001Good evening everyone. Welcome to the October 14th meeting of the Ontario School Board. We are doing a discussion meeting this evening. Um we have a tobacco policy in place. There is no smoking within 100 ft of any school building. Please rise for the pledge. Board clerk, will you please call roll? >> Trusty Smith >> here. >> Trusty Jared >> here. >> Trusty Mitchell Morell >> here. >> Trusty Jerome >> here. >> Trusty Goodrich >> here. >> Trusty Coninsen >> here. >> Trustee Bishop >> here. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Um, item 2.01 is our continued capital project discussion. Um, we do have our friends here tonight. I can't see you all from where I'm sitting from uh CPL, our architects and our engineer and our um construction manager from Schoolhouse Construction. We um made
002some tentative decisions at the last board meeting to um really try to pair down our capital project um propositions and bonds to make it um something that could be uh seen as more affordable by the community. We sent uh we did some uh work during the week and uh sent uh our Google spreadsheet to uh the folks that I just mentioned and they've come back with some information for us. So I think we'll start with um with uh you guys presenting to us and then uh we'll open open it up for questions from the board. And I just wanted to ask since a lot of people will be watching this on YouTube at home, can you try to make sure you talk very close to the mic? Everybody who speaks. Thank you. >> Sure. All
003right. So, um I believe in front of you guys, you've got some updated items. Um we did take your comments, questions, compiled them into what was a proposition one, proposition two. Um we had a little bit of updated pricing in some of those. So, I think we talked last time I had some air conditioning items I had to follow through on with some refrigerant changes and things like that. That's been incorporated into here. I had a little bit of work with CPL to uh take a look at the retaining wall and some of that that was working itself around Bennett and what was part of Bennett's elementary edition, sorry, classroom edition versus what was the gym edition. And I think we're to a point now we've got that fairly well resolved to where um our
004cost should be accurate for those items. And what you're seeing now is the reflection of that. That said, are there any additional questions on any of those items from your discussions? Trusty Jared and and Trusty Mitchell Morurell, were you putting your hand up? >> I think I was. >> Okay. All right. You're next. >> My first question is what sort of question like a specific question about something included in one of these line items? Is that the most helpful question? >> Yeah, sure. >> Okay. um in the um the write up about um each item there was a little chunk about the nurse's office >> about it coming down a little bit the price that we kind of had it at and I just wanted to know would that include any kind of office or
005private space for the nurse because that's some feedback from some parents I've gotten is that like the nurse doesn't have a private area to be in to take a call from a parent to discuss sensitive medical issues. So, I was just wondering if if that was included in the idea of of a renovated nurse's office or if that would change things significantly if that >> that would definitely not change things significantly. And that specific item um maybe it wasn't fully planned out, but we typically do uh like a square footage takeoff and and CJ can elaborate on on the cost aspect of that. uh in a second here, but ultimately none of this has been really truly fully designed at a at a certain point. So, let's say in the future if a capital project
006does pass, then we would do a design process and meet with the actual nurse and the nurse's staff and and the admin to to really understand the push and pull and everything and then um go through a couple different options really. So if that's the need then then we'll uh satisfy the need but that kind of happens a little later on in the process. >> Can I just make a suggestion um for trustees and also for our professionals? Um we just realize that what we're looking at nobody at home can see. Yeah, >> fair. >> And and so it's going to be confusing for people to be able to kind of keep up with the conversation. >> So, um >> yeah, just maybe maybe it would be a good idea to just really list through
007what is on Proposition One >> and then maybe we could take questions on Proposition One >> and then next go on to Proposition two and take questions on Proposition two. Okay. So, I will uh read through proposition one and I'll just do each item and then I'll just do a total or would you like a total for each item? >> I think it would be good to, you know, have the price of each item before we go to the full total. >> Happy to do it. >> So, proposition one, uh, Bennett Elementary School classroom edition. It's eight classrooms, one art room, nurses space, music room, um, bathrooms, exterior bathrooms, and a library expansion at $16,516,000. New Yep. new boiler room which is uh addition or sorry a replacement of the boilers in the boiler room
008is1,626,500. The drop off loop modifications over where the addition will go so that there's a bus loop parent drop off $3,84,250. To do that portion of the work, we have to move the existing playground, which means we're going to move it up to the upper parking lot on the Bennett site. To do that work is 1,96,125. Replace below slab sanitary in the front hallway at Bennett, $282,813. [Music] remediate drainage around the um sorry the Bennett addition and address some of the pieces of where the drop off loop is is $312,194. New Bennett electrical service and the relocation of that service from behind where the existing gym and cafeteria are $1,317,250. in that same uh area is relocating the fuel tank or fuel oil tank which is also $1,317,250 and then replacement of the culvert across
009Route 28 sorry sorry $614875 the total of Proposition 1 26,887,257 $7. >> Thank you, CJ. >> And could we I just want to um be specific about the number of classrooms that we're adding now because we realized this week >> Yeah. >> that we were including the art room uh and and part of that conversation and there has been a correction. >> Yes. So, in the addition there's actually eight classrooms and one art room. So, a total of nine if you include the art room. Um because originally the thought was just to expand the existing art room in the existing building which would take over one other classroom. So originally it started out as a 10 classroom addition but when the decision was made to move the art classroom to the addition you're gaining back
010two classrooms in the existing building. So the number just kind of changes a little bit. >> Thank you. So, any questions on um all the items that were listed in Proposition One? Trusty Goodrich. >> Okay. I I'll start with the fuel tank uh relocation. So, I know we had talked about we I thought we said uh we only needed to move that if we're building the new CL uh new gym. So, is that still the case or Hi there. Uh, so we had this fuel tank replacement on our to-do list uh, for several years now. It's vintage 1987 and you know, basically when we look at underground fuel storage, we think 25 to 30 years is pushing it. Um, we actually >> talk a little closer than Mike. We we actually bid this work already
011once as a bid alternate to a previous site package when we did the uh RTU handler for the gym at Bennett. And at the time and the budget number, it was too high to do the work. Um but regardless of any improvements, we need to replace those tanks. So it's more of like a BCS nuts and bolts item if you look at it that way. >> Yeah. So this is really a building condition survey or um building condition. Yeah, survey uh replacement. So uh so this is not a relocation. This is a replacement. Well, they're underground now and we were going to go above ground and originally we were thinking of putting them above ground in the general area where they are underground, but that would take up space for any sort of future development.
012So, we're picking a new spot away from everything that gives the district the flexibility in the future to >> do other options. >> You are going to replace it though, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I think we should say it's a replacement, not a relocation. >> Relocation and replacement. Yeah. Um the New York uh Route 28 storm water culvert crossing. I guess this is another one of those building condition survey, you know, maintenance items, right? >> Yeah, it's a little bit of a blurred line. Um for good or bad, we had a catastrophic failure of the catch basin over the winter. Um, we were in talks with DOT relative to this project or a nuts and bolts type project for BCS item and they were very cooperative and very beneficial to the district. As
013it turns out, the majority of the work that was required for that fell on the DOT right away and was at no cost to the district. Um, we've held this line item. The the verbiage could change a little. Um, but we still need to upgrade the drainage outside like the district side away from the DOT catch basin. So, there's still some lower drainage that has to be redesigned or reworked or it's just it hasn't been contemplated yet. So, if you look at that as a line item placeholder for now until we can get into it. But the major the good news is the majority of the work like crossing 28 and the main catch basin that's in the bus loop the DOT replaced all that during the winter as an emergency project. >> So for
014the people at home u proposition one includes more than just Bennett upgrades. Just I just want to make sure everybody's aware of that. So, the Bennett new electric service and relocation, I guess that would be needed because of all the uh um HVAC that's going in the new rooms. Is that correct? >> Yes. Sorry. Yes. That and the mechanical work and then just the overall footprint growth. >> Have we figured out what the HVAC system is yet >> in terms of its exact >> the new classrooms? Yeah. Um, I want to say it's a ducted overhead like rooftop unit that includes air conditioning. >> Okay. >> Trusty Goodrich. Oh, I I was just going to interrupt you just to give others a chance and come back to you. Okay. Okay. Um, Trusty Mitchell Morell, then
015Trusty Jared, then Trusty Jerome. Uh this wasn't my question from before which I'm still saving because it's more general question. Now we're going over line items. Correct. Okay. Just wondering purely curious how come the drop off loop is so expensive. I'd have to dig into the line items. I'm sorry. I don't know that I can answer that right this second. I other than it just being its location and I I could dig back through the line items and give you a better answer. I'm sorry. I I mean it's it isn't it um partially because it's an entirely new um site on the on the property. >> Exactly. I could speak broadly in that right now it's a play grass field. There's an embankment there and what we need to do is basically do a lot
016of regrading. There may be some retaining walls. Um there's a lot of pavement drainage that goes to it. And then whatever we're doing, we're adding imperous surface. So there's a whole storm water management component to that. In fact, there's a storm water management component to basically a lot of the new imperous surfaces that we're creating that, you know, we'll handle on site, but that would include rooftops and additional wherever it's grass and we're making a pavement, there's additional underground design features that have to be accommodated. So that all adds up quickly. I just have a question about the fuel tank replacement and relocation and the storm water covert crossing because those things sounded important. If Proposition one were not to pass, then I think we can't put this up again for a year. Is that
017true? Then are we going to be okay with those with the fuel tank? I because I kind of hear you saying not ideal. >> You'll be okay, excuse me, with the storm water piece. I think that because the DOT took care of the major failure part. the other like on the district side of that drainage has been there and you know it's not we've we investigated and uh videoed it uh I forget how many years ago now time flies but I think I'd say I don't know six years ago and it wasn't that bad but it's one of those cases of a stitch in time saves nine especially because it's the bus loop in heavy duty traffic relative to the tanks I can't answer that it's it's you know it could be fine fine for
018another year. It could be fine for another five years, but I'm just saying industry standard and you know when there's a problem with underground tanks, it it can lead to a much bigger problem. So, it's better to nip it in the butt. >> Thank you. I just wanted to add as we work through Proposition one and two that if there seems one in proposition two about the same price that we could maybe consider swapping so that the fuel tank relocation and replacement ended up with the essential work. It might not be possible but just a thought I have. That's all. >> Trusty Jerome and then Trusty Kudson and then back to you Trusty Mitchell Moral. Um, I just wanted to sort of set the scene for people who are not as familiar with Bennett. What's
019the exposure of the front facade? Is that like s southern or um in any case it sits on a hill and it it it has a an expo a very exposed facade with very old windows and they are very compromised and the district very very inefficient in terms of energy and also the comfort of our students. So, all of the things that are listed under the new space take place, and correct me if I'm wrong, on that front facade. And that's where the music rooms are located, that's where the art rooms are located, um the security festival. So, it's really in this initial proposition that will make Bennett capable of absorbing um more children. um it's really that front facade where is the where the work is happening and then a on the grounds of
020course in these additional items and I just I just wanted to make that clear for people who might not be familiar with the with the building >> yeah I think the the new the new space is more if you're facing from the parking lot it's on the left right where the where the playground is now essentially um that side of the building so that the new vestibule I think would be on that side of the building. >> Okay. And the windows across the front though, right? >> The windows are Yes. The front facing. >> Okay. So, stage left and then the windows on the front. Okay. Thanks. >> The the window replacement on Bennett is in part of Proposition two. >> Yeah. Um, I just wanted to let everybody know that if you're um if
021you're watching at home, uh, you can go into our meeting agenda and now the document that we're looking at it has been linked so you can pull it up at home just now. Um, Trusty Kudson. >> So, yeah. So, I just wanted to um just sort of communicate my understanding of this package, how it makes sense, and can you just fact check me and make sure I'm understanding this correctly? So, um obviously the the eight classrooms and the new art room, the library, the office, the security vestibul, that's all about expanding Bennett's capacity to bring in new children. And then a lot basically everything else on this list is when we were first putting together this capital project last year we described as nuts and bolts and necessary things, right? And so um the new
022boiler is is a is a nut and a bolt, right? The drop off loop to me is all is about it came up in the community sessions last year. It's about safety for for the kids. What it does is really take vehicular traffic out of the campus during the school day. Um and uh you know if the playground is moved up where the teacher parking is now that you will have children moving through that area, no cars, right? Um and then things like drainage um are and you know are just getting the site ready for the next 25 years. It's climate resilience to to my um thinking because as we all know with with climate change we're going to see at times heavier rains than we've seen in the past. Drought drought and rain everything
023gets a little more extreme right now. My question is so I think there's probably people at home who are really mourning the loss of the new gymnasium which was $8.5 million which we have moved down to for some future phase. And um the way I think of this is sort of if you're building a house, these nuts and bolts things that we're doing like the the boiler, like uh the electric, all the all the infrastructure that we are building is sort of like building the foundation of a house. It's sort of like if that gym came in, if the district and the community decided that they really wanted that gym in a few years, to my mind, we've built the foundation by doing all these nuts and bolts things that that would be a less
024expensive project and nothing we're doing here would prevent that from going up at a later date. Is that correct? >> Yes. And that later date could be as soon as May. No, in theory or no. If this passes, then we can put something up in May or is it even possible? >> We'd have to see what the community will support. I mean, it's the the thing is decisions like these are in the community's and the voters. >> So, you have to wait a year if it doesn't pass. If it does pass, you do not have to wait a year. Just kind of going over the >> nuts and bolts. >> So, I' I'd like to just confirm there, Mr. Kudson that that is accurate and and just taking a a step back sometimes when you
025do plan these projects right the when we say nuts and bolts that that really comes from the building condition survey process which you know a lot of us know what that is Chris can you speak a little closer >> gotcha all right so the so really the building condition survey process is what starts that nuts and bolts conversation right and any good capital project has a good mix and balance between nuts and bolts and the programmatic, right? That's your new classrooms, that's the renovated art room, you know, um library expansion, things of that nature. So, um you know, we wouldn't be doing our job if there wasn't things like, you know, storm water, covert stuff on here, tank relocation, because we got to guide you through the code compliancy and make sure your infrastructure is
026future ready. And I think I'll just add that's a lot of those items that you mentioned are needed in that process for that addition. >> Any any other questions on go ahead on prop original general question which is just like what do you guys think of this plan and do you think there's something we're missing or is there advice you would give us? Just don't hesitate to tell us. I'll my side of this and then I'll pass it to CPL is I think this is a great plan. Not because Oh, sorry. I I feel like I'm yelling at you guys when I hear this. So, I just adjust. Um I apologize. So, I'm going to keep yelling at you. All right. One, I think this is a good a good plan. It addresses the pieces
027that you need for what sounds like I'm hearing is what's important to you and what's important to your voters. Um I don't think you're missing anything. I'm sure there are things that we'll find that we'll need to do in addition to this. That's what all my columns for contingency are for. So, I mean, we do our best to hit every piece of things and think through that process. There's definitely going to be things, but I think this addresses for you to get out of the ground and deal with your immediate need very well. >> That's a great question. and and what I just said there about mixing the nuts and bolts with the programmatic. I think the prop one is is is put together really nicely. Um it's a good, you know, set of work
028that's going to get you some things that people can get excited about. Um a lot of functionality there and then also a lot of the again nuts and bolts infrastructure work. The Prop 2 has a lot of great add-ons and what's good there is that it gives your community options, right? It gives you an option to say yes or no to that. It gives you an option for everything, but ultimately Prop 2 is a good add-on. And and and importantly, you know, the future phase of this too, right? Knowing that down the line we still have some options. Um unfortunately, the first vote did, you know, didn't didn't pass and there were some really exciting things on that on that initial vote. That doesn't mean they go away. It just, you know, they're on the
029future phase. are still planning on it because we we still feel that that was a good idea back then. So I, you know, in a closing statement, I think this is a well put together put together package um that that looks like it could be successful. >> Any other questions or comments about um the projected Proposition One? >> Go ahead. So the the second line there, Bennett additions new space. I wonder if we could just clarify that a little bit and just put Bennett K-5 in there just so everybody knows that's a this is K5. >> Yeah, >> great idea. And I think I think the reason this all these propositions make sense and are flowing together is because of all the uh community forums we had and the architects CPL did a great job
030putting that design in place. So it's designed so that we can grow into these other future phases, right? We're not going to be building something and then have to tear it down because you by design we can add to it. Thank you, >> Trusty Jared. Um, in the last meeting I expressed just concern about not doing the gym expansion in the cafeteria right off the bat. And then um the request for information came back from principal Bono that um with two physical educators the current gym gives enough room to continue the program in this same manner that's been since 2007 and that Sally in the kitchen Sally is the best stated that she could serve the kids the same way they have for 18 years. So, I just wanted to say that out loud since
031I was the one that voiced concern around that that I was really happy to hear that and I know those folks and they are take their jobs seriously. So, I trust them. >> Thanks for mentioning that in public that's important. Um, I just want to say one thing be uh and then we'll move on to more questions. Um, just keeping in mind that uh this first proposition which is um you know 26.8 8 million would be a bonded proposition that uh we would be borrowing the money like a mortgage uh for that portion of this work. The next portion that we're going to discuss, we will not need to be borrowing any of the money to support that work. So, any any last questions about Prop One? Um Trusty Kudson and then Trustee Mitchell Morurell.
032Yeah, just a quick mention um about the library expansion because I know um I've seen questions in the public about what's that about? Why do we need to do that? And uh when we did our Bennett tour uh we spoke with the librarian at Bennett and and she specifically mentioned that Woodstock has a very wonderful book collection and it's really mainly for um so that the all the kids will have access to all the books that are at Bennett in the Bennett library. And then you know I don't know I I don't want to say all but but we can keep a large number of books that have collected in these two elementary schools and display them because you know it's funny I remember uh quick digression when I read the book freconomics um many
033years ago they they had a stat like um which kids become lifelong readers the kids whose parents read to them every night or the kids whose parents have a lot of books in the house and the counterintuitive answer is it's the kids who have a lot of books books in the house. Uh because reading is something that eventually you take over as your own passion, right? And just having access to books is super important to develop lifelong readers. And so, uh the library expansion is not just to have more room to spread out into, but it's actually critical for book storage. Just wanted to mention that. >> Oh, yeah. Um, I was just also gonna say something publicly that I feel like I've just heard about and um, it was just that some people felt
034like we were adding the athletic stuff, but not the music art stuff. And even last week, maybe it wasn't finalized, but we now are adding an art room and a music room. So, just wanted to say we're trying to keep it equal in those respects. Um, yeah, that was it. >> Sorry, Trusty Mitch Morel. We're renovating two music rooms. Yeah, we're not adding a third. Third is on um potentially on the the future phase list. Also, minor clarification, we are technically adding to those two rooms just to square their shape off to make them a better acoustical space, too. So, you're both heading down the right road. Just the nomenclature is a challenge in this particular piece. Yeah, I was more just saying like we're not ignoring the music art. We're starting and we're going
035to keep going. Um I just was at a party with this guy who works at New Pulse and they did the Belltobell uh policy with the phones this year and library usage has gone up 100%. So that's another good reason with the bell to bell we need a bigger library. All right. Are we comfortable moving on to prop two? Okay. Oh, one more comment. >> Well, it's not about the list. It's more about and maybe we'll it's going that the financial discussion will come later. It's just Okay. Because I just wanted to hear about since that we will be bonding for that and um curious to hear how that will work out, but we'll Okay, we'll put a pin in that. Okay. All right. Shall we continue? >> Absolutely. All right. Proposition two. So, I'll
036read down each line item with each cost and then total at the end. So, proposition to replace uh Bennett windows and exterior walls. 5,281,188. Bennett renovate music rooms 2,897,875. Renovate toilet rooms in the front hallway of Bennett. $772,875. Replace ceilings and lights and classrooms corridors of front wing of Bennett $910,125. Renovate three high school science classrooms 3,254,438. Replace existing acid waste lines from science rooms to main sanitary branch. 411,556. Renovate high school nurses suite or upgrade high school nurses suite, excuse me, $226,755. Grass sports field improvements for soccer drainage, baseball fencing, um outfield regrading for field hockey, 1,45,188 and resurfacing the track, $200,000 for a total of $15 million. Superintendent >> CJ, we had a higher amount in for the nurs's suite upgrade. Did we talk about that today and somehow Misslair and I still
037managed to put the wrong number in here? >> We did have a higher number. >> So, we have a total of 767688. >> Correct. I don't know why that is. My first thought is that I think it was high school and middle school. So, was one of them just for high school? >> Oh, we would want both cuz they're right next to each other. They are a suite. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Or is it because part of it went to transfer to capital? So we have a total of 767688 and it doesn't all fit into our proposition 2. So we have allocated 65,000 um and5 in the proposition 2 with an indication that we could include the difference of 72,683 in the transfer to capital line for the 202627 budget. But our total that we
038identified was 767688. Could that be the combination of the middle school and high school nurses? >> The 77688 is both the high school and the middle school. >> That's why we had that number. So our number is actually that number but within the proposition we've allocated 65,000 with the understanding that the rest will be put into the budget in the transfer to capital line >> for may vote >> so that we manage to hit our >> exactly >> 15 million >> which matches our projected capital reserve and cash amount. questions or comments on Proposition Two. Trusty Jared, >> I had some thoughtful reachouts from folks about wondering about the turf field and and all that. And so I just wanted to explain out loud what I think I understand so that you can tell me
039and everybody if that's correct. So, the surface of our track really needs attention. Um, redoing the track from its foundation makes sense to do if we're going to do a turf field in the future. Those two things made sense to do together. and field lighting because you're underneath the earth digging up the whole old track and the ground to put the turf field on top. So, it wouldn't make sense to do the whole track from the bottom if we were thinking the community might want to vote for a turf field in the future because that wouldn't make sense. and it wouldn't make sense to do a turf field and not redo the track from the bottom necessarily. Um, so that's why I think we all thought that since the turf field was 2.3 million and
040redoing the track from the bottom and the field lights were 1.1 that that would be like a nice thing to think about as a community in the future doing all together instead of doing one piece of it now. So there's common logic in doing exactly what you said. If you're going to do a turf field, we're basically going to have to hog out the whole center grass area. There's a lot of sight disturbance. Um we wouldn't necessarily want to have a brand new resurfaced just the track which can be subject to damage during that level of disturbance. I can tell you I've done a level of that disturbance and it is possible. It's not impossible. It's not necessarily impractical, but it just minimizes risk and it's ease of operation really. So, um the thing with
041the track, again, a nuts and bolts item. Um, we met out there with the track person and he's like, "You either got to do something now, which we're carrying a number to do something now, uh, and then if down the road you're going to do something later, you know, that's that's if we don't do anything now and you don't do anything down the road, you're replacing the everything in the track." So, your cost scale just goes up no matter what. So, it's a catch 22. I get it. But, it's kind of the cards were dealt, right? It's not impossible to do the track and then go back and do the turf. It's just relative ease and amount of risk. And just on that topic, so the resurface that we're contemplating, we think would buy us
042five years, three to five years. >> I think you said another 10. I mean, the the pavement's in good shape. you know, they would just come in and scrape it all off and, you know, the new coatings that they have today are pretty pretty good. >> But if within that 10-year period, the district and the community decided they wanted a turf field, it would come, it would make sense at that time to do the >> it it would be a decision, you know. I mean again a lot of times >> when we go the turf route you start talking about state level competition you start talking about eight lane tracks you start like really blowing the thing up if you will and >> I it's a tough footprint that you're in now with that hillside
043>> right >> so um it again it could be contemplated down the road but if it were me stitching time I know I sound like whoever but stitching time saves nine And you can do that now and buy time to make the proper decision down the road. And again, it's safety, right? I mean, I think there was some vandalism already out there and there are some spot repairs that could be done, but it's due. >> And like Tim said, it's not uncommon to add turf to a pre-existing track. It's something I'm sure you've done several times. I've done even recently. Um, I'm about to do it again to be quite honest with you. So, it happens sometimes. >> Other questions about Prop 2? >> Trusty Goodrich, then Trusty Kudson. So, um the I know originally
044building condition survey had five science classrooms to be renovated. Um could the uh superintendent give us an update on the three that we're doing here and the two that may may be done because maybe I've heard uh from you that we may not need five. So, if you could give us a little bit of an update there. >> Sure. Um, so I actually contacted our high school administrator. Um, and what he said was, um, so we already renovated our chemistry lab. Uh, that room is currently used for all chemistry classes. That's room 203. He envisions the three proposed renovated labs would be room 204 um which um currently is used to teach classes such as earth science um biology and AP environmental. Room 206 is predominantly used for biology regents and AP bio classes. And
045then room 211 is predominantly used for earth and space science regions and elective courses. Um the two future labs that we would consider uh room 202 which is somewhat underutilized currently um and has some classes but is not used for all periods of the day. and road room 209, which is also even more underutilized, um, used only for four periods a day, and may be possible with declining enrollment to even move the classes that are currently housed in that room to other classes in the future. So, it it's possible to even contemplate renovating just one of those two extra extra rooms or, you know, depending on where our enrollment is in a few years in the high school. I'm not sure if we will need even both of them, but I think for now to
046have four very uh modern renovated rooms will be amazing for our students. Is is there any way we could do four in proposition two? And then would that the reason I'm doing this is because you know I love physics and one of the reasons I ran for the board is when I saw the physics classroom about five years ago and it was bad. It was really bad and physics was my mo most important subject in high school. We could do whatever the board wants, but something has to come out of Proposition 2 if we're going to add another uh essentially a million dollars. Trusty Jared, then Trusty Mitchell Morell, I so love and appreciate your dedication to science, Clark, and I I really mean that. I'm so glad that we have an advocate like you
047on the board because we're all have our spots and I think science is super important. I do want to raise a a sad uncomfortable feeling that I'm having about the science wing which is it is in very close proximity to the middle school hallway. And if the proposition fails and fifth grade does move to the middle school area, I would think that the science hallway above the current middle school hallway, which is very quiet, uh might be a possible piece that the administration might consider in terms of how to place the kids. I mean, I think that's a major jigsaw puzzle, but it does kind of come to my mind, Clark, talking about renovating rooms for the purpose of science that are the two that are underutilized that that you know that might be putting
048our cart before our horse. If fifth grade does end up needing to go to that building, some underutilized classrooms might not maintain their current utilization, but might have to look completely different. We might want to renovate them to look like fifth grade classrooms instead of science rooms with big permanent lab tables in them. So, just a thought I had. Not a thought I love, but a thought I had. Do you guys want to explain about the how differently Proposition 2 would be paid for just for everyone? It's good. So, Proposition two, which is structured to um be up to $15 million, would be paid for with our capital reserve and cash on hand that we had originally contemplated um during our May vote. And uh as we know, our capital reserve is fully funded and
049we have, I believe, 3.6 of the additional 5 million already uh saved. So, by the time we got to a place where we would be spending the money, we would have I'm imagining we're going to have more than $15 million, but we've committed to $15 million to be set aside for this particular purpose. >> So, the voters are just approving it. They're not paying for that part. We will not have to borrow any funds for this um second proposition if this is how the board decides to move forward. This is just a quick one, but the um the uh acid waistlines was something that you guys added and uh that's rather interesting sounding. Could you just elucidate what that is? >> So, as part of the science curriculum, they've used chemicals and things like that.
050We had included in the science classroom renovations replacing that acid piping within the room. So, wherever the lab tables were to move, let's say we would reroute to the existing mains. Um, Kyle had brought up through this process that the mains themselves should be really replaced as well. So, it was a separate line item we had been tracking. Um, and it came back up as as we went through this process. So, we felt it was needed to be added back in to sort of continue that process of hitting the important pieces and not having to go back and do them again. Um could you just go into um greater detail about the renovation of the two existing music rooms at Bennett? >> Sure. Um I'll turn over to you, but um two the two classrooms
051right now are what I call octagon or hexagon shaped. I think you see them on the plan. Uh we're going to basically square those EN ends off so that they're a little bit more of a rectangular shape and then deal with the acoustical treatment of the spaces internally. That will allow them to I think have a little bit more functional space at that point. And then it would be redoing finishes, redoing some casework and redoing the mechanical systems in those spaces. I guess I got it. >> Good job. >> Hexagons. Sorry. >> Great. Thank you for that, Trusty Goodrich. >> So, I'm looking at the future phases here and one of the things in the future phase was, of course, the uh the artificial turf, which is a, you know, it's a multi-use field. We
052can play many different sports. It's lined once for multiple sports. Uh, I assume it's going to be lined for field hockey and soccer. if we had it. Is that correct? So, I'm looking at the proposition two, the second from the bottom line, uh we're doing grass sports fields improvements for soccer uh drainage, which we've talked about, and also improvements for uh field hockey. Um, is some of this work not needed if we do the turf field later? I guess is my question. >> I would say that it's still needed because all of the teams cannot practice on the turf field at the same time. They all need space to practice and we have multiple levels of the teams. Um, we don't often have modified JV and varsity, but we will often have modified and varsity.
053So, we absolutely need all of the spaces that we have to be at their best level to support our athletes because one really great field is not going to cut it. >> And I'll just verify that I think the biggest cost driver in that line item was we were trying to provide ADA access and parking to that upper field. So, it's not just field improvement, it's access, too. >> And Tim, isn't it uh true that um that the the highest field in that level of three fields the drainage is just not adequate to drain off I think I believe that's the soccer field and then there's the a baseball or softball field and uh field hockey below and when we have a heavy rain the drainage that exists and and that around that soccer field
054is not draining water off those fields it's draining order onto the lower fields, >> right? So, the softball is the uppermost field and then there's a terrace down the middle field is the soccer field and then the lowest was the field hockey. Field hockey was taking the hit because it's the lowest. We added uh drainage in the outfield of the baseball and improved the field hockey. But now there's this break and slope that requires improvement in drainage between the baseball and the soccer. In our investigations, there's a very strange concept of drainage. They buried all structures and everything out there like we discovered by cameraing lines that we found. So there's infrastructure there already to build off of. And I just think, you know, by improving as needed and of course, like you mentioned before,
055the rain events are getting more intense and whatnot. And then we also working with Kyle in our concept providing ADA access and parking an ADA walkway between the softball field and the soccer field with a unique idea that Kyle had was to put concrete pads and then during the season we could flip bleachers so you could watch the soccer during soccer and so it's kind of a universal ADA accessible idea but that's all baked And CJ's shaking his head here as I'm pointing this to stuff, but yeah, that's all baked into that line item. >> That's great. I I know that uh during our visioning sessions with the community um ADA access to those fields was really important uh to folks. Trusty Mitchell Morell, then Trusty Goodrich. Um the field over the far field like
056past the tennis courts, is that still going to be around or do we have to like do something with that like make that the drop off loop? The Wasn't there isn't there a soccer field on the other side of Bennett? >> Yeah, that I think that's the one that Tim was talking. >> Yeah, that'll all stay. We're trying this bus loop will not infringe. It'll come very close to the lower field. Um but we try to preserve it. >> I I think the field You know, like if you were on the um the the um primary playground that we just built a couple years ago, looking at the tennis courts from that part of the Bennett playground, there's the grassy field uh in front of the playground between the playground and the parking lots. I
057think that will go right. That will become the new drop off loop. >> And that's back to the original question. Why is it so much? because we have to convert a grass field to a parking lot with access and pavement and drainage and all that. >> And and not only the drop off loop, right, but also the um teacher and staff parking that will no longer be up behind the building. >> Correct. >> Any more questions on prop two? I I just want to say I I understand the thing with the three high school science classrooms. I think I brought this up number of months ago and question, you know, how many science rooms do we really need for that size high school? So, and and you're right. I mean, we we have uh three
058high school science room renovations plus the one that's already renovated. The chemistry may be enough for what we need uh given the uh significant drop in the number of high school uh students in recent years. So, uh I guess that's a TBD, but uh I just ask don't I know physics is tough because not many kids take it. They have senioritis and uh their in their science, you know, they're in their senior year, right? So, it's a problem, right? A lot more kids uh students take chemistry and AP chemistry, but it's just timing, but then they get to senior, they go, I want to take it easy, right? So, I I really truly understand that, but uh you need to take physics if you want to be an engineer. Clark, I want to tell you
059a quick story. So I my father was very supportive of me in general academically was proud of me but I got through high school without taking physics and he never let me hear the end of it. He said, "How can you consider yourself an educated person?" So, freshman year of college, I took a course called physics for poets because I was more of a musician and a poet than a physicist. And so, I co-signed that e you everybody should take and it was a great class. Everybody should take physics at some point. And I just wanted to quickly speak for the music room renovation. Um, I've been I've one of the my joys of being a trustee is I've been uh I have volunteered to accompany some of the choruses and uh music groups in
060in all of our schools and um I've been in the Bennett music rooms and today we had our tour of Woodstock. I was in the Woodstock music room and they are functional rooms. They're nice size but really they all look like I imagine they must have looked in the 1970s. Um it's they're they're they are not upgraded in any significant way. And I I think given how important music is to this district, I'm very happy that the music room renovation at Bennett made it into Prop 2. So shall we talk about finances? Okay, let's talk money. So, I had a conversation with Beth Ferguson, our fiscal adviserss. Hold on, I got to bring up the too many tabs open. So, in looking at um the uh project, uh this would be prop two where we'd
061be using the $15 million of cash and um capital reserve. You can see I've got three rows. I've got the annual debt payment, annual projected state aid, and then annual projected savings. So, in using the the the purely the cash, there's no debt payment obviously. Um, and we would be getting roughly $42,000 a year in state aid. Um, I also didn't put any of the projected savings in that column. In the next column, which is the Okay, I have 26.5, which is what it was on Friday. So, but I promise it won't change too much. Um, we have a debt pay. We're looking at a debt payment of at this point a little over $2.4 million a year with uh projected state aid of 687,600 plus the annual projected savings and this was year one
062of 3.2 million. So, adding those both together in the total column you can see the annual debt payment is the 2.4 4 million with the annual projected state aid is the combination of the two columns. So it's a little over a million plus the annual projected savings of the 3.2 million means that we will actually be reducing our budget by $1.8 million in year one. So our annual budget will decrease. Correct? Okay. Trusty Jerome, >> I just want to be really clear that will offset other increases in the annual budget. I don't want to say that our actual full annual budget will decrease. >> No, just based on the project, >> the project will the impact on the budget will be much less because we will have savings of almost $2 million because of this
063project. Three million. >> Trusty Jerome then Trusty Goodrich. So if proposition two passes, it's neutral um text. There's nothing happening. Right. >> Right. And then if proposition one passes, then we see that there would be um as as a school for the the whole K through five rather than putting it in the high school, we would see that um 1,800,90 >> savings. Okay. at it. >> So just what I heard here. So if proposition one pass well if proposition two passes we don't save the 1.8 million >> the 3.2 you mean? >> Yeah the yeah >> we don't Yes we won't we could still I mean the projected savings is the consolidation. So right >> I mean I >> you'll get some savings from Proposition two. >> You will get Yes. From Proposition two, you
064will you won't see the savings as much as you'll see increased building aid. If we do not consolidate right away, if we do the work in Prop 2, but we don't do an immediate consolidation, then we will see increase in building aid because we use the cash >> without having any additional expenses. >> I got it because we have the cash. Yeah, correct. That makes sense, >> right? So I'm surprised the state aid is is so we've got a total here of 41,88 I'm sorry 41,887,257 and you're saying the total state aid is >> annual annual state aid. >> Oh the annual >> Every year over how many years? >> Um 15 I believe she did >> 15 years. Okay. All right. So, that's about $15 million. Okay. And that'll And that that's annual savings
065is used to pay off the bond as well, >> correct? >> Yeah. Oh, that makes more sense. Thank you. And I just want to point out something that our perpetually conservative um assistant superintendent for finance is not highlighting, but it is an absolute fact, which is if the savings are 1.8 1.89 million in the first year, all those things we're not paying for anymore go up in price over the entire life of the bond. Um so th those savings are not static. they they go up incrementally unless we have deflation, which we've never had in my lifetime. Um uh and if we have deflation, we have a really big problem. So, we don't we don't want that. Um that that savings amount goes up incrementally year after year after year. So, by the time you
066get out to year 15, it's going to I at some point we will have fiscal adviserss run these numbers, but we just haven't for tonight. >> Well, we we don't because we really don't know what the this this these are averages. averages. >> Yeah. I mean the average of like the first like >> So the debt and again like you were saying yes the savings will incrementally go up but the debt payment will stay the same. >> Yes. >> Monica could you just explain what what when you said these are averages. What are averages? So, so, um, the debt payments and the projected state aid, they will they do fluctuate slightly just based on I don't even know what, but I can show you the spreadsheet, but but that is Yeah, it's been a long
067day. >> So, if it's if you're saying 2.4 million a year, it's not literally that every year. It's a little more, a little less. >> Yeah. I mean, exactly. It's >> But it averages out over the life of the bond, over the life of the repayment. >> I can >> You're going to have more details later that are going to be more finite, right? >> I'm just curious. I don't remember. Maybe somebody at the table does. Um, when we received the that spreadsheet from fiscal advisors that had like the two font you know that you could not read even with a magnifying glass. Um, when did we receive that prior to the board voting on the propositions? >> Did or was it after? >> It was before. >> Okay. So, will we receive that? Okay.
068>> I actually have it. >> Oh, good. >> So, I can share it. It's I can share it. I can share it now. I can send it to everybody. It's a little confusing to read, but I think Rick can probably understand, maybe better than me. >> Is there a way that I'm just remembering that on the original spreadsheet that we received from them, there was a column that was circled. So that that would be our >> that showed the nice negative number. >> Yeah. I mean, can we can we can you highlight that or something for us so that and maybe just give us a little explanation of what we're looking at because it's been a while. >> Okay. Thanks, >> Trusty Jared. Um, Assistant Superintendent, your slideshow explaining um, equalization rate was so outstanding,
069and I might suggest perhaps something along those lines maybe to explain like in uh, reference to something that somebody like I would understand like in my house I pay for heating. If I had two houses and then I sold one, I pay for heating in the first house. but how that savings grows because I I think that's what you're explaining and you did such an amazing job with the tax rate one. I almost just wanted you to like do that for this, you know. >> I can definitely give it my best shot. >> Do we have any further questions for our team? Thank you so much for your patience. I know you guys didn't run for the school board, but you're at every meeting. >> Thank you so much. >> Great. Thank you everybody. We
070appreciate it. >> I'm sure we'll be speaking again soon. >> Thank you all. Appreciate it. Have a great night. >> You too. All right. So, where does our conversation go from here? Yeah. I mean, yeah. I mean, I think I I know that we did not discuss um the future phase um because it I mean, it's a lot of the things that were in our visioning sessions and things that the community um I mean parts of the community really want. Um you know, and and we heard loud and clear that we needed to come in at a lower price this time. So, we're taking that very seriously and still developing a uh a a central campus that has an elementary school for all of our K5 students. Trusty Jerome. >> Yes. I think that we
071are all aligned as a board that we don't want to see our fifth graders in the middle school high school. So the goal is to create a plan that will be adopted so that doesn't happen. And then in the future, I would love some of these things in a future phase to happen, but we're just trying to take care of what's right now. Thank you. Trusty Mitchell Morell. So, there's still things that were on the original one that aren't part of any of this, right? And in theory, eventually we could still do those as well, even though we're not talking about them right now. I mean, I if if we include the future phase as part of the conversation and and I I know that there's a total on the future phase, but I feel
072like there are things on there that could be broken out and um and done separately. >> So, like nature trails or something like that happen to that. >> Yeah. So off the top of my head, I I don't have an exhaustive list, but obviously the full track replacement is was in the original plan is not has been replaced by the the um resurface. So that's not that's a reason the number has come down. The other things I can remember are the counseling suites and the main office. Um those could maybe go back on this at some point, go on the future phase. Um I think they fell off because they were they didn't get when we all prioritized they were they were very much at the bottom of the list in terms of essentials what
073we what we have to have now. Uh I can't remember there might be one or two other things like that but main office counseling suites and track replacement aren't on here that were in the original uh May proposition. Trusty Mitchell Morell, are you thinking about the student commons, the outdoor classrooms? And I, you know, I think it would be great at some point if the community would, you know, be so gracious as to let us work on that outdoor space in between the two buildings. I also will say though and I I don't say it enough out loud here but the PTAs and the booster club are mighty mighty mighty things and I was blessed enough to be on the Bennett PTA when we pretty much not pretty much we did build an entire brand
074new garden at Bennett uh when Phoenicia had to close um through fundraising and I think that and and very generous community members who brought their own equipment, their own tools, their own knowhow. And I have always thought that if that's something that the community can't find their way to supporting with tax dollars, I really feel like with a central campus with all the parents focused together on this one place, I think that's something that PTAs and booster could really pull together and do something magnificent because the Bennett garden is gorgeous. So, >> Trusty Goodrich, did you have a question? >> Yeah, I just wanted to reiterate um add to what u trustee uh Jerome said. Um this is, you know, we proposition one gives us uh Bennett K through five, which is really important. We
075we really do need that. Uh I don't want to go through the fifth grade into middle school. Uh try to avoid that, you know, and I think uh this is a reasonable plan. It actually saves money. Um the Proposition One bond will be easily paid for by the savings with additional money left over. So it's it's a it's a great plan. It's a win-win. And um I think u you know it's a good plan. Thank you, Trusty Jerome. >> I also want to just say that um there's I have a many ideas about how that savings could be used to enhance, expand, improve our programming for our students. So that will be part of my work and the rest of the board's work to make sure that we are saving this money. How can we
076improve student experience with this savings? We've proved that we can be responsible and fis look towards the future with fiscal responsibility. But I also really really need to see that show up in this central campus in great ways for our students. And I know that my board and the administration is also aligned with that. So >> thank you. Thanks for saying that. >> Trusty Kudson. Yeah, I just wanted to point out that um so the the bonded portion of the May proposition was uh 55.3 five.5 and this is we're contemplating bonding a little under 27 million here um which is less than half um the original amount that was to be bonded um which is I think something that our uh hopefully our community will hear and see that we are responding to because I've
077said this a bunch of times but I really think we all have to keep it in mind is that we we've had three very eventful tumultuous years for our country for school districts for our state. 2023 was the the just the overall picture was very different 2023 and it there was a big change in 2024 with the with the governor's executive budget and then this bill that passed on July 4th is another really big change in our country. It's a fundamental restructuring of the relationship between the federal government and the state government in terms of who pays for what and the state is all states not just New York are going to be burdened in ways they have not been um especially in the past few years because in COVID there was the American Rescue
078Plan ARP which other districts was able to do a lot of great things with a lot of cash that went to school districts during COVID. Um and Ontario was very smart about how they spent it. They didn't um start things that um would have to keep burdening the budget after the ARP funding went away. But we've like um I believe is am I correct that um sort of the initial um ramp up of of MTSS and branching minds was paid for by ARP money. and assistant superintendent Laughen told us in her academic report on the 30th that those programs are really helping our students and are can really be um identified as a source of some really great academic gains. We had if you heard that report on the 30th. Um, so I just wanted
079to say that uh, you know, as much as we um, are focused on our district and our locality, we always have to keep an eye on what's going on in the world. And there have been some big changes. And I I really hope everybody has taken in um, what has changed in our country and the world. So, those of us on the audit committee, and I'm sure a lot of people out in the public are going to be asking this question. So, we're going to save, I don't know, over a million dollars every year if Proposition One and two pass. Um, where's that money going to go? Do we have to as a board uh vote on where it goes? Uh, how does it show up? Does it automatically reduce the tax levy? Lots of
080questions. >> So that is a board decision. So what happens is is that you are going to see a budget that's going to have increased revenue because of um state aid, building aid. So our revenue will be going up. We can and then we will see the expenses now going down. So there's, you know, obviously there's those expenses that we have to pay. We will have to pay health insurance. What is health insurance going to look like in three years? We don't know. Um, are we going to have a lot more retirees that we're going to end up paying for? We don't know. So, there are a lot of unknowns. Um, and then, you know, the adjustment really comes with the tax levy. So, if you decide, okay, no, we want to keep the budget
081low, we've got the additional building aid, so now our taxes can come down. Or you can say the tax cap is whatever the tax cap is and we increase the budget because that's the tax cap. So really it's the voters the board decides and the voters vote on the expenditure budget but obviously we need to know what supports that expenditure budget and it's its aid and its taxes. Does that make sense? >> Can I just add to that just so that it's really clear? The the board's not going to say okay we have $1.8 million in savings. What are we going to do with it? The board's going to look at a budget each year and contemplate a tax cap, tax levy limit. I hate the word tax cap. >> Thank you both. >> And
082just to add, just to add what I was saying before, by 2028, we will be three years into this reset of the fed, federal government, and the state governments. And that could have all kinds of consequences for our budgets. So I think in a way these it's good to remember that these savings don't kick in until we actually do the work, consolidate the campus. Um and then whoever's on the board then you maybe maybe us and maybe other people will make their best call. Assistant Superintendent, I just wanted to make sure that I can explain this. The savings, the projected annual savings is 3.2 million. Wh why it's 1.89 million annual savings is because for 20 years we'll have a bond payment which will not fluctuate wildly. that will stay like a mortgage at a
083fixed rate. And so once that's paid off then or then it the 1.89 is after we're paying that fixed rate. Correct. Gotcha. Other questions, comments, concerns. So, the next step, superintendent, if I'm correct, would be for these two propositions as they're laid out would be sent to sent to our uh council to write up the propositions for the ballot. >> That is correct. They will be sent to our bond council to create um propositions that the board will then approve at our next meeting next week. Um and then the numbers, you know, we will get the final numbers from fiscal adviserss. So, the board has that as well. So, am I correct then um in in thinking that we will round slightly to a 26.9 million Proposition One and then a $15 million Proposition 2?
084>> I think that would be safe. >> Okay. Much easier to play with, >> right? No, no voting. Uh, we'll vote. Yeah, we'll be voting on the propositions at the next meeting. Um, I just wanted to remember what the district clerk asked me to mention tonight, and I believe it has to do with the fact that we will have to have a resolution on the next meeting allowing us to hold our voting on our uh vote date, which is December 10th, here in Boyceville um in the uh middle school, high school downstairs uh in what we call the wrestling room. So, it's the the basement um where the central administration uh door is as well. And it will work because we have a superintendent's conference day that day. So we can set aside ample parking
085and we would like to hold the voting from 7 in the morning until 9 at night on that day only in one place centrally located but with greatly expanded hours and very accessible. So we can those of us who work in central administration we can park elsewhere that day. So all of the parking spots um near that door can be available if need be. We can have parking um expanded uh you know to allow for as many people as need to be there. We will have two active voting machines. We will also have a third that is ADA compliant but that will only be used uh for those individuals who may need that particular type of machine. It's not a third machine that will be in the rotation, but we will also have four iPads
086for the um for people who are checking in. So things should move smoothly. The board of elections feels that that is an appropriate number for us. So that resolution will also need to be on the agenda for next week. All right, we have one more item on our agenda tonight and it's a continued discussion of the resolution to establish a K12 central campus by 2028. And that was the resolution that we laid on the table at the September 30th meeting. Trusty Jared. >> Thank you. I hope everyone doesn't mind. Um, I've been thinking a lot about this as I'm sure all of us have been thinking. Um, and my thinking has really evolved on it from where I was uh in the week leading up to the last full board meeting where we discussed it.
087And at that time I sort of perceived this resolution as you know are we choosing that fifth grade going to the middle school is a better scenario than the scenario that we have now and um and that's sort of where I started with it. But since it's actually been very helpful, I think to have all of these meetings in a row here in October because it's really allowed me to keep hearing everybody and thinking about this. And where where I really ended up in the last meeting was where I am now, which is that I feel that what this resolution begins to address, and this is just like where I'm starting from, is that it is a distinct possibility that fifth grade does go to the middle school, especially if the bond fails in December.
088And where I was before was sort of like but I don't want to choose that fifth grade going to the middle school. where I am today is if that is the one of the most likely scenarios and I think it is then I don't want it to be an emergency because what I heard from our administration in the last meeting was how thoughtfully sixth grade was integrated. I had children in the middle school at that time and it really was so beautifully done and I think that fifth grade going to the middle school is a very very different a horse of a different color and I would want it to be a much longer runway than what we had for sixth grade going to the middle school because we're not just talking about integrating another
089grade level into a hallway that had lots of room. I know that building. I know we all do and and there you know I have very thoughtful parents who are like okay but tell me what's g where are they going to be what's going to happen I think there's a lot of questions I would want our administration to have a lot of time so much time to speak to parents to look at the building to talk to administrators so on the one hand what I saw as sort of like an maybe for forcing something to happen. I think I am now seeing considering the date range that we're looking at is hopeful. I think I mean if we haven't lost funding by the 20 28 2029 school year, I think it's a it's short of
090a miracle. Um I guess my concern at this point would be if we if we the bond fails and we do lose funding, you know, Do we can we stick to this timeline? Like you know what I mean? Because I mean that's that is now a question I'm asking which is sort of the opposite question that I started with when I first looked at this. So in short, I am feeling that one thing this resolution does do that I feel is responsible is we heard that we need to tell the administration this is the direction that we want you to go in before they invest an enormous amount of time and resources of educators and administrators into solving this this brand new idea. And I don't think a year is enough time for them to
091do that. So this in essence, if the bond fails in December, gives us a chance at a very at a at a very responsible process. The other thing I want to say about this is, you know, we've had tours at Bennett and at Woodstock now, and I love both of those buildings. I've had children in both of those buildings. The principles are unbelievable. The teachers are phenomenal. They are both full of amazing artwork and learning. And they are both half empty at least. And I can't not say that out loud. Both of them. Um there were such small class sizes at Woodstock today. I asked the principal if there was like a flu going around because I didn't want to assume that that was what it normally looked like because I I would not at
092this point I don't want to make any assumptions and the answer was like no we have like amazing attendance right now and and those buildings are are really empty. Um so you know educationally it's better um if all of our kids are are together. I mean, those class sizes are not big enough. They don't have enough of a cohort there together. We know it's better better for our special needs kids. We know it's better for our music programs. We know we could have after school enrichment. We know that's better for kids. We know that's better for parents. It's fiscally better. With busing, there's no change. And for some, it's better. So, I'm asking myself, what is the tradeoff that I would make? Is it hoping to keep Woodstock open just a little longer? You know,
093and I thought to myself like, is that worth it? You know, because they're are very passionate community members and I feel for them. And I guess where I came to there was if it was only Woodstock and West Hurley kids that this would impact, I might consider that because I hear them saying, "Let us we'll take the brunt of it, you know." But my problem is it's not it's fifth grade from our entire district for in perpetuity, you know, and it's not just the the ch the fifth grade kids that live in a particular area that would be moved into the middle school in a possibly a very short time frame. And I can't find myself to justifying um putting ch all those all the children in that kind of suboptimal transition in order to
094try and prolong you know one area's access to to a school. Um that's where I'm at. >> Thank you. Trusty Goodrich. I I think what scared me about the resolution is I felt that if we don't get this Proposition One passed in December, then we're locked into having to do the fifth grade into middle school without knowing or like um Trusty Jared said, giving the administration enough runway to actually come up with a plan and make sure Um, it's going to be a good plan, right? I I don't want to ask the superintendent and the administrators and the principles to to go do something and then we find out you're going to fail. I don't want you to fail. And I think you need more time like Trusty Jared said, right? and and what you
095said also. I think uh you know we we want to make sure we have a good plan and uh the space you know at a high level it looks like it may be doable but you know give it some time and um you know that would be good right to make sure we got all our eyes dotted and our tees crossed and I think uh Trusty Kudson has a name for that dot Tit is that what it is? Yeah. So, um yeah, I mean I didn't I felt like I was forced into it. I mean, if we want to make an aspirational resolution that says, "Hey, this is what we plan to do." You know, if Proposition One fails, then we plan on look taking a serious look at the middle school for fifth grade.
096Maybe that's a plan. But to be lockep and say, you know, we're going to submit something to New York State Ed that says it's going to close in 2028. I was like, ah. that that that scared me. >> Just to clarify, we wouldn't submit to state until the March before the closure. So, it's literally if if our goal is to consolidate by the 2829 school year, we would not submit to state until March of 28. So I think we would have plenty of time to work through the planning process if that is where we were headed for the 2829 school year. >> Trusty Jerome and then Trusty Jared. Um I have to be honest, I find this a distraction for me personally. I don't really like it. Um the timeline I've had issues from from
097the very beginning. Um, I'm very I, you know, I have said and I continue to say as a board, I feel that we're all very aligned right now in the path that we're taking. I think that everybody is really beginning to really grasp this idea that that fifth grade without these without these bonds passing could be absorbed into the middle school. Nobody's happy about that. But this it seems I think there was a vote a couple of years ago that talked about something like this. And I just I just don't I just somebody has to tell me why this is important right now when we're trying to put together two propositions for a vote in dis on December 10th or 11th whatever we said like that to me should be the main focus and this
098is dist a distraction that's how I put it and I do say that with respect for my fellow trustees. Um, I'm sorry if my tone seems edgy. So, here's here's what I see as as part of the problem is um how voters get their information in our district or don't get their information in our district. And I think, you know, we we've had some really great conversations, very transparent and open conversations about everything we're facing, everything we're thinking, what we're trying to do here. Um, you know, I I looked so we had roughly 2,600 people voted, 25,00 2,600 voted in the last election. Um, and I just looked on YouTube at our view counts for our meetings this year. July had 206. The second one in July had 77. Uh, the next one in August
099had 84. Our midseptember meeting had 116. Um the the unfortunate but inescapable reality is that when we had our proposition in May, very many people in this district got their information not from us but from um road signs, billboards, banners, you know, uh other sources that confuse the message um confused what was going on. And we we've been getting emails to this to this week um just misunderstanding um what was on the ballot in May. And so to me that aspirational aspect to the 23 resolution is what opened the door to um people being confused about what they were voting for. And uh just to step back for a minute um to echo what Trusty Jared was saying before, like you know, when I sit down as a trustee, when I try to make a
100decision about um what policy I think would be best for the students of this district and the taxpayers, you know, I have a series of rubrics and metrics that I'm looking at. And um on this on the question of centralization, there's the academic benefits to the students. I'm convinced that the central campus is has the most academic benefits. There is the fiscal sustainability of the district's budget for the taxpayers into the future. When I look at that, I think that's a very clear decision. Um then there's the voters. Um voter intent. I've I've spoken on that before. I'm not going to rehash it here, but I think a small but clear majority of the voters have told us in the last couple elections that they want us to centralize the campus. And then also what
101I talked about in terms of uh last week about our um you know the the the contradiction between the property wealth we live among and the fact that half our families are economically disadvantaged and all the benefits that would come to those folks. A from keeping the tax levy under control and b being able to provide more service in terms of afterchool child care things like that. And so, and then of course when you're talking about closing a community school, there's there are equities pointing the other way. Absolutely. Um, it's a loss to the community. We've talked we've talked about this many times. Um, when I look at the scales, um, to me, I I'm on this board to make my best judgments about what will benefit the students and the taxpayers of this district.
102And if I am in that position of responsibility and I have taken on that responsibility by accepting the role of trustee, I have a responsibility to act on that. And especially if I know that from experience that once the bond is up for a vote, if there's ambiguity, it's going to be very confused. The the the um public discourse is going to be um very confused, I believe. So that that's what I think the um the value of it is. Trusty Jerome and then back to Trusty Jared if you still have Okay. Okay. So, nothing that you said right there has anything to do with adopting a resolution to me. And I would say that my experience again um I've served on a few public boards and surveys, resolutions, like we we we had a
103resolution and 202 whatever it was, you know, they don't matter. I think that sometimes there's the misconception that if we do this, everybody will know and it will make sense to everybody and I just don't think that that's the case. I think we just continue doing our good work and get the propositions to go forward. You don't have to extol the benefits of the central campus. I I see them. We all see them here, right? Um I don't think this will help prove them to anybody. In fact, I see that it might put up a barrier, right? Because it I just don't know why we're doing this right now. And I won't say anything else about it, but I understand all the things you said, but I'm just talking about this resolution. I think the
104resolution for me, the resolution clarifies for the voters that we as a board agree that we are moving forward to a central campus um by se by by September 2028 that it doesn't put the onus of this decision decision on the voters. It puts the onus of this decision on the board. Um, we faced a very strong and moneyed opposition in May. And they have spoken quite clearly, I think, to us in uh at at least at our se September 30th meeting that they will vote no on any proposition that we put up that has an addition to Bennett that includes Woodstock K5 students. I feel like if we wait and see whether they're really going to vote no on a proposition that would really impact all the K5 students in the district, even theirs,
105that that means that we have to wait another year to put up a bond and consider a capital project. And that is a year that we may lose significant funding and end up having to move Woodstock K5 students to Boyceville without any improvements. And so that's really what that proposition means to me. I mean that resolution means to me. It means that we're making a decision. We're we are not using aspirational language. We are using very straightforward language and saying Woodstock has to close. We now it's our job to see to it that we can build a beautiful central campus. It's going to be done in phases. It's not going to be done, you know, the way the community or some of the community had hoped that it would be done, but it will be
106done in a very, very good way for our K5 students. That hopefully will not mean that our fifth grade has to go to the middle school, high school. Um, so that that's what it means to me. I and I and I think that to me like just putting it in a nutshell, the onus of that decision falls on the board of education, not on the voters. That the voters get to vote on the on the bond, but we have to make the decision, which I think we thought we were making in 23, but we weren't. Uh, Trusty Jared, then Trusty Mitchell Morell, >> I really appreciate this conversation and the space for this conversation. I really do. Uh I wanted to start just by actually I don't think I I might not need to clarify
107if I back up a little which is to say I think the question is that Trusty Jerome is asking what is the problem that this resolution is attempting to solve for? And I think that might be a a step in the discussion that we skipped um just because for for a multitude of reasons mostly that we're human. Um, so I think what I hear is the the problem I hear from Trusty Kudson and Trusty Bishop is that if there is a the ability for there to be a misunderstanding either just out of it's so much to keep track of as a human being or on purpose. um that folks think that voting down, expanding Bennett to keep K to five together means that Woodstock will stay open. And I just have to say that I
108don't think we're all on the same page. And I think that we know that the 2023 resolution didn't do that. It didn't do that. Um and it's okay to say that out loud. You know, the resolution in 2023 said that it was pending a vote on a capital improvement. And that was true. And then so when folks said we can't centralize without the capital improvement, vote no on the capital improvement. They weren't wrong. accept that. I disagree, Trusty Bishop, that it's our choice. I think we're lucky if it's our choice. I mean, if we can try and choose the best thing, we're lucky. I actually think I I think I might be the most pessimistic, financially pessimistic board member. I'm coming for you, Trusty Kudson. Uh I I think that we are about to not
109get to choose that. I think that's where um I differ a little bit and I think this I would like to clarify um Trusty Goodrich and I know guy went on and on and it was probably very hard to understand everything I was trying to say so I just want to make it crystal clear. Uh my understanding is that if fifth grade needs to go to the middle school when we decide that as a board this is a path that is going to happen then the clock starts and then the work starts to happen. So my fear and it is a fear at this point is that because I love a lot of people that really don't want me to vote to close Woodstock and I have to see them and I look forward to
110seeing them and it would not be good for my social life to do that and I would like for everybody in Woodstock to feel really happy and to be there for another year. we don't start the clock and then Kathy Hokll adjusts the budget and then that's on me that that was a whole year that our administration could have been coming up as you said Trusty Goodrich with a very intricate plan to do something that is not as simple as moving sixth grade to the middle school. And just this afternoon, Trustee Smith um shared an article with me which you can look up um online. It was written by a local Crispen Cot and um it's about the New School District and I sat down here and looked at it and they they're they have
111to do it. They have to do it. They are now at that point that I don't want us to be at. They have a $2.5 million budget deficit. They have to phase one school to K4 and fifth grade up to the middle school and fifth grade's going to the middle school before the summer of 2027 it said most likely and it's still not going to address their budget deficit. Reading that I was like this you know we have a normaly bias we saw it in the pandemic. I have my husband who's a prepper. I know this is TMI but he told everybody there is a pandemic coming. buy masks, buy cans of things. And every single family member and neighbor looked at us like we were insane, like we were out of our minds. We
112We want to believe the aid will stay. We want to believe everything will be fine. And I'm afraid that we are rearranging deck chairs a little bit and that we're going to hit the iceberg. And I I really just have to say that's I think what we're doing. I can't believe that we think that a 2% tax cap raise every year is going to keep this train running with everything that's going on and with the astronomical rise in pricing of everything and our neighbors crying uncle literally uncle like I you cannot raise my tax anymore I cannot live here uncle I really think we're there and so I just I know n of us want to talk about that, but I I don't think that we are going to get to make the decision if
113if we don't really get into a serious discussion about what is the most likely outcome here. >> So funny. I was like the opposite with the pandemic. I was like out to dinner on March 13th. Okay. Um so Oh yeah. Okay. So, I just wanted to say I think I understand why we want to do the resolution. I think I felt like it makes things this specific resolution really riles up maybe the crowd who kind of don't want to rile up and makes things very contentious. The age-old story of hitting against each other. I think the thing we're trying to make clear is if it passes, the fifth grade gets to stay in the elementary school altogether. If it doesn't pass, fifth grade moves to the middle school. Like actually, I feel like that's more
114what we're trying to get across. like these are the two options at this point more than we're getting more than positioning it like making it about closing Woodstock when you can make it about this other thing that I think will be a more peaceful way to put it and is also the reality that is that's what we need people to understand more I agree with you and I also agree with Trusty Jared. Um, all good stuff. I just and I I feel like it's taking the this resolution's taken the oxygen out of the air and uh we what we really need to do is try to sell Proposition One, Proposition Two. Uh, Proposition One's going to be harder to sell and uh, we need to figure out how to sell that, right? Um, a lot
115of people put up banners about a building. Save the building. This is about support Anora students. I'll repeat that. Support Anora students. If you can come up with a better saying between now and the next uh, uh, meeting, let's do it. But let's come up with a saying and we just say it over and over because this is about the students, right? This is about not only the current students but also the future students and providing more opportunities to them. Simple statements. If we can come up with three bullets, just oneliners, nothing complicated, stuff that people can remember, stuff that people hear over and over and over and that they are can remember so that can tell their neighbors, real simple. >> Just want to elaborate because we're talking about the same thing. Just like
116kind of like this is what happens if it passes, >> this is what happens if it doesn't pass. like literally so clear cuz like I feel like I didn't personally understand that until the last meeting um especially about the fifth grade thing and like these are our two options at this point. Like I just think we that's sort of the messaging we need to be more on than this resolution especially because it's almost a more positive way to put it where it's like well we're all doing this but it can go this way or this way. You know, >> Trusty Smith, >> the uh my thought on the resolution is not a negative one. Um it was really concerning to me the um how unclear people were for the the May vote. Um and there's
117still a lot of that out there right now. people really need to know without a doubt what they're going to the the polls to vote for. Um, and I think it's our job as a a board to do that for them. Um, I don't look at it as a a bad thing um or a negative thing. It just states the direction we're headed. Um, and kind of gives it clarity to to those that might be sued otherwise. Um, and I think there's a lot of that out there, more than we'd like to admit. And it's it's really working against us. And as far as selling the proposition, I think that the resolution would help do that. I think it would be very clear to say this is what, you know, this is what the bond
118is. You know, the school's going to close and it's okay, but the bond is for the upgrades and there's a lot writing on it for the kids. We can't afford to have something out there that doesn't specify that, you know, the school is still going to close by this date. And this is what the bond is for. The bond is not for keeping the school open. And I just think that needs to be to be said and not in a negative way. It's not trying to be malicious. It's not trying to be underhanded. It just is to really clarify and help the public see this is what's happening right now. And it's unfortunate, but we're not the only ones. You know, there's a lot of other districts out there going through the same stuff. And
119it's really sad. And I wish there were kids, you know, busting out of out of the schools everywhere, but it's just not that way. And I think it's up to us to finally make a stand and and do the right thing. And I think the resolution helps us to to do that. So thank you >> Trusty Jerome then Trusty Kudson. >> So thank you. I hear that. Um I really like the idea. So I have a couple questions about this resolution. like I'm moving beyond like being completely opposed to a resolution to like what would it look like if we reframed the resolution much in the same way as we came up with a better plan for our propositions. I really appreciate what you were saying um Trusty uh Mitchell Morurell in terms of we've
120had this message that people are so resistant to and it just gets my cackles up immediately when it's all about closing Woodstock, right? And reframing it just in this way that says it's actually about supporting the students of Ontar making sure that our fifth grade doesn't go into these. I feel like that's every bit as much true. It's something that resonates with everybody in the district rather than just a portion of a district. And so I would be open to like rethinking the content of this particular resolution. Also, I just have a question as I start to look at it to be because to be frank again, I said it's sort of like every time I looked at it, I was just like uh you know um didn't we do this already? But now I'm
121understanding through everybody's um explanation um the purpose and uh I'm just wondering why it's such a long legal ease resolution and that is another thing that's super off-putting to me. Um and I'm and I as a board member don't understand why it's along Legally's um resolution. So maybe if I understood I could accept it more easily. But when I start to read like where as where as whereas and all these things that I've heard since I've been on the board, you know, never feeling like we're making any like just these reminders that either make some people say yeah and other people say yeah, you know, like why are we going through them again? And so if you could help me understand that would be helpful. Um yeah, so my understanding of of why all the
122the whereas whereas whereas it's really just a recap of the process so far as sort of um a basis for the resolution presenting to the public what what the bases are for the decision um so that a the public can understand and and sed can understand what we're what we're considering in doing this. Um, and but I just wanted to go back to one thing, which is it's funny because, you know, when you say we're at a fork in the road, right, and we're either expanding Bennett for a K5 or fifth grade is going to the middle school, that's basically what this resolution says. um uh in different words, but um in either case um we are going to one elementary school which is Bennett. And so I just don't that's that's sort of a
123nitty-gritty aspect of it that I don't think there's any way for us to tiptoe around or dress up in nicer language. I think that's going to be received how it's going to be received. Um and I think at this point as with Trusty Jarrett pointed out that we are just short on time that the crisis is here. I believe that um that trying to um sell it by tiptoeing around that very hard decision that is our responsibility to me. It's not it's about whether it's our choice. It is our responsibility as trustees to set the direction of this district at at a crossroads and I truly believe the district's at a crossroads. So I just don't know that you know reframing it will ever eliminate that basic binary whether we and the binary is whether
124we're going to have one elementary school or two. Trusty Jerome. Well, certainly I'm not suggesting that we dress anything up. Okay. I'm And and when we when Emily talked to me, you and I take different positions on this point. When she spoke to me about refraraming it, it immediately made me more receptive and I'm speaking from the other side. So, pay attention to that too. You know, there are many people in this district who might take a different approach. You say it's binary. People are not binary. They're emotional. They're messy. This is important. It's important that we speak to them in a way that they hear. So, I just want to say that. Apologies if I if I implied that people are binary. I I I that's not what I meant. What I meant was
125that the outcome, the material outcome is is going to be binary. and and and and dress up was a very unfortunate choice of words and I again I apologize but I I think the words can't hide >> certainly not and I agree and I and you're right you did make that distinction and I agree it is um it is that is the outcome. I think that people understand that, but I do think it's how you approach them with that fact. I just want to um address the language of the of the resolution and we always send an idea to the attorneys and then they are really protecting the board by writing it the way that it's written. And I know it's very, you know, legal ease and all the wherees and all that stuff, but
126it has to kind of set the stage. The way that a resolution is written is is it's setting the stage for, you know, the final statement. And um and this one is taking into consideration everything we've done over the course of time. um which seems very redundant, especially to people who believe that the 2023 resolution said we're closing Woodstock by 2028. Um, I think this one was really written to clarify that outcome, you know, that that this is what we have to do and hopefully the community will get behind us and our and the students, the K5 students especially. And I I know that there are high school students involved too in our science classrooms and other upgrades, but that that it's very important to us as a board or very important to me as
127a trustee that we do have a K5 elementary school to send our kids to. Trusty Goodrich, then Trusty Jerome uh Jared. Yeah, I I didn't, you know, I'm I'm not a lawyer, but I I didn't find the 2023 res resolution or this resolution that that hard to follow. I liked all the words that were in there. Uh I'm just going to make a joke here. Not near as complicated as a mainframe principle of operations hardware book that's that thick. Every word matters in that book. You would not believe how hard that is to write that stuff. But anyway, I digress. But anyway, I just felt that this resolution was incomplete. And from a legal point of view, I think we do need to add to it and mention something about, you know, a we want
128to have a K through five U elementary school and that requires capital improvement. And if that fails to pass the voters, then we will be forced into putting fifth grade into the middle school and have Bennett be a K through four. Uh that somehow that needs to be put in the resolution. Otherwise, I feel like we're going to be subject to a lawsuit. That's my gut feel. I'm not a lawyer, but I I want to protect us. if you pass this thing, I I want to make sure there's something in there because we've heard from, you know, a few of the trustees tonight, including myself. I feel the same way. We need to talk about the middle school as a potential possibility if we do not get the the funds to make Bennett into a
129K through five. And I I'd like to avoid that if we could. >> Trusty Jared. Thank you again. This is not easy to do knowing I don't mean for myself. I mean for everybody up here knowing there's YouTube running for all perpetuity and I just want to thank everybody up here for being so authentic and it it is really inspiring. Uh, Trusty Goodrich, and I had been scribbling in the margin of my paper kind of exactly what you had just said because what Trusty Mitchell Morell and Trusty Jerome said really resonated with me. I mean, we've we've done some reframing, you know, with our with our wording on the back end and sometimes it's it's really helpful. And um I am wondering if the whereas paragraph, the very last one, which was the one that
130caught me up on the the last meeting where we discussed this where it said that we had discussed grade reconfiguration and and I felt and I think many of us felt like we hadn't really done that. But now I feel like I understand how far we can get with that without making a decision. So I wonder if that paragraph isn't really inviting. Uh the addition of that language that everybody is feeling is very clarifying and vital for understanding around what the stakes are. Uh maybe just adding that into that where we discuss grade reconfiguration. I mean, I think some of us feel like we can't vote on this specific resolution. Um, and I think we could vote on something that was clearer about those two options I mentioned earlier. And I think you sort of
131should trust us because we are the demographic and this is where we come from. And I think that this is not it, you know, and I just I all I can do is warn you, you know, but I just think this isn't going to have the desired effect. I I don't think there's any reason why we shouldn't consider it, you know, um if and I I would be happy to reach out to our attorney and ask him to include, you know, this language in in the resolution, you know, and I I would say as long as it doesn't as long as it doesn't change the end result, which is sort of I feel like our springboard to move into action and direct the administration to do the same thing. >> I mean, I wonder if
132you could also simplify the language a little just or shorten it. I just feel like by the time people are getting to paragraph nine, I don't know who's reading it, you know, like if we could shorten it a little to one page or something, that might go a long way. I don't know. I just don't know. Like, I'm on the board, but if I wasn't on the board, I would probably never read this. Like, I don't know. It's like it does need to be very readable or we need to have another document that's very easy to understand and readable. >> Yeah, we could ask for a summary. Um I like your idea of maybe just if if there is one key whereas that we could maybe pull out you know you have the long people
133have will have access to the long form but to have a short form that really lays it out that we can all agree on that might be an idea. Um, and I also just wanted to say again in the same vein as you I am so grateful for our entire board um, and our administration and that we're having this conversation. So even if I get snivey, it's I really appreciate. Okay. So I I think with in to try to be fully transparent with everybody in the district, we do need to let them know that, you know, we we're looking at we may be forced into putting fifth grade into middle school. We don't want to and we need to tell them that, you know, that needs to be out there. Uh to hide that, I
134think, is is not being transparent. Unfortunately, some people may like that option and actually vote proposition one down and that would be unfortunate, but and that's maybe why we didn't want to talk about it. But I I'll be honest, I didn't really want to bring it up. You know, I didn't want to have to go there. That's why I was probably two meetings ago, I was so frustrated. I really didn't want to go there, you know. I I wanted to just focus on these Proposition one and twos that we have tonight, which are great, and uh I think they're going to be the best for the students. >> I just want to keep an eye on the time. I know that last time we went way over and people had to rush out of here
135to get home by bedtime. Um we will have an opportunity to discuss this further at the next meeting. Um I can >> timeline we would want we don't need this approved before like we have to get the propositions that has a very strict timeline. this less so. Correct. >> That's a political judgment I would say. But yeah, but in terms of in terms of noticing for the vote, the proposition is Yes, >> that's true. >> Um >> we we have to the propositions have to be voted on next meeting for sure. Um, I think to move forward with the bond vote, we have to seriously consider this resolution and and and I appreciate the conversation. I really appreciate the conversation. I appreciate every single one of you so much. I feel like my god, I
136feel like we've grown leaps and bounds in this month, in just this past month. It's it's really amazing. Maybe we should keep meeting every week. >> Oh, that's so >> But I think this is why and now I understand why sometimes boards do have one meeting just to talk about things and one business meeting. And I think it requires a lot of planning and homework and the ability to not have things come up that absolutely have to be approved. But I appreciate the conversation that I have been witnessing and you know I've tried to sort of take a step back because it's really important for all of the board members to move forward together and you have all done incredible work and had such productive dialogue. But now I sort of understand why some districts
137do that. I think the discussion meeting is really nice because it just takes the pressure off. I'm not like when are we voting, who's voting, you know, and it's just that's such a nice part about it where we really are just talking and yeah, I mean that is a nice format oneonone if that's ever possible. So, just just a second. I I totally endorse I think I think discussion meetings should be there at least a couple every year would be great board hygiene for the um onto your board. I'm going to do something really stupid because I'm not a lawyer and but I just had an idea and I'll throw it out and I'll probably the lawyers will bat it down. But I thought maybe in in in in the direction of what we've been
138talking about, the second to last whereas paragraph where it says creating a K12 campus in Boyceville, you could put in a parenthesis, sorry, a comma there and then either with a K5 district-wide Bennett or a K4 district-wide Bennett and 58 middle school. In other words, specify what a cave what the options for a cave 12 campus are. >> Just generally with the resolution, sorry, uh is that I just want to like bury the lead. I feel like a lot of things are getting buried in here and it's like reviewing and going this and this and it's like that is the lead in my opinion. The K through five thing. So, it's like the if we can even get that in there more than once or as like the first part, like I just don't want
139it to be buried in like paragraph 8 because again, not that many people are going to really read this. So, here's a suggestion, and I I don't know what the attorneys will say, but instead of calling it the resolution to establish a K12 central campus by 2028, maybe it could be called a um resolution to establish a K5 elementary school or a 58 middle school on a central campus by 2028. because it's right there on the top line and then you know it's sort of like a teaser. You have to read to the end to find out uh you know what the gist is. I think this is so on the right track and um something I just wanted to add in uh is about not burying the lead is you know I see throughout
140it's like because the board has assessed that X is maybe throughout the paragraphs we can say something like because the board has decided that K to5 is the optimal elementary configuration for Antiora the capital project at Bennett, you know, is created to keep K to 5 together. And the part that talks about us losing foundation aid and all of that, maybe that could have a piece that clarifies loss of and loss of which might very well likely result in a K2 4 to8 configurement. You know what I mean? Maybe throughout we can kind of lay in that that is where our focus is. uh because that is clearly where our focus is. >> So what what I just heard from the last two trustees is is really important. And you know whenever you're writing an
141article, your first sentence, your first paragraph is really important. Well, this first paragraph in this resolution um needs improvement. That's all I'll say. You got to get to the point what we're doing here in this first paragraph. So that's my suggestion, but goes along with what you know, Trusty Bishop said, you know, try to get it up front. Maybe we can do the last two paragraphs first. I I don't know, but you know, the last two whatever we need to do, we got to get that up front. >> And I totally get why you put it in, but I would take out all these bullets. I just am like, we get it. and the people you're trying to talk to don't want to hear about that anymore. >> Yeah, it's but it the lawyers really
142control this process. It's the lawyers and >> Yeah, >> it's it's really it I'm just going to say it. It's written this way because it's legally defensible and that's the truth. It's because this will like be the cover page of our response to any appeal that comes our way. And that's why they write them that way. I mean, but we'll work together tomorrow on trying to like put all this together and send something off to our attorney. >> So, before you send it to the attorney, should we look at it or like I just felt like also that was kind of my issue with this is like I feel like someone brought it up and then the next day it was like whereas and I was like wait what? So, I would love to like
143be part a little more part of that process. I don't know if we could do the Google doc thing again or just, you know, I don't know. Like, it doesn't have to go straight from you to the lawyer. Like, I feel like we should get to look at it in between. I mean, we can take a stab at it. I I'm going to say I'm I'm absolutely not the person to try to write a res. >> Sorry. So, what would be the process? It goes straight to the lawyer. I'm still I don't know. I'm still doing >> We would give We would send him the information that we've just gathered. and ask him to make some changes. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And we would we would communicate to him this is what we want this
144resolution to say and it would be based on this conversation we just had. >> We would also um direct him to the YouTube video. >> Start watching it. Start watching at point A and Oh, of course everyone has YouTube. Yeah. No, he'll he will he would not write a word without watching all of this this whole discussion. Are we good? So, okay. I have one thing that I want to bring up and I'm so glad somebody mentioned that we got a lot of emails because we've gotten a lot of emails from the community and um I am really struggling again like I did the last time we got a lot of emails from the community with how to respond to them. You know, not that I not that I can't respond to them, but they're
145so different and varied. Um, so I was wondering if maybe we could kind of if if a few people would agree to help me with the responses, maybe we could divvy them up and, uh, do it the same way that we normally do, uh, where, um, I draft a I I write a draft, I send it off to all of you. you send me revisions and things like that and then we we finally agree on something. So, what are your thoughts about that? >> I'm happy to be on the email committee. I'm the best email writer of all time. And um I also was going to say I think one way to do it is kind of be like we heard you. We took everyone into consideration and this is what we've decided to do.
146Like kind of just be like okay, you know, like this is what we're doing now because we did that is what happened, you know, like and here are the propositions and here's what's going on with the resolution. like sort of just an update almost because that's where this is headed kind of and like we took that into consideration and we are moving forward and here's where we are right now. >> I love that idea. Trusty Mitchell Morell, you're on fire tonight. I love it. Um, could I recommend because the in email inbox becomes something that perhaps our lovely clerk would make like an Excel spreadsheet as emails come in with the sender and the date and then members of the email committee of which I'm happy to help out could pop in there, put their
147name next to the name of the person they're going to write a response to and then track, you know, email draft for approval. And then, you know, somebody could write when it's been approved, email sent because that way we're not all like scrolling backwards. And maybe once we are super efficient and one of us just sees it and responds, I got this one, we won't need the Excel spreadsheet, but probably for the backlog because thank you everybody for being so much in contact. We have a backlog. Maybe the Excel would help us not miss anybody. I think we'll, you know, we'll I think we'll have to draft a a plan before we can draft an email. And um but I think if we were if we were considering writing a response to all of the
148emails, no matter what they say, that you know, we've got your email, we appreciate hearing from you. This is what we've decided to do. But if we're going to go with um Emily's idea, then I think it really could be one basic uh email responding to everyone, whether they're saying, you know, we hate everything you've said and or we love everything you've said or I can't believe you're ignoring what I want you to do. You know, like no matter what it is, Emily. And I think so many of the emails we get are from like pillars of the community who are very strong leaders probably a lot of them because they're following this and they care and whatever. That's who we need to get this message to the most. So this is such a good
149opportunity to be communicate directly with these people. Reply not reply all like reply just to them and say exactly what we want to say. No whereas anywhere in there, but just you know exactly what we want to say. These are our propositions. This is what happens if it passes. This is what it happens if it doesn't pass. Like spread the word, Jenny. >> Yeah, I was just going to agree. I do think that um personalizing them to some extent would be helpful, but I like the idea that at the end of like thank you, here's a chart because sometimes that's great. Like thank you for that. here is the chart of what the thing is and then ending all the emails with here's what we're doing. What a great way to like keep communicating what's
150actually going on. But I do think maybe some of them do need some I don't know maybe they don't specific personalized. I just want to take the opportunity to say that we are really appreciate hearing from the community in any way that they uh want to communicate with us including their emails. We are not we have not forgotten to respond to your emails. We I am just feeling a little overwhelmed by them and and that's a good thing. It's a good it's a good overwhelm. Trusty Jerome, >> I do think that a a combined approach where, you know, we can't sometimes we get wonderfully detailed emails um we wouldn't be able to respond in kind, but always to address the content of the email that we've received I think is appropriate um in a couple
151of sentences and then to have the information that we are trying to communicate. I do think it's another opportunity. So maybe we could talk about it at the communications meeting too. Like just a framework for doing that. >> That's a great idea. Okay. Anything else? >> I love the emails and I just want to remind the public uh the board makes the decisions here and we ask the superintendent to implement them. So, I would appreciate if they would stop having negative comments towards our superintendent. Here, here. All right. May I have a motion to adjurnn? Trusty Jerome second. Trusty Kudson. All in favor? Okay. See you next Tuesday.