted to effectively decrease that by $1.177 million, we did not. No, we're increasing it by 822,000. Yeah. Hold on. Ignore ignore the current year for now. So last year we budgeted on on basically depleting our fund balance to the tune of $1.17 million. Correct. Correct. We did not in fact do that. In actuality we did not. In fact, we increased it. That's correct. Right. Woohoo. So my point in saying that is that we shouldn't necessarily although we're budgeting to fill our gap, we're budgeting $2 million in fund balance in order to fill our gap, right? That may not necessarily be how the year unfolds, right? And if you looked at the total
006from the next slide, the 3,356 and the compared to 3 million 3,560, we're only adding in the difference of that to fund balance. Right? Where the prior year we went from 1.2 to 3.3. So we added a lot more. So, I'm very comfortable appropriating $2 million because we only have to increase it to get to our max 4%. Not as great as the prior year. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay. Um, our reserve funds, these are restricted for intended purposes and requirements by law. So, the first one, the capital reserve fund, can only be used to finance all or part of an improvement project. So, at the end of June 2024, um we put in $1.2 million into this fund. You can see that at the the kind of light purple um color. So, I'm
007projecting at the end of this school year that to grow um to 2.2,3,457. 2,33,457 as we allocate additional funds to the capital reserve fund and some interest income in there. The next one is debt service um reserve fund and that can only be used for the payment of PR principal and interest on bonds. So we will have a ban borrowing at the end of May 2025 as we continue the 2021 capital project. any premium we receive from the issuer in May will be added to the debt service reserve fund. That's by law where it has to go. So, whoever, you know, bids on our bond, we take the lowest bidder, but they offer a premium and then that premium goes to the debt service reserve fund. So, I'm estimating about $500,000 that premium to be.
008The next one is the unemployment reserve fund. Yeah. Um I don't expect to add anything. It's it's funded um at a good amount. We don't need to add. So the only addition is interest income of um $6,791. The next one is our um ERS and TRS pension reserve fund. ERS non-instructional. TRS is for instructional folks. and that can only be used to pay the district's required contributions to the pension plans for those employees. And I expect to add about $641,526 by the end of this school year of contributions and interest income. And then the last one, Ablar Employee Benefit Acured Liability Reserve. Last year, the board um approved to establish this fund with $900,000. And this um fund can only be used to pay for crude leave time like sick time, vacation time um as
009per an employees contract upon separation from the district. So I hope to add another 429,539 to this one by year end. Any question on these restricted funds? Okay. So, again, here's our revenue chart where the um the the light green is the upcoming budget year compared to the the um purple which is last year. So, you can see that the tax levies going up a little bit, pilots are negligible, very similar. Sales tax going down a little bit, miscellaneous income. We talked about adding the sale of the Boston Valley property in here. State aid re um it's an increase but a lot of that increases is for our debt service. Um we're not using any reserves this year as I stated use of fund balance 2 million Medicaid I expect to get more um because
010historically we've been getting more than what we've been budgeted for. comfortable increasing that budget and then interfund transfer from the cafeteria fund is increasing. So those are the that's the chart for the revenues. So expenses um what's changed since the March presentation? Um only two things. So salaries the same utilities boseies is is a change. um it increased by $229,251 over um this past month. So Bosey's expenses are occupational ed the kids who go to Boseies for OEED, special education, placements, software, hardware purchases. Those are the major things. There's a lot a lot of things that we purchase from Boseies, but those are the major expenditures. Um, tuition is the same, pension, social security, workers comp, health insurance, debt service, transportation, contractual has changed, but only by $12,000. And that's for insurance. um as we
011finish some of the projects um instead of the it being a construction in progress for those buildings, we will be done um in Boston Valley and Charlotte by the end of the year. So our our um in our um insurance on those buildings go up a little bit higher. So that's the $12,000. So now uh total expenses are 88,949 955 compared to this current year 8391292 an increase of $5 million 538 663 what what caused us to change our OC's estimate increase? So they a lot of times like we will put in like our our spots like how many kids are in this program like Ptech or whatever but they didn't have the prices in yet. So I was estimating so they're working through a lot of it software um that we purchase and they're
012negotiating with vendors. So it takes a while to get all those prices in the program and so that's what happened. So it wasn't really a meaningful change in how much we consume. It was just pricing from Boseies, right? Yep. Yeah. They weren't they didn't have it updated. I'm just guessing. Yeah. Understand. So, and then there's the chart that compares um the various groups of expenditures, contractual all the way down to uh our salaries all the way down to contractual and other. Again, the green is um next budget year and then the purple is the year that we're in now. Um so now we have a balanced budget. Revenues equal expenses. So the budgetto budget um data is here. our our um total operating budget 88 million 94.9955 which you've seen on those slides and then
013dollartodoll increase 5 million38663 which represents a 6% increase. The allowable tax levy limit 44,56947 is right at the tax cap. It does not require a super majority, just a 50% plus one vote um at 3.7%. The dollartodoll increase, three largest factors in that $5 million are debt service, which is over $1.8 million, salary increases more than 1.1 million, and health insurance um over 500,000. So those are the major things that contributed to the dollartodoll increase. So next steps. So some tweaks. I don't expect like major changes, but um when the state does approve the budget, if we're if we're just at 2% foundation, nothing will change. If we get a little more, then we'll have a little more revenue. And then transportation expense, that might change. That's the only other thing that I really see
014changing. Um, we are slated to adopt the budget um, Tuesday, April 22nd here at 6:30 p.m. Um, some districts are actually adopting their budget today. I talked to one that's because I don't really expect much to change from the state. And then we have our budget here um, Tuesday, May 13th at o'clock. And then we'll be at the farmers market on Saturday, May 17th from 7:30 a.m. until noon. And uh Mr. Adams and I will be at PTSA budget uh giving budget presentations to the PTSAs um on Thursday, April 24th at Armor and then we'll go over to Hamburg Middle. May 1st, Mr. Adams will do this one by himself at Union Pleasant. um May 7th, Boston Valley and Charlotte and then May 12th at the high school. And just an FYI information, the budget
015will vote and board of election will be held Tuesday, May 20th, 7 am to 9 pm at the Hamburg High School where the first proposition is the budget and then three board of education seats um um are up and then the three candidates with the highest vote totals will be elected to three three-year terms beginning July 1st, 2025, ending on June 30th, 2028. eight. And that's all I have. Any questions? Are questions open to the audience? Not yet. Next meeting. Right. At the budget. At the budget. At the hearing. Yeah. At the hearing and at all of the PTSA presentations as well. Yeah. So, it seems like in the last two years, do you have the number off hand? I've been trying to do the math, how much we've added to reserves in last year
016and what we're expecting to add to reserves this year in total. Not off the top of my head, but I I could get that. I basically just add up those two different purples, right? I want to say 2.9 last year. Roughly what I had in my mind. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that like 2919 something like that. 2,919,000. Um the year before that when Doug was here. I don't I don't know. Yeah, I've got it. I've got that as 1.4 four and then we went to um you know in terms of what we've changed from is is roughly it based on the reserves I'm looking at is about a uh 2 and a.5 million increase from last year to this year is what I have but if you've got if you've got different numbers on that
017we can check on that to get clarity to it how how are we affected by a late budget you know they say that Governor Hokll is in no hurry to right, you know, get this budget done. So, you know, what is the, you know, how does that affect us? Um, you know, as it gets later and later. I remember those those ones that, you know, were real late, but Right. So, our deadlines don't change. We have to adop adopt our budget. Um, I forget it was like 28 days before the hearing or something like that. Um, yeah, our deadlines don't change. So if we don't have a budget, we still have to adopt our budget. Even the year when the budget passed finally or you know the state budget was finally given in August, we
018still had to have the budget vote the third week of Tuesday in uh in May. So, our deadlines do not change and we just live off the tax revenue, local tax revenue until the foundation aid comes in or I mean, is there ever is there ever a time when we don't get the foundation aid and until like we get a some we don't get any over the summer anyway. Um, we get in September and so it comes in in in pieces. We get our tax revenues in October. So you kind of normally you'll see like July and August operating in the red at every school district because you just don't have money coming in. Um can you speak a little bit to and please correct me if I'm wrong. I could have sworn at the
019last meeting we were concerned about a like we were at a deficit and some things had changed that now we're a balanced budget. Well, because we didn't offer we didn't say what we were going to offer from um from the unrestricted fund balance to the so that $2 million that's why there was a deficit, right? Because we didn't we didn't know put anything in that in that. So, yeah. Okay. Um I am curious. Um, I feel like based on what I understand about how the state of New York operates and funds its schools, we are a little bit insulated from what's happening at the federal level. But can you speak to that at all? Um, are we concerned at all of what's happening at the federal level? Me personally, no, but I'll let Tom answer
020that. Yeah, there's So, it's we are cautiously optimistic that we'll maintain roughly the same level of federal funding that we've had uh this year. We're working with 2 million uh in federal and that's it's and it's that's certainly real money that impacts real kids and real staff members and real ways that we we operate. Um, one thing that we're uh going to be doing over the next well tomorrow we'll be meeting uh as a group that includes uh some some leadership from our bargaining units and talking about what exactly that money goes towards and what our plan would be should you know we so we we do want to take a look at a um worst case scenario situation. Again, we don't believe that's where we're going to be, but then trying to scale it
021back to like all right, what if it's a what if it's a middle range? What if the funds in title 2A a which is would go towards uh professional development, what happens if those get cut? What how would that impact us? So it's not something that we're we're not blindly having faith that it's going to be there, but at this but at the same time we are we are fairly optimistic that it'll be there, but we got to plan for the possibility of it not. And so we want to make sure we're we're bringing in uh um you know district leadership but also people who represent uh the folks who come to work here each day and work with our kids each day. Appreciate it. Sure. The reason I'm optimistic is because there are a
022lot of school districts, you know, that um get a much higher percentage of title funding and special ed funding than we do. So the politicians who represent those, you know, small rural districts who are getting like 30% of their budget, you know, funded with federal dollars, you know, they're they're lobbying hard. I I just don't see it happening, but I'm an optimist. [Music] A lot of times on the federal level, they'll talk about being 10% roughly, and it's not even close to that for us, right? So just you know it's a but it's impactful right like do million's impactful in a big way you know if there's concern about the idea of uh assigning a portion of our fund balance to close that budget gap uh that just and I won't name district names but
023just taking a look at some of the districts near us um a smaller district near us uh allocates 1.86 6 million. Uh, another district 1.77. Another district 3 million that's smaller than us. 3 million plus 570 in reserves. Uh, another district takes 5.7 million in fund balance and 1.7 in reserves. So, and I like every situation's individual and we've got to deal with our financial realities as they are and we we all know that we were uh considered susceptible to fiscal stress not too long ago. Um, but we're in a position where we feel that 2 million is a there's there's I don't give ourselves too much credit say there's wisdom in it, but it's but it's but it's clear thinking that's wrought that. It's not saying like we'll just take a chance. No. I
024think that's what I that's what you're demonstrating. So, I just wanted to know if my understanding of how New York State and how this district is operating is accurate. Appreciate the question. and that that two million um more along the lines of I should I don't know if safety net's the right word or not basically to make sure that we have we have budgeted enough money for what we intend to spend. It's not necessarily what we're going to spend because at this point I mean you're you're looking forward which is why you don't always go to the end of this you you have that you there's a good chance you'll have that at the end of the still have that at the end of the year not spent we budget conservatively not which you can
025see happened in in a couple years ago where it was spent right thank you welcome anyone Anyone else? Um, seeing no other questions, um, I have a motion to adjourn the, uh, budget work session. So moved. So by Laura, seconded, second by Mary. Mary. Uh, all in favor? Opposed? Passes. We are journed and got about half hour. Yeah. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I have a motion to approve the agenda for the April 8th, 2025 board of education meeting as presented. So moved. So moved by Laura. Second, second by Cam. All in favor? Opposed? That passes. We are in session. Uh first item is our recognition and presentations um
026for our women of distinction. Yes. So shortly after our March board meeting, we received an email from Assembly Member John Rivera's office and he wanted to let us know that his district, the 149th, um I'll remember that now. I didn't have that down, but uh the 14 the mighty 149th district was honoring two of our excellent staff members. One of them could be here tonight. Uh, Tina Landola couldn't be here, but Casey Marcel. So, Casey, I'd like you to come on up, [Applause] please. She now has her second awards ceremony for this Mary. We're just We're just piggybacking again. Come on over. We're going to have like the the picture will be with the uh the the logo. Let me do a little reading first. Uh, President Tom Flynn will be joining us. Casey Marcela
027certificate of recognition uh for being nominated as a 2025 Women's History Month Women of Distinction for New York State District 149 presented assembly member Jonathan Rivera. We are grateful for all that you do to make Hamburg a proud community where students are able to create, care, solve, and discover. Thanks for the influence you have on all the youngsters in front of you every day, but also your colleagues who you work with and all the the great folks at Union Pleasant as well. And uh just uh thanks for for being part of this work and inspiring us. Congratulations. [Music] [Applause] Good job. Congratulations. And I want to congratulate Tina for all her work as well and we'll make sure that she gets this certificate as well. So, thank you everybody. Moving on to just information items,
028board briefings. basically the the minutes for our last meeting. Um just I think one or two things for our uh items at our desk for information. Uh future board meetings. Um we've got a second regular meeting in April uh regular board meeting which will be also here at elementary uh elementary basically to approve the Bosey's budget. We probably have a couple of uh items on that. Um our May 13th uh Tuesday, May 13th, we'll have our budget hearing uh which will also be here at uh Armor Elementary followed by our regular meeting at 7:00. Um the board vote is we mentioned is May 20th and then our June meeting uh June 10th is also here at Arbor. Uh upcoming meetings, workshops, there's one coming up on Thursday for ECSB with Twist on Tech. I know
029I'm going. I think Dave I'm going um some NISSBA se online seminars uh we want to take there's just uh a little bit of one um small budget transfer for information. Uh so moving on to our board committee and individual reports. We'll start with our student. Um, so as you guys know, we had thread it together and that went pretty well. I'm happy about the outcome. Um, a lot of people came and most not most of the clothes, but like a lot of clothes were taken, which is good. Um, we made almost $400 from our basket raffle and the proceeds are going to be split between our two groups that we two organizations that we voted on at our that student government voted on. And then the rest of the clothes was taken by by
030Nothing, which is a group that like will distribute the clothes to people in need. And then my only other thing is student government elections took place last week. So we have our officers decided for next year. They're not like out yet, but they've been vote they've been voted on. So that's exciting. Public. Yeah. It's top secret, I guess. But that's it from me. Thanks. Great. Um, our transportation meeting uh is occurring on Thursday morning, so I don't have anything to report for that. We haven't had a technology meeting yet. Um, we did have our tour of the high school, which was effectively my 20-year reunion, which was lovely. I enjoyed uh the tour very much. Uh, apparently I learned that you were my assistant vice principal. Uh, I did not realize that until now. So,
031that was fun. Uh, can you tell us more? Uh, I can tell you more. Um, there are a couple of teachers that are still teaching that were also my teachers. Um, Mrs. Losi being one of them. Uh, so it was really nice to see her uh and talk to her and learn a little bit more about like the LMC and how that's changed. And um the esports was very exciting for me because that was not a thing when I was a kid, but it was definitely a thing that would have been great if I had been there. Um I got to do a little top hat uh in earth science. I didn't actually catch the teacher. I was very proud to say that I was in the top ranked top five before I had to
032go. Still remember my earth science. All that is to say, it was really cool to get the tour to see the capital improvements. Um, but even though some things have changed, it's only for been for the better. Um, it was a really lovely tour. I don't need to do anything else for another 20 years. Thank you. Um, we had our Erie County Association of School Boards legislative uh team meeting on March 20th. Um they talked about lobby day when they had to Albany. Uh 16 uh people from the team had it down there from various school districts. They met with eight different representatives. Um and some of the um I won't go into depth of what they talked about, but the cell phone or band or whatever you want to call it was always the
033discussion with every rep. Um and so we kind of got into it talking about it and so the Erie County Association legislative team came up with their own letter um mostly um based on um you know we want local control. We're not you know saying we don't want a ban, but we do want local control um that you know we come up with our own plan and and not have one forced on us. you know, um, you know, certainly no one likes, you know, what Lacawana did. We made that was kind of, um, at least I expressed that at the meeting and that Lacawana really wants to kill me. And, uh, but, um, you know, it's that's just kind of what we came up with. So, you know, we have to wait and see. If
034you, um, watch the budget online, you could see that um, the Senate and the Assembly and the Governor all want a plan. So, it's coming. So, you know, hopefully they will uh give us a little bit more local control. Hopefully, maybe they it doesn't come. Maybe the money gets cut out of the budget, which would be awesome. But, um it it's here. You know, some of the other things they talked about, um of course, the foundation aid formula, if we could ever get that thing changed, that would be wonderful. Bosey's aid, um special ed reserve fund, and of course, you know, a real true 2% tax cap. Um, so then we review all the bills that we're watching. We look to see if they have, you know, if a one from the assembly has a
035companion u bill in the uh in the assembly and so forth. So we we keep it's pretty interesting. We have this software that we watch go in and watch the bills that are towards um education. So I won't go into any more depth. Um but that's um but we did a legislative team meeting. How also are you going to talk about us Florida thing or you know the winning that you're already on the year are you? I I some of your fellow board members weren't excited about it. So we had a our own NCA you know March Badness pool. No Adrian and every put down every school got um got a team and somehow we got Florida and so we won and um we're going to get some kind of a dinner or something, you
036know. Um I just I remember looking at the list when it was picked. I was like I can't believe we got Florida, you know. And uh so uh what a great game that was too, you know, that they came back to make sure that we all got a meal or some dinner somewhere that Mary is Oh, I didn't realize we didn't put any money in the Yeah, right. No, you didn't. Yeah, you didn't pay for You just said we got We're going to all have All right. Well, Mary's coming now. Okay. Yeah. I didn't understand that there was no money exchange. No, no, we're good. So, that's fine. Yes. Just for fun. I see. And Harkness Center is going to be a lot of fun. So we're going to go over they have an aviation
037program at Harkness, you know, and I'm sure we'll be well fed, you know, so that should be a lot of fun. So we're always at Powder Road. It's good to see, you know, Harkness and uh what the other policies are doing. That's all I got. All right. I've got a couple of things. Um, I was also at the high school um, visit and I think what impressed me the most walking through the building and being in and out of classes is the level of engagement that the kids had with the teachers. Like every classroom we were in, there was lots of interaction going on. There wasn't somebody just sitting and lecturing. You heard kids talking, walking around. Um, Mr. Carneath with the cahoot game. I loved watching. So, I think about all those look fors
038we've talked about at previous meetings and you saw all of them as you were walking through that building. Um, Mr. Crangle did a great job with the tour and I love that weight room up there is amazing. Um, parent child connection, I mean truth, they really do amazing work. I'm so happy to be on that committee. um I was not able to attend the ADHD um presentation that was given and it was held at Frontier High School. I had um a conflict and there were over 30 people there. So that is really great for um our weekn night presentation. Um and I heard it was um very good, lots of great information. Um the one that I was able to come to um was the um partnership that um parent child connection did with the
039PTSA um the creating um with kindness workshop. That was one of the best ones I've ever been at. There was so much interaction going on at at the tables. Um um dinner was provided which was really nice. But the best part to me was the student panel that they had um talking about ti tik tok and social media usage. Um and I loved the family that said that they were there um trying to decide if they were going to give their child a cell phone yet or not. He did not have one. and they were listening to um the students and you could see their their son going yay because the the students were talking about all the great things that they use it for like you know well I have this that's helping me
040with my graduation and this helping me with my interests outside of school and so that was great it was a um really nice presentation we get it gets a little quiet right now um as far as um what's being planned because the scholarship applications are coming in um through parent child connection so they'll be reviewed ed and then awarded. So, um that's what they're working on now. Um what else? Strategic planning was absolutely amazing and I feel super fortunate because I think I was at the first strategic planning when we came up with vision um mission statement. And one of the things that I liked about this one, and maybe it's just from being at previous ones, is, you know, we have chart paper that goes all over and there's input from all different kinds
041of staff. It's not just teachers when we're there. Um, and everyone's participating, people from the community, um, PTSA, and I've seen the things that get written on their chart paper get implemented the next year. So when I see Brent and Colleen taking them down. They're not going somewhere where they're just going to be, you know, glanced over, there's actual changes that have taken place over, you know, x amount of years that we've seen implemented. So I loved being a part of that day. I think it's really special. Um, and I like seeing the interactions with all the different buildings. Also, the trip down memory lane, Mr. Adams, was fantastic to see the history of Hamburg. and I hadn't really seen it um like that with the the photos and um just the way that especially
042Union Pleasant started was really great. So um thank you and thought I had something else. No, no, that's it. Thank you. Um really the only thing I got is the the high school visit. Just a couple things that stood out for me. I I love being able to see the esports. Um it was something that that uh that is fairly new. Um so seeing something that we saw generate initially from from Pat Worth with his idea of wanting to do it and and talking through it um and seeing it from um conception was in was really awesome to see what they do and some of the stories he had about some of the kids was really cool. Um, there's also I thought it was amazing seeing the the one the the quiz and how and
043it was not staged. I don't think it was in any way that you know to get an idea of how kids use cell phones in school. They were taking the quiz they were taking the doing the quiz on on their phones. So those are kind of my two like you said the interactions are are amazing. That's all I got. Okay. I have a number of updates. I'll move quickly. Um, obviously I was at the building visitation committee and rather than sort of rehash what a great visit it was because it was, I just want to say that I, you know, my appreciation to the board for taking the time, uh, you know, that's not easy to take an afternoon out of your day and go watch kids, but I think that's among the most important
044things we do, right? Is to be able to see how the kids interact with the teachers, how our capital investments affect the students. And I think at the high school that's sort of best on display as well as anywhere in the district. So again, I just want to thank the the board for for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do that. Um and continuing to do that. Um the IDA has met several times. In fact, we have a meeting tomorrow morning first thing. Um over the past month, we've extended a number of projects locally. Uh we extended the Escalow project which is 17 long behind the pore house there. Um, we also did some reassigned some benefits for for Johnson Brewing. So, there's all sorts of different um, investments and companies that
045the IDA is helping. I understand Johnson Brewing is not in the Hamburg schools, but um, I thought it might surprise some of you that that was actually something that that the IDA has helped support. So, it's all kinds of although it's the Industrial Development Agency, um, you know, we get creative with the types of businesses that that we help grow in Hamburg. Uh, the policy committee meeting, we actually meet April 22nd. um which is right before our our Boseies vote meeting. So looking forward to that. I understand we have some um Boseies issued policies. We're going to be reviewing and discussing the strategic planning meeting that was just so great. Laura Laura captured it well. So I won't rehash all of it. Uh but I think you know what we did do that I that
046I found of particular benefit was sort of actually reading the strategic plan was was actually a really good uh process and sort of h getting the the feedback. It was a real demonstration and shared decision-m to see how that feedback gets incorporated and changes into the strategic plan. um from my perspective got a great look at portrait of a learner which is which was sort of not a new concept to me but I guess the details were a new concept to me and how graduation and our expectations of students may change in the coming years uh with the the portrait of a learner and having some unique learners in my own house I think it was very educational to see how you know new standards could be applied you know not every child is going
047to view school the same way and it's nice to see that that alternative learners are going to have some alternative options. Um, and then that the closing video, if you guys hadn't seen it, we we got a sneak peek on it. Uh, it was posted to the, uh, YouTube page. I mean, if you don't if you get through that, you're not a human being. Um, the AOF, uh, I know this not a formal committee, but, um, the AOF, I'm a mentor there. I'm also the chair of the scholarship committee. So, we've got a scholarship application, which is really exciting. We're interviewing 38 students for the scholarship, which is going to be a really cool experience. I'm looking forward to that. Um, and the Bosey's annual meeting is tomorrow. Um, I'll be happy to attend. Uh,
048on behalf of the district, if you guys would like, uh, it's also where the component districts are invited to hear from the Boseis candidates directly. Uh, which of course I am one. Uh, as I understand, I am one of the three for the three open seats. So, it's looking pretty good. Uh, I'm optimistic about my chances, but I'm going to go and and sort of address the component districts and and say why I think I'm I'm a good candidate. Um, and I will certainly share back with uh with the group any any findings we have related to their annual meeting. But you guys should get the annual reports. Probably already have the annual reports. Um, it's worth a glance. They they do a good job of of sort of laying out their their budget and
049finance, but um I'm going to stop there. That's all I got. All right. Uh we have not had a safety meeting since the last time we had our uh report from March. I know there's one coming up, but um there's nothing to report there. Um, a month ago we did have a facilities meeting and I know that it probably was reported on then, but I know the guys from Turner are going to give us a pretty detailed update. So, I won't uh I won't go into that. I will say though, I'm I'm not surprised with any of the changes that I see to our capital project because of the economy, the way everything's going. Um, if you saw any of the media posts about what's going on at the new Highark Stadium and the estimated
050original budget was like somewhere around 1.4 billion or something like that is now up to over two. So, um, you know, all the costs that are increasing around the world are having an effect on everything including capital projects for school boards. So, I know the guys will give us a detailed report in a little bit. And um and the high school building visit was fantastic. I thank you for setting it up and doing all those things, Cam. The uh uh it's great to get in there and spend so much time. We were there for, you know, a couple hours. I thought that was fantastic. And it's also nice to see so many board members be able to take the time off and get there. I know it's hard to do. We were doing them in
051the mornings for a while and um I don't know what's better, afternoons or mornings. I I have a lot of flexibility so it's easy but I know all of you don't. So uh I do appreciate that um you know getting so many of us in front of the kids and walking around and seeing the teachers interact and how the kids respond to the administrators, Mr. Adams and Mr. Crangle. I mean, you know, they love our teachers and they love our our principles and our administrators and everybody does such a great job and I'm always so impressed whenever we can get a chance to walk around and interact with them. So, um, great job by everybody and uh, that's all I have. All right. Uh, the easy thing about going last is mostly everybody's covered everything.
052Uh, Laura covered PCC for us. The building visit was great. I will echo that. Uh the high school and Mr. Crankle were great hosts and thank you for everybody for coming. Um PTSA, we just met last night. Um a lot of our buildings are working on their budgets for next year. We're can get those approved before our next meeting. Um everybody is starting to think look towards teacher appreciation uh week coming up at the end well end of this month, beginning of May. um and looking for at their end of year events. The meat raffle was a success for the middle school. Thanks to everybody who came on board and just the community in general. Um it was such a success they're looking to do it next year, too. So, they're locking down a date
053for that. Um we talked a little bit about the budget vote coming up. There will be a chicken barbecue that night um that is the high school is hosting as a fundraiser. So, for everybody that will be attending, you can pre-order your chicken dinner. Um, if that if you're interested in eating that, I know I'll be getting one. So, winders, I believe. Wideners. Yeah. You always have to pre-order those. You can't on the day. No, you got to buy them. Got to buy them. So, I can if anybody's interested, I can send out the link, but Sorry, what day was that again? That's budget vote day. The May 20th. May 20. Oh. Oh, what's a great day to get It's a great day. Everybody will be there. Um, and if you are not already a
054PTSA member, those memberships are still available for purchase. Uh, we are very close to meeting our goal this year. We just need a few more. So, if you didn't get it yet, um, please do. That money goes towards supporting all the events that we run and covering the insurance so that we can run those events. That's it from me. Great. Thanks. Um, moving on to our capital project update, Sean. All right, everybody. Happy April February. Summer's coming. You can see on the report things I was going to point out quick on our ongoing upcoming work schedule in the box top right. You can see that we we have started going after the boiler room. Um we found a pathway to start the boiler that has been developed for for now number two. So that is
055under demolition as we speak this week. Um a few other things you see coming up soon is you see high school room 150 renovations. That's going to be a similar facelift that you saw in rooms 151 and 153. We're starting that work this April break. Uh along with the shuttered fire shutter doors of Boston Valley and Charlotte you see on the list there. That's also going to happen over the break. Kind of close out things buildings. Then the update on the barn the spray foam installation and painting is basically completing the next two days. And then we'll have the MPs the heating and electric going in and that'll wrap up the barn. Um as far as financials, you'll see quickly the items just down that box. the uh change manage box, excuse me, the pending
056change of orders listed as four. There's a total of three changes for approval today with a total of $70,000. Um again, that's basically full renovations 150. Um some additional uh changes to cabinetry in the sher art classroom to upgrade things for her. Um and then also if you stop by vegetable bill got a little bit of a facelift um that's in there along with some additional bait work we found in the basement a while back um to basically give that basement a full clean health in terms of any species down sorry can ask a question about that abatement. So was that the sort of thing like we're here we've got all the abatement equipment it's cheaper for you guys to add to this now rather than us come back in a year or whatever. Yeah.
057So reportwise, you know, everything down there was basically been stated once we're done with the full scope that was on the drawings. We realized we found another several hundred if not a little over thousand feet of insulation piping that was not scheduled for agreement. As far as we know, it's the last thing down there. Okay. That we could find. So it's like you got these guys here. It's expensive to get contract like that out here. That makes sense. Yeah. Take care of it now while we while we have the funds in the high school to do so. Um, so getting into the photos, you'll see this is the barn. This is progress as of last week. It is fully enclosed. There is spray foam and an inch mess of paint nearing completion inside that barn
058if you want to look today. Um, and then these are just some mechanical pictures from down the basement. the work you don't really see, but is has been going on first shift and second shift uh this entire school year in preparation for this big summer two transition for the new the new heating and cooling systems. Quick schedule highlights just where we are. It's me. Sorry, I put my paper on the microphone. first day at the new house. Big update you can see is that really phase two is just where where it's been track and fine. Phase three we did open period because we got to be a little early but originally slated for May that is now being open 22nd of April. Um and then we'll start construction schools out there, the playground and the
059the ceiling and lighting renovations in about 37 spaces here. And then phase four is obviously in for SP review. That's the pleasant project. Um, we're still on track. They're expecting to bid that out in the fall. That's it. This is just overall next question. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Moving on to our report from our superintendent. So early. Uh thanks everybody for coming out. Again, if you weren't here before, we got a new microphone system. So we're hoping that's adding to a little bit of the the experience for those here and those at home also. Uh, I wrote out the words I was going to say because I sometimes get a little unnerved about my lack of extemporaneous uh, ability, but I'm just going to talk because this is a meeting and I'm just going
060to talk instead of being being skirted with it. Uh, it's fascinating to see how much our vision statement of create carousel discover fits what we're talking about here. Uh, if I can point out Emma, I mean, she gave herself a very very brief brief description of what that thread of the other event was. Uh it was remarkable to be able to see how that came from an idea at a student government meeting. And then it took her leadership and her vision and her care uh to to to bring everybody together to make that so and to have the support from our PTSA there as well. Uh it was a it was really a sort of uh this is a why we do what we do. Uh so we can be inspired by the people around
061us and hopefully setting the environment where these types of things can happen. I credit the uh the PTSA and parent child connection as well for that. That's a connecting event. Like literally their connect with care. It's like they took care you know took care and discover and then added joy value connection to it uh to make the title for their event. I mean like it it just it it fits the work that we're doing and it was uh it was incredibly wellreceived. Um I love being part of strategic planning. I always enjoy it. This was a different different version of it for me. But the idea of being able to sit together with people at, you know, room at at tables that were populated by people who represented different buildings in the district, different constituent
062groups, different stakeholders, and to say, "Here's 10 things we like about the strategic plan. Here's 10 things that we think need to be shored up or strengthened or perhaps not included in the strategic plan." That was like a rich conversation. I am come from a long line of giving observations to principles who were in my classroom where I tried to make group work really happen. Uh and sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. This was group work that really the the discussions were uh it wasn't like we're all in agreement all the time like there it wasn't like saying we do everything great already so we don't need to do anything else. This was good in-depth conversation and I was just um just happy to be part of that. uh we'll be taking uh those
063ideas that came from all that chart paper uh and we'll be talking with the strategic planning committee in May. We'll put out some information to them and then uh in June we'll present that to the entire board uh and that'll be sort of a platform from which we work uh for our July strategic planning meeting which will be on July 14th I believe. Um there's so many different events. Please don't take uh an omission of one as being a lack of importance. But uh one that I did want to point out is on Thursday night I was able to attend an event called Fusion 2025 and that was a group of uh a group of many seniors from throughout uh the the Eerie Wosis our folks from from Potter. We had four seniors there and
064it was a fashion show. It was a fashion show that had nine different themes. Uh it was completely produced by the students. There was a runway. It was a salvator. There was no dinner Dave. Uh but so I know but uh uh but there's no no uh it was to see those the the families cheering their kids on who were both the designers and the counter friends. They had modeling. Uh we had a student it was Olive was there, August was there, Carmemella was there uh and Madison was there and they were uh and it's probably those are probably good names for us to uh to recognized at the May meeting. They they did just a remarkable job. Olive uh uh is a student who was in charge. She had another student who was from
065a different school but coordinated the whole event and it was um you know fashion is creating caring and solving discovering and this is something that you as a board support um with that eerie one uh budget and our teachers support uh and our staff supports in terms of kids finding where they where they fit most and it was just a it was pretty glorious. Um, a few weeks ago I attended the uh attended the the building core meeting at the high school. All right. And this is sort of like a continuing of the thread of what we've been talking about with uh the distraction-free uh school idea from uh um that that we that we might be seeing very very soon. And the question put forth at the building core meeting was uh what's your
066thoughts on our current practice at the high school? And the high school is the one school in the district where phones are teacher discretion. the rest is sort of an away for the day uh type idea with it. Uh and it was such a and like I I know I gave you an update on this but it was such collegial discussion of people who represented people who were their own department. I mean it was sort of representative democracy in in in action with it and the you know though that like the the majority certainly the vast majority certainly are are very comfortable with the practice as it is the many um most found found value with using the phones in in classrooms to to one degree or another. Um there were there was a there
067was a group that didn't but I want you to know that the dialogue there was exactly the way you'd want it to be. I mean, like, talk about modeling how we want people to talk to each other, both students and adults alike. Um, so I was I was happy to be part of that conversation, too. And again, we've got we've got the unknowns. We don't know what is going to come out with that state budget, but the fact that that dialogue is ongoing and if it comes to pass that it needs to be banned bail, that'll be, you know, that that implementation talk is what is going to be the next stages of that. Um, but that uh that that remains to be seen with that. Um, but why don't I wrap with this? Wrap
068up with this. Uh, I want you to know a few things. Lip syncing at the middle school level is alive and well. Like, it's solid. Uh, recess is tremendously popular. And I know that's not a surprise, but I've been able to to get out there a little bit with uh with the with the recess folks uh at the at the various elementary schools. Um, we were not part of the CBT testing issues today, just so you know. Um, and uh, we're we're pleased with that and thanks for all those who made that happen. And I'll I'll echo what Cam said, that video u, which I think people can see in the the s'more as well. It was included in the newsletter. So, uh, it's just it's a a wildly wonderful wonderful demonstration of uh, of
069what this place is. So, thank you. That's it for me. I was with teacher this morning and uh, she was telling me about the issues they had in Park that we we weard that uh, Perhaps there were struggles near us. Glad to hear we weren't. Yes. Um, okay. So, moving on more to the uh business part of uh this evening's meeting. Uh start with our consent items. Uh moving to uh at this time, we're going to do the uh consent items as well as the G financial items. Uh at this time any board member can make a request to withdraw a specific item from the consent agenda for individual consideration from either the F4G items. Is there any such request at this time? Yes. I'd like a separate discussion on G5, please. G5. Anyone else?
070Okay. So looking for a motion to approve all consent items F2 through G4. So move by Cam second by Rich comments. All in favor? I I opposed. Item passes. Moving on to item G5. Uh move for a motion to approve upon the recommendation of the superintendent the internal audit uh risk assessment. for a corrective action plan. So moved. So moved by Cam. Second. Second by Dave. Uh questions, comments. So on the question, the second item in that correction, the the second finding in the audit was basically that we weren't updating the quoted price when the actual price was different on certain items. And the corrective action effectively states we will update it. My question is, is that strong enough? Um and I can just speaking from my own experience when when we go through audits
071in my company uh usually the corrective action involves a work instruction getting updated or a training document getting updated. Is is this sufficient? Is it sufficient to say well we'll just do better next time or do we actually need to say we have a protocol that is being updated? We have a document that's being updated. Right. So we have um back when Doug was the business official and there was an internal audit what came of that was that there was no accounting procedures manual. So when I came on board that's the first thing I created. So now to implement this um this change again if it only happens like if someone forgets the shipping cost then we'll add that to the appeal. This what they found was just a minor price adjustment cuz Staples and
072Amazon change their prices daily. So by the time you the teacher you know puts in the order by the time we actually receive it and invoice the goods there's a price differential. Um so it was very minor. It was a a couple of dollars. Whenever there is a a you know major change or something was forgotten the PO is updated. what they want us to do is just write it on the purchase order that there's an adjustment. So, um that accounting procedures manual that I talked about, I will update that. But this corrective action plan goes with our uh internal audit to state that I have to actually um after the board approves that upload it to the portal so that the state sees it. So to answer your question, we'll just put that, you
073know, we will put our notation or adjust the PO if it if it's more than a couple of dollars because of price change um to in the accounting manual. Okay. So I would I would have expected our corrective action to say our our accounting manual section whatever has been updated, but you're saying that that because we need not have an accounting manual because we didn't for a while. That wouldn't be appropriate comment. Rather, we can just say we will stop this practice or Yeah. I mean, but what what I wrote was what the auditor's recommendation was. So, okay. We will comply with the auditor's recommendation. Notate it. This what they want to see. I'm I'm good. Right. Does our How does our policy reflect what you two just said? Yeah. I mean, policy does not
074get into details about how a PO is updated in the books. It just says, you know, I don't know what it says, but probably something to the effect of we have a process, right? That would be more a regulation maybe. And even the regulations probably don't get into that level of detail. I I'm good. I I appreciate you giving me that background. Sure. Any other questions, comments? All in favor? I opposed. Item passes. Okay, moving on to our action items then. Uh item H1. Can I have a motion to approve an agreement between Hamburg Central School District and Kenishious University School of Business for credit articulation? So moved. So moved by Laura. Second. Sorry. Second by Mary. Uh questions, comments. All in favor? I opposed. Item passes. Item eight. Uh H2. Can I have a
075motion to approve uh memorandum of understanding between Hammer Central School District and Horizon Health Services regarding provision of services to students in need? So moved by uh Laura, second by Mary. Uh questions, comments? All in favor? Opposed? Item H uh H3. Can I have a motion to approve a farm to school coordinator agreement effective July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. So move. So move. That's a good one. We all got to say these comments. Uh Ashley, I think was the second I have Yeah, I have a question. I have I have some comments on the question. Um, now the person that runs this uh does a such a great job and so she's getting this amount of money and I know the hours she works. So it's somewhere around $119 an hour, right? And
076she does such a wonderful job. Don't we all love her? Mhm. And uh um is she in the room right now? Yeah. No. But uh yeah, she's probably working on this. But what a great program this is. how she grew this program and this for this small little stipen it is you know it's not but we just I just like to say she does a a wonderful job this is like the coolest thing so all right second thirded any other questions comments all in favor opposed passes item H4 reimbursement of medical uh medical expenses can I have a motion that the board of education the hamburg Central School District reimbures a sum not to exceed $1,34012 for medical expenses related to injuries sustained by SC student during school activities. So moved by Laura, second by
077Rich. Questions, comments? All in favor? I opposed. Didn't ask it. I was going to say I was waiting for you. I was 100% waiting. Just totally was waiting. You mean pause? The joke is that I always ask, should we look into insurance for this sort of thing? And the answer is always the insurance is much more expensive than the expense itself. Uh, okay. Moving on. So, you made cover. Yep. Well, Mary was looking at me like she didn't know what I was talking about. No, I knew exactly what you were talking about. Uh, moving on to H5. Excited. Uh, I'm I'm checking up on my notes. Can I have a motion to approve uh the change orders 2011-07, 2011-8, and 2011-9 for the capital project phase 2 work? So move. So moved by Rich. Second.
078Second by Laura. Questions, comments. All in favor? I opposed. It passes. Item H6. Can I have a motion to authorize the seeker negative declaration regarding the proposed sale of district property on Zimmerman Road? So moved. So moved by Mary. Second. Second by Rich. Questions, comments. Why Why isn't this not dated? Why isn't this Why isn't there a date on this? Just wondering. Will there be a date? Someone's got to sign this, right? Well, this isn't the contract. No, I know that it says contract in it, but um you know, but it's still it's not dated, but that's all right. Okay, we'll just seems odd. I I actually had a question about it reads as though it's the contract. Yeah. like the the final resolution my I lost my board docs here I can't pull it
079up but it reads as though it's we're giving the superintendent permission to execute the agreement and if I can yeah I don't know if this the right protocol for me to answer uh so I think last I think I think last month's had that same notation on there that I it it sort of allowed me to move forward so this allows me to move forward to get to a point where the contract is going to be brought forth to you. Perhaps that's perhaps that's the May 13th meeting. So there is still a contract. There is still another step. Yeah. Yeah. Enough said. Okay. It does say but you're right. It doesn't it seems like things could be just all done after this. But it's the same language that was used I think at the end
080of last one which gave the which gave the permission to do this study. Okay. Further necessary documents including a deed. This is it sounds like a contract, but it's mostly just saying we think we agree that it's going to happen for these reasons. It's not actually that we we're basically just giving you a very official we you can do this kicking it down the road. Yeah. Um any other questions, comments? All in favor? I posted item passes item H7. I have a motion to authorize a seeker negative uh declaration regarding the proposed sale of district property on Legion Drive. So moved. Moved by Laura. Seconded. Second by Mary. Questions, comments. This is the same thing but for the Legion Drive property. All in favor? Opposed? Item passes. Item H8. Can I have a motion to
081approve the legal notice for the annual board of education uh election and budget vote on May 20th, 2025? So moved. So moved by Ashley. Second. Second by Mary. Questions, comments. All in favor? I opposed. Item passes. Item H9. Oh. Um, can I have a motion to approve Christine Lumbberg as chief election inspector? So move. Moved by Laura, second by K. Questions, comments? Does she wear a special hat or badge? No. I feel like a hat or a badge would be very cool. Or a vest. Oo, a vest. Hi, Viz. Is there in the budget for a vest? Put it in the notes. Um, all in favor? Opposed? We offended Sean from his vest. I didn't see you over there. I'm provant that's awesome. Uh H10 question. H10. Can I have a motion that the election
082uh the election inspectors uh election officials and machine operators for the 202526 annual budget vote in schoolboard election held on May 20th, 2025 be approved at a rate of $125 per assigned shift. So moved by Ashley. Seconded. Second by Mary. Uh any questions, comments? All in favor? I opposed passes. Um that is all of our we have. Uh next item of business is uh public expression. Uh just as a reminder uh some topics are not permitted to be discussed in the public forum. For example, any topic related to an employee or they can imply to be related to an employee, special education placements, individual student situations, etc. If the topic is inappropriate for the public forum, the board president and myself will instruct you not to speak, but rather present your concerns in writing for
083the board's discussion in executive session. Um we have one uh person signed up tonight, uh Jessica Rant. Um, I want to thank Ashley for highlighting CTFA membership. Um, we are two people away from our goal of 500. And the reason we have that number is to try and cover our expenses. Um, our main expense is our insurance. Um, I am so grateful for CTSA and their insurance policy because they are covering um, the insurance for Bulldog Run Club. So, I wanted to give you an update on Bulldog Run Club. So, we um will officially have a boys team and girls team at Union Pleasant and at Charlotte Avenue. I had to turn off responses for the form because um as of Sunday, we had 108 children between those two buildings in grades 3 through 5
084interested in participating. Um we will not be able to accommodate all of those kids because we do not have enough volunteers. So, I'm hopeful that in future seasons we can accommodate everybody because I feel like this really does demonstrate the need for more um programming that is accessible for everybody um both in cost and location. Um right now we have four head coaches. Um I am coaching the boys at Charlotte Avenue and Marissa Watkins who's a level five teacher is coaching the girls. We have two parents at Union Pleasant who are going to be coaching. Um and they will have rosters of 15 to 16 kids at Charlotte. Um, Marissa will take 15 to 18 and I will have 25 because um, that's just the number I've always taken. I hate to turn boys away,
085but I have over 46 boys at Charlotte Avenue who want to run and I am so encouraged by that. Um, and the other reason I'm encouraged is seeing these responses come in. The 5K that we are holding, the it takes a village 5K is using the money that we raised to put be put back into the district for extracurricular activities. Um we have a Google forum that is live for teachers or um staff members who facilitate a group, a club, an after school activity to go ahead and request funding. And as of right now, we have two forms submitted, but it's open until I think May 10th. Um but did you know that one of our staff members would love to start a small engine repair club um for middle school students? So these are
086the kind of passion projects that that might be a small group of kids, but for those kids that could be really impactful for their future. So, um I would encourage you all to um share anything you see regarding Bulldog Round Club. I think it's going to be amazing. Um share the 5K event because the more people that sign up, the more money we raise and the more we can give back to this district and to our students. Um and look out for updates because um our logo is set for both things. We are ready to print shirts. We are ready to celebrate everybody and um we're excited about what the future holds for ourselves. Thank you. Thank you. Bulldog Run Club. Seeing no other person sign up for public expression and no further business uh
087this evening. I have a point of order. I have something I'd like to speak as a member of the public even though I didn't sign up. Am I allowed to do that? You're unfortunately you're not a member of the Oh, well I didn't want to speak as part of as an update because it's not an update as a member of the board, but I would speak it as if I could be a member of the public and sign up. I would want to say it. Can I say something like that? Can I do that? Can I just make it a fun update about something you're gonna be have that's happening at the building? That's I would normally just put that in your update. Yeah. But Okay. Yeah. Well, what is it? What is it? Um
088I just wanted to make a really quick announcement. I swear to God, really fast. Uh that um in May I would be starting the bike bus up again. And so if you have if you know of kids that live um in Charlotte or in the Union Pleasant area and they would like to ride their bike to school, I will be starting that up again. Let me know. You can find me on Blue Sky. All right. You do that for Well, it's not me as official. Yeah, that's all right. Okay. It's me as a sub. Yeah. Yeah. Stuff like that bring up in here. Okay. Done. Um Okay. Now being no further business, got a motion to adjurnn the meeting. Wait. So moved. So moved by Ashley. Second, second by Rich. All in favor? I opposed.
089Passes. We are journey. Thanks everybody. It's a very