001That's good. Can you tell if it's working? Yeah, I'm on my way. >> Uh, we're going to call tonight's meeting to order. This is a special meeting of January 15th. If we could please all stand for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America to the standice for all. >> Thanks everybody for meeting early tonight um for the special meeting. We are Do we have any considerations for the agenda? >> We do not. >> Okay. that I need to have a motion to approve as submit it. No, I don't. I'm on the wrong one. It's all right. We still need to do the All right. So, discussion. Um we're here to talk today about the proposition two which tied in votes uh which is legally a fail for legal reasons
002but because of the tie I felt it's very important for us to come together and meet and discuss we can see where we want to head from here and what are our options In my in my estimation table there and Can I ask some questions? Uh, so there's some components that I want to uh understand a little bit better about two. the um it's so from what I understood before I uh the aid that we're getting from the state two is not tied to the maximum because it's a practice. So does that mean that it's not fixed to the fire 10 10 line that you would consider like like the maximum calculated cost allowance from renovations because it's that >> sorry because it was approved by SC as a new construction project. All the work
003associated with prop two is not subject to that maximum cost. So that would be treated differently included. So it's also financed slightly differently is advertised a little differently. It's over 30 years instead of 15 years. spread out because and that was achieved that was submitted to the general plans general scope of the work was submitted to the project was approved. So get that prevalence or so we we need to get reapproval for but if we waited what till next year we would um I don't I don't know the answer to that specifically. I do know that if in in the in the short term if we were to put it up for a revote as is we would not need any additional I don't know how long that initial said I don't know if the
004question is if we do a vote as soon as possible versus if we did the same thing a year from now two years from now at what point what about the uh the rate of is it does the project get more expensive? Yes. I mean just construction cost a lot construction cost increase. Um and then in terms of borrowing um one of the things that we're sort of bound to do is we borrow what we need when we need it. So that's all marketing. the funds that we would borrow. >> I had another question. If if we don't put it back out, if prop two does not proceed, the best garage is in bad shape. So yeah, any any sort of >> maintenance to that would come out of what? >> Out of the general
005>> general unless we had an emergency. If we had some sort of dire situation where there's an emergency >> and that would allow us the board to declare such work as emergency, we would be able to tap into repair reserve and then replenish that over a number of years. I think we currently have about 180,000 in our repair reserve. So, um, you know, we talked about this and the challenge is, you know, because we've been asked, well, what happens? What what's it going to cost us? I don't know. Um, I know that there will be a cost associated with maintaining the building to the point that it can be named and be up the code and pass inspections and and be a safe structure on that property. I believe that cost would go up exponentially
006if the desire was to not only keep the building but also repair it to the extent that it could continue to use either as a bus or space construction. >> So currently we had some issues this winter. >> Yeah. So the the it's tied in it's partially tied in with the incident that happened at the beach when the heating season began and we turned on the boilers to heat the bus. It really it's it's not capable that led to some problems with the boiler um with extensive amount of repairs necessary. So we shut that down. Um we made efforts to try to heat the building in pockets using electrical heat. Um we ran into problems with water. So since then we've sort of the building is not occupied anymore. It is safe. It is structurally
007safe. Um but we work with the village to shut the water off to the to the building. So the water is shut off. We're not eating it. Plus drivers are in and out of there on a daily basis to, you know, grab keys, that kind of stuff. Our ste can still store their speed in the foyer, but it's not occupied regularly. That'll remain that way through the end of eating season, but then we can, you know, we can better utilize it in the spring. And of course, you know, we're not a position where we're looking at completing any significant repairs to the building as long as there's that potential that you know the project would be. So, we're sort of in a holding. Uh what about um is there is there any uh insurance money
008that recover or I I can't remember I know from from >> Yeah. Yeah. from the incident that happened there was a yes there was an insurance there's an active insurance >> and that was that would repair it before any work if does go back for a long time >> well it it can but the first focus was to repair which hasn't been done was the structural damage so the building could be occupied when the incident first happened there significantly structural damage that the building was not safe. So that part of it is done. >> Okay. >> Prop two is not just about Prop 2 is about safety in a parking lot, lighting, paving, and more. Um, I think that's a large part of what unfortunately for some reason that's the part that isn't going to
009improve when if we don't go back out to right now we leave this meeting that parking lot will be pitch when skimp comes back tonight at whatever god they hour they come back it is not technically safe really safe for them to be walking around car and we could have a major incident in that parking lot which is a major which is also why I care, >> right? Yes, we're going to get any problems. That's great. Could we make some fixes? Sure. Right. Um, is it going to be what we need? No. Um, but we're not going to get like we're not going to get we're not going to get the place to walk to get around. And I think that's a big concern. Well, I think and I think they're directly connected. The demolition
010of the bus garage would allow the opportunity to enhance safety and lighting because it can then be moved and it opens up that lot and allows that whole um landscape architect plan that we presented to happen. Would you see? Yeah, Michelle just I just while well express in my mind you made a comment something along the lines that I don't think that's understood. Um we spent a lot of time looking through the exit survey results. Um, and based on those that responded, and again, this is people that voted, um, the overwhelming majority said they did have a good understanding of what was what was, um, at stake or what was proposed. Um, so again, it's a very small sample, right? It's it's 75 or 80 people up to 260 that voted. Um there was a
011question paraphrasing how well did you understand and the result I don't think um you know the negative votes were passed because there was a lack of understanding. How could could a lack of understanding what was being done led to a lower turnout? >> I mean, if you look at how many people came to vote in 260 that's inclusive of the >> 2040. >> When we voted in May, there was 634 people. Our community has to do better for our students and for our school and we have to show up. And there were people that said, "Well, I didn't know about it." You did. We sent you mail. We gave you the information. There were signs up in the middle of the village show telling you that it was the day. We can we can do
012what we can do to help the people. But this is there were a lot of families that didn't come and vote and your children come to the school and that's tough to see is the time and energy and the information that we share and why we think it's important or why I think I mean that's a big difference. Um it concerns me that you know We haven't had that low of a turnout when they vote since 2022. Where where are the voters? Why why aren't people coming? And I think people just feel like it's going to pass or it'll be what it is. My vote doesn't matter. Those things aren't true. We need you. We need we need people here. I'm wondering if you could speak to how you think building the faculty and staff
013interesting because we had a number of faculty and staff that didn't vote that were eligible. So, you know, I think from that standpoint, we could have done a better job internally getting people over the board, >> especially like since it didn't pass. >> Yeah, I think there's they understand like this is >> Yeah. >> and they would support this. >> Yeah, there's absolutely a feeling like we need to support this. >> Absolutely. We had a series of meetings internally um with both both buildings if you will faculty meeting this before before the road um both steering teams. um and overwhelmingly supportive of both propositions and the coordination of the work and um you know even in this sense of Q&A and clarifying questions there was I don't think there was anything to suggest any opposition
014from anybody with anything associated with the project the scope of the work the timing Well, and I feel the same with everybody that came to the presentation with them. But there were people that had concerns. We brought them, they talked through them with you, and they left with a better understanding. >> They did. >> And and I'm grateful that they came in. I'm grateful they asked questions. I'm grateful that they will clarify. Whether they voted or not, I don't know. things that way. Um, and we'll never know which way they but I'm glad that they came and got that understanding. Um, so yeah, I think there's there's support for the project. Um, why there was low voter turnout, I don't I don't have >> You think it was the timing though? the holiday, >> you
015know, feedback, you know, we forgot. >> Yeah. >> Forgot to the focus. >> Could we have done anything better internally to make I mean, I know that it could have been done after school and things like that, but to have allowed anything differently throughout the day. >> No, I mean, the polls were open from 12 to 8. I think with with regard to comparing the main numbers, it's it's always a little tough because um the the main numbers and there's a direct correlation with what happened not this year but if you look at our numbers if you have anywhere if you have a contested board election you have Typically, if you have higher than normal tax, you're gonna have more if you have um significant changes or reduction in programs or staff. I I do
016think this community is sort of um sort of voting numbness, voting complacency. A lot of people I should say a lot people accept that they feel bad they didn't come because everything always >> Yeah. Um, so I do think there's a bit of that historical complacency, if you will. People think that the last, you know, the budget votes always pass. >> I think that shows too that one vote does. It does. So where does everybody feel they would like to do we want to move forward with another vote or don't we're not voting not it's conversation what what will I personally would like it to go back to a revo as soon as possible and part of the education be that again there's repairs that just have to be made and I think people need
017to understand too like those repairs have to be made and it's going to come from the general fund and it is going to impact other things that happened in this building that we just had a really stressful budget year. we're about to have another stressful budget year and we were again like I don't want to say this but we were lucky last year. we're not going to be able to do that again and it's going to be harder to sustain some of the things that we have here um when we have to take away from them for reasons such as like on behalf of the administration I mean our our stance is really it's our our feelings towards the need to get this done is is unchanged. So, you know, we have an unwavering push
018to get this done in what we feel is the most effective and efficient use of the resources we have available which is all the parameters and all and the timeline that was set forth. That's kind of >> Yeah, the work the work is there and the work needs to be done by by that proposition passing could serve to protect instructional program and staffing because if if that work doesn't get done and it needs to be done out of a capital project, it's going to have to come out of general fund and that could have an impact on staffing and program. And it's worth repeating again what said is like it is really unsafe. >> Yeah. >> But I'll explore it at one time. You've ever left a game. You have kids that are driving and
019walk into that second back parking lot and it's it's >> morning drop off. It's just it's not the safe environment. I understand that if there's one again because it allows so on the go understand that if if we were one opposite the negative we would not we would not be back at this moment we would be back next year maybe right conversations we still continue to happen but I think the timing of the conversation >> I think the tie provides an opportunity to get more clarification is it a yes or is it a >> want to focus more on one proposition instead of trying to focus on seeing the We have to speak. Sorry, we have to speak up louder. It's not picking up. >> I have information on a potential timeline that I can
020share. >> That's what I wanted. >> I think it makes sense to me that we want a definitive answer from the community. I think people informally pled and said that they were I'm sure busy or I don't want to blame anybody for that was a busy time and I think I remember to vote on my way to work that night. So understand everything going on first. So um it makes sense for me to get a more definitive answer. I feel the same way. You know, it's really low turnout and I would like to see kind of more definitive yes or no. I mean, I don't want people to also feel like, you know, voting every three months, right? But, you know, I have to hope that just the timing of the vote, people were forgetting
021what you were saying. And um if people have more questions, are you going to do the same thing with presenting possibly or at least getting time for community feedback and such? >> Sure. >> Just to um make sure that everybody then has an opportunity because Yeah. I just like to see it one way or the other, you know, if there's a really strong opinion. Yeah, we we would certainly be prepared to pivot in whatever direction we would need to to ultimately achieve this. You know, we would lean on the exit polls that people completed. There's some things in there that were definitely eye opening. Um, you know, not, you know, kind of oneoffs. I don't think it was enough to really sway the results. But if those are sentiments that are felt in the in
022the greater community that may have persuaded somebody to vote or may persuade somebody to come vote a second time, then yeah, we need to we need to do what we can to to cover all those bases. But the proposition itself is not changing because that's what's already been >> um the the scope of the the project itself would >> right >> the board would have to um take action against the proposition resolution which would be the same thing that's all part of >> okay >> should not >> and by not change it, we would not need to give any further approvals. So if we were going to change the scope of work, add to the scope of work, it may or may not require additional approval, additional environmental review, but because it's the same scope
023of work, the same. >> So a potential timeline, the first vote was December 16th. >> Yeah. So I Yeah, I want to before I get into this, I want to thank Jody. Jody did a lot of hard work on this. >> There's a lot of >> um you know, dates looking back, dates moving forward and counting and checking with multiple agencies and regulatory bodies. So, I want to thank Jody for the work and I'll probably be looking out of the corner of my eye to make sure she put some head on. But, yes, by law there has to be a 90 day waiting. So, the absolute earliest you could do a revote is 90 days from the original date. So, that would put us roughly in the middle of March. There's then a there's a
02445day waiting period from the time that the board adopts the resolution for the referendum and that's in order to allow us the adequate amount of time to legally require legal notices and preparatory work leading up to the vote. Are there certain days like that we have to do this or could we back it off? Like I know the musical is like mid-March. Could you piggy back it where people >> we're not mid-March anymore? >> Okay. So beyond that, >> right? So again, looking at what we currently have scheduled, the fee, the February board meeting on February 12th, hypothetically, if that was the meeting that a resolution was took action on a resolution for the referendum 45 days from February 12th would be March 30th. So that is the earliest. If March or February 12th was
025the date that the resolution there was action on a resolution and that would be March 30th. So the desire was to have it before March 30th. That would require a special board meeting, but it would have to be beyond 90 days. So really if you wanted it between March 16th and March 30 prior to >> February when 90 days the 45 days from the legal notice is March 30th. The legal notice is February 13 and 90 days notice March 16. Um so then so that kind of establishes the the legal ramifications. Um and then anytime after March 3rd will be fine but then you run to March 3rd I'm sorry April 3rd which is Monday March 30th to Friday April 30. So the week April 3rd, Friday, April, Friday, the following week is our spring
026recess. So you think having the road over our spring break would not be desirable. So if you didn't do it that week from March 30th to April 2nd, you'd now be >> later. Now you're getting into the really the 30 days prior to the day. So it really gets kind of gets busy really fast. We get back positions. I would not recommend, >> but we could have a special to bow on this and be able to push the boat. Don't do that. to have. >> We don't need to. We could vote the 31st, the first the second and without having to do that. So, do you see any need to have a sooner than I I don't I think I think as far as the the timing of the project coordination of work with phase
027one whether it's March 16th or March 30th is not going to matter. Okay. I think at that point it becomes a question of you know if if our desire is to increase turn turnout um then it becomes just more of a strategic conversation of when when do we think we're going to get the best read on our community this is probably going to be it if it's if it passes obviously we're moving forward but if it goes down again then we're moving forward so at that point it You know, if if the desire is to increase our turnout and get a better idea. So in my mind I would like to consider doing this resolution in February at our board meeting for the 31st to be the date Tuesday. The 30th is a Monday. Tuesday's
028at least we could maybe notify people on Monday after a weekend, right? And remind them the day out type of thing. So I feel like Monday is our best choice. But um because if we are going to do this, I think that we we have conversation our meeting here at 6 a little bit more about it. Um, and then work starts in the building um to prep us for February 12th and then boots to the ground and hope the community makes a deciding decision, I guess, is what I'm looking for, right? Like, do I do I want this to pass? Yes. But I would rather just know it's the the tie is what bothers me because I don't know where that >> we don't have any action we need only if you prior think about
029it >> and and we Jody would um confirm that with our bond council and our make sure that what we just shared with you. Then we would would have the resolution on the agenda for February 12. >> We have to notify the board of elections and I guess people who want to come opinions on the 12 before we technically in our next meeting hour half hour, >> right? >> Yeah. And also gives time for emails and things that people stopping into the district. It's up to that bill signing up that type of thing. There does allow time Anything else on this topic? Our next meeting starts at 6, so we have 25 minutes. We're not trying to rush us through this, but also we're at a spot that we feel is good on conversation, then
030we can end this meeting and start the next meeting. >> I'm good. Do you guys feel like you have an understanding of >> um then I'm going to need an adjournment from this meeting and we'll start our next meeting at 6 because we advertised it at first. Um so I need an adjournment if you motion. Um all those in favor I Meetings adjourned and again we'll start again at 6. So we're going to turn off the video for now. We'll turn it back on differently for a little bit.