001Okay. Um, so we're going to call this meeting to order at 607. Um, and we'll start with the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. All right. So, I am trying to be Rebecca tonight, but I'm not Rebecca and I'm not as good at this as Rebecca. So, just bear with me. And um I'm going to try to call it by 8:30 because I don't like to drive in the snow. So, um keeping Okay. Um public input. So, I'm supposed to answer the last one first. Okay. So, Rebecca left this piece of paper. Um, the question was, are the final financials available for the 2425 school year? The answer is yes. We can post these on
002the SA69 website under the school board agendas tab under the financials link. The next question, will the walking path that was recently improved as part of the Eagle Scout project be properly maintained and kept clear during the winter months since it is now a town evacuation branch? Uh, this is a great question and should be discussed by the board. Uh, third question, did the three ward builds get funded at the end of fiscal year 2425? The answer is no. There was not any unreserved fund balance to funding or argument. Four, how is the school care insurance shortfall going to be paid? Uh he answered the school board approved pay assessment at their November 12, 2025 board meeting. The assessment was paid with revenue from fiscal year 2025. Um, question five is the video available to
003the view and at what meeting was it voted on to send out parents square? The answer is the video information was shared after November 12, 2025 public and post responses. There was no vote regarding releasing the video in square. Uh, six, there was a request for electric bills for one year to be used for an application for an energy savings program. And um, Kathy said she emailed the person who asked for it already. Okay. Um, okay. Yeah. Um, and there was a question about whether the budget information will be posted 7 days in advance of the budget adoption. And uh the answer here is yes. The requirement will be posted in three places. House Bill 1265 students first act is required to be posted 7 days excluding Sunday holidays in advance of the budget being
004adopted by the school district. Uh we confirmed with legal council that this was for the deliberative session for annual meeting not for tonight. Okay. Um, now there's 15 minutes for any other public input if anybody else has some. >> Okay. >> Um, should I give her this mic? We can come if you want. >> Do you need emotional support? >> I do. >> So, um, we're here today. I'm the behalf, the PTO. Um, we've been working on reviving it over the past few months and we have been working really hard trying to fund raise. so we can help support the kids in the school. Um, one of the fundraisers that we just finished up for the month of November was our top fundraiser. We raised about $78 um for that. It was pretty easy and
005simple. So, we look at it as a success. But our long-term uh fundraiser that we're doing for the whole school year is the schoolstore.com. And we have only had this up and going for a month now. And I'm really excited to let everybody know that as of this morning, we have raised $58,248. Um, and then also another component of this fundraiser is that people can choose to give gift cards to either students. Um, and the gift cards can buy books and other learning material. Um, but the other really cool thing is is they can buy gift cards for the teachers. And these gift cards can go specifically towards um, one website. It's um the caring for classrooms website and it basically allows the teachers to buy any kind of materials that they would need for
006their class. And I'm really really happy to say um that so far we have raised $3,210 and gift cards for the teachers. Um, so I printed out the gift cards for the teachers and thank you so much. Each one has the a card, their gift card, and um it's it's great because it's they're able to get things from the classroom and support the kids. Great. >> So, shout out to the parents as well. I shouldn't say parents, caregivers, families because it's a pretty um like Christine said, it's pretty easy. I think it's going to run through the end of the school year. So, it's a passive fundraiser. Uh essentially, the kids are sent home with little lanyards. Parents probably saw those and um the kids are able to earn their own little book buddies and
007points. Uh but really, I mean, everyone was just like, "Cool. I got a little snap bracelet." it they can um people can go on whoever you send an email invite to or if they click an external link they can go on they can shop through I think there's like 300 different vendors uh so really shout out to the the family and the community everybody who's been purchasing through that too that's really contributed to the um the overall fundraiser and also the gift cards >> thank you very much and hopefully we'll have That's all. >> Thank you, Christine N, and um and just for the record, I bought six pairs of socks. >> Oh, I have >> Roxan or Do you guys have anything? >> Okay. Um, okay. Uh, agenda review is your I just want
008that we put the academic affairs toward the end of the chair force report. So if we run out to do that this meeting >> does anyone want to say anything? All right. Should we do a vote? All in favor? >> Um, any um so we have the acceptance of minutes. Uh there's the November 12th finance committee meeting and the only person there was Heather. Oh no, Heather and Nicole. I'm sorry. Um Heather and Nicole, do you want to make a motion to approve the November 12 minutes. >> I'll second the motion. >> Uh there in favor? >> Yes. >> Nicole? >> Yes. >> Okay. and the November 12th academic affairs committee meeting minutes and that was me and Samantha. So Samantha, are you good with you want to make a motion? >> I will make
009a motion to approve and I'll second. Samantha, are you in favor? >> I also Okay. And then for the actual board minutes for November 12th, >> I'll make a motion to approve the November 125 school board. >> I'll second the motion. >> Okay. Um, all in favor? I >> I >> uh superintendent report. >> Thank you very much. First um for superintendent report is Middleton Elementary School update. Principal Lson. >> Thank you. I again have a lot to say so I apologize everybody. Um a lot has happened in the last month at MEES. Um I'd like to share that we had a reunification meeting with the Durham schools area police chief uh chiefs and fire chiefs and New Hampshire Homeland Security office to begin discussions about school safety and reunification after a significant event. Um,
010I've been working with the police as well to to collaborate on our lockdown drills. Um, and we anticipate one soon. In addition, I'd like to share that MES has applied for the state safety grant. Um, and I've applied for the following things. Interior and exterior camera upgrades, outside speakers so that we can hear outside of the building. Um, better walkies. Ours are uh in need of an upgrade. the end of Ballard to protect the entrance over by the parking lot and I'll keep everybody posted about whether or not we are awarded any portion of that grant. It came in three separate chunks. So, I am hopeful that we can move forward with those projects with grant funding. I'd like to share that our student concert is tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. in this space. It's
011K3 and our chorus. And I would like to just shout out to Mr. caliber and to our um teachers in those pre- levels because our chorus and band have grown tremendously in the last year. We have I think at this point over 30 kids in chorus. So that feels like double. I don't know if it is, but it feels like double to me what we had last year. Um really excited about the growth of that music program. So please come out. I want to say thank you to our PTA for their continued support. This was so lovely. Thank you guys. um they came in in the last month to support a sixth grade sewing project. If you as you came in, you might have seen the ornaments that they were working with. That is definitely
012a all hands-on deck situation teaching sixth graders to sew. So, we really appreciated your support. Um we're going to be doing a crafting project with the school for Christmas or holiday ornaments at the end of the month. Um, I wanted to also share that we are having our next meeting at um, NES at 3:45 on December 19th. Would really love to have people come out for those meetings. We've been getting a lot of really good work done. Um, the last month we had our first school dance. So, we had a separate during day school day practice dance for our kids in kindergarten through 2 grade so that they'll be ready for the next one. And then we had an afterchool dance for grades 3 through six. Was really well intended. We had Haven come and
013visit the school in the last month to talk with students about personal body safety and that was really really powerful um and a lot of fun for kids too as they learn about health and boundaries. We completed our math look and learns with K6. Teachers having the opportunity to go out, observe another teacher and be observed and then during some of their um academic collaboration time get a chance to debrief as a team um both and government run teachers um and discuss strategies and best practices. So we are continuing to learn and grow as a school and improve our math practices. This weekend, breakfast at Candyland will be here in the multi-purpose room um from 8 to 11:00. That's on Saturday. It's in collaboration with the wreck and our house PTA support as well. Breakfast,
014crafts, and a visit with Santa. And the wreck is providing gifts for students who come or builtin kids who come. Um this month we also had a number of students compete for the Lions Peace poster contest. One of our students, Aubrey Daniels, won for our own local Lions Club. So that is Lions Club is not just a Middleton organization, but it's an area organization. And she went on to compete at the state level. We're really proud of her. Um, and we've got a field trip to the Rochester Opera House next week for grades three and four. They're going to go see a Christmas Carol, which is a great opportunity. And then I'm super excited to let people know that Second Wind has completed our arsenic project. So once our fourth quarter water testing is complete,
015we're going to be getting back to our normal drinking water fountains, which we are very excited about. So just want to say thank you to everybody who was helping push that project along and make it happen. And that is my update. Oh, that's very good news. Any questions for Okay, excellent. A lot of wonderful things happened and is still happening coming up for that conference running. So, next on superintendent report is school calendar 2026 2027 calendar for the board to take action. Um, we just approved a very similar calendar. Uh, Governor Wentworth Regional School District Board approved this start and end dates uh on Monday night at their meeting. Um, so your 7th through 12 students will have that calendar. Um we pulled all families to find out if um they preferred either before or
016after Labor Day start due to the dates being very late next year um and that you know we still want to um offer the building for elections and I know that is the case for Middleton. So given that um we were looking at the first day of school being an election day and then not starting school until September 9th. So that prompted us to turn to the community to actually ask the question, what do you prefer? And we have significant preference uh results of um families preferring to start before Labor Day rather than going to the bitter end of June. So, we have this draft calendar for the board to vote on as a first day of school of September 1st and the last day of school, June 17th, pending snow makeup. So, I would
017welcome my motion. >> Just to note that traditionally we do not always vote in we've done presidential elections here, but we do not do all of our elections. Okay. Um, do we want to make a motion or do we have discussion? >> So, I'll take a motion to get started. >> Do we have any discussion? Um, the overwhelming. >> Okay. Um, so we'll go for a vote. Uh, all in favor? >> Anyone? Okay. Thank you. And then lastly are the financials. If the board has any questions for us, please let us know that you're in your packet. >> I do have questions regarding the special education budget. I just want to go over some of these figures and where these increases are coming from. So, I'm looking on the professional human services. The proposed is
018just under 300,000 last year. >> That's on page one. >> I'm looking at I'm looking at the proposals for last time. That's where I have >> Are you looking at the financials or the budget? >> So the financials are just the for the last month. >> We're doing budget. Um >> no worries. Yep. So financials, this is what we provide you in in your packet just for the past month. And that line is also there in case we wanted to see this before the budget. It's about 3/4 of the way down on page one. Okay. So, do we have any more questions on financial? Okay. So, we can move on then. Um, do you have anything for the bus driver? >> Um, I do not, but I know that. So Rebecca and I did meet
019with the bus drivers and they expressed a couple of um concerns for us. They basically said we have three different licenses that we have and we're all getting paid the same thing no matter how many years we've been here and no matter what our license is or what we're driving. Um, they also said that we have are working close to full-time hours because we're only running two large buses. Um, so we had conversations about how we can get us up to a three bus schedule. Um, so that's something that the board needs to talk about is where we are because we only have two fulls size buses at this time. So, we need to figure out a plan how we do get the third bus so that we can get that third bus driver and
020get that up and running. We don't want them to get into the position of being full-time necessarily or running foul with that. So, we want to make sure we get that third bus up and running. Um so we came after the meeting we came up with a tiered system um and then passed that around to the board to consider based on their their um whether they have a school bus certificate or CPLC license and then whether they're driving a van or a special ed bus and then full bus drivers. So those are your three categories of rates of pay. And then we had it broken down by 0 to 5 years, 5 to 10 years, and 10 plus years. Um, and we started on the low end, 0 to 5 years for van bus driver,
02120 per hour, going up to 23 per hour for the 10 year. Um, and then we had 21 per hour for the specialized bus driver, up to 24 depending on where you are. And then for the full bus, 25 to 29 per hour. Um so that puts us in lines of what bus drivers are making in neighboring communities. Um and I think it gives a scale that allows for their experience um you know for their um what they actually have for a particular license. So depending on what they're driving that paid accordingly. Um we also built in a longevity bonus. So if you've been here for more than 5 years, you would get a percentage of your pay as a bonus once a year and then again over 10 years they would get the longevity
022bonus. Um you know there was some expression that people are staying because they like the students but they're not they could go elsewhere and get paid a heck of a lot more. Um so we wanted to honor that in a way that made sense. So the idea is this would put a pay scale in place that would be in place for a couple budget cycles depending on how the economy was. Um, so there's a clear expectation of where people are on that scale and how they're going to move through that in the future. And so that was just a something that we came up with. I think it would make sense to put this in place for the next budget cycle. Um, but I leave that for for discussion. Um, so the PAC, would this
023also like would they be eligible for like we did a cost of living raise with each budget or is this like what they're at for years 5 through 10 or 10 plus or are you still would they still be eligible for that increase each year? >> I think that's going to be up to the board to decide. Okay. Um so the longevity point would that be once or would that be every year for five years 6 7 8 9 and then for 10 years we haven't written out this every year but you can adjust that we had 3% of the annual pay four and then 5% questions. >> This has not been shown to me at this point. They didn't have any input from the conversations and put together. But they were talking about you
024know communities and you know 28 other communities. So this sense and there are Now, is this something that you envision starting now or starting next year to put in his budget? >> Okay. So, there are some people that based on where they are may not like they're being paid 21 plus an hour. So some people who only pay until they move into the next pay category to an hour didn't feel right to lower them down just because you know we're putting >> So do you think we need to vote on this or if we're putting it into the budget would it be part of what we're you would want if if you want to move forward with this, someone should make make a motion on this separately. discussion. So now discussion Just a question. So
025based off of the information that you shared with us in that last meeting, the bus drivers are currently making 21 >> 21. So Dave, >> oh right here. So he would have one driver. We have one who does the special and then one person people that are chronic wellness and longevity wellness and I say that because I worry that that's going to by others by other groups of employees um and to me that every year I think maybe if there was a one time like hey when you reach your fifth year and then when you reach your 10th year um but I I think that's really the common problem is the possibility of doing it every year and then when the teachers want to negotiate their CVA they know that the bus drivers are getting
026this and they try to why aren't we getting the longevity bonus but that's just >> I mean Uh, now do people get the same whether they're driving the van or the bus too. I'm offended by it. >> Okay. >> Again, this has not been presented to everyone. Love to take that. I feel like would be very satisfied with the pay scale and what he bumped up to. So, I think start there and you know after the 2027 2028 school year things well talking about it during the school year but you know there's still concerns and things like that feedback you know then we can reconsider something to further entice them to stay Or we may just >> So I'll make a motion to remove the longevity bonuses from the proposed bus driver. Um, so we'll
027vote on the amendment to strengthen from the bus driver scale. All in favor of the amendment and then the original as amended. Okay, so the original motion was to approve the bus driver scale. So are we approving the bus driver pay scale as amended by amended? Okay. All in favor? >> I I Okay. And then we voted to move academic affairs, which gets us to the finance committee update. So, other Caroline Thank you for the question mark. >> So this is the you had your preliminary budget review at the last meeting. Um this meeting on the agenda under finance committee is final budget adoption. So, um, we've included the same presentation, uh, as that we prepared last time, and I'm happy to, uh, review any part of it or answer questions, and the board may
028make a motion tonight. That's up to you. The deadline is January 13th, so you could um, adopt tonight or you could adopt at the January meeting. However, I know that uh you are also aware of the budget committee meeting information as well. So, any questions for us? >> Yes. >> So, I just thought test test. Look at that. All right. So on page two is the line item for the professional pupil services. So the actual we spent last year was 110 and change and the budget went up to or the budgeted amount was 251. So we didn't spend what we budgeted last year but now we're looking to up that again to almost 300,000. So I'm trying to understand how we didn't spend what we had budgeted last year. We're upping it so drastically for
029for the upcoming year. So you're looking at professional people services. Yes. Yes. So, we're proposing two an increase of 47,750 18.99%. But that's 47,000 over 251. And we didn't even spend $251. We only spent 110. >> That was last year. Yes. The budget this year is 251. Um we're on track to spend that this year. Okay. Um at the the pupil services that we just looked at for the month, we've already spent over $100,000 of that. Um so we're on track to spend half of that midway through the year. So that's where that number comes from and that we're projecting an increase for those services. And those are contracts. So those are contracts for services BCBA which is a behavior um a board certified behavior analyst. Um that is a specialist who works with Middleton
030students and has to oversee the behavior technicians. So they're like pair professionals who work with students. >> Can I ask a question? It's up to you. >> It's up to you or you're coming for voting, but it's up to you. >> Go ahead. >> So, this professional people services line, is that for K through 12 or is that just for K through six or is that >> it's K through 12? Special education lines or for all special education? All special education be >> for Middleton students. >> So your students from Middleton are all in here. Yes. >> So prepaid. >> Yes. However, they're for contracts. The pupil services are for contracts. So it could be that a BCBA is working with a couple students here. um or it could be a contract for speech and
031language pathologists at the high school. So those are only the essentially what we're paying out for those services to be provided. That's separate than the wages for that we're using. Your own are in wages, correct? So the question wages that 1200 100 lines of subation wages that's just for prek to six >> correct because you don't have staff there at this at this time. Anything else on the professional? Ask a question. Okay. For the legal services, I noticed you we spent is it just under what we had budgeted? We budgeted 3,000. >> Can you say what feature? >> I say page number two. We're right under the line of suspension. >> Okay. >> Y um 2,989. Um so we went from a $3,000 budget up to 7,000. So I just wanted to hear what the
032explanation was for that going in the double what we actually >> and that's still in special education. >> Yes. Yeah. >> That is the um anticipated um legal costs that we have >> for special education. >> Yes. Because that's in the special education section. And is that for all K through 12? >> Yes. Y because Could there be a special ed for any student in special education? Can I ask I don't see that in this year's budget meaning what if I look at tonight's financials through November is that so we didn't have this budget last year or am I missing >> actually no you're right there 2500 If if we end up having any special education legal um costs, then I will obviously have to have a budget transfer from the special education director to
033move money into the budget for this line. The other one special that we see an increase in the tuition in other leas out of district placements. >> Out of district placements. How many students do we have currently that are doing out of district >> and private? So the other leas and then private. Let's see. So the tuition leas that is for um at Kingswood. So we have um services for students um at because it's tuition but it's other leas so that's the other public school whereas tuition private that's for out of district I think there's two I think there are two >> and is that the motions are out of the district I have it right Um there are actually three. So one um school year tuition including the summer at Stratford Learning Center. Um
034the second student um is at St. Charles. It's an elementary student. Um and then the third student is at um the Birchwood Behavioral Academy >> and that's $300,000. Which funds are both? >> Yes. >> I just have a question on that. That was kind of where my previous question was, but we weren't there. So when you're doing your tuition agreement and you're calculating your tuition for students as far as uh middle school and high school, is that accounted for with the out of school out of district placement? Meaning in other words, are we paying a tuition rate for the student to Kingswood and paying for another place? >> No. >> Definitely not. >> Okay. >> Definitely not. So if you have a student who's who's in ninth grade at a special private out of district
035placement for special education purposes, they do not get it. There's no Kingswood tuition charge. >> Okay. So they're not they're not calculated in correct number. Thank you. >> Correct. >> So just the tuition that says other MEA that's for students specifically special education 7 to 12. >> No, I think that's It includes all elementary condenses all three of those lines down. >> Oh, there's one student there's one student um at MEES with significant individualized program that includes the BCBA support and they need a twoon-one ratio. So there's one in the elementary to answer your question and then there is one at the middle school. >> Okay. So take a step back. So the tuition out of LEA includes preK 12. >> It could it depend >> along with along with our special education staff that
036we're paying going up to paying 555,000 from 289. Then we're going to have this tuition out of LEA that includes could be elementary along with 7 through 12. Then is the tuition private that can be prek and 12 as well. >> Tuition. Yeah. Yep. So tuition private then not here. No, I just because I I feel the assumption when first this conversation first started that doing a specifically carved up for 7 to 12 because we have our own special education personnel in the elementary school that should pay. >> Yes. >> Well, it's not just one. Correct. It's not just one person. It's several several staff members to support special ed. Um but but we have every position here that is needed for IEPs. So, you know, Middleton doesn't have a PCBADA on staff. So, that's
037something we have to contract out >> and that comes out of the I thought that came out of the other contract professional services. >> Yeah, >> that's another line that's contracted services. So we need clarification on what's coming out of which line item for elementary and other. >> Okay. >> So they're not all So in special education that's all your services for all your K kids. you know, it's not necessarily broken out by middle school or by school, but we can provide, you know, whatever and give you that information as far as which student is receiving what service. >> I I'm just as you're talking and I'm kind of trying to process all this. Um, is some of these increases due to differences in the new tuition agreement or no? I just I I look
038at these numbers and there there's a drastic increase in some of these lots from years past. And and although I'm not going to say that there isn't an increase of students or with some form or fashion of need, I I feel that if we've changed from numbers past to what's being proposed, is there really that drastic of a change in need here in the school or were we doing things differently in years past as far as how we were addressing? >> There's a few different it's it's all these factors. So yes, it's an increase in need. Yes, it's an increase in cost. The special ed cost, that's statewide problem where there's no regulation on the increase in cost in services, transportation, st contracted service, staffing. They increase 5% every year, whatever they decide to increase
039that. Um and then the tuition agreement itself um it is although it was new effective last year the language for special ed is not new. So um what it said in the last 10ear agreement and this 10ear agreement is that special ed expenses are above and beyond the tuition amount. Um however, Governor Wentworth um because of new um agreements with other districts, they're um charging everybody the same. So um the high school, the middle school and high school can no longer absorb those services, can no longer absorb those costs. So when the special ed teachers are providing specialized instructions to kids, when the case manager is doing the case management, running the meetings with parents, um speech and language services which we have on staff, um we have to charge the districts for those services.
040So um it's aligning with what we're charging. We're charging all the districts in the same way. So that is um different from years past as well. One way that we um wanted to um provide a strategy for Middleton to decrease, we decreased the proposed budget by $100,000 um and put a position in a Warner so that you could have your own employee at Kingswood working 7 through 12 to do your own case management of the students and to provide some specialized instruction. So, um that was a as a way to um you know kind of offset those costs and then you also have um more oversight to decisions in those meetings. >> So, and that's going to be in a warrant article. >> It'll be if the board approves that. The board still has to
041approve that, but that's a position we proposed that last year as well in a warrant article. It didn't pass. Um but that's what we as a district um have put forward to the board so the board can decide if we'd like that in a corner. Do you have the numbers of kids that are at the middle school and high school to support? It just would be interesting to see how much money in that line is going to the kids that are out there versus I can get those. I don't think I have those. I think I provided those in the past, but that's something I can get. >> And also with the position lasting a warrant article said 6th grade 3 through and it was for the whole continuity of that child making that big
042transfer is that now not going to be the case >> I think it's not come to the board yet so that hasn't been discussed I don't know what's being proposed or what we would >> not we haven't seen it so I I don't know I understand that was a concern Sorry, we're all so we um propose that or at least we review that in the preliminary review on page seven. Um there's slide 14 articles in today's and it was in last month's Slide 14. Page. Wait. So, I'm sorry. You were asking about the grade levels. Um, so last year that's correct. we proposed 6 through 12 um and and that can you know that's um there's a benefit either way. I think originally we had thought of six 6 through 12 because you know when
043students are here in grade six it would be helpful to have a case manager who is familiar with 7 through 12 and then they can help with that transition. Um I think this year there was a thought to let's keep it at 7 through 12 so that person because it's a fairly large case load um to to stay you know in the Wolfboro area um but you know that's an assignment certainly could go either way >> just the One last comment question on this is you know we we didn't run into a deficit or we didn't run under you know under budget last year and we're looking to increase this line just for special education by 750,000. So I just don't understand how that such increase can happen in one year because I would have
044expected I would have expected to see we would have strain we might have been talking to deficit this past year. We didn't have the money because and then all of a sudden the same have to raise but all of a sudden going to we had just enough money to pay bills and we have to use extra revenue to pay the insurance that insurance fees but now we need to in order to operate next year $750. >> Correct. But look at where >> currently for this operation on those two line items we've only got we've got less than 1% for the contracted where is it the pupil services and we're we're in December and then we've got 20% left for the LAAS. So, we're going to be holding budget on those this year, which is where
045they're saying the anticipated increase is coming from. >> The student who requires the 211 came in this year. So, that is the um support is $172,000. And I'm not disputing that and I'm not saying support. So at that point I guess I would say would it be more efficient or costefficient to private tuition 172,000 I'm just saying I I don't know if that's what we look at to say it's going to cost 300,000 to >> well I don't know that's what I'm going to look at >> so that's that's up to the special educational team and legally we have to educate the student in um the least restrictive environment. So first you support them in the focus, >> right? No, I'm not even saying that was saying but you know like what's the best option
046for everybody? I'm just um did we have one question from the board about the >> Oh, I knew Heather said she got so you talked about the bus. Do you know what that increase for? >> We have to do a special meeting for that. >> Oh, the drivers. >> I think it dep We have to run that for the salary, but that would be an adjustment that would have to be made. >> I was just wondering if you might have a number of that. >> I don't because I don't know how many years of service they had because they're far across the board right now. Um, all right. I'm I'm on page four under the improvement of instructions function. You've got staff development at 10,000. It was a proposal to 11. What's that? >> That's
047the teachers professional development for >> and that did increase to 11,000 for next. Okay. Then what's the instructional improvement of 8,000? >> That's the principal contract. >> And then general supplies, I don't know why I just ask because it went from nothing to 600 and we didn't spend anything last year. So what is that for? >> It's the same as improvement of construction function. I >> think we had a purpose for that. culture. It's fun. >> Um, so that $600 reflected um assessment programs that we need and supplies that we need for teachers in order to deliver instruction. And we were not able to purchase some things that we needed this year because we didn't have money in that line. So I was planning ahead for next year to be able to purchase those supplies
048for classrooms. I any chance you could give us an example what device? >> So that specific program is IMS that is a program that we use um for reading instruction. Um it's a science of reading program and there was a large update to the IMSE programs. We have the old guides. We are looking to purchase new guides to align with the current teacher professional development that they have. >> So now under page five, schoolboard services contracted services of 3,000. What is that for? That is your e- rate uh fee annual fee to pay e-ate to do the rebate for the um technology and the internet. It's a federal program and the revenues exceed the $3,000 cost but the revenues are showing the revenue. I think this past year um Middleton received I saw it today
049$6,000. So I'm looking at the legal budget which 25 actual is just under 35,000 and we have a budget for 15. Um so we level funded that one from this year to next year. No increase. What did we spend last year? you negotiated with the teachers union. >> So that was the 34 that we spent last year >> plus the deliver session which is >> also last year you also had a second >> we're doing deliberates with the attorney and then you won't have one next year so we funded it. So the year before that, what did we No. Teachers union said you didn't need as much, right? We budgeted 5,000 lunch to the year before in 2024. I'd have to look it up. >> I'm just curious what a normal nonal. >> Yeah. And
050I do want to let you know we received notice from the lawyers office that the rates are going up slightly which they were trying to change services on page six dues and fees. What's that worth? Is that $3,000 something else up? >> Yes, that is >> that is the um bank fees that >> Okay, the district. >> Okay, >> great. So, we mentioned one of the questions of the public input was the upkeep of the um path that's in there. So, when I'm looking at care upkeep of the grants, is is the budget we have for that enough to include those costs? I would have to um get someone out there to quote us on that to know the answer to that. I mean, is that something our current facilities can do or is that
051something? >> So, how long is the path? What kind of upkeep is required? I don't know. >> My understanding is is the evacuation route for the school. So it goes from here down to the municipal building. So however that is school, >> right? Is that along a roadway or is it >> No, it's it's inside. It's that pathway. It's inside off the road. That's why that's why the Eagle Scout did it is so that nobody would have to go on the road, >> right? I know it gets to that, but then you have to walk around the fence to get to the rest of it. It's not clear. >> I don't know. >> Yeah, you can go through the fence. Yeah, >> there's a there's a way around it. >> I don't know about that.
052>> You try to wear it down to the basketball court. >> Yes, >> you can go. I know you can go around. I'm not sure if you get a skirt around it or if they moved it. I haven't gone out there. I know. >> You would know better. Scott, how does that qualify as an as an evacuation rather than have to go around a fence to get around it even? >> I know. Fence. It's hardcore to >> No. No. So, actually the it's it's open. Like you don't have to go all the way down to the basketball court. It's open. >> Even if you walk up there's it's it's >> my my recollection is it was gated off pretty close to the road. >> No, it's further down. >> Okay. >> Below below the pack,
053>> but it's not Yeah, definitely not clear through that brush at all. >> It looks like you go to the top like you're getting ready to go up to the street when you click. That's what the project was. >> Yeah, it's like there's that little sign >> all the way down >> on the right and you can go looks like you can go straight down to town hall. >> That was the project >> and it's like a straight shot. There's even like a >> So then it it connects from where the end of that path comes from the parking lot of the town hall and it goes straight through to where that walking trail is where we'll assign the story trail and go straight onto the sidewalk. >> Okay. >> So it sounds like it's
054Yeah. Our path it's gravel. It's 210 of a mile and um only would be needed in a an evacuation emergency. >> Correct. Yeah. >> And I imagine if there are drills that would be part of it, right? >> Are you looking at me? >> I mean, I will I'll speak to it if you want me to. >> Well, myself and Ivy actually discussed it today. >> Um >> well, and I want to make sure you have funds to cover. That's why you can't. >> So, so we we discussed it today and we we discussed um after having our safety meeting um we met today and we discussed it and it was one of the things that came up in discussion is is you know come mid January or February when there's potentially 2 and 1/2
0553 ft of snow out there. First graders, second graders are are more than likely possibly not going to be able to make it through that. at which point are we now utilizing the road like we would have before. Um, and we didn't come up with a solid answer for that question as of yet. Um, but what we basically said was it's one of those things where the safety group here at the school that's something that they'll have to just monitor in the event of an emergency here. um in the inaccessibility of that trail, we would basically divert to plan B, which would be to go down the road like like past plans. Unless you guys were to discuss and decide to maintain it, then obviously that would remain the cost of roof throughout the whole
056snow. >> Yeah, snow would be the big concern. Other than that, it's it stays pretty open other than, you know, foliage in the fall and things like that, but snow is really the only major concern. >> So, what would you recommend to it out or to use the access? Um, what I'd like >> what I'd like to do is be able to continue to have some conversations as a safety team. I think Chief and I started troubleshooting this today, but there's more of a conversation we have to have in order to have appropriate plan to ensure child safety if we have to use that. I think um I mean the goal is that we never have to use it as an evacuation group. Um and that would be first and foremost in all the preventative
057things that we do. Um but there are a number of us who need to meet in order to sus out an exact plan for should we be maintaining this or should we be pivoting into the roadway which I believe is what has been done in the past during the winter months when there is an unpenable amount of snow on that pathway. because the alternative would be sounds like it's too long just a shovel. So it would be um renting or hiring someone with like a side like a sidewalk clearing type of >> a snowblower or I was thinking of the people who drive >> that sounds currently what does the school currently use walking outside >> it is kind If not then we would have to otherwise we would have to contract. Is this not
058something that if we had the snow blower, one of the festivals could do? >> So, we have snow lower. >> Um, but not sure if it's too long for that. The path is too. >> Okay. My my only question is do we need anything to the budget? I'm hearing you don't have answers to that yet. So, that would be nice. Okay. Well, also on a legal side, if you we're going to call it an evacuation route and if it's not clear and something does happen, >> we have an alternative. We absolutely have an alternative. So, and it sounds like that's been in place in the past. Absolutely. I mean, having walked that path for years in the past, um the roadside is not clear. So, we had to stop walking to school as soon as
059the plows came through because they plowed over the walkway. So, just from my experience, unless someone is going to clear, it's not even a sidewalk cuz it's not paved. It's just a kind of worn down path that we would rock on the roadside which is really not totally safe but that was the alternative. Um and so that once the plows come through that's not passable or clear for walking. So something else. >> We do have legal numbers. >> Yes. Thank you. So for the fiscal year 2024 16 uh $6,700 was expected from that line. Um, so the procedure on this is we're supposed to vote on it as it is, but then are we allowed to change it later or no? >> So, you have a few options. Okay. you could um you do need
060to um adopt a budget by June January 13th. So when you do that, it could be tonight or it could be at your January meeting. Um you could um vote to adopt this budget as presented. That could be a motion or you could move to adopt this budget with an edit and you can make suggestions for an edit and let the board vote. Um, >> well, I'm just wondering if we vote to adopt it and then we decide before January that we want to change something, can we edit it then? >> Um, I have not heard of that ever happening. Um, because if you vote to adopt it, that's saying that this is your adopted budget. Um, so I I have not I would have to look into that. I've not heard of that happening.
061>> You also should Oh, absolutely. So, yes, it's usually that vote is final. Um, but you do have another meeting, so I guess you could you could vote again. Um, also you should vote on the word articles that were um proposed. >> I not I'm just going to say I'm not prepared to vote tonight. I have additional information. I think we need to narrow down the nursing contract. figures after we have a bus driver to see where that puts us um before a lot of questions I have so I get some answers I also was not really comfortable with you today and I also wasn't really sure we should vote So, um, that was my thought, but does anybody have my other January? Let's try to schedule another meeting before. I'd like to see the
062revisions before. I would also propose that I think what we spend on traditional you can certainly make that cut now because the more that you give me do salaries. >> You mean the regular legal under the school, not the legal? >> Yeah. I'm talking about general Um, I agree. I would also like to try to come back because I think that depending on what you So, for the next. >> So, can we get a current the people who are doing our clearing now to see what it would cost for them to do that? Go ahead. >> Um, I just want to make sure I understand. So the school bus driver the proposal there that is a pay scale >> ultimately to remain in effect I would presume for years to come. Um my recommendation would
063be on that aspect would be to do it as a warrant article and the only reason I say that is because if you don't and three out of the four or five of you are no longer on the board next year that can be removed. If it's a warrant article, then it has to be removed by the people as opposed to the board. >> It's not part of the city. >> Yeah. Just like the choice of the board. >> It just makes it more concrete as opposed to it takes more than just a board to remove it. It would take, you know, at town meeting the town would have a vote to remove it. >> But then you can't give them unless you >> No. the warrant passes, you you'd be able to. But the
064other thing you could do the other thing you could do is I mean you could ultimately vote to give them a raise for this year and then put the the pay scale in as a warrant. I don't mean to over complicate. I'm just thinking long term. >> Right now in this budget there's a 3.3% increase on those drivers. And what I can do is I can take what this would do to cost out for next year above and beyond. So just that increase would be in the war article. But I want to let you know that once that one article passes that gets put back into the operating budget because that's what the function is, right? >> We can't revisit it. No one year but I'm saying this the raise is based on their current
065salary $2122. I have budgeted 3.3% increase in the operating budget right now and I would recommend that you keep that there and the increase amount whatever that calculates out to people >> so that if they still get >> they just get the 3.3 >> what you're putting on the difference >> just from an employee aspect I I would you know I would be happy and thankful for that. But then the following year the board changes or the dynamic changes. Now all of a sudden we're back at square one again. >> That's all. >> I was think we we could definitely talk about that. >> Well, I'll have the numbers and I can certainly have that drafted. So I'd rather be more prepared than not prepared. I like that suggestion. >> Yeah. >> So, we'll bring
066all those numbers. You're not voting on if if you're not voting on this tonight. Um we're bringing all we'll bring all of that to the next meeting. Um >> yeah, >> and the information on all the warning articles. So, and just to clarify, the nurse is not in the operating budget. That's also a warning article. the increase over the currently budgeted for nurse contract. >> Captain, quick question. When are you going to meet like vote on it and go the budget committee to do when is the date that you need to get around? >> Well, the date you post is the 26th of January 26. You should be fine with the 1951. I'll make sure >> you get to try not to wait until the 11th hour last year. >> That's why I'm looking to
067do a meeting next >> because we had zero wiggle room and we got no answers, no questions answered. um last year and it was it was a big mess. It was a big fail in so many different ways. Um I mean the the budget committee could have turned around and said we're not going to vote and postponed the hearing and then you would have had to answer to the city. We don't want to be the bad guys and do that. But I'm not going to go in to a hearing and and be put into the situation like I was last year. Um, so I would just ask that you keep in mind any of us wiggle room because if we don't get things answered, I'm going to make a motion to delay the meeting and
068have another hearing until we get our questions answered properly. >> We encourage you to ask any questions and that's why we strive to come. You know, we've attended your meetings. >> We asked question, we weren't getting the answers. That was that was our big problem last year. improvements last year. >> I hope it is I hope it's an improvement this year. We wanted to provide you with information and be visible, be present and answer questions, come to your meetings and um provide as much information. That's why we did the presentation twice. So hopefully it's um better than last year. >> So we've decided that we don't want to vote tonight. Do we want to schedule another next week or do we want to hold up or do we want to come up with another date?
069>> Okay. >> So, we need to find out whether the superend. >> Okay. So, I would look to find as soon as we can. Um, you know, What do you guys think about should we schedule another meeting or should we just plan to do it at >> Okay. So, what you could do is vote to authorize us to work with you um to to check every calendars to schedule a meeting because if you set a date right now and then some people can't come, you still have to hold it and some people won't be there. >> So, we've we've been through this before. >> Understood. >> Okay. So, >> make everybody look at your calendar. Kevin will try to come up with another meeting. >> I think he needs to make a motion. >> Okay.
070I'll make a motion to budget prior to January everyone's schedule. >> Motion to revisit the budget. >> Revisit the budget. prior to the January meeting after consulting calendars as soon as prior to holding >> holding as soon as >> all in favor Okay, that was all. Okay. Um, that puts us at community relations. Sam has no updates for community relations, which brings us back to affairs, which I know that Sam has real I think we already >> Okay. So, we have 17 policies that are up for adoption. So, the first three today is >> no first. Sorry, not that refers. Um, okay. So, I'm going to go through that list. Uh, there are 17 of them. We have DAFF, Administration of Federal Grants. DAFFB, Equivalence and Instructional Staff and Materials. DGA authorized signatures. DK payments
071checks and manifests. EA mandatory drug and alcohol testing. and school bus drivers and contracted carriers. EHA, computer security, email and internet communications. EHAB, data governance and security. EHB data records retention. GA employment references and verification. GBC background investigation and criminal records check. GBF school district internet access for staff volunteers. GCO evaluation of professional staff. IFA instructional needs of each individual student. IG parental objection to specific course material. IH A character and citizenship education. IH AM health education and exemption from instruction. and IHA teaching about alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Those will be brought to the January 7th meeting for a second read. So, basically, if anyone has any questions about them, um, let either Sam or I or Caroline know. And those are posted on the website. Kathy? Yes. So if uh anyone in the public
072also has any questions about those um let one of the three of us know and we can bring back. That sounds great. Um, okay. Advanced planning. We have the Mil Middleton Elementary School holiday concert tomorrow at 6. We talked about that already. uh December vacation from 12:24 to 1:2. Uh there is a finance committee meeting and academic affairs committee meeting before the school board meeting on January 7th and the school board meeting is January 7th. So the finance committee and the academic affairs committee are at 5, right? >> Yeah. Five. and they're both open to the public. Um, does Okay, so uh we have more public input. >> Okay. Um, >> I didn't think we >> I know. I know you don't like it, but I don't like either. Um, so it's really not a
073question. It's kind of a just noticing obviously that huge increase to the budget next year and there's not much changing where we're not seeing a significant amount of staff. You know, it's not like you're hiring like five or professionals and it nothing big is changing. It's the status quo. But you have a million dollars more likely than other person. So my concern is is especially after last month of the presentation of the test scores and seeing how quite frank we do pretty bad. Um, and then seeing that we're just not changing anything, but we're just throwing a lot more money at ultimately what is a problem. It's concerning. I'm concerned as a taxpayer. I'm concerned as a mom. I'm concerned as a mom of a child who uses a lot of specialy services here. And
074um, and a lot of times he's not getting some of the things that he needs um because of the staffing. And so I'm I'm I'm really just concerned that if we're doing the same thing over and over and over again and we are hoping for a better or different outcome, it's not happening. and looking at the charts and looking at those test scores being consistently low and seeing those kids going through the years and and following them and not seeing any kind of significant improvement is really concerning. And then it's even more concerning to see that we are throwing a significant amount of money, but we're not changing anything else except for the price tag. So, I hope you guys have noticed that as well that you guys have a plan to change and improve
075it because we're paying for it heavily now. But in 10, 20 years from now, these kids are adults and they cannot function as adults because they don't have the proper education and knowledge, society is going to be paying for it even more. um and you're alienating a very large portion of this community with the cost of it. >> So my question I guess a comment is is to is in the adjustments column we have a total of >> are you looking at the financial statements? >> I'm looking at this month's financial >> it's uh it's the 6675 is the adjustments. So, we have the budget, then we have the adjustments, and we get to the GL budget. And I know I've asked I think this in the past. How do we get like for example,
076the first line is wages. We're we're putting an additional $30,000 in it. Where's that coming from? >> That is on the teachers article, the teachers union contract. >> Oh, now that you said it, I remember. Thank you. Um my only other comment was is that I know you talked about like the whole school bus drivers thing and then that incorporate like a you know going forward in cost of living adjustment. Well, we give the teachers a cost of living adjustment along with pay their contract amount. Correct. >> They have contractual pay increases every year. >> Right. But so >> they're not identical on top of the contractual increase. Okay, that's clear. >> Is there any other public input? >> I think asked about the student first after you said you contacted legal about it and
077it said you didn't have that until the deliberate session. >> Correct. Um because all the reading I've been doing it says it has to be done before you adopt the budget the school board >> and I have instructions from my association school boards of the ASOS association of school business officials. I was working on it and I had conflicting information. Asked it I asked for permission to reach out to legal counsel and yeah she came back saying it's for deliberative session or annual. >> I'm going to double check with um Senator Murphy since he's one of the co sponsors of that and to double check on that. So I know because according I did it there was adoption before the adoption of which is handy for people. It's for people like us who sitting out
078here. We want to understand where this money is going. Those graphs and those charts are going to tell us where that money is going, you know, and here you are set the budget and we're like, you know, so yeah, I'm going to reach out to Senator Murphy and ask him. >> No, I I hear what you're saying. There's a requirement. What is it? What is the item that we don't get until the end of December that would make it possible for us to comply? >> It's the um what I said was something index. the updates to that doesn't come through until the middle of December. >> so I couldn't do it >> because I started December before Thanksgiving. >> It's very specific. >> And I I read it also. There's no definition in there of
079what adopting it means. And so when you think about it, we're proposing this. We're, you know, we call it adopting, but we're proposing it. It's it's going to get adopted at deliberate extension. That's when it's officially adopted by the town. So when that came back from legal counsel, I was like, "All right, that makes sense." Well, I guess I would say it would be adopted when it was voted and moved. >> That's the number that gets voted on adopted would be deliberative session that >> interpretation. So, um I mean I'm not supposed to let you guys go back and forth. So, I'm sorry. Um, but I think you got it that it's the legal said that we adopt the extension. Um, was there any other public comment on top of that? Okay. Um, did board
080members have closed comments? Thank you for what you're doing to get funds in for the teachers and and for the kids. I think um I really appreciate all of your efforts and great job. Really really great job. And also thank you to the budget committee for continuing to work with us. We appreciate your patience as we gather information and try and get you all that you need to have an educated um you know input back and forth to us about what we need to do with our budget. So thank you. Um I just wanted to for the next meeting we have the um attendance numbers and the whatever number of kids in in elementary school middle school I guess enrollment number um also uh thank you for your patience since I said I know I'm
081not Rebecca. Um, and we do have to go into non-public session for legal. Uh, so I need a motion to move to nonpublic. >> Okay, >> it's okay. So, uh, Kevin makes a motion to go into nonpublic for personnel legal. Um, do we have a second? >> Nicole second. And we have to do a um roll call. So, Sam, >> Heather, five people, and I here also. >> Um, thank you.