Epping School Board Meeting 11/21/2025

001moment. >> All right. Good evening everybody and welcome to the Thursday, November 20th, 2025 school board meeting. If we could please rise 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. >> All right. >> Hey everybody. Hey. Hey. >> Hi Julie. >> Uh the first item would be our public comments. We have [snorts] sort of some public. We have does anybody or people in our audience? I think you have I know you're here for particular purposes. Thank you for coming. Um we are going to move into our scheduled topic which is the senior trip proposal to Newport Rhode Island. Courtney Mora where can I ask are we hoping

002that she will come here because then it's just next to Rachel Mazone. >> It's just then that the microphone I think can pick you up and >> and you're part of a you're part of >> Oh my gosh, I love that. >> Okay. Can I can I clarification? I thought we were doing budget from 6:00 to 7. >> We just wanted to make sure that the to instead of keeping everyone here much later, the students and the quick presentation, we're going to do budget right after. >> So, we we did talk about um this is a regular school board meeting. This is our So, we're going to kind of follow the regular agenda and in the interest of we have a lot to talk about with the budget, Mrs. Mora Courtney Mora and our students

003are going to go first and then we'll move straight into >> I just don't remember that being discussed at the last meeting. >> It wasn't it was it was um when we set the agenda it's usually done between myself and the and the board >> chair and we didn't want to keep the students here. So made that decision just a surprise to other members of public. You didn't miss it. >> It's it is a regular school board meeting. So we're going to kind of follow our regular [snorts] court. Thank you for being here late night. Oh, thank Oh, thanks. Thanks. Thanks for having >> Thanks for having They have it on there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right. So, uh >> Well, I'm here, but not for DC. Uh [laughter] here's now uh senior class adviser.

004It's me and Britney Ramsey. So, um this year we did a class vote. Um we gave them 10 days to vote. Um, and the choices were Whitewater rafting, North Conway, Newport, Rhode Island. They, um, majority vote was Newport. Um, so what's going to happen with Newport, Rhode Island is I took feedback from the kids as well cuz I'm going through a travel agency so I can switch up whatever I need, whatever. Um, and I thought the kids would love the ghost tour, but they were like, "No, please don't." And I was like, "Oh, darn it." So, it was awesome. Yeah, I love ghost tours. Um, and they were like, "Come on." So, I switched it up. So, what we did instead to cut coughs also is we're going to leave uh we'd be leaving Saturday

005morning um and then coming home Monday um afternoon since the seniors won't have school that Monday. It'll push off rehearsal so they'd be able to do that. Um so, we already uh put that through with Mr. Mazonei and talked about all that. Um [clears throat] so, we're going to leave. We would leave that Saturday morning. Um 700 a.m.ish we'll go down. Um we're going to stay um down in Newport the first day. We're going to go to the beach first. Um after that, we're going to go check in at the hotel. Then we're going to go back um have a sit down dinner. All the kids can dress up real nice. And then we're going to do a sunset cruise around the harbor. Um and then after that, we're going to have them um have

006a little bit of free time in downtown Newport, Rhode Island to explore. We'll go back to the hotel. Um then we're going to wake up the next morning, pack up, and we're going to go to Six Flags all day long. Um and then we're going to go back to the hotel, which a different one, um in Enfield, Connecticut. and then we're going to wake up, have breakfast, and start heading home um for for that. So, with this, it's the same company I've been using for DC. I actually ended up really liking them this uh this year for um DC Landmark. They're really ahead of it. They're always on top of it. I have questions they get back less than 24 hours, which is awesome. Um I took out the motor coach that would have been

007about 10,000. So, I took that out. Um, and then I ended up asking the recck department if we can borrow their two buses. And graciously, they're they're going to give us two of their buses. Um, if we get more kids, then I'll just have to go back to the drawing board to look at uh rentals. So, things like that. Get the kids stuff in that rental car, like their bags and whatnot, and bring those down. Uh, the four people we would have go is Nectton, Mr. Nectton, um me obviously, Ramsay obviously, and then also um Maria Hendrickson's going to be going as well. um just because uh we couldn't have the kids decide who could go with chaperrons because I had to do it based on who could drive the buses. Um so really I

008was like [laughter] great people though, right? So uh they were like hey that's I'm like if anybody has an issue just email me. I didn't get any emails. I thought I'd get some about me but nobody emailed so we're all good. Um so and then what we're doing is fundraising right? So we we I know that's a big thing is like asking how to fundra to keep these trips costs low because I want everyone to go. Um, so we have done, oh my gosh, 5050 raffles at the senior games. Uh, we're going to be doing concessions. I've been working with, uh, Mr. Gold Sack about concessions. Um, so we have three games next week that we're doing. We're doing a movie night as well for, um, any age can go. Even parents can go if

009they'd like to bring their child. Uh, we're doing that on December 5th. And then we're also doing uh, wrapping, so a gift wrapping. So it's like wrapping up senior year. We'll be doing that on the 5th and the 12th as well. Um, so we have a bunch of fundraising opportunities that these kids have been going at for. So, it's been actually pretty awesome. Um, and in the two months that we've been fundraising, we've raised almost over 2,000, I think. So, um, and all that is, uh, going right to the senior class trip to bring down the costs for the kids, which is great. Uh, I had to put a cap in that. So, uh, then we can have more money also for the end of the year activities, too, as well, which is great. Uh

010there is insurance on the trip. So if the kids they have to sign up within 14 days of the signups uh to get that insurance. So if they get sick, anything like that, they are guaranteed um over 70% of their money back. Um and that's that's pretty much pretty much it. >> What's the cost of the trip >> right now? If we have that five grand in there, it's around 660 a kid. >> 660 per person. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> I think that was my only concern was the cost because it was more expensive. I I I did go back and look at the past couple years and it is >> more it's more. I think we just I mean the point is to get everybody go. >> So that's my that was my

011only it's not even it's just a concern. It's not a hesitation. It's just that I we want all of our kids to >> agree to go >> 100%. And so that's why >> not all your kids [clears throat] don't go because of cost. >> What's that? >> I said a lot there are kids that don't go. It has nothing to do with cost. >> Correct. It would be more of like they just don't want to go. they don't want to go or family >> um doesn't want them to go or whatever cuz yeah just like middle school there's a lot that stay parents not about the cost >> or the child you know what I mean >> will you will you put some sort of notification that if cost is prohibitive of attending because I

012feel like as a school district we need to acknowledge that yeah so if if I think if a family were to reach out to say my child can't would like to go but is not able >> Yep. We work with those families. Yes. Whether that's through a PTO donation. We've had generous uh parents have funded uh other children to go. We have a very generous community and those who wish to go. Usually we find a way to make it make it happen. >> That's what matters. >> Yeah. 100%. And then also I've been um working with uh the boosters or project grad sorry um too as well. So, we've been in communication too about uh fundraising and money and and making sure that a lot of those kids can get on that trip. >> Um

013and whether that's they cover uh costs for certain things of transportation or whatever it may be to keep lowering those prices, we can do that, too. So, >> yep. As long as we can get it going. I mean, first timer here, so just trying to get through [laughter] trying to get through the trenches, you know. So, yeah. >> Um the only question I have is these is >> you're calling this educational tours. >> Yes, because we're going to be in Newport, Rhode Island. They can also do a cliff walk. They're going to do the um cruise through the harbor, which we will have a landmark tour leader that'll be discussing all the stuff around it as well. So, it's actually educational as well. So, we're going to be throwing that in there. The other thing,

014if they don't want to go to the beach, too, they go to the mansions, um the Breakers Mansions and stuff like that as well. >> Y >> I just think if we're asking if we're if we're if we want to be asking people to to help pay >> Yep. >> we have to really show how it's educational. >> Yep. Um, Six Flags is not an education. It's And I agree with it. It's a fun I loved it. >> Yeah. >> Um, Washington's different. Go to state house. You go here. You go there. Educational. >> Uh, right along with the civics curriculum. Right. >> Um, I've been to all of the [snorts] mansions in Newport. I've been on the Ghost Court. It's awesome. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> See, >> and I will tell you as

015you're walking the life post. >> Oh my gosh. See, maybe I'll just do it myself. >> No, it is it is it is off off hours. So it's a Saturday, Sunday, Monday. >> Yeah. So, >> but you are you are advertising it as an educational tour. >> Are we I think we advertise it as a senior >> right there. Educational tours. >> That's the That's the company that we're using. What is our >> This is This is It's advertised as the senior trip. >> Oh, here. Sorry. Oh my gosh. >> I think senior trips shouldn't have to do anything with education. Honestly, >> I think it should be the last year that they >> last harrah. It's really >> It's the last harrah that it shouldn't have anything to do with you have to provide

016education. What do our students think? We have a senior. You have a thought on that? We're talking about your trip. >> Do you want to go? >> Um [laughter] I just >> No pressure. >> I agree about the cost. It's definitely >> a lot. Um >> you don't you don't HAVE [laughter] we're talking ABOUT IF you have something to add. >> No, I definitely think it will be fun and >> I just hope we can get a lot of kids to go. That's my biggest thing. Okay. I'm definitely worried about the costs personally and for like other students. >> but like everything, it's a personal choice, right? >> Yeah. >> So, um I think it's going to I think it's hard to ask the community >> to help pay for that cost for a fun

017event that's not a school event. You know, it is a school event, but it's not really isn't I know you're saying it's an educational thing, but it it's it is a great I mean it it's fun. It's it shouldn't have to do with education in the senior trip. The senior trip should be about just having fun together with your last senior class and all of that stuff. Um I wish we had we never had it, but there there's no way to bring 910 seniors. >> Well, we used to go to [laughter] Bahamas and Bermuda and all that stuff when class, you know. >> I hear you. So, I'm just I'm just like saying it's hard when you you want to start asking people to donate for something that I think a lot of people think

018would be fun for this is a fun trip and it is. >> Yeah. Um, but it's not like um it's not like nature's classroom. >> Nope. >> But in my opinion, nature's classroom should be paid for by the school. >> That's my opinion. >> In the bus. That's my opinion because that is a 100% educational week that these kids have. >> I like outside a lot. >> Yeah. It's an Well, everything is about outside. It's outdoor classroom. >> Yeah. >> Is what it is. So I I'm just I think you know the great thing too what parents want you know what kids and >> and my middle schoolers too the good thing with them is we're doing the um the calendar sales right now which is gift cards. It's all donated by parents and stuff.

019So 100% goes right back to the kid. >> Um well it goes in a class account but I have it all categorized out. Um so with that right I I have already on there I put if you'd like to make a generous donation please email me and I've gotten four five [snorts] people um which is awesome and again their choice right? So again, it doesn't have to be educational. It could be a fun trip. Um, as long as we propose it as that and people know what they're paying for. I think that's important. I think people need to know what they're >> 100% Robin%. >> That's all you have to let people know what they're for. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> No, I think I I I think it's awesome. >> Um, >> and I

020like that it's mixing it up from Washington. >> Yeah. Well, yeah, because it's seniors. I mean, >> well, I like I like that you are giving the seniors some say in it because they've done Indian Head a few times. They did Hottopia last year. >> Yep. >> It's their water rafting and they've done other things. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, this will be a nice little uh >> Yeah. I mean, it should be their trip. >> Yeah. I go to Good for you [clears throat] for getting the wreck buses. You going to fit them all in there? >> You know, Well, that's the thing. So, if it goes over the amount, you know, I'm doing [laughter] the math. >> So, you have an idea how many are going now. So, uh, what happens with, uh,

021the Landmark company is that they give you a pricing for 25, 30, 35,50. So, it depends on the amount of kids that go. So, the price could change depending on how many kids go and how many kids don't. >> What is our senior class number? >> Uh, 42 smallest one. >> Very small. 4,000 of my senior >> graduation though. [laughter] >> HAPPY 4 HOURS LONG. Just kidding. >> Oh, four chairs can give a speech. college to visit. >> Um, Salv Regina right there. >> Yeah. Well, it's funny cuz Ramsey was actually trying to reach out to the um was going to reach out to Salv Regina to see if we could sleep in the dorms, >> but she hasn't heard back. So, >> but I was like, "Oh, that's cool. That would be cool. That

022would be cool." So, bring back my college days. >> Seniors to experience. I wonder if you throwing it out there, but if you get more than the wreck buses can hold, you get a quote for a regular school bus. >> Y >> maybe you share that with us. >> Yeah. Yeah. Sounds good. >> Saying it's going to be June. We're going to be at the end of our budget. >> Yeah, it'll be June. >> Wrapped up. >> So, >> it'll be June. >> I mean, if you're talking about a few hundred Yeah. >> for a yellow school bus. >> Yep. Those >> as cool as a coach bus. >> It's also not as cool. I mean the wreck buses are cool but >> having said that I just have one first of all thank you

023so much for >> that's your time and it's a lot of time right so thank you so much for putting all that together and making that that possible for kids >> um >> I do just want to say though like >> you know these aren't >> they're not they're not academic trips they're not just like Europe and so when we do things like this I think we have to be careful that my question was really my or comment it's not a question it's a comment It's not really for you, it's just for the general consumption. >> Um, but I think when we plan for chaperones, um, because I know before we have seen on the man manifest something come through that's like a trip related thing, but it wasn't really a school trip. It's like

024the Europe trip or something else. And so, um, I think that we need to be mindful of those things that were not burdening a budget with something that wasn't really a budgetary item or planned for the budget. So, I just kind of want to put that out there that >> Yeah. Well, you say if you come talk to us like or whatever >> in advance in advance versus versus we've we had a situation where we had to replace a suitcase. We had some transportation needs. We had some on a on one of the the other trips, the uh spring break trips. >> Okay. >> So, I would just say, and that's not for you. That's just for the again for the general consumption that I it that would affect my willingness to say, "Yeah, I'm

025all in support. I approve." If I >> if I knew in advance that something was going to be be a cost to the budget, okay, then I know in advance, but I don't I don't like that something comes after the fact of the budget that we didn't really know about that we're like, well, wait, we approved this trip, but we didn't approve that it was going to cost us money. So, again, that has nothing to do with your being here. I just want to kind of like >> put that out there that No, this is good for me to know. So, if I do this again, then I know what to do, you know, cuz I always plan DC like a year in advance so that it's always ready to go. >> Yeah. So I

026think we saw we saw on the manifesto >> what you're alluding to Jen is is uh in the collective bargaining agreement there is some >> some um arrangement for pay when the teachers spend the night and they give up this time and so that is what the cost of that trip could be. >> No, not even that because we know that that's part of [clears throat] the target. We know that we know that teachers can put in for as they should, [clears throat] right? Um, I I believe that if you're going above and beyond something that's outside of the classroom, there should be some compensation for you. I firmly believe in that. Um, I I'm talking like we I I I know that we had um and I don't know how much I need to

027go into, but like we've we've had like a hotel room for an admin that needed to go on a trip, but it wasn't >> like why are we paying a hotel room? like that should be if it's if somebody's going as a chaperone that should be inclusive in this cost that that is being absorbed and divided out. >> That's what this is. This is all included. >> So that's [clears throat] what I'm just that's what I'm talking about. I don't want to see like surprise things like oh well we approved this trip but I didn't really know that it was going to come. I don't want to see surprises. >> Yeah. You don't want to see like another $635 charge hotel. >> For example, you decided all of a sudden it's raining. You can't go

028to the beach and you're going to take 30 kids to the ghost tour. But but then you I'm just using this as an example. You put it on your credit card, it's $700 and then that gets build back to the school district. That's the kind of thing that we because we see every line item of every reimbursement and it'll say senior trip >> Courtney Mo reimbursement and it'll have a price and it'll say and then we say hm >> why is that? Why is that? Why is that? So that's the kind of thing that >> is is best as >> we want [laughter] to avoid which I get I 100% >> I know that it's district and taxpayer dollars but I feel like I'm a taxpayer too and I'm when I look through that manifest

029my husband always knows when I'll be like shouting or like [laughter] oh you must be reading the manifest >> that's my husband with a new playground at our [laughter] school about and you're right J we've got to be careful too like when you had said you know it's the end of the school year come to us in June that you then you're setting a precedence, too. We got to be very careful of what we're what we're doing is like you can't say, "Oh, well, well, it's only, you know, if we can get a yellow bus and it's only $400 more, let's spend $400 in that." But next year, you can't do that. But that what if but it's it's another trip. So, you got to be very very careful of where you're going to draw

030the line of what you want to do for school sponsored >> trips. >> Um, and I'm I'm an advocate if it's a school sponsored trip, the school should be paying for it. >> Yeah. and and be consistent, right? Be consistent with it. But you got to be careful of that. You know, we ran we ran into that, right, Bill, with >> we bought soccer rings one year, but we wouldn't want to do it another year. And it's like, no, you have to be consistent with what you want to do and what's what's more >> more in terms of the buses is like what if they get 40 kids that buses can't come. >> Now they got 20 now. Yeah. Now they're out anyway. >> Yep. Yep. And I put that in here, too. I also

031put it out to the kids as well um for the cost of transportation, the difference and all that stuff. So everybody's fully aware of it >> with these trips is transportation. It's transportation is a killer. >> I mean if anything if we could buy two buses for transportation, wouldn't that be amazing? >> Oh yeah, >> that's coming next year. >> I [snorts] was just going to say I mean I was like I was going to transportation for me about that. >> I mean like you said if you got the Mo coach it's $10,000 to get the Moto Coach bus. >> Yep. And next year the class is huge >> and to go to Newport, Rhode Island. That's two two motor coaches next year. >> There would have to be. >> Yeah. To go to Newport.

032Rhode Island. >> Yep. >> That's just crazy. >> Yep. Yep. It was about like I think it was eight grand. >> Let's just find some vans. We'll drive >> saying. Yeah. >> I know how to drive. >> We can do it. [laughter] >> Do a car. >> I think um are there any other questions for Courtney? >> All right. Do I have a motion to approve the senior trip proposal to Newport, Rhode Island? >> So moved. Second. >> Moved by Jen, seconded by Matt. All in favor? >> I. >> And you should go on the ghost tour. >> That passes [laughter] for >> It is awesome because you learn all about not just the ghost show, you learn all about the pirates that brought children into the cave and left them there. >> Yeah. >>

033It I'm telling you, there's a big thing >> and it's very memorable. >> It's very memorable. >> Maybe you could just kill me. And then [laughter] >> maybe you should go be. >> We're downtown Newport after dinner. We're like, "And then over here seat." They're here with us. >> Let's FaceTime Robin so she can [laughter] show up. >> Robin's going to show up. >> Do you know how to drive a bus? >> I have a friend that can drive a bus [laughter] >> and he'll do it for free. Certificate. >> Dinner, too. >> Appreciate you. >> I was gonna say I'll see you tomorrow, but I won't. Um, I'll see you guys tomorrow. >> Bye, guys. Hi, thank you. >> Good job, Courtney. >> Thank you. Um, we [clears throat] are going to go to

034our students and their student reports. >> Um, so for this week, we kind of put together like some cool things that are happening around the school and then just a few highlights from like like one highlight from every class of just like cool assignments. So, you're not going to get overwhelmed by what we're talking about. >> Um, we also have some past things um that happened within the last um meeting that we were at. So, um, well, recently for athletics, winter sport triyouts have started this week. Um, and the basketball schedules are out for the season. Um, opening night for basketball, which is December 6th. They'll be raising the banner for the baseball championship. And Salt will be doing a fundraiser to purchase stocking stuffers. So, hopefully it'll be a good turnout. Um, the boys

035soccer team made it the championship again this year. Unfortunately, they lost, but they did a really good job. Uh, football made the playoffs for the first time in, I think, four years. Uh, volleyball >> made the playoffs again for like the 20th year straight or something like that. So, that's pretty good. >> Um, National Honor Society ran a district-wide food drive. Um, and also is collecting like Thanksgiving um, fixings. And then we also got turkeys um, which we're going to give out to families in our community. and they're gonna kind of pack up boxes of all the things that we've collected um next week and then they'll be seeing them off on Wednesday morning. Um Youth and Government, which is a club run by U. Mr. Roddy, who's our world cultures teacher, just went on

036a field trip to conquered um and they got to learn more about like how the government works and different processes within that. So juniors and seniors had a lot of opportunities to meet with local colleges that came to the school and like had conversations with us. Um and then seniors also had um their free New Hampshire application today for colleges. Um students also completed their student le conferences earlier this November. Uh freshman English and history classes are doing a combined unit right now talking about migration and people's um motivations for migration. Um, in English too, students are writing memoirs and then in world cultures they're learning about that Iranian revolution. Um, in civics, students are starting to learn more about the branches of government and just finished their unit on voting. Um, in 11th grade

037English, students are completing their exploration narrative summitives and moving on to their persuasion unit. In English 4, students are writing research papers and um preparing for like debates within their class. Um, honors English 4 just finished reading the scarlet letter. And then AP environmental science did a lab about plate tectonics using frosting, grim crackers, and fruit roll-ups. Uh, criminology is learning about DNA and how it's collected from crime scenes. In graphic design, students are creating their own fake YouTube channels using graphics that we've learned about on our computers. And then in SST, health science is learning about the medical terminology. Um the marketing class is making food trucks. Uh the biomemed and technology class just completed an exam on cell biology and column chromatography. And now is moving on to plant tissue culture, which is

038like cloning plants. Um plant animal science seniors are working on tree identification and also um like giving animals medications. So whether that's a pill or a liquid medication, um the juniors are learning about diseases. Um the senior careers in education is working on lesson plans as well as like job shadows. So in my class today, there was a student from the careers in education who came in and sat and listened to my teacher give her lesson. Um and then the health science seniors are starting their LNA practicals, so they're in a hospital. >> So yeah, that's it. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Thank you. This is a nice snapshot of what's happening. >> Yeah. Um I have a question for you. >> Yeah. >> I would like to see if um there's two um electives

039that I'm I'm very interested in. I would like to see in the future of our school. So if you could go back and talk to the kids or whatever, but I'm very interested in um have an elective for women's studies. >> Okay. >> Um um the worth of a woman, the strength of a woman, um the um uh protection of oneself as a woman. Um, this is not the me this is not the me campaign type of thing. This is just a women study young girls um what their body means to them, the protection of their body, all that stuff. So, >> with the women's self-defense, >> it's a wealth. Yep. Absolutely. But just like your worth as a woman, you know, I might know some people. [laughter] >> Um, and then the other one

040is uh conflict resolution >> um with uh students learning how to this is what you've done, this is the consequence of it. How how are you going to deal with that? How do you role play like with you know with how do you because we all know the drama in school, right? middle, high school and whatever. Um, how do we learn how to communicate better with each other so that we don't have the conflict but try to learn how we have a resolution to what's going on in the in the relationship or whatever be a lot of it's always misunderstanding. So, how do we find out like how do you do all how do you learn to deal with that? You don't. And with social media, you don't get to see the person. But when

041you're in a conflict resolution class, you're basically one-on-one, and you're learning how to how to navigate those tools that you need to to learn how to um deal with conflict in life. >> Do we have a legal class that does like mock trials and like >> Well, mock trials is more I think they could kind of play together in a way. Conflict resolution to me is like, >> you know, you said this and this is this and how do you how do you like confront people? >> How do you how do you confront people like each other? Um, and how do you learn how to listen to the truth of each other? Like how do you learn to listen to each other without judgment right away? Um, >> it's like, you know, like, yeah, like

042I don't know, how do you how how to deal with conflict >> and how to deal with it in a um productive nonviolent >> um aggressive way because not everything has to be violent like hands and fists. The tongue is the worst weapon we have. So, um I just think it's if if kids could learn how to talk to each other better, um I think a lot more conflict could be solved with that. Um and like I said with women's studies, I think it's so important today, especially with social media that's going on. Um I think it's important for women to know how to protect themselves. >> I'm going to give you a task. Maybe you could ask or find out how do new courses get proposed, >> right? >> So that could be like

043ask our leadership people like how does a teacher because it has somebody has to want to teach it. >> Yeah. >> And when do they usually they have to they have to create a course description and a course somebody has to want to teach it. So maybe you could bring to us too are there any new ideas for new classes for next year? Are there any new new ideas? When does it have to because it has to you and you select your classes, you choose your classes, so you have to back it up. But maybe there's maybe you could bring these ideas that these this is something Robin suggested, but how would teachers >> propose a new class >> in and women's studies could be part of the health program and and then you also

044can have men's studies. I mean, you can have different units of what you're doing, right? It doesn't all have to be about, you know, you know. >> Yeah. Well, I mean it does come down to is there a teacher at the school that wants >> Well, we have a health teacher, don't we? >> Right. But they have many sections and >> I was going to say our health our health class is pretty indepth and does touch on a lot of the things that you're talking about in like the women's studies elective. Um, >> so >> yeah, >> I would have to see the curriculum. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yes, I would have to see the curriculum of that. Um >> also maybe for for next month when you come um if could you maybe get

045uh something cool that's happening at the middle school and maybe something cool doesn't you don't give to give us the whole run through but like something exciting six through eight and something exciting K through five or even preschool just just to >> okay >> add that in not as it's not a huge >> huge task so >> because I love I love the new electives that they put forward >> this year. No, they do. They're doing they do great fundraisers. >> It's just how there's an issue with the youth today and we have to learn how to, >> you know, it's it's this is a great place to learn how to >> try to communicate better with each other as as as youths. So, >> and I just wanted I was going to look at

046my calendar. Um, the next time you will be here, can you >> December 18th. >> Oh, that's right. >> So, December 18th would be the next student report. Sorry. December 18th. Um, of course you can come anytime you want. >> Yeah, you can come anytime. Like you're not busy at all. >> No, [laughter] >> I know, Rachel. >> Yeah. >> So, um, yeah. No, that's great. We appreciate We do appreciate your input. >> Yeah, >> we always appreciate you coming. >> Any other comments? >> Nope. >> For our students? You have any comments for us before we dive into budget? >> Do we have any comments for us? >> Isn't that the end of the meeting? >> I know. [laughter] No. All right. Well, thank you so much, Shane. You're welcome to stay, but if

047you sneak out, I won't call you. >> It's my dog's birthday. >> Oh, boy. >> Who's that? Like, is how is he is he? >> That's exciting. Happy birthday to him. [laughter] >> That's good. >> Dad. >> Yep. We're going to move into the 2627 budget review. >> Uh, so I'm going to start and then I'm going to hand it over to Christine. And I just want to say this year, as we all know, has been a little different. Um, in a lot of ways, I think it's gone very smoothly. >> However, now it's the board's first opportunity to ask us questions, dive deeper into it, and and go from there. However, I do want to up start with an update since since it's always a living kind of document when we first present it

048to the budget committee, and then things have changed. So, I just want to remind everyone here that our first overall increase was a 6.1%. Uh the proposed budget was 26,268,429. Our default budget was a 4.85% as we've talked about. Most of those drivers were new teacher contracts and in the second year of a terror contract as well already voter approved. Salaries and benefits are always the major drivers in those areas. So we felt the 6.1% was a very reasonable uh request over the 4.8%. However, some updates since then have come in. We always put a placeholder in there for insurance. We never know quite what that insurance number is going to be and where that is and that's based on usage uh our own our own staff and their usage of that. I'm very pleased

049to let you know that that came in at a much lower number. Christine will give us the details, but that's one of the one of the drivers in actually a reduction that I actually have in in before you this evening. So we are now at an overall increase of 4.68% down to 25,915,570 with the default budget also at 3.73%. Now you might be asking what are what are some of those other drivers? >> Can you say that number again? 3 point >> it's right in the Oh, sorry. It's right in your book. The the I'm just looking at the second page of your of your book >> and giving you that update. So, and they are in our drive as well. Anyone who's watching live can follow along and look at those budget packets that

050that way as as well. So, what were the other two major drivers? One is the loader discussion which you're going to get an update later in this this meeting around. Uh but thanks to the cooperation between the board and the town, uh it has been decided to withdraw the loader from the budget and actually pay for that solution through impact fees. and the impact fees. Uh we do have some that are retiring in 2028 which we do have to use up and so that's actually part of our presentation a little bit later with Josh and Christine around what that proposal is. But that is the one of the major reductions is $140,000 of the loader has come out of that budget. And then through natural attrition I know that there was some direction of not

051cutting any positions. However, we did have through natural attrition a retirement and that is the library media aid position that is shared between the middle uh between the elementary school and uh EMHS and we have decided that that would uh would would remain out of the budget and so that is also reduction and whenever you have a uh a position reduction it's reduced out of the proposed and it's also reduced out of the default. So that's why you're seeing some reductions in the default budget as as well. So I'm very pleased and I'll turn it over to Christine who can can walk through a little bit more of those details and then we're going to open it up for questions from you. As far as the presentation goes, we are not having the administration come

052again. We're not going through line by line. We are here this evening to listen to any questions, answer any questions that we can immediately. Or if you've come with your own questions, we might say, "Yep, we'll get back to you at next meeting because we have both uh this meeting and next meeting uh to to finalize the budget between us." And again, Christine will go over the timeline and [snorts] then we'll meet with the budget committee once again once we have finalized that budget and we'll present the final budget and warrant articles to back to the budget committee for their final final approval. So very pleased that you have before you right now a 4.68% increase over the proposed budget and a default budget of 3.73%. Okay. So, Bill kind of just [clears throat] spoke

053to most of it. Um, but again, like Bill spoke to, the Primix rates come in and those are our workers comp, our unemployment, and our um building liability insuranceances every year. We don't get those rates until towards the end of October. Um, so those rates came in and they did produce a savings to the budget. So, um, those ones are reflected in your 2900 lines. Um, so I noted those on the sheets of where those belong. Um, also our health insurance rates came in, which again, like I'm always impressed with this district that somehow we managed to always be at the very low rate of increases. Uh, Health Trust did it a little bit different the last two years that they don't do like an overall district like 9% increase. They do it by plan

054now. So our um access blue plan which is our most popular plan dropped by.1%. Um and then our SOS plan increased by 8.6% but we don't have as many staff on the 86% but it's that did have an increase but you see a decrease because the 1% on the other side. So, >> it it was only $174,000 savings, but it's a good savings when you're looking at those rates. Um, and our employees are going to feel that, too, because their health rates are going to drop a little bit. Um, and then like Bill spoke to is the media specialist is our next reduction on there. So, you have the total reduced to 380,184 and um through that there was some other increases that came into this. So SST has uh created a new electrical program

055and they want to get this up and running, but that comes with a cost to everyone that goes to SST. So they're predicting about an $85 per student increase there. Um so we added that increase into the budget, which is about $16,468. The number is kind of fluid because they're basing it on they're hoping to have I think it was 68 student or three >> three sections of Yeah. >> So it depends how many students they get enrolled would depend what their actual cost is and then how many students we have attending will depend on what our cost is. >> So we just kind of put the placeholder in there from what we've been told. Um the water from the town has increased 3%. So, um, that wasn't in the original budget, but the sewer

056didn't increase, but the water did. So, it's minimal, but it was a $2,126 increase for the water portion of the um bill. And then the last piece is just an increase to our annuity line. Um, those are kind of in our retirement lines, but there are some people that receive annuities through their contracts. >> Um, and when their salaries increase, their annuities increase. And so I just wanted to make sure we took into account the annuity increases there for those individuals that received the annuity plans. So I did note throughout that sheet that you have in front of you which lines those affect. So that way when you're looking at your budget book and you're thinking all right so we cut these costs where do I look? You would just look to the line that's

057noted usually 10.2900 and that's where you're going to reflect those lines. Um but as Bill has said that we've spent the last few meetings with the budget committee and it's been a great process. It was really different this year to present to the budget committee first um and not you. So it was great but it also drove some really good conversations. Um I feel like there was more skin in the game. I feel like they really looked at the budget and asked really good questions and really like, you know, paid attention to what was happening versus the budget coming to them in like November, December and it's their first view at the budget. Now we're like crunching timelines and we're getting almost towards warrant articles and they're like, "Wait, we still don't know what the

058numbers are." So I think this has helped them like calm down and like look at it and really pay attention what that's doing. So I hope you guys have enjoyed that process too. Um but through that most of you attended the meetings and have been there. Some of you have been at [laughter] every meeting. Um so and you've also had the budget. I sent it to you I think uh November what date was that emailed to you? November 11th. Um it was emailed to you. So hopefully you've had a chance to take a look. There has been a few changes like I said since the original email. But this is your opportunity through all that conversation, all the presentations, all the budgets I have sent you throughout the last couple months >> to just what

059have you seen? Where do you think things are? What do you think we could change this? It's your moment. It's your budget. [laughter] >> That sounded like an Oscar. It's your moment. It's your moment. It's your moment. It's your time. And we do have two budget committees here. Two budget committee members here. Um I'm so happy they joined us because in the past when we've had board meetings, they have not joined us. So I love this process because they show up and so thank you guys for coming. Yeah. >> Um but if there are questions you have about their directive that they gave us and why they reached the number that they decided to have us um cut which they had given us a directive um to come to the 4.5% which is our original

060um default. So that was about $288,000 >> is what they were guiding us to come in at. Um, so they are here if you have questions. >> Yep. >> I just want I just wanted to ask them um both of the budget committee members um with understanding um because I was the one that put the war article in to change all this because I wanted the budget committee to be adhering to the way the law said that you're supposed to be adhering, right? And I think what it what it has done it has allowed the budget committee to understand the budget a whole lot better. Right? I I think the questions have been so much better than in the past. The dialogue between both the school and the town have better and and that was

061the whole purpose of if if if you're going to be a budget committee, right? It need you need to do it the right way. So, um I'm glad I I think it's been a success doing it that way. Um, and I think we we've been able to have really good conversations back and forth when when the the school board presented, when all the administrators presented, technology, facilities, and all that. I think I think everything went pretty smoothly. Um, and it I think it made each other understand more because the budget it is it is difficult, but you know, when you especially especially when you're dealing with like special education and doing you know what laws can you do and what you can't do, you know, what what are your what what holds your hands that

062you can't touch on the budget? what can you know what can you move around and and all that. So um I personally think it was worth putting it through. I think I think it it it's worked out well. So >> So you're looking for input from looking for input from you guys. >> I'm going to let um other people speak first if people have specific thoughts on budget. I do appreciate >> you providing this spreadsheets. It's very clear where the where you've been able to what the increases and decreases are. Can I jump back a question about the tuition, the vocational >> piece? Um, the 5561 top 30. It went down 43,000. >> I'm on the Excel sheet. I apologize. [laughter] So, while Christine is looking for that, I I will talk a little bit

063about what what drivers are. drivers are class size and and number of students that enroll. And right now we particularly have a small senior class. So you probably did see a reduction from the previous um we typically hover right around 60 students that participate in SST and this year we had 42. So that would be would be a reduction in in the budget or so. So we go by class size. And then the other factor that is changing that you just heard about is the tuition increase because of the addition of >> of the electrical program which is roughly $16,000 is what's estimated as as our con. So it's it's moving in both directions at the same time with uh student enrollment and also then a possible increase based on the electrical programming. So >>

064So yeah, just like Bill [clears throat] said. So this current year we have $263,000 budgeted. So to come down to $220 is a $43,000 right >> budget decrease. However, that was $23 when we presented the budget um due to student enrollment and tuition. So because of the new electrical cost is now 220. So it's an increase over the original percented budget but a decrease over last year's budget. So you got two ways. >> No, absolutely. And I'm wondering if look, we always like a budget of ways. I'm wondering is that realistic, the 43,000 decrease with a small class leaving senior year, another larger class coming in, would we have potentially more students? >> So the class behind it is 48. Right now we're at 42. >> So that's that's why we did not go back

065up to the normal 60 students. We we uh uh we we suspect that it will be lower than what we have historically had. what we do is we go by uh our average and and we typically have quite a percentage of our students actually participate in SST and we do have budgeted pretty accurately um thankfully and uh >> but that's where they sometimes it's a little bit of science a little bit of guessing >> but also with with the electrical program that means that SST can host more kids which then so if if because I'm on the SST board, governing board. Let's just say they have 600 this year, it's I think a little over that. >> But if they if they add 70 more kids to a new program and it goes up to

066670, that brings our cost our overall cost down per pupil. So that would be it is a little it is it is messy, but it it would benefit us, you know. >> So we never get just for the sake of the conversation and I know Julie understands this is exactly what she just said. We never know the final tuition rate >> until actually the very beginning of the school year October >> when when they have their final enrollments and then we start getting build. So again it's that dilemma. Here it is November and we're we're trying to budget out as best as we can. >> It all depends what programs are offering like how many kids sign up for stuff. But I love the fact that Eping um we will not deny kids to go

067to SST because of budget. Other districts will cap it. they'll say, "Nope, we can't have any more. We're only going to do 50 kids and that's that." And I love that we don't do that. >> Um because I think I think >> SST is such a valuable program to our kids and electrical. Oh, fantastic. I love it. >> This is a couple years. >> I love it that you can have these programs for kids. >> Absolutely. All the programs. >> Yeah. All the programs. Whatever Whatever they can offer, I think it's great. >> Other questions about the budget? >> It's go up. When Fremont comes, it might go up again. Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Ben's working his calculator over there. Want me to jump in while you're I don't want to >> I

068These are two check guys and I'm just going to let them do >> Matt and Matt other thoughts. >> There was one other line and I believe it was discussed but I just want clarity when people when folks are looking at it is when it comes to tech security. >> Uh tech. >> I know. I jump right to those pieces. >> I love that you do though because I hate tech. >> So 2225738 >> 225 >> it it went up 20,000. >> Yeah. >> Significantly over what the default budget would be. Just any elaboration on that so folks can understand why that 20,000 is considerably higher. be licensed. >> I would say too we're we might may be asking questions that you can't answer. >> I mean I well aware and if we can answer

069them we will and then I'm taking notes and so as always we'll come back with an answer but if if Christine I do not have an answer to that one but if Christine does. >> Um so kind of a mix of that. So, the tech infrastructure last year we budgeted or this current year we budgeted a little bit more because we upgraded our AP access points throughout the school district. Um, so we had to increase our budget. So, you can see even in the 2425 budget it was only $10,000 where in the 2526 it was $35,000. So, we had all these access points throughout the school district that we were paying a lease on um in order to continue that lease. It was going to cost us a lot more money uh to replace the

070access points and then get in a lease agreement throughout the years to continue. So, we took a look. We started weighing our options. Um we have a company we work with, most school districts do, uh -ate funding. So, we use Epic for our rate funding. Um, I was in many conversations with Epic and talked about how we can maybe offset some of this cost through our -ate funding. Um, so they said that they would fund 50% of the project and pay reimburse us for 50% of the project. So, mind you, the $35,000 that's in there. The actual project that is now done um was done over the summer was like a $65,000 project. Okay. Um, but we only had to budget for half of that. So then you see a reduction in there um because

071now it's keeping up with those things. Um I just lost me spot of where those sorry. Um so the Bogan system uh the intercom system uh EES and EMHS they would like to upgrade the um Bogan system and then through the AP access we upgraded all the firewalls but the SAU firewall wasn't upgraded. was the one that was kind of like left out of that old programming. So this includes upgrading the SAU firewall as well. Um so it's dropping, but we do have some more things that we need to do to infrastructure to get it to where we really want it to be. Um so the intercom system and the bogan system and the SAU firewalls, but it is a decrease because we don't have to create our AP access anymore. >> Thank you. >>

072And you understand all that. I do. [laughter] >> Well, they protect you. I'm just saying that the protection. >> Yeah. And like we said, we did it through the whole district, but the SAU down at the bottom of the hill, we sometimes forget about. So, >> I just don't know what a bogan system is. >> So, we're going to the bog is the intercom system. So, it's how >> say intercom. >> Is that >> Yes. >> Okay. Thanks. >> You're welcome, >> Jim. >> Yeah. I just I have a couple things and I I was not able to make the Wednesday budget meeting. So if there if I'm asking something and it has already been addressed, please just say we've already addressed that and and I you know like I I don't need to that's

073fine. You don't need to rehash something just for my own sake. Um, and so one of I have two two things that I just kind of want to bring up and maybe you have an answer and maybe we go back and think about or ask other questions, but um, so I'm noticing that we have some we have budgeted for staff development coordinators and it looks like it looks like that would be a stipen and my question is is that a job description for the curriculum coordinators? Is that part of their role or not? >> And I guess as we are working through defining what people's responsibilities and roles are in not people's but certain positions. What are the roles and responsibilities for this position if it's a number one I just want to say I

074believe in paying people what they are worth. I firmly believe that I believe that we need to offer competitive wages so that we can attract the very best people. Having said that, I think that it should be very clear and transparent what people's responsibilities are. This is the salary for these responsibilities. And if this is a stipen, then it should not be included as a job responsibility. It is something that's above and beyond. It's a stipen. So, I I just don't know where that falls. And I I just think that maybe is worth kind of digging into a little bit. >> I actually have the answer to that. Perfect. The staff development coordinators are are teacher positions and those are stipen positions that are are driven by the bargaining agreement. And so they're within that

075uh group of >> of of um stipens that are negotiated and and talked about. And so they help uh teachers as they're doing their reertification process. Do you have your reflections? Do you have your hours? Do you have your time, your portfolio? All this. They help send out those reminders. Hey, get them in. to your research year. That is a a teacherdriven position. The curriculum coordinators do play a role. They do not get a stipen in that process though. They then help review those as the quality of the reflections, the quality of this. They're that first check of of quality around around that process to help get our teachers reertified. And then it and then it goes even further to our principles and so forth who then check off and approve it and so forth.

076and then it eventually comes to me and I approve it and the state approves it and and it goes through that whole reertification process. So teachers get those stipens, curriculum coordinators do not get those stipens. >> Okay, thank you. >> Um my other question was around books and um I just wonder if like are these are we on cycles for replacing textbooks for textbook adoption? Um I don't know. Oh, I just I I just wonder do we I I'm you know I'm comparing budget from year to year and then actuals and I didn't do a total of everything but what kind of world do we live in with textbooks and how often are we needing to replace textbooks? Um are these actual books or are they you know online like digital subscriptions to for things

077or >> Wow. So, it's a combination of all those things and I'll I'll ask for a little help on this. Uh, sometimes we still call it books and they're not physical books. So, sometimes that is the case. It is still curriculum support materials that may be digital in reference books and stuff like that, but they're not books. They're just online. And so, that is part of it. The other part is to answer your question, no, we are still in the works of getting that full uh cycle done and completed. We did that for our computers uh many years ago around the lease agreements and so forth and not just catches catch can. We came up with a nice system and we're now we're doing that same thing with our curriculum materials. Who's whose year is

078it and what cycle is it and that's under review at this point and so we're not quite there yet where I could say here it is Jen here's here's our cycle and this year it's high school social studies or whatever. We're not quite there yet but we are under review of that at this time. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. And some of it's the consumables, right? Correct. So sometimes with like science, when you have science books, you know, it might be a consumable that you're getting for your projects that you need to do. So that is a physical book that you're receiving because they're working on the project, they're doing whatever versus a reference book that might be something online. Um I think books have kind of gone away unfortunately. Um, I loved

079my old science book and that I could see all the people that signed it up before me, [laughter] but those unfortunately are going away and they are more reference books now. But there are in times with certain subjects where it might be chemistry or word language that you do have to have physical book in front of you. So that's where that book reference still comes in. That's all for right now. Yeah. No, thank you. >> If you have any like more general ones that you want me to like inquire to like Stephanie who you know at the middle high school that maybe she's the one purchasing the book, she can talk to more of the department lead to find out exactly what the books definitely please email me and I will dig further into that

080question. >> Okay. Thank you. Are you able to um like if if if I wanted to um come in to see what fell under that line? Yeah. >> Um we could we could see so like if it said books, we could actually see what was charged to it. >> 100%. I can dig back for >> as long as you want to go. We can look at that year book line year over year. But absolutely, >> Ben. So I I started going through the the updated spreadsheet that we got earlier today. I haven't finished. So I don't I don't have any very questions for you for tonight. I'm sure I'll be reaching out to you over the next week. >> Yeah. And again, just don't and as you always do, just don't wait, right? So then

081we can come prepared for the December 4th meeting. >> Yeah. No, I'll I'll be reaching out beforehand so I can get some clarification, but I want to finish going through the whole thing before I before I >> besides the major lines that we talked about, there were no real changes to the other lines. >> Robin, anything? No. >> No. Okay. >> Not right now. >> I'm just gonna Did someone >> I was just going to say I know I sent you the Excel sheet later this afternoon. Sorry, Ben. I told Ben last week that I would send it to him in Excel and then I got wrapped up in life. So >> that's okay. That [laughter] >> same thing happened to me tonight. So >> it just becomes a world. But um >> make sure

082you pick through it and >> you know my door is always open. So >> um I guess I'm getting a little concerned about the substitute line. >> Yes, I brought that up. Yeah, it's getting pretty large. >> Yeah. So, I felt like that was a spot that I do I went into it thinking it might get reduced. It might get cut. Um it's kind of been at 2015 since I've been here. Those have kind of been the numbers we just move forward through. But every year I look at that line and go, "Wow, we are way overexpensed. Did I want to take that full number and put it into one budget year that I knew was going to be maybe a tougher budget year because of where the town was and the everything happening in

083our community. Um I didn't want to tackle it all at once. So I did take some minor increases to it to get us >> a little more in line to what the actual numbers are. But is it what we're truly spending? No, it's still not like it would be nice to have more to make it actual. Um, >> but then that then that I would think there's going to be discussion of like what are we putting in the substitute line? Is it are we is it because it's uh people calling in sick or is it because we have people going to conference during the day when when and they're not teaching? Is it is I think >> you know what I mean? Why why do we have such I know I know substitute line has

084been a huge huge thing but it it's getting large >> very large so we got we got to kind of figure out like what what's going on >> I would love to sit here and say it's because long-term subs maternally leave but it's not because I I bill um substitutes to their substitute line until they hit that longterm sub where they're now classroom assigned once they become classroom assigned I move them actually to the teacher salary because now they're offsetting that cost >> and they're not a substitute. >> It's truly >> personal days, uh, sick days. Um, >> because I just read an article about this on social media about a lot of schools are dealing with the the substitute lines are getting like out of control. >> Well, we have so it is though

085as as we talked about personal sick and any other um time for like like that. That's about really honestly that's about what we h what teachers have available to them. However, uh that the we also have to remember that our sub pay has continued to grow grow because of challenges of finding subs. I think it was 85.90 when I first started here and we're up to 115. >> So even the daily rate which again 115 is not anywhere near out of the norm for uh districts around us and so forth that we're competing with. But I just want to bring it that into to to remind you that that is part of it is that that cost is is is going. It's not necessarily just more days are being used. It's also the cost of

086of that day is is increasing. And then the second compounding thing is we have overexpended that line for several years and we are trying to bring that into the where it should be. And as Christine explained, well, do you do that in one fell swoop or do you do that over time? And that's where you're seeing us choose to do that over time to try to bring that into line with the actuals. >> Yeah. >> Um I I just [clears throat] wanted to make sure that we're not like if there's a way that we can not have conferences done during the school day and and either before school or when before school starts after school and I mean I don't know you're teachers, right? So >> yeah, they only offer them >> that's when they

087offer them off. >> They don't offer them on the weekends and if they do no one's going. [laughter] >> That's right. >> We have to pay them to go. >> Yeah. And like how many how many can go at one time and how you know what I mean? Like how how because the article that I read it wasn't about teachers calling out sick all the time. >> I I I do not believe that that's our concern this district. By the way, I think our teachers are very understanding and responsible around Yes, this is important professional development for me. Can I take advantage of that? Yes, of course. We're going to support that. But do I think there's any abuse of that? No, I do not think so. I think there's checks and balances in there.

088>> I'll pick on Matt. He just was nodding at me. Matt, this is your fifth time going to a conference this month. No, you can't go. No, that doesn't happen. It's just >> Right. Well, it makes sense then when you say like because you're right. When you came here, it was like 80 $85. >> Um and now it's up to 115. It there's districts that are paying 150 >> 1251 130. So, um so that could make it a difference as to that that it's rising. But >> is there anything unique about the elementary? Because that seems to be >> that's always been the issue. It's always been a level that's >> I don't know what's unique about the elementary, but I will say one thing that I have seen to be more of a trade

089at the elementary is that teachers tend to make afternoon appointments. Um, for whatever reason, like a two o'clock appointment and as they should, they have dentist appointments. Those super hard to get all the time, >> but you can't have a substitute come in for two hours. So, they might only need to leave an hour or two hours early, but you got to pay a sub for full day or half day. >> Okay? So, if a teacher is only leaving an hour early and they need coverage and we're not able to find coverage throughout the school to cover their classroom, we're calling in a sub and we're paying them for a half day even if it was only an hour. And I think it's more prone for whatever reason to happen in the elementary school than

090it is at the middle high school. I think at the middle high school they right they're they're shorter day and because of their structure I think there's more overlap and able to cover each other's classrooms a little bit easier where the elementary school they're more classroom based and so it's harder to get that coverage. >> Um >> plus a lot of elementary teachers have younger children. >> Yeah. >> If they have to do things they have to do it >> And they get sick more often. Right. Exactly. [laughter] >> Right. That's >> would be my quick highle book. >> Y, you know, answers helps answer my question. >> Anything else, Robin? >> So, I I I do have a few things. Um, but I'll try and I know there are probably questions that can't be

091answered and I did hope to get in to see you, but life happens and happen. So, this isn't necessarily a criticism. It's more of just I'm just curious and some of these things are very small amounts of money but I mean we're here to look at all dollars. So >> So um in terms of replacing the Barry Sachs I do believe we just saw that the Barry Sachs was repaired. I think we saw that in the manifest if anybody else saw that. [laughter] >> We see it all. So I guess I was like oh Julie's got to see this >> 100%. >> Totally. [laughter] Here I am. It was my personal um we might have had something to do with the repairs being needed that I had [laughter] so I have also write a check

092for so >> so I guess I know [laughter] >> the line item says we're replacing the Barry Sachs but it sounds like Jen's son might be using a Barry Sax. So that's a lot of money. I just want to acknowledge that that's a lot of money and is it is it really necessary? It's $10,000. >> I'm just bringing that to the attention. Um >> I'm sorry Julie. Which line are you? I don't It's two of them, right? One went under middle school and one went under >> Well, it's they're taking it out of one, but they put it into two lines, two different separate. >> I don't actually have the line items in. It's fine. >> I have the Barry Saxs. Note, >> I know where to look. I'm >> So, there's another line that

093says, so we had eliminated essentially the integrated studies class. That was the steam integrated studies, but there's still a line item of $500, but we do not have an integrated studies teacher. I think we could probably zero that out. Same thing with steam. It says there's sorry don't have the line items. Replace equipment steam $500. We do not have a steam program. We probably can zero that out. Would I would guess maybe not. Um there's there's a there's a few lines that just they don't they're not really well defined. And I'm so for example, it says replace equipment high $3,000. What's that in what's the what are we anticipating we need to replace? >> What was the dollar amount please? >> $3,000. Got it. Thank you. >> Replace equipment high. So again, f for future

094it would be helpful like what are we replacing? Are we replacing I'm not saying we don't need to. I'm just saying it'd be helpful for us answers for that one. >> Um workbooks middle middle special ed 1,100 I mean I guess that's probably consumable. I'm just noting that. Um same thing replace equipment middle 550. Not a lot of money but what are we replacing? >> I mean that's a specific that's a specific designation. Um, there was an increase in the ESOL salary for 2627. I'm assuming that we are anticipating more students. I guess I'm just wondering if that's accurate. >> Um, it is accurate. We have a different person in that position this year. >> Okay. And so, but we if there's an increase, I don't have I don't have the exact increase, but there's

095an increase. There's a significant increase from this year to next year. So, I'm >> So, we're budgeting for as we always do. We budget for what? So last year we budgeted for the person who we thought might be in that position. They're no longer in that position. So that's where this year this person is getting paid their salary and now we adjust the budget for next year to be that accurate. >> Well, sometimes ESOL is student dependent. We might have two students, we might have 10 students. That depends on if >> Yeah, we have one full-time ESOL teacher still at this time based on our our current uh demands. And also in the Fremont agreement, we have agreed that we would keep the one full-time as well. Okay. Um and if we have larger demands

096and that cost would be shared and so forth. >> Gotcha. That makes sense. Okay. Um so assembly programs high and assembly programs middle. Assembly programs high was 3500 and middle was a thousand. I don't have a specific problem with the money, but there was no money used in 24 and 25. So, I'm just questioning why we need to put $4,500 in when we I'm just looking at the 2425 budget. We did not use any of it. >> Said in the 2400s, >> sorry, I'll look [laughter] back. I'm just trying. You said you said the assembly program is high and then assembly program is what? >> Middle. Middle. So what was >> one's 3500 and one's >> again I'm not questioning that. >> No but I I would like to know what what I would like

097those programs identifying people in but if we're not if we're not using it then >> we're not using it and but we're just keep putting money in there. So um maybe we're using it this year. Great. >> Um so I think this is related to athletics but there was an increase in max weight performance. I think I would like to have a little more information about what max weight performance is doing and and who is it serving. Is it serving a small population? Is it serving our football program? Is it serving all athletics? Is it serving >> I don't really know what it's um >> max weight performance performance >> and it's $5,500. >> If it is >> again I again I'm just bringing these good questions. >> No, but if it is if it

098is strictly say a football program then we need to see what >> Yeah. Well, then we then we need to tie that into football because we have these costs that are associated with football. >> Um, >> and it's two schools. >> So, this has come up a couple times about uniforms and how we replace the we we are we have a like a cycle to replace uniforms, which would be middle high school, but we we have zero dollars in middle school, but 5,000 in high school. And it would seem to there's quite a there's a fair amount of middle school teams and a fair amount of high school teams. like I don't want to be not replacing middle school. You know, there's at least five or six teams. So, I don't know. I just I'm

099just curious if there's a plan like we know this 5,000 is going toward to this sport and it's a high school sport. I just don't want to miss the teams. >> I'll get an answer for you. >> So, you don't think it could just be like because it's AMHs now? >> No, because they break things up. Middle school, high school. >> They do. Uh unfortunately, many times our middle school students sometimes get the hand-me-downs. True. And so often times we do replace and and I don't have the answer. I'm just just talking about experience where we replace the high school baseball. I don't know. And then the middle school baseball gets >> gets the old uniforms is what often happens. >> Okay, if that's that's helpful. Um >> unless they're dirty. [laughter] >> They're always

100dirty, but we just wash. >> Um this is another one that just I guess I'm looking for clarification. It says athletic new equipment middle school and high school athletic replace equipment, middle school and high school. I don't doubt we need it. It's $32,710. It's two separate lines. New equipment and replace equipment. I think it would be helpful for the taxpayers to know what are we replacing? >> Where is that money going? >> I'm sure we need it. I'm sure we need it. But >> um there's it says curriculum summer. Did you maybe you just asked this, but it's $10,500. I guess I'm wondering what who we're paying curriculum summer. >> That's the teachers uh get approval. They work uh they put in summer assignments um that go above and beyond whether that's a new course

101or or some other curriculum development and so they have to apply for it and then and then we uh take all the uh proposals and then that's when we divvy up the money for that summer work of our of our our curriculum work for the teachers. >> Yep. So it's it's going to teachers. just going to >> do professional development around either courses, their own course, new course is something that >> it's not normally regulated through the CBA. >> Y >> this next one I feel bad about, but um the bookmobile the bookmobile did not run last year. We have a fantastic library that we did just the town the taxpayers paid for an addition. Um it's $7,000 for the salary. It's 1,200 for supplies. That's 8,200 that I'm not sure is necessary and I

102think it's something to consider perhaps removing from um although I love the bookmobile I do think that our town's >> so I would like to definitely come back and by December 4th we'll come back but I would like to work with our our >> as you know that was a passion of a previous employee who got that started and we're all very thankful >> and it came from co it was it started during >> and it came and then and then uh and then it was inherited by the next uh media specialist who also loved it and continued to do that and she has since moved on >> right >> I would like to work with our current people and just ask them is there adaptation? Is there something smaller? Is there something else or

103nothing at all? And so, let me come back uh next time with some sort because I have to say every summer I have done one day with them and it is very special. I have to say it was very >> Is there something they could do at the school? I I like the whole like it's reading and you know, but does it have to cost $8,200? >> Yeah, it's gone up. >> Yeah. I but I >> I mean I I mean in my heart I like it but yeah in my head I don't. >> Um >> so there were multiple lines I added up but the media center costs and I'm not sure why but for the middle high school there there was a lot of middle media center cost that um that came to

104$22,400. I'm not saying that's not needed but it's just a lot it's a lot of money. But the media center costs for the elementary were75.50. So that's just a big difference in we're serving half of our students here at the elementary school. We're serving half of our students at the middle high school. That's just a lot of >> I don't know all the lines you added up, but we will say, >> but I will say some of them is is there's certain um reference materials that are that are just purchased online and so forth. And my initial guess would be that the high school middle school subscribes to many more of those than the elementary school. But let me look at what lines you have and then we can get a more definitive answer. >>

105It's like all in the I went from this this first one >> that you >> But is that is that >> is that a EMHs >> or is that She said middle school. >> The middle school. She said there's a 22,00 line. It's like it'll say media center supplies media center. One of the big ones that jumped out in there was the furniture line >> that wasn't anything spent but still budgeted when you look at comparing 24 25 actuals to the budget ones. Those are the ones that jump up for that dollar quite a bit. >> What's because we I think we held off furniture one year. >> Yeah. And if that's and if it's if it's that's if we need again I'm not saying we don't need it. It just would be helpful. >>

106You want some explanation? >> Um this one relates to us. So, school board other expenses $7,500. That was $3500 increase from actuals. >> I don't know. I was just curious >> legal. >> Uh, no. We have a separate line for legal. So, my guess is that is either the retreat or I don't know. We'd have to look at >> cost more money. >> What was what came out of that line >> things for me? >> Um, >> trying to figure out which one's >> Can you say that number again, Julie? >> Yeah, >> it was school. So, it said schoolboard expenses was $7,500, but the there was a it was a $3500 increase from the actual. >> So, the only 30 >> $3,500 expense. Um, and it unfortunately does fall under you, but it's really

107not the auditor. >> Okay. >> The auditors have increased their cost. I mean, they do every year. So, they have gone up by $3,500. So, it's a schoolboard expense, but it's really not I mean, it's >> a district expense that just falls on the schoolboard lines. is a D budget. >> I think some of the other might come together be like when we've had negotiations and >> like bringing in food and water for negotiations. It could be things like that. >> Sometimes like those might go a little bit um even this year we're going to have a little bit of an increase than we normally do because we have decided to have the school be board meetings here. We do want to make sure we pay our um >> our technology [snorts] crew for being

108here. So, that's something that, you know, might increase in our other other expenses line, but >> is that the line that we pay for public notices out of as well? >> Um, I haven't really decided exactly where I'm going to pay that out of [laughter] >> to be quite honest. I'm like, we don't have a salary line in schoolboard expenses other than schoolboard salaries. Um, but I think it's going to be schoolboard other expenses, which is the 1023105890, which we budget um $7,500 in there. >> Um, last year we spent $4,000 under it out of it. So, we still had $3,000 left in it. So, um, my guess is we still have 7500, but from history that I've seen, we haven't really overexpensed that line. So I think we can still budget comfortably without increasing

109that line and support the technology needs for our schoolboards. [snorts] So that's where I'm thinking it's going to come from >> but I don't feel the need to increase. >> Yeah. So the next one and I actually do have the because it's on it was on page 36 but uh it was so it was related to the telephone the cost of because we do provide stipens for people to have telephones but >> it doesn't seem to add up accurately. So I'm on line 10.2400 5531. >> So it says telephone elementary principles and subcoordinator. So that's three right? That's 1,800, but we're budgeting 1,700. So that's where I'm like, that doesn't really make a lot of sense. But then the next line right below that, telephone middle principles and subcoordinator and AP. So that's one, two,

110three, that's 1,800. And then I can and actually I can see that that's probably split principles. So we have but so we have essentially based on these numbers we have um we budgeted $3500 but we have a principal two APs a subcoordinator. Oh no middle high. I'm sorry. So it's middle high principal right? Principal two APS and a sub. That's four people. >> What about Stephanie? >> So well I'm just saying this is what it says. This is what it says. So it says So, I guess I think I'm only looking at the um the middle high. Then, >> it says principal two APS and a subcoordinates, four people at $600 per person. That should be $2,400. And we have >> subcoordinate doesn't get 600. The subcoordinator gets 500. >> Okay. But it it seems

111like we've overbudgeted. We we've budgeted 3500. So I guess I I if we're paying more for more cell phones, we need we should be identifying who that is. According to our budget lines, it looks like it's only four people. Four time four four time 600 would be or perhaps less. So I'm just asking you to look in look into >> okay and and if there are more people then let's identify that there are more people. >> Yeah, I think there are. >> So and if people are getting paid less >> or or reimbured. So that was it. um accreditation. So I know we went through NEASK last year. I know we had a large expense because we we had the whole committee come in and it was like 25,000 because we had to house them

112and feed them. >> Are they coming back and are we housing and feeding them again? Because >> so they do come back but I don't know to what extent um that that is just the first phase of the project, right? And there's actually still a second phase of this project to come up next year. So, I guess I would ask us to look into that because that's a lot of money and it's really like I know I know it's important and obviously being NEAS certified is very important. It's also a we because I remember asking about this last year and it was because we were having people come in from out of town, >> but if we're not having people, it may only be a $10,000 expense or whatever it is. Um, there was a

113line and and I'm sure Josh it says snow removal structure for salt bay and pushbox. >> I guess I'm wondering if if we're taking a different direction with a loader, >> are these things still needed? >> Uh, so the the the salt bay is okay. Um, because it was just too cumbersome and too much of a demand of of before storms going down and just >> preparing before. So we will be storing uh salt provided by the town in in our own salt bay area. So we are still going forward with that. >> The the question around how big of a area did we need to store a piece of equipment and stuff? We'll talk about a little bit later um this evening. >> So do we need a push box or is that something

114that's going to be >> So the push box would actually be included in the loader. So that can actually come out as well. >> Yeah. So >> um >> we didn't want a push box. Yeah. This was just really related to clarification. So, grounds maintenance, it was around 47,370, but there was a line that said savings 44.82 white paint >> 48.50 goalposts. I'm guessing those are cost savings from the from last year is the paint savings from the turf tank. >> Yeah, >> the paint to the >> I just wanted clarification on that and the goal post on one time expense because we Okay, that's taken care of. It's done. Y Um, I'm also wondering because because the turf tank is was 8370. I don't know if that should be because that's an incre like

115that's something new. >> I don't know if that needs would go on this sheet as like you said increased annuity. >> So that increase is just from >> right >> from the initial giving of the budget it >> and and from the changes from the time we gave it to them to the time we gave it to you. Here's the changes. >> Couple more things in order. Great. So yeah, >> a maintenance of building um 104,000. So and I don't know if we I don't know if I missed this in the presentations, but it says OD OD GM30,000 EMHs calf floor 45,000 EMHs main office floor. So are we redoing all of those floors? >> So the answer is yes. Um we may have some change in that in that we have thought about doing

116um uh EES cafeteria gymatorium before the yodday one but we are budgeting for those floors to be redone >> we've refinished >> refinish we just did the middle school gym >> correct >> okay >> and and so there is different levels of refinishing too by the way so like like the ode gym I don't want to that is just sanding and refinishing and more poly on it to make it make it beautiful whereas the uh the cafeteria. We have tiles that are breaking and and need to be removed and that is a different process obviously and a different expense. >> I didn't even eat. Yes. >> What about we replace the cap gimmatorium over here? We obviously don't want to put down that same flooring. So what are the options that are going to up

117>> stand up to both the needs of the cafeteria to be durable to food and everything else but also provide some support to our athletes that are in there doing gym. So we've looked at a few different options of maybe like a foam type flooring. Um so we're still reviewing those options but from what we have looked at this >> they've been part of our plan for a while. So yeah, we're going to look at replacing that floor in there being replaced. Perfect. That that's a dangerous floor in there. I just didn't remember and I definitely might have missed it, but I I didn't remember that in part of our conversation. So I just wanted to get clarification on that. Um repair of grounds was 10,000. It says seal coating ees. Didn't we just pave

118it? We did, but you know, you got to keep up with it because if you don't keep up with it, then you're going to be repaving it again. Seven years. Yeah. So, >> you know, just like everything else with a capital improvement plan, you look for ways how do you keep up with the maintenance of the investments that we've done. So, by seal coating those, we can prevent some additional cracking and things happening. It >> extends the which actually ends up saving us money in the long run if it's maintained >> and we can realign it with the turf tank. >> Correct. But you can see all the parking lots around town that they don't >> no >> they don't keep up and they have these big potholes and cracks and all that stuff ripping

119it all back up and replacing it all which we've seen is pretty expensive sooner. So >> So the last thing was um I actually have the line item 10.2900.5113.00 and it says healthy incentives teachers. Yeah, I saw that. >> We budgeted in 2425 20,460. We spent >> zero. Yeah. >> And we are now budgeting 20,460. >> Why are we giving healthy incentive to teach? >> Well, I don't know what it is and I don't know why we're putting 20,000. >> The insurance company does that. >> Um, so the healthy incentive is their sick day buyback. Um why there's zero I don't really know that question but so what the healthy incentive is is basically if teachers don't use other sick days then they can buy them back at a cost >> only when only when

120they leave when they leave >> oh I get I get it I get it >> we don't have anybody retire >> there was no one I guess that opted for that that >> but here's the thing we know who has submitted their retirement requests I think we can calculate that a little bit better if they choose not to retire, but we can we should be able to look at our teachers, how many days they have and how many they potentially could buy back and that so I think we could probably tighten that up a little bit is my guess. >> Yeah, >> but that's that's helpful. Thank you. >> No, and that is all. >> Julie, you did amazing. That is awesome. >> Great job. >> Everyone did. Thank you. No, I like everyone. I

121I I'm not I I It sounds critical. I just I want to better understand it. I'm not saying we don't need it and I I actually am I like the budget. I like that we we we [clears throat] have found some money in other places. We're being very thoughtful about it. So, I'm not like saying, "Oh my god, this budget's too big by 300,000." But I'm really more looking like like I think the justification >> justification rationale >> rational get them for you. >> Well, it's hard to explain to people if you don't understand it yourself. >> Yeah. So, >> so, uh, we will get those answers and I will email them out as soon as we have them and and then we can obviously present them publicly on the December 4th as well. Um,

122looking at the timeline, the December 4th meeting, uh, we will have any further questions and of course get us whatever you have. If on the December 4th uh, you're okay with the budget, we then can forward it all. Um, we also have to do warrant articles. So that's the other part that would be on the December 4th meeting finalizing any warrant articles that we need to do. Um and then on Wednesday, December 10th is when we have to have those warrant articles to the budget committee uh for their first review of those warrant articles. And then Thursday, December 18th is the final r uh review. That is our uh meeting. That is our meeting where you take the final vote on the budget at that at that time. I know that's here. >> That's here.

123Yes. Okay. >> So, one other piece that the budget committee has asked for um and it just came in on Tuesday is the revenue side of it. So, I was waiting to get the adequacy 8 estimates from the state. So, this did come in on Tuesday, but I was trying to navigate these things. So, look for those revenues. I will be putting them out there soon so that way you can see. >> Why don't we give them to obviously to our board and the budget committee and then let's put that on our budget presentation for the fourth as well. the revenue side. >> Great. >> All right. Anything else on the budget? >> Just an overall comment. When you look at the detail of 600 lines of of data and more than three quarters of

124them were flat or down, right, compared to what it was prior is quite a miraculous task at hand to try to keep it within a reasonable dollar amount heading into the new year. So, it's >> and the ones that were increased were a lot of those contractual increases. Looking at it, not saying there's always room to keep trimming and and looking for more, but it was impressive to look at the overall numbers. I just have to say overall as a team uh I think from the start with its direction from you and then we bring it to our team and and yes we we kept them level where we could >> but the whole process has been gone very smoothly I think both with your feedback with the budget committee's feedback and then thankfully to

125Christine's expertise and and others who who who can navigate these things and and and go through it and and I have to say the level of our knowledge is is really really good. Like, and I don't mean just us. You guys look at what Julie just gave us. Like, she takes this very seriously as you all do. And that means we're doing what we need to do. And not only did we meet the budget committee's recommendation of the 288, we're we're well below that, right? And and we didn't try to keep things in there. Say, "Hey, here's your 288." Uh, and then I come here and Julie's making us take out even more. [laughter] >> I'm going to make some. >> We're already there. WE'RE ALREADY THERE. I KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT. I'm teasing. I'm

126teasing. Let's not be presenting the correct. >> Yeah. I mean, if we haven't used it, why are we putting it back [clears throat] in if we haven't used it, right? So, take it out. Let's look. >> And I did look at the whole I mean, I did look at the whole budget, but >> No, you did a great job. And you did it last year and I appreciated our conversations and our back and forth. So, >> yeah, >> I was waiting for it. [laughter] [clears throat and cough] >> Um, okay. Great. Awesome. So, next on our agenda is committee reports. >> Uh, no. I have one on the on the superintendent report. Can we go to that and then policy or where did you want to go? >> Um, well, >> are we do we

127need to check in with all of our committees because remember we had >> Oh, it does say committee reports before. Please go ahead. No, you were right. You are right. >> This is um doing policies. Yes. Okay. So, committee reports. So, um I don't have the list. I can't find it in here either. Um the list of committees SST is budget committees. >> Oh, policy. >> Uh so Julie and I can speak briefly to SST. We had our we had our meeting. Um uh they final are finalizing their budget and so forth. And obviously you've heard about the electrical addition at this point. >> As always, there's a student presentation that does an awesome job. They're always just phenomenal to listen to their individual stories. [clears throat] Um the big things are calendar. We will

128I will start bringing the calendar to you uh soon because exit gave us their draft calendar and that helps drive us and as you know we have to be uh within less than 10 differences between the all sending communities after certain dates. So, I don't know. Is there anything I'm missing now of our last >> I I have to bring up that it's funny because they do kind of ri on Eping. >> Oh, no. Terry does. >> Yes, Terry does. Terry from Raymond [laughter] about how about Eping's days and how many and how many PD days and I'm just sitting there and I'm like, thank you. >> Thank you so much. Um, >> center's getting up there. >> Well, yes, we agree. I know. I agree. I agree. I I [laughter] mean as a te

129as a teacher I just do not love >> I have to say that to her all the time. >> I don't want I don't want as a teacher I don't want 10 PD days. Um anyway no the meetings are great. They um >> yeah it we talked about the electrical and the students and so it's it's really >> I think it's great that they're offering more programs like that. I just I love I love that. >> Yeah. Just to put in a word though, uh exit's budget has to pass. Um and and then therefore obviously other budgets have to pass too and so there is some complication around uh if one of the sending communities doesn't pass, how do we come up with that? So we're just hopeful that all budgets pass. Yeah. Um and

130that we go forward with with the electrical program. I have to say Pam Carr, the principal of of of SST, has come up with a great plan on how to enroll students into a new program. they will be holding back some announcements uh for students a little bit later this this year because we have to wait till after the budgets passed to know if electrical has passed and give every student their first choice or their second choice. So there will be some minor adjustments to accommodate the the new electrical program but uh I think the plan looks really solid and our students will still get notifications maybe a week or two later than typical >> March 13th um which will be which will be after that vote. So >> yeah, that was great. Yeah, >>

131there was a wellness, wasn't there? >> Yes. So, um, there's probably not a budget update since we >> Well, I don't know. Matt might >> I think we covered budget really well. [laughter] >> Um, and then I know we're going to talk about policy wellness. >> I don't know. I didn't I didn't go to Ben. >> Oh, Ben. Oh, Ben. Yeah. So, for the for the wellness meeting, uh we met let's see it was a couple weeks ago now. >> Um trying to get everything spun up for the year. Uh we talked through a couple of challenges from last year like low attendance and interest in some of the programs. So, we we bed around uh the ideas u around like the cooking matters events um and some of those community driven things. And the

132suggestion went out of like maybe some of that came a little too late in the year where it wasn't more people were kind of focusing on the end of the year than than coming in for some of that >> and with everything going on. Um some suggestions were raised on maybe try and offer that you know near the end of November early December. So, if possible, I don't know that it's going to come together in time for uh Thanksgiving to try and help give anybody some s helpful suggestions or some guidance on how to how to put together a Thanksgiving meal or anything like that. But somewhere in between the holidays potentially uh was an idea to maybe help people out with uh some ideas on how to stretch their dollar at the store with

133with their food items. Um, and another thought was also to try and incorporate uh some things around that with when we're doing like the music in our schools and the UA showcase. So, we're going to have a lot of people here and in for that. So, that might be something else where just by the the nature of the event, there'll be more families here. So, maybe if something started a little bit earlier, you could have both. So, that went around. Uh there were some discussions about some some of the potential activities to use some of the funds that we get from health trust for um you the the yoga has seemed to be pretty popular. So there's continued discussions about that. [clears throat] >> Uh we we'll be having uh some more discussions I'm sure

134at the next meeting which is going to be in a couple of months. >> Um we also uh discussed u how to make better use of the the greenhouse and uh some of the the planters around the district. Moss had mentioned that unfortunately through uh some of the high winds that we had, there was some damage to the to the greenhouse. So, he is working on trying to get that fixed uh in whatever way possible uh to get that back up and running. And we also discussed potentially um getting someone from the community to maybe come in and help um with a a community-driven education event on doing some planting and things like that. So, we're going to try and reach out to the the Eping Garden Club and see if there's anybody there that

135might want to work with Moss on coming up with some kind of an educational program that might make uh >> additional use of the planters of the for the greenhouse. >> So, that that pretty much covers in a broad circle what we went over for the wellness committee meeting. Uh and like I said, we'll we'll meet again in a few more months. >> Yeah, >> I think they could reach out to um SST agricultural department. We have a lot of kids that go to SST agricultural, right? So that would be a good a good thing for to bring our students in to help with >> um >> and even exit students whoever's going. I mean it would be a great project for the agricultural department to do. Um so just another I mean we have

136the eping whatever you you have the UNH agricultural is I mean I I talked to Bill too. There's so many state pre-state programs out there >> that we could get involved in or that could come in and um and that could help things. And I also think if um winter time, February to March is a great time to have these little events if we're doing it because people are bored out of their mind in the winter time. I mean, they're stuck of being, you know, they're sick of being stuck indoors to come out and do like a healthy a healthy event or something like that. I think I think between um you know, end of January to early March, I think it's perfect time to do something like that. >> Yeah. I think the only

137challenge with that, which isn't something that can't be overcome, is with the vacation schedule the way it is. >> Yeah. >> You got >> it may be tough to to squeeze things in around everything else going on, but certainly not a bad idea for a time frame. >> Yeah. Well, you get February, you got marks, you know, it's only one week we're talking about out of two months. >> So, uh, that was it for wellness and and since I'm I'm going uh we haven't had a joint loss committee meeting yet. That's going to be in two more weeks. >> Fourth. >> Yeah. So, two more weeks we'll have that. uh the first meeting for years. >> All right. >> Am I your backup for wellness? >> For wellness. Yes. >> I can't remember. Yes. >>

138And also for the joint loss >> and for the joint loss. >> Yep. >> Yeah. You got it. >> Okay. >> Your backup. Um >> Matt, anything with emergency management? [snorts] >> Yes. Uh we met in middle October. It was a good meeting. Good first meeting to kick things off. A lot of things discussed. Try to give a quick summary >> of it. Um, first the radio audit the question that came up is if we received >> a bid yet for the repeaters. >> So >> we met with them this week. >> Good kind of a multi-level discussion that's been happening. So as you know we decided to use impact fees to get this testing done to determine where it is that we are not receiving proper signals. So the testing went out back and

139forth with a bunch of female sense. Um the discussion was that the elementary school was failing signal but the EMHs had good signal except for like one classroom. So then through that testing they discovered that there is some interference um with the >> intercom intercom >> intercom system at EMHs. >> Well, that actually wasn't what I was thinking, but that's okay. For the one that was failing over there, there was some interference in the intercom system that they needed to rule out. >> The geographical interference. >> So then there was a geographical for here at EEes, >> meaning the line of sight to Brentwood. Sorry. Go ahead. >> You can talk [laughter] too closely together. >> The line as I do to Brentwood to the >> It's a channel problem. [laughter] >> It's a channel.

140>> Now he made me lose my started. >> But there was interference and from Brattonwood from the receiving signal problem because of our geographical uh connection EMHS actually sets up a little bit higher and has a more direct signal strength where this one doesn't. >> So we talked about what does that mean? What do we have to do? So they did come back in on yesterday. >> Yesterday. So it was like a 10 o'clock call that we had with them and they were like we're going to have a guy come over. Can you get us in? So at 10:30 they showed up. Um they walked the hallways, they pushed out signals throughout and there was not any really interference. Um so for some reason it seems as if uh some of those things had disappeared

141throughout the two testing areas. So with that said, um the sum over the summer when we had it, there was um no one in the buildings. there's there was projects going on, there was other things going on that might have interfered with that. So, what they want to do is come back for one more testing phase. Um, but they want to do it while kids are in session and actually get into the classrooms. So, test the classrooms versus just the hallways like they did and have the SRO officer go with them so that way he can test his signal strength with an additional receiver um to see what's going on. And so they want to do one more round of testing, I guess, is the long. >> And how long is that going to take?

142>> It it doesn't take a whole lot of time. >> But we've been waiting a year. >> Yes. Uh they have had quite a few earphones from someone. [snorts] >> Yeah. >> That [laughter] uh saying how disappointed I am the time that the miscommunication of what the problems are. >> They're like, "Oh, EMHS is failing." But then I look at the test results and EMHs was all in the greens. I'm like, it looks like yes fail to me. I mean, and I'm not a genius, but I can read red and green. So, >> well, I had a discussion with me. >> There was a lot of miscommunication, a lot of questions, and so I think the phone call yesterday was very productive. I think we ironed out a lot of that what was happening, >>

143but we still don't have the true accurate data. So, what they're asking is for one more testing. Come in, school's in session, get into the classrooms. it's going to be a little bit of disruption. So, I want to make sure I align with the principles of what the best time that's going to be. >> Um, and then we will have them come back in, do that last piece of testing, pull in the data, and then from there, they recommended and Bill wrote it down. So, I'll then now pull on you um of the equipment, they were recommending that if it is a signal signal, >> if it ends up being it, so I hate to disclose it so much, but it is a repeater. They just did one at Brentwood sees elementary school. It's around

144uh anywhere between 50 and $70,000 depending on on different things. And so it's reasonable if that is what it is. However, unfortunately, no one was was was confident with their test results. So that's why they're coming back for another time to confirm whether that's what's needed. >> So are are they going to be comparing and contrasting all three of their test sessions? is the first thing that popped in my mind is during the summer there's foliage and there's not anymore. So, >> right. >> Well, plus we're going to do real time testing which I don't logically why didn't this happen in the beginning, right? You put the SRO in the classroom, you run the signal, you see if they hear it outside. >> That's it. It's plain and simple. >> But I think we were

145thinking I mean I don't know. It was kind of like let's get this off the ground because they've been talking about this. >> Well, that's why we still don't have an answer. And it's like this is unacceptable. I think we need to get it done. >> Took their time and was like, "All right, summer, that sounds great. We no one's going to be around. Come on in and do it." But now, logically thinking about it. You're correct. >> When an incident is going to probably happen is when students are in there, wifi is going, people >> That's when you're going to know when you can communicate. >> People have their phone. Well, kids don't have them anymore, but there's going to be more interference happening. So, I think that might help the situation, too. You're

146not going to have a lot of >> interference with students with their phones and all that either. So, let's >> We'll give you an update, Matt. >> So, that's the next line [laughter] to do. So, >> well, I'll tell you, I I I'm >> This is not going to happen again by the end of this year. >> No, we're No, Bill. It's not going to happen. We're probably looking at January or more. It's not going to happen by persistent. I think we'll get >> I know you're persistent, honey. But it's going to be them that decides to move it. >> I think they got the point. >> Yeah. Well, >> okay. >> I think they might see it in December. And if it does come down to 70,000 or 75,000, it's about student safety that

147that it's not even discussion in my eyes and everything else. It's student safety and it shouldn't take this long, you know. >> The most important thing is making sure it's the right solution to fix the problem, >> right? >> And and no different from whether you're talking Wi-Fi in a building. I mean, it's not uncharacteristic or uncommon to have to do it multiple times and come back and keep rechecking it because I'm glad we brought it forward because this has been a multi multi multi-year issue that hasn't been addressed. So, we need to get it addressed. >> Yeah, >> that's my big thing. >> We're doing it. >> Completely agree. >> All right. 100%. >> We're on them. >> I don't want to play games anymore. >> Let's get a few more things. >> So,

148a few other updates around that. Um, talked a lot about some some additional repairs, things that needed to happen. You know, some doors, things of that nature. where we talked a little bit about doors that were easy to be propped open and how do we identify those doors. So looking at possible solutions of alarms, things of that nature to um to focus on. Um I did talk a little bit in terms of the statewide protocol. The fire department of course and police were represented there about uh protocol for active shooter funds available to go through some of those practices. Um a lot of that tied into the uh repeater need very important point. [laughter] >> Um, >> you know, and then a big thing that was talked about from the police side is making sure

149that we're marking the outside of the school appropriately for mutual aid response. >> So, making sure no matter which department comes here, >> it is understandable that you don't need to rely on somebody that was physically in the buildings to know or >> be be available necessarily, but to have everything mapped out. So to make sure we have that fully in place. >> Yeah, because we get a lot of new windows. >> So they are labeled. >> The new are the new ones labeled. >> The new ones are good. I was just thinking there was there was a lot >> and it's important if we're going to label them. That's wonderful. But we need to make sure the people have that, >> you know. Thank you. >> So a lot about the logic of the

150numbering systems and all that making sure it can be identifiable. Yeah, I I was just going to ask what what raised that concern because we we've had the numbering system and the identification system here for what four or five years now after one of the Homeland Security audits. So, >> what what what drove the new concern? >> Yeah, it was it was about the numbers being sequential, >> right? >> And being able to identify easily. I I I haven't looked at them, but they jump around a bit. So to know and I don't know what the numbers are but like 115 is here and then the next one should be like 117 odds evens and then of course matching up with the inside of the buildings um and and having them marked accordingly if for

151some reason fire had to do a room to room search or place >> and I don't think it was actually going against us. It was just a topic that's one thing they've noticed is that the build you know numbers aren't aligning right. So, >> and so then we do when we do come out with a map and we do come up with a plan to make sure that map is at the fire department, that map is here so that it's general. >> It was a general type of thing. It wasn't it wasn't it wasn't like, oh, you're doing it wrong. No. Okay. Yes. >> Oh, yeah. No, no, >> no. It wasn't against it wasn't against eing. It was just a general um discussion that happened. >> Okay. And then we spent some time around

152the school emergency evacuation go kits. >> Um so we're doing some we uh inventories happening on what is there, how many more would we need, uh updating them, looking at what should be in them, making sure we have an ample amount and that they are ready to go. >> Yep. >> Our school nurses are working on that right now. >> Yep. >> Um and then lastly, our next meeting is scheduled for January 8th. >> Awesome. >> Thank you so much. >> Um fields and facilities. We don't have that. We don't have that. I I won't cross it off. It's not paper, but um we don't have that. And um New Hampshire School Board Association, Robin, any updates? >> Um not really. >> Not since you're >> No, I mean we're just basically waiting. They're going

153to be doing with with all of the bills that were did not um get voted on at the end of last year. They're going to be brought back in January. Um I think Bill had had some um discussions with um Barrett Christina. >> Oh, yep. And >> and um I've had some discussions too. is, you know, we've got some pretty big impacted stuff that could possibly come up and we're going to we'll be updated that, but we won't know anything until they really get voted on in in um January is when they're going to come and that's the old stuff. >> So, then they'll start working on the new stuff. So, >> they're tracking a lot. >> They're tracking over 60 educational bills. So, >> lots of good information >> and of course, a lot

154of mandates with no money coming with it. >> Well, there's there's no surprise there. >> Yeah. Um Okay. Superintendent January. >> Thank you. Superintendent reports. >> Uh so the only thing I wanted to bring you up to date on is EFAS, education freedom accounts. There has been quite a a ongoing discussion around them. And uh when education freedom accounts uh first came out, there are some restrictions on how students could access public schools. And so just to be clear, EFA accounts are not the same as homeschooling. And homeschooling uh students received no money from the state. and those students had access to public schools, meaning that if a child wanted to come here and take a Spanish or participate in our football program, we allowed them to do so. And that was part of that

155uh arrangement. When education freedom accounts came out and and obviously they're still relatively new, um those access to those types of public schooling was not afforded to them. And so some did not like that. So, they were collecting their $4,500 and their education freedom account. And then the public schools are saying, "You're not our student. You do not have access to the public school in addition to getting your education freedom account." >> And the state uh gave us direction that that is how it works and that's fine. And that's how it's been going. Uh in the past two years, there's been a number of reported cases where a family will uh take their education freedom account money, apply to a school to take uh SST or CTE center or so forth, and then and then

156the the public school would say, "I'm sorry, that's not how this works. You either take the money or or you take public school, one or the other. You don't get both kind of response." And uh I'm not going to get political here. And uh so then these are documented cases. This did not happen in our district. They would call the EFA uh center, which we do know that there's some concerns in their operations that has been brought up both publicly and no oversight in how this is done. They would issue them a form letter saying that this parent has withdrawn from the EFA process and now are eligible for public schools settings. anything. And so, as you can imagine, they that did not set well with a lot of public schools because now now we

157have to now have additional students that we receive no funding for and provide them basically the same thing that we provide all our public school students and these parents are double dipping in in a lot of a lot of ways. Our state department came out with a technical advisory. I have included that in the uh board packet in the in the public as well. Uh they have changed their tune and now education freedom account uh students are eligible to participate in public school as well as collect their education freedom account money. >> Of course they are. >> So we have uh a choice to make and this is really going to come back to Robin and I to work on and that's policy. Mhm. >> If you read through this five-page technical advisory, we cannot

158deny a student the right to to participate in public school even after they've collected their education freedom account money. However, we do have the right to charge them >> and we can come up with a formula based on per C per per uh pupil cost or so forth, whether that's per class, whether that's per uh athletic program, but we do have to have this in policy. I do not have the right just to say I'm charging you this, you this, you this, or not charging you at all. So the direction I need and Robin needs as we develop this policy and the New Hampshire School Boards Association is not developing a policy. They have said no, we are not because we know that this is very divisive uh with some districts wanting this and some

159not. So the decision and the direction I need from you is and it doesn't have to be tonight. Do we wish to charge EFA students uh uh uh a tuition let's say if they are to participate in schooling and extracurriculars here or as a district do we want to treat them very similar to what uh homeschoolers were where we did not charge homeschoolers access to um our our facilities and and so forth. [gasps] I'll jump out on that. I say yes. I think we should I think there should be a formula for any of the the sports or extracurricular activities and then there should be a formula for any of the the class or SST activities broken out. >> We'll we'll figure out a a formula. But yes, and I think they should they're getting

160they're getting funding from the state that would have come here if their student was formally enrolled here and that would have been distributed out appropriately over those activities. And if they are choosing to not attend here but want access to that, then I think those public funds should come back to the school that they would have gone to originally. >> And the courts are allowing them to skim off the system. [clears throat] That's exactly what's being allowed. A loophole has been found. There's a pretty significant cost for a student to attend SST and I think I would be very much in support of recouping that cost for SST. The other activities um I think it's good for our community. These are Eping residents >> that are playing baseball that are joining a Spanish class, which

161let's be honest, it's not a huge expense for us, >> whereas a $2,000 tuition to SST or whatever the is is >> that'ss. for a community member, again, an Eping resident who's joining our baseball team or our soccer team or our theater production. I'm not I'm not sure I would support charging for that. We're not talking about hundred students, >> but they're getting paid >> to not come to our school. >> Well, I'm not sure they're getting paid. >> Well, they are. They're getting paid. >> They're choosing They're They're accessing a fund. getting money from the state to go to another school to go to another school, right? Or or or >> they're not going they're um for the educational funding. >> I don't want to say they're homeschooled. They're not homeschooled. EFA students which

162are are are slightly different. >> Yeah. Like a like a Sacred Heart or a Portsmith Christian Academy or a Burwick Academy. >> Um >> I don't know. I I'm not exactly sure, but I definitely I definitely there is there is an expense to um to send kids to SST. Um I think it's reasonable to to expect them to we would support that, but we're going to charge it for that. I I don't I'm not sure at the moment where I would land on the other things, but >> I just wanted to that's just me >> because the superintendents are starting I have uh Raymond's and Northwoods at this point and and superintendents are starting to collaborate around this >> and so I just wanted to be prepared because it is one that is I feel

163is kind of timesensitive and so uh I would like to have a first read in December >> whether that's first meeting, second meeting or whatever. Can you can is the New Hampshire School Board Association willing to help us um or can give us guidance on a formula if you choose to go. >> So they've they are staying out of it completely and that they said consult your own legal if you wish to consult >> because they don't want to get stuck in this. >> Well, I think they're their their own um membership is divided. There's some who feel one way and some feel the other. So they're not coming up with two policy uh examples. They're just staying out of it. >> So would the superintendent would you all be working together to like how

164do you come up with a form? Because a state can't come up with a form. >> No. So I wouldn't say all superintendents. I'd say there's a there's a certain group of SEC coast superintendents that we associate with that we share ideas and different things with I guess is the easiest way of let's work on this together. So how would we come up with >> not as an official like uh uh association whatever it's just >> so how would we come up with the formula >> so I would start basing it off of uh cost per pupil and then start going by okay if the average child has five classes a day what is that right that's just a starting point right just for conversation sake that's how I'd just say roughly what would that

165be but Julie has some good points does it really add that much per child no yes or no but at least it gives us a starting point to have some conversations and some things are more expensive than others. Tuition to to $4,400 is quite quite an expense that you is easy to calculate. Here it is. This is what we're charged. >> Y >> I think another question that maybe rides along with this or it's at least tangental is if they're they're not homeschooled, they're BFA. Yeah. >> So, >> how do we develop the the access for that? like we have we have requirements whether you're a homeschool student or an inerson student on what your academic responsibilities are in order to be able to be eligible to participate in any of that sort of stuff.

166So we can still set the prerequisites for courses and stuff. So whatever currently exists for our our students um we can still then have those same expectations for any incoming student like an EFA student. So there is typically language that will say at the determination through guidance recommendation and principal approval or something like that would be some would be some of that language. >> Okay. >> So they could come in basically and say um I'm going to do three classes in your school, >> right? >> I'm going to do I'm going to play basketball. I'm going to play soccer. Um track and field, whatever. And we're getting zero funding for that student. >> So again, this is where every local district has has the authority, right? There are districts who might say that. We might

167say the first two classes are are at no charge, but any additional class is a charge. Like this is where those conversations would have to. >> But what I'm what I'm asking you is that if if if we didn't have a formula, right? We can't refuse it. >> We cannot refuse it. That's the new thing. So they could say, "I want to do four classes here. I'm going to play soccer. I'm going to play basketball." And we're going to get zero funding for that student. Well, we are able to charge the family if we have a policy that says, but if we decide not to charge them, >> we are going to eat the cost. >> We would get nothing if we choose not to charge the child. >> How many how many classes they

168want to take, how many sports they want to play, and we're going to eat the cost. And they're getting money ready for an EFA, and none of that is coming to us. If in the example you gave that's accurate. >> Yes. >> I think we have to define I think in the policy needs to define [clears throat] what constitutes a student here. So if you're taking four classes and you're at EMHS, >> does [clears throat] four classes that's a half a course load or that's that's almost a whole course that defines you as so maybe part of it is defining what constitutes taking a class and what constitutes a part-time student and a full-time student because that's that's part of the conversation because like I know a couple of students who who who the middle

169high school is a day and b day and they only come on A days and they don't come on B days, but they're still considered they're still considered students because they're perhaps enrolled at VLACS or whatever. So, I think defining >> providing some definition if a student comes >> for if it's a seven-hour school day and they're here for three and a half hours, does that define them? We should be they're enrolled. They're in our system in the role >> and we would be getting >> Right. Well, that would be if you're enrolled in if you're enrolled. we would be getting three and a half hours, you're enrolled, >> right? >> You're, you know, I mean, I think we're talking about, we're not talking about homeschool. So, if we're talking about these kids are going

170somewhere else, they're probably not going to be um they're probably not going to be coming here for four classes, you know? I'm just saying. I mean, you can see where it's leading. >> So, they can be homeschooled as well, by the way. >> Okay. Yeah. >> But but if they're getting the EFA account, then currently that that's where they're making a distinction between the two. Are you traditional homeschool here? Here's what that looks like. you do have access to to us. >> Whereas EFA accounts >> up until last couple of weeks did not have access to public school, but now they do have access to to public schools. >> What's the reimbursement from an EFA? Is it around five? >> It's around five,000 4500. It depends on what uh special ed not special ed identified

171or free. You can get up to $10,000. >> There's a formula that they have that that determines that >> per child And I like the idea of looking at it from a [snorts] credit standpoint of how much they're learning academically here in the building. I lean on the side if if if a student is let me backtrack. If >> if someone's getting EFA funds, forgive me going a little bit down a couple levels from my knowledge. If someone's getting EFA funds, >> how does that impact any funding going to a public school today from a state level? Obviously, it's a bucket of money. Does some of that get taken away before schools get allocation? >> It is. It's typically taken out of your adac. So, we can't count them as a cost per pupil. So,

172when we're getting out of CA numbers, if we have 897 kids that are Eping students, but four of them are EFA students, then we can't count them in our numbers. So, then that decreases the amount that we receive back from the state. Yeah. I mean, I look at it, my concern is how many of those folks would come in and yes, no additional cost if we have room in a classroom, right? In theory, but then you start looking at other services that may be needed or may not, right? That's a wild card. I look at it at the very least is what that EFA payment is to them should be directed towards the school that's educating them. >> That's how I would look at it. We can work on formulas to make it, you know,

173systematic and obviously across the board, but I don't see how someone could double dip grab those funds and remove funding from the school. It's a workaround. So, if we don't shut the workound, >> we have more people funding that way >> because once they find the loophole and they have now it's >> took me a little while to get there. I'm there are saying it's okay. >> I concerned that it's an endound too. >> It's an end. [clears throat] >> You have a lot. So they're going to a school that doesn't have to meet the same educational standards that we do, >> right? >> So perhaps they decide to take a course here because they don't they feel they're being underserved at the school they're going to for >> whatever they're they're getting in at

174>> or [clears throat] from what I've heard from friends that I have that have had children go to some of these other schools, they don't offer some of the same programs. Like they don't have a music program, they don't have a band program, they don't. So they're they're now supplementing right now for free what they're not getting somewhere else, >> right? >> With I don't I guess it's probably not fair to say an easier workload, but perhaps not as stringent of a workload as what they'd have if they were attending here. Uh I it's a concern to me that this is a a way to shore up that that end of education instead of allowing those investments to stay in public schools. [clears throat] >> Any other thoughts? >> Any any anybody else? >> I

175will we will attempt and we'll bring back some. >> Okay. And we'll look at other I mean >> and do take a chance to >> we'll talk with other districts other districts. >> There is a state technical advisory in there. >> Yeah. >> All right. We're moving into policy. >> Um the first one is JBAR. Um uh as requested there was two specific areas, one being restrooms and one being locker rooms. if we could provide language that still met uh the requirements of the current laws but also still supported uh students. And so I'm going to read out loud what I've come up with for restrooms and locker rooms. uh it is in red there. Whereas before those sections were completely stricken out um because they did not meet the current law where in previously

176students were able to identify uh what gender they consistently identify as and use those locker rooms or those or those restrooms. Whereas now the law is very clear about it's [clears throat] a gender assigned at birth. And so that's the just putting it back in perspective. So number four, restrooms. The district will work with the transgender student and their family to create a plan for restroom use that supports the students comfort and safety while also considering the privacy needs of other students. If the student or family requests additional privacy options, the district will offer reasonable alternatives such as a single occupancy or staff restroom without requiring their use over the students objection. And what did I mean by that last uh sentence there? Meaning that I I I I the district would never force a

177student to to do that. However, we would still be within the confines of the law and the current law says that the child would use the restroom of their of their a gender assigned at birth. So, I wouldn't force a child to use a single occupancy or one of these other restrooms. I but if if they didn't accept that as as the alternative, then I would have to follow the law, which the law is this is the bathroom that you're assigned to. >> Um, and then I'll just read number five, and then I'll open it up for any questions. Uh, number five, locker rooms. Given the additional privacy and safety considerations in locker rooms, the district will collaborate with the transgender student and their family to develop an appropriate and supportive plan. When the student

178or family requests added privacy, the district will pro provide reasonable accommodations such as private changing areas, separate stalls or or a staff facility or alternate scheduling balancing the needs of the student and the broader school community. So, uh I know this has been going back and forth and I've had many uh private conversations with everyone and obviously my role is to to represent the will of of of the board and which is the larger public as a whole. What you have presented here in my opinion meets the needs of the law while still recognizing that some additional supports may be necessary for students. And so there's my attempt and I'm just [snorts] gonna run away now. I [laughter] just have a a minor I guess question or critique about the restroom portion. Uh so you

179lead you lead with uh create a plan for restaurant use that supports the students comfort and safety, but then following up for the broader community while also considering the privacy needs of other students. And I'm just curious why It it appears that it's a focus on comfort and safety for a transgender student and just privacy of everyone else versus comfort and safety for everybody. I I'm going to attempt answering your question, Ben, and I think it comes from some of the conversations we've had right here when I'm trying to draft this and and that some some of the considerations were very mixed as we know and that if if I'm a female student in a bathroom and there's a genetically male student in that bathroom, there's there's some um concerns around that child. um not

180I'm not considering the transgender in this example right now just the children am I comfortable with this child in here with me right and then the focus has always been on the transgender child and making them comfortable so in my response I really tried to make it I care about all students and I want all students to be considered in this >> however when it comes down to it I I will obviously have to abide by the law and the policy where that where that distinction is. I don't know if I answered your question, Ben. >> Not exactly. >> Yeah. >> Damn it. >> It was Can I Can I >> Can I try I think you're saying why are we not considering the comfort level of the >> and the safety >> the comfort

181and safety of not just the transgender student? Why is it not referenced in here? The comfort level of both. >> Oh, we could easily That's that was the question. >> Am I That's a good change a couple of words. Perfect. Right. We wanted >> because that is the attempt but >> for of the comfort level of every comfort and safety of all students. >> Correct. Gotcha. >> That's what I >> Thank you, Ben. >> Yep. >> I guess that's my thing is I'm not happy with the word transgender in it. I wanted to say that the and I know the district would the district will work with families to help any student. when you if you're going to identify transgender students, you're making a special class of people that you're catering a policy to. And

182I think that is what um it ignores the rest of the group of students. So, I mean, I just think it it's like our job is to protect all students and then to come up with an appropriate plan for all students because you may have students that aren't comfortable going into a a whether it's a male's room or a woman's room. I'm not even I'm not even putting transgender in there. Um there may be issues with uh the you know um eating disorders uh people who are overweight, people you know just uncomfortable. Maybe there's situations going on that they feel like they can't go into a woman's room but they need to go into a private stall somewhere. So I know that we would it's our job to work with anybody that's having any issues

183and has any concerns whether they're transgender or not. when we when we we we shouldn't be identifying a group of people. Except that's the title of the policy. I get >> Well, I'm not in favor of it anyway. >> I know, but I get But we've had this is a policy that's been in existence for many years. I get many many years to address the policy. Yeah. >> Well, I'll say anyway, the title of the policy jab-r is transgender and gender non-conforming procedures. So, I I get why we're talking about transgender in this. There's a policy that >> there's probably another policy that referenced >> a policy that was recommended by the New Hampshire School Board Association to rescend a policy that was recommended by our attorney to resend two attorneys to rescend a policy

184that was recommended by our superintendent to resend. So, um it is not it's not a policy that I approved of years ago. >> I'm not sure our superintendent recommended that we resend it. I think he's bringing it to >> I think I I I think he did recommend the the um the opinion of the New Hampshire school board. >> I was following the recommendation recommendation of the New Hampshire >> School Board School Boards Association and then obviously then we had much further conversations since then. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, other comments about this? Are you looking for a vote tonight? >> I I would love a vote if we could get it that far. [laughter] >> Do we want to put this to rest? If if if uh uh I I I think with

185minor changes that Ben suggested then I think a vote would be possible uh around um I don't know what language suggestion where but I can easily take it back and and work on that or if we have that right now then yes let's be fair this board has worked really hard and very professionally at addressing this and we know we're going to be split. It's just the way it is. However that falls. And so whenever that vote is, it's it's it's [laughter] going to be split. So that's all I think the only the only other way to try and resolve this would be if we absorb this policy into the more general student policy. And I can't remember the the policy name off off the top of my head right now, but I know we

186we have another policy similar to this. I think that's the only that's the only other way to >> discrimination, >> right, to handle that is to massage this into that general policy somehow. I don't know that that would >> I don't know if there really be an effective way to do that and alter language a whole lot more than we already have here. And I don't I don't know that we get any we really gain anything by doing that exercise, at least not tonight or in the next couple weeks. That's just my opinion. >> Ben, as you're talking, can I just read the sentence that I think that and tell me if this meets your needs? >> Yeah. >> Um, on number four, restrooms. The district will work with the transgender student and their family

187to create a plan for restroom use that supports the students comfort and safety while also considering the privacy needs of all students or do you really want to say uh supports the take student out supports the comfort and safety uh uh and privacy needs of all students. >> I I think uh the comfort, safety and privacy needs of all students. >> Okay. as the as the end of that sentence word. >> Can I throw a suggestion for consideration? >> Yes, >> of course. >> The district will work with the transgender student and their family to create a plan for restroom use that supports the students safe that supports all students safety and privacy needs. >> Much better. I don't know that we need comfort because I mean I I talked about this last time like

188you know things that make you uncomfortable don't necessarily make you unsafe and don't necessarily compromise your privacy. We need to provide people with appropriate privacy and we definitely need to provide people with safety. I'm sorry if you're a little bit uncomfortable. That's sometimes just life. >> Can I just read this once back? Um I'm sorry. I think I interrupted you, Jack. >> No, no, no. I was done. No, no. >> The district will work with the transgender student and their family to create a plan for restroom use that supports all students safety and privacy needs. >> I I think that addresses it. Please speak up if you don't agree. >> I I can get on board with that. I like it. >> I won't be supporting it only because it has a word under it.

189Take it out. I support it. But that's not going to happen and that's totally fine. >> All right. Are before I start throwing the words out there, um are we are we feel like we want to vote on this tonight? Before I, you know, throw Is there >> Can I ask one thing in the names and pronouns section? And number three, what does that actually mean? that change in red that the provisions shall be construed consistent with the rights of staff, school staff. >> I thought you might ask that. >> I didn't know this. >> So, it has to do with there is some um it has not happened in New Hampshire, but it has happened in some southern states. And so, you as employees of the school have rights. I as the district don't

190have certain rights to take away from you. So, for example, Ben doesn't uh believe Billy should be called uh she and her pronouns. I as the employer can't make Ben use those pronouns. That has been shown in in uh higher court as well because it now goes against I cannot force my beliefs as a district to for him to compromise his as a as a person. And I'm doing a really crappy job of explaining it, but that's what it means is by saying, um, we can ask, "Hey, Ben, as an employee, uh, Billy prefers that you use she and her. Please use that. Bill, out of respect, I'm not going to do that." Thank you so much, Ben. I I appreciate you considering it, but I cannot force the employee e to do that. Employ

191job. They cannot be suspension. That can happen. >> I've seen a couple of those. But they're ugly cases. They really are. >> But the teachers have won everyone. >> The teachers have the Yeah. >> All righty then. [laughter] >> All right. I'm going to go for it. >> Go. Do I have a motion to approve JBAR with the changes that we had that uh in termin number four which revol revolved around restrooms. >> So moved >> moved by Ben seconded by I'll second that Julie. All in favor? >> I >> can you can I was that is that that's a three. >> Okay. All opposed. >> That passes 32. >> Any abstensions? I think that's I don't think we have any because that's why. Okay, we're gonna move on. Next two [laughter] uh more typical

192policy and just for three but uh EHB is our data uh records retention. Um there is quite a bit of changes here in that uh we just wanted to make sure that we it's been five years and are we making sure that all of our data and records retentions are meeting uh all the requirements of the law and so forth and as you can imagine those have changed. What you see highlighted here are all the additions uh to that uh what our current policy is and then I'm just going to take them both at the same time since it's first read. EHBR is the local uh records retention schedule and this this has been updated slightly, but really what what promoted uh prompted a lot of this is really just getting making sure that our

193practice is meeting all the needs and our folders and everything are in line. And so that's what you have before you this evening are just the the changes to both those data and records retentions. >> I love that. I love that they did a schedule. Yeah, >> it really helps a district out to understand how what you can keep and how long and stuff. I thought it was awesome. >> Did this come from the school boards association? >> It did. >> It does. >> So, I' I've been asking about this for a while and we haven't made any headway on it. Would you go back to the schoolboards association and ask them about a school board member email retention policy? >> I will, but I think my my um um I will, but I think

194I have an answer already. If it's just if it falls under the general correspondence, great. But if not, because we're not we're not technically employees. So, I'd really like to see that distinction in there on on what what qualifies as something that we need to retain and what the time frame is on because like >> I feel pretty comfortable >> in my in my judgment that spam and things like that are pretty pretty safe to get rid of. any communication I've gotten from a member of the public, some of the communications that or I shouldn't say some, the communications that have transpired between another board member or a superintendent or any of the members of staff I've hung on to because there is no clear delineation on what a time frame is for those. >>

195There isn't. But I will say we've had some conversations and and and it really depends on your own system. So if your system overwrites itself every uh like it it automatically takes takes uh old stuff out every 30 days, 60 days, 120 days or annually. That is usually what the answer is, right? We cannot produce records that we don't keep, right? And so then the question is are we under any obligation like some of these records we are under obligations to keep them for a minimum certain amount of time >> and you're right that is a gray area and it continues to be a gray area. But I will ask uh um the New Hampshire School Boards Association again. >> Okay. And I guess my my followup to that being being in the business where

196there are some strict schedules set depending on types of correspondents. I'm sure Matt could probably relate to this very well. If if they if they don't come back with something more stringent, then I really do feel that we should set something up for ourselves on what is a reasonable amount of time. While I while I appreciate wanting to have the information available should there be 91A requests and things like that, you do have to look at what the scope is that you're going to allow because if you continue to hang on to things for forever depending on anyone's tenure here, >> there could be things that come up that took place, you know, 10 years ago, right, >> that >> they would have the ability for discovery on if we don't have some kind type

197of record. I will get come back at the next meeting with Can I get a clarification? Are you talking about like communication or you're talking about like because stuff that's put in our drive they >> that's no that's different. No, I'm talking about they would be keeping all that. talking about emails like if we get something somebody sends so you're talking like basic email SD that's something if we're communicating amongst our you know member to member >> there's there's a there's a level of quality that's probably not the right term but there there's a level of quality that you hit for each type of email and there's usually some some kind of policy set for what meets the the the requirements for a certain period of retention >> like anytime we've gotten an email that's

198come in that that someone has made a 911A request requests come to the schoolboard email account. How long do we need to hang on to those records? Do we need to hang on to them? Because obviously it goes to this to the superintendent the SAU office. >> So that probably doesn't need to live in our email for a decade. >> I just don't know. And I haven't deleted anything since I started. So I've got about 10,000 items in my email >> and that's not spam. So I'd like but I will tell you the quorum. Yeah. >> The guidance has been keep them less because just like you said like if if we get a a 91A request and say I want the last 10 years if you have it you have to produce it. If

199we had a policy that said we only keep one year worth of stuff because by law that's it then that's all we'd have to produce. And I'm not saying we're trying to hide anything. It just gets to be a pain in the butt. And these requests are getting >> more and more ridiculous. I got one the other day for six years worth of stuff and it's like no. [clears throat] It's like I don't want we didn't have what they were looking for. But he's like no. >> And there's two bills out with those requests that are even going to be more challenging on the districts to have to provide. >> So I just want to get >> to me dump it after 30 days just that way you don't have to worry about it. >>

200Well, also they can I mean even if you delete it. >> True. But that's a difference with u a 91A versus like a subpoena are two different things. >> Different. Right. Right. And even even with the subpoena, again, if there's a if there's a standing policy, that usually factors in as well versus, >> yeah, they deleted it. Okay. Well, if your server hasn't been wiped because it's not in your policy to do it, we'll we'll hire a data specialist to go and find it. Yeah, >> they're going to look at they're going to look at motions and quorums and that that's really kind of what they're >> those are the easy ones. >> Those are kept and >> produced. So I I spent a few years in litigation support and it's amazing what gets attached

201to emails and gets buried even though so whatever that retention policy is it needs to be >> school's up. >> We have the kids are working really hard this evening. [laughter] >> What is that? >> It was an extended day. >> We're making up for all the PD days they have. >> A baby was born. But um >> we need to tie it in with Gmails and everything else that it's a systematic purge to a point where you know like for myself my my professional world at three day three years one day it disappears or not that's what you keep it okay I will get an answer >> that would be the part it has to be >> it might for me 30 days >> okay any anything else on >> policy EHB and EHB

202BR. >> All [snorts] right. Personnel. No personnel. Okay. Financial, business, and district services. >> Loader. Is that >> just the only thing we're bringing up is the loader. Josh is here, so he can jump in whenever I do not know what I'm talking about. He's welcome to jump to the table. [laughter] >> Yeah, please sit at the table. Yeah. >> Join us. Basically Josh has done a really great job and he's gone out and met with several dealers and looking at different pieces of equipment and we want to make sure that we get the best piece of equipment that suits our needs. The kind of the point to this whole thing is making sure if we purchase something that we can use it for other things other than just pushing snow. [clears throat] Um so

203there was talk about a compact loader. Uh there was a few other discussions around different things. We thought about renting a piece of equipment for this year to see if the compact loader would suit our needs. Um Josh had some fears of the loader tipping if it had too much weight. Other of his own internal fears of this uh loader, smaller compact loader. The bigger loader, if we were to purchase a full-size loader, would require our staff to have a CDL license in order to drive it to the town to pick up salt sand to bring it down to store it. Uh because the town has said we could store the piece of equipment there in our off time of not using it. So if we had to drive the fulls size loader down the

204street, we would have to have someone with a CDL license. >> They have to be CDL licensed for you for use on premises. No, just if we bring you >> I just want to make sure. Okay, that'll lead to a question I got later. >> Yeah, so in Josh's homework, he went out. He found another piece of equipment that seemed to be a really good option for us. It's kind of fits a couple different places for needs for us. So, it's a loaderback. Um, there might be a better word for that, but a backho loader. There we go. [laughter] A back loader. Now I know you thought >> there I I messed you guys up when I said loader backhoe. Um so [laughter] the backho loader uh for anyone that may not know what a

205backhoe does, it digs holes, right? [laughter] It can dig trenches. It can help if we need to dig something. If we're looking at um doing irrigation in the fields eventually, this piece of equipment, we wouldn't have to hire an outside company to come in and dig the irrigation. We could dig it ourselves. We've had times that we need to uh move heavy objects. This particular piece of equipment could actually lift this heavy object and move it for us where our trucks could only maybe hold 800 pounds of weight. This thing could hold like 2,800 lb of weight. So, it's able to, and do not quote me on those numbers, but that's about the gist I got of it. Um, this thing could actually pick rocks up, pick them up, and put them down where [laughter]

206we needed them. So, So when we look at finding a piece of equipment a bit >> that also suits needs in other areas. This one seems like it is the most versatile piece of equipment that we can use to push our snow. We would put the 12 in uh 12 in or 12T 12 in >> 12 in just this big of a push box on it. It's going to push a lot of snow. 12 foot push box on it. Um, it's going to have all of the other pieces. Um, and Josh can maybe just talk to what those pieces are, but it'll have other like forklift and other pieces that we could attach with it, other attachments >> as well as it can take holes. >> So, in the backside to this is that they

207do not rent this piece of equipment because of its specialty um, and its cost. It is not a rentable piece of equipment. So, we would have to be pretty committed to this purchase and through Josh's discussion that you'll hear from him um and my little spiel um >> how much >> know that we've done the leg work and we do feel this is going to be the best piece of equipment to suit and be more versatile for us. So, the cost that we've gotten is anywhere from about 158,000 to about 189,000 is the skew. Um, but on the good side of it, the one that is the cheaper cost of the 158,000 is the one that we prefer to purchase. Um, Josh has met with the company. He actually got the opportunity to sit on

208this piece of equipment and dig holes himself with it. Um, [snorts] the company's been great to work with. >> We use a company called Sourcewell, which is a government company that provides uh, municipalities discounts. Um, so I hooked the town up with this source well a couple years ago, but we use it all the time, too. So when you go out and shop, some companies will honor your source well discount. This company does honor that. And with that discount, I think it was like $28,0004,000 >> $44,000 that they were knocking off the price through our source connections >> [clears throat and cough] >> um that we have. So, I think I've done the spill of opening it up. And if you guys have questions, I would say throw them at Josh because he's probably gonna

209answer them way better. >> Does that machine allow you to put the sander on and off the truck? It's strong enough and capable. >> Mhm. >> I know that was one of the challenges. >> Yeah, the machine we have now does not. We're still waiting for the town's help. >> Yeah. >> To put that in our truck. >> Probably be completely separate and proficient on that. Your leisure versus waiting, >> right? >> Yeah. Mhm. >> The 158 is that with the discount >> the with the 44,000. >> Yeah, the 158 that includes um a hydraulic thumb for the excavator stack of the backhoe. Uh a manual coupler for the front of it so that all attachments are easy to easy to use. You don't have to get out of the machine to change equipment, which

210anyone who's used equipment will really appreciate that. >> And it's and it's safer, right? You don't have to get out in the middle of a snowstorm to change from the bucket to the snow the snow pusher. >> Um that also includes forks uh 12in snow pusher and that price also includes 12. >> You just [laughter] got >> Yeah, it's going to take a while. [laughter] >> 12 in snow. >> See, I got it from him. These are told me 12 in 12 in >> thumb forks 12T snow pusher and the manual coupler. >> Okay. >> Uh for the front of the bucket to switch to the >> the snow pusher. And that price also is with a 60-month 12,50 hour maintenance based on >> um that that's great. >> Based on Odor's manual specs. So

211oil changes at the hour at whatever hour that it it says filter changes, air filter changes. >> Well, they come >> on site here. So we don't have to truck it off. >> Josh, can you say they get 16 months? What did you say? 12,000 >> 16 month. Yeah. 1,250 hour. >> Oh, 1,200. >> And that's based on >> Yeah. >> Based on my estimate of our usage for it as like probably 250 hours per year, give or give [snorts] or take. So, they they base that on um and it also comes with a 60-month 2,000 hour uh premier um warranty as well. >> Oh, good. And you'll be able to transport the salt with that, right? >> You'll be able to put it in. >> So, [clears throat] we'll be able to go when

212because this piece of equipment um the gross vehicle weight is actually 20,000 pounds. Um we have to be under 26,000 lbs for non CDL use. So we could follow the trucks to the salt shed and the town without them there, >> fill our own salt, come back. >> Perfect. >> Switch to the push box, >> the 12T push box and and then push snow again. >> Um, so we we would not need the town. >> Yeah. So, if we were going to do that, >> wouldn't would you feel comfortable not having a salt bay here to have salt on premises and and have a couple of employees come in however much earlier in the day to load the the truck? >> I think that's I mean that's definitely doable. That's short-term. Right now, we're probably

213not going to be able to build Salt Bay before winter, >> right? Obviously, that would obviously, but >> I'm I'm just trying to think a little bit further down the line because the one of the followup questions I'm I'm going to have is or >> I' I'd like to see all of this get purchased or budgeted out under the the impact fees the salt bay rather as I appreciate that the town's offering to store it down there, but for the for the ease of use and the access, if we're going to have to build a salt bay, I' i'd much rather see expect out big enough to hold this piece of equipment. So, it was here on premises, >> right? >> And I know the town has already offered two truck salt up here for

214us. So, >> well, we could do that, too. We've got a we've got the dump truck and we could we could just go down and fill our own. >> That's what I was asking. >> It' be completely self-sufficient at that point. >> Well, that's what I thought. You'd go down there with the truck and Yeah. Just fill your own. Yeah. >> Yeah. I'm I'm just looking at ways to try and limit the amount of wear and tear on our equipment if they're willing to come up here with a 10-wheeler and fill off s, >> you know, a week ahead. >> Let's let them put the mileage on on their truck that's already designed for this. >> And I I think it's great that we could use that piece of equipment to load our vehicles here

215in the morning when we need to start using it so we don't have any waste with stuff freezing inside the the box or anything like that. Well, let let's try and keep as much stuff here on site then so we're not burning hours and miles >> going down the road because driving around here at 10 miles an hour plowing or doing excavation work or anything like that is way different than trying to drive along at high RPM going 25 35 from here all the way to the town >> salt and we'll we'll still need to do that for fuel >> unfortunately but that does cut down on the trips we'll be every morning to the salt shed we'll be able to it's got a 36 gallon tank. You know, that might that might get us

216two months, you know, um depending on how much snow we get. >> It could get us six months in the summer when you >> get a fuel >> fuel at the state shed. >> State shed >> just before the town. >> Okay. So, you can Okay. I just was wondering if you could do that. Okay. >> That's where we fill our trucks, too. >> Okay. >> No, it's good. >> Is the vehicle available right now? >> Yes. >> Yeah. The only thing >> the only thing is so >> not the 12 in. >> Yeah. Yeah. 12. >> Just so the only thing is that >> let's unpack or whatever. >> All three that I've all three that I've looked at. I've looked at um Cat, um John Deere, and Case. Um all three are about

217a month to a month and a half out with the 12T pusher. So they said basically whenever you give us the go, we're like two days away. You can have your can have the loader with the thumb and the coupler and the forks. >> Perfect. and we can drop that off. But it's still a month and a half out. >> We're not getting any snow to mid January. >> Well, I I hope you're right. >> Going to the >> But we could still push snow with the with the with the bucket on the front. It just won't be as efficient. >> Would that not that I love the idea, but is there any possibility of being able to rent rent a box from some because like I've got the tractor already sitting down at Brickyard.

218So, some some contractors must have some if they're not already committed. >> Yeah. And we could rent one even from a local place at $3,500 a month, I believe, is the price point. So, if if that becomes the case, like we you know, if we're like, crap, Friday's a storm's coming. Yeah. >> And it's Tuesday, you know, we could rent one, but they're not going to charge us a per storm. It's going to be we're going to get it for the month, but that might get us until >> we get this piece of equipment. So, yeah. I think I can put that in place, but with the bucket and our our trucks, we'll make do until that one month passes. We [snorts] get the >> Yeah, we have all the funds in the um >>

219so we're not Yes. Uh we don't need a further approval. Uh you we you've already approved us to spend uh the impact fees as has the town. We just came with because there was still further conversation. So really, we're looking for consensus. If you're giving us the thumbs up, we give Josh the thumbs up and we move forward with it. And uh uh if you had issues with it, then we come back to the board later again. So I I just like to throw out obviously the the one change from that is like the equipment we had already talked about. I don't know that as a board we've made a decision about the salt shed and and that construction about take doing that out of impact fees rather than having it in the budget. >>

220Well, it wasn't [snorts] it was in the budget. It's in the budget. the salt box. >> There is money this year in the budget for the initial salt salt box. >> The additional money that was put in for next year was to build it larger in case um we needed to store it. >> We basically split it over two years. >> Year one this year kind of being the foundation for it and next year being the >> roof the overhead structure. But if now we're talking about being able to use impact fees, um like right now, we wouldn't be able to store this loader inside uh especially during the summer uh spring, summer, and fall months. Um and if we had salt, we definitely wouldn't be able to put it inside anyway. Um but we

221also have the new truck that we have that also doesn't fit into our into any garages either. Um, so it's, you know, we're kind of because the town's kind of putting us in this situation, we're kind of the equipment that we have and that we need to move the snow now is [snorts] bigger equipment. We don't have it's just a regular 8ft garage door and we can't get you know our our pot trucks in there or unless we take we we can fit it in there and shut the garage door and we have like this much room if we take the spinner off the sander and we take the plow off. >> Sorry. >> What are you looking at for building material? You're looking at a wood structure or you looking at a metal structure?

222>> It would be concrete foundation with wood. >> Yeah. >> A wood roof. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Well, that's so >> Well, yeah, but I mean it's going to be structured. >> I think regardless of whatever, I understand that there's already some money in there, but again, because we're taking this on because the the town doesn't have the equipment and at times maybe not the personnel to be able to to get up here for the timeliness that we need, we I think we rather than having that additional money in the budget because I know we're looking at ways to try and bring the budget down even further. this this is an impact because of things that have changed in town. I think we should use we should leverage the impact fees that are going to

223expire. >> Get get a shed, you know, the salt bay and a and an attached shed that has the room for the equipment and all the pieces for it and then the equipment that we have >> and like electric for the glow plugs, you know, whatever we need so that we can maintain the stuff and not have to worry about transporting back and forth because the only other thing that would upset me is spending this much money and stuff sit outside whether it's on our property or or the town. >> Oh yeah, we don't want it. We don't >> DPW lot and watching it start to rust away. >> And the most important thing is we don't want to lose this money >> for impact piece when we want to be able to use it.

224>> We have a year or two, a couple of years anyways. Okay. >> Um, so the decision then I I would say is if we're in agreement is that yes, uh, if go ahead with the the purchase of of the piece of equipment. >> As far as the the shed, we're not planning to get one done now between now and and this so that we can uh we can get some uh preliminary numbers. we can get some preliminary understanding and come back to the board before you actually I like Ben's idea, but I'm not asking you to say yes to it without having some of that more information and we have time for that piece of of that. >> I think it's a just a bad type time of year to try and get something

225like that thrown together at this point. I think I think spring, summer, and going into next snow season will be >> completely understand that. So they have the numbers. So >> but there's a lot more like you can't just put a salt bay anywhere because of its its runoff because of the you know salt's not really salt. So >> yeah and we've got the wetlands. So yeah. No, I I imagine that there's got to be more to it than just looks good there, >> right? >> Yeah. >> All right. So we don't need to approve [clears throat] anything. We already did that anyway. >> Thanks Josh. Thanks for the homework. >> Thank you. >> Cannot wait to see the new equipment. >> Me either. My guys can either they're already making lists of things we

226could >> things we could do. Yeah. Picking [laughter] things out and putting them down. Yeah. >> First thing is the grass null. >> Yeah. The Yeah. The crosswalk to nowhere. >> The crosswalk to nowhere. >> Yeah. >> All right. The crosswalk just goes to the glass. No. >> Yep. >> It doesn't really go to stand this whole time >> driving. It just goes [laughter] curious about >> it's a crossroad for the grasshoppers and where will we get a land with the loader >> it's just good to have the information the >> due diligence and the hard work you guys put in >> here for thank you guys >> thank you >> all right we are going to uh the approval of minutes public meeting minutes October 2nd the reason we are going back in time

227is because >> wow yes >> they weren't aail They weren't available and so here we are. >> So, >> yep, we did. Yeah. >> Are there any comments or questions about the October [snorts] 2nd, 2025 minutes? >> If not, do I have a motion to approve October? So, moved by Robin, seconded by Ben. All in favor? >> I'll oppose. That passes 5-0. Public meeting minutes from November 6th, 2025. I actually I wonder it seems like we're maybe mixing up the 16th and the third the sixth and the 13th maybe a little bit. Are we >> because I don't The sixth was was contracts was that was their contracts, right? >> I'm looking at my calendar right now. >> No. Yeah. >> And then the 13th is budgetary things. That's >> Oh, so I think it

228could be the label. So the the it was a non-public on the 6th >> there. Right. There were non-publiclix on both, but the but the top but Robin was present on the sixth. >> Right. But I wasn't on the 13th. >> But not on the 13th. >> Right. >> Oh. >> And I believe the topic on the sixth was their contracts and then the 13th topic was >> was >> The budget. And how were we going to address that? >> Right. Okay. Yes, we did have the nonpublic >> would have been an >> the nonpublic on the sixth was that one contract. >> It was contracts and compensation. Yes. Yes. But was it also this? >> Was it also that that night or was that more that was more >> this was from the third

229the the one that's dated November 6th was the 13th. I think we've combined them kind of >> I think because we don't typically have them week to week >> and because and because to be fair bill wasn't they weren't in at the November 6 non-public. >> Right. That's right. >> So our our clear on the changes we have to make because I'm not but >> I got it. >> You got it. Okay. We'll take the but So there was nonpublic meeting minutes on the sixth that are not on here. Wait. >> All right. Because there's public meetings on the six. >> We had a public meeting. We had a on the six. We had a non-public first and then we had a public after. We came back. We also went back after. >> So missing

230the non-public on the sixth. >> But do you approve of the public ones on the sixth? >> I didn't have a problem with those. >> I think the public ones were right. >> Yeah, the public ones were okay. Yeah. Yeah. >> You need to vote to approve those ones. That was um Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, I make a motion to approve November 6th [clears throat] public meetings >> minutes. >> I'll second. >> Moved by Robin, seconded by Jen. This is the public meeting minutes from November 6th, 2025. >> All in favor? >> I. All oppose. That passes. >> So, you're missing the non-public on the 6 on the 6th >> and the one on the nonpublic meeting for the 13th are incorrect. >> Correct. >> Yes. That should be the stock one. I got

231it. Okay. >> So, we're not going to do anything on the 13th. We take on the 13th. >> I can't vote it anyway, but I just wanted to make sure we were doing Yeah. >> N got it. Okay. Going to [snorts] the manifest. >> Julie's favorite pot. >> Yes. It's not bad tonight. Um I think they're all except for the last three. Well, I'll do the fir individually and then the last three together. That makes sense. Accounts [snorts] payable deposited on November 4th, 2025. [clears throat] the amount of $3,13. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? I. >> All oppose. That passes 5. Accounts [snorts] payable deposit on November 7th, 2025 in the amount of $800. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by

232Jen. All in favor? >> All opposed? That passes 5-0. Accounts payable deposited on November 14th, 2025 in the amount of $262,34321. >> So moved. Second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? All opposed? That passes 5. I'm going to read these three together. Payroll deposited on November 7th, 2025 in the amount of $342,1665. Payroll deposited on November 7th, 2025 in the amount of $98,7112. And payroll deposit on November 7th, 2025 in the amount of $1,987.82. >> So moved. >> Second. Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? I. All oppose. That passes. 5 Z. >> Board comments. I'm gonna start with you, Jen. >> Okay. >> Um, I want to I want to say congratulations to boys soccer for a very >> successful season. And I went to the game, too,

233and I know you did as well, and thought we had it, but it was it was still a very, very good season. So, um, and then secondly, I I was a bit missing from this budget season, um, due to some other things, but I'm just so impressed by all of your work and questions and being so thorough. So, well done, team. >> Ben, >> uh, not much for comments tonight. I just like to, uh, say I appreciate that we had a couple members from the budget committee sitting in tonight to listen to the discussion. That was a a welcome change from, uh, years past. So I hope they enjoyed their time here and maybe they'll join us next session as well. Um and uh that's it. >> I echo it was great to see uh

234the budget team here representing and participating [snorts] providing comments uh previously to tonight said the process has been enlightening and eye opening from my seat uh being involved in it from start to finish. So uh it's great to see them here. >> Yeah. Um my my my thing with um my big question was the repeaters. What's going on? That's what I want, you know. Um and I got a playbyplay for both the soccer team and the football team, but unfortunately it was uh it was a cold night. They were up there too, that soccer team. It was cold. >> Um but great seasons by both. Nothing nothing to be ashamed of. They did a great job. >> Um and I think that's it. I mean, just I wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving before because we're

235not going to see until after that. >> That is next week. Yes. Next week, right? Am I right? >> Yeah, you're right. Next week, right? Just a realization. >> I know. Yeah. >> But I think I don't I don't think I had anything more to say. I thought I've always said enough. So, [laughter] >> Christine, >> just the same. I really enjoyed the fact that there was two members of the budget committee here. Um, as we've seen in the past, they've never come to our board meetings to educate themselves and even want to stay to hear the loader discussion. So, I think this new um connection that we have has been really nice. So, I enjoy that. And I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. >> No, no comment. I'm all good. Everything's been said. >>

236I have nothing. [laughter] >> I know. I know. I have no I have spoken enough tonight. >> Well, you did a good job with the labeling, but you >> Thank you. No, we all did a great job. All right. Our next meeting is December 4th, 2025 here at Eping Elementary School Media Center. I think it's wonderful that we are now streaming live. Thank you for the efforts to stream >> live and um >> it looks fantastic. I should have shared that. I was watching while I was trying to finish work tonight and >> I thought you were going to say while you were driving. [laughter] >> No. So, I missed I missed about six minutes driving here, but it it looked and it sounded phenomenal on the live feed. Good. >> Awesome. Oh, good. Can

237I ask a question before we close out? December 4th meeting. Um >> um when are we going to be doing warrant articles? I know I'm going I'm doing the budget committee for you on the 10th. >> On the 10th. Yes. >> On the 10th. >> Okay. So, on the 4th, I just want to be able to if we can put it on the agenda so I don't forget about it in my brain. >> Um I want to under um I don't know what we put it under under Trump. want to be able to get feedback from the board um on how as school [snorts] board representatives for the budget committee how they want us to vote on certain things because I have a very strong um a strong belief that I am not an elected

238budget committee member um I am there as a schoolboard representative so I have a tendency to refrain from budget uh voting on budget town budget is warrant articles because that's not what I'm there for. Um, but I and I will vote on school issues. So, I just want to get a feedback from the board on how you all feel like that because um I don't make motions as a as a budget committee member because it's just that's not what my role is and I don't want to um I don't want to do that. So, >> so and and other board members might feel different who have sit on the budget committee. They want to do it their way, but I just I I feel strong about that. >> So, you want our input on December

2394th about how we would like you >> Yeah. whether you're okay with the fact that I refrain from voting on town issues and it's really we're there to represent school issues and vote on school stuff whatever pertains to the school. >> That sounds good. We can do that. >> Just think about it and just, you know, just like kind of what we do with the delegate assembly, right? >> Yeah. >> How do you >> um my my right to vote is the school board members when I'm at the ballot. >> All right. Well, I think that's going to close out our meeting. >> Motion to adjourn. Motion to motion to I was trying to hold it till the end. >> Um yeah, motion made by somebody. >> Bill, [laughter] >> I'm just reminding you to

240make a motion. >> We'll just go. Ben made a motion to second. Ben made a motion to adjurnn and Jen seconded that. And we do not have nonpublic. Good dates.