001Sorry, that's loud. Okay, we can call the main first meeting to order at 601. You ready to say the pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. See that we have grant Megan Wex myself present. I haven't heard from uh Sarah that's coming on Ara texted me a little while ago at and probably will show up. Yeah, I haven't heard from Chris or Sarah. I don't know. Okay, thank you for that update. Um we don't have any citizens comments at this point. We do have a visitor. I'm just going to say a quick commission statement for um the longtime board of education. Our mission is to provide our students
002the skills essential to reach their highest potential in a safe environment for learning as they aspire to become responsible, respectful and civic-minded mindminded members of society. We commit to help educate, challenge, and inspire each child to excel as lifelong learners who can adop adapt constructively in ever changing multicultural and technological world. So, Lance, now you have a a gist of our our volunteer mission statement and a bit about our board. So, um we we're very happy to have you join us and thank you for taking some time out of your night. Um you have you have our attention. I know you've worked mostly with Adam, so I will let him um yes, turn it over. I just wanted to mention that we're we're going through a reorganization now. and our tech coordinator is going back
003in the classroom. And when we looked at replacing those services, I checked with Preston, I checked with North Stonington and they use the learn technology services and they have been very very pleased. So I called up Lance and he's in charge of technology at learn. Now, right in the packet that you have, there is the uh learn regional technology solutions and this is a contract that I would like the board to approve and I can sign that and you know because uh that would help us with our technology. Lance has met with our technology coordinator. Amy has reviewed this and we've gone through a reorganization and uh using these technology services, I believe we'll be able to meet our needs. So, Lance, welcome. And I've been really pleased with how responsive you've been in getting
004back to us and certainly you're here today. So, that's that's important, too. Oh, you're muted, Lance. Sorry about that. Uh, Lance Hagen. I'm the director of technology for Learn. Um, yeah, several years ago, we started to outsource our IT solutions and this is kind of in a cooperation with the local area. Um because we benefit we can hire more people um you know more expertise that specialize whether it's networking system admin um uh security you know we can concentrate on more uh different specialties within the staff and from there you know for the districts within learn um we can provide those services so we've been doing work with Preston we've been work um with North Stington [Music] um um trying to remember who else um New London uh we we don't do the tech work
005for New London. We do more of the system admin and network administration for them. Um so yeah it there's a lot of need and and I think with our services we can uh do that at a very competitive price. Um you know and we document everything and and um it's been very successful. So, and as you look at here, we kind of broke this down as a technology coordinator uh for 52 days. So, that's basically one day a week. And what else they'll concentrate on is servers, um network equipment, access points, um firewalls on on kind of the higher level architecture of the the environment. um 133 days we have as a technician. Those are kind of doing the brake fix, uh driver installations, um you know, getting printers to run as they never seem
006to like to run very well. Um and and just helping out on on those situations. We kind of focus uh the technician too uh does some of the grunt work for the coordinator. So, when we come in, we usually like to start doing an inventory assessment, a replacement plan. Um, so what they'll do is it's kind of expensive to have the coordinator do that stuff. So, they'll gather the information, put it in a spreadsheet, so that way we can start working on a replacement plan. Um, typically we'd like to do about a fiveyear replacement or for five years. Um, you know, it all depends on the customer, but usually we like to replace um like laptop desktops in a fiveyear span. Um, and then, you know, doing stuff like network um network equipment like the
007switches and stuff like that from a 7 to 10 year plan and same with the firewalls. So, what we try to do is give a five-year estimate on on the coming budgets and and what we should be replacing or concentrating on on replacement. Um, we really try hard to get -ate. We're not at -ate people. Um, so typically what we have is like for Preston, they'll hire an -ate consultant and then we'll work with them and submit all the um all the what they need to do that process and and that application. Um, excuse me. What is Well, depending on your free and reduced lunch, they'll reimburse some of the cost on the equipment. So um so like if it's uh 50% a lot of them are 50% to about 80% I think like New
008London is 80 to 90%. Um so if a switch if we have to replace all the switches and that's going to cost $50,000 um the federal government will reimburse 25,000 if you're at 50%. Um so you know it it's a cost saving there. um and and very successful. We also try to like we've been usually and and you know the hard thing with -ate right now is we don't know if Rate's going to be around next year. Um you know that's all handled by the Department of Education. So we don't know where that's going to fall um if that Department of Education is is closed. Um but statewide there's Peg Pedia um that will also cover some of the costs. So um we typically try to put in for that. Um last couple years it's
009been about $10,000 to $20,000 uh that the state will fund in equipment. Um so so we try to get as much as money as we can through grants um or other other things that the government does. Um so again all that's handled more on the coordinator level. Um so basically between those two um we also have a Wendy Jane does our SIS. we put in one day a month and that's just to help with any kind of training or state reporting um on on that kind of level. Um any questions that you have, you know, she she can answer. Um so basically that comes up to that total of 78,850. Um there's very little that we don't do as far as um what we try to do is not concentrate on services in the contract.
010So what I really don't like is hey that wasn't in the contract so now you have to pay an hourly rate beyond that. We tried to include everything in the contract. Um even if it's something that may not fall under it, we still do like alarm systems. We've helped on camera systems, uh phone systems, um you know, um it's all technology. So, so we have to deal with it and and you know, we want to provide solutions on that. Um any questions or I have one question. What if our system gets hacked? Do you take care of doing that? Right now, down at the Marine Magnet, they haven't been able to use their computers all for like a week because they got hacked. So, do you guys have cyber security insurance or Yes. Yes, we
011do. But I did what do for us? Oh, go ahead. I'm sorry. Oh, I was gonna say, would you take care of that or would the insurance together? would you work on it? Yeah. Yeah. It's hard to um you know provide the expertise that uh you know it's because some of those companies when they work um you know they have a whole team of just cyber security experts. So we work with them. um you know it it's always good to get a third party uh validation of of how it was happened and stuff like that. So yeah, we would work with them. Um you know the the priority would be to get the environment up as fast as we can under their guidance because they're having a major problem because they don't have textbooks. They
012do everything on their computers. They don't even have textbooks anywhere in the school. So they're off the last and that's pretty much a standard, you know, touch are going away. So, day repairs that may need to happen. So, for example, um a student cracks their screen or some of this keys start popping out of their Chromebooks. Is that something that the technician is going to take care of right then or is that something that we're going to have to send out and wait for? So typically how we do it is uh when we do the recommendations of purchase for laptops and student devices, we'll add on either two ways where we'll add on a manufacturer warranty where it covers the span of the device and then when something breaks we'll pack it up, send it
013off and get it back. Um, typically we like a, you know, several other devices to be handled, uh, as loaners. Um, there's another option where, um, you just pay a deductible and a third party will fix it. Um, if it's minor repairs, you know, we don't mind like a key missing and stuff like that. Uh, you know, we we'll try to fix it on site. Um, it just gets kind of expensive. you know, keyboards are usually$25 to $45. Uh, most of the LCD panels are about $100 to replace. And, you know, sometimes because we have tried that in the past and what happens is we have to scour like eBay to find the parts, get it in, and you know, if they're broken broken, then we have, you know, it's a time consuming process uh
014for us to do it on site. So, usually, you know, our preference is to have um like we use a lot of Lenovos and it's, you know, uh Chrome, I don't know if you use Chromebooks or not, I don't remember, but a Chromebook will cost usually about $200 to maybe $300 and it's about $100 to get about a fiveyear warranty on those. Um, so that's the t typical way that we proceed on that. Is that any Is that kind of what we do now? You give them a loaner and do something. Yeah, we'll give a loaner. Mike will fix it in building. We buy screens. You know, some things can't be fixed. It's just cheaper to get another Chromebook. But we do have a lot of loaners. So, I anticipate like in this instance, like
015we're going to have to have quite a few loaners in the intermittent time when somebody's available, not available. Um, Lance, I guess a couple of my questions are a lot of the things that our IT does now is they run our programs like Amplify. Um, they on board for EXL, they on board for um, HMH, all of those things. And I have I have done that in the past and Mike has taken that over, you know, every year we have to roll over and do all these things. Is that what this technician is going to be providing also or the coordinator like monitoring of those things? Yes. Yes. Um a lot of times we'll try to I don't know if you guys use collabor um it's kind of a yes I believe so. So yeah
016we'll typically uh make that connection between powers school and clever and then clever and whatever applications that that you have. Um but yeah we we will be the troubleshooting for for your applications. Okay. And then how about like powers school? I mean this is kind of mundane stuff but you know progress reports have to be run. I do not have the capacity to understand how the the program to run through powers school report cards and that. So is that something that Mike does now? Um is that something that your technician is going to run for me? We have errors. I need them fixed. like you know it can be quite a process. Yeah. Um that's the one the SIS and reporting services for one day a month. That's Wendy Jane. So yeah, she'll she'll spend
017one day a month working on that. Sometimes um if there's no reporting and stuff like that, we'll just save up those days. So, you know, if we don't use or if you guys don't use the one day a month on December, but you need two days in January, uh it all balances out on that. Okay. So, and we actually, you know, sometimes if there's an emergency um or any other thing, we do have the staff. We're not like we're just with that proposal, we're just trying to give our best estimates on what it's going to take. Um, typically we're not, we just want to make things work. So, if there's one, you know, in one month I have to send a coordinator there five days or six days instead of the four days that scheduled,
018uh, you know, we don't have a problem with that. So, um, we just want to make sure everything is working in the network. Um, and I think, you know, that that kind of philosophy that we have is why like North Stington and Preston has been happy with us. Um, because we're not really concentrating on, you know, making money on this. We just want to make sure everything is working um, in the environment. Uh more than likely the uh if you sign the contract, we'll probably spend a little more time uh just just to because there'll be a lot of work as far as figuring out what you know how the network is running, how much servers you have um and that stuff and the switches. So we usually actually have to work about two or
019three times uh of what we scheduled uh to collect some of that information and you know start start making changes if there's anything that needs to be changed as far as configuration and stuff like that. Um and so what's the typical turnaround? Say I you know we have you know a new employee coming in. I need a chrome I need a laptop. I need an email address. You know, our IT person now does all our key fobs and systems. So, that's something that this technician would do in the days in office that are there. We would contact them via email, you know, is that how this is going to work? Um, our internet goes down or we contact, you know, my am I frantically texting somebody like like what does that look like? So, yeah.
020Um, typically what we do is we build our own help desk system. So, this kind of depends on how you guys want the environment. Um, we post that on like a website as a form or we can post it as an email address. So, you can send in an email to um create a ticket. Um, for the most part, we do it as a form and then um someone will log in. So we can make a form with the no login and the teachers and staff can all go to that form and submit a ticket. Um if you want more control where things are um more funneled in, we can have one, two, three, how many of people that you want to keep track of those tickets and then they will log in, create the
021ticket and then we'll start working on it. So, it really depends on how you want to uh mitigate those tickets. Um, and you know, for most part, I think Preston um they have the office administrator at both of the schools that submit tickets and then um if like a teacher or staff's uh flags down with the technician while they're there, the technician will make a ticket for them. So, we just want tickets in so we kind of know historically what's happening. Um, but yeah, it just depends on how you guys want uh if you want everybody to be creating tickets or if you want one central person or two central people creating those tickets. Once it's in the help desk ticket, uh for three days a week, a technician will be on site and then
022on the fourth day, uh coordinator will be on site. Now, we really don't want coordinator doing uh just break fix tickets um because they're trying to do the higher level work or the higher level like level two tickets that that a tech can't do. Um, so yeah, a ticket comes in, if they're on site, we'll take care of it. If it's typically Friday, we have all the technicians and um and coordinators go to Hatchet Hill uh at Learn Central Office and at that time um you know, something happens, we'll just send somebody out if it's an emergency. Um but typically, I mean, we don't have to be on site to do most of the tickets. um stuff like emails and you know a password reset we can just do remotely um you know if they're
023not there on on site. So but we do want to be on site uh just because a it's something that people generally like better you know to talk with the tech and and see what's going on and we also want to be on site. Uh, you know, some of the problems you can tell like if a server or a switch is just not sounding right. Um, you know, you can't get that from a remote session. So, does that answer your question? Yeah, that answers my question. So, um, if the board chooses to move forward with this contract, what does that look like? Um does will you how will you transition into this with my employee that we have now and then transitioning like over to the services you know we're coming to the end of
024the year will you guys be here later in August and July like what does that look like? Yeah we have um I think one week or 10 days in the summer break uh for the coordinator and 10 days for the summer break on um technicians. So, if you sign this for July 1st and going forward, we'd love to work uh you know with your uh technology director um to to get as much you know historical and and just to learn more about your environment as possible. Um definitely we don't need that. I mean we've all been doing this for a very long time and you know we can figure out how the things work. Um but there's always nuances uh to every environment and and we'd love to uh collect all that uh from him.
025Um and another important thing you know we try to document everything that we do. So if you decide to go another direction or hire somebody else you know all that documentation uh we'll hand over with no problem. So, okay, any other questions? When we get to the budget, you will see that there's considerable savings in technology and we're also transferring a teacher to help out with a library and with the keyboarding component of technology. And uh Mike, as I said, has reviewed this and if we need to to go through some transition activities in the summer, but I think with what Lance said and the familiarity that they have, um they're they're very very familiar with what's happening in Preston, North Stington, and this is learn resources. So, uh, it's been on target with all
026of the questions we've asked and they've thought of that. And Lance, we we work through Karma to, uh, uh, go out to bed for cyber insurance and we have a good cyber insurance and also, you know, professional development, uh, to meet some of the criteria that the, uh, cyber insurance requests that we have. So, that's in place as well. And I think this is things that you'll see that uh will make uh the consultants from learn smile about where we are. Excellent. Excellent. And we uh what is your turnaround time on a tech ticket? So if let's say a teacher gets um locked out of power school over the weekend while they're trying to get their grades done. You know, right now I'm sure that there would be a text message that goes out that
027says like, "Hey, I need to get back in." And that technology person would probably get them back in pretty quickly. What is going to be our turnaround time now that we don't have that flexibility? And is that able to be transferred over to like maybe Amy to a to a certain extent where if somebody's locked out, she can take care of that quickly instead of having to go through the whole process? Yeah, for power school we could definitely do that. Uh weekends are tough. Um just because you know typically we're off. So same with uh after hours. Now if it's something that we can predict, you know there's a problem after hour and weekend work is isn't isn't a problem. Um like some of the uh for Preston, there's been a couple times that we
028worked Saturday and Sunday uh getting a switch stack up and and the servers up. That way it'll be a minimal impact on on the school instead of taking the two days on like a Monday or Tuesday. Um but we don't really watch um you know weekend tech tickets on on that level. Um, we could definitely, you know, if you have a staff member that does, that's no problem. Um, if it's something simple, you know, a a quick call, you know, um, submit the ticket and a quick call, uh, we may be able to help you, but I can't really guarantee that that's going to be, you know, because if they're out like to a concert or something, they they may have their phone. I guess I'm coming from the experience of having somebody who was
029locked out of their Chromebook and locked out of Google for the entire school break because that there was nobody there to answer a tech ticket to be able to reset a password to get back in. So, if our teachers are working over April break and they get locked out, I would want them to like somebody to be available to be able to get them back in to their Google account if there was a lockout issue. Understandable. And a lot of the breaks, uh, all the text coordinators at Learn, we're all, you know, we're not contract. Um, so when it comes to those breaks, more than likely we're working also. Um, you know, like the winter break, spring break, um, though those are our work days, too. And typically on those days, we actually try or
030those those time frames we try to do big projects. So we we are still watching the ticket system on on those and and you can contact us by phone also. Um it's just after hour and and weekend. I can't really guarantee that. You know, we'll try to be responsive if we see it. I I'm just can't guarantee that. Maybe. So, you're saying maybe a lock out on Sunday has to wait till Monday. Yeah. Yeah. You know, one is a weekend one. I mean, I I'll be honest, Lance, like I don't anticipate restricting Mike's access because I mean, he's done it now, you know, for the past two years. So, I know that these things are going to come up and people are going to reach out to him. So, I think there's probably that's probably
031going to what what happens. Yeah. You know, he'll get back to people in the event like it's a weekend and and you know, think people are panicked, whatever. And um a couple of times like Preston uh same kind of situation uh like the domain controllers and stuff like that. We really don't want to give people permissions to the domain controllers just because they can mess something up. But we can delegate permissions to password resets. So, password resets, account locks, and stuff like that, whether it's through Active Directory, Microsoft Office 365 on um on the cloud or Google Cloud or, you know, um Power School, uh we have no problem with people having permissions to to do that kind of things. Uh hopefully we can catch it on the help desk ticket, but if it is
032after hours or or something, um I mean you guys probably can respond to that stuff quicker than we do unless we have that tech on site. So So no problem with that. And we are also working with the state. Uh they have like a district grant. Um so we've applied for that got validated. We're just in the final thing. It'll be next fiscal year that we get that. So, all these services uh the state's going to help pay for I I'm not exactly sure if it's 10% 20% or or 25%. Uh but once those come into effect, uh that that will lower the price on this um because part of it will be paid by the state. So, um the only thing with that is there has to be a couple meetings that we perform
033and uh we'll just ask someone from Bontown to to represent and and go to those meetings. I think it's two meetings a year. Um so, it's a good savings and you know, we'll try to keep those meetings not so boring. So, um, we'll do anything. Nobody will know. So, any other questions or concerns? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Lance. I really appreciate it and uh hopefully I can be in touch with you as soon as possible. All right. Well, thank you all and nice meeting you all. Guys, have a good day. Yeah, we're grateful for having the services available. Thank you. Yeah. And goodbye. Thank you. Amy, how do you feel about pushing that control? I I mean, people contact Mike all the time, so that's just the hard part, right? When you have
034somebody in the house, which is also probably unfair to him in any ways, too. People always act accessing him at all hours. you know, they don't need it at 2 at 2, right? You know, absolutely. On Sunday afternoon, it should have been done before that and things happen and and you know, and I think it's fine. Um, as long as we have loaners, which we do because that's going to be, you know, screens crack, the back breaks, it's the keys pop. Um, you can't always fix it, you know, right then and there. So, which is what we do now. So, with some super glue or something, right? That's why I was kind of like trying to figure out, you know, what what services, if you will, are we losing Yeah. by shifting from in-house to
035out of house, you know, whether it's lockout services, whether it's picking fixing Chromebook services. What are we losing? Yeah. By with this shift. I mean, we're obviously gaining a lot of stuff, too. So, we're we're gaining about 40 grand a year doing this because Mike has benefits and everything at rates, you know. So peaceful position is being eliminated. I mean I think it'll be you know we'll just work with whatever comes in. The the good part about this is that they know powers school and all of those things that we don't really that's just not our forte even running a corporate you know right as long as they're like ready to take that on. So, and I feel like that those are my main part like those are the things that happen to us, right?
036You know, you need six times a year, you need some time. Um, as long as they're exactly like our marine Jade is, you know, ready to do that, then that's really And we can take Mike's name off of the, you know, the email that says, you know, you've been locked off, locked out, right? email him directly, which is good cuz then you won't hopefully get those intra weekend or 2 a.m. whatever you know the thing. So it should be done long before 2 a.m. But that's if you're just trying to do something on your own time and then it's like out and it's like you know you just said I mean I forget my password frequently. I'm down to like say don't have more kids cuz I literally you know I mean those these are
037things that happen all the time. They all knew Hayden just went to a new thing. They have to reset their password every 15 days. Nothing that was in the last password and it's got to be 15. And now that's supposed cuz they got Yale got hacked. Now supposedly everybody has a a sticky note with their password on it, you know, cuz people can't, you know, the solution to it is non doable. Yeah, people can't keep track of a new password every 15 days. You barely can keep track of your PIN at the bank. That's me. So, what do we need to do now at this point? Well, um I think so. I mean, I think we could um make a motion to to accept the contract. I think that's yeah authorized superintendent to sign the
038contract. And um please note that the technology budget is dropping $90,000 from this year to next year because we have our technology teacher who was in there with doing things and we had Mike who was the coordinator and both those positions has now been eliminated. But we are putting a teacher back into the library and a portion of that teacher's time will be spent with, you know, supporting technology such as keyboarding and and other things. So this is a significant you know a significant savings and we've had some good results when we contact Preston and North Stonington and uh learn is an excellent resource and Kathy with the reate we haven't been able to get as much out of that as possible because we don't have 50% pre and reduced but they might be able
039to help us if there's any state funds available. And please remember 20 19 years ago when I first got here, I walked in and we had secured a $190,000 grant to upgrade our infrastructure. Then a few years later, the state released other money that's gone away. So, you know, we'll have to see what happens with future outside fundings, but this is this is a a really really um good service with a good reputation. I'd be interested in seeing before we kind of scratch a whole bunch of stuff from the budget what this 5-year replacement plan is going to look like from them. Because if they're looking at in 5 years doing one chunk and replacing everything or is it a gradual replacement? They said what 5 years for computers, 7 to 10 years for the
040network. I think there needs to be a good chunk of money in the budget in technology for that. If that's going to be their upgrade plan, they really speak to that. I took it that it was going to be ongoing every year. He said, "Well, I said it's a 5year replacement plan and a 7 to 10 year network plan." So, I'm just looking at the impacts of that on the budget. Are we getting a couple Chromebooks every year? Are we in 5 years replacing them all from scratch? We didn't really speak to that portion. So, I would just I mean, be mindful of the budget. Normally now, we do order we order every year. Every year we Michael put in an order for you know 5 to 10 combo but like that does happen regularly.
041If it if it's more than that then then not a handful I would say maybe 10 a year you know if it's more than that it might be a little bit more I think last year maybe 15 or 20. Yeah, I think there was quite a few to try to cycle through because and there's some uh we upgrade whiteboards every couple they get upgraded as it is now every couple of years. So, whiteboards, computers, they show up. I I signed that club. That's why I know they show up. But big bulk like network budgetarily as well. And what that's going to look like when you know right now Mike can say we need to do this right now, right? We need to pay this money right now. And then but I would like to see
042kind of what their plan for replacement is. and you know when are we looking and how much are we looking for and okay but but right now right now the technology replacement we have a certain amount of money in the budget and we have a replacement that that that has been very stable for years and years. So when he says a five-year plan that might not be you per you wait and then you replace all your computers every five years but you make sure that you have a plan of action so that every year your equipment as needed is upgraded. I do not see every 5 years a huge bump up in technology cost. I see a certain amount of money budgeted every year for repairs, for replacement, for software, and that has been pretty
043consistent for the past email, right? But that's that's been our plan when we've had the ability to have our technology coordinator kind of coordinate that. I don't know what they're thinking about as far as what their plan of action is. And if their plan is different than our plan, then how do we rectify that? Valerie, she's getting back. So, I don't know if I'm going to be able to. I'm going to try. See if you can get them back. I see them coming in looking at the plan that we now have and saying that's something that we would continue with because it makes sure that they're keeping track of the inventory. They're keeping track of what needs to be upgraded. And if if we need Chromebooks every year for every child to be tested, we've
044been having a real steady budget impact with that because sometimes the cost of technology goes down a little bit. Um, you know, so that I I do not see that their plan would be much different than what we're doing now in my heart. So we're we're not talking about apples as long as there's flexibility. I just want to make sure the board would have a chance to try and we would review that just like we're going to review the budget right now. Okay. But yeah, I think it I think the impression I just I mean I got from it was that they typically have a fiveyear plan, but they review that with you. well in advance so that you can budget appropriately for it. I I I don't It's a good question about it. I
045It's like, you know, I don't want to get this huge budgetary thing because they're on their own cycles and then they're like, "Oh, here's your chunk and regardless of what it looks like, whether it's pretty good looking, it's going because it's part of this, you know, replacement strategy." Um, right. I mean, it's a one-year contract, right? So, we're going to have one year to kind of try it out, figure out what's going on, and see if it jives with what we're thinking, what our direction is. And if Amy's like throwing her hands up, I'm writing report cards. This is a problem, then, you know, it's a one-year contract and we just revisit it in the year. I think that's fair. Yeah, I think that's fair. Okay. So, um, do you have a motion of the
046board to approve entering into the technology services contract for one year with learn for $78,850? Motion. Second. All in favor? I opposed abstained unheard motion passes. Okay. The um, thank you for that. Um generally hopefully this meeting I said this before but we should get through this fairly quickly hopefully aside from this larger presentation. Um let's get to it on the consent agenda. Um if everyone's had a chance to look at that. We have a motion to approve it as presented. Motion second. All in favor. Any opposed? Motion passes to approve. Okay. And then you have um the do you have reports tonight? Not really. Just he had a couple things in the pack. Yeah, I was like we take weeden tonight. Yeah, exactly. That's fine. That's fine. I was just waiting something. Um okay,
047Adam, did you want to give any updates from what we said? Uh just uh just a couple of things in the building committee report there's uh two projects and uh one of them is the speestus and that's a continuation of an RFP that we've approved and it's on a multi-year basis and all they wanted to do is to say that the money in the budget that we have plus the money that the town is giving us from the oil tank replacement will fund the asbestous program that's in place for this summer and uh we we are going to sign contracts again for the work to be done. So uh this is what's happening. Whether or not we have to take a motion, I'm not sure. But I am signing the contracts because this is a
048multi-year thing. And the same contractor who has done a wonderful job will be back in. Most of it is paid for by the oil tank replacement funds which are now will be completely expended. The other thing is the HVAC system and we expect quotes to come in tomorrow and there's a building committee meeting on Monday and the building committee will make a decision and select a vendor for the best price and again there's town set aside funds in the HVAC account and in our construction services there's uh money that is designated for the HVAC system if the budget is uh appropriated and I will get to that. Whether or not uh you want to confirm uh that the superintendent uh signed the uh contracts for the uh speestus, it might be good to document that
049in a motion and uh to say authorize the superintendent to sign the contracts to complete the HVAC system for four classrooms in the 1960 section of the school. Not hagg asbestous. Not as I know. Did I say haggot? We have the quotes on on the on asbestous h we're reviewing one day. So that's quite 20 years. I'm just glad that this is like I'm sorry I said Hback I meant as fast. Okay. So, a motion to approve the the contract for the asbestous removal final slug of this Mystic Air. Mystic Air is going to come. Yes. It's going to be done over summer vacation. Yes. Before I think I was coming here last meeting. Okay. Yep. So, it's um it was pretty much tabled for this this year, but it was still, you know, kind
050of Are there grant are because we paid that previously with grants or with the oil tape fund. So, that's really been and some of the grants, but the only thing left is the oils fund. Okay. So, we're going to use that. Yeah. Okay. Um do we have another motion? Motion. I favored her motion passes. Okay, moving to budget. Yes. budget. Okay. As we speak, uh, the town is having their budget hearing. Thank you. And um you know it's this meeting was scheduled tonight because the town needed our budget by by May 6 for a budget hearing and that was scheduled so that they can follow timelines for an appropriate timeline for the uh uh referendum. So, this budget represents uh a total of 7,449,998 and that's an increase of $148,523 or 2.03% over this year's
051budget. Second paragraph, the legislators are going to fund our ECS at 2,117,243. If they didn't, we would have been report we would have been facing $115,000 decrease in state funding. Okay. What does this budget include? negotiated salaries for teachers and non-certified pending adjustments and classified to be verified. The projected costs for the old placement of special ed students. Projected cost of tuition based on the numbers attending designated high schools. an increase of 8.9% in the cost of health insurance, but it's a decrease in the overall cost because of projected retirements and staffing adjustments. So again, next year with the numbers we have is actually going to be less than we're spending for health insurance this year. A lease purchase of four new buses to replace four buses in our 9-year-old fleet. construction services allocation to
052complete an asbestous abatement project in four classrooms in the 1960 section and also to replace the 1990 HVAC system in our VES library art room area. The replacement replacing a retirement by transferring a teacher to a combined.8 library position and202 technology position and hiring a teacher to fill the classroom vacancy that happened with that transfer. Replacing our current technology coordinator with learn technology contracted services. Securing the services of a part-time certified nurses assistant to support handicapped students. If we don't do that, we would be faced with possibly some very expensive out placements. So Amy and the staff are are really working with that. And please remember, we had a special ed teacher retire and that teacher is not being replaced, but we have some services that we have to do. And then securing Eastcon contractual
053services of a behavioral specialist to meet the identified needs of special ed students. So, those are the budget implications. And as I said, there'll be a town meeting on, I believe, Tuesday the 20th. A referendum is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3rd. Um, copies of this uh former be be available uh in you know, the town hall, the library. Okay, here we go with uh you know, the uh budget itself. U the uh big thing is fourth paragraph down the school readiness grant of $27,000 uh the school readiness program is no longer they're going to replace that with local governance a local governance partnership and the grant that we applied for uh is uh we got the max that we could get was $180,000. So we've had to absorb some of the sports services with our
054paras and um you know that's how we funded that. And then as you can see, I have a history of the uh of the uh portion of the board of ed town budget. And I I will say that uh with 148,000 for our increase, the last town budget that I saw was $163,000 increase on a $2.8 million budget. So in effect our budget increase is less than the towns. Okay. So here we go with regular education and again uh you can look you know one question just quick question before we the school readiness grant you said um the cost is being absorbed by some of the the paras. Um is are we just not having as many paras in? No we will. So just be absorbed through typically through special education budget like because a
055lot of those or I shouldn't say a lot of students in that program require special service. So just kind of money it's about 20,000 less than what we used to grant but because that's being cut we now have to absorb it through we would absorb Yes. positions of that. Yeah. And so one of the things that we're um we will do through the grant. So we always offer free lunch, but now moving forward that cost probably about 2,000 a month through the grant would pay for that. And so we'd be very close to 200,000. So really the offset is lunch cost us that amount that we're losing. So what we would offer is um like our regular kid lunch. have to purchase lunch or your preschooler could bring in your own lunch. And we're not
056under the gun as much. Get students up to a certain number. Correct. Cuz we're so much closer now. We're almost at capacity. We're not having to take kids from other towns. Well, that was my question. Are we still accepting kids from other towns? No. So right now we have um um five students who are non-residents who are four, three more bur babies who are exploring their town. So I've been in contact with them, encouraged them, make sure you go whatever their waiver process is because we sell the waiver. Um and the other five um myself and our school council, we sent a letter just indicating that they are going to need to explore the options cuz I am fearful that we are going to have maybe more residents than you know and I just don't
057want them to be left in the in the lurch in August without a preschool or a program. So we pretty much just have residents moving forward after this. Yes. Scrambling for about 40. So, I'm just in a weird place right now, but the volunte. Please note that this is the first cut we've received in this grant in many, many years. And I also want to mention on January 27th, I got a letter from the federal department of education saying all of your grants are rescended until further notice. And we had like three we had special ed teacher and other people paid for by that grant. And I I was panicking for a while because I I didn't know where I'd come up with that money. But then 3 days later they rescended that. So, you
058know, there's funding issues out there that bring a level of uncertainty and uh that's why I was so pleased that the state didn't cut our VCS. So, we as a board are going to have to watch, you as a board are going to have to watch those funding levels because it could change instantaneously. Whether this is a trend for the future, I'm not sure, but we'll have to deal with it. So then we have the budget and the 1,000 account for regular V is a 3% increase. And please note the first line, the teacher salary is $1,42,000. It goes up slightly from last year and the year before, but it is less than what the budget was four years ago. But you have to remember we just moved somebody um into the library, I mean
059into a teaching position so that you know that little increase would be there. Non-certified wages went up a little. Uh the big item is the uh health benefits. You can see that there was a about a $30,000 increase in that, but there's decreases in other areas. High school tuition, uh we were at 1,ion57 this year. This is for the regular high school tuition and we've budgeted 1,116,000. Uh we have our books, our supplies and other materials in there with a special ed program certified teacher salaries. We reduced one specialed teacher. That's why that account is going from 222,000 to 161. We have non-certified wages and we have the pairs. There's a bit of a drop on that because of attrition and and changes. And then we get into uh some u interesting things. Professional educational
060services. This is 193,314. We've had an increase in the number of services required by some of our high schools. So we've had to increase um you know paraprofessionals and and and working uh with that plus that's also the behavioral specialist that we had to add to that. Um tuition for uh public's education is at 679,000 and that has gone up uh with the tuitions and the increase in students with special ed. When they're here at BES, we don't have an additional tuition, but when they go to the high school, there is that tuition. And then we have a private uh So is this indicating private school tuition? Is that indicating that? So that's a fairly significant jump. Do we have do we have an expensive eighth grader that's going? Yes. Um so my apologies for
061saying expensive eighth grader, but in terms of like special education requirement, that's that's in the planning and placement to placement. So, a a team what I'm trying to understand is that multiple students is it like an outplaced student? I'm trying to understand one student who's who's going from 8th grade at BBS to No, that's a that's a student you're Are you on account 563? No, you're on. Yes. There's been there's been an increase in the number of high school students requiring special ed services. Okay. Is that primarily eighth graders going into high school or is that newly identified in high school? Yes, there's u there's some eighth graders going to 9th grade, but we have had some students who required some special education services that that changed their programs change and uh some of the
062tuitions went up. The other thing is that we have some students who are grade 12 plus and their tuitions have gone up and the services requirement that they have gone up Megan but fortunately the overall cost of special education has gone down by 8.8%. But this uh the services required in the uh in the high school have increased. Speech for the high school is now [Music] $11,160. OTP is about $5600. Parrofessionals needed in the high school. I have a bill here a projection of $128,000. And this is based on the IEPs. And then there's counseling. And oh, that par also includes job coaching. The PAR is going up 120 or down. They're they're at the high schools, right? That amount is going up by 120 or 120 is next year's total amount. Yes, that that
063that has gone up significantly because uh high school students um have been required to have additional support but 564 dropped to zero. No, no. I'm I'm just trying to understand in the public tuition that's a fairly significant increase. I'm trying to understand what that is it one particular thing is it several things like a combination of all of those services or is there one particular related services I'm just I'm just kind of I'm a little bit confused because if you look over the the several years we've never seen an increase like that over however many years is this what four or five Yes. So I'm just trying to understand is that we were under Is this the line item that we were under 916 [Music] 561 564 right because of it has nothing to do
064with the totals. I'm just trying to understand right so I'm just trying to understand is was this the line item that we had under budgeted previously you recall one of them because of all the bills that we we randomly put an extra $100,000 that was yes I think this item was the one that has the most up and down depending on what so this is the service like NFA you need parap They need OT PT. That's not not paid for by their already existing special education tuition. It's above and beyond that. Yes. Making this is turned on into an add-on and in grade 12 plus students that have finished 12th grade and they go into transition programs. I've got a budget here of 48,000 for job coaching. that's included in that number that uh you
065know that increased that's the uh 193,000. So there's there's been some significant changes. The other thing is that uh there was some legislation that we were trying to get through to just say students when they turn 21, that's when special ed stops. Bution the state has a law that says if they turn 22 on July 1st, you have to pay that cost for the whole year. Okay. And and Megan, that that that tuition and that service, it's really skyrocketed. And um thank God. [Music] Yeah. Okay. So, special ed is down. Hold on. Chris has a question. Not a question. I have I actually have the actual line back to 2014, of course. And it does fluctuate up and down. Yeah. This is not abnormal. Okay. I just asked Amy. I think this is the one
066last year that was I think sometimes what happens is that you get a bill that you're not anticipating. Probably funding more makes more sense. It does jump up and down considerably, right? Going back. Yeah, I'm glad you have all those papers. Well, you know, it's important. I can call on this fine the actual support. I know we've done a lot of review on this Adam. Is there anything specific that might have changed from the last time? So the library increase is because we're now going to have a FTE in the library. Correct? Yeah. Right. So the library behind the technology really it just really is one time just budgeted operations and maintenance. Does that work? The special ed administration on page two uh has increased by 3.98% soft working services is zero. That's because we
067have another year with the grant money to pay for and we share services with Preston guidance services. Okay, there's an 18% increase in that. And professional services, as I mentioned, the increase in that from 11 to 25,000 is based on the counseling services that we now have to pay for in high school for identified special ed students. Health services went up 80%. And as you can see there's uh other professional services 39,9998 that is to hire a certified nursing assistant to to assist with very needy special education students. So, we lost a special ed teacher, but uh with this we put it in health services downtown that CNA we are contracting that well Amy and I talked about that we have enough money if we find somebody we might hire somebody on a part-time basis
068under the 28.5 hours Kathy. Okay. Okay. Uh psych services is about the same. Um with your speech and language again just a slight increase there. Uh OTP is contracted services. Um OTP needs have have increased. Part of that is also for you know high school students. Uh we we pay for contracted services about 6,000 in high school uh improvement instruction. Uh we have a system where we continually work with professional development and even though that account is not going up uh we really utilize that as much as we can. Uh instructional staff training uh remain flat. Okay, here we are with a library meeting. See those two go up. Yeah. How about those go up? Somebody just improve instruction and professional development would be good. Oh man, sorry. 10 grand. Sorry. Yeah, I'm sorry. Um,
069okay. the um um the library medium. This this is the 8/10 of a teacher in the library and again you know Margaret Bowman was handling some things there but in order to meet the teachers contractual time as well as the instructional program for helping children use the library research and develop uh their skills. we are transferring a teacher in there and that's the that's the transfer that we talked about. So that that has gone up 60%. But again we have somebody who will be there uh all the time. Um the uh instructional technology okay here it is you can see this year we budgeted 147 for certified teacher salaries. Next year we have 14,180 and as Amy and I were reviewing the schedule with the technology committee um that we will have somebody in there
070to help with keyboarding and other resources that are available. And then if you look down below uh we had tremendous savings with health benefits and other professional services. That's the That's the learn technology services right there. And then you have the standard replacement, repairs and maintenance, insurance, supplies, property, equipment, technology, hardware. Um these are these are things that have kept our technology program going and we tend to look and replace as needed when we're uh you know developing things. So we don't wind up going out and having this huge technology, you know, expense, but we keep our inventory upgraded with that. And um that so that account's gone down about 40%. With the uh board of ed, uh there's a 561% increase with that. Um the property insurance uh Megan there was a number that
071was there that was in the wrong place. That's 36,000. As we as we mentioned we talked uh about that. The principal's account uh is about 3.8%. fiscal services. Uh we have uh you know an increase and uh the other professional services. The approved budget for this year did not have the money for some of the town audit stuff. And as you can see, uh 2324, we spent 61,000. And uh in order to maintain all of the financial records and other things, these are Tyler Technologies, the payroll, and there's some auditing services that go along with that. Um, operation and maintenance is up about 11%. Uh, please note we have repairs and maintenance 97,000. Uh, we have our general supplies. There's money in there for electricity. There's money in there for bottled gas, fuel, oil, and
072then with transportation that goes up 20%. And as you can see, uh, we have, uh, for repairs, we have about $70,000 in because we're keeping four older buses. And then the rental equipment with the uh with the lease purchase, I put in $99,800. And some of the quotes that I'm getting are coming in at about $800 within that number. So, we're still looking at financing insurance and then uh gasoline has gone up about 10,000 uh general supplies. So, that account went up 20%. What is the communications up a,000? Is that for walkie talk? Yeah. Communications. Walkietalkies. I think it is up a thousand. Yeah, that went up a thousand. Yeah, I have a question. Back to uh operations and maintenance on 112 non-certified wages. Why did that go up $21,000? Why did that go up?
073Number 112 here. 112. They have raises in the janitor's contracts. There's raises in the kitchen contracts. This is just transportation. Right. If you look at all the past numbers though with raises, [Music] they haven't changed to this extent. Yeah. Operation number. It's a large number. I can't hear you, Brian. Mr. He said it's a large number between Yeah. 130 151. And looking at the history of it, there is no jump like that to be seen. Why now $21,000? There was a there was an there was an estimate for, you know, increases in salary. I'll have to go back and take a look at that. But the uh the other thing is some of the nonert wages we'll have to look at. Um you know that's where we are right now with that. Darlina, do we
074have something else in there that popped up? No, that's what they came up with. Um, let me let me just check one thing first because uh I have to look at what we're what we're spending this year. Maybe we look at three different times the same numbers there. Yeah. You see something different every time you look at it. I do like the details, but the only time has dropped dramatically from last year. Where's that? Fine 132 in operation. Testing. Testing. 1 2 3. There's 20 here. That's 15,000. Is a beautiful thing. Maintenance. Maintenance. [Music] 252. That's an interesting question. Well, you don't need to review individual things. I think it's more of a question mark of what if there is a specific if it's an estimate or if it's really like a contractual update. I
075guess I just wonder then how much is it padded in totality? Maybe the 2% that's going up for the taxpayers. That's not a that's not a fair statement. I don't believe you would have to take a look at that. Yeah, I feel it's very fair. Yeah, but uh I think it's fair that it's a padded budget. You go through this every month, Chris, and we look at it and we do and we do it like with the fine tooth comb and it's not that the numbers constantly change until this time and then we have to pass it because there's a deadline. So, there are adjustments. Well, Chris, uh, you know, I I think, you know, if if there is a $10,000 in there that that wasn't supposed to be placed in, uh, we would wind
076up using that for repairs and maintenance and other things because the repairs and maintenance budget always seems to, you know, be used up very quickly. So, uh, you know, that would offer the board some flexibility if there was something, but we would have to take a look at it. But I would prefer that you look at the bottom line for maintenance. It is going up 10%, but we do have an older building that requires repairs and unanticipated uh, you know, repairs. So, uh, if there is anything, you'll have to take a look at that. I guess the question would be can can we just take that if if it's the 10,000 in non-sert wages cuz wages you should actually be able to get a pretty specific number. If the issue is with that then you
077just take that 10,000 and move it down to your what line item is it here 430 and put it in there. We don't have the classified sun yet. We don't have the this is this is not this is not a union position. Line item 112 is not a union position. Maintenance staff. It's a it's a classified it's a kitchen staff. Understood. But we but to Chris's point we've we've negotiated these contracts every three years and we've never experienced that jump. Right. So We should move on where people can make motions if they want. We can not just sweep it under the rug, move along. No, I mean I don't mind that suggestion. If you want to move it, right? If he's saying that that, you know, the intent is to maybe have a little bit
078extra for maintenance and repairs, just move it from 112 to 430. Move. That would be a reason it goes up to that would be a reasonable adjustment. So it goes two to three year over year. It's gone up two or 3,000. So we're going into 25 to 26. You go 133. We're looking at more than that if we get the classified. Understood. But we're working out. We can Well, you know, because again, we we negotiate contracts every three years. It's never gone up that much, right? So, I mean, four custodians is going to go up $6,000 over the course of a year. So, move all the move like 12,000 down to your about 30 30, right? Same thing in your transportation, right? figure out it's normally gone up 3 to 4,000. So I mean if
079it comes down to it I mean you do something in in related to salaries it's got to be adjusted no matter what but it doesn't I think to Chris's point doesn't give you a reason that we're spending it on salaries right if we end up if the intention is to use it in other places then don't put in salaries right don't put in your salaries can I just ask a question to the other side of this so down in line 730 operations and maintenance at 7:30, right? 2021 we spent 13. 2022 we spent 16. 2023 we spent 18. If if this number keeps going up, why are we only budgeting three? Because this is a place where like now we're going to have these unintended expenses and we're going to have to move things around.
080So why is this number going up, going up, going up, but what we're actually budgeting for it has gone down for the last two years? I would I only thought that that maybe high confidence in the equipment we have right now, but that's that's also a need from Yeah. from the director of operations operations. Yeah. Let's see. Just saying if we're overspending for three years in a row, then maybe we need to retain into 430. But if you look up rental of equipment, that's struck. So, you know, it's just the 430 account right now is uh $20,496 in deficit. Deficit. We're in deficit. And u as I was doing the budget unfortunately u I wound up not increasing that as much because last year this year we budgeted [Music] $98,824 and as I said we're
081already in $20,000 deficit. So if you were to move, you know, if you were to move $10,000 because that escaped me. I had a number in there. If you were to move the 10,000 from 151 down to the uh 430, that would be helpful. It's 112 to 430. We want to move 10,000 from 112 to 130. 12,000 12,000 12,000 12. You said 12 from 112 to 430. Are we in deficit on 7:30 currently? 24 to 7:30. So 7:30 is so one of them is in deficit by 20 and one's in deficit by 24. Is that what we're saying? A lot of them are in deficit right now. That might be a problem. Yeah. You mentioned having to go to the town a few times and you know there's like thankfully because something else has happened
082with this helped us. I know, but this is like operations and maintenance where we're putting oursel in deficit because you spent 13,6 and 18,000 and you're budgeting three. Now, the other thing is that in the driveway coming in here, there's some uh drainage areas and we have one that needs to be replaced and we have to pay for that. And we just found another one that needs to be replaced and these weren't in the budget. So, we have to come up with the money. That was my mistake. I I meant to put money back into repairs and maintenance. So, you know, we could move some money down to repairs and maintenance. That is 4:30, right? That's when we're going to move it, right? 430. But also considering if there's any extra to give to equipment
083just to cover ourselves the way it Well, I think that's what we've always done at the end of the year, right? Take whatever left over [Music] money for the equipment or like last year we we put money was Last year we did the bus came extra money. So that's where so we're we are over budget cut in there because I mean that's what it is. That's how you budget. There's always some margin. No fine. So, so the fact that like we're over every single year isn't a concern because that's where the money gets moved to by choice, not because our equipment expenses are actually that high. I guess it's my we'll have a process coming in on July because it'll be totally and probably right and it'll be higher than this. But it's good it's
084good to it's good that we're you know we constantly have access. I feel like we're really fortunate as a talent to see not only fun they allow us to have an undeated fund for the school. No, not the town. Just to roll over that drainage corre correction will be very very expensive. Oh yeah. If if that little bridge down there is going to be a million dollar drainage. I could put that in on a week and it for about 250. No, they're not. [Music] Okay. All right. All right. So, same thing under 2700 transportation. If you can just make it move the 112 down to your is there 430 there? Mhm. Are those your contract with us, right? Just connect you contract. Okay. So, we're making a budget adjustment, Kate. Yeah. What's the number that's
085going transfer from uh non-ser wages 1112 and operation and maintenance? Where is the um we're moving some money down? Yes, you can just make the motion as a 7,000. So, we're just going to move 10 from 12 10,000 from 12 to 4:30 and then Okay. So, that's down transportation. I think they're Yeah. And then what have we got down in equipment 10 here and moves to 4:30 for repairs, transportation? We move 12 in operations and 12 in transportation. 10 maintenance. So that's 7800. Okay. 21. Okay. Transfer back. We don't cover our bill. It's not a couple wages. Yeah. 24. Okay. And then future on on the final page, we don't know what we're going to negotiate for raises in September. On the final page, uh, we have uh special ed transportation is down 52%. Because
086we um we do not have the um we bought a van this year. We do not have to buy a van the next year. And then student student transportations 510. That's because uh with the uh job coaching, we uh share a bus with uh Grizzle so that some of our 12 12th grade plus students will be able to go to job uh opportunities. of the uh food services I put in $36,000 because right now that's in a deficit of about 29,000 and we were hit with uh having a a lot of uh grants and other things two years ago and they've been taking away. So the uh free and reduced there we had free breakfast and lunch for a year. We served 44,000 meals that year and then last year it went down and our
087participation will probably be around 24 25,000 meals. So, uh the uh free breakfast and lunch were very very helpful for our budget. uh extracurricular, that's our sports program. And then the U community services, that's for YSB. Uh there's an additional 16 $1,700 in there. Well spent. And then for community operations, u I'm sorry. Yeah, that that was Yeah, that was the YSB. and then building improvements. Uh we just approved the uh asbesus abatement and part of the construction service money was was used to help offset the cost and supplement the oil tank replacement funds. And then hopefully on uh tomorrow we'll get some bids on the HVAC system and there's about 20 something,000 left in that and depending upon the bid we'll be able to use this for uh construction services and uh quite frankly
088um you know this could be well this could be an account that we could use. Now the town is putting in I'm sorry. Can that account carry over year to year? The construction one can carry over year to year. Can we It may be, but I I if we could expand it, you know, I would I would do that. As a matter of fact, that as a matter of fact, I would like to put it in the record. I just mentioned the asbestous and I just mentioned the HVAC and our estimates and our bids. If it if it doesn't use all the 32,000, I would want to put in the record that we would use the remaining balance to repair the drainage for the road coming in. So that that that account has to have
089designated progress. Now, Kathy, with the carryover and the non-lapsing fund, the town has $40,000 in their budget as a non-lapsing account. And the $40,000 is something that they've designated for the replacement of our fire alarm system. And what they want to do is they want to put $40,000 a year in to help with making sure that they're developing a fund that can build up to make that repair. So that's the budget. Otherwise, uh just moving a couple of things down. That was that was my mistake. I put that on the wrong the wrong account. the town um is is developing their proposal and I would like to see you know the board of ed approve this at 1485203 or 2.3% for the 7 million449998 and please note that the average budget is being approved throughout
090the state is much more than that% 8%. Well, before you make a motion, I do have a comment. I think we should be supportive of this budget because Adam has put forth a tight budget every year. We don't ever have any money left over. For 19 years, we presented it to the people of Allentown and they have agreed with what we put forward. They have not voted down the budget yet. Hopefully, this one will. And I understand people's concern. I have as many as anybody. I'm retired. I'm raising grandchildren. I'm on a limited income. And we all are. Every nothing is getting cheaper. 2% is a lot less than you're paying on your eggs and right now for everybody. So, I am fully in support of this budget. I to anybody listening that is why
091because we we never have any left at the end of the year. There's never money and if there is we fill the oil tank every year and Adam just told me he's going to fill a new oil tank. No, you know we get that bill beforehand and I understand people's concerns about any raise but none of our lives have been under 2% in the last five years. So that was my own statement on the budget. Yeah. Thank you. This will be 20 years for for Adam. That's pretty special. 20 years had so much budget. He never closed on one of his budgets. Y the town of that Adam. They've been very supportive of the school the town over the years. Well, this is my actually this is my 20th budget. So 20 budgets officially, but
092it's 20 budget. So he got he got his 20 years in for at least budgetary purposes. We have a motion Sarah approve second. All in favors heard. Are we going to say as amended? All in favor. Okay. Motion passes to pass the budget as amended. Thank you. Thank you for our enduring time put into this document that we see here. Sorry. Doritos, Cheetos, Fritos, anything. Okay, we have classified job description. Um, I'd like to make a motion to put this toward um to executive session for motion. Second discussion. All in favor? I any opposed? Motion passes. So, that'll go to executive session. the BOE goals number three um for 25 26 I'm not sure if you've had a chance to peruse I have a couple of edits to it but um is it the end
093it's almost it's the same I haven't gotten any these are the ones that go on the back of the short goals to make us. Yeah, I was trying I was trying to like figure out I want to know when we're going to have an answer. I double checked all of it to see make sure we didn't lose I got rid of the succession plan and I combined a few into the top one. Yeah, it does have to transition. Yeah. Um I just combined some things that were similar content is still there pretty much. I was trying to like figure out I mean you could honestly compare to the back of the agenda the second page of the packet. It's I just I have some minor adjustments. Um I mean they're moving like six to three
094and three to six but um and then just one strike out it was a kind of a um a duke section of the language providing professional learning table this if you want to the third it's we don't really really need it just quite yet it's up to you and you can send me those edits and then we can give you a final version. I just manic matters I would think and I don't know quite how to word it maybe something about we will continue to um investigate um contracted services for some of the services we now provide to like the kitchen etc things like that that we're looking into and flexing yeah I read that personally under um uh number two focusing on school priorities and operations in an efficient and cost effective manner If
095you if you wanted to are we talking about this one or bored she's on administrative not specifically yeah our board goals are just the one right here. Yeah. I would like to add something about civics. It either number one has civic responsibility. There it is. Right. I knew it's right there. I knew I knew Chris would want the civic word in there. I kept it in there. Focusing on the stem. Yeah, it's Can you have that? There was actually something if you read like on the cave thing about the dei with the department of education looking into it. Yeah. I wouldn't be inclined to add anything until we get right. It's every year we look at it. So I think it's fair. Yeah. Just leave it alone until Yeah. I think our board believes in
096it. So that's okay. Um it's up to you if you want to just share the other edits that you had. Yeah, I'll share mine. But if if you do want to table it for one more if it if it doesn't like align. Okay, that's good. We'll we'll just do one final reading cuz you had sent updates too. All the yellow I updated on this. I went through it. I read through everything today just to make sure it matched. Um just some updates wording things that we should add that. I added the high school selection. Yeah, I just thought that good to know. Um The civics piece is in this one too. I forget. Yeah, it's in there. It's in there. Yeah. Um, good. Yeah. Just some learning that I just felt updated. You can always
097[Music] I like seeing the honor society participate. Speaking of civics, Scott, I thought that was fantastic. They've done a lot of great things like to see them present to us here and there about maybe projects like the emblem in the middle of the floor. I mean, anything like that. I think we would enjoy seeing the students coming in and working together to do something like maybe for the May meeting. I know we've got some actually most of them will be here probably. Oh, that's right. They're going to have their induction ceremony. Maybe they could just induction ceremony and then they're doing something else. So we could maybe invite them. No, we're going to table for one more reading. She already did it. She already did. We could just say as amended. Do you want more
098time? Yeah, I think I think we one time a lot. This one was your It was old old learning old motion to approve as amen. Second favor and that is just the administrative number four. Okay. Hey, we've been accepted. Okay, board rules. Second. Yeah. Oh, come on. You told me. Okay. Thank you. Sounds good. And you could fill this space with policy for us. I haven't done policies for months just to you guys have had your hands full, but it's coming. Beautiful. It's coming. We got to have So the item number five is the transportation update. So I think um you have your document. I don't have any updates. Adam doing um in regards to high school transportation update at No, because we're doing the transportation meeting on the 22nd. So that was kind of
099with the new information with the new information. Right. So Okay. We um I think anything that's for further discussion is kind of um part of it's the same. Yeah. When we met three weeks ago. Yeah. We'll we'll we'll review it on um we'll review it on May the next meeting. Um [Music] Adamoo went to the zoo. Okay. Adam had one thing to mention about transportation. Yeah, that's why the transportation. Okay. Um we uh we we've ordered the buses. Uh they they they had we they followed through with all the specifications that we listed. And now we're getting to the point where we have to find the four buses that we're going to trade in. And they should be a value because uh the prices are going up on the new buses. But we're locked in.
100So that um it's it's a good thing that we moved when we did because uh they're they're really going to surge. I I I just can't believe believe what the new the remaining four buses are going to cost as compared to what we're paying to purchasing buses right now. Now we trade the buses in and there's a $500,000 purchase price. Um I was estimating you know 30,000 for our four buses which would reduce it by about 120,000 but we have to go through that process and uh I expect that we should get some good bids on that and then the remaining money would be financed. Now, you know, Fred Dorsey and I went through some things several years ago and there were all sorts of conditions and other things when reading contracts and then finally
101Fred and I sat down and I said, you know, Fred, we've been using a municipal financing process and they're geared to helping communities and u you know, I have some quotes on that and I have to check with the town to see if there if this company is part of a state consortium. If so, the and the and the town says yes, the board could vote to wave the bid process and just sign a contract. And quite frankly, I budgeted a certain amount of money in the budget thinking that's what it might cost and I came to within I think $800 of that. So, we have the money in the budget with a company that's flexible. Now, next meeting, Mr. Lee will come in and give us a report on transportation. And I told him,
102you know, we're going through financing and previously we had a five-year contract, but we paid it off in three and a half years. And he said, "Good move. I used to do that and I like that." So, I hope by next meeting I come up with, you know, we come up with a company that the town says, "Okay." And we say, "Okay." And I can commend to the board. But the board does have the right to wave the bid process and proceed. And um if you do that, that's within our budget. It's with a company that's flexible. We've worked with them twice before and we've been extremely successful. And u otherwise, we open it up. We go through the bid process and we're going to have to go back through and look at all the
103language that exists in each contract. That's the update on purchasing the buses. The money that we get or potentially get from selling the old buses, that money is going to go to town, right? So I asked them, do we use it to reduce the cost of the bus, Megan? Right. So the money we can So is that done like the company that we're purchasing the buses from? can be paid through like are we selling them to the same company we're buying them from? So similar to when you buy your own car, they trade it in. Yeah. So the buses cost 500,000. Uh I might put $4,000 down. Uh and then the money that comes in with trading in the buses. The town allows us to pay, you know, to pay Bluebird that fund or school
104lines that fund and then we we finance the remaining balance. And the deal was, you know, I asked the town, I said, "Do you want to pay for the buses or should we take it from the, you know, from the school budget?" And I wanted to take it from the school budget because then we have more control over the components that are in the buses. And the transportation department has spent a lot of time trying to make sure that the components are what we want. Okay, thank you for that update. Um, back to field tripoo the zoo. The zoo that's already happened. So, are you comfortable with that awesome field trip that happened? Yeah. All in favor? I didn't go to the zoo. No, I didn't go to the zoo. You didn't get I need
105the motion first. Thank you. I still have Okay. So, we know that we have an upcoming meeting on the 22nd to put it in your calendar. That will be transportation presentation from the consulting department. Um, 20 people. You want to hear the results first? Is the online presentation and is it online? It'll be it was recorded so you can watch it. Thank you. Okay. So, we need a motion to invite Amy and Adam into the session. I I for the purpose of the budget budget budget priorities. Okay. All in favor of that. Yes. Do we need a motion? No. No, we don't. We just shut the door. We ask invite people in or you just leave in when Amy and Adam will leave. We will just do you want do you want me to include
106the other thing that you moved in the wording? Oh, sorry. In the word. Yes. Also the the um and the classified job descript. Yes. Job descript. And do you want are you going to invite for conversation or no? I don't like to individually. Okay. Okay. I just wanted to word the motion. [Music] Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I. Motion passes. Have a good evening. Thank you. Good [Music] night. Please shut it. Yes.