001East Norwich Central School District Board of Education meeting. Can we all please rise for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States and justice for all. I would now like to turn it over to Dr. Yanni for the superintendence report. >> Thank you, Miss Caster Javanni, and good evening everybody. Um, we've been uh preparing uh since the last snow storm uh to go the re to go remote if there was ever another storm. But tonight, I I just want to take some time to thank the entire administrative team, Miss Argamman, the high school principal, the assistant principles, Loccastro, and um Dr. Contras, and the entire teaching staff, and the students, and the entire community for being able to switch on March 17th, we were able to switch to a remote day
002uh just in a matter of 20, 30 minutes. We had a a a big storm knocked down the power. So, we're able to save the day. So, I want to say thank you to the entire staff, the community, um the entire uh the director of technology, Miss Reor, everybody in a matter of minutes got the school going and it was a a productive day. So, thank you so much for all you do. Joanna, I hope you enjoyed the remote day. So, all yours. >> Good evening, everyone. I'd like to share a few events that have occurred over the past few weeks. Firstly, on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, Oyster Bay High School hosted the NISMA Music Festival. I would like to send a huge congratulations to the students who performed and a thank you
003to the student volunteers and staff that were able to make this event run so smoothly. Additionally, on Thursday of last week, RO Kappa Honor Society volunteered with first graders for Teddy Roosevelt's social studies night. It was a joy to engage with younger generations of students as they learned about their country and its history. I would also like to share that spring sports have begun. JV and varsity teams are in full swing for the season. Good luck to all of our players. Finally, I would like to remind everyone that international night will be this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the high school. It is an extremely fun event, so be sure to check it out. This is all the news I have for you tonight. Have a wonderful evening, everyone. >> Thank you, Joanna. Every every
004month, I provide the board and the community with an update on a board of education goals for the 2526 school year. Uh this month, I am incredibly proud of our students and staff. Uh while we consistently prepare our students to excel in standardized test and assessment, our true mission goes much further. We are committed to teaching students how to connect with our community and helping them develop realworld skills that will serve them after long graduation. our students interview a local senior citizen which uh some of here tonight and I'm very very grateful to produce this wonderful documentary. This initiative directly supports a board of education goals and I want to thank all the members of the life enrichment uh senior center working very well together and I want to thank uh Mr. Dolan uh all
005the multimedia journalism students that are here tonight and Miss Erica Gopac for coordinating this this event. Uh so Miss Gopac if you can come up and uh talk about the details of this wonderful uh project. Good evening everyone. So, uh, we have a long-standing history with the Life Enrichment Center. This is some, uh, a group that we've worked with on many projects, um, since I've been here and even before me. And this year, we added a new project. I I hate to be partial, but I think it's one of my favorites, um, based on the experience that we had. So, I'd like to share a little bit about that project with everybody. Uh this is an intergenerational project that featured work with our uh broadcasting students, Mr. Dan's broadcasting students and members from the life
006enrichment center. Okay. So as uh Dr. Riani said we have a board goal that's aligned to community and in particular as I was looking at the language in that board goal the words that stood out to me I I made uh in bold so strategic partnerships uh with community organizations to cocreate opportunities that directly support student success and realworld learning mentorship and civic engagement and opport opportunity and we believe that this project directly aligns and exemplifies that goal. So, as I said, we have a long-standing tradition of working and being fortunate to work with the life enrichment center with all students and all age groups in the district, starting with even our youngest. So our Vernon students, the chorus every year goes to the life enrichment center to sing and do carolling and we do
007sing alongs with the seniors and we have so much fun doing that every year. We also go in the spring and we perform for them in the spring as well. Our students at Teddy Roosevelt also invite the seniors into Teddy Roosevelt to do arts and crafts with Miss Brman, our art teacher. And our students also do some music and sing alongs with Miss Murphy, our music teacher, uh, down there. So, even our youngest students get an opportunity to connect, um, with our friends from the Life Enrichment Center. Recently, we've been bringing our wind ensemble and chamber singers to the Daybreak program, which is an extension of the LifeEnrichment Center, um, to perform for them. And we uh recently just had our spring musical and invited our friends from the life enrichment center to the matinea
008to have some coffee and bagels and see uh the performance of Once Upon a Mattress with us. So, a little bit about the new project. Uh at the core of what the students were doing was transforming oral histories from members of the Life Enrichment Center into biographical news packages. And when we look at what kind of skills they were working on, they were doing everything from how to craft an interview question, uh, on camera filming. They filmed these packages themselves. They served as camera people while the other one was interviewing. They transcribed all of the interviews. They created a script out of it. They narrated it. You'll hear them narrating their own films. And of course they did all the editing which is a lot of technical skill but beyond the technical skill there is
009so much impact with a project like this. It preserves the past and it connects generations and to us that was the most important part of the project. So, as we discussed uh in terms of the board goal, we wanted to foster meaningful connection between our students and the community through an authentic learning experience. But our particular focus was for our students to learn from the past through the voices of our seniors and provide them with the kind of things they don't necessarily find in textbooks. Right? So this intergenerational connection fostered empathy. It could even combat sort of age related stereotypes and it helped the students develop critical thinking and emotional skills. So I'll stop talking now. Where did this project lead us? Well, we definitely are more of showers than tellers. So we're going to
010show you where this project went from start to finish. Mr. Dalan, whenever you're ready. Students at Oyster Bay High School recently partnered with senior members of the Life Enrichment Center in Oyster Bay for a meaningful intergenerational project. They produced a series of mini biographical video news packages that captured amazing personal stories. >> Lifelong Oyster Bay resident Peggy Rickiardi has been exceeding expectations her whole life. >> We're just like everybody else and we may have to do things a little bit different, but it doesn't mean that we can't do things. She hasn't let being born blind get in the way of living her life to the fullest. Peggy spoke with Bay News Now about the struggles and highlights she's experienced throughout her life here in Oyster Bay. >> The students in Oyster Bay's digital reporting class
011were tasked with interviewing a senior citizen and producing a video package. >> Even throughout all of Bob's hardships, he can still find the good in his past, which comes with much wisdom. I think it's important that young people such as yourselves remember the history of this country and the sacrifices men and women made so that you so that I and your children can grow up in a country that is the greatest country in the world for freedom. >> Cameron Ramirez, Bay News Now. >> I really liked listening to him. He was a very interesting man. Uh I learned a lot from him. It's an important fact about history. I mean, it's it's it's a tragic incident that happened and it's important that people remember it. >> Over the course of several months, they applied professional
012journalism techniques throughout the process. They planned their interview questions. They interviewed the senior they were partnered with, and then they wrote, narrated, and edited their story. Each conversation was a polished short film that blended journalism with documentary storytelling. Four members of the Life Enrichment Center were featured. What if you grew up in Germany during World War II? Well, that was the case for 92-year-old Eningga Amian, a Bayville resident. >> I grew up during the war. >> And when I got out of high school, there was nothing going on. There were no colleges to follow. There was nothing to do. Germany was in total ruins. The cities, everything was in ruins. >> I mean, I think it was very interesting to be able to learn so much about uh senior citizens history cuz I mean, they
013have a lot of interesting stories to tell. So, it's interesting to see their perspectives of things that, you know, would be a lot different if they were to happen today. So, to get that perspective of somebody with an older way of thinking was kind of I mean, it was very rewarding. It was very interesting. While she has been a member of the senior center for some time now, Kathy Kathy currently does editorial work. She has made a book called Silver Threads. It is an anthology book that contains stories of many different people in the senior center. >> We have a book here that I I'd like um you guys to take a copy home back to school, Chris, called um Silver Threads. Silver Threads. It's an anthology of memories and poetry by members. >> Well,
014I'll get you a copy to take back. >> The Silver Threads book compiles different stories from the members of the senior center. Kathy is deeply passionate about volunteering to support veterans. She has shared that her entire family has a long-standing tradition of doing volunteer work. Kathy also likes to focus on helping veterans. Kathy is a kind-hearted woman and committed to helping those around her. The project finished with a screening of all four finished films in the Oyster Bay High School auditorium attended by Life Enrichment Center members and Oyster Bay High School social studies classes. The event celebrated seniors who generously shared their stories while giving students the experience of presenting their work to an engaged audience. >> So this work requires a lot of technical skill but more importantly it it requires empathy. It requires
015curiosity and it requires respect for the generations that came before them and to us that's extremely important. >> The event was also featured on News12. >> Students at Oyster Bay High School are showing off their film making skills. They interviewed seniors at the life enrichment center in Oyster Bay and then produced and edited a series of mini biographical films documenting a variety of personal histories. The screening was a success and a testament to what students can achieve when their work connects to something more than the classroom. In this case, the living history of their own community. I haven't really done anything like this before, but it was just very moving to even me to watch through and have to create this. I really just it was incredible. Thank you. And we're we're very grateful. Um
016tonight we do have some of the people who were involved in this project here with us. Some of them said, "Listen, I'm 93. I'm sorry. I got to go to bed." But um they're with us in spirit. Um so I I do want to acknowledge them and if it's comfortable for you, stand up where you are. Um, first I'll start with the students that were involved. Some of them are also here with us tonight. Uh, one is Eden Urekco. She's not here tonight, but um, we have James Ortiz. So, James, if you'll stand up, remain standing. Noah Kingsley, Cameron Ramirez, and and Chris Lopez, who couldn't be uh here with us tonight. And for our senior members of the life enrichment center with us tonight we have Mr. Bob Goodyear if you'll stand up Mr.
017Albert Kelly Miss Peggy Ricardi and Ingga and Kathy send their regards and I also want to give a very special thank you to Miss Anne Glenn. Ann, can you stand up please? an uh an Mr. Zalin and I actually had this idea last year and we started crafting what this was going to look like and we in the fall we came back at it and we said we have to make this happen and we want this to be a tradition that continues. So thank you for everything an and I I have some flowers for you guys as well. So will the students come and bring the flowers? If we can have one more round of applause. And of course, I have to thank Yes. And of course, I have to thank Mr. Doan, who's up
018in the tower over there, for helping to make this project come to life. We could not have done any of this without you. And shameless plug, be sure to watch the complete films on our school website and also Calvocative Choirs tomorrow night if you're around. We'll see you there. Thank you so much. >> I uh just want to make sure that we get a copy of Silver Threads in every library in the uh district. >> The book The book should be in our libraries. >> Thank you, Miss Geopac. I would also like to thank our community members that participated in this with our students. We appreciate you taking the time to work with our students and also to share the histories uh with us all and to our students. You did a fabulous job and
019as as always made us incredibly proud. But thank you all for putting this program together. It's wonderful. >> Thank you so much. So at this point um we will have uh a third budget presentation. Uh thank you again for coming. Thank you so much. Thank you Miss Renor. >> Yes. >> All right. Well, I'm not sure how to follow that student's work because clearly that's very impressive from our students. But importantly, the budget is what supports all that work for our students. So, uh, first, good evening to members of our board of education, members of our community. Tonight's third budget presentation will continue to build upon the work we've shared over the past. In January, we established the foundation, our vision, our goals, our budget process. In February, we focus on our financial framework, including
020the tax cap, the revenue, and expenditure structure. Tonight, we're going to bring those pieces together in a more detailed analysis of the proposed budget along with capital and technology investments. As always, everything begins with our vision of empowering all students to achieve excellence. That vision continues to guide our mission and focus for this budget to build upon our success, expand opportunities for students, and to do so with disciplined financial leadership. The budget focus was intentionally crafted to align with and to support the board of education goals of as well as what we've discussed the work that always must occur within the framework of the allowable tax levy. So briefly before we move forward we will revisit that framework. Budget preparation remains challenging due to elevated inflation also called CPI. CPI has decreased from prior year
021highs that tax growth is capped at the lower of inflation or 2%. So for the 27 school year although CPI is 2.64% the allowable tax factor will be cap for all school districts again at 2%. Over the past 5 years CPI has fluctuated significantly through proactive planning we have maintained the tax levy stability while protecting our programs. The challenge is that these costs have compounded. They do not decline when the inflation moderates. The tax levy is the amount that is permitted to as part of it revenue budget. The amount is calculation which is posted on our website for the 27 school year. The allowable tax levy limit for oyster is 2.58%. Now moving into the revenue budget. As we've previously reviewed, the structure remains consistent. Approximately 89% of our revenue is raised from our tax
022levy, 5% from state aid, and 6% from other revenue. The proposed tax levy for 2627 is approximately 61.4 million, which represents an increase of 1.54 and remains within the allowable tax levy limit. Looking at state, while the total increase is approximately The majority of that is expense driven a foundation which is our only operating which has flexibility increased by only 1% or about $19,500. That continues to reinforce that the district remains heavily reliant on our local funding. This slide provides the details for that expense which is expected to increase by just under $70,000. However, it is a reimbursement for a cost already incurred that does not create any new operatingibility. It offsets existing obligations. The third component of the revenue includes reserves, fund balance, and miscellaneous revenue. These reserves are restricted by law and serve
023specific purposes you see listed here, which can help stabilize our cost and support long-term planning. As of June 30th, 2025, these reserves remain healthy and at appropriate levels as shown here. They are reviewed annually both by the district and our external auditors and also at our audit committee and the public at a board meeting each fall. Appropriating the fund balance reduces the tax levy in a subsequent year. At this time, we are planning to appropriate 1.5 million to provide a tax relief while meeting fiscal flexibility within our adopted budget. The 2627 proposed budget includes that same use of reserves and fund balance as in the prior years as shown here. The significant challenge as said before is that the costs are not going downwards. Even if moderates, they're continuing to grow on top of miscellaneous
024revenue would include pilots, the lease of our property, interest income, and several smalls, but represents less than 3% of the total budget. When combined, the total proposed revenue budget is approximately 69.4 million, an increase of about 1.59 over the current year. Now, let's expend. Tonight, we're going to walk through the expendure budget in four parts. First, the three-part budget. Second, the budget by function code. Third, the detailed line by line using ST3 codes. And finally, the key factors that are these expenditures. The expenditure budget is organized into the required three-part budget, which you see here in details, the administrative, the capital, and the program. Over time, we to see the shift reducing administrative and capital shares while increasing the program investment. The increase in this program component continues to reflect the board's priorities and commitment
025to our students. The proposed details of the 2627 budget reflects that continued alignment. We now move into a little bit more detail of the expenditures beginning with the function codes. The next few slides will represent the entire budget and the function codes which represent the general purpose of each expense. First being the general support then instructional and third operational cost. So starting with the general support all the 1000 codes you see the largest increase in this section is due to our liability insurance premium increases. And looking at the 2000 instructional codes the largest increase are tied to IP mandated services and staffing that support our students and 5 codes. The largest increases are transportation, health insurance, which are both increasing significantly higher than our cats. The next section provides the most detailed levels of transportation
026transparency. The line by line breakdown presented for the New York State reporting structure within the general supports. Most areas are remaining stable with some internal reocations and target reductions. These are some factors that are controllable. The next few slides will break down each of the lines in this starting with the 100 board of education and so forth. So looking at the first line of that board of education and 1240 for office superintendent these two areas you can see remain stable. business office has some non-instructional salaries that were reallocated to a 1400 code, a realignment of codes to actuals and reduction of the financial advisor cost due to the completion of the bond. 1400 includes legal personnel, public information services which has seen a decrease in legal expenses this year as well as a reallocation of
027that non-instructional salary from the business office. For 1600 codes for operation and maintenance plans, we have a decrease in non-instructional salaries and and supplies for 1670 and 1680. These codes for printing, mailing, data processing, and information systems. Here you will just see a reallocation of a expense due to a staff member becoming a direct hire. And now that money is allocated to a salary for 1900, as discussed earlier, we've seen a significant increase in our general liability. The next section with instructional codes increases are driven primarily by mandated services and program needs with some savings achieved through retirements and grant for 2000 is our school supervision and curriculum development codes. We see a realignment of salary codes here as well as a decrease to some equipment for 2110. This is the regular school instruction. represents
028one of the largest categories due to salaries. It's reflecting that the education is fundamentally diver code 2250 represents a special education budget where we have seen increases which include the mandated programs to provide the necessary support for our students. Based on student population needs, we are projecting a slight decrease in instructional salaries for code 2259 for 2600 which is library computer instruction. We see a decrease due to salary code as well as the remainder of that shift of the staff to a direct 2018. The largest shift here was a reallocation from the salary from the special education section. Co-curricular athletics has a need to increase these codes to align to the structural salaries and athletics provision to actuals. The third section again is the 5,000 through 9,000 operational codes. Uh transportation health insurance as I
029said are the primary cost drivers here. Why the debt service has remained stable. So starting with the 5410, you can see here that the contracted transportation is expected to increase by over $400,000 alone from that one code this year. Employee benefits is expecting an increase of also over $400,000 just in health insurance premiums. Both costs are not in our control. Although we're are anticipating a slight decrease in TRS and our workers compos as we've been discussing for several years. Thanks to the support of the community, we've been able to complete all the amazing 21st century capital improvements while maintaining that stable debt service level you see here of 2.2 million. Stepping back to the full expendure picture as reviewed in detail in the last budget presentation, these building blocks represent the main categories of our
030budget. The total proposed expendure budget is 69.4 million, which is just under 1.6 million from the current year. The major increases you see here are transportation and contracted services. These increases are not driven by contractual obligations. With more than 70% committed to salaries and benefits, even a modest adjustment can create pressure. Transportation mandates are all required discretionary choices. Each category reflects the necessary components of delivering education at the level our community expects. Despite these pressures, the district remains within the allowable tax limit. When revenue growth is capped and most expenditures are structural, even a handful of rising costs can create an imbalance. This next section will highlight those specific pressures. A significant portion of this year's expendure increase is concentrated in transported services for just 1.1 million. Combining that makes up. increase. This multi-year high
031inflation has created higher cost. So even as the CPI compound costs continue to rise, these contractual and market driven obligations must be managed within the tax cap. Despite these structural pressures, we have remained within the voter approved tax limit as shown here with a 5year average of 1.4 million. That discipline reflects thoughtful multi-year planning, strategic staffing alignment, and careful expendure management. To better understand our pressures, we look beyond the single year and we analy which was on the previous slide was about $1.4 million. During that same time period, five expenditure categories, transportation, health insurance, retirement system contributions, IP mandates and services and liability insurance have averaged nearly 1.3 million in annual growth and that is before accounting for any salary increases. This trend illustrates how a small number of structural costs consume nearly all of
032our revenue growth. Many structural efficiencies have already been implemented. While these actions have stabilized the budget and protected student programs, future sustainability will depend on continued discipline multi-year planning within the constraints of the tax. We are addressing the immediate pressures through strategic staff realignment retirement planning while simultaneously advancing our long-term workforce strategy tied to enrollment and program priorities. This dual approach stabilizes the current budget while positioning the district responsibly for the future. As part of this budget for 26 27, we have made several significant uh strategic adjustments to manage cost while maintaining program integrity. These include replacing retired staff at entry level salaries, a reduction of the equivalent of 2.0 full-time equivalency positions at the middle high school aligned with enrollment and student needs, and the reallocation of UPK grant salaries to the grant funding
033codes with no impact on the current program. However, the 27 budget does maintain the programs and opportunities our community values most. It preserves small class sizes at the elementary level, sustains our arts and music programs, and maintains all athletic and co-curricular activities and protects all the academic course offerings. This budget continues to support the comprehensive educational experience our students deserve. Most importantly, the proposed budget maintains structural balance with expenditures fully supported by our projected revenues. In summary, the 2627 budget is approximately 69.4 million, approximately 1.9 increase budget to budget, which represents a 2.34% increase, but still remains within the 2.58 allowable tax levy. Now, as we shift from the operating budget to capital investments, these are funded through the reserves, not the operating budget. Over time, the district has responsibly funded and used capital and
034technology reserves, as you see here. The proposed use of the reserves for this year are 980,000 for capital and 495 for technology. The proposed capital projects include auditorium rigging renovations in this building, in this room right here, a hot water replacement heater, a hot water heater replacement at the high school, air conditioning for the Vernon Gymnasium, playground equipment designed specifically for our three and four year olds in the pre kindergarten program, the replacement of a football scoreboard at Memorial Stadium, and to abandon an unused oil tank at TR. The technology projects include student device replacements to support the district's multi-year technology plan, including tablets in classrooms K through two and student devices in grades 3, 7th, and 10th. This year, there needs to be a few specialized classroom devices that need to be replaced for
035student use, as well as a few replacements of instructional display boards. As discussed previously, the current capital reserve will be expiring June 30th, 2026. If approved on this evening's agenda, there will be a proposition on the ballot in May to establish a new capital reserve fund. Further details can be found on the district's website under the budget materials labeled capital reserve FAQ. Also in the budget presentations posted to this website. The existing capital reserve was established in May 2006, which was 20 years ago. It was later amended in May 2011, May 2013, and May 2017. Over the past decade, the Capital Reserve has allowed the district to take a proactive approach in maintaining and improving our facilities. This work is not about enhancements alone. It is about protecting our buildings, ensuring safe and efficient learning
036environments, addressing infrastructure needs before they become more costly issues. By planning ahead and investing strategically, we are able to preserve our facilities, support student learning, and avoid the need for more significant barring in the future. This slide provides a multi-year look back on how the capital and technology reserves are used and funded. As you can see here, the district follows a consistent process funding the reserves with year end sur surplus when available and when using those funds for approved projects. These same figures are reported through our annual budget presentations and confirmed with the audit of financial statements reinforcing a transparent and accountable approach. It is important to clarify with the communities being asked to approve this night. This proposition authorizes only the creation and funding of the capital reserve. It does not approve any specific
037projects. Each of these funds will require separate board approval and a separate vote by the community, ensuring full transparency and low control for future projects. The district is recommending that voters authorize the creation of a new capital reserve fund based on auditor guidance and the expiration of the current reserve. The proposed reserve would include a $25 million maximum, a 15-year term, and an annual funding of $2 million. These next two slides reflect the proposed language that will be included on tonight's agenda for the board's review and consideration. If approved, this is the exact language that will appear on the ballot in May as presented here. This first part of the proposition lists the projects that could be considered for the future use of this reserve. The portion of the proposition on this page outlines the
038key parameters of the proposition, including the funding limit of the 25 million, the annual contributions not to say 2 million, and a 15-year term. It also provides the tr for the transfer of any remaining unexpended balance, including interest from the current reserve fund to the new fund. As we move forward, the budget adoption is scheduled for April 21st, the budget hearing on May 5th, budget vote on May 19th. We will continue to monitor and adjust the timeline as needed while listening carefully to community feedback. Before we conclude, I'd just like to highlight where the board can find and the community can find and access budget information through the process. As always, the budget presentations, including tonight's materials, are posted on the meeting agenda on board docs prior to the meeting, as well as a dedicated
039budget page on our website, providing ongoing access to materials and updates regarding the budget. In addition to the budget vote, the upcoming election includes the opportunity for community members to run for the board of education. Information on the petition requirements, deadlines, and eligibility outlined here is also available on the district's website. The next section provides key information for residents regarding the annual budget vote, also available on the district website. The eligibility requirements shown here and the voting in the school district election. This slide includes information on voter registration. Again, the link is on the website as well. The last day to register vote is Thursday, May 14th. Information on absentee early voting options is also provided to residents who may not be able to vote in person. Thank you for your time and engagement this
040evening. This proposed budget reflects discipline leadership, responsible financial management, and continued commitment to our students and community. We appreciate the partnership of our board and our community as we move forward in this process. Any questions or comments? >> Yeah. Um, Miss Raina, can you explain why you're propos proposing here a new pre kindergarten playground? >> Yes, absolutely. So, the current playground at TR was designed when it was a K through2 building with only a half day playground, a half day program which had no recess. Now that we have four full day classes that do have lunch and recess, they need a safe space they can go. The playground equipment that's currently ant is designed for certain age groups and we want to make sure that we have something safe and supportive for the students and
041three and fourth. >> Great. So this would be then compliant for the um age group that is attending preschool which is four year correct. >> It would be a fouryear-old playground focus. >> Complant and designed specifically for three and four year olds. >> Great. Um, and then could you also explain um the hot water heater replacement and the abandoned oil tank? I think the other is that clear? >> Sure. A few years ago at TR, we did do a conversion from oil to gas. So that oil tank is no longer needed there. Um, so in working with our head custodians, I'd like to big shout out thank you to them as they take their routine checks of their buildings. They are bringing these things to my attention. It was brought to my attention by the
042head custodian at TR um that that wild tank needs to be abandoned because are no long no longer using oil. So we have to bring in a special environmental company to take care of whatever oil is left in there and to you know fill it in appropriately for department of health. Um at the high school the high school hazion came to me with a concern. Um the hot water heater is working but probably near its end of life. So before we end up in an emergency repair we want to proactively go out there and bid and get a new hot water heater for the high school. >> Okay. So the capital reserve fund is about 3.6 million and you're proposing a use of reserves of 990, but you're intending at the end of this year
043to fund 1.178. Correct. >> So we're still working on the year-end fund balance, but yes, the goal is to be able to fund between interest and year end fund balance. We should be able to propose somewhere in the range of 7 to 900,000. >> Okay. because it's important that we maintain this capital reserve so that when we do have issues at our buildings that we have funds available um to meet the immediate needs of these types of projects. So I just wanted to be clear that we were not using 990 and not replacing it because 36 is a little tight for a capital reserve fund. So thank you. >> Absolutely. We are continuing to make sure we monitor what we're putting back in. >> Um, thank you for the presentation. You had mentioned that the
044high school and middle level will have a reduction by two full-time um, staff members. Um, will will the complete programming be maintained in the middle school and high school level? >> Yes, at the middle school and high school level, we're working very closely with the high school administration to make sure no courses or um, opportunities for students are being cut. We're looking students needs and we're looking at enrollment. It's the equivalent of 2FTTE. The decision on where they're coming from really depends on what students requests come in. The guidance department is working very closely with students now to get the request in to work on the master schedule and we are not cutting any classes or programs. We're just doing it to realign it to um where the st students need the support. >> Thank
045you. Um, so you had mentioned a few times throughout the the presentation that um, special education services legally mandated and I think that it might be helpful to the community to maybe expand on that a little bit um, just uh, uh, why that might have to change midyear because of our obligations to the students. >> Absolutely. IEP mandated services are required by law and obviously we're going to do what's right for the students at all times. Um, there's always a fluctuation in special ed cost. It could be something of a student moving into the district or it could be a student in our district who has a program need change. So after the cse meets and those minutes are approved by the board of education. We have an obligation to make sure the student is
046placed where they need to be. So whether it's a placement of an existing student or somebody moving into the district that could change midy year. Um but also with the services again sometimes being by outside providers there's part of that contractual costs that are going up higher than that tax cap of 2%. Thank you very much. I'd >> like to make a a statement regarding our budget. Um over the past several weeks, I think as we've all followed discussions across Long Island, it's clear that many school districts are facing increasingly difficult financial decisions. has been rising costs, limited revenue growth, and strict constrictions under the tax levy cap that have made it more challenging than ever to balance our school budgets while preserving our programs and opportunities that our students deserve. I know I've seen
047it on the news that many of our neighboring districts are facing significant budgetary stress driven by this sustained inflationary pressure and rising contractual obligations that are outpacing our revenue growth. The increases are forcing some districts to consider the heartbreaking reality of cutting some of their programs, reducing their staff, and managing larger class sizes. I know I've personally been seen that a couple of school districts on Long Island have now announced plans that they're going to override their tax cap or attempt to override their tax cap. Our board has been very mindful of these realities. However, I'm incredibly proud to say tonight that Oyster Bay finds itself in an advantageous position that we don't have to do those things. But this doesn't happen by accident. I want to take a moment to publicly thank Dr. Yanni,
048Miss Rainor, and Mr. Zach Nyberg, and the entire administrative team. The fiscal difficulties of this m magnitude build up over years, and so does the fiscal resilience, and this is because of all of your diligent and proactive work with within our administration over the past few years that we are positioned so well today. Our team has consistently employed smart cost-saving strategies and engaged in comprehensive long-term planning. As we continue to work on this upcoming budget, please know that we are approaching every decision with great care. Thanks to the strong foundation that has been built by our administrative team, our goal remains exactly where it should be to strike the right balance between protecting the high quality of education that our community expects while remaining fiscally responsible and transparent to our taxpayers. We appreciate the community
049continuing in their engagement and support as we navigate these challenges together. But again, I give sincere thanks to our entire administrative team, Dr. Yiani, Miss Rain, and Miss Mr. Nyberg for all of the work you've done over all of these years to keep our budget in the position it is. Thank you. >> They deserve it. I would just like to add a comment. So, you know, over the years in speaking with taxpayers in our community, um particularly the senior community, um their focus is to ensure that the school remains a jewel of the community, but at the same time, we're fiscally responsible. And I think we've also heard over the years from the seniors that they thought that maybe, you know, we were a little administrative heavy for a district of our size. And I
050think, you know, Dr. Yanni's vision for this um district in realigning positions, we have found it actually to be more effective while saving costs. And the other thing that seniors have approached me and noted is that our renovations to the high school um they're so impressed with it and and the way that this school presents itself on our main street of our town and they take tremendous pride in the addition um and how it matched and kept the tradition of the school. So we did all that and you know we also kept our bonds under you know our costs under what we projected for our bond financing and this is tremendous effort of all our staff and I just wanted to commend our business office our administration and the uh all of you out there
051who work so diligently to to work towards this vision while ensuring that we were able to reduce the cost of a tier of administration that we eliminate it, but we haven't missed a beat. So, um, our students still get their entire program and we're not faced, as Miss Castioani just said, with the dilemma of our neighboring districts. So, thank you again, >> M. If you can uh put up some of the slides. I want to thank the board so much for your kind words. has been a pleasure to be a superintendent in Oyster Bay for the past five and a half years. Um, I just uh want to do a quick follow up on some of the questions that we received last uh board meeting. So uh I'll go over some of the questions and
052provide the response before the public participation uh meeting. So the first one was a question that was uh why wasn't discussion about creating new capital reserve and transferring money from the existing reserve discussed publicly at uh board meetings before being presented. Um so the answer to this question is that um the there's been a discussion about the expiration of the capital reserve fund uh with the external auditors and obviously legal counsel. Um in the fall 2025 uh there was the order committee meeting which they presented um and the after that um they presented the the the concept of um creating a new reserve um that would not change substantially um compared to the previous one and we have conducted presentations in January and February and Mar March and tonight we have finalized the the uh
053the language that would be in the proposition. Uh the next question was about how can the district transfer approximately 3.8 million from the current capital reserve into the new capital reserve if the annual transfer limit is only 2 million. Um and the answer to this question is that the 2 millions only apply to future deposit into the reserve. The initial transferring of what's in the capital reserve right now uh it does not it does not apply. The next question was about if there are currently about 72 children known in the cohort, how does the district project around 97 kindergarten student by September? So created this chart where when you're looking at the kindergarten enrollment, the booze projection was 82. Um the actual enrollment um this year for last last year in kindergarten was a total
054of 97. Uh when the bosis projection they do their boses does their projections they base their uh their their numbers and they study on their analysis on different values. But at the end of the day, the enrollment in kindergarten in 2526, which is this year, we have 97 students. And we're very fortunate that the number was not the way it was projected. But unfortunately, I I can't speculate on why the projection was not accurate on the on the uh from Boseies. So when we look at the 26 27 school year which is next year um I'm assuming that the projection the projection that Boseies is doing is based on the current number of of students that we have this year. So I'm assuming that they did just 97 plus one but again it's speculation on
055my part but um that's that's what they they are projecting. so far in terms of um students and they are actually enrolled in the 26 27 uh kindergarten uh for for obviously for September we have 82 students so the 72 students who are already there in UPK plus eight more that that uh signed up so I'm assuming that from now until August we have some additional uh students are coming in. Bottom line is that right now we are projecting for five um for five sections. If that number changes in kindergarten, then we'll evaluate and bring it at the um during the the summer meetings. Um the other question was are the special education students included in the classroom enrollment count for K to4 and and the answer is uh they're not they're not included but
056because they're um spread out in different classes and then there was another question that was were the UPK parents properly informed um if they needed to register their children for kindergarten. We have changed the process the kindergarten registration process for 2627. Um Miss Deborah Small our uh principal of TR has been uh sending letters um and we've been obviously um registering all the students and we have done um sort of a a a modified version because we didn't want the parents to go through the entire process. um this presentation together with the budget presentation again we'll we'll post it on on the website so if you have any questions or I'm not clear but um what I've stated uh please call email um reach out to us I'll be more than happy to clarify I
057hope that clarifies some of the answers >> yeah Dr. I would just add one thing that you didn't mention. So, um the audit committee is open to the public. Um we our entire board is on that audit committee. Um at that audit committee meeting, it was very clear to us that our auditors um recommended that we um we we put in a proposition for a new capital fund. Now when an audit when an auditor makes a recommendation and has a clear reason as to how you must be compliant under GAP Gazsby New York state law, we take those recommendations very seriously. One of our primary functions here is to ensure fiscal responsibility. It would be fiscally irresponsible not to move forward with the recommendation of the auditors. There wasn't really that much to discuss in
058the meeting because it's very clear to us that that was the direction that this board should move in and we were unanimous in agreeing with that. >> Thank you Dr. Yiani and thank you Miss Santos for clarifying. We're now going to move on to the approval of the minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the meeting m minutes as listed and attached? >> So moved. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? Motion carries. Now, we're going to move on to public participation of agenda items. In keeping with the philosophy of open communication and informed decision-making, the board of education welcomes input from the community. However, it is important to note that while the board of education meets in the public, it is not a meeting
059of the public. Respectful input and behavior by each member of the community is appropriate and expected at all times and should observe the following rules at board of education meetings. The board of education will listen to comments and input from the public. Debate between members of the audience andor the board members will not be permitted. The board will not address personnel or individual student matters matters in public. No person shall present orally or discuss at any board of education meeting charges or complaints against individual employees directly or indirectly. The speaker shall identify themselves and confirm their residency in the district on the signin sheet. Um Miss Amarie Longo signed in regarding the budget. Good evening. So, I just have a couple of questions on the budget online on slide 28 of 106 slides. Um you're
060we're you're proposing or you're anticipating that there'll be $4.5 million in excess revenue in the um that will go into the 2627 reserves. Um could you explain the 1.9 million in miscellaneous um and in 1 million in reserves is that going to the capital fund and the and the um um um technology fund and then also just back to the capital funds. Um thank you for all that information on the capital funds, but I don't see I see your proposition for 2627 of 980 and 495 for next year's but I don't see anything about this year's numbers. I mean I know they were similar but I you jump from 24 25 you jump from 2425 3.86 and then you show the proposed which is for 2627 it's on slide 79. I don't see 2526 listed
061anywhere here. Could you just you know do that next week? I I see that missing because that would bring it down. And um and then since we're on Capitol funds and and what we're looking at um I saw that um in the Oyster Bay Facebook page, the a booster club had posted a whole list of things that the board had approved to pay for um new bleachers, new floors in the gym, new turf inner fields. Um I don't see that anywhere. So could someone show where that is? So in terms of the the questions uh miss longo I will u go through and the different slides I took some notes but we'll look at the recording um regarding the Facebook page and the booster club I I I can't speculate on that. The only thing
062I could say is that um when we put together um a list of what's needed for the district at a different level in terms of academics, educational and all of that um we we look at the needs of the district and um and present it to to the board. Um so those are my recommendations on on Facebook. Unfortunately, I I I don't I can't talk It was not our presentation to the board. >> Okay. We will now move on to the approval of instructional personnel items. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board of education of the Oyster Bay East Norwich Central School District hereby approves the instructional personnels as list personnel items as listed in their entirety. Do I have a motion? Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All
063any questions or comments? All in favor? I. All opposed. Motion carries. We'll now move on to the approval of non-instructional personnel items. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board of education of the Oyster Bay East Norwich Central School District hereby approves the non-instructional personnel items as listed in their entirety. Do I have a motion? >> So move. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? >> All in favor? I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Now move on to business items. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board of education of the Oyster Bay East Norwich Central School District hereby approves the business items as listed in their entirety. >> Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Do I have a second? >>
064Second. >> Any questions or comments? All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. >> Motion carries. We'll now move on to approval of special services resolutions resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board of education of the Oyster Bay East Norwich Central School District hereby approves the special services resolution as listed in their entirety. Do I have a motion? >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? >> All in favor? I. All opposed. Motion carries. We'll now move on to the approval of new business resolutions resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board of education of the Oyster Bay East Norwich Central School District hereby hereby approves the new business resolutions as listed in their entirety. Do I have a motion? >> So moved.
065>> Do I have a second? >> Second. Any questions or comments? >> I have one quick question. >> Um maybe Miss Saddowski or anybody on the excuse me, anybody on the policy committee. One of our proposed policy changes is just to change the annual organizational meeting of the board. And if if you could just explain why that change is being proposed. It was a change in the law in terms of when uh the reorganization meeting will take place and if I'm correct on um it was on or before Why don't you read it? I don't know. >> So the language of the statute is very confusing. It used to be that you had to hold your organizational meeting on the first Tuesday in July and if you were going to hold it between July 1st
066and July 15th, it had to be done by board resolution. The law changed so that you are now permitted to hold your organizational meeting on or before. >> I always have to read it because the language is very confusing. honor before the Monday after the 20th day of July. So, first you have to figure out when the Monday after the 20th day of July is, and then it can be held on or before that date. I didn't write the legislation. >> So, this puts us in compliance and allows for flexibility. >> Correct. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I I would Let's confuse the questions. >> I would just like to thank all the donations. We have donations for special education. We have donations for from PTA. And these are really to enrich education.
067Um years ago we did remove some budget for field trips and it is nice to see that we have the support of our community to ensure that children continue to be able to attend field trips. Okay. All in favor? I. All opposed. Motion carries. Sorry. Donations. Um, now we will have opportunity for the public to be heard on non-aggenda items. And again, Miss Amry Longo, you Oh. That was your question. Okay, great. No other questions. Um, I'd like to have a motion to adjourn our meeting. >> So move. >> A second. >> Second. >> Thank you everybody. I hope you have a nice evening. >> Thank you. >> Thanks.