001Good evening and welcome to Co City School District Board of Education meeting tonight, April 15th. Meeting will be called to order at 6:02 p.m. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all >> in case of an emergency. There are two here on the side and the one that came in we would meet up front. Um could we please have a roll call? >> Mr. Jackson >> excused. >> Mrs. Snder >> here. >> Mrs. Gendron >> here. >> Mrs. Paradis >> here. >> Mr. Dros >> here. >> Mrs. Burwell >> here. And Mrs. Geller, >> I am here. >> At this time, I will turn it over
002to Superintendent O'Shea for our district reports. >> Thank you. Good evening. As you know, we've had some recent communications regarding when the spa field will be turned over. There was another walk through this morning and then later board members on our facilities committee, Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Chandren, and Mrs. Erdis walk through with both Darcy and Joanna. So, tonight we have Mike Collins from Turner Construction. Uh Tim Bonafar from Apple Osw landscape architect who um CSR substitute and Greg Coke here to discuss timelines, conditions, and moving forward and questions as well. I'm gonna turn it over to you. >> Welcome. So, uh don't have a presentation tonight, but uh the uh the ball field as the superintendent had said this morning, we walked the field. Um there were a few items that uh that still need
003to be addressed. We we worked with uh with Bill and Joe and the contractor to address those items and to identify them. Um as well as the go maint and uh the field is safe to play on. It's uh being turned over um to today for a play for tomorrow. Um things were things were addressed this afternoon, but there are some items that uh uh still need to be addressed and will be scheduled in between between games and availability of the field. Um it's uh I guess a lot of it is is timeline that everybody wants to understand, wants to wants to know about. Um work was done uh in on the field starting in early June last year. a baseball played on the field for the spring given to the contractor in early June.
004Well, in time past throughout the summer getting ready to u getting the field ready, there are certain stipulations in respect with regards to putting sod down on what it can be planted. So that can't be planted until after April 15, August 15th, I believe that's what it was. Um, however, it was, you know, it was a warm summer, so maybe red August 15th wasn't the time. They weren't ready to to install SA at that point. Um, although they, you know, come September was a nice is a nice month to install SAD. For whatever reason, the contractor did not have a good acceptable explanation of why they weren't installing SAD when the field, you know, timeline, you know, it was allowed to be installed. other contractors on site, the rest of the field was getting ready.
005Dugouts um back swap irrigation was being put in. So then the uh Assad didn't go down until about about midocctober. Then it took about you know a few days to put down which was still within the time frame of allowing s to go down and take. Um so at that at that point so went down field field was trimmed infield was turned over and then it was left for the you know field lot irrigation was blown out. Um at that point we had a we had a meeting with u the contractor the district to understand a timeline what's going to happen in spring what we what's going to happen in spring. We had that in November outlined when we were going to come back, meet, walk the field to understand what needed to be done.
006And I think at that point we it was going to take and we informed everybody that it's probably midappril before you can get out because there are some things that need to happen in the spring regardless of when work was completed in the fall like rolling the field. You going to roll it in the springtime because it was a very bad winter. One of the last bad winters we've had in probably 10 years. Um so that that hap that happened as well as the new irrigation system going in with the winter there's some heating there are some things that need to be fixed comes from that so we met and we we all talked about meeting in the first of April the end of March with the contractor walked understood the timelines looking at the
007weather when they can get on it rolling the field is a big pavement roller small one but they roll the field so you can't get on the grass when it's kind of wet because it kind of sinks, makes lines. So, you have to kind of wait till the field dried out, which being that it was a new field, the drainage was put in last fall, same drainage, which allowed that field to dry out pretty good. And it's actually, I would have to say, walking on it, it's working pretty good. Um so then uh rolling was done uh at a time when they could get out which kind of led us to where we are today and uh having walked through understanding that it's it's ready for play April 15th with the exception of some items
008that they need to need to address. >> So typically when we hear that a project is being turned over that now means that it is the district's responsibility. So when you say it's being turned over tomorrow for play, what what does that mean as far as our liability and as a school district and what work is not being hasn't been done and has already been guaranteed to be done? So I think at this point there's a level of frustration um just because there were promises that this was going to be ready for the beginning of the season and we understand you know certain things come up you know but we have consistently seen timelines not getting met and so there's level frustration for us and part of that is because you know we live in
009a world where our seniors are only seniors their senior year you know and and this So the kids that are enjoying the opportunity to have a new field obviously we want it done and we want it done right. We are investing a lot of money um to have years to come you know kids enjoying this field but at the same time when there are expectations that we have been told were going to be met and then aren't being met you know we have to then face kind of community um you know comments and and and making excuses for certain areas under we know we can't control the weather. We all know that none of us are, you know, have that ability. But I do think that there's certainly a level of frustration for us um
010in in the wait and see. But more so concerned that saying this is going to be turned over and and to the district, you know, to me in any other world means now we've signed off on everything even though there's still work to be done. So, I guess I'm a little confused that it's turned over, it's ready for play, but there's still work to be done. >> Yeah, those are the items that we walked through this morning as well as then there were some this afternoon that were talked that were that we've already addressed with the contractor who's um open to and willing to address those items. Um there are a few items that uh you know in sprinklers that we have to really look at with the with the team to understand what can
011be done there. But uh when we say the the district is taking over based on what we had discussed this morning is that they'll start to take over the field and the maintenance field. So the um you know with taking it over then the contractor does not have to maintain the outfield doesn't have to cut the grass doesn't have to that's now on the district. So that's what when we say we've turned over the district will take that that responsibility. um you know if if if uh you know I think the specs are written in a certain way that there's certain amount of mowings I mean we're gonna that they didn't do so we we'll talk to them about about that >> there's a process of like um it's a great question >> so by
012and you guys know this with your own lawns by the time that lawn kind of goes dormant towards the end of the year it needs time in the spring to kind of come back to life in order to have that proper maintenance kind happen over seating, arration, top dressing, those kind of small areas. Sod ends up tends tends to shrink a little bit too. There's sod gaps that need to get filled in. So the way our spec is written is that um that contractor is responsible for full grow of that facility. So it includes making sure that the sod takes if any of the sod had died over the winter, it's their responsibility to take it out and plant repair it. if any areas didn't take um if there are some seated areas that didn't
013take, they've got to repair those as well. Um so when it's turned over to the district, it's a fully grown in competitive field that you guys can easily maintain. So taking it over a little bit early, I'll say that in order to use the field, you're not going to hurt the style that's out there. You're not going to hurt what's actually out there, the kids actually playing it. But to maintain it to where it's going to be where you guys want it to be competitively from this day forward, there just needs to be that care taken when it comes to that growing. And what we're trying to do is if we're going to give the contractor all his responsibility to grow the grass, which those grounds crew has all some of the same knowledge so
014they're comfortable with taking over some of this maintenance. So that's what Mike's talking about that maybe they don't need to do 10 m. I think but uh maybe they don't need to do all the mowings. can just say we'll take over the moments. We know where the grass, but if you guys can top dress and overseed and make sure you fertilize in those last couple of spots, then you know we're comfortable. Am I not speaking out of and I just add to that probably the biggest thing that we decided this morning was that there was not a safety issue playing on this surface. this afternoon when we walked with a few members of this board. Some of what I saw uh I think we might have overlooked. There are a few things that we will
015address tomorrow. Not major, not anything we can't get to. They are not on the playing surface. They're out of play. Most of it on the left field side, but they are issues that will want to be addressed tomorrow. What did I gain from that conversation this afternoon? another pair of eyes. All of us walking every week for the last three weeks. Fresh eyes hit it today and saw a few things that admittedly had us step a half a step back and most and like I said all of it outside in the out of play area, but it is still area that's accessed by the athlete foot path, the fact that the athlete is not looking down while walking. athlete traditionally looking up things that need to be addressed quickly on that uh on that left
016field side. And in the notes I did say, let's check the right field side anyway for obvious reasons because that side is on the soccer football field side. That was a that was in better shape. We did a lot of work on left field side. We dug for drainage. Uh so we soldered over that. there was a lot more work outside of the playing space on the left field side. So that's what we'll address in the morning more than more than just about anything else. >> You're going to see a lot of change in the next couple weeks as that grass does come out of dormcancy and you start mowing and some of that stuff does take a lot more change. You got photographs. I got photographs of of any of this infill sod that
017is in question right now. And the agreement is that if that doesn't take that is warranted and that gets replaced. >> None of it's loose, right? Everybody fully feels like it's going to take root. Uh but the questionable areas which are just slightly yellow um as everything starts to green up, that's that was discussed, that was noted. couple things in the irrigation system have taken over now I want to >> there are some irrigation issues but nothing that can't be handled um >> but but when you say that that means that nothing that can't be handled within the district and our resources however we went into a contract >> that >> with an expectation to have certain things done and completed and even if it is 10 mings and we're saying you don't have to
018do four out of those 10 mowings. We went into a contract with a financial obligation that we have met our end on. Correct. We have met our end on the financial side of the contract. If we're going into a contract with someone, our expectation is that we get the full contract of what they have agreed to give us and the scope of work that they've agreed to provide to us. And now we're using our resources to make up for whatever you know deficiencies are currently in place. And you know for us, yes, we obviously have an urgency to allow these kids to play on the field, but once it's turned over, it's now our problem. And so if there are things that are in not in great shape or not in the best ideal conditions,
019that that's not what our expectation is when we go into contract with someone. we go into contract to get a product that we agree to on a timeline that we agree to it. I guess that's kind of where we're coming to. You know, there was also some considerations with and I don't mean to like switch lanes, but with this softball field being turned over so quickly last year, there's certainly areas now that we're having to address when you expect a product to be something and then it's not, you know. So, I wasn't physically at that walkthrough and I will let Mrs. gender and misspire to speak to, you know, some of the things today because I don't think that the rest of the board at least I certainly don't have information on what you saw
020or your concerns today. You know, I I really wanted to speak to the agreements that we have been in and the position that we're in saying things are turned over. Maybe it's semantics, but you know, my husband's a project manager. When something is turned over, it is no longer their responsibility. Certainly things can be warrantied such as facade as you said understood. But if Assad's only thing that's in the scope of work that's under warranty, what happens to the rest of it? And then what comes down the line when you when we've already turned over a project that we have issues with? That's kind of where you know I feel at least in my opinion there's some levels of frustration with. >> Yeah. I mean it's not like 100% finished product. We had the end
021of last year, we had like 30 paint slates just to document all the stuff that we know they needed to come back and do and we were come back in the spring and look at it and that's a couple weeks ago and said these are the areas that you need to kind of touch on and address but then that's where you're like well we want to be able to use the field. We said okay well then what can we do to take care of >> you know some of the smaller things that the kids can go ahead and use the field and that's what has been conducted over the last couple weeks. The rest of it is really like kind of on growing that has to kind of happen maintenance >> is the expectation that
022the punch list items are going to be handled by the vendor district. >> So that's item number one. >> And then the sad growth would be warranteed. Your professional opinion is that the warranty will not be jeopardized with kids going on the field that's been deemed safe. Correct. >> Okay. The punch list items are all documented. Y >> the vendor signed up on that. >> Yeah, I think majority of them are >> everyone. Absolutely. >> So, we took that list, we talked about it when we were out on site and then we just walked in, >> right? >> I think I think >> you were going to share it with us. >> Oh, you Yes. Yes. Yes. >> And then I think um what the board president wants to hear and the rest of the
023board, I'm guessing, is that we would be issued a credit for any work that wasn't done. Yeah, they're still uh there we not final paid. They're still retaining held under contract. So they're not >> I mean further than that it's we want this project to happen one time and we don't want to have to go down, you know, in three years and h and have things that need to be fixed or, you know, obviously annual maintenance. we we would all expect those things to happen. But like I said, there was a lot of consideration put into this project and a lot of manh hours put into planning and executing. We understand all of those things. Um, but we are also not in a district that has, you know, an abundance of resources that can redo
024a project if if we handed it over too quickly um with without regard to, you know, maintaining a long-term goal. Like that's kind of what I have to say. And I I do want to give my other board members time to speak to. And I did just want to say, you know, we do want to get our players on the field, but we wanted them to be on the field for the beginning of the season like we were promised. So, I do just want to point that out. I asked several times in these meetings if that field would be ready by the beginning of the season and they've been playing for two weeks, not at home. So, that's like my first frustration. Um, secondly, you brought up the sprinkler heads that are was a tremendously
025poor design for the replacement. So, if they can't be moved or somehow fixed and they get damaged from cleats stepping on them, if a child trips over them and gets injured, what are we doing about that? We'll have to take a look at I I don't these sprinkles I'll have to take a look at. >> That's a safety issue. >> It's a safety issue >> for tomorrow >> along with the divots in the sad that the kids when they are running after foul walls will break their ankle. >> We say it's not on the playing field, but the kids don't stop at the foul line. They're running and making plays off of the playing field. and it's and it is not safe and it needs to be fixed before they're on the field tomorrow. >>
026My question is what was the first date that the site was put down? What date >> it was? Uh I know it was like maybe middle or third week of October. >> Why? >> Um I like I said the contractor didn't wasn't there in September. No good reason >> for August. No, August, like I said, the spec calls for nothing before August 15th. >> Why was they there August 16th or August 17th? >> Why were we not questioning that when we knew that? >> We were asking them to asking them for updated schedules to get back on site optimum time. So, >> but yet then you still continue to come in front of us and say that that field was going to be ready to play knowing that the side didn't get put down until
027almost a month and a half after you were you told us it was going down. >> I I I'll we had a meeting in November and outlined what the expectations would be in the spring and it was discussed that it was midappril. So I don't know who was promising April 1st when it was there was still it still doesn't matter and it's still not ready >> and there's no explanation from any of you why the sad was knocked down when it was first supposed to be put down. >> Nothing. I'd have to go back and look at the timelines to see what was going on at the uh the exact timelines and the dates to give you >> I anticipate your answer to that. >> We can we can get the information and share bill.
028Uh they just brought up some members who walked brought up some of the safety issues. I heard Sue say did this. Is that one of the things you mentioned that you' be looking at still in the morning? No, this is it in the outside of the foul line on on the third base side on the walk again. We saw it's something that was a tremendous amount of four weeks ago >> and virtually none >> a week ago and they found some again another pair of eyes. >> Yeah. >> Let me just say while we're talking when we're through here and we have daylight if you want to see it tonight I'll get going on it. All right. Mrs. Gender, can you just let us know if all of your concerns were addressed? >> Um, yeah.
029We talked about all the infield infill areas that needed to be done. We talked about the mowing that needed to be done. Um, and the sprinkler. >> Yeah, those those were our biggest concerns with baseball field. There there was some concerns for chat about the softball field, but I believe that that is stuff that we're working on. >> Yeah, I'm going to bring it up. I wasn't today's list, but I'll bring it up. Yeah, just because we're all here. >> Okay. No. So, we hit this deadline and the way I've been looking at this for the last couple of three days, uh, is we we we can't say if we didn't hit it and miss it. But I'm trying to move forward with everyone in a way that a I've thought about it. Can't write
030a check. Can't cut a PO. This is been guaranteed. So, what can we do? And that's where we brought our staff out today to assist cooperate just to hit the deadline, just to keep it safe, just to get it usable at no at no additional expense. It's not perfect what we're pitching here, but it is it is the reality. And that's how I'm trying to I'm trying to stay outside, look in, and keep everybody going right now. It's a combination of the contractor staff and mine this morning doing the same things, talking about the same issues, and that's where they'll hit the ground running in the morning. But the things that were brought up this afternoon, as I said out there, let's throw on the list. Let's go see them tonight. And uh Sunrise, we've
031got 10 hours of game time. >> Now, listen, I appreciate the collaboration. I appreciate the out of the box thinking. It's just that in any other, you know, scenario, if you were in a position of having a project and a project manager and a contractor, you wouldn't expect your staff to do the work. I mean, we we are in a territory that is not, you know, I understand that we're in education and and we do have, you know, specific timelines to do good things for kids because that's what we're all here for is to do good things for kids. But we're also here to help run a business. And and this is also a business. And there's no other world where you would turn a project over and expect now the company that you that
032has contracted you to to provide that work. So I mean I understand I appreciate everybody pitching in and trying to get the kids on the field as soon as possible. again as as long as the conditions that you know Stacy put forth are being agreed to as far as warranty and any of our staff who you know I understand that they're trained and they they have experience but they are not the contractor that we hired with the scope of work that we agreed to that it it's just not the same. >> I have a question. If we're putting our people out there while we are contracting with someone else and something messes up who's whose fault is be a liability issue. We're contracting somebody else. We're putting our men out there to work on the
033field. >> What's what's going if if there's the sprinkler system is a infrastructure piece, right? So, if there's something that's wrong with that, the contractor would have to address that. >> So, that's not being fixed tomorrow. >> I don't know. And I don't know what the issue with the sprinklers here is other than what >> they're in the in the infield like not in the grass. >> Right directly in front of where the short stop and the second base would make all of their place >> in the exact spot. So, so if there's something like that and if you guys were to take the head off, then we would have no issue. That's still the contractor's responsibility. So, um it's it's a it's a difficult situation because it is it's a it's a natural product
034that grows, right? So even when you take over, you renovate a classroom and you guys take it over for use that kind that classroom is substantially complete. You guys use it, but if things come up within that next year, it's still on the contractor, you know. Um what's happening here is a little bit different because you're waiting for a natural material to grow in. Right. So you're absolutely right. The contractor was late. There were efforts these guys tried to beat him up as much as possible to get here and do the work. I know the contractor had similar issues in other districts. So they spread themselves too thin. They try to get too much work done. Um the m the meeting that Mike's referring to, I think everybody thought we had a workable plan to
035get work done and and require the contractors that he wanted to be done in this in the fall. He wanted to be done and out of here, right? He wanted to get paid and gone and like, "No, you're coming back in the spring. We're keeping your contract open. It's not going to be just warranty work. You're coming back to make sure this stuff has has been taken care of." So, I think right now, and again, I know it's you don't want to hear wait and see, but it's depending on the winter, which nobody knows, right? Grass is just now starting to to get moving. So, if it was a little warmer, we might have been talking about this two weeks ago, right? So, um I completely appreciate your point about getting on the field. You
036want it to be safe. Um we're not going to relieve the contractor of any responsibility by you guys using it. The contractor's position is, well, you know, if you guys start, you guys should maintain it. If you guys are running all over the grass and everything, then you guys can cut it. And I don't want to be out there cutting it. while you guys are playing, you know, so stuff like that and we can totally say you owe us eight, you know, give us a credit for that. The labor would take you to come and do it. Um, so that's totally doable. Um, so I don't think I don't think we're proposing that we're letting the contractor off the hook. We're going to hold them to it. Um, and if the sprinkler has to be
037moved, again, we would want the sprinkler company to come and move the sprinkler head. We wouldn't want your guys doing that. So, if it needs something to be addressed for playable tomorrow, we can pull the head out. System's not on, you can pull the head out and cover it over with clay. You know, whatever it takes. Um, so it so it's not an issue. Um, and that is a great point where the contractor staff and ours have to work together now because if that head comes off after that game, that head's got to go back. There's two heads. Those heads have to go back on because we're going to irrigate for the next four days till the next game. Then that head has to come off again and then it has to we've got to
038start tracking the things that we're addressing during the season now. And that's the only way to do that is that we coordinate because we have staff out there, the contractor has staff out there. These guys are looking at it every few days just to keep it moving. That's that's that's really where the overlap is where the contractor's employees and ours that makes >> Is the sprinkler system connected working because you just said it was. >> It's just not on. >> No, it's not. >> It's just not. >> Yeah. I didn't know if it was energized yet. >> It is. Okay. So we will be able to work to get the >> So we'll touch base tomorrow. >> I just I'm sorry. I'm not I don't mean to interrupt you, but I'm just going to say
039one further thing that we have an obligation to the taxpayers of the city of COS to actually do projects good and on time. And I'm going to say this, this isn't the first time that there's been a delay or that the project hasn't been completed properly or looks good or anything like that. We may not be Shannindoa. We may not be North Catalani, but we're co-os. And our taxpayers deserve it just as much as those other school districts. and for you to say that well there were other school districts that were waiting or he went to another school district and you know >> I'm not I'm telling to you our taxpayers deserve the attention to these projects that are warranted and I don't see it and that's my final I do want to also just
040say one thing that we did mention the the the field that our boys played on is this field looks a million times better. >> But these little things that were bringing up are important and it is the taxpayers's money. We contracted to do like she said a a specific job. So I don't want it to go by the wayside that it looks terrible. It doesn't look terrible. Look it looks good. My my son's going to be jealous when he comes back for a game that he didn't get to play on that field. But >> yeah, the things >> it was not done right. So we knew we knew that this list had to get done and that's always that's why we were out there trying to get them to get this work. >> We certainly
041weren't reling them responsibility making sure that you were getting a quality product. >> Can I just ask um was Mr. Hino involved in whatever repairs that or andor fixes you feel that you could make by tomorrow in order to make that happen? I just listen, having two kids that play second base and shortstop, I don't see how you could put a little bit of play in a sprinkler head and make it safe. Like for me personally, I know my kids were all over that field and all over that scope of play. I did not see the sprinkler. I have no idea where it is, but it sounds to me just taking a cut off and putting a little clay in it does it still doesn't seem like it's a safe option because I mean you
042know as well as I do you put something in a hole and then it sinks after a little bit of time. I just I I don't know if Mr. Huno has looked at that and feels like that's a sufficient fix to be able to play on it safely tomorrow because not only is it our children playing you know there's another team coming to play too. He's been with us every step >> uh with substantial input and and and again how did we all miss that is what I'm asking myself tonight. So with that I want to go there before sundown and look at filling the hole is one thing. Filling the hole with proper support I think is what you you're alluding to. And we had a different thought out there today was leaving the
043head and being able to cover the head properly. But I want to look at both. I want to look at all. Okay. >> Can you please communicate that and then and then send that to us so that we have >> Yeah. If you make a decision tonight, I'll let you know tonight. If not, it'll be first thing in the morning with the contractor. >> And I I know that Bill and Jeff are in a lot of communication. So I will talk to Jeff tonight as well. Margaret, just to let you know, Jeff was out there this afternoon with us. >> He did. He did walk with us this afternoon. >> Well, I do want to thank you guys for coming. I know it was a little bit last minute in schedule. We are not trying
044to be disagreeable. We're trying to just solve a problem, but also, you know, maintain whatever level of control we have um in having the best product that we can within the scope of work that we've asked for. So, um do appreciate your time. do appreciate all of you guys collaborating on this and and even your team Phil come together and willing to help out you know again doing good things for kids. Um we just also to keep in mind are very concerned about the long term of this project and the sustainability you know um for what becomes a district responsibility when it is turned over. Well, time for your field trip. >> Second shift starts now. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So before we start the budget presentation, since we're talking
045about, you know, it's going to talk a little bit about the track right now, communication went out today. Um the track is open for those residents starting Monday. uh starting the hours from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. until approximately the end of May when all the different uh sports uh are over. Then there'll be evening times from 6:00 to 8 until the end of the school year. Um and then during the summer it'll go back to 6 to 7 a.m. because of the the practices schedule. So um to sign up, families will sign up through family ID. Matt and Bumper will meet them and we'll give them a file that will open the gate for the designated time periods. Um the discussion centered around wanting to have someone uh you know on campus to be
046able to monitor the um the cameras when when they're out there. So that's for communication and then if we're able to you know expand ours etc we'll have further communication but that's what went up today. I mean, personally, we I'm we've had this conversation since last year and and it it was the expectation that there were going to be evening hours, you know, um so if there's not going to be evening hours until June 1st, that that seems like a lot of time that is passing. Um, >> so in talking with Jeff and Matt today and we can revisit um that while sports are still in session that you know practices the field is unused. So they're not they're not open the tracks not open whenever schools in session or whenever there's athletic events or
047practices. So that was the you know the the timeline given. Um it's the other way is to be communicating on a you know continuous basis open today close tomorrow open today where and that's kind of cumbersome we can continue to explore but the communication right now does stay till the end of May because of that and then during you know and then during the summer um you know we do have summer school the six to seven works very well you know um Jeff will be um looking And then what time all the practices are you can open it up certain times. This is our initial >> and nothing on weekends until after the sports season is closed. >> So the conversation around weekends is the monitoring. We can set the we can set the box
048but then there's no one unless we wanted to add additional staff to start that. >> Okay. thoughts, feelings, comments. >> I don't love it. I don't love the the community's inability to access. I understand that during the the spring sports season between, you know, all the sports that take place out there, but um I mean, I like that it's starting. There's a process. People can sign up. It's only an hour a day, but it's something you can just add to that. I mean, it's like that. Not ideal, but at least it's started. The files installed, there's a process, Matt's involved, people can sign up, they can use it. Not ideal, but it's it's a first step. >> We can revisit for the for the summer once, you know, have athletic practice coming with that. >>
049Ask a silly question. I completely understand uh the spring sports schedule is really volatile and anything can change in a given moment. So the weekdays, the weekends is where I think is there is the expectation that those cameras are live all the time like there's like monitoring them or are they on a loop of a tape like so myself right now but if there was is there a way that it's like filming and then if there was a situation we go back and watch or is the expectation as someone's watching people on there and I'm sorry that I missed that but >> so right now the expectation is that someone is is watching, we can have a conversation about monitoring um monitoring this after the fact damage to >> Yeah. So with that being said,
050there's a likelihood we would never be able to afford weekend use like >> unless we had >> which I mean signing up for access you also need to agree to like terms and conditions and part of that is just now >> I don't want to speak out of turn but you know you want to have a little bit of trust in people you know and the fact of the matter is our city is not very accessible for runners or for people who you know listen we do nothing but preach lifetime fitness. And at the same time, it's like only if you can be there from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. You know, some people that's just that's not a that's not a time frame that they can meet. And I know that we don't have a
051responsibility to open up an outdoor classroom because that's what it is. It's an outdoor classroom during times where our kids are using it. Absolutely. Um, but I think we have all experienced being members of this community, you know, people accessing it, accessing the track before it was completely enclosed 100% responsibly and using it in the evenings and using it on the weekends without a level of, you know, authority to say, "We expect you to do something wrong." I don't think it's right for us to just make decisions with the expectation that people are going to make a wrong choice. Especially if we are now asking for information to say you are a resident, we need to show us that you're a resident and you agree to our terms and conditions, you know, and quite obviously,
052you know, if I'm somebody even, you know, David, I'll use an example, right? Like you're a neighbor, you live right there. If you see there's a game on the track, you're not going to expect to walk the track while there's a game, right? That's a little bit of common sense. If you see that kids are practicing on the track, you're not going to go in and expect to walk the track because kids are using the track during that period of time, right? >> I think people get that. Yeah. >> It just seems to me like we're making decisions based on the fact that we assume that people are going to make bad choices. And I just feel like that's going to put us down a path that is just hard to come back from. >>
053We've had I've had conversations with high school, you know, security administration, athletic director. We can continue the conversations. Some of the conversations were around just the fact that you have a a fob as you're going in. That doesn't necessarily mean someone else isn't going to try to get in when when you're going in, you know, and students. But I'm hearing what you're saying. We'll continue the conversations. Listen, I'm one person there. >> I have another level of trust. I didn't realize we needed someone watching the cameras at all times. So that was >> it was my understanding that Bob was kind of replacing that a little bit. We have them signed up. We have their information. We have cameras on the field. Why do we need to pay somebody now to look at the cameras,
054stare at the cameras, and then what? What happens when something happens? They call the police. So, so, so these are our security and the times that we have the 6 to 8. We do have safety until 9. So, it's not like additional times, but we will revisit that conversation. >> But, the problem is the times from 6:00 to 8 are not until after the season is completely over. So, that's not until Jan. See, the morning is is like is it 6:00 to 7? And you know, like people are up like it's not to see people there at 5:00 a.m. just park. I know teacher show probably work out and stuff. It's like because I get up super early and like that would make sense maybe if the f if it opens at whatever like 5
055am I don't know I can't see >> when you flight out like >> especially now it's like people would absolutely show up the track at 5 a.m. and run or 6 a.m. You know what I mean? So earlier to me it makes sense without having to have security or or someone on duty. Uh at night I know with games it's it's tough like across it it's super tough at night but in the morning because people I don't know a lot of people work out in the morning they want to run or walk a walk in the morning maybe advance that a little bigger window in the morning at night's tough though >> because I also I also think too you know another thought process on this I understand during the during the season and you
056know come June 1st we can open up some evening but then you're saying once school's You have to take into consideration the practices on the field which correct me if I'm wrong are not like they're not mandatory practices. They're more conditioning practices because they can't actually start practicing for fall sports until like two weeks before the right there's a certain date that they can start practicing. So I feel as if that we we have some wiggle room during the at least June and July months to be able to say during this period of time we can open it up at this time and maybe the practices could work around that schedule. It's just just a thought, you know, I mean to kind of be able to >> issue until official practices start. >> Once official
057practices start, once games start, like I get it. I understand. And it is hard to you're hardressed to get on the field for a practice versus, you know, now saying we have to block it for two hours so that people can potentially walk and maybe nobody walks it. But if you're not in if we're not in season, I think we owe that. I I do feel that we owe that to our taxpayers just a little bit. Well, and I feel like the whole security thing is just so non conducive to a healthy relationship with the taxpayers. I'm sorry, but they pay for that track and I understand that, you know, there is a level of security that has to go into it, but >> but that's also what I'm saying like we've seen before like
058>> yes, people use it during the spring season and it's a level of like self understanding. >> That's what I'm saying. >> It's just I am walking today or whatever the case. Like I just I don't see why we have to like limit up the spaces to say only in June and July you can use the track in the evening. So if you work at 5 a.m. you can never use the track. I mean I just don't see why we have to put a level of likeity on it where people >> exclusive you know I just don't I don't I don't >> I'm hearing that there'll be further discussions to follow follow up. I did put the communication out so people do know that it's can add something about hours for the future or under
059consideration. Um the the thing that has to happen though is each person's job does have to be set to the specific hours. So if there are practices I I understand that yes they could we could say it's six or eight throughout and you won't go on practice. It's also going to get pretty complicated living people as there's tracks open today and tracks not open today. So that was some of the conversation up until uh June 1 about that too. So people weren't yes they would not go on when there's practice but so they wouldn't get all ready to come and say oh there's practice I can't use it. So somebody had to do the schedule. But >> I get it. It's just a level that we have not had to do before and I don't
060think we need to overthink it. You know, I again I think that we need to trust our community a little bit to, you know, and the followup and communication. You know, our next meeting is not until the 29th and then again midday after that. So >> it it'll be will be at June by the time we have an answer. >> Well, I was I mean based on the recommendations I think it would be very difficult to do before just based on the conversations. Um but I but I am hearing an increased time and also let's look at the summer months beyond. >> Okay. >> I thought that would be a lot quicker. Now on to your budget presentation. >> Um so I'm going to uh have Stacy take the lead on this and then there's
061some information. >> Yeah. So, we've been meeting over the last several months and we've been talking about uh mostly the revenue uh the revenue side of the house. Um and then we had each of our principles and our directors um walk through their presentations and their needs. And this is a combination of what we have to spend and then what we're going to be spending about today. Um, so the proposed budget is 57,062442. That is a 4% increase over the current year. It's nearly $2.2 million. Um, and the revenue sources for this, uh, state aid. Um, the New York state budget is not yet finalized. So we're working off the initial the governor's proposal which was a 1% increase to foundation aid. Uh the other areas where we've seen an increase are all the expense
062driven aid categories. So that's our Boseies aid, our transportation aid, and our uh private excess cost aid, which is our tuition that we pay for our students with special needs. So um nearly 4% increase in state aid. The next piece is property taxes. So we talked about in February and March uh the tax levy would be zero. So it's 0 increase, 0% increase. Um I have asked uh the city assessor for some estimates on the tax rule. Um just because the levy is a $0 increase that doesn't mean uh that your tax bill will not change uh because that is based off of uh the total assessment for the city. Uh so think about it um there's one pi and if there's less people contributing um then there's going to be a shift in the
063invoice. Okay? But um I don't know that yet. I'll share that the next time we meet. Um, I'll actually share that at the May 6 meeting because I won't have it for the the final April meeting. Um, so 0% we're not raising our tax levy at all. Uh, we do have a new pilot agreement. Um, so we've seen an increase there. Um, so really the story is 0% on the levy, the state aid increase, and a new pilot for revenue. Stacy, when you have that conversation, sorry to interrupt, um, with the city, will we have estimates per assessed value for what an average citizen would >> Yeah, I'll run those numbers for you. Yeah. Um, so when we have the public hearing, I'll run through that and I'll run through the definitions of tax rate
064and tax levy and um, all that fun information. Um, I'd like to do it now if I can, but I just don't have the information to share yet. >> Thank you. >> So, the state of the state, so we're obviously dependent on state aid. Uh, more than 60% 63% of our budget is funded through state aid. Uh, so the legislature has approved three temporary extensions at this time, uh, with the latest and greatest being through tomorrow. Um, so based off of what I'm reading, a fourth extension is likely. Um, there's a lot of policies that are holding off the budget. Uh, not really related to education, uh, but reading the news articles, there's climate control that they're talking about. They're talking about, uh, immigration and relationships with with the state and with ICE. Uh and
065then there's a affordability agenda that the governor has and she's really focusing on um car insurance rates and uh energy prices, our home energy uh bills. Uh so again, nothing to do with education, but those are the talks and the policies right now that appear to be um uh holding up the process a little bit. So when we're done, they just have to interrupt, but after the fact, um it's likely we're not going to have pass budget in the next couple weeks getting the the buzz from the lobbyist. So um Jess, can you remind them what that means for us and our process at the end if >> Yeah. So, so we have uh very strict time constraints um and our uh deadlines don't always uh mesh with the state's deadlines and SED deadlines. So,
066today actually on the agenda uh the board will be approving the total spending plan. So, what that means is um we're assuming in this budget on the revenue side we're assuming a 1% increase. Uh that might change. I do believe that's a worst case scenario. It's conservative, so you should feel good about approving that. Um, it may be higher, but we can't we shouldn't bank on that. Um, we're not um going to be using fund balance for this budget or any reserves for this budget, and we're not increasing taxes. So, um, it's a very conservative budget. You should feel very good and um, warm and fuzzy about about approving it. % then um no red flags here. Um the legislator they're trying to push for a 2% minimum increase uh for foundation aid and again
067we might see that but we just we don't want to bank on that. >> The risk is right. Perfect. Thank you. >> So um our deadline uh we do actually we have another couple of days that we could have extended it. It didn't with our meetings. Tonight was the best night to do this with the other deadlines that are due with the property tax report being which is uh it's meant to be the 25th. If there's if there's things that we were not able to fund based on the 1% increase and we do get the 2%, do we have a list of those things that we could go back and potentially add in? You know, that's the way it would work my budget, but >> I'm not on the budget committee. >> You'd have to
068you'd have to amend the budget. Typically, what we do in that scenario is we take a look at breakage or things that we planned for that maybe fell through and opportunities within the spending limit. I don't I haven't uh recommended adjusting the budget. Um so that's typically the process. Typically the process if is if we have a need and I'll give an example that happens all the time a one-on-one aid. Um so we might have a student that we didn't have before that requires a one-on-one aid. We have to figure out a way to fund that because it's a need. It's a requirement. So what we do is we take a look at um our spending year to date and we look for uh any gaps that were unplanned and a way to fund that.
069So that's the method typically. >> So similar to you know us with a late fund of of the metal detectors in the next stage >> similar to that. So where does that come from? >> We had uh last year uh facilities decided not to purchase the vehicle that was planned and instead we we bought furniture for our elementary students. So things like that happen all the time. Okay. Uh so the tax levy this is generic information and when we do the hearing this is where I would give the definitions and I would give an estimate what uh it would it would um what I would estimate on a a standard $150,000 assessment. That's usually what I use. Um so this is the proposed levy. is 18 468 672. Um the allowable limit was 18473 363.
070So we're leaving 4,691 on the table. It's really close. So that's that's because of the change in um with the pilot. So that's what that is. Um it again is a Z amount, zero percentage. uh for historical trending purposes in the current year we had a 2% increase and we had 1% in both years before. So if you take a four-year average, it's 1% of the four-year average. So I wanted to go through some of the budget highlights and then after this elementary school budget highlight, I put three slides with the elementaryment to help show you how we came to the decision. So in the needs assessments the request was for an AIS teacher at Harmony Hill Lancing and a.5 AIS teacher at site. Uh in the proposed budget um there is one point on
071that AIS teacher at Harmony Hill. Um if you could go to the Harmony Hill slide and then we'll go back to this a little bit. So at Harmony Hill, because of the loss of of some of the ENL students going to their home schools, the overall class sizes are lower and uh Mark's recommendation and request was to convert one of the classroom teacher positions to an AIS teacher position. So that's how we were able to do that. um you know with the proficiencies what we did to try to determine who the granting of the additional AIS teacher we took the number of overall uh students we subtracted the number of students with disabilities because students with disabilities are are certified consultant resource teacher we then came up with the overall number of students and we
072looked at what is the current ratio in terms of AIS this doesn't mean that our current ratio, our AIS teachers service 77 students. It just shows that given that number of teachers and looking at all the students, what would that ratio be? And with the addition, that brings that ratio down to 60 62.2. So then Lancing, if you go to the Lancing slide, um Lancing is actually gaining some students because of ENL, but still overall has has pretty low class sizes. If you look at the original uh current AIS studenttoteer ratio of 87.1 with um an additional teacher and there is a proposal of the additional teacher in the budget. It brings that down to 65. So in in line with Harmony Hill Vans Skype next slide. um Vans Skype with their current number of
073students, if you take the um K through five number subtract special ed current with their AIS teachers, they currently have two, they're at a 48 to1 student teacher ratio. Um so we did not um do the additional five in terms of the man Skype budget the way they are currently um servicing at times. a permanent sub can be used to to assist and that's and that can so happen when the permanent sub is not covering another but that's why at this point in time looking across um we did we did not do the additional fun so we really based it on you know equitable ratios in many states is still as low um back to the original so behavioral support um through rans ing has teaching assistant ten and aid and you've heard of the
074reset room the behavioral support um that grant we will no longer receive uh we feel that model um has been very helpful in terms of the behavioral need so that is in the proposed budget ESL teacher uh the lancing now an ESL teacher so one of the teachers on how many held at Lancing um van Skype will need a 0.5 uh ESL teacher to be shared with the high school. So you'll see that later. Um so with after school detention, you've heard the principles talk about three through five. Um I reached out to um state ed to see if that would be something that would be allowable under use of title four funds. um because they there's different areas that are supported in there and they said that it would so that would be through
075title four funding. Um there was recommendation there was a request for elementary teacher leaders to help coordinate. um we we did not put that in in the proposed budget. I think that's something we can continue to to look towards in the future and have discussions about with um Laura as assistant superintendent. Um this I just want to point out um that the same grant resource that isn't allowing the behavior support. We have to transition to the local budget. We're transitioning the high school teacher leaders and the middle school teacher leaders to the local budget also. So that wasn't an ask through the needs assessment, but that same grant that's going away is forcing us if we want to keep that model to transition that to the local project. Okay. So it's okay. So if you
076go to the uh secondary middle school uh this is stuff finally right the the request was for math AIS this will be um it's not in the budget it'll be through title one um the uh share of title one funding because of the number of students at the middle school um is is higher it's something I'm looking at a title one funding we know we will be able to do uh instru instructional coach. So, the request was for an inhouse um instructional coach to coach both at the middle school and high school. We've been following the uh Boseies model. Um currently the secondary Boseies coaches with us three days a week. Um we are going to the proposal is to add one additional day and then continue to look at that instructional coach internal model
077in terms of building you know building capacity as a potential for the future. Um tutoring center high school has a tutoring center. It's worked very well. It's really been an efficiency compared to tutoring uh students uh after school. So that was requested for the middle school and so it's an identified efficiency that's in the budget. Anywhere it says identified efficiency, that means that it's not an additional practitional cost that needs to be put in the budget because we're we're looking throughout um at the high school. There was a request for uh additional administrative support. A number of years the high school was reduced by one clerical meaning that both um counseling center and the AD did not have a a counseling center only had one.5 and AD had less than.5 action with the scheduling. So
078that is um in the proposed budget but through a through a shifting of resources and then the alternative program uh of site location we talked about it that is in the proposed budget special programs. So um functional skills classroom because of our needs and the needs of our um students with disabilities. We have been having students with more significant needs uh over the past uh several years but primarily in the past few um the needs of what that means because students are we have more students with significant needs and there's less students who are in the consultant teacher resource room model. So the need is for an additional functional skills classroom. Um, and that would be a shifting of special ed education staff. Um, we looked at with with Lissa and Karen, we looked at
079class sizes across the district. It's something that um we we definitely should do based on numbers. Uh, and then this will be three full-time aids because the level of need of the students is such that one aid is required for every already as a question. Did we figure out where that question was going to go? And will students have to move from one building to a new building now? >> So the classroom would go at Harmony Hill >> and these are Harmony Hill students. >> So all of our all of our um specialized self-contained classrooms are districtwide students. Uh I know that Karen has um the rosters. Does it it entails some movement? >> It entails some movement. >> Exactly. Some sort of communication. >> Yeah. There will be communication with with parents and and
080uh and an explanation of how this classroom would better fit needs. um without having this classroom we'd have such a wide range of needs in certain in certain classrooms. >> I understand. I just wanted to >> along that note, does this open the opportunity for openings for tuitionable students in the consortium potentially? >> Okay, great. >> Uh so uh and then an additional function is needed in physical therapy for both these services. um in terms of moving the stat system over uh to both cities and I know the two of you can speak to this better but we believe by utilizing their service that in the long run um that is an efficiency and it will help us find more services. >> It'll it'll pay for itself. >> So it'll it'll request for two one-on-one
081aids as a contingency. They're not needed right at this point. We did not put them in the budget. You heard Stacy say throughout the years when there have been a need for oneonone, we have been able to do that. So, we didn't feel we needed to add to additional um positions at this time. Um so, if you wouldn't mind Stacy kind of taking us through the facilities. >> Yeah, sure. So for the facilities uh the senior cleaner so that's the piloted program that we've had uh in the current year. So that's making the position um instead of a stipen position it's going to be its own csea title and that'll be budget neutral through an efficiency of not filling an existing position and then assistant director of facilities three. Um so uh with the project
082management scope of work and uh building condition survey and the audits and uh the planned projects throughout the next 10 years. Um we feel that the last step in making uh modifications to this department is to have an assistant role uh that will be able to oversee day-to-day operations uh by the director of facilities is being pulled um regularly for projects and for uh tightening of procedures documentation etc. Um and again this would be budget neutral um as well. >> And then we did not include an instructional techn that's not true. Um so in terms of instructional technology as we discussed it's Chromebooks etc. But we're on a cyclical basis no new staffing positions. So we only include slides for people and services. >> So can I ask a couple of questions? >> Sure. So,
083um, with the elementary slides, you said as far as the detention request going in through title 4, is there also, um, any contractual pieces that we'll need to get and what's the timeline for that so that we can stay in line with making sure we have offerings, you know, as soon as we need to. So it would be an MOA with the GO teacher association about detention for uh the military. Um the funding would be grant funded. That's the funding source. Although we have the model for um secondary and high school and middle school. So we would work with Scott to make sure that that is something that we can put in place for the for the fall. And we actually have a CTA meeting >> Tuesday. So >> agenda item will be we'll be
084talking about that. >> Okay. Um as far as you know, I just want to like as far as the Bosei services, you know, I am for sure a proponent of sending anything that is not studentf facing. Uh you know, staff, absolutely it's going to pay for itself. I am concerned a little bit about the coaching model. I know that we are approaching this as let's see how it works as far as like the addition of middle school and high school. Um, I'm just putting it out there that I I do prefer an in in district model when it comes to things that we can control, you know, and and by control, I mean, if you're looking at an instructional coach who is in district coach, they then have intimate knowledge of all of our applications,
085all of our uh curriculums, and they know exactly where our weaknesses are. Um, also being able to invest in PD for that person to do their job more efficiently. It it's hard for us when we're contracting through Rosies to have those pieces in place. I know that we're just starting. I just want to put it out there that I think that you know futuristically if this is something that we think is going to support our teachers in the long run um it would be smart for us to invest in somebody who is employed by our school districts. >> So we did we did talk about give a little background and and the thought is to look towards the future. So we currently use instructional approach through cat region for elementary. We've done that for four
086or five years and you heard the elementary schools talk about um that we are uh heading into our second year of using a coach for middle school and high school. So she she has been here um that year. One of the benefits and this is what we want to figure out how to replicate going forward. One of the benefits is that the Bosey's instructional coaches um you know through OC's do have the access to all the different you know um different services different uh trainings that come come with it um different uh meetings with different um instructional approaches we've been embedding the Boseis model so that they are also part of our team even though they're through Boseis in terms of meetings with principles along our curriculum So the discussion was that we would need
087some more time to talk about at the secondary level. We really had to develop that the need is in math and science. That's the request at the at the at the high school in terms of the instructional coaching and then at the at the middle school I think is pretty spread evenly throughout. So it is something that we we've talked about and we're going to continue to talk about it and see how we can start to especially with some you know new bodies at the central office leadership as you do. >> Okay. And and are you touching on the old program status update later or do you have any information for >> um I have a meeting tomorrow actually. I know you always say the meeting is at the wrong times. It's tomorrow. the meeting
088is after the meeting. >> Um so uh we did get all the back from CSR in terms of um you know what would be needed to put into a lease agreement for um center in terms of um having them you know make some some alterations and changes and that's what the discussion is about tomorrow. I'll provide you with an update Friday and I'll also talk about it at our next meeting. >> Okay. And then my last question is with the assistant to the director of facilities, are we still going to be uh having an expectation of of having a clear works for our capital projects? Does this does that change that? I I'm not sure. you know, we're obviously in a current project, also looking forward to a, you know, a future project. I just
089wasn't sure where the clerk of the works stood on that. Um we have talked about uh Turner's role uh in the future and perhaps going out to RFP that's more construction manager though um than clerk of the works. Um >> so I'm more thinking of Joe Edto's role currently and what he does for us. We haven't uh discussed changing that because he has a historical knowledge that really is >> just asking and his budgetary >> correct. Uh we have however discuss Turner's role and what that might look for look at you know in the next 10 years. >> Okay. >> Talk about an RFP process for that. I think the time to reassess the clinical awards will not be this year as we're still going into some some things but we can have discussion in
090the future too. >> Sure. >> Yeah. I just wanted to have clarity because we're serving a position that is different model than where we've had before and we currently employ somebody in a job. We just I think that you know it's important for us to know if that is going to continue next year or if we're going to have changes. >> Yes. The the expectation is that that would continue but turn role would be modified. >> Okay. >> Can I just ask what you mean by you're going to explore more turn's role? >> U the d the current director of facilities and I talk about an RFP for the future projects. Uh so we're on the slide for the capital reserve proposition. Um we talk about an RFP. We did it a number of years
091ago uh for the project that's just coming up now. So we would repeat that. We'd modify the scope and um because it's over a much longer period of time. It's over 10 years. Um so we we took a look at what the needs are exactly going to be and modifying that that would not be paid through the local budget. It would be paid through through the capital reserve. >> So then we would go through the process that we went through in the past. >> Yeah. We have an interview. We would have folks come in and we would interview them. We'd have a committee. >> Have we discussed that with CSR help? >> I think it's a great opportunity to look into this afternoon. >> So CSR we um we have the building condition survey coming
092up that we have a contract for and the HBAC audit. Uh we could look at at both sides. we did the last time we did a project. So that would be fine. >> Okay. So this slide, yes, the right side. Um, also on the ballot, there's a separate proposition to create and fund capital reserve. And so there are many needs we've been meeting all year long. So we have the building conditions survey that is this summer. Uh so that will certainly identify many needs. We have the HBA HBAC audit that we're currently undergoing and we're you know that we have a lot of aged um equipment and the mechanics behind the equipment. Uh so there's a lot of needs there. And then we have several uh health and safety projects that we've been working on.
093Um we've been visiting local schools um and we'll continue to do that. We just had a meeting this week with another vendor. Um so that would include uh the PA system um the blue light system, the lockout process um and upgrading um the cameras as well, any blind spots, potentially um an overhaul of the camera system as well. So um there's many needs. um we would be in a position we do have a tax certiary reserve on the books now. Um this is reflected in the property tax report that is not tonight's agenda also. Uh so we have a tax certiary reserve on the books. It's 1.2 million. Uh those tax certiary cases are settled so we'll be in a position where we can transfer that money into this new capital reserve uh should this
094uh pass. Um and then we would also be in a position to transfer uh unallocated fund balance into this reserve right away and uh we could use um the time after the budget goes. So starting at the end of May uh planning for this next phase um and we would have um resources available for for the following year. We cannot do any work without uh the voters authorizing that work. Uh so the expectation would be on next May's uh ballot that we would have the list of what the project work would be. Uh it would detail exactly what it was and then what the estimated cost would be to the voters to authorize us to spend that money. Um and that would be um not this summer but the following summer. So that's that's that's
095the plan. That's the long range plan. And then uh as resources become available without any additional impact to the taxpayers uh we would fund this up to the 20 million and and tackle the many needs uh they have throughout the district. So, next step. So, um ideally the the state budget hopefully will pass and we'll have some final answers, but again on what you're acting out tonight as the the worst case scenario as far as state aid goes. So, you can feel very confident in your vote tonight. Um tonight, um the proposed budget. So, it's the proposed spending plan. So, it's the it's the ceiling of what we can spend. The line items can still be discussed um for now until I put the budget packet together and it goes on the website that it's
096final. Um but tonight you're authorizing the cap on what we can spend. The property tax report card is on the 25th. So you're approving that tonight. Also, it's really just a summary of what the total budget is, uh what the tax levy is. it uh lists out all of our reserves and any expectations and changes there. So the capital reserve is reflected in that document as is the tax circular um but from the 1.2 2 to zero and then the t the capital reserve is obviously increased um appropriately and the fund balance is reduced appropriately on the um board petition deadline and it's April 29th so we have two seats um that are available this year and uh the public hearing will be May 6 um at that point I'll have a a tax estimate
097and I'll be able to give an estimate of the tax rate and we'll walk through that and then May 19th is the annual budget vote and the and the board election. >> Thank you. Before I go on, any other questions for Stacy? >> Thank you, Stacey. >> Great. Thank you. So, uh, some more updates, but you've been hearing a lot from us, so I just want Rachel Marcel to tell you a little bit about event at the high school today. that was uh really well received. >> Hello. So, a couple months back I had told you about the jewel settlement funds and that our hope was to bring in Mr. Chris. He was at the high school today for two sessions. Uh he met with our freshman and juniors this morning and then our sophomores
098and seniors this afternoon. I have to tell you the feedback has been that this is the best speaker and the best presentation that we have ever brought to any of our schools. um you could hear a pin drop and for our students to be that actively engaged in listening to a speaker um I think just speaks volumes. The presentation started with about a 25minute video that really walked you through his career um snippets from when he played at Fresno State when he was at the Denver Nuggets when he was in Boston. Um interviewed members of his family. So his talk after that wasn't so much about that because you've got that in that content, but the film was so good and so engaging for the students. Um, and then he really talked a lot about
099wanting more for yourself and being that person that you want to be, being that big brother, that big sister, the person people look up to. Um, and just really obviously encouraging the kids to stay away from drugs and alcohol being that, you know, he was exposed in high school, more in college, and then just became something that was so out of control. Um, and really separated himself from his family for long periods of time because he was in rehab. He spoke about the rehab facility that him and his wife now currently operate, students being there because of this big epidemic with marijuana. Um, so it was just it was very powerful. There was definitely some students who were very touched by it and and had some emotion um with the presentation. We ensured that so
100social workers and folks were there. Um and then we shared a lot of information if the kiddos want to reach out directly to um his his foundation and the work that he does and they will feel those needs as well. But it was super amazing. Well, thank you for all of your efforts and what you put into bringing it to us and uh just so glad to hear that it it really went off well. Actually, I spoke with Jeffo when I was up there and he could not say enough good words about the presentation and he was sitting through the second one, but he knew we were out in the field, but he didn't really want to leave it even though he had seen it earlier, but he wanted to stay, but he still came
101out and he just raved about it. And I think one of the things that he really touched on is the fact that he really engaged with the kids and just like really like he said that, you know, some kids were being loud and obnoxious and and so he like, you know, called them out on it and said, "Hey, you may not be interested, but the person next to you might be." So you got to stop, you know, you got to think about the people who are around you, not just yourself. and just like really engaged with the kids and Jeff was very impressed. He said it was probably one of the best. >> It it was and the students that I've talked to, my own son having attended, my nephew having attended um I mean
102I even sat down for dinner with Liam quickly on our deck before I came over here and he said, "Mom, you did a really good job." And I said, "Well, I didn't I didn't do it facilitating bringing him here." And to that point, we did have to reschedu this was the third time he 38 um due to the lovely snow we had this year that just did not allow him to get here one storm they got over 30 ines where he was. So um you know the team of hoses his team were amazing to just find dates that worked um to still be able to get him here when we had contracted with him so many months ago. I just think it's super important for us to continue these conversations with our kids, especially having
103the opportunity to bring somebody who may be well known to them, maybe not, maybe after watching the video, having a little bit of relatability. Because here's the thing, like we can sit up here and preach all day long. Your parents can preach all day long. Your teachers can preach all day long, but sometimes it just takes that one outside person to say, "I I experienced this and I did this." So, not just academically, but like for those social pieces like you're talking about with his experience with drugs and addiction or or you know, um, however he described it, I think it's super important for us to keep that conversation going with our kids. And so, the more opportunities we can put real people in front of them, I think it just really will benefit everyone.
104>> Oh, 100%. I couldn't agree more. And, you know, thankfully we had this grant opportunity available to us. I know he was somebody that Mr. Hun has wanted to bring in for quite some time. He has spoken in districts in the area and everything that's been said is nothing but exactly the experience we had today. Um unfortunately the cost just always precluded us and thank you for getting the drill set. Exactly. >> So it was just all good together. >> Yes. Thank you. >> And Mrs. Mars, you take that credit from those high school kids. >> Thank you. >> So, I wanted to give you an update on the metal detectors. There was a very smooth roll out. This is from Laura. At this point, the training is complete and staff have worked with the
105vendor to address the sensitivity uh of it. Um they've learned how to use the app and security team has done an excellent job of setting up and breaking down daily. um they could benefit from a a couple of additional morning helpers, aids, etc. teachers who could assist for about 25 minutes. Right now, all the insecurity are there doing it, but if anybody's out of the building, it's a little more difficult. So, we're going to be talking about that. And then she said, "All things considered, uh students have been things are going well. Students have been incredibly flexible and mature about them." and she's had students tell her that they can save them. You might have seen um the the media about medical a uh and then um also I've been asked a couple questions about
106staff training. So I wanted to share that with you this evening. So uh every year all staff complete a number of vector safe school trainings which are updated regularly to reflect state requirements and about best practices. So our staff take safe mental health school violence training uh sexual harassment staff to staff sexual harassment students. Um cyber security hazard communication New York dead and then the Kenny Vento training with homeless students um because we stock a funeral for students to use for us to use if there's emergency. um staff need to have allergy at training. And then in addition of last year, all staff were required to take additional training in New York State mandated identification and reporting of child abuse and malreatment and neglect. There were some significant changes in that. So uh everyone including
107me who might have had it in the past it was all partaken again last year and there is an additional new uh requirement uh in that area that everybody will be taking again. So that that's the mandated reporter dream and we had talked about that a little bit last year and everyone in a school district is mandatory reporter you know um there is an expectation that there is no retribution should you file a claim should you call I mean listen my sister is a teacher I don't think she'd beet you or upset if I said she certainly made claims uh on her own without involving any type of administrator there's resources is out there for our teachers to be able to feel safe and comfortable and not only our teachers, our staff, but it is
108an expectation and and it's the law for for us to to do that. Um can you just clarify? You said at the beginning of every year this training happens but I just want to also Okay. So um it happens to all you know current staff existing staff um at the end of the year and there's a certain period of time frame that they have to complete it and then that's cyclical for uh all new staff members as they enter at any um point mid year or as the year goes on. um they're assigned to those to those trainings um and they're on boarding and they take the trainings many times. So for example, if it's a if it's a somebody who might not have a a classroom, etc., they do their onboarding right at central
109office outside in the in the master or they will do it, you know, in their in their classroom. they're given they're given time uh at the start to complete those trainings and it's all a um it's a computer based system so it tracks who's taken it and it sends out reminders and it's also um it's also viewed regularly >> I mean I had to take it too and I can tell you you have to actually answer questions as you're going through so you can't even fake like you have to actually do it because it asks you questions >> and if you um somehow get on the at 18. Um, you have to start over. >> Yes. Um, so as far as having an amount of time to do it, would that be an expected like
11030 days or 60? Like what are we talking about as from the time that they start to the time that they're required to complete because I assume somebody's checking those things. >> Yes. So first of all, there's different requirements for different training. So say school violence mental health, it has to be uh done within the first um I think it is 15 days of the school year and then if you're a new staff member within the first 30 days of your appointment. So certain things have the strict time frame others we do have a three month time period but you're on a roll time period so you do complete it every year. So every year anybody have any questions? >> No you answered it. I was going to ask if there I know nursing had
111to take an an additional mandated reporter training this year so I wasn't sure if that teachers had to as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. Anything else? I don't think so. Um that's that'll be new business. I made notes. Um okay. So, we'll just move on to the agenda portion of our evening. Uh, does the board of education have any items on tonight's agenda they would like to discuss? >> No. >> Does the community have any items on tonight's agenda they would like to discuss? >> Miss, um, hi everybody. I just had a couple of comments. Um, I appreciate your fiscal responsibility as far as the field thing goes. I thank you. I think that that's health and safety is very important and again as a member of the community I really do appreciate that. Um keeping
112people true to what they've committed to. So thank you for that. Um as far as the track goes I'm a walker and I really do appreciate also anything we can do to have it the track open and available to the community as much as possible. I also think it's a really nice time for members of our community to interface with our students who may not be practicing or training or competing, but just being at the track to do some walking or post-training, whatever. I I think it's so valuable that again, old and young interface with each other. It builds relationships. It builds trust. Um, I also think I'd like to make sure we avoid anything that's prohibitive for the track because once if you if you're somebody like me, if you try something and you
113can't get access to it, you're only going to try once or twice and then just say, "Forget it. Nice track. Too bad we can't use it." So, and then, you know, there's some people in the community I think that would give up if it wasn't easily accessible and clear as I'm curious about the fs and how if they cost anything, but that's a whole other question. Um, as far as the budget goes, I had a couple of thoughts. One of them was and I don't know how much you know but like in our functional skills classes at the middle school at the high school and I think maybe the behavioral classes at the elementary school there are TAs in the classes as well as the teachers has one and Mr. Quinn here. Um, at the
114elementary schools, we have the same sort of classes that then their kids come to Colleen and Andy's classes and then on to the high school and they don't have TAs, they have aids, which I don't know why that is quite honestly. I just wanted to bring that to your attention. I'm not sure why that is if that's always been the case, but I think it's an inconsistency that I just want to, you know, bring up because TAS, I'm sure, and not to put Khalen on the spot, but I'm sure she could tell you and I can tell you how valuable they are in terms of instruction in the classroom, you know, when you're doing centers or whatever it is. So, that's just something that's just food for thought. Maybe not this budget year, maybe whenever.
115I I just think that's important for you to know. Um, and I also just appreciate Margaret your comments about the in-house um, coach idea because we have so many seasoned staff here um, who have gone through training who remember the Valentine the Michael Valentine days 30 years ago and then all the other trainings and professional development and and and there's so much out there to support teachers in terms of technology in terms of just classroom instruction and we have we have really good trained staff in house who I think again know the culture, know the have the relationships with our colleagues. Um, and I think would be a real asset, you know, and have credibility just because of who they are. So, um, I think that's all I had. I just saw just a couple
116of comments. So, thank you for listening. >> Thank you for your comment. >> Okay. So, I'm just going to go through a couple of areas of old business first. um this presentation obviously tonight on the agenda we will be approving the budgetary amount. So this is the first time that we have actually seen needs assessment versus what is funded and or being able to be offered through efficiencies. Is there any further conversation that the board would like to have you know at this meeting at the next meeting um you know on these items or are we comfortable with what we saw tonight? Obviously, um without having had these conversations before, I don't want to have the time get away from us to make any suggestions and or recommend changes before it comes to the point
117where Stacy has to give us the solid this is what we're doing. Um so we do, you know, have some flexibility in having conversations should we need to. I know that we went through the budget presentation um before it got to you to make sure that we had the items addressed that were asked for. So, uh, just want to see what your level of interest is is if you're happy and comfortable with the, um, you know, obviously this is all gone through the budget committee, which we have members on and they are representative of. Just want to make sure everybody's happy and comfortable with what we have here or if there's further discussion needed. Um, second thing I just wanted to let know I did ask uh, Superintendent O'Shea to put on an upcoming meeting
118following our our budget presentations, a discussion on transportation again, just so it doesn't get too far past. Also, um there were some meetings that were trying to be coordinated with CBTA and more community members, but when we get to a point where we're in this summer, it's going to be too late for for us to make any actionable decisions. So, I did request that to be on an upcoming meeting just so that you guys can expect that. also um you know last quarter of old business I I guess I just want to say and I know that a lot of us were present but we haven't had a meeting since our big fish presentation and what a wonderful thing I mean it was big when it came it like when they came to sing to
119us it it felt big but it felt even bigger when we were there um it was an amazing performance and and everybody should be proud you know one thing I can say that has certainly changed over my course of time in the board is the student involvement and their level of participation. Um, and that's always just really impressive to me to see kids actually doing real jobs uh that they could do outside. So, we talk about our exposure to our social emotional needs, but then we also talk about career pathways, but then putting it into action with one of our own um, you know, in-house productions, I feel like is just super impressive. So, I just wanted to put that out there. um, you know, as a matter of business. >> I I accept with
120that. I I think it was very impressive that they the cast was able to move the audience to tears as much as they did for our for a performance. It was definitely very moving and that shows their level of um their level of skill and dedication to it. It was a great performance. What was also impressive that they learned the circus, you know, somebody walking on stills and juggling and so it's just it's it's nice to see them put that much effort into the participation because that's their only time that they're putting. >> Yeah. >> So, it was really >> and not not always the same faces, which I I think is really impressive. I feel like back when I was in high school a few years ago, um I feel it was always the
121same faces on on the stage and I feel like every performance there's some of the same faces but there's different faces too and I it's just it's really great. I just think it's awesome. >> Thank you. >> I mean I didn't do anything. I would say thank you not taking >> You're welcome. >> All right. So we're happy with uh presentation tonight. We have no discussion further of agenda items. So can I ask that uh the board of education adopt the following res or can I get a motion that board of education adopt the following resolutions of the April 15th agenda 7 A through H 8 A through M and 9. >> I'll make the motion. I'll second it. >> Uh Mrs. Snder. >> Yes. Mrs. Gendron. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Paradise. >> Yes. Mr.
122Dro, >> yes. >> Mrs. Furwell, >> yes. And Mrs. Gary, >> yes. So, we're going to move on to new business. At this point, I'm going to ask our board clerk, Miss Ashley, to uh discuss with us some updates on um board nominations and elections. I forgot to do it last meeting. Um so, we want to just make sure that it happens in public session. Um because we do have two seats uh that are two seats. >> Two seats. Okay. I'm not going to steal your thunder. Go for it. Please do. No, we have two seats up for reelection this year. The petitions are due on Wednesday, April 29th at 5:00. That's the deadline to have them turned in with 100 signatures. Um I've had three petition packets picked up so far. Um to date,
123nothing returned yet. Um so still out there um waiting for them to come back. Um and just a brief update too on the machines. The machines are here. They've been here I think for about a month now. Um ESNS, which is the company that we bought them through, they are coming Thursday. They will um they're all still in boxes. They told us to leave everything as is. They're going to come. They'll unpackage them, set them all up, get them up and running. Um we've already done I think two trainings on them, just Zoom trainings. They will meet with me in person and then they're going to meet with our staff that we have approved this year to assist with the budget as well as our pole workers um on May 7th. They'll be here along
124with the um election software, which is what we're going to use for the signin process and stuff too. They're going to do a training all on the same day. Um I did let it be optional. They'll also be here the day of the election as well to go over a brief summary of everything. So far, all the pork workers that I've talked to that we've approved will be here on the 7th as well. Um, but I it did make it an optional thing for them um to come because we'll have staff members there as well who will also be trained on everything so that the day of the election runs very smooth. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yeah. Um, are any comments from the board on anything uh not related to the agenda? Any comments
125from the audience on anything at all? >> Okay. So, uh we just did a first reading. Um we don't typically go through policy review. This is a little bit of an uh just outlier. What we did is you're you're going to see several uh policies on here, but we did revisions uh in a way that we incorporated other policies. So, we're actually going to abolish one, two, three, four, five, six policies. We're going to abolish. That's what our intent is. Obviously, the board is fully able to make any edits, revisions at this point through a first reading, but those will be absorbed into the operational goals um school board powers and duties. So, so for example, the school board powers and duties. We took um the board self-evaluation and we just added that into the
126school. We don't need a completely none of those were mandatory policies. They were just ones that were made up, you know, to kind of serve a purpose. And so what we did was we just made some very intentional decisions and we did not take away anything any kind of you know actionable items or anything that we felt had any substance or importance. We made sure to just transition to another policy where it just makes sense for us. So instead of repeating ourselves uh that's what we did. Obviously this is your first time getting eyes on it. the there's a lot of information. If you have any um suggest suggestions or changes, you can reach out to any of the members of the policy committee and we'd be happy to bring those forward before we move
127to the next meeting. Um any questions on on policy revisions? No. Okay. So, uh, dates for future meetings, April 29th and May 6th, right here at the Host Middle School Library at 6 PM. Can I get a motion to enter into executive session at 7:49 p.m. to discuss matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person or corporation, and to discuss a legal matter, and to discuss a student matter. I'll make a motion. I'll second it. Mrs. Snder, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gendron, >> yes. >> Mrs. Paradise, >> yes. >> Mr. Dros, >> yes. >> Mrs. Burwell, >> yes. And Mrs. Keller, >> yes. We do not plan on returning from executive session. Thank you for your attendance this evening.