001September Board of Education regular meeting to order. Um, yes. Would you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge allegiance 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. Hey. Um, okay. Welcome to the board of ed's first meeting of the 2526 school year. The budget finally finally passed, but not without some serious cuts to the education proposed budget. We were forced to make some deep cuts. But even with these cuts, I fear this will be a difficult year. And as of last month, there have been some changes to the format of our meetings. This should allow for more focused and concise meetings. Tonight, we have several important items on the agenda to discuss. And with
002that said, I will move on to citizens comments, therefore keeping my comments short and sweet. Okay. Citizens citizens comments. Any citizens comments from the floor may just >> they're Hold on. >> What? Oh, I was going to recognize them by adding them to the agenda. >> Perfect. I'm do it that way. >> Okay, I'm going to add them to the agenda. >> Okay. Any citizens comments from Zoom hearing? None. The first thing I would like to do is um add to our agenda as item 5A or VA um the Girl Scouts and I have a motion to do that. >> 5A already has a spot. >> Yeah, that that we had a revised um >> I don't have that agenda. >> We have that. >> So, it would be >> You did revise that. Where
003are they? >> Nope. You'd want to do four >> four A [Music] 5B 5B >> right after we approve it. >> The approval of minutes. >> Why can't I do it before the approval of minute? >> How do you get before A? You already have an A. >> Huh? >> Can't get There's no letter before A. >> Oh, okay. Well, change A to that. >> I I'm with you. You're the You're in charge. >> I am. So, I'm changing it so the Girl Scouts can go and then we'll do the approval of minutes as B. >> I'll make the motion, California. >> Okay, >> I'll second. >> I want the four kids to go. >> We appreciate it. >> Anybody second that? >> Okay, thank you, Justin. All in favor say I. I. I. I.
004I. >> Any any opposition? Say no. Oh, I'm sorry. Um, >> I'm good. Thumbs up. We're good. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. >> You're going to state your names for yourself. >> Dear Ronald, >> and what trip are you from? >> Uh, 61193. And >> can you go come a little closer to the mic, please? You can pull it down a little. Yeah. >> You guys are also meeting your voices. Stay a little closer to it. >> Yeah. >> No stage fright allowed here. >> All right. And can you explain why you're here? >> Um, we are here because we have a project for we have our silver project and we chose to fix up the outdoor where the Bradley programs are because um outdoor play is an essential part of regulating students especially
005those with special needs. We want our project to focus on cleaning up and providing sensory materials for our special needs students and that area is limited to a specific play area. College silver project will create a welcoming play area including hopscotch course, bench seating, a sensory bin for our special education students that they do not currently have access to. >> You girls are all set. Um me and Brenda State your names. Randis or else you could be a little louder. >> Do it again. >> Friendly Lisa Watson Payton Baldi. And what is your project? Our project was our solo project for Girl Scouts, which was a shine bin for the first and kindergarteners. >> And what does your bin include? >> Our bin includes two shoes include [Music] Instagram of how to tie your shoes.
006>> And where are those bins going? to the first in kindergarten. >> So, how many things did you create? >> We created six. Okay. >> All right. You're done. Okay. H. Sorry, Eliza and Alexa. Sorry. State your names. >> Alexa 561193. >> I don't know if we had to do that, but perfect. >> Um, we found the lack of outdoor classroom space in our local school. An issue. Kids need to be outside more. We decided to survey the teachers and create an outdoor classroom space. >> And what is your project? >> Go ahead. Oh, we will adjust the row of cause by clearing space at the empty playground location by supplying seating, whiteboards, dry erase markers, and having the classroom space to be available for for teachers to make reservations in the in the school
007system. >> So, just so you're aware, all of them have not been through public schools. You currently have a seventh grader, four freshman, and then there is one freshman at Ellis. So >> yay to Thompson public schools for having students that participate in their community. >> So you guys are done. >> Well say thank you. >> Do we ask questions? >> Yes you may. >> Thanks Jessica. >> So it's sound. >> May I ask you a question? Yes, please. >> It sounds like you you had input from teachers. You asked the teach the appropriate teachers first in kindergarten. And what what grades were for the uh outsourced classrooms? >> Pretty sure it's uh K through 12. >> K through 12. Excellent. And what was and the chutine was first and second and the bins. >>
008First in kindergarten. The bins. >> Oh, the outdoor classroom. >> The outdoor classrooms. Yep. And the what was the what was the other one please? >> The Bradley School area. Yep. Excellent. And you had input from all the appropriate people. The Brad You talk to the Bradley people. Excellent. Excellent. Well done. >> Great job, ladies. Thank you. >> Very good. Thank you very much. Yes, >> that's wonderful. >> Very worthy projects. >> Okay, now we will have the approval of the minutes from our last meeting on August 11th. If I could have a motion. >> I'll make the motion to approve the meeting minutes. I'll second. >> Okay. Any discussion on those minutes? >> I was on Zoom for that meeting. >> Yeah, it says it. >> Okay. It says it. >> Both you and
009Tom Hans on. Okay. Any discussion? >> Um, under my comments about the enrollment breakdown, I thought I had requested it for all out sending all out placement schools. not just FOAG, but that's the only comment I have. >> Okay, >> we did that at the end of last year. Um, Dette really hasn't had time because of that. >> We'll pick that up for October one. >> And I can see that June was added to our enrollment at Newport. Thank you very much. >> Okay. Okay. Any other any further discussion? Yes. >> I have a question about the enrollment. Uh are we still in the transition period of prek and K? >> We are. Um we haven't picked up or haven't got into enrollment yet, but we haven't picked up um as many students as we
010have in the past during this period of time. >> Right. >> Which is surprising. We have how many classrooms of kindergarten? Three. >> Three. >> 17 students a piece. >> How many classrooms of prek? >> We haven't re >> Oh, I thought we were >> No, we haven't approved the meeting. >> No, I'm sorry. >> That's okay. >> Next. >> All right. All in favor? I'll I'll put the motion to the floor now. All in favor of approving the minutes from August 11th, say I. >> I. >> Okay. Thank you, Tom. All right. Uh any any opposition say no abstensions. Motion passes. Okay. Now we can discuss. >> Apologies for jumping ahead. >> That's okay. All right. So under superintendent report before we get to enrollment. Um principal apprentice, you were invited to come tonight
011in response to the donations that the Girl Scouts have made. >> Monetary donations. >> Monetary and obviously programmatically. I didn't know if you had a few minutes that you you want to say a few words about those programs and the benefit to Maria Fischer students. Um and then we can dismiss you. >> Yeah. Well, we have um so what would you like to start first? Yeah. shoe tying or which so yeah we we had a meeting la at the end of uh last school year this spring and we had a meeting with uh Brenda Lease and and your daughter and uh she did a wonderful job both of them did a wonderful job of describing uh the need for kindergarten students and first grade students to be able to tie their shoes which still to
012this day uh Velcro is the is the way to go in the elementary school. uh but uh it was just a wonderful opportunity for those for the young those young girls to be uh participating with with five and six-year-old kids. So that that was very nice. As far as the the whiteboards and the the the markers, dry erase boards, that's always wanted. It's always needed. Every elementary school classroom uh uh needs that kind of material. So, we're very very pleased with with what uh everybody does for us, the generosity of everybody, including uh PTO. We've had some several anonymous donors that uh have um really um been very very generous to Mir Fisher Elementary and we are forever grateful to those to those individuals that uh uh remain anonymous. But uh on behalf of the
013elementary school, the teachers are very very pleased with what we have. >> So I will be bringing the picnic tables with chains and locks because that is the community we reside in >> tomorrow afternoon and I will have the keys in the office along with the extra markers and erasers for those crates tomorrow afternoon for you. Thank you so much. And for every every parent, every teacher that that pulled money out of their own pocket to to supply donations to the elementary school spend fund. Well received. So, thank you very much. Do appreciate that. >> Yeah. And I want to dovetail on that a little bit. Um our friends at the rectory school, you know how we have a partnership with them. Um they actually had a drive for us and collected school supplies and
014also gave our teachers um gift cards to Dunkin Donuts. So, um, much appreciated, David and your team at, uh, the Recry School. Thank you. >> I'm going to continue. >> Okay. >> Until the enrollment is clear. >> So, um, right now, uh, we ended school in June with 361 students at Marriott Fischer. We're starting school this year with 327 as of um our last enrollment update. Um we've picked up a few enrollments. However, the thing to note was that we anticipated because the age changed for kindergarten last year that we would see an influx of students enroll for kindergarten this year. That didn't play out that way. Um I guess um you know reducing kindergarten to three classrooms we were worried that we would what what if we came up short and had to add
015another classroom but that didn't that didn't play out. So kindergarten through grade four at Mary Fisher there are three classrooms of each now. Um and so you can see where the higher class sizes are, but for the most part, uh they are within uh reasonable class sizes. Um at the middle school, we have 282 students. Uh we ended last year uh with 262. So we have picked up some students at that level. There was a um a higher fourth grade class that went up to fifth grade, too. Um and then at the high school, we ended last year with 180 students. We currently have 175 although I do know there are two withdrawals to Putinham as of this this week. Um so uh the numbers will drop down. So our total enrollment now is 785
016students. Uh we ended the year with 804 last year. And then you can see the comingings and goings in Dette's report um that we have. She's cleaned up uh the homeschool students. So that number is as best as we know at this time and then students are starting and and withdrawing um left and right. Uh we did get some more ELELLL students into the district um and our new ELLL teacher is addressing uh the language needs of those students. >> Yeah. >> Do you know the breakdown roughly of the home school? Is it mostly elementary? mostly high school of even mix of all of it. >> Um I can get that for you. I do know there were quite a few high school because we sent out a letter um regarding the high school pathways
017and you can enroll if you'd like at this time. And there was quite a few um high school students on that list homeschooled which I was surprised about. Um, but I will have Danette do a breakdown of what grade levels. >> Not top priority. Just curious as to what >> he has that information. >> Am I missing um the numbers for the ELLL in here? >> We don't usually put that in here, but I and I'm meeting with her I think this week um to review her case load. Um so I don't have that number. Okay. >> Right. Yet. Uh but I do know we did um just recently enroll a couple of um students that require those services. We ended last year with 22 students. >> So I have a quick uh question or
018maybe even comment. Is there a way we can um maybe work with the town and like surveying or pe residents to see because I'm thinking what we're finding is that there's a lot more residents moving into Thompson that just don't have children because when we were going through that budgetary issues there was a lot of fam like adults young adults who don't have children don't want children or whatever it is and that's fine but they're they're not bringing in kids to the school system. So like with this trajectory of uh possibly less enrollment, there might be something to it that it's just a change in our population that there's baby boomers are staying in their homes longer. We may have a population of people that just aren't having children. Um because that's kind of a
019a big swing in in families or they're only having one to two. So, I don't know for future planning for the school system if a survey like that going out or just figuring out how many children do we actually have in the town, you know, to kind of pre-plan for >> Yeah. So, so I can see if the town collects that, but we're a member of NASDAQ and so we can have them do a >> a pop, you know, an enrollment projection. Yeah. often they're not accurate, but we can have them do it free of charge as part of our membership. But I can ask Amy if they collect that demographic, family demographic data. I don't know. >> Definitely knew that that was kind of a a change in some of the comments that we
020heard where there was a lot of no ch children. So, >> we have Tom. >> Yeah. >> Hello. Uh, Superintendent Smith, it's I think one thing that needs to be called out is even though our enrollment is 785, when you add up all of the other schools and out of district and everything, we're still liable or obligated to service 940 students. So, I know everybody says that our enrollment is 785, which it is. However, all those other students that are outplaced, killingly wag, it all adds up to 940 students that were technically um responsible for as students from the Thompson district. >> Is that fair to say? >> It is. and actually financially right for the blue students and even for busing for Ellis. Uh we do pay QMC and then we have our uh
021I believe 22 students that are outplaced right now. >> Correct. So I think even though I'm an outgoing board member, >> that's one thing that I think we have missed. I know I've missed it all the way up until just now that financially we are responsible and I think that's something you guys should call out at future budget meetings as it gets time for budget approval. >> You're right. 22 place. >> Maybe there's a separate box that Dette can put together that calculates the population of students you're financially responsible for. Okay. >> It gets tough because >> keep drilling that like at the board of finance meeting. >> And then one other thing um uh Superintendent Smith is with the new report that just came out about the state schools that have to report. How
022does that affect us now? Does that mean that the LST or Killingly or other state schools that number will increase or how does that affect us >> as far as the special education students? You mean that article? >> Yeah. >> Yes. So, so what was happening there um was that um they were I think the um Boags were I mean the technical schools were state technical schools were being selective on their acceptance and they were denying enrollment for students um that had either low grades or needed additional services and that was kind of a hidden known. Um, we've always kind of known that. Um, but yeah, that's what that article was referring to. Um, >> okay. So, it's not that they were miscalculating their numbers. It was more on the enrollment in the beginning. >>
023So, >> meaning acceptance. >> They they took a they took high achieving students um and then they denied enrollment for students with disabilities and that's what that article was about. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you for the clarification. And so that is the update on enrollment, but I will have Dette add that other box and so that we can actually carry that number. That's a good idea. >> Yeah, technically it's 940 students, >> right? Because we are >> the public schools >> transportation, we're paying tuition, financially responsible. We've always should have had that number, >> right? And that also like with their pull per pupil when they start doing the crazy >> that'll that'll make that more of a >> make that number come down >> because theoretically if every homeschool student decided tomorrow and say
024oh you guys have culinary I want to go to high school now and theoretically we could get 50 kids enrolled tomorrow if they wanted obviously they didn't >> we would accommodate them. I I understand that we have definitely have space >> easily accommodate >> definitely have the space but so it is it is there and >> um but it's not going to happen tomorrow but >> but we thought that when St. Joe's closed too that we're going to be inundated and we got 20. >> Yeah, >> maybe. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> So, the the excess cost grant formula, what enrollment number is that using? Is that the onampus enrollment number to calculate the tuition per student? >> I believe so. >> So, that's the 785, not not notically responsible for. Well, you've got to
025include the outplaced because that is a calculator into that, right? The excess cost. >> Okay. >> But Justin, to your point though, even though we're only being calculated on, call it 785 or 787, we still have a financial burden that's going unfunded for those out of district because they're not in our calculation. >> I agree, Tom. My question was more to see if we could look get that tuition number lower by you know if we're fiscally responsible for 900 and change individuals and that fiscal responsibility plays directly into our excess cost grant calculation. We're actually getting cheated out of. >> Correct. >> X, right? Because there's 50 or 75 that we're not allowed to divide by for our base tuition. >> That's what we're paying for. >> Right. Right. Right. >> Right. >> Yeah, you're
026right. >> I don't know. I will look into it. >> Can we? >> Yeah. >> They can play games. We can play games. We'd like I'd like to be able to >> I mean if excess cost grant if excess cost went from 100% reimbursement to whatever it is 64 >> Yeah. is >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Going to go after every penny and nickel and dime we can. >> Right. >> Although penny we don't we can't use pennies anymore. >> Bill, we can um put an email into the fiscal people at SDE and ask that question. If we're risky responsible for 900 and change, >> but we're only allowed to use this 785, whatever that was. 875 for that calculation. 78 for that calculation. >> I don't know. There's a worksheet that you fill out,
027isn't there? >> That's actually in in Dr.'s department. But yes, there is a calculation that >> yeah, the convoluted >> I understand the number that I'm questioning that we're filling out >> is the number of student >> total enrollment >> is the total enrollment, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Because if we're totally fiscally responsible for 900 J, >> we're only Yeah. But if Yeah. Which number do we use? >> See, but we're not totally responsible for the LS Tech. We're just responsible for their transportation, >> right? But for the outplacements, the Bradley are our Bradley kids and then the BoAG. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> And all the other Yeah. The Boag were totally responsible for >> and everybody else the Bradley and >> all those all those students were responsible for. It's just the
028Ellis kids were only responsible for transportation. So, if you were to if you were to take that number, the total number of everybody is 942. >> Yeah. >> If you were to minus off the 50 from Ellis, so now you're down to what? Two uh 880 8.92. >> Yeah. But it still makes a difference. Yeah. >> Correct. Big time. >> Yeah. We'll ask that question and how they calculate that. I know in excess cost obviously the outplace kids are included. >> I'm sorry it I'm sorry it took me 17 years and 11 months to figure that out. >> Well, it's it's a very valid question. Better late than >> No, it's a good point, Tom. >> Thank you, Tom. >> Okay, >> so the next thing is finance and facility update. I'd like to do
029facilities first, please. >> Okay. >> Birch. >> Okay. >> Excuse me. >> All right. So, uh, looking around, you probably never notice it, but it was a busy summer here. Uh, looking around the building, about the only thing you're going to see different is new ceilings in the high school. And you're going to have to take my word for it that there's a lot going on over those ceilings that nobody can see. >> Um, all in all, it went pretty good. Everybody did their job. They got it all done. We had a few glitches. We had a few holdups, but somehow the contractors all managed to pull it together. Uh, we got it back together. The first milestone was to get the doors open, >> and the big key to that was to get hot
030water back in the building. I believe we accomplished that on August 21st when we finally got that hot water boiler fired. But it did. Hot water was on. Everybody was back. Uh I think very few glitches to opening school considering all that happened. Um the the other side of the coin is that we are facing serious serious delays in equipment. Oh dear. >> So equipment that we ordered in May that they told us was 12 weeks, we're at 30 now >> and it's not here. The last date we got on the eight do units was that they expected to ship on September 19th. Production was supposed to finish last Friday. Uh airtemp has been reaching out to AON and they haven't responded. So that doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling about that. So
031So let's take that. Let's take it one piece at a time. So let's look at that. So what happens if the dos units don't show up? Well, we're really not going to be in much worse shape than we were last year. the the most of the equipment is for the high school and the high school is basically heated by the baseboard radiation which stays in place. The the air handling units that we removed they only heated makeup air and makeup air reduces or at least it did reduce based strictly on outside air temperature. So the colder it got, the less outside air came in. The heat came from the baseboard. The baseboard is still in place. Air flow was achieved by this makeup air plus the exhaust fans. So the exhaust is still in place,
032although it's new. And that equipment did show up and it's in place. And that is all going to be up and running. So I guess in the end if the very worst thing happens and the the doas units don't show up then the exhaust fans will circulate air in the building. The radiation will keep the building warm. We might have to open a window and and that's where it's at. And it will be the way schools were designed in the 70s and 80s. And we'll have to count on opening a window until this equipment shows up. two units for the wooden metal shop. Uh yeah, they and these are Americanmade units. We can't blame anybody else. This is all Americanmade equipment. Um the plant that manufactures those two pieces of equipment in Texas and they
033have had manufacturing problems all summer. They have not even given us an expected delivery date. We have no idea when these things are coming. In the meanwhile, uh, AirTemp and the architect are working together to come up with a plan for temporary heating and ventilation for those areas. We've got, knock on wood, plenty of time left before it really gets cold enough to make a difference. And we will have something in place there so that we can operate those two areas through the winter if we have to. Uh we're also looking at the possibility of considering some different equipment. Maybe maybe we just cancel the contract and we order something that we can get sooner. Uh there's a downside to that. We'd like to have equipment all by the same manufacturer. It makes it easier
034for whoever's looking down the road to service these things that they're all made by the same people. So that's a consideration that we haven't even looked at yet, but it's a it's a possibility. And then there's the one piece of equipment that somehow got left off of the original drawings and everybody missed it. The architect missed it, the contractors missed it, I missed it. Nobody noticed that it wasn't on the drawings until I'm going to say probably the first week of August or the last week of July. And uh so at that point we all started to scramble say okay we got to come up with a plan for that and we have come up with a plan for temporary heat in that area. We're going to put baseboard heat in that area so that
035it will be just like the rest of the high school. They will have radiation heat and exhaust fans to keep them warm. And uh hopefully Wednesday we have a plan and uh ready to review and we should be able to order that equipment shortly. And the plan for that is to use variable refrigerant systems which have a much shorter lead time. So, um we're thinking we may be able to get those by Christmas and get them in. Uh let's see. The biggest part the biggest part of the whole project was the control system. >> And again, it's one of those things nobody sees it. It's it's just it's invisible. But it was a huge undertaking. And I guess I'm going to say so now that's the next milestone. We're currently working on on two separate
036platforms. The old platform which is uh the early childhood center and the newer part of the high school and some other areas that are DDC controls. They have been for 17 18 years. We're working on the new platform which is going to be the new equipment and everything else that has been changed over the course of the summer that uh in talking with the control contractors, they're saying, "Yeah, it's almost done. The wires are all pulled and everything else." Uh the next step though is to test it out because we haven't seen it run and all of the old stuff is gone. So, so if you think about this, since 1960, everything in the entire complex ran off of air. Air compressors everywhere, making the valves open and close, making the boiler start and stop.
037The air compressors are gone. They're all out. So, nothing is making this stuff go now. I'm told we're really close. So, that is the the latest fire that I've got lit is to say, "Okay, it's close. I want to see it. I want to be able to h I want to handle it. I want to make it run. I want to see these things go. So, that is in the next couple of weeks. And again, I'm still saying we've got some time. Um unless mother nature throws us a curveball and we get up tomorrow and it's 20, in which case we could all be in trouble. But, uh but that's where we are with that. Um the the kitchen and cafeteria. Uh the cafeteria, we're still waiting for one of those do units. Uh the
038kitchen on the other hand, that equipment is all in and the only thing we're waiting for are the registers, which are delayed 3 4 weeks because they're aluminum. And as soon as that equipment's in, the kitchen should have heat and air conditioning, which again is just a bonus because they didn't have anything. So that will all just be a plus. Uh, I guess I guess the bottom line is that I'm pretty confident that by the time next spring rolls around, the air conditioning is going to be in place and we'll be able to keep the building cool. And for the winter, unless again, mother nature doesn't cooperate with me and we have one of those, you know, 10 below zero winters, I I really believe we're going to be okay no matter what time the
039equipment shows up. Uh just a couple other things I want to throw in on the facility side is that I'm sure everybody remembers me talking about oil pumps all last winter. So those those problematic oil pumps I ordered the correct replacements in November and all through the winter we ran on temporary equipment. We made it run. We got it through the winter. The real oil pump showed up in May. So, we installed them. Um, and then we started chasing back to the root cause of the problem. And the root cause of the problem is is that the 10,000galon oil tank buried in the elementary school front yard has got a substantial amount of sludge in the bottom of it. Now, we put that oil tank in in 2006. About two years after that, we had
040a contract with a different oil company than we have now, and we got substandard oil all winter. We we cleaned filters every day for the entire winter, which led us to have the two other underground tanks cleaned. And we're not even going to go where all that took us because it was just a bad scene. Mhm. >> Um, so we're at the point now is that this other 10,000galon oil tank has got some sludge in the bottom of it. We resolved the problem on Friday. Uh, I pulled the drop pipe. We shortened it 6 in. So, it's a little farther off the bottom. And as of Friday and today, it's running like a champ. I am pretty confident that it's going to run probably until the life expectancy of that tank is up, which everybody
041who's going to be around here, take notes, is 2036. That tank has got to come out of the ground. >> It's illegal. >> Okay, it's a it's a 30-year tank. We're 20 years in and I know that 10 years from now there's going to be a group of people sitting around this table >> and maybe none of you but some not Bill and I but >> but not >> I'll be in the crowd. >> Nobody ever told us this. >> Can this end up on that long range maintenance plan? Okay. >> It is it is and it has been for the last five long m range maintenance plants. So it's there, >> right? >> Um so so that's in the future. Cleaning the tank is another option. We could clean the tank. Um I would
042not hire the same person we hired last time. Uh but there is a problem with that in that the the tank that was purchased in 2006 only has a single manhole and the manhole has all the pipes and electric and everything that goes down through the tank goes through that manhole. It is a uh looks like about a 28 in steel cover that then is inside of a fiberglass enclosure that is 24 in. So, >> you're the skinny guy. That's all. >> No, I'm the skinny guy. And the cover doesn't fit through the hole. >> So, in order to in order to open that up and clean the tank, now you're talking about excavating the concrete and taking the the the sump off and you're looking at a piece of equipment that's already 2/3 through
043its life expectancy. My gut feeling would be to take the gamble and leave it there for the next 10 years until you do whatever it is you have to do. >> Now, Heather's first >> and and then the then the last piece that I I just wanted to throw out to everybody that's completely unrelated to all that nonsense is that the uh the middle school soccer field is actually looking pretty good. >> Yeah. >> Um >> but we can't use it. >> We can't use it. We we we did get we got some growth on it over the course of the summer. We kept it long. We kept it at like six inches all summer long. Uh the the problem is just like every place else, it's really tough to grow grass without water. Uh
044and there is no water. >> So right now it looks pretty good. Uh it looks like the root structure is coming back. I've got somebody coming out this week. We're going to look at it again. Uh as far as fall treatments, we're going to we're going to plug it. We're going to seed it. We're going to fertilize it again. And then we have to pray for rain, but not monsoons. So, okay, we have to pray for nice rain. And that's that that's the about all we can do with that is just pray. But it does look pretty good. >> And I just want to say over the summer months, um, Bill has stayed on top of this HVAC project. Um, and I just want to thank you, Bill, for the extra time and effort. Even
045when you were you you weren't able to physically be here, you you you were connected and uh maintained that project. I don't think without having such a a knowledgeable facilities director, we would have opened school on time. So, thank you. >> I I need to I agree with that. and I was here a lot this summer for meetings. But the crew that he's got working for him, you wouldn't believe what this place looked like. Uh I mean, inside and out and everything being emptied, ceilings being taken down, uh plastic being put up, they did an incredible job. They they really did. And I I got to give them kudos. you know, then nobody's here. But, um, they once again, every every first day of school, I say it, they did an awesome job over the
046summer. So, let them know. >> They did. I certainly will. >> They did. Heather, you had a question. >> Um, I just have a question about like the temp all the temporary things that need to happen to get us through the winter in the event this equipment doesn't show. Um, is there any cost implication and budget? Is there is there any additional costs relative to all of these extra things that we're kind of doing to >> so so we'll so I I got to give it to you in two parts. So >> the equipment for the shops that we bought and ordered and didn't come >> Yeah. >> Airtemp owns that. >> Okay. >> They've got to do it. >> The the equipment that we missed and that we we have to pay for. >>
047Okay. And does that is that like part of the town's capital thing or does that cover so we're still so we're still we we still have a fairly substantial contingency so we're not in trouble yet. >> Okay. >> Um I don't I don't think we will be. I think at the end as we get towards the end of this we're going to be looking at saying okay there's some money left and what might we do with it? >> Okay that's >> but we're not in trouble yet. I would suggest the other bill chime in on that because I don't think we got a lot of money left >> In the project. Yeah, I think we do. Even with bulletin one, I think >> Okay. >> I I think we've got some. Well, I'm not >>
048We got some. >> Yeah. I I'm not concerned. I'm not >> I think we spent like three quarters of it already. >> Probably close with bulletin one. Probably. >> All right. >> And Matt, you had something. So, with the uh changing in height of the intake pipe, what is the functional volume of that tank? If it's 10,000, are we down to 9,000 8,000? >> Yeah. Yeah, probably. So, it was never at the bottom anyways, >> right? >> So, we took 6 in off of it. Matt, that's a pretty complicated math problem. >> Six inches this way or six inches. Is it flat on the bottom or curved on the bottom? >> No, it's a it's a submarine. >> Yeah. Okay. So >> yeah, >> it it's not a it's not a we have automatic delivery.
049It's not enough it's not enough to worry about and and >> yeah, I wouldn't be concerned about it. >> Thank you, Kathleen. Justin. >> Yes, Justin. >> So, Bill, I do have to say I got a chance to walk around the middle school today. I had a chance last week to stop into the elementary school. Campus looks amazing. Um, you really should be proud of yourself and your staff. No, it's it's No, it's it's the crew >> for for what >> I had I have nothing to do with the way the campus looks for >> it's all the crew >> for what you know from the the paint on the walls, the floor, everything. I've seen a lot of schools recently and and we should we should all be proud of what we have here
050in Thompson because we've done a very good job with very little budget. Um my concern with the HVAC project is I believe the grant had a date tied to it. >> We uh so we already applied and received the extension on the on the date. So the project now we now have until December of 26 to complete the project. They gave us a whole another year. >> Okay. That's where >> Yeah. Um and our funding the the referendum that allocated the funding can support us through 26. >> Was that right? >> Wanted to question eyes crossed tease. All right. Cool. So yeah, great job. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Bill. >> Thank you. >> Okay. The other bills. Okay. >> So, uh obviously no no change to the revised budget for last year.
051By the way, this uh I'll have the first report for this fiscal year next year. I figured you would be more in more interested in um than last year and wrapping up last year. Uh projected year-to- date spending at this point is 21,504, which is 100.3% of the budget. That puts us at a deficit of about $85,000 right now. Uh we were in the black through I think last month at about 25. We had some some year end bills come in which is prone to happen. Uh and just finalization of some accounting work. This is still not final at this point. I'm still trying to see if there are some additional funds that I could push into grants. Um so uh don't don't take that number to the bank, so to speak. Um, with that
052said, I think we do need to keep in mind how ultimately the options for the board to fund that. Uh, and I thought it it would make sense to give a little update on the non-lapsing accounts. >> Um, as you know, we have two. Um, let's walk through the the BOE controlled non-lapsing account, which is the the younger of the two. You may recall that we uh the board decided to put 290,000 of surplus into that account. >> Um we made purchases of track equipment, the plow truck, uh the generator repair, and I believe there was an I some IT equipment in there too that was relatively small that amounted to about $193,000, leaving a a remaining balance in that non-lapsing account of about $97,000. Uh, and then the original non-lapsing account, uh, which is
053board of finance controlled, so that's under the old rules, uh, has a balance of just over $47,000. So you're looking at about $144,000 in the combined uh, non-lapsing accounts. So after that refresher, um, incumbrances are almost completely wrapped up at this point. Uh, the flow of bills for 25 has has largely ceased. Um, we ended with two departments uh projected over budget. Pretty much the same story I've been telling you every month. It's it's in special education at about $727,000 in ESY at 122 um dollars, not thousand. Um, and those overages uh continue to be partially offset by lower than expected special education transportation costs. So, that's how it looks like it's shaping up uh for the year financially. On another note, the auditors were in uh last week for two weeks ago at this
054point for um their interim testing. Uh went very well. Uh kudos to both finance teams for getting everything they needed pulled ahead of time, which really helps things go a bit more smoothly. Uh that was nice to to get behind us. They are on track to come out a week earlier than they came out last year uh in November. So I think it's the week or two before Thanksgiving. Uh so we have just clicked into the mode for getting everything pulled for the next set of um schedule requests and testing with the auditors for for the next time around. Uh but that went pretty well. Um the state finally funded our first reimbursement request, speaking of of HVAC, uh which allowed us to make uh to pay the next rather sizable um air tech bill.
055Um and I immediately turned around and submitted for the next reimbursement request. Um hopefully that one will be turned around a little bit more quickly. Uh but again that'll that'll also be about another million five. Um so those those bills are as you might imagine with all the work if you guys were up here over the summer. I mean there were people everywhere and it was like an army of air temp fans out in the parking lot every day. Uh so there was an incredible amount of work happening. So it's not surprising that the dollars followed. So that was that's going pretty well so far. But uh I will say having the the budget challenges challenges that we had coinciding with the level of work on the HVAC made cash management a priority. Let's just
056say but uh at this point Scott Anderson and the tax department tax team are collecting money. Uh and hopefully we're we're almost over that hump. I'll breathe a little bit easier on on on uh October 1st when when the when the banks pay the escrow accounts. That'll that'll be a a nice milestone for us in finance. >> Any questions? I just have a couple. Um in your pupil services, we have the projected deficits. Do we know and this question may go more towards Melinda. Do we or Chris do we know the number? It says driven by enrollment, higher level of need, critical threat assessments, student IEPs and medical needs higher that. So, do we know the number of students that that was associated with? Not looking for actual students, but the number of students that
057those numbers were associated with. So, the deficit of $727,000, was that due to five students or 50? >> Well, the out of district placements would be the roughly 22 that we talk about on a on a regular basis. RBT related spending or cler correct me if I'm wrong we'll announce >> yeah it's contracted services to keep students in district but I don't I don't know the actual number that that impacted Chris would probably have a better handle on that I can ask him >> but the 22 sorry one step back the 22 and out of district placement we started the year with some budgeted number of students in out of district placement so what was the delta that caused the $35,000 deficit I would have to talk to Gristle. >> No, I do know you
058hit the nail on the head with the RBTs, the BCBAS, the extra services that we had to provide on site, but then there were an increase of uh risk assessments that were done. Um there was some staffing issues along the way with PARS, additional PARS being added. So I can is Chris on? >> No. Okay. Um, I can ask him in the morning what that number translated to kids. >> Can we just try to Yeah, I'd like to wrap some context around that for Okay. >> for next month and so that we can walk through the >> bud next budget season saying, "Look, we planned for this. This is what happened." >> Yeah. >> You know, just as we got lucky the year before we got unlucky last year. >> Yeah. X number of students
059needed a PAR, X number of students needed a RBT, that kind of thing, right? >> He knows that number. Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Oops. The next item up is the non-union employee salary increases. Um, this one's going to be pretty easy. Uh we had our subcommittee finance subcommittee. You want to discuss? >> The subcommittee met and uh we recommend to the full board that all all non-union um salaries are increase by 3%. Um go by Danielle's updated list because I don't think the one in the packet is correct. But uh so I'd like to make that in the form of a motion that we increase uh all all non-union by 3%. As it's been in the past, we go as the features go and u if it's 1% to 3%. We've
060been following that model. So everybody this year is getting a 3% increase. So we thought it's fair that the non-union also gets 3%. I'll second that. >> Thank you, John. Okay. Any discussion on this? We had our discussion mainly about any of you that didn't attend the hearing. None. And that that's um includes everybody that was on our in our list there. >> The updated list. >> Yeah, the updated the new list. So, all in favor of giving um everyone on that updated list non-union a 3% increase say I. >> I. >> Anyone oppose say no. Any abstensions? Hearing none. The motion passes. And now we have a we received uh a notice that Steve Sedor, our current um lawyer, unfortunately is moving to a new firm. >> He has he it's a firm that
061you're familiar with. Um when we have expulsion hearings, they often represent the board. he has moved to that firm. Um he um did um I think Danielle passed out today. Um he sent us something over the weekend, you know, just giving um a little overview. Um his fee um remember when he first started years ago? Um that must have been in 2018. It was after my first year here. Um, we were paying almost $500 an hour at another law firm and we went out to bid and Pullman and Connley came in and at that time they set the rate at $280. Um, and then I think a few years ago they went up $10. Um, uh, and I I think there was a projection for this year that they were going to increase their rates.
062I hadn't received a notice prior to Steve telling me he has switched firms, but the new firm um is put in an hourly rate of $300. Um that's not something the superintendent can approve because there is a new firm change. Uh the lawyer is the same. I will just say that he's in the middle of negotiations for our contract. So, um he's it's a bit in flux. we're in flux because we don't know who to call um you know there's other attorneys we work with especially under title nine uh and policies um in that firm. So uh the discussion has to be had here today as to whether or not the board chooses to switch firms or go out to bed. >> But knowing that that $300 per hour is pretty competitive. >> Very probably
063low. Yeah, >> I'd like Steve and I'd like to follow him, but I think the prudent thing to do is to actually go up to bid and probably we'll end up with his new firm. >> Yeah, I >> But I and again and even if it's close, the board can decide which way to go. I I think Steve is good >> for the district. And again, I'd like to follow him, but I think the >> Yeah, >> the the right thing to do is get is get a couple of bids. >> Yeah, I really I agree with Bill. I mean, I I I wrestled with this >> once you gave us the notice, and unfortunately, if we don't go out to bid, we we'll be in uh >> Yeah. The reason I brought it, obviously
064I had to bring it here anyway, but >> that was a concern of mine as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, we really need to go out to bid and probably this is going to be the lowest or next to the lowest and we have reasons to accept the non-l lowest bid because we're in the middle of negotiations. It sets us back. Um, >> I'd be willing to bet it's very close anyway. >> Yeah. and and we can go back to shipment and goodwin and we know that that's gonna probably be higher. >> Yeah. >> And I I think we probably will stay with Steve but >> right but we have to go through the motions of going out to bit. >> Remember he represents the uh general education and labor portion of the law. Um,
065and then, uh, Andrew Henius represents special education, which Chris, I'm going to say, I mean, he's been very successful winning lawsuits for us in mediation suits. Uh, but Chris Chris tries to really hold back on, you know, going down the legal route through special education. So, uh, those numbers are not high every year. >> You have a question? >> Question. So, because this particular firm represents us when we're doing expulsions and Steve usually represents the administration, is there any sort of a conflict of interest that we need to be aware of once we get bids back? >> So, then they'll have to get another firm to do the expulsions. We never used lawyers before. This is the first time we've ever >> It's always always been with under Dr. Saminsky. We did this a lot
066and we've always had one attorney and good >> I can check and see what happens in other districts if they have two representing them. I don't the rules along the way. Remember we went for a long period of time with no expulsions and then I would say since co uh we've had a you know at least one or two a year. >> True. But prior to you, you know that um and and I we had we didn't have too many, but we've never used >> we had a lot we prior to me being on the board. >> I think Danielle will remember we had one a month for at least for a for a long time. >> Well, prior to me being on the board, I've only had one or two and we never had
067that. We we had so many I could have run the meeting that that's how >> Okay. Well, then you certainly know. >> Um but even the one or two that I attended when I first got on the board, it was only one attorney. >> Yeah. Clarification new requirement and what that's going to >> that may be something new that changed. Who knows? But uh and maybe that's the way the you know >> that's exactly right. Maybe that's the way that firm does handle it. >> Yeah, but Shipman and Goodman have never required, right? >> Matt has a >> I'm sorry. >> Hi. >> Um, just want to clarify. You mentioned the uh lawyer that Dr. Jones uses for special ed. Which firm is that? >> It's Andrew Henus and Carol. >> So, it's not related
068to either of the two firms. Okay, that's what I wanted to know. Right. >> But they should we should get a bid from them. Should we get a bid from them if we're going out to bid? >> I'm imagining they're going to automatically do it. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. So, my question is, we're going out to bid. Do we have the standard RFP laid out? >> We have to dig out the one we sent out last time that you have it, right? >> Edit it for anything new that we may be experiencing where we've been. I don't know when the last time I know for RFP is, but if we've got new services that we've been >> engaging with or if we've got new things that we've been doing with this council or if
069it's a higher rate than it was like higher rate of frequency than it was before, maybe identifying that kind of stuff all in one, you know, special education, general services, all this kind of stuff. When we go out to bid, um I think you just kind of go out to bid for the gen ed and the labor. Uh the special ed, we're not severing that contract. We still have that law firm in play. >> Okay. >> Then to you're suggesting we keep the two separate. >> I I honestly believe you should keep the two separate. We got poor service from Pullman and Connley under special education was the reason that we we could cuz they used two attorneys. Steve did labor and um and general >> um BOE support and then there was a separate
070attorney that handled special ed. So that attorney wasn't very responsive. So um we were at a crossroads. We had some major issues when Dr. Jones first came on board. So for about a year he worked with that firm and then we finally switched and got the other firm in. Uh it's been successful. Um a lot of mediation and other cases that they have actually won. So um you know he gives us good guidance. I did have to use him at one point for labor um because I disagreed with the route that home economy was going down. So it's good to have two of them that you can consult with. >> Okay. said, "We're just going to go out for the gened and labor." >> So, it's an RFP for the gened and labor group. >>
071Yeah. >> How, >> in other words, to take Steve's place or continue with Steve, hopefully. >> And how long should that >> take to get responses and come present to us? >> Well, so we'll have to work on that quickly. Get the RFP out. Uh, send it out to all the We have a list of law firms we sent it out to last time. We've kind of blanketed the state. Um, and then proposals came into the board and then I think you interviewed two or three if I remember. Um, because uh, the board ultimately has to make a decision because they're representing you uh, what firm you want to stick with, but um, we're going to have to do that quick. >> Yeah. So, is there Steve's already switched firms? >> He has. >> Is
072there an interimm solution that we can like we can say you know >> Yeah. three months ends up to X with Steve >> to in order to keep the negotiations. Could we do like a temp with him? Yeah, I you know I haven't thought about that. I'll talk to him tomorrow, >> you know, three month contract while we go out to >> Yeah, because it's going to take two two at least two months or more to to do the >> and I don't Here's the other thing, you know, with us changing firms, I don't know what kind of communication I need to have with Bowman and Commly. So, yeah, that's my next >> Well, regardless, we're changing firms, right? I mean, right, if we follow Steve, we're changing firms. Or if we stay with the
073current, >> I guess it's who did we hire? We hire Steve or did we hire the firm? >> The firm. >> We have a contract with the firm. >> So, we have a contract with the firm. So, >> y >> we would have to break the contract with the firm if we want to ball Steve. >> It's one of those things that, you know, you can just do a um a memo stating that you're withdrawing, you know, services. But >> um I will reach out to Pman tomorrow um and uh let them know that we're going to go out to bid. >> So in the meantime, do we need >> in the meantime? I think I mean we utilize I guess for things like Title N and policy. We're going to stick with Melinda Kaufman
074in that in that road. Um and then I guess we'll have to figure out I'll talk to Steve tomorrow. How do we continue him to finish up the negotiations while we're going through the bid process, >> right? >> Or, god forbid, uh, we have a disciplinary issue in the three-month time frame. You know what I mean? That >> if that happened, I'd lean on uh, Henas. >> Okay. >> Um, because they still represent Okay. >> a portion of the district. >> Thank you. After you find out that answer, it might warrant a special >> Yep. >> meeting to make some decisions. >> Yep. >> We're going to have to at least have the RFP out for a few weeks, too. >> Yep. >> Which is why that interim I mean >> Yeah. >> So, it
075won't be till like November before we >> I'm assuming so. Yeah. Yeah. Well, >> I think if it's probably I think it was a a career move that he couldn't refuse. >> Probably. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Do you need a motion, Captain? >> So, do we need a motion to do the RFP or No, no, just go ahead and do it. >> Okay. All right. So that's and you can talk to Steve and see if there's something if that doesn't break our contract with Comey and woman and yes hire something on a temporary basis because we're right stuck right in the middle of these negotiations. >> Actually we're towards the end. We're towards the end which is where >> Yeah. Right. >> So >> well at least with the custodians with the secretaries we
076really haven't gotten to that point where we're talking money yet. So, >> okay. Is there any old business that we need to dredge up? >> Hearing none. Any new business we'd like to add? >> I have a question. I don't know if it's new business or not. Are the students supposed to do their is this the first like what was the new new determination of when they were coming to present there >> quarterly starting in November? Were you aware of that? Are you just here to be a participant? >> Yes. >> Can we meet you? >> Yes. >> Uh they're here to observe but yes. Come up please. I am Madison Carlson. I'm a junior at TMHS and I am one of the new board of edons. >> I'm Dylan Agel. I'm also a junior.
077Same story. >> Two great students. So, we couldn't be prouder of you. Thank you for doing that. >> Thank you. >> We will see you in November. Yes. >> Unless you want to join us again in October. You're more than welcome. Hey, any correspondence? No. Um, again, citizens comments, any from the um the Zoom audience? Any from the floor? Then I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? Hi. >> Hi. All right. Hey