001[Music] The Ferguson Florison School District located in suburban St. Louis serves more than 10,000 students from preschool through 12th grade with an excellent comprehensive educational program fully accredited by the state of Missouri. The Ferguson Florison School District operates seven pre kindergarten through 2 grade schools, six intermediate schools, two sixth grade centers, three middle schools, including a cutting edge steam middle school, which was ranked the number two school in Missouri this year, two A+ and NCACI accredited high schools, the Innovation High School, a big picture learning school, and Esteem High School focused on preparing students in fields including science, technology, and engineering. In August, US News and World Report named Steam Academy at Mccclure South Berkeley High School as one of the best high schools in America, placing the school in the top 12% of high
002schools in Missouri and in the top 35% of high schools nationally. As a district leading the charge in high school transformation, there are a lot of pathways to success. All of our high schools are project lead the way schools. We offer many programs and opportunities such as dual enrollment, dual credit, international balorate, AVID, and elevate St. Louis. Our red tail cadet program has also secured private pilots licenses for students before they even graduate. The number of FFSD students enrolled in advanced placement courses has also dramatically increased. The district has intentionally focused on college and career readiness and has increased the 4-year graduation rate to 93%. Besides the secondary school coursework, the district ensured opportunities for each population of students in an effort to support the goal of college readiness. In addition, the district includes a
003nationally recognized early education program, the award-winning Challenger Learning Center space education facility, and the Little Creek Nature Area, a 97 acre nature preserve that offers experiential learning opportunities for students in science, biology, ecology, and related areas of study. Through our partnership with varsity tutors, all students and teachers will have access to live tutors on demand. The district has also transformed alternative education with the restoration and wellness center. Recognizing that well-being is vital for academic success, the district prioritizes the health and social emotional well-being of its students and staff. The district has a partnership with Hazel Health that offers comprehensive health care and teleaotherapy services, ensuring that students have access to medical care and mental health support during the school day. Additionally, Ferglo Floor Care Health Clinic provides free health care services to district employees, demonstrating
004the district's commitment to the well-being of its faculty and staff. The board of education has made equity a priority in the Ferguson Florison School District. In 2018, the board adopted an equity resolution. And between 2020 and 2022, the district examined inequities and racism in policies and practices, culminating in the board's adoption of the Ferguson Florison School District's anti-racist standards for social justice and anti-racist schools. From early childhood education to advanced scientific exploration, from personalized learning opportunities to comprehensive healthcare services, the Ferguson Florison School District continues to lead the way in providing an exceptional educational experience that truly is providing equity and access for [Music] [Applause] all. Heat. Heat. [Music] N. Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Hello Ferguson floor. My name is and I am truly honored and excited to serve as your next [Music] superintendent. When
005I think about Ferguson Florison, I think about strength. I think about creativity, innovation, and above all, I think about community. This district has a profound history of resilience and a commitment to equity and success, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. I know that we have some challenges ahead, but I want you to know we are more than capable of facing them, and we'll do it together with transparency, trust, and a deep belief in what's possible for our students. Over the coming weeks and months ahead, I'm looking forward to connecting with each of you, our teachers, staff, families, and especially our students. I want to hear your stories, learn more about your experiences, and build on the strengths that are already here in Ferguson, Florison that make this a special place. I bring
006nearly two decades of experience in education and leadership. But for me, this is more than a job. This is home. My first college courses were right here at Florison Valley. I completed my student teaching in the district. And my wife Nancy is not only a proud graduate of Ferguson Florescent, but also a former teacher here. So when I say I believe in this community, I mean it wholeheartedly. Throughout my journey, one thing has always been clear. When a group of people come together, keep students at the center, and lead with purpose, great things happen. We can transform not only our schools but lives and communities. This is more than a new chapter for me. It's the start of our collective journey. Together, we'll build a strong foundation already set in place and work hand in
007hand to continue strengthening and growing our schools. Thank you for welcoming me into the Ferguson Florison family. I'm excited to get started and do great things with you, of course. All right. You're right. They heard the gavl though. want to remind our board of our norms and under the provisions of the public meeting law of the state of Missouri, the board must adopt on roll call vote an agenda that includes the time, date, place, and tentative agenda for the meeting. A copy of the notice and agenda for this meeting was posted on Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 at the administration center at 8855 Dun Road, Hazlewood, Missouri online and was also sent in a local newspaper. May I have a motion to adopt the agenda as posted? Second. You give me just a sec. Dr. Graves.
008Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mrs. Spanserie. Yes. Mr. Tyson. Yes. Dr. Martin. Secretary votes. Yes. Madame President. Yes. We'll move on to our consent agenda. I have a recommendation to approve the consent agenda as po as presented. So moved. All in favor? I and there I'm sorry there was nothing pulled from consent for number five. Uh we're going to talk about next number six public comments and uh revisions. One of the things that we did as a board um in the beginning it almost sound like a Bible version. We um only push it up. Okay. Yeah. Because it's giving that feedback. We would only do uh comments from people who came to our meeting and then during COVID we changed and we got we went to having letters sent in and we could
009read those letters and the question to the board is is do we want to continue that and do we want to modify it in any kind of way. So we're open for discussion about about how we should move forward with that. So, do I'll jump in, Dr. Thurman. Um, if we uh I think it's definitely important to have um public comment in all shapes and forms. Um, does that PE portion um, at least the ones that are emailed necessarily have to be read during public comment in actual board meeting? I don't think so. But I think we need to be able to have that located somewhere um, on the website where people can actually leave a comment or you know to have what they needed to say and then we would have somebody in administration
010where it goes to that part of, you know, this is who will um, contact you um, with your feedback. Um, and that's just because I know everyone can't make a board meeting. Um, but if we do take it away that we do have that liberty of all of that information is shared somewhere. Um, because I think right now even the comments that we get emailed in, there's no record of it in regards to besides like somebody pulled the video up. But at least hear that that information can go there and even the feedback can go um on there as well because a lot a lot of times too when we have somebody come to the podium with their comment we say well get in touch with soand so but if I had that same comment
011and nobody's going to get back in touch with me so just being able to have some type of platform that we can design where even if it's a comment that that feedback is also shared with the entire community clarification on if we do that are we opening ourselves up for a Facebook kind of thing if we're putting it on for people to be able to put it on uh the website and then people be able to comment and then we talk about who to get back with. I I don't think so. I think um if we put the guidelines for the public comment, what we what the guidelines are for public comment, we still keep to those same things and then it's not like we can have it set up that before it's actually posted
012to the world that it goes through. Okay. Just like we would um go through the screening um before we even read something, it's actually the same thing, but this time it's just posted. Um but somebody has to review it. we just don't, you know, even with the emails we get, we just don't start talking. So, okay, that that that clears it up a little bit more for and then the other idea and I think of was it Miss Manory had the idea of keeping it but maybe putting a time limit on how much time we spend on on public comments. Like I think we had talked about a 30 minute and then a 15. I'll stop and let you all do it so I'm not messing up your your your idea. So it wasn't just
013my idea. It was also Dr. Mortyn's idea. So maybe uh 30 to 45 minute maybe time limit on public comment and we still acknowledge those who um send in their comments because we do understand that people do work and they're not able to. So maybe we take 15 minutes, you know, to read whatever we've received from the public and no longer than that. So we're still giving people an opportunity to come to the podium and speak, but we're not going to keep everybody here for hours on end. So the other the other question too that came up um just from the community sometimes we get letters that are like two pages long and we're not timing those letters when they come in and should we time the letters that need to be read um just
014like we time when people come here. So should that be another part that we should we should discuss at the board? Should there be a um time limit on the reading of someone's mail that comes in? Yeah, it shouldn't be longer than the three two to three minutes that we give them, you know, we and if we can't get through it in that time, we do apologize. But again, if they were here, they would only have a certain amount of time to speak. I agree with that statement as well. We want to make it as equitable as I agree with that statement as well. We want to make it as equitable as possible across the board. How do we pull these ideas together? Because I really like what Dr. Graves said because there are certain
015people who want to have the answer to some of the same may may have the same question and they want to have that answer and we could reach more people by putting it in a um um like on the website where we can answer those questions. But that would mean that someone would have to be responsible for making sure that those questions were, you know, answered that we look at those questions and that um those comments and that someone actually um is responsible for looking at it and that then connecting them with the people that needs to get back with them. So how can we do that? Uh, Madame President, I wonder if it's possible that those those items could go to the assistant secretary. It may be a lot. Well, I don't know. I'm
016saying if you're if you're just trying to uh for accountability sake to make sure it gets to the board. I just mean I I wonder about that as an option. are the vice president. Okay. Okay. How about how about we have a small group to get together and talk about all of these things and come up with a plan? No, I do agree though. I mean, I know it's we could be getting like a whole bunch of comments. cuz I do agree it needs to be figuring out a person that it can shift to whether it's me or someone else. But it does need to be some shifts that we make sure that everybody is heard. That's my biggest thing is making sure that this community and everybody is heard. Absolutely. I think another thing
017that we can also do is just to look to see if other districts what other districts are doing around public comments. Um I have looked at some of that too because I know majority of the districts are just doing at the podium and those that's what public comment is for and then there are other ways in which um communication is if they need you know go through the chain of command um based off of the other things that they need. So if anything I would I would also say let's look to see what other districts are doing. I just know that we kept that method um probably long past a lot of other people, a lot of districts have. Are we still utilizing less talk? Is that still a thing within the district? No. Let's
018talk platform from Let's Talk. Right. I've heard that in the past that we got in public comment. Let's talk. You'll need to repeat that so that we can Yeah, I've understood that we won't be using we won't use Let's Talk um for next school year, but um until we close it out um we have had public comments come in from Let's Talk. We also have had public comments come in through um the meeting comments um through our Gmail account. So we did have two formats a way people could um email a comment to the board. So I guess we could go back to utilizing the meeting comments um going forward. And so maybe give Mr. U in the small group a access to that uh email account. Any other any other comments? Um, so director
019uh Vivian Manser, would you like to head this? Sure, I'd be glad to. Thank you. I appreciate that. And so we'll put it on the agenda for maybe our next meeting or when you're ready. Okay. And also I would like to ask uh Mr. Gates what's what's your thinking on this on public comments? Um I like the idea that we put a time limit on how long we read the letters because you know if people show up they're only going to have a certain amount of time to speak. So I think that's a good idea. Um and you know we don't want to keep people here for a long time. So yeah, I think incorporating a time limit on like the actual letters itself would be a good idea. And then also um just having
020a way to make sure that people know that their public comments are being seen because, you know, we don't want them to, you know, submit public comments and then they not know if they're being actually seen by the board. So I don't know how we would do that, but we just need to make sure that that's a thing, too. And we also want student feedback. So, and you may want to even share some of your ideas with Mrs. Mansbury. Okay, speaking of moving on, number seven, uh, retired teachers advisory group and that is for board information and, uh, Mr. Bailey. Yes. Uh, thank you, uh, Madam President. I just want to talk about a couple points. Um, let me pull my points up. uh community. I just want you guys to know that we did
021listen. We've heard a lot of uh feedback as far as touch points within our district and I think that uh the most overcoming u responses that we got was starting a uh retired teachers advisory group. Um we are going to put we're still trying to format some parameters and different things about it. But as far as the word being put out, uh by the end of uh next month, we should have a uh email blast and everything like that. We'll do a lot of promotion within the district uh to get a feel for who would like to be on the advisory board. Uh we'll make it as equitable as possible. Uh right now the number that we're thinking about is about 30 or 40 just starting off. Um and then we'll kind of try to
022graze that number and figure out based on the number of responses uh should we allow more? how can we manage more? Those type of things. But we just want to get the word out. We want to provide the retired teachers a place um to be able to advocate, to be able to get word, to be able to talk to the superintendent, to be able to volunteer in different ways. Um and really just, you know, listen to you guys. We listen to the community and that was the overcoming response is they they everybody wanted to figure out a way to be a part of the district that was retired. uh we want to be able to pro provide this uh platform and I think it's just it's a great way to do it. Um definitely we're
023still working the kinks out how it will be but just know that we listen know that we are going to try to implement this and this will be a thing uh in the fall of this school year. Thank you. Mr. Bailey, are there any questions for him? Well, I got I guess this is kind of clarification or clarification little news to me about this group. Um, but is there a reason why we only limit it to teachers? Because we have several um other staff besides teachers who would who are retired that may want to be a part of this. So, is there a reason why we just have it um considered just teachers? cuz we might have other administrative um custodians, bus drivers, like it can be um other people who have um an affinity
024for the district after working and retiring here. Well, yes, ma'am. Me being an alum, I I do understand that we do want to open it up to all retirees. I think we have to change the name and everything like that. It's still just a work in progress. Um, I emailed the board a couple months ago about the responses and different things like that. I asked to move it forward. We're still trying to work out the name. So, it's just a retired advisory group. Definitely eliminate the teacher out of it and make it open to everybody that wants to be a part of the group. Thank you. More information to come and thank you, Mr. Bailey, for taking for taking that on. No problem. and Charlie, we'll make sure that we take the retired teachers out
025when the email comes out and just put advisory group. Thank you. I appreciate that. Okay. Our health staffing, Mr. Mitchell. Yes, ma'am. All right. Uh if whoever is running the PowerPoint can follow along with me, I got it in front of me and we'll just kind of go through it. It should be a pretty quick presentation. Uh thank you to Dr. Tate Patterson. She's also in the house. So if I need any assistance or can't answer a question, she's here to support as well. Uh so basically the 2526 RO health contract proposal was given to us. Since it involves money, we wanted to share this information with the public just so everyone would know what the cost would be. Um we all know that we are reducing the number of nurses at our campus level.
026Most of our nurses will be assigned to two campuses based on student needs. This proposal would ensure coverage for nurses during absences. And so our current nurses are at 10. We currently have two nurse vacancies that are posted on the district website. I'm sorry. We have two vacancies. Then we also have two additional postings for nurses on the website. So to two total or four two total, okay, sorry. Two total uh vacancies that are posted on the website. Next slide, please. One more. There we go. Some parts of this decision were informed by stakeholder feedback sessions early in the year. Additionally, we've spoken with several nurses currently employed by the Ferguson Florison School District. Next slide, please. Uh, this aligns with our strategic plan goal 11 and our strategic plan goal 18 that just talks
027about providing wraparound services while also still being fiscally responsible in an attempt to maintain an appropriate fund balance. Next slide. Uh this program aligns with staffing services we utilize this current year. Due to staffing reductions, the budget for this program was decreased from 500,000 to 100,000. So let me just kind of clarify what that means. Um this year we used a staffing agency for some of our schools. That bill is in excess of $500,000. That budget for next year has been decreased to $100,000 in which we will use this line and this budget to address subs in the building. So if we have a nurse that's out and we can't fit that position, we'll then use this contract to have a nurse come substitute for that particular day at that particular campus. Next slide just
028talks about that we all know that healthy students make better learners. Um we want to be consistent by having licensed nurses in our schools and we also know this helps to um reduce chronic chronic absenteeism um health conditions etc. When students are present in good health they are more likely to perform well academically uh positively impact their grades state assessments and overall engagement. Next slide please. In terms of how we'll measure this at the end of the year we'll do a comprehensive evaluation of the contract and nurse service to assess its effectiveness. The evaluation will include analysis of health outcomes such as clinic visits, management of chronic conditions, and the efficiency of emergency responses. We will also look at academic indicators that uh kind of go along the lines of improving attendance, reducing early dismissals,
029and connecting it as much as possible to academic performance. Next slide. Uh we also collect feedback of course from teachers, admin, parents, and students to evaluate their satisfaction. We'll look at the pro the cost effectiveness. Hopefully, we're in a better place financially next year to maybe make some different decisions. Uh, but those findings will all be compiled in the end of the year report and presented to the board. That report will highlight the strengths, areas for improvement, and recommendations for either continuing or adjusting the service as it aligns to our uh student district goals and student achievement. Uh, there's the budget code from that. It's going to come from the nurses of the professional service line. The budget for next year is $400,000. And it brings me to my last slide that administration is recommending
030the board of education approve the annual contract for RO health staffing for the 2526 school year. What questions may I answer for you at this time? May I have a motion? So move discussion. Any questions? I do have a question. Um, you're looking at having one nurse for two schools on average. On average. We also have Yeah. Yes, ma'am. And we also have three clinic aids that support in different capacities as well. That's what I was going to ask about. Are we having aids? Yes, ma'am. Those three aids have been extended contracts for next year. And so, as of now, we're we're good to go with those. Okay. So when a building is not covered by a nurse for the day, is there going to be an aid in their in their place who who
031has some training and who will be able to give medication? And so here comes the answer. Here comes well, but well, we've talked about it because I asked that question before we had this conversation. If I messed this up, Dr. Tate, pass jump in. That's campus specific. So certain campuses you'll have to have a nurse there like if we have a child that may be wheelchair bound, needs tubes, etc. That will be a case by case analysis. In the most conditions, we'll try our very best to accommodate in district. This just is kind of our backup plan if we can't meet the needs based on our current conditions. Did I get it right? Sure. You want to add more? So, what it looks like for next school year is you were have a nurse at
032one campus, the only campus that you will have a building clinic and a nurse or the two high schools, Mccclure and Mccclure North. Um, as of right now, when there is not a school nurse, we will not have anybody where at the elementary schools. All schools I need. So meaning meaning we have to place every nurse has two schools, right? So the day that they are at if it's Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they're at Lee Hamilton. On Tuesday and Thursday, they will be at Griffith. So those buildings will have will not have a nurse at Lee Hamilton on Tuesday and Thursday. Will they have an aid? We don't have enough. Okay. So that means the nurs's office won't be covered for those no days that so do we have enough to cover for and especially
033for kids students who are have um chronic illnesses and so I can tell you Parson's done a great job of trying to staff the buildings based on needs and so that has been done for next year. um you can't predict when people will be out and so if they are out this is a backup plan if we can't address it in district um the goal of course is to get kids what they need and so I would ask that if it gets to and even some of the conversations I've had with nurses if it gets to a point to where we need to bring some things back to the superintendent and or the board to for reconsideration then by all means do so because the other question that I'm wondering too is I I know
034that sometimes we have our aids who are in the buildings probably are um aids in classrooms to cover. Yeah, I know. I know it's not ideal, but it's also not ideal having, you know, someone who needs a nurse and there's there's no one in the building. So, is there a plan if there's an emergency u for nurses to leave where they are to go to another school or you just call 911 or what's the plan? So, as of right now, 911 is going to be your best option. Um, and for that reason, we were not offered mileage or any of that. So, we can't expect nurses to travel and go back and forth to buildings based on what, you know, someone in the in the building may assume is an is a emergency. because we've
035had a lot of calls here lately of what they thought was an emergency that was not an emergency. So, um it's it's going to be very challenging. And just to piggyback on that also, in the event of an emergency, the way we have it now is once those contacts have been made to chief of staff or whomever, that person reaches out to Dr. Tate Patterson for counsel. That person would reach out to Dr. T Patterson for so like we had a kid the other day that had a issue at the school. We called Dr. Tay Patterson about should we transport this kid via ambulance because I think they were vomiting or something and her advice was no based off being able to control in house. So we'll still make her our first point of contact
036in the event of an emergency and whatever she advises we'll do that based off her recommendation. So are you assigned to a school? As of right now I am not. Why are you not assigned to a school? That was not my role. Okay. I I'm sorry. I'm confused. So, what what would you be doing if you are the head nurse? I manage the nurses and then I sub where it is necessary. So, you will be okay. We probably need to talk a little bit more about that because I I don't see us we're in a bad situation right now and we need to have people boots on the ground and in in buildings. So, um we need to talk about that board. Just got a real quick question. What is the landscape looking right now?
037Like so right now, do we have nurses in each of the schools right now or have we been kind of operating with this some here, some there type thing? No, we had a nurse in every building for this school year. Okay. With the budget cut, you cut half more than half of the staff. You cut 14 employees. And those were contracted employees or were those are actual employees? 14 contracted. And so what's the difference between this contracted employees and this health staffing? A lot of money. A lot besides just money. Yeah. It's I don't know the number off the top of my head, but it's it's more than $500,000 for the agency nurses that we cut. And so what is the plan on using like how will these health staffing um be used? Subs. So
038if sub the nurses out of the 10 are not in buildings then I'll call the sub and ask can they come for the day. So they will just be dayto-day subs then but we will still have schools that are not covered. So they'll just be covering the shift that that nurse was at not filling in those empty slots. Right. because of as of right now it is about 57 and some change for an LPN per hour. So that's the cheapest that we would go. Um they do have some CNAs. Uh Emerges did. Ro Health does not. We didn't have any uh CNAs from them. Has this been done in any other districts? I've talked to some other leaders that this had been done. Um it was a temporary thing and their suggestion was not to
039do a half split building. So you go to one in the morning, one in the afternoon. They suggested you do Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Tuesday, Thursday. then alternate the following week. How many districts did you poll like that? I mean to see that they they were doing that. Um I was at a district well a district leading and um one in specific one district specifically gave me that um idea in order to manage. And again, since we're not charging or we're not paying overtime or mileage, we would have to know if a person is doing a morning, I'm sorry, an elementary school and a high school, those hours are different. So, you're going to have to pay an added amount because they're hours in at different times. So, they start earlier and they will end later.
040Okay. Then, one more question for admin. um the nurses that we have that are our employees I believe at Christian Hospital um for um what is it called for staff the first floor care is there any way we can pull them or that's not an option I'm not sure I didn't I didn't look into that I I'm not sure we can check on that but Ferg floor care is specific to our staff as opposed to students, but we can absolutely But I just imagine that we don't have staff going to them. I mean, I don't know what those numbers look like, but I can I don't imagine that we have staff going to them every day versus if we can even manipulate their schedule some where they can go help and cover or something like
041that. I don't know. I just know I don't know if how that even is budgeted or whatever. I'm happy to look at the MOU, but what I remember because we just recently signed that again. What I remember is that it is specific to our staff. They have a very small staff. It's a nurse practitioner and a nurse in that space, but I'm happy to verify. Are you sure? Because it may be a medical assistant. I don't know that it's a nurse. It's a NP for sure. Yeah, it is. And just for clarification, this proposal is just uh in the case that we need them. So there's no money being spent until we need them. Okay. Yes, sir. That is correct. And I just wanted to just I want to make sure I'm understanding clearly. So
042the plan for next year is that every nurse will have two buildings and then the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I mean the Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Tuesday, Thursday rotation is how they will function. Um the only time these people will be contacted is if there is um somebody is in their regular slot of Monday, Wednesday, Friday and they're going to be absent. So you still so automatically we know we're still going to have some buildings on some days that will not have a nurse. Yes. We just know that. And so then I'm curious to know um in do you all have like a a designated health kind of like fill-in person for the building? You know how you know how like sometimes classroom teachers will have first aid kits in their rooms or certain things to sort
043of it doesn't it doesn't replace a nurse, right? But just something so that people can kind of take care of kids on the days when the nurse is not there. Yes, we do. We make first aid kits every year and pass them out to every classroom teacher. So, we've we've done that. Um, one of the aids that left, she's done a lot of it even before she left. Um, as far as her last day, we will increase what we would give them normally just to cover in case someone is not there. Um, in the past when this situation was upon us, the office managers have stepped in and helped, but I don't know if that's going to be something they're going to want to do. And this is probably not something we have an answer
044for tonight, but for me, I guess I'm wondering about what has to happen in one of our schools to prioritize that. Does that make sense? Like, and I and I'm just saying that as a board. I know we're in a tough spot financially, but I do wonder as we recover financially, you know, or we have situations that happen in our buildings, what is the what is the thing that has to happen that causes us to say as a board, gosh, we really might want to rethink that and and see if we can do something different. So, I don't have a we don't have an answer tonight, but I just mention that because I would hate for there to be a situation you know, so thank you. I think we agree with everything that you're saying.
045Um, we understand that we are in tough financial times and because of that, we of course did our research and recognize that while it is optimal to have all of the people that we currently have in place, we are not in a position to do that and it's not mandated for school nurses. Uh while we know they play a very vital role in managing student health, including administering medications, responding to emergencies, and supporting students across the board with chronic conditions, um we recognize that Missouri has put out some legislation recently, House Bill 355, which is aimed to provide financial supplements to schools for hiring nurses. But as of May of 2025, this bill remains in the committee. It has not been enacted to law. And so we have to, of course, be good financial stewards
046of the funds that we have available. they are limited and so we have asked Dr. Tate Patterson to create several options for us as it relates to how the nurses that we currently have in place that are hired by the district how they can be used to support our students. And so she created two options, one of the half day where they would be in spaces in two spaces in one day and one where they are in um two buildings throughout the course of the week. And so, um, we can continue to look at what is feasible and possible, but at this time, um, this is where we are. As our financial situation changes, we absolutely want to ensure that we have all of the positions that are required and needed for our students to
047be successful. Thank you, Dr. Pew. Walker, and I know that you guys are doing your very best, and this decision is one that we made as a board. Um, one thing that I would ask for, this is just me talking, even though we are in the situation we're in and you're going to work with what you have. Um, your background requires you to be an advocate. Mine does too, right? So I do want to ask that if you get to a place where things are teetering into a place of you starting to become really concerned because of your medical expertise that none of us have. I would ask that you request permission to come before the board again to share that information or to share it with the code or the superintendent so that we
048just have awareness as a board that you feel like things have reached a place where you're becoming concerned because that to me part of your role as a health care professional is that patient advocacy part of your work too. So I just wanted to mention that. Thank you. I'll gladly do that. Thank you. I have a Can you go back to the slide? How many how many nurses do we have right now? You said 12. 10 12. We have 10 currently two vacancies that are posted. So does that does the 10 include three? It does not. I don't remember. I'm not sure. No. Okay. So what help me to understand what your position is if you are the lead person and you're not going to be in a school. where where are you going to
049be working from and what? So my specific job title was district nurse coordinator. So I have managed and directed the district of school nurse nurses building clinic aids. So that has been my role. It is the same role that I've already always had. financially um in a good place or not. I was not hired at as the school nurse. But I also hear you saying that you you are in the schools a lot filling in, right? When people are out. I I said for this current upcoming school year, I will sub where it is necessary. Right. So that's your plan. And if there's an opening, right? And I think the other thing too is I would like to think you you have to maintain some level of flexibility in your day so you can go
050to where the need is, right? So that if there's a situation and you need to go and be a part of consulting with the building nurse to figure out how to deal with a student situation. So I just wanted to mention that too. Yes, I do. Where where is your office going to be? Here. Okay. So, renovation um renovation. Um who's going to be here? Restoration. Renovation. Restoration's going to be here. So, do we have a nurse for restoration? I'm I'm I'm just trying to see how we can use the what we have and I know things are things may have been one way before we were in this sit situation and we're in a really bad situation right now. We need boots on the ground. We need people who have the expertise to be
051there for our students. So, um I I think we hear what you're saying. And so for student support services, we'll have some further conversation around what the schedule looks like. There is a schedule in the system of some things that Dr. K. Patterson has put in place and we've had some conversations about similar to what you're talking about. Okay. So, we can bring that information further on our Sunday report. Yes. Thank you. Appreciate that. Thank you so much. I just have one more question. Um it's not for you, uh Dr. D. Thank you. Go sit down. Um no. Um my question just really was in regards to collaborations. Have we uh reached out to um hospitals and partnership? We have an Aphenia in our backyard. We have Christian Hospital in our backyard. We have People's
052Clinic. I'm just wondering, have we actually reached out to these partners in the community to say we need a shortage? Can we borrow a nurse for a day? like just what are the these things are out of the box that we're thinking about to help with the salt shortage. So those partnerships I've created, we actually have and this is where my concern is. My job and what I have done in this role was to pro provide equitable health care for our students. This these partnerships are going to falter because we don't have the people to work them, right? So actually speaking to them, I've gone out, I make it public. Um, what do you have available? They don't have nurses that they can bring on our grounds unless they're providing us a service. So meaning
053immunizations, physicals, right? So when you look at our 29,000 and some change for a nurse, nobody's signing up for that. So we don't have the salary that is pleasing for nurses. So we may get them in, I can hire them, but by the time they see their first check, they're resigning. So that's been my experience. And I get that. Um, but I think I'm talking more like partnerships though and working with people. But I I I definitely understand services. Yes. But to actually come and work in our buildings, no. Now we do partner with colleges, but they cannot work in buildings without having a nurse. We have lentures that we are very very concerned about and it's up to us to keep them. That's not something the district does. We have to do that. We
054do that personally. So, no, we cannot bring students in, nursing students um in our buildings if we don't have anybody to manage them. So, that's not an option. The schools won't come in. Thank you for that. Um, one of the things that Dr. Tate Patterson and I talked about was connecting with I think this is what you're asking about, connecting with North County Tech because they do have an LPN program. I know Charlie Moy informed us that he has an LPN. Is that CNN? I'm sorry. used to. And so there are some other programmings that I know that you were I don't know if you looked into those pieces yet. Again, we have to have a nurse on site in order for students to come in. So if we don't have a nurse in those
055buildings, the schools will not allow their students to be there. Understood. I was just asking whether or not you followed up with those particular pieces. Um we have Okay. Barnes, we have Mville, and we have Slooh as of right now. So, I can look into those, but I'm not What What would be What would I be asking? Do they want a job as a CNA here? Sorry. I think we'll probably table this conversation and and go further into conversation with the student support services offices and then come back with a in our report that we would follow up with some other pieces. Okay. Thank you. I think that's a great idea. Thanks. Thank you so much. Any other So we have a motion on the floor. Um so is there any other any more discussion?
056If not, we call for the vote. This is up. Do we need to say it again? Um, yes. You want me to read it again? Um, let's see. I believe Yeah, I think Dr. Martin just came in, too, so I'm not sure if he uh heard the motion. Um the the motion before us is to approve the annual contract with Rorow Health Staffing for the 2526 school year. And who did the motion? Graves and Tyson. Okay. How do I feel like I'm Are we ready for the vote? Call please. All right. Mr. Tyson, Dr. Graves, yes. Mrs. Manserie, yes. Secretary Votes, yes. Dr. Martin, abstain. Mr. Bailey, yes. Madame President, yes. Thank you. And you're up again, Mr. Mu. All right. If y'all would just switch the presentation for me, please. Let me make sure
057I'm right on mine. This one is right. Yes. Yes. Yes. Emerges healthc care staffing contract. I think I got copy and pasted wrong. It should be up. This is about filling early child special vacancies. So that language under number nine needs to be updated, but it'll be in this presentation. So this is not for nurses. This is for um early childhood staffing subs and staff. So I think I think it got copied twice, but it shouldn't be duplicate. It should be different language from number nine. Oh, I see. I see. But if you look at this very if y'all go ahead and click it for me, the first slide explains what it is. But if it's not on the agenda, yeah, the title is correct, but the language under the title is incorrect. It's correct.
058Is it's correct assembly. Okay. It's correct in assembly. It's correct in assembly, but it's just not in on. All right. Wait a minute. Just want to make sure. Sure. It's good. Cuz on here is the same. No, this is Yes. It says emergency here, but the summary is Yeah. is incorrect. I'm okay with this as long as I just want to bring it to make sure that everybody knows that it's not correct on the agenda. So, no, go ahead with your go ahead with your uh All right. Um, so the early childhood special ed staffing for early childhood special education, this is PK2, will be provided through emergence to fill those vacancies. This will ensure that a free and appropriate education service are delivered to all students who qualify for special education services. Uh this
059ties to our anti-racist standards 1.1 and also with our 5.10 for utilizing resources for marginalized communities and making resources available within those communities to enhance curricular experiences to be more equitable and inclusive. Perfect. Uh so early childhood special education ensures a free and appropriate education of kids ages three through five. This ensures a fluid uninterrupted instruction and therapy for students to meet the criteria for early childhood special ed. It also supports cognitive communication, physical development, social emotional needs for the diverse learners ages three ages 3 to five and provides early innovation intervention I'm sorry in an early educational setting for young children prior to going to kindergarten. Uh this will be measured by uh providing a well perspective. Uh we'll collect feedback from teachers, administrators and parents to evaluate the satisfaction and perceived impact of
060the program. Additionally, we'll examine the cost effectiveness, efficiency, and equity uh delivery across different schools. Uh again, these purchase services are 100% reimburseable through the early childhood special education grant. Those funds will then be reimbursed to the district upon completion of the annual final expenditure report. So at this point, administration recommends the board of education approve the annual contract of emergency healthc care staffing for the 2526 school year. May I have a motion? So move second. Uh discussion any questions? Just to make sure those folks who need to do reimbursement know what they need to do to make sure we get reimbured on time. They've done some extensive work this year to ensure the process is seamless next year. Yes, sir. I would say yes. Thank you. Okay. Do nurses fall anywhere in any of
061the staffing? I think the contract emergency sent may have nurses in there but the RO health option was much cheaper and so we would use the row health option for the nurse staffing vacancy. This is to cover the early childhood vacancy. Same company provides subs in all capacities. So this contract would be for us to have them to sub for the to provide teachers for the early childhood special ed program. Okay. Staff not teach I'm sorry. Staff early childhood special program. This year we did use both. Yes. Okay. This year we used both. But then when you started doing some of the the findings, that's how we figured out how how expensive the cost was for emergence with nurses. And so we asked Dr. T Parson to go find other options. She looked at two
062other companies and Row ended up being the cheaper of the two companies. Okay. Pro Health, I'm sorry. I know that there's concern about our students being screened. Will our students be screened properly through this? Yes, they so they are currently screened properly now. I I know I'm just I just want to say that I can I can just feel them screaming the TV somewhere. So, yes, they are screened properly now and they will continue to be screened properly moving forward. No, I wasn't saying they weren't. No, I know. I No, no, no. I just I see I see faces when you ask those type of questions. So, I work with them every day. So, yes, man. They will be screened properly next year. Any other questions from the board? None. Let's call for the vote.
063Mrs. Manser, yes. Mr. Bailey, yes. Dr. Martin, yes. Dr. Graves, yes. Mr. Tyson, secretary votes yes. Madam President, yes. Thank you. our budget amendment. So, he's already at the mic. All right. Good evening to our Ferguson Florescent School Board um colleagues and community. I have three presentations tonight, so I will try to be as succinct uh and as thorough as I possibly can. So, uh, the first presentation tonight has to deal with the amended budget for the 2425 fiscal year. Okay. Um, technology is going to help me uh pull up some of these documents. Um that there is a little I have a print copy uh but if you are following through assembly um that is a copy of the revenue summary of revenue report that's in there. We don't have hard copy. You don't
064have hard copies. Okay. Um is there a way to blow that one up just a little bit more technology? All right, that's a little better. Um, I can work with that if you all can. Is that a little Okay. All right. and I can give you all time to if you need to pull it up in similarly. That's Yes, sir. Mr. Thompson, I'll wait on your queue, Mr. Tyson. Sir and technology. That is the second page. if you'll go up to the top of that one um to highlight the uh the first page of that report. You're good now. Okay. All right. If I can get them to grab that first page, I'll present or if you can just use the mouse to scroll up. Yep, that's it. All right. Good evening again. Uh let's
065go ahead and get started. So, as we present uh the final amended budget for the current fiscal year, again, one of the reasons that districts amend budgets uh especially this time of year is because when budgets are presented and put together uh this time of year for the new fiscal year, uh they're based on a lot of assumptions. Okay? And so, of course, uh a lot of what we depend on is property taxes. A lot of what we depend on uh or monies from the state. And so um we are now able to kind of uh more accurately forecast how we will end this fiscal year. And so what I really wanted to do was start out by looking at the revenues um then looking at the expenses and then going into the presentation so
066that we can kind of see where the differences may lie uh within each of these reports. And so just a couple categories that I will highlight here. Um the first category 511 in that green column you see about $61 million. Uh that is the amount of money we are anticipating bringing in in property taxes. Okay. Um now we've levied a little more than that. Okay. We levied probably about $65 million but unfortunately the collection rate historically has not given us 100% collection rate. our collection rate has averaged more in the 85%. And so um that's where we get the 61 million uh dollars from. If you go down a little bit further uh next to under object, it says 5113. Those are Prop C revenues, okay, of about $14.3 million. Um and again, we have
067a clear final number um that DESIE has given us. And so we're confident in those numbers as well. And this is through the end of April. We've already started to see a lot of these monies come in in May. So May's report will look a little different. Uh and then of course the final report in June should capture all of these. I'm looking at some of the big numbers. If you go down to 5311, we see basic formula about $29.6 million. Again, still get basic formula monies. We're not at 100% there because we get basic formula monies every month. Okay. So, we'll get them in in May. We'll get them in June. And so, um 29.6 million uh is the number that we're forecasted to receive there. Um if you go down to the next
068page, if you can scroll down a little bit more, I want to get to the final number here so that when we talk about it in the presentation, at least we have some kind of idea as to where these numbers are coming from. Um, and that final number, if you look at all funds, is 156 million. Uh, my god, I my eyes are playing on me as well. 156,568,777. So, that's going to be um if you go back up just a little bit, uh, right there. Okay. At the bottom of that screen, uh, uh, where it says all funds total, um, we're looking at about $156 million. So you'll see that number um on the revenue side as we get into the presentation uh to talk about some of these differences. So if you'll pull
069up the next uh uh Excel document that has expenditures and we'll talk briefly about them uh and then we'll sum it up through the presentation. If you're following assembly, the next document will say summary of expenses. Okay. Uh on this particular document um you will see um in green uh the amended expenses for uh that would carry us through June 30th. Okay. Um and we'll look at certified salaries for instance uh which is probably one of the biggest expenses we have at $48.7 million. Okay. In the original amended budget we were very close. Okay. Uh but of course in our original budget if you look at that first uh or if you go over two columns uh we were kind of way off in terms of our original budget where it comes to certified salaries.
070Um and if you go down again we'll look at non-certified salaries. So, the $27.9 million down a few lines or a few rows um is where we are in terms of our non-certificated salaries as well. Uh go down uh maybe about 10 lines down. I'm looking at the 60241. Uh under object, it says employee insurance. Another big expense. Okay. Um and a lot of our expenses for this amended budget are tied to uh the previous amended budget. Um, so you can see there if we go over to the last white column, um, prior to the blues, uh, and it says the percent used. Okay, I want to focus a little bit on those, um, uh, to anticipate any questions that may come up because typically what we do is we look at that column and
071we see if we're at 100% in any of those line items. Okay? And some of those on the expenses, we will be at 100%. Okay? Uh again, we're at the end of April. Um we're probably 3/4 or, you know, almost 3/4 of the way through the school year and so a lot of those percentages lines up to where we should be this time of year. About 3/4 of the way, 73 to 75%. Okay. Um and so you see 100% on some, for instance, workers compensation. All right. Um that's a bill that we paid very earlier on in the year. Uh we don't anticipate having any more workers comp bills through the end of this year. We paid our premiums and so that has 100%. Okay. Um also another line item uh that has 100% or
072is under audit services 6315. Okay. Again those services were paid uh through the end of the year uh or they were paid earlier in the year. Um and so the work on the new audit for this fiscal year will certainly start um after the new fiscal year. All right. Um, one other, uh, line item I'll pull up. Um, if you go down to 6351, it says property insurance of about $950,000. That particular line item um, has $950,000. We're at 100% expended there as well. Again, those are bills that went to music. Um, and so I think we ended up paying those bills around uh, that December and January time frame. So you'll see a lot of expenses um uh come to the 100% and again those are expenses that we do not anticipate the remaining
073months. We have paid those through the end of April. And if we can go to the presentation now again let me let me if you go down just a little bit more and look at the expenditure number. Um the expenditure number is 167963,718. go down just a little bit more uh so that we're able to see uh that particular number. And there it is kind of in the middle of your screen highlighted in green it says total of all funds 167 million. Um I think again on the revenue side we talked about that number being 156 million. So we've got $156 million coming in. We've got $167 million going out. Okay. Um and so that is certainly the cause of some of the financial challenges that we're having in the school district. So if we
074can go to the presentation, I'll try to get through it uh and certainly address any questions uh if there are any. Okay. Uh so if we can go to the presentation now uh All right. Good. Okay. So, this is the amended budget uh presented on May 28, 2025. Uh mission of the Ferguson Florison School District is to provide highquality instruction to every student in every neighborhood while prioritizing uh equity and compassion relationships. The vision of the Ferguson Florison School District is for all learners to graduate believing that anything is possible and prepared to realize those possibilities. Uh the first slide here just shows the updated ASBR um as with any budget. Your ASBR is the summary um that goes to Desi of all of your expenses, revenues and uh and expenses in a school district
075and it gives kind of your overall fund balance. Okay. Um, in this particular case, um, there were some edits that we made and we communicated that. Um, and so our our, uh, ending fund balance as of last year is your starting fund balance for this year, which is 27,525,953.94. If we look at all funds, okay, let's look at all funds and then we're going to look at the operating funds. Um, that final green column looks at the amended budget and there are those numbers that we just talked about, the $156 million in revenues, $167 million in expenses. The final column, which is kind of an orange or a tannanish color, looks at the difference between the two amended budgets that were brought to the board. Okay, what are the differences? We know the original budget
076uh that was adopted was changed. Okay. Um and so uh what is the difference? And so we look uh and we see um that there's a difference of about $1.1 million under local. And we're going to talk about that in the presentation. Uh there's a difference of 170,000 under county. Um state actually went up. We had more money from the state. We anticipate more money coming in uh than we had budgeted for. Um on the federal we're down about $2.4 million um and then we're uh right at about $26,000 on uh the revenue side. So a total kind of a net total there of $350,000. So the revenues were not off very much at all uh amended budget over amended budget. Um but here's the issue. our expenses. Okay, this fiscal year, our expenses were
077just way more uh than our budget could anticipate or handle. Um, if you look at the salaries, very modest amount uh very modest difference. Um, benefits uh that positive number indicates an overage. Um, and the purchase services $3 million. We're going to talk about that. Um why that number uh is so significant um in all of this. Uh the other two numbers general supplies capital outlay roughly a million and then under other $218,000. So $5.9 million. Again this is all funds. Um all funds the bund uh the percentage is always going to be a little higher than your operating funds. And so we're going to look at it and see. So 9.60 6 overall fund balance, but on an unrestricted basis, we're going to end this year with a 5.43% fund balance. Okay. Um, not
078good. Uh, not good. Not a good situation uh to be in. So, I'm going to go to the next screen uh and look at uh each of these uh funds so that we can look at our operating fund balance um and then we can talk uh where we where we need to be. Okay. Um and uh and we look at the operating funds. So let's look at those green columns kind of in the middle. We'll see the first one says uh the second green column says 2425 revised 11. Uh revised 20. Uh and then there is that yellow column that shows the total of those two columns. All right. Um and so um we're looking at uh roughly that 5.43. This is the fund balance. Uh I think the number on the previous set 536
079I think it was copied wrong but 5.43 is the fund balance. Okay. For this particular uh for the operating funds um we see the balances are a little bit higher uh in fund 30 and fund 40. Um which gives us an overall of the 9.6. 6 uh that we spoke about uh earlier. So, um let's kind of go through and see where some of these differences are under local revenues. Okay, told you we were down by $1.1 million and the biggest impact here uh were our property taxes and our collection rates. Um our collection rate historically in this district has been around 85%. Um and so typically that's kind of where um where uh some of the shortfall came in at is that our collection rate uh has been lower. Uh our prophecy revenues and
080our Eminem searchcharge monies were slightly higher. Um under county revenues, we were down about $170,000 and that is uh our state assessed railroad and utilities uh were a little bit lower. Under state revenues, our basic formula monies were higher. Uh so we were glad uh there were some um collected uh protest payments that were out there uh from last year and so we were glad to receive those in this fiscal year. They were unanticipated uh but certainly uh we were glad to receive those and then our federal revenues were down. Okay. Um we uh uh there was a about $393 that we had submitted on a final expenditure report uh for our Esser 3 closeout. Uh and of course in the last several weeks we learned that uh the federal government has said that they
081are not going to move forward with funding any of those ESSER projects um that were filed or that had not met uh those original deadlines or where there were extensions involved. I think uh that was the the term that was uh was put out there. Um reduced title one and other federal uh program revenues uh based on actual spending as well. uh when it comes to the downward trend uh in federal revenues. Um salaries again just a modest uh amount there. Uh but our benefits okay our benefits were up on the expenses side. So uh we can attribute a lot of that to retirement costs the increased cost of retirement also in purchase services across the board. Let me say that this is by far the number one issue that we had with our budget
082this year. We are paying quite a bit of money on contract services. That's the issue. Okay. It's the revenues are short absolutely, but our contract labor is the issue and the pricing that we're paying. We just heard a presentation where we're paying we might budget $30,000 for an LPN, but when we go through the contract agency, we're paying $57 an hour. Okay, that's probably a $75 $80,000 salary. Okay. So, I want to make very clear to the board that the reason that our budget or or or some of the shortfalls and we've spent a lot of time going through this in our cabinet meetings and reviewing this is the work that we have done the last several months with meeting with department heads trying to get a handle on these purchase services. But contract employees
083are filling a lot of vacancies and they're filling them at much higher rates than we had anticipated. Okay. So the issue that we're having is contract services. Okay. Purchase services is the culprit. All right. And we got to do some things to get that uh under control. Also, uh my buddy, uh uh Mr. Mitchell and I talk every day. Boy, these McKenna Vento bills are coming in and they are coming in and we're billing as well. That money isn't coming in as quickly as it's going out, but those bills, those transportation costs related to Mckin Vento are certainly uh an item of concern as well. Okay. Um overall general supplies, we were over as well. Utility cost. Okay. Little bit higher than anticipated and so we've addressed those going forward. Um equipment purchases uh things
084of that nature as well were a little bit higher uh than anticipated and also we've got some borrowing charges in there as well. So uh here's some recommendations that I put together uh for uh for the school district and these are some of the same recommendations you will see when we talk about next year's budget. Okay. We must we absolutely must pass an operating tax levy increase in August. Okay. Um if it fails, we must bring it back in April. There is no way around it. We have to start bringing in more revenues than we are spending out. You've got to reverse that trend before you can address these concerns. And so without bringing in more money than that's going out, you're going to continue to deficit spend. We must we absolutely must pass it.
085We must bring it and we must pass it. So, there's a lot of work that needs to be done uh over the next several weeks and the next couple of months to get this thing on the ballot and to get boots on the ground uh so that we can get this tax levy increase passed. All right. Um we are going to have to borrow next year. We've already talked about that. I've brought the board along several months uh about this. We've been talking about that as well. We borrowed this year, we're going to have to borrow next year. Um, and so we've got the anticipated tax note uh on 25 million. The interest at 7% is about $368,000. We've got that budgeted into next year. Um, as well. Okay. Um, and some other recommendations, we've
086got to postpone any major spending until after property tax season. Okay. Um we cannot come in here in July and August and September uh spending millions and millions and millions of dollars. Okay? Um we have got to postpone some of those major things, you know, uh those major projects that happen in our facilities area. those things have to be postponed until property tax season, until we get those new revenues in um in order to sustain um uh where we are. Okay. Um so that concludes the presentation on the amended budget uh and I'd be happy to answer any questions at this time. Sorry. So, this is for board action. So, they have a make a motion. Pardon me. Okay. Discussion. Uh, thank you so much for taking our feedback this this time. I really appreciate
087how nicely you laid out all the budget stuff to be able to clearly see the mandate. I know you did not create the initial budget. I appreciate you taking ownership over trying to find solution. As you recognize, we're in a dire financial situation. I sent the board an email or Dr. Thurman an email asking us to form a committee to look at it with the board and work in a smaller committee with the CFO and the new superintendent and Mr. or more to really figure out revenue streams and expenses because you highlighted many points of we have to control our spending outside of payroll until we can figure out a solution. 1.5 8% 5% is not good. And so I appreciate how you laid it out and certainly we have a lot of work to
088do and I'm hopeful that people understand that we are in a dire we're at a financial emergency at this point in time I think is the better term to use. um as it keeps changing. We'll see where we end with our audited year to see because I know you're still predicting expenses. We know there's some policy changes regarding sick leave and that how much that might cost us this year based on people who might be leaving or retiring this year just because the policy changes next year which might cost us something. So certainly I appreciate you taking it make it easy to read and I know you recognize there's a heavy financial situation going on. So I appreciate that. I just hope that we can figure out how to work together and to problem solve
089this because it's it's not pretty and so we can't borrow our way out of it. I don't know if August is the community would support fully a tax levy increase until we figure out some things but certainly um I appreciate how you made it nice and clear for us to be able to read and understand this time. So, thank you. I've got one question. Is that Dr. Kevin Martin. It is when it's all laid out nice and easy to understand. Answer all the questions. Thank you. So, thank you for that. Thank you, Dr. Barton. You might want to wait. Okay. Questions. Um Dr. S, I just wanted to um kind of echo what Kevin said. It was really um good to see how you laid it out, especially like one been really asking what happened.
090Yes. And I think that presentation that you gave today really put it out there of really what happened um this school year, but we also know that this has been going on for several years. Yes. But I think um that that last one where it kind of said this is where this is is that really spelled it out for us to see too and giving us some stepping stones for next year in regards to where do we need to be looking at and um one of the biggest major issues is going to be hiring that we have to have um people so we won't have to go through contracts. So um thank you so much for your presentation. Thank you. two questions. And it's funny you mentioned that um the culprit is the purchase services,
091right? Because I I wrote it down when I was looking at the budget like what is this? So you explained to me what it was. So I appreciate that. Um the McKenna Vento, that was the first question. Um you noted how we're spit how we're sending the checks to these districts, but we're not getting them back as fast. My question is there, are we not getting the checks back fast from the districts we're sending money to? If so, can we pause? Yeah. You're not going to get my money until I get your money. I'm I'm just asking, are we are we identifying that? Yeah. Thank you, uh, Mr. Tyson, and and uh Mr. Mitchell and I have we have been meeting extensively about this. Um, and that's exactly what we're doing because we are holding
092some some payments um if other districts uh owe us. Um the concern and and you all need to be made aware of this. We've got a lot of students um that are deemed McKenna Vento students. Huh? Oh yes, ma'am. We've got a lot of students who are deemed homeless. Okay. That we are sharing the cost of transportation with other districts. Um I'm going to call on my friends Hazwood. We're sending Hazlewood a lot of money every month. It's in your board packets. those checks going to Hazlewood, sharing the cost of transportation, and we're getting districts all across the area. Okay. Um, and so, yes, we have instituted that. Um, and so I I think we've done a better job uh of trying to get a handle on it, but I'm telling you that is something
093that we are going to really have to get a handle on. Um, you know, following up with other districts. Hazelwood is good to follow up. Hey, you know, CFO called me directly. He says, "Hey, man. We're we're we're looking for this." And so, we're going to have to make sure that we do follow up with those districts. But yes, to answer your question, we have when there have been delays, uh we have simply said, "Okay, we owe you this and we're going to hold on ours until we can able uh to swap those checks." So, yes, we have. And the last question, I know you did your research, but I'm just curious to know, did you look into the line of credit thing? So, so the line wait before you go on go back to
094McKenna Vento, please. What can we do better with McKenna Vento? And are we doing what we're supposed to be doing in terms of following up um reverifying u uh uh uh addresses? Are we sure? Right. And I'm going to I'm going to let Mr. Mr. Mitchell, answer that and then I'm going to follow up because I've got some experience with this from my previous district. Okay. Um and it is going to boil down to what you just said. We've got to verify that this stuff is happening because the law says if they come in here and claim McKenna Vento, you don't ask any questions. You enroll them and you do your research later. Okay. But let me let Mr. Mitchell fill in that. Thank you. Um, and I I'm trying to be real thoughtful with
095my words because we're talking about kids. Uh, number one, we have about 1500 plus McKenna Vento students in a district with declining enrollment. So, just keep in mind that as you talk about doing other things with those kids, you're going to also impact your revenue. That's number one. Number two, we've got 300 plus students who have been removed from our district based on residency checks, McKenna Vento conferences, etc. So, we've done a I don't know what job I don't know what the numbers were before I got in the role, but that's the numbers to date. Uh we also um have a a staff of about five people who are in charge of the enrollment for the entire district. So, I feel that my staff does a fantastic job in terms of invoicing, contracting, you know,
096you have to verify attendance for kids and send those records and and then I think that we've been more lenient with paying people than other districts have been. Just be honest. Um, Hazlewood does invust us quite a bit, but Hazelwood also cuts checks quite a bit compared to other districts. So, I want to make sure I give them their credit as well. But that population of kids is a delicate group of kids that we I feel like that's one thing we do fairly well considering the resources and the the tier of those kids that we serve. But the contracted services are an issue. I mean, when you look at if we have a kid that we can't provide transportation for in district and we have to provide um a cab or a you know, I
097I say a overpriced Uber is kind of how you look at it. But when those services are provided for those kids, we have put things in place this year that if they miss three consecutive days, we stop the service etc. Uh but in my opinion, that needs to be its own department because that is hard for one person to manage. Um but we do invoice, we we got it checked today and so that's in my report for this week. But we um I can't speak to what was done before I got in the seat for the year, but I feel that we've done an amazing job as far as my team in terms of navigating through this for this year. Yeah. The only thing that I would add to that, and again, um in in
098in my previous district, this was a huge concern as well. Um we've got to have somebody who does nothing but make sure those bills go out and tracking these students. that's a full-time job in itself. Um, and I know that that person or these people in those roles have multiple responsibilities related to it. Uh, but billing is just as important as getting the bills and taking care of those bills. And so, um, you know, it's it's certainly something that I, you know, I volunteer that if finance would, you know, we if we have a list of those and and Mr. Mitchell has given us those lists. So, we've been trying to do some followup and communicating when those checks come in. Uh, but somebody has to be that has to be one of their main
099focuses and responsibilities is to making sure that those bills are going out on a very consistent basis. Um, and so, yes, sir. And we we hired somebody in in mid November that does that and she sat down with I think Parkway. And so, we use the same invoice system that Parkway uses. I think it's Parkway. I may be wrong, but we use an invoice system that we pay for some software that allows us to create those invoices and send them to districts and then we just have to print out the attendance, etc. for those kids to claim those miles to get reimbured for. That's it. Any other comments or questions? You you've already asked it, so let me answer it. So, so the the borrowing that we're going to do again um is is is
100a essentially a line of credit. Okay. Um so we are um we're we're not going to utilize only what we need and that's all we're going to be responsible for paying back. So that's essentially what a line of credit is. I know you're concerned about the sweep. We have the sweep option in all of our accounts. So please know that we're utilizing that. But unfortunately at this point in time, we just don't have enough money to be swept into an account that could gain us uh the type of interest uh that we really need. So um and I appreciate it. I mean, because you certainly have pushed uh for those things to happen. Uh and we are we're definitely doing our due diligence. Uh but but as as we've all said it, and I'll say
101it one final time, we are in a financial crisis. There is no way other way to say it. So on the the 3683,000 that's the interest if we borrow the full 25 million, right? That's the interest today now, you know. So that's the interest kind of today where interest rates are, right? That's just always just a a an average. So So the will this be a fixed fix? Well, it's locked once you sign the paper. Okay, never mind. I own question. No, you got it. Anyone else? I'm just waiting for you. Oh, no. I'm sorry. I was just waiting. Let's call for the vote. All right, Mrs. Mansory. Yes. Mr. Tyson. Yes, Dr. Graves. Yes, Dr. Martin. Yes. Who am I missing? Mr. Bailey. Yes. Secretary votes yes. Dr. Thurman. Yes. Thank you, Dr. Singleton.
102Thank you. Dispersements. All right. Let me try to get through dispersements uh really quickly. We've we've heard them. Uh the dispersements here are based on the amended budget. So hopefully we can get through them uh in a relatively short time frame uh and then spend the final piece of the presentation kind of uh focusing on next year's budget. So uh our dispers before you start, I'm sorry to interrupt. Do you all need to take a break? Does anyone need to take a break? [Music] You sure? Okay. Let's take five. We ran him away. Okay, thank you. And we are back. Dr. Singleton, we're I think we're ready for you now. Ready. Okay. All right. So, let's go through the dispersements. Um and uh we'll go from there. We've read the mission and vision already. Can
103is this thing on? You can hear me? Oh, okay. Oh, all right. Um we've read the mission and vision already, so I won't be redundant here. Um the dispersements for April of 2025, 11,712,757.99. Uh it breaks down our payroll and accounts payables. Um we've already been through this several times. We know what goes in each fund. So those descriptions really want to just highlight the revenue fund totals. Uh there's that $156 million again you just uh looked at and approved on the amended budget. And so as of April and again we got two more months left uh on revenues, we're at about 84% total. Okay? And you can see where each of those have been split out into those funds. Um these are just the graphs that go with those. On the expenses side, there's
104that $167 million. Okay. Um and we're at about 76% total on the expenses side. And the reason that there's a variance there obviously one of the reasons is because we expend uh so the way our teachers get paid in June in June uh there's a double payroll for teachers in June. Okay. So we have not realized that otherwise we kind of be neck andneck on the expenses uh and the revenues and so uh there's the graphic depiction of that as well. each of those objects. Again, I kind of showed you uh threequarters of the way through the the school year, a little bit more than that. And so, this is where we are in salaries, 75%. uh in benefits about 78%. Uh in purchase services about 75% in supplies about 83% in capital outlay about
10585% uh and then of course long-term debt in April is about 52. Now that's low uh but May is generally the time where we pay uh some of that outstanding debt. So next month you'll see that number uh in long and short-term debt actually that percentage uh should go up. Okay. Uh the projected fund balance here uh in April obviously is uh unrestricted uh at a 21.18% but again that is just a snapshot a picture in time that will continuously go down uh to the levels that we have projected uh through the end of the school year. Um, we we like to show this property tax comparison. Again, we're still a little bit ahead of last year. Uh, we still got some outstanding collection. So, we're expecting kind of maybe a final payment from the
106county in June. Uh, which kind of put us ahead of last year. So, um, again, I think one of the things that I'd also like to recommend us is some kind of way we've got to encourage our neighbors to pay their taxes. that collection rate of 85% is fairly low uh for this school district. Uh I've seen the rate in others uh at 90 and 95%. Um and so we certainly have to encourage our friends and family members who live next door of to us and in our communities uh to pay their taxes and pay them on time because the school district is the b the biggest benefactor of those property taxes. Okay, that's it for dispersements for April. Are there any questions? I have one quick question if I may. Do you want me
107to make a motion first? I move to approve the uh expenditures for the month as presented. Oh, sure. Just one quick question. I know it looks like June 6, I think, is the last teacher payroll. Not trying to be funny. I just want to make do we have enough cash to get us through like payroll to the next like when you anticipate us needing to borrow money to have money to start paying payroll. Sure. So what I'd like to do and again I I've talked to Dr. P. Walker. We're going to get that paperwork started in the next couple weeks because we want that money. We want to be able to close on it and we want that money sitting there going into the new fiscal year. We don't want to wait until we need
108it. Maybe we won't need it until July or August or September, but we want it sitting there so that once we need it, we're going to start pulling that money down. So, uh, we're going to get that paperwork started here in the next couple weeks. So, at least through June, you think we'll have enough? I think we'll be fine through June. We still have $20 million in MOAT. Okay. Um, and I checked the balance today. We got about seven or eight million. We got a million dollars coming in tomorrow from the early childhood that final payment. We still got a few things outstanding. Uh, as long as we can control these purchase services through the end of the school year, we'll be fine. But I think Dr. Martin, I think we should be okay with
109ending this school year. Um, some, you know, without having to to need those funds. I have one other question, and I apologize if you don't know it off hand, uh, that just came to mind. I know last year for this year we kind of ran into the problem of a lot of bills from last fiscal year getting paid this fiscal year which just throws off all the budget. Do you think we're in a better place to have all of this fiscal year's paid by June 30th so we're not running to the same issue next year? So let me say this. I I I think we're in a better place and we've done the work to get to a better place. One of the things that Dr. P. Walker and I had done and she had
110asked me to do was put out an email to all of the budget managers and principles about running an open PO report. An open PO report will do just that. Okay? It will let you know what POS are outstanding. Um and as long as we've got all those invoices, we can pay those bills. Now, the the the problem comes in if there are bills that just come out of nowhere uh that for whatever reasons have not been presented to finance. And so, I think we're in a better situation, but I I do not I I can't guarantee with all certainty that we're not going to have those oneoffs or two offs with with with some of what we've been dealing with. Thank you. Because I know that was just a big it was over a
111million some dollars from last year's for this year, which just throws off the whole budget piece. So, thank you. Yep. Thank you. And I know you can't answer the Well, you can't answer the question probably, but I know we hear a lot from our because you made a very good statement to encourage our neighbors to pay their taxes. And we've pled with the community like, "What can you do to help pay your taxes?" Because if that 50 I'm not I don't know what that 15% difference would would do, but if you paid your taxes, then we might not have to borrow $25 million. So I don't I just really am making a plea to our neighbors if you know to help our district pay your taxes because paying your taxes is how this district. So
112we were we were down in in property tax collections. Maybe about three or4 million. And so again, another three or4 million in this school district will make a difference. It'll make a difference. Kind of piggybacking off of what Tyson was saying, has there ever been known for school districts to send out a mailer just to say like this is where your tax dollars are going and so this is a reminder to pay your taxes? Um I have I've not personally done that here um and not in a previous district either. Um I do think that's a good idea. Um and maybe to have workshops and things like that on the importance of you know paying your property taxes um you know and and knowing where each of those dollars go on everybody's tax bill without
113unequivocally the school district is the biggest recipient of those property taxes. Um, and so I I you know I I love the idea and so maybe that's something that we can encourage staff to do and look at for next year. Put something together, you know, uh to to get out to the community. Okay. But it's going to cost us to do that. I mean, it is going to cost you. No, but maybe an email but we have other things that go out. So I would say you can attach it to something that was going to go out anyway. Like when we get ready to tell people that it's time to register for school, you know, I'm just saying. Um, so you're not talking about it doesn't have to be anything specific. I'm just saying like
114the that peach drawer doesn't cost anything. Putting it on Tyler doesn't cost anything. So just different ways that we can just say, "Hey, this is where your tax dollars are going. Have you paid your taxes? Have you talked to your neighbor about pass paying their taxes?" I just wondering like if we could actually say something about that. Good idea. Any other questions? More discussion? If not, call for the vote, please. Mr. Bailey, yes. Mrs. Manserie, yes. Dr. Martin, yes. Dr. Graves, yes. Mr. Tyson, Secretary votes yes. Madame President. Yes. Yes. And I will also I'm sorry, Madame President. I I was supposed to call from Mr. Gates. Uh we would like We have been We have been ignoring him. I would like to ask you, Mr. Gates, based on what you have heard from Dr.
115Singleton, if you were going to vote, what would your vote be? Yes. Thank you. Dr. P Walker, I think the Did you read the dispersements number? Did you read that? I I didn't, but you said the total, so I just went on so I didn't know, so I could read it. So that's okay. I just want Let me do it. Let me do it. Let me do that. I don't want to get me in trouble. No, that's all right. I just When you did the total, I thought we were good. Yes. Um, payroll teacher and non-teer 8,53849. I'm sorry, 58838,849.886. Operational dispersement 3,173,97.13 for a total of $11,712,756.99. And since it read, we don't have to go back and vote. Okay. Um, next up is Dr. Singleton. again. Third and final time. Three times as
116a charm. Thank you. Um, do we have the next presentation? Okay. All right. So, now we're going to talk about our budget for next year. Okay. Um, let me just say, uh, we have done a lot of work, um, with trying to put together the budget for, uh, next year. Um I certainly appreciate the board's support. Um we had some assistance from MoazBo. We've got a Moazbo consultant. Uh my team has worked day and night trying to make sure that we look at you know various things. We we we get the monthly memo from DESIE. And so uh we get information from there meeting with uh the grant managers and uh and so a lot of work has gone into uh putting together uh the budget draft the final draft for next year which of
117course we know has to be approved uh by June 30th. And so uh without any further ado we're going to go ahead and get into uh the presentation. And so um uh and I'm going to do it kind of similar to how we did the revised budget. Um there's a summary of revenue in your in your uh board packet. Um there's also a summary of expenses. We're going to call those two numbers to your attention and then we'll go through the presentation and kind of see uh where those lie. And so if you look at the green column, um just going down and looking at a few of those numbers, what are some of the big numbers that we depend on? Okay. Uh $59 million next year is what we are tenatively budgeting for current
118taxes. Okay. again, um that is kind of based on the collection rate. Now, we'd like to that number to be a little bit higher, okay? But we're going to be very conservative at this point. Um and I think that is going to be kind of based on and we're going to talk a little bit about this as well. Senate bill um SB 79. Which one? Uh senior tax freeze 790 SB1. What is it? Levvenia 190, I'm sorry. Uh SB 190 um plays a little bit of factor uh into that number as well. And I know Dr. Graves had asked about that a while ago. So we did the research, Dr. Graves, uh on that as well. So delinquent taxes again. So Prop C $14.2 million. Okay. Uh that is the statewide sales tax, your 1%.
119Okay. Um and so that number again those are concrete numbers that we can kind of tie back to. Uh DESIE has given us uh the formulas based on our weighted average attendance and so those are pretty good numbers fairly good numbers that we can count on for next year. Um we've got those Eminem sir charge uh sir taxes there right at about $12.6 million. If we go down about halfway through the page, we see basic formula. And again, this is a good format for you all to see what has happened or what what the amended budget looks like, what is the final budget, and then look over at that category where those percentages are to see uh exactly where we are. But again, for this purposes, we're just looking at the green column for the
120budget draft for next year. And a lot of next year, of course, is based on this year. Um, let me go back up to the 5141 row. Okay. Uh, under 5141, under where it says object, it says go down to 5141. That's interest. Notice we're only budgeting about $400,000 for interest next year. Okay. Um, we we certainly don't have uh, you know, we didn't do make the mistake of putting uh $1.7 million in the budget from previous. Uh but we do depend we do expect at some point to earn interest uh off of our mocad and also off of uh some other things that we have going on. All right. Um and so if we go down the list basic formula 5311 object $34 million. Now basic formula is going to go up for us
121next year uh because the calculations are going to be a little different. Okay. There's a new calculation um that uh that DESI has put in place uh and we'll talk a little bit more about that. Also, based on the school calendar, if you have at least 169 days in your calendar, basic formula gives you an additional 1%. Okay. Um and so um uh and so we have that information built in here as well. Okay. Uh we see classroom trust, we see all of those numbers. Um and so on the revenue side um we are uh basically forecasting uh that at about $151 million. Okay, 151 million8 $848,827. It's bold, it's green, it's at the bottom of your screen. That's what those numbers kind of add up to going into next year. Okay. uh if you'll
122pull up the expenditure side, we'll talk about expenses and then we'll get into the presentation and try to bring it all together and I appreciate the technology team for being so flexible uh in making sure we can see these numbers. Um so let's look at that green column and look at expenses. Okay. And of course, we know that the biggest expense in any school district are what? Salaries and benefits, right? And so, if we look at that $43 million in green, 43.8 million. Uh the 29.5 million, that's certificated salaries, that's non-certificated salaries. Okay. Um the 8 million in administrative salaries. All right. And we go down a little further in green, we see that 17 million that stands out. Okay. That's employee insurance. All right. So, those big numbers, those big numbers in the budget
123are really your salary and your benefit line items. Okay. Um and we're going to continue to go down. Um we've got some money in other professional services. We reduced that. Um we're hoping that those reductions will kind of uh show us some savings. Okay. Uh but those reductions were made as a result of the work that we did with all of the administrators and uh the budget managers as well. Uh we made some reductions to uh contracted pupil uh transportation to and from school uh etc. If you'll go down just a little bit so that we can capture uh that expenses total uh and then in the presentation uh we can kind of break a lot of this down. Uh so 157,284 157,284,55. Okay, that is the amount under expenses. So if we'll go to
124the presentation and we will see where we are headed for next year. Okay. So, uh final budget presentation draft one. Again, this has to be approved by June 30th. And so, as long as we take board action prior to June 30th, uh this has to be approved. So, uh tonight is just a draft. Uh if the board so chooses to uh approve this tonight, it's fine. or we can also bring if there's any changes between now uh and our next board meeting uh then of course you know we we can certainly approve it at that point as well. So uh it's certainly up to the board but I wanted to make sure that you all know that I think this time last year I think it was approved at the June uh the final meeting
125in June. So uh if we could get that in the first meeting in June this year that would be fine. If not uh as long as it's done by June 30th I just want to make sure we're clear. All right. Um, so I'm going to speed through a lot of this. Um, you guys, I don't I don't have to read to you. It just really talks about a lot of these slides were presented last year. Uh, the budget process. It focuses on resources in its most efficient and effective manner. Uh, it creates a detailed analysis of the revenues and expenses uh that allow the school district or the administration to direct its fiscal resources in a manner that best supports student achievement. And that's what the budget should be about. this budget should be put
126together to support student achievement. Um, and so this budget does align with our strategic plan. Uh, we talked earlier about the anti-racist standards as well. Uh, those six priority goals. It aligns to all of them. We support academics preK through six. Uh, we support academics 7 through 12 and postsecary success. uh priority goal of well-being, people and culture, human capital, financial and operational stewardship, community engagement and communication. Uh the FY26 budget is designed to ensure that there is equity across the district in both instructional and financial resources. All right. Training the district leadership on all aspects of smarter school spending uh and its framework to equity is still certainly recommended. And we've got some things planned to bring administrators along with the budget uh because we realize that there are uh administrators and and employees
127of the school district who are not always as versed or well-versed on a lot of these fiscal matters. And so, uh, we've got some boot camps and we've got some trainings coming up, uh, to address some of these things. All right, here's what a budget is. It's got five components. There's a message. Uh, there's a revenue and expense comparison. Uh, it's an estimated I'm sorry, it's an estimate revenue with comparative revenues. It's an estimated expenditure with comparative expenditures. We look at our debt schedule. And then there's a general budget summary. Um, all of this is researchbased. We won't spend a lot of time here. I will talk about input from the stakeholders. The budget preparation began in December of this past year. Uh budget meetings were held with every budget manager for buildings. Sometimes there
128were three or four different meetings that were held uh during the months of February and March so that we can really get a good understanding of what's going into next year's budget. Uh the purpose of those meetings was to review the budget request uh assess the needs for next year uh and make some recommendation. Uh there was an initial preliminary budget put together in March of 2025. Uh the FY26 budget was built on input from building personnel. Uh so this is not Dr. Singleton's work. This is a collaborative work uh all across the district. We met with principles. We met with super uh the cabinet members. uh we met with everyone across the district uh leadership uh to determine and get input into what the budget looks like. Uh again, the FY26 budget has some
129significant reductions from FY25 uh in all areas due to the budget crisis facing Ferguson Florison School District. Okay. um as aligned with strategic uh plan priorities one and two. The budget will support teachers through uh career and technical education curriculum um MTSS, dual credit, ELLL, all of those things uh are here present in uh reflected in the budget. Okay, ultimately a budget is a fluid document. All right, it does not remain the same. Uh when you know more, you do more. Okay, you make those adjustments. So the district will certainly measure um and our measurement to you is on a monthly basis. We give you a budget to actual report. So we report out uh and we've done that um in the past and we'll continue to report out to the board uh on the
130budget. Uh we're going to have some trainings as well. Again, I mentioned that um that we're going to have some trainings. I think we're going to start next week uh with the um uh the training that's going to happen uh to really get our principles and and administration in tune to a more budget mindset. Again, we've got to change mindsets, okay? Uh because the district right now, our financial situation is certainly one uh that needs to be uh addressed and looked at. Okay? So, there's some summer boot camp training coming up as well. We talked about the parts of the budget. Um, and let's just talk about high level some highlights. Okay, local. When we talk about local revenues in the school district, what are we talking about? All right. Our biggest source of local
131revenues are property taxes. All right. Um, we generally start receiving those in November and December. So, when we make the recommendation that we don't start that major spending until then, all right, we've got to pay payroll and benefits every month. That's got to be our number one priority. All of the expensive purchase services and things like that that are out there, um we can just not we cannot dive full head full speed in next year um until we start receiving the biggest piece of monies and that's going to be in that November and December time frame. Uh our assessed value is projected at about $1.6 billion. That's great. Okay. Uh but uh we've got to make sure that we do uh what's necessary to keep those property values going up in this school district. Uh
132property taxes are based on a projected tax rate. Again, we've calculated that going into last year. Uh when we present the tax rate this year, uh we will certainly align to something that's very similar uh to the tax rate. Um on the state side, we look at basic formula. That's our biggest piece of revenue. Um uh the district returns to a regular payment methodology for basic formula um classroom trust Prop C. All of that information is there and we've got a calculator that we're privileged to use with DESIE to kind of formulate a lot of these numbers. The state adequacy target next year is going to be at 7,145. That's an increase from 6,760 on this year. All right. uh classroom trusts, which are your gaming revenues. Um they are going to come in at
133about $576. And a lot of this information you can find in uh your DESIE memo or your monthly memo that comes out each month. On the federal side, again, title 1 2 3 uh four Perkins CTE. Um no ESSER revenues in FY26. All right. Um and we're going to talk about that's the biggest drop. That's it. Esser is done. All right. Uh Esser was good while it lasted, but that's one of the reasons that you'll see us kind of going back to what I call a normal budget. Okay. Uh for the last several years, we've been operating in abnormality. Uh that's because we've had four, five, $6 million a year in ESRE funds to rely on to do those special projects. But again, those monies are done. They're gone. And so you will see us
134go back to uh a regular uh a regular operating year. Okay. Transportation aid as well. Uh we've got some estimates there. Um and so we've used those estimates uh in our projections. The other thing is our enrollment projections. Uh we did some good work around revitalizing and revamping those. Um and so a lot of what we see in our budgets are based on the enrollment projections uh that we see uh and we've brought these to the board uh prior to as well. So let's look at next year's budget with all funds and then we'll look at it with operating funds. All right? And I got to caution you if you got a weak stomach. Uh it's probably uh uh it's it's time to time to face uh face reality. Okay. So here we are. All
135right. So, let's look at that final green column that says budget draft uh for May 28th. Okay, that $151 million is what we looked at um uh in that presentation when we did those revenues. That was the number $151,848.28. Okay. Uh and what we'd like to do is compare the final draft to the final budget amendment. Okay. Uh to see where there's some alignment. And you'll see that final uh tannanish colored column, we see that there's a revenue difference and that's downward of about $2.8 million. Okay. Um in the budget draft for next year, all right, local and we'll talk about uh some of the reasonings why. All right. Uh county is is relatively flat. Um we see on the state side uh that we're actually going to bring in just a little bit more
136uh in state revenues this year uh I'm sorry going into next year than we did uh in this current year. Uh we can see on the federal side we see that reduction in federal obviously um that is that can account for some of the ESSER programs that are not in next year's budget. Okay. So we've got 151 million 151.8. Let's go down and look at the expenses. On the salary side, um our expenses are a little bit lower. Okay, obviously we've done some work to try to reduce salaries, okay, and benefits just uh by a little. Um and so um and we know those reasons. Um um we've eliminated some positions. We've made some reductions um in terms of salary and benefits. Um also on purchase services, that's where a lot of this work was
137done. Uh and so we see that number there's a substantial difference between purchase services from the um final budget uh to the preliminary budget for next year. Um also kind of general supplies uh are going to be flat and then your capital projects um I will say that we have this budget really reflects um postponing a lot of capital projects. Now let me say there is a need and I think uh Mr. O'Neal would agree that there is a need to do these capital projects across the district, but this budget here simply reflects a lot of postponing those projects. And that's how we're able to kind of, you know, align some of these revenues and expenses for next year. Doesn't say we don't need them. Simply says that we're going to kick the can down
138the road until our financial situation gets better uh to pick up on some of these. Okay. Um and so a total of $157 million on the expenditure side. Um and so we see kind of where where we are overall all funds we're looking at about 6.8%. Now this is if we do nothing next year. Okay. Um it can look a lot better obviously if that tax levy that operating tax levy passes. Uh but this is if we do nothing. And this is kind of scary because we're dropping down into the numbers that really put us at an advantage or a disadvantage if you will. Uh and it could certainly threaten the fact that the state could come in uh and and and look at some of these uh con these considerations. And so uh I
139just want to make sure that we mention that as well. Um so those two numbers again at least on the operating side operating when we talk about overall fund balance that's one number but when we talk about operating the things that pay the day-to-day expenses okay um that number is a little bit shorter um and so 1.58% is the operating fund balance going into next year's budget I highlighted in red it is absolutely a state of emergency. Okay? And I just want to be clear that we're all on the same page that we know there is work that needs to be done to turn this around on next year. Okay. Um so here are the considerations. Again, we talked about Senate Bill 190. Okay. Um we factor that in. uh fortunate for this district, $200,000
140that is a few salaries, maybe a couple salaries, maybe a few teachers. Uh but that's the impact of Senate Bill 190 on the district. It's not a humongous impact uh as it may hit other districts. Uh but essentially what it does is lowers the collection rate because the bills will go out. Okay? Uh but it lowers the collection rate. Okay? Um other things that need to be considered and we won't go into these but we'll mention those things. Obviously, open enrollment. Okay. Uh we got to make sure uh that we understand the implications of open enrollment. Um I think there's a cell phone ban uh that just recently passed. All right. Uh music insurance. Okay. We've got we've built in a 15% increase in our liability insurance next year because our workers comp mod is
141extremely high. Let me say that. Okay. workers compensation, the mod. Okay, that's the number. Uh, a one is a relatively moderate number. Everybody wants to be at a one or below. Okay, ours is like 1.58, 1.6. Okay, and so our experience mod is very high. And so we that's why our insurance uh to music uh is very high. And so uh we saw that go out the door this year. We need to build in that cushion so that there's no huge surprises for next year. Um, uh, the Senate Bill 727, again, we talked about the additional school calendar provisions that are present. Um, again, we're going to benefit from those. We have at least, I think, 171 days, if I'm not mistaken, that's built into our school calendar. So, we're going to get the extra
142uh uh percentage uh so uh for having the minimum of 169 days. Okay. Uh uh brother Tyson uh the district we currently utilize that sweep method. However, our cash balances are too low right now to draw a lot of interest. So you don't see a lot of interest uh revenue that that we're going to gain this year or going into next year. Uh and so we just want to make sure that you know we've done the research. Uh but if if we had that wealth where the money could just sit and earn that interest, uh then certainly uh it could certainly put us in a better situation. These are the same recommendations from the amended budget and I'm going to go over them again uh so that we're all clear. We must pass an operating
143tax levy. This is not a bond issue. Let me say that. Okay? Uh because I know most often we hear about bond issues. Bond issues pay for capital projects. All right? We're not trying to pay for any renovations or capital projects. All right? And operating tax levy increase. You can pay for anything operational. All right? And that's salaries. That's benefits. So, we need an increase in the tax rate that our our uh uh re residents are paying. That's what we're asking for. Okay? Uh and that's the work that we're going to get started on uh immediately. Okay? We need to pass it in August. The good thing about August is if it fails, we can bring it back in April. But we're going to be positive and optimistic. The community is going to come to
144our rescue. We're doing some good things. Okay? We've got a new superintendent in place, new leadership, and so now it's time for the community to come to our rescue. And so we're asking and we're going to make sure hopefully we're asking that that uh that will happen. Uh district must borrow. Again, we talked about that $25 million is kind of the estimate right now. We've got the interest built into the budget for next year. And again, postpone major spending. My colleagues cannot get up here, okay, telling you that they've got to spend millions and millions and millions of dollars in July and August and September, okay? That cannot be. We have to operate on a barebones mentality. Okay? Um and so those are the recommendations again to get us on good grounds. And I really
145believe that once we are we get on good grounds, we still got work to do. We still got some cleaning up to do. All right. But that is going to turn us into a much more favorable uh situation. Um and and and take us back or or put us and make sure we're maintaining uh this this this outstanding uh district that we know that we have uh and that we know that we are uh capable of being. Okay. So that's where we are for next year. Uh, and if there are any questions right now, I'd be happy to take some. So, this is not for board action, so it's just for discussion. So, we'll start down here. Thank you. And obviously as you prepare the final budget and all that, one question that just came
146to mind for tonight, if you could propose and work with your colleagues in cabinet, what are things that you would consider outside of payroll that we should delay paying just so we have some idea if there's purchases that you already know upfront that you would recommend delay to here? And if you don't know, that's fine. But as you work through with your colleagues until the June 25th meeting, figure out what are those purchases. Obviously payroll, we know we have to pay payroll. Sure. some of the curriculum stuff we know we have to pay upfront because we don't have a choice but to pay it upfront. But if there's big purchase things that we're talking about millions of dollars or whatever, if you just know those, it'd be helpful if you could just highlight them when
147you present the final budget in the public hearing uh at the June 25th meeting. Yes. No, that'd be great. Uh Dr. Martin, and we will do just that. One idea that comes to mind, when you have those big ticket items, we've got to learn, we've got to split those up. Okay. Um, we just can't pay a million dollars in July or August. Okay? If we can pay 250,000 in July and the other 250 in September and the other 250, it's that kind of of of analysis and action that we need to take. But I would certainly be glad to highlight some of those big purchases and make sure that we reach out to those vendors to let them know that next year rather than getting that money up front, we're going to make sure that
148we we we make those installment purchases. Thank you. Yep. Question. Okay. I I thought I heard Did you say that if we were at 169 days, we get an additional 1% Yes. Now that we're right at 174 180 now, right? I I know we're above the 171. I don't know the Is that Okay. Yeah. So, what if we got to 190 195? Uh Mr. Tyson, you'd be the only one here if we got we got up to those amount of days. Uh but now let me let me make sure it's clear. So, it's not an additional 1% on the formula. Okay? And I got to make sure that I get the language right. And it's in the Desi memo. Um I think it's it's it's attendance dollars. And so let me just make sure I
149understand cuz it's not that that that $34 million. It's not an additional $3 million. Okay. So I want to make sure we got the language right. Get the 217. I'm sorry. Um my question is um and it might not actually be for you, Dr. Singleton, but I guess I'm trying to figure out just the process. Um, one of our major issues uh coming into this year was just how we were looking at um positions opening open staffing and that whole line item. What did you guys do differently this year um to make sure that those numbers in regards to the staff or the administ I mean the um schools having the appropriate number of teachers um that we know exactly what positions needed to fill not fill was there a group meeting um was everybody
150at the table or did we work in silos I just kind of want to know that process no thank you and I can just share with you the involvement I think that human resources and finance worked very well together this time. Okay. Um so much so that that our numbers, you know, kind of agree. Okay. Um I think the budget that is being recommended, I think the personnel count is 1424. That's the magical number that HR and I and we were comparing even as late as this evening walking out the door. That number didn't change, you know, and so um so we did we worked together. We had a lot of meetings. I have their spreadsheet. Um, and there are vacancies in here and so understand that there are vacancies and we had to put
151a number in for those vacancies and I think $63,000 was was was pretty close uh to the to a vacancy uh number that we used. Uh but we did we worked together. There were several meetings um you know and again I know there were meetings that I was not privy to but in terms of putting the financial piece of this together uh human resources uh uh Dr. Haywood and her staff uh and we worked we worked very very well together to come up with something that we shouldn't be in that same situation next year. So our numbers should align. Um and I don't know Dr. Pwalk if you want to add a little bit more to it the process. I know you've met with them as well. Absolutely. and our assistant superintendent, they did a
152great job at our principal meeting, our last principal meeting that we had um some of our HR staff there as well to kind of walk through with principles about the needs and what was going forward. And so those are the positions that were posted. So it's been a team effort which we're very proud of. Any more questions? You have a question? Yeah, just speaking with Dr. Graves, if we could get with the final budget, that spreadsheet, I know we saw it forever ago. just a final spreadsheet that shows every position that was approved, which ones are vacant, and then even if administration could code like this is being filled a truly vacancy or it's filled by a contract or sub just so we can all be on the same page of knowing exactly going throughout
153each month even we have dispersements just having it updated that way we're all locked in step of there's no question we know that we have let's say 200 teacher vacancies I think was the last report we got right so as we get to the school Maybe we fill a hund of those positions with teachers and we fill some with subs, but I'm sure there's still going to be some that we can't fill with subs that maybe are truly vacant versus subs just as we move forward so we can all be locking stuff because we know 80% of our is almost salary and benefits give or take. Yeah. So, no, that's something that we can get from human resources. Thank you. I have a question. the numbers that you have on here. Um, does this include
154the payout of the retirees for this year? So, let me say this and thank you for for and that's another expense um that I am recommending that we delay until July. Okay. Um, so we do um and we do have quite a quite a bit of pe quite a quite a few people uh who are retiring uh versus last year. Um, and those payouts are in excess of at least $1.2 million, the last number that I've seen. Okay. Um, and so some of my colleagues are in the room. I won't call any names or some of the culprits to those high numbers. Uh, but I will say that that expense and the recommendation is that and that has always happened that we have paid that out in July. So you won't see that in the
155amended budget, but you will see that number prelim in the preliminary budget or the budget for next year because that will that will be paid out in July. The other thing that the board is we've talked a little bit about this and we're going to do our due diligence as well and make sure that we're doing what we need to do and watch our spending, you know, for travel, food, and things like that. and we'll have more discussion about that as this budget comes um up to be voted on. Are there any other comments or I just wanted to ask a question. This budget needs to be approved by when? June 30th. So, we'll we'll bring it back with any changes or if and it and again, if you all have any suggestions and and
156you've made some tonight, um the final version of this will come um at the last meeting in June, but um statutoily it needs to be presented approved by June 30th. Thank you. I know this says for action, but this is right for us information on it. Okay. Um, so I think we're done with you today. Oh my goodness. Thank you. Are you good? I'm good. Okay. I survived. Yay. Thank you for your hard work. Really appreciate it. Um, so and there he is. He's ready. Policy updates. Yes, ma'am. So, there were 11 policy sections in total. Um, and we are on our last one. So tonight we will be presenting the final reading for section J students. Um we have had board members on our policy teams. We have had FFNA. We have had students
157comment. We have had um cabinet members comment and we are ready to present section J. Um and the recommendation from administration is that the board approves policy section J students starting July 1, 2025. May I have a motion? So moved. discussion. Just one quick question, Mr. Moore. Are you with all the things going on in the world certainly ready for administrative procedures to be done by July 1 with all the new policy revisions still? Yes, sir. Okay. Happy June. Yep. You need to think about that. No, I did not. Okay, good. I'm confident. Y and I would like to thank um my my colleague in for on uh policy J. We work together uh Dr. Pal Walker and myself. So, we finally got it done. We had the longest one. I was there as well.
158200 pages. Oh, that's right. You know what? I am so Get me Get me. You're right. But you came on as a parent and you finished up as a board member. Thank you so much. I am so sorry. Kevin was hiding you. He was leaning forward so I didn't see. But but thank everyone for the job that you did to um do these policies and it was not an easy job to do and it was very timeconuming but well worth the work. Yes ma'am. That that was put in and thank you uh doc Dr. Moore. I'm I'm giving you that title. Uh uh Mr. Moore for the work that you did too for leading this leading us in this. Yep. Okay. Dr. Dr. Just for clarification, um I know there's been some murmurings around the
159district um in regards to school uniforms for next year. And to my recollection, the board has not voted on removing uniforms. Is that correct? We have not. And I don't know why that has is out there somewhere that we're not doing it. I just wanted to make sure publicly that we're saying that going into next school year, we still have the uniform policy. It is still Yes, ma'am. Page 43, student dress code. Um, it is not restrictive. U, Dr. Crawford and I just looked at it. So, we can continue with uniforms. It just says that there has to be a dress code that's equitable and that doesn't just arbitrarily punish students. So we still can have a dress code, a school, we still can have uniforms. That's not the same thing. Is that what your
160your point? So yeah, so we do need to to talk about that. I did see that. So yeah, because the board has not said we didn't want uniforms anymore. And so I just want to say until that's voted on until that's voted on then it needs to go in effect for next school year. But wouldn't we be the voting on it by approving this policy section? We leave it up to administration to interpret the policy as is the new policy because then there's administrative procedure that that would be up to them to decide what that includes. Right. I think what Courtney is saying is that there is conversation in the community that we are moving away from uniforms alto together. So I think she's just I think there's two separate things happening. We have the
161policy that still has the uniforms in it that we're going to vote on, but there's also a conversation out there. And I think she's just wanting to make it clear to the community that until you hear differently, whatever has been in place for uniforms, even if it is interpreted at the building level, is still in place. That's what I think I'm hearing. Right. It sounds like we need to have some more discussion around um this because are we going to say some schools will have it, some won't? Because you got families, remember we've got these grade bands where we've got kids who are going to different schools and parents who are in three and four different schools and some schools have them, some don't. Even budgeting, I mean for a household that the cost of
162uniforms for a household can be significant. So that's important that we get this handled. So, what is the board's pleasure? I say no change in regards to the uniforms. So, I mean, I guess if we approve the policy, it still could allow for uniforms could allows for equitable access. And then when we look at the administrative procedure, which we don't approve that necessarily, it still talks about the shirt, the skirt, skirt, shorts, or equivalent to cover undergarments with shoes, boots. It just doesn't specify kind of the different color choices that we highlighted, per se. It doesn't No, it it doesn't talk about uniforms. It does not. It just says people can make up their correct. But in the procedures, it outline some more things, which I know we're not approving. So, if we want to
163change the policy, that would mean we withdraw tonight's policy and go back to another reading of this, or we can just pull section policy JFCA off of this for further discussion and tweaking and approve the rest of them if that's the board's desire, too. What is your doc, Dr. Graves, would you be comfortable with pulling that one item off? I mean, I'm I'm fine with that. I just don't I whatever we decide it needs to be what we're going to say because like I said there's conversations. Yeah. No, there are conversations that the board basically have approved already that there's no uniforms and I don't think we ever voted on that. So, can we amend our our Oh, did we do the motion? We didn't do the motion yet. So, So, do we need to
164go back and amend the motion or take it back? I I guess for me, I guess if the board desires to have uniforms, the policy could still stand. It says dress code, student dress code enforcement should not result in unnecessary barriers barriers to school attendance. We could add to direct administration to continue with uniforms, but not change the policy. The policy already allows for uniforms to be in place. So from a policy perspective, there's no need to change the policy. If the board desires to give a directive that we want to keep a form of dress uniforms in place for next school year, we can make that motion under either new business because the policy allows for it. You look strictly at the policy. It allows for school uniforms to be in place. Just doesn't
165dictate what the polic what the dress code specifically is. Okay, that is really confusing. Well, I think we don't want to get in the weed. A policy shouldn't be in the weeds of saying you want it to be this, this, this, and this. You want to say there's a dress code for students to wear at school. No, no, no. We said specifically there's a policy. There's a uniform, a uniform policy, right? And this says there's a student dress code. That's what it's not the same. It's not I know how you feel about uniforms. This is I mean I just view that as the same because when you look at the procedure so um I I'm going to ask that we pull that and that we have more discussion. Yes ma'am. The entire policy not the
166entire policy just JFCA student. Is that okay with the I'm fine with pulling JC JFCA is the person who made the motion off for further discussion and approve the rest. Uh second and we need to have that on our agenda for next our next board meeting. Yes ma'am. Please. Well, we may have to do something with the with the the 11th. Is everyone okay with that? And so, can we call for the vote for or for the remainder of the policy? So, if I can ask a clarifying question. Sure. Does it just so administration knows what they have to do, right? Is it the desire for us to continue having I heard Dr. Gra said she prefers to have uniforms continued. That's not I don't think that's what she actually said. I thought that's that
167you prefer. Is that what she said? You said it's I said to keep what's in place that we are not changing to keep uniforms for next year, right, Dr. Graves? Yeah. Yes. What's in place? We have not had a discussion on no uniforms. So yes, what's in place? Not that you actually prefer uniforms, but keep what we have in place because we have that as policy right now until we discuss it further. Got it. Clarify. Yeah. No, I was just You looked like you might have still been confused. I know. I got it. I just want to make sure they know what they go do so we're not spinning wheels next week. Follow the policy until it changes. Like that's what I'm hearing. Call for vote. Dr. Graves. No. Now to to clarify. I'm just
168voting I want to vote no for Okay. I just want Yeah. No. But yeah, to make sure we understood. Okay. Okay. Let me make sure I understand. You're voting no on 11 all together. Yes. Even though the Even though the uniform piece has been pulled out, right? Yes. Okay. I think people just want to clarify. All right. Dr. Graves has voted no. Mr. Tyson, Mr. Bailey, yes. Mrs. Masserie, yes. Secretary votes yes. Dr. Martin, yes. Um, and Mr. Gates, although the vote would not be recorded. Oh, um, you're last. You're last, remember? Um, Mr. Gates, although the vote would not be recorded based on what you've heard, how might you vote? Yes. All right, Madame President. Yes. Yes. Okay. Any new business? Yes, Madam President. I just want to follow from the email I sent
169if the board's willing to look at creating a task force from the board or additional committee to start working with the new superintendent at some point, the CFO and Mr. more to start exploring a smaller board committee to look at finances for next year, revenue streams, expenses, etc. to be more nimble and uh to dive in a little bit deeper, not necessarily at board meetings. The board would get the whole picture, but I don't know if if people want to discuss that. Yes. Uh I sent that out earlier to you all to the board and so if you want to have some more discussion around that so we can make a decision on how we want to move forward with that or tweak it or I do agree that it we definitely need um essentially
170some I wouldn't describe as a task force. I just feel like the board is responsible for the budget. It should never be a subgroup specifically responsible for the budget because we all hold fiduciary responsibility as a board member. I just feel like entirely the board should be able to really date like have a deeper dive into the budget. I just don't understand how. And I think that's probably your theory as well is trying to figure out how to do it without having more meetings and open sessions. But as one of one of seven, I really feel like it's my responsibility to fully understand what's really going on um in real time. I think um I I definitely think that as a board we need to and we've already said to the community that we're going
171to put things in place and uh provide increased oversight for the budget. Um for me um I think that I would want to revisit the need for this committee every 90 days or something like that. that what I am concerned about is us having a new superintendent coming in. And while it is stated as help, it can also be um I mean just I don't know what you call that micromanaging creating not you know some some sort of environment for this new person. Um, and I guess I also want to say like I don't want us to have a trauma response, right? We're coming out of a bad situation. So, we're like on on eggshells. We still have a responsibility to hire somebody that we believe can lead the district. And I think we've done
172that. And so while I think it's okay to have something in place while the boat is shaking and we're trying to get things back in place, I worry about the now I'm just going to call it the the the all the phone calls, all the emails, do contacting people five or six times a day, making the people who have to do finances crazy because you need to know every little detail. So I feel like if it were to be done, I would want there to be something in place where every 90 days as a board, we need to verify that there is a need to keep this committee. That's my opinion, to keep it in place. Kind of going back um to what Jamal was saying, I just think it's right now the way um
173Dr. Singleton just kind of pointed out um it's all hands on deck with that. And if anything before we com do a committee I think the board as a whole still need a better understanding and really handson in regards to what is coming out what's going in um and so I know if I recall around this time we actually had finance workshops um for the board and so before we go to the committee because I think um there should be a standing finance committee anyway regardless if we look at other school districts. Most school districts have those. Um but I think um before we jump to that, the board in its entirety um we all need to understand um and make sure that we're asking the right questions. We need to decide what is our
174monitoring and our accountability is going to look like for this new school year. So I think the committee is great. I just don't think at this time right now um is what's needed, but we need to also put in place what are the rest of the committees that we're going to need anyway moving forward. So, I think that finance committee is needed, but um making sure as a whole that we are all a part of this discussion. I think those are all, you know, valid points. Certainly, I don't think any of us want more meetings because I feel like we meet a lot and see each other already. I think, you know, maybe in August when we start seeing actually where our budget's at, where we end the year, when we start getting some hardcore
175numbers to Dr. Graves's point, even looking at finally, maybe we're at a place where we can trust each other to have committees because I think that's part of the reason why we've not had committees, right, for a while is but maybe when we get to place of like looking at committees overall and we can also then ask our new superintendent what what his desire is as well. Okay. Any other new business? Hearing none, seeing none. Quickly, uh, the meeting is May I have a motion to adjourn the meeting? Second. All in favor?