001Okay, we'll take a few pictures. Thank you. We're not We're not on another minute. I just want to Mhm. We're just given time to try to connect to the uh live feed. In the meantime, Miss Galante will be getting ready to prepare budget workshop number four. We're Mr. Payne. We're good. Okay. All right. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening, Board of Education. Good evening, community members of West Babylon. Thank you for coming today. Um and we will begin with the U West Babylon uh workshop number four for the 2526 budget. Um not much has changed since the last board meeting um in the budget. We made a few um adjustments uh which really didn't impact the budget at all. So for tonight, what we're going to do is go over the appropriation budget for the
0022526 school year. We'll see a slide about the tax levy again. We're going to talk about a contingency budget and what impact it can have on the district and then we'll give you some information about the budget hearing and about the budget vote. So once again, I am not going to go line by line. I can um I'll just point out the lines that have the variances. And after each set of um of lines, you'll see the following maybe one, two or three slides has a description of the lines. So you have an idea what makes up each one of these uh lines on these slides. And then you also have a line by line with the actual uh costs for each of the lines that you can reference. So for the first slide uh
003again not much of a change in any of the areas other than contractual probably and materials and supplies uh are the drivers of those increases. And again, here are the descriptions of each one of those budget codes that you could refer to as you're going through the slides. Okay, on this slide, we do have one one line and we have spoken about this since the first budget presentation about insurance. Again, insurance um for the district has gone up by approximately 18% last year and this year. Um if any of you have your own auto insurance, homeowners insurance, I'm sure you're facing the same things with your own um insuranceances. The rates are um are just out of control in some areas. I understand a lot of insurance companies are actually going out of business. So,
004other insuranceances are are taking them over and that's what's driving up the insurance rates. The district has no um has to have insurance in this um period in time for their own protection. And once again, you'll see an description of those budget codes. So on the last slide for the administrative component of the budget, we'll have uh curriculum supervision and supervision for regular school and research. Again, not much variance, not much increase or decrease in these lines. So in total for the administrative component of the budget, you'll see a increase of just about $521,000 from this year going into next year. So now we come to the capital component of the budget and again that um has all the things that have to do with the capital side of the budget including your operation and
005maintenance which includes not only your building and grounds operation maintenance but also your security and again those increases are basically being driven by contractual obligations and by the cost of supplies and materials. the um maintenance um and custodians in the district are trying to do more work in the district on their own. So they don't have to bring in an outside contractor to do the work which which in the long run uh saves the district money. But again in order to do that they need those extra supplies and materials that are required for each project. Um judgment and claims you don't have any for next year. debt service. Uh you had one debt service that rolled off, but you did pick up in the last line installment purchase bus and EPC. You did pick up
006a new uh energy performance contract lease which has raised that that line. So for the capital component, you're actually seeing a decrease of a little over $2 million. Again, an explanation of those budget codes. And now we come to the largest part of of the budget, which is the program component. Teaching the first line, teaching regular school. Again, 75% driven by contractual obl obligations and supplies and materials that are needed in the classrooms. um teaching special ed again contracted obligations and also an increase in your special ed need in tuitions in private pro um private special ed schools and in also in uh special ed services. That's what drives that line on this slide. Uh really not much variance going either way. The district and IMC are your librarians and their salaries and their supplies
007which has gone down. And again on this we have health services which has gone down um slightly because of uh the district pays health services for West Babylon children who go to private or parochial schools in other districts and that number has been decreasing. So that's what's driving that uh to go down. Okay. So, let's talk a little bit about uh transportation because you do have um an increase in your contract transportation. The district has been um going out um putting ads in for bus drivers which really have resulted in either people not applying or they do apply and then they don't show up and things like that. So the district is forced to use more contract transportation moving forward. Okay. So that's why you see that $700,000 increase in contract transportation at this point
008in time. Um there really isn't much of a variance here. Your teachers retirement system actually has gone down. Um and we'll talk a little bit about what drives the two pension systems, the employee retirement system and the teachers retirement system. What drives those two pension systems is the uh stock market. They have invested the money that the employees and the employers pay into into the uh retirement systems and they usually lag about two years. So two years ago, I believe the market was doing well. So they were able now two years later to reduce the contribution rate for the employers. But just keep in mind right now things are a little bit uncertain out there in the market. And if things continue to be uncertain for a good part of this year in about another
009two years, I would say you're going to see your retirement system contribution rate go up double digits. That's just how it it it's been. So again um people in my position not only look at you know what happened last year whatever but we are also trained to know what's going on now with inflation with the markets and things like that so because they will drive the costs two years from now either up or down in certain areas. When when do they announce the rates? I know that I um I think doesn't the state controller usually do that for the retirement systems? Yes, we did get the rates. What What time of the year do they usually announce? Um they come in usually November. Okay. October, November. Okay. Yeah. They start with an estimate and then
010they like a a range, right? And then they give you the rate. Yeah. Yeah. Um health insurance again health insurance for this year uh we were anticipating it last year when people were doing their budgets last year to be about 10%. It came in at 2%. Again they did well in the market the insurance providers with their health insurance. Um but again now the health insurance is on a calendar year. So half of our cost is from July to December of 2025. So we know that's 2%. Then the rest of the school year for next year is January to June and we don't have any idea what what the percent increase will be for that. So we have to again use the best estimate that we think it will be which we are you know
011all saying it's going to be more than 2% and come up with um an estimated rate. But doing all that it did drive your health insurance down almost $900,000 for next year. So again, not too many variances here. And the total program component for next year's budget is up about $1.3 million. So if you add it all together um it does come out to uh 136 million1501 $150,120 and there is a dollar for rounding that we had to include there. And here's the uh your revenue budget, which hasn't changed because the bottom line of the budget for next year is still the same. Actually, the budget for next year is almost $200,000 less than your budget this year. Okay? And you're using less of your reserves. You lo you're using less appropriate fund balance and
012you're trying to to incorporate more revenue in your budget to offset your expenses just to highlight the student programs and support. So the current budget includes $14,000 a year earmarked for K12 field trips. It maintains academic intervention support for our students and maintains and/or increases reading and math support for our students. It incorporates year three of our new benchmark reading program and through the use of grant funds and uh general funds for medical coverage, the reinstatement of a part-time 0.5 social worker uh at the elementary label uh excuse me, elementary level enables all elementary schools to have a dedicated full-time social worker in each one of their buildings. It will uh provide additional club opportunity at each elementary school. Uh the current budget maintains an average class size on the K5 student enrollment uh of
01321 to 22 students per class. Um, as we finalize our attendance zones and consolidate sections, our goal, um, is to be able to reestablish a generalist teacher for G&T program at the elementary school, which would be costneutral to the budget. some of the highlights from an IT budget continues to prioritize technology enhancements that are per uh in both the that improve both the instructional tools and security our staff and students and we're going to highlight three particular areas the same areas as we highlighted last uh at last budget presentation website update with smart sites so it's a a refreshed updated friendly uh district website uh userfriendly development to enhance communication and accessibility for our school community and our students. Linewise expansion, this is uh implemented last school year. It's a uh line wise continues to
014provide safety and security measures for our Chromebook user. So in ensuring uh protected digital learning environment for our students. So this year we're introducing a parent monitor feature that empowers families with tools to help oversee and support their child's online activity at the home. And then finally, the interactive board upgrade. A multi-year roll out of Smartboards uh MX interactive displays is underway in order to provide the classrooms with the most modern cutting edge technology that enhances student engagement and collaboration. Mr. Henley, in reference to the linewise, um would there be some kind of a presentation on how that rolls out or is it be list of instructions or Yes, I I can definitely foresee that would be definitely communicated and I most likely would foresee some parent workshops on how to utilize that program. All
015right. Yeah. Finally, uh security finance facilities highlight. So current budget maintains our commitment to enhancing safety and security with our with our standing uh SRO's and our uh safety training uh and protocols currently in place. Roof fan replacement at the senior high school. This will allow to upgrade and replace our roof fans to improve ventilation and our energy efficiency in within this building. Restoration of our fencing, repair, restore damage uh fencing around our school premises to enhance our safety and security. In addition, removal of some trees causing structural safety issues, ensuring the proper maintenance of our landscape. Uh, junior high orchestra room abatement, potential abatement in the junior high orchestra room depends on the the specific quotes to address the environmental concerns or the the removal of the hazardous materials. Uh, and then also a
016district-wide scheduled painting routine across the district facilities to maintain aesthetics and protect our surfaces. Okay, thank you. I want to just go back to the revenue because I forgot to mention something. I know the board uh did not want to use any of their appropriated fund balance for next year. Uh this year that we're now uh a lot was used out of fund balance. So, what will happen if our revenue comes in higher than projected, let's say from the Forest Avenue lease or from state aid, because remember we haven't gotten our final state aid figures yet. Um, then that money will be used to offset that um fund balance that we're using and and that money will go right back into fund balance. So, we will not touch the fund balance. Just wanted to make
017that clear. Okay. fund balance should really be used for emergency purposes um not to really you know balance your budget. It's really there for uh that 4% is there for emergencies. So okay so let's move on then to the next slide. Can I can I just add just for to layman's terms if I can and if I'm wrong kick me. The the reason why that number was changed is because we're trying to be very conservative with trying to balance out uh what Mr. Hanley talked about with preK and other potential agreements we have going on with leasing the building. Um just I want to put an exclamation point that additional revenue will go back to the fund balance to offset that. it will not be spent and uh that's the goal so that we build
018that back up. Um, you talked about those categories where we're out of our control, TRS, health insurance. We had some, you know, very smaller increases this past year as compared to prior years, double digits. You referenced the stock market. We have to anticipate with the way things are now, that's going to come back. We have to build up that fund balance so that when we get hit with those increases, it doesn't affect the students of the district like it did last year. Last year this this budget went through how we cut everything affected the students. What we are trying to do is establish a better cushion so that when we get hit with those curve balls, it doesn't affect the students of the district. That is the goal. And I and I I made it
019the statement we're in the pack center. We cannot continue to save a dollar spend $150. So while I know there's some things that have been added back in, the goal is to balance that out. So when it comes back that health coverage goes up 16% again, we are in a better position to not have any impact or reduce any impact on the education that the the students of the district are going to provide. So the number was changed to be conservative because we trying to plan ahead. Uh what is what is it? Uh hope for the best, plan for the worst or something is the expression. Uh that really has been the the goal from the beginning and I know it's been tough getting there um lately, but uh that's I just wanted to hopefully
020I'm explaining it. No. Yes, you're and and you are 100% correct, re uh your reserves um are there to help you get through those bumps in the road that that hit you from time to time. And it's very important to have um you know not to be over reserved but to have enough in your reserve to get you through those those hard years. Um and again what was done now was done by you know by the board based on what we know at this particular time you know and things have been changing real quickly around here. So, you know, what we knew a week or two ago when we did make that little change could change back in another two or 3 weeks. Okay. So, we're always, you know, have that in mind. Um, so
021let's talk about the tax levy. So, you can see for your this year we're in now, your tax levy was a little over 84 million. Um, 84.2 million. Your tax levy for next year will be $86 million approximately. That's a difference of $1.7 million um for next year's levy. And that equates to a 2.06% uh levy for the 2526 school year. That levy requires only a simple majority vote. Okay? So that means 50% plus one is a simple majority vote. because it is over 2%. We are not piercing the cap. We are not piercing the cap. I want everyone to understand that because a lot of people don't understand that. So, it's only a simple majority vote. So, let's talk a little bit about a contingency budget because and why it happens and when it
022could happen. So, a contingency budget is implemented when a school district's proposed budget is rejected by the voters either after the initial vote or a second vote. The district is restricted to ordinary contingent expenses which are defined as expenditures necessary to I'm on the wrong page. Sorry. Operate regular instructional programs. preserve the health and safety of students and staff, protect the district's property, any legal obligations that the district may have, and only for expenditure specifically authorized by statute. The tax levy under a contingency budget cannot exceed the tax levy of the prior year. So this would mean a budget reduction of approximately $1.7 million for the 2526 school year if the budget doesn't pass either the first time or the second time and the district has to go on a contingency budget. Okay. So if
023that happens, what what does that mean? What does that impact? So again, the bishop cannot increase the tax levy from the previous year uh requiring the board of education to consider some or all of the following reductions. They would have to possibly increase class size across all grade levels. There would be the elimination of all clubs and after school activities. There could be the elimination of band, orchestra, and chorus. All these things are not mandated by law. So, they would have to, you know, look at anything that's nonmandated first. Um, it would it would cause the elimination of the use of school buildings and grounds by outside organizations, meaning that I am and I assume that you have organizations that can use your buildings for free of charge. That would that would end. um elimination
024of sports just sports programs. Uh they would not be able to purchase any equipment other than equipment for students. Any other equipment that would be necessary that it's not related to a student could not be purchased and there would be staff reductions across all the units. Again, the board would have to find in that budget, which is pretty tight right now, $1.7 million of reductions. So, a little information. I think this was even mentioned earlier. Your budget hearing will be held on May 13th at 6:00 p.m. in this building, Board of Education boardroom. And then your budget vote and trustee election will be held on May 20th from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. um either at the administration building or at Satap Elementary School. It's either district 1 or district 2. If you don't know
025what district you're in, I'm sure the district clerk can point you to the right direction. And that's it for questions. And I just want to say anyone has a question on the budget, my email address is on the website, please email me because I'd rather you, you know, have the correct information. If you're not sure about something um and when you email me, please um also include a phone number because sometimes I can't explain it by email. I have to talk to you. Okay? So I, you know, if anyone ever has a question, please contact me. that you should do that instead of going to Facebook. Yes. Okay. I just I didn't know. Okay. Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Galante. Um board of ad members, I just would like to remind you that tonight there is
026a motion on the agenda to authorize and adopt the 2.06 uh tax levy budget of 136150120 with a 2526 school year. We do we is that it's on the agenda as part of the consent agenda. It's in there. Oh, gotcha. I just want Okay. Everyone's aware. Gotcha. That that is on Yeah, that's because we we talked about the statements earlier. Okay. Okay. Statement of residence. At this time, residents wishing to share a statement should come forward to the microphone, state their name, their address, any organization they may be representing. Residents can also write their name and address on the index card provided and present it to the interim assistant superintendent for finance and operations prior to giving their statement. Please be aware matters relating to individual students or employees cannot be discussed at a public
027board meeting. Residents will be given up to three minutes to share their statement. Statement of residence is for 15 minutes. We will record the statements and questions presented by residents. At the conclusion of the statements of residents, we will respond to those statements we can answer fully. For questions requiring further research, responses will be provided at the next meeting. Good evening. Uh I'm Frank Medina, uh 1315 Port Street. Um I just have a couple of comments and and uh and I just kind of want to elaborate a little bit on this um YouTube situation. Um I'm an IT professional. I've been an IT professional for nearly 25 years professionally. Add on another 12 years of doing uh and supporting uh teacher computers from high school and middle school. So add another 12 years to that.
028So um I've been working with some level of a computer for uh over 35 years at this point. Um I know YouTube is a large organization. They're owned by Google, right? Um I know that we're working on trying to restore this data. uh these videos. Uh but I find it uh very suspicious, if you will, even if it's not, that while the community is trying to relook at some of these videos to look at budget numbers and uh and and and research their do their own research to compare new budget numbers now versus what was done in the past. Um then that those videos just miraculously disappeared. um it shows a impropriety you know an appearance of impropriety um there's you know I've been in cloud computing now for about six seven years now that
029the cloud is kind of part of our IT vernacular um videos just don't disappear there is an audit log that Google should have to see what happened to these videos and I'm not talking just about the BOE videos to what you said I agree with you it's a catastrophic situation right the graduation videos, the uh the the the videos for um all the different athletic events and competition events that were posted uh to show the the success of our students. Um it's catastrophic to lose those videos, but it just show but it also shows that level of of of lack of knowledge on how a cloud system works. And so for me as a community member, I want to know what happened. How is it that hundreds of videos on one YouTube channel just miraculously
030disappear while members of our community are trying to do research to compare and contrast the budget numbers that have been already introduced in meetings? We've heard that presentations have been edited uh from previous BOE uh presentations have been edited with certain numbers so that when you go to a previous slide deck it shows updated numbers from a meeting that was presented in March or February. those presentations should be preserved and if those numbers need to be changed then we need to know that as a community to make sure that we understand why those numbers are being changed and why those numbers from the previous presentations have changed for whatever reason. Um, I won't I only have 3 minutes, right? So, I'm not going to go deep into the budget questions that I have, but um,
031you know, I understand the need for certain IT upgrades. Um, however, you know, with knowing that, you know, we're closing Forest Avenue. Um, how can we justify upgrading Smartboards for all the teachers in the district? I get it. I'm a techie guy. I love tech more than anybody you may know. Um, and if it's an aid for the teachers to help them teach better, then let's talk about that, right? But it also looks like that it's coming at the sacrifice of our children, you know, who have to relocate to a different school. Um, you know, again, if there is good evidence backing that I understand, um, if there's good evidence that backs that, I'm I'm all ears, you know, um, there's no secret that I'm, uh, that I put my name in the hat to
032run as a member of the trustee for the board of education. Um, I want to make sure that I can help provide a voice to our community. Uh, and I and I want to work with each and every one of you. I don't want to point fingers. I don't want to debate in a negative way. I want us to all work together. So, as I close here, um my comments are my personal feelings. Uh and I feel um you know that we need to come back together and not have the division that the community has clearly seen. Thank you. Well, let me just say I appreciate you putting yourself out there and running for the board of education. Thank you. Uh that's not an easy thing. Otherwise, more people would do it. No. Um in
033reference to what's suspicious, I would definitely like to elaborate. uh hear that maybe at another time what you think suspicious about that. All the financial information that people want to reference going back I think over 10 years is archived on the website. You go into finance and operations it has a tab for current budget year and then it has archived information. Okay. And you can always reach out to the uh finance and operations person and get any information you need. Absolutely. I as I elaborated before uh this is not a happy thing with this archive. Absolutely 100%. As an IT guy myself, I I find it very disturbing that it the who's and whats we will figure out. We need to worry about getting the information back as I elaborated before. Okay. Thank you. Absolutely.
034Okay. Thank you guys. Yeah. And the minutes the minutes are recorded and we missed a few minutes today, but we should be okay. Anyone else? That's it. Okay. What? Okay. I This is agenda items only. Yeah, that's I'm fine. Okay. Sorry, I didn't Hi, my name is Elizabeth Lopez and I'm a student at the high school. Um, the students would appreciate the board reconsidering bringing back the AC academic center next year. The academic center is useful for students and provides a time and a place to wait for sports or other after school activities, for example, blue and gold. It also provides students the opportunity to not have to choose between missing practice for a sport and going to a club and or extra help. Sometimes depending on the day, students have somewhere to go if
035a teacher is having extra help or if a club is going on. But the days that we don't have either we truly have no place to go. For example, at the high school, you see student athletes sitting on the floor waiting for practice to start after school due to not having a place to go. Having the academic center back would also cause less stress on students from having to pick and choose between activities that are important to them. I hope you take this into consideration and bring back the academic center in the high school and junior high. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. I didn't know what not it means. I didn't know that it don't move on yet. There's more people. You looked down. Um Shannon Kamar A49 Brook Street. I had some questions regarding
036the budget presentation. Um it is nice to see that we are trying to bring back some things after having lost so much last year, but I did have a couple questions to pose to the board. Um why $14,000 towards field trips was prioritized over other things that have been cut along the way. Um there was discussion of a generalist teacher being used for gifted and talented. That's a very very specific term. um amongst community members, people are like, "Does this mean the enrichment program that some of the children are engaging in while AIS is going on? Does this mean a morning program?" So, I think if we could somehow explain that very specific term, gifted and talented, that was tied to that generalist teacher, it would help the community better understand how this teacher is
037going to be used within the district. Um, also if there is criteria for these gifted and talented children. This is a topic that has definitely come up during a number of board meetings over a number of um, budget discussions over the last couple years and it just seems like a very specific term to attach to students receiving some kind of intervention or special programming through a teacher. So, I think that's something that um, needs to be elaborated on so that parents truly understand what it is that um, is being targeted for next school year within the budget. Thank you. I could I could maybe uh elaborate on the first part of that with the field trips. From the perspective of uh mentioning prior prioritized uh when that was cut from the budget, it was probably
038the most amount of emails I received was about field trips being being taken out of that budget. Um, for me, I also see it as something um, with the transition that a lot of elementary kids are going through. I I personally feel that that's an advantage to maybe cushion any uh, any of that change. Uh, that's for me personally, that's why I didn't have a problem with seeing it back in there. But I can assure you if I all the emails from everything that was cut that on the elementary side, that was the most common um, thing that was brought up as well as when I would go to meetings, PTA meetings, it was a constant question. So, uh, speaking for myself, that's why I didn't I didn't have any issue with it being in
039there. And there's a million things that have been cut over the years. We were reflecting back to what was cut last year, especially those that graduated. We always talk about, oh, I remember when we had this, I remember when we had that, and we can we can tie that to a lot a lot of different reasons, but uh, in reference to the field trips, I don't know if you wanted to touch on anything else. So, yeah, sure. I was just want to u reiterate about the idea that in the beginning of this meeting we discussed the as a result of distribution of the attendance zones uh and the slightly lower incoming K that the programs that we will be able to return that were removed that was as a result of last year's budget are
040the enrichment and intervention programs that we're looking to reinstate. So that was said at the very beginning of this meeting. I just want to reiterate that here today and that's what was presented in the budget. And then the the I Are you still Oh, sorry. No, no, that's okay. Um, good evening. My name is Reagan Hotel, 555 18th Street, West Babylon, New York. Um, I speak tonight for the young children of West Babylon, the elementary students from whom so much has been taken yet so little is being provided. The elementary students have recently lost critical resources. the 2425 budget cut programs um including clubs, field trips, intramurals, decrease essential services like AIS. Um these cuts along with closing a school are impacting our elementary students academically, socially and emotionally. The 2526 budget includes 14,000 for
041K to2 field trips. Um I'd like if somebody could clarify specifically what trips will be included in that number. Looking back at last year's budget present um presentations, it appears that approximately $88,000 were cut in field trips. So what amount um will be allocated to the elementary schools? Will each grade level get a field trip at the elementary schools? Um we were also told that closing forest would generate rent between 440,000 and 880,000 with 880,000 being the number that was continuously highlighted throughout the long range planning committee presentations. Workshop one showed 850,000. But now that number um was considerably reduced to 450,000. This raises serious questions about the allocation of funds and whether the proposed budget will truly result in the financial improvements we were told we'd see through closing Forest Avenue. I'm troubled by
042the disproportionate reductions in funding for the program component. While cuts at the administrative component seemed to be less significant. Between the budget workshops one and four, the program component changed for an approximate decrease of 584,000. Um, this decrease included 164,000 on the line A2820 psychological. There's been discussion supporting elementary students with new um with the new school transitions. I want to know how that decrease will impact that support. Between budget workshops two and four, the administrative component component changed for an approximate decrease of 325,000 when cut when greater cuts approximately 250,000 are made to student programs than at the administrative level. It suggested that the needs of the students are not properly being prioritized. Why is business admin and admin personnel increasing 42,000 while teaching regular school and teaching special ed are decreasing by 85,000?
043The manner of this the manner in which this year's budget was presented as a concern. The numbers didn't always add up. They weren't always stated accurately and they change sometimes without an explanation. This makes it difficult to fully understand the financial details and the rationale behind making specific financial decisions. This lack of clarity has created confusion making it challenging for stakeholders to assess the true impact of the proposed budget. As asked by many community members, a line by line budget would provide a clear and detailed view of the allocations ensuring that the community can fully grasp how funds are being distributed and where priorities are being placed. Given these concerns, I would appreciate clarity on this new budget, answers to the questions I have presented, and the opportunity to review the budget line by line.
044Thank you. Thank you. Alicia Deonte, 133 Fifth Street, West Bablin. Um I just have a couple quick quick questions about the budget also. Um, so one of them in the budget is that I noticed that there's no obviously this year there was no litigation um adjustment that's listed on there because it's a $ 1.5 million credit. But last year I I don't know if anyone realizes some of those cases that were pending were from the 70s. So there are there any future pending cases that we may not be aware of that are from years ago that are all of a sudden going to pop up and then have to be either taken from, you know, some set budgets, fund balance, whatever, any of those increments. So that's one question. Um, another question I have is
045that with Forest Avenue closing, um, we were assured, and every elementary parent would say it, that no one would be losing their job. Everyone's going to be, you know, essentially safe. And we've been told time and time again. So, if the budget was not to pass and we go to a contingency budget, are all elementary teachers automatically safe then? Because we've been assured that if the building's closed, then therefore, you know, all elementary is safe? So, then only the budget cuts for staff would come basically 6 through 6 through 12. Um and then uh so that was one two and what was my third question? Um so it was that question. Sorry, hold on. There was one more. Um was that that oh and then class sizes. It also said that if we had to
046go to a contingency budget that class sizes would have to increase. And again we were sworn up and down that if Forest Avenue had to close all elementaryaries would basically stay within a certain size range. So if the budget doesn't pass then unfortunately our junior high and high school kids are going to have larger impacted classes. But our elementary kids are still set in their numbers because that's what we were sworn if the building closed. Nope. That's not the case because if it's a contingency budget, we can go up to whatever the contractual obligation is on the classes. So the description that we were sold that with the building being closed would basically not be accurate. Well, if it's a contingency budget, it's we would have to manage it. Hopefully wouldn't come to that point,
047but it would have to be managed to be at what it has to be at. So we were lied to. No, you weren't lied to. It's a contingency budget is a it's been the same presentation as that part of the budget meeting every year. It's not about being lied to. Right. But in the past, we never had the instance where an elementary school was closing. That's correct. Right. So in the past, if you listen to the the board meeting notes from January, February, etc. over and over again. I've been to every meeting. Correct. So even the gentleman that had came in from the the organization or whatever that you guys used your outside company basically said over and over again that those type of things those impacts couldn't happen. So the contingency budget would override
048then all that information that was said that would force your hand to be within the limits set by last year. Correct. Great. That's the law. Awesome. Thanks. No problem. Thank you. Okay. I need a motion to approve the consent agenda. Rosanne Kathy. All those in favor everyone. Policy review. First time reading policy 4010 equivalence in instruction staff and materials. Motion to wave the first time reading and adopt policy 4010 is revised. John Anthony. All those in favor. Motion to wave the first time reading and adopt policy 4020 as revised curriculum management. Anthony John. All those in favor? That's everyone. Okay. Motion to wave first time reading and adopt policy 4325 as revised. Academic intervention services Patty Kathy. All those in favor. Okay. Okay. Old business. Thank you, Mr. Palo. So, what we wanted to do
049is Mr. Payne and myself, uh we would just like to revisit the uh UPK conversations that uh we had previously. So as a result of the res redistribution of the attendance zones and slightly lower incoming K enrollment maintaining the four allocated rooms art music intervention rooms in the consulting model during the long uh range planning committee uh the room availability numbers provide an opportunity opportunity to house some internal UPK classes. So early projections are um indicating that we have about 110 UPK students that have currently registered. We are expecting potentially another 10 to 15 students which then would allow us the opportunity to look to house five internal WB programs internal with one external provider. Okay. Mr. Payne, I'm not sure if is there anything I can add what you would like to add? All
050right. Yeah. Thank you. It's antilimatic. I don't think I'm going to say anything that important. But the idea that the uh UPK lottery ends this week, so it's we still have several days of people to register, but right now we are at 110. that would leave us with probably a section less than we have this year at those numbers. So we would potentially be looking right now at less sections of UPK next year than we have this year. So that would fit with what you were saying, Mr. Henley. Thank you. Just one question uh that came up in reference to the CBA cases. I don't know if you want to address that. I know that window is closed for those to be filed. Uh right. Yes. And so the window is closed. So, um, under
051the current legislation, we can't receive any additional cases. So, right now, the answer is there will be no additional cases. However, you cannot foreclose the possibility, and I'm not saying it's a likelihood, but there's always a possibility that the New York State legislature, in its infinite wisdom, could reopen that window at some point in time. I haven't heard that that's going to happen, but just so you know, that's always a possibility. But right now, that window is completely closed for any new ones. any new ones? Uh there's probably some that are currently on the books that we where we'll be working through or I think we're we're I think we're done with all our cases. Okay. I just haven't lately. Okay. Okay. Is there any one more left? Two more. This Well, I'm sorry. We
052have two more. Two more. Okay. So, but then that's then that's it, right? And the some of these cases can go back just to reiterate 60s7s 80s. Yeah, we have cases going back to the 60s. Okay. All right. I mean, I'm talking, you know, statewide. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Just want to clarify that. And just uh again, I want to reiterate because I know that the revenue side of the forest came up again. If you could just revert to what I said earlier that it was a motion to move it to be more conservative because we're still working through the details of UPK. There's a lot of things that go into that. Um but the the return on the revenue will be back to the balance. Okay. Statement of residence. This time, residents wishing to share
053a statement. Oh, new new business. There's none. Make sure. Oh, you wanted me to say Okay. New business? None. Okay. Anybody have anything to new business or? Well, I jumped. I'm sorry. Uh, anybody have new business? No. Good. Okay. Uh, statement of residence. This time, residents wishing to share a statement should come forward to the microphone, state their name, their address, any organization they may be representing. Residents will also write their name and address on the index card provided and presented to the interim assistant superintendent for finance and operations prior to giving their statement. Please be aware matters relating to individual students or employees cannot be discussed at a public board meeting. Residents will be given up to three minutes to share their statement. The statement of residence is scheduled for 15 minutes. We will
054record your statement and questions presented by the residents. At the conclusion, all statements of residents will be responded to if they can be answered in full. For questions requiring further research, responses will be provided at the next meeting. Okay. I think that paragraph is longer than the actual statement, but I have time to write. Jennifer Johnson, 14 Dear Field Court. Um, I don't have a prepared statement, but I just wanted to address the gifted and talented program. Um I'm not sure if you're doing bringing that back what we had years ago, but that program in order to get into the program or accepted into it, we gave a test called the ELSAT. We haven't given that in at least a decade. That test actually sort of excluded kids who were ENL in special education. So
055that's why we kind of switched over to well not us West Babylon, but in general school districts switched over to an enrichment. So, I just wanted to clarify that it wasn't going to go back to a G&T like we had in the 80s and 90s. And um with regard to linewise, I'm switching over. I looked at the website. Um it does recommend that the school district and the parents work together on having the Chromebooks um evaluated, and I kind of recommend that you might have a policy or or something put into place as to how these Chromebooks are being evaluated by the school district. So when they are red flagged the parents are told about it and that you have some sort of policy for red flagging the students with the linewise and that's it
056those two. Thank you. The um the gifted and talented I guess maybe at some point once we know we have established that for next year we'll do we'll do a more formal uh kind of overview if that makes sense. Yeah. So I think uh when we start to look in the history of WB there was a G&T program that people remember is very different that was an uh before the school program that students had to take a specific uh recommendation and a specific test to be a part of that program and then and that's not what we were technically uh thinking of uh what we were referencing to and that may be what some of the um community members may have questioned tonight. So, uh, obviously once we have the program up and running, we
057will communicate accordingly and make sure that, uh, we provide a presentation, okay, to update the community so they know what the program is. Okay, great. Anyone else? Okay, well, I need a motion to adjurnn. Anthony, John, all those in favor? Okay, that's it.