2/4/26 DCS School Board Meeting

001Okay, I'm going to call the uh February 4th school board meeting to order. If everyone could join me for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, I'm just going to read the board norms as our new practice. Work together and be collaborative. Assume good intentions. Be present and prepared for the meeting. Challenge the issue, not the person. And be respectful. We are on to minutes from January 21st. All right. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from January 21st. Second. >> Any discussion? >> All right. All in favor of approving the minutes from January 21st? >> I. >> Any opposed? All righty. We are

002on to public comments. I can't do that for old center road. I just wanted to make a comment or clarification or just informational. Um the school board had talked about um busing for high school students and the cost and making them pay and I went home talked to my family about it. And my husband said that uh when our children were going to high school that we were charged $70 a month >> um to pay for busing. And if you use the in inflation calculator, you get a cost of like 13176 give or take. So I just thought that I would pass that information on to you guys that it had been done in the past. Um we were new to Deerfield. We're shocked that we didn't have busing. We're grateful that town's people figured

003it out and it was an item that we only had to pay for for six years and it wasn't added on to tax bills. That is what I was told by the counties at that time. So, just passing that on. Thank you. Great. >> Thank you so much. So, I have handouts I'd like to refer to if you could just take one and pass it down. Uh, hi. My name is Marian Clark, Old Center Road, and uh I have um I just want to share with you that I was the petitioner on warrant article 7, which is shall the Deerfield School District continue to offer high school choice policy that has increased spending and taxes by sending students to multiple high schools at tuition rates districts cannot negotiate. Uh, no vote encourages the school board

004to negotiate a stable and cost-effective tuition contract for the high school offering strong academic and program opportunities. This article is advisory only and does not require any current high school to change schools. This article is submitted by petition. And so, um, I haven't had a chance to talk to this board about it. I just kind of wanted to explain my reasoning on this. And um I really kind did this because I was very concerned about the the illegal and frankly unethical antics of the municipal budget committee when it comes to the budget and specifically the budget as it applies to DCS. Um, I found some of the choices they made punitive and I understand that they could result in a loss of nine or more teachers uh after we got through the $3 million down

005to the um what it what it is at now. Um I'm also pretty disgusted by misleading and incorrect information that's floating around online. Uh, and it concerns me that people will make decisions based on some of what they read. So, um, I'm I'm also concerned about their fact there are people who are being forced to leave this community because they can't afford to pay their taxes and or they're having to choose from paying their paying their taxes or paying their car bills or paying their medical bills. So, I I just kind of wanted to to u look into these costs. uh per pupil and what it costs us. So what I have for you and just as a as an aside u I'm being represented as someone who doesn't care about education online and I

006just want anyone who doesn't know to know that I um I have been teaching for 19 years at the University of New Hampshire. I teach courses in business analytics at the business school. I also hold a fellowship in assessment and accreditation and serve on a couple boards where I represent education uh for industry employers that we have. So I do care about education and I also care very much about balancing our education with what we have to uh support how we how we can pay or or uh or manage our taxes. So I what I did to what I looked into that kind of gave me the idea of of of the warrant article is if you look at the handout that I've given you, this data on this first page is based on the

007form that your board submitted um with respect to finances on uh the the uh 2425 school year. And if you look at it, it shows and this is this is I believe on the warrant as well that the uh state of New Hampshire Elementary School's uh average cost per pupil for the state is 23,533. Deerfield Community School for the 2425 school years 22 thou 22,622. Now um what what I calculated and what's in this document is based on um my taking data out of the DOE25 and you can back it you can look at what I have you guys have submitted that form but if you look at the state of New Hampshire average cost per pupil for high schools it's 22,263 what we pay for high school per student tuition including the special education.

008So comparing apples to apples is $25,930. We spend $3,37 more per student on high school. Was that my three minutes? >> Um so I would just like you to take a look at this. I know you have to to speak about you're going to talk about a couple of comments, but um there's some really good data here that supports the um the idea that we do spend a lot on high school and it's a cost that we really should be looking at managing better. Thank you. >> Thanks so much. >> Other public comments? Okie dokie. uh board discussion about public comments. >> It's interesting that this came tonight because I actually was reading I can't even remember what I was reading through now because I've just been so and saw this with um the >>

009probably your drive. It was the drive. >> It probably was the drive. Thank you. It was the drive and then I saw that. Thank you. Um and saw this information and I was like h it was it was enlightening. And I also agree with um the information that's out there and I now I'm taking a little like not to blame but I wish there there was a way we could get information out there other than Facebook. Um and I didn't think about it earlier and I know even if you send a flyer some people read it, some people don't. Um, but yeah, there's just a lot of information out there and I just wish we could get the facts out there. >> Yeah, >> it's very hard. >> Um, and it is hard because if

010you look at the uh New Hampshire Department of Ed numbers, it just lists our elementary school. So, you have to do a bit of math >> to figure out the high school numbers. So, this is helpful. Thank you. Can I say something quickly? Yeah. I just want to make sure that Marian is recognized for being on the school board. >> Yes, you didn't. Um, and to clarify, um, I know you want you to get your facts straight. It was nine staff members, not necessarily nine teachers. So, I just want to make sure that information is >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Um, okay. >> And that's in addition to the one we had already taken out. >> Correct. Correct. Budget. So, >> and keep in mind that that was still another quarter of a million that

011we would have to find to get to the 750, >> right? But we I just in addition to what the board to do before. >> Yes. Correct. >> Okay. Um, anything else? I do think um the busing there's more to discuss there for sure about that um in the spring. I was wondering can can I ask Mary question the special ed information that you got is that that's on the state website. You pulled it up in a different spot. >> Yep. It's on >> it's on the if you I can it's right in there and it's divided out by regular education and special education and and it does not include any out of any any u any uh uh private placements which is a separate item. So it is public special ed funding and then

012regular funding. >> Thanks. This is really useful. >> Okay. Um we are on to agenda review. I don't have anything to add or change and I don't think we're going to need non-public I guess TBD but so far no non-public. Um review of correspondence. I don't believe there was any received by the full board in the past two weeks. Nothing for consent agenda. So, we are on to immediate business. Uh, first item is the 2627 school year calendar. >> Well, Mr. Green showed up at perfect time. >> Yeah. On Q. Do you are you okay giving everybody an update on the calendar? >> Okay. >> Um hi. Sorry. >> Hello. Welcome. >> Did we win the basketball game? >> Uh the girls won the basketball game. >> Yay. Excellent. Um so um ironically this calendar

013is almost identical to your calendar. I think everything's off by one day and it's um so essentially uh staff have um 185 days. Um, and you'll notice that's with seven built that's seven days on top of the 178 um that the students do. Um, the one big thing that's different than last year is this year we had two full weeks off in December for Christmas. Um, and this year coming um it'll be back to the traditional like week and a half or so. So that two week thing happens about every four years. Um we still have our two builtin parent teacher conference days on one in November on voting day and then also in um in March for the voting. >> This says it's in April. >> Oh, sorry. That's just district one. Sorry. Um

014April is the voting guarante. So >> yeah. >> Um our last day would be the 16th of June. That's with the five, we say five built-in snow days, it's not really five days. It's >> equivalent to five school days and hours. So when we have a delayed opening or an early early release of a water situation, um we total all those hours up. So it comes out to about five a little over five school days. So um and we haven't had to use it's been a long time, right? It's been quite a few years, but we haven't had to use all. So, um, but yes, we get us out on June 16th. So, >> Mr. Grieve, he met with the DEA. So, >> Oh, yeah. So, yeah, we don't just make this was up to

015us. I would have birthday. So, >> we could at least note it on the calendar day, >> right? Um so yes we we um we well we used to align more towards conquered as closely as we could and obviously that's gone away the last few years. Um and so we um create this kind of based on what we currently do but also look at other high schools in the area. Cobra is a little bit more challenging. Yeah. But even Cobra has shifted a little bit um there seem to be starting a little bit later August this coming year and ending a little bit later into May. So um and that could be because of the city schools sitting counts. Uh but yes, we meet with the union um they formulate a bunch of questions and

016then they we well I meet with Greg and Heather the representatives for the union. they collect information from their union and we meet um to answer any questions but traditionally there's not too many. >> Make sure to note that the deer field fair is October 2nd this year. >> Usually it's last weekend of September but >> it all depends on when Labor Day falls. >> Yes. >> Yeah. It's late this year. >> It is late this year. Mhm. >> So, >> you said um teachers are contracted for 185, >> correct? >> Just clarifying because that was something I read on Facebook that they were only contracted for 179. Yeah. >> No, they're contracted for how many par educators are are 180 180 I think. >> Yes. because they attend the day one day in August,

017one of the two days in August, and they also come to the October PD day and then have a um in their contract that if we have a snow day between um I don't know before the March PD day that they attend the March PD day. If we don't have a snow day, then they then they don't have to attend that day. But if we do, then they attend. So cool. Any questions? There is pending legislation about starting school after Labor Day. We'll have that in our contract. >> Yeah. If that becomes the law, we'll change but >> not right now. >> Wait, we can't wait until that. >> Um, >> yes. >> All right. >> No. I know a lot of schools in the area do. >> Yeah, the building those built-in days helped

018tremendously. So, a lot of schools don't have that. >> One of the things that's always concerning to us because we considered doing that for the professional development day last Monday that was can or two Mondays ago that was cancelled. It was last Monday. >> Last Monday. >> Um but there's >> a year ago >> four years ago the um the power the internet frequently goes out into your field. So don't risk that. And then some people can come and some people can't and then have the arm. Some kids can log on, some kids can't. So we typically we don't have to typically do a traditional snow day. >> No, but kids can play in the snow too. >> Yeah. No, no, I was just wondering >> do kids stuff. >> And we don't send devices

019home. >> Yeah. Right. That was I was going to say my son-in-law school does not do because they do not have enough >> Chromebooks for everybody to have. So that's a disadvantage for some kids. So they have regular snow days now. All righty. Um, I'll make a motion to approve the uh 2627 student and staff academic calendar. >> Any discussion? Okay. All in favor? >> I um Okay. Reviewing board goals. Uh >> oh, that's okay. >> I didn't drop it into the drive. It's It's because we already had a drive. >> It's in the drive folder. >> Does everybody need a copy? >> She can read them to us. We're good. >> I can read. >> Thanks. >> If I can ask a quick question while we're waiting for that. Um, so did you Who

020did this? Did you do that? This is the um >> I did that. >> It's not the same number that >> So the state average this is not necessarily K to8. That's state average cost per pupil period. >> Okay. Because it does say K to eight. >> Yeah. It's the way that the DOE works out some of their stuff in the platform. There's different platforms you can get different kind of costs per pupil. And I had to separate out because the way that there's one sheet that does their cost per pupil, but it lumps schools in together. And so some of them mix into like their high school costs. So you have to go look at each school individually and pull their individual record of cost per pupil. >> So the individual numbers are the

021>> they're purely for that school alone. >> You guys have the exact same number for that. the state average. So, this state average includes some high school. >> Yep. That includes all the cost per people for all schools in the state. >> I just want to get that straight. >> Yeah. But the region average is only the average of the schools listed below. >> Yeah. And those are all the kids. >> Yeah. >> I should say Kendra started this document. >> Yes. >> But then I changed it all. >> Yeah. It's convoluted where you pull some of that information from on the state >> information. Well, and it's easily confused if you don't know exactly what you're looking for on some of those DOE sites. They're not easy to interpret. >> Well, and I I

022was looking at them time because I wanted to go through each of the schools and find out how many specialists they have for different ones. And there's only like five schools in the state that are comparable to us, the same population, K through eight, >> because a lot of these are schools, the population isn't that close. I mean, some of them I use, but there only like five that I would use. Like you can't use child or UK, right? Close. So, yes, there aren't that many that are same population as us >> as a K2. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, board goals. I wanted to bring this up because we failed last year at reviewing our board goals. So, we have at least once reviewed our board goals. >> Not like we haven't been

023busy. >> Correct. that well that's the that's the trouble. We set them right before budget season and then it's budget season. >> Oh, thank you. >> I didn't even think to put them in the drive because they're already in a separate drive for the board. >> Sorry. >> Um that was my fault. >> So, I wanted to talk about some of these things because some of them we have started on, others we have not. Um and this sort of goes with agenda item number letter C. um 2C develop a a comprehensive strategic plan. So I was looking at that and thinking I have no idea how to do a comprehensive strategic plan. This was a very lofty goal for us. Um, so I wanted to sort of get the ball rolling on how we want

024to tackle the strategic plan because my understanding is that they are often very long and they're supposed to be a very long look forward for the district for a decade. >> Usually involves stakeholders as well, right? >> I was going to say you should community people come in and you have a facilitated y. >> So just wanted to get the conversation started how we're going to do this or how we're going to tackle it or if we are capable of tackling it ourselves, do we need to hire someone that creates these? Or I can just say we can look into it for the next meeting and discuss it more. But >> well, do you want to see if there's any surplus potentially? Um because it depends on what you guys want because there's what some

025people consider like a strate strategic plan is just kind of laying out your district's goals and vision for the next 10 years, but that's not really what kind of strategic plan that I'm gathering what you guys meant >> from from this goal. If I'm interpreting as you wanted a comprehensive because that's what you said there strategic plan which is usually close to a 100page document that really outlines what DCS offers for education there all of the data and graphics and then a laid out vision of how you're going to get to that goal in 10 years from now >> right >> um so it depends on what you guys want >> so probably if you were to do something like that your first step would be to get stakeholders together facilitate where people would brainstorm

026what are the things they want to see from the school in the future right and then >> I would have to give myself an education on how to do strategic planning >> well >> which I'm willing to do and able to do but um >> thinking about I mean I'm thinking about some of our we used to do critical friends groups and we would do things like that where we would say what do you look like in the future I mean to me that's like a start >> that is part of it I think it's actually kind of toward the middle of it >> I think that's in the middle >> yeah because there's a whole set of data review cycle that goes first. >> We have to say where we are. We have to

027have some sort of baseline that we're comparing things to, right? >> And then you and then you decide how you're going to tackle determining what your 10-year goal is. And then that's what you bring in your stakeholders and things like that for um and start developing that timeline of how you're going to get from A to Z. Um so really the stakeholder input comes in probably midway through the process. >> Okay. So the first thing is collecting the data. So figure out what kind of data >> right >> like student test scores, parent survey, parent surveys. Um I don't know. >> Yeah. >> I mean I I frankly have not even looked at a strategic plan from another school. >> That would be a good starting point. >> And I think that would probably be

028a good start. >> Yeah. >> Um >> and also to maybe go and interview some of those schools and ask them how they did it, >> right? or if the you know if it indicates whether it was prepared by the school board or a consultant or whomever I know that I guess I shouldn't say I know I heard have heard that there have been schools who have done them I maybe Oyster River has done one >> did one because they presented about it at the >> yeah schoolboard association meeting um where they came up with it was more of their goals it wasn't like the school. >> Oh, for the school board. Yeah. But they did it with stakeholders. >> Got it. Um, but I think there's also another school district in the sea coast

029that has recently done a strategic plan. Um, so I think I can certainly look for them and I can send out some feelers to see if anyone has done one. They should be on most schools websites usually if they've done a strategic plan. are pretty proud proud about it and they put it on their >> association might know that too, >> right? >> Contact them and ask you might know the school's done. >> But you're right that probably be a good first step to look for them and then decide do we like that, >> right? What are we looking for? What what's the plan? What end result do you guys want to end up in? >> Yeah. I would say at this point I don't feel comfortable thinking about a consultant because we don't even

030know if we can fund our school. >> Right. Right. So, I'm not comfortable with that, but I am comfortable with doing looking at the research and figuring out what that might entail. >> Yeah. >> Do we go through the accreditation process anymore or is that done? >> Done as in they don't do it anymore or done as in it was done recently and so they're not doing it again. Or >> when was it? >> Yeah. School cannot do it. When was the last time Deerfield was accredited? You know >> I was here >> okay I can look at that I can look >> that would have been like 10 years ago >> isn't it every 10 you're supposed to do it >> like about that yeah >> that is really a good way to start

031the process for a strategic plan >> I don't do you pay for that Jess when they do that >> the accreditation >> um I can't remember they used to but I I don't remember if they were volunteering your But >> yeah, I don't remember if there's like a fee to it, like a membership fee to it anymore or not. Um, I can I will look up some information on accreditation and bring it back. >> That's a great way to start do that. >> A lot of schools do that. >> Yeah. >> All right, that sounds good. Part of the accreditation process is having a strategic plan. >> Yes. Come back and say you need a strategic plan, but >> maybe they have resources. >> Yes. Like I said, if you're going to do it right,

032first off, if you're going to do a strategic plan, I would prefer it be done right. >> Right. >> And second, if you're going to do it right, it's a very comprehensive process. It usually takes over a year to do. >> You don't want just a page like, you know, it's >> do do good stuff, >> which that like I have not I have not led a strategic plan before, but I've been a part of many of them. But um I would I am willing to learn how to facilitate one if we don't want to spend money on it other than me. >> I think we can do a lot before we get to the point where we feel that's >> all right. Um what else we want to talk about? So we so number

033one a is create more opportunities to hear from students regarding experiences at DCS and high school. So we have had some good DCS >> DCS but not >> not high school. Um, >> we had a lot of nice things from GCS. >> Yeah, I personally really enjoyed the Mima. >> That was awesome. >> So, showing things. So, this is something that I mean, we know that budget was on us anyway. So, if that's something in the spring we could get some students from co be great. Okay. Um, fostering community trust and engagement by offering more opportunities to get community feedback into key decisions. Um, I do think we are doing that. I mean, we're now doing the committee for stage road. I think we have put some interesting things on the warrant to specifically to

034get >> ask and figure out where people are. Yeah. to get um community feedback. So if people have other ideas, but otherwise I will say we have at least done several things. Um promote staff well-being and morale through improved communication, recognizing su success and initiatives and fostering a collaborative school culture. We have not really done that. Well, there's been the there's been the two surveys and there's going to be the third survey and then we were going to look at all the information from the first the third survey. Right. That was we were kind of waiting for the third survey. >> Yeah. That's coming out this spring. >> The culture climate survey. Yes. >> Right. Because I think last time we talked about it, we said maybe it makes sense to wait for the third

035one and then kind of see if things have changed from the three years. So, but as far as us doing anything to promote it, >> Yeah. >> I don't know that we have personally. Right. But I would love if I mean sometimes principal with you will say you know give us updates in the principal's report about initiatives or things that are being undertaken but if there's other ideas that people have all years I guess we've been having people come and talk about the different curriculum but we I don't feel like we hear from them how is that going? They come and they present, but then we don't hear beyond that. And I don't know, I I know it kind of got shot down, but I still remember when we used to have a couple schoolboard

036meetings during the year where the staff was invited and it was just kind of conversation about what was going on. And I don't ever remember them getting heated. >> I don't either. I just remember we came in and half the time most of the people that came just kind of sat here like, "Okay, we're here because we want you to know that we appreciate you inviting us, >> but there often wasn't, you know, tons and tons of dialogue." But I mean, I don't I don't know how we get the information from them except through surveys unless we do have actual conversations with them. >> Do any other districts do anything like that? Um or do we have any ideas about about >> Not usually. I mean sometimes um well you guys do the some things

037that some of the other districts do like inviting teachers who run a certain class or a program come in. >> Um maybe you can extend that out to regular classroom teachers, not just UA. >> Yeah. um and might get some of that um input on classroom instruction because we we've seen a lot of you know >> the arts come in so maybe extending that beyond that. Yeah, I mean I personally would love to hear um about some successes that teachers have had in the school or programs that have been successful or particular units that have been exciting. >> Yep. >> Um or like a big project that somebody worked on that went really well or >> but I also know it's you know 6 PM on a Wednesday so I don't know if it's a

038punishment to to force people to come and present to us. So >> I think that I was thinking about if we do something like that too students come who were part of it and Yeah. showing their work and I found that when the kids come is kind of excite they're excited about it. >> Yeah. >> They come and talk to school because I've had some groups come to school board and even though it is o >> Yeah. Is this still a science fair? >> We just had math night. >> That was fun. Um, yeah. So, I don't I don't really know how to functionally structure this, but I think if there I mean there's an open invitation, I think of any time if anyone wanted to come. But do you do we want to formally

039invite people to come share? Well, I think they we know they come because they have been coming, but the only time they that it appears that they can actually chat is during citizens comments. And >> Nancy is talking about we had a time where there was just an open forum where they could come and talk about whatever they wanted to talk about. >> It was I mean it was actually we used to come like a half hour before school board so it would start at 5:30 but the but the community could come too like it wasn't closed. It would have to be. >> Yeah. But it was just teachers could come that half hour and so that was just kind of hey what's happening and people would share things that were going on and they

040also I mean there were times they shared some concerns you know >> that's okay good yeah but I just I don't know how we can just do it on paper like there has to be a way to have conversations but I'm also a person who likes to talk I know that about me >> Brian in your time and Kristen too. I don't I don't know if you've done it since you've been principal but did do you remember that having those years definitely precoid >> because I know Nancy and I brought it up and the only thing we told was that well it wasn't really that great. it got kind of um >> good and I don't >> but that's that was never my experience. I went to quite a few and you did too. So

041I don't >> and I always felt as a teacher I felt that that was nice. Oh the school board wants to kind of hear from us. I mean even if I didn't go I just knew that the school board had that one night that I could go if I wanted to. >> You said it was kind of funny too that we'd come. They'd be like dean of us and everyone would sit there. It might be one or two, >> you know, and then finally somebody would say something, but it would be like, >> well, that's why sometimes if you have like a like bring a project that you were proud of, like give an initiation of like something they can talk about, >> right? A prompt, right? >> Right. And yeah, that's fine, but just

042>> I mean like they have the new they went through the training for literacy. I don't remember what it was called. >> There's been a few different things. Yeah. >> Yeah. and like >> they do we've got NELMs that a lot of our teachers go to. We've got um the literacy um letters training that the state hosted for the last few years that a lot of our staff have done. So >> So how is I mean we might hear through curriculum review board maybe >> kind of but I don't know I guess I would >> like to hear from them hey was that worthwhile? Are you seeing >> it wasn't just us hearing from them. I really felt it was a message to them that we cared about what they do. That's I mean now

043I'm speaking from when I was on the other side even if I didn't go I just thought oh that's cool board kind of cares what you know what we think about what's going on in school. >> Yeah I mean I think we could organize something of like I don't know how we would want to structure it but um coming to share something that would be good. >> Yeah I mean we can do that. Do you want to arrange that for when things quiet down a little bit? >> Right. >> Maybe April, May. >> Yeah. And it was only twice a year that we did it, >> right? And we don't have to do one in the fall and one in the spring. >> All right. Um Okay. Uh we're into two. So, ensure safe and

044well-maintained learning environments by proactively addressing facility needs. I do think we are accomplishing that. totally >> um review and update the capital improvement plan. We have recently done that. >> Um superintendent evaluation. I still think it's we can't evaluate you quite yet. >> Step one, you approved goals for me. >> True. >> So that was an improvement. So >> you guys did that. Um, I mean, I think if we're going to do any type of evaluation, we need to get through a single school year. Yeah. >> Um, but something to keep an eye on for the summer or whatever. >> Um, reviewing expenditures regularly, identify cost-saving efficiencies, um, seeking out grant or partnership opportunities to supplement typical funding. We have been reviewing expenditures monthly. Um, >> solar on the roof. >> On the roof. >>

045Yes. So, okay. >> Which we did get our first bill for I think it was like 300 and change for January. So, we did get our first bill for solar for energy. >> Nice. >> Well, I assume that's less. I don't know how happy. >> We'll have to we'll do we'll do a comparison as we get more data, but >> it was also a partial I think it was a partial charge. >> Gotcha. So, >> I would expect that's pretty >> Yeah. >> develop a fiscally responsible and transparent budget that aligns with district priorities, support student access, staff needs and earns the confidence and approval of voters. Uh TBD All right. So, we've reviewed the the goals at least once. I think it is probably good practice to review them every so often so we

046make sure that they are front of mind. say there's two action items came out in the spring have high school students come schools and >> maybe have a um a school a >> teacher form form >> and also those um I will research and if anyone else wants to research too >> um the strategic plan >> you want to identify schools I can help you once you've identified schools to reach out and look at them if you want >> Sure and I can also probably just pop them in a drive in the drive spare time. >> I know. All of our spare time. >> Um, okay. So, I think that covers both B and C actually. >> Yeah. >> All right. We are on to D. Surplus and retainage. >> Do you want to take

047this one? Surplus. >> I don't know why. >> Oh, surplus. Yes. >> I was like, I don't know. >> Putting retainage on there. So, um I was asked to um I think there were several requests to talk about surplus, but I mean right now um in looking at the year to date, it we've got some unexpended funds at this point, but we still have a long way to go. So, as of right now, if you just scroll to the bottom line, you could see that there's 1.6 million that has not been expended yet out of the budget, but that by no means means we have 1.6 million in surplus. Um, we are only in February. We have five more months, four more months to go before we end the year and another couple months after

048that before the budget closes. Um, so, you know, we're going to we're in good shape. Um, we know that there's going to be some surplus at the end because of some teacher turnovers, some, you know, change in staff, some special ed changes that happened this year. the change the con the refinement still of transitioning from to co brown as an option and so some of the unknown expenditures either way of how that was going to affect our budget. So this next cycle of the budget should be a lot of those kinks worked out finally because we'll be in our third cycle of high school um funding. So that will be continuing to be worked out. >> There's a and there's an elementary school bus that we budget for that has not been utilized. Correct. >>

049So I think we will we will still have I I think we will have surplus but certainly not 1.6 million. >> So there so I went through this just I was curious different line items and I I understand that it's February and there's still some but like contracted services. >> Are you talking special ed? >> Well >> there's a couple different >> um 1,200. Yep. Special ed. >> Yeah. So it says that we still have 90. >> Yep. >> Thousand in there >> because we we're only halfway through the billing cycle. So some companies may have not build us yet for services that are to come. >> So would that be the same for like special placement tuition because that stuff has like we don't sometimes we don't get our final bills for that until

050July. >> Okay. >> So >> and then there were some that are under I mean like we over expended the line. Yep. um like summer program tuition. Was that from last summer or this coming? >> Last summer July one be this summer. >> And that's just because of placement changes that happened or program changes for kids. >> So >> there weren't any additional. So again, this is another thing that I I don't know how I mean, I asked you about surplus and I actually kind of wondered if this is kind of the the common kind of that's not the word I want, but >> I know surplus is going to come up. It it comes up all the time and I don't know anything more we can do to help people to understand that a

051surplus. I mean, we could be Yeah, we could be 250,000 in one area like and I'm going to say special ed just because that one's the one that we just know, right? So maybe someone moved out of district and it saved us money. >> Next year we could have someone move into district >> and >> cost us double that. >> Well, and that's really the hard part. That's that's the nuance of budgeting that is difficult because you're budgeting when we start budgeting in November or really getting midway into it. We're predicting what we're going to spend the following July after that, 18 months after. >> And so there's so much that changes with humans. We're we're in the business of humans, which is unpredictable. And so, yes, we we know we take a snapshot of

052our costs at that moment and plan for things that we know we're going to need or know we don't need, but we take a snapshot in that moment of our kids, our staffing, things like that. And there's 100% guarantee that that's going to change 100%. Because staff retire, staff move, staff choose to go somewhere else. So, you have staff changeover, that's always going to affect your bottom line, whether positive or negative. Right now we have a positive because of staff changeover. Um that's not always going to be the case. And then special ed, same thing. Every year those plans have to be renewed for identified students. And every year that changes. That doesn't matter when your budget happens. It's going to change 100% guarantee from when we did that budget. And so it is it

053will never be 100% to what we budgeted for because it is the business of people. So, but I guess the part that is hard for me to not >> get even more frustrated about is whenever >> whenever we hear the budget goes up, everybody assumes it's just DCS went up. When everyone says it's a surplus, they assume all the surplus comes from DCS. So, we can cut DCS because there's a $600,000 surplus. I >> just wish there was a >> So, actually, you make a really good point. So actually if you look at your special placements line 1,200569 >> that surplus in there of 479 some majority chunk of that is because the changes in high school. >> It's not because of your out of district placements but our special placements that's where the special

054ed placements are covered for high school. >> So and it's not placement out of district it's placement within those special ed programs. And because when we built this budget 18 months ago almost, >> yeah, >> majority of that cost was kids going to conquer, >> not Cole Brown. >> And so there has been changes or vice versa. Maybe we thought kids were going to go to Co Brown and they ended up going to Conquered. So that price has changed. >> So there's volatility within that and that's almost half a million in itself. >> Correct. >> That we had no idea how to budget for because we were only in year two of that cycle. >> And actually at that point we were only year one. when we had budgeted for this year last year. So

055we had only gone through one year of school choice at that point and so we were still unsure of how those numbers were going to work out. And so when we budgeted for this year, we had a little bit better of a scale to judge how we were going to budget for those things. >> But again, to me, the the hard thing and the frustrating thing is DCS is not in a surplus of $600,000 every year, >> right? here, you know, um there are so many factors from high school to special ed to staffing and all that. And that's the part that I just I I don't know how I'll ever not be frustrated by that to get people to understand that, oh, sure, there's a lot of fat. You have a $600,000 surplus almost

056every year, >> but it's because of changes that you can't predict, >> right? And I know that, >> right? Right. But another and another bucket of surplus is unanticipated revenue. So, as we know, >> the state and the federal government sort of are very volatile about how much they're going to give us one year for special ed for catastrophic aid. You know, and adequacy. Sometimes they'll say, "Oh, we're actually going to only g give you 60% or 80%." And we don't often know that in advance. And there's been some years where we have been able to get a 100% reimbursement for special ed, >> right, >> above the cap that the state send or sets, >> but that's a rarity. And so in those years, you likely will have a surplus because we got more

057revenue in than we anticipated. >> So our revenue report that was given to us too, I mean, we already have one, two, three, four lines. One's the checking interest on the checking account, but one is um miscellaneous revenue that's down. Um other state aid is down and catastrophic aid is down. >> Yeah. So we're not currently getting >> revenue is again tricky though because we go we don't get some of this revenue for like months after. So like special ed is a perfect example, right? We just got reimbursed in January from last year's special ed expenditures. So sometimes it's off a cycle which makes it even more difficult to predict what we're going to get. And when the state does a lot of its rate setting, um they do that typically over like the summer

058months or leading up into the school year for some of this stuff. And so we don't always get the rate setting from the state until after budget season's well done. >> Right. And and so the money that we like you said in we just got some money for last year >> where does that show up as >> revenue plus but like so this year's >> last year's but reimbursement >> yeah that we didn't get till January is correct for this >> is revenue for this year. >> Okay. >> Yep. It's off a cycle. >> So it would be there but we just didn't get as much as we expected. We we put in anticipated revenue. So that's in the budget packet is anticipated revenue, but it's anticipated what we predict that the state will give

059us a year from now, but it it's just a it's a prediction. So, >> right. And so when we're calculating like our the tax rate for instance, >> revenue factors in to there. So you have expenditure expendure expenditure anticipated revenue and then you come up with the amount that needs to be collected from taxation >> and then so that's where revenue factors in. So then if we have more revenue that goes to surplus which um I think there's also a misconception that we can just utilize surplus. So if there is a budget cut that we can just use surplus to cover those costs next year which is just not >> not be supplanting funds >> right. So you we can retain >> right >> I think 3.5%. >> Is it Yeah. I'll have to look

060and see what you guys >> because the >> each town's a little different. >> I think it's 3.5. We put it on the warrant I think two years ago to increase it to 5% and I think that got voted down. So I think we can retain 3.5% of the net assessment which I think is usually around 300,000 maybe and then we the board decides of that much how much we want to retain and it has typically been for emergency purposes. There has to be a public hearing for expending those funds. Um, all that to say, it's not like any amount from surplus we can just put into our checking account for next year. It's not how that that works. >> Um, >> so Jess, there's um some con confusion about the difference between unassigned fund

061balance and surplus. Can you give >> the same thing? >> Is unassigned fund balance is part of surplus. >> Correct. Is >> it's a bucket of surplus. >> Yes. Surplus also includes revenue that has come in. Okay? >> So unassigned fund balance is the money that wasn't spent out of the appropriated budget, but surplus also includes revenue that came in during the school year, during the summer until that budget's all closed. >> So it it's a pool amount of budget expenditures that weren't spent and revenue that comes in. >> And it also includes the money that was retained the year before. the year before, but that's automatically released back to the taxpayers if there was retainage. >> You can't use that to fund trust funds, things like that. >> People start talking in in this

062season and they're like, "Well, we have this and they have that and >> you know, >> it's all part of the same thing, >> right? >> It's not duplicate." So, you've got surplus is the umbrella, but revenue and un uni unassigned fund balance make up part of that umbrella. Yes. Thank you. >> Yep. Okay. Does anyone else have anything for surplus overage? Okay. Uh voter guide feedback. So, I quickly drafted um some notes for the voter guide, but I wanted people to review them. >> Um >> yeah. Well, I I woke up in like a dead panic one night because I was like the voter guide and I forgot about it. Um, so fortunately we had this meeting so we could review them um before. >> So there's a good I'm not sure that that's

063clear. >> That that's for the warrant article. This is for the voter guide. >> Yeah, voter guide. This looks like the warrant. >> Okay. Well, that we can talk about too. Where's the >> It looks like the ballot or the >> just the War just the Warren articles. >> That's fine. We don't need red. >> I just make it. So So the voter guide gets sent out by the town and it's sort of our ability to explain any of our warrant articles before they get sent to the before they get sent to the voters. Um, so I quickly drafted these very open to feedback. Um, we usually do get them reviewed by council too to make sure that we're not engaging in any sort of illegal electioneering which would be bad. Tomorrow >> the um

064the deadline for these is very tight. So the town needs them turned in by February 10th. So we have noticed I believe a meeting for after deliberative. >> So immediately following deliberative we're going to have a meeting where we update any recommendations on the budget and the warrant articles if anything gets changed at deliberative. And then we can also revise any of these voter guide um notes in case anything gets changed at deliberative. Um, so open to feedback. I will say in number two, I copied some of this from last year and in the voter guide last year, we said that we anticipated it was going to be $750,000. I changed it to just say this is going to be a large scale project. >> Yeah. um and that we're building up funds in the

065trust fund as a long-term planning tool. >> I mean, that's a good thing to do. So, then you put a number out there, right? If it ends up there and it's more, >> I think we were last year trying to show that we were almost there. >> Um and then we more updated >> and then inflation, right? So, I just I changed that verbiage a little bit just because I I don't know what it's going to cost, but it is we are trying to build up the fund to to make it a long-term project. Um >> would I have to add um that is a large scale project board is building a funds and trust as long-term planning tool which would reduce the tax which would make it would I'm trying to say how the

066tax rates affected over not as much like otherwise it' just be like boom one year you get this big tax problem. I was just trying to think of a way to say that um >> for gradual impact on the tax >> brings about a gradual tax increase or I don't know maybe it's not even necessary. I just I was wondering if it's >> not as substantial. >> Yeah, because that's our that's our thought doing this is that we're trying to do it so it's not as much. >> Yeah. Slowly over time. >> Yeah, let me think about that. >> My brain is not totally incapable of coming up with any kind of good verb kind of you say the word garbage is amazing. >> Yeah. So, um we're not approving anything tonight. We will approve

067the language on Saturday. So, if people have more thoughts or recommendations, um we can always change. >> Everything else looks good to you. >> Okay. And we only do the ones that we that we submit. So, any anything else we wouldn't comment on. I'm going to speak to this one number two. And would it be prudent if I had the current balance in that trust fund is x amount of dollars for people who start asking? Good. >> I think the only risk in that is that people might think, oh, it's already we already have $750,000. >> You'd have to say something about the ventilator cost would be like possibly multi-illion dollar. But you'd have to try to put some sort of cost on it so people would realize you're not close to that, >> right?

068And that's that's just that just concerns me because we don't know for sure what the office >> I can bring that with us though so we have that ready to talk to in case there's questions. >> So you don't want me to actually say >> that's a good point if somebody asked you you could yeah but then you could say but right now our estimate of >> replacing the ventilators could be what 1.5 to 2 million. Is that >> No, I think was I thought the last thing I read was like 3 million, which was >> No, that was getting worse. >> That was if we were going to put like AC units in. That was if we were going to put AC units in, but that's not Yeah, >> no. That's too expensive a

069fresh air. >> Yeah, I think in between one and two million is a safe bet. >> I'd like to know more about it in general anyways myself being on the facilities committee. I'd like to know more. >> We're just out. We're too early. >> I understand that too. I get that and I get I know about inflation. >> Yeah, we just have the preliminary quote that came in >> and you I mean you could say that too if you explain that you know this is an estimate. We don't know what inflation will bring about you know we're just trying to be proactive here so it doesn't hit taxpayers all at once. >> Exactly. Yeah. So you will make a decision. Is it your decision to let me say how much is in the decision add

070deliberative? I think you we we definitely should. Yeah. >> And we'll have that in Well, we should have it in our binders. Yeah, >> it's in the binders, but I was just saying I could have that ready to go for you in case that came up as a question. >> Yeah, >> because you're going to present the warrant article. You go ahead and say that. I think that's a great idea. >> Yeah, that's what I was planning on doing anyways. So, >> yeah. >> Um, also regarding presenting warrant articles, um, I did talk to Nancy who would be willing to do number four. No, not number one. Number three >> in case. >> No, number three is I had offered to do it, but then I feel like I'm hogging all the one articles. >>

071So, Nancy, >> I didn't participate. >> You were hogging them all. I'll be happy to do this one. >> So, I I if that if that works for everyone, I'll update Eric and just let him know that Nancy is going to be doing number three. Um, and then we need a backup person for number four. >> I thought was pretty sure he was going to make it. >> He's he's going to make it, but he has to leave at a certain time. And so, he's just wants to have a backup plan in case he can't present. >> I have to leave at a certain time, too. >> Then we won't have quum. I don't think you have to have a quorum. If you want to meet afterward, you do. >> Oh, shoot. No, I I

072think I think I'll have to leave around 3:30. >> Oh god. >> If we're there at 3:30, >> we got problems. >> Yeah. >> Recess. >> We'll just meet in the middle. >> I might just leave in the middle if we're there until 3:30. Um, okay. So, does someone want to be back up for number four? >> I'll be back up for it if I mean I don't mind. >> Oh, going from zero to two. Hey, I sat here at the meeting and everyone grabbed them and they were gone. So, I didn't I will be >> I know. >> Okay. And then for warrant article number one, I did draft this um graphic. I thought, you know, historically we have we've done I think one year we did the TV, but then there were complaints

073that people couldn't see the TV from far enough back. So, I thought about this as a handout. >> Um, it's I think it's a good snippet, but it is just that it's a snippet. I think, you know, like there's a lot more in our proposed budget than than what's here. But I also want to keep it sort of digestible, >> right? >> So Amber will do a budget summary. Yeah. As well. So the summary that has like the 1100s, 1200s, things like that. Yeah. >> So that can supplement this, >> right? Okay. >> And then um we were thinking about trying to reserve not making a thousand copies of things for like the full budget and doing a QR code that people can access. The only issue with that budget >> is Wi-Fi here is

074particularly bad. >> Okay. >> It's just a lot of money to print 2,000 pages worth of packets. >> I don't think we need Oh, 2,000 pages. >> Yeah, because we have to we're I would plan on having 150 copies of whatever materials we provide and your budget packet is 70s something pages. I mean, you're you're talking 7,000 pages almost. Um, yeah. I mean, I'm trying to think. So, last week was town, and they definitely did not do a line by line of the whole budget, right? That's what I was thinking. If we did the budget summary that Amber does the account codes by, you have this material, your voter guide, and if there's something else like small, and then maybe we can have a >> voter guide us easily have at >> Okay, so not

075the voter guide. Okay, >> that gets mailed to everyone's house. Perfect. Yeah. >> And then so if we did we could do a handful of copies for people that don't have cell phones or whatever, but then do a QR code that will link to all of the materials directly to where they're located on the website. >> Yeah. And um if you if we get the packet done, I can obviously post it in advance. >> Yep. Yep. >> Um yeah, I mean I think >> Yeah, the packet's done. >> We may want to have the MS27. >> Yep. Okay, >> we can do that >> just because I mean I'm just trying to think of what the the town had the MS737 >> and that was it and and there were warrants. So, if we do

076MS27, this sheet, and the warrant, and then I'll have a handful of full budget packets for those who can't access, but then have a QR code that links to the full budget packet for I mean, I can't I can't imagine people would want to be going through the full budget line by line during deliberative. >> It's just a lot of paper, right? And >> I don't think I'm worried about the cost that much. Okay. If anyone else wants to create a handout for their warrants, if you change your mind, just let me know. But no, no, I think that's fine. Just trying to conserve a little. And this information on the back is just from what Jess had presented at the last um >> um Kendra, what did you mean under default budget for funds

077for graduation? There will be a line. It will be increased. So we I think we have like $600. >> Got it. >> I think we every increase it to 2500 or something like that. >> Got it. >> So um >> so we should add >> no increase >> Additional funds for training supplies, curriculum development, graduation. >> Got it. >> Okay. I can change that. You'll resend that to me. Yep. Okay. Anything else that people think is important to put on the warrant article? Um, you said this doesn't seem clear enough. >> Oh, I was just um if you're talking to if you're going to be this, >> it's just that I felt that that I'm not sure that additional 215,000 >> additional cuts. I'm not sure that's clear. >> Like this all adds up, but

078we still would have to find 215,000. I'm not sure that's clear. That's a pretty big >> Yeah. with all these fill that short. >> So in the bottom, can you just add to reach 786,000? Yep. Would that suffice? >> I mean, if you're if you're presenting this and talking about it, you're going to make a point of saying yes. But that's all I was thinking is that I'm not sure everybody would understand. >> And is this verbiage correct? Fine. >> Um, any potential layoffs for CBA staff are dictated by RIFF procedure and the collective bargaining agreement. >> Oh yeah, that's just one procedure in there. I think you can just dictated by the collective bar agreement. Just leave the rift procedure out because there's >> that's just part of it. Okay. And then, you know,

079I put in a caveat at the bottom that obviously this is to be illustrative. I mean it could be very realistic but it is to help people understand what might happen and that ultimately the school board in collaboration with the administrators will be responsible for determining how to implement reductions in a matter that best reserves educational quality meets legal contractual obligations and min minimizes harm. But I don't know if anyone else wants to add any language about that. Why are some of them gray? Oh, you know what? I think it's just the table that I was using was four minutes. So, I just have to um make this white or we could do every other one. But >> yeah, >> honestly, it might be better to do every other one because then it breaks up

080the it's easier to read. >> I like the gray. >> Okay. Yeah, that was just a table formatting. Okay, then I think we're ready for deliberative, guys. While you're talking about cost, did you want to I know Ellen brought this up earlier, but did you want to go over the tuition or the cost per >> Okay. Like I know it's somewhere in here. Um yes. So on the ballots we are required now to to publish the test for people. um >> test force and so I I wanted to sort of create a chart to give people context of >> where we are compared to other towns in this area. Um, but I'm not quite sure what to do with this or if it belongs anywhere. >> That's deliberative. I would just want to clarify like

081this state average >> piece. I won't do that. >> I want to verify that that's accurate for what we're trying to communicate. Not that I'm not thankful for people that provide us data on the fly, but I want to make sure that, you know, that's what is actually reported to us from the state for our documentation. >> Yeah. I just think if we're saying this does not include high school, but then the state average does include high school, >> right? That's what I'll clarify and make sure that I get that cost per pupil because um that's what's given directly to us from that we just got I think two weeks ago from the state. >> Okay. They updated their costs. >> Noddingham has two schools. Look, >> we have Nottingham West and then N. >>

082Are they two different towns? >> Apparently. Well, Nodding I don't know. That's just what the DOE has. Nottingham West and Nottingham. >> Yeah, I can't. That's what's it's on the DOE website. So, the link below is where I got that information. It's right from their portal. I just wonder if it west is a different school or a different town. >> Maybe I don't know. >> There we go. >> So, I probably want to delete that then >> the Ningham West. Oh yeah, that's a little out of the region, huh? >> Yes, I would just delete >> I'll delete that one. And then do we Oh, Eping Elementary and Eping. Okay, so this is sorted by cost. >> Yep. >> Okay. I was like, where is Eping Elementary? Got it. That way you could see in

083linear order like where Deerfield falls within the region. >> I think this is really important for people to see this >> at the Liberative. >> Yeah. I mean, people keep talking about it's so expensive. It's so expensive. Well, look at the averages. We're not that expensive. >> Below the state average. >> Yeah. If we want to do just the elementary can pull that out. >> But this is see the 23533 though is for this current year's and this is 2425. >> So I would want last year's cost per pupil because all of these costs are last year's cost per pupil. They're not what they are right now today. >> So because the year's not over yet, >> right? Right. >> So, I'll have to Yeah. Verify that. >> Okay. We'll verify. >> Yep. >> And

084can we include this in our I I don't know where it would fit best. I don't know if it should be a separate handout or just like whatever packet we're >> That's up to you guys. Yeah, >> I would have it as a separate handout, but that's just my opinion because I think it pulls more um interest to it. >> Yeah. attention to this. >> I mean, the question comes up all the time, so I think it's fair to provide >> helpful. >> I don't know if people would know like >> these schools >> are on the bottom. It doesn't >> include the elementary. >> These are only K to eight. Except for the Bington Middle to eight, they include the middle school. So any school that incorporates, I see what you're saying. >> And

085notice, look, they spend more in their elementary than the middle. How about that? >> Well, Eping spends more on their middle school. I don't know why. Okay, cool. So, we will verify some of these numbers and then we will Yep. have that available. All right. We're ready now. We're ready for deliberative. >> So, we're going to incorporate that. Okay. We'll miss you, Ellen. >> Think of us. >> I really I mean I am really happy to go on vacation. It's been a long, long time since I've gone anywhere, but really fun to not >> I'm sure you'll hear all about it, but don't let it ruin your vacation either way. >> I know. I'm thinking about looking at it on my flight home. >> Yes. Um, okay. Board reports. No one is here for PTO,

086so we'll rely on principal Wy for that. Are there any updates from curriculum review board? meeting >> executive board. >> No, we have next week. >> Yes, there is a meeting. >> Did that turn into full board next week's >> at 6? >> There's all three. There's exec board and full board. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Yes. So, there is a full board meeting next Wednesday at 6:30 at Pemrook >> in the library. >> Oh, >> more intimate. We are not in this giant cafeteria. Nobody can hear us. >> What time? 6:30. >> Oh, they it start the full board meeting. >> Yes. >> At 6:30. >> Yep. >> Exec starts at 5:30. is at six and full board. >> This next Tuesday, >> next Wednesday. I saw that earlier. >> Okie dokie. Um, principal's

087report. >> Um, so just a few things for the PTO. Uh, they are providing a very Thank you. Um there's also an evening event for families starting at 6 o'clock and prior to that they're doing a fundraiser dinner um from 4:30 to 5:45. So it's been that information's been in the bridge um and we're grateful for the PTO um offse for our students um K to 8. Um, you'll have to look up the brain show on um the internet to see what it's about. It's hard to explain. Um, but if the school board would like to come, you are more than welcome. Um, and then they've got a couple of other things upcoming. They have been talking about doing um a book a book um sale. They did this a couple years ago. Um, collected

088books, used generally used books and then had a book sale during the Oops for Classic. Um, so they're thinking about doing that again this year and they are also talking about doing this the small and tall mall um in in the spring in April. So they've got a few things coming up. Um, all right. So my principal report is January 8th um through February 4th today. Uh happy to say that all four of our basketball teams advanced to the Southeast League playoffs which is an exciting accomplishment for our student athletes. Our boys and girls A teams competed in their first round on Monday and our boys B team played Tuesday and girls played today and both a both A and B girl teams have advanced >> to the finals. So, um, we were fortunate enough

089to host the Southeast League playoffs as well. Um, because we had a five. >> Uh, no, we host fantastic gym. >> Fantastic. Jim, >> um, did we have a Wasn't that based on the record or something? >> Uh, oh, that was the first round. Sorry. Yes. Yes. So, we've had kids come in and they're like, "Whoa, look at this gym." So, um we do have a nice gym for sure and a nice gym. Um and um so Thursday, January 15th, I want to make sure I thank the PTO and the community for treating our staff to a New Year's coffee cart. On Friday, January 16th, we held our appreciate a dragon day, which is now a cherished DCS tradition. Appreciation notes can be found displayed throughout the building. the PTO provided provides the PDF document

090for all of the different dragons including a draw your own dragon. So, um we the kids always it's always a big um fun thing that we do with the kids and it's well received by staff. Um if you go to the pre preschool wing of the building, all of the preschoolers out there um appreciate a dragon. So, we do it's a prek through e event. Uh on Tuesday, January 20th, thank you to the families who attended the rescheduled holiday concert. Uh congratulations to our third and fourth graders for a wonderful performance and our fifth or eighth grade band. And of course, it was a joy to see our students shine. On Wednesday, January 21st, DCL DCS held its annual spelling be. This is our second since 2020. Um we are back at it and um

091the it's held in the in the cafeteria and we live stream. I think I mentioned this last board meeting, but we live stream to the classrooms, provide a live stream, uh, link so that kids can watch from the classroom instead of jamming everybody downstairs and losing gym time and all that. So, uh, congratulations to all the participants. Our runner up was Sophia in sixth grade and our champion was a fourth grader, EMTT, who many of you might know. >> Um, Wednesday, December 20, sorry, January 21st, uh, DCS administrators participated in the SAU leadership retreat. I was held in Pemrook at the uh safety center there. The day included planning work around MTSS. Tier one, two, and three teams. Um the administration is actually reading a book. All principles and administrators in the district um are

092reading a book about MTSS written by Kat Katie Novak. So we have assignments and we have to read and we have to respond and we have to be ready to talk. >> I feel like you're angry at me. >> Uh so we're very excited about that. I think all of the dis all the schools in the district are in some um are in somewhere in the MTSS process, some further along than others. So, this is kind of collectively bringing us all together and um setting uh the district up for um some great success. >> It's part of our requirements from the DOE to have those systems in place. So, that's part of the reason why we're doing that. >> Yeah. And we have had an MTSS tier one 123 team for several years now. So

093um we are able to offer some insight for other districts. Um we also had a tabletop discussion focused on cyber security and what would happen in our building should people should we have a ransomware attack. It was very informative. Uh we would uh the gentleman that was speaking on behalf of Primex and then a gentleman speaking on behalf of Adams. >> The Atom group. >> The Adam group. they would be the ones that are um immediately responding if they were to get a call from us saying yikes we uh because we could be shut down literally for months and um my favorite line was for the gentleman from the Adams group telling us that we would be going back to 1985 and just to be aware that some of your teachers weren't even born in

094198 many >> many so but what would it look like at our school if we had no computers no television no internet no way to let the cafeteria you know, no way to do attendance, no way to communicate to families, no phones, no on and on. And the number one thing being that we would um our safety is first in terms of um what the gentleman was saying that when he gets to a school, he doesn't even want to talk to the tech people. He wants to talk to the nurse, the kitchen staff, and administration to make sure all of those things are in place um for uh before they even take a look at what happened with technology. So, that was very informative. On Monday, January 26, we had our scheduled professional um day.

095We um have an annual um tech trek, which is an opportunity for our teachers to uh interact with technology. Whatever we're um there's in the past, we've done AI. Canvas is new to a lot of our teachers. So, we spend um a good amount of time. That unfortunately got snow um snowed out. So, we are uh have developed a plan to make up our tech truck hours over the course of the next several weeks through February and March. actually technically April 1st as well. Um so our teachers are are today was our number one makeup and um we all met in the library and Beth Moschu and Olivia Omar presented a um opening um um basically slides to talk about what what's going on with AI, what's going on with Media Lit, Techlit, um things

096like that. So that was very informative for our staff and we'll like I said continue that over the next several weeks. Um, we also during this time are going to be working on um cataloging our our classroom libraries. So that's we're in the process of doing that um as well. Um and on Thursday, January 22nd, Conquered High School students and staff visited our eighth graders. Um Co. Brown did a few weeks ago and Conquer High School came um on Thursday um for an informative presentation and there was a a virtual parent session that evening. Um on Wednesday, January 28th, this technically wasn't middle school. This actually was K to 5. It kind of got lumped in with our middle school. It was family math night. It was a great success. Thank you to the families

097who attended and the staff who organized and ran the math station. Uh fun was had by all and every student that came, every family that came, I should say, left with a baggie with a deck of cards and some dice and a couple of pencils and um games that you can play at home. And um so it was it was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed themselves as well as did the families. Friday, January 30th, several students attended the first of two step up pep band nights at ground. The second event took place um just yesterday. Um Mrs. Davis attended that as well. It was in the evening. It was an evening performance for our students. Um and some upcoming events. Uh Friday we will have our all monthly all school meeting.

098Our fourth graders are hosting and our fifth through eighth grades will share. And as you were talking about your goals, I want to make sure that the board knows that you're always welcome to attend. Um there are about 45 minutes. >> Mr. Griev says I have to have them done in 45. So maybe it takes time back in the gym to tell her. >> Takes time to get 500 kids into a gym. So we technically don't start until anyway um it's they're a lot of fun and if you want to come and check them out there, you are more than welcome to. And um also just some upcoming events that the board might want to know about. We have biography night. That's a huge tradition here. Uh so please keep that in mind. We have

099our art show in May. So as like I said, you're talking about your goals. If these are some things that um please know that you are always more than welcome and I can uh as I'm doing my upcoming events, I can get go back a little or go forward even a little further just so you guys have a heads up or you ladies gentlemen have a heads up um in terms of upcoming events. Uh and then Saturday obviously is our deliberative. It will be in the gym. Child care will be provided. We did post something on Facebook. Um I know that the DEA has posted something on their Facebook page. I posted on the Deerfield Facebook page. >> We changed our notice too for the SAU. >> You changed your notice for the SAU. It

100says babysitting will get provided and um we uh send it out on the bridge. So that's um hopefully we have communicated enough on our end. Uh teachers will be here to babysit. Um oh, one more thing. Um violin uh focus uh donated made a generous donation. So, our music department was able to purchase uh some violins. So, our music teachers are going to be doing a beginners's group class for grades three through eight. Uh they are accepting about 10 students. I think they're doing it for two two days, I think. It's an after school. >> You just um it was in the bridge a few weeks ago. There was a form to fill out. It was a first come first serve. So hopefully um but I want to make sure that we thank Focus for

101that generous donation and our music teachers um who are going to start up this uh beginner violin uh club and upcoming kindergarten registration has also begun at Deerfield Community School. I know. So um if you know of 5-year-olds in the in the or four year olds that will be five by September 30th, please spread the word. Um our the information is posted on uh the website as well as um in the What time is the old school meeting? >> Yeah. Uh 8 o'clock. >> And the other thing I wanted to ask you, did did um Penrook also come and talk to the eighth graders? >> They did a presentation or they invited people there. >> Yes. >> Yeah. They haven't come here yet to >> There was an evening presentation for families to go um

102back back in November. >> Yes, it was early on. >> Yeah. and and and principal Hamilton or or um I shouldn't say headmaster Hamilton did come here um was that back in October that he >> it was early on. >> Yeah, it was early on. Um but we only at this point have one student attending. So um and that student is and through the registration process. So but what cocon and cobround do is they come and talk about the registration process and the classes you can take and that type of thing. But um it might be something to consider next year as kids are learning about you know they go on the tours and we do the kids do tour coound I'm sorry Penber Academy and conquered high school and the kids um do do

103individual tours program does a different process um but we do bring our our all of our eighth graders to conquer high school and all >> awesome great >> and family math math night was super fun thank you it was an awesome event science fair anymore We changed time. >> Oh, we have done a curriculum night since I've been here. 19. It was 1819. >> And then we there has been talk about bringing it back. So >> if curriculum night was six through eight so it wasn't just >> well science fair was six through eight and typically what we did is like sixth and eighth grade did experiments and seventh grade did inventions >> we did that for a long time >> and the kids love that. All righty. >> As much as they not all

104kids did. >> Um, even kids that didn't like science, a lot of them liked it. It's just >> We're going to table the superintendent report. >> They all loved inventions. Um, forformational items, I did just want to update the board that um, candidates night for candidates running for town and school positions is going to be March 4th at 5:00 p.m. We do have a scheduled board meeting that night. Um but my thought and what we've done for the past few years is cancelling that meeting because what what happened would be we would meet and then everyone would say well I think the next board should deal with it because it's right before voting day. Um so I would propose that we cancel March 4th meeting and encourage everyone to attend candidates night at 5:00 pm

105at GBW that night instead. any is that a motion or >> No, no, I think we can cancel by consensus. >> Okay. Um, so we will not have a school meeting on March 4th. And that's all for informationational items. So policy page two. >> I don't know why why is DID did still there? just because >> we were going to comp inventory and management and I know the only comments we had were were just that we didn't know what the amounts would be. We didn't know really anything about how capital assets are handled. So it was >> yeah the proposed the proposed policy that's in there is pretty spot on to what we need. We just need it because it all of these D ones DBJ, DFGA, DID are all findings that were from our

106audits. So, we need to add those policies. That's >> We're fine with it. We're >> Yeah, the recommended language in there is fine, >> right? But we just like there was you have to do a certain amount. >> Um >> Oh, that's right. That's >> That was the big thing. And then it did talk about having like a written schedule. We didn't know if that applied. Like we we just didn't know how everything applied, but the language was fine. It's just that Nancy and I aren't >> we don't have enough information to know about that. >> So before before approving it, I Okay. I you know it's almost like whoever handles that should read it and look at it. >> I can have Amber okay with it. >> I can have Amber review that would

107make feel better. >> I'll have Amber make some recommendations. >> Okay. And then as far as the um crowdfunding one. So I I did I tried to get this on the meeting but I guess it says what we said last time was um we said the crowdfunding policy which we were okay with but it didn't match with the KCD which is mentioned in the crowdfunding. So um all we did here was and this was the color. So you'll notice that if it's a lighter a lighter color that changes. So went through um KCD to just change it so it fits the policy of the crowdfunding one. And what we agreed last time Canon wanted to look at the original and then look at this to decide >> if he was okay with the changes because

108really what it ends up being was we take the crowdfunding one as is but we change the KCD >> so they match. So you can see the first one was um instead of superintendent we put principal for the gifts of 500 and then if it's over 500 we change board to superintendent and that that's gives for 2500 and then if it's over instead of the 5,000 20,000 then it requires the board to have a public hearing and if it's between 5,000 and 20,000 um then the board they just have to make sure it's on their agenda that they talk about it in public and um before they're accepted. So that one paragraph is all the same thing. And then on the very bottom, it it was just uh this was talking about active solicitation and

109voluntary contributions. So this was a little different and that had to do with funding policy. >> So we should probably add this because we want to change it. >> Yeah, I'll add it for first reading next time. Okay. Um, so then do we want to keep these two as third readings or move them to fourth readings because we need to still change? >> Well, the did we can definitely wait. >> D I would wait and I guess I'd wait for the crowdfunding until you're sure that you want to change the KC. >> I mean, it's up to you guys. That's fine. >> Yeah. >> I mean, if you approve the crowdfunding one, then you'll have a policy that really doesn't go with it. And so, changes, >> right? I think it makes sense that they

110do we do them together. Um, yeah. So, that's it. And then >> so everyone should review DBJ and give uh Nancy and Ellen comments if you have them. All right, back to public comments. >> Yeah. >> Um, Arian Clark, Gold Center Road. I'm just addressing the the document that I hand you earlier in the night for people and the seven. The first page as I was talking about really is just drawing uh attention to the actual cost of what we spend on Deerfield High School students extracting the data on both regular education and special education from the report that you put together. So that's what I was saying before. um what we spend on uh ECS per pupil cost is 13% below what we spend on Deerfield average high school per pupil costs. Um and

111I and I encourage anybody to to look this up on that DOE uh article and you have to do a little bit of math. Um but the the uh the figures are there. The second page is um looking at high school tuition costs probably a little differently than than is is normally done because I was looking at um high school tuition. This was harder to to break out. So this is not the same this is not the um from the same source because it's it's data from your budget um rather than the DOE uh uh document. So what I'm looking at here is really the once in that high school tuition line uh the years of high school choice that we have budgeted for which were for three years from when you started for those

112three years. The tuition high school tuition line uh increase is 56% in what we spend in high school tuition over those three years. If you look back the eight years before that, over the entire eight years, that tuition line when we had a when we had a negotiated contract with a with a figure that we could manage was only 13% increase over eight years versus a 56% increase over three years with high school choice. Um, again, it's just something you don't normally you don't normally look at if you're looking at it year to year. So, I thought this was was interesting. if anybody has any questions or I'm happy to f uh give you any of my Excel documents backing up. But thank you and other thing I wanted to say is it was great

113when I was on the Deerfield School Board to have the teachers come in and as a board member I really appreciated it and there were always a lot more than I expect on a on a Wednesday night at six o'clock after working all day. That is that's a great idea. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Okay. Um, >> this is great information because, you know, we keep hearing how the last three years the budget has gone up so much and he keeps saying well this is a high school choice and this demonstrates it pretty well. >> Yes, sure does. Okay. Um, we do not need a non-public session. So, I'm gonna make a motion to adjurnn in record time. 7:38. >> Look at us go. >> All right. All in favor? >>

114That's what they say. You got to learn that. Puravida. Um, pure life.