001I believe this is the public meeting of the Board of Education, Department of Public Schools, that is in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, P.L. 1975, Chapter 231, and the special rules made in conformance with Section 13 of the Act. >> A motion to return to public? >> Mr. Harrison, followed by Mr. Small. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> All right. Please rise. >> 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. Mr. Clerk, roll call, please. Is that Lorraine? >> Here. >> Mr. Ben-Shimon? >> Here. >> Mr. Breedy? >> Here. >> Ms. Harrison? >> Here. >> Ms. Hickman? >> Here. >> Mr. May? >> Present. >> Ms.
002McCarrick? >> Here. >> Ms. Melnick? >> Here. >> Mr. Smurro? >> Here. >> And Mr. Dunkerley? >> Here. >> Having 10 board members, we have a quorum. >> All right. So, at this time, I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Grande and Mr. Buzozo for the presentation of the annual school budget. >> [snorts] >> All right. Good evening, everyone, and thank you for coming to the budget presentation for 2026-2027 school year. The Clark Board of Education um trustees, Steve Dunkerley, President, Lorraine Ackerly, Vice President, Dina Ben-Shimon, Robert Breedy, Megan Harrison, Kristen Hickman, Thomas May, Allison Melnick, Robert Smurro, and the Garwood rep, Ms. Tracy McCarrick. Now, I present Mr. Grande. >> Thank you, Mr. Buzozo. Our district mission statement that guides all of good work that we set out to do is as follows.
003Clark Township Public Schools will in an active [snorts] and responsible partnership and ensures all students achieve the New Jersey student learning standards at all grade levels. Through a nurturing relevant learning environment, we will assist in the development of productive, respectful, and accountable citizens who are lifelong learners. Just to highlight a handful of educational initiatives that we are going into this coming school year, the 2026-2027 year, with and that have been budgeted for. Full-day kindergarten will remain. And as I say each year, this is an initiative that we've had in the Clark Public Schools for close to 20 years now that some local very high-performing districts are either just putting in or trying to put in. And on the other end, with our oldest learners, reimbursement for AP exams and college courses given some qualifying conditions.
004We'll continue to aim for a maximum class size of 20 to 25 students at all grade levels, along with our strong commitment to professional development because our teachers need to be learners also. Be it week-long summer institutes, bringing consultants into district, and a lot of homegrown PD that our staff members themselves turn key. Actually, this evening we're approving a wealth of curricular revisions, including a number of new courses. Um for example, our senior English program is being revamped to become more elective-based. We're thrilled that there's no staff reductions in this budget, where most if not all neighboring districts are cutting, we're able to not only maintain but add. For example, a social worker and an year an 18-21 ages our post-graduate transition coordinator. We will continue with the student Chromebook replenishment so that our students
005have um new devices instead of worn out ones for lack of a better word, along with the software and the subscriptions that they need to do the good work that they do on those devices. For example, LinkIt, which not only is a platform for learning, but also for assessment. And we're going to be setting out in the new year to have a balance between technology and some of the old school approaches that we may have in light of technology moved a bit away from that get kids talking and communicating and moving. And that's going to be um a focus of our district going into the 26-27 school year. And also talking about technology, we'll be having a new district website um Apptegy Place. That's also an instant messaging system that will allow us to meet
006some of the community concerns through which we can send text messages in addition to emails in the case of, let's say, a security situation. And that new platform will be in place starting in July. Thank you, Mr. Vito. >> Hello. >> Covino. >> Okay, Covino. Okay. Yeah. 8-1, I'm sure everyone knows that statute, right? Uh So, every year we have to present to the county's uh superintendent of schools a balanced budget that provides for a thorough and efficient um education, in which this budget does provide that. Mhm. Components [clears throat] of a school budget. Uh the general fund consists of fund 10, 11, 12, 13, and 18. Special revenue fund is fund 20. Uh special revenues where we get the grants. Uh also our school uh our preschool aid, it's it's a part of fund
00720. Capital projects, that's fund 30. That's a referendum projects, which we're currently undergoing. And that service also related to uh the referendum. So, starting with the operating budget on the revenue side, um for next school year, the local taxes are 39 million, 408,000, difference of 2.2. And that represents about 6.1% increase. Uh tuition, which is the Garwood receiving students for the high school, uh that's going down slightly cuz we're projecting less students coming in for 27-28. State aid is uh 3.7. State aid represents maybe 7.5% of our entire budget. By the way, local taxes represents about 80% of our local tax of our local budget. Miscellaneous, 309,000. And then we have fund balance, the 3.5 million dollars of fund balance is a surplus, a budget surplus. And uh the the fund balance is key to
008develop a healthy uh surplus uh because with that, as Mr. Grande had alluded to before, uh we're able to balance the budget and also add some additional staff. If our If our fund balance, our surplus is weak, then we'll probably be cutting staff. So, I want to thank everyone for really buying into that and and watching your spending. So, our total operating budget is 40 million, an increase of 1.9 million from this current school year. And little graph here presents as I mentioned, 80% local tax, tuition is 4%, state aid, rounded is 8%, fund balance is 7%, and miscellaneous is 1%. Our total revenue uh for next year, 49 general fund, our special revenue is 1.3, and our debt service is 2.3 um for a total budget of 50 53 million dollars rounded. An increase
009actually decrease of 654,000. Our appropriations um total instruction for next year is 16 million. Special ed is 4.8 million. Out of district tuition is 2.7 million. Transportation 2.9. Uh employee benefits, that's gone up a little quite a bit. That's 9.8 million dollars. And we have a small amount of capital outlay 325 thousand for our general fund operating budget 49 million also also 070. Total appropriation general fund 49 million. Special revenue 1.3 million and debt service 2.3 million for a total appropriations of 52 million 693 which uh with the previous slide matches the revenue. So, we have to have a balanced budget. Our fixed cost This this graph really tells a story. Salaries are 20 26 million which represents 52% of our total operating budget. Employee benefits 9.8 represents 20%. Total salaries and benefits alone represents
01072% of our total budget. Out of district tuition 6%. Transportation 6. And plant operation security 12%. So, total fixed cost is 96% of the budget. But you can probably make an argument also that even though supplies purchase services 2 million, some of that is also fixed because we need books, we need teaching supplies, we need pencils, things like that. But these are called discretionary costs. That that's 4%. Uh so, total general fund is 49 million 70 thousand. Here's a graph showing the uh the fixed cost is 72%. Tuition is 6. Transportation is is plant operation is 12, and other is 4%. Again, another graph showing the fixed costs eating up 92% of that pie. And pupils on roll. So, for next year we're scheduled full time is 1,900 1,900 I'm sorry, 2,052 students. Uh share
011time is 50, and our share time is uh the students that come here at the high school then also go to votech either they're going in the morning or the afternoon. Um Unrolled special ed, 391 students. Uh and also special ed share time 52. For total unrolled students at 2,000 545 students projected for next year. Out of district private placements uh special ed is 10 10 students. Uh other district going to public schools is seven. And we're receiving 127 I'm sorry, we're projecting 121 students from Garwood. As you can see it's gone down slightly from this current year. So, here's projected Garwood students by grade and also resource room. For total grade nine is 25, grade 10 is 28, grade 11 29. Grade 12 is 38, and we do have share time of three. For
012total coming in for next year projected 121 students 0.5. The 0.5 is the share time going back and forth. So, it's not like a half of student cut off or something. That's a Uh share services. With the municipality they've always been great support for the school district. Uh we do snow removal with them, leaf pick up, groundskeeping, recycling, food uh food purchasing. And a few years back they helped us tremendously with the field turf the sports complex. Uh we do professional development. We have we have co-ops programs with 10 programs. And pretty much 99% of our routes are with the Union County at Service Commission. Now the projected tax for the 26-27 school year is $276. Um based on average home assessment of $528,000. So if if your home is worth more than that, it
013could be a little bit more. If it's less than that, it's just a projection. Now the preschool education aid So for 26-27 we're getting $3 million. The enrollment here at the high school is going to be 60. At CPA across the street is 36. And Discovery's going to be 90 for a total 186 preschool students for the upcoming school year. Referendum Again we want to thank the voters for passing referendum back in September. It was like a three to one ratio. Um that's like Hall of Fame numbers. Uh the bond sale was $34 million 761,000. Uh the borrowing rate we we received a great borrowing rate of 3.74. The Standard & Poor's uh rated us as a double A district which is pretty high for school district based on our strong financial position. Amortization is
014going to be over 20 years. Uh state aid for debt service we're projected get 25%. Uh there's no additional tax impact uh with the current bond terminating in June 2026 and new bonds commencing August of 2026. And as the board alluded to back when we're doing the referendum um there's going to be no increase cuz one is falling off, one is coming on. Uh, so there'll be no additional tax increase. Debt service, um, we cleaned this up a little bit cuz last couple meetings ago we had a little issue with this. Uh, so local share is 1.7 million. And we are getting debt service from from the state of 585,000. So total debt is 2.3, but the local share is only 1.7. As you see from this current year, 1.8, it's actually going down a
015little bit, the local share. Anyone have a question on debt service? Uh, referendum projects. We have 18 projects in all. All four schools, fire alarm upgrades at at uh, at Comstock, Valley Road, hallway hallway replacement at Valley Road, new phone system throughout the district, uh, canopy and sidewalk repairs at uh, Comstock, new playgrounds at Valley Road and Henley, and the classroom addition over at Henley, six classrooms. Uh, but the way we're going to structure the addition is we're going to be able to build over that um, in the future if we need to add additional classrooms. So we'll be able to add another six if we ever need, you know, down the road. Uh, so get to this referendum project continue, parking lot repavement at Valley, parking lot extension at at uh, at Henley. We
016finally heard Shirley that we needed a parking lot extension, we're doing it, all right? Uh, so total projects 18. And uh, we're very aggressive. We're looking to get 14 of those 18 projects completed by summer, early fall. And want to thank again everyone, administration, the board for the support, the administration directors, and everyone else for buying into our budget process here and there it's very helpful that you guys there's a collaborative approach that that we use here in Clark. Does anyone have any questions? All right, thank you very much. >> So, Ms. Thank you so much for that presentation and thank you for keeping us on the rails and keeping us in a balanced budget. Appreciate that. >> say something? That was That was a fantastic presentation. You did a great job and we're really
017pleased to have somebody do such a professional work. It's well done. >> Well, on behalf of the finance committee just want to say thank you. Job well done. We really appreciate it light of what's going on throughout the state and the current situations many school districts are going through. We really appreciate it. So, thank you. >> So, at this time we'll open the floor to the public for questions or comments regarding the school budget. about the school budget. So, seeing none, we'll move on uh to getting a motion on passing the 2026-2027 annual school budget. Can I get a motion? >> Motion. >> Mr. May followed by Mr. Small. Any questions or comments? A roll call on that, please. >> Ms. Bodnar? >> Yes. >> Ms. Fassbender? >> Yes. >> Mr. Green? >> Yes. >>
018Ms. Harrison? >> Yes. >> Ms. Keating? >> Yes. >> Mr. May? >> Yes. >> Mr. Karrat? >> Yes. >> Ms. Melnik? >> Yes. >> Mr. Small? >> Yes. >> And Mr. Davidson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Karrat? >> All right, now we'll move on to approval minutes from last month. Can I get a motion? Ms. Harrison followed by Ms. Melnik. Any questions or comments? Roll call, please. >> Ms. Zachlonis? >> Abstain. >> Mr. Vandeven? >> Yes. >> Mr. Breed? >> Yes. >> Ms. Harris? >> Yes. >> Ms. Segedin? >> Yes. >> Mr. May? >> Yes. >> Ms. McCarty? >> Yes. >> Ms. Milner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Smoral? >> Yes. >> And Ms. Douglas? >> Yes. >> Ms. Carey? >> You. >> And now we'll open the floor to the public for agenda items only. So,
019if there's anything on the agenda that would like to be discussed, now would be the time. At the end of the meeting, we'll have time for non-public. So, seeing none, we'll move on to personnel. We have items 1 through 14. A motion, Mr. Smoral, followed by Mr. Vandeven. Any questions or comments on those? Roll call, please. >> Ms. Zachlonis? >> Yes. >> Mr. Vandeven? >> Yes. >> Mr. Breed? >> Yes. >> Ms. Harris? >> Yes. >> Ms. Segedin? >> Yes. >> Mr. May? >> Yes. >> Ms. McCarty? >> Abstain from items 4 and 6. Yes to all others. >> Ms. Milner? >> Abstain from item number 9. Yes to all others. >> Mr. Smoral? >> Yes. >> And Ms. Douglas? >> Yes. >> Ms. Carey? >> We have one lone item, number 15, for curriculum.
020Motion by Ms. Zachlonis, followed by Ms. Harrison. Questions or comments? Roll call. >> Ms. Zachlonis? >> Yes. >> Mr. Vandeven? >> Yes. >> Mr. Breed? >> Yes. >> Ms. Harris? >> Yes. >> Ms. Segedin? >> Yes. >> Mr. May? >> Yes. >> Ms. McCarty? >> Abstain. >> Ms. Milner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Smoral? >> Yes. >> And Ms. Douglas? >> Yes. >> Ms. Carey? >> Board governance, we have items 16 to 22. Motion, Ms. Zachlonis, Mr. Vandeven. Any questions or comments on those? Roll call. >> Ms. Zachlonis? >> Yes. >> Mr. Vandeven? >> Yes. >> Mr. Breed? >> Yes. >> Ms. Harris? >> Yes. >> Ms. Segedin? >> Yes. >> Mr. May? >> Yes. >> Ms. McCarty? >> Yes. >> Ms. Milner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Smoral? >> Yes. >> And Ms. Douglas? >> Yes.
021>> Ms. Carey? >> All right. And then finally we have finance items 23 through 40. That's Mr. Smalls, followed by Mr. Breedy. Any questions or comments on those? Roll call, please. Ms. McGowan-ish, >> Yes. >> Mr. Brennan, >> Yes. >> Mr. Breedy, >> Yes. >> Mr. Harris, >> Yes. >> Mr. Higgins, >> Yes. >> Mr. May, >> Yes. >> Mr. Parrish, >> Abstain from item 29, yes to all others. >> Mr. Smalls, >> Yes. >> Mr. Smalls, >> Yes. >> And Mr. Smalls, >> Yes. >> And Mr. Parrish, >> Okay. At this time I'll hand it over to Mr. Grundy for the report of the superintendent. >> Good evening and thank you, Mr. Donkersloot. Once again, many thanks Mr. Guzzo for the budget preparation and not only the preparation but the guidance that goes in
022year-round to lead us to this evening. Our finance committee led by Mr. Smalls, Mr. Breedy, and Mr. May as committee members, the full board for their support, and our administrative team. And Mr. Guzzo's presentation is on the district website under the business department subpage. We're already in May and we're kicking off preparation for the new school year with a number of new hires along with our re-appointment lists. And we're very thankful to our faculty and staff for all that they do for our students and schools. And it's very timely with tomorrow being teacher appreciation day for us to express that gratitude along with the fact that we're re-appointing people. As I alluded to during the budget presentation, our curriculum writers are on this evening's agenda for approval along with our summer reading lists. Our schools
023across the district need to accept a wellness policy annual school board graduation report. All of our schools are in compliance with the wellness policy nutrient standards for meals and other foods, policy number 8505. And they have made progress toward attaining the policy goals. There are no recommended changes or an action plan for next year's implementation of the policy. And I'd like to thank Remax and Clark for their donation, which is accepted this evening, of four adult office desks for Valley Road School and Clark Recreation Youth Wrestling for wrestling mat to be used at in the ALJ wrestling room. Thank you and have a great evening. >> Thank you, Mr. Grande. Uh at this time, report of the committee. >> Just want to say, um Mr. Grande mentioned that it is Teacher Appreciation Week. So, I
024think we always have to highlight our teachers. My personal experience is every single teacher that my child my children have had have been wonderful. And not just that, but whenever I walk into a building in the district, there's always someone there to greet you, to smile, to make you feel warm and welcoming. And I think that speaks volumes to the people that we have here day in and day out. And I can't imagine being in a better place than having my kids [clears throat] come every day. I feel very, very fortunate and lucky to have them attend these Clark Public Schools. And I just want to say thank you to the teachers. >> TEACHERS. >> I WOULD LIKE TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF MS. HARRISON. I would say the same. Um as an educator myself, I
025understand all the fun things that go into being teachers and how teachers are pulled in so many different ways. And I think our teachers are doing an amazing job with our students. Uh the initiatives, uh the support for our students are really very much appreciated. Um sometimes parents don't realize how much goes into it. So, I really would like to highlight that um that our teachers are really amazing. >> Thank you, Ms. Anybody else? All right. So, at this time, we'll move to either unfinished or new business. Seeing none of that. Uh Nadia's out today. So, we're going to skip the student member >> Yeah, we're going to reschedule when she had a conflict. >> She had a lacrosse game, so they were in Open Open Day. >> Open Open Day. >> Okay. Yes. So,
026at this time, we will open it up to the public for non-agenda items. So if you have anything you'd like to state, please come up, state your name and your address. >> Hello. John Grace, 30 Parkway Drive. I kind of wanted to talk a little bit more about 30 year tax breaks and pilots and how the school has some ideas or plans on how to accommodate the students that are coming from there. While at the same time we're not going to be receiving tax revenue from those buildings. So while Walnut Hill was one of the apartments that I mentioned, I think it was not this school year but the last school year there was 28 students coming to the school. It's about $475,000 of burden if you use the per pupil cost, but we received
027no tax revenue for the schools from there. And it feels like the school just has to absorb that. And I guess one, I had a question about I guess a plan for the existing pilots, but the thing is is that there's actually going to be probably a lot more pilots. The town council has said pretty clearly that developers are probably not going to build here unless they get a pilot. And we have the affordable housing obligations that we have to do. And we have I think about 230 apartments that have to be built, but the thing is is that's usually if you have the the current setup, that's only 15% of the total number. So we're looking at over 1,500 close to 2,000 apartments that are going to be built probably. And most of those,
028if not all of those, are probably going to be pilots according to how the town has been working. And I saw that, you know, the the number of students in the presentation has been increasing. Is there a plan to kind of deal with that? Or you know, if there's not I I I encourage you to sort of think about how we will be able to accommodate that. I know that you were saying that there was the issue that some of the money was being paid by the existing um property, so Lawn Hill, that only applies to the amount that was paid before the apartment was built. So, basically there were zero students coming before it was built, and you were getting about $50,000. Now that there's 28 students, you're still only getting $50,000. You get
029nothing from CubeSmart. There's the 39-unit apartment building where the Knights of Columbus building is. That's There's nothing that says that you're going to get any revenue from there. Um the AMT building, it's been pretty made pretty clear that that's probably going to get a PILOT as well. That's 138 units. And then there's all the remaining units. So, I am concerned about how the school's going to be able to handle this. Um I'm not saying you have to have it figured out now, but I just wanted to raise the concern cuz that's something that I think is important. Um and I know that there are some things that you guys share with the town like um I think you mentioned that they allow you guys to use Brewer um for the special [snorts] education um for
030like a dollar a year, but I I think it's also important to remember that Brewer was sold to the town for a dollar as well. So, I think that's not And that doesn't necessarily address the lack of revenue. So, um yeah, in short, how how are we going to deal with the existing PILOTs? How are we going to deal with the PILOTs coming up? And um you know, I'm just concerned about that. I feel like >> Well, I think you have valid concerns, and I think periodically we do um Why don't we let Mr. Rondeau You want to put put some color on this again? >> Absolutely. >> One last thing I want to say is I I also just want to encourage Maybe there's a way that you guys could sort of sit at
031the table when they're negotiating some of these PILOTs because I know that the previous ones, I don't think someone from the school board was at the table when they were negotiating, and I think that would be an important step so that you can, you know, bring up concerns you have. >> So, Mr. Grips, it's my understanding that you met with the township government, and they walked you through the PILOT and how the funding is set up and if you would ever want to outside of a public meeting have a follow-up meeting with myself and Mr. Viscuse we'd be happy to do that. We've done that with other people and again, you know, as you could see this evening we're very fortunate that at this time we're beyond physically solvent and healthy and we we're also
032very fortunate that we have that um promise from the local government that if we ever were in need of additional funds that they would you know, help us out and and get us that funding. So I you know, at this point I don't know that there's any more clarity I can shed at this point. >> Well, I'll say I'll say this too. Um, you know, speaking on behalf of being a part of the finance committee, we there's a reason why we are very diligent in terms of and thanks to Mr. Viscuse for keeping us that diligent with regards to our our surplus because it's not just what you're talking about that can kill our budget. It's we just saw it with the benefits, right? And I work in the benefits realm, so I see it
033all the time. That can that can be a number that we have no control over, right? The added district tuition, you could have a a influx of special needs students that we can't accommodate here. That those are numbers that are beyond our control that can be quite large as as you as you see in the budget. So you know, our goal is to continue to make sure that we have enough seed money from budget to budget so we can absorb some of those costs. From a space perspective, obviously we're doing the addition at at Henley for a reason, right? The the elementary schools were bursting at the seams. Uh, as you heard during the presentation, the I think Mr. Viscuse said it, the the addition is also going to be able to add six classrooms
034on on top in the future. I get it at a cost rate that we don't have budget for right now, but it'll be a lot cheaper because we're preparing in the event we have to do that in the future. So, it's not just money, it's space, too. And we are thinking about it, but if anyone sat here and said, "I have the master plan for you," they'd be lying. >> Well, see, I feel like please plan because the the town plan >> we are. We we are. We just don't have it solved. >> I was going to say >> Cuz you realize that's we meet monthly and talk about issues like this to plan, but you can't plan for the what ifs, right? You can talk about it, but we don't know how many students
035are going to come out of each one. You know, how is it affected? There's a lot of what ifs in these situations that >> If I could just say one comment. I believe you had a meeting with the business administrator and the mayor to take you through the mechanics of the pilot program. >> Yes, the thing is the the shortfall is still there. They explained it, and it still shows that zero money goes to the schools. >> I don't believe that's true. >> Okay. >> there's money that goes to the schools, correct? And I believe that what we were told was as the numbers come in, if we need If If I'm mistaking, if we will go back to the table if more money is needed, and the town will continue to work with us.
036Now, that being said, either either you didn't understand the mechanics of what they explained to you, or you don't agree with it, but I don't think there's much more we can say. You probably should go back and meet with them again to go through the mechanics of it. From our perspective, [clears throat] we believe that we're getting money right now, and that if the if the need presents itself in terms of additional students, that the town will work with us. That's the understanding we have. So, I I don't know what else we can say. >> Can we at least agree on the facts, which is there was zero students coming from the Walnut Hill apartment building, and you got $50,000 give or take. Now, there's about 28 students coming from Walnut Hill, and you're still
037getting about $50,000. That doesn't make up for the burden, and that's the whole point. Yes, I have been walked through it, and the fact remains that the school does not receive any additional funding from those properties for 30 years. That's two and a half generations of students going to the schools that are not funded. And it's not just those buildings, it's that they're going to be keeping continue to make more. There's already one on um Westwood Avenue, the Cube Smart. The AMP is very likely going to be one, and basically to meet our affordable housing obligation, it has been made clear that it is very common and it's very likely that many more of these are going to happen. So, I just think that it's a I'm raising a concern. I understand that you might
038not have the answer right now, but I'm beseeching you to please put a plan in place and please find a way >> think we're not planning for it and addressing it. So, every month you come up and ask us what our plan we're addressing it as we need to address it. We discuss it and plan as we plan. >> How can anyone see the plan if there's a plan? >> It's not a public plan. Like we can't we can't guess how many students are coming in. What's the name of that survey? The one that we do. >> Demographic survey. We we we commission those every couple years to see where it is. >> And the last one did include Walnut Hill and the one >> I don't I don't know what it's called across the
039Manes. >> Yeah, we just called the one across the Manes. It did it it did include that. Um >> Is it like >> Regardless or not, we're planning for each of the developments here. >> What about the three new houses that are over near Comfort? That were on empty property. >> So, >> Right? >> Yeah, you were saying that But these are you don't >> I want you to know that we are discussing it and we are planning it as Mr. Smoral said, Mr. Visoso said, Mr. Grundy said, and Mr. Brady said. We are in communication with the town, and when we need assistance from the town, we go back to the town and tell them what we need. >> You were right though. We do get additional money for those houses if there's you
040know, what tax revenue, right? >> Right. >> But we were more concerned with space for a while. So we were So we were planning that to make sure we So it's not that we're It doesn't matter whether it's PILOT or not. We have issues financially and space-wise with everything that happens in this town. And we don't not look at it or or try to plan for it. >> I mean, I'm really on your side. I feel like you guys are getting the short end of the stick. But >> You keep implying that we're not working with who we need to work with to make sure we're funded correctly. >> Did you guys have a seat at the table at any of these negotiations? >> We Correct me if I'm wrong, we don't need a seat
041at the table because we have a partner a very strong partnership with our town council and mayor. >> Okay, but >> They're They're They're Mr. Bruce, but we can agree to disagree. We have a strong partnership with our mayor and our town council. And when we need to rely on them, they're here for us. I don't need to sit at the table and negotiate a PILOT. >> You keep mentioning CubeSmart. I don't believe any students are coming out of CubeSmart. >> So But hold on. You've brought that up multiple times. They can PILOT that for 100 years. That doesn't affect our schools. >> So we we are >> Thank you. We appreciate you reiterating those. We are aware of those. >> Okay. Thank you so much for your business. >> Any other comments on the
042budget? Okay. So seeing none, we'll close that out. And we will uh Can I get a motion to adjourn? Mr. Small, Mr. May, all in favor? >> Aye. >> Thank you.