Budget Workshop - March 30, 2026

001Right. Thank you. Um, first we have the call. So we have adjustments to the agenda. So there is a uh an adjusted agenda. Um, and uh, so I would take welcome a motion to approve that. All right. So motion made by Peter, second by Dan. Any questions or discussion? Yes. So, just just real quick on this. So, since this is a um a workshop and not a special meeting, we've um we won't be voting on these tonight because it is we didn't label it as a special meeting. So, to be in compliance with um our policy, we will not vote on it. But, we're going to go through everything. Um that way when we do have the vote, we'll save us some time. We'll already have gone through that. So, um so motion and a

002second. All in favor? Right. Peter, are you okay? Thank you. So, that passes unanimously. Oh, you're voting no. Okay. So, no on Allison. Any Okay. Okay. So, we'll move to um an update on insurance rates and tax assessment based on proposed cuts. the good news. So on Friday we received the max our health insurance will be which um if you all remember we budgeted 15% or I budgeted 15% for health insurance next year and we were told the max will be um 11 and a half%. So um that was really good news to get on a Friday get on a Friday. Um, so I went in um and made those adjustments throughout Friday. And as always when I am doing that, I go through and I double check everything else because it's a good time

003because I have to touch every line. So at the same time I was um double- checking everything else. So, um, at the end of that, you can see where we ended. Um, 2 >> 2.1 >> 159. >> Yeah. Jeffrey >> to clarify. Leah, that's with all of these cuts. >> Yes. >> I don't think we changed anything. >> Correct. Yes. >> Go ahead, Alison. Well, um also we still get another number, right? Like that's the max and then we'll eventually like in April get >> correct >> the actual number. >> However, yes, we will. However, I don't suspect um we will be much lower than that. We get a number that shows kind of like how much of our premium we've spent and we are like at 120 something%. So we we may there may

004be a little bit but I would it might be like 0 2 or something. >> Okay, that's good. Thank you. >> Yep. >> So the next thing we have um in front of us is the >> they're coming around. Sorry. Oh, >> so the next thing we have is the cost centers updated based on those amounts. And I just thought last time I I passed this out, but we didn't get to talk about it at all. So, I asked Leah to update it because I think it's really important and it's in it's good information to have. Um Leah can explain it, but it's by cost center, which are the articles that we vote on. >> Yep. I mean that that I mean she pretty much explained it. So these are the articles we vote on

005and you can just see um by >> the arrow at the top shows you the percentage up or down. >> And that was kind of um if you remember last year, this is how I kind of presented the budget and I would explain like why each cost center went up and down. So, um I mean you you can probably guess by some of these on that are going down by looking at you know this reduction sheet by you know student and staff you can kind of put together obviously why that's down 384,000 or you know each of these you can kind of tell um by the reduction sheet why they're down. Um but I'm happy to answer any questions if you have it specifically. I think this is helpful for people to see what what

006areas have been cut and what are increasing. So, thank you. >> Um on the the CTE instruction. >> Yeah. >> Do you have the updated numbers with from you don't >> I don't have >> not from region 11. It is updated from region 9. So region 11, they were assuming a seven uh they were assuming a high t um insurance and there's going to be seven and a half. So >> still I mean it's not going to impact a huge amount. >> Any questions on this? Next. Um, the next sheet is a two-sider and on the first side is the list of those priorities that the administration team had come up with. um if we were going to put things back because initially the board asked if we were at 3% what what could we

007put back if and go to 4% or go to 5%. These are all those items um with the um number amounts to the items. And then if you turn the sheet over, you will see what that is for the um tax assessment and for the towns and all the items. Now with that reduction um would come to 4 point um >> 4 026 sorry quite awesome. So, I'm looking at the list you just gave us with the six cuts in blue that um or that these would be added back >> that was from last time our proposal. >> Are these on our agenda or are these now not on the agenda because we would be adding them back? >> Um they're on the agenda. So, they're and if you notice they're on the end. They're

008near the end and you'd have to vote no. You'd vote no if you want didn't want them. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Bonnie. >> So, uh, I mentioned last time I have a hard time supporting cuts that are forward- facing students. um the field trips, even the HR position. Um I really want to see more the edteex, the the the counselor. These things are are stuff that the kids really need and that's what they see. They the field trips are fun, but I don't know how that's doing a service to our students. So yeah, I definitely understand where you're coming from on that. The the thing that we, you know, administration team worked with was trying to um add things in that impacted the most amount of people, most amount of students. Uh you know, the

009HR position, that's that's a a one-person position. I think that's really important. Field trips are something that all of the students get to go to and I I think are are, you know, are very important. um enriching students and getting them a chance to see other things. So, I think those are those are really important, but I definitely understand uh wanting to make sure that we have the most money going towards people that are interacting directly with the students. Um but I also, you know, think that the administration team has done a good job of trying to balance everything and and get the most impacts for for everybody. But definitely hear what you're saying for sure. Go ahead, Doug. >> I agree. I agree with Bonnie that anything that we cut that affects the students

010should not be cut. Period. I am highly against cutting anything. I think we need to increase the budget the full 8%. And let the towns figure out what they need to do. The students are going to be the ones that are affected by this, not the town. Granted, the taxes are going up, but hey, kids are important. >> Thank you, Doug. Go ahead, Alison. question question about the halftime special ed um going back in. Um we talked about having that I guess part of the position be focusing on the out of district placements and getting them back in which I think was a really creative and eventually beneficial thought. This isn't really Can you hear me? >> Oh yeah. >> Okay. Um although but we're cutting a lot of ed tax. >> So is the

011thought that we wouldn't be making any changes like we wouldn't be necessarily bringing any kids back this coming year and therefore we wouldn't because we need more staff I'm assuming if we bring kids back from out of district placements. So >> correct. So in in my mind typically what happens if if we if we are bringing a student back and it's and that money for that student is already in the budget you trade what you did. So let's say because you pay tuition monthly. So let's say we paid for a student through November and then we were getting ready to bring him back in December. Then that money that was in the budget under tuition, it's all in the same war article because it's special ed. It's in the money under tuition. You could essentially

012flip that and use it as a for an edtech. Oh, sorry. >> I'm just curious on the uh HR position. U I guess how is adding that back more beneficial than say keeping the two teachers at MVCs for sixth to 8th grade? Like what benefit is there of HR that HR position to the overall education of the children in comparison to the actual teacher roles? Well, an HR position um affects every person that's hired in the district because we only have one. You know, some places, some companies have like an HR department, let's say. We have one, we have one position. And so, we have about 430 employees plus about another 50 or so um stipen positions. So all of those folks inter have to interact or you know have things that go on with

013the HR position. And what we were trying to do is look at okay how can we farm that out but like I explained last time when you farm it out you're farming it out to job responsibilities that the only one person has. So, in other words, it's not like um the payroll um person is just going to do more of what they do. They've got to do what they do plus they've got to take on some of those other types of things. And then the same as accounts payable, business manager, assistant superintendent, different people in the office. And it already has become really confusing for folks because you know who's doing what and they have to they're trying to learn it and stuff. So we had come up with that we need to hire the

014person at least for the rest of this year because we do have the money. So they they'll go back to their other job if if we don't put it back in which is fine. But I think we we feel very strongly that that because it's a a one job, we need it. >> Jennifer, >> is there any feasibility to the assistant superintendent position that will be opening being assistant superintendent, curriculum coordinator, and adding the HR into that position? Is there any possibility of that? >> Um, well, I think we looked at it and Matt's got some information that he looked into because I think we also, you know, we've talked about all kinds of different configurations. Um, the problem with some of that is some of the work is is clerical work. It's keeping spreadsheets.

015It's um you know making sure we've got all the right forms. And it's not that an assistant superintendent can't do that, but I think we want to be careful what who we're paying to do what or and what we're paying different positions to do different things. And and while I agree with that, we also excitingly have this new school that is off the superintendent's plate for the first time in six years, which is huge. And so I think we have a little some variable room there that >> we could talk about. So, I think if if now's a good time, you know, I had asked or and Matt had thought about what other things could we do with that position and I said to him, I mean, it's not going to affect me, so I'd

016rather have him talk about that, but >> good evening. And I'm I'm glad I get to bat lead off tonight. So, uh let's see how we do. And uh >> yeah, what we tried to do was I tried to organize thoughts around what is the position of assistant superintendent or curriculum coordinator and how is it how is it kind of different and we're trying to manage what we're doing right now with HR through that office a lot. And what we're finding is there's an issue around some of the HR is a unique position that it it doesn't have a direct touch point with any kid, but it supports every one of our staff members here. We're a business when you get to the business side of the world. We're a business with 500 employees. And

017when you think about that, that puts us as one of the top five employers in Oxford County, which if you were to say to Walmart with however many employees they have, you don't have an HR department. you were to say to the mill which is relatively it's going to be kind of a while relatively same size we don't have an HR department with Sunday river we don't have an HR department anymore um I think when we start to think of it as a business and part of our job yes our primary purpose is to educate kids and but one of the best ways that we can do that is to make sure that we support the people who are educating kids so on a daily basis it's um there are FMLA issues that pop up.

018There are workers comp issues that pop up. There's uh there's um there's leave questions that will will come up. There's a new main family medical leave issue that's coming up. Um there so there's a lot of those pieces that happen. On top of that, part of what HR does is also make sure that it processes things in a timely fashion so that we get our paychecks out in time. And so today the that first part of the job today um for that HR's pay week they have to make sure that they're checking all of the attendance for all of our hourly employees make sure that everything is coded right so then it can get get handed off to the next person in line uh for payroll. So even though it may not have a single

019touch point with a kid at all, it is a huge piece for our culture and climate in our district because by doing that very well and we are we have an outstanding business office and and the man the management side of our district is a really good job. All the staff members are supported from a contractual perspective and the payroll. We know that we get that right. We have very few issues around payroll. So that's that's where HR is a little bit different. It takes a little bit of a twist for us for curriculum coordination and superintendent assistant superintendent position. I agree a lot with you Jen a ton and not just on this but you know a lot of things but the job of the superintendency is going to be different starting next year.

020That that doesn't mean that some of the capacity that having an assistant superintendent or curriculum comm coordinator goes away. We still need some of that additional capacity. And some of the things I thought as we look and we move forward as a district, I thought I would list some of those things down that would happen that need to get done by an admin by an administrator or somebody at administrative level. And there's a long list there. But um in particular, I would look at the title nine work that gets done out the assistant superintendent's office. And if it is curriculum coordinator, curriculum coordinator's office, I think that that I would I you know, and maybe I'm just being a little bit, you know, naive, but and I don't think it's naive. I think that there's

021a lot of pieces that that now that we that we're settled more that that we can that there's different capacities for each position. Um, but the Title N position is a really big one. Uh we're one of the five highest receivers for ESCA funds from the state um with a $1.7 million budget that we need to make sure that we apply for it um every year and it is part of the budget. We get it automatically. Oops. And uh so I shouldn't say we get it automatically. We get it from our federal funds. Um, we're in we're in uh we're in uh we're in the best status possible for our ESA funds as far as making sure that we report it on time, apply for it on time and that we spend it appropriately and

022that is that's really good for us as a district. That means that we won't have any negative impact from any of those ESA funds. So, that's a big part of the assistant superintendent's job. Um, and I think that having somebody whose priority is managing 1.7 million is important. Um, so having that is a a a split is really a challenge. And on top of that, we've been really lucky over the last four years that we have over $700,000 of grants that have come in. They're competitive grants that have gone through the assistant superintendent office. That's really important if we want to continue to be able to provide more or expand more for our kids. And some of those things have been the literacy grant uh which was almost $300,000. Uh the stronger connections grant for

023$250,000, hard grants for over $80,000. These are things that allow us to continue to provide support for our kids. Even though with uh the only contact I have with kids when I walk around and go and check in with classrooms, we know that that's some of the underpinning that allows our teachers to be more effective by getting them the best materials and best uh having them best prepared. Some of the other things also, right, that that the professional development looking at that and and we're we're really lucky. I think that we talk about test scores going in a certain direction because we have teachers who have been prepared. Um there are cuts that can be made, but are they sacrifices that you want to make? Um that's I think that's the question that's always posed

024to the board. So um that's I don't know if I answered your question or not, but I think that as district we could definitely look at more of a curriculum coordinator model, an assistant superintendent model. It's a little bit more affordable. Certification's a little bit different. Um the expectations would be a little bit different. Uh the challenge comes is in if uh if there needs to be somebody to take the role of the superintendent because superintendent is out for whatever reason. I had my hip replaced last year so it won't happen next year. Um but that's those would be the times that you need we would need to figure out how we would do that in in case we if we had a curriculum coordinator instead of assistant super. On top of that, SAD 39

025had a halftime curriculum coordinator. uh Mount Valley, this is going back 43 uh from the mid 90s had a curriculum coordinator who started into assistance super I think through the construction process beginning with Leanne and then with me. So it was and it was to help add some capacity to what we were doing at central office. >> Awesome. >> I just want to say that I think that's a great idea. Um, I would even I would even throw out that we could stipen some of the grant work to teachers um if we didn't have a curriculum coordinator at all, but that makes me a little bit nervous, too. So, um, especially if this means that we could keep the HR position. My preference would be to keep the HR position um and reduce or eliminate

026the assistant superintendent position. So, I >> can I just say um the other thing that um Matt did do was look into um contracting out Title N because you have to have Title N um the it set up for somebody. So, some districts actually um contract that out. Um but I'll let him tell you the prices that he was told. Yeah, there there was some sticker shock when I went to go and talk to I talked to both the state agency for Title N. I talked to a federal agency, a federal um subcontractor for Title 9. Both of them would start with some type of inventory. That's where they would have to begin to review past cases, policy, and also any current cases that we have moving forward. And that started at between5 or $10,000

027for the audit. And then each month after that was either5 or $10,000 include profession, it included professional development, the staff, and for the administrators. And our issue is that when you get into Title Nine, and this is where it the explanation came to me, is is that they're serving not just the 500 um staff, but they're serving the 1700 students as well. So, we have So, it's not like a normal employer that you just worry about your employees. In a dis in a school district, you have to worry about everybody that's in the district. So, for us, we'd be looking at uh finding a service for 2,200 people. So, that's where that's where the expense came from. So yeah, there was was a bit of a sticker shock. They asked me if I I wanted

028to have a little bit more of a vote. I said, I don't even think that one passes a straight face test. If I said, "Yeah, give that to me so that we can hire an agency for however many $100,000 a year to cover our title N." So >> yeah, I would say that I think the assistant superintendent position is one of the only positions that actually helps bring money back in. So having it very, very important. Also, HR, I I don't even know how that got on the list. maybe just because she was leaving and that made sense, but I don't think it makes sense of that to cut that position. Um, but you know, I just that being said, I think, you know, this is this is not going to be easy. This is

029this is a really really really hard budget. Probably one of the worst ones that we've had to deal with since I've been on the board. Um, and and I ideally I'd love to fund everything, but there's also going to be something that's got to get passed. And it's going to be difficult even at these numbers. Um, I mean, my town is the worst one. I mean, we're we're getting hit. us and Sumar, it's almost double digits for both of us and that that's huge. It's very very difficult. Um, still trying to understand why the valuations are as messed up as they are, but hopefully things will be better next year, but this is going to be a tough one. Um, and I think that we've got to kind of look at it holistically. What's what's

030going to do the most for the most amount of people? And I know we all have things that we like and are important to us, but I think we got to kind of look at it holistically and and what what can get passed and I'd rather have the people that do this professionally help make those decisions than and then we're like I said, we're where the next best stop, right? But after that, you you go to a public meeting and you can have your budget just decimated. Then you got to try and figure it out from there. So, um I think it makes sense to provide a realistic budget to the voters and um so yeah, go ahead. >> Before we moved on too far, I wanted to kind of continue on this topic that

031Matt was speaking to and I want to ensure that I'm understanding correctly. Did I hear that a curriculum coordinator could provide Title N services? We could have that person serving in that role? Yeah, we we would focus we'd get a little bit more focus and some of the stuff that um I think that some of the the student contact and out in the buildings that I've been doing over the last few years would be the area that would get cut back. It would be and it' be a primary focus on Title 9. Um we would also focus on the ESA grants and also for grant applications and also provide um make sure that there's data that's organized and provided and and working with kind of the the uh on the on the assessment side as

032well um and working with the assessment team from the state. >> Okay. So, if I'm hearing correctly, I think that I agree with Allison on this one to consider removing the assistant superintendent in favor of having the curriculum coordinator who is handling the Title N. Um because I also believe we we need that HR position. It is it's vital. Um so I I don't know if that was what Allison was saying. Um, I think that was so that would be my preference >> and and I I I understand that. But just just so everybody understands the differences, you're not talking a huge difference in money between the two positions, right? Maybe $20,000 somewhere around there. And then you have with an assistant superintendent, they can do a lot more. It gives you a lot more

033flexibility. So, I mean, for, you know, just like 20 or $30,000 difference, I don't know if it makes a whole lot of sense, but I understand trying to cut everywhere. Go ahead, Alison. >> Just a question about Title N. Um, what like for someone to have that role, what does it have to be a superintendent or assistant? Like, who could conceivably do that job in a district? I I think that the job could be done by a lot of different people in the district and preferably with somebody with administrative and and also somebody that is more districtwide, especially in a in in our district. We know that that we have a lot of administrators. Um but one of our challenges as if we make any of these cuts to administration is that they're all picking

034up additional jobs. So if you're a building principal, you could do it theoretically. Um, but they're already having to pick up a lot of, you know, we we're I've had a couple of conversations today about this. Um, there's going to be 300 identified kids in the in the new community school. And out of those three kids, if every kid has that's identified and and on average somewhere between two and three IEPs a year, and if you start looking at that, you're talking about hundreds of meetings every year. So an administrator, if there's three of them that are in the building and they split it up equally, they're going to be sitting in on two or three IEPs every day. That's I mean, and then so where's the room left on the plate to do a

035Title N investigation? And and I at least, you know, there's at least once a week that I'm getting called in to talk to somebody about Title N. And it doesn't always lead to an investigation, but there's the question of does this qualify? Does this not qualify? Do we start the investigation? Do we not start the investigation? So that's that's where so a lot of people would have that have the skills, but I don't know if we have as we make cuts if that if they have the capacity still to add that if they're having to pick up another piece because we have one less administrator or two less and we'll have two we could possibly have two three less administrators even at the building level or the district level. So, I guess the answer is

036a lot of people could, but that's the challenge is where's the where did we get that time? >> All right. >> So, the next thing that I passed out was just um it's it's the two reduction sheets that you've seen in the past, except they're put in a different order. They're put all the items that are not positions, but they're they're items. They're or if they're a position, it's not to be cut, it's to be paid by, it's something else. And then below is is the positions so that we could um my idea here was so that people could look at the the reductions on the the top of this and just kind of in general, are there any questions? I hope that some of what I did this weekend helped people with understanding where

037some of these were coming from. Um, and then if we want to talk specifically about the positions, um, we can do that, but I I just tried to kind of gather it in a different way. >> No, I I appreciate that. I think it's it's helpful to see the stuff that's not positioned. And have these any of these changed except for um the region nine or these are all ones that we've seen before. This >> Yeah, these are all ones that you've seen. If you see a negative by any number here, it's because it was more so it took off from the reductions because it it came in additional. Um but no nothing's nothing's >> and just just to clarify these are reflected in the very first um budget sheet that we looked at. >>

038Yes. The very first one that's 2.1 or something like that um have all would would have all these in it. Um the blue highlight are the things that are on that um the priority list to back out. >> So we'll give everybody just a minute to look at those and and if anybody has any questions on the items the first we'll we'll start there. Anybody has any questions on those? Go ahead, Kristen. >> I'm on the back of the sheet and I'm looking at the 50% assistant special ed director. Um, this is the first year that we'll have a special ed director full-time and I'm I'm not seeing how this having another another assistant in there is something that is necessary right now. >> Yeah, we we'll run through the positions one by one after.

039I just wanted to see >> what did you have questions? Um, so any if anybody had any questions on the the first >> just it sorry you say that. Okay. >> Yeah. Go ahead Alison. >> I was just reviewing your email D that um you had answered some questions that Aaron had. That was very helpful. Um but there was a question about virtual high school which is about threequarters of the way down the list of reductions in our positions. Um, were we able to find out like >> good question >> what the like the question was I'm not speaking today what the attendance and utilization rate of this program is andor was historically >> and I forgot to ask that question today but Matt Tom or Troy >> I'm excited about using the microphone today

040so I'll jump up um we when we initially went to BHS it was used quite a bit to expand some programming but there's a lot more opt now online that we can go to and it's only been used in a couple of instances in the past three years and it's for and it's things that we actually could have gotten in other uh in other means um if we would have done a couple more channels and those being an AP for all type program or looking out at at some other districts that have some offerings. So, it's still uh it's a it's a seat that we hold in case we need it or um for students both to provide maybe some um experiences for kids who can't get to school if there's medical condition 504 something

041like that or for a student that might want something that we don't offer but we feel like we could find other avenues to find those classes now online that are more affordable. Okay. So, any other questions on the items before we head into um the positions? All right. So, do we want to move into um the discussion? Do you want to go through? Yeah, >> a clarification question. Um, that top set of lines that do not represent positions, what does that add up to? >> Oh, I had it total and I guess I did away 901553. So, do we want to move? You want just go through? >> Yep. >> I think it might make sense to go through each. >> You're going to do that every time. >> That's all right. Um, >> if

042we reduced by the 901553 only, >> could you show me what that represents in real time for a budget >> on the assessment sheet is what you mean? Beautiful. >> Sorry. Um, yes. Yep. And then you can go to tab. Oh, that's 25 26. >> Oh, >> yes. >> I know. Let's go with it. If it if it if if it's because you're adding $2 million back in by only removing >> No, I mean then when we started at We started at 18% and then >> because I because I cut 1.1 million before it even came to you because I said I'm not bringing you a 28% budget or whatever it was. It wasn't 28, but it was 20 something. >> And the and the initial one that they gave us has 3.2 million cut

043from it. And that would just that would only be removing less than a million, >> which is almost a third. It's it's more than a quarter. So again, it it doesn't math right. >> Do you have the very first one? before I made the cuts. I don't >> Yeah. >> I guess. >> So, all I'm saying is that you came down to a 2.1 or 4% or something >> by adding 2 million back. Why is it elevating it to 18% is when if you're taking one quarter out of that or onethird between one quarter and 1/3 out, how are you getting to 2 1%. The total amount that you have listed here is 3.2 million >> in cuts. >> But it's more than 3.2 Well, like everything I covered >> this sheet isn't it says

044it's three benefits though on Friday isn't on that sheet. >> Is it there? I mean >> it's in the budget. >> I I guess I still and and again I do this for work. I guess I still don't understand how if we're looking at you're showing us a a 2.1% that you came to or 2.4% I I don't even know now. >> But then you just added back $2 million. >> It's not budget to budget. >> Oh, >> it's not. She's she's thinking budget to budget. >> Oh, budget to budget. >> That's 9.2. Yeah. 9 budget to budget would be 9.2. >> Yeah. >> It's it's $152,000 per point for the tax increase. >> I understand. >> All right. Um, anybody have anything else? Okay. So, we want to move to talk about positions that

045you >> Yeah, I think that makes sense. And and we can we can also if we talk about them, I can reference them on what it would look like on the vote when we vote for them. >> And it would be helpful to know if people are in favor of it or not. >> Right. Yeah. We can we can take straw polls if we want to. If it's something as obviously everybody's in favor of um it makes sense to not >> and is it helpful? It it's important for us to know what's helpful for people. So it if we what we just showed was whether it's a huge number or or whatever number it is but what we were just able to show is what the tax assessment would be to to the the seven

046towns if we just reduce the stuff. Okay. So is it helpful for then to see it as changes as we go forward with these positions? Is that I mean I don't I don't know how hard that would be to do. >> I mean I think >> what did you say 1% what was >> 152 is 1%. So that that kind of gives us an idea there. >> Brings down that overall. It doesn't bring down each town obviously. It brings down that that overall amount. >> Let's see. I see. >> Yes. Go ahead, >> Jonathan. You said with the cuts of just the items that would bring the overall down to nine%. >> Budget to budget. >> That means the budget between what we budgeted last year for money and what we've budgeted this year for

047money would be up 9%. But for the taxpayers, it would be that 17.48. That's the difference. So, let's talk about this. You guys, what do you think makes sense? I mean, I don't know if we need to go through each position unless somebody wants to or what you what you guys think. Um, I mean, it's probably orderly to do that or go ahead, Alison. So, my thought personally as I was thinking about how to decide how to vote um was that I'd like to see I kind of like thought about what my lines in the sand might be and I'd like to see the increase with those put back in the budget. I also don't want to like that's just me. I'm not speaking for the board, but like like I don't want to cut

048classroom teachers. I don't want to cut the nurse at Buckfield. Like I just like to see what it would look like if those things that I my lines in the sand were back in the budget so I can figure out how I if I can stomach voting for that increase. Do you know what I'm saying? >> I I I understand. But are are you talking like you want them to go each line and >> No. Like if I tell you, please put back these four things and show me what the budget looks like. That's what I was hoping to do today. >> I don't think that that's unrealistic. >> So, not individually, but just like here's what I want to see. >> You want me to do it right now? >> Okay. So, um what

049I have a question first. What will the nurse situation be in Indones Valley if we cut the nurse that's on the list right now to be cut? So what we have and you you'll see it on on the sheet. >> Um we have if you look at H and I you'll see the act is to reduce one school nurse at Buckfield Junior Senior High School and to add a medtech which would be the ed an edtech one that would go get the training. >> Um and we'd add that to Buckfield Junior Senior High. >> So there still would be a nurse in the region. there would be a nurse in the region. >> Okay. >> So, be >> before you before you jump into the ones you want to add, I think it might be

050more orderly if we just go through and have her talk about each one and then kind of feel people out on, you know, that that one's really important to somebody. I guess raise your hand and we can discuss that way. I just I don't want each person come up with everything they have for for Leah and we just make it >> you know >> there are groups of things on this list positions on this list that are lines in the sand for me too and I just feel like it it would be helpful to have some of these group together not just one by one but if we can explain Yeah, I'll I'll have them go through and we'll talk about each one and then u I'll ask if those are ones that you guys,

051you know, that have particular feelings towards and we want to look at that in further. Um, so I guess we can start right at the beginning then with the uh restorative practices teacher from Hartford. >> Well, and and looking am I on? >> No. And looking at this sheet, the first two the first two h kind of go together on that. Um under positions um the AP AD um going to an APA and cutting to AD stipens um because that's how it's um that's how the athletic director works down at Buckfield. um where this came from to be honest with you and I made this cut so we don't have to go to anybody else on this but I made this cut but looking at cutting some administration in both regions and down in the

052Bucksfield Ninska region um there are three administrators and the athletic director was being done through another person with two stipens. And so the only cut you really could make with administration was to take the full-time assistant principal and make them an APA. Not that that's never been never occurred before. It has. So it's not like it it's an unknown thing. So that goes along with that. Okay. that goes along with um the restorative practice. So we had a teacher who was halftime restorative practice um at spread between Hartford Sumner and uh Buck mostly the middle school part over in Buckfield and then um also teaching the other half of the job teaching elective courses at Buckfield High School. So that takes up one full teaching and basically a half of an administrator or two stipens.

053That's kind of all goes together. >> So the A and B A and B are both >> correct >> together. Okay. >> Yeah. A and B are together. And also part of this would be um U. So those two things would be A, B, and U. >> Does anybody have any questions on that or concerns or All right, we could probably move on to the next one. So the next one is that all >> So the next one on on this list is in blue and that is the special ed teacher at Hartford Seminar and um that um we put on the list um because we there are more special ed students that we need case management for. So, we said we we would rather trade that out for an edtech than a teacher. Um,

054so they could do case management, but I mean I'm sure they wouldn't be unhappy to have both there. But in this on this sheet is the um cutting an edtech at the school instead of the teacher keeping the teaching position and on this sheet that would be BB at the bottom and you'd and you'd vote no on that if you voted voted no on that you would keep the teacher >> ju just to so are we are we going through this list or are we going to go through >> I'll do it either way >> I think it's probably easier just to go through here >> okay >> since >> yeah on C so reduce one mountain valley community school principal position >> and again that was one I made and that for a couple

055reasons one is it was originally designed to have one principal and two assistants. That was that that was number one. And if we're looking to reduce administration in both regions, that made sense to me. >> Anybody have any concerns about that position questions? Peter, >> I'm just clarification. So it' have one principal and two assistant principles or just one one principal and one assistant principal. >> One and two. One principal and two assistants. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So D would be reduce ELLL edtech. >> That is an empty position. >> Go ahead. >> How many students are we serving? Mr. Gilbert does the take on how feasible it is to do it without an ed. >> Um, right now we we made the switch last year where we stopped using a consultant and an

056edtech and uh we've moved to just having a teacher fill that position. So right now we're at a dozen students but only half of them receive regular services. The other ones are on some type of consultation. And so, uh, we've been able to meet those needs without needing to have a NedTech with th with those services. Uh, for this year, of course, we're always, you know, we're making sure trying to project as much as we can, never knowing who's moving into the community. ELLL is English language learner. Um, some it used to be referred to as English as a second language. Um so that's and so that person by having a teacher it allows us to do case management assessment and instruction whereas with our old model we would have to consult with a with

057somebody out district the case management the assessments and then the um and then the design then program design and then we would have an edtech that who would implement the the uh whatever the model was. Yep. >> Say that again. Where is it? >> D. >> Um, it's um, you go three down on the other side. >> Yeah, >> that's seems like a pretty easy one. Um, since we don't have anybody in it and it wouldn't really impact anybody, it seems like an easy cut. Does anybody have any concerns about that? Okay. Um, reduce a library edtech at Mountain Valley Community School. >> So, um, currently we have one librarian and two library techs and of course that's because we moved in from three places and, um, they've gotten started and the feeling was um,

058we could do it with one librarian and one library tech. So um and there is another edtech 3 um opening up so it doesn't mean the person necessarily has to lose their job. >> Yep. And that's near the end. It's actually at the end before the other on the other side. >> That also seems pretty straightforward. Any any concerns on that leaving it on the list? We we're going to vote for it at at an official meeting, but just kind of feel everybody out. Anybody any concerns? All right, moving on to um reduce a French teacher at Mountain Valley High School. >> So this was purely this again was something that I did and it was purely on numbers. How many how many students are currently idea? >> Oops. >> 17. >> Go ahead, Dan.

059>> If uh I'm sorry. Um Tom right here. Yeah. >> How many how many Spanish students are there? So that's going to be probably more than likely those 17 kids are going to go to Spanish. Correct. That's the only We're going to need another Spanish teacher or is that No, that's enough. That That's good enough. Okay. >> And that position is um on the front page, the one that says MVHs. Any feedback on that? >> Yes. Go ahead, Doug. >> Some schools, colleges require two different alternatives of French and Spanish or Greek or whatever. I say we don't cut the French position. It's >> two years. One. >> Yeah, >> I'm pretty sure. >> Is that correct? >> I'm French. >> I'm not, but my M was. >> All right. Okay. So, any other concerns?

060U Doug, thank you for your concern on that one. Anybody else? Any feedback on it? Thanks. um reducing one office secretary at Mountain Valley Community School. >> So again, we moved into the community school with four folks in the office. Um we actually had taught to some other um schools, you know, preK8 schools that were, you know, our size and um and they didn't necessarily have four folks in the office, but we got started and of course there was a ton of work to do when you first get started. Um but one of the three left and um we we said, "Well, let's see how it goes." And um I just think it's a natural so it's an empty position and I think it's a natural reduction that we can make. >> Okay. I do

061like the the ones that are easy like that. Anybody have any concerns on that? >> And that is at the bottom of that front page. >> So that would bring us to three then right? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Having a terrible time keeping up here, Leah. So, if we eliminate the non-positions plus what we just came to, where are we at? I think we went A through G or is that we just can't >> No, we have A through G. >> We we haven't talked about H and I quite yet. Um, >> so you're saying if you take the do >> you just want do you just want those >> and do you just want the assess you just want the assessment? >> I just want to know I just want to

062see what we're what difference we're making like if I was >> for the tax assessment. It it it just makes a difference whether it's for the tax assessment or for the amount in the budget. Okay. And and it's not as easy on the tax assessment to say, you know, 152,000 >> right >> equals 1%. Because taxes are all over the place. So that's what makes it kind of hard to do that. >> So at the last meeting, I'm here because I was under the impression that was exactly what we were going to be going through was adding and >> yeah, doing some >> Yeah. So yeah, I think we're we're looking at this is the the original cuts and then we can look at, you know, what what people have more of like things that

063they want to add back in and we can, you know, or or not cut. Yeah. Go ahead, Peter. >> I just recommend that we go through the list and highlight those then at the end go through it rather than stop every so often and go through it again. You just extend the meeting. just go through and do it all and then at the end give us a >> So maybe the way to do it and Leah could be doing it as we as we say this. So like we looked at A and B together. Are we okay about keeping that reduction in? >> Right. I think we're all you could >> so far to G. >> You could do a point that way we can, >> you know, get through all of these and then

064because we're going to kind of see who has feelings on them and and highlight the ones that are >> like >> then we can the ones that are easy. Great. you know, let's let's talk about those again. But the there definitely going to be some tough conversations. >> Yeah. So, we'll we'll we'll go through this and then we can look at the ones that people want to not cut, >> right? >> We have to do it the other way. >> Yeah. >> I just my concern is like >> going around the room and everybody having a different idea of what they want to add back in. Like I feel like collaboratively like we decide what's important to everyone. then we go. >> Yeah. And that that's that's what we'll do. And and it'll be we'll

065try and come up with if a majority of the board feels certain way just to make it easier for you. But if people really want to see numbers, we can just do it. That's what we're here for, right? But um we'll try and get through the list and then and then kind of go back through if that's okay with everybody just to make it easier, >> right? But I see what she's saying. She's saying if it's already taken out and we're okay with leaving it taken out. >> Yeah. So you looking at what stuff we have to add back yet. So that's a good point. >> Okay. So we'll go to um reduce one school nurse at Buckfield. >> So H and I go together. >> And um that was and again um I think

066this came out of the fact that um Buckfield Region used to only have one nurse period. They didn't have anybody that was in like they didn't have two bodies. They didn't have two nurses and they only had one nurse. Now we need to have a nurse in Hartford Sumar all the time because of uh some of the medical situations we have. Um but you know the feeling and and I'm sure Buckfield High School would love to have a nurse all the time. The state allows for essential programs and services one nurse per 800. I think that's very wrong. I've argued with the state for a long time about that. Um because that would that would give us two for the whole entire district which makes no sense in at all. So, um, so anyways, that's

067that's where that came from, but we felt we needed somebody that could, um, be there to do medication because, um, we've tried to get way away from from secretaries doing it. >> Yeah. Go ahead, John. Har. Awesome. It seems as though at some point if you have a medical need now at uh Hartford Sumar Elementary School that at some point in the near future you're going to have a medical need at Buckfield Junior Senior High School. So this doesn't make a lot of sense to me to do this change. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Jonathan. >> You know what? uh some of my nurse friends, they've had some concerns about doing something like this that a medtech is not able to properly assess when to give uh certain medications like insulin, epinephrine, when to call EMS,

068um those types of things. So that even though you have one over at Hartford, I mean in emergency situation, that puts the district at a liability. I mean, if we're we're not giving that proper care to the students. So I I don't agree with cutting the nurse. >> Okay, Doug, go ahead. >> I am a certified and I am allowed to make those assessments and I worked in several hospitals including public and several nursing. So if the medtech is certified to do so, then so be it. He should be allowed to do something. point and and there the schools are 10 minutes apart which is which is helpful. Go ahead, Alice. >> Currently talking about letters H and I on the agenda. And the line for that is on the back page, correct >> of

069this, like twothirds of the way down, nurse in envy, add medtech. >> Correct. >> And it says $56,263.76. So that's with making both of those moves, >> correct? >> So it's taking the full nurse and subtracting out what the med would be and that's what you get for a savings. >> Okay. I am also not on board with this cut to just put that out there. >> Anybody else have questions on that? Yeah. Go ahead, Chris. >> I am just trying to think out of the box. Can you hear me? Mhm. >> I'm just trying to think out of the box here and the answer is probably no. >> Is it at all a possibility for the athletic trainer to serve in a role in this capacity or is that just make the workday way

070too long? And again, I understand probably no. >> There isn't an athletic trainer in in Hartford. Okay. >> I know that. >> So, you're saying if we added an athletic trainer, could they do this as well? I'm I'm trying to keep both services if it but I I think the answer is no, but I like to think out of the box. >> I think if we added an athletic trainer to Buckfield and and and they served this per purpose during the day, it would be hard for them to do any services over in Mountain Valley region. That would be my assumption. And and to be honest with you, I don't know if they could do those things, but yeah. And I also can't I you know, I don't know if they you know, the person

071we have wants to do those things. >> Um so the savings then is the 56. I was looking at this paper differently thinking that this would be the cost for that medte and I thought now we're not >> every number on this has been reduced from the budget. So it would have to be back. >> Yeah. >> Um so obviously this is one that's you know uh had had some people that definitely are are not for it. Um can I just get you know a show of hands if you guys are comfortable with that on if this is something that you would be okay moving forward reducing the nurse and adding a medtech? I I would be okay with it. It's not ideal but this is this is the budget that we're at. So okay.

072So, looks like that's one that we'll definitely have to discuss putting back. >> Put that. >> Okay. So, she's keeping the list of that. Okay. >> Okay. Um so, we'll move on to J. Reducing one social worker at Mountain Valley Community School. So, um, we have three social workers and three guidance counselors, um, at the new the Mountain Valley Community School. And obviously, it's never ideal to, um, cut supports like this for students. But again, we were told to try to get to 2%. So, that's what we were doing. Um and so it would be going in that building from um 3 to 2 and it would be we'd still look at servicing like K4 58 um in both areas social work and and that's J and then K the guidance counselor same thing the

073only the the difference is there is a school counselor that is retired retiring ing. So K um it's not displacing a person because the person is retiring. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> I realize that the recommended numbers are not really what we want either, but what are the typical case loads for social workers and like how many students would each social worker be covering? So, I know from a standpoint in the special ed world, it's um 50 on a case load, but fulltime full-time. Yep. Um, is that so there's three social workers right now and they each see around the same number of kids on their case load or no? Okay. Okay. And tell me again what the split would be if there were only two the grade split. >> I we would look at

074numbers of course but we it would probably be K to four and five to 5 to 8. I mean something like that. >> Okay. Beth can I let Bethany talk too? >> Can you what? >> Bethany has her hand up. Can I >> um I just wanted to say that slow and students are extremely high. We also need to factor in that we are bringing early IEP services for social work. So just something to keep in mind. Um >> Yep. Is that's a really good point. Is there any way to use any of the new money for social work? That's for sure. >> Um I have to I don't know yet to be honest. We are using quite a bit of the new money. If you look on the front everything we say ECSE ECSC

075is trying to use that new money um for some of what we already have. I didn't look at the social work because I have to see if social work is on the IEPs that are coming in for the four-year-olds. And I'm not positive it is. But I'm not saying those kids won't need something. But I'm I'm I haven't been told that yet. >> Okay, Bonnie. >> Social workers, >> that's what I was going to ask that too. Did you have them together on a line? That's what I I know you said it earlier. >> Um one MVC >> I see MVCs school counselor and then it says return. >> Oh, is that this? Oh, it's it's right under the it's on the front next to the bottom. Oh, the one that just says one MVCs.

076>> Yes. Yes. Yep. >> And then on the back is the um school counselor and and you can see it because it says retirement. >> Correct. >> Sorry. And what do you what's the um the funding for social workers for essential services? >> Um I don't it's all under guidance so I'd have to look at >> Okay. I just didn't know if they >> the EPS. >> I'm sure it's not >> accurate with reality >> on that >> in lie of what I have heard tonight. My own opinion on this is to keep the social worker position and o and um and leave the guidance counselor at to the not fill the retirement. Yeah, I was I was leaning that way as well. I don't know other I mean none of these are going to

077be easy, but um the only thing that concerns me is if we have fewer social workers and we have IEPs and the liability of not being able to meet those um especially with the amount of students we have. >> So, >> totally agree. >> Okay. So, I think that's one that Anybody have any other thoughts on that? I think that's one that we should probably look at is possibly keeping. Okay. All right. Um and uh in K, you know, same thing with the guidance counselor. Um not displacing if somebody's retiring. I think that's that's an easier cut. Um anybody feel differently on that? >> Okay. >> And that's on the back, Bonnie. About halfway down. >> All right. So moving on to the back page of the agenda. Go to L actuce guidance counselor from

078Hartford Sumar. >> I think that's some there's a guidance counselor and a social worker in both schools over in the Nazinska Valley region. this would find guidance through social workers in the region. >> In the region um one of the things and and Ryan's here if if he wants to say anything specific but one of the things my understanding was is they um unlike in this region they don't have separate pull out guidance as a as a special. Is that correct? >> Yes. They don't have a a pull out for guidance as a special. So, >> can you explain that a little bit more? >> Um, so in Mountain Valley Comm at Mountain Valley Community School or the when it was two um they actually have a like you like kids go to art once

079a week, kids go to music once a week, kids go to guidance once a week >> and we don't do that. Yeah. Over in Hartford Sumar they don't do that. So it just was when Ryan was looking you know for things that was one thing that that he felt >> and there still would be a social worker. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And remember one grade level >> just one there >> and one grade level is moving over to the middle school. Sixth grade is moving. >> So I mean that's a little bit of help. >> Any any thoughts or concerns on that one? I know it's not ideal but okay. Um M act reduce two teachers at Hartford Sumar, two teachers at M community school, two teachers at Mount Valley Community Middle School uh

080based on class sizes. So, we have um I IBB, which is our class size policy, and I think I gave um that that enrollment sheet to folks before um to show you the class sizes. Um the one place that um would go over that was the eighth grade. And if you look at um N is to add the edtech 3 um to help out the larger um grade which would have been the eighth grade and Carrie's here talk about that >> and and are these aren't these aren't open positions these are people >> some are open >> some are not um I've been working with um Chris Carver um from the association to look at um exactly what we would do with reduction in force, but it may very well come out between retirements and

081um different other reasons. There might be openings. Um it it it looks like it might affect one teacher. It it'll affect everybody. All right. I don't want to make that because some people will need to move around to different grade levels teaching. They might even have to teach at a different school. But as far as as actually losing a teaching job um on this one, it looks initial look looks like um one potentially one. >> Alison, you had something. >> I just want to throw that this is sort of my hardline one. Um, I've had a lot of conversations with community members, um, some staff, and I just, this is a hard line for me. >> Sure. >> And one one thing I I know we we've added, I mean, a lot of positions we're

082actually talking about or some of them we're talking about cutting are things that we've kind of added back in after COVID and and some of these. If we're if we're keeping our class size policy except for eighth grade, um then I I don't I I definitely understand. I'm not really don't want to cut anything here, but um in a budget where we're cutting a lot and then we have class sizes that would fall within our policy, it almost seems like we does it make sense those ones are protected, you know? I mean, that's just my thought on it, but go ahead. Given that, and you guys know how I feel about policy, I would prefer that this read two teachers at HSCS, two teachers at elementary, and one teacher at Mountain Valley Community School Middle

083School, because I I I would prefer we keep if we're going to we we created a class-siz policy and it's there, and I think rather than add an N, I would prefer to just reduced by one teacher position that line that eighth grade line. >> That makes sense. What What's would be the difference between that? But like 40,000 maybe not even that much >> right here. It's um 55,973. >> No. No. So, but like if we um added one >> Oh, no. That's not >> one middle school teacher back in and removed the ad tech three. basically what the difference between a teacher and a net tech. >> Yeah, there's the thing that >> 30,000 because benefits are a big chunk. >> Yep. >> But that's figuring it out. Those are listed on the other

084side of the sheet one two22. anybody's looking >> or we got the middle school, we got the high school. >> So, in following what Jennifer had just said, our policy does not have any wording in it that allows for an edtech to assist. I mean, that was that was my big question I was going to ask, too, because we don't want to be bucking our policy. We want to be following our policy. So, if we don't have any verbiage about edteex being added in, >> no, but so two things. One is the verbiage is that we try to stay within the range of the policy. Okay? So it doesn't say this is a range that has to you have to stay within. It says this is the recommended range and we will try what we

085can to stay within the range. So first of all that's what the policy says and um no no policy typically says or have an edtech. Um, but people have done that before when things have gotten when you want to have less in a class. Um, or you don't you could can't hire a teacher or something or kids move in at the last minute, things like that. We have done things like that to have, you know, extra help in the classrooms. But yeah, >> so uh yeah, I as a as a father of a soon to be eighth grade great eighth grader next year. I I mean I I definitely understand having an extra teacher probably be prefer preferable to an edtech um if it's not a huge difference. But I I know we're we're looking

086at at everything here. But I I do think that's a reasonable ask um or a good compromise on it. But guess it's one that we that's one of the ones we we can we're going to probably look at. >> Okay. >> And I can say that because of the way I have to budget, there's not really a cost difference because the edtech position is a is someone I don't know who it is. I have to budget fully where the teacher position I cut there wasn't a lot of benefits that I cut. So there's it's almost exactly the same cost. >> Okay. >> But we'll we'll look at that as I know that's Alice. It's a strong one for Allison. I'm sure other of you guys. So that'll be one that we'll we'll look at the

087numbers on it to >> to see how that goes. >> Not any other discussion on that before we move on to the next one. >> Okay. Um Oh, act to reduce or reduce two teachers math and English from Mountain Valley High School. that um that was something that um Tom when we talked about okay is there you know what could we do based on numbers what Tom can speak to it if he'd like what is this what is this doing to the size of the math class in the English classes >> it's a good question Bonnie I'm too loud sorry everybody um yeah I mean really really tough decisions right? You know, about a month ago when we were in the cafeteria, um, and you guys, you know, asked for to get down near 2%,

088uh, you know, we had to kind of get creative and out of the box. And so, one thing that I thought about when we discussed, um, how to make that work was how can I offer the same services to kids, right? That that was really important to me here. Um, and we have about 55 plus students in special education classes in math and English both, right? in the resource room setting here which is taught by a special education teacher. Um so that automatically takes our English and math case loads you know down considerably. So if you think about an average class for us right now is about 90 kids. So if you take off about 25 between special education and then the honors track um then we're looking at about 65 kids that we need

089to service per class in a general education English or math which gives us if we can offer even four sections of that um from our teachers it's about 16 kids a class which is about as I think about an average size that you can find in a high school. Um our teachers are more than equipped to teach 16 kids at a time. Uh we can still provide a wonderful education in English and math here at M Valley High School. Um, if we need to be a three three math and three English. >> Thank you. >> And those are I'm assuming those are not vacant positions, right? Those are >> correct. They are not. >> Any uh feedback? >> No, I was still trying. I haven't moved to that one yet. So, so we need to

090know if we're >> I >> putting those back or >> I don't think that I think I mean from what I'm seeing that I think that's pretty good explanation good reasonable explanation that still be able to service the kids in in really reasonable class sizes. So, I think that makes sense to me. So, but unless anybody else is okay and again we can, you know, um discuss these later, but it's good to know which ones are >> okay. We're strong on it. So, um, reduce Mountain Valley High School extracurricular stipens for alpine Nordic skiing. >> And this doesn't mean to reduce the amount of the stipen, >> right? It means somebody removing the program. >> Yes. >> And that was surprising to me. We did not have that many people signed up for it. Correct.

091You say six. Was it even six? Oh, two. Yeah. Yeah, go ahead, John. >> Possible to um reduce the amount of the field trips. I mean, I'm I'm not sure if that's a possibility. Instead of having so many field trips added back into the budget, reduce that to cover the cost of this program. >> That is something we could do, but I'd rather something that's going to, you know, we're spending that money for two students. I'd rather have a whole class of kids that can go someplace. >> Is that all there There's two students. >> Two students. Okay. That's what I I think it makes it kind of easy. >> Yeah. >> Unfortunately, >> so I'd love I'd love kids to have the opportunity that don't normally get to, but >> Peter, then this is

092not like when I was in school and we had two students that were future Olympians coming out of here. But I know this the area has a a great tradition of Nordic skiing and this would not I would like to keep it but that's you know >> keep it down. >> This one makes me super sad. Um, I am a my own children participated in alpine and Nordic skiing and it has a rich history in the River Valley area. I'm sure that everyone knows the history and it's on the walls here. Um, it is a very expensive sport. Uh, we we had one of the top alpine ski racers in the state and in New England this year, one of those kids. So, we're producing still some some fine athletes. It's a fine sport and

093the racers I've met are incredible people and kids. I I I would like to I understand the expense of the sport and um I would like to years ago we talked about being able to stipen athletes into you. For one year, I think we shared a football team with another school and one year we shared a golf team with another school. And so these types of sports are cyclical in attendance. And one year, very recently, a a ski racer from Telstar came and skied with us for the year. And so I would I would just really like that >> we openly say that if there are kids here that want to ski race that we are going to we are going to see what we can do to help them. Go ahead, Doug. We get

094tired. >> Now, has anybody gone to Black Mountain on the ski program? Chism Ski Club. Um, also, uh, Rangely High School, you can go there. um just to keep the program in any way, shape possible because it's I skied in the ski program here and and in Rangely and there's no interest in Buckfield with skiing. I can't answer that last part, but I can answer the rest. Uh yeah, I I have uh I have had meetings with Black Mountain um and other parents um area schools that are interested in keeping this afloat. Um as of right now, I have an agreement with Telstar to allow us to send any ski racers that we have to them because we did the same thing for them, Alpine Ski Racers. Uh same thing with Nordic skiing with Dergo.

095They have an established program. They would take on our Nordic skiers. Uh, but I have talked to Black Mountain Chism Ski Club. Um, and there is a group that is really hoping to keep things afloat, keep skiing alive here in the river valley, keep things skiing alive at Black Mountain. Um, we talked about what that would look like. Um, it would have to be hosted by Mountain Valley. You know, AMPA is a member association, so it needs to have a host school. There are other schools that we would like to get involved in that. Um, but Mountain Valley would make the most sense to be the host school because we're established. We do have the history. We are this close to Black Mountain. Um, that also means a coach would have to be paid here.

096Um, and they understand, the group that I talked to, that if they're going to try to do this for a year, it'd have to be zero cost if we're looking at cutting this. And so, they're going to look at fundraising. They're going to look at um whatever they can do to fund raise enough money to donate to pay for the stipen for the coach. Um and if that was to happen, they would involve other schools. Dergo, we had Dargo skiers with us this year. Um there are some other local schools that have some skiers that grow up skiing here uh through CART um that they would like to try and get involved. And then the idea is if we can get multiple schools involved then we can lessen the cost overall. Uh and the hope

097would be that this isn't something that they would fund long term. It would be that they try to fund it to show it's sustainable um and create a model that can work even if you have a couple skiers from each school. >> Thank you. Go ahead, Chris. Has there ever been the time when Buckfield students have been invited into the ski program? >> That's a good question. Usually we don't reach out to other schools and invite. Um I since I've been in this position haven't had haven't been reached out to that there was any interest. Um and then the other thing would be maybe location. uh because they are a little bit closer to Boxer Hills, so they might ski with with that program or they're closer to Levit, so they might ski with that

098program. Um yeah, so co-ops, we have co-opted uh with Buckfield. We do currently in wrestling. We have in the past uh with golf. Um football goes to Oxford Hills. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. Yep. >> Um so so yeah, so it's kind of all over the place. I don't know what the interest would be at at Buckfield. I I haven't um I haven't heard that they could be included in that that pro program. That's this group is trying to >> within the past few years there have been Buckfield Racers at um Levit and prior to that that I know of at Oxford Hills. So, I think that Jeff is probably right that it's proximity to we can get you over there to race with with that crew in 15 minutes is I I would I

099don't know the history of why >> Troy had some feedback. >> I don't really know. I just know all the girls play basketball. >> So, that's what I don't really um I think that honestly I think there's been some discussion because we do co-op. we send our a couple kids to Floss. Um I think maybe there's a bigger discussion maybe that has to be had about doing a little more combining with Mountain Valley. We send kids all over to use track as a track here, right? Um and we are I don't I understand Jeff it would be like co-op but it's weird because we're all in one district the same things you know. So so I don't know I don't think we've ever talked about it to be honest about having them ski here. think

100our kids that want to ski go to Lost Alley basically um but they're not really part of a ski team that I know and I'm trying to think off the top of my head I don't think there's really many kids doing it yet. Does it mean they wouldn't if it was offered but so and it is a further trip. I mean we're 15 minutes from office. >> Go ahead Peter. >> This be offered as as a club not as an official >> sport type thing but as a as a club group. It can't because the contract >> when we have a stipen in the contract we can't offer it as a good question but >> you have to know we this 25,000 includes I think 15,000 or 11 to 15,000 to use Black Mountain. So

101that's that's part of the the expense of this. So that would have to be whether you were doing whether we were calling it club or we were having other you know students from other regions coming with us we'd still have that cost >> and that might be something Jeff to talk with them about is renegotiating like maybe per you know five to 10 students you know like because if if it was a more reasonable number it might be >> yeah I that's that's tough because the reason that the cost is what it is is because they have to operate they have to pay their lift workers they to pay their ski patrol. Um because there there are times they're opening the mountain just for the ski team. Uh but part of the discussion with Black

102and Cart and and all those things were if we could adjust our uh our times, we could overlap with their regular business hours more, have less of that time. So that would reduce costs. And so that was something that uh that we did talk about. it would be harder again if we're talking about schools coming from 45 minutes away then then it's harder to start that practice you know as early as we as we would like to but those are conversations that uh that have had been had um sure >> any other thoughts concerns on this one this one that people feel strongly about one way or the other >> can answer this, but my my only thought would be if we're trying to do this, if if this group with black is trying to

103do this, if we, you know, turn the budgeted stipen to zero because we're not going to fund it here, but if we keep it in there, um because that's part of it that they'd like it to be added in eventually, but also it does have to be paid. If we were to pull this off, they would they would have to um essentially donate the money to RSU10 and pay it out that way because we wouldn't be able to we can't have a program if it's not hosted by a high school and the bargaining bargaining unit contracts. We would not be able to have team here without that being paid. >> I I think we can vote on that. Like if they came and said, "Hey, we have the money." I think we could vote on

104adding the I mean the position's already on the contract, right? I mean, if we wanted to add it back. >> Okay. >> Yeah, good point. >> Yeah. And >> she said, "I'd rather I want to read the policy before she answers," which I agree. >> Do the kids get their own equipment? Do they buy their own equipment? >> They they do. Yeah. And and I think that's part of >> is that a big deterrent for other kids not going into the Nordic program? >> For sure. And and I do think that there would be a benefit of this group kind of trying to be more collaborative because then ski equipment could get shared a little bit more. Um you know, if we're bringing in skiers from different schools, uh that means that there's probably older

105siblings from lots of different schools that might be able to help out there. But it's a I think that's a huge deterrent. That's why our ski program isn't I mean when I was in high school there were probably 25 alpine 25 Nordic um I think a lot of kids just can't port it anymore. >> Go ahead Kristen. Thank you Peter. >> Um >> I'm wondering did you already take into consideration the eighth graders moving up? Is that part of the two students or have you not looked at them coming up yet? >> We do not currently have a middle school ski program so I'm not exactly sure. I don't know of I don't know of any that like race through cart um or anything like that um that are in eighth grade, but um especially

106on the Nordic side, there is a big youth Nordic ski program at at Black Mountain. Not all of those kids are Mountain Valley kids. They come from all over Poland and Le and wherever. A lot lot lots of people come to participate in that here, but there are big numbers that I do think there could maybe be a resurgence, especially in that because that isn't as high of a cost uh to individuals as Alpin, >> right, Peter? uh for a while back a few years back we we had a middle school was involved and we rented a lot of equipment for the kids rental skis had whatever I don't know what happened to all that equipment um it was within the last 10 years I I believe um is it just that the kids aren't

107interested anymore or you don't have a millage to look up to. I don't know. >> Yeah. I I mean I I don't know that for sure. We have a lot of kids that ski. Not a lot of kids that ski race. Um and ski racing is expensive, right? Because you're when you're talking rental skis, like a kid could use rental skis to to ski race. Uh they're not going to use rental skis to ski race. Well, right. So, yeah. And and so that that's an that's a way to get kids involved, I'm sure. Um but when I'm talking about the cost of alpine skiing for individuals, I mean, hundreds of dollars. Yeah. Hundreds of dollars for one set of skis. Yeah. And they need two sets of skis or four sets of skis and and

108protective equipment and and and everything else. So there there is a lot of cost that goes into it. >> Sure. >> All right. Thank you. And and just to clarify, we don't get any money from the state for any of our sporting programs, right? >> There's a little bit, but no, >> most of this is community. Yeah. >> Isn't it something like a hundred per kid or something? It's like $100 per kid. >> Left it in the budget with zero >> and go and find out what >> Leah's going to look. Leah's >> Yeah, we would have Well, yeah. to see what >> the reason I asked that is in the past we have or or or keep it in there with an actual number, but we've done a negative number at the bottom um

109and just said we'll reduce we'll reduce extracurricular stipens by $10,000. Um and then we can kind of use the money that's in there as needed. Maybe we don't need this program or or this assistant coach or whatever. Um, >> yeah. >> I just I don't want there to be any obstacles with this group that I've been trying to work with, uh, that's trying to make this happen. >> Okay. Okay. We'll we'll look into that a little bit more. Um, okay. So, we'll move to, uh, Q, reduce special ed teacher position at Buckfield Junior Senior High School. >> So, this is a retirement. You'll find it on Oh, shoot. I looked um oh it's second from the top on this other sheet. Um but but part of this is why too that we thought if we

110could keep the special ed teacher put that back in at the at Hartford Summer Elementary um that would help in case we have um needs more needs like that move in or or transfer in or something. at Buckfield Junior Senior High that that we could if we kept that teacher at Hartford, we could share. So, this is a cut that is a retirement. >> Say this again. >> Where where is the individual from? Buckfield Jun Senior High. Okay. Yeah. any questions on that one. So these are one just I mean just to clarify so it'd be good to if there's any discussion that we want to talk about now it's going to make our next meeting go a lot faster. So if you anybody has any questions or concerns at all now's the time. So

111>> go ahead Alison. Just to clarify what you just said, we were also considering cutting a special ed teacher at Harvard Summoner. >> Correct. >> But if we don't cut that teacher, they could conceivably cover some of Junior Senior High School case load of this, >> right? If we end up needing it. So what happens in special ed as we know um a lot of things between when we're planning a budget in March and what is our life in September, October, November, December when we see who moves in and what their needs are and what schools they've moved into, we often need to shift services. So we're just saying in hindsight, you know, we were thinking, well, if we kept that one in Hartford, you know, we could cut this position. nobody's in it or

112nobody will be in it and we can cut this position. But if we keep the one in Hartford that that could potentially help us if the case if cases more cases moved in and were at Buckfield Junior >> and that's down here at BB >> and that's one of the >> correct that was and that's one of the ones that we suggested to add back on this sheet. >> Okay. So if people agreed to add it back you'd vote no. is what say? >> Okay. >> All right, that makes sense. Um, let's move to R. Reduce ELO teachers to one for the district paid from the grant funding. >> Well, no, it just um we and and I think this this was where people got confused. So up until this next year, those two positions

113were paid through grant money. So this year and last year, um those positions have been paid through grant money and then it was ours to take over if we wanted them. Well, they've been excellent and we really wanted them and we saw this coming when, you know, we were looking at 2% and looking at $3 million. We were like, how how are we going to say we can keep that? So, um I I don't even know who did it all, but I think it was Leah was involved in Matt was involved in trying to look at where we can get grant funds to help us with it. So, we have enough grant funds to pay for one and we could take that one and have them serve both both high schools, both areas. And so,

114that's why we could take the whole entire thing out of the budget because we can pay for one through grant funding. Makes sense. Any any questions or thoughts on that one? >> I don't love this. >> I don't love money at all. But um and this is something that we didn't have a few years ago, right? And this is >> correct. And that's why sometimes you get these programs and it happens all the time, right? It doesn't mean we shouldn't try it. It doesn't mean we shouldn't do them. >> This is one you want to look at. like to see the impact on the budget. That's what I mean. >> And I and I do believe that um the lady from Northern Forest Center is still working on trying to get us enough funding to

115fund both of them next year. >> Okay. >> But it's it's hard because this is all happening at the same time. >> Okay. All right. So, maybe we'll have more information our next meeting. Okay. Um, >> so are you saying Allison, you'd like to see what it would look like to put one back? >> Yeah. >> Okay, >> that's So, okay. Well, we can that's we just have on our list of things to look at moneywise for. Okay. So, uh reduce an athletic director position in Mountain Valley region and then that goes along with the next one, right? >> Correct. goes along now just to explain. So we talked about this in several ways. One is we said you reduce the athletic director position and make um a which is is you share a position.

116We all talked about how that isn't isn't the bad isn't great, right? Um, and then we talk about the other thing is having your AP be an AP full-time and then um a stipen to whoever to on top of their regular job be the athletic director for a building. So Mountain Valley Community School would be a stipen and Mountain Valley High School would be a stipen. Um, so that's that's that whole thing. And like everything, it is not an ideal situation. Um, it's just when somebody said, "Let's get to 2%." Um, it's that's a lot of money. So, we're trying to look at at everything because we've also said we don't want to cut teachers. So, >> and just just to clarify, this would be getting rid of athletic director as a separate position. And

117and we're not talking about being um AP A except for Bartford Sumar. Is that or do you want to >> correct? Okay. >> Yep. That's a different thing that Yeah. >> Um in the time I've been on the board and and not on the board and and involved in in the Mountain Valley region, uh this has been done both ways. >> Um and it has failed both ways. And for that reason, I am 100% um against reducing the athletic pro uh director position here and adding stipender because it doesn't work and it didn't work over and over and over again. >> D Okay, we going in. Okay, I agree with you 100%. Uh, think your mic turned off. I think your mic turned off. >> God, maybe that's a sign from above. Any anyways, uh

118here here's what used to happen here that I can say happened. Okay. Uh on a regular basis, the assistant principal would be out of the building to go to an athletic uh meeting, which happens a lot. I don't know how many times it happens a year, but it happens a lot. At the same time, the superintendent would have a uh the A team meeting and you know the A team very important. Anyways, that left no I myself have had to come out of the classroom and go in the office before to handle something just because I was the nearest class uh classroom not because of any other reason. >> But but the thing is it it doesn't work. And Jen, you know this, I know this. I I I think there needs to be a

119strong athletic director. I think an athletic director in both schools. There's a we have money coming in and sometimes it's a lot of money. Someone has to be responsible for that money. Otherwise, you know, we had problems here in this uh district. this this school had a pro had an issue quite a while ago. Uh those of you from Rumpford probably remember it. But anyways, we don't want to have that happen again. So, and I think both Buckfield and Mountain Valley need to be the same. >> Go ahead, Darcy. I just want to know how this relates to item W as well with with the scenario of S and T along with W. >> It doesn't it's >> position. >> Okay. I know I know sports are are big and having coached for a lot

120of time and had a lot students in sports I I I see the value there for sure. I wish the state recognized that as part of the funding they gave us though and it's really hard to be cutting teachers and not be cutting from sports. I mean, I'm sad that I'm saying that, but you know, that's >> studies have been done. Athletics make up 25% of a high school students education in high school. I mean, in a while they're in a school district. Uh, that's pretty high percent. But it's been there's been studies from California to New York, maybe even New Jersey. I don't know. But anyways, uh it it that's a lot of that's a big percentage. >> No, I I agree. I just I just think we need to remember that any any

121of these things are completely community funed. >> So, go ahead. >> Yeah, I agree with Dan. I uh I taught football to youth players. I didn't coach them. I taught them how to play. and and uh the result of that was uh class B state championships down the road when those kids got to high school and a lot of my kids played on championship teams and and uh and it was because they were taught something and when they got to Jim Elwood he didn't have to teach them that he could coach them and it was you and those were life's lessons that were learned. I agree. It's a It's a very valuable thing being on a on a team. It really is. And and just the chance to connect with the kids in a different

122way I think is huge. Um but just wanted to just remind you we don't get any state funding for it. So um so these two so we've got ST and so S to V right are kind of all together. I mean those is that what I mean I guess >> they're not all dependent on each other. The two that are dependent on each other are S and T. >> S and T. >> Yeah. If if you don't do S then you don't do T. >> So I think these ones are important enough for us to discuss looking at moneywise um and kind of looking to see I think we should leave those those on the list too. >> Does athletic director high school? >> Yes. >> Yep. But it's different. >> I can do it.

123So I try I mean we make we were asked to make cuts, right? Sitting here all the conversations you're all having safely, right? And then to have it all get put back in makes us all stop to advocate for our positions which kind of makes us feel like we go against each other. To be honest with you, that's the challenge because I want to advocate for everything in my school. Terry wants to advocate for everything. Tom wants to, Jeff wants to. until this point until this point we haven't really done that purposely. Um but if an athletic director needs to be a standalone thing in one region then our region really should not be any different. Um when you cut I know people think of our school as small but our athletic when it used

124to be done ADA the ad never went to the elementary school right by being a full-time AD assistant principal they now have coverage in the elementary school. somewhat three days a week there, two days a week. This cut, which I'm I'm in support of if it's a holistic approach. But our our athletic we're paying $30,000 in stipens to administer the whole athletics, middle school and high school, and now we're going to reduce that and make a halftime assistant principal. So essentially, we're saying our assistant principal is only worth $30,000 for half of it. So just to be clear, that's kind of what it says, right? So take on the AD stipen, $30,000. It reduces the assistant principal to half. So that's half the assistant principal to me, if I'm doing my math right, is only

125worth 30 pels. Okay. So, um, we just talked for a long time about skiing for 25 pascals. So, so that's what I mean by we it's a dangerous slope to start talking about all of these things independently when I know and I appreciate your passion and we all have passion for our own schools. So, you know, the social workers, the guidance counselors, the ELO teachers, but we never get to the number we need to get to if we don't sacrifice some. But I'm just I just want to say so moving us to an AD assistant principal role in my opinion is equitable maybe to the high school at Mount Valley. Why? Because my AP works with 500 kids across two schools and now we're going to cut that in half. And on top of that,

126restorative practices used to deal with some of those things and now that's gone. So all of these decisions have a consequence. I'm not here to advocate for one or the other. Um, I will be happy to share with you what those consequences are, but cuts are cuts no matter how you look at. And you know, I don't I don't really know how to say that any differently. Can we survive with an AP? Absolutely. Is it the best model? No. What's it really impacting the AP world at my school? All of a sudden, there'll be no AP at the at some they'll be at my school. But why? because we're adding sixth grade, you know, and now we're going to have four kids. And it's just going back to the old model and if that's the

127choice that we do, that's fine and we can support it. But when we talk about the impacts of an ad, I don't we have a lot of sports buck and it takes a lot of time and I think it's a pretty effective model. I think if you figure it out per sport that $30,000 does middle school and high school and I'm guessing it cost us per sport about $1,400 per sport to administer that sport. So where when we make these decisions it impacts more than just the sports side. It impacts the assistant principal world. So I don't know I don't mean to get on the soap box. I just know it's hard these conversations are hard to have because they do talk about pets. They talk about impact but we it's hard to it's hard

128to not before you know it add in $800,000 a year. >> So that's the challenge that I have with it. Um we do have the model. We've had the model before, but to go back to it would be a reduction of what we currently have in the decision. So, go ahead. >> To be very clear, I never said just Mountain Valley High School. This is an impossible job in my opinion, and I do not support it in either region. Now, I've heard you say at the last meeting and at this meeting that we're putting things back, and that's very frustrating to you. But let me tell you, the voters are reaching out to us. They're speaking to us and we need to answer and ask these questions. >> I'm just trying to I think I

129think I represent also a share of us and we are happy to help provide that information on how to get back up because that's the challenge that we have. >> Thank you, Troy. Go ahead, Kristen. Um, has it always been that there's been an assistant principal at Hartford Sumar, Ryan, or is it something that position is a fairly new position at Hartford Sumar? Could Hartford Sumar go without an assistant principal, especially given that sixth grade is moving up. I mean, again, I'm just I'm going back to the time when I remember being in school and there wasn't an assistant principal in in the whole elementary school to my memory. Now maybe my memory is foggy but um can can you speak to that please? >> Brian can Brian can also but the role of an

130assistant principles evolved and changed a lot and now takes on all 504 meetings which I think we have 56 in our region something like that. Um they help share the IEP meetings. So I think we have something like 125 IEPs in our region total. So it's it's that stuff now. And remember, we cut, >> we haven't had it at the elementary school, >> we cut an assistant special ed director, >> three or four years. >> And that and that changed because of the needs of the kids as they the needs of the kids got more at the younger grades. All right. Um, so yeah, go ahead, Peter. >> Um, this town is very sportsoriented and they really love their sports and in the past from when I'm going out and whatever. I'm not that much

131of a sports fan, but I know these people and they'll go out of their way for for sports. So, they may by reducing the position if it impacts the sports and they're not getting them, we may get feedback there just like anything else. >> Yeah, they're they're big for the community of both both regions. I mean, it's it really >> I'm just Yep. Um, so let's talk about uh reduce an athletic trainer in the Mountain Valley region. >> Can before you do that, can can I just ask is Leah putting the numbers in for S and T? >> I I think we need to talk about S through V together number wise. >> Okay. So, put those on. >> I think that's what unless anybody should feel different. Okay. So, athletic trainer. >> Yep. Again,

132uh you know, that was we don't have one in Buckfield. We used to um that was a cut I think the year before last. And um again, not that the it has nothing to do with the person. It has nothing to do with with having an athletic trainer is awesome. Um, it has to do with we were asked to cut to 2%. >> Period. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Darcy. >> I, if I remember correctly, um, Jeff Pelleter came up and talked about the additional costs that would be incurred when we if we eliminated this position. I was just wondering if Jeff could speak to that again to remind us of costs that would be going up in other areas if we got rid of this position. Yeah, I mean at the bare minimum

133you have to add in Medicare coverage uh in the past before I was in this position. Uh and we did not have an athletic trainer. Medicare covered our football games and you know any big events that we had usually wrestling tournament and see cheer or something like that. Um my concern with adding it in as it was before and I have voiced this is that it's inequitable. uh it would be a title n violation to cover football which is a male sport according to the federal government and not align that with female sports as well. there needs to be equal access to the care or you'd be dealing with a title n violation. Um when I spoke to this initially, I said that um I understand we're facing all of these cuts. I would just

134like to um try to find other areas, you know, cut down our equipment budgets, those types of things um and keep this position. I when we added this position, I cut the budget so it wasn't a full lump sum on taxpayers because I thought it was important. Um, all along I've been fighting for this position to stay because it's really important to our kids and we've I've cut the budget to continue to have this because I think this position is is very important. Um I as far as you are all concerned I think biggest cost is liability. Uh times have changed you know uh the standard of care that is required at athletic events has really that bar has been raised a lot. Uh, and I think you really open yourself up to liability by

135not having a trainer there to cover those major injuries. Uh, I think just a few years ago, there was a school that was liable for I think the end result was a $7 million lawsuit because there was an athlete with a concussion that was returned to play too soon. That that's one of the things that is handled by our athletic trainer and coaches are trained. Coaches I was a coach. I was trained. I did not feel comfortable anytime I had to handle anything like that. You know, a rolled ankle, anything like that is not a big deal. When you're talking about about a brain, it is it is a big deal. So, an athletic trainer covering concussion management, return to play protocol, those types of things takes that liability off of our coaches. It takes

136a liability off of our schools and I think that it is super important. >> Doug, you had something? >> Yes. I think that position should not be cut. I think that position should be st >> What do we do in the old school? >> Buck Well, Buckfield hasn't had one in a couple of years. So, what what are we doing there that um without a director? Uh we did have a trainer for a while kind of contracted out and then we lost it. Um so now it is a trainer. Most of the smaller schools definitely do not have trainers all year long in basketball and all those games. They don't really have them. Coaches become responsible for that game. Typically if somebody gets an injury like that, we call 911. That's kind of how it's

137dealt with. and then the followup for return to play is managed through the hospital or in conjunction with that school nurse. It's kind of the return to play. I would also speak to that. I mean clearly we have different um mindsets when it comes to the importance of this position which is why I've advocated for this. Um and it's why I say again I don't want it to be an increase to the budget. I want the ability to try to find this money elsewhere. Um, but what he talked about going to the hospital, all that type of stuff, we save our local families a lot of money because our kids don't have to go to the hospital. They don't have to go to the ER for every little fit. Sometimes they do, and that comes

138from guidance from our athletic trainer, but every time that that athletic trainer can handle something that normally would be an ER trip saves families thousands of dollars. I really think that the value of this position, it really pays for itself. >> We don't disagree with right and I would love to have all those great for me. So we don't disagree. I just know we don't have one and that's how >> and then I would also say and this will sound competitive like Troy saying or whatever. If you look at Mountain Valley Athletics, the budget is being cut overall 28% when Buckfield Athletics budget is increasing. So if it's an equity thing, equality thing, you know, it's that's a tough case to make. >> Go ahead, Chris. Jeff, would you be uh willing to provide some

139proposed alternative reduction for our next board meeting so that we might consider reducing some of your budget in another area so that this could be added back? >> Yeah, 100%. I've already prepared most of it. >> Yeah, he's done that. He has done that. Kristen, >> we have that. We Yeah. And we'll have to talk about next meeting because next meeting we have to vote on the budget. >> Yeah, we have to vote on it. >> So obviously I think this is one that this is >> put this on the list on the list. >> Um okay. So we'll move on to mechanic and RSU10. >> So um so I'm going to try to explain this and I did on the sheet that somebody had a question. Um and so we have two mechanics. If

140you look at the bus um BGT contract, there is a separate line for for mechanic. Um and we have currently we have two in the district. We have one up here at this full um use bus garage, a lift. It has full use. We have one down in the Ninska region which is in the bus garage that isn't a full what I would call a full use bus garage. Um not that the things that um the mechanic down there does doesn't help. It it does help and they also schedule um maintenance and get them and and repairs and get the buses to the places that that do have the full availability. um when I when we met with um Brian and Devon um and this was one thing they thought they could look at because

141as a full mechanic as we have up here the person no fault of their own can't be a full mechanic because they're not in a we don't have a place like that down in Buckfield to be a full mechanic now knowing now what we're proposing in the whole BG GT department. If I had my way, I would look at X and Y on this sheet and I would take and do a halfime mechanic and a and the halftime transportation specialist and with a focus in the Ninska region. The problem with that is unfortunately these are in two different contracts. We tried to get the transportation specialist in the BGT contract instead and we weren't allowed to. So, it's unfortunate because if they were in the same contract, that is something that I I would look

142to propose because I think that would be a good a good change that would benefit the um but we don't have that right now. So, this is how this has all come to be. Anyways, >> is there a possibility of working with them to see if they would do that like me understanding? I mean, I'd rather have that than couple, but that's >> Yeah, I mean, we could we could and I and again, I I haven't talked to these people, right? So, you know, but um but you know, we could look at that. Um and and so if that were to happen, that reduction would only be a 0.5. >> Yeah. >> I don't know. It would be probably half of the amount that is on the list and it's on the list. Where is

143it? It's about five down on that list on the second page. So, it would be like half of that >> if we were to do that if we were allowed >> a mechanic position with the other mechanic stuck up. >> No. No. Because one's in this region, one's in that region. It's too far to bring. We don't bring the buses up here because we have a place closer that that works. And to be honest, we haven't really gone over our amounts that we've used um for repairs and stuff. So, >> hi there. >> This has been my line in the sand. I know it's no surprise to anyone. I don't see how cutting a mechanic would save the district any money. If anything, it would break even or cost us more money. Our mechanic is

144very valuable. And regardless of not having a full garage, as you mentioned, Deb, the mechanic down here does have a lot of responsibility. And I don't see how outsourcing it, every little thing that happens with the buses is going to save the district any money. I think that's why I thought if we could go half and half and make this one position and the person do both, it would really be it would be a good use of that. But maybe not. >> Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead. >> I just want to ask a clarifying question. I know that the proposals to go to a director for buildings and grounds, a director for transportation. Was it a part-time secretary? I can't quite remember. It's the 0.5 transportation specialist >> and then there would still be a

145secretary. Correct. >> Yes. >> For the two for the two to share. >> Okay. >> Y >> So it would be good to know if we could if we can get with with them on that. But I I definitely understand uh not having a mechanic at all potentially can be very expensive depending on the age of our buses and what we're do. But, uh, right now they're really mostly oil changes, stuff like that. Tires. I mean, they they're not doing any major stuff out of that garage. >> Yeah. I don't even know if they're doing oil changes. They would be doing like putting in a new light bulb, blinker. Um, >> so not something to do >> you would turn. >> Yeah. They they would also do all the scheduling of of all the repairs.

146They do do that. >> I have a question about who in the Nazis region is repairing any of the vans that we own or the lawnmowers like because that's not going to get sent out to Murray's. Do you know that Brian now? Uh current >> uh currently um Steve in that region does work on some of the van does do some of the van work. Um any major repairs uh we do send out to a garage and Turner um that treats us pretty well. Um, as far as lawnmowers go, uh, our ground our groundskeeper, Phil, up in that region, he does all the service work on all the play equipment that we have up there. >> Go ahead, Doug. >> EG9. >> Okay. Eg 9 has mechanic program over there. Small engine repair. >> That's

147not over in Buckfield though. No, no, no. I I understand that, but I mean, we can't utilize those kids. I know the building trades did some stuff for extra credit. >> Is that reasonable? Can be can be be done? >> I don't think it's reasonable for like the the kind of work that a mechanic does. Like the the small engine stuff is already taken care of by employees. So wouldn't be >> Yeah, >> I mean we can we can ask but I don't know that that would help out this particular position >> $100,000 worth. >> So >> yeah, we might run into some legal issues too using the students to to do regular work. >> That's a good point, Peter. So >> I would say that also there's there's planned projects that we could get

148sheds for days, >> right? But a lot of that work is on demand or that that we don't know where it would possibly fit in with what they're doing with their program what they would have ahead of us. So do those skills do those kids build those skills? Yep. >> That job fair that Tom and Janelle were doing up here. I I made sure they knew that we're hiring for those things. But it doesn't necessarily mean that we could jump the line something else or ask them to switch with their program. But a lot of the land projects like shed buildings, you know, we use a lot. >> So I think I think on those two, I think maybe trying to get a little more information for the next meeting would be helpful for us.

149>> I would I would look at half of that and just see. >> Um Okay. So, >> okay. So, I'll just say Z, AA, BB, and CC. Those all have to do with that reduction sheet. Just so you know that we can go through them, but they're all on this reduction sheet. >> They're on the reduction sheet >> reduction reduction of of adding back in. Those were on the priority list that had back in. >> So Z through the end. Those are the ones >> that you have. >> So So Z is is the red reducing the human resources. So if we didn't want to, you'd have to vote no. Yeah. So, yeah, that's what that is. That's a $3 million reduction. And then this sheet that they passed out has has the priority list

150of things once we get the number back from u insurance being lower. Those are the things that they thought they could add back in and still keep it under the number that we originally reported. >> Right? If you remember, I'll just go over it. So we came up we came out the first well not the first round but after we did all the reductions on all the sheets we were trying for two which was the request from the board and we got to 3%. And then the board asked well what would it look like if we went to 4% or 5%. What things would we think about adding back? That's what this is that we did last time. That's what that is. And those things are are the next things on this list, the Z

151and the AA. Okay. So, if you if you wanted to go with this, you'd have to vote no. So, Z is the um human resource specialist. If there's any questions on that. >> Yeah. So, I mean, if you could We've only been here for a few hours, so we can't remember. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm >> okay. I think somebody had a question over here. >> Yeah. So, I just I I didn't know um if you actually went over the thought process of adding those back in. >> Had we gone over that >> um >> just can't remember. I know we've talked about >> Oh, at the at last meeting. >> Yeah. I don't know if we talked about the thought process on >> Oh, I thought so. >> All right, that's fine. I >>

152But we can talk. Yeah. I mean, well, and I just did at the beginning a little bit that that we were trying to look at things that that had a had a farreaching effect. >> Yes. >> Um like for instance, the human resource person, the 500 people in the district, the um and the field trips, it personally, and I could I could go either way on that, but it was something that we knew affect touched all students, right? I'm a fan of I'm a fan of even field trips. But Jonathan, go ahead. >> Flip side of this page that you have the proposed put back in. It's at the 4%. Does that include the um change on the benefits package >> being at the 4%. Okay. That's why we're able to when that came in,

153these are like the things that get added back. >> And so I I think we're at a point where we can kind of start looking at numbers. I just want to say I mean um I really appreciate all the work done and everybody and I know this not going to be easy but I don't see us I don't think it's reasonable for us to bring a budget that's much higher than 5% to the towns uh because that's going to be you're going to have multiple towns that are in double digit um increases just that that's almost impossible for some people. So just want to keep that in everybody's minds. I know we have a lot of stuff we'd like to add back in, but we got to be able to pass it to. So, >>

154so is that what we'd like Leah to do is to take the things that we talked about that we wanted to put back in and see where it went. >> So, the the things that I had and maybe we just kind of um I know we've talked about H, I >> which is the nurse, medtech, and social worker. >> Yeah. And then also we're looking at um Alison wants to look at the M and N. >> I didn't write the letters. You say what it is. >> Oh yeah. Um one put back in one of the middle school teachers. >> Y >> and um and then you would take out the added edtech. Yep. >> Right. >> Yep. Okay. Do we want to look at the ELO now or I mean is that a possibility

155that we're going to get that you know is that something that >> Well, I'm just going to say this again. Next time we meet, we need to the board needs to vote on the budget. >> Yeah. >> So, if we're looking if if if we can't vote on it unless we know that >> we need to look at it. looking for kind of everybody's, you know, I mean, if there's something that people don't feel strongly on or if there's just a couple people that want something, then it's I mean, because I mean, we're looking at this stuff, we're probably adding adding a million back in probably. So, >> I'm at 792,000. >> Um, and then we had >> So, you have yellow. >> Okay. So then you had that >> the four position the four

156STUV which is the am I right with that all four of them >> which is the athletic director position >> addition of two stipens. >> Okay. Um, >> Yeah. So, so are you talking about the two stipens for Buckfield? >> Keeping the two stipens for the Buckfield Athletic. >> I I I I don't know how you would what would be the best way to do that if I mean the the two stipens I know made that position look like it was very very expensive. Um, but just trying to I I still think that we may have to do something with those areas. I mean, but I think that's what we're trying to to look and see what the number looks like with those back in. >> Okay. So, those back in and then then you

157only then you just have the assistant principal full-time. So, so just so everybody it is very transparent. So that means no cutting of any administration in the Nazinska Valley region. I just want to be really transparent. So that's what that would mean. Um and then you said athletic trainer. Put that back in. >> And we're just looking at these. I I don't think all these will pass, but I think everybody wants to look at the numbers. >> Yep. And then um reduce the half. go from reducing a full mechanic to reducing half. >> Yeah. >> And that and then keep this and then keep the things that are on this. >> Yes. >> That's kind of >> Yeah, that's already Yeah. >> And then twice. >> Okay. and you get the assistant special. >> Yeah.

158Okay. >> So, do we want to see what the total looks like with all of that? >> Yes, I think that's what we want to do. Right. >> You had a question while she was doing that. >> Before we get to the adding things back in, my question didn't get answered off of, you know, when I incorrectly asked a question on page two when we were on page one about the half assistant specialed director. if I'm remembering that right. Yeah, it's like five down in the blue. >> Correct. Yeah. >> Um, so when I look at our agenda here with our action items, I'm a little bit confused because on AA I see act on the reduction of one assistant special ed director, but on your sheet here we have it. We're still keeping. So

159we're currently currently we have two. I know. So, but what you're saying is you want to add half of one back in. >> What is What is >> Okay. So, this is what we talked about. So, we we are looking or thinking, and again, this this could change um because I'm trying to work with the people at the state to figure out exactly what we need, but we were looking at a half of a special ed administrator to work on the bringing the CDS in early childhood. >> That conversation, how does it fit? >> So, so if if a half goes to that, that means we're not paying for it. Okay, that half. >> Okay. >> And so we we were going to cut the other half as well. Do you see what I'm saying?

160So the district would not pay for the one full assistant. And I'm we were we were saying and we were talking about if we really wanted to look at those 40 out of district placements and you know study that and work on what do we need here to bring them back. What if we made that position whole? So the person half their time would be working with those 40 out of district placements and deciding what needs to happen. The other half would be with the ECSC. >> Okay. So let me ask this another way. Okay, >> if we go through with this on here, we will have a special ed director and one assistant special ed director, half of which might be paid for by the ECS. >> No, no, we'd have to go we'd

161have to go out and hire somebody halfime to do that. We'd have to try to get somebody half time to do that. >> Okay. So, what are you proposing? We have for staff then one director for special ed and then two assistants. >> No, one assistant >> full-time for the district. >> Okay. >> And then another one half time dedicated to the out of district placements and and out of district placements and how we can bring them in. >> The other half of that job will work under ECSE. >> I see. So, we will still have two assistants and one director. That's >> Yeah, if you put it back in. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Go ahead, Peter. >> I'm I'm just curious. I sign warrants and we we send 20

162to $30,000 a month with rides here. Is there anything that you can do to reduce that? Because that's primarily with uh the special ed kids out of >> we can buy vans and hire van drivers >> because that that was down to6 or $7,000. Now it's up to 20 to 30. That that to me is excessive. >> It is. I told >> and we get paid we have to pay them $150 if the kid doesn't show up. >> Yep. So, are we ready to >> Okay, awesome. You can email us information. >> You mean this sheet that shows the assessment? Yep. >> Yeah. Do you need do people need I'm only I'm just worried about uh people really clear about what this what is in the budget and what's not. I guess I'm just >>

163Yeah, I'd like to review that again if that's okay. Like we just all the things in blue are still there. >> Okay. So, I'm going to take the the list wherever it is. Here it is. So all the things on the top of this list, all the things down to the like 900 91,553, all these things are still reduced from the budget. Everything on the top still reduced from the budget. Then starting with the positions, the things that are put back in are the two athletic director stipens at Buckfield, the special ed teacher at Hartford Sumner, the social worker at Mountain Valley Community School, the athletic director for the Mountain Valley High School and Community School, half of the mechanic, the half assistant special ed director, the HR position, the athletic trainer, the ELO one

164ELO teacher, one teacher at Mountain Valley Community School in the middle school area and the nurse in the Nazinsk region. and one of the edtech ones. >> I just want to clarify. Yes. Um please. >> So with the special ed teacher HSCs, I have cutting an edtech 2 instead of the teacher. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Yep. I forgot about that. >> So I I don't know about you guys, but I don't think that's reasonable to bring to any voter. I mean, you can if you want to, but I I don't think that's a reasonable number. I don't think 5% I think 5%'s going to be tough, but I think we can get a lot closer if we're at 5%. Um, and I I really like the way that the the admin team got together and

165said, "Hey," and worked together on it because it's it is like Troy was saying, it's really easy to have your own project or your own interest that really can drive you where you're coming from. And I I think it makes sense for that team to work together. And if they did a good job getting to like 2% like we asked, I think it makes much more sense for us to give them, okay, what is the number that we feel that we can confidently move forward with to the voters and letting them come up with it together? Uh, and us looking at that. I don't think it makes a lot of sense for us individually to say, I want this, I want that. Uh, I just think it, you know, that that's my own personal opinion,

166but I think it makes the most sense for bring something to the voters. But I'm always open to the other people's opinions. You like that one? >> Do you I'm just curious for different directors from different towns. >> H do you think your town would pass this? >> Hartford will not pass. I guarantee you >> will never pass. >> But look at the the numbers there. Eight for eight for Buckfield, 10 for Hanover, 15 for Hartford, 10 for Mexico. Um, and then Summoners at 13. That That's That's That's a lot of money. >> I'm not saying I like seven. I'm saying we never pass the >> portion because how big is money when you're in here? But taxes get races half a percent and another half% change. 1% for a year. All the work is

167disclosed. >> Ain't a lot. >> We're not We're not We're not keeping up with teachers. There's nothing that we can do about it because you can't go on striking. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah, >> I think it would be reasonable to try to get to five. Um, and I I mean I was going to make a plug for like certain areas, but I you have a point too, like people need to want ones who cut, but I'm just concerned with how much we talked about sports and how much what we talked about sports >> and and to be honest with you, I think sports is the one thing that people are going to if we had sports separated out like a completely separate that would get more votes than than most everything else just I

168mean knowing what it means to communities. So >> I think this is going to >> this is going to be key if we ever do any strategic planning. >> That things get better after this year. >> I think sports add value to education for sure. Like we're sort of beyond like everything we cut adds value to education. And if I am a staff member in a school trying to get my kids to school in a physical and mental place that they can learn like and I'm looking at keeping all of these athlet athletic things like how do we justify that to these teachers or these staff members who are trying to just get kids to a place where they can earn, let alone anything else. Um, I just we have to make the hard decisions

169and I don't see how we justify that to a teacher who's losing an AP, who's losing um a guidance counselor, like a bunch of supports in the building for the students mental health to get them to a place where they can learn. Um, I just wanted to put that out there. >> No, you had to end up first. I would like >> this one maybe go down a little bit. >> I'm sorry. I forgot. >> He She's working on some things to look at. >> I We were looking at something the other day and it was changing while we were looking at >> Yes. Yes. Yes. You were in it working on it. >> Means you talk too much. Mine hasn't shut off. So maybe that's >> I did get voted most talkative in school.

170I feel that. Okay. Yeah. the 7.369, we need to bring that to the towns. And if the towns don't approve, then we need to go back to the drawing board. Just like last year, we had to go back twice. >> No, we didn't. >> We didn't go back twice. >> We haven't in 10 years, we haven't gone back past. Well, >> we did have people that came in and said, "I want to remove this much from that without >> without, you know, spent a lot of time going over this." We did and they >> they come to a meeting and get the information, you know, right maybe right then if they haven't looked at it before. So, anybody can make a motion to to cut from things. So, >> yeah, I it it's it's our

171responsibility to to present something that has a a good possibility of passing, I think. >> Well, I think we should I think we should have an option. this >> I would love it >> or this or that. Yeah, >> but you can't. >> You can't. >> Why can't we? What's What's the What's stopping us from giving them two options? >> Because you have to bring the warrant articles, all the different cost centers warrant articles. You have to know what the board is voting on. The board has to vote on one budget. >> You can't vote on two budgets, >> right? And when the board votes on a budget and we we pass that, the board collectively is supposed to support that. >> Yes. >> So, >> and I don't I don't think I mean, does

172the majority of the board support this? >> I mean, I'm I'm not I'm going to I'm going to give you my two cents because I'm I should. And that is I honestly don't believe this budget will pass. And I A and some people would say ah don't just don't let it pass and we'll keep going and you just have to know what that means and that means um there's going to be a lot of work on this in June, July and August and then if it doesn't pass you start school and you and you go with whatever the last budget that you folks pass. So it so it's not like there's no money, there's not like there's no budget, but um there is a ton of work that goes with it and costs because when

173you have to go back to your annual meeting because you have to do the annual meeting again and you go back to the polls, you have to pay for that. RSU10 has to pay for that because it's a special vote. So, I I just think that's really important. I'm not saying you can't do that. Of course you can. And many districts end up having to. But if you honestly don't think it can pass, I think it's really important for you to think about it. >> And and not to mention too, Deb, is that we're going to be trying to fill positions and when you're going to do we've already lost people because of, you know, some things that have happened with this work in community relations, things like that. But if you're going to some

174place that doesn't have a budget even passed, how is that what's it going to do to us attracting people that we need to hire to fill positions that are open? It just it's not responsible. I don't I don't think so. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> So, I'm still going to be a stickler about special education. I I I can't I I get the feel everybody wants to feel good field trips. I you know those things I just those kind of things that are still in it and we're still cutting. We have we constantly we're going to be looking for edte next year. We know we're going to we constantly are. We have families that don't they they show up. They don't we have teachers that have to deal with kids until we get them to

175where they need to be. So to have cuts in special ed, I mean, we don't we don't we don't do what we should be do or what we need to be doing to help these kids along. I I don't know how many what the percentages of kids like mine that was mainstreamed and benefited from it because we don't do one-on-one aids anymore. So it's those kind of things. That's why we're down to bare bones here. We're just putting them with people and I think that's a disservice. I really think that's a disservice. And when we start talking about field trips and how that's a group of kids and and there's a little bit over I don't care how many kids I don't care how many kids go on field trips if special ed is going

176to go without. >> Definitely understand that none of these things are going to be easy. But I I do think I mean we'll go through it, but I I really think I would love to see the you know the admin team continue to work together um like they've been doing and uh and it really is important to to make sure we put aside you know a lot of those things because nobody's going to be happy in in the end in this. I I you want >> so I need we need direction here because this is what we did. We all work on our budget as we know November through December, January, February, we meet we we you know move some things. When I saw the number, when the ED279 came in and I saw what

177the number was going to be, it was going to be it was like 24%. Something like that on that sheet, I cut 1.1 something or $1.2 million because I said, "No way. I'm going to bring it to you folks at 24%." So I So I did that. So that's reduction sheet one. Then people looked at it. It was at that point it was at like I don't know 17 18 whatever. Um and then people said gee I I think you know somebody said maybe five and then somebody else said I really think we need to try for two. We went back we worked a whole entire day plus some other stuff. Um trying to come up with that. We worked really hard. We got to 3%. We were pretty proud of being able to do

178that as a group, supporting each other. As tough as it was and as frustrating as it was, we were. And and then of course I get it. All of you folks look at this reduction sheet and go, "Oh my word, it kills." It does. It does. And then people said, "Okay, so okay, what could we get in it if we went to 4%, if we went to 5%." We took that very seriously and went through all kinds of things and tried to canvas the most. And they're not they're not perfect, but we had reasons behind them and came up with that. Then we got really lucky and got a better deal on insurance, let's say. And we've come to this it to say for us to just go back. We need to go back. We

179need to know what you want because if we go back and we're trying to figure this out and I'm thinking I don't know but I'm thinking the other administrators here are probably thinking now what do we do? Right? And and I think it's really important. We hear people and we all have our passions and I get it. Um my passion is to get this to the point where we can have the majority. We will not have everybody but the majority of our communities to support this knowing that we've worked incredibly hard. But we are trying to get it to where you guys can vote on it on the next meeting which is April 13th. So we need a really clear direction. >> So do we just kind of poll is 5% a reasonable number for

180most people? What I mean do you just looking for your thoughts you guys think that 5% is re that's about 300,000 we'd have to cut from what we've added back in. Right. That's about that. And you said 152. So >> So it' be a little more than that. >> Yeah. Yeah. You have a question, but I still want to get everybody's kind of thumbs up or not. >> I think >> so. I guess my concern is when we and maybe this is a bigger question for like the process but like when you ask us a question like you know give us some direction and one or two people talk and then you go back with that like when we talked about 2% I'm I didn't know what that was going to look like. Um, I

181didn't say anything, so I should have maybe, but >> Well, we can tell you the amount. So, when we talked about 2%, we said, "Oh my word, that's going to be $3.3 million." >> I guess I'm just saying like, like you're asking us right now, what I need some direction. So, how do you want us to give you that? Like, do you just want to say whoever wants to talk talks? Do we do a straw poll? Like how do we >> that's what I was trying to get a draw poll to see if >> Yeah, I think everybody should weigh in. >> I mean before Jennifer was just is there anybody actually just is 5% reasonable? Do you think we can get that passed? You think that's a reasonable number? I'm looking for discussion on

182this if anybody doesn't I would like to keep it on this before we >> It gets it cuts $300,000 from what we added back in. Uh it's still the numbers aren't going to change. Hold on. Okay. 360,000 cut would get you to that >> and that is still high but I think has more of a chance of getting passed and is more of a reasonable but I'm willing to have somebody else tell me what they think about it. I am very grateful to you Deb and to the administrative team for making these difficult decisions and having these conversations. I am ready and prepared to go through these motion by motion and accept what the board feels and if that number ends up being 7% then we bring it to the community and ask. Good. Good.

183That's a good thought. Anybody else have any feelings on that? I think that's reasonable. Um, we have I what I'd like to see is when we do this have the the easy ones that we've kind of all talked about first so we can just bang through those. Um, and then we have probably a couple hours of hard discussion and votes and and see where it goes from there. Um, >> and then at the end of it, you're willing to she'll calculate it and then we'll vote on the total budget. And I think that's a really good suggestion, Jennifer, especially since we, you know, that's kind of the wish list of things that we would like to keep back in if we could or most or a lot of people would like to keep back in.

184Um, and then we vote on it, uh, the next meeting and then go from national will be at the most probably at the seven or 8% and try and get it lower if depending on the votes. Anybody have any thoughts on that? Want five? I don't care. You guys all just tired, want to go home? >> No, I'm just Do you think folks feel >> I'm trying to look at people's faces to read >> like Go ahead, Jonathan. to get it down to 5% and we got to put 360,000 back into the or cut from the budget is going to be extremely difficult to do and it's going to cut quite a bit of the things that we feel are our value uh to the students and um you know I kind of second kind

185of what what Jennifer was just saying and do appreciate all the work and you guys are the experts. You're in this day in and day out. I'm not in this. Um, so I don't have a lot of the work and knowledge behind it. However, that's why there is a board as well to to not only cover the administrative and the business side of things, but also the community side of things. So, definitely a difficult decision that all of you have had to make as well as, you know, that we're going to have to make, but um, and I mean, looking at every spreadsheet you put up there, I mean, Representative Roxberry and and we're not seeing an increase on any of them. Um, so I mean, to put my input in there. You know, it

186it feels but I mean I I don't just when I come to these I don't just think about just Roxberry. I think about our 10th district as a whole and all the kids that are going to be affected not just from Roxberry but each of our towns combined. So um but 360,000 that is a lot to to try to cut more. And um I I do, you know, like Doug said and and I've had community members say it as well, you know, let us decide on if we're willing to pay 8% or 10%. Um but >> no, I I appreciate that. And um I think one of the things that would be helpful too is I know you did it kind of on here, but if we have things that are kind of grouped together

187because if we're voting on one thing, we're going to you know, we have to vote on the other for it to make sense. So, we just need to remember that it's easier when they're grouped together. >> Um, I think that's pretty reasonable direction, Ed. Go ahead. >> So, possibly add up. Yeah, >> it's 300,000. >> Yeah. Or Yeah. If the if the list >> Yeah. if the list if the list if we had the list kind of in the same order even if you had two sheets because I know the agenda is going to be a little different but yeah that would make it a lot easier. Yeah. >> So, in the last couple of meetings, we have talked about some other things that might have been board identified areas and I don't see any

188of those represented here and I'm wondering how that could enter the equation. So, we talked about numerous ones today. I know in the last board meeting there's this $80,000 set in the mechanics maintenance some maybe it was maintenance for BGT for the loader versus maybe we make a decision that we are going to bid that you know put that out for bid for >> plowing contract um you know it's not been an answered very clearly what happened to the frontend loader whatever it's called that we had had before. But I personally would like to see better fiscal responsibility. like there's a lot of questions that haven't been answered and I can speak for the people who have come to me and talked to me that they are aggravated about that and that we have a

189responsibility to address those things and I would like to see some movement on that and maybe figure out what are the let's see how did my husband put this what was the fleet maintenance last year for the Nazinskit buses that went to Murray's versus comparing to the mechanics salary and benefits and having some numbers to really look at with that. I get frustrated at not being able to look at the numbers and I spent a lot of time going through these budget items line by line and in identifying the HVAC costs and the heating and lights for the new building and realizing there are not savings at all in that and that's still a giant unknown. And then we in addition talk about the overtime that has been happening that we do talk about what

190is board responsibility and what is administrator responsibility. We've been talking about overtime in the BGT department. I don't know custodians buses I I don't know how it all fleshes out but for a couple of years now. And that is that has needed a solution and that's this giant amount that is accumulating and those are things that I think need to be addressed and from a board perspective I get frustrated at seeing you know Sumar it's like double digits I think three years in a row for the increases we don't have a single storefront in Sumner it is the elderly on fixed incomes as the you know I don't know what the percentage is so I don't want to say that but it's just is hard to eat that year after year and our taxpayers are

191just exhausted and so those are all my comments. I don't know if we can incorporate any of those changes into this. So I I would like to see something else in here. And and actually I did think of one more thing and that is Deb I remember maybe it was last year or maybe it was the year before you had some backpocket tricks if the budget didn't pass by the voters at the annual budget meeting. You had some things that well we could this or we could that that you had already thought of. At least that's what you conveyed to us. And and you didn't say back pocket tricks. That's my word. Oh, >> no. But you you had said, "Oh, the voters thought this, but I had thought if it didn't pass, I could

192offer up this." So, that's my back pocket trick. Um, so I just that surprised me to hear that that year. And I want to know really what is all of it look like right now? What are all the potential items in your back pocket that you could pull out? because it just it feels like the transparency is uh it just doesn't feel like it's there. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, >> did you have anything you want to say or >> I'm not I I I could go back and look and see what I maybe I thought of. I I have thought and thought and thought about this budget over and over and over. So, but I certainly will keep thinking >> before I get to Peter one question carryover. How much are we using

193and not and what's >> we're using the same we use every year. >> It's on the It's on that um it's on this sheet. It's um excess what he's saying the carryover is excess balance forward previous 1 million350,000 >> more or less than we've had in the last few years >> because that would be nice if we could get 100 or two from that things better for us that's >> because I mean because we're we're we're looking at a lot of unknown I think really frustrating is the new school utilities. We It's just a guess right now and it's probably over and it stinks to be cutting positions when we're like we don't know what the bill's going to be and it may come in less but we have to budget far enough and then

194but we already have to cut those positions. So that that's I think a good opportunity to maybe use a little bit more carryover in a year that we have a new school that has to figure itself out and it's got, you know, AI technology that's supposed to help run it more efficiently, but right now it's very expensive. It's all electric. >> We're using an electricity broker, right? >> Yes. >> We have a bid. >> Yeah, >> we do a bid for electricity. >> Yeah. >> Yes. We're not paying 17% like the average homeowner. >> No, we're not. >> Go ahead, Peter. >> All right. I just like I spent this afternoon going over with Leia a lot of the building and ground things. Uh first of all, all for the new building is all guests.

195There swag scientific >> guests. Uh we won't know until a year almost two years from now what the cost really are and what it's costing us. We're doing our best to get it in a handle on as far as the snow plowing. that was done on an emergency basis and we wouldn't even have had time to go out for bid on it because we needed to get the parking lots clean. As far as the uh bucket loader, uh I don't know much about it. All I know is that we were told it didn't work. So, we went and got some some help. We need help because we need to get to the school building. But, look, uh, and the $80,000, you can do what you want with it, but that's there either to hire a

196contractor or buy a piece of equipment. one of the two depending on what happens most likely with the the hiring of the building and grounds director and the transportation directors. Uh, I wish it was something you could tell right out what it is and you're looking and and and these things are there and >> all right. >> Go ahead, Bonnie. >> Things Where's the bucket loader or the front end loader? Where is it? Where is it physically right now? >> I do not know where it is physically. It is not on our property. >> Where the >> Nobody knows where the front loader is. Has anybody >> That's because Listen, so last year, at some point last year, it broke. It was not working after it had been fixed several times. This was bought secondhand

197by Scott Holmes. >> Right. At some point, Devon went to Leah and said, "How do I dispose dispose of it because it's like sitting on our property not working? It was deemed that it could not be fixed. I don't know by who." And Leah explained, "You need to ask all the towns first if any of them want it." And what I have found out is he asked Mexico and he asked Rumford. I don't know if he asked other towns or not, but I know he asked Mexico and Rumford and they did not want it >> and it ended up with >> and so he found somebody to take it away. I don't know. But that was last apparently it was last year because we kept Matt was even out we were out looking where is

198the bucket loader? Is there a bucket loader on our property? >> We keep hearing about it. That's why it's really odd that we have no idea where it went. The other thing I wanted to say was thank you Aaron because your email and those questions those that was very I was like >> so uh I think we've got a pretty good way to move forward for next meeting. The carryover one would be really lovely if we could find there. >> Okay. >> Oh, >> okay. Yeah, >> there's but >> we have board member comments, but we've been making comments the whole time. So, just does anybody have any other comments? >> All right. So, all in favor of journing? Okay, we're journed. Thank you guys.