001Right. Okay. So, we're going to talk to you tonight about our farm-toschool expansion. So, we have a lot of uh things under that umbrella farm to school expansion. We've partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension for a lot of things and that's going to be embedded in this. The first thing to point out though is uh our our cook in the cafeteria here Sasha Pulsifer attended the New York State FarmtoSchool summit that was in Saratoga in March. It was a two three-day conference uh and that was partially paid for by Cornell Cooperative Extension her attendance and a lot of what we're talking about and this slide specifically has been incorporated by Sasha from that summit. So it's really exciting. >> Um we also have a garden club with six raised beds, a greenhouse and a composting um
002thing where we put their compost in. Um we also have a vegetable of the month in the cafeteria. Um in March we had cabbage. We had roasted cabbage, klelaw and cabbage salad. In April we had carrots, carrot salad and carrot cake. And with spinach I mean in May I mean in May um we have spinach. Now um each uh uh vegetable has facts and um a joke. The joke for April was knock >> you guys don't >> don't you care about ME >> yeah next >> next slide um we have a Cornell cooperative extension um at the classroom um In this picture, I am making tortillas. Um, we in the classroom, we also have vegetables and fruits and we learn about it. And we also um planted micro greens which I will talk about a
003lot more and in the next few slides. Next slide please. Um, in one of the pictures we have one of my friends Nico and he is gardening the wheat. In the other picture, we have Avery Tyson and he is flattening the tortillas. Um, when we were making the tortillas, we also made butter, which was really fun. And Cornell in the classroom. Next slide, please. >> So, can we stay on that side for a second? So, these photos were professionally taken by Call of Balloon, a professional photography organization, who came last month into your classroom, third grade and second grade. And they shot a promotional video that will likely air locally uh to promote agriculture in the classroom because uh Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County is one of the better offerings for classrooms uh locally
004uh or statewide. So, um, our students will likely be featured on some, uh, promotional materials soon, including these really great photos. Okay, next slide. >> It was also put in the newspaper. >> Yes. >> Um, we were awarded a $15,000 grant from Aderonda Community Foundation. part of it um went to a grow cart which we um in my classroom we have lots of micro greens on it including sunflowers and other um stuff. Um and the other half of it went to four winds which we'll talk about more in the next slide. Next slide please. Four winds is hands-on science and outdoor learning topics. This year we had spiders and grasses and games, predators and prey, skull smoothing, all about owls, the buzz about bees, including pre and expanding to sixth grade. I don't need microphone.
005Okay, so last year four wins was paid for this school year paid for entirely by Shay Westport Communications here in Westport. They partnered with us. They paid for the programming and next year this is covered by the Aderonda Community Foundation grant for two years. It's expanding to include sixth grade next year, and I think we're still working out how exactly that's going to look for sixth grade next year, but it will also include programming for preK, which looks a little bit differently, but the Four Winds Nature uh Institute was brought to Lake View campus because of a third grade teacher that Zoe knows really well who said, "Hey, we should do this." And we did. All of those programs, the topics um are done uh collectively and they go outside as much as possible. It's
006very hands-on. So, the skull sloofing, they're like playing with a skull of a fox. It's it's an incredible uh experience from the person watching it. I think Zoe really likes it, too. Okay, great. >> Um next slide. Um so for this guide um we um are getting chickens with 14 egg laying hens. Um the eggs will go to our school so that we can eat them. Um this is all this is all dealed by with student council. Um we are getting the chickens from a local farmer and we're our chicken coupe is going to be coming from a local builder. Um uh so the for the chickens, the farmer is going to take them in in the winter and then once the chickens get too old, we're going to trade them back in for um
007newer ones. Um and yeah, and in the future years, we are going to maybe get goats. >> Next presentation. >> Yes. You're supposed to say, "Are you kidding?" And we're supposed to say, "No." So, with with the chicken coop, I think a couple of things. These are like two mock-ups of what we want to call them. Student council is taking the lead on this. And uh the chicken coop is going to go in the back right out here. You'll see like a a area carved out for it. Um and like Zoe said, we are working with local people to kind of handle the logistics because uh we've have a lot of families have reached out and said we will take care of them on weekends uh with changing water and food. Um, we are going
008to get a Nest cam that is a 24-hour uh like chicken coupe cam uh that will uh have a switch on it so that it could be turned off when students are present to protect uh confidentiality. But we think that that's pretty cool that students could check on the chicken coop from home. Uh the reason there's going to be 14 chickens is so each home room can name a chicken and we student council has decided that each week a different classroom and grade level will be responsible for the upkeep of the chicken coupe. So this is completely studentdriven. They're taking it over and I think that's really exciting that it's uh it's an initiative that's important with the big picture connecting science and STEM but also the students are invested in it which is really
009exciting. >> Next slide please. This slide we are um same grade was making butter and also any questions. >> What cabbage was your favorite? >> I think that it was a co to be honest. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Good job. >> Thank you very much, Zoe. I think maybe you are a future board member that your public speaking skills are excellent. Thank you very much. And thank you, Mr. Kyler. Sounds very exciting. I wish I was back in school. All right. Number seven, executive session. Specifically, the board anticipates entering into executive session for the following reasons. A. Number six, to discuss the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or persons. And B, number eight, to discuss the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property or proposed acquisition, sale, or
010exchange of securities, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value of these things. Do I have a motion to enter into executive session to discuss items A and B? >> Motion. >> Thank you, Paige. Second. Second. >> Thank you, Paul. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Motion passes. We anticipate being back in approximately >> An hour at the most. Okay. As soon as possible. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to reconvene into regular session? Paul, thank you. And a second. >> Tom. Thank you. All in favor? >> I oppose. >> Abstensions. >> Okay. Motion passes to reconvene into regular session. Number eight, public budget hearing on the proposed 2026 27 spending plan. Um presentation a presentation on the proposed 16,467,338 spending plan for 2012627 school year. Dr. Meyer, the floor
011is all yours. >> Thank you. Uh I believe um that in my eighth year of doing this, this is the first time during the public budget hearing that we have not had a New York state budget that has been approved. So that's exciting for me. >> Um so uh generally speaking that um does not affect us as much as it could other districts. Um and the reason for that is and I've said this before is that we the state aid the biggest component of aid we get from the state is the foundation aid. Uh and we plan on getting very little. we, you know, typically plan for a 0% increase of that foundation aid and so whatever we do get it's it's a little bit extra for us. Uh this year we we did budget
012some of that towards uh anticipated um increased heating costs. Uh and right now because the governor came out at 1% and the uh legislature came out at 2%, we're expecting that number to be somewhere in between 1 and 2% uh for all safe harmless districts. But in theory, it could be anything. So, um that's really all there is to say about the budget update. I will throw in one um other uh piece of information that's unrelated to the budget, but also equally important that there seems to be some um some real discussion happening now about postponing the electric bus initiative. Uh it sounds like up to five years. Um, so, uh, if we have to wait another month or so for a budget to get a delay in 5 years for that, I will gladly
013take that. Um, so, uh, so that's where we're at. Um, so our budgeting philosophy, we're looking to provide high quality education and improve educational performance, looking to maintain and expand educational programs and opportunities while minimizing tax impact. We're looking to stay within the tax gap. Uh we're looking to plan for the upcoming school year 2627 and beyond. So quick update the tax cap legislation that was passed back in 2012 2013. Uh this is often referred to as the 2% tax cap when in actuality the 2% is just a starting point through the whole formula. That puts our district at 4.24% for the upcoming school year. Uh what does that look like on the local level? So our district is made up of the towns up on the board, Chesterfield, Elizabeth Town, Essex, Lewis, Mariah, and
014Westport. And based on the most current um assessment roles that we have, all of those are at full value except for Elizabeth Town. So you'll notice that all of those have the same tax rate per thousand except for uh the town of Elizabeth Town. Um so if there were to be an assessment between now and next year, then then that would likely um change these numbers a bit. So, uh, on a $100,000 home for all those towns except for Elizabeth Town, uh, they'd be looking at a $1,122, um, tax estimate on on that. And Elizabeth Town, a little bit higher, at just over $1,400. The STAR exemption, we're looking at between an estimate of between 323 and $367. So these are uh those tax rates just a little bit bigger where you see and again
015you'll see the equalization rate for Elizabeth Town is lower than the 100%. And that's just based on your um local assessor when they do the assessments for the towns. If you look at how that compares to the rest of our Boseis region, um we do have a couple districts who went out over the cap. A Sable Valley at 12%, Tyonderoga at 6.57% and then the other districts really um are all um either at their cap or under their cap and as you see we have a negative number here for Crown Point at a negative.81 uh and um you know, ranging all the way up to the 4% that you see there. And as far as a graph goes, so you'll see the the blue line here, this is the tax levy increase. Uh and the
016yellow line, that's the budget increase. So you see in the case the first column, uh that's a Sable Valley here. So you'll see they had that 12% increase all the way up, but their budget is actually decreasing with that 12% increase. uh you look at um you follow over to Bokeut Valley, you'll see you see the blue line um that's just over the 4% and you see you don't see a yellow line here. Um and I I want to say this that you'll see our budget comes in at 0.00% of an increase, but if you do the math on that, it's 0.0000. So four zeros and then a seven. So I understand that it's not actually 0.0, zero, you know, percent, but that's that's what the spreadsheets do. Um, they they round to two decimal
017places. So, uh, it's about $1,200 total increase, uh, budget year to year. Uh, so, um, again, that one point, excuse me, 1 to 2% increase in foundation aid. Um, the still working within the tax cap limitations, uh, 0 being used from fund balance and again 0.00007% 00007% increase in overall spending. Uh, and what that looks like in terms of the threepart budget. Hayden, would you like to talk about the three-part budget? >> Um, I can't wait till the state gets rid of the three-part and we just go to a straight budget. Um, but really what we're seeing um on the administrative side where there's nothing new, there's nothing added. It is really just contractual increases um just and when I say contractual I do not mean employment contracts only that is all contractual costs um
018that fall in that line. The capital decrease looks very large but if you remember last year we purchased two large buses whereas this year we're only purchasing one small bus. Um and on the program side, um this there's a couple different changes uh within there, but that that is really just contractual increases, materials and supplies, um salary increases, health insurance increases, things like that. There's no I would say there's no major surprises within the budget. >> Thank you. And again, that number at the bottom, the $1,218 that that's the difference that I'm talking about, the 0.007% 00007%. That's that's it there. Uh so again, the the three-part budget here. So we'll give you a little bit more detail. Um I have the next three slides um show each of these three pieces in a little
019bit more detail. And I'm going to throw it back to Hayden if there's anything here you'd like to point out in the admin budget. >> Um really the only thing uh you'll see the business administration line is decreasing quite substantially. that is really we are just moving things between budget lines. Instead of grouping a single Bosey's coaster to one line, we're able to split it up um uh amongst multiple lines. Um and then the other big increase the Bosey's capital expenses that is a legally required expense that we have no control over that we don't get to say well we do get to say yes or no but it did pass the Bosey's budget this year. Um and that is due to the uh new lease for um the new CTE center in Platsburg that
020is being built. That'll hit our budgets this year. Um so in future years as I say that in two years we'll see another uh increase. Um but it it should remain pretty stable from there. Everything else is just normal, you know, going through analyzing all of the data on on what we have and and what we what we need. Um but there was really no major changes um within this budget. >> I can I ask one question? >> Sure. >> Uh under the employee benefits and of course this is what was in the paper you probably read it too. Uh consortium health insurance up in the farther north. They were $25 million an increase in their cost or they were >> this is which consortium? >> I'm I apologize. I around salmon river. >> Oh
021FH. Yeah. They had massive increases. >> Yeah. So I I I would I would love to talk about health insurance. Um honestly this is one of the things that I am probably the single most proud of as a consortium member. When I started on the consortium eight years ago, um we literally had zero dollars. Some of you may remember, we had there's a mid-year increase to health insurance. So zero dollars. Um now, uh there the reserves are they might be the only organization in the state that has reserves that are better stock than ours. Um and they uh they their staff were they up to be six >> six or seven I I share a wall with them and I don't know person every day. >> Yeah. So so there was uh there were zero
022full-time employees. Um now there are you know six or seven full-time employees. Um and it is one of the most well-run organizations in the region and it's why um our consortium is doing so well. made some really great decisions. So, anyone that is part of that consortium, I think that uh while you absolutely have seen some changes and changes can be frustrating and new cards are, you know, you never know which you're supposed to use at the doctor if you don't keep track of all of them. But we're doing we did some great work. Uh and that's why it would be unlikely that you're going to see a huge increase to our consortium like that just because of the work that that that we've done. So, I really applaud everyone uh who was part of
023those decisions during that time. >> They also had Medicare plans at a 0% increase this year and in the state of New York that is unheard of right now. >> Um okay. Uh next. So that's admin capital. >> Uh capital just so I can see it here. Um capital uh really no big big changes. You'll see uh maintenance of plant is decreasing again. Last year we had some purchases out of those reserves that are not going to continue again this year. Um district transportation that was the as well as the district transportation services decreasing due to those buses um that are not going to be continuing. Um and then the big uh increase that we're seeing transfer to capital $125,000. Um obviously we're are undertaking a capital outlay project this year. Um, so that is
024$100,000 of that $25,000 and that is to support the pre-referendum services for uh the upcoming or potentially upcoming capital project. >> And last part here, program >> uh program really no changes. The the one thing I like to call out because I think a lot of people get worried when they see decreases in um teaching services um as well as special education. That is not a reduction in programming or anything like that. that is um that using our um our grants like IDEIDA uh individuals with disabilities education act and our title grants as well. So we can we are able to pull some salaries out of the general fund and allocate towards those. Um occupational education is a another large increase. Uh that is two two parts. Um, CVTech operates on a five-year average for
025enrollment, and that's the rate that we get charged for, um, CVTech tuition. It's increasing pretty substantially this year because we have more students attending. Um, and then on the pre-CTTE side, um, that that is also increasing. I believe historically we've had two to three students attending that program, and this year it's looking like we're about to have six. Um, so that was another reason for that increase. Um the computer assisted instruction increase um that is just some alignment. You saw that in the admin side we had reduced some of the business administration expenses and that there's uh two coasters that have historically been in that line that we moved to the computer instruction because that's what they are. Um they they weren't just grouped in there. Um health services I had touched on this uh
026as well as I had touched on health services I think in March. That was just my omission of a salary in last year's uh budget. I put it in the wrong line. So that's why that is increasing. Um and psychological services is also an increase uh due to um some uh staffing needs. Um and then intercolastic athletics and co-curricular activity or interastic athletics is increasing. That is again not due to something else. that is um also a salary that I had placed uh miscoded last year um to co-curricular activities. Um and then you're seeing the only other decrease I like to call it um you see these transfers transfer to school food transfer to special aid fund uh transfer to school food is we are paying into the cafeteria to help support it should it
027not be finel through sales or through the state and federal reimbursement. So, we always budget um we always budget for that. Um and then transfer to special aid fund that is actually our summer school bill. Um that is the only thing that that is in there. Um summer school just due to state reasons um has to be paid out of the F fund or special aid fund, but it it only covers 80% of that bill. So, we have to budget for 20% of that bill. And just looking at our summer school bills over the past couple years, this rate seems a little bit more appropriate um this coming year. Thank you. Um so reserves would talk about reserves too please. >> Uh I believe we are planning a larger conversation on the use of reserves
028and a reserve plan for a future board meeting. Um but for the purposes of this reserves remain very much uh healthy probably the healthiest in the region um at this point. Um we are seeing obviously costs are rising everywhere but interest rates are remaining pretty stable. Um so we are collecting quite a bit of interest in these reserves. Um I do like to mention as well interest a earned in a reserve stays in the reserve. We can't use that money elsewhere. It has to stay in the reserve. That is state state regulation. Um we have just about every reserve that is available to school districts. I am hoping that um there's some traction on a bill to create a special education reserve. Um that currently does not exist, but that is something that would be
029very helpful. Um a lot of people don't know if if we have one um special needs student move into the district that may require a residential placement that is most most times about $200,000, then that can a budget very very quickly. So having that reserve would be very smart. Um so right now not legally allowable hopefully in the future. Um but everything else we we fund our reserves up to the maximum allowable. Um and so you will see at the uh June board meeting I believe when we discuss the reserves a little bit further um what those maximums are, what we can and cannot put into them, what they can and cannot be used for. That all be explained. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh so if you look here, this is the history of our
030budget and tax history since uh we merged. Um so you see we've been our budget increases have been um as low. So this year at the excuse me in the 2021 2022 year it was a negative increase um all the way up to a 5.21 uh% increase. And the tax levy that is anywhere from just under 1% the 0.98 up to the 4.24% to 4%. Um so and again all those have been at the cab at at 2%. Um so that's what we've done historically. So the five propositions that we're looking at first one is the budget to adopt the annual budget of the bokeet valley central school district for the fiscal year 2627 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the district. Proposition two
031is to elect two board members. Uh two three-year terms to the seats that are currently held by Paul Fen and Sarah Coleman. Uh and the candidates are available on our website. Proposition three to use a transportation reserve fund to buy a 35 passenger bus and a seven passenger van. Um a 65 passenger bus. Is that is that >> No, it's that was the >> Yeah, >> I'm sorry. So, let's just let's just get rid of that right now. My apologies. Copy and paste. Love it, you know. But, okay. Use a transportation reserve fund to buy a 35 passenger bus and a seven passenger van at a maximum of $162,000. Proposition four, purchase a plow truck and a tractor at a maximum of $115,000 using the transportation reserve fund. And proposition five, this is for the
032uh library to increase the library funding by $15,000, which will be divided equally between the three public libraries in the district. Uh as a reminder, the $15,000 has nothing to do with our budget. We just simply serve as the middleman in that transaction. Uh so they don't need to have their own um referendum. and uh and so we collect the money for them, but it is totally separate from our budget. Questions or comments about the budget hearing presentation? >> Josh, I have one actually. >> Yes. >> I've heard a lot of rumors and I don't even see it on tonight that we were going to be cutting positions and I don't think we've ever discussed that. >> So I Yeah, I had a couple community members come up and say, you know, like you guys
033are cut in positions and I was like I've just but I paid special attention. I >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> There aren't any positions being cut. >> No, I know we've talked about attrition, >> right? >> But yeah. Okay. I thought maybe I lost something. >> No mention of cutting positions. >> Okay. >> All right. Any questions from any of the community members? Anyone have any questions? >> It's a very small question, but I'm just curious. You mentioned that the cafeteria has its own separate budget, and you said if it couldn't raise its own money via sales, but I thought that school lunches were free. So, I'm just curious what you mean by sales. >> Sales and reimbursements from the state party. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else have any questions? Any
034of board members questions? Okay. Well, thank you very much, Dr. Meyer. And if there are no other questions, we'll move on to number nine, the capital project update. Um, Dr. Meyer, are you able to provide us with any positive news from state ed? So the good news is that we have um gotten our building a eight units back from state ed which is a a good step. Uh not um not quite ready to talk about um you know costs and what what the local costs would be. Uh we also our construction manager has reached out and said um that they want to take another look at the numbers just due to some of the increased costs. Uh so a good a good step forward but um but we're not quite ready to um to you
035know present actual cost to to the public yet. Hopefully uh hopefully soon. I would say at this point comfortably we're probably um you know best case looking at a October November uh vote. Um, even uh I think we've talked about this before, but even if things really were to move forward from here, it doesn't make sense to vote over the summer. Um, so I think that that that's where we're probably looking is is some point in the fall, >> but you think that we'll have more of an update in June at the very least. >> The getting the BAUs is a really good Yeah. >> I mean, that that means like they they are actually doing like they're doing some math for us, you know, so that's good. Yeah. You said somebody was doing something
036with numbers, but I didn't catch all of that. >> So, the we have that the BA uses, that's the building aid units, which essentially it's our enrollment. However, um one student doesn't necessarily equal one BAU. Uh for example, um special education students uh count more, English language learning students count more. Um and um and there are other there are other factors there that I can never remember all of them. Um but they uh so we we get a whole BAU count. Um and then from there uh then um we start getting some numbers. Uh so I'm hoping that the next email we get from the state is this is the cost, this is the aid, this is what uh the local share would be. >> Okay. Thank you. Are any other questions for Dr. Meyer?
037Okay. Thank you, Dr. Meyer, for that update. Um, number 10, board discussion, old business. Um, we're number one, tax exemption exit survey. Dr. Meyer, would you please explain this what we're going to be >> Yes. >> looking at for next week? >> Yep. Uh so uh we uh going back a few months we had looked at uh doing um a tax exemption for uh veterans. Um I believe first responders was discussed at that time and Hayden did a lot of work uh um on what those exemptions could be. Uh our plan was to have the community vote on that. Um the exemptions are great. However, if you know one resident gets an exemption, that means that other residents um are paying to cover that exemption. So, the board wanted to have this be a community
038vote, which we found out we weren't allowed to do. So, the board in still wanting some feedback from the community, um we think this is a good way to get that feedback through uh an exit survey. It would just be a brief um you know, a couple questions. I would work with um with Hayden and with our attorneys just to make sure that we're that we're using appropriate language and just get uh it would the the idea is that um based on the results the board could then make a decision on how they wanted to move forward. Ultimately it has to be a board decision not a community decision but this would just be additional information. So, as part of the discussion tonight, uh is there anything that you would definitely want included on that
039um in terms of the different types of exemptions or would you want to ask about a variety of exemptions or is there anything that you would want to make sure that we did did do or didn't do as part of that excess earlier? >> Well, I think we definitely should have the disabled veterans as part one of the um options. And I think if uh if you do that, if you put the veterans exemptions up, that's part of the the entire bill. That would that would include the disabled. >> I believe that's >> But you'd have to vote on them separately. Correct. >> I think you can do it as one group. >> I thought you had said before that >> they there's the veterans one is a little bit confusing. There's one overarching exemption
040and then there's subexemptions. So you have to adopt the overall one >> and then do you want to then you have to do >> so I guess we're I mean I I kind of feel like >> first and foremost do you support or not support the veterans exemption and then what falls under that category because we can't get good data on who lives in the district. Right. >> There's some data but it might not be the most reliable, >> right? And maybe for some towns and not the others or whatever. Okay. >> Yeah. >> No, go ahead. >> Can you get a double exemption such as a veteran and a firefighter? >> I have no clue. >> How about if you have a 48A? Can you get an exemption for 48A veterans? >> I think
041this is assessor conversation. >> Genuine. How much can I I get on this? >> Your bill, >> right? >> You got a school board. >> You might be paying me. >> Um, >> so how are you how are you going to set that up? Are you going to put the overall question? Are you in support of a veterans exemption? And then are you going to list individual ones or are you just going to put that overall question? >> So the board Yeah. So if if I'm understanding I I think if I misunderstood the the last discussion there we have the overall we have the I have a question about the overall >> and then potentially list some some subexemptions. Um >> probably the most common if we don't list I know how many are there
042like 14. >> Yeah there's there's it's a long list. >> Yeah. So I would say them I mean >> I I I think because there's so many you know we could even ask the question um you know maybe like briefly like explain that there are these subexemptions and more of a just a general question about the subexemptions instead of specific. >> Yeah. Didn't you say Hayden before that there were certain ones that many of the other local uh neighboring districts were >> I could get that list from the county tomorrow. Why don't we look >> that may be worth some of the other districts just to know the common place ones. >> Yeah. And then what about um while I think we talked about the first responder a little bit less than the veterans. Do
043we want a question about that? I'm again I >> I'm wondering if we should just go with the veterans now. >> Yeah. I think most of the conversation was about veterans. I think we start with I think because that was our >> Yeah. Um again >> because New York is now New York state is now talking about bigger tax exemption for >> and fire supposedly working through the budget too now >> and the first responders get a better exemption from the state than they do than the veterans do. Am I correct in understanding that? >> Believe it's volunteer as well. It has to be volunteer. >> Okay. Maybe that's what I'm thinking. We get a flat. >> We get about $100 >> for firemen. Firemen, >> but then >> also >> burst uh EMS is
044different. >> Yeah, we're all sure. >> It is. Okay. I'm not sure. >> Okay. >> I would just say concentrate. Just better. Okay. Go ahead. >> For now, >> I will I'll put something together. I'll run it. >> You don't want to overwhelm people. >> Yeah. I I'll I'll run it through our attorney. And >> in the future though, is our first responder exemption a board vote and not a community vote? >> I believe so. >> None of the tax exemptions are community votes. There are some that require a community hearing prior to adoption, right? Not all of them, but none of them are adopted by the community itself. >> And it's our plan to have a public hearing about this. >> I think you have to have to. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I mean,
045I I I think I think the hope of the exit poll is that it's overwhelming one way or the other, right? You know, then it's be clear direction of what the public wants, but >> Right. Right. Okay. Any other questions on that or comments? Okay, we'll move on to B, new business community uh committee updates. Um the first one, joint study. Uh Mr. >> We didn't we didn't meet today survey. There's a lot going on or >> their forum. Sorry. Yeah. Forum. Meet the candidates and everything. >> All right. Then B youth commission update. Mrs. Carter Smok, would you provide us with an update? >> Uh, well, we met last night. Um, and we're building a baseball field in Elizabeth Town at Noble Terrace. Um, and we are funded by all three towns of the
046district. Um, and so our next big expense will be a back stop and that led us to one that is not being used at Mountain View. Um, so I met he was here, I thought he was here, Bob Rice today. Um, and we talked about the potential of the school using it. It has not been used in more than a decade or um, what we could possibly do. Um, so we're hoping that the school and the youth commission could continue their good relationship and that we could do something with that at Noble Terrace as well. >> And do we have a general consensus here? >> Yeah. >> I mean, supporting our children of our district. >> No, it would be no cost to the school. um the youth commission and the towns would uh remove
047it and um it actually would be easier for them to mow and weed whack around it. So, >> okay. >> Um and then potentially there's a bench there as well. I'm not sure if we can actually rehab it until we look further at it, but um yeah. >> Yeah. Since we're not making use of it, then I suggest that we have Dr. admire look into uh uh the legalities of transferring it over. >> Sure. Yep. I would be happy to do that. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Do we have to make a motion of any sort? I think you said that. >> Give you the >> I don't think so. Yeah. I I will I will double check and and if you do I mean I think we can do >> Well, you
048have to check with the lawyer first, right? Okay. Okay. And then we could always do it next month if we needed to. >> Okay. C policy committee. Mrs. solving. >> I'm sorry. I just have one more thing again and I know I'm getting to be a old guy about this, but I had talked to one of the owners of the homes back on the behind the school in Etown, the back road. And I asked him, uh, would you be concerned or do you have concerns if we asked the town to close your road down and your your driveway would be a dead end? That would be a Oh, no. That's fine with me. I mentioned that to them years ago. So, I mean, if we're going to be looking for any type of extension on
049the property over there for whatever use we need, uh, it might be really a good because it' probably be free. It be just an added what 50 foot width of approximately 200 yards long that maybe there would be a soccer field area for that. I don't know. But again, he said he was willing to let it go and not have a problem with it. and be I'd have to talk to the supervisor and see what would be required if the school decided to they think it might be a good idea. >> Great. Well, thank you for checking in on that and then certainly >> I actually wish 15 years ago >> good to keep online for the future. >> 20 years ago that the school was offered and we wanted to buy the uh judge's
050house back there and I wish we had bought it then. >> Right. Well, all right. Anything else? Letter C, policy committee. Mrs. Spalding, would you like to provide us with an update? >> Um, well, we had actually quite a few that were recommended by everyone policy services um that we did some work on. We are going to later on have discussion about 1510. Um, and we talked a little bit about another one which I think that maybe one more policy meeting might nail that one down. >> Yeah. >> But other than that. Okay. All right. Thank you very much all all of you. Number 11, public comment. A. Our agenda offers two public comments sections. Opinions, ideas, and concerns that are offered by the public will be considered and taken under advisement. We have set
051aside a 15minute period giving the audience time to share their thoughts with us. Please raise your hand to be acknowledged by the board president. When called upon, please identify yourself and give your address, limit your com limiting your comments to three minutes. I'd like to also remind you to please keep your comments general in nature. You must refrain from speaking about specific individuals or positions. Thank you. Do we have anyone who'd like to Yes, please. >> Hi. Um I'm Olive Stewart. I live in Westport. Um first I just wanted to say can we get chickens at Mountain View? That would be incredible. Um, >> chicken. >> Oh, chicken. >> Raise it up. >> Um, but what I just wanted to say thank you. Uh, this is my first year being able to take AP classes.
052And I just wanted to thank the teachers, the administration, and the board for giving us the opportunity to take these classes. Having opportunities like having access to the opportunities like these give us a bigger chance of succeeding in life. and some schools don't get these opportunities and I will be forever ext like very grateful that we do. >> Thank you. >> Can I ask a question? Which AP class are you taking? >> Um I'm currently taking uh >> Sorry to put you on the spot. >> That was a question. >> Did so remind me. I know AP psych was today. Did you already have your test? Yeah, I had mine last Friday. >> How did they do? >> Good. I think I don't >> That's a good answer. >> Um, also I just had like
053a random question. Why do you guys like is there a specific reason you guys ask for like the address like for public comments? Is it >> because it was in there? >> I don't know. Yeah. >> Is it just like because it's there or do you guys use it for specific things? >> Um, no. And just to maybe to differentiate to see if somebody is out of the district or in the district. >> Yeah, I I think that's probably the only reason. >> There's no statistic purposes. >> Hey, way to put us on the spot. >> Thank you very much. We appreciate your comment. Anyone else? >> Anyone else? >> Okay, we'll move right along to number 12 then. um exeicio student schoolboard member uh report. As always, it's a pleasure to have Satie Burgess,
054our student school board member, here with us this evening, and she's going to provide us with a report on behalf of the student body. Satie, take it away. >> Thank you. It's been a very busy month, so we couldn't put everything on, but these are just the highlights. Um we had a lot of field trip opportunities in April and in May. Um first was the senior ice skating trip. the senior English students took a field trip to Lake Placid Olympic Center. They did they visited the museum and a lot of them learned to skate for the first time. Um it's has to do with their final project which is about the legacy that they're leaving and so they're relating it to the 1980 Olympic team. >> Um so I think it was a really fun
055experience, very educational. Um and then the other field trip was the Montreal Sugar Shack trip. French students had the opportunity to go to Montreal to visit a sugar shack. They got to learn how maple syrup is made and then they had a lunch with all the maple syrup. Um, so I think they had a lot of fun. Um, we're so lucky to have so many incredible opportunities to do all these field trips. Um, and then we had at for the end of the third quarter assembly, we had Tao drummers from Vermont come. Um, it was so incredible. They were incredible. They taught us some students how to do some of the drumming. They did like a workshop afterwards. Um, everyone always looks forward to the assemblies and we learn a lot. Um, and then we
056also had a career fair um where community community members came in and taught Mountain View students about their jobs. It was so incredible to hear firsthand about things in the community. Um, so thank you so much to all the community members that came, all the teachers that helped. It was so fun. Everyone really enjoyed it and there was like a good range of jobs. Um, and then it's the end of the year so we're doing a lot of testing. We have the SAT at the end of April and then we're finishing AP tests this week and state testing too and then we're looking forward we're going to do regents. Um so it's just a big time for tests and finals. Um and then there's the seniors only have 21 days left. So looking forward to
057the summer. >> Right. Well, thank you so much Sadi. It's always very refreshing to learn um all the exciting and positive things that are happening at Boquet Valley and we appreciate the time and effort that you put forth to present this each month. We appreciate it. Thank you. Um number 13, approval of the agenda and minutes. Um, letter A, approve the adoption of the agenda with the inclusion of the addendum for items 16B and 19 C and B. Approve the minutes of April 16th, 2026 regular meeting, the minutes of April 21st, 2026 budget meeting, and the minutes of April 28th, 2026 CBEES vote and election as presented. Do I have a motion to approve 13A and B with the addendum items 16B and 19 C? >> Motion. >> Thank you, Paige. Second. >> I'll second.
058>> Thank you, Deb. Um, any discussion? >> Just a big congratulations to Jason Welch for being on the CVDs board. >> Oh, yes. >> So, that's exciting for him. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Congratulations, Jason. All right. All in favor? I >> I opposed. Any abstensions? Okay. Items A uh 13 A and B are approved. Number 14, financials. Do I have a motion to approve items 14A 1 through six? >> A motion. >> Oh, Paul raised his hand first. So, I'm going to say Paul. Thank you. And Deb second. Sure. >> All right. And any discussion of these items? All in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Motion 14A 1-6 has been approved. Okay. Number 15, CSE, CPSE and 504 recommendations. Um A. Accept and approve the Committee on Preschool Special Education, Committee on Special Education,
059and Committee on 504 Plan Recommendations as presented. Do I have a motion to approve 15A? Excuse me. 15A. Motion, Paige. Thank you. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Sarah. Um, is there any discussion on any of these? All in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Item 15A is accepted. Number 16, action items, consent agenda. We have A and B from the addendum. Do I have a motion to approve item 16A and the addendum item 16B? >> I make the motion. >> Okay. Thank you, Paul. Second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Deb. Any discussion on these? >> Okay. All in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Motion to approve item 16 A and B is accepted. Number 17. Moving right along here. 17. Do I have a motion to approve items 17A through G1? >> A motion.
060>> Thank you, Paige. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Tom. Any discussion on any of these items? All in favor? >> I opposed. Extensions. The motion to approve item 17A through 161 is accepted. Policy A. Do I have a motion to approve policy items in A 18A 1 through 4? >> A motion. >> Thank you, Paige. Second, >> Paul. Thank you. Um, any discussion on these? All in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Items in 18A 1 through 4 are accepted. B. Policy discussion regarding policy number 1510, regular board meetings and rules. Mrs. Falding, since you mentioned this previously, would you like to explain exactly what this policy change involves? >> Um, it's not so much of a change if I'm correct. Right, Josh? We were going to try something for a couple months. >> So,
061the the way that the policy currently reads has to do with board agenda. Um, and it's currently states of the board agenda uh will be made available uh the Friday before the board meetings. Um, and as you know as board members that it is usually available prior to that. It's in the drive and you have access to it prior to that. Um, but uh it um isn't uh ever um finalized until about 24 hours before when it's released. And then at that time even as you see tonight uh there can be an addendum uh that is added. So there was interest um about adding the word finalized so having the finalized agenda by um the Friday before. I expressed some concerns with that that I just think that it would lead to uh addendums happening
062uh pretty regularly uh and you know to the point where you could have your addendum could be longer than the agenda. So uh I I don't think that that's a a good move moving forward, but I wanted to make sure that I understood what the board was trying to accomplish by adding that. Uh is there something that uh you think that you're not getting? Is there uh I just need a better understanding so we can try to solve the problem. Um >> well, I know based on my previous experience as a board member when I was on with the ELCS district, um it was much easier for the board members to have a finalized agenda. um and the associated documents presented to the board the Friday before the meeting that allowed the board to have
063a few days to read, digest, and perhaps research the information that was presented. Um, personally, I think it's not only unfair to the board members to keep additional adding additional items and documents to our folders up to the morning of the meeting, but I also believe it's unwise for us to continue this practice. Um, in order for board members to make informed decisions which are in the best interest of the district, they need time to read and fully understand all of the information presented. people who work may not even have an opportunity to review the documents prior to making a decision on a vote. Once again, I think it's unfair and unwise to continue this manner. Therefore, I propose that we approve the revision of this policy at our next meeting. How do you the
064rest of you feel about it? >> So, right now it says 24 hours and you want to make So, that would be more like >> it. It's in our policy that the board received their >> agenda the Friday before. >> We have had it in our packet in our folder, but it's a draft. It's not the finaliz. >> What's that language? Is that in the policy? >> No. >> Oh, I thought so. I thought you said that. >> So, we we need to release the agenda, right? 24 hours. >> Oh, to the public. We we technically don't have to release an agenda regarding to open meetings law, but we do for the it's in the teachers union contract that they're provided the the agenda 24 hours before. >> Okay. But I'm saying that if it's
065not in until if things are not the finalized agenda is not presented until the morning of a board meeting, that doesn't give the board a lot of time to review the information. and if they wanted to do any research on a particular topic or read through the documents that are associated with it. Um it just seems to me that unless it's an emergency situation where something needed to be voted on at that meeting because you needed to fill a position for a teaching position or something that was vacant or a bus driver or something like that. that that whatever comes up in the meantime from that Friday to that time of the board meeting could be put on to the next month's agenda, the next meeting. >> So, you you said this twice and you
066were wrong on both times that um when you said when it's released the morning of a board meeting, it it is not the morning of the board meeting. It's 24 hours in advance. No, I think she meant like some days information gets put into our folder the morning of the meeting. >> We have had that happen where >> Okay. So, so let's just clarify here that yeah, you're talking about you're you're talking about changing the language around the agenda. That is the document you have in front of you that doesn't address anything else. Well, perhaps we should change it to have the associated documents. >> That has not come up. That has not come up in our policy. >> That's why we're talking about it now. >> Yeah. And yeah, I'm saying >> we're having
067a discussion about it. I don't know. How do the rest of you feel? >> I mean, I like to know. I like to make an informed decision when I >> Well, historically, I have never seen huge additions coming from say Friday to Thursday. If it is, it usually presents as an addendum or it's pointed out to us. I mean, anything big presentations is is going to be in there well in advance of the Friday before because it's being prepared and planned for. I just have never seen anything besides uh maybe a new hire >> that's being added. >> There have been there have been times when there's been additional information. There's been things that need to be read. um that have been put in. I don't recall that. So I remember previous last year PE
068people saying that they did not have time to read the documents because they were put in so late. >> I don't know. That's just my feelings. And Tom, how do you feel about it? I'm sorry. >> I see a problem on both ends. >> Pardon? >> I see a problem on both ends. you know that you know I mean there could be times that I'm not home until the last minute of getting that agenda but I can also see you be listed by a whole bunch of uh addendums you know I don't know how you resolve it Friday is not a bad you know if you're having a Tuesday meeting Friday is not a bad time um could you say rather than 24 hours, you say two days or three days? I I don't know.
069But then you get in Tuesday meeting, then you get into the weekend, >> you know, with our meetings being mostly on Thursday. This is the one of the points I've tried to make is that if you look at you're saying the Friday before, that's >> that's about a week. That's a whole week. >> That's about a week. That's you know roughly what if we move it >> that's roughly 25% of the month. I mean, if if we have to do the agenda 24 hours ahead of time for the teachers, like is 36 or 48 too much for us to ask? I don't know. >> Um, >> yeah, even a couple days before >> it's not last minute. >> Personally, in the beginning, I was super overwhelmed with the amount of information. Um, but I've figured
070it out now, so it doesn't really, you know, I'm still checking it, right? you know, if I have an hour in the afternoon before the meeting, then I'm still checking it just to make sure. But, um, >> does a compromise does a compromise work? Yeah. >> Yeah. I >> compromise work. >> Well, yeah. >> Yeah. >> Just have what a few days before >> like Tuesday. I >> mean, Tuesday if you have a Thursday, >> might say hours or you know, >> 48 hours as opposed to 24. >> Well, 48 hours before in case the meeting >> Well, like today it's Tuesday. I mean obviously like you to send it to us on Sunday but um you know >> okay so you'll discuss that then at your next policy meeting and maybe come to a
071decision so that we can put it up to a vote for next month. >> Sounds good. Okay. >> All right. Um I guess that's it. Now we go to number 19 >> superintendence update. Dr. Meyer, >> I know I think my public budget hearing was just about Oh, just the grants. Uh, Mr. Kylie, you want to talk about the grants? >> Yeah, Hayden could add. We talked about this earlier. We're waiting for final allocations for UPK. IDA doesn't come out until July 1st and ESSA, we are waiting for allocations uh to come out in extended school day. We've applied for that grant and they are going to be released sometime in the summer. So, we are waiting for that. So we >> So we got like Is that the Oasis grant? >> Yeah, right. >>
072No, no, we we applied for it. We're waiting to hear back. >> When was that announced last time? Like July. >> Uh yeah, it was at some point in July. Yeah. >> Uh and that's really it on my end, but Okay. What's the the addendum though? >> That's it. Yes. on that. Okay. So, if the extended school day grant isn't if we don't find out till July, do we still have that through the summer? >> No, it's June 30th. >> So, yeah. So, we we are we are done June 30th, we based on So, if we find out in I would say some point like early July, we will put something together for August. Yeah. you know, but but not going to remotely be at the level that it was the last few years. But
073you know, we'll we'll we'll figure something out um for the first uh you know, for probably the first couple weeks of August uh to make something work. But um that it's all about timing, right? >> We need to know we got got the grant. We need teachers willing to do the programs. >> Um and then we need to get students signed up. So it it would be it would be something small but it would be something. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Um okay. So the uh the last piece here um so as part of our budget we have the uh capital outlay project. And Hayden feel free to jump in on any of this uh if you want to. But Capital Outlay, as Hayden mentioned, um we're it's a $100,000 project with a little bit
074of additional money budgeted to cover uh some of the pre-referendum costs. Um what this is doing, this is the secret re resolution that's going to allow for any um appropriate uh testing, anything like that that needs to happen um prior to this being done. This is just a floor replacement. um in some of our rooms at Mountain View that has some carpet that is very worn out. Uh we are looking at a variety of floor options um to replace that carpet. Any I guess I'll pause there and see if there's anything he wants to add or any questions from any board members. >> Any questions? >> Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the S secura? Am I saying that correctly? Secret SRA resolution. >> Everybody says a different >> secret. Okay. Do I
075have a motion to approve the SRA resolution 19 C which was a part of the addendum? >> I'll make a motion. >> Thank you, Tom. Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Thank you, Paul. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I opposed. Extensions. Motion accepted. Okay. Number 20, public comment. Our agenda offers two public comment sections. Opinions, ideas, and concerns that are offered by the public will be considered and taken under advisement. We have set aside a 15minute period giving the audience time to share their thoughts with us. Please raise your hand to be acknowledged by the board president. When called upon, please identify yourself, give your address, and limit your comments to three minutes. Do we have anyone else who would like to speak? Yes, Andrew. >> Yes. >> Um, Andrew Denton Lewis. Um, actually, one
076thing I want to thank the board for allowing the seniors to still go on a senior trip. Um, I know many schools around the area do not allow the seniors to go on trips anymore. And it is very, very important that we do because we need that break, that one week break from school. even though senior riders has kicked in a little early for some people at I think starting back in October but but that one week trip was really fun and also special thanks to Mr. Ruby for putting up with all the guys in our class. I think he should have got paid a lot extra for that >> might explain why he looks a little older. >> Especially at the curfew the seniors thought they were going to sneak into the movie theater
077room but there's a chap sitting in the room waiting for them. There was a lot of fun that happened on the trip and I think it was definitely a good bonding thing for all of us >> and I realized like once we got back we all like each other now like don't argue with each other >> and we're all sad to leave and leave each other behind but yeah so I just want to thank you one more time for all I do trip it was definitely really needed and really educational too by going to the aquarium. >> Thank you very much. What was your favorite part? Um, >> sneaking. >> Yeah. >> No, I was sleeping when they were sleeping around. >> Yeah. Um, >> I don't know which part of my favorite probably like
078the whole trip. Maybe the bus driver that we had. >> Yes. >> He he was pretty he was pretty chill. >> I just want to comment Andrew was working on the slideshow a good majority of that senior trip. He did not stop working. So, >> yeah. >> Well, hopefully you're at graduation this year slideshow. >> So, good. Yep. Okay. >> All right. Thank you very much. We appreciate it. >> Okay. Uh let's see. Where are we? >> Anyone else have any comments? All right. Next meeting number 21. A. The annual budget vote and school board election is going to be held on Tuesday, May 19th, 20ou 2026 at 12 noon until 8:00 p.m. at the Mountain View campus. And um our regular meeting is going to be Thursday, June 11th, 2026, 6 p.m. at the
079Lake View campus. Um number 22, executive session. Specifically, the board anticipates entering into executive session for the following reason. A number six to discuss the medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or persons. Do I have a motion to enter enter into executive session? >> A motion. >> Thank you, Paige. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Deb. Um, any discussion? All in favor? >> I opposed abstensions. Motion passes to enter into executive session. Um, for your information, there is not going to be any action after. So, if you want to go home and enjoy the rest of the evening, you may. Thank you for coming. Do this.