001Turn it over to Mrs. Harrison. >> Thank you, Mrs. Woodward. So, we like to start every school board meeting by featuring students and just celebrating the incredible things that you're doing in our classroom. So, we're very excited that you're here. And Mrs. Harrison, uh, if you want to introduce our >> friends that are here. Thank you for the invitation. So that thinking about your thinking and learn. And so we have seven students with us here tonight. Some of them have chosen to share with you personally and some of them want me to kind of share their story. And so we packed a little bit. And then I also do need a celebration or do you need a giggle or do you And so she is just really really an expert at getting a place. So
002we wanted to start with us since third grade and he has been a hard worker. I told his mom so watch his journey and so Dominic has worked really hard in reading. He has on some of his I learn checkpoints. He's gone from like a 5313 to a 5396. He's really good in math this year. So far, he's passed both his he's been proficient on both his unit tests and he is only 14 points away from proficient on his checkpoint and I bet you $100 that by the time he takes opportunity to, he will be there. So we are just beyond proud of this child and his growth since he's been a faithful you stand up there with me. Um this is Matteo Roland Rubio and he has a superpower. He is one of our
003ML learners and so he last year got a four in reading on his WEDA. So that was one of his goals and he did really well. He is really thriving using his text to speech. He loves working in small group and he uses a reference book. Mrs. Brown will tell you he is an independent problem solver and he when we talk about that growth mindset, he exemplifies that every day. Don't you? So, and he's our only third grader here. Everybody else is a fifth grader. So, he is really really brave to be here tonight. Bryson, come on up. Bryson is new to Maple and so he has adjusted to Maple. He is working on um improving in reading. He is a stronger math student. We have seen some great growth on his checkpoints. But what
004he's learning about that's going to take him far in life is executive functioning. So Bryson, what's one thing in executive functioning that helps you be a learner? >> Organization. So he's learning about organization, his notebook and things. So that is really helping him. And then when y is um working hard and becoming what she calls a real reader. So she is using that metacognition to respond to reading and writing. Um she's had some great growth on her checkpoints as well. So we are proud of her. Okay. Now the next three. Yes. Okay. And then the next shareelves. I'm a better reader because I use to achieve academic responsible for a little bit. I use sensory stops to refresh my brain and focus in school to achieve academic success. >> I use speech the text to
005help with my academic success in writing. tools they need to be. >> We are just so proud of all of our students at Maple, but I want you guys to give yourselves a round of applause because you're working hard. Thank you for the pat. >> Well, that was awesome. Um, I was kind of not hoping to go back to school today, you know, two weeks off. You agree with that? But had I known I was going to get to see smart kids talking to us and telling us how they're uh achieving, I probably would have gotten up better today to come in and see you all. Um and we really feel that Maple is a really special school. Um on Saturday I was at Ghouls and Goblins. Were any of you there trick-or-treating? You were
006okay. And a lot of kids came over to me and I was Mario and um they they were talking about their Avon school and I said, "Where do you go to school?" And almost every one of them said they went to Maple. So Maple. Yeah. Yeah. So hit up your friends. They've got a lot of candy that they got at that event. Um, but we we are always just so proud of you for doing day in and day out what keeps you learning and growing. And I like that growth mindset and um just being aware that um school is very important um and that you're excelling at that. So, thank you for being here. I want to let my other board members talk to you, too, but thank you so much for being here. Well,
007uh, Dominic, Matteo, Bryson, Gwen, Kate, Grant, and Aiden, thank you. Thank you very much for presenting to us. Um, I don't know if any of you have ever presented in such a big room before with a bunch of people dressed up staring back at you, but you did a wonderful job. So, thank you. Also, I love to hear the stories about reading and how much you've been improving on reading and gains on reading. Of all the many great skills that you're going to learn in school, elementary school, and then middle school, and then high school, reading is near the top because it's something that you will do as an adult each and every day. And it it really um leads to a a boundless opportunities to see parts of the world just on pages. and
008it will make you smarter and brighter and you'll understand other people well. So, keep keep after that reading, okay? I mean, I love you and I hope you do too, your math and your science and your so your social studies, but reading is really the key to so much, okay? So, so keep after and again, thank you for sharing. I would like to also thank you students for being here and Mrs. Harrison and staff members. It's always fun to see and hear all your academic successes. The little guy here, I like how you talked about uh writing. That's hard for some kids. I know. And have have you had to do essays and all that stuff yet? Yeah. And it's sometimes hard to think what you're going to write about, how you're going to say
009it and punctuate it and all that. So, I'm glad to hear that. Everyone else, you're reading everything pretty cool. So, thank you for that. I got a couple questions and this these will make you happy. Uh, what' you guys do over fall break? Anything exciting? Yes, sir. >> Um, can I go up to the mic? You sure can. >> I went to Disney World. >> Whoa. >> Wow. That is that's a microphone answer. >> You are right. Anybody else like to share? Yes, sir. >> I ran to my cousin. >> All right. Anyone else? No. Everybody stayed home then like me? Yeah. No. Okay. Um, I got another question. Are you real happy you're back to school today? >> I'm tired. >> You're Yeah, that first day. Yeah. >> But so I got some I
010didn't get any nose, did I? >> That's good. Yeah. Uh, would you like to introduce your parents? >> Whoever. >> All right, you. >> So, I have my dad right here in the suit holding up the >> right here. >> Thank you for being here, Dad. >> His name is Troy. >> Troy. Okay. Thank you, Troy. >> Anyone else? I want you all to introduce if they're here. >> Yeah. >> That's my dad over there holding the phone also. and his name is Arthur. >> He's taking pictures of you. There you go. >> Anyone else have parents here? >> Yes. >> Hi, Mom. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Yes, sir. Come on, guys. Come on up. >> Thank you, mom and little sister. >> What's her name? Yes. >> Well, anyone else?
011>> Yeah. >> My mom in the brown jacket, her name is Maria. >> All right. >> My dad. Thank you, Mom. >> My dad is right there and his name is >> Moes. >> Well, thank you. And parents, if it wasn't for you supporting the students and the staff members, they wouldn't be standing up there. >> Oh, nobody wanted to. Is somebody here? Okay. >> Okay. >> Is that your sister? Is that >> your >> Oh, aunt. Okay, that was your sister. She's so young. >> But thank you students. >> Thank you staff members and mostly thank you parents for all you do for Avon schools. >> Thank you for coming to visit us today. We always love to start off with students and hear about your guys' success and some of the big things
012that you're working on. So keep working on all that and I'm sure we'll see you guys up here again soon. But thank you. I echo what my other board members have stated. Some of the things that you mentioned are things I didn't learn in school and I used to be an elementary teacher in this district and they were things that I didn't teach then either. Um executive functioning skills for organization. My son could really use that. Um your metacognition like I had to listen really carefully when multiple of you said those words. sensory stops, the speech to text for writing. Wow. And just the way you're presenting yourselves. And Matteo, thanks for representing Maple Third Grade. >> That's awesome. >> Okay. Well, thank you so much for coming, especially on the first day back from
013fall break. Keep up the good work. You're doing great things and we'll hope to see you again. Okay. Thank you. is pretty. Thank you, Mrs. Harrison. >> Yeah. make it. >> Yeah. Okay, that was fun. Uh we'll move on to the next item on the agenda, which is public comment. This is the portion of our board meeting where we um allow our public to make comments uh keeping their comments to three minutes or less and not mentioning um either parents, I'm sorry, students or faculty by name. Do we have any public comment? >> No, we do not. >> Okay. Thank you. We'll move on to item number four, the 2026 budget adoption. U Mrs. Glass, the floor is yours. Thank you, Mrs. Woodward. And good evening, board members. Um, before we uh put motions on
014the floor, um, the board has worked very hard over the past three months and made significant progress toward adopting the 2026 budget. In August, we held a budget working session where I presented the proposed 2026 budget. This presentation included the budget calendar, our financial status, legislative changes that could impact the 2026 budget, details on the budget advertisement, and an overview of the budget process. The budget hearing was conducted on September the 24th during which I presented the proposed budgets and any updates to those proposals. This hearing also provided an opportunity for public comment. Prior to the budget hearing, the board received detailed lineby budget information for review. In both those presentations, we discussed the advertisement of Avon's budget at a higher budget amount due to unknown variables such as NAV or net assessed value appeals
015and uncertainties regarding Senate Enrolled Act One. In addition to property tax caps, there are other protections in place for our taxpayers, including maximum levies and maximum tax rates. It is important to note that today's budget adoption is not final. We can always reduce amounts before the final approval. While we can advertise higher amounts, approved funding cannot exceed those amounts determined as maximum. What is advertised is not final and what is adopted this evening is also not final. After the adoption, everything is reviewed by the Department of Local Government Finance and then a budget recommendation is sent to us for a final review. Once submitted to the Department of Local Government Finance in December or January, everything then becomes final. At every stage of the process, the budget and tax rate can be decreased. But at
016no point can anything be increased beyond what it was advertised to our taxpayers. This conservative approach is why we advertise high. We can always go down but cannot go up. Historically, Avon has lowered the tax rate before final approval. Our board has been fiscally responsible reducing our debt tax rate by 21.3% and the referendum tax rate by 32.1%. We can only collect what we need. The resolution to adopt the 2026 budget replace bud bus replacement plan. State law requires that the school district have a five-year bus replacement plan and that plan be adopted annually. This plan reflects our ant anticipated bus needs but can only be implemented if we receive sufficient funding. I recommend your approval. >> Thank you Sheila. Um so on the bus replacement plan handout um there are a total of nine
017buses that are planned for the year 2026. Um and so when would we pay for those buses and when would those buses be delivered? That's a great question. So we would have to depending on the funding that we would receive. If we received sufficient funding in 2026, we would um request for the purchase in 2026, but the lead time may vary. So, it depends on when the what time they can uh actually deliver the buses. Sometimes if we do it in one year, we won't receive it to the next year. But that we have um purchase orders on our book stating that we actually purchase those or request to purchase those buses in the year uh according to what our bus replacement plan states. >> Okay. And then moving on through the next because it
018is a five-year plan. >> Yeah. Um what we really are taking action on would be the 2026 ratification of the bus replacement plan. Um in the following year 27 there's an additional four buses. 28 anticipates nine buses etc. But every year we will have the opportunity to revisit what we have projected for years 27 28 29 and 30 at this time. >> That is correct. >> Okay. And we also can amend in the current year just like we did in 2025. >> Okay. >> Excuse me. Do you know how many buses are not going to be used um coming up or are they all okay right now to use? >> To my knowledge they are, but I can ask Dr. Finley. Um >> Okay. I'm just curious to see is these uh nine new ones.
019They're going to be not replacements as you call it, but they're going to be exed on the road with all the others. >> If we purchase those in 2026, they will be replaced. >> Okay. Okay. I gotcha. I was just curious. Thank you. >> And if you look, you know, the buses that they would be replacing are 2007 and 2008s. So, we're talking about buses that we have driven now for 17 or 18 years. Um well, you know, typically in the old days, it used to be 12 years was the the span of a bus, and just with property tax impacts and of course with Senate rolled act one, there a 12-year bus replacement cycle will never happen uh as long as as we're in this current environment. So, we're our transportation department is really
020good at getting additional years and additional miles out of our buses out of necessity. That's a good thing. Very good. >> Um, I had one other question. Several years ago, we um took advantage of propane as the vehicles that we were purchasing. And um I I just never knew what the what the outcome of that is. Do we believe that what is the most economical bus? And I realize that there's 84 passenger buses, 66 activity buses. Is there um a most economical type of uh fuel to use? >> Right now for us, what we've found that the diesel buses are a little more hearty. They they tend to stay on the road longer. We've had some challenges with the propane buses. the propane um may be a little bit less expensive, but it they're they're
021difficult to keep on the road. We're we're doing a great job with that. I know that the diesel buses I think are the preferred buses at this point. >> Okay. >> So, moving forward, we'll continue with diesel. >> Yeah, that's good to know. >> And I also think some of those propane incentives that existed a few years ago when we did that, I don't know that those are as prevalent as they used to be. So, I think some of the incentives of of trying propane uh aren't in the same form that they were when we started that. Okay. >> Thank you. I wanted to just clarify more for public information. No referendum funds go towards what we're discussing. >> That is correct. >> And then when when you mention if sufficient funding exists, can you
022explain that? >> Yes. Um so we are required to um for our operations fund we are required by state law to um uh create a not only a bus replacement plan but also a capital projects plan and that is for the expenses that are in the operations fund because of property tax caps and senate in road act one we don't have sufficient funding so when we say sufficient funding that is mean that we have the funding to actually purchase uh buses or equipment. >> I did have one more general question. When you submit the action that we take tonight, as you indicated, is not final. Um, there is a review by the DLGF um and you indicated that the DLGF would be back with us with questions and andor ratification um in December. Is there
023a maximum time that DGF can contemplate our budget? >> Yes. And so we only have we have 10 days from their response. So they will review and they have up until I believe December the 31st to actually respond to when we submit it to them. But then in return we have 10 days to respond to them or whatever we we submit to them. That is the budget. >> I see. Okay. And to their credit, they have gotten better. Several years ago, we would be well into January before we were getting um budget information about that current year. And so now they have gotten um better at getting us information if not by the end of December, early January, that that we then have a final budget very early in the year, which hasn't always been
024the case. >> Yeah. The last two years it's been right before Christmas or that Friday or that Saturday >> and the 10 days start. They don't care about Christmas, do they? >> No. >> Real quick, I just wanted to add something about bus drivers. I was going um south on Dan Jones about 3:20 today and there were buses backed up clear clear almost to my mom and dad's around the roundabout and of course the high school kids are coming out that way and those poor bus drivers they are so patient and I didn't see any kids beating up each other or anything on the bus but they're so patient those drivers so I want to thank them for that. or members. I'll entertain a motion on the bus replacement plan presented. >> I move that
025the board of school trustees approve the resolution to adopt the 2026 bus replacement plan as presented. >> Second. >> Motion by Sarah, seconded by Jennifer. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? Motion passes. 5. Thank you, Sheila. We'll move on to item B, which is the resolution to adopt the 2026 capital projects budget. Mrs. Glass, state law requires that the school district have a three-year capital projects plan and that plan be adopted annually. This plan reflects anticipated projects and capital equipments that exceed 10,000 and can only be be implemented if we receive sufficient funding. We work closely with Dr. family and uh Mikey Rollinsson in a strategic um capital projects plan and I recommend your approval. >> And I would just add to both what what Sheila has shared about the bus replacement and
026the capital projects plan with Senate enrolled act one. Most of what is listed here will not be able to happen there. There will not be be sufficient funds to replace buses. There will not be sufficient funds to replace to do much of anything that's on the capital projects plan. Our operations fund is going to be heavily hit about $4 to5 million come 2028 where every dollar in the operations fund is going to have to go to people, custodians, bus drivers, u the the people that are paid out of our operations fund that keep the district going. these kinds of things, capital projects, we will have to most likely turn to debt issuances for which we have had to do in the past. When you think about >> even purchasing buses, purchasing technology infrastructure, purchasing equipment,
027that is an allowable expense out of debt service and districts like ours that are heavily residential and heavily impacted by property tax caps. The only way we've been able to keep our operations going is by leveraging our debt service fund to do some of those things. And of course the legislature has also impacted our ability to do that. So um these plans are always interesting to look at but they really are a exercise in futility because most of what's listed here we won't have the funds to complete because those dollars have to be prioritized to people. >> Good point. Board members, any other questions? If not, I'll entertain a motion on the capital projects fund. >> I move that the board of school trustees approve the resolution to adopt the 2026 capital projects plan as
028presented. >> Second. >> Motion by Mike, seconded by Cindy. Any discussion? All those in favor? Motion passes 5-0. Thank you. Um, item C is the resolution to adopt the 2026 budget. Mrs. Glass, >> thank you, Mrs. Woodward. As I spoken before, I've stated before, the board has worked diligently diligently over the last three months uh to get to this point. This resolution approves the budget for the education fund and the budgets and levies for the referendum, the debt service, and the operations funds for 2026. Budgets again will not be finalized until review by the Department of Local Government Finance in December. I recommend your approval. I think it's important every time at this present time that we're mentioning the word referendum that we clarify. This is our existing 2018 referendum that is contemplated in this
029um in this budget. I'll entertain a motion on the adoption of the budget. >> I move that the board school trustees approve the resolution to adopt the 2026 budget as presented. >> Second motion by Jennifer, seconded by Sarah. Any discussion? All those in favor? Motion passes. 50. Thank you. Um item D. Uh Mrs. Glass the resolution to transfer amounts between the education fund and the operations fund. >> Thank you, Mrs. Wilbert. House enrolled act or house bill 109 require transfers to occur from the educations fund to the operations fund and the operations fund to the education fund. This authorization allows our corporation treasurer to transfer an amount not to exceed $13,159 59,758 during the calendar year of 2026. I do want to state that in our budget workshop and our budget hearing the uh transfer
030uh based upon our budget between the funds was only $8 million. So this 13 million is the maximum amount that we could. However, when budgeting, it's only $8 million. 8,160 $60,000 >> and the 13 million is arrived at as a percentage function of what? >> Of the revenue in the education fund. >> Thank you. >> So, we cannot uh transfer over 15% of the revenue in our education fund to the operations fund. >> Thank you. Just again for public that might be wondering why in the world do we have to do this? This is all state law that said, you know, if you think back a few years, we used to have a general fund and we used to have a a transportation fund. Yeah. >> And a capital projects fund. And now the state
031said you have to have an operations fund, but they can't change the way that schools receive the revenue. So Sheila has to make transfers for positions like custodians, like payroll, human resources, bus drivers that are more of the operations, not tied to the classroom. And so Sheila has to look at all those expenses that have to be paid out of the operations fund and make sure that she transfers enough money over to the operations fund to be able to pay those employees. So, this is all a function of um our legislators attempt to make school finance increasingly complicated and this change took effect in 2019. Um that that really changed all of the accounting functions that our finance office and Sheila has to do to make sure that our staff are paid out of the
032right pots and there is sufficient money in each of those pots um to to meet those expenses. >> Yes, thanks for clarifying that. I've never asked this question, but what as a practical matter, do you do transfers between funds on um the school corporation pays bi-weekly? Is that true? >> Yes, we pay >> or semionthly. >> Bi-weekly. Bi-weekly. >> So, you're not doing a one-time transfer of this of these funds. You're either doing it on a by pay cycle or per month interval. It's a per month interval and it's based upon the state tuition that we receive. >> Yes. Okay. Each quarter though I do um create a report. I um calculate how much are those actual expenditures and each year it has actually been the 13 million. However, I've been having to scale back
033those transfers to ensure we have sufficient funds in our education fund. >> I see. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. I think I understood that. So, you t up at the end of the quarter um and together it has been about this $13 million amount. >> Yes. However, >> we've never transferred that amount. >> Right. Yes. Okay. Got it. Thank you. >> Uh board members, I'll entertain a motion on the transfer amounts between education and operations fund. I move that the board of school trustees approve the resolution to transfer amounts from education fund to the operations fund as presented. >> Second motion by Mike, seconded by Kim. Any discussion? All those in favor? Motion passes 5. Thank you. Uh moving on the resolution authorizing the investment of public funds. Mrs. Glass. >> Yes. Thank you, Miss
034Woodward. This resolution is approved annually and it allows us to competitively bid our certificates of deposit outside Avon's B boundaries. I recommend your approval. >> Approve the resolution authorizing the investment of public funds as presented. Second motion by Cindy, seconded by Sarah. Is there any discussion about this item? All those in favor? Motion passes. 50. Thank you. Um item F is the investment income resolution. Mrs. Glass. >> Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Woodward. We have receded investment income in our general education fund, allowing it to be expended in ways that most closely aligns with or supports our students. This resolution allows 100,000 of investment income to continue to be receded into the education fund with any income exceeding a 100,000 to be receded into the operations fund in 2026. I recommend your approval. >> I just
035had a quick question. Um the 100,000 where did that come from? Was it how did we come up with that amount? So at that at when we first started um doing the investment that helped offset some of those onetoone devices that we had before and so that still helps us offset some of those curriculum materials we don't get um uh reimbursed for from the state. And we have tried to um always prioritize these funds for things that are more one-time expenses because th this is great when interest rates are high, >> but then interest rates come down and then all of a sudden you're not earning as much. And so Sheila's exactly right. We we decided to earmark some of that for technology and then the rest going into the operations fund to give us
036some additional support um in that fund because of property tax caps. But we've never wanted to bank on this money for salary purposes because eventually the interest rates will drop. >> What is our 2025 anticipated investment income? Anticipated >> because you'd have to project the last two months of the year. So for total in 2025, our investment income um 1.5 million in the operations fund >> 1.5. Okay. Thank you. >> And then in the education fund 100,000 that's the estimated amount. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Our interest rates have gone down though. >> Exactly. We were enjoying high return for a very short period of time. >> She I have a question. Is this where the book rental is comes out of >> this one? No. >> No. >> Okay. Is it on one of these?
037I was just curious. No, >> no, it's on a different thing then. Okay. >> Well, I mean it's accounted for in the education >> education fund. So, in that way when you approve the education fund budget, it was rolled into to there. >> Okay. >> But it you don't there's not a separate resolution that the board has to pass. >> No, since it was being kind of new. Yep. >> All right. Thank you. I'll entertain a motion on the investment income resolution. >> I move that the board of school trustees approve the investment income resolution as presented. >> Second. >> Motion by Jennifer, seconded by Sarah. Any discussion? All those in favor. Motion passes 5. Thank you. Item G is the resolution for appropriation reduction, Mrs. Glass. >> Yes. our approved appropriations, they uh exceed
038what we actually spent as a result of property tax caps. So, we advertise an inflated tax rate due to all of those unknowns we talked about before at the time of our budget. This resolution permits for appropriation reduction of the operations fund for budget year 2025 to insist to assist in more accurate budget in 2026. This change does not impact our expected 2025 expenditures or revenue, but rather attempts to reduce our 2025 appropriation to more accurate to a more accurate level based on anticipated expenditures. I recommend your approval. Were members any questions on this item? If not, I'll entertain a motion. I move that the board of school trustees approve the appropriation reduction resolution as presented. >> Motion by Sarah, seconded by Cindy. Any discussion? All those in favor? Motion passes. 5. Thank you. Um
039item H on the agenda is the 2026 budget transfer resolution. Mrs. Glass. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Woodward. This resolution allows the chief financial officer to transfer budget allocations throughout the year. This action is recommended annually and I recommend your approval. >> I move that the board of SC school trustees approve the budget transfer resolution as presented. >> Motion by Jennifer, seconded by Mike. Any discussion? All those in favor? Motion passes 5. Um Sheila, I don't really think we can adequately thank you for the amount of effort that goes into our budget preparation every year. Um but this year in particular, I know it has been um um grueling. There's no other word to describe it. Um and on top of all of that, just all the many other areas that you've had to assist
040in and magnificently um really just maintained us as we go through um this school year. And um I I sincerely applaud um you've come a long way. you know, um you always were highly talented, but every year this process just gets more and more smooth, and that is because you pay attention to this all the time. Um so, thank you um sincerely for all of the hard work and effort um and just understanding Avon so well, um and being able to guide us through a maze of um financial requirements that the state really imposes on us. Um, we owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you. >> Uh, board members, any other items before we adjourn? Uh then we will adjourn the meeting at 611
041p.m.