1/7/2026 DCS School Board Meeting

001Join me for the pledge of Oh, 2026. 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. [clears throat] >> Okay. Uh the next thing is the reading of the board norms. The board recently agreed to a set of board norms that we're going to read at the beginning of every meeting. They're quick, don't worry. Um the board norms are work together and be collaborative, assume good intentions, challenge the issue, not the person, and be respectful. Okay, we are moving on to minutes of December 3rd, 2025. Um, I would actually propose that we wait on those because it's we're missing the vote where we approve the

002bottom line budget. >> Okay. >> I have I have who made the motion in the >> um have her add the language now and the amount. >> Sure. >> Do you want me to want to do that now or do you want to wait? >> We can do it now. >> Okay. So, it was moved by Kendra and seconded by Missy um to approve the bottomline budget of 20 million 792,542. It was three in favor, two opposed, and zero obstensions. [snorts] >> Do you get that D? the number >> 2 million >> 20 million >> 792,542. >> So if we could just get that added to the minutes from December 3rd in the budget discussion. Um I will make a motion to approve the minutes with that correction. >> I'll second. Okay. Any discussion? I

003think we should go with your original suggestion and >> have Yeah. table that and just have it written down. It's not going to take us long to see that and review it and approve it at the next one. >> Yeah, I think I don't mind. Okay. >> Okay. Well, there is a pending motion. So, all in favor of approving the or do you want to make a motion to table? I don't know how we should do this. >> We I can resend my motion, I think. >> Yes, you can. >> Okay. I will resend my motion >> to approve. Do I resend my second? >> Yes. >> We will I'll move to table the December 3rd minutes until the next meeting. [clears throat] >> All right. All in favor? >> I >> Okay. December 17th.

004All right. No takers. I will make a motion to approve [laughter] approve the December 17th minute >> as written. Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> Yeah. Um, sorry. Are those here? Um, there was I think it was [snorts] in the following the public comments, second round of public comments. Oh. Um, sorry. Yeah, I just there was I think maybe it was the first part. Sorry. >> There was I can't find it now. Sorry. I should have taken a note on. Yeah, it was just there was just a um the way [clears throat] that it was, you know, written about what I had said regarding the um NBC um >> C is it under C committee assignments >> 9C? >> Um no, that that wasn't it. It was it was in regards to it was just

005it was kind of paraphrased of and and kind of leading um I can't find it though. It was I thought it was with the public comments in regards to what the um the public commenter had came up and said >> number four maybe because your name is there board discussion regarding public comments. >> That wasn't it. I just read that too. I don't know. I'm I'm sorry. I thought it was this one at number 13, but that's not how I when I read it last night. That's not what I >> We can table them too and give you more time to go through it again. >> If that's all right, I would appreciate it. There was just that was the only thing I saw and it was kind of um I think it was just

006like I said, it was like a kind of paraphrased and not really what I had intended. >> That's fine. If you want to submit um proposed language Yeah. an edit that >> Yeah. then we can review them for the next meeting. Okay. I will again resend my motion [laughter] to resend second. >> Okay. [clears throat] No minutes are approved. All right. Public comments >> tableling both. Yeah. >> And I'll make a motion to table the 17. >> Second. >> All in favor? I I >> Thank you. >> Yep. Uh public comments. Hold on. I need glasses now to see what [clears throat and snorts] All right. Um, so I've been keeping up with the uh MVC meetings lately and uh the last school board meeting and uh I'm here to talk about the budget issue

007going on. So, what gets me is that at the first sign that there could be um you know, a potential budget cut coming, high school choice was immediately thrown up there. It was said, "Hey, we're going to do it. You know, we uh it's it's a it's a big bill and uh we'll we'll force all students into the lowest price school." And it was said by a couple schoolboard members. And I guess that why was that the knee-jerk reaction? Um, you know, it's it's it's very telling uh to me. So, it's the duty of the school board to serve all of Deerfield students equally. We can't put more effort into elementary and middle school than we do high school. And if we can provide high school students with that opportunity, which we have done, which

008was roundly voted in by the school, then we need to continue to support that uh to the best of our ability. So there's ways we can do this. And you know, the craziest part is at the end of the day, it all might all be for nothing. the school comes in, votes for the, you know, if the town votes for the default, then it was a big discussion had for, you know, for not much fanfare because the proposed and the default were extremely similar originally. Um, but I mean, there's a number of things we can do. We could open up the pool of potential choices to cheaper schools and just add them in. Not replace them, but add them in. You know, why we could, you know, from three to five to whatever it may

009be. There are certainly less expensive options out there and why not provide those options in addition to the ones we already have because we very uh the town made it very clear and there's a huge variety of pie charts floating around out there um where the school asks you know what uh what what uh schools would you like us to pursue and you know we had Pinkerton and Bow and a number of different schools were on that list and I'm very curious what they're all charging now and could we approach them and add them to our list if it looks like it could result in some savings. I know Trinity, for example, is really cheap in comparison and I know students have expressed interest in going there. So, could they be added to the pool

010of of potential school choices in addition to the ones we have? Notice I keep saying addition. I certainly don't want to lose our three choices that we have contracts with, but could we open it up and maybe save some money that way? And uh I know top off agreements were discussed at the last one. It's something that was a hot button topic years ago and the legality of it was finally um you know decided and uh there's certainly ways that top off agreement could be put into place. I envision something like a really kind of equitable sliding scale type top off agreement where the amount that a family would pay is based off of the assessed home value just like their taxes are. So it' be a sliding scale. I mean, why would why would

011you know, if my home is valued at 300,000 compared to someone that's home is valued at a million, then it should be maybe like a dollar per thousand, you know, per year, uh, type fee. So, you got a $300,000 house, pay $300 a year as a top off. And, uh, that would certainly alleviate, you know, a potential budget issue that may come up. So, it's certainly something to consider, but I I hate to see us go backwards and start this whole process all over again where we've come far. And the students who are in these new high schools are thriving. They're loving this opportunity. I hear from the parents, I hear from the kids, and uh it has been so beneficial to our town. Um it's a wonderful thing that's been put into place. And

012uh regardless of the outcome of you know what the town votes on in March as far as the budget's concerned, I'd hate to see all our progress get lost um you know when we can certainly put our you know our minds to it and come up with a better option. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Wickmore, are you leaving? >> Yeah. >> Can you stay a minute? >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> Wow. I was ready to really go after Mr. Whitmore with some of his comments that he said. And we get along. [clears throat] Our my grandchildren are friends with his daughter. He's got a nice daughter. Good kid. I'm frustrated because I don't feel like I'm being heard by the NBC. I don't feel like I am being heard by my representatives. I feel that

013a lot of these issues and I've said it over and over come from the state level. And when you remove income coming in that you then gives you less to distribute. [clears throat] But anyway, I'm going to keep it brief because I want to address what Greg said. School choice. I don't remember voting for it if it was going to cost us more money, but if it is better for the community, I will I will pay my tax bill. I think we need to realize people are struggling. We need to keep our taxes low. My frustration with all of this was hearing eight to 10 positions like reading specialists, math specialists, things like this are going to be cut. Um, what I do agree with is a top off agreement that he suggested. I think

014that's great. It may alleviate something as far as the tax dollars are concerned or our property taxes. So, I appreciate him bringing that up. I appreciate the fact that he brought about the positives of having school high school choice. And I can support that if it does not damage the elementary school program because this is where we have the most control. This is where we prep these kids for the academic rigor that parents have said that's what CO Brown has for me. Well, we need to prep those kids for that academic rigor by having some specialists here and seeing what they do and how they can catapult those kids into these high school programs. I would like to see our discussions start changing to how can we look at the green houses at Pemrook Academy

015and make them into a program where we talk agricultural. I don't see agricultural things going on in the state except greenhouse farming. There's something beautiful up there that we could do and we could use electricians, plumbers, masons, medical workers, machinists, thinkers. It all starts in this building between parents, the older generation, board members, NBC, selectman. Let's support our town. Let's support our school. Let's push our representatives, if you're listening, and our NBC to figure out ways to bring income and revenue into this state to support our needs. Thank you. >> Thank you. Other public comments. Okay. Um board discussion regarding public comments. Some of these things we have discussed as far as opening it up to other schools and I know we haven't had a thorough discussion about it, but I know we've had some

016discussion about like Trinity and places like that and and I know for myself and again if the board were to disagree with me and you know I [clears throat] obviously do with the board but >> I know we've had discussion that if we're going to be sending our tax dollars to a school all children need to be able to go to that school. And some of the private kind of schools don't always accept all our students. And I heard somebody once say, "Well, there's a few schools they could go to." Well, then you're taking the choice away from them. And I find that unfair with our with if we're using our tax dollars. And as far as the reaction to why did high school choice be the first thing that came up, I think we

017were all in shock that they're proposing a $3 million cut. That's a lot of money. And we got to look for ways to find it possibly. And if all our kids were to go to um like to Penrook, we'd be saving what did we say like almost $600,000. So when you're looking for $3 million, you've got to put everything out there on the table. That doesn't mean we're going to do it. But you got to look at everything because trying to take $3 million from just DCS, and I'm not saying you value one education over the other, all education of all students is important. But if you were to take 3 million from just this building, these programs, I can't even imagine what the school would look like after. >> Well, I think it goes

018to another point that was made, which is that we would need to treat all serve all students equally, >> right? If we are a $3 million cut would be the elimination of every extracurricular, every sort of bonus uh class that we have. And so sending our students to exactly the school that they want while our elementary school is suffering because we don't have any programming, that's not equal treatment. And I don't I don't know how someone could make that argument. I don't want to punish any students. I'm not in favor of any of this. So, it's I don't I don't know how to how to remedy um a $3 million cut. >> That's in the past at this point, right? >> It is. I don't >> I [clears throat] don't know. >> I don't know

019if it's in the past because there's still another meeting on Saturday. So I I don't think that I personally based on the discussions last night do not think we will walk away without a substantial budget cut. >> I'm sure there will be a cut. I just don't it's I don't think that it's going to be for a million dollars. But >> I I cannot predict that at the >> either way. Yeah, that's all hypothetical at this point. But um I think just you know the in terms of the the high school stuff right now Pemrook is $2,500 cheaper for next year but it went up by $2,000 in the past year. So if we continue to track that, you know, Pro Browns is 3% steadily increasing at 3%. So, we don't know what Conquered is

020going to be the following year, but most likely it's going to be right at the Co Brown line or higher based on the increases that we're seeing. And if Penrook was, you know, another $2,000 again in one year, then these top off agreements and everything may not even or sending them all to Penrook may not save us anything. Well, we know the tuition for PENRA for next year and that's the budget that we have been um forced to reconcile with these cuts. So, yes, speculatively we don't know what's going to happen in two years, but the budget that we're contending with is the budget that we know the tuition for next year, >> right? So, to make a rash decision like pulling all those kids out of that school, maybe save money for one year.

021I don't know that we can even discuss rash decisions at this point. >> And I'd also like to add >> we're in control of this board and so >> yeah, but we we may not get that much choice of what we have to do to make ends meet depending on what happens. I don't know. >> We have to look at our responsibility is to make sure that all the students get an ed an adequate education. Okay, that's our responsibility. and the way we're looking at some of the cuts, it could make it so that DCS is not an adequate education. So, I don't so I don't want to take away school choice either, but it seems to me to be completely wrong to keep kids in high schools at where we could save money when

022that money could go to DCS to make to try and help with their adequate education. Like, they'll get an adequate education at Pemrook. >> More than adequate, >> right? It's a good school. But I'm not trying to get rid of choice. But I'm saying if somebody comes to you and says you have to get rid of let's say it's let's say it ends up being 5% $1.7 million. Let's say it ends up something like that. That still could be so many teachers out of our school that they're not getting an adequate education. So we have to look at that first. That's the that's that's our duty. We want to make sure our high school kids get an adequate education. Absolutely. But I don't see how you can say, "Oh, we're gonna sp we're going to

023spend $600,000 more so they can continue to go to these schools when that money is needed for an adequate education at DCS." That That's where my problem is. I have nothing wrong with school choice. When I was here, when we voted on it, we told everybody, we were consistently meeting after meeting, we said this was going to cost more money. Gonna cost more money. And it did. And now a lot of people are like, "Whoa, let's, you know, let's cut the budget." But cutting the budget at DCS, that doesn't seem very fair to me when the money went into high school choice. Now, I'm not saying that we can't cut things at DCS. Of course, we can. >> Well, yeah. Glad you brought that up because it seems like there's a lot of comments where

024it's like, >> you know, if you know that we can't cut anything from DCS because >> No, but we also don't but we don't want to go backwards. Like Mr. Whitmore said, hey, I don't want to go backwards in high school. I don't go want to go backwards at DCS either, you know, and and I do feel very strongly that the education they get from prek to 8th grade is incredibly important. >> Incredibly important. And that's really why it costs more money, too. A lot of people I see [snorts] I remember I said this at a budget committee meeting and I saw eyes rolling and I'm I'm sorry but elementary education is going to cost more per student because it's you're putting a lot more effort into them to make sure that if kids are

025behind in reading or behind in math. You're giving them extra support. The idea is when they get to high school they can be independent. They can and I've seen that. I mean, I I taught seventh and eighth grade and I saw kids that were in first grade that were having huge issues and by the time they got to me, they could handle being in a classroom. So, it's really important and I and that's my big thing like I I would love to keep high school choice. I don't want to take it away, but I don't want to decimate DC. In fact, I don't think we can decimate DCS. It is our job to make sure that they have an adequate education. So that's that's where I'm coming from and that's why I made those comments

026right away about well if we're going to have to cut $3.1 million we need to look at high school choice. I think I think that's the only responsible response to have >> right but and and I mean we've talked about at the last meeting top off agreements. >> Yeah. If we come up with other things or we talked about open enrollment. Yeah. I'm open to that stuff for sure. For sure. I just think it's, you know, it's important for us to not, you know, talk about necessarily getting rid of it all completely, especially when right now we're not in that position. >> Yeah, I I agree. And if there's other things we can do, I mean, I [clears throat] totally think that that's what we should be looking at. >> Yeah. And to respond to

027what Greg said about the top off agreements, I mean, I don't >> I mean, and maybe that was just an example of the dollar per thousand, but but clearly $300 is not gonna help. Yeah. Right. So, it's like >> Yeah, I think it was just >> Right. Right. Right. Yeah. So, he probably didn't mean those exact numbers, but I mean I I don't know. I guess >> um >> I agree. we have no choice but to look at everything. >> But if it gets to the point where we're looking and we're not looking at high school at all and we're only looking here and all of a sudden we have classrooms of 35 kids >> because I agree, >> you know, then that's not fair either. So we are we are going to have to

028look at everything, >> right? >> No, I totally agree. I just I think that um like you said, we need to look at both of them >> and make sure that we're not treating high school kids and their education different than the the kids education here at DCS. >> I don't think I don't think that >> all those high school kids are DCS kids at [snorts] one point. >> It would have to be AC I mean a large scale budget impact would impact every student unfortunately. >> Yeah. >> For better or for worse. For worse mostly >> prek [laughter] to 12th grade. >> Yeah. And then >> and just another thing and I don't know if there's another section if you if this is all right to keep going on about this but I was

029just thinking another thing that Greg had said about you know opening it to further schools and stuff you know we've we have talked about that like you said Nancy in terms of the private schools and stuff like that I my biggest fear with that because you know I I am a proponent of that however you know the big thing that I see as an obstacle is special ed transportation, right? >> 100%. >> Um, you know, and that that goes along with our open enrollment conversation. And >> so to me, that's the biggest obstacle. I mean, because like you said, we can put it out as a warrant article and see if people are open to that if they're open to saving thousands of dollars and having their tax money go to private schools. Um, that

030should be on a warrant article. And um I I just I just think that the special ed portion of that is >> there's a lot of unknowns. And so I think there's a very good potential that while it looks cheaper on paper, it could end up costing more or the same as other schools because of those costs. But >> Right. And because we're being in a position where we are with Concrete [snorts] and Co brown where we're actually saving money by sending >> figured out. Yep. >> Right. And like even if you know we eliminated one bus but we really can't eliminate anymore because otherwise we're going to eat it on the other side with the special ed transportation. So >> all right. So we do have um budget review and warn articles on the

031agenda. So unless there's anything else, we will continue on. Um agenda review. I am going to swap letters A and B so Marina Club can go uh in just a second. [laughter] Um I think that's it. Do we need a nonpublic? I don't think so. >> I don't think so. >> Wow. [laughter] >> Surprising weird. >> I know. Um okay. >> Unless something comes up. >> Yeah. Yeah. Review of correspondence. I don't think there was any. Okay. Uh consent agenda, immediate business. All right. Mima Club, you are up. [applause] >> We have some kids that have to scoot. So, I think we're just gonna hit the ground running. And I'll tell you what, we played after the fact. And if she has to go at any point, you can just grab her. [clears throat] Um,

032[laughter] >> let's do your fancy. >> Um, we'll do Yes. Let's So, let's do um >> cowgirl hat. Thank you. So, uh I'll tell you what they are after. It's not important right now. Okay. Yeah. Ready? I have lost my cowgirl hat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Thank you. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Yeah. >> [music] >> Last one. [music] Ready. Yay. [cheering] [applause] All right. And this other one is called Okay, that one's not called Copper Hat. That's name. This one we call Sunrise Sunset. These are our English names because the Zimbabwe names are pretty tricky. Here we go. This is on the for you. Yep. Do you have it? Do you see it? White, white, green, green, blue, blue, blue, green, green. Ready? Oh, I didn't do mine. Ready, set, here we go.

033[music] I started wrong. I started wrong. [laughter] Ready. Ready. Start in your seat. Your high seat. >> Sunriseet. We play mima. Sunrise sunset. We play for [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Go. Hey. Hey. >> [music] >> Go. [music] Ready? [music] One more of that. Ready? Go. [music] >> [music] >> Go. Spectacular. >> [music] >> two. [music] Last one. YUM. YEP. Thank you guys. These Mara Club the two songs we play. So these are um Zimbabwe style rimbbas which means they are there's there's no chromatics except for when they have fs and so there is quite a bit of theory behind it. These we got through a grant um that I wrote is not really the schools but they are because we use them every Monday at a rim club is dropping fifth

034and sixth graders and the whole idea is music as a process not as a product. people is making connections with each other and having fun. But as um just so everyone is aware, thank you so much Charlotte. We got Charlotte, Sophia, Autumn, Caleb, and [applause] um yeah, no worries. And um the whole idea is that, you know, music can look like a lot of different things. I think sometimes people think poorly of things that they might not just be aware like we just hit stuff. It's like, as you saw, a lot more complicated. Um, and this music, the reason why it's so cool is the versions that we just played. Yes, it's traditional Zimbabwe and music, but you'll never hear those two versions ever again because they're making choices based on signals, based on things

035that they hear. Um, and how the chord progression goes. So, I didn't actually yell it, but I could have yelled like white, blue, green, because we mark out the chords and then we make choices within that structure. And um, I don't know if you noticed, nobody was like reading their music. What's wrong with you guys? I know [laughter] this because every time we play it, we get a different we have a different result. So, why would you write that down? That doesn't make a ton of sense. Um, and I know also, just so you know, cuz some of these grades like that wasn't my best one. That was fantastic. >> And they don't know like the last class we had, it was even better, but this one we had a real audience. So, like >>

036it was great. [applause] Thank you so much for coming. What a treat for [laughter] >> Oh, absolutely. I love working faces like And then you could see them. >> We would get right back on track. That was great. >> That was awesome. >> That was so good. [laughter] >> I want to be in Mara. >> I know. I love that. >> Melissa, will you do an adult? Hi, we have a PD medley day and I'm not going to name drop but Sarah Chase. [laughter] Um, myself, >> uh, Jose Luciana. There's a couple adults that have played the second song we did. Sunrise set is called Mukanya. And >> uh, I have lost my cowgirl hat is called. >> I'm sure you'll get the spelling right. No worries. And [laughter] the deal is we use uh

037pneumonics to help us. So I have lost my cowgirl hat. Caleb let it let us change it instead of cowboy hat. He's very kind because and like 30 only 30% of our group is right-handed. So anyway, I have lost my cowgirl hat. So that's what we were thinking. So they use that to help remember the rhythms of the chord structures versus eth quarter it because you could write it that way too but that's not in the tradition of this style of music. >> That's awesome. >> So they are working hard and thinking a lot and [laughter] they're so proud. I'm so proud. >> Yes. >> That's awesome. >> Yeah. Now you guys don't have big machines behind you. You're nice and cozy. >> [laughter] >> These are good enough brand which I told some of

038the audience people and they appreciated it. Um as in like you have Bach and Mozart and handle and that. So good enough is supposed to sound like it's a German brand. It's really fancy but it means good enough. [laughter] [laughter] >> Okay. Thank you so much. All right. So, next we have a solar update. Do >> you want to introduce our guests? >> Well, I will I will let you introduce yourself. >> Okay. >> Well, we're gonna have a little bit of an update on where we're at with our solar project. >> I'll move out of your way and you can I'm Jack from Bington Solar. We're the company that installed this thing. >> Uh this was actually turned on on December 22nd >> and soon after that we got snow [laughter] which didn't do

039us any good. This is basically an aerial, so you can see the whole roof. Um, that's about 570 panels, covers the whole roof. Um, these things that are tilted will produce a lot more power in the winter than these are because I was up there yesterday and the flat roof panels are covered. They just won't do anything. We maybe when the rain comes will it'll clear them, but um in the summer that is going to be generating a whole bunch of excess power for the school which will then be used. So, here's another view of the side once I find where my mouse is. >> Okay. >> So, all that power that's created in the summertime is that stored. >> Yeah. So, what happens is um there's a meter the utility installed a meter which

040measures in two directions. So when the solar generates power, it goes into the building and let's say the building is using 100 kilowatt hours and we make 500 kilowatt hours. The 100 kilowatts gets taken care of in the building and the 400 kilowatts goes out through the meter and generates credits. The credits aren't quite retail, but they're close. So you know you guys are paying like 11 cents kilowatt hour. Now the energy that goes into the building is worth 16 cents and the stuff that goes out through the credits is like 13 and a half or 14 cents. So you're saving money regardless of whether it goes in the building or out going into the building you save a lot more. So, um, behind that roof, uh, is a series of inverters that look like

041that. Each one of these is connected to a series of panels and generates power and converts DC power from the panels to AC power and then feeds into a big service panel and feeds into the building. It's pretty impressive type work going on here. It took those guys quite a while to do that. Um, and oddly enough, this would have been done in September were it not for one tiny part from the electric p. Literally [snorts] one piece of metal that we could have put in, but then it wouldn't be certified. So, we had to wait for a certified part, [snorts] which is why it took so long. Um, the last piece of the puzzle, I'm having some issues with [clears throat] I assume a firewall. So I can't get live data, but we have

042a data logger that's connected to the to the whole system. So it measures how much production is being generated at any given time and it stores all that information. But so this was this was at um I think I left my house at like 5:15 and this was the last piece of data I got. So at 5:15 it was making nine watts. It's just a tiny little amount. >> But the [snorts] system contains a whole bunch of these screens. And this is this is probably the part that is most interesting to the school is that we can generate a whole series of screens that show how the system is working. And those things can be displayed in classrooms for people to to understand and they can be put on like for instance in the town

043of Barington, we have the library and the town hall on the town website so people can see exactly what the system's doing and generating. We actually have a we have a live display in the library too. If there's a live display someplace, it it can be added into that content. Um, in the end, this whole thing is really simple. It took a long time to do because it looks to be fairly complicated, but once it's all connected, those things just sit up there and absorb sunlight and generate electricity. Inverters are are a really long-term reliable machine. They'll sit up there for 10 or 15 years without causing any problems at all. Uh the data monitoring system will be up live on [cough] time. >> Excuse me. >> So, we'll actually as we see the bills

044come in, um I will help Chris generate a a saving over time so you know exactly what the the value of the total electricity generated is, what was coming at retail, and what was the excess. So, you'll have a really good handle. how much you're saving. [clears throat] >> Awesome. >> And you guys are actually you're actually paying 9 and a half cents for this electricity and the retail value is 16 cents. So you can see you're you're saving six and a half cents a kilowatt hour right out of the gate without having to spend any money. So it should work out really well. Um questions anybody? Must be something. [cough] What what's the expected life of the panels? >> Uh well, a standard panel warranty is 80% of the production is still remaining at

04525 years. >> So 40 I mean at some point I own a bunch of these myself and at some point um as [clears throat] panel sizes increase and prices decrease there's a point where it actually it makes sense to replace them just because you could double or triple your power. That's probably 10 or 15 years. But technically, this thing could just sit up there and run for ever. You'd replace a set of inverters over time. But um I mean I've been doing this a long time and I've only ever seen four panels uh break because of a lightning strike. Four panels out of thousands. I have seen an occasional one broken from some impact up here. They're pretty safe. Um, you know, ground mounts get hit by trucks and plows and stuff like that, but

046roof mats are really very [clears throat] secure. >> Ballpark. What's the cost of the replacement of one of those inverters? >> Uh, an inverters right now about $4,500. >> And there are they're actually there are nine there, but one of them is a spare, >> which turns out we we got a bad inverter, so we're going to use the spare right away, but we'll replace the spare. So you always have one. That way we can, [clears throat] you know, warranties sometimes take time. >> Sure. >> This way we can just swap the inverter out and then worry about warrantying it. But I, you know, I think I think of all the systems that we've installed in the last five years. I think we've replaced five to seven inverters and they're all under warranty. These have

047these have 10 to 15 year warranties. So, what normally happens is the inverter goes bad before the warranty is up and then you get another 15 years out of the inverter because you [laughter] just replace it. Works out pretty well. [clears throat and cough] Can >> you and hopefully you make the answer to this, but can you refresh everyone's memory? I know that this project started years ago. Um, it is coming. It's finally here. But can [snorts] you refresh the board's memory on the ownership of those panels and why we will [clears throat] we'll have to sign like a lease agreement and things like that. >> Yeah. Yeah. So to your knowledge, >> so this is called this is called a power purchase agreement and they're they have generally been undertaken uh with municipalities and

048school districts because it eliminates the need for you guys to come up with the upfront money to do this. This is probably a This is about a half million dollar project, I think. So, what happens is is that um I sign a lease on the roof. Uh the school signs a power purchase agreement and I sell the school power at a reduced rate. So, currently the rate is uh 11.5 cents and [clears throat] the school's buying at 9 and a half, but that also covers all the extras on top of the rate. So you're actually paying 16 and or you would be paying 16, but now you're paying nine and a half. So So you save money by doing it without actually having spent any money. That's the basic reason for it. But the other

049thing is is there's a there was there was a 30% tax credit. So I can actually sell that tax credit and then the system cost me 30% less. You guys can't take the tax credit because you don't pay taxes. So that's an extra benefit. It makes it cheaper for me to buy the system because I can take that tax credit and you guys get a good Right. And you guys get a good deal because you're not paying any money and you're paying six cents less for electricity. So anyway, uh you're about to see some documents and [clears throat] the reason you're seeing them now is back in April we started the process of taking a bank loan to do this project and we've been through three banks. Uh not because the loan was bad but

050because everybody got scared of tax credits. Everybody was afraid the tax credits were going to go away. And [clears throat] we started with this bank in August and we were about to close and suddenly they sent you guys three pieces of paper and they wanted a signature out of the blue. >> Well, they sent them to me. >> So So there are a couple documents having to do with the lease that have to be discussed. I mean the whole thing's paid for already. We did it. We financed it ourselves out of our own money. We just like get a bank loan so we get our money back. [snorts] That's really what this is all about. >> Yeah. >> Anyway. >> So then Yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you so much. Looks great. >> How

051[clears throat] long is the least for >> um Okay. >> Yeah. >> You don't need me for this. >> I Yeah, we don't need anything. >> Thank you for coming and I'll be in touch tomorrow. >> We have another week. So, >> yeah, I want to do it tomorrow. again. Um, so with the documents he's talking about, basically like a closing on a like a mortgage kind of thing, but we're not closing on a mortgage. We're we need to sign a lease uh >> allowing us to rent this to >> the solar company. >> How long is the lease for? >> 25 years. Yeah. Yeah. >> It it goes along with the power purchase. >> So this got sent to me. Gosh, what was it? First day of Friday last week. >> It was uh

052and they uh wanted our signature. I think they forget we're a governing body. So [laughter] like, well, it's not that easy. I will have to take it to the board because I can't sign documents without the board granting me the authority to sign those documents. >> Yeah. There's there's one more piece of this. >> Yep. >> Um and that is that at the end of five years, the tax investors who bought the tax credits from us get bought out and then we own the system entirely. And at that point, you know, the school district can negotiate to buy the thing if they want to. >> Great. So then we don't then we don't pay the 9 and a half per kilowatt hour, but it would just be it would be whatever we bring in, >>

053but then you have to also [clears throat] take into consideration maintenance and all that. >> Well, exactly. So So what happens at the end of five years is um if you're interested, we're [clears throat] doing this with a couple schools. Um, we basically put a price on it based on, you know, what's left on the loan, what we expect to make over the next 20 years, and give you what we think the price is. You can hire a third party appraiser to do the same thing, and we sit around table, figure out whether it works or not. So far, I haven't had anyone buy one because they just figured, >> you know, easier. [clears throat] Anyway, thank you all very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. So, I was able to I did send the

054um let me get the actual name of the document through the non-disturbance agreement um and the landlord estoppel certificate and the certificate of authority. Um all fancy names for us to be able to do what you just said. Uh I sent it to our attorneys. Our attorneys reviewed it. They approved it and said it was pretty standard. Um they didn't see any concerns with it. it won't tie us into any financial commitments of anything that we don't already have with um the solar company. So, all I need I need you to grant me the authority to sign it, though. I can't sign it without the board granting me that authority. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to sign this, right? Um, I'm going to make a motion to grant just the authority to sign the

055lease agreement and any other um, real estate documents related to the solar panel on the on behalf of the district. >> I'll second discussion. >> Um, you have the you have that lease or Oh, okay. if you want to take your lance at it real quick. But I was telling these guys while you were talking about Miss Wy that um I sent them to our attorney and he reviewed them um and he said they were pretty standard that he determined the concerns [clears throat] with us signing those agreements and I'll get you I will send you copies of the um once everything's executed and signed by um all the parties I'll send copies to the board. So just to be clear, this isn't this is I mean there's no scenario where we would have any

056liability >> financial liability. No. >> No. >> Because we and it had to do with um you Deerfield became an LLC to be able to put the panels on the roof. So we're leasing it to ourselves through the solar vendor. So it was a whole process. I wish it was involved in the beginning but it wasn't. So trying to get caught up real quick in the last few days. >> Yeah, Patty all of that. >> Yeah, >> I meant to ask him too. So I don't know if we have co-op or ever source >> co-op. >> So um so there's still a portion potentially like we're not creating enough power. Is that [clears throat] the 16 um sense that he was talking about? >> Yeah. Well, that we're when the electricity when it's coming into

057our building >> from co-op. Yeah, >> it's that that's the >> we have to buy it from the co-op because we're [clears throat] not making enough that would be 60. >> And um Amber has already been our BA has already been in touch with [clears throat] the electric company. So they they know this is coming. >> So they know that we'll be kind of shutting down service with them. Okay, this should be the last piece of all of it. [laughter] >> Awesome. From >> what I understand, >> flip the switch. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um, so we have a pending motion to give just authority to sign the documents on on the district's behalf. Um, all in favor? >> I I >> All right, you guys. I'll get those signed and sent over and

058then um the closing date is I think the 18th. So once um the other party signs it then I'll get copies of everything and then we'll get that copies shared as well. >> Awesome. Okay, moving on to warrant articles. Um it would be my preference that we can get these finalized tonight. There is another NBC meeting on Saturday. Um the NBC [clears throat] can put a recommendation on any of our warrant articles that have appropriations. [clears throat] Um, so it would be ideal if we could get the the NBC our finalized warrants by um their meeting on Saturday because there's a public hearing uh for the NBC next Tuesday where we will they will be presenting their budget recommendations and then there will be they will be making their final warn article recommendations on Tuesday.

059So if we don't finalize them tonight, we will have to have an emergency meeting [laughter] um before Tuesday. So, >> I thought that >> they weren't they weren't anticipating having them. I mean, I know that you told them that you thought you were going to have them, but I didn't think they anticipated actually getting them on Saturday. >> Yeah. Um I don't know why. I I told them twice that we should have them by Saturday. The the town is not going to have theirs ready for Sat finalized by Saturday, but the town's meeting on Monday, so they're finalizing them. The [clears throat] deadline for us to give them to the NBC is Tuesday. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. because that's the public hearing. We have to give them our finalize [clears throat] articles before the

060public hearing. So the town is doing it on Mon after their Monday meeting. We if we don't finalize them tonight, we will have to have to have an emergency meeting which I would love to not because it has already been a lot of meetings. So, at our last meeting, there was talk about I'm not I know I'm not going to be able to explain it correctly, but the warrant articles if there was money related to them that it could somehow Canon's like you you know could affect still that cut. >> Correct. >> Did we find >> add into the total? >> So, they do add into >> So, I can explain this if you want. >> Yeah, please. Because >> Okay. To [clears throat] the best of my understanding at deliberative session the we've heard

061a lot about the 10% limitation. So there the total appropriation for the day at deliberative cannot exceed 10% of the NBC's recommended amount of our budget. So total appropriations includes warrant articles. So that means if there is a budget cut, the any monetary warrant articles would count against any amount of money that could be added back at deliberative. >> That's if it's a warrant article that's going to be taken out of the taxes, >> any any appropriation. >> So even if we say it's out of surplus, yep, >> it's still an appropriation. >> We still Yeah, because it's a we [clears throat] have to account for it in the budget to draw from it. Can we withdraw those once we know what that budget is? >> Our warrant article they we have I mean we

062theoretically could if we had an emergency meeting after Saturday. >> Well, okay. I think that being said, I mean I because otherwise we I mean I I think we'd all agree we wouldn't want to add any more money to that, right? That gets subtracted out. So, >> right. I think [clears throat] do it the way that we want it to look and then >> see I would I would suggest doing the opposite. I suggest that we give them non-monetary warrant articles and then if Saturday doesn't end up at the way that I'm anticipating, then we have an emergency meeting and we could add add back in warrant articles that have an appropriation [snorts] because Saturday we could have more of a handle on what the budget's going to be. We you may want to do

063a little bit of both. Just throwing that out there. You could come up with your monetary warrant articles, but then choose to hold them. That way, they are ready to go. So, if you [clears throat] do decide to have a meeting, it you can just add those right back in. >> Right. And then we would still give them to the NBC in advance of Tuesday. >> Right. Right. just >> I I just in terms of this, you know, avoiding um what just happened and being, you know, transparent about what we're actually trying to accomplish. I think um I I think we just do it the way I mean that's just my opinion. I think that we should do it the way that we want it to be presented and then because pretty much almost either

064way and end up having that meeting. >> That is true. That is true. >> We're not avoiding it by not putting monetary >> I I disagree. I think we won't have to have an emergency meeting if we don't have them in there and there are significant cuts to the budget. >> Wait, say it again. >> Because you don't think we're going to be able to do it is what you're saying. So you're thinking we won't there's going to be such significant cuts that we will not have these in here. That's what you're That's what you're thinking. [clears throat] >> I don't know. I think it could also go the other way, too. If if the cuts aren't as significant, >> right, >> and your warrant articles in there, then you wouldn't need to be. >>

065Well, I think Yeah, >> right. like if [clears throat] you had your uh but I do what I I what I would feel misleading about would be giving them the opportunity to review them and [cough] not I mean they wouldn't make a final recommendation but saying these are what we're going to do and then all of a sudden saying nope actually we're not going to do these I don't know >> be based on their decisions though it's not like we're just ripping it off the table for whatever reason I mean it'd be based on the decisions that they make on Yeah, it's really >> I don't want to have another meeting. I do not want to >> I don't think that we should I don't think that we should base our decision on not wanting

066to meet again either. But, you know, I think we should do what we think is best. Not >> I Well, I also I mean I also sort of fundamentally have an issue with asking for an additional $250,000 if if there's even more than $250,000 cut out of our budget. Like I just I think that's a little tonedeaf to be like we're all you know they're doing this to try to save money and now we're just going to ask for it anyway. So I don't know. I just I think with the tenor of the discussions about we have to do anything we possibly can including gutting programming at DCS to save money. I just think we shouldn't present anything that that costs additional funds. Well, some of that is again, some of those are not raised

067from additional taxation, right? So, why would that >> But that's money that could go back to the taxpayer to reduce taxes. >> Yeah. But I I mean I don't know. You're not giving I don't know. I just I don't think you're giving your recommendation and you're not giving the people the chance to vote on it. just anticipating what the NBC might do. So if we put them forward the way that we would like to have it happen and then on Saturday there are significant cuts, maybe there won't be, but if there are, are you then saying we should should withdraw them? Yeah, we would have to meet and then we would just I mean it'd be pretty easy and pretty quick, I would think, because >> because that's the only thing that would have to

068get altered, right, Jess? >> Yeah, is the monetary ones, right? Just reduce them to zero, right? Or just take them off. >> I would take them off. >> You just have to take them off and and >> invoke that. You know, it wouldn't it wouldn't take very long. >> There's two, right? >> The 250,000 and the 40,000. the um did the password change or >> yeah there's only two it looks like there's only two additional [clears throat] more articles that >> you're looking to fund trust funds for >> so you can't commit but there is >> yeah the rest of them are non-monetary for the budget >> sometimes it'll get up >> I I think what you're saying is you're just not sure we should even put this forward at all given the tenor of

069what's going on maybe we should just eliminate it and not even have an emergency meeting to put them back if all goes well, >> right? >> To just not have the warrant articles period this year. >> And there have been years we haven't. I was looking through old I was trying to find some information on something. I was reading through old town reports and there were years that the only Warren article was the budget. I guess my only my only word of caution with that is that if we if we do end in a surplus and are able to have reserve funds at the end of this year and we do get budget cuts, there may very well be situation where we have to fix something that we didn't plan for and don't have the

070money for because we didn't use funds that we had excess for this year but won't have next year. Well, I'd say if we were going to do I would definitely get rid of the 40,000 for the trust fund for high school. I think we should just eliminate that period. >> So then I think maybe it's just we talk about if we want to do the 250,000 or not or maybe we can even reduce that. [clears throat] >> I mean there's already 750,000 in the school building repair trust fund. So you know the the idea of adding 250,000 is for >> the HVAC >> is for HVAC. >> Yeah. trying to be proactive, which is a multi-million dollar project, which >> I [clears throat] I could not support if we were if we're still talking about

071right >> cutting staff or having to make egregious cuts to programming. I just I, you know, we don't have reading specials, but we have a new HVAC. I just think that's ridiculous. But >> we also can't let the building go, you know? shambles either. >> We I mean we shouldn't let any of it go to shambles um in my opinion, but >> I just I think we have to have some [clears throat] long-term. >> Well, is there a compromise here that we could maybe make it less than 250,000? >> Yes. I think what we talked about funding [snorts] that project. It was like we needed the 250 per year for the next >> Yeah. Because that's going to get us that'll get us to a million. >> 2 million, >> right? >> Yeah. >> And

072that's if we didn't use any other money on anything else in that fund, >> correct? >> So that's the only thing. It's like it's going to get to a point where like, you know, we really need that system and we were so far behind in the funding of it. I don't know. >> Well, we thought we were ahead >> and we thought we were done after we heard how much it was going to be. So, we just want to make that clear. [laughter] >> It's not like we haven't been funding it. We have >> at the same time. I understand [clears throat] the sentiment of like what's the difference between having poor air flow versus having kids who [clears throat] can't read because we don't have teachers to teach them how to read. >> So,

073yeah. Or 26 kids in a classroom, >> right? >> I don't know. It's I think it's a lose lose either way quite frankly. >> So the purpose of getting that account increased >> is so that we might have all of it >> in about three years [clears throat] close to all of it so you don't have to do >> right >> a special warrant to the funds. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Okay. So I'm thinking in my own personal budget at home. Yeah, >> that I might [clears throat] not be able to put as much aside this year as I want to for it and then hope that in four years when I need to do it, I might somehow have come up with some more or might just have to accept the fact that

074we've got to ask for the money because I don't want to >> I I you know I no I don't want the building to and I would love to have most all of it in there, but I'm just wondering if with the more I think about it, the atmosphere that's out there that, you know, we're overspending and we know why we're doing it, but I don't think people always understand it. They would rather see that that 250,000 went back. >> Well, if they do though, then they I mean, it it I don't know. I just think that giving them the opportunity to vote it and if they decide that that they don't want to do it, then they vote no. >> But I don't think we can put it out there. And maybe I'm I'm

075wrong, but like I'm thinking if Saturday there are drastic cuts, it won't be the people that then vote on this. I think we'd have to take it off. It [snorts] wouldn't go on the ballot. we'd have to take it off because if we have to add it in and then we have end up with even bigger cuts. >> That's the decision. That's kind of what we were talking about, right? It's like we we say what we what we want here and then that could be amended too >> once we know what the cuts are us. >> Uh but but when you say let them vote on it, are [clears throat] you saying the NBC vote on it or the community vote on it? >> No, the community. And they're also voting on the NBC budget,

076right? On on on our budget. So >> they may support like they may support the the public may support cuts that are that are in that NBC budget or and and still support, you know, funding this. That's possible. you know, >> is it are people I'm trying to make this the least painful as possible. >> Are people available on Sunday or on Saturday? Like we're already going to be at the NBC. Could we schedule an emergency? Right after the NBC to make this decision. >> A lot of times sports do that. >> I have a basketball game here at 11. So I'm I was going to the NBC meeting at It's at 9:00, right? >> Yeah. I don't know what time it will be over. >> We could always come over here. >> We could

077come over here. >> I wouldn't be a >> Well, we'd have to notice this place though. This space >> could make you go for your game. >> Yes. No. [laughter] [snorts] >> Yeah. I could be available after noon. >> After 12 p.m. >> After 12. Okay. Well, we could get lunch if it's over. >> Yeah. I have to see I have to see my >> time frame. We have something later in the day, and I'm not I'm not sure yet where later begins. My daughter hasn't told me yet. [laughter] >> So, >> would it work for us to notice it for here at 12? >> Um, yeah. Let me just confirm that really quick. I have the schedule right here. No, we could say 12 or whenever the budget committee is done. >> Yeah, I

078just >> I don't know that you can put an unknown time. I think you put the time [clears throat] >> if they're still going. If we say noon and they're still going at noon, >> right? >> That's true. >> Is that likely three hours? >> I hope not, but I wouldn't think that's that's an awful lot. >> So, that game ends at 12 hours. Last night we were there till 10. [clears throat] >> I say 12:30. Is that because of most of the public comments? >> Um, no. They were in non though they went to non-public for a bit. >> What are you saying? And in terms of posting our meeting, is that what you're saying? So if we post a start time and we just not here yet, is that >> because it won't

079start earlier than 12? >> No, I mean that would be that would be a problem. >> It would Okay. [laughter] If we're tardy for our meeting, >> I I mean a minute maybe. Okay. But not half an hour. >> Okay. Well, that makes that's challenging then just based on that meeting, >> right? That that's the risk. >> Yeah. So, how could you post? So, >> how do other boards do that then if they >> Right. The budget committee always posts an emergency meeting after the school deliberative and we just like convene in the in the cafeteria after the school deliberative to talk about whether or not we're going to change our recommendations. And I don't know how they have historically posted them. Let me as far as I know we have to put a time

080on there but I let me reach out tomorrow and see if there's any flexibility to put at the end at the conclusion of the NBC meeting. >> Um I'm not sure that there is but I'll reach out tomorrow and and see if we can >> otherwise if we can't should we just say 12:30 >> and I will think >> I'll just make the NBC be done at 12:30. >> Do you need somebody to take minutes and the video probably will not be on? No. Yeah, we wouldn't be able to video. >> Okay. >> I think we can probably handle the minutes. Yeah, >> I think it's gonna be like a 10-minute meeting, right? Pretty much. So, [snorts] >> and it would only The only thing on the agenda is going to be warrant articles, >>

081right? >> Um, okay. [clears throat] But we have to decide what we want to send. >> Yes. What do we want to send? So, >> well, let me before we move on real quick. Sorry. So, if I if we can't do a big time, it'll be 12:30. Yes. >> Is that what is that consensus? >> 12:30. That works for me. >> And here at DCS, >> that would be great. >> Yes. Okay. >> I would say let's let's start by eliminating three and four. >> Those are the ones for the tuition expendable trust fund. >> Yeah, I agree. >> Yep. I mean, I really think we should have it, but >> why do you But this isn't the year. It's just And maybe if we just keep historical data. This is how many kids have

082come in. This is how much extra money we've had to taken out of our budget this year. This is how much we this year. Then maybe we'll have more of a a >> man. Three years is a good data set. So we give you three years of data to >> Right. >> Um >> do we need to No, I think >> uh you should formalize your decision to vote. >> Do you want to vote? >> Oh, uh so I make a motion that we remove Warren Article 3 and Warren article 4 from our proposed ground articles. Second. >> Any discussion? Okay. All in favor? >> I um I should explain. Um so some of these as it's drafted right now, it there is a space that says school board recommends, budget committee recommends. If they're

083not appropriations that will not be there that will get taken out because or this >> so to make the recommendations advisory the budget committee won't be part of that right because >> we also don't list our recommendations if they're non-monetary >> okay >> so that'll be removed um I also have different language for number eight that I sent to Jess I don't know if you saw it Yes, I sent it off to legal to make sure that we have actual legal language. They should they show it back to me >> for tomorrow. So if you approve the sentiment, we can make the adjustments on Saturday. >> I mean, a lot of people are not going to know what top off agreement. >> So, right. So, that was my concern, too. So, I >> and there's

084a specific RSA that we will need to reference. >> I referenced the RSA. Um I can just read it so that you again the legal has to review this. >> Eight. Number [clears throat] eight. >> Yeah. Number eight. Um, let me see if I can find it. Oh, I have so many emails. Okay. um to see if the school district will vote to direct the school board to evaluate and wear educationally and financially advantageous pursuit or top off agreements with approved high schools consistent with RSA 193 sections 5 through or 6 through 7 in order to expand educational opportunities for students without requiring the additional appropriations over and above the cost of a single designated school of record. That's pretty clear. >> So I mean you could tenatively approve that language and [clears throat] then

085pending legal review we can make an amendment on Saturday if we need to legal language. >> Yeah. >> There was only one thing that I guess I it said approve schools. Is that >> that's the language from the RSA because you need to choose a base that's your school record and then anywhere else they go. If it's more they pay the extra money. No. Well, 1933 says that any >> school that we're sending tuition money to has to be an approved school >> under 1933 >> to have top off grades. >> To have top off agreements. >> What does that mean by approved? Like it as one of our school of records. >> They they have to submit to certain testing for students who they're receiving tuition from. They there are like a series of

086things that a school would have to agree to in order to be an approved school for us to send tuition money to. >> Approved school by the DOE, by the state, not by us. >> Um so the state sets sets standards for schools to be an approved basically to receive public education funds. they have to meet certain standards and if they don't meet those standards we can't necessarily use public funds to fund that unless it's through some other placement that the board has chosen to do like for a best interest or something like that. So, is that language eliminating the opening the the high school choice to other >> I don't know I don't know what schools are approved schools right >> if they it doesn't mean that they can't be approved they can if

087they want to be on our receiving list they can go through the hoops to get approved um >> and sometimes it's is just a matter of they do they need to start doing standardized testing >> and it's just on the tuition students so they as far as I could tell when I was reading the RSA, it's they have to for the students receiving our tax dollars, they would have to um have standardized testing. There was a few other criteria that I don't remember right now, but >> and that's what they're that's what is reviewing is all that. >> Yeah. >> Um that's the only way we'd be able to have those top off agreements with a school that's not currently a public school, >> right? All of our public schools meet those standards. It's if

088we were to look at any school who's not a public school and our charter schools meet that standard as well. >> So, so that's that's the law. So, even if we chose >> to send [clears throat] kids say to Trinity or something >> can't unless they meet that standard >> and that's not our policy. That's the law. >> RSA, right? Yeah. >> Um, so do we want to conditionally approve this language to send to the NBC pending obviously legal >> authorization because we would want them to vent it before >> I'm okay with >> Oops. >> I just lost my >> I I prefer the number eight, but what's already there? We So we can't put forward a non-legal warrant, Brand. >> No, there all of these are currently under legal review. So if any

089if there's any legality issues, >> um our attorneys will reach out to me with some edits to make the language legal. Um I told them Saturday was our drop dead date of needing that back. So uh you'll be able to make the amendments needed Saturday. So the what we're going to give to the committee on Saturday will be a draft version of the war articles. It won't be our final approved version at this point. >> Right. Because you'll be making amendments after likely >> potentially. >> I thought that these were already >> No, these have not been vetted. >> So >> um Okay. So, I will make a motion to use um my uh drafted verbiage conditionally pending legal review for number eight for our draft war articles. >> I'll second. >> Any other discussion?

090Okay. All in favor? >> I All opposed. >> Good. Are you opposing or abstaining? um >> or just trying to make sure that I understand the I guess the the difference here and the need for that. >> So >> other language >> we have to reference RSAs when we make warrants that are that have to do with laws and top off agreements are in the law. So, we have to reference the RSA because there's state law that mandates how top off agreements are are going to work and we can't choose to make that be a different way. Um, so even uh the only way to get around that is to just not have top off agreements and and just have um regular contracted agreements, but then we won't we can't give public tax dollars to

091private schools with just a contract between the two schools. It ha there has to be RSA language that goes with that to make sure that it's appropriate that taxpayer dollars are going to a private school and that they meet the standards of public schools that the state has put for goal. There are certain standards that have to be being met in order for tax dollars to get to that private school. >> This war article is just for us to explore it, not that we have to do it. >> It's really advisory only. >> It's just to see if the community is okay with it. >> Yeah. No, I just I have a hard time when like I can't see it, you know, like, you know, it's just >> I [snorts] thought that these were all

092already because we had said that there was a deadline of two days after our for legal. So I thought >> most of them most of them are set in stone like they're not going to be changes because these are repeat warrant articles or you've had them before but they didn't pass so they've already been reviewed by legal but they they had to do a little bit of extra research for the top off because there's just not that many schools that do top off agreements. So that one's taking them a bit longer and I didn't want to falsely give you an idea of what >> legally does [laughter] not have it be accurate. So, >> okay. Well, then I will vote. Yeah. [laughter] >> Okay. So, it was 4 Z. Um, can we remove the um

093quotes on seven? It's bothering me. >> Oh, yeah. [laughter] >> I had a tr I had kind of trouble understanding seven. So, >> does every So, we're working up. >> I was reading it. I'm going, huh? I'm like, "Okay, we'll just talk about it tonight." >> And just like for the open enrollment one, our attorneys have probably sent me 10 different drafts of the open enrollment article because there because it's ever changing and >> there's recent court decisions that have been finalized and come through that are impacting this. There's as they learn something else that they're updating language. So, it's as of even this morning, I got updated language for open enrollment. So I language >> I start to lose it when you go um with an enrollment limitation continuing to allow all whatever percentage

094of eligible resident students to attend Deerfield schools. >> So that's just saying that you're not going to not allow a Deerfield resident to attend a Deerfield school. It's just saying that you're going to continue your current practice and allow for other students not living in Deerfield to potentially enroll in Deerfield schools. >> Okay. So, that's what the 0% of eligible residents to attend Deerfield schools and to allow admitted non. >> There's just a zero there because you guys didn't establish a number. >> Okay. >> So, >> you need to decide on >> Well, I thought this whole thing was just going to be high school, but now it seems like it's also DCS. Oh, it says grades 9. >> I know it says that we have both >> limitation continue allow 0% elder students to

095we don't have any Deerfield high schools. >> So why do we even have that line in there? So, we put this in here because at that time, this last conversation you guys were talking about, there was a discussion that happened that there through open enrollment, you could potentially pursue some tax savings if you created Pemrook Academy, your school of record, set your tuition rate to what it is next year for 18 and change for incoming freshmen, >> right? Open enrollment requires us to pay 80% of the sending district's town's tuition rate to other open enrollment schools if they enroll in another open enrollment school. So that would allow potentially for some >> savings because you don't have your own high school. So you wouldn't be losing I guess I understand all that but I don't

096understand why we say resident students to attend Deerfield schools. Does that mean Deerfield approved high schools? Deerfield. What? >> Yeah, there. That's why there's constantly edits to the >> All right. Because I see Deerfield schools and right away I think DCS. Yeah. So, if I was reading this, I'm thinking DCS, not high schools. >> It should say like dear, if we were to do it, say Deerfield School of Records, Penrook, if that's, you know, if that's what we're setting it on based on Penrook's tuition >> or Deerfield's approved high school or Deerfields, I don't know. >> You could say high school records. >> Well, yeah. We we wouldn't want to do that though because then it would it could be up to the highest. >> The idea is we wanted >> that was the point.

097And you also don't even have to do this. You could withdraw it and not have this warrant at this point because maybe it's not the right time. >> Do we have to have community approval to do? We do have to have >> um >> So, um is are we allowed to have we're set our um outgoing at zero? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> You're allowed to set either number incoming and outgoing to anywhere between zero and 100% currently as it stands in the RSA. >> That's right. [snorts] Because because Yeah, that's that would that's obviously what we want to avoid is losing students and paying. Yeah. So, >> well, it depends if you think there are cost savings if if they go to an open enrollment school. >> Well, I think that's kind of the

098caveat to also pay attention in this is it only applies to other open enrollment schools, >> right? >> And again, once again, we have to think about special ed. >> No, for sure. Because it may cost us 2,000 less in tuition and 100% way more in transportation. >> 100%. >> Yep. >> Yeah, there's a lot of unknowns. >> So, we could put it forward establishing ourselves sort of as an open [snorts] enrollment high school without a high school to offer. [laughter] >> You are welcome to come to our high school. >> Come. [laughter] Well, but that's why I think had it in there schools at the moment because >> it's also an option for you to consider K through eight as establishing as an open enrollment school to allow for entrance or exit. So that's

099also a piece to consider. >> Yeah, I don't think we want to do that with based on >> we don't have space to accept >> and there's based on what we just talked about with special ed. I don't think that there's any benefit of sending out, >> right? >> Our costs again, our costs in the building don't go down if we send a kid out. >> Correct. >> Right. >> It really only makes sense, I think, in high school where we are paying a flat tuition. >> It should only be for high school. >> That's why I think this other language is very confusing. >> Yeah. I I think that we should set our outgoing at zero though >> for now. I mean, we could always amend that, but >> it's it's I mean, I

100agree with you, but it's interesting that came up at our conversation at Pemrook Monday night with the representatives, and the representatives at my table >> disagreed that it should be zero. They kind of consider that playing a game that you're willing to take them in, but you won't let them out. No. And I mean, no, because they were supporting that kids should be able to go to other schools and everything. So, I understand what they were saying, but it just kind of >> open enrollment is parental choice, right? It's choice. >> At what cost? >> Right. But then if you set it to zero, you're limiting choice, but you're trying to create choice. So, it just it's hypocritical. But that's what the law states right now. >> Right. Exactly. Still offering three high schools. Right.

101I will say there there are several, you know, um LSR's house bills right now at the state level that are looking to expand open enrollment. So the chances of that law as it stands changing are is highly likely. >> So we may it might be a moot point anyway, >> right? >> So Prospect Academy because that's the one that keeps Present [clears throat] Mountain, sorry. >> Are they [laughter] zero out? >> Yes. Okay. So they're playing the game the right way. [laughter] >> Well, and it's interesting to >> play the game, right? >> They invented the game. >> It's interesting because they they kept coming up in our disc. >> No, but they kept coming up about they run it like a business, so they run it well and they're I mean the two reps

102at my table, >> all perspective, right? you know, but then I'm thinking to myself, but I didn't want to say it because I wasn't 100% sure, but I wanted to say I think they have zero >> out, but yeah, they do. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, I I don't to me it may not be worth going down this road right now just starting I did I put language on there just so we could have the discussion, but it might be a little too convoluted at this point because there's so many other loose >> things to tighten up. I think that this is would be very confusing for people. >> Oh, yeah. I did understand this at all. >> I think >> I didn't. >> Right. [laughter] I don't I don't know how many schools

103around here are going to be pursuing it. So, I just pro I don't know. >> It's hard because like if Conquered High did it, that'd be great, right? >> Maybe. Yeah. And they might because they have declining enrollment. So, they might consider it, but >> but we don't know. And >> yeah, >> so there's so many unknown factors right now for Deerfield that it just may not make sense right now. >> Yeah, it could be reconsidered. >> I think that we should I mean just my opinion, I think we should >> um get rid of this for right now, but keep the conversation going, right? So that people are becoming law changing. >> Yeah, we're staying up on it. >> Yeah. All right. I'll make a motion to remove number seven from our draft boards.

104>> Second. Give it to K. All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Um I should explain number six because I asked just to add this. Um >> Oh, that's also the language I'm waiting for to come back. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, this might not be um the exact language. So the idea of number six is to with no offense to our SAU but this is a request that I've heard I hear every year at the NBC um that we should explore creating our own SAU. Northwood and Nottingham and Straford recently separated their SAUs and they each have their own. And so this warrant article would would be to create a planning committee to consider and make a recommendation about the district's options for SAU services including the organization reorganization or withdrawal from SAU 53.

105So it is not voting on leaving the SAU. It would be to create a committee to explore whether or not um that what it would look like. So for Nottingham and Northwood, I think both created very robust reports with financial data, all considerations for people to read and review before they vote, >> you know, on on what to do. >> You have to >> the reports are like 50 pages. I mean, there's a lot to consider. >> It would be I'm not even sure you could do the work in a year to figure that out. But >> wait, how long have they been without an >> Northward and Noddingham? >> Uh, it's been within the past, I think, five years >> that they've So, I think I mean, I'm not going to direct a potential

106committee what to do, but I think obviously meeting with those districts would be a pretty high priority. >> Absolutely. I will say this is another kind of um tricky one because at the same time the state also has legislation coming forward to reduce the amount of SAUS in the state. So all of that work potentially that a committee might go through might be all for nothing because you might be mandated by state law to consolidate. >> Yes. So just putting that out there. >> I do think that the town voting >> Oh yeah, sure. to create a committee does send a message to those who represent Deerfield that this is the SAU consolidation is not is not what this town wants. So >> yeah, and I I think there there are a lot of people

107in this town that enjoy volunteering and I think that >> Oh, I don't think we'd have a problem with the committee. >> Filling the committee and >> yeah, there's it it would be an extreme amount of work. I'm not the people who are interested should read the reports that came out from other towns because >> I mean we would have to figure out a space for we'd have to figure out all the employees we would have to hire and we'd have to figure out a space for them all. >> So if we're going to rent space, if we're going to >> I mean it would be an extraordinary amount. there would have to be like a a huge plan of of how that all happened and and whether or not it would be worth it,

108if there would be a cost savings at all. >> Yeah, I think it's definitely like you said, it's a lot of work, but I think that there's there's definitely people, talented people that would uh >> Yeah, I mean, >> contribute to that and and also I mean, we have to it it is a big part of our budget, right? And I think to the to the extent the committee says actually we can't do this for cheaper or it would cost an extreme amount more money that's fine too >> now we know that >> right then we can put the issue to bed >> and provide the report to people >> that's the reason that it's so much in our budget it's like you know >> correct like it could be more than that right >>

109yeah so that that was why I had just put on but obviously we don't have to include it if people are not interested >> no I think it's a good idea It's come up a lot. >> Okay. So, do you want motions if we're just keeping it on if you're notating with it? No. >> Yeah. And again, this legal this language is pending legal review. This is >> number 52. They're reviewing that language. So, five, six, and eight. >> To me, this language didn't seem robust enough. >> No, because we'll have to attach some kind of RSA, >> right? There would have to be an RSA. So, I can also speak to this one. Um, we talked about it briefly last week, but >> which one are you on? >> Five. We've worked out. >>

110Um, so our municipal budget committee is an official committee that was voted in I don't know when to be honest, but you can a town can resend their vote to make have an official budget committee. So an you can either have an advisory municipal budget committee or an official budget committee. an advisory budget committee does not have the same powers of cutting budgets. They can make recommendations to the school board about how they would like to see the budget utilized, but they don't have the same statutory authority to make cuts. [clears throat] Um and it's my opinion after how things have unfolded this year that um the municipal budget committee should be advisory only. But again up to the board to decide if they want to include this or not. >> Yeah. I was talking

111to my son and his um town he lives in it's advisory. >> Yeah. >> He was surprised. He's surprised when I said they had voted to cut the budget the way they did. Tri Chester. Yeah, TriChester is advisory only. I only know that because they're in there SAU. So, we've we all we have all shared about >> some of them are not SB2, some of them have advice. So, we all have like very different >> um municipal makeups. Um yeah, >> I I don't know. I I see both sides of it. I just I think that the way it is is I don't know to me it's like a it's a checks and balances and I don't know I don't think making it advisory is I I don't know I just don't think that that

112gives us I don't know I just >> yeah I mean >> I feel like that's that's actually just the at the end of the day it It was very confusing last night with, you know, it was almost contradictory what was being said in terms of what their limitations currently are right now. I don't think that that was clear to most people in the room because it was, you know, you have to bring forth, you know, >> a budget that they recommend. >> Yeah. and and and with like um actual like it was said that there had to be actual um like >> cuts from the line from the >> not from line items but the accounts [clears throat] so like 1100s 1200s the yeah the groupings within the budget >> right >> and that's only

113because that's how it gets reported to the state >> so when we we have to submit an MS27 to the state that breaks it out by those category groups and so each category group has to have an amount listed to that and we like the school board cannot list the amount for the NBC. The NBC has to state their amount for those account codes and so they they are forced to choose if they were to go with 3 million they have to decide which account code that 3 million gets broken out into um because you cannot as the board decide that for them and it's only because that's how it gets reported to the state. >> Right. But I think I think my issue with [clears throat] um I mean I have many issues, but

114the the the reason that I think this is important to put on this year is because crafting the school district budget is incredibly important and it takes a lot of work and a lot of time and a lot of dedication. And to me, the municipal budget committee displayed that they were not interested in taking the time to craft a budget that supported adequate education in Deerfield. And it's a very serious undertaking. And I think I think the framing of the NBC is just their authority is just to cut the budget I think is very problematic. Their job is to create a budget that supports deer education in Deerfield. Their job is not to take our budget and take a hacksaw to it. They need to create a budget and recommend a budget based on advice

115from us and the and the SAU about how to fund education. and I don't feel like they are interested or up to that task. The thing that frustrated me, I mean, because I go back and forth [clears throat] with this because it's come up other years, but I think the thing that frustrated me the most hit me last night when they came down, they restored the money, and then they were going to start going through the budget like they probably should have had done all those other meetings. But the part that frustrated me was when they wanted to table it because they needed more time to go through the budget. And it frustrated me because a month ago they felt they knew that budget well enough to cut $3 million and then last night they

116didn't feel prepared to discuss the budget. >> Yeah. Two members. I agree. I think >> well there were yeah there were I think of yeah whatever but that is what probably through this whole process got me the most upset. I mean it upset me that they were cutting $3 million. But the fact that they did that saying they knew the budget and then oh let's table it. We need more time to go through it. It was like, "So, you didn't do your job and you really to me they that made it even more clear to me that they did not have the intention of discussing it." To me, personally, I think they they should have taken every meeting and then they still could have made their cut last night or Saturday. They still but instead

117they >> So to me that made me feel like they really they had a they were just gonna cut and maybe in the long run they would have anyway but to me they should have at least gone through the process >> to have that to have those conversations >> had those conversations want to cut it. What would it do to the school? There were no conversations. So that's what last [clears throat] night is what has changed my opinion of their job because the town they called everybody in. >> Oh yeah. I went >> went through every department >> every single one. And I even went back and watched some of them to the town ones to see like, okay, was there anything they didn't do this? And again, when parks and wreck walked in and

118he said, I've got the easiest budget here because the only thing in parks and wreck is salary for the director and he was trying to add in the fireworks. They actually spent almost 20 minutes discussing fireworks. >> Still had a big conversation. So, it was like to me it was like, "Okay, that's like a $90,000 budget. We and we have a $20 million budget and you didn't give us the courtesy of it." So, that's what switched me to. Before I was like, "Whatever, we'll deal with it how it is." But I was very frustrated last night. >> Yeah. I was surprised. >> Yeah. So, so if anyone doesn't want it to be on, we can they they can make a motion to remove it or we can have it as is. >> I would leave

119it on too. >> That's just >> Is that something though that um there could be a school board vote recommend? >> Monetary is no monetary. All right. Well, I know. I know how this is going to play out, but I'll make a motion to remove that. >> That's [laughter] right. So smart. >> I'll second it. [laughter] >> You get a live motion. >> And you're on the record. >> Yeah. Yeah. There's nothing wrong with that. All right. All in favor? All right. Is there any more discussion? We have discussed. Um, all in favor? >> All opposed? Okay. Uh, I think that's it. If anyone wants to talk to 250,000 >> officially, we got to keep that. >> And you've got to go back and talk about default. >> Yes. Well, that's in our next agenda

120item. >> Okay. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. [laughter] >> But yes, it is on. So, should we keep the 250 and then just decide afterwards? >> Well, we're we're we're planning to meet at Well, yeah, we didn't officially said >> just hadn't officially said if we should keep it or not. >> I just think that there's a high probability that we're going to end up meeting anyway, but >> that we're going to what? I'm sorry. >> We're going to meet anyway unless unless we decide across the board. Yeah. >> We're not going to do anything. >> Yeah. As the conversation progresses, I think we're gonna have to. >> Yeah. >> Um I don't I don't have a strong opinion. I don't it doesn't matter to me >> just I don't know part of the facilities committee just

121I just know that that's like our that's a big target for us so >> I think we need to make a motion on that to keep it the way it is or we're just okay >> no the only thing you might want to do I mean you can take your vote now [clears throat] to either recommend or not recommend if you want >> I would prefer not to do that >> yeah I want to do it after budget meeting because I might change mine. >> Well, I think after the budget meeting >> we'll decide >> we may even decide if we keep it or not. Yeah. >> On Saturday, >> but some but we could people could vote [clears throat] to keep it and you still could vote against recommending it. >> Right. >> So,

122>> that's true. >> Okay. >> So, I would I would just prefer not to do recommendations until we know what Saturday [clears throat] might look like. >> Good with that. >> Okay. Um, anything else? >> So, ju just to review really quick. So, we we we're going to leave two as it is. Three and four are gone. >> Five stays. >> Six stays. >> Seven goes. >> Seven's gone. >> Eight's going to change. >> Okay. Yeah, it stays the language. So >> number one, we can't really we don't know what's going to happen, but that also so that >> Yeah, that that number >> that's based on the 3.1 million, >> right? So that's already incorrect, but we we'll just fix that number. >> Yeah, nothing's been solidified yet. So okay. >> Um I just

123want to double check. >> So we probably would have to meet anyways. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. [laughter] Yeah, I think discussion like we're going to have that deal. >> Well, we won anyway. >> Yes. Well, we I think how we've generally handled it was that if there were changes, we would just incorporate the numerical [clears throat] changes from the NDC without having to meet again. >> We can do that, but then you still have to vote to recommend vote on which >> may change your vote on whether you recommend it or not recommend it. >> Correct. my cookies. I >> I guess we also I mean so we I guess you're going to find out about whether we need a specific time, right? So we're not solidifying that meeting yet. >> Well, it

124it's solid. We're going to solidify it. I think the only thing in question is if I can leave a generic thing that says we'll meet at the conclusion of the NBC meeting on Saturday or if we do have to include a specific time, which would be 12:30. >> Okay. >> But we do need to notice it. >> Yeah. I just hoping that um >> that Missy could make that meeting just because >> I think it's important on the Warren articles for all of our votes to be represented. >> Yeah, people do get very confused when there's not five. >> Um so I I don't disagree, but we are very time infringed at this point because they are doing and as I said I don't know my complete timetable for Saturday either. And I can I've

125got some time, but I've not quite >> I'll call Julian and tell her to tell me. [laughter] >> Does anybody want to take my daughter to cheer? Figure it out. >> Well, we're going to Disney on Ice. That's our thing. [laughter] It's a Christmas present. So, >> that's fun. We won't last. >> Yeah. Christmas. >> Okay. Anything else on Warren articles? Okay. Well, our bud our balance will be fairly cheap this year. There's only one page. >> Well, so that [laughter] speaking of ballots, so there's a there's a new RSA this year. [laughter] >> Start it up there. um RSA 669 col23 and 669 col2 24 um require us to post on the ballot the average cost per pupil and our test scores. So those have to go on the ballot [laughter] in front of

126the budget number. >> Wow. >> So just giving you a heads up. You don't there's nothing for you to vote on. It's a law. It's required. It will be on the ballot. But just letting you know that um that will be that will be on the ball. >> Interesting. >> And that factors in um high school and DCS together. >> Um we may have to segregate them out. >> It' be kind of nice if it did, but >> yeah, I'll have to I'll have to read the actual language of it. >> If you do high school, you got to make sure you include special ed SAU cost. >> It's all students. It's not segregated out between >> I thought you just said you might have to separate out high school >> high school and K

127to8 but not students with disabilities and students without disabilities. That's all incorporated into >> Right. I know that just sometimes people just look at the high school the tuition say that's cost per student >> and it's not. It's all the special ed costs. It's SAU cost for LEA reps and things. >> So there's certain factors that don't calculate into that and special education is one of those. >> Oh, so it doesn't calculate into DCS students either? >> Not necessarily. the per pupil cost. >> The purple pup there's certain things like out of [laughter] district wouldn't count into that per pupil cost. >> Say that three times now. [laughter] >> So there are certain numbers that don't play into that. >> But the special ed doesn't. >> Some special ed. Some special ed does. That's not

128it's not easy. It's not cut and dry. >> No. Well, because I was just saying >> transportation does not. I [clears throat] think >> it's not as cut and dry as it seems. >> So with everything kind of >> misleading it. Yes. which is which is the rub of having that on a ballot is that >> it's misleading because it's not quite exactly cut and dry. It's not take your bottom line and divide it by 500. That's not what it is, >> right? >> Yeah. We're not a K through 12 schools, >> right? >> So, but just giving you a heads up that that will be all about. [snorts] >> Okay. >> Because we have to, right? So, >> okay. Um on to budget review. Um, I don't know that there's that much to review

129right now except that I I believe we need to move the default budget line. >> I don't think we did that, which then made me look at the minutes and realize that we didn't have we did move the bottom line on December 3rd, but we didn't it wasn't included in the minutes. But I do not believe we moved the default line. Yeah, I don't think we can say that. Um, and I put in the drive um I consolidated um I know it's not three million right now, but I had done the work anyway, so I put it in the drive for you to see potentially what $3 million in cuts. [laughter] Um, made it generic enough for the public so that that can be seen. Um, but this all of this stuff on this list

130that I created still doesn't equal 3.1 million by the way. Like this is short by I think it was around a quarter of a million. >> Um, should we go through it just so the public >> can have some perview? I think so. >> I think it's I mean it's kind of a moot point, isn't it? Like >> I don't think so. I think the budget is still open at the NBC and I think people should know what a $3.1 million cut might look like. And then if there are if there's half of that that's cut, let's say on Saturday, there will be at least some of this. >> Yeah, you're going to be looking at about a half or a quarter or a third, whatever it is. It'll give you good perspective of what

131you're looking at. >> All right. So, I'm just going to go through it. So [sighs] a 3.1 million cut would in entail over 30 plus staff members cut from DCS. All cuts um would need to be based on date of hire performance and riffing of positions. It cut which cuts a program not a position. Um we are limited to the cuts we can make on special education staff which make up 34 of our 103 employees which is 33%. we would have to h have most of the cuts from the 69 other staff members. So 30 of 69 staff members uh would be on the table. All vital classroom and instructional supplies. So this would be the removal of the majority of supply money, consumables, books, and online programs. There would be no co-curriculars or athletics.

132No library materials, so no additional books, replacements or audiobooks. There would be no maintenance supplies or contracts. There would be no ground maintenance for appearance. There would be safety only. So I assume that would be like plowing. Yeah. So there would still be it's a maintenance supplies and contracts. It's not no. We would only be uh obligating funds for contracts that are already in place for that are necessary. >> Got it. for so like snow removal, oil, like those kinds of things. >> Not fertilizer. >> Yeah. Not fertilizer, not mowing, not any of that. There would be no funds for graduation ceremonies. >> There would be no funded field trips. We would need to remove one elementary school bus from the budget, remove all regular high school transportation, uh there would be a small amount

133of special education supplies. uh high school tuition we would have to figure out um which we've we've talked about these options already adopt open enrollment send all students to PA or top off agreements. Um, so essentially if there was a $3 million cut, we a $3 million cut would prohibit the Deerfield Community School from providing an adequate adequate education um as set forth in New Hampshire Department of Education requirements and state regulations for class size and standards. >> And these are my opinions. >> And in Jess's opinion, this would lead to significant cuts in personnel operating budget and building maintenance that would lead to unsafe conditions. So there that is. Did we we did we still haven't move the bottom line of the default though. >> Okay. Um so I'm going to move Where is

134the number warrant article? That's what I was going to ask. >> Yeah. And I just double checked it with our budget that we have. Um, I'm going to make a motion to move the default budget number in the amount of 20,776,836. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> That's not anything that we can edit anyways. >> Not not really. Um, yeah, not really. I mean, it's pretty specific specifically laid out in RSA how how the default is calculated. >> Um, >> right. Well, I just we didn't really have any discussion about about the default because we're only discussing the proposed, right? >> Right. Right. >> We can't That's what I meant. We can't change that. Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. All in favor of um moving the bottom line of the default. >> I

135>> Okay. Any other budget >> Yeah. >> review? So, I don't know if you can answer this or not, but so when they were going through last night and asking specifically like what things you had to have, but then it was said, well, you really can cut anything. You just need to find it in the budget. So, I'm going to pick on special ed just because that's one that So, the budget committee could cut like 500,000 from special ed. >> They could cut however much they want. It doesn't mean that we're not going to fund it, >> right? No. Exactly. So, my question is, and this is >> So, they say we're going to cut 500,000 knowing we have to find that somewhere, >> you know? So they're they're saying we're taking it from here,

136but you got to find it somewhere else. How do I word that? Because I just Is that anything we could say, well, we're just going to plan on funding it from the trust? >> So, >> can we make can we right away say so that we don't have to find the 500,000 somewhere else? Not necessarily because you can't your trust fund isn't to supplant your operating budget. So we'd have to look back to the original warrant language of the trust and make sure that we're using the trust fund per the language that was voted on for the trust fund. And so generally with special ed trust funds, you can use it for any expense for special ed >> without seeing the original warrant language. I would want to go back find that make sure that

137that is within our right to do before we did something like that. However, >> I don't know that that would typically if there's a big budget cut and like speaking because Pemrook went through a large cut, you know, a couple years ago, right? The difference was there was three schools to cut it, not one. [laughter] >> Uh >> so, you know, we obviously made some really hard cuts, cut almost 30 teachers. It was 27 staff um that >> but over three schools one. >> Um, so you know, we elementary and middle and high school. >> Yep. Um, >> it's kind of like two versus three, not really one versus, >> but our numbers are different. Our population, it's there's so many factors. It's not cut and dry as with anything you've seen, like you know.

138Yes. Uh so you you would go into the year with the budget that you need to operate your students and provide services and do those things. Um obviously barring the cuts that you would need to make ahead of that. But you wouldn't automatically just say we're going to pull that from special ed without seeing where you're going throughout the year. You would spend because services change. And I say that because you just don't know. You could have a kid move out. You could have a kid move in. You could have a student who no longer qualifies. if you have a student who does qualify now. So, special ed is so variable that you would start the year to see where you're at and get to a certain point and then make that decision. >> Right.

139But I guess >> have to take it from somewhere else in Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. See, that's the part >> you would need to expend. >> Correct. Correct. The trust fun >> and there would have to be a specific number that we have a public hearing about moving special ed money from the trust fund into the operating budget. So, we couldn't just say at the beginning of the year, we're moving $500,000 into the operating budget. That would not be permissible. >> You you would need to overexpend the lines that were cut. >> Correct. >> And then you'd have to vote as a board to move funds to cover that and or you'd have to have a public hearing to move to approve using a warrant article for an expense. But you'd have to identify what

140that expense is. You can't just broad say, "Oh, we're just going to buy supplies with it." Like, that's not >> I mean, I'm just trying to I'm I'm just >> Yeah, >> I'm concerned that >> I'm just concerned. >> And you deplete that a real risk is you deplete that savings and then all a sudden you have a kid move in who's in a resial place. >> I get it. I get it. But I guess >> that happened a couple years ago. We also had to come up with 200. >> But I guess I'm just really I'm very concerned about where and maybe maybe not. Maybe it'll be all rainbows and unicorns. But um I'm really concerned listening to conversation last night what cuts could be made and we got to find it somewhere else.

141I mean I I it's just >> Well, at this point, yeah, we have until we did our work, they have to do theirs and then we're going to have to do ours again >> potentially. I'm sorry. Right. >> But that's why when you think like $500,000 and that's why that's a huge number and that's why high school was mentioned that all has to be looked at. Not saying that's where it would happen, but everything's going to have to be looked at. I don't think it was ever meant that immediately this is going to change, but I mean everything has to be looked at. >> Yeah. depending on >> conversations about uprooting children out of the current schools which is not necessary when we you know we're talking about top off agreements and so forth >>

142right but I think again I don't think it was ever like it came out because yeah that's one area we might have to look at and we're going to look at maybe top off agreements and we're going to but it's all got to be looked at. I don't I don't believe it was like said to immediately, well, this is what's gonna happen, but you gotta be looking at big numbers. >> Well, and quite frankly, like your your your high school, it would really be the biggest impact on your incoming freshman because you wouldn't really be able to cut where those kids are currently because they >> they would win a best interest determination. Like they once they're in a high school, if that was an agreement, they they need to be staying there. That's in

143the best interest of those kids. But it would be the incoming freshman where that biggest impact would be felt. >> Yeah. >> In which case the because we're talking about the budget for next year that impact it would be only like 50 students. It wouldn't be 211. So it wouldn't be a $500,000. >> Right. So then it makes me even more concerned where the money is going to come from. >> Right. I know. But I'm just saying that like >> classrooms of 35 kids >> because that's that was a lot of people since that other meeting have brought that up to me is like is that even possible? Can they do that? Those kids aren't grandfathered in or um and I you know would think that again we would probably face some legal issues if

144if we were to do that. So and and so I'm glad that got brought up because [clears throat] I know people are wondering about that if that's even possible. You could face some. >> It would be possible. Possible, but >> it doesn't mean it's right and it doesn't mean it's within the best interest of the students and it doesn't mean that we wouldn't incur more legal problems, legal fees. >> We also could have possibly have legal battles at the elementary school, >> right? Like one way [laughter] or another. >> Yeah. I mean, we could definitely have >> you're gonna have a >> legal fees against >> we're not providing the elementary education we need to. >> It's not black and white. >> Yeah. So anyway, >> I mean I think just generally going back to

145the to the comments you were referencing about what is a mandatory cost >> the it's not like I have a list of this is the mandatory >> we have to fund all sorts of things so that the school can operate >> there's not I don't have a number for this is safe this is unsafe like we have to fund the septic tank kidding. We have to fund the snow plowing. We have like there's a 100 million things we have to fund in order for it to be a safe place for students to be. >> Well, I think that there were there was a very valid point made last night in regards to I know Ellen has I don't know if it was Ellen and Missy that did all that work with the classroom sizes and

146everything, right? Um that was a great point. You know, Josh asked about, you know, if there's been a verified occupancy, you know, for a classroom. >> Yeah. Not a verified one yet, but Jess and I have talked about it. Um >> I don't know if that would cost money for us to pursue, but >> only because, you know, again, that that's an area where we can, you know, either push back or determine that that it's it's not safe or it's not possible, right? So, um, >> yeah, I mean, I did it all like just by figuring it out myself and the square footage and, you know, so I I have all that information, but >> I have one [clears throat] other thing just I'm sorry, under your initial possible, you know, cuts. It says Yeah.

147Yeah. It Well, however, yeah, all cuts need to be made based on date of hire, performance, and riffing of positions. This cuts a program, not a position. >> Oh, yeah. A little redundant there, huh? >> I'm Well, I'm I'm >> so aff Yeah. >> You can't riff a person. >> You riff the position or the program, you don't get to say, "Well, that person cost us a lot of money. I'm riffing that person." You can't do that. >> Right. Right. You >> That's what that is intended. >> Yeah. So, but it's But even as far as cutting a program, >> if the teacher Right. But if the teacher is part of the bargaining unit >> and it usually it's last in first out. So people who have said we only need one art, one PE,

148one music. If those teachers are >> way up, >> which is why you have a huge number of staffs that have to be cut to get to that number, right? Nuance, right? So we can't so Most likely it wouldn't be that we say we're cutting an art teacher, we're cutting a music teacher, we're cutting a PE teacher because cost savings is minimal quite frankly compared to other cuts maybe but might be more detrimental, >> right? But legally, >> well, it depends on certifications. There's there's a whole lot of nuance to it which is it's not an easy yes no this would happen that would happen because it's you have to go through you have to look at everyone's certifications you have to look at date of hire you have to look at several other things

149in place in order to be able to do those things and it just it's to give the perspective that it's not as easy as people think it is to go well we're going to cut our most expensive status no you don't get to do that right that's not how >> that's what I'm trying to so some of the teachers who might be are more expensive. Melissa, I'm picking on you just because you're sitting here and I'm thinking music. No, but >> reference specific staff members. Yeah. >> Yeah. But I just But I'm just music. That's what's coming. It's not m It's not >> shift to PE or something. >> So like one of those could be a very expensive >> person, but we can't necessarily have them be the ones that go. And you have

150to keep in mind that our younger staff often are still on their parents' insurance. I know that don't take and don't take our insurance. So when you cut them, you're only cutting their salary straight. >> You're not cutting health insurance benefits to go along with that. So now you have to cut three staff members to get to what that one would have been if they had a family plan and all those other things. Yeah. So that's that's the nuance that goes in all of this and why it's not as easy to say we'll just cut that. >> Right. Exactly. Right. >> Right. No, that's what I I wanted to clarify for myself too. >> Okay, I'm done. >> Well, I find this very depressing, but um I think too I know Nancy and and Ellen

151know this, but that's contractual language as well. There's a whole riff policy in a teacher's contract. So Jess is pulling that information from there. [clears throat] That needs to also be on the record that so that people understand we're not we just wouldn't didn't make it up. >> Right. And thank you. That language is confusing. So I apologize. I should have clarified that a little better. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um we are on to board reports. I don't see any PTO here. So we will skip that executive board. >> I was not at the last executive board at last minute. I had to cancel out. So >> table come back to ranking table superintendent report. >> We definitely have principal report in facilities. CRV is nothing really important. >> Um we should just add

152really quick um our meeting so that we can approve those minutes that are in there. >> Oh yeah. >> For >> Yeah. Is it in there? >> The high school. [clears throat] >> Yeah. Did we put it in here? >> It's not listed as a board report, but we can add it. >> Yeah, it's in the drive. The minutes are in there. So, I just figured >> unread copies. You have copies? >> Yeah. No, no, I just It's not on the board. >> Um, >> we can wait till next. So I'll we can add that um after principal of facilities if that works. >> Yeah. And I would like to um give Chris the opportunity to go before >> Oh yeah. Chris, sorry. Do you want to give an update? >> [snorts] >> P O

153P >> your own TP toilet paper. [laughter] Yeah, that might come to them. That'll be on their supply list. >> Facility safety grant. I submitted towards the end of November. This is from the holding man security round four. We took advantage of round two. I didn't have anything for round three. And now I'm on round four. They give us three different areas to put to divvy up the money. Surveillance, which is installing cameras and monitors, monitoring the playground and athletic fields, access control, rekeying all exterior and interior doors. For years, we've just been distributing keys with no no one monitoring it. So to get a fresh start and it's a good common practice. So so many years you just re key your entire building. That way you know Sam Smith doesn't have a key. Um

154install gates. I'm bringing that back up. That was a decision that we tried last year. I spoke to Matt Fischer at the beginning of the year and he was surprised that they didn't go up. These gates would only be used during active [clears throat] school days. When they're not active, the gates would be left open for someone just driving around or emergency vehicles. um that I will present to the police department and fire department again and actually visit them because last time my emails didn't go answered. >> So um emergency blue lights, we had an emergency um a surprise drill couple weeks month ago. Um and I was actually in the cafeteria. I heard it going on and I looked outside to see if anybody could hear it. Everybody was just playing. Teachers and students

155had no idea what was going on in the building. So that's um we hear that a lot to get that updated. And also um blue notification through the building is another [snorts] safety um safety thing that schools are putting in that would be reported to the office to take appropriate actions on calling um Deerfield uh deerfield police department all these um all these things that I'm not the ideas but Um, everything that is in this came from a homeland security report that was done a little over two years ago. So, we've just been checking those off as we make upgrades. >> So, sorry, these are all projects that we have received grants for or this is what you're submitting? >> These are what I've submitted for. We just haven't heard back from Sure. what was

156accepted and how much money um >> how much money >> Awesome. We're being granted. So >> So on that the gate was just going to be on the one side. >> Yes. Proposing two gates now. One on the mod side where the original one was and then one kind of towards the middle between the playground and the turnout there. So it' be either a double folding or one long slide across gate that way. Sometimes people will come down thinking that there's nothing going on. >> I've already cleared it with delivery companies ways to say, "Yep, they it's not unlike them to get out and have to open up a gate and then close it on their way out." So, we're looking at two gates to add security to the back of >> Yeah, that makes

157Yeah, to me that makes a lot more sense because I think the main way that I would think people would drive around that back is the way that the the traffic goes, right, for drop off. Um, just in terms of safety, that was the only thing I didn't really like about that that gate just on one side. It was kind of just a facade, right? Because you could just walk right around it or drive. You're not stopping them from driving past the modulars where all that traffic is if you went around the back, >> right? >> You would just be stopping them from going out to the parking lot. So, >> um, >> so that other one would be, do you say halfway across the playground or would it be further back? >> On the

158playgrounds directly behind us, it would be up over here >> like in regard like in relation to the shed, the blue building >> way before the shed. It's basically where two pe the people start >> unloading >> diverging when they're doing their drop off in the back up around that area. I mean, I'll give you a map and we can discuss it more, but I just wanted to put an additional fence out there. >> Yeah. No, I was just thinking like logistically again in terms of again I blocking off the playground if it was midway on the playground doesn't really block off. >> No, it's not. It's going to be on the side of the building up over here. >> Okay. >> It's not going to be by the playground. I want to stop people

159well before they get to the playground. >> So before the blue shed, the blue building. >> Oh, okay. All right. >> Yeah, because it's a lot narrower there, too. [clears throat] Correct. Yeah, because I was thinking Okay. I thought you were saying >> Okay, >> good. Okay. um in conjunction with the um presentation for the solar I just came up with a quick spreadsheet um we have five six meters here at the school very I mean I've been doing the five years giving a how many kilowatt hours each year they don't Nope. >> I'm sorry. >> No, no, that's okay. >> You can always give it to us later. >> Yeah, >> we'll get it loaded up. But, um, just a quick um, the solar array was built to generate 280 280,280 kilowatts per year.

160At the end of this year, um, our kilowatts were 257,579 kilowatts. So that's, um, 22,000 kilowatt surplus that we have just by doing what I've been doing, trying to get people to shut off lights, um, going into unoccupied mode during vacation and things like that. So, um, we're really looking at if everything goes to plan, um, looking at some good savings between what we're doing here in the school and the solar power. So, [clears throat] oil tank inspection. Um, number three and number seven go together. Sorry, I didn't take the first one off, but um, just waiting to get that scheduled. the contract is going to be gas tech for that. Um that's I can't remember if that's a yearly thing or every other year with the state that they need to have reported [snorts]

161on. So I'll get that started. Um the mini split for the server room has died. >> Oh, that's bad. >> That's not good. >> Contractor um recommends replacing it as instead of repairing it. um it's just it's at its age and to replace that one part. He called the manufacturer and they said it could be this and it couldn't. So we're looking at spending money to possibly not even get a repair. I'm working on getting quotes for that. >> Who was that contractor? Granite estate >> W. No WL Brady. >> Okay. Granite State doesn't deal with those. >> Yes, they do. >> Oh, okay. >> They do. But if it has to go out the bid, it's I'm gonna I'm gonna get a number from them. WL Brady and Genron who did our stack a

162couple years ago. So, uh, Auto Strugger isn't working. Um, I've got a call in to have that fixed. If it can't be fixed, that's um, we're looking at between5 to $10,000 to replace that. >> Can you tell me what an auto scrubber is? >> It's what cleans all of our floors. >> Got it. that big machine >> specifically behind. >> He wanted a new one in this next year's budget >> that went, you know, that won't have to go. >> So, you're still doing that yourself or >> doing what myself? >> The using that auto scrubber like that's not something that Citywide takes care of? >> No, it's our personal auto scrubber. >> Okay. >> They should do like they do in Japan. >> What's that? >> In Japan, the students all clean the school.

163They do. There's like this the each grade level they take turns. They rotate it. This one's in charge. >> You can guarantee that no parent will sue us. [laughter] >> And they change their shoes when they come in. They don't wear their outside shoes. That places [laughter] I'll tell you the place is so clean and so nice because they know if they mess it up, they have to clean it up. [laughter] >> Do you guys have the um the three proposals for the water inspection? >> I don't know. Master infrastructure >> the first two um the first one the lowest one is8 thou $4,850 $50 um to come in possibly over February vacation. We have to train the entire tank. They would actually go inside, inspect it, take ultrasonic thickness survey of the liner. My

164concern with doing this, it's not required by the state, but we do have rust on the side of the tanks. um a number of years ago. It was relined before I got here. I have no information on who relined it, what was used, how thick, any of that information. So, having a company come in, clean it out, inspect it to tell us where we're at with its life expectancy. The tank is 35 years old. So, um I just want to be proactive and at least get not get eyes on it before we got to drain the entire tank, open up the access panel, company would come in, do everything they need to close it up the [clears throat] same day and start filling it. >> Um do you have a price on a new one?

165>> A new tank? >> Yeah. No, because honestly we'd have to redesign the entire tank because 90% 95% of that tank is buried underneath the ground. So to get a new tank in that can supply that among water is going to take an engineer to design. >> And that is in that building, right? That is in the the red sh >> by the modulars. Yeah. >> In the basement. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> Some of that. >> Awesome. The way they land. >> You weren't here back then when this building was built. Lot of >> It's been an issue. Lot of issues. >> 250 ft. But I don't know. >> I think we have 250. I think [snorts] >> yeah. >> Do you remember like the drawing? I'm going by old time knowing about the shoreline

166protection act. It might have changed, but that's what it used to be. >> What's that? >> The setback >> to a water. >> Yeah, >> I thought it was 250. >> It's at least 200, but could be more than that. >> I thought it was 250, but like I said, I'm just going by my memory, >> which isn't very good anymore. [laughter] >> So, we know more after the instruction. So, did did you choose one yet? >> Yeah. Do you [clears throat] have a recommendation? >> Oh. Oh, yes. Um, my Yes. Thank you. My recommendation is Mass Tank. Um, in their proposal, all the other proposals are roughly the same, but only Mass Tank and Aqua Infrastructure proposed the ultrasonic thickness survey. And I think you want to know what we're dealing with, especially the

167part that we the 90% 95% that we can't see. We need to know what we're looking at. >> And that this number includes that. >> Yes, it does. The $4,850. >> Is there any need for any contingency that you think for anything? [sighs] >> Do we need to have a [cough] >> Yeah, like just in case like you know, this the quote, but then what if they end up wanting needing to do something additional while they're there? You know what I mean? Like, [laughter] >> no, >> I don't want to parking. >> It's not going to be the kind of thing where they're going to like >> fix it. Unless they find something, they're going to have to come. It's literally someone in there, cleaning out any sediment, washing down the inside of the tank,

168taking measurements, all of that. What? >> That covers all of that. Correct. >> Their scope of work. >> It's covered in their scope of work on the first page. >> Okay. >> So, you know, there will be no repairs. They'll just come to us with whatever issues they see and then we'll decide as a team what our next step is. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to accept the bid from Mass Tank for the total of $4,850. >> Second it. >> Nancy was first. [laughter] >> I need to add something better now than later. And it's only going to be I don't think the cost is going to be that much, but I do need to have Aqua Special Aqua >> Specialist. Yes. >> Yeah. Aqua Specialties. Aqua Specialties is our company that takes care

169of all of our water sampling. Um they need to be the ones that come in and actually remove the lid from it. I don't have a quote from him, but I can't believe it's going to be that much. Um, can we add $500 to that to cover Aqua Specialties? >> But that would be a separate vendor. >> That would be a separate vendor. >> So, I don't know that it should go in this motion. I mean, it could be paid out of my just my general >> constru uh service contracts. >> And that's different than the >> the second bid. They're not the same people. >> No, that's a different vendor. >> Yeah. Okay. >> We already do work with them. Like we have a contract with >> Yes, we do. Yes. So, okay. Just

170>> and and where where is this money coming from? >> This money would have to come from um it's under the $5,000 mark. So, I got the three bids. It could just come out of my contracted services. >> Um >> curious if if it was going to be like a a trust fun thing. It should. Yeah, it won't come out of um >> an additional fund. >> It wasn't budgeted for though, so >> it was not budgeted. >> You know, I mean, if it could be at the end of the year that we do need to take it out of a trust fund, right? That's >> okay. >> Um but I don't think we have to approve the 500 >> 5,000. >> No, we already have a contract. >> Okay. So, I will keep my

171motion of uh mass tank for 4,850 and Nancy second. And uh any discussion? All right. All in favor? I I >> And my last one is another report that's required by the state that I found out over December, maybe November. Um we're supposed to submit don't know if it's yearly or by annually and [snorts] slaughter and >> what does this report [laughter] which is basically covers the asbestous if there's any asbestous they create a plan for um notifying the community educating my staff on what to do what not to do if we encounter a speestous we've had three different tests done in the school for asbestous and we have not we turned up negative all three times. So, it's just one of those dot the eye and cross the tea that the state likes to

172have. At this time, I only have one bid from a vendor that we've used three t uh two times in the past. one for um a general inspection and then the other one was for um testing the adhesive on the basketball court back in 2020. U RPF environmental their total cost for that project for the aur report is $7,39. So, I will work on getting two or more additional bids because it's only that $5,000. >> Yep. >> And how often did you say that needs to happen? >> I once done the inspection, we just need to notify the state if there's any been any changes to the structure or an addition. So, once we have it, we're good. There's no there will be no more reason to test anything else. So >> what is the

173interval for the necessary testing? >> You don't have to keep spending $7,000. They just want to know that >> have any additions been made? Has you know >> basically >> ripped a wall off? >> Ripped the wall off. But we're going to be clear because we've had three inspections, four inspections actually. Um, and none of the samples have come back as positive for asbestous. So, it's get this report done once and then every time the state says, "Hey, we need your report." I'm going to be sending them the same same report, but just stating that there's been no construction or anything like that. >> So, what what made this pop up? >> The state. Oh, okay. >> This is a stateaterun a state push thing. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. Department of Environmental Services. >>

174Okay. Um All right. That's all I have for on that one. I I wanted to go back to the safety thing because I had a question on that. Sure. When you're ready. >> Um we had talked about the um that active shooter training. >> Yep. Is that something that could fall in that safety grant? >> That doesn't cost us money. >> Oh, it doesn't forive. No, that's just setting it up with police department. >> Oh, I thought that there was a >> There are companies that will come out and do that. >> Oh, I thought that's what we had talked about. Okay. >> Yeah. No, there's no >> to us. >> If it was just the police department and the fire department, but if there was Okay. >> Yeah. If it was another >> I

175remember having that. They scare you. >> Yes. >> Well, that's kind of >> I know. But it was like they're going on talking and you know and they had just gone through the and make sure you're paying attention and we thought we were done and no, they snuck in the [laughter] after us. It was like Yeah. I mean he made it sound like yeah we're all done and just reviewing it and then they came back in >> off guard again. Um well, so is that something that we can schedule or I know we had talked about it and I think we had said it was gonna it was quite a while since we did the last one. >> Yeah. 2018. >> Okay. >> I don't know if that's your thing or >> Yeah, that would

176be administration. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Chris would definitely be involved. They usually have a cycle. They don't do them necessarily every year. usually call like a tabletop exercise and we do them like [clears throat] we scatter them. You don't do it every year. You space it out over time. >> Yeah. >> So, >> Chris, before you go, I just want to make sure that the board knows that the mini split is probably going to be a $17,000 expense. >> That was the exact number I had in my head, too. And I was like, "Yeah, that's >> Yeah. So yeah, I guess you're you're getting three quotes on that. So yeah. >> Yeah, that the um I >> couldn't remember I was struggling as well. WL Brady's quote was 17,200 and that you were

177getting two more quotes. >> To jump back to the tabletop thing real quick, something popped in my mind. on January 21st, all administration in the SAU are going through a tabletop safety exercise for technology um like ransomware, a cyber attack, something like that. So, we'll we haven't done that yet. So, that'll be um something that all admin go through to figure out what we would do in practice what would happen if we um were taken from like for like random [cough] through technology and something like that. So, because that's I mean that has happened several times. it's happening every year with schools. Um we're getting cyber attacks and hacked and things like that. And so that's um that's a re that's a bigger reality than um some of the other things. So >> and that's

178just um SAU that's not DCS admin. >> Yep. It's all the admin. Oh >> yes. SUY. It's all admin. It's usually run by the New Hampshire Department of Safety. Like they have a homeland security folks that they send out and um that it's free. It's it's >> well our tech director our tech director is working with um the company to come in and do that and go through they'll come in and go through a whole like protocol with us like what do you do when it actually happens who notifies the chain of command what are what's going to be your first second response who's responsible for what duty and then you assign all those duties so that if something does happen it's immediate like all right you know what you go to you know what

179your job is it's just like a tabletop for you know a safety concern but it's just through technology ology versus live people. >> I see. So the Homeland Security doesn't do cyber security stuff. Oh, god. >> They will, but that's not who we've got. Um I think we're working with Primex, our insurance. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> Come in and do that. So they're free but not free. Homeland Security and all. So >> because we pay for Primex, so they're free but not free. >> Free but not free. Yeah. [laughter] >> But it's one of the benefits of being in something. >> Right. Exactly. So, >> um the in terms of our last facility meeting, are we just going to follow up at the next meeting with some on those things or >> Yeah. Yeah.

180Well, yeah, we'll Well, you don't have to answer them tonight. We can follow up at Yeah. Okay. >> But maybe just in preparation for the next meeting, just an an ongoing um looking at, you know, RCIP, just any projects that you can think of, you know. Yep. >> Because I know the last time we you said, "Oh, let me go take a walk." And obviously we didn't have the time at that specific moment. So if you you know in two weeks if you could have something for us, that'd be awesome. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Awesome. Thanks so much. >> Thank you. >> Are you yielding your time back to me, Mr. Kufos? [laughter] >> And yeah, get out of here. Go home. Thanks, Chris. >> All right, principal's report. >> Uh, yes, this is

181covering uh December 4th through January 7th. Um, before I forget, I did bring a dragon Deerfield calendar dragon, sorry, Dragon Calendar Company. I know some people were interested in in those. So, that's uh the pamphlet for happy to share it. Um, this I think I said this covers December 4th through January 7th. Uh so happy new year 2026. Uh our winter athletics basketball season is in full swing with strong participation and enthusiasm for our student athletes and families. Um our sunshine committee hosted a craft afternoon on Thursday, December 4th. I believe Ellen and Nancy were both here with Martha Oh, you weren't here. >> I was >> I'm not [snorts] the crafty person. >> I was an elf. You [laughter] were Martha Smith and her elves were here. Um they organized and hosted the event.

182Um it was a ornament embroidered in ornament. They were beautiful. I saw them but >> I remember >> um PTO kids craft fair. The first um kid PTO kids craft fair was held on Saturday, December 6th. The PTO sponsored this craft fair. It was a great success. Um we had over 20 students participating. >> It was awesome. There was really great products. It was really fun. >> Yeah. The kids were talking about their crafts all leading up to it. And I I would compliment a teacher on their earrings and they'd be like, "Oh, so and so made them for me." You know, come to the craft fair or you can buy a pair. Um or you can give me a pair. Um [laughter] we had a guest visit on Monday, December 8th. Headmaster Smith visited

183from Cob Brown to with our eighth graders that are going to be going to CO Brown um in the fall. Uh we had a CRB meeting on Monday, December 10th, and I think Ellen will have an update for that next time. Holiday concert. um our first and second grade students providing families with a holiday concert. And Miss Miss Eliza got to participate this year. I know she was devastated last year. Um and on Tuesday, December 11th, highlighting their hard work and musical growth. Um on Thursday, December 18th, we had our monthly mentor mentee meeting. You know, as we as you know, our newest teachers have a mentor and they meet once a month on Thursdays. Actually, Melissa Davis is our mentor facilitator. Um there's always a topic to discuss um to support our newest teachers.

184Uh we had an all school meeting and a middle school dance. Thank you to Miss Mosroom. Mrs. uh Davis did host that for me. I was so sick that Friday. Um and it was Yeah. Um so but I was glad that they were able to host the meeting. Um our fifth graders were the um hosts for the uh meeting and um our I think it was four factory K4 K4 >> K4 shared um that evening we had a middle school holiday dance that was very well attended. They made a ton of money. Um all that money goes towards the New York City trip to offset the costs. Um our holiday break um happened from December 22nd through Friday, January 2nd. So, um, that was a wonderful long two weeks. I can't even tell you how

185many staff members were just so happy to have had that time and, um, I know that the board approves those, um, calendars. So, that it a lot I know a lot of schools had to go to school that Monday and Tuesday and, um, yeah, it was well wellreceived that they had those two days off. >> Somebody was getting sick, too, before. Good timing. >> Oh, it was it was perfect timing. Um, our Deerfield House of Representatives have started a peer-to-peer program. Um, a peer-to-p peer initiative continues to support housing relationships, [clears throat] inclusion, and leadership development among our students. Um, there's also some talk about them doing some babysitting at the deliberative, and I know that the Deerfield Education Association and everybody's involved in. So, we will be providing some sort of um, babysitting on

186that Saturday in February. Um, the New Hampshire Philarmonic Symphony. Um, I'd like to congratulate one of our eighth graders, Elizabeth. She participated in this with the New Hampshire Phil Harmonic >> symphony. And you'll see below. She is also ranked number one in the state for playing flute. >> Wow. >> So, it was Yeah. >> Yeah. You've met Elizabeth. She's been here. She spoke when um about the IAS and how important they are, and you can see what an impact it's had on her life. Uh, the New Hampshire uh BDA B It's an honors festival for for for students in music. I just don't know what BDA stands for. I should have looked it up. I'm so sorry. Helen um um is going to be part of this honors festival. She plays the baritone horn. Paige

187will be playing the flute and Elizabeth who I mentioned earlier is also playing the flute and again ranked number one in the state. Uh we had two honorable mentions. We have two sixth graders who were here this evening, Sophia and a and Autumn. Um they were honorable mentions. It's a huge deal to be part of this and sixth graders. Um it they almost it's a huge risk for them because they often don't make it. Um and uh but they got an honorable mention and and Mrs. Davis and historic Dr. We're just so proud of them and we are all all proud of their accomplishments. Um just some for future uh NAPE uh is coming the national assessment on educational progress. >> Great. is coming. Um I mean I'm saying right like that's the the acronym.

188Right. >> Right. >> Um I do have that NAPE is linked on the PDF that's in the drive um to the website. So if you're interested to find out um they come every couple of years. Uh schools are chosen in the state of New Hampshire. Um oftentimes it's our fourth and our eighth graders, but just our fourth graders were chosen in Deerfield this year. uh I think the last time they came was in 2018 and both our fourth and eighth graders come came uh were tested uh they come with all the um technology they it's they they it's like they're moving in for the day and then they move out for the day um and they're tested on reading and math and this is in addition to all the other testing and benchmarking that we

189do in building. So this is a national program as opposed to a local um the local New Hampshire testing. So, they'll be here on February 17th to um test our fourth grade students. >> That's the test they use to compare internationally too, isn't it? >> With other countries, >> if they were going to do it, it might be that one, but I don't know why they do it. >> Yeah, it seems to me like that's also used to compare internationally between countries >> maybe. Um, and also quickly I forgot to mention our m our um fourth and fifth uh sorry third and fourth grade concert has been scheduled for uh January 20th. Um and our middle school band will be playing. So we rescheduled that um from December to to January 20th. Um and our

190third and fourth graders will go first. They're going to come in at 5. They'll sing from 5 to or perform from 5:15 to 5:45. Much like our first through four, we break it up into two. Then as they're heading out, our band and chorus for fifth or eighth grade will come in and they'll do the u performance from six o'clock till who knows when. Usually, it's usually about an hour and a half or so. About 7:30. Yeah. So, that will be January 20th. And that has been was rescheduled for December. Great. >> Oh. Oh, I know one more thing. I'm so sorry. Um I only I'm only bringing this up because it was mentioned last night at the NBC. Um, this is the enrollment sheet. I I made copies for everybody. Um, I think I've

191shared this. Well, you've seen this projected enrollment. >> Um, I want to be very clear when we're looking at this that the 2627 numbers are projected numbers. So, I heard some conversation about only 477 students next year. Um, and I want to make sure that we understand that we do we have no idea what our preschool numbers are and we have no idea what our kindergarten numbers are. So, these are projected numbers based off of past years that we've had. Um, I move everybody from like our preschool three-year-olds will move diagonally to our preschool four-year-olds. So, there's 16 kids currently. There's projected to be 16 next year. We could lose a few, we could gain a few. I don't really know. Typically, we run at about 20 to 24. Typically, we have about 40 preschoolers

192in all totals. So, um, I just want to make sure that that's clear. And then the other thing I want to make sure that the board understands is that the classes, it's four classes, three classes, two classes, those numbers are based on this year's numbers, not next year. So as you're looking at, oh, kindergarten, if we only had two kindergartens, that would be or if only had two first grades, this is what that number would be. It's based off of this year's number. So it's almost like you have to bump it down. Um, I'm happy to I made copies for everyone, but I just wanted to bring those two things up because I think that there's um it's important to understand what we're looking at when we're looking at numbers and very important to understand

193that next year's number is really a guess in terms of um a projection. >> Yes. And I believe these this is usually in the budget binder. Um but I handed it out at one of the NBC meetings and I'm not sure it made it into the budget binder. Yeah, >> they should have put it in their budget. >> They should have. Yeah. Okay. Y >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Great. Um, what were we going to do next? Facilities committee. >> Middle high school committee. >> Yeah. I I can't find that. >> I found it. It's not in the Well, what happened is I wrote it up. I sent it to you and I didn't hear back from you and I forgot about it because I was waiting for you to tell me

194that it was okay and then I was gonna send it to the [laughter] right. So, um I just shared it with Jess. So, if you want to hold off on it, you can bring it up at the next meeting. Okay. >> Okay. >> So, it wasn't in the drive. It was in my >> No, I I typed that up on my own and I shared it with you and then I was just waiting for you because that's kind of what Nancy and I do. We sent it to each other. Oh, you did? >> Yeah, I did. >> Yeah, cuz that's what we do. We send it and it was like, "Yeah, it looks good." And then we then we give it to Jess. Yeah. So, I just I just forgot about it. >> A Google

195email. Not necessarily >> in the sh So, it was in the drive, but it was just >> I probably did a shared document with you. Yeah. >> Oh, I saw it. >> High School Matters Committee if you want to search for it. [laughter] >> Um All right. So, no other committee reports at this time. >> Um just a little quick plug. Um the stage road committee. >> Yeah, I was just looking at that. There's 11 people. >> There's 11 people and you should have name, email, and phone number for everybody should be in there and reached out to me. I don't think I missed anybody. I trying to keep right on that. As soon as somebody emailed me, I add them right to the list. So, um >> I was going to hold off until

196toward the end of January, even though I told them >> because um Dana's newsletter did go out until late. it just came out and that was just it h it just that just happened to be when I mean I contacted her right away but she wasn't putting it out until the beginning of January. So I just wanted to wait a little bit on that. Although we do >> it seems like a good mixed group of folks that were interested. >> Do we want to do the um the minutes from our last meeting >> facilities? Yeah. >> U so we met uh before the last meeting December 17th. Um, we were discussing the gym floor and it being slippery. Um, and about just that. Um, there was some [snorts] questions about that and >> there's a

197bunch of stuff. Yeah. >> Yeah. Chris wasn't able to make it for a committee meeting. So, I think we kind of just were a lot of time just talking about some of the facility stuff, but really we >> Yeah. So, um I don't think there was anything really. >> No. Yeah. So, that's the last line. Many of these items need to be followed up with Mr. Kufos. So, >> he wasn't there with us. So, >> but we did spend a lot of time talking about the gym floor and the groups that use it and are they properly maintaining it like they're supposed to or are they kind of leaving a mess and it's making it, you know, more slippery and dirty and wearing down quicker. So, uh, definitely something that we need to have more

198conversation about. >> Yeah. And we were Yeah. And just in terms of our CIP with, um, the shared spaces and stuff like that, we're trying to figure out >> opportunities and stuff like that. >> Y because it's certainly getting used by more than just, >> right? So, that was a big conversation was about, you know, parks and wreck and so forth. So, >> which is great that people are using it for sure. It's a good thing in terms of complications, >> right? Yeah. But it also helps, you know, that maybe we can use tax impact money. >> Yeah. To do it with the floor. That'd be good. >> Y >> So that's it. So I'll make a motion to um approve the draft minutes from the facility committee meeting on December 17th. >> I'll second.

199All in favor? >> I I >> Okay. Oh no, I lost my agenda. Okay. Uhformational items, school property, sage growth. Anything else? Yeah, you keep jumping ahead. [laughter] >> Everything's always intermix. >> I know. Um policies. Have you guys met me to discuss these? >> Not since the last time we moved them all forward. >> Okay. >> To second reading. So >> yeah, the crowdfunding I know I have to go I need to go in and change the numbers. I want to compare it with the policy. I just didn't have I lost my computer for a while. So, >> okay. >> I wasn't able to do it. Um the inventory the other two we were fine with. >> Yes. >> The you have fourth reading for JJ, but we decided that we were kind of

200on Keep it there. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. >> So, we're ready, but I don't want to lose it sitting there. Sure. Right. >> So, if we want to move that, we could move the DID and the DIA for approval. >> You guys are okay. But the crowdfunding I know we want to check. So we want to move that to a third reading and you can adjust the numbers before the third reading. >> Did we need numbers? >> Well it for talked about the policy that was >> not that one. I know that one we did but the one um and I had the I printed off the notes and >> Well, how about we just hold off on that? No, it was the um Yeah, the one about um assets >> inventory. >> Yes,

201the inventory one. [snorts] Did we need to have numbers in on that? [snorts] >> Numbers conversation before. I'll have to get >> I'll have to go back in and we'll get my notes from last time >> and I will send you the draft of our >> Okay. >> minutes. I kind of Holiday [snorts] got in the way. >> All right, just move them and we'll be ready to get rid of them. >> We'll be real. >> Okay, tea again and we'll finish them up. >> All right, back to public comments. for the long haul. >> Yeah, >> I apologize for having any public comments how long the meeting's gone, but couple of points in particular came up twice in this meeting where a single quote or offer to do business was given. you state the

202amount and then you say you're gonna go get two more bids, but it's now out in public what that number is. >> So, you hurt yourself two ways. One, you're kind of doing a disservice to the person that gave you the courtesy of giving you a number up front. And two, you might not get the lowest number. You just might get a number that's $200 less than the last one when it could have been $1,000 less because they already know what the competitor is offering. And I just just be aware of when you offer those kind of numbers and yet you're going to go get new numbers if it's a range or you guys are aware of it, but the public should not be I had to point out the school board I mean that

203the select board was doing the same thing. So just just a whatever point of information. Um, lastly, I guess I I can understand and I wanted to point out to anybody that might still be watching or will watch this meeting that there is a reason to be concerned. I watched the meeting. I participated in much of it and watched the rest of it at [clears throat] home last night. And there were conversations that took place not just about what can we do to special ed, but they literally asked what's the bare minimum we can we need to do to heat this building? >> I don't know. I that literally was one of the conversations by law. What do we have to do to provide for heat? And the conversation went as far as well, we

204at least need to keep the the pipes from freezing. So, I think there's this that that's like just taking things to some level that I can't even comprehend that we would have our kids sitting here with mittens on just so that we can keep the the pipes from freezing. that it's just bizarre that that even came up as part of the conversation. And I would please encourage anybody that's watching to watch the meeting. Don't make an opinion based on what I'm saying or what you even heard here. If you really want to know what was said and why we're all on pins and needles, I think you need to watch the meeting from last night. The ones before that would also be helpful to watch, but last night's in particular, even why we think everybody

205that is concerned should come on Saturday. That's my introduction. Thank you. [snorts] Thank you. Church Street. [laughter] Two things. one is I am so appreciative of the work that you all are doing and the the [snorts] meaningful conversations you're having to work out understanding some of things and you respect each other and it's wonderful back and forth especially considering what's been going on in other communities. So, I would really apolog and you said that the the community uses this building a lot, right? That should be included in the cuts because people should see that, you know, they keep saying, "Well, my kids already, you know, left DC, so I don't need to pay for school or I don't have kids in the school, so it's not mine." And they're not getting the idea that they're

206all of our kids and they're all of our future, but they're also not getting that this is a community school or community building and they're talking about shutting down the heat, you know, so maybe you don't heat on weekends and there's no pickle ball and there's no They need to hear that because they're going to assume that they get what they want >> and not what the kids need. >> Thank you. Other public comments. Okay. I don't believe we need a non-public public session. So, >> we actually do. >> Oh, no. [laughter] You can blame Miss Witty. No, I'm kidding. Small letter A. >> Okay. >> Please. It'll be quick. >> All right. Then I will make a motion to enter into non-public session pursuant to NHRSA 91-3 section 2 subsection A. I'm saying yes,

207but >> yes. >> Um just for Mr. text and said the parking lot is icy. >> So please be careful. You can take the sand bucket with you if you want. >> Just dip your shoes for you. [laughter] >> I hate ice. >> Have a good night everybody. Thank you. >> This morning, >> oh my god, my car was just like coated in a thick layer of ice.