Tuesday, August 19, 2025 Board of Education Voting Meeting

001the distance. >> I I saw that you were trying to help and I appreciate >> Mike. Are you going to drive? >> Do you want me to or do you want >> Yeah. >> Sorry, I got that wrong. >> I do prefer driving though >> to New York. The presentation, >> but how did the thing cross my mind for about two minutes already made my reservation? I'm looking for these. Oh, get out this. >> I'd be in deep if I lost my >> They had the blue tint on for a computer, which I really >> like, but that's >> too lazy to go shopping for another pair. >> I need because I had a computer print from work all the time as the insurance our insurance recover >> and yeah, back still working. >> So,

002the last pair I got is out of date now. I sit home at the computer. I keep doing this. >> This was our on board >> and we're going to ask them about um >> I got to be careful. >> There's a new law and I just want to make sure we're compliant with >> it. I think >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Does she Yeah. It can't just be it's in our safety plan. It's got to be specific >> in like real Well, no. It's got to be a specific >> separate plan to file >> to file. Yeah. Oh, something different >> about uh uh cardiac arrest. It doesn't go into effect until next school year. >> It says some provisions of the law will be effective September 1st, 2025 and others will take effect

003in January 20th. >> Right. Right. So, we're we're >> compliant. We have we have building a mid it's really essentially building emergency plans. Okay. >> We have those and then Area 1 Boseis is spearheading kind of a a workshop to help us get ready so that we are compliant. >> Okay. That's that's >> Are they going to come up with like a sample policy for us too or if we have >> likely Yeah. >> I I again it just p it's called little girl they >> coded and she they couldn't get to the safe I just got that yesterday's mail >> oh yeah I >> with your mail >> and then Sherry snatched up some people >> Mr. whenever you're ready. >> It's like my deadline is coming out. >> Exactly. So, I just I

004actually signed up for myself online and look at the computer. >> Okay, everybody. How's everybody doing this evening? Hope well. >> Um I just uh want to say that um we opened the meeting to this more this evening at 6:09, said the pledge of allegiance and did our roll call. Um we entered into executive session at 66 610. Um we adjourn from an executive session at 6:35 p.m. Um with no action taken. Um we have uh the approval of the agenda. So may I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda? >> So moved. >> All in favor? >> I >> um minutes from the previous meeting. May I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes of the previous meeting? >> So moved. >> All in favor? Hi. >> Hi.

005>> On communications, does anyone have any communications to share? >> I have one. I uh attended the uh town board meeting last night and a neighbor came up to me and said he was going to approach the town board, which I think he did, about the lack of sidewalk on Sweet Home. Just a short period. I think it's north Elicate Creek to the other side of the bridge, which becomes kind of dangerous. There is no sidewalk there. I think it's a state issue or maybe a town issue, but he he wanted me to bring it back to the board and if we can put some pressure somewhere on >> Mr. Ronald, if it's the same gentleman, he did send me an email uh yesterday regarding that. >> He did send one. >> He sent me

006an email. >> Okay. All right. Oh, very good. Thank you. >> Is that a state issue or a local or >> Well, again, the the road and Mr. Johnson, you probably know better than I do. Sweet Home Road is a state road. >> State rebuilt it. I was under the county road, but state rebuilt it. >> Um, so I just remember that we did a grant opportunity to get sidewalks. If you remember a number of years ago, uh, and and the sidewalks in question are, I believe, this the south side of Heritage Heights that he's talking about. Uh, so I haven't >> really investigated it beyond the email. So, uh, if he's brought it to the town board, that's where I would start and then we can I'll have more to kind of share. I'll

007share it with Dr. Janestri and see what what happens. >> They would need to be involved anyways because typically the state won't put sidewalks in unless the town agrees to maintain them. >> That's correct. That's correct. >> Say that again. I'm sorry, Scott. The state will not put sidewalks on any road unless the town that's that it's in agrees to maintain them from one of the arguments on Sheran Drive for a little while across Westwood, but because it backed up to people's property and no one was doing anything with the sidewalks and they they thought about that for a long time. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah, it's just really in there a short piece. So, it' be nice to get it. >> Yeah, he did. Again, like I said, he sent an email yesterday and I

008will follow up with him. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay. Um, any other communications? Okay. Um, so unfinished business, we have none. Um, and then, uh, before we move on to the superintendent's report, I just wanted to to make a a quick statement. Um, in regards to what has transpired in the district over the past few months, I'd like to assure the community um, that the board of education has been listening and making progress. We have formed a small group of VOE members and SHA leadership that has met twice on July 17th and August 14th. Um I hope that you trust that we have gone into this with an open mind and listen to their concerns. Uh we are in the progress of planning um further meetings and events to help rebuild our

009relationship uh with Shay. Um we did have a board retreat um yesterday. Um and we are and we have set up the parameters for our BE BOE goals for the 2526 school year which we will um bring to the um to the floor in our September meeting. Um so then Dr. Janest, it's all yours. Thank you, Mr. Milani. Okay. Uh couple updates um for the board tonight. Uh we wanted to start with um presentation from Mr. Feldman on our school tax rates uh for the 2526 school year. Um those are all set and we wanted to present those numbers to the board tonight. >> Thank you, Dr. Jastri. So, this is always a good time to kind of talk a little bit about a tax levy uh versus tax rate. Uh the tax levy is

010the total amount of property taxes that is to be collected by the school district. We develop that during the budgetary process and the levy is the number that is susceptible to the tax cap law. Okay. uh tax levy, state aid, other local revenue, and fund balance reserves finance the budget. On the revenue side uh to operate the district, the sweet home tax levy for 2526 is 54,486,662. It's an increase of $218,000 uh and a percentage increase of 04%. Uh we did uh go right to the cap last year. for this coming school year. The tax rate is the rate per thousand uh that uh of assessed value that is needed to attain the tax levy. Variables that affect the tax rate are the amount of tax levy that we talked about which is set by

011the school district. For us, it's a shade over $54.4 million. The total assessed value of real property set by the assessor's office in each of our municipalities. and then the equalization rate that's determined by New York State. Uh we'll talk a little bit about the assessed value of real property and the equalization rate later. Uh but if you remember last year the town of Amherst did go through a reassessment uh and their equalization rate was set at 100% meaning that they felt as though that their assessments matched market value. It went down slightly this year in 2526 to 99%. Uh so they're very close to to market value in terms of their assessments. Uh and the town of Tana Wanda continues to decrease. Uh it went down from 23% uh in 2024 25 to 21%

012uh this year in 2526. So equalization rates u in a nutshell an equalization rate is New York State's measure of a municipality's level of assessment. So equalization rates in a formula are total assessed values of the municipality divided by the total market value of the m municipality which gives you the equalization rate. When a when a town like Amherst is uh its equalization rate is close to 100%. The town is assessing property at 100% of the market value and it's most likely gone through a reassessment in the re in very recent years. So last year again they were at 100%. Um based upon their reassessments they're down 99 to 99% this year but fairly close to uh what their assessment levels are fair they believe are fairly close to to market levels. Uh on the

013flip side equalization rate when it's less than 100% it means that the overall property in the town is assessed far less than the market value. The further that you get from 100% is the longer it's been since the town or the municipality has done any sort of reassessment. So again, the town of Tana Wanda is at 21%. Uh they've been a long time. Uh I I can't remember since I don't remember when they've done a >> a7 years. It hasn't happened in that time. >> So well there you go. So uh so those two equalization rates then help to disperse the tax levy amongst the municipalities. Again, uh the only thing that we set is the tax levy uh based upon the tax cap legislation and then uh the town sets their own assessment values

014uh and the the state sets the the equalization rate. Uh the question is why equalization rates really just for that why are they necessary? And really there's three reasons. There's no set percentage established by New York State as to how towns or what percentage towns assess at um for number one. And then you know not all mun municipalities assess at the same percentage of a market value. You can see town of Ammeris is at 99% uh and uh the town of town is at 21%. And again as I mentioned earlier the equalization rates help to disperse the levy across um two townships equally. Uh which is why third reason why we need the equalization rates to help us do that. So, back in May, uh, and again, remember, we've kind of shifted our thinking for

015those that have been on the board for a while. Uh, we've shifted our thinking for, uh, an an average home in the town. Uh, we've set assessed at $250,000. Um, and in May, uh, remember again, the assessed values remained at the 20 24 levels. Uh, and then the equalization rates were 100% in the town of Amherst. Uh and in the town of town of Wanda, they were 23%. So we estimated back in May when we did the budget uh that um a tax rate for uh the town of Ammerst would be in the neighborhood of $9.70 per thousand, which would translate to an average tax bill increase year-over-year of $7. And then on the Tanatana Wanda side, uh we had it set estimated at $42.39 or an increase from year to year of $9. So

016now uh we are making a recommendation uh for uh the tax rates as you see on the screen there. Uh what we've done um since we've obviously passed the budget uh we've adjusted our assess values based upon the certification letters that we received from each of the two towns uh as well as Erie County. The Ammerst equalization rate we did reduce from 100% to 99%. We've reduced the equalization rate in Tanawana from 23% to 21%. Uh, and these rates again are based on going to a balance balanced budget tax cap of 54,486, um,662. So on an Amherst an average home in the town of Amherst, uh, we are recommending a tax rate of $9.69 69 uh per thousand, which translates to a tax bill of $2,398, which is a decrease year-over-year of $20. On the

017Tanowanda side, uh similar home um assessed at $250,000. uh we uh are recommending uh a tax rate of $45.79 which translates to a $24 tax bill which is a decrease uh over $24. And what I want to just make note of here, and you'll see in the next couple of slides that I share with you, uh again, our tax rates are based upon the total um uh assessed land in each of the two townships. Over the course of last year, uh in Amherst on the Homestead side, uh the total assessed uh market, the total assessed values for homestead properties decreased $1.4 million. Uh on the non-homestead side, a decrease of $21.8 million in taxable assessed values. On the Tanana side, homestead uh we did see a slight increase in assessments of $395,000, but saw a

018small decrease on the non-homestead side of $182,000. What does that mean overall? uh from uh the 2425 school year to the 2526 school year, we saw a $23.2 million dip in total uh assessed values uh across both both towns. >> Can you talk about the if you wouldn't mind the relationship between the decrease in assessed value and then the change of instead of going up $7 went down $20? >> Yeah. So that's a great question. So um obviously our tax rates are based on the total assessed dollars. That in combination with our small um overall tax levy increase of point4% really means uh what you see there depicted in the chart. That's really why I our tax um overall tax bills and ultimately tax rates uh will see a decrease for for our residents in

019both towns. Okay. Uh this is just a a graphical representation of equalization rates across both towns. Uh you'll see uh this it goes back to 2016 2017 you know Amherst uh you'll see was around 91% got up to 100%. and then slowly started to decline uh to a point in 2324 their equalization rate dipped to 62% uh which was the impetus for them to do the reassessment. So last year you see uh that they did the reassessment and they were at 100% equalization rate. Uh 99% this year and you can see uh graphically there the the downward trend of the town of Tanana Wanda equalization rates you know in 1617 they were at 40.5% uh and now in 2526 they are in at 21%. Uh this is uh again just a um this is what

020we talked about to Mr. Abnol to your question. This is the Amherst graphic of the Amherst taxable assessed value. Uh this year on the Homestead side we the taxable assessed value uh was 2 bill31,258,795. And on the non-homestead side, it was 1 billion811,537,443. And then on the bottom graph there, you can see where it was in relation to to last year. Um, and you can see the the overall decrease in total taxable assessed value in the town. >> Well, we have this intermission here. Why would you not go back? Why would you not assess it 100%. >> That's a good question. It's a question that I ask the town because I know inevitably uh I know that Mr. Johnson has been in the town of Tanawanda every year and every year since I've been here,

021he's asked that question. Uh and that's nothing. It's nothing against what Mr. Johnson uh when he asked the question, I I ask the assessor every year and it's they just they're not interested in doing it and I don't know why it is. Um >> cost involved. Is that >> there? Yeah, I imagine there is a cost involved. They got >> the people out. I think they're just afraid of doing it, right? >> Especially after watching >> watching what went on in in the town next to them. It might be a reason why. But um you know, I I ask I say, "Is there any is it in part of the plans? Anything?" And I get it's not not even being discussed. So >> So that doesn't always necessarily mean if they're assessed at market value

022that their tax are going to go up. It's just a different tax rate. Theor Yeah, we saw that last year, you know, again when everybody obviously for various reasons was concerned about the the reassessment um for the town of Amherst and for the most part, you know, the we saw many of our residents their tax bills actually decreased uh from that standpoint. So it doesn't you're right. So, so even though we were at 99%. >> Mhm. >> And the um property value was less. Still don't understand how that makes the net result of minus 20. So, well, the net I mean the overall we like I say we went down over $23.2 million in assessed value. The assessed value in each of the two townships is what we base our tax rates on. That's the

023number that we use to figure out the tax rates. So the the decrease from 2425 to 2526 of that $24 million uh was the result that you saw up there. The the overall decrease plus in combination just our small uh tax cap increase. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And then on the Tanow Wanda side, as I mentioned, uh we are at um a taxable assessed value of 125,531,721 on the homestead side and on the non-homestead side uh 29,817,666. So again, as I mentioned, we did see a slight uptick of about $395,000 in assessment on the homestead side in Tanowanda. uh but did see a decrease on the t the um the non-homestead side of taxable assessed value of $182,000. This gives you just kind of a snapshot as to how the tax levy is broken down

024um across uh both townships as well as um homestead versus non-homestead. You can see uh that in the 2425 school year, our tax levy was $54,268,72 and then uh in 2526 we are at 54486 6662. Uh and you can see just how the levy is broken across as evenly as possible um between the two townships. And this again is the equalization rates kind of in action from that standpoint. Yes. >> Because I know not everybody necessarily knows this. We've talked about it before, but what the difference is between Homestead and non-H Homestead, and I know it's not every district in the area has it. >> No, not every district does have it. Uh it's essentially residential homes versus retail businesses from that standpoint. Um and the towns, again, that's something that the towns have established

025from that standpoint. Uh and it's been that way here in Sweet Home for as long as I can remember. As long as I can remember. And then this last chart, and it's super easy to read. I'm I'm really uh grateful about that. Um just gives you a sense as to where our tax rates have been. Uh the uh the green is the Tanowanda tax rate. The red is the uh Amherst, these are homestead tax rates. And you can see just uh in the last year, Mr. Rabbit, back to your your question. You can see from uh the 23 24 school year to the 2425 school year when the reassessment came in, the tax rate actually went down uh from that standpoint. Uh and it's kind of leveled off now based upon the equalization rates. So,

026uh this again is just a proposed tax rate summary. Um four, we are making a proposition uh a prop pro a proposal to the district recommendation to the district uh for the Amherst Homestead 2526 tax rate would be $969 per thousand. The non-homestead rate uh would be $14.90 per thousand. So a two cent increase on the rates uh across from Homestead one year to the next. and a 5-cent decrease uh from non-homestead uh in 2425 to 2526. And then on the Tanowanda side uh a homestead tax rate of $45.79 and a non-homestead tax rate of $6923. Any questions? I would also say to uh and I forgot to start this way. Normally at this time of year, in addition to tax rates, we've also come to you and told you about our reserves and our

027reserve balances and unassigned fund balance. Um, we talked about it in the agenda setting portion uh with a couple board members uh last week, as the district knows, we've changed our external auditors. We've moved to a new auditor. They've spent um significant amount of time getting to know us and asking a lot of questions, which is great. Um, and it quite frankly it's kind of delayed us a little bit to get that information to you. It's not anything we don't have to make any deadlines. We don't have to hit any deadlines. It's moreformational purposes than anything else. And we will report back to you all uh on those balances and where we ended up with an unassigned fund balance in September. >> Have we increased a lot in commercial property in Amherst this last year?

028anything added? >> Um, what I will say, I can't I don't know if I can really speak to that. I would just point to you that the overall assessed value went down significantly. Uh, our we have a tax attorney here uh that we work with quite regularly and he's been very busy working through assessment challenges from that standpoint. We have a lot of outstanding >> uh well we were caught up uh as of really middle of July uh and then we got a handful of them in uh the last couple of weeks. So uh Mr. Roteras from um Gro Schubin is on it and he works very hard and one of the things that we always try to do is work he works on behalf of the district obviously uh and works with the town

029attorneys and then the attorneys representing obviously the the property in question um and he works to if there's a challenge to the assessment such that the district does not have to issue refunds um and he's been very successful. >> What was the law firm that handles that? Gro Schuman >> is it name of the attorney? >> Uh his name is John Roteras. Uh that was if you remember you've been around that was the uh firm that um Bob Feldman used to work for. >> Bob Felman. That's what I was trying to remember. >> No relation. >> So how are we with the unassigned balance? What does it look like? >> I don't know yet. I don't know. We're working through that piece of it now. Um, you know, we've had our challenges with budgetary um

030unexpected budgetary expenses, particularly related to special education. Um, it's been a couple of challenging budgetary years. I'm not going to sugarcoat that. Um, from that standpoint, along with contracted transportation has been a struggle. uh an influx of McKini Vento children that we have to transport is also uh put um uh kind of a a strain on the district from contracted transportation. You know, we're we're working through it. Um we put some things in place and and to get better at kind of forecasting those things, but we were just talking about it beforehand. the number of kids that are moving into the district even over the summertime with high needs is extraordinary. It's extraordinary and uh it's a you know I'm not sure that we you know can can have space for them inside of the

031district which means that we may need to send them to out of district placements which are very very costly very costly >> and that comes out of the unassigned reserves basically. Well, we have budgetary um things in place for special education tuitions. Uh it may not be enough. Uh and we may look to kind of move things around from other budgetary areas. Uh from that standpoint, you know, you the the the public approved a budget of just $105,576,12. We cannot spend a penny more. We can't Any other questions about taxes? >> Thanks, Mr. Felen. >> Okay. Uh we will uh certify our taxes with uh the county and the towns. Uh and then this the county um produces our tax bills and you as residents of the district will get a a little piece of

032mail and uh they're due on October 15th. Thank you. something to look forward. >> Um, so last uh in I think I don't remember the date, it was mid July, we had our architects, campus construction um and um municipal solutions in here for a discussion with the board regarding our next capital project. Um we are rapidly approaching that December 2025 date. We are on time um for that, but we um need to uh engage the board in a discussion about some of the various options when it comes to the propositions uh that are that have been put before us. Um we we're we're looking basically tonight for your green light um to move forward in the seeker process for environmental review um and then to get documents ready for uh state ed um as far

033as notifications go um to put um this out to the public. So, um, so we're pretty much at that date now, I think, um, where we need, um, some direction and wanted to talk to the board about, um, answer any questions that you may have had based on the last meeting, but also to get your direction on what you think we should do as in terms of the propositions. Um, so I did, you know, the the numbers have pretty much remained the same since they were here, um, a few weeks back. Um just a quick review the base proposition um the one that includes the priorities our public mentioned uh to us during the thought exchange and the subsequent um focus group work uh of $55.2 million um includes additions um six classrooms at Maple,

034two at Heritage, two at um um Glendale. It also includes work to our uh libraries. It includes some parking lot work. Um it includes playground work. Uh which is vitally important um as we have UPKers on and we want to make sure our playgrounds are certified for the ages that are using them. Uh and it includes uh BCS items that are pretty much at end of life. Um so the we're really proud of the work that we've done um with our team to get it to the 55.2 2 million piece because we feel like in that piece we we have captured the priorities of our public um and our um faculty and staff um that they mentioned during the focus group time. That base proposition would come with a tax neutral um piece to it.

035So there would be no tax increase there. Um the question becomes then proposition A, proposition option B or proposition option C. Proposition option A is a general renovation to our elementary buildings. Um that would include work to to basically spruce them up and modernize them. Um work to the walls, the flooring, uh some cabinetry in the classrooms, um uh and uh paint. Um, so we're all kind of, you know, we've we've been in our buildings, we know, um, they're very well maintained, but they definitely need, um, updates. Um, proposition option B, uh, the work of the athletic use committee, um, is proposing, uh, work to the turf fields and the track in the back in the high school. Um, so this would include a replacement of the main turf, uh, replacement of the track. Uh

036it would also include turfing the baseball and softball fields that are currently grass um so they could be used um and have multiple games played on it at the same time. As you know, our current structure allows for only one game um at a time. Um, this proposal also includes lights for the baseball and softball turf fields. Um, as well as a ticket booth, um, some fencing, uh, and I'm missing something, but I think I got >> You got it. >> Yeah, I got it. You >> got it. >> Uh, oh, and and a track at Heritage Heights. Thank you. Um so uh the board could look and discuss tonight um having uh the we're we're fairly certain and hopeful that the base proposition being tax neutral and having such needed work um you know

037is is um a go. But we've got to discuss do you want to do one of the propositions combine both propositions or do none of the other um or drop um prop option A option B um and you know our recommendation and no matter what combination would be of course we've done a lot of work we've we've listened to um our community uh I should also point out that both the base and option A include security upgrades like um door swipes on interior, excuse me, on interior doors and a secure uh passageway at Dexter. But, um it could include, like I said, proposition A, B, or option A, option B, or a combination of the two. Um if it we went with option A, it would be um about a $20 a $28 uh tax

038increase or 1.14% um levy uh uh increase for our our community. Uh option B is about a $36 um increase for a $250,000 residence or 1.47 uh% um tax increase. And if you combined both um it'd be about $64 increase um and it would include all the work. Um if you decide uh to do base proposition and combine them um it would be about a $90.5 million project. um and proposition A would have to pass before Proposition B um would pass. If Proposition A fails, but Proposition B passes, the whole project would fail. Um >> Including the base. Yes. The base must pass for the project to go through. >> I I just if I could Yes. Um just add uh from the base proposition standpoint. Um Dr. Ji did a great job kind of

039ticking off things. The one other thing, middle school roof, uh, which is the big one, uh, for us, uh, as well as, you know, we did talk about playgrounds, not only UPK, not only UPK centered playgrounds, but also, uh, adaptive special ed, uh, high needs, uh, type playgrounds. Uh from that standpoint, uh that base proposition work also includes us using $3 million of our capital reserve fund. Uh which is why we can get that amount of work into the scope uh and still be tax neutral. Um, so, uh, and again, I I know that campus and and, um, uh, Young and Wright were here along with Maggie, our our financial, um, planner, uh, from Municipal Solutions. We worked very hard to get to this point, number one. But number two, we also worked very hard.

040If you remember when we started this out, uh, our our mantra and kind of our our marching orders were always going to be that state ed wouldn't support us doing additions because they're just not doing that any longer. That's what we heard. And we met a number of times with state ed and finally got the green light from them to say, "Go ahead and and do this. Your district is really an anomaly." Um, from that standpoint that our enrollment continues to grow. our enrollment does continue to grow, but our projections also included um potentially a Boulevard Mall situation. Um and we're not quite sure what is happening with that and be perfectly honest with you from that standpoint. Uh, and I'm fearful, this is just me talking, that if we were to put all together

041uh, in one big proposition and it were to go down in terms of a vote, I'm not so certain that we would get another kick at the can from state ed to do much much needed uh, space renovations at each of the buildings. So I I think the strategy that was presented earlier to the board I think is a solid one where we do the base proposition as a standalone proposition um with a tax neutral um scenario and then really ultimately we need to decide from a scope standpoint as to what we want to do in terms of additional propositions. The last piece that I will say is is that you know depending upon from here we would go to seeker and we would start that environmental review process. Our architects would go to work

042and do design you know in phases. We have to meet certain percentages by certain times and then we would you know obviously we would we would vote in December and if that would pass we would start those things from that standpoint. And when we put the bids out, if you remember correctly, when we did our bid packages for this last $40 million project, we did a number of add-on alternates. Um, so there is some opportunity depending upon how bids come in that we could do, you know, that our money might go a little further from that standpoint as well. So, I just want people to be mindful of that um as well. But uh you know I think that for me the one the base proposition for $55.2 million would be a standalone and then

043we just need to decide what we want to do in terms of the other potential propositions. >> Yeah. I'd like to piggy back off of what Mr. Feldman said that the the 55 million base proposition. It's it's critical work. Um that's why I would not recommend combining them all into one proposition. Uh because we we'd really need that th those additions um the work on our playgrounds etc etc what we talked about. So um our recommendation would be to keep the 55 million as proposition one and then some iteration of option A, B or C into a proposition two. um that that base proposition is critical work. Um and it needs to pass >> and that whatever the the tax impact is, it's a it's a one-time impact and it depends again when we borrow

044uh as to when that'll hit uh from that standpoint. But once it's in there, it remains in there until the debt falls off. We do have other debt that falls off in 2031 um from a a previous project. It will not be nearly the the amount of debt that's falling off from this project. The scope of the next project will not be anywhere close to this. >> Just say that again. So the onetime hit. So if say we were to combine both of these and and go for that $64 >> tax impact, how would that fit into what you're saying on one time hit? >> Again, it depend >> it depends on I don't know what happened to the microphone. It depends upon when we borrow as to when that debt service will hit. Um,

045but it will be whenever it does, the increase will come in a one-time variety. It'll be >> It's not going to come every year. >> No, it's a one time. Once it's in, once that that debt service is in, you know, our our debt service payments, it's in there. And that increase only hits once. >> One time, we'll pay that $64. >> Correct. You'll pay the $64 one time. And that again remember it's it's we try and keep the debt service as level as we can uh so that our tax rates don't do this uh from that standpoint. And then again in 2031 2032 we'll have some debt fall off that we'll have to talk about what the next project might be. The timing is very planned. Um we got to this point because of

046the the big debt fall off that we're happening now. Um so um we're right on track uh for this to happen and at at these numbers. >> I just want to jump in. I mean if we go back I think it's three projects now when we actually did a bunch of the work here at the high school when we did the turf stuff out there. We did put that out as a base proposition. These are the musts and then a second proposition. It wasn't broken like these option but the second proposition was the athletic fields and a bunch of the stuff outside. and it was set up just what you guys mentioned earlier is if the base proposition didn't pass the other one doesn't matter if it was 100%. It it still went down. Um

047I think that worked very well when we did it back then and I would encourage my counterparts to do it the same way. My thought on this is is use option C up there bringing those two together rather than having them fight against each other for votes on those two of them. my thoughts. >> Why would Why would the base proposition fail? It's tax neutral. >> What? I I just can't >> I don't think it but I but I I tying any taxes to the base might that would >> I you know I'm very our community has been incredibly supportive of especially of our facilities. We we're known for our facilities here. So, I I'm still optimistic it would pass, but it's not worth the chance, I would say, um, of having the base. >>

048And I would also say, Maryanne, just from that standpoint, that we were very strategic about the the the conceptual scope of work that we put into that $55 million piece of it. That is work that needs to be done >> from our building, >> correct? And additional the additions from that standpoint as well. So, you know, we feel pretty good about, you know, the scope of work that's inside of that that proposition. Uh and that's why we feel as though it's important for it to be standalone uh from that standpoint because it does it does need to be done and we're not >> on your question. You think back three budgets ago we put out a 0% tax increase and we still had 400 people vote against it. >> Yeah. Yeah. True. >> Just to

049piggyback after what you said, I totally agree. Put the base proposition out there on its own standalone and then I too would go with C um kind of all-encompassing. And >> so can we walk through what people are going to get for $24, $36, $64 for anyone who's listening to the last meeting? >> Sure. So um right up there um is the numbers behind um option A, the financials um behind that. Um and so this I believe was the um general renovations. Um that would include uh classroom door hardware, gym upgrades, classroom renovations to flooring, especially corridor patching and paint at Glendale at Maple. That's the door and hardware replacement. So we would um include the U swipes, >> the gym upgrades, corridor improvements, classroom renovations. Um, we also, this is in the base, but

050you know, obviously Maple Mirror, the library and and some of the common spaces have been cut up to where they can't be cut up anymore. Um, and so these pro both of these projects will address that um piece of it. Uh, at Heritage, we would look at corridor patching and paint, gym upgrades, uh, multi-purpose area renovations. They have the the the pods at at Heritage. Um and so that cabinetry and the pods is falling apart um right now. Um in general classroom renovations and then at Willowidge they would get classroom renovations, flooring, paint, cabinetry, um gym upgrades and corridor improvements. >> So essentially in every classroom, Miss Anthon, it would be lights, cabinetry, flooring, carpets, uh and then the hallway it would be lights. Uh if you've been in the elementary building, the the cubbies

051along the the walkway there also would get uh redone. Um painting of the corridors, painting of ceilings, uh and then the gym, it would be uh paints, lights, wall, uh pads, refinishing of the gym floors, uh etc. >> Better student environment, better teacher environment, teachers not teaching out of closets, spaces for everybody. That's the idea. >> That's the idea. Yeah. >> Is that not part of the base prop though? >> It is not. The base prop is >> expansion in terms of space. >> Well, the base prop the base prop will give you uh as Dr. Janestri had said, six new classroom spaces at Maple, two at Glendale, and two at Heritage. Beyond that, it wouldn't touch any of the existing classroom spaces. is it wouldn't update those spaces. We wouldn't remove carpet, lights, paint,

052the whole nine yards. It would just be addressing that space. And then the only other space that would be touched in those buildings, as Dr. Janes said, would be the libraries. The libraries are pretty cut up. Uh we need to make them more uh workable uh for our staff. There's a lot of academic intervention that happens in those places. uh ENL instruction, those types of things to be able to give those folks dedicated spaces in addition to kind of transforming to 21st century learning with STEM spaces and things along those lines in that spot. >> Have we not approached those things in the past? When was the last time we looked at STEM spaces and renovating classrooms in the elementary? >> I've been here for 23 years. We've not touched a classroom in an elementary

053building. >> Okay. >> Which looks the same as when I went there. >> Well, no. I go in the heritage. I know what it looks like. So, I'm going to go back to my prior discussion with this is use the base prop and hopefully have some alternative or what do you call them? >> Alternates. alternates that may be able to while they're adding a classroom, look at some of the interior parts of the renovation. I'm afraid to go out to the public with a tax increase. And by the way, you're raising a tax rate and that rate stays there forever. No, you're not raising it $64 a year, but it's in there. And so it becomes a permanent expense of the budget. Am I right in saying it that it becomes a permanent expense of

054the budget until the next project and the debt falls off the next project and depending upon the scope of that project. >> Right? So if you're current $7 million in building projects, some of that's going to fall off. So this base project comes on. So it doesn't really increase that $7 million rough number. >> Correct. >> So can can we also in in addition to the alternates or whatever you call it, is it alternates or >> Yep. You got it. No, you got it. >> Can we put these other two pieces off a year just again to stay neutral this coming year? There is a lot of concern in the town with tax increases brought on by the 11 point whatever it was last year. So, it's a very big concern in the public. And

055yes, I know the Sweden community if you told them we need to raise our rates by $64, they would go along with it. I I I think the public needs a little break on that. That's my opinion. So, that's where I'd like to go. Base project only with some alternatives. >> Sure. >> If we can pick up I'd love the turf fields and tracks to go. >> I'd love maybe some renovations if we can pick that up in the buildings. >> So, just for clarification, that $64 impact that hit wouldn't happen until the debt service came onto our roles. So, it wouldn't be next year. It wouldn't be the year after. depends upon when we borrow when that money would hit uh from that standpoint. So, um you know, we'd have obviously if we got

056the green light here, we could kind of work through that and kind of give you know, as part of our marketing plan, obviously we'd want to share that information out. Uh but from that standpoint, it's it's I just want to clarify what you had said that it's not something that's going to hit taxes next year. Not immediately, but it comes on and it stays on and and maybe in 31 you got something that drops off and it can be easily added there. >> And again, it just a delay a year is not going to hurt anything. I mean, it >> would come on two years after that. >> Okay. >> Can we survive in these buildings with what they're at for another year or two? >> Well, again, you know, much of our and I

057don't I'm sorry. I just I I you know much of our the scope of our project is driven off of the uh the building condition survey. We're required to do the building condition survey every 5 years. Uh and in this project in the scope of this project you know and they they delineate in that building condition survey you know a useful life of something that has less than a year less than 3 years less than 5 years and 10 years time frame. So, you know, we've really focused on in this project high priority areas. I get worried about we're never going to catch up. It's just it's an it's impossible to do that. I just worry about what might be coming down the line in terms of uh needed building improvements uh that we may

058never get to a point where we can do this. I was going to reiterate that point that while we have some, you know, 2031 is the next, you know, circle on our on our building project calendar. Um, that's, you know, we're still five, six years away. There will be other red item BCS items that we're going to have to do at that point. Um, and so, you know, these renovations really were the result of a lot of feedback from our community through thought exchanges or focus groups that we did a couple years ago. Um, and and so because they have the elementary buildings really haven't been touched. I I will m they've been really wellmaintained. They are they're high functioning buildings, but they really haven't been touched from an upgrade or a renovation standpoint maybe

059since they've been built. Um that that it was time. >> So So you want to go two separate proposals here? Is that what you're talking? Yes. >> That's your suggestion? >> Yes. >> Yeah. And I just >> And give the taxpayers a choice. >> Correct. Give the taxpayers a choice. And then, you know, we're throwing a lot at you here, but one of the other things, too, and we talked a little bit about this in our retreat yesterday. um in in in the project here there is some scope that will help um upgrade our service our electrical service to our our uh bus garage um because again remember we have to meet the mandate of 2035 to transition from a gas fleet to um an EV fleet uh from that standpoint. So there is work

060in there. Um, if you remember in our electrification study, Wendell presented to us that in order to get everything ready infrastructure-wise, it was going to be somewhere between 9 and 11 million. And that's minus buses. That doesn't include buses. So, we've done some work over there. Obviously, the electrical upgrade piece of it to the service center is a huge piece and it's included in the scope of this project um, from that standpoint, but the remainder of the work still needs to be done. Um, I'm not certain of where funding is going to come from. And in my mind's eye, 2031, that project in 2031 could potentially be much of us getting ready and being finished to transition our bus garage to be ready for our electrification for what it's worth, whether you agree with it

061or not. And I and and when we work with young and right um in campus, what I've appreciated is that they are seeing not just this project, but the next 10 years um of what that's going to entail. And so to Don's point about the bus garage and other VCS items, um I've really been appreciative of their work to not just think this is a oneand done. This is this is a really a 10-year plan. um as we as we move forward >> um we'll see what the public says the bottom line right >> what we're what we're discussing tonight then is how to parse out what we're asking people to vote on so we all we I think we all agree that we're going to keep the first one by itself >> yes >>

062and then it's just a question of whether or not to separate A and B or combine them for C. So if people vote however they vote on on the base proposal, then if they vote no on C, we lose all of C. >> All of C. >> Correct. >> Including classroom repairs and things like that. >> If they vote no on the base proposal, we get nothing all the way around. >> Nothing, >> which would be really bad because we don't know that we'll get a second chance to get those additions on school buildings. >> Yes. >> Okay. is the concern. They may not they may look at it as a total even though it's two separate proposals. That's the risk, right? >> If we explain it. >> Yep. >> Properly. >> You got to

063do a dog and pony show. >> Yes. >> We're the uh Don and Mike tour will be coming to a school near you. >> We are grizzled veterans >> when it comes talking about that stuff. >> Yes. Yes. >> When will they be voting on this? >> The summer of 25. Yeah. Okay. This December. And so how how will that work? Like it's the same thing as as the budget vote. Like they'll come in and they'll cast their vote and then we'll know. >> Yes. Yes. >> And so what about um option B? Because I don't think we went over that. >> Yeah. So um this would include uh so when we got the athletic use committee um together, the athletic council, basically our work has been on the facilities in in the back. Um

064we have excellent facilities but they have their limitations and um and basically the multi-use turf field um the one game at a time especially in the spring when the weather is bad um and there's a lot of games to be played um our students are here pretty late at night um and um we we talked about um turfing baseball and softball um to offer other opportunities um for our students. So, um through the recommendation of the uh athletic council, we are going to propose a track resurfacing uh we have to replace the turf um the main turf that's in the back because it is coming to end of life as well. Um it would include kind of a if this passes, we would reconfigure, we'd keep the football field the way it is, but we

065would reconfigure what the softball and the current softball and current baseball. We talked about field hockey. We talked about flag football um back there and we can reconfigure it the way um we want to to get more use out of it. Uh and then we we talked about the uh the turf um and the softball field uh and the baseball field. Uh we would include pathways back there to um access those two fields. They would have turf, they would have fencing. Um they would be their separate facilities so you could play softball and baseball at the same time. Um right now the current proposal has lights in it um as well for those fields so we could get multiple games in in a night or practices. Um uh it also includes a ticket booth um

066as well uh which is much needed um for especially football games. Um and then finally uh you know in our visits to Heritage Heights um the track does get used there and it needs uh basically a complete replacement over there. It's not I don't think it's been touched since it was been been installed. So, um this would include that that replacement at Heritage Heights. >> How many students do we have that use these facilities? >> Oh boy. Um I mean, >> well, there's 400 in the Are you talking about just at Heritage Heights or you talking about >> No, about like in in our like high school, let's say high school. So there's 1150ish kids in the high school. >> Um you know there's not a day that the turf is not being used >>

067uh from that standpoint. It's being used for PE classes. We host all kinds of all-star games, sectional competitions of those types of things. Um and it it is a challenge when we get to spring season. Spring sports are always a challenge with the grass and the softball field, grass fields to find scheduling and to make them fit. Uh and with the lack of bus drivers and transportation, it makes it doubly difficult uh to be able to do that. And um you know, it gives us a little bit more flexibility. and on the the the existing turf as well. You know, obviously we'll continue to play football there, but the thought is where the baseball and the softball diamond is, it could be repurposed to things like new sports like flag football from that standpoint as

068well. So, the turf is continually used. >> I don't know if there's a day that goes by. >> I got one last question. It has to do with u when you go out to price some of this. Will will that be know what we have? >> Yep. by prior to the vote in December. >> No, not prior to the vote in December. So, yeah. So, once the the vote in December actually authorizes us to kind of move forward and then as we get closer, you know, we go through the design process with the state ed that usually takes about 12 to 14 months. Uh and then following that, once we have final design, we start to build bid packets and we go out to bid then. And then you know again what we've done in

069the past to the point where we would create alternates and things along those lines. We would come back uh and talk about where the bids obviously you would vote on the bids and the results of the bids but we would also come back and talk about um priorities in terms of alternates and what you might like to see done and and not from that standpoint. >> Part of that is >> is that before you go out on the other pieces? I mean >> I'm sorry. the first base proposition go through state ed first before you >> No, that'll all it'll all go through together. Um, and again, uh, you know, obviously if it all passes, it'll all go through together from that standpoint and then we'll work with our construction management to put together a

070construction plan in terms of phasing and when things will happen uh, from that standpoint. And I will say that, you know, the the estimates that we've received now or the numbers that you see do have a cost escalation consideration in there and that, you know, if we don't reach those es escalations, that's where the alternates can come into play. Um, so a lot hinges. I think um the bidding process for me was always the the the nervous uh piece of this um and where it came in and then the planning really begins too. >> Okay. Thank you. Yep. So tonight, if if I'm hearing it correctly, I mean, I I um I guess we would just need a green light either, you know, I I think prop a sounds like it's good, the 55 million.

071Um and then I sensing but not not certain the base prop of 55 that you would like to combine option A and option B or >> that's where I'm at. Okay, that's where I'm at, too. >> You're just going to combine AB is which is proposition C and it's a separate vote. Republic can say if they want to spend the money. >> Yes. Yes, >> that's fine. >> Okay. >> I agree with everything Scott said 25 minutes ago. >> Thanks. I saw six head nods. Danny, okay. Yes. All right. All right. Thank you, everybody. Um so as we prepare for the opening of school I have some good news and again working with um Mr. Feldman, Mr. Kennedy at the transportation department when we talked to you about the new start and stop times for

072the 2526 school year. One of the things that we knew we could do would increase the number of afterchool runs um to try and bring them back to pre-COVID levels even though we have a driver shortage and that driver shortage continues. So I'm working very diligently with Mr. Kennedy and I can't thank him enough um for for his work here of what he's done. Um and we are super excited um to announce that we're going to be pretty much whole. And and what I mean by that is we are getting back to pre-COVID after school um busing. Um it was a lot of hard work by the transportation department. Um a lot of hard work by the building use committee on the new start and stop times. Um but this is a one of the

073and and a tremendous benefit um for our afterchool and extracurricular programs um upk through 12. So, um, what we're going to be able to do because of the new schedule is, um, start now, some of this is going to this is going to start on October 2nd. Um, these main pieces because of the way, uh, runs are bid out to the transportation um, department. So, there will be another bidding process in late September. So, by October 2nd, we're happy to announce that we will have five late buses um departing the high school at 4:15 p.m. and that will be 5 days per week. Um so that students that have a early practice or a practice right after school will have transportation home from um practice, clubs um and detention. Um, honestly, we will have uh

074four middle school buses at 4 departing at 4:15. Um, 5 days per week starting on October 2nd. Um, again, excited for that. Same usage, uh, athletics, extracurricular clubs and activities. Um, even if there's anything with music after school, um, there will be transportation home. We are going to divide uh each elementary uh uh building will get two afterchool buses um four days per week starting on October 2nd. Um as well um we will have three elementary band and orchestra buses starting on Monday, September 22nd. Um leaving the middle school. Those practices will take place at the middle school this year. Um not the high school. U mainly because it's easier to set up the middle school and um kids will get more time um for uh practice uh at the middle school. I want to

075thank Principal Doria for working with us in the music department um to make that happen. Um and then point number five, after school detention buses will begin at the high school and the middle school immediate immediately and they will be um 5 days per week. So, um, lot of work went in and starting at the building news committee, um, on the start and stop times and one of the benefits would be this, uh, after school busing, um, and just really really excited. Can't thank Scott enough and his team, um, down there, um, at at transportation for really really listening to the community and making this making this work. We're excited. I would just add and and this is an oversight on my part when I put this slide together. The elementary buses uh would be

076again four days a week at each of the buildings. Also a 4:15 um depart time from the buildings. The elementary buildings are going to uh end the buses regular buses will roll around 3:15. It gives them an hour after school uh to be able to do those types of things. Uh, and then I'm I'm I'm really proud of the work that we did surrounding the elementary band and orchestra uh piece of it. I will commend I will echo what Dr. Janestri said about uh Miss Doria at the middle school to be able to do this uh to be able to get all of the kids to practice together. Number one, it's huge. Uh and number two, uh you know, there'll be there'll be buses that will leave each elementary building at the same time getting

077to the middle school at the same time of all the kids that will practice and then we will have buses that will take them home. Uh from that standpoint, if you remember correctly, we had buses coming, but because of the start and staggered times, it made things difficult to get the group together all at once. This will help that certainly. And then we relied solely on parent transportation home. Uh so this is a bit of a gamecher for us too. It um I'm the amount of work that that Scott Kennedy and the transportation team did to get us to this point is commendable. Our drivers are excited about the opportunity of um of afterchool busing uh returning. Uh so we are we're really excited about it and and this could not have happened without the

078change in the start and stop times to push the the elementary back so that they were the last run on the way home. Um otherwise we're we're continually um facing delays, but this will be this will be good for our community. I'm super proud of the work that they've done. Super proud. We're we're looking at 22 buses added for after school um four or five days a week. It's really Yeah, I can't say enough about Scott. >> Can you just clarify? Is it three elementary band and orchestra buses total or per building >> total? So there'll be So there'll be one there'll be one bus at 3:15. There'll be on days that elementary band and orchestra are taking place, there'll be one bus that those kids will get on and they will go to the

079middle school. And then from that point when the the uh rehearsal is over, there will be three buses that will take whomever is left uh in terms of needing transportation home. It's much like we use and you know this, it's much like we do with exams. They go to certain areas in the district. Um, but from that standpoint, uh, we do have transportation so that kids won't be closed out. >> So, there'll be four buses to the middle school and three buses to get those students home. >> That's correct. >> Thank you. >> You mentioned bus drivers. Where do we start in the year with them? Do you have a final not >> I don't know off the top of my head. I think we're probably in the neighborhood of about uh I think we're

080in the neighborhood of about 58 to 60 somewhere. I know that we have some it all depends upon when we have some aids that are transitioning to drivers as to when that will that will fully happen. So, um >> good stuff. >> Yeah, it this has been very help this has been very helpful from transportation. >> I wondered if the recruiting that we did with the job fair. >> We had uh two candidates uh at the job fair that we're bringing on as aids that will eventually become bus drivers. So, >> we had a record number of people at the job fair this year. I think we had around 90, which was a record for us. So, it's good. Um, and I will say also um for um to and from school transportation um the

081bus garage is working day and night to get those routes done. Um it's just a very fluid situation because this is registration time. Um and we're getting an influx of of kids registering now. So, um we schedules and and busing um is going to be released next week. >> Sorry, I was on a um and then um Mrs. Jason had a comment about um the code of conduct and um Dr. Wilson just had a quick update. >> Um so, good good evening everyone. Um if you remember back in June we presented um the updates to the code of conduct for 202526 um we had some minor changes that we um were recommending um for the upcoming school year. Um we presented those they were updating the DASA coordinators um referencing our a distraction-free school zone

082policy that would be added um and then you reviewed that in the next board meeting. the AIA policy being added and then just making sure that um distraction-f free policy was added to the um as an attachment of the code of conduct. So, it went up for uh public comment for 30 days. Um and I'm reporting out that there are no comments. Um and so it is on your docket tonight for a vote. >> Thanks, Dr. Wilson. Um I also uh wanted to welcome Mr. Joel Lucenti who is our interim U principal at the at Swedom High School. Um he's been a longtime administrator I think 46 years in education. Um majority of that spent in high school administration at Kenishhas High School and Akran High School. Um this is his seventh interim assignment. Um

083I know he met many of you um yesterday. Um we are beginning a search uh in conj in in working with um our teachers to find a permanent uh principal at the high school. Um and we are working with them to uh develop the process to find uh our next principal at the high school. Um but there will be a posting um probably by the end of this week that will go out um so we can start collecting resumes. Um and and I want to um just assure the public that all stakeholder groups will be involved in the process and and voices will be heard in finding the um our next candidate uh at the high school. So um Mr. Luceni has hit the ground running. He's um been very very busy in meetings um

084and working with um teachers that have been in the building this summer um as well as the assistant principles and athletic director. So, um we're excited to have him and um um he's very wellversed in this type of work. Uh speaking of the start of school, just want to welcome everybody back. Tuesday, September 2nd is our first day with students. It's a full day of school. Um and just I think our public knows by now, but there's the uh times for the high school, middle school, um and elementarymentaries. And I said, um and I know busing schedules will be coming out very shortly. um as they finalize our registrance um for the summer. Um additional information about our start and stop times of course are still on our website. Um and then I know the

085buildings are sending correspondents home as well. That's what I have tonight. Questions? >> No questions. >> Okay, thank you everybody. >> Um so moving on, we do have um some upcoming events. Um next week we have new teacher orientation leadership in me training. Um opening day for and staff development day which I believe is virtual online correct on the 28th. >> Um September 1st we have Labor Day and then school starts September 2nd and then our board meetings for September are our our study session on the 9th and our voting session on the 16th. >> How many new teachers do you have? Uh, I think just 16 or 17. >> Uh, yeah, we're right up at about 20. Yep. >> Yeah. >> Okay, moving on to our first open session. Um, the this is an

086open session on agenda topics only. Um, per um board policy 1512, we hold two open sessions at each meeting. The first session is limited to comments on agenda items for tonight's meeting. The board of education recognizes the importance of maintaining an open dialogue with the community members. In so doing, um, community members choosing to speak at the board of education meeting are bound by the terms outlined in this policy and must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this policy. Um, the district code of conduct and all laws and regulations that govern operations of the board of ed. Um, speakers must be recognized by presenting officer, presiding officer, and announce their name, address, and if appropriate, group affiliation. Non-district residents must include the name of the business of their business and how they do business

087with the board of ed. Um, statements must be made to the board president, not individual board members. Participants may not discuss specific individuals or issues that fall under executive session rules. Um, speakers must be at least 16 years of age and are limited to three minutes each. Speakers may not transfer their time to another participant. The total amount of time for each public participation period is 30 minutes. Um, all speakers in this open session must state which agenda item they are speaking on. Um, so is anyone interested in speaking? Going once? Nope. Okay. Moving on um to new business. Uh may I have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda A through M? >> Mr. President, I'll make a motion to approve consent agenda items A through M. >> Second. Is there

088a second? Sorry. Okay. So, um, our new business, um, A is special education placement, um, for our classes in 2526 and also our preschool, um, class pay placements. Any questions or comments on those? >> No. Um, there was, um, about 87 pages that I went through and a lot of it is just re-evaluation for the coming year. Um, again, we're still getting new students in each each month. I see new students coming in. So, >> yes, we do. Um B is monthly financial reports policy 2140. Any comments? Okay. Um C is our our tax rate which Don gave a great presentation on um a little earlier. >> Um letter D is the disposal of obsolete property policy 5250 which I believe is a cooler in the kitchen and a couple other items. >> Some textbooks,

089>> small books, >> books and stuff. Um E is our um committee appointments to the safety committee and the wellness committee. Um F is the code of conduct policy 34 um 10 which is what Dr. Wilson just explained to us. Um G is the purchasing cooperative um along with H which is also another purchasing cooperative. Um I is a resolution to appoint our physician under education law 913 which is believed to the yearly appointment. Correct Dr. Jenny? >> Um it is this one. Um yes it appoints a doctor for a a 913 exam. >> Okay. Um J is our revised coaching stipen um with the Shay contract. Um is this the >> unifi there? Uh yeah, unified flag football is being added by section 6 and um um our athletic director, Mr. Schumo, uh presented

090that to us and happy to have that opportunity in the district. So um okay K resolution of the Sweet Home Central School District Board of Education authorizing a settlement of the presuit claim filed by MV on behalf of the minor child JD. Um L is the proposal of environmental consulting services uh for Sweet Home Central School District for the 2025 capital improvement projects. Um M is the anticipation note regulation date August 19th, 2025. Um a resolution delegating to the president of the board of ed of the Swedom Central School District, Erie County, New York. Um one uh the power to one authorize the insurance of and to sell tax anticipation notes of the district in anticipation of the receipts of taxes to be levied for the fiscal year of the district commencing July 1st 2025.

091Two to prescribe the terms forms and consent thereof and three to make certain determinations with respect thereto I'm going to ask Mr. Fel if you just give a brief description. I've been through this before. I've got the long description just because it's not >> I don't want to read the the resolution. Um uh no, the tax anticipation note is really basically we've done this um not in my tenure in the seat in part and I'll explain that in a minute here. But previous to that, it's it's really relative to our cash flow, our overall cash flow, right? Uh as we get into the summer months, uh we are, you know, kind of change over to the budgetary year. We are waiting for state aid payments. We are waiting for and really primarily uh the property

092tax payments in October. So it's to help us kind of offset uh our shortfall in cash flow to get us to the point of October 15th when um the tax rolls and the tax money starts to hit our bank account. We've done them traditionally for a number of years prior to to me being in the seat. uh since I've been in the seat, we've been in situations where we've had from a cash flow perspective, we've had co money come in that have helped us from that standpoint mitigate through the summer as well as capital project money to help us kind of mitigate through the summer. So in this instance here, we are we have neither. Um so this is really to help us get through. Uh we are looking to borrow just north of about

093$4 million to help us get uh through until October 15th. uh we would look to if the board approves it, we would look to close on or around September 2nd um and and get funds at that point in time to help us get to the October 15th kind of deadline. Uh I would like to introduce here in the back, Angela Lav Lavvice is back in the back here. She is our banking relationship manager from Chase, uh JP Morgan Chase, and she has helped been very helpful through the process. Um, but it's something that the district has done routinely for a number of years. It's just that we're at a point now where from a from a cash flow, it's it's needed. And >> I think everybody needs to understand it's a very short-term loan. You're

094talking >> correct. Correct. We've been talking about 45 60 90 days from that standpoint. Um, there would be obviously interest that would be need to be paid back. Uh, and we've worked with again Maggie from Municipal Solutions depending on the length and the term the percentage that we would get. You know, we're looking anywhere from about 12,000 to $20,000 in interest. Um, but it's something that, you know, in order for us to kind of maintain uh and meet payroll and and um invoicing obligations, it's needed. >> I know I signed both my my first two years as president. You probably did, too. So, >> it's not unusual. doesn't I wouldn't read anything into it. It's something just based upon cash flow that you know many many districts do it. We've just been fortunate enough in

095the last four or five years that we've had money's coming from elsewhere that we don't have any longer. >> Is there still a little bit of an arbitrage there? In other words, you you're going out at tax-free rates to the public and you deposit that cash into the bank account, money market account. Do we make a little money on that? >> Yeah, you can. you can you might be able to make a little bit money to offset the the interest costs that we would pay back from that standpoint. You know, we would we would deposit in a high yield uh interest bank uh through NIAF or NICLASS. Now, you know, last I saw the interest rates are about 4.7% somewhere in that general area. So, I >> think our rate is about 4.2 or something.

096So, >> yeah. So, we got a little bit of a higher rate there. So, we would offset some of those costs um you know with with the higher yield um deposit. >> Okay. And and so it's it's it's an option instead of going to reserves to fund us through October. Correct. >> That's correct. >> Okay. >> Yes, I remember those. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments on consent agenda A through M? Okay. So may I have a we'd already did the motions in a second. So may I have a vote on consent agenda A throughm? All in favor? >> I >> opposed extensions. Okay, that passes which leads us to sorry ourformational items. Uh Maryanne, would you like to start? >> Sure. um don't have anything except um in our on board

097readings for this past month, they mentioned a new law requiring districts to plan for cardiac emergencies. Some of these provisions need to be taken care of by September 1st and after talking with Mr. Feldman and Dr. Toya that um we have taken care of those and ready to move on to the additional provisions for 26. >> That's correct. We uh you know I know it's been talked about at the superintendent level with Dr. Janestri. Uh it's been talked about at the business official level as well. Um and then we do uh we have uh we use um Erie Woosei's health and safety risk management team. We have a gentleman by the name of David Casperitz who's on our safety committee that comes in once a week. he uh reminded me of the new law uh

098and they will work through some some workshops to make sure that all their component districts are ready to meet the standards. But essentially it's been just that we have and have have had for a long time building emergency teams established and then we have to develop a plan specific to sudden cardiac arrest and that's the next step. Are the um AEDs locked? And then because I know that was one of the things that they said um no one could locate the keys to open the unit when I guess this little girl needed not in our district but what came about. >> No, you can there there there's a uh in order to close the door so that the alarm doesn't go off, there's a little um it's almost like a plastic zip tie, but if

099you pull on that door, you'll get it. Apparently what they said 911 right away. pull the door, the the AED sits on a plunger. Once that plunger is no longer depressed, it automatically triggers a call to 911. And then as part of our emergency teams, somebody you know is with somebody that's fallen, you know, generally it is go get the AED, you go call 911. So it's it's it's been practiced and we're ready to go. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You practiced it right here years ago. We did. >> And that's it. Thank you, >> Scott. >> Okay. Um, couple of things. We had a county association of school boards. We had a legislative subcommittee meeting so we could plan for some of the items this year and take a look at what we think

100are still our priority items. Do we need to add some? Do we need to drop some off the list that actually got handled? That was the discussion points. Um, we all had the capital project workshop at the end of last month. I also attended a federal adv advocacy webinar where they were talking about what's going on right now at the federal level and the money. They seem pretty confident the money's good for this year. Next year is a whole different story. I think I forwarded that information or at least a link to the webinar to you. And I also attended the Western New York Law Conference and I'm behind because I do have stuff I want to send to you on that. It was very well attended. Well over 300 people. I know Dr. Janastri

101was there too. Um, and they had standing room only in and for several of the sessions. And I don't even know what that says. I'm going to say >> Oh, yeah. That's that for um I I think most of the people that's under the room, this part of the the room know that Linda Hoffman, she passed away. She was a the a big person in Western New York as far as school boards go. She represented the area on the state board for a long time. Um she was was with the Bose Erie iris Boseis for a number of years and she was also in the Springfield school district. Over all that time she put more than 45 years or so into education. She passed away recently. >> I saw her uh I saw her at

102the Erie Erie County School Boards Association annual dinner event. She >> looked a little tired, but she was still Linda. >> She did. She traveled to all those legislative things, including the >> That's true. >> I really enjoyed uh chatting with her even though we were coming from different viewpoints on things, but she was uh she was a dedicated person. >> Absolutely. She knew >> she'll be missed. Yeah. >> Yeah. Absolutely. Thanks, >> Amy. >> Nothing for me, >> Durk. Well, it just I mentioned this earlier and he happens to be in the audience. I didn't know how to ask him to speak, but we did talk about the sidewalk issue and I know that Don Felman's received that and I don't know if you wanted to say something. We have another open session if

103we can allow it. >> He's welcome to speak >> while you're here. I would assume that's why you're here. Okay. Uh otherwise, uh been a relatively quiet summer, enjoying the heat, I guess. Uh and that's all. I did see your uh I watched the video you sent around about the national the NSBA thing and Washington advocacy thing. >> Yeah, >> you really should go. Someone should go. >> Uh >> I'm going to try and go this year. >> Try to do it this year. >> Yeah. I like going just because I like seeing what's going on in Washington DC and um kind of adding my view on things to the conversation, but we can talk about that. Okay, that's all I have. Thank >> you. Danny, >> it's not a whole lot. Uh just been

104enjoying summer. Um meeting with Shay, enjoying summer um and just getting ready for the new school year. I >> figured out what I scribbled on. It was a board retreat that we ran yesterday. Obviously, >> I was about to say, no one said that yet. I don't believe it for me. >> I couldn't read my own. Sorry. >> Um, anything else? Okay, so I have our meetings with Shay, our board retreat. Um, I know, um, fall practice and tryyous started yesterday. So, good luck to all our our athletes. And, you know, just, you know, on a personal note, I know all of our region recent graduates are most of them are leaving for school this week. So good luck to all those parents. Amy, >> happy parents. >> Um I think Yeah. >> Can you

105expand? I was happy that we had the retreat and we we made some headways on our goals and >> Yes. So we >> I think that was a very productive meeting. So that's >> Yeah. So we have our outline for our four four goals and we're going to be getting them polished >> and then we'll um we'll have them at the September um study session. >> Perfect. Thank you. Okay. Uh, moving on to our second open session. And I believe we at least have one taker. Um, do you need me to read the whole >> spiel? I can do it without being arrested. >> Okay. So, um, you have three minutes. You could take the podium. Um, please state your name, address, your relationship to Sweet Home, and what you would like to talk about.

106Thank you. >> Joe Bich, uh, 35B Cyrus, uh, resident. Uh I lived down Sweet Home Road on Byus. Uh one night a week ago this Monday, I was coming home north on there about 8:45 p.m. Uh it was getting dark and I saw a shadow alongside the road. I noticed a biker there and just after that I saw the other one behind him and I was lucky that I wasn't distracted by any other traffic going on there because I was able to move over. And uh being a biker myself, I've seen how dangerous that area can be sometimes riding on there. You have your choice of riding in the road, squeezing yourself in there with traffic going 50 miles an hour, or you can try riding on the grass, which has ruts in there. But

107now you're going over bumps and holes in it and taking a chance there of falling. Well, after I got home, I took my bike out, rode it over Sweet, waited for the bikers to come up there, and I talked to one boy. the other one had already turned down a side street and uh he was high school student and he said he hadn't had problems with it even though he didn't like it but he had a friend who fell on the street one time hit the curb and another one who fell riding on the grass trying to protect himself from the curb so either way it doesn't work I ended up putting my experience on Facebook and I had a comment on there from a mother whose daughter goes to the high school she rides

108down here and she crosses sweet home three times to try to stay in line with all the sidewalks and even that is dangerous because there's so much traffic going so fast. Well, I took this to the Amherst um planning department and they forward me the information on how to do it according to their procedure. You have to file uh first a petition on there and having the landowners sign it. the land owners on that area or town of Bammers right along the canal. Uh National Grid has a large spot there. They have an apartment building and then there's a private owner for the other 300 ft, but his house is on North El Creek Road. So, he would really have no interest on using the sidewalk there anyway. Well, after you file the petition, have

109it signed by who knows who, and then you have to submit it in, and it's not going to be taken in until next June, and then they go through a whole long process, about six months, trying to figure out whether or not the sidewalk is needed there and how to put it in, and then they put it in next summer. We talk about a two-year delay on this if you do it now. And I don't see that. This is a critical need. I the last couple days I've seen other kids now going down the sidewalk that area almost every time I go by that road. Uh one kid was pushing an e scooter. Uh another one was walking down by there. An older man was walking a dog along there. And uh since they put

110the apartments in in 2011, I'm trying to figure out why they didn't at least put sidewalks in front of there. So apparently there's no real motivation to do that. And they also have a problem too is that it's a county road and the town is supposed to be responsible for putting in the sidewalks. Well, to do that, they have to get an easement from the county for them to put the sidewalks in there. So, I can see why this thing just keeps dragging on and on. And I did uh talk at the uh town board meeting last night. I didn't get a whole lot of response on there. So, I was thinking about the high school. Now, you're in charge of all the students from the high school, you may see a lot of students

111that go up in that area. Um, so if you take a stand on this, come to the town and said, "We need the sidewalks in now. I'm going to do something soon on this." And I was thinking about that. This is a bad time of year. Come September, it's getting dark earlier. Got sporting events going on there some at night. Students are going to be going up through that area. And like me, I also noticed they don't have street lights on that side of the road. Street lights are all on the other side by the business park. So now they're not only squeezing traffic, but you're not going to see them in the dark areas. So I asked the school board to take the critical issue on this and make it an urgent need to

112do it. And I was also going to approach the uh PTA, see if they won't would get involved. I'm sure they would. They probably have a lot of kids that are coming through there and they're worried about their safety there. Um, all it takes is one driver who's looking at his phone, distracted by some other traffic, bumping into somebody, and somebody's going to be hurt or killed. And every time I drive out there, I see somebody, I think about that. I just can't get it out of my mind. >> Thank you very much, sir. >> Yeah. Any other speakers? Floor is yours. Hello, I'm Jonathan Mley, a community member from B Durham Drive. I came up to speak on a couple of the things. First off, there's the has been mentioned earlier in the meeting.

113There have been some talks uh since the previous meeting with the between the board and Shay. And I would like to state that uh I hope that you know as things move forward that it'll progress towards some good substantive actions to be able to address the issues at hand and try to improve conditions. Additionally, there was a early in the meeting, there's a some mentions giving some updates about what would be going on with the position of the high school principal, which is a good sense from what I've seen in conversations with other community members. There's been some confusion among the public about what was going on with that and hopefully that'll help get a clear sense for people about what's going on. And finally, I would uh echo the previous uh commenter as a

114you someone who walks around on the sidewalks quite a bit as a pedestrian. I would say that there are some sections along Sweet Home that are rather patchy and make it difficult to travel. And those are the main things I wanted to say. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jonathan. Hello, Jamie Mancine, 276 Glenn Haven Drive. I am here on behalf of the Glendel PTA. I am honored to serve as their president again this year. And I wanted in an effort to I think really continue collaboration with the community and to have you all interacting with your constituents uh invite you to our first event. We're having our welcome back bash on August 28th from 4 to 6 at Glendale. It's one of our biggest events of the year. We had about 400 people attend last

115year. Um, and it's a good time. And so I wanted to invite you all to come. And I think it would be really nice to have you there. >> That was it. >> What time was it? What time was it? >> 4 to 6 on the 28th. >> Thank you very much. >> One more minute less. Sorry, I missed something in my notes. A lot of people argue, well, bikes aren't allowed on the sidewalks, they're required to ride in the road. Now, I did a research on to try when this law came through dates back to the 1880s. Back then, bicycles were fighting for the roadway. What they had at the time was horsedrawn carriages. The carriages didn't like that. They started forcing the bikes off the road, taking them to court. Eventually, New York

116State passed a law in 1887. Uh it's called an act in relation to the use of bicycles and tricycles which states that bicycles are carriages and that cyclists are entitled to the same rights and restrictions as drivers of carriages. That doesn't apply now. A car is not a carriage. A bike can't go 50 miles an hour. A bike can't weigh 5,000 pounds. Putting a bike in the street to me is just looking for something bad to happen. So hope they take that in consideration also. Thank you again. >> Thank you Mr. Anybody else? Okay. Thank you everybody. Um so moving on to personnel. U may I have a motion um and a second on the personnel items one and two um teaching and administrative and services. >> So moved. >> Second. Um does anyone need

117to through any of the questions in it is a couple retirements um resignations appointments for inter scholastic activities um and then same thing with services. I just on the resignations it seemed like a lot. Is that that plan like retirement? What is that? >> Mostly retirements. >> Retirements. Yes. >> Those are retirements under service resignations. >> Um for the services or the teacher and >> for the services service section. Um >> I didn't look finely at any curious. >> Yeah. No, I >> Yeah, there's a there's Yeah. uh some retirements, some moving on in the service area. Um >> believe >> summer's a busy >> I believe there were also a couple that were had to resign their position in order to take another position in the district. So like a bus aid becoming a

118bus driver must resign. >> Okay. So there there are a couple in here I I believe that are appointments plus resignations. >> Correct. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. Okay. All in favor? >> I I >> opposed abstensions. Okay. That leads to our adjournment. May I have a motion and a second to adjurnn the meeting? So moved.