001[Music] Lewis a partner at MMB. So we are your external auditors. I met with the audit committee um on September 30th. We reviewed the financial statements and everything in detail. So this is more of that you know highle summary of how the audit went this year. Um, so there's three different pieces. We have the financial statement audit and then the audit of the extra classroom. The one piece we're unable to issue at this point is the single audit. And that's because the federal guidelines that we have to follow under the compliance supplement are not yet available to us. It's just in draft. So we planned our audit best we could, but you know, you needed to get your financial statements issued. So that has been done. So for the financial statements, we issued an unmodified
002opinion which is that clean opinion that your financial statements are fairly presented in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. You did implement a new standard. So we just highlighted that you implemented that new standard properly. We had um one finding related to the fund balance of the district being over 4% of next year's budget. And we had three findings that were removed um which is you know fantastic progress for the district. the extra classroom activity fund. So, similar to last year, we issued a qualified opinion, which just means there's limited controls on the cash that's collected before it makes it to the bank. So, it's not unique to your district. Um, it's it's how we believe that the extra classroom audit needs to be approached. We had some recommendations in extra
003classroom similar to recommendations that we have at other districts. Um, and then as I said, we have a draft of the single audit, but that is not yet um available to be issued. and once it is available um we will certainly communicate that with management. Um so I know that's a very high level summary but any questions on the specifics that you guys had um in your your board packet that I can answer. Okay. Um you know management was very helpful as always and we appreciate Cibil and Kelsey and and the team that assisted us through the audit process. And you know that's our high level summary. >> Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. The first uh topic is the uh just a capital project exit survey there which it shared out earlier um after
004the vote. Uh again, thanks to everybody who came out and voted for the project and just kind of for your information uh you know how the vote went in each of the u where people live. Remember they can vote in either spot but just kind of how they voted there. Uh just the exit survey you can kind of see um it's always good to know where they're getting their information from. I don't think there's any real surprises any thing though um you know 60% felt very informed prior to voting so that's good. um and 32 were somewhat informed for that as we go through here. So, we did ask if you vote it um no for proposal A, you know, kind of gave two choices, not too many either taxes or they didn't like the
005scope. You can see that was generally some of the items in the scope and for prop B that was definitely the overwhelming reason why people voted no for proposition B was the you know the fields that's all that was in scope B proposition B for that matter. that was at least on for the survey respondents not all u who voted no that's what they said why so that's just feedback for information I don't if anybody has any thoughts on that or other questions um the facilities committee is going to be um meeting November 12th uh with our architects to lay out the process if you will uh kind of just as a quick overview um they'll be working with the facilities committee and art staff to finalize drawings and plans uh for the different components
006of the project and they'll send them to state ed next spring, probably later spring, and then state ed takes several months uh to to review them, hopefully quicker. Uh so the goal is to get them back in time to send out bids uh a year from now uh basically. Um and get those back in the winter and make sure they're okay, etc. Um and so then hopefully in the spring summer of 27 work begins on the project and it'll take two seasons. So it'll be done summer fall of 28 the work will be done on this project. Everything goes according to plan. So it'll be time for folks to start planning the next one for that. Uh so uh to have that then the other uh topics there uh we get to that one. Uh
007just a couple updates, I guess. There we go. Uh community classroom is is one of those items that's been sitting in our 2030 destination. So, uh we're starting out small. All right. So, we have that out uh for people to sign up if they want to participate in adult ed classes there. So, we're going to, you know, start it this fall and try again in the spring and try to hopefully attract some more instructors for that. Um so, that's um happening. Uh I put on here Emily kitchen here. uh applied behavior analysis service. Fancy name for I'm going to put you on the spot if you want to just explain that real. You want to >> Yeah, I was going to do it during the good news. >> All right, then I'll have you do
008that. I'm going to just >> let her explain it when she comes on good news because uh but it's good good stuff. Uh cafe galas November 8th. I think we got 190 tickets sold already. So we're almost to our 250 max. So make sure you get your tickets if you haven't already. Uh students paid internships and food service. So, um, Mary came to me and, uh, I think Lorna as well about we have some kids who are working in the cafeterias. Uh, they're doing a great job and so can we make these a paid internship. So, we're going to, um, do that. Uh, so we have a couple of our kids working part-time, if you will, uh, in our food service, uh, areas as well. So, uh, from those types of that class, life skills
009class. And, um, I'll let you talk about Flame the Band, too. All right. So if you're wondering on what that is on November 3rd, I was going to say our free I think it'd be a great event to come to. And then Aeron's Law, uh this is our annual um training on good touch, bad touch. So that's going on right now as we speak. So just everybody aware of that. Uh we did notify parents of what's going on and stuff like that. So, um, just wanted to bring that up because, um, it's required by law at all levels, too. There uh, enrollment. >> I'm sorry. Can we go back to community classroom second? >> Um, so I I saw the offerings. It looks like they're all free. >> No, that was it's been updated. So,
010they're not free. >> Okay. >> That got somehow anyway. It's been fixed. So, >> okay. So, I'm just that's why I was asking because I was a little confused about that because I thought that >> instructors will will receive the money if there's a charge for a class. >> Yes. >> I just thought that was important to say and and note so that we we do get more people interested in teaching in our classroom in our community classrooms. >> Yes. Yeah. That that count got left off of the thing there by accident and Oops. So, we we updated that this either Friday or today. So that good catch. >> Randy, do our kids do seed dos hours as well? Like not just the internships, but do they also get seed do hours? >> Yes. So
011that's something we've been trying to get expand that not just to be students with disabilities but even regular ed because they can that's a well it's going on its way out but what was a way for kids to um not have to take one regions exam. >> So but it's still not it's not going away. So that's still going to be an an avenue for kids to demonstrate readiness postsecary readiness. So you'll probably see um more of that u civic civic seal of civic readiness bilingual. You'll see more of that happening as well. Um that's good options for kids to choose. Uh enrollment just I know it's a lot here but it's just uh you know going back to the turn of the century uh data here. Uh you can see right now our our
012official data is our state beds day uh was this is K12 just to keep it consistent over the years. uh 173 is our total K12 enrollment down a little bit from last year um about 20 um six kids or 27 kids uh total um for there. So this trend also just kind of uh looked at um this is our past trend here. So over the last two decades two and a half decades you can see where the enrollment is going and this is just a straight line projections uh It's just again some information because you know you never know what happens during the year but you can see where enrollment will go um over the next couple years still continue to drop a little bit as significant as it probably is the last decade. Um
013this is kind of where we're at. We still have a couple larger classes in the upper grades we graduate now. Um, and then you know again just kind of going off base numbers going forward that that mid70 range for class sizes. >> Do we have any data on the homesooled kids in our district like how many how many are >> Yep. I can send that out. Uh not just home school but also like if they go to >> CBA or ALB Academy. Yep. We have all that. Is this the trend in surrounding school districts as well? >> Overall enrollment decline. >> Yeah, I mean there might be a suburban here or there that aren't seeing that um you know just because they're building houses or at least they have been uh you know building houses.
014That's like upstate New York is a trend um for that matter. Yeah. I mean like a you know maybe a Bethlehem or a Shen or maybe the colonies aren't seeing quite the enrollment drops as we have here and we're actually kind of trailing the other districts in this county. Other ones kind of had their huge before us. Um like at one time Carol and Greenville were bigger than us now they're smaller than us. So have people places for people to live places people live. Um that's a green county challenge. Uh this next topic uh you you've heard of the New York Inspires Port Graduate. I've been sharing information with you and the staff along the lines. again just front and center because it's going to be a part of everybody's life in schools here for
015the next ever um but certainly the next four or five years as this gets be rolled out and implemented in school districts across the state including Kasaki Athens um the port of a graduate kind of one of the um parts of the New York inspires along with new diplomas and um taking out the regions exam is a requirement uh for graduation but it'll still be an option uh for that And so I just I just put this out to read this right now, but uh just to kind of give you an idea of what what the school board should know about it right now for that. So you'll see this on a regular basis and your and your updates from me um on where we're at with this this work and educating our our community
016about it as well because that's really what this year is going to be about is just educating what is this portrait of a grad, what does it mean? Um what's it mean for my kid? Of course. Um and then you know we'll give them as much information as we can and then by this next summer uh the state is supposed to come out with uh much more detailed like rubrics and other items for the portrait of a graduate. So it'll have a little bit more specity about what does it mean to be a good collaborator or critical thinker uh which are two of the attributes in a portrait of a graduate. So, so this will be on the the front burner, if you will, uh for for several years now going out as a as
017a transition to this um process. And uh October is board appreciation month here at Kasaki Athens. So, as a token of our appreciation, uh though we're more paperless than we used to be, you got a nice backpack now to keep your stuff in. Uh use it as you you'd like. uh you know for that if you know traditionally we've given it to board members when you like left the board right like when people retire from the board um I figure since I'm the next one to retire so to speak um and so I figured I'd better give them to you now before I head out. So um so anyway so hope you enjoy those and wear them on your backs with pride um you know for that thank you for all your your service. we
018know you're paid a lot for this work. Um, and such like that. And um, you know, I think school board members like one of those roles that only school board members know about. Like they know, you know, you're the one sitting in the chair, you know, um, and it's easy to take pot shots uh, at you folks because you you know people just paid their taxes, right? So no u, you know, for that. Um, but I think unless they've actually sat here amongst you, uh, and we've, you know, and you're, you know, represent all the wonderful board members who've come before you and you're carrying on that tradition, uh, as well. U, but just keep your chins up. I know people sometimes like to just, you know, as I like to say, everybody had a
01913-year internship, so they all know how to run a school, right? Um, so but you certainly know there's a lot more to it than just the quick um keyboard warrior answer that often now happens for that. Certainly py for the day when they had to actually call you on the phone to actually talk to you and not email you or or post it on Facebook or something. So, so thank you. Congratulations on on this and uh job well done and um continue the good work as a governing board of the district. a big responsibility obviously as well. That's all I got. >> So, actually, um, Emily and I have been doing a lot of work together lately. So, a couple of things that I wanted to highlight are things that she's been involved in, too.
020Um, and so, the first one is our kids went to Bones this week. Um and students from our self-contained classes um in Ms. Roselle's >> in the district. >> Yep. >> Um so for us that's Miss Rosels's and Miss Novak's room. Um they went to Bones and they picked all of the apples for the Big Apple Crunch. Um it is one of >> the cutest things ever. Um but they really enjoyed themselves and they come home and they also have a hand in an event that is for their school community. Um which is really nice. Um so that's one thing that's really exciting. Um, another one going to our character um, assemblies that we've been having monthly. We had our second one last month. Um, but it was the first one where we got to
021celebrate our goats um, our greatest of all time in kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth grade. Um, and that is based on a points rubric that are based on our four school uh, rules in exploratories. Um, and it went as well as I thought it would. Kids were pumped to win the GOAT award with their class. Um, and then when I was visiting classrooms later on, kids were like, "Well, I wanted to win the GOAT award." And I was like, "And you probably will." And it was really nice conversation about how you earned the GOAT award. Um, and really going back to those schoolwide expectations. Um, and it was great. Uh, we also had our respectful rock stars um, for the month of September. It was respect. Um, and so students who were nominated by
022staff in the building got those awards, which was also very cool. Um, and then another thing that's not in the good news, um, that I'm very excited about is next month for our character assembly, which is Voice. Um, I'm working with Emily and everybody else to bring in Flame the Band um, which is they're from the ARC, right? >> Yes. Medus Arc and it's a band made up of individuals with disabilities and they come in and have an entire band set up and they are really good. If you look them up um on their website, you can listen to some of their music, but that's scheduled for November 3rd. We're looking at two different um mini concerts. >> So, so we can have um all students to participate and hopefully get some families and >>
023Yeah. >> And yeah, November is V for Voice. So, we're going to ask them to talk a little bit about using their voices positively and uh hoping to inspire some kids that way. Um and then also tomorrow, another big event. We have Jared Campbell coming in. Um he came in last year and our kids loved him. Um he does a really great program that is music. Um and it's all around an anti-bullying theme. Um so great. And then also big thanks Capital Project. Um means a lot for our building. Uh, so not only will our classrooms um be brought up to speed like you're speaking about um in this decade, this generation, um, but I'm really really excited about a playground that is accessible and usable for all of our students. >> And we've also
024been working with Kelsey Smith, who is our board certified behavior analyst um, from True Transformations um, Capital Region BCBA. She's come in once so far. We have a schedule set up um looking at about once a week coming in supporting teachers, offering suggestions for the classroom and different strategies to be used um to help support staff, students um us paras, we have a whole kind of game plan and then kind of widening it um to other buildings as well. >> Yeah. One of the things that's really exciting about that is that she's going to spend October 28th with just Paris. Um, so talking to them about the behaviors that we're seeing and really positive and effective strategies to mitigate those. >> She's she's already been here for just a half day and she's already given
025us so much to work with. So >> really great. >> Any questions? >> Thank you. I wanted to just focus on the PTO and kind of also echo the sentiment that the board had about the opening of school. Uh it was a great opening down here at EJA. Um kids are off and they're happy. They're doing really great. Uh we started off with our PTO back to school bash. We have been doing that for probably the last um seven or eight years. Uh it used to be a back- toschool movie bash and this year we made it into a dance party and it really brought it was a big change and it was a positive change. Um and it allowed parents to talk and kids to play um versus just sitting at a movie and
026and nobody was engaging with one another. So uh I think we're going to continue uh with that tradition but kind of switch it back to this new dance party. Um, speaking of the PTO, tomorrow night is our trick or trunk and uh goes from 6:00 to 7:00 and uh looks like it's going to be good weather. >> Nothing about your big month, fire prevention. >> Oh, yeah. Fire prevention turn red. Fire prevention took place uh last week. They were here um in person. It's a two-day event. Uh the kids come in for for an assembly with some of the firefighters and then uh we all walk down at various times for hour and a half, hour, 45 minutes to the firehouse where they do all sorts of hands-on activities and uh they really they really
027know their fire prevention and they know they have plans. I mean so many kids tell me about their plans and what they would do and how often they practice. Um, it's really great that the fire department really does a a top job with it. Thanks. >> Thank you.