001Um yeah, please get a motion to return from executive session. >> Thank you. Second. >> Thank you. Um all those in favor? >> Opposed? Abstension. Motion passes. All please rise for the pledge of allegiance of the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> First on our agenda tonight, we're going to have a moment of silence for our departed employee Wayne Gerard. I defer to Dr. Bante ate this moment. >> Thank you, Mrs. M. Welcome uh to those staff members uh who are in attendance this evening as well as other community members that are with us. Uh prior to the break, it's been some time since we've met um as or the board of education has met. Um but prior to the uh holiday break, uh unfortunately, one of our
002staff members uh was uh died in in active service. Wayne Gerard was uh one of our drivers. He served at the Arlington garage. Uh Wayne was known uh to love the outdoors. Uh he took great joy in hunting, fishing, uh archery, biking, and swimming. Uh he was an Arlington graduate. He was a devoted husband and father uh among many other things. Uh as we've gotten to, uh learn more about Wayne since his passing. Uh with that, I'd ask that all members of our community who are with us this evening uh to join me in a moment of silence uh a quiet reflection in Wayne's memory. Thank you. And this is me that I just wanted to mention in attendance this evening is uh Nikolai Marzuka who's the deputy district director for Senator Rob Rollson's office.
003Nikolai, thank you. Uh and Nikolai here Rob Mr. Rose unfortunately could not be here but had Nikolai attend on his behalf just again recognition uh of uh Wayne's passing and wanted his office to have presence here this evening. So Nikolai, thank you. Appreciate your support. >> Thank you. Can you please call the role? >> Brian Arnold here. >> Jennifer Boy here. >> Linda Gains here. Sophia Ben Hollis >> here. >> Maryann >> here. >> Eileen Snook >> here. >> Marian Twin >> here. >> Do we call Do we call here? >> Um I haven't been passed by and Jeffrey absent. >> Yeah. Thank you. Sorry about that. Um the reading of the district mission. Our mission is to empower all students to be self-directed lifelong learners who willingly contribute to their community and lead passionate,
004purposeful lives. Approval of the agenda, may I please get a motion to approve tonight's agenda? >> Thank you. Second. >> Thank you. Um any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? I opposed. Absention. Motion passes. Um item three, correspondence. Um, I don't have any correspondents to share tonight. Does anyone else have any correspondence they'd like to share? Seeing none, thank you. Um, board president's remarks. Um, I just like to welcome everybody. Uh, it's a difficult meeting after such a a a difficult thing that happened in our community. Um, I'm sorry that it was postponed a week, too. Um, and uh, my heart goes out to all his colleagues that have joined us today. uh and for uh just how you must feel in moving forward after something so perfect. Um thank you for showing up
005on his behalf and I appreciate it very much. Um that really concludes my comments for tonight. Uh Dr. Batee, >> thank you Mr. M. Just a couple of additional comments and I know we have a a couple presentations this evening I will be transitioning to. So I'll try to keep my remarks remarks short and brief. Uh first just wanted to welcome everyone to the new year. Uh we had a wonderful visit to try to spell uh just prior to the break. Many of our board members were able to attend that visit and visit several of the classrooms and the spaces here. Dr. Relli, thank you again for organizing the board's visit to the school. Uh I'll be turning it over to Dr. Rcelli in just a moment. Uh I just wanted to remind the board
006and and our community members that this is also a time where we begin our planning, believe it or not, for the following school year. uh and that starts with the budget development and educational planning process. So we do have uh an introductory presentation this evening provided by Mr. Sheldon just to set the context uh for the fiscal environment uh that we're in uh which is unique uh Kevin will go through that in just a few moments as we get ready to uh plan next year's budget and educational program uh which takes several months to do. Uh lastly, I just wanted to point uh the board and the rest of our community members to the Martin uh Luther King celebration which is occurring uh next Wednesday evening at 6:00 at Arlington High School. Melissa, correct? Uh
007we have many student performances, some new student performances this year that we're really excited about. Uh I know I'll be there and I know many of our board members plan to attend as well. Again, the uh community is welcome. Uh it's been a wonderful event and I think this is our 21st year if I'm not mistaken. We celebrated our 20th anniversary last year. I think I'll have plenty to share along the way here. So I'll hold my comments to that for now and if I can I'll >> That's right. Now next is our exopicisio student board member report. >> So first of all over break a super exciting win for the boys basketball team. We won the basketball tournament at Lords which included many schools from the area. So that was really fun. Um I
008would like to point out the or the skilled trades fair coming up at Arlington High School on February 11th and I think it's the 11th and it's from 6 to 8:00 p.m. I know myself and the team working for the trades fair have been putting in a bunch of work to make the event come together. So, we really hope that everything runs smoothly on the day of and everyone's welcome to come and it's free for the public to attend and for vendors to participate in. Um, additionally, some student government remarks. Um, senior class just started our signups for Buff today, which is where the girls coach the boys in volleyball. So, that should be super fun. And then the junior class before break, they held a pie fundraiser. And I know that that was pretty
009successful where you could buy pies made from a bakery. I don't know exactly where, but all the funds went to the junior class prom. And that's about it. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Does anybody have any questions for me this evening? I went to the skill trade fair last year. I have to say it was um incredibly impressive and uh it was also deeply impressed with how many students attended and how you could tell they were really engaging with the vendors who came. So I'm definitely going to put that on my calendar. So thank you for letting us know the date. Um next up is our public comment for agenda items only. This is the first of two opportunities for people to speak to the board. Please state your name and address and
010keep your remarks to three minutes or less. Although we do not engage in dialogue, we are listening. Disparaging remarks about specific individuals or positions are not allowed. And if you need your contact information with our district clerk or superintendent, one of the staff, we will get back to you as soon as possible. Do we have anyone for first comments tonight for public comment? Not for not for agenda items. >> So, um, do we have anybody for second public comment? How many people do we have? >> We have two listed. >> Two. How does everybody feel? Can we let them go ahead? Is that all right? Um, why don't we do that then? Can you call the first person on the list, please? >> First person on my list is Joe Torres. >> Thank you. >>
011Good evening everyone. Is my push button, >> the little red button? The little person button. >> Is that better? >> Yes. with the with the little red thing on, you know, you got to go. >> I usually don't need a mic. Everyone can hear me. Use my coach's voice. >> That's so our friends at home can hear you really well. >> Okay. Good evening. My name is Joe Torres. I'm a driver out of the Lrange Garage. To some, I'm also known as Santa Joe. Though I didn't know Wayne personally, his strong faith, family bonds, and commitment to his community are traits and attributes I greatly respect. My brother Wayne, I promise I'll work as I'll work hard for as long as I continue to work here at the ACSD to improve working conditions. Might your
012tragic passing have been avoided? Very likely. But out of respect for you and your family, I won't get too specific tonight. To everyone here, I want to share that though our emotions might be high and our loss was too great. Let's try to work together with district leaders to improve conditions and eliminate hazards all around transportation or that affect transportation. I assure you that the superintendent is aware of many of the risks we as drivers admires face every day. I know it for a fact because I met with him last Tuesday and we spoke at great length and very candidly of other of areas of improvement. I also emphatically stated that the dark icy roads in constant rain the dis or given that the dark icy roads and constant rain the district should have called
013at minimum of one or two hour delay. We should not have been driving under under those conditions. To those that must ultimately make the decision to delay, close or keep schools open, weigh this question. Would you want your kids or grandkids or any family members on a bus as it travels up and down the winding, dark, steep, and sharp curves of Windingale Mountain Road and Pleasant Ridge Road with less than ideal conditions. If not for the commitment and professional driving skills of all ACSD school bus drivers, other tragedies were avoided that day, though other accidents did happen. I say we're the best because of the 25 years or so of the bus driver of the year awardees here in Duchess County. ACSD drivers have won that award more than any other district or company in
014the county. More than anyone. In closing, I was cautioned by colleagues against speaking out for fear of retribution and and retaliation by the district. But I'll say this. If my speaking out prevents another death or tragic accident that could have been avoided, then I gladly trade my job any day, every day, to prevent another loss. Worse yet, it could have been a kid. To the Gerard family, stay strong in your faith. I respectfully submit. Thank you. You said we have one more. >> We have one more. Um, Suzanne St. Germaine. >> Hi. Good evening. I'm Susan St. Germaine. I met President Superintendent Hillary a few weeks ago, actually six weeks ago up at central office when I was awarded by the FBI for a um a situation that I helped them out with. Um, I've
015been I grew up in this district. I raised my son in this district. I pay the taxes in this district. So, I'm not here only as a driver. I'm here as a taxpayer. I'm now at the Arlington compound. When several years ago when the proposal came up to get the money to work on both compounds and redo both compounds, I was like, "Yes, finally Arlington compound is going to be redone. That never happened up at central office. Lraange compound was taken care of. You have a brand new compound. You look at the range. You compare it to Arlington. You wonder why there's animosity between drivers and compounds. It's because we feel like we've been neglected. Our compound has so many danger zones. You go out to the range. I'm going to give you some examples.
016I know it's not an overnight fix, but these things have to be fixed. You go out to Lrange, that compound is completely fenced in. You come to our compound, you go through those gates, you walk to the back where I have to park my bus, there's chain link fence missing, completely missing, and it's very dark back there. Every morning I walk with an LED flashlight, and I wonder, is there going to be a vagrant on my bus? Is there going to be somebody that's ODed on my bus that has snuck up in through the woods and onto that bus? The the where we have to park, there are so many rivets and gummies and potholes and shell. The Graange has a beautiful asphalt parking lot. I have fallen on in our parking lot. Thank God
017I did not get injured. But where I park, it's a sheet of ice every single morning when I have to go out there in the winter and try to do a pre-trip. A pre-trip. So I can get these students to and from school. But god forbid if I fall on that ice and I slide under that bus and nobody knows I'm out there in the dark, somebody's going to come out there, start a bus, and I'm going to be the next one killed. All I'm asking as a taxpayer, how many taxpayers don't even realize that their money wasn't used for both compounds, that it was all went to one compound? We get the excuses. We ran out of money. Well, you know what? Now you're looking for the money to do the um construction on
018LMS and West Road so that you can close Traver. Please guys, think of us at Arlington. Don't neglect us anymore. You got to do you got to do better. We have got to do better because it's a danger zone. You've handed out vests. You We've gotten little flashlights. Okay, you're helping. That's something. But at our compound, we have at Arthras May the parents that are constantly driving through the delivery trucks, the garbage trucks. We have to park in every direction imaginable because our parking lot cannot hold the amount of employees that are employed in that compound. It's a danger zone. And if you guys got there at 6 o'clock or 5:30 and just hung out all morning long and saw what we go through on a daily basis, maybe something could be done. Or how
019about in the afternoon when the parents are picking up and the line of traffic is all the way down 44 because there's not enough room and then you have buses trying to come in. It's a dangerous zone. Wayne parked his car that morning by my car. I happened to go through with my flashlight in the dark because those lights were not working on those buildings. It could have been me that got hit. It could have been me that been that got killed that day, but it wasn't. And I thank God it wasn't. But I cry every night thinking about what this poor man did. All I'm asking is don't forget about us. Help us. Help us to be equal. Help us and protect us. You want me to protect the kids? I need to be
020protected. and the district is is the one that has to protect us. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um moving on to reports and discussions. Um so Dr. Rali, I'll I'll welcome you once again uh to the podium. As I mentioned uh in my comments, we facilitated a a great visit to the school just prior to the break. Again, I want to thank uh you and our colleagues whose classrooms we had the opportunity to visit uh that day. We saw quite a bit uh over that time and I know the board uh was really encouraged by the many opportunities they saw our students engaging and they're going to share some of those reflections in just a few minutes. But prior to that, I I know you had an introduction you wanted to offer to all of
021us who are in attendance and a welcome to the building. So with that, I'll turn it over to you. Thank you. >> Absolutely. So good evening, Dr. Bronte and Board of Education, welcome back to Titusville. Um on behalf of the staff and the students, we were so excited for your visit on December 18th, which also feels like the beginning of the school year at this point. So just to take you through um our goal here at Titusville, and I'm not sure. >> Hold on one second. >> I was gonna say >> I think that's the wrong presentation. So that's the budget. >> It is. That's the budget one. That one's next. Uh but prior to that we have we're also gonna project up here in a second. >> Yes. >> Okay. Gotcha. So that's what's
022happening. So Melissa, if you wouldn't mind, Deon's gonna bring this up behind us. There's your presentation there. >> Just for our audience members, we were waiting yesterday. Yeah, absolutely. Your your slides. I know you just had >> I'll try again. Yes. got a few slides down to illustrate some of the things that are happening in the building. So, we can always come back to that. >> So, I'd like to make a Twilight Zone joke. The thing is >> I'm just trying to figure out second So, this is the thing. We're not actually required to report. >> So, perhaps we should move forward and um and let the recording catch up with us to everybody. Okay. So, I'll just say in a reverberated way to our friends at home, we're having trouble with the PA. I
023don't know if we're still streaming, but we will pick up with you later when we continue with the Titusville presentation. >> Actually, that sounds pretty good. >> So, at our site visit on December 18th, we want to turn it around to our site visit on December 18th, our focus was around lifelong learning and how that really encompasses what we do here at Titusville on a daily basis. So, we started our visit in Mr. Shave's classroom where you were seeing a morning meeting where we have done a significant amount of work across all of the faculty with integrating portion of a graduate skills. So we were seeing a lesson that Mr. Shay was introducing on adaptable citizenship which we then transfer into the students daily lives here at Titusville in their daily activities and then we
024hope to see that transfer in their community as well outside of Titusville. And then we saw a grade level meeting where again we practice as a school community and you see the culture of our building really take flight into the portrait of a graduate work through restorative circles where students speak freely about how that skill or portrait of a graduate uh work is manifesting in their own lives or in their experiences here at Pitville or outside of hope to see that transfer for example tomorrow when we take our students out into the community and go to Maris University for a They're going to need to be adaptable citizens. Things are not going to go according to schedule. And those are skills that we teach leading up to an event like that so that we can
025then practice that as a community. We also visited um the band, the fifth grade band in particular, where we saw Mr. Zidell conducting his band in preparation for tomorrow's winter concert for fifth grade. and they work as a team to facilitate their own goals through band karate where they are part of a larger community in the band and then they work together on their skill as a whole. So that is a beautiful area where they're learning as a team and lifelong learning together on how to meet their goals particularly in their instrument skill and then as a community in a larger band setting. We also then visited Miss Bird's room and Mrs. Ler's room which is an ENL co-alk classroom where we saw them beautifully tie together social studies and ELA content. So we didn't
026see that taught in silos at the traditional classroom model. We saw that integrated and that really allows the students to think crossconceptually on the skill and how the skill they are learning then transfers into different areas of life such as how they relate to social studies and history in the present and the past. We also saw a science classroom, particularly fifth grade teeming, where they were working on instant snow and being scientists and having hands-on learning experiences with observations and then sketching models. Through all of the integration of the lifelong learning skills and then the adaptable citizen and portrait of a graduate, we're seeing students not only focus on being students in the classroom, but being learners outside of our school community, which is a goal we have for them as a whole. So, we
027hope our short visit with you really encompasses a snapshot of our work here at Titusville where we want students to be engaged in their own learning and then take the skills they have from us and integrate them into their community. So, thank you to all of you for coming. You spend a lot of time right before the holidays with us and we appreciate that and thank you Dr. Bern for your continued support and for the Titusville team's dedication to our students and their community as well. Thank you very much. Um, many of us are able to be there. Uh, I I guess would anyone like to offer any reflections at this time or questions that they may have? >> I see a hand. Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> Wait for it for a vision. >>
028Your left hand. >> Yeah. I just want to say thanks for having us first of all and everyone was so so welcoming. Um, I think what cut across every space that we were in that day, um, besides the general sense of community that was displayed, the portrait of the graduate work that you're focusing on was key in every place that we were. So, that was what we thought. I think what I enjoyed the most was every space we were in. The students were working in a community within that room. It was not a teacher standing at the front of a room directing information at children. It was a sense of community of students helping one another, discussing, working, and it and it was in every classroom that we went to. So I just think it
029was a beautiful thing to see and thank you for having us. >> I know our teachers have worked very hard to teach students that they are partners in their ownership of their learning. So I'm so glad to see that you saw that as well. Eileen. Um I would say I I feel the same way that Marian did, but um shortly after I had the visit, we had the visit here, I had one of those conversations you have in a grocery store where you're like, "Oh, what is this person going to say to me?" Um, I ran into a retiree, an Arlington retiree who is now subbing and she was telling me the different places she was subbing and she said, and just recently I've been in Titusville and I love it there. They are learners
030and that's what I saw too. And so I just I really loved being here and seeing um some of the the things that are unique to Titusville the the um integrated and getting just getting to see music program. You know we often see it when the kids are in high school. We see the fruit of your labors. So thank you for that. >> Thank you >> Sophia. >> Um two comments. One is there is a poster out there where you have the map with the names of the kids >> and I think it is such a show of respect to the backgrounds of what makes up the school because when you are not from here or your background or your family does doesn't coincide there's like a dissonance seeing yourself reflected you know from the
031outside it's super important I think you're you're making them feel welcome and included and seen right so that's like this portrait over here like that like that says everything so I think this is something that I it was my observation and then Dr. to help me with the name of the teacher that I was so impressed with that was helping with the Spanish >> second waving hand also makes our map of the students who work very hard to get that set up each year I am not surprising um I I was um I got to see firsthand how that works because we have talked about that type of instruction but it was kind of like um an archetype for me like I didn't get to understand and then I saw it and it was um
032it landed to me why you do it like how you do it and the skill needed to have that food here and food there not only culturally but the language and what the teacher is saying I just have the most respect for that role and for the devotion that I saw that was happening at that table and I'm sure those kids today don't realize how lucky they are, but in time I I'm sure that you are influencing them being the better human beings that they can be, you know, when they grow up. So, thank you for that. >> Thank you. And that is a a huge testament to the team's work, their partnership to get that culture and all of that background integrated into the lessons and really value the students for who they are
033is work that goes on every day behind the scenes. So, thank you for recognizing that. >> Anybody else? Yeah, on the um the LL, I was impressed on how well the devices were working even in large groups because I saw some students bring them into the restoring circle and it just was so cohesive and it brought the classroom into everywhere and it made it accessible for everybody. really was impressed on how well it worked. >> Yes. And again, a testament to the team's work. You know, getting that technology in was something that Mrs. advocated for. And we've really seen it make a difference across not only in the classrooms, but like you said, in the larger settings for students to be able to really participate and engage. >> So, I'll say something. I guess, you
034know, I was waiting to hear, but there's so many um appropriate observations by by the board members. I uh I I really enjoyed the morning and I think we all honestly this is a new thing for us going building to building before the meetings and it kind of grew out of the fact that this moment can feel so unpersonal. you've come, we've come, you would welcome us here, you've given us refreshments, but we don't really get genuine interactions and that was something that the board as a group was kind of craving this year and I think it really helps us like Sophia said kind of particularly as we go into what what's working, what's not having we all have different levels of understanding of of elementary and secondary education, right? So, it's it's been a
035fantastic opportunity. I know it's can be a little disruptive and certainly requires a lot of planning and I really appreciate that. Um uh I just want to say that one thing that's uh just just hasn't been commented on yet that I really enjoyed um the teaming that rolled out over the last several years. You know it it seems I I you know I'm always interested in feedback on that like it seems to be uh helping. it seems positive. You know, that's all I can say is it seems like a very positive sort of thing. And when we got to be in the science classroom, the one thing I thought was really interesting was that um was that it was a science classroom. You don't usually get that in elementary school. In elementary school, what you
036get is like um a science moment, right, where the science materials are brought out and it's engaging and it's wonderful. But it was interesting to see the children surrounded by like you would be in a secondary classroom like all the paraphernalia of science and all the posters of science and really immersed in that. Um and I thought uh just anecdotally it's not really commenting on any particular thing but I thought that that was a really nice environment for our kids to emphasize the importance of that. Um I enjoyed in the um I got to stand on the um Mr. Zidell invited us up. So I stood among I've been to a thousand concerts. My kids were musical kids, but I've never stood up there and actually was a very different experience. I really enjoyed it.
037I I kind of felt their energy a little differently and um I felt really immersed in it myself. I remember karate. There was some variation of karate. It was the record. Quarter is the only room I've ever had in my house. But um you know uh I I just I really enjoyed that opportunity because it it it immersed me in thinking about what it takes for our community to produce that level of musicianship at fifth grade. And it really takes the parents, it takes the students. And what a wonderful opportunity that we give them something to do that is community-based and that is not phonebased and that requires time at home that is not phone based or computer based. I just I just think it's um wonderful for them. So and um I know I
038could go on and on but um I I appreciate the whole day. So thank you all very much. >> Anybody else? Well, thank you. Thank you, Dr. Velli. Great reflection of the great work that's going on here with your staff. So, really appreciate your time and and the time and the effort that your staff put into it as well. We know walking into a classroom with I think we numbered seven adults that day uh when you have a classroom full of kids is not the easiest uh thing to navigate and appreciate. It might present a little bit of a disruption uh for some of our kids and our learners, but everyone handled it with real grace. It was a really wonderful learning experience for our board, for ourselves to be present with kids in our
039staff and our school. So, thanks again to the next few staff. Again, a wonderful reflection of the title community. >> Thank you. We look forward to having you back. >> Thank you, Dr. Stone. >> Thank you. And that was so wonderful because we love to make poor Kevin feel bad by putting something really happy and positive before the budget presentation. We always make him follow wonderful stories about children. So, that's what we do. We talk about >> That's a good segue. Here we go. uh number one of many budget presentations. So Kevin is gonna come up to the microphone and he has a few slides of these. >> Thank you all very much. >> Thank you for showing up. Thank you so much. >> And >> don't take it personally, Kevin. >> Well, there'll be
040about 20 more of these if anybody wants to come back. >> Yeah, this is like the uh uh the I can't even call it an appetizer uh as we get into it. Kevin's going to provide just some factors uh that are contributing to the budget outlook for this uh school year. I think the governor gave her state of the state report today. So, usually afterwards, the week or weeks that follow, we'll receive our governor executive proposal, state aid runs. Uh there'll be a process, I'm sorry, Nikolai left, but that the uh assembly in place uh over the next over the weeks that follow uh in resolving what our aid will be. It's just one of several factors that Kevin's going to provide this evening that are going to influence uh budget development this school year.
041With that, Kevin, thanks so much. I'll turn it over to you. Thank everyone. Uh so this presentation was scheduled for last week. That's why the date is the 6th. Um we will get into it. The very first number is pretty shocking. So, I just want to preface it with this is the beginning of the process and we will have several months to work together to um kind of reduce this number to a to a more powerful level. But I thought I would I thought I would give you where we're at. It's larger than what you've seen in the past and uh just to give you an overview of some of the bigger pressures that are coming our way in terms of budget. So, uh, this year's number begins with a a potential shortfall of about
042$12 million. That number has been, uh, 78, uh, where we start the process in previous years. Um, but with the anticipation that we had a very high number in Dhick and we expected that number to come down. This year we have an extremely high number in uh, Dick. It's 16.4. We'll get to that uh later on in the presentation. Um whereas traditionally we've been given about an 8% number in health insurance. So a significant difference uh in that number alone and that's a a good portion of our budget. Uh and dramatically affects the the overall picture. So the revenues are pretty simple at this point. Uh I've assumed a 2% increase in state aid. I've assumed a 2% increase in taxes and uh everything else stays the same. I will say that interest income is
043on the decline, not on the incline. We've kept it about the same. There used to be wiggle room. We used to get more in interest income than we had budgeted, but now that that gap is narrowing. Um I haven't changed it as a as a as a revenue assumption. Uh but I just want you to know that there's more pressure on that number than there has been in the past. Uh as Phil said, we were we are expecting on the 20th or thereabouts uh the executive proposal from the governor. So about a week from tonight, we're supposed to be getting the executive runs on the uh on the state that will help us determine a lot of things. It'll either confirm the assumption that we have. Hopefully it'll come through better than that, but um
044that will help drive our conversations as we move forward. expenditures. So the very first one is health insurance and that's at 16.4% which is far higher than it has been in the past. >> What's that in dollars going? Do you know? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> It's uh it's probably >> you may be a six or seven million. >> So 16 per like a $45 million. Thank you. >> Uh I put general liability. It's a small number in terms of our entire budget, 300,000, but I just wanted to show that there are other pressures that are going on within the budgeting process. So this is our general insurance uh general insert insurance is not a huge dollar amount in our in our uh budget. It's in the one to two million range. But because of
045all the lawsuits, because of all the experience, because of all the things that are going on in other areas of the world and the state in general, I wanted to know there's pressure in those areas as well. >> Um, >> do you think it's pressure based on our specific experience or is it more pressure on the industry or a little bit of both? >> Uh, I would say the industry as a whole. uh the the effects of some of the rulings that have been taking shape over the last four or five years is now being borne into the rates that are having to be charged and it's a little bit weather related. So insurance are facing larger and more damaging uh storms that is because the storms are becoming more erratic and more often. So
046it's a combination of those two things. Um staffing is under review with the administration, but that's definitely going to be a a conversation as we move through the budgeting process. Uh the TR TRS rate is good news. It's it's actually lower than what we budgeted last year. I at the high end of the scale that they have proposed us, which is 8.75%. That's already been in the number unfortunately, but if it drops to as much as 8.25, that could be half million dollars in savings. So that's good news. Weirdly and oddly, the ERS is going up. So, I'm not sure why the two systems are not working in in lock step, but our anticipation is that the ERS uh obligation is is is moving up. It seems antithetical because the TRS rate is directly connected
047to the the uh stock market, how well the stock market does. to do well lately. Uh TRS is in in favor, but ERS is a completely different animal and we're expecting it to increase, not increase. Um I'm not going to propose anything in the inner fund transfer to capital, which is one of the lines in the budget itself. It does not have to do with reserves. It does not have to do with our bonding. It does not have to do with our propositions. It is actually a line of expense where we could put it into the budget. We didn't put any in last year and I'm not recommending that we're able to fit anything to a project like that next year. So that's so the expenditure information and assumptions. So budget reduction um all these
048things are have are going to be talked about. So staffing in general so not just uh not just programmatic staff but staff over the entire system. Uh we're going to have to talk about special education claim pay placements. I believe that there may be pressure in that area. Uh we anticipate that there's going to be a large number of students that may be entering our system and we're going to have to account for that. um the CIA programs. Uh John will provide a presentation uh later on in the process to talk about things that are going on in curriculum instruction uh and also technology supports that will be part of that presentation. Um we will want to talk about our propositions. So we have propositions potential in capital. We have propositions for our buses and
049operations and maintenance vehicles. That's something we do every year. We have propositions for a capital reserve. So last year at the end of last year we fully funded the the 2020 20 million capital reserve that was I think dated to 2018. My proposal is that um we want to consider putting another one of those out so that if and when budgets might run uh in our favor and we have uh money left over that you could then add to a a uh capital reserve. So this one is expired. We don't have it available to us next year. I think that we should put that in place that we that we do because I think it's good management for you moving forward. This next slide is just a way to look at the revenues. So that
050shows the 2% for the state aid. It shows 2% for the taxes. Overall it's 1.88. That's because the other one stay static at zero. And so when you, you know, not everything went up at 2% rate and then uh you see the the est an overall estimated number for expenditures and you see a $12 million difference. That's that's what really that that shows. Next slide. So we talked a little bit about the propositions just a couple seconds ago. This is them in in uh in list format. The very first one is always the budget that we're working on now. And then the three potentials that I that I listed for which is buses and maintenance vehicles, a capital building improvement project and capital reserve in 2020 20 years. Now if we do decide to do
051a capital building improvement project, we have about 5.25 million maybe 5.4 million in our capital reserve. So you set that up at the end of last year. So it's sitting there in reserve could be used without impacting taxes. Um, you could also put it up and make it a blended one, which we've done in the past, which we're going to blend uh tax money with cash. Um, but but we have a lot of options there. So, we have to think about what types of projects we might want to do with the capital, could defer for a year, could take a breath, could add it to the main project. We there's a lot of options that we have for that and I think we should discuss that during the budgetary process. And then the last uh
052is the next step. So, this kind of lays out the the the uh budget calendar, so to speak, and when presentations will are expected to be given to the board. It may change as we start the process and things might shift around a little bit, but this is uh this is where we are at this point. I'd be happy to take any questions if you have >> anybody Sophia. >> Thank you, Kevin. Um on page number four, >> the order that you have the topics not yet finalized, >> are they in any particular order of like which has the most impact on the to bring that shortfall? >> I wouldn't say there's a particular order. I'm just saying that these are topics that I think that we're going to discuss as we move through the
053process. I don't know that one's worth. >> Thank you. I just have to say I've been waiting for years for numbers on pages. It's like the best thing that ever happened to me. Love it. >> We standardized that last year. So your feedback. So I'm glad you >> I'm sorry I took this long for me to know. She said page four. I'm like that is so nice that we all know where we're going. >> Pages are a good thing. Can I >> Yes, please. >> The Kevin, you may have said this, so if I missed it, I apologize. um the health insurance increase is pretty significant at 16% right now. Uh could you speak to uh what it was last year just for perspective and then also we all a little background if you wouldn't
054mind on the consortium that we're a part of and when that rate is finalized. >> Sure. So, so DHIP is the Duchess and Educational Health Insurance Consortium DEIC and uh we are part or a member of a consortium of school districts in Duchess County. I think it also includes the Duchess Community College and several other entities. So we're a pretty large group and um it's it's a it's as close to a self group as you could be which means that we pay only the claims in which that we get charged. So it is the least expensive solution. So, if we bought just straight up insurance from Etna or we use Blue Cross Blue Shield as our uh network, but we use a third party administrator and we only play the claims that we actually incur.
055So, um, we feel like it's the least expensive and most costefficient model because if we were completely self-insured only on our own, we then uh our budget would then be susceptible to the swings of whether of any given year. So, if we only paid claims for Arlington, uh, and we had to pay an extra million dollars or $2 million, that's got to come that that just gets hit right on the bottom line. There's no reserves that are allowed in the in state accounting system for us to reserve for that. So, by being part of this consortium, it is the what we think is the most efficient. Last year, we started with an 8% assumption and it ended up at about 6%. So now we're starting at 16.4%. We think that we're going to still end
056up in the double digits. Um I don't think it will be 16.4, but it's going to be some number that's going to be difficult for us to manage with. So it's going to be somewhere between 10 and 14%. I'm estimating at this point. Do they, you know, what's their philosophy on uh on smoothing things out? You say they're allowed to hold reserves. I know we've gotten, but is it three years or two years into hip holidays? >> There was a there was a stretch where we probably had five or six. >> Yeah. So, we got we like those. Um >> Yep. >> We still would get a rate increase, but then we would get a DHICK holiday. the the board the board of the DHICK manages the overall plan. >> Yeah. >> And they do
057subsidize. In other words, I will tell you that the price increases that are asked for are rarely achieved. We are we are we we are knocking that down so that it's more palatable for the district to participate. But that digs in potentially into the the fund balances. It's just that in the last two to three years, the anticipated experience has been worse than what even we thought was coming. In other words, and I can tell you that it's mostly drugrelated. Uh there are some very expensive drugs that are that are available in the system and those drugs are driving the the uh the high increases in these percentages. It's not like surgeries and things like that. It's mostly drugs. >> So the 16.4 is is it before they've decided how much they might be willing
058to take out of the reserves or is it because they're waiting to get more information on claims even now? >> So I actually sit on the board and and my position is that I've basically said that I don't think that anyone's going to be able to accept the 16.4% increase. We need to somehow moderate that. But I do think that the districts are going to be facing a doubledigit increase for multiple years because you can use the fund balances to soften in one year, but that doesn't mean that the problem went away. So yeah, it's if if if we're really trending in 16.4 and you come through the door with a 12 or 13, you're still three or four% behind. So you gota So you either have to change what it is that you're doing
059or you or you have to soften it now. But but know that that you're going to have to make it up over time. And that's that's what that fund balance will allow you to do. Like it it'll act like a a cushion, so to speak, but it's it's not going to replenish itself. You got you got you're going to have to sustain it over time. >> And it's a pretty healthy financially healthy. I don't think we I don't think we usually receive Do we get Maybe we do. And I just forgot. No, I don't think you I don't think you get reports, but it's uh it's it's uh it's it's financially viable. >> Yeah, because our our interest is in that being successful, too, right? So, we you know >> Yeah. Um if I thought
060that there were a better uh a better system, I would recommend it, but I think that there is a better system. >> Okay. >> I've been in districts that do all three versions. I've been completely self I've been consortium and I've been quiet for looking at >> I think this is the best over >> just did you say it and I wked out when is that >> that decision will will um most likely get made after our budget um process is over but there will be inclinations of when of how much that would be. But it'll it'll come if if we get it, it'll be come late in the in the process. >> Anybody else have questions for Kevin at this juncture? >> All right. Well, we're really excited to go through that whole budget
061calendar. >> It's like the movie Groundhog's Day. >> I don't want to be doom and gloom. Uh last year we were at about a 7.5 million deficit at this point. >> Yes. >> We're at 12.5 now. again with the assumption made of 2% uh increase in aid and a 2% levy increase one other variable being the health insurance that maybe we know is going to come down a little bit but not as much and we were at 6% last year if I heard you correctly so uh I think we feel just for the board as in transition we feel a little bit more pressure uh this year going into budget development than we did last year uh we felt pressure last year being said So, uh, we're going to do our best, uh, in each
062every two weeks or so, uh, to reflect back to you, uh, a little sooner where we are in our thought process and how we're anticipating resolving the these gaps, um, perhaps on an accelerated timetable than we did last year without getting ahead of ourselves, uh, just uh, because we realize that there's there's more to be resolved likely in this. We know part of our discussion, I just want to read you for it. uh last year a big help was your support of going up to a 2.74 uh levy increase uh where we we put a two in as a placeholder right now. We don't know what our levy limit is. Uh that's something that Kevin's office will calculate in the coming weeks. Uh but that's going to be part of the discussion again this year.
063So >> yeah, I guess maybe I should disclose I had a conversation with the board member about um about kind of the fact that we even start with two. You know, the fact that we even >> say to our we're taking two right off the top. >> Some say zero. >> Yeah. >> And start there and build up from there. And I >> it it's consistent with how I think historically we've approached it. So there's value in being consistent. uh but at the same time I get that uh >> I just wanted to pressure that our community feels uh in some areas related to that. So a little bit of >> well because we had different um that the equalization rates played a little havoc in our district last year. So you know I don't
064know if um you know crystal ball I can see if that's the case again this year but um people are aware of that. Um, so as we as you have the list of the next presentations that are coming also page five, we'll always get a page five, right? We we continually update page five, which is the the fancy blue thing. So every meeting we get another page five and that's great because it kind of shows us as we're getting closer or not, you know, it shows us what our problem is. So um along with the presentations we'll also get couple of times a month we'll get an update on that. Is that that's correct, right? >> Yeah, we do. >> I think that's what we do, right? Don't you usually kind of >> uh I've
065done it a different time. I don't know that I did it every presentation. >> When new information comes, when when when new information comes, that's fair enough. >> Thank you. Okay. Um moving on to new business. Our new business section of the agenda lists several items for individual resolution approval. Documentation concerning these items have been provided to our board members in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. Item B, classified administrative leave. Can I please get a motion? So move. >> Thank you. Um any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? I opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. Item C, classified administrative lead. Can I please get a motion? >> So move. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor? I opposed abstensions. Motion passes. Item D,
066memorandum of agreement. Can I please get a motion? >> So move. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor? I opposed. Extension. Motion passes. Um item E, personnel fitness for duty. Can we please get a motion? >> So move. >> Thank you. Um any discussion? >> Seeing none. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. Item F, personnel sickly. Can I please get a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? I oppose. Abstension. Motion passes. Item G, policy, acknowledgement and approval of deleted policies. May please get a motion. So move. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? I opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. Moving on. H policy first reading
067with revisions. And please get a motion. >> So move. Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um, all those in favor? >> I Oh, I'm sorry. Any discussion? Any discussion? My bad. Um, all those in favor? I opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. Policy first reading without any recommendations. Um, can I please get a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? I opposed. Abstension. Motion passes. That brings us to our business consent agenda. Our consent section of the agenda lists several items for approval by a single motion. Documentation concerning these items have been provided to our board members in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. May I please get a motion for the consent agenda? >> Thank you. Um any discussion or comments on this consent agenda? Seeing
068none, all those in favor? I opposed abstension. Motion passes. Okay, moving right along. I think that brings us up two um future discussion items. Item 11, future discussion items. Um we don't have any uh previous ones to resolve today. Does anybody have anything they'd like to bring up at this meeting? All right, seeing none, moving on. Public comment for non-aggenda items. I believe we covered that at the first section of the agenda, so I think we're we're good there. Um, committee reports. Um, can I let's see. Um, advocacy. Um, well, today was Governor Hok's state of the state address. have a little bit of an inkling as to what is important to her at this moment in time. Um, I guess one of the big ones would be the three-year phasing of a really truly
069um universal prek program to be in place by the 28 29 school year. Um, usually things like that would beg the question as to where exactly the money to do that is going to come from. Um, so to be continued, but anyway, it's it's it's early and as um Kevin pointed out, now we're waiting for the first one through what the real budget will look like from the state. So to be continued at that point. Um and the only other thing um for advocacy advocacy is we've mentioned a couple times and you guys have gotten a bunch of um emails from NISA about the lobby upcoming events um one virtual and one in person. Um so we don't have a meeting scheduled but I think it would be um smart to at least for me
070to canvas the members of the advocacy committee to find out um certainly everyone is invited to do the virtual um sign up and and sit and listen to that. Um, but I don't think um it's necessary or or smart to have a larger group of us travel up to Albany to actually meet with the legislators. The um the space is a little bit smaller and it's, you know, it's not necessarily productive to have um a lot of people from one district show up. So, I think we'll just have a little chat as to whether or not on Wednesday, February 11th, we're going or not going or some of us are going or one of us are going. So, um to be continued on that one, put some back to people. That's it. Thank you. >>
071Thank you. Audit. Uh Donna is not here coming to you for today. >> Yeah. So, I'll be reaching out to the audit committee uh probably tomorrow with an email. We're going to try to set up a date so that we can uh we need to review the corrective action plan for the audit that we received in um uh October and then uh we need to pick the internal topic for the internal audit. So, I will be putting that out to you guys probably tomorrow. >> Thank you very much. Um, Cappy, uh, Jeff isn't here. Um, why don't we just, we had a CPA meeting a while ago, but we have a meeting after that. Yeah. >> Or is there a meeting scheduled? So, I'll connect with Jeff at some point. We usually do so at
072these meetings to schedule another one along with an area focus. So, >> I'll connect with him. Um we also just on the um district uh emergency response and safety as well. We do have a meeting scheduled for February uh for that. I get the date but just the board's aware. Uh we are >> I'm sorry that would involve under organization reports jumping ahead. >> We're going to issue a dear cover next >> one one >> um policy >> we're meeting tomorrow at 3 p.m. >> There you go. Okay. Excellent. Um organization reports Arlington Education Foundation. We met on um January 7th, so last week. Um they had a successful restaurant uh fundraiser. Um $2,735 were raised in that week. Um and a pretty successful they did that event at bounce um on in Veterans Day.
073Um their next fundraiser is at FunMax on Monday the 19th. Um, you need to buy tickets in person. Um, and it is $20 cash for two hours with socks at the night. >> Like bring your own socks or the 20 bucks sketchy socks. >> 20 bucks sketchy socks. >> Really? >> Wow. >> Yeah, that's quite a deal. I just need to mention that it's the Arlington Education Foundation fundraiser. >> Okay. Going there. Um they have scheduled the 5K date is May 2nd. It's pushed off a week from when it's been to try to avoid June prom and um misba misma uh in um mis nma kids running in with their instruments and playing. Um and then the scholarship breakfast is May 28th and we're in we are um able to go to that one too
074and it's always a lovely event. Um just seeing the families that support scholarships and the kids that get them. Um so I'll bring that up again as we get there. >> Thank you very much. Uh that brings us to Duchess County School Boards. Maybe you got anything. Um, Duchess Penns met last Thursday on the 8th, which was a week kind of late, but 1st of January was not a good meeting date, right? Um the agenda was uh collective bargaining and um Pam Bass and Melissa Nap from Thomas Droan at um gave us a presentation of just some things that are interesting about collective bargaining in our neck of the woods. um big star on my little notes here. Health insurance is a hot topic that this year. So, so for collective bargaining that is probably
075going to be a big deal. Um the trends that they're they're promoting are the idea that the health insurance increase um is it's harder also than to get the increase of employee contributions if they're already doing a big lift on that kind of thing was was their take on that. Um social emotional um issues was another thing. Release time. Um teachers time in general was another thing that they projected might come up depending. Um so that was that was the bulk of the meeting. Um they they took a good goodly amount of the time. Um we segueed into the Duchess County uh OC's update. The big deal for them at this moment in time given all the problems that they've had with their administration building flooding is that that work has been put out to
076bid and they expect um the work to begin soon on that. So they're grateful for that to be happening. And just to be aware that March will be their postse budget presentation time. So people will be someone will be coming around to give us some updates on that. Um, next meeting is Thursday, February 5th via Zoom and the topic is TBD because the whatever the slated topic was the presenter that's not been available. So, don't come back yet. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, that brings us up to PTA, PTSA. I don't think there's an update since I let um I we haven't had a meeting since we've had a meeting and I already g the update. The next meeting is I don't it's usually the Wednesday. It's the third Wednesday. I think used to be
077the fourth Wednesday. I think it's the third. I don't think I you maybe got a list of all the meetings. I get them one at a time. >> It's the 28th. >> 28th. Thank you. And that's via Zoom. 7 p.m. Okay. And then um thank you. We've covered the district health and safety which brings us to equity. Um we had a meeting last week on the 8th. Um the share was a little different and hopefully I get through this. I've had a tough time talking about this. Um so the share this month was we had a visit from Yash Anu who was um a graduate last year and our saludiatoran. Um and she came to she was when she was at Arlington High School, she was very involved in the equity space both at the
078high school and she was the rep one of the reps in on the district equity team for a couple of years. She was one of the students that um spearheaded the mentoring program that the the um that the high school kids were looking at. Um Yash is a freshman friend and so she came to talk to us about her experience during that incident. Um she it was terrifying. she was um in the middle of she took she was taking a final in her dorm room when it occurred um she endured a 12-hour lockdown and if you've ever experienced just a practice lockdown you know how terrifying that is um and so she just I think partially wanted to be with people who she knows um it's a safe space for her she has a lot
079of relationships in in that equity um room and um she just wanted to remind people that they have a voice and they can advocate for safe schools. Um so that was really the bulk of the share. Um and then the rest of the time, as you know, um the the district has run a panorama um student uh um wellness survey for the last several years and we it's been brought in house. We aren't doing it through Panorama anymore. And so the first results on that are in. And so um the team broke up into the into we just looked at it very broadly and then the team the um team broke up into their individual schools and we're looking at their own data and starting to figure out um what trends they were seeing. And
080so the next several meetings will be focused on that SEO data that we have. Um and then the next meeting is Oh, I want to remind you the student panel, secondary student panel is um February 4th. We have a calendar, all the information is on our calendar if you're interested in that. Um and then our next meeting is February. >> Thank you very much. Um superintendent's closing remarks. Well, I I wanted to mention I I appreciated that several of our transportation workers were here this evening and I appreciate our process and at times I I realized the tension that some superintendent feel within a process with public comment defined the way it is because you want to respond and I'm sure our board members do as well uh from a place of compassion and empathy
081but really that's not the purpose at that time. Uh but I I I just want to say that um even though they've laughed um I guess for matter of public record um but also to speak to a couple of things that uh came up just briefly. um uh that one I'll I'll acknowledge that the process for communicating with some of our employees probably best exhibited or most uh reflective with our uh transportation workers is not easy because we have a lot of the nature of being a transportation worker in our district is such that you you arrive kind of on this sliding schedule and you depart on that because buses are going out at different times. So with the exception of like two points a year, you never can get the group together uh to
082talk about maybe some of what the issues or or the concerns are. You can get pockets, you know, sometimes when they're all meeting, but you you can never get the the group in its entirety together. And and I I struggle with that. Um and maybe that's something we have to find. Um you know, just a different mechanism. Um that being said, as Mr. Torres spoke to, I did meet with him. I met with a couple of other members of the transportation department who've requested to meet with actually who I've requested to meet with because I was aware they had questions or concerns uh and just wanted to reiterate a willingness to meet with any employee uh who feels the need uh or desire uh to meet with me um as best we're we're able to.
083You know, there's a lot of requests for meeting manages and visits to schools and such, but I I feel like I've been able to honor that for any employee who's had a desire to meet and will continue to. And I just empathize that it's a very sensitive time. Um, on the one end, we're conflicted with grieving an employee who lost their life tragically and and want to just give space to that because that's like a sacred thing. uh before we get into you know speculating or projecting of what what needs to be done and I think that's really important that um the memorial for Mr. Gerard is is this weekend um obviously this happened around the holidays which even makes it perhaps more tragic but to give the family and ourselves the space to just
084grieve somebody who's been lost um and and and let that happen um as it should uh before we we get into you know, problem solving mode. Um, that being said, I I just want to reiterate for the board um that I I have met and for our community that I have met with our director um Kevin um myself, Mr. McNamera with our assistant directors at each site um our head bus drivers uh at each site um as well as other key personnel uh al together to talk about you know what has occurred and and some of what Miss St. Germaine brought up about really long-standing concerns about the specific site at at Darlington Garage the plans that we did have in place to improve that site. Um, as people know, um, even the money ran
085out for that project. Um, uh, but that being said, we were able to separate, uh, things that could be addressed both in the short term, uh, uh, and then also talked about long-term, maybe some things that could be done. And I I did share with them that I think our board would be interested in hearing about long term, uh, what could be done. Uh, but but that that conversation takes place over the long term, too. there's nothing as much as it may be our desire uh to do some things you know uh right away. Some things are beyond our reach immediately but some things are and that we would commit to that. Um whether or not that information gets back to, you know, our rank and file or driving our buses each day is something
086I have to explore because it should. Uh but I realize that there's some issues with that information uh getting through. And again, it's not as easy as just pulling everybody into a room and having a conversation because we're never in the room at the same time. uh I felt her job but I but but I'm gonna continue to to to work on that with our with our team. So I just wanted to share that before we concluded the meeting this evening. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Um finally um work reflection. Um as we know um there's a number of master teachers at Arlington who um are in our classrooms and we're grateful to have them. Um, congratulations to a couple new ones to the ATA members Stephanie Brand, Joe Palvo, and Megan Rush.
087Um, on being selected to this year's cohort of New York State master teachers here in Arlington. >> I just wanted to note we'll be we'll be recognizing those individuals in our next board. So, you'll get to meet them all hopefully. >> Thank you. Um, anybody else have a reflection tonight? Eileen? >> Um, I should have mentioned this at our last meeting. I was remiss in doing it, so I want to make sure I get it done now. Um, I just wanted to acknowledge the passing of retired TA um, Kim Lesie. Kim was Kim retired from Beakman in 2018, but she was a TA of Beman for over 20 years. Um Kim was very typically in our Kota classrooms supporting kids. She was a real underdog for the kids who struggled um academically or behaviorally. Bill
088is smiling because she knows Ken, right? You say that's a fair assessment. And so um to her friends and colleagues and to her family, I just want to give my condolences. >> Thank you. Anyone else? All right, seeing none, may I please get a motion to adjourn? >> Thank you. Thank you. Um, all those in favor? >> I oppose abstensions. Actually, and I need um actually what I need is I I did the wrong motion. Let's take that motion back. It's an adjournment, but it's it's a journment of this meeting, but I need a motion to uh enter executive session. Can I please get a motion to end to our second executive session tonight? Thank you. Second. Thank you. Um, all those in favor? I opposed. Abstensions. Motion passes. And then I'll um and then
089I need a motion at the end to adjourn the exist >> in public. Well, >> executive return resume >> reserving. Okay, we're going to do that in the library because no >> All right. I'll look forward to the fact that we will in fact end the meeting at some point. >> Yes. Yes.