Board of Education Meeting 04-23-25

001Good evening everyone. Welcome to uh the horse's board meeting of April 23rd. Would you please stand and honor America and join me in reciting the pledge? I pledge algiance 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. All right. May I have a motion to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of discussing tenure reviews? Second. All in favor? I opposed. Abstensions. All right. Our intent is to be back by 6, maybe earlier. Good for you. Christine, how are you? I think you're doing everything right now. Good evening everyone. Uh we are returning from executive session and now we will open the public session of our regular business meeting and continue our budget discussion. So uh

002first order of business, we've already uh done the pledge prior to going into executive session. So I need a motion for approval of minutes 2 01 through 2.04 second curiosities discussion comments um the March 13 I will no that I don't have the thing in front of me so I'm assuming all dates together so you're going to vote no on 2.01 1, which is the March 13th one. My computer's not working. Okay. But but that's the one you want to vote no on. March 13. Yes. Okay. That's 2.0. I didn't break that. And I'm the same. All right. Call a question. All in favor? I oppose. We have the two came to resource those abstensions. All right. Next, we uh open it to uh community questions and comments. And it's my understanding we do have

003somebody that wishes to speak tonight. So before you do speak, I need to uh say a couple of words. Um this period will last for 30 minutes unless the board wishes to extend the comment section. Those who wish to comment um please stand uh at the designated microphone, state your name and address, adhere to the five minute uh rule for speaking and follow board of education policy 2370 which you can see in its entirety if you uh take your smartphone and snap your computer. All right. And lastly, it's not this is designed for the public to comment, but not to really be a conversation back and forth between the board and speaker. All right. Thank you very much and welcome. Thanks. Uh my name is Angie Finley. I live at 10 circle and a member

004district. Um the last time I was here to speak, I asked the board and administration to consider adding coaches to the unified bowling teams for next year. And I had high hopes that my my held that I learned pretty quickly that there's a transparency issue in the room. I'm hopeful that the story I'm about to share with you enlightens the board and that you all were surprised as I was when I left the room and found out that the unified basketball teams also had a plan to be split with one coach each. Um, few individuals in the room knew that and didn't share it. They did not choose to be proactive. They chose to, I don't know, thank me for my comments and shake my and it would feel real good. When I left the

005room, I felt unheard and angry that my pleas were so quickly disregarded. In this circumstance, safety becomes a huge issue and a priority for me. I understand. Oh, I posted on the unified Facebook page to let the parents know the plan and encourage them to advocate and speak up. That move got action. After a lot of communication with Dr. Douglas and Mr. I once connected with Miss Kelly Squares. She helped create a plan that addressed my concern for safety and I want to publicly thank her for acknowledging my frustrations, explaining the limitations in the situation and working toward a solution. While we don't have what I consider true equity, being too coaches for each team, we do have supervision and support for each team. And that solution addresses my main concern for safety. I think

006all too often people complain but rarely give thanks and credit when it is due. So, thank you, Miss Wyers, for supporting the parents and unified athletes in ensuring safety and support for this upcoming season. I would encourage the board to expect transparency from the administration. If an issue is brought to the table and there's already information out there that can address the issue, I really think it needs to be brought fully to the floor at that time. So, thank you. Thank you very much. All right, moving along um to section five uh report from the superintendent or you going to go directly into the budget presentation? I think you all prefer me to go directly into the budget presentation. Correct. Yes, sir. Okay, thank you members of the committee, members of our viewing audience, ladies

007and gentlemen of the board. Tonight, the main part of the superintendent's presentation is the proposed budget. We met uh I think last on April 10th. You gave us direction. We appreciate it. As this board's budget is being developed. Tonight is the final presentation of those discussions and everything that you've given us direction on that ultimately will lead to a potential adoption that will go before our community because they made the final decision. Unfortunately, New York State budget, if you've been paying attention, they haven't been transparent at all. They haven't finished the budget. They said they were going to. Now they say they were going to get done last week, this week. It's in the next week and there's still no end in sight. So unfortunately that puts schools across the state at a very big

008disadvantage. They can't give you the best number and they have to go by most likely a lesser number than actually that they may see from the state. For us, we estimated could be anywhere from zero to maybe up to $200,000. that would have a definite impact on our budget. Uh but at this point because the state budget for school is currently not finalized, we can't included. So our numbers are what they were from the last last uh presentation. You all know and we have to remind everybody schools only have a few revenue resources. One is local and over the past several years our local revenue resources never kept up with the rate of inflation. That doesn't mean it all has to be on for the local, but if you want to maintain what you have,

009you have to keep up with the rate of your increases or the expectation community. Just over the past roughly 10 years, the rate of inflation has increased by more than 21.23% 23% of what we've been able to go by state law out with at a 50% vote. Last year the district had to go above that otherwise face extreme cuts. We changed our budget process and we heard from the community they want of course to stay very similar to where it is. That doesn't mean we have unlimited just to provide positions for any individual issue or program throughout any year. has been part of the budget discussion. In addition, we have a state foundation aid issue that they too have not kept up with inflation over the past 10 years, but theirs has come down a

010little. They have done some work on it over the past couple years. Hopefully, they'll keep up with it, but we're still missing revenue of about 8.27% for 20 2.3 million. If you notice between those two numbers, just by keeping up with the rate of inflation, we've had roughly about $12.4 4 million and we would not have a funding shortfall. We would actually have a funding surplus if we had to keep up with that. And no one's advocating that you have to, but you have to try to keep up with your year-to-year budget uh expectations and carrying costs. Our foundation a discreet from the state, you can look over the past several years was 3% 3% in the last two years it was 10% and 5%. And those were the only two years that they went

011over the rate of inflation. This year they're over the rate of inflation, but the amount that they're providing us is only 2%. You cannot keep up with a 3% expense growth on 2% of half of your aid. So something has to give. You either have to make reductions or the state is saying the community is going to have to afford whatever they want in their program. So basically we have to look at the budget as two pieces. A revenue program and an expenditure program. Really when you look at our budget we have a revenue problem not necessarily an expenditure problem. When we talk about revenue foundation aid, transportation aid, building a post aid and other aid actually decreased from last year. Now how can that be when the state's giving us additional foundation aid? Well,

012because they change all the aid categories and they make and control how much money the state spend. So for us, some is categorical, but if you look at this slide, the percent change is we're down 4%. In aid from one year over to the next. So that is what develops the tax levy, the tax levy projections as well as the need for revenue to support what we have here. The tax calculation is another thing that that sort of limits the projection of what a school district can do only by the mere statement that you need 50% if you stay at the 2% level which that's the law. Everybody thinks it's 2%. It's not. The yellow line shows we are at the 2% level. That requires us to raise 46 426887 for this year's calculation. And

013if you keep going, we're allowed to finally raise 51 357733. That's a proposed tax levy change of $3.537 million or 7.4%. That's what the state says we should be doing and it should only require 50% voter approval to move forward. Now, the hard part is that didn't cover our full budget cap, which is about $4.8 million. So, that's what's related to our revenues have to go to a tax cap challenge. It doesn't mean it bad. It means that if you give as a board to decide we're going to do what the community asked us to do from last year, which is to fund what we expect from the programs that we currently have to do that similar move this year. We have to raise that revenue tax levy and tax levy rates. The district and

014this board of education has ex actual exemplary track record. If you look up here from 1415 all the way to 2425, the tax levy rate was right around 1804 when I came in. It's now at 1594. People's assessments have risen because the value of the properties have been assessed by the state and local municipalities. I want people to understand this. It's not the school district that has anything to do with assessments. The assessment is what the fair market value supposedly is for your home. So if you added value or you increased value, your expectation is that you have to pay more property taxes to support the needs of that added value. Now does that always play true? No. Do you ever see assessments go down? Rarely, unless you challenge them. But the assessments in the

015area what's known as full market value and the column it's the fifth column over actual August tax rate per thousand is what the full market value rate is and you can see in 201920 it was at 1804 just like it was in 2015 16 but last year it's at 1594 and that's 10 years of budgets. the capital projects that have been here and the rate has not gone up above that 1804. It's been very much going down even with the capital projects which are built in based on aid and into the budget. That rate was projected to go up by $3 per thousand, but it never materialized because it's built into the budget and built into our capital and constructional operating cost. That's why we're at 1594. Not many districts can ever say they've done

016that. That's a great thing. And last year, remember when we challenged, we said most likely it was going to be 12 to $24 increase on full market value. Well, when August came, it actually was not 12 to 24, but it was a negative 44 per 100,000 reduction. That's because these individuals right here work with the offices, the assessors to try to give us the most conservative estimate of what our budget is going to have an impact on full market value. We will do that tonight. But you have to remember, we can only tell you what we think it's going to be. And that's why we're conservative now and in August we usually see a little better. We can't always promise that, but our trend has been that way because they take the most conservative approach.

017And I can't thank them enough. Even though sometimes I push a little bill and say, "Let's do a little more risky," they are still very much a team that works together to try to do the long-term best interest for the district, our students, and the school. summary of budget revenue so that you can see tax items, state aid, other revenues, appropriate infinite transfers, our debt service fund. Notice we were at 1 million last time. We've moved it to 1.3 because we have 3.1 and we're looking at a 50% reduction as we go. We feel that that's a comfortable number. It helps to bring the total revenues and the impact to 3.03% change. The average is around four, three and a half to four. So if you look back a lot of these, look at the

018percentages were in line. Last year was the abnormal percentage. So as you go through this, this includes interest, admissions, rental income, donations, and the recommendations for our future discussions. We we're at the end of this discussion. So this is our best plan as we come through the expense budget for 2526. We don't have an expense budget as long as everybody expects us to keep exactly what we have. There's a slight addition to this, but other than that, there's not much of an addition. We made major reduction of $5.5 million last year. The community was very supportive last year and we appreciate that to keep everything what's proposed in this budget includes. It remains staff and program strong. There is no reductions. It maintains all current educational programs in academics, arts and athletics based on current

019needs and enrollments and contractual requirements and the best guidance for any program that the administration addresses. In addition, we will have some continued sustainability of the summer learning academy. Previously, that was grant funded. We will still be enhancing our multi-tered system of supports to ensure that each elementary building after consolidation has appropriate social emotional, academic, and behavioral supports. This works by transferring some of our positions that we talked and hiring two interventions teachers so that each building of the three will have four RTI intervention individuals at each building which is stronger than we will outper allocating teaching assistance that were in those interventions to increase support primary grade levels. So we're not losing anything, but we're also trying to strengthen where we can from the resources that we have. And as we're going through a

020consolidation with this budget, this addition of one floating elementary assistant principal service three elementary buildings for the increased staffing needs as well as increased demands of the building to see how it's going. as we talked about last time. In addition, this helps that we build an allocation of about $20,000 curriculum work from the $ 160,000 that we previously cut. And last but not least, trying to ensure that as we go to three buildings, all students get similar educational opportunities with the roles they play at each of the buildings. So, that's what's really in the proposed budget. No losses. Uh but it does come as the board That's just the board budget to ask the community to support in response to their support from last year and their comments from last year. They people do love

021schools and they don't want to see reduction. There's not a single administrator that wants to reduce. But I also have to give the warning as we go through this. This is a summary of expenditures. But remember our revenues are 3.03. Our expenditures are 3.03 because they have to balance out. That's the only way. The only other way to balance them out is if there's not enough revenue, we would have to make reductions. So the budgetary gap, as you can see, is zero. 105 million expenditures, 105 million revenue. The budget includes tax increase of 3.5 million. ERS reserve, we move from 500 to 600. We know we had some discussions. We know that the projections for the end of this year, especially when we look at health insurance that we did not have that crystal ball

022last year allows us more flexibility at this point up to about 100,000 and we will utilize that for the benefit of the community and the budget. But at the end of the year, we always try to replace that and that's one of the things that we will strive for. Uh Elar reserve 200,000 other than that there's been no changes. fund balance a million debt service we increased from 1 million to 1.3 gap closing measures I had to cross off New York state aid that would have helped but unfortunately we can't rely on it they're saying you're on your own until they pass the budget we already crossed off everything and the board already made the decision on tax challenge at this point tax summary cap challenge you can see this was the information at our

023last meeting this is important at the last meeting challenge amount was 1.4 debt service was 1 million. Levy was 5175. The levy percent increase from year-over-year. Does not mean that that's how much people's taxes are going up. That just means the change from one year to the next 8.31 on that budget right there. If that was approved, the estimated rate, full value rate would change about 3.68. And that is the percent that impacts what people pay. And that estimated rate would have amounted to about 63 cents per thousand increase on full value for a home in Horses. That would have taken our full value tax rate from 1594 up to$,657. And the estimated rate increase on a $100,000 home, obviously 63 cents on $100,000 home is $63. That was as of April 10th and we

024said once you make your decision we will try to do the best that we could and build it even stronger position. My team finished up today with me as well in our discussions and the proposed budget tonight has a challenge amount of 1.291 million debt service use of 1.3. The levy is 51357. And so the levy increase that we were able to bring down to 7.4. In addition, the rate changed down from 3.68 to 3.03. We tried to get it below two. It's just financially we want to make sure we have options for next year as well and the year beyond with that service. In addition, the estimated tax rate change per dollar went from 63 cents down to 48 on a $100,000 home. $48 or less than $1 a week increase on a full

025value of $100,000. That tax rate goes from 1594 to642. And again, I have to make sure that you see the bottom line. These are estimated based on the information as of today. Final rates are determined in August. Our track record are we are very conservative versus what it will actually end up. So ladies and gentlemen, notice I just took off the last one. I don't want to confuse people. We'll put a red X online so people know. Okay, but see that meeting? That was what you guys were okay with. We said we'd bring it back. That's the final proposed budget. Just so that you know, the bottom blue line is that final proposed budget compared to everything else. So take a minute and look at this. The tax rate change is about 3.03. If you

026look at over the years, it's 1 2 3%. And those years that were red are negative. They were only negative because of the change between May and August. All of them tended to be about 1 2 3 4%. And then the final tax levy is what changed them. So we can only give the conservative estimate just like you can see the tax rate has consistently gone down. We're saying that it will be somewhere around 16 I think 1650 or something. U and what happens is in August that could be the same place slightly higher slightly lower or it could be right where we project we try to take the most conservative. So at the most conservatively we estimate the maximum on $100,000 house is 48,000 per year. Ladies and gentlemen 202526 budget vote proposition one

027adoption of 2526 budget. Shall the proposed budget of Horstead Central School District for 2526 in the amount of 1,500 $155,800,52 be approved in accordance with section 2022 of the education law and that the balance of said budget after applying public monies thereto be raised by the tax on the taxable property of said district. Adoption of this budget requires a tax levy increase of 3.5377077 million which exceeds the statutory tax levy increase limit set by the governor of $50 million and $50,66,480 for the fiscal year school fiscal year and therefore exceeds the state's tax cap and must be approved by the 60% of the qualified voters present. That language has to be there because it's basically saying we can't accept 50%, we must have 60%. So that's the law. It doesn't mean it's good or bad.

028It just means that's the requirement to pass that budget. Proposition two is purchase buses. This requires only a simple majority. Shall the board of education work at Central School District be authorized to one acquire bus school buses at a maximum aggregate cost of $1.9 million. Two, expend such sum for such purpose. Three, levy necessary tax therefore to be levied and collected in annual sums in such years and in such amounts as may be returned by the board of education taking into account state aid and for in anticipation of the collection of such tax issue bonds and notes of the district at one time or from time to time to the principal amount not to exceed 1.9 million and levy a tax to pay the interest of set obligations when due. This is in a bonding

029situation. So that proposition requires a 50% vote and it is offset largely by our reoccurring bonds and payments. In addition 25 26 board of education vote members of the board of education vote up to three or write in the names of someone else you would like on the school board. Candidates in the order their names will appear on the ballots. First, Daniel Christmas. Second, Cara Sheen. Third, Matthew Fineberg. Fourth, Nicole Takiri White. Fifth, Angie Finlay. Sixth, Liz Del Wheeling. Seven, Mary Joe Glenn. A candidate forum will be held Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 at 6 p.m. the high school auditorium. Format will be similar to past years, but we are also putting out a sample for questions from the public. You just have to go to our website. That will be also included in our Ladies

030and gentlemen, that is the budget that you asked us to present. The board should be ready for budget adoption at this point. Any questions? I just I just want a little clarification from the last meeting. How many TAs and teachers do we have this year in all four buildings? What do you think? Just tell me. So we have currently total 10 RTI providers in our um four elementary schools. So this is not going to be the is that includes TAS and reading teachers. And then TAS we have nine. So we have a total of 19. Yes. Okay. So, and then next year for the three buildings, there's only going to be 15. We will have 12 instructional RTI teachers of the three buildings and their teaching assistants, I think, but it's one. So, while you're

031the quantity is what you're referring to, a TA is not supposed to work in tandem and with the support of the teacher. This allows us to have both the level service as well as what should be the additional students because of the number of of the teacher can take on. Again, a T is not supposed to have a course load of students themselves. They're supposed to support a teacher in their work. They do not provide first level instruction. Okay. Because I was thinking that they're same number of kids, but they're spread over three buildings that you're actually having less people. or increasing the teaching instruction. Okay. So, you're doing it differently next year. Yes. Okay. I wanted to clear that up in my brain. I had these numbers. They didn't add up to me. Okay.

032Thank you very much for that. Okay. Yeah, I have a question. I have a couple questions. So, you're saying that the $48 that increase is per 100,000. So, if you have $150,000, you're saying your tax could go up to 7 to 72 because you're adding dividing and adding. So, you could see an increase of $72. I can only give you something that people can draw in from. Yes, you have more posit but it could be if and you're saying that last year it ended up that we were actually at a negative 44. See now when I was looking at this today this makes me feel nervous because as a person when I get my tax bill my tax bill went up quite a lot last year. your assessment, right? I understand that people may not

033always, like I think I've said this before, say, "Oh, no, it's not the school district's fault." They just say a tax bill went up and then they blame the school district. Um, so if I can add the reason why 44x now we're looking and adding $4. So this makes me feel worried. But let me let me back up to this. Yeah. And also get to this point that when you said people will sit there and say my tax bill went up and it's not the school or the assessment. That's why I said earlier we have nothing to do and we cannot I'm glad we don't to say your assessments going up because just imagine if we did we could raise everybody's assessment. That's not how it's meant. We are only the purveyor of the rate

034in the program. We actually do not raise assessments. We don't do anything. I mean officially the only people that are raising that 48 cents are the community members of courses. They have absolute control over. Now when you see the 48 you can't really look at that ne I mean 444 from the year before. You can't look at that because remember that this is supposed to be $24. Yeah. So, we're about double from last year. Do you see what I'm saying? But that 24 turned into a - 44 because our 24 was our most conservative estimate. 48 is our most conservative estimate right now. And the reason why it went up is we used more debt service last year to offset that. We can't keep sustaining that. You try to get to a sustainable point that

035hopefully you can offset your budget through attrition over time which we know we have some attrition possibilities coming more breakage possibilities coming in a few years. We just don't know when that major hiring from 30 40 years ago starts to phase in but we have feelings is in the next couple years. So what happens is if that never materializes sooner or later the board and the community is going to have to make this decision again and say do we want to keep what we have or do we want reduction. No matter what sooner or later either you're right sizing or your right revenue because we don't really have an expenditure problem. We have a revenue problem. The expenditures meet everybody's needs. The revenues don't. There's only a couple places, grants, federal, state, and local. The

036federal, you know what they're doing? Nothing. The state, they haven't done anything. And matter of fact, they're decreasing in savings more on the local community. And so the grants are only if we account. So the only revenue source we have is local and local will determine whether or not they'll support it or not. And if they choose not to, then what happens? this reduction will be the outcome no matter what. That's one of the things after we get through the discussion I have to go over what are the possible options for the board if this is successful if this is not successful. Yeah. So I mean when I'm looking at that and the in between like I I said I understand that it's not going to be I know it's not you guys and all

037of your hard work and everything else. I understand that um assessments go up and it's not within the control of of us per se, but the the perception of if everything keeps going up and I think it's just going to be this trend for a while, people tend to not be as um forgiving with wanting to continuously pass challenges. Um and then the in between I know that we had said you know brings us back a budget with and with that assistant principal built into it but a lot of the feedback that I got from the community was not happy about that. So I think that we should retract that from this budget and not add that in um because I am very worried about that and with all this. So, I just wanted to

038be able to give that feedback and then Well, let me address that. Just so you know, just because I'm remembering numbers, just so you know, the different but the difference will be it will be $45. $45. I think if we took that out, I think it's roughly going to be $45 per $100,000 home versus 48. Yeah. Right. I I'm just recalling I understand. I think it's just the perception of the newsletter of seeing that and I I just feel worried. I'm giving my honest feedback of what I've heard from people. So that's what I can do. Um, and then I also do feel very nervous about I understand what you're saying with you know consolidating value and having the teachers but I do feel nervous about personto person ratio when it comes to having the

039um kids with teacher I mean yes they are going to have more teachers um but I do think you know teacher assistant even if they're not is necessarily like a a teacher per se. Having that one-on-one or a lower ratio of a student to person I think is also better. So we would I will tell you we would all love it. I know there I understand and I just wanted to be able to share my feedback. So that is my feedback. Thank you. You guys decide So, um, so just a couple comments. You know, I I've been around the board for a long time and, you know, there's always concerns every year and and we're always trying to estimate. Um, I I will say um this is one of the best budgets that I've seen

040um from a really looking at it really really closely, looking to see where we have all the opportunities. Um you know we saw the early slide you know we are so far behind in what we should be given from the state right and so we have nothing else to do but to make that up here locally and the fact that you know we're going into this into this you know we ended last year at a at a rate of 1594 which is lower than any districts around here right and and I know that everything is going up so and so even though it's 1594 if your assessment has gone up and your property value has gone up. That's great for the future, but it's not hitting our pockets today. And I and I 100% understand

041that. I I feel the pain as well. Um but in the grand scheme of things, no matter where you choose to live, you're going to get hit like that and we are the lowest around here. Um and and my concern is that we also need to keep up with with our facilities, with our education, with making sure we have the right staff. Um because if if not, then we're also going to lose people, potential people who would be coming into the district. So, as people look to move into this area, you know, particularly people that have families, they're looking to the districts and they want to move to where the best school district is. Um and yes, they're going to get the financials and they're going to look at the academic programs. But if we

042get to the point if this if this budget were not to pass and we had to start cutting, then in the long term, people are going to not move here, which is going to decrease all of our property values if we don't see the growth. Um, and so, you know, I think it's it's looking at the big picture as well. And I know that doesn't always sit easy with people because it's it's impacting their pockets today. And I I 100% get that. Um but this is, you know, this is the heart of our community is our school district and and maintaining that high level of academic excellence. Um getting our facilities into the into um you know, a desirable mode, you know, because when you go to look at all the other districts around here,

043they all have the bells and whistles. and and I and I think we're doing the minimum of those bells and whistles, but we're we're doing the best we can to to get up to that same level. So, I just want to applaud everybody who's worked on this because I do know, you know, this this is really incredible work. Um and I you know yes I don't want to see it you know that rate go up but I am confident um that this is this is conservative and it you know we will see a lower and always have I understand I understand that's just my prediction. It's my it's my opinion and my in my prediction um not really knowing what that would be, but I think the fact that we were able to add in

044the things that we added in to really help the students. Um and I I think that's important. I do, you know, I am a little cautious about um you know, I've said in multiple meetings that I was in favor of the three assistant principles versus the one. Um I think one is better than none, but I am cautious on how that's going to work. um you know and how that is all going to logistically happen. So I think that's going to be a challenge um for you guys to figure out. Um but I I think you know I'm I'm happy that there's going to be at least something and have and have that support. Um so overall I'm I'm in favor of this and you know and I hope that um the community really can

045see beyond um you know the the potential increase. They can see the value to the community. Um, I agree with what Christine said and I know I was an advocate earlier for three vice principles, but I just feel that that was part of our budget this year. It was stated in the newsletter. new administrators. I think that will be very difficult for some people to accept. So, I'll go with the one hoping that it's going to work out. See how things go maybe in the future. Um, we could do that at three. But I I have another question. It really doesn't have to do with budget. It has to do with the candidates forum. Could you just explain what the format is going to be? Said it could be a little different. Yeah. the the

046format of the night will not really be any different. Everybody will be in their order. Questions will be asked in order and then the rotation of goals first will step through the order and then recycle back. They'll have an opening in one minute, closing in one minute and so forth. Our board meetings are long. This meeting may have to run a little longer just because of I know last year we had number of candidates and only 30 seconds doesn't give much time to answer. So we may send it a little uh we have to be mindful of everybody as well but what happens is we have our standard questions and we will ask those but last year we were asked several times why can't we ask some questions so we had to also protect individuals

047that are up in the front of the questions you send in the questions we try to get general themes that's what our community information specialist does and we try to make sure questions are fair enough for all the hands of not incorrect. So, individuals in the audience will not be able to they can submit them. They will have the ability to submit it before but we'll have an electronic way that they can submit them before as well as if they're there. The questions will already be there. They can submit it and it might be one of the questions that are already asked or it might modify a question of how we ask to try to make sure that we're not asking the same question, similar questions over and over and over. Sure. [Music] So, I

048I agree as well with my fellow board member, Mrs. Dale. I think I'm very strongly in favor of this budget. I think that it's compelling the fact that our state aid is negative. last year. It's like not getting a raise. Not only not getting a raise at work. It's like our salary was reduced, right? And yet we're still required um you know to deliver the program that the community wants to receive. And we heard last year what that was loud and clear. And we already have the lowest tax rate in the area. We've been very careful with the spending increases year-over-year to 3% keeping them as minimal, primarily contractual. So to me it feels like we've been as a district as responsible as possible in terms of being good stewards of the taxpayers's money. But

049we can't we simply can't impact the the aid side of the revenue equation. And so the only other option we have is to be uh as mindfully as possible to increase the the tax. And we've I think it's you know when we started at the 2% the 2% levy would have been 7.4 and we're at 7.4 for by use of other resources like the district I'm sorry the taxpayers's money and debt service right so we use every arrow in our quiver in a very responsible way to try to minimize that tax burden as much as possible but ultimately seems to me that in order to maintain the programs that our community wants this is this is the option we have and it is true as Christine said, you know, the if an assessment goes up

050that that impacts what you pay in taxes, but that's not the district's districts that have anything to do with that. And frankly, it means that you are at least on paper wealthier because you have a more valuable asset in terms of your home. So I think it's a very well reasoned and um you know budget that is trying to minimize the impact on people while at the same time maintaining our programs. You know we'd all like more of various aspects but all that comes at a cost right and to me this is striking the right balance between what we want to deliver for students and in terms of the additions we made without cutting. And so I certainly hope that through all of our communications the public will understand these factors and you know we'll

051come out to vote on May 20th. But you know from my standpoint I think I commend Katie and everyone for the work that went into putting this together and I'm strongly in favor of going forward with this budget. And if I could say because you made a very good point Mr. Our initial budget for the tax is 7.47. So we're actually with all the tools lower than that. So if you think about it at 50% we would have to make cuts now without making the cuts were lower than where we were at 50%. But this is the thing in New York. We were now required a 60% vote. And that's one of the things that resonated last year. People understood we're actually lower than what we would have normally done at 50%. But remember all

052those cuts and that's also important to know because if the board adopts this it's then really the board put out its budget you you met your requirement the community then weighs in. If the community supports it goes through at 60%. If the community is 59.9, it fails and then the board is going to have to meet again and we are going to have to as administration bring back every one of those cuts that you saw last year and more. That's not to put it out there as a threat. That's just the reality because if the community says no, the board really only has a couple decisions and you got to do it in a short time. You could put up another challenge, the same challenge. You put up a little less challenge, right? You could

053go back to the 2%, which means we'd be putting on a 7.47% levy for 50%. It will have $1.2 million in reductions. Or you could say we're just going to go to contingent. We're not going back out. That would require about $4.8 million in reductions. And that's exactly the story last year except we were looking at six and seven million. Do you see what I'm saying? So the budget is exactly what you're saying. But the one worry I have is nobody knows because last year everybody knew the practical implications because we let people know. We do the budget a little differently. Now it's really the community decides. Do you want us to bring those those reductions back? And if you do and the budget's defeated, most likely the court is going to say, "We're not

054going to be challenged. We're going to go out 2% or even lower." And whatever that number is, we will bring you the cuts and there is no real discussion about it. Those are the cuts. I hope we never have to do that, but I can't make the determination. Hi team. I wanted to say thank you for the budget work. It was it's incredible work and it's hard. So um I really do appreciate that. I have a question on slide 16 challenge page. Yes. Can you bring that center? Thank you. So, we're looking at the debt service use line. Um, I understand why we brought $300,000 over, but how is that decision made? That decision is made by looking at our debt service, what we have projected at the end of the year. And I like

055to use a 50% 50% 50%. Last year we did 2 million. That's why we came out at 100. We had to look at what can we carry out over a 3 to 5 year period. to make sure we still have the ability to cover our last year that is within our realm of what we feel we can do and still have more for the following years and that's where with some minor adjustments for premiums where we add money in but that's where I will tell you I challenge them from 1 million to 1.7 right because my job is to try to pass the budget ultimately we have to look at the rules the regulations how we try to make money for the district and so forth. That's the number that we felt most comfortable with

056at this point. So if state aid comes through Yep. and we have more to we will not change anything that stage 1.3 because if state aid comes through we'll have more money but we don't get to spend that more money. It ends up being surplus at the end of the year which for us is not bad because we don't really have have a history of surplus. So that's the that's the casualty of the legislators not getting the budget done. But hypothetically, we could say, "Oh, we think we're going to get 200,000. They give us a,000 and now our budget's $199,000 short of money, but we said we're going to spend." So we can't play that game. Got it. Okay. Um okay. So I appreciate all the work your teams put into this as well. Um

057this is my first year going through this and um honestly the process was very smooth. So thank you all for that. Um I have a I have the same question that Michelle asked about the debt services. So thank you for answering that. But then um I do have a concern about the challenge um and the 60% that we'll have to achieve. Um and going back to that cures for that um my I think I would feel more comfortable presenting something without that additional admin in for this coming budget. I know it's only a three cent difference. Um and three cents isn't a lot. I recognize that. But it's um if people are looking at and saying we told them we didn't want additional hire. We want to maintain what we have. We don't want to

058see taxes go up. Um I think it might go over better if we didn't have that added in this year. And I know that's going to be a hard thing for the um principles at the elementary schools to not have someone. Um but I think for myself, I would feel a little bit better being a little conservative with that hiring and not rushing to do it in from the budget side and really looking at saying, "Hey, we're at4 and for a little bit. We love hearing what you're saying. So, no, I will tell you that's why we asked that question the last time to make sure the board and I do believe the board unanimously said includes so that's why we build the budget that way. Understand to rebuild it tonight. You're only going to

059be waiting two to three hours. I understand that if that's what the board decides. Uh I can tell you also that the community may not realize I think they do realize last year we made a reduction of three level administrative position. We were already pretty much the lowest administrative per capita per student of the subtier districts. Those three reductions made us even lower. This is not a district level and those were primarily district levels. So this is more building level support. That's the best thing I can tell somebody if I'm out when I'm talking to you. I'm going to tell them. Um I'm not here to advocate for more administrative positions. I'm here to just say what are the needs and what the board has asked us to do. So I'll give that to the

060board. Um I won't point but I do um agree with my colleagues who are fully in support of the budget as it stands. Um team you did an amazing job and it was awesome to see this shift in the way that we did it and it really was smooth this year. So I really appreciate that. Um but I will be in favor of the budget as it stands right now. Um just back on the on the um addition of the administrator. I think it is it is really important to really emphasize last year at this time how many administrators we had across the district and through attrition through through roles and and things like that. What that net changes right because that net change is negative. Um, and it's also I think it's not really

061adding another administrator at the elementary level. Um, we're going from four school from from four schools each with a main principal down to three schools with three main principles and an assistant principal, right? And so I I think that what really needs to be emphasized is that that net change in overall administration. Um but then also the fact that the um the student to to principal at the elementary level ratio, right? Right. And so you know I think those are important things. It's not just we're adding an administrator. Right. And and I um I think there's there's a lot of explanation that needs to go into that. So, you know, as we're talking, as people are asking us questions about it, you know, we we have the the community forum um different opportunities. I think

062there and even if there's an opportunity to put that in the newsletter, oh yeah, four pages. Um so, but like to make that really clear that it's we're not we're not increasing overall. Um I also, you know, last year when we were going through the budget, um you know, we had to have these meetings in the auditorium because we were getting tons of people coming to every meeting and coming up and voicing their concerns. Um and yes, we all might hear things in the community, but we have not seen people coming voicing their concerns, right? Um and and I think um you know, I it doesn't mean that the concerns aren't out there. Um I also, you know, I I would be really disappointed if all of the sudden we had this, you know, resurgence

063of no, we're going to vote the budget down when there was there was nobody coming to to really talk about any concerns that they had because we've been having these meetings over and over and over again for for a few months. Um, so just I I will tell you like I was a superintendent do this in the first year right up against the government in the government back. It wasn't easy. There was a lot of staff layoffs at that time and it raises the tenure of everybody and what they want. At that time the community would come out and say we want you to stop cutting this is enough. Tell us what you need. That made that vote proudly successful. Last year my experience was the way we did it. We be straight forward and

064let people know it raises the tener, brought people out. We had one of the highest low totals last year because of that. Not necessarily because of the viewpoint one way or another, but because of the fact people had to decide really did they want the reduction or not. And if they didn't want the reduction, they had to vote one way. If they did want the reduction, they voted another way. The vote was handled and and it passed this year. What concerns me, there's not a lot of tenor out there. But tonight's meeting is hopefully going to help people understand because I have to give the board the warning. I've already sort of given this is what will happen if it's successful. This is what will happen. You heard me say it. If it's not successful,

065pretty much the cut from last year would be re-engaged and we have to cut a little bit more. If we went contingency, we would have to cut 4.64.8 million. It's like a prescription. Uh we can't have equipment, different things. Nobody can use our facilities, different things like that. So, it changes it. But that's just the rough figure. I do believe in our newsletter, we've got to do a question answer so people understand what is the positive, what is the negative. We can't tell them which way because that's not our role. So that is one of my concerns right now and I will tell you no districts ever done two years ago. I know this was just said a few minutes ago, but I think it's really important that in our communications in our newsletter, we

066stress uh the nature not only how our administrative ratio has gone down and where we're, you know, where we would be with this ad, right? But I know administrator is sort of like a dirty word. It's like in the corporate world where I work, it's, you know, managing, right? like it's easy to see as a target. But we're not talking about a person that's going to sit at a desk, you know, with their feet up and and sit at the funeral. We're talking about a person who's going to walk around the halls of an elementary school building that's going to deal directly with teachers, deal directly with students, deal with school resource officers, meet with parents, plan special events, oversee teachers. Like we are talking about someone who's the lifeblood of a school building. They

067are an administrator, sure, but they are so much more than that. And if and if the community unfortunately seized on the word administrator and voted against this budget, it would be the most quintessential uh example of biting off your nose to spice your face that I that I could think of. Right? And I'm not trying to be condescending. I just we really need to understand we are adding a resource to support this transition in our elementary school program and that resource will be doing all of those important things that happen in elementary schools. And so I just think that's something we really want to make sure we communicate um and make clear so that people see the value that will bring at this minimal cost. think that's your personal opinion about a voter's determination, but

068that's your statement as a board member as well. So, we've got to be very careful that we can't guide whether they should vote for it or against it. And I know that wasn't your intention uh just because for the record. Uh but I hear your point in the newsletter. We will try to help people understand that. I will say no administrator sits behind their desk but the key point every administrator is an educator. Yes. Yes. And what I meant was we heard and we talked about it in the last meeting there is a risk might it be a risk as to whether or not the budget would pass because of the addition of an administrator. My point was I think it's important we communicate the nature of what that ad is to offset that concern.

069Sure. I have a comment going back to the candidates for you know Maryanne had kind of started off with that conversation. Um, but I would like to advocate um, first of all, I want to say I think it's great that the community is going to be allowed to put questions in, but I would also I think I heard you mention expanding the amount of time that candidates can speak. I know that we have seven running and that's a big amount, but I think the time is worth it. Um, I feel like in in the past folks have just started to get going and a question when the time is up and I would really like to advocate for more time for them to we'll see what we can do. I mean we have tried the

070community sort of survey questions before and the last time maybe we got one question so we had to pick all the other questions up. Um I don't know what it would be like but really the number of questions and different themes is what really try we try to use the predicate how much time based on the number of people you had four and you got 10 questions hey that's no problem when you got seven and you got 40 questions but I think we have to be mindful of that you know I think we need to be aware of the fact that this is being recorded that people can go back and rewatch but I think people need the opportunity to be able to to have their voice heard and to be able to speak up.

071One minute of introduction, you're like, "Hi, my name is so and so and I live here." Right? And then when you get into a question and you start to get into the meat of them, their time is up and is over and they've barely scratched the surface of what their viewpoints are. And I know that I would like to hear more. see what we can do. I don't want to repeat all of the comments for those that support uh the budget. I'm in support of what the work has been that the administrative team has done. But I would like to emphasize a point that uh Christine brought up when she was speaking and that is of all of the districts we compare ourselves to, we have the lowest tax rate. And so the the community

072is getting a great deal and I think we need to emphasize that. I know nobody likes to pay taxes. I think um my history background says um Cardinal Vishu from French history uh said that taxing is like plucking a feather from the goose. You want to get it out without squawking. So hopefully we can get money without the goose squawking. But I think this is an excellent budget and I think you've done an outstanding. Um yeah, I just wanted to kind of say again what you were saying. The tenor is much different this year than it was last year. The tenor of the world is much different than last year. There's a lot of things that are different. And so that's why I'm a little and you know, I raised my hand. I said, "Yeah,

073I did that administrative position, but I have a lot of people who give me feedback and because we don't have people coming here, I think it's important as a board member to share the feedback that we're getting, you know, because I am I'm nervous about happy. I I agree with everybody. It's a very small amount. I think that a building administration person is very important. I I did say that last year and the things they do. I don't think they, you know, with one of the assistant principal positions that were being that was being, you know, maybe cut from last year's budget, but I'm nervous and I'm much more nervous this year that we'll have to I'm nervous that this is the straw that might break the camel's back. And I don't want to see

074that. And the reason I am nervous is again because I grew up here and it was austerity. And I don't know where that tipping where that breaking point is. I just don't want to I'm just very nervous. So I want to be able to voice that concern because it's a real one. Anything else before I finish? Um this is on the candidates forum just to kind of piggy back. Um, I know it could be risky. Um, but I feel like when there are people in the audience listening, when they listen to some answers, it might prompt them to have a question, right? And so if there were a way to be able to take questions from we have blue cards that we've used before but I will tell you the reason why you don't just

075take questions from the floor is individuals can come and target an individual or others and that is a very real thing. So we need to have some type of semblance of control and protection for the candidates that are there. I'm not saying anybody would be mean, but we know that that could happen. So, if anything follow up like that, we would have people, it's probably going to be Harry and I, but our students run it. I'm not putting our students in front of that situation, but if we can help by followups, we would have no problem trying to do that. Yeah. I I I just think, you know, hopefully it gets Yeah. And being a part of it last year, too, the you know, not only was the time short answer, but the overall time

076of the form was was short because there wasn't a ton of questions and and I think um the the the questions that we had was so generic um that it was really hard to kind of really get into what does this candidate believe and what are their points and stuff. So um I do encourage us to look for ways to enhance that. I know Sam is back here for obligations. Okay. Sorry, I did forget to make a comment on that. When I ran, they did have people ask questions that year. They came up and the community members came up and asked I think directly or they had a card. No, they had a card. They had a card and they Yeah. So, we did Yeah. We did point we did sort of that um modification

077of some of the wording if it was like we had some questions that were directed for one candidate. We can't do that because that's not fair to the other candidate and it could be the targeted question to put the candidate on the spot and yet the other candidates still get a chance to answer. So we try to use it with a professional decor that we wish everybody would use out there. It's not a debate. It's more but I think that format will be sort of similar. Okay. This is the first time I've been shorter than you guys. I've been sitting here deciding whether or not I should say what I'm feeling and have you thinking about a lot. Um and I don't I'm going to pref it by saying it's not personally directed at a

078and nervous about things. So, I hope you take this the right way. You are the matriarch of your family and we we we've been friends for a long time and we still are. But I have a little problem with the idea if one individual on our four candidates list is elected, we're going to have three people from the same immediate family on our board. Which means when it comes to a vote, onethird of the vote, 9500 is going to be for members of the same family. And I just find that a little unnerving. And it's not correct. I mean, it could be Christine's family, Dan's family, Aaron's family, my family, but I I just I'm uncomfortable with it. for the floor. So, well, ladies and gentlemen, like I said, I have to remind everybody of

079the dates. There will be a public hearing on budget at 6 p.m. at the high school auditorium. We do live stream it. We really would appreciate people coming out. Uh, and it would be recorded like everything else that we do because I hate to say it, you always hear the word transparency. We're the most transparent district in the entire southern tier. We're the only ones that started our budget presentation 3 months ago. We're the only ones that regularly live stream our our board meetings, have our discussions, handle everything. Anything that is out there, we try to put up as much as possible. So, we had that question last year over and over and I hope people understand we try to do it for everybody. Uh, so on Wednesday, May 14th is the board of education

080candidate forum night. That's going to be as transparent as possible and thank you for your things. That will be live streamed and recorded. And in addition, one thing we can't do is live stream the vote. Uh, it's just a problem. But, uh, the budget vote election of members of the board of education will be between 7 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Uh, here at the high school, unfortunately, this part of the building will be going through construction at that point. So, we have moved it from the south gym to the north gym. Same exact location, just to drive a little farther down. Well, Mike and everybody will have that all set up so people know where they're going. So, as long as you hit come like you would normally be regularly coming to vote, you'll be

081directed right where to go. So, it should not be anything uh of too much of a we will see students at lunches and so forth, but they like seeing everybody come in too. So, those are some of the district events. Again, on Tuesday, May 20th, if the vote is successful, we move forward. If the vote is unsuccessful, we will have a board meeting, I think that Thursday, and the board will be forced to make some decisions rather quickly. There will be some special meetings. If it was unsuccessful, we will be bringing forth all the potential reductions and everything we added obviously is removed. We are doing that. So, we I can only say I hope we never have to face that situation. But ultimately, if the board approves the proposed budget tonight, you have done

082your fiduciary responsibility. You have done one of your two major obligations and then it's up to the community to ultimately decide the decision of the district because ultimately they're the only ones that can decide the financial. So, I commend you for your steadfast work over three months to get to this point as well as your guidance and your discussions. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you. We're ready to move forward. Mrs. Marski asked a wonderful question. At the budget hearing, do I do this whole thing over again? Yes. There's actually more because we have to sort of regurgitate the whole process in case people know because we're giving the full thing. Some of the slides will be a little different but for the most part a lot of them will be there. I will tell you if

083we have a lot of people here we'll go through the whole thing. We have no one here. We'll go through sort of a annotated version and then also tell please refer to all of our websites because everything we've done is online. No other school district does what we do. So, and that's because but it's without board discussion. Yeah. A budget hearing is just to hear from the community on what's been approved by the board. There is no changing of the budget at that point. It's just the community position. Hopefully they were doing it through. Sorry, got to do All right. So, this is going to be really quick. um you see in your board docs, this presentation as well as the proposed um board evaluation template. Um so I just want to run through um

084at a high level kind of what our committee did um the process we used the results we came up with and just some examples of how we made some changes. So the directive that we had from the board was to form a new board self-evaluation instrument for use during the 2425 school year. Uh the committee was Douglas um Liz, Aaron, Sue and myself. So we met four times um and the process we used so we reviewed the current board self-evaluation um template that we use. We removed items that were not appropriate or unclear. Um, one of the issues that we've had in the past is that when you're reading um the the different evaluation items, it was really unclear the question that we were asking and were we thinking about it as individual board members

085as a full board. So, we went through all of those and we did remove ones that we thought we we needed to remove. We also identified ones that were important but they needed a rewrite um to make it to make it more clear. We also reviewed the NISMBA self self-evaluation guidelines. Um so NISPA does have a template that they have out there for districts to be able to take from or or just adopt as is. Um remember everything that NISA puts out are really, you know, recommendations. They're not requirements. So we did look at the NISA template and we identified items that should be included in the horse meds for self-evaluation. In some instances, the NISVA um was very similar to what we had, but it was just worded better. Um and we really liked

086their wording better than ours. Um so we adopted that in the proposal. Um we also looked at the operational manual that we put into into place last year um because there was a lot of things in there that really talked about how we should um act as a board, how we should um do things as a board. some of it were was already reflected in our current evaluation but not all. Um and so we identified those items that we needed to add in. Um in doing all of that uh we we merged everything and when we merged everything we had, you know, like 20% additional items which we were like, "Oh my gosh, you know, I think Sue actually did the count um for us." Um so we we really looked at that and we

087consolidated where appropriate. We removed duplications because we had a lot of that. Um we also created a detailed rubric um for each evaluation item based on the Danielson framework for teaching rubric which is the first time I saw that. So we were really happy that Aaron brought that to us. Um so instead of answering questions as yes, no or I don't know. Um we actually will look at it through a rubric looking at it being on a one to four scale looking at unsatisfactory basic proficient and and distinguished. So, it gives us the opportunity to actually get a numerical scale um and and a final score for each of the elements and then we're able to be able to look at that data over time and look for trends um and and be able to

088see where we have opportunities for improvement. So, the results um we ended up with a proposed template with 43 evaluation items and four open-ended questions, which was down by two evaluation items and one open-ended question. So, we actually made a slight improvement on the number um but we also um really I think up the game by by putting in that um one to four scale. So, just an example um just so the community can see and people here in the room kind of what we're talking about um and how we took it to the next level. So, one of our current evaluation items was the district has the plans to maintain and update facilities. And the way we swerve that in the past was it was either a yes, no, or don't know. Um, and

089and really that the way that was worded was really the district. It wasn't it had nothing really to do with the board that the board had a responsibility there. So, we rewarded that to say that the board reviews the plan to maintain and update facilities with the district. And then we put in that rubric that there's no review of the plan, there's an occasional review, there's a regular review, and then there's a thorough and proactive review. Um, so that's kind of how we we evaluated all of the um the levels of rubric. Another example where we had a different type of scoring on the on the current one, the board of education provides for periodic review of finances, enrollment, programs, and capital needs. And the way that we would score that one in the past

090would be always, frequently, occasionally, never, or don't know. Um, my definition of frequently could be very different from Liz's definition of of uh of frequently. So, we wanted to really kind of have, you know, what are those operational definitions around all of those um different areas or levels of scoring. So, we revised that one to say the board engages in long-term planning in areas of finance, instruction, staffing, and capital needs. And then we we looked at, you know, a one would be there's no long-term planning. A two would be there's limited, a three would be that there's effective long-term planning. And then a four would be that there's comprehensive and strategic long-term planning. Um, in some of the the rubric for the items, um, we might say that it's, you know, it's none, it's um,

091it's some, it's most, or it's all. So, it gives us a little bit more of of a definition to allow us to really be able to score the item. Um, so those are just two examples. You see the full template um in your in your document. So, really our next steps is if any of you have any feedback um we're we're open and and welcome to take that feedback. We will then reconvene um for another committee meeting to evaluate any of the feedback and incorporate the feedback that you might have. And then we'll come back to the main meeting with that final version for adoption because then um we will then all be filling that out prior and and having the opportunity to review um an executive session um at our meeting. Any [Music] questions?

092Any anything else that maybe other committee members want to add? I I just want to highlight that I think the the four of us worked really really well together. Yes. Impressive how much we got accomplished in such a short amount of time. You laughed a lot too. Good. So, um I have a question or some feedback. I um when reading over this and then there are some questions um obviously I can't go through all of them or maybe you want me to or maybe I should email them um about some of the questions. It just seems very um some of them seem very pointed as if it's like people trying to give a score to an individual as opposed to the board as a whole. some of them. Um, the other thing that I thought

093would be very helpful is to have the old previous one, like when we get the first reading for policies, you can see what was taken out and what was changed. I don't know if you guys have that available to be able to review, but that would be something that would be very beneficial, I think. And I I um do like how you guys tried to make the shifts to give more of a breakdown um for it. And I I don't know if the only board comment section will be at the very end in those questions or if um there is like another option instead of like a one, two, three, and four. If there's like a comment section in the back for each of the questions if they if somebody wanted to be able to

094share feedback about that because maybe it's not a one, two, three, or four. Maybe it's a somewhere in between or you know. Um, but yeah. So, is there so so we really weren't trying to make it where an evaluation item would be directed at any one individual board member. Um, the discussions we had, you know, we were very deliberate in the words where we were in in some instances it was the board as a whole. In other instances we we said board members, right? Um and we we really aren't trying to target but um you know if we if we talk about you know board members do this then that's when you would say okay none of the board members do this some of the board members do this most of the board members do

095this all of the board members do this right um and again not not really trying to direct it but most of those we were trying to um align into our operational um document that we have Right. Um so you know if there's any specific ones that you that you think we need to look at to potentially change the wording um please let us know that. Um as far as the um having the ability to look back, you know, we we have an Excel spreadsheet that has multiple workbooks um on all the iterations that we made, right? Um, so we we definitely can. I'm not sure how easy it will be to follow. Um, I had some kind of crazy color coding going on in it. Um, that I think we all kind of understood at

096at the time. Um, but we we definitely put out there what the old version was versus the new version. Um, we did group things a little bit differently. So, we changed like the headers of the groups and we we try to do some consolidation. Um, and then so so we can definitely make that available. the other one around um uh adding comments. I think that's a great idea. Um I don't know if we would add comments after everyone, but maybe after every section, we can have an open field for comments and then just have in the instructions that you can because each item is numbered and you can just put in there, you know, if you have to comment on number two under board relations, then you can put your comment in that comment box.

097So, I think that would be a really easy ad to be able to do. So, I think that's a great idea. Thank you. Other committee members, you I don't want to speak for all of you. I think you summed it up how you worked with the committee. Um, you summed it up well and you did keep us on task and we definitely had discussions about different things and we changed different things. So, um, and it was like you said, board members or tried to put the right word in so it's not targeted at anybody when they fill it out. Yeah. I want to just thank the Liz, Aaron, Sue, and Christine for being on the committee. appreciate the time that you put in to try to help improve the board evaluation and I think it's

098a fantastic new format and the idea of using a rubric where we assign scores so that we can get a numerical value and see how that changes over time plus the options of you know never sum allows us to kind of differentiate out when before a yes no is a very binary response so I like the format now I'll reread the specific questions for any any feedback, but I I'm very thankful for what the committee did and I think it was great. Thank you. If if you do um excuse one second, Mary, um for those of you that do have feedback, if you could just send her feedback to Terry and then she'll she'll forward it to us and then um I would ask you to do it um by today's Wednesday. Um if you

099can send it in so we have it by Monday. Um so then we can schedule another meeting. There's a lot coming up with, you know, all the different budget hearings and canvas form, but we want to make sure that we get a committee meeting in so we can then bring the final version to vote um at the main meeting. Big thank you many years of doing the evaluation and this just sounds so much better and I know evaluations that I get to university, they use the rubric and it's so much easier to find the one that really means what you want to say. So, Anything else? I'll wrap up by saying I concur. I know I struggled with words like mostly frequently sometimes and as you indicated as you spoke for everybody that's frequently means

100something different. So I think it's much much much improved document. So thank you to the whole committee and thank you for chairing Christine. Absolutely. Like I said you know we all we worked together really well and we had a little bit of fun in doing it also. So all right great. Thanks. [Music] All right. So, moving moving to uh section six, which is the finance items for action. I need a motion on 6.02 through 6.52. Move second. Curiosities discussion comments change. I have a question on the change logs. Um on page number five for the additional sidewalks. Is there a big Scroll up and see is that 6.52 6.52. Yeah. And when you go into it, hang on. Those are big alterations. Yep. Owner request 34,000. Yep. Yes. that to expand 100 foot of sidewalk

101to aid in lessing and transportation for next year safety and security. Okay. But because there isn't a sidewalk there right now. Sure. Okay. Um so that was my question on that. And then also the new doors. Uh trying to think of the new doors. That's the new door, Chad. That's the new door for the u back entry into the library. Correct. or the new door into the loading docks that were rusting out. There's two doors on it that we actually have on there. One is behind it. It was a very old door and requested. It's between the entrance of the cafeteria and the new library. It's the only door in that whole section. We didn't do it. It stuck out like this time to put in the door. This the main corridor people walk through.

102Okay. That's just those are my two questions. Thank you. One of the things and they're good questions. I mean, one of the things is we've tried to take the man from the board, both Mike and I, uh, so that the community knows when we make these owner requests, we're trying to do the project right, not just do finish the project. So that might and I won't be here forever, but somebody comes in and says, "Boy, they stuck us down the road and not fixed something that we have the ability to." So whenever we do see some of those things and opportunities, sort of like a car in the road with the doors, we try to make sure that we enhance the environment for the long haul, not just for the short. Just one second. That's

103650. Do me a favor. Hit recycle everybody. Just because Warren doesn't have the proposed budget in might have got added. Just considering now that the board could the documents. Now, if you hit your recycle, what happens is, just so you know, the little half round thing up in the upper leftand corner by the menu bar. If you hit that recycle, it'll bring in to And what the reason for this is is because until the board says we're okay, we can't load the official number in there. And that's what was going on once we got through. Are you all set, Terry? So, if you've done the reload, you just go back in, go to the agenda, view agenda, and then go to 650. You should see the budget in there. 650 public cont. And then that

104has the line item budget in it. as it's been developed in the final budget and it has hey Katie it also has all the correct language for a challenge budget correct soc the language to calculain on 6.11 and 6.12. Call question. All in favor? I [Music] opposed. I suppose to 650 abstensions. I'm going to abain from 650. Moving to section 7, HR recommendation 7.02. Can I have a motion, please? Second. Inquiries, discussion, comments. I need to abain from um letter Y. I believe it was letter Y. Yes, letter Y. Is it letter Y? Yeah. I will abstain from letter Y also because my husband's retired from that from the bus. Uh sections JK um J1 Bachelor of Science in Progress. What are we talking here? Freshman up your senior graduate. just started. Not ready to

105graduate. Not ready to graduate. Oh, no. And um also K1 for grade four teacher. The other ones up above seems to have listed their degrees and such, but there's nothing listed for her. She's a certified teacher. Okay. All right. I will be voting no on J one. Call a question. All in favor? I we have the opposed. Yes. And any abstensions? We'd like to congratulate the transportation u unit of the AFL CIO on the ratification and agreement of funding their agreement that will be finalized through HR and we want to thank them for collective bargaining agreement of moving forward in best direction which was also already incorporated into the budget and I'd like to wish Kelly Tus as I'm sure the rest of the board a good um a long and prosperous retirement and uh

106enjoy your retirement. And I'd like to welcome aboard, although they may start at a later date, um our five new probationary appointments. Sarah Jika, did I say that correctly? Chica. Chica. All right. Nathan Wilencraft. Andrew, Andrew, Fidala, Christian Robinson, and Nicole Kissner. All right. Uh, miscellaneous items for action. I need a motion 8.02 through 8.07. Second. Curiosities, discussion, comments. Liz, I need I need to abstain from 03 call question. All in favor? Postensions. I wait I I missed something. I believe I had to abain from 8.04 and 8.05. I apologize. Actually those are are contractual rates or any and all collective you would receive benefit from along one two three four you don't so you wouldn't have to refuse from 8.04 but 8.05 You would you would you would Katrina so I need five to

107affirm that you get medical that's the long I just want to make sure everybody knows No count. I'm just trying to make sure I get you don't receive directly from us. It's just an appearance. I can't tell you that would be your choice. I don't think you would have to if you are not now covered by the PL and if they're not then you're not in a position. All right. So, all in favor of what? All right. But when I hit the extensions, we'll hit the extensions for 8.04 and 8.05 and three and three and three. All right. So, maybe you should do the abstensions first. All right. Liz is abstaining from 8.03. abstaining on [Music] 8.04. Aaron, myself, and they don't they don't have dental. Okay. Well, I'm sorry. They now have dental, but

108not our plan. So, you're just brought it in. 05 abstensions. Aaron myself I can abain just to be safe and all All right. All in favor be on that. All right. Moving along. Section nine. Thank you. Um policy committee the meeting was cancelled last month so there is no report. Uh so there is nothing for first readings um for the president's report. Uh today is the admin professional day. So verbally I would like to recognize all of our staff that fit into that category. And I will sing out tonight Terry and Candy who uh we certainly appreciate all of their hard work. Um every time we gather they are with us. So thank you for your commitment to the board, to the district, and to the children of our community. [Applause] I need a motion

109to adjourn. Come on. [Music] Sorry. That was good. All right. I had I had just a couple updates that I didn't hit with mine, but I want the public to know. First, we have to adjust the instructional calendar because everybody's yelling at me right now because of the snow days that I did not use. And uh we will put this out. And right now we did not use three. I'm not obligated to do this, but our kids do work very hard and Memorial Day is coming. Every other school district is pretty much going to be off now. Uh that I'm going to readjust the calendar for Friday 5:23 will be an instructional day off and then Tuesday 5:27 will also be an instructional day off. It will still leave me with one additional day if

110needed, but I'm saving that just because of these new weather requirements, but also because that gentleman, Mr. Coglin in the back, is going to have to try to pull off a miracle in the last week of June that if we can figure it out, I may utilize another one one of those last two days just in case, but at least I can get through. So, more to come on that. But right now 523 527 will change from being instructional days to being noninstructional days. Please remember 12 month people still have uh it's a it's an issue um just so that we have that in addition we are still working on bus times and stuff but we have at least confirmed they are within that plus or minus now 5 minute window. So whatever the times

111on both ends are within plus or minus front, five to the front, five to the back. But because prek is important and we are just getting that information out, we know that we added 46 minutes to the elementary day. So we would be likewise adding 46 minutes to preip. So that would put it from 9:00 a.m. We aren't changing that. It's still 9:00 a.m. and it would go until 2:46. However, for next year, just for the first year, as we're sort of moving around, we will be going from 9 to 2:30 and then in 26 27 9 to 246. So, we're getting that out. We just wanted to make sure people hear it and we will communicate that out. Can you can you stay say that again and slow down and collaborate? So, like this

112year currently prepay runs from 9:00 until 2:00. Helps people. Nobody knew what time it was going to be. Well, with the elementary starting at 8:40, we can still start at 9:00. We extended everybody's day. We have to do the same to the prek. Uh that would go from 9 to roughly 2:46 would be the equipment. However, for one year only, we're shortening it by about 16 minutes to give coordination times the first year to make sure everything's coordinated. So, but that is also so kids world and the prek signups because we're about 10 individuals short of having minimal enrollment so we don't lose aid. So, if you know anybody out there that wants prek, please tell them come sign up. It's full day 9 to 2:30 for next year. Who are they going to get

113to, Tony? Uh, building principal. Building building principal. get their name on the list cuz we have room. Did it. That's all I got. I'm done. Okay. So, um I going to apologize ahead of time for doing this, especially if it turns into a big discussion. But um so one of our responsibilities as a board, a really important responsibility of as of the board is to um adopt the school budget. And I just I wanted to kind of go back to just ask a couple questions because we did have a board member that voted no and we had a board member that abstained. And I I just personally would like to understand why um just because it is one if not the most important thing that we do as a board. So I think it's important

114um particularly to really understand and then also as a board you know we we should be voting either either yes or no. I mean unless there's some sort of legal reason why why we should be abstaining. So I just you know and again I'm sorry to add add more time to this meeting but it's just something that I'm I'm passionate about. I would like to if everybody's okay with it to ask why. So I voted no. So I'll say I voted no because I would have liked to see the budget without that admin added in. So that we were at 4.5. I don't feel it's fair to ask the community to although I will support the budget in public vote. I want to make sure that I let everyone know that I think we should

115not be pushing it any higher than 4.5. So that was Can I just correct that to what you think is the 45 not just so that 48 45? So yes, thank you. Sorry. Yeah, I agree with um what Julie said, but the reason I chose to not vote no and the reason I also just choosing to abstain is because we just got full line item with everything. And I think that I should review all of that before I vote yes or no. I feel like it's my job to go through and look at everything as it's presented on all of the sheets and then to vote to get it to hit refresh and then to vote yes or no. I you know I understand that it's their job they do that but I I would

116have liked to look at all of the lines and then make a decision. So just having a little more time and whether that's you know we come to this conclusion a couple days before it has to be so that we have an opportunity to be able to review it all and then go and vote yes or no then that's what it is but you know I do I do support the budget I will support the budget publicly to to people but that's why I voted by I because that's what I I feel should happen Christmas two comments disperse. I'm reflecting on what Dr. No said when I made my comments before about the administrator add to budget and you know I didn't mean I was kind of drawing a ridiculous Karen comparison but of course

117all administrators are incredibly valued. They're all educators and I appreciate making that point. I just simply wanted to kind of call out the nature of the specific one being added. So I apologize for any um unintentional uh you know inference that those comments kind of suggested. And then secondly on a more positive note I I had a fantastic opportunity today to speak to um Miss Hawthorne's business law class through the career development council. Um the uh you know I was invited to come and speak to them about contracts as a corporate lawyer and amazingly they stayed awake through that. Uh and and even more to my um even more to my amazement and I I say that you know some tongue cheek because they're great students but they had they had a number of great

118questions at the end right and and I stayed there the whole period and answered their questions and they were insightful and they were interested and I really appreciated the opportunity and it just you know it's a it's a great example of the incredible things that not me but teacher in the class things that go on every day in our schools. So I'm thankful to Haworn for that opportunity and to the students for being such wonderful hosts. Thank you. Um I just wanted to share a reminder that this weekend is I love my park day in the village corsets on the 27th. So Sunday from noon to 4. And I'd love to join picking up some litter sticks. Is that okay? Okay. I have a few things. First, I would um like to thank on our

119um human resource our people who run our plays and stuff have resigned and I would like to thank them for the many hours and they've given to the students of course the music department has been and is an awesome part of our district and I just want to recognize you for the many many hours that you give when you do the plays and all the extra things you do for the music department and I just want to say thank you. Another thing I wanted to recognize is um the family career and the kids would go to they went to a family career and community leaders of America and quite a few of our students who are seniors took gold and they can also attend the national um national in July and these are the things

120that they competed. do that chapter service project portfolio holiday helpers organized a toy drive to help children in need and slave they want gold another group was focused on children find your balance helping parent and children finding a balance and children finding a balance with cell phone use which is a very important topic 11 I can't say last name. I'm sorry. and city loan day one goal. Um then another program national programs in action forever 26 donate life organ donation initiative in memory of Kelly Leah Scott and Jordan they want gold and then another national action program in action not here anti-bullying initiative with CA and they also won gold and I would just like to you know rec these students um for what they did in this conference. So thank you one more thing

121I'm not mad is your opinion and yes I am monarch of these girls but we are three individuals who don't always agree but one thing we do bring is the love that we have for this district and we want what's best for students staff and for our community and I know there's lots of opinions out there I have my opinion about having if that happens. And so on that I just wanted to state that our students are going to NISMA this weekend, New York State Music Association. And we have students all the way from elementary up into high school that will be performing in front of judges and being adjunated on their music. And it's really exciting and I know that they are all prepped and ready to go and excited and getting all dressed

122up and preparing for feedback and moving forward in their musical career. So, it's exciting. They will be there um Friday and Saturday. Can I have a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss an individual personnel matter? Second. All in favor? I opposed. When we return to public session, there will be no other business taken care of tonight. So um we will adjourn from executive session to a public session and then adjourn and uh retire for the evening so the public knows there will be no more uh public business done tonight. And if you can if you do adjourn take a five minute break so it's personal and that way we can we'll do it right here. Thank you all for coming out tonight. Yeah, over here. [Music] I'll see you tomorrow. Congratulations.