April 14, 2026 - Board of Education Budget Workshop

001After the pledge, can we stand for a moment of silence for uh Bob to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> It was a week ago today The funeral for Charles, husband of 30 years of doctor before. Moment of silence, please. Thank you. >> All right. This is a workshop. So, Caleb, I guess you'll start it off. >> So, What I wanted to get everybody here for with the with the budget workshop is just to go over the discretionary funding just to involve the board more on the final decisions, money that's not allocated already to people's salaries that are rolling over, health insurance increases. Um, we didn't include basic supplies like the basic supplies

002we have to buy every year, fuel, oil, that kind of stuff. That's not included in this. At the end of every year, there's usually some discretionary funds. Now, in the past, mostly the administration has decided where that's going to go. There was some discussion about what you guys wanted to do with uh we have an expected position opening at the end of the year and how you guys wanted to allocate that. And so, what I decided to do was we got together for the workshop. Uh the auditor is coming in. Uh she was scheduled for 7:00. I told her to come in at 6:30, 6:45 just in case we finish up early. We did. So, I figured we'd get this out of the way first and then there'll be a presentation of the audit. This

003is more just for you to follow along. so that while we're discussing you can see the information I got. So essentially our budget this year is up $499,41. It's going to be 20,84788. That's how much money we're getting from the state. So that's what we can spend or the state and real estate taxes combined. That number isn't going to change. The only thing really that can change between now and April 28th when you're going to vote budget in is how we allocate that money, how that gets split around. Like for instance, you see there the transfers $370,000. 100 of that is going into capital projects fund. That's that $100,000 capital project we get each year. We don't really have a choice about that. 40,000 of that goes into a fund called the special aid fund

004that covers uh our share of summer school for uh special ed students. So when a student gets placed into a special ed program, the state covers 80% for extended school year. We cover 20. How the state makes me budget that is I transferred into a special account our 20% they put their 80% in. So that's 40 of it. The other 230 is the cafeteria fund. What's happened is when we started back in seven I don't say we didn't start in 1718 but in 1718 when the new administration started we had had a negative fund balance in the cafeteria fund. We've had that for quite some time. So what we want to do now is we want to pay it back to ourselves. Basically the cafeteria fund owes the general fund this money. So, I'm paying

005$230,000 of that transfer is to the cafeteria fund. We only need $160 to make the cafeteria fund whole. The other 70 is paying ourselves back. So, on a limited basis, I would ask, but it's up to the board. I would ask that you not reduce that every year, but as we go through your options, if you decide to do it in one year, that's doable. So, there's 70 grand that's available for that. I wouldn't take it away every year. we do need to pay our ourselves back essentially and bring that to zero. Um our discretionary funds right now there's only $38,000. This is what it's made up of. We have an expected opening. The total cost of that opening is $58,000. All right. That's the employee who that's what we were originally going to budget

006for their benefits and salary. We have the $100,000 capital project set aside that has not been completely earmarked or reared yet, but that can only be used for capital projects. Um, we have up to $60,000 that I would say you can pay back to the cafeteria fund. There is equipment and project budgets of $60,000 that are already built into the budget. They haven't been spoken for yet. uh we can potentially allocate some of our grant funds that aren't earmarked for anything in particular yet and certain supply budgets that are are essentially uh set up in case they're um contingency type things. So uh you'll see on you can look at your budget yourself here. You can see that in the codes you'll have supplies JSH supplies GRM and then you'll see supplies district Y of

00715,000. That's essentially for not for the buildings to decide what gets used. It's for the district, but it does tend to go into the buildings. So Tracy wants to buy some kind of a supply that, you know, we're doing sport, we're doing something that hasn't been specifically allocated at the beginning of the year. That money can get moved around a little bit. That's just money I put in there in case because uh anytime anybody who operates $20 million budget knows stuff happens throughout the year all the time. You're going through the year, this breaks, that breaks, you need to replace something, someone finds out you need to add some kind of test, New York does some kind of regulation. So you got to have that money set aside. So altogether that's about 38,000. Only 88,000

008of that can really be used for annual expenditures. The 30 which is really kind of I allocate as kind of contingency money like in case it's like a little bit of a rainy day thing. And the 58 that is going to be taken from uh an employee. The rest of it is really kind of onetime funds. It's got to go to a project, a capital project, a piece of equipment, something like that. I don't necessarily have that money every year. So, so far and feel free to add uh Tracy if anybody on the audience after you guys are done talking wants to add that these are the projects that have been proposed to me from various departments that aren't already in the budget or that aren't already in the budget. There is already for instance

009a a van in the budget. So, one of our vans is going to go is not going to pass inspection for it will pass inspection but it will not pass inspection for transporting students. That's already included in this budget. Um, so one of the proposals is fiber upgrade in the junior senior high school building. I can't see how we not do that. Um, we're going to need to do that in order to um, eventually upgrade our internet service at a cheaper cost. Um, but it's also needed speaking to Tina is absolutely necessary for us to upgrade that to make sure that we have connectivity all the time. um the vacancy the vacant position um would cost up to $95,000. That's what I would have to budget for it if I replace that position dollar for

010dollar because I can't assume a certain level of benefits, right? I have to assume that whoever's coming in is going to get the highest possible benefits because I can't make hiring decisions based on family status or retirement status, right? So, I can't say I'm not going to hire somebody unless they're retiree who's taking single insurance. So, I have to budget the most that any employee who comes in and applies could possibly get. Another alternative to that is hiring one security guard unarmed at the high school to replace them. That would be $50,400. You could hire two at $100,800. That would end up costing you 20,000. Really more than you kind of have on that. You can take it from other places, but fiscally speaking, I don't know that that's a great idea. I think the

011best bang for your buck is getting two aids or monitors over here. Um, assuming you're not concerned with it being a security person. Um, one of the issues you're going to have next year is you're really going to kind of need some manpower over here. You're going to have the unitary lunch. Um, Mike can speak more to that. So, you're going to have students that have a little bit more flexibility and freedom around the building. Um, and I know he could use some additional people here. Um, you also have the option, I didn't put it on there, but the uh sec an armed security guard is 68,000. Um, there's this is a brand new issue. It's under review right now. I have no idea what it's going to cost. I just know that um Dean

012and Mike were looking at a water tank that was up in the elementary school. Dean was mentioning it was very rusted. He didn't want to touch it. It needs replacing. I have an engineer looking at it. It's never been mentioned in any building condition survey. It's been here 32 years. Apparently, we've had two building condition surveys. We got multiple contractors up there. Nobody said it. So, I don't know if it absolutely needs to get replaced, how quickly it needs to get replaced, >> or the exact cost of the replacement. I know that we would probably replace it with a unit that would cost in the $40 to $50,000 range. They have sectional units. Um but I'm still trying to figure out what that's going to cost. That's not guaranteed to end up in there. Uh

013I know these bleachers, there was a proposal to replace these bleachers. We have some issues with um underneath them. They're not, you know, they're still up to code. They're not uh you know, we're not getting shut down for it. They're not saying the state's not saying we can't use them or anything like that, but uh at some point in the future, we are going to have to replace them. We can probably make it through next year without it. The lowest quote we got was around $125,000. I'm being told that both of our maintenance trucks really kind of need to get replaced, but one of them really needs to get replaced. Um new trucks are extremely expensive. So, I was looking at possibly getting a used one or having a mechanic look at it and see

014if we could get by one more year without it. If not, I'd go with a $40,000 truck bike. Uh that's up for you guys to discuss. Um at GRM, uh there's an issue with the entrance door, if I'm correct, your vestibial one for chair. >> Yeah. So the vest door is not the out building, but the doors on the side because the door um it needs to be the door doesn't lock. >> So, they're telling me that the ideal, it's very expensive, is to just completely replace the unit. That's $76,000. We asked for an alternative. They gave us a quote for $25,000 to replace it with mostly metal doors and with um one windowed apartment. >> Huh. >> That would >> And that So, as the fiscal guy, I would say I would go with

015the $25,000. It might not look quite as nice though. >> It will. It's just black. There we go. And I for safety reasons and where we are in the best of Sorry, but no. >> It will definitely suffice for what we need. Right now with the three door option that we have there, it's difficult to lock the two doors that don't have a beam in the middle. Now with two doors there, you have a beam they would close and we would guarantee that you know that everything would work. The doors the doors there are 30 years old now, right? Cuz the original doors uh invest on the GRM 95. >> Okay. >> As a workshop, >> that's a no-brainer. That's a safety issue. >> You don't know the door is locked when you go behind

016it and you got kids in the school. >> We got to make sure the doors >> Oh, yes. Absolutely. So, that's that's saying it doesn't lock. It locks, but occasionally it'll come off. So, >> that's what I'm getting at. That's that's that's Yeah, that's that can't happen. >> So, we're going to lock about 25,000 down. >> That's a norain. What do you What's everybody thinking on that? Yes. >> Well, I mean, if the black one's going to work at the 25 grand or whatever, you know, I mean, yeah. I mean, that's going to be suffice and sufficient. That's works for me. >> Okay. The the other item is >> we don't need to spend $75,000 if it looks >> I'm with you. Paint it. >> I want to get you guys more involved so that

017when the decision gets made and someone asks and says, who decided to put XYZ up or whatever, that everybody had a stake in it. As long as it meets code and it and it's safety enough, you know, safety the right way for the kids and everything. >> All right. >> I'm I'm only one guy here, but I'm good with that. Everybody else? >> No, no, we did we did it for the kids. >> Is that a uh single bid that that came in? Are there any more bids? >> Well, yeah, I'll go out and get more quotes, but that was from our uh that was from 3R. It's a state contract, >> but that doesn't mean you can't go out and get more, you know, frequently come under a state contract. >> I I can

018tell by the price of the state contract. >> Yeah. I'll go fix that right now. >> But yes, no, I'll absolutely come in and ask for additional quotes. I just in terms of budgeting, I want to kind of hammer out where I'm going to take it. If we come in under 12, then I can come and talk to you guys mid year and say, "Hey, we came well under >> We fall under Do we fall under state bid for trucks?" >> For what? >> Trucks. >> We do the But like you said, the state bid isn't always great. We've got a um it was close to $60,000 was the contract one for that, but I'm sure I can find an alternative to that. That was what was proposed to me. I'm just telling you that

019what >> would you say $60,000 for a state bid truck >> for well for the truck that uh the building department requested. That's not necessarily the truck they're going to get. Um that's why when I put on there and I want this to be more of a discussion. I'm putting on there an alternative. What what would you want me to use as an amount? Mhm. >> I think a base model truck is is $60,000. That's no bells on most. And this one would be a plow truck, too. Have plow we have to talk to about that. Um, gym doors was the other item, but these >> regular $45,000. These are especially the ones over here >> to the left are >> doors here. language school here, >> right? So, they need to be replaced. >>

020They need to they they need to be replaced. And if we want to keep the same aesthetic, that's why it is so expensive for literally four doors. >> Yeah. >> To put, you know, bring them up, they can lock, you know, for safety and security. And it keeps the original woodwork, you know, instead of switching it out with like those kind of doors which doesn't fit the aesthetic. How much are those doors? >> Do they lock? >> They No, I think they they don't lock all the way, do they? >> No, they they fix that. So, they do lock. >> Oh, they do. They fix that. >> Oh, yeah. Cuz there's been several times that I forgot my key and I'm banging. So, I go around there so they can see me in the window

021and I'm like, "Hi, I need to get in." >> Tracy, why do they need to be replaced? >> If you go and look like the kids on the other side, they've, you know, hit it, kick it. Um, and it's just wear and tear where on the outside these panels are starting to get pushed in. They're starting to separate. insane >> and it just look >> but if you want to go with almost like the original that's why there's so much we can choose to go see if there's >> something like that down there that you could put on there would that be a lot >> and this is also and if you notice these are a different size so they do have to be custom built because they're taller >> than a standard door >>

022yeah keep the aesthetic. >> So, and we'll and you know this is just der you know this is just from one price we got would definitely go out to others >> but it would be you know and you know because they would have to be custom built >> and what about the truck we do a used truck a used plow truck like how many miles >> I would do lightly used. I mean if you get too much you're going to be replacing the thing again. >> Do they put a lot of miles on them? >> What what are your thoughts on that? You know, I'm looking at the truck drivers. >> Buy a used plow truck, man. You better be careful. You wouldn't want to buy one for me. I can tell you that. >>

023Oh, yeah. >> So, then new might be the best idea. >> Yeah. I'd like to see what the town's paying for trucks because >> I mean I've been out for a while but we were paying 20 we were paying 30 $35,000 for a 3/4 ton pickup with a plow package the whole nine yards through state bid >> I'll send you the bids we have >> what kind of truck is it 2500 30 >> 2500 Well you these guys may want to do it what they want a dy >> I don't know >> well you said that they put in a didn't you say >> they did I didn't have it on me I didn't know we were uh >> well I'm Just I mean what truck are we replacing? >> We're replacing a one drives

024right now. >> The a regular pickup truck. >> Yeah. Scott, that's about right for 2500. >> I mean 60. Do they usually >> two state bid? >> We we were we were paying 30 20 29 30 35. >> How long ago was >> Yeah. Seven years ago. >> Yeah. Seven years. I mean like just because within the past money in seven years >> new new car prices astronomical. >> Oh yeah. >> Well, but Caleb can, you know, we can check with the town, see if they, you know, what their bid price is. We can check with the state. Just double check everything to see what we come up with. >> Yes. Okay. So, so I want the trucks in conjunction with like the local townships where they need to buy one, they really need to

025buy one, I need to buy one. Then all of a sudden you're going with three trucks in the bid. Does that help at all? >> That's what I was thinking. >> I guess is that communication help, right? Just to see where they're at. >> Yeah. >> So what we were using is the DCMO bid. >> No. >> So DCMO goes out puts out bids for trucks and vans. Um and then the state also has a contract, but DCMO's bid beats the state contract. You can sometimes, and we have gotten that where we we've bought like a layover before and we get lucky. I don't have one right now, but I I know when Troy was here when we went to purchase one of the trucks, they had one that somebody had purchased off of the

026bid and then backed out of and we got that relatively cheap. >> I know somebody else that did that. >> Um it was at, you know, Robert Robert Green is one of the that bids for it and they usually have one of the contracts through DCMO. Um I can call around and see if they've got any of those. >> We've had luck with that before and I'm talking like 15 $20,000 cheaper than >> Mhm. anything that was on there. >> Worth the call. >> Um I think one of the main discussions you're going to have to have is is what what you want to do with the the position that is opening up. Are we going to >> What position is that? Who is that? >> Delaware. >> So we looking at >> the home

027school leaison. We're supposed to use titles. >> Home school liaison. >> Sorry. So are we because that's so we have the prices from if we do an unarmed security guard armed security guard >> you know I reached out that is a civil service title the only district they have not given that test since 2015 according to civil service Richard row the only district that uses that civil service title which is um sec school security monitor is um monosel and they mainly use it for their um it's almost like a clerical position somebody sitting in the vestibule to check people in. So and Dr. Evans was actually saying as people leave that position retired they're just going to they're not going to use that title anymore. Nobody else uses that title. Orange County does not have

028the title. Mhm. >> Um I reached out to Atlas Security that most of the districts use across the county and that's where we have a um unarmed security person. $35 an hour working it would be a hundred, you know, basically 180 days. Every time the kids here, they are here. That's $50,400. Now through Atlas, they pay the benefits. they pay you know basically contract with Atlas two security unarmed is that 100,8,800 if we want an armed security they make $45 an hour which is roughly around was 68,000 Caleb >> um 68 yeah >> 68,000 um for 180 days um you know we have to you know think about that the homeschool leaison that position with benefits is right around $95,000 that we'd have to budget for. >> And I really only have about 88,000 to

029play with in terms of salary in terms of like every year expenses that isn't already spoken for some some salary software or the only other I I don't I hesitate to call it fluff because it's really not fluff. It happens every year. I do leave some space in there for out of district placements, but it's it's not a matter of if it's it's going to happen. >> It's a win. >> You know, you can't and you can't you really can't spend that money. >> How much do you have? 88,000. >> That's that's all that's not spoken for in terms of salaries. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Everything else that we're talking about, the 220,000 is is project money, equipment, stuff like that, >> right? Do we have to um take into account overtime into this as

030well? You know, would would say we uh request the one unarmed person. >> Um would they also do like basketball games and things like that? And do we absorb that overtime? Then we would then we would get build by Atlas for those hours because it's B they're an hourly employee. >> So I was saying you know eight hours a day 180 days a year. That's the $50,500 $400. That doesn't include overtime. >> Okay. >> However, the overtime is already budgeted for in um chaproning. So we have a a line for for um athletic of I think it's $15,000. So whenever uh >> yes, >> an employee whether they're getting paid overtime or whether they're getting paid the uh the flat rate, we we build that to that budget line. >> Okay. >> So their overtime

031would go come out of that 15,000 aotment, right? Because if we didn't have them, I pay a teacher to do it for 115 or whatever their shaper rate is for an athletic. So that that's just a se separate pot of money. So we wouldn't include that in there anyway. But certain other overtime that we have come to board meetings and stuff like that or that would >> that would have to be accounted for. Shaper roing is has its own budget line and I already kind of take into account that there are some people who are go towards that >> is 35 an hour. >> Yeah. But what is it a year? >> Um 50,000 >> 50,400. That's for eight hours a day, 180 days. >> So, what are we what are we paying now >>

032for that for that position? >> 58,000. That's what I had that on the um >> that was up your >> expected opening had a a budgetary value of 58,000. >> That includes everything. That's all it >> that's. That's what we're paying now to >> Yes. Yeah. >> Okay. >> And that's and his overtime and and all his time that he spends here at games and stuff is over and above that. >> Yes. That gets budgeted a different. >> So that's not really something different that we're going to be looking for is the overtime and the right. >> So basically it's his base salary. So he's So this is Well, quick math is 4,000. >> How much are we paying Anthony right now? 54,000. >> 58. And this is 50,400 for an unarmed guard. >> Yes.

033>> Yeah. >> Yep. So we're really >> Yeah. The quote we got from the company was 35 bucks. >> Yeah. We're getting a deal. I mean, we're we're kind of making >> the armed guard is 68,000, >> right? >> He's armed, >> right? Well, that's I mean Yeah. But that's that's why I'm trying to put everything in perspective right now. So if the armed guard is $68,000, >> yes. >> The unarmed guard is $50,000. That's $18,000 difference. Round number, right? It's 54. But I'm just doing round numbers. >> So we're at >> You have savings there. There's a savings this way, but going with the arm guard, >> it's going to cost you it's going to cost us. >> Yes. >> Right. >> But that $88,000 for a position you just said, right? >> Well,

034I can free up Yeah, because I can free up 30 from other annual budget items where I throw, you know, like I could say instead of having $15,000 as unallocated supplies, I can make that 12. I have a number of supply lines and things that are not married to something else >> that you can slide over here. cover cover the 18,000. >> Personally, I would prefer if you could keep it under the 58,000, but you can go up to that and I can free that money up >> if you felt it was prudent to do so. >> Now, another again the >> because there's three alternatives. >> The third alternative is to hire 2A or monitors for JSON. Okay. So, let's talk about this aids. Okay. >> Yeah. >> I'm going to try to say

035this very politely. >> Okay. >> There certain aids are worthless here. >> Okay. So, >> that wasn't very >> if we're going to it didn't work. If we're going to hire AIDS, we need to find out where they're coming from and what what they're because if we're going to replace AIDS with an armed guard or a a guard. >> No. >> That knows what they're doing. >> No. >> Well, that's why I was asking because we have the the SRO if if the focus is on the guard or is this the focus on the security aspect of it or is the focus on the on the manpower? That's why that's why I was suggesting the other If you focus on the security aspect of it, you're getting you're getting a bang for your buck. You're

036getting security and you're getting >> a guy a person that can, >> you know, you just said these lunches. I have a question about that, too. But, >> you know, you have somebody that can be there for that. >> You know, you're getting you're getting a better bang for your buck that way. The way I see it, >> right? I I just don't think AIDS, you know, AIDS are good in certain areas. Let's not talk about AIDS, >> but for something that we're looking for this I don't think aids are >> not for security. >> So Tracy, what's the deal with the county sheriff? >> Are the deputy is the deputy going to be here? >> He's here. So he's >> he he's armed. So he's budgeted in. We're he that's off the table. >>

037Good. >> Okay. That's already in the budget. We just need to decide with that homeschool liaison position with that retirement. We have 58,000. That's what we spend. So, do we go with an unarmed security >> for 50,000 to use just round numbers or do we go with an armed security >> for 68,000? That's just >> now come up with any other options >> with the arm security, you know. Yes, it's a $10,000 increase, >> but we do have, >> you know, the >> benefits or the positive with Atlas. If somebody comes in >> and they're not doing the work, then I just call Atlas and say, "I need a new one. This one didn't work. I don't have to go through the other channels. >> They are directly contracted. >> What's everybody's take on it?

038I I'm leaning towards an armed guard for an extra so >> I'm I'm just curious. So for we're going to have to re, you know, reach a decision point at some point. I'm interested very much so to hear from Tracy and the two principles. You know, you guys are in this every single day, right? And there's kind of a smattering a broad array on this paper of of proposals. I would love to hear from the subject matter experts. If you right fitting into the budgetary constraints, what's number one, what's number two, what's number three. >> So obviously the position is coming from my building essentially. Um I could get a lot my I also during the day I really have uh a cover but I need somebody obviously. I am concerned about after school hours

039as well because we have a lot of athletic teams. Um, and the door is not always monitored because if you take my main office for example, 3:00, everybody's out of that main office. I'm obviously still there, but I'm not, you know, answering the door on a regular basis. So, kind of something that I talked to Tracy about in the admin team about today was kind of like, how can we get two bodies in there and have somebody that starts in the beginning of the day and then somebody that works kind of towards the evening, so kind of flex those hours. So, and you know, as long as that's within the budget, of course. Um, so I think that would be beneficial. And whatever I get, I'll obviously use to to the best of my ability

040obviously and make it work. So, >> but but of the entire list, Mr. Conklin, would you say that's that's your number one? >> Having two people, yeah, would be my number one. And I think the only way to get that would be the two monitors aids. But, um, I also know that unarmed security guards is also another option, right? >> I think, you know, armed security guards are pretty pricey. um you know be only one person and it really doesn't help with some of the problems that I've not problems but some of the things that I want to address. I think the other thing that arises with an armed security guard that is not um aligned with um assault gun sheriffs or a police entity is document something happen within a school building in this

041district right who's in charge who's leading it right who's in uh taking care of the threat right and so for me really the only deterrence to uh school violence is making sure that we are doing all the protocols that are put in place ahead of time having an armed guard and add addition on guard. I in my opinion on my building it's a little different than mice. Um it's probably unnecessary and also I'm always concerned about in my building supervision. Mike has a little bit of leeway sometimes with the dependence of high school students and junior senior high school students. My children in my building cannot be unsupervised. Right? There cannot be a time of the day that they are unsupervised. So when the doors open at 7:30, there needs to be adults there that

042are assigned to the school district responsible for those children. We run clubs till four o'clock. There needs to be a responsible adult there till four o'clock with those children. The the thing with AIDS um is there's more flexibility during the day as well for the needs that we have throughout the day. Um when you start to deal with contractors that are not aligned to being a district employee, um there are things that they are willing to do and things they cannot do based on their contract. And so that becomes sometimes a little bit of a frustration point for building principles um because again I need a body in a classroom with eight students while I'm not here to supervise children. I need an adult in that room for like 10 minutes whatever the situation arises.

043And so that's something you have to consider as well. Um to Mr. Alex point, yeah, you want to make sure that you have quality people in those positions that recognize that not only are they supporting children, but they're also an employee of the district, right? And there's responsibility with that. Um, but again, it's a difficult decision, but we also still have Salt County Sheriff's in our building for the majority of the day. Um, you know, that cost is continuing to rise. Um, and so it's you have to manage that against You know, overall, I don't know if it improves the safety of the building to just have an additional weapon if that that would be me speaking freely here in this open environment because what really is most important to me is that the doors

044locked, that they're shut. We don't let people in. We talked about the meeting today, who gets access to certain points of the building at certain points in the day. Like, this is not a mall where you walk in and you can walk around. It's a school building. And so there are restrictions you know to whoever has parents, board members, uh administrators, teachers, there are restrictions. Um and the example I will give you is when I started 5 years ago, teachers had access to the building. This is before tracing. They had access to the building. They had codes that entered the building. So they're coming in on a Sunday. They're coming in 8:30, 9:00 at night. That is a safety issue. And having an additional guard armed is not going to fix that. So that for

045me my recommendation or my suggestion because I have a significant number of in my building and when let's say they're assigned two students as two special ed students but those two students are absent I have flexibility that those aids help me cover other areas of the building and we have significant absences um as well especially this time of year. So again I can't leave kids unsupervised and so that's where we run into the hardest and I know she's headed that's where we really you know It frustrates teachers as well. I have to combine a class. Now, academic instruction is isn't going the way I want it to go because I want a class from this classroom to another classroom. There's a lot of variables there. And so, for me, aids are the most flexible and

046the most conducive to us to be able to support student learning. >> Would would we Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Would that good answer? >> Yeah, I know. It's very thorough. >> So, two congruent number ones, right? you both. >> Would we be able to um alter the job requirements for AIDS or is it like is it something that is has to stay the same? >> Would we be able to say like uh past security uh experience preferred or willing to receive security training or something like that and add that as part of the job? >> Yeah. Then that's where we're running up against civil service >> because civil service has a myriad of different titles for security for aids and now you're meshing two titles that are >> totally different in their unit. So

047that's a New York State Civil Service >> with if >> big question >> and I I see Mr. Conklin and Mr. Carpander's point regarding the aids also see you know for if we decide to go with a third party vendor they can work 10 to six they can work that split shift >> um I can you know for an a for aids we can have them on a different schedule as well because they are hourly um they are you know that group is not part of the union, but you know, we can't add security to because then we do run into civil service. I don't disagree. I've had um Mr. Conklin, you know, and tell me if I'm speaking out of turn. Um, we have had conversations about AIDS and what we need and what

048skills they have to have at the high school and they have to be consistent and they have to be um, tough and they do have to have a little discipline side to them. So, we've talked about that as well. Um, just to understand that he understands my point um, that they I don't need to just have a body. I actually need a body that works. So, so since it's your building, Mike Compton, so you're looking for somebody to be by the main office during athletic events, not out. >> No, that will be after like school hours, probably till about cuz the door is still very active uh in the afternoon. >> Uhhuh. >> Um it's constantly waiting to go back downstairs where I hear that bell and I just hear it in my dreams at

049night, you know. Um but I'd be looking for two people to kind of work different hours to cover the building. And a point that Mr. Carpenter mentioned was the coverage needs throughout the day. >> There's a lot of balances which is normal. >> An aid can fill in a class aid for classrooms when we need that. Um and then aid goes hand in hand with a monitor as well. So that that all falls into supervision. >> It's all the same civil service title just to edify you guys. And civil service the the teachers aid it's actually says monitor and it covers nurses aids, teachers aids and hall monitors. It's all the same title when I report it up to the county civil service office. They say we should call. We call them whenever we want

050just to specify what it is we're having them do. But as far as civil services concern, >> that's what they need. That's what I mean, we're not here. >> Yeah. I mean, I think, you know, we get we're priv privileged to sit in a position. We get to make a decision. But I think, you know, the the way what you guys see each and every day and Tracy, what you oversee holistically, getting to see the whole picture, I think should weigh really heavily on our decision. >> So, if the new water tank, if the rusty water tank's not not number one, you know, I just want to hear what's number one, >> right? >> You know, >> so I have a question >> in the budget. >> Is there a way if we do the

051aids, couldn't we like make one of them responsible for kind of going around and making sure the doors are locked and things like that? Then you don't have to say you have to have security experience, but they're still just kind of like checking to make sure the doors are locked. >> Yes. And that's what our SRS should be doing, >> right? >> In both buildings. Now, right now, we do have a sub every day for >> McKenzie because the >> Well, and we're supposed Yeah, we and they're going to try to make it as regular as possible because the SRO at McKenzie just got into Air Force. >> Air Force. >> Yeah. So, he's going into the Air Force. So, and Sullivan County has been very responsive to that, making sure there is a sub

052or letting us know when there's not one available that they have, you know. So, um, we'll reiterate that with our SRO's, but yes, we can tell our hall monitors part of being a monitor is to kind of walk around and make sure doors are locked. >> Make them like solely responsible for did you do this like maybe like every couple of hours or every hour go and check? >> Yep. Just like, you know, we have shortcut, check the bathrooms. >> And then the other thing is if we hire the two aids for the guys, are there extra security measures we can take like as far as equipment around the school? Well, and that's again like when we're talking about um with that $100,000 capital project, we're still waiting on that bullet to see if we

053got that bullet money. We're we're still waiting. They haven't passed the budget yet. >> Oh my gosh, that's killing me. >> Yeah, that's what I was thinking. We could we could do it again. >> And that's already if we get that bullet already have all the security. >> Why can't there be an alternative in your um your presentation here? have the one security unarmed and then have one aid or monitor because then that equals out. >> This is just meant to be the start of a conversation going that's a compromise >> about how to spend your >> that I would say would be the best. >> I think either that or consideration of the two aids and monitors and then the the metal doors at GRM falls you you know $8,000 under the under the

05488. But some kind of hybrid y >> you know or combination of factors but that Tina the fiber upgrade because I can't explain it well the same way you can. What What is I mean that's pretty much necessary, right? >> So, yes, necessary, but basically it's the back home in the district. So, it's the fiber that runs to each closet. So, we're running older fiber. Um, and we're looking to upgrade for the speeds and for wireless, our switches and just communications will work. So it is for just the high school and it is our back home inside the building, not outside. >> So that was the one where you were telling me our current configuration is vulnerable to these where the one >> we did have them come in. >> Okay. over Easter break and

055um reterminate those fiber lines in April. So they came in and we had the equipment we needed the gigs that we needed and they upgraded. We that's now working. We're steady, but what was happening is is that we have three lines that run to each closet and so there's point failure. So we had down where we only have one line up. >> So that's when they came in >> fix those lines. So it's just a bandaid and >> our next project will be >> So my question is and I you know just to make sure that I don't know if the board has the same question. So we have $100,000 for the capital outlay. Is fiber upgrade covered under that $100,000 capital outlay? We can put that in there. So, since the capital outlay is

056a is a strange one where you you have to come has to all be in the same building. So, I'm trying to think of what else we could do here. So, I put 75,000 down, but the actual quote we have is for 68 because we wouldn't they said they'd be able to schedule it so that they wouldn't have to do the time. >> Um, >> and I'm saying if we get the Let me back up. So if if we get the bullet aid that I've asked for from Hall for the security upgrades. >> Yeah. >> We still have another $100,000 in capital outlay. >> Yes. On >> correct. >> So then if we get the bullet aid we get then we can use the capital outlay for the fiber >> and then probably if you

057wanted to do the door. Let me look here. >> The GRM storefront doors. >> No, you couldn't do that. >> No, not the storefront doors. The metal doors. >> Can't do that. You got you have the same It's a weird thing. It's got to be the same building. It's one. >> Oh, okay. So, if the door All right. So, the door you're talking about the doors here, gym doors, >> two doors >> and >> that would be a little bit >> but Okay. So, the the but that's my point. If we get the $100,000 from the capital from the bullet aid, we still have $100,000 capital outlay which could cover the fiber optic for this building and then possibly cover you know again we got to get the quotes for the doors here because that

058is still part of security. >> Yeah, it would be we could do the gym doors and the fiber >> would be what we would do there. I think and again just speaking in my role >> bleachers they can wait >> okay >> another year >> you know that's kind of a wish list is having nice bleachers but I'm still wrapping my head around 125,000 for this number of bleachers >> they're all hard and uncomfortable so it don't matter >> right they're all right >> they're all hard and uncomfortable so >> whether $125,000 or $75,000 they're all hard and uncomfortable to me if we have to prioritize that would be on my my body. >> Yep. >> Justin, throw me one of your pens, please. >> Sorry, I told Scott. >> Yeah. Come on. >> You

059don't lease us here. >> So, right. >> So, guarantee right now we're going to do the $25,000 over at GR. >> That's >> Yes. >> Now, we're down to 273. We haven't fully decided yet, but we're trying to think between unarmed guard and one aid or two aids. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. So, what's an aid? What what are we paying an eight? >> So an aid is I have them down as and again I plus the budget up a little bit just in case. >> It's like 27,000 >> 27,75 and that assumes I'm going to hire them in at $17 an hour that they're going to work 196 days and we give them some holidays and stuff and that they're going to buy out a couple of their sick fees >> and

060then that they're going to be on ERS tier six. Mhm. >> So if you have one aid and then one arm guard, that puts us at 77. >> Okay. >> If we do a hybrid, >> no unarmed guard. >> Unarmed guard. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> One, you know, security. >> Yeah. >> Unarmed. And then one a that kind of gives, like Lisa was saying, kind of the hybrid. >> Yes. Where where would that placement be >> as far >> who? Where? >> Oh, it would both be in this building. >> Both here. >> And >> yeah, everything we're talking about is for here. >> Yeah. >> If you did that. >> So, no aid here. Who would be? >> No. Unless there's a spe um right now if there's a need for special ed aid

061then we would >> but that's under a different line item >> because we usually budget a little bit extra for like out of district placements or if we need to hire a onetoone aid think you know. >> Okay so that would be 195. So, we did the unarmed guard, the aid, the door over there, >> and then we did the uh fiber upgrade and the >> gym doors. >> And the gym doors were down to 85,000. >> You have a tank. If we have to do the tank, we have to do the tank. I don't know that we do. It's been in there. We've had two building condition surveys. They haven't had look at it yet. >> Um, it doesn't physically look good. It was wrapped. I guess that's why it maybe got overlooked, but

062um >> well, this raptor could have condensation in there. It was rusting a tank out. >> Original tank from >> Yes, it is. They're two years old. >> So, new bleachers is off the list. >> Yeah, >> that's off the list. So, scratch out new bleachers. We're going to look at um for the truck. We need to get more information exactly what the cost is for a truck off of state and if we >> and again like look at our truck and see miles on that truck with Caleb. >> I'd have to ask. I don't really mind. >> It's the green one. >> Yes, >> the pickup truck. >> He said they're both bad, but one of them's just not going to pass inspection. >> It's not going to pass. >> That's what they said.

063>> I think we need to double check. >> I think you better take it to take it to New York State inspection. Say, "Put this on lift." >> That's what I That's my plan. >> Call Jeff Hos or Paul Sherwagon. They're both certified New York State inspection people. Y stretch the truck out cuz they're not wild. I don't think either of them is more than four years old. >> I I' I've been I've been here and they got the new trucks. >> I got a 2015 pickup that I use every day for work plowing. Been plowing for 10 years. >> It passed the look for alternatives for the truck. >> I'm with Scott. >> Yeah. No, we're not transporting students. >> Yeah. >> Same thing than any other cars. It's It's not transporting students. It's

064not like the buses in there. >> So, if it's four I'm just going to say if it's four or five years old and it's not passing inspection, then we need to kind of look at what we're doing here >> and in maintaining it. Like Sophie's car was 14 years old and had almost 300,000 miles. >> So, I'll I'll question about why it's not going to or what we can do to push it off assuming >> and again, if it's not going to pass well, my question is if it's not going to pass inspection, then what PMS are being done? What preventative maintenance? What schedule does it have preventive mates? Just like if we're getting ready to buy buses, we got to have a set PM schedule, >> right? And well, and depending on what it

065is, I might be willing to spend the money to fix it anyway, right? >> Even if it is an expensive repair, it's 56,000. That means it's still cheaper than a $65,000 vehicle. It's not the engine >> then. >> Okay. >> So, we'll look into that. We'll push that off for right now. >> Can our mechanics like say there is an issue with the vehicle because it's just a pickup truck. Can our mechanics get it to so it passes inspection? >> Well, I was told, but >> that's why I would I take it to an >> independent rust. So, >> if it's rusted and the frame shut on, that's about the only thing that why it's not going to pass inspection, >> right? 5 years leaving it outside. Are we not? >> Should have asked Melissa

066to come so I could have had the expert. That would be unbelievable neglect >> in four to 5 years. >> Yeah. >> So, Caleb, >> take a look better at better. See, this you know, this is nice. I like having the experts here because I have listen like >> in each of the departments because they'll come to me. >> Trucks on hold. That's I I got >> trucks on trucks on hold and the the water tank is only if necessary, >> right? We're we need more information and I you know, again, like you have over here under review. Like we just need more information. >> Well, I like I said, I only found out about it in the last week. So, I'm gonna probably film or engineers because they're engineering to have them come out

067and take a look at it and say, "Hey, is this Yeah. >> Yep. Okay. >> And and if they say that, you know, >> so the biggest thing on the table right now is is the gardens and the and the uh >> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. >> So, that's that's what we got to come to, you know, we got to come to an agreement on that, >> right? You got a budget for this year, right?" >> Mhm. >> Yep. >> That's right. So, I mean, what's everybody's, you know, decision on that? Is it two monitors? Is it un >> I know we're a world away from Sandy Hook >> and now is elementary school. >> Mhm. >> But so much has changed since then that you can't even have somebody come walk in freely. >> So,

068right now, I'm okay with an unarmed guard and >> Okay. >> Considering what we've discussed, you could probably fit that in fine. So, what I've got right now, we're holding off on the tank unless necessary. We're going to look more into the truck, but basically we're only doing the truck unless it is absolutely, you know, shot, can't be fixed. >> Yeah. >> Um, we're looking at an arm garden 8 combined that with 78,000, 25,000 for the storm door. >> Well, the metal the metal door. >> Metal door. Metal door. and then 110,000 for the combination of the fiber and 120 actually. Okay, so we got 75,000 left and that's probably enough to hit the tank if uh if it's necessary. So we could do the gym doors, the fiber upgrade, and an armed guard made

069and um the metal doors and then have 75 to still discuss. Right now, what I'll do is I'll put it in an equipment line, right? Because the bud, like I said, the budget's going to say 20 million. The budget's going to say the same thing. >> Yes, >> it's going to possibly have another 100 grand. >> Mhm. >> Um and 75 I'll cut to an equipment line for right now. So, I gota I got to go back to the unarmed guard. Not that I'm not in favor of that, but it's kind of not what >> Yeah, that that's where my mind goes. >> The two prof, you know, Jeff asked a great question there. He asked the two people that have to deal with it every day >> and they're looking at, you know, their

070more flexibility is with two eights. >> And I know >> and they run the building. So, I mean, we're not here. I mean, we're not ones to sit here and say, "Yeah, you're, you know, I mean, they're the ones I mean, they're where the rubber hits the road, right? I mean, all three of them, all the admin are I'm not singling out anybody. I'm just We asked the two people that run the building and the one that oversees it and everybody's leaning towards two 28s. >> Well, how many have seen an active shooter >> in their building? >> But what's an unarmed guard going to do with an active shooter? >> So, if I could just really quickly, so to your point, you brought up saying, "Look, the gentleman was let into the building. Mike

071and I are not doing our job. We're letting unauthorized people in our building." >> Right. It really stops with Mike and I. Whether we have more weapons in the building or not, it's access to the building. So that is handled from my perspective very well by my guy. Right. What he's concerned about is access to the building after hours. Whether there's a weapon in the school or not, whether it's with someone who's armed, is not going to deter >> anyone from doing what they have planned. I don't know if you read the article today, but in click New York today, there were three middle school students, uh, two girls and a boy who were planning a shooting and they caught it ahead of time. That's the only way you're going to stop. >> The training

072we've been to, Tracy, myself, Mike, Scott, Bethany, every training shows us is the deterrence of access to the building. And so someone in the building with a weapon is not going to deter that, right? >> It's who's opening the side door to let somebody in. And the other example I will use is avaldi in Texas they had armed guards in the building armed officers and the principal did not do her job and call a lock down when the gym teacher was outside her bullets fire and so that's where that happened that could have been stopped immediately by the actions by the building principles and so I understand safety is the biggest and most important priority that we have safety in all you know 4 I think it's 44 students that we have in this district

073within our two buildings um but I don't if an armed person is going to improve that safety issue. Now, and to kind of jump off of what um Carpenter said, we have I would say pretty much at every cabinet meeting we've been having this year, T and I like we're discussing the access control panels to limit people to make sure our coaches are set up correctly so they can't just swipe in whenever that we make sure that only certain people have full access and that is the admin. ing and then we limit it. We have made sure like again telling teachers make sure your door is closed, make sure your door is locked, you know those repeated messages from the men from me, you know, and even with the governance team which Scott and I

074are on making sure that our internet policy is also leading to safety and security. Um, you know, there's we we've worked do we still have a way to go? Absolutely. You can always get better. But I do know that this year we have really focused on making sure that we have the safety and security of our students ahead of time. You know, with like I'll send messages out about certain events just to make sure that everybody knows safety is number one and if we lose something we got to find it, you know, or you know, the community is awake. >> Can I piggy back off? Go ahead. >> I think we're kind of missing the mark here. I think your versus security that's armed versus uh unarmed security. So my feeling would be somebody that's

075unarmed because they have the safety training like Atlas trains their people to be safety trained in in any kind of emergency measures. Where do we really train aids? >> Do aids get trained measures are we discussing though because there's levels to each emergency training. We have a district safety plan that goes over about 40 different scenarios. If we have a heart attack in the building, if we have to have a shelter in place because of bad weather, if we have to have a hold in place because I have to have an ambulance come in and take someone out for an ambulance, right? If we have to call mobile mental health, we have a lot of these protocols already in place. You know, again, adding someone when we would stop, >> but with the security, they

076do go through training building, right? So >> they do go through a different type of training for security and that's what Atlas is doing. >> That's they're there to do exactly what you guys are asking the unarmed or armed guard to do. That's their responsibility. And I believe Caleb correct me if I'm wrong. We're paying X amount of dollars to have them in our buildings. They're not free of charge. We pay budgetwise some 70,000 each building. >> Yeah. So to your point you see you're right. They have specific training for >> they do. But there are days like today for instance in your building that you didn't have an SRO covering, >> right? >> So then what? You don't even have an unarmed person over there. >> Aren't we talking about someone for this building

077though? >> Yes. Case scenario. He didn't have somebody today in his building which means that they could have the same thing here. >> Okay. But I want to bring something up too. >> What I remember one of these shootings the guard I don't remember which one. One of the guards just ran for the hills. >> That was Yuvaldi. >> That was Yeah. >> Just Or we could have two people. >> No, that was Florida >> from that are really solid aids in the school that genuinely care that are part of the community. You know what I'm saying? >> You know what else isn't calculated in there right now that I'd have to estimate. It's it's tough to estimate and something I might have to sit with Mike come up with some kind of an estimate

078for but where aids can help is they can which he already alluded to like sometimes you need coverage in between and when it's only one class or something like that you save out on normally with with teaching staff it's $45 to cover a class >> with an aid if it falls within their their period it's you save on that right so if you have a teacher if you know as long as you're not subbing the whole day in which case you have to pay them a contract actual rate, you need to pay the higher of the two whether it's the sub rate or the teaching aid rate. But if they're coming in and he's plugging them into a class, >> I think we I think we definitely save some money this year or subs. >>

079So if you had two aids and I'd have to sit down with them and say like about how many periods a day would you get out of that? But if he's saying, hey, look, each aid on average covers one period a day. And so 180 176, there's only 176 days the kids are actually into the building. Um, but 876 times 45 gives me the account for $6,000 and $7,000 savings. >> Do we require a hard decision tonight? >> No. No. >> Well, here's what has to happen. You don't No, I don't require a hard decision. >> You will require a hard decision on April 28th. >> Next week. Yeah. >> Yep. So, you can bring it up for discussion at the board meeting again. Right. I can put a placeholder in there. >> I'm not

080saying we do. I'm just curious. So, we need to give Caleb guidance. >> Well, what I can do is Caleb can get me the information and when I send out Friday my weekly update, I can put that information in there like the truck information. >> Yeah. >> Um, just put in, you know, again, so that you have >> I think it' be great >> the information. So, okay, by April 28th, this is where you're going for, >> you know, >> so I think we should separate the aids from the security. >> Okay. talk to Mike and and see what you guys can do to work out the aid issue and then another security >> separate. >> So you'd like to have the aid and the security >> well or I you know like >> the

081one security one arm security and one aid or >> well whatever Mike's going to need for aids. >> Oh okay. So it could be if he needs a if he needs two aids let's get him to two aids. I um Kayla and I will get together. So I'll have that like almost like a chart saying here's scenario number one, this is what it costs. Here's scenario number two, this is what it cost. Because I'm a visual person, I need a table. >> Okay? >> If I put in a paragraph, it it starts. >> But I'm in favor of Atlas bringing an unarmed guard here. >> Okay? >> Because they're trained to deal with active shooter. >> So just something to keep in mind. I'm just trying to like synthesize all of this together. We right

082now we have our SRO. SRO's are separate, right? They're separate. And then we also have I don't remember the title. >> Homeschooling. >> Home school liaison who also helps with uh security has who we have right now has had security training and Yes. and a background. >> Yes. So what we have to decide is how we're going to like what is the purpose of how we're going to reallocate these funds. Is it for security? Is that what the need is for? Or is it for something that is >> Instructional support. Thank you. That's the term I didn't I couldn't think of. So that's what we kind of have to decide. And also to keep in mind in terms of security, what are the preventive measures that we have in place because um and to what

083degree and are we practicing all of these things because we can plan and plan and plan and plan as much as possible, but we we we're not going to be able it's never going to be 100%. Mhm. >> Um so you know in thinking are we doing this for security reasons or are we doing this for instructional support reasons you know and just keeping that in mind while we're I just had to synthesize all of it to really kind of think >> they replace the doors in the back of GRM. >> Yeah. All the doors I mean all the outside doors of GRM have been replaced. >> Yeah. But one was all glass wasn't it? >> Yeah. And they replaced they fixed that. >> Yeah they fix that. That's on the maintenance corridor. That hallway.

084>> Yeah, that's where kids got to see things for kids. Glass door. >> Glass door. We're going to put kids in here. There's an active shooter. >> They Yeah. >> KSQ paid for that one >> cuz they needed to. >> So if we do two aids and and an unarmed guard, you're at 14,000. >> I feel like that might be excessive. I'll just say that. Well, what bothers me is we can't put a dollar limit on safety of kids. >> Why not? >> Well, my other option is why are we not getting on guard at JR, >> right? But just to open up, I don't want to do any further discussion, but we're talking about just because Anthony is leaving us position. >> Why am I not >> right? Like why would we put three

085people up here and none at >> so my example is is again if we put the protocols and processes in place there should not even mean for that additional security personnel right again that falls on the building here right >> and that's what Mike and I worry and talk about all day long the hardest conversations I have with people who want to leave the side door at 2:30 in the afternoon the main entrance and then when I go check that door for dismissal it didn't close all the way for whatever reason because they to turn around and shut it, but it's supposed to all of a sudden have an open door, right? That's why they come from the main entrance because the two ladies in the office are monitoring the vest all day long, right?

086And so those are little things that Mike and I have conversations about all day long. I just don't know if having an additional personnel person um really takes that away, right? The conversations still have to be had, the protocols and systems still have to be put in place um because without them, we are vulnerable. But with that, >> they're even less. >> But Michael, I can kind of go back on that. Is that up here at this level between 7th and 12th grade, there are more altercations that happen. There are more drama, let's just put it, in the halls that we can have this person facilitate whether they're unarmed or not armed. I think that's what we're forgetting about that there is that. So that I can understand that would justify to me to have

087somebody else up here than down at the elementary school. >> Where's the deputy station? >> They um they're supposed to be walking around. Um >> and then they do have to have an office that is in their contract. Um and so like at McKenzie the office is >> right pretty much in the main office. Here it is. um from the behind the main office and so they're both on the same floor. >> Okay. So, could we have the deputy assigned to GRM? >> Well, we already have >> We already have an SRO in both. >> Oh, both. >> Both that is already going to be budgeted for next year. >> Armed SRO's. >> The SRO is the >> the sheriff's department. >> Yep. I get it. >> They've been here for five, six >> longer.

088Dr. Dr. Morano brought them in like 2018. >> Well, we worked started to work with the constables and that didn't pan out. So, we went to Sullivan County Sheriff. >> Yep. So, there there will there is one already budgeted >> for each building next year. That was that was a non-negotiable. >> You know, if listen here, I'm I'm just going to throw my my two cents in. >> Okay. If we had a lot of money, we could go with the armed guard for here and and and you know, but we're listening to the two people that run the school every day. You know, I I got to side with with with these two gentlemen that if this is what they want, this is the route we go. >> Scott, I agree with you. >> I'm

089not I'm not here running the school every day. I I'm not here. >> So, uh, Mr. Conklin, Mr. car. Do you know when there's a door left open? Is there an indicator somewhere that's a red light comes on? >> There's an alarm. >> Is there an alarm outside of the superintendent office and down and they um our custodial staff in the morning set them and at the end of the day they >> at the at the elementary school prior to the building project all doors were armed. When they replaced the doors, they did not put the alarm in back in the doors. So, none of the doors of the elementary school have a exit alarm. They should have an exit alarm because of the alopment of young children, but they were never put back in.

090So, that's a concern of the elementary school. >> Why would they put back in? >> So, let's get a price to put the alarms back on all the doors. >> That's part That's part of the bullet. civiliz so enhancing security in the buildings. Yes. >> And prior to Right. >> So yes and and may I continue one of the things I heard Mr. Franklin say is that the flexibility of what certain people will and will not do based on their job type >> and that was that's been a conversation that we've had as an administrative team about the SRO's will only do this, the security person will only do that and sometimes that's not our only needs. And so when there was this opportunity when somebody retires and look at what other options do we

091have available to us that will really um set in place some more secure and more visibility around buildings those were some of the recommendations that we came up with and so yes if if security or whatever security person would come in and you'd ask them to cover a classroom because you needed assistance and they'd say absolutely but that's not typically the the type of response you get from them. It's not my job and the same type of and I understand that because that's what we're hiring them for specific things. Um we have an SRO in both buildings that really look after the security of our buildings. So you know that was I think what you have to look at as a as a board in making a decision moving forward. But I just wanted to

092let you know that we did have some secure. We do in this building have I believe two there. You might see them. They were taken off a couple of these doors also when they were replaced, but they were little green alarms that had batteries. When the door would push open, they'd make a high screeching noise. and Lisa and I and Tracy get a chance every now and then to hear the one by the main office at 204 before the bell rings that makes a noise until the custodian turns it off. So, but at the elementary school prior to the project, they had armed um alarms on every one of the doors. They were not placed on. I don't know where they are. Um I was told that they were somewhere, but um they may have

093been thrown away. They may have been in a box somewhere but there is a cost with the battery operated >> basically in a perfect world right if you stop and think about it in a perfect world the kids are the safest in the school >> right yes >> if the protocols are taken care of >> right >> and everybody does what they're supposed to do the kids are the safest places in the school >> yes >> we have nothing that protects them when they're at a softball game >> a football game recess outside in the field >> all the sports events right think about it somebody could drive by and open up and just start shooting. So, >> we talk about that all the time. Our little kid, the prek kindergarten playground is exactly where

094we have the parents line up for the different things we've looked at, but there's there's always a cost analysis to this, right? You make these buildings so fortified that nothing's going to happen. But then we have to, you know, voted. We had, I think, Homeland Security coming. Chad, remember J >> and the assessment was like, >> I want to say $4.5 million to make that outside playground safe from that. >> You know, you just have to have certain protocols in place say something. >> If you go outside with your class, take a walk here. >> If you go outside outside of the building, you have to have >> There's no there's no gate. I mean, there's gates on these driveways, but they're, you know, they're not electric gates, you know. So, >> I mean, listen,

095I'm not one to put dollar signs on on kids safety by by no mean any anybody's safety in school, okay? Kids first for foremost, but the people that work here every day, everything with all that being said, but if if this is what you two gentlemen need and want, I I I don't I I'm not here to buck what they need. >> Nope. >> I I don't you know, you you two gentlemen run the school. That's what you need. That's what we should budget for. >> Do we want to find out what it going to cost to alarm all the doors? >> Yeah. And I'm I just wrote that down on my list. >> Okay, good. >> As I scribble, >> I'm with the with the principles on this. >> Well, we definitely beat that

096in the ground. >> Yes, >> that was a good conversation. >> That's why we have this. >> I'm planning to do this annually if you can. >> Well, we should. >> Yeah, we should. Do you um now Caleb, do we need to switch? >> Oh, yes. So, >> well, no, she's she handed out um >> Are you done, Caleb? >> I'm done. Yeah. So, this was just >> Well, no. I mean, we can go back to you. I don't want to hold her up from here. >> I don't Yeah, I don't want to. >> But we need to go back to discuss anything after the presentation from Cooper and Eric. We can >> I got what I need to do on my end and I I know I have information. I'll get to you for

097that and then you'll make a decision on >> and then I'll put it in Friday's update like a chart >> you know all these different you know options with what will be spent. So then by on the 28th so then we'll have the options. So >> thank you. >> Get them all get them all fired up telling the board president says the truck's good for another five years. You paying attention to me? >> I said tell them tell the maintenance department that the truck's good for another five years. >> I think it probably is. So this is Sue Peter. She's our auditor. >> Sue, >> I'm glad you guys. >> Thank you, Mr. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate your feedback. >> Yep. >> I've got she's just going off of this. >> Okay.

098All right. I just wanted to make sure we didn't have to have anything on the screen. >> Nope. >> Okay, perfect. >> Okay, take it away, sir. >> Okay. >> And thank you, sir, for coming out. >> And and waiting. >> She needs a microphone right there. Here, you can have over there. >> You take take the microphone to wherever you want to stand. >> Well, you can just take this. They they can hear me, believe me. >> What do we do here? Whatever. >> Just put that coat and you're good to go. >> Y lock it. >> Do you want me to go inside? >> Yeah. Yeah, that's good. >> Okay. So, here the financial statements got up the state. I double checked the other day and it does say they received them. It

099took a couple days, but so um the external we're looking at the financials, the your financials. So making sure that you're complying with the laws and regulations and then reassess your internal controls. If you needed a single audit, that would be anything like 750,000 be a million. So I don't think you're going to have a single potentially either. So we didn't have to discuss audit because we have all the money we had to do. Um, we do the dig in. So, if someone was to look at the financials, they would be the sled. That's what we're looking at. We're not looking at every single thing there. We're not, you know, for it. We're just doing sampling. We're looking at your internal controls and see how we can rely on everything. Um, we look at the

100internal controls, we interview everyone, and then we decide if we can rely on those. We test, we look at your payroll, we look at your dispersements, we look bidding um just go over where you catch receipts and um to see if we can really rely audits now are really risk based. So you have to look at your risk and that's how we base on what we have to look at. Um this year the new accounting standards we look at was gathering 101 state absences. So that now we used especially in elder you had a small body of people and usually people didn't leave. So we took all their what you guys decided you took all everybody how much they were going to pay at the end they left um for retirement retirement um for their

101sick time. We can't do that anymore. It has to the only ones that can be booked is if there 50% greater they would be. So, we had to adapt a little. So, we did have to reate um the compensate year, but that really didn't affect your budgeting or anything. That's just in full financial statement. And then we the other thing we had to look at was certain risk disclosures. That would be something like if your budget didn't pass, but by the time we do the audit, your budget has passed. So, and that year is already done. So, this really doesn't affect school districts um and probably would affect more like a city, but not really. So, the fund balance had decreased $116,000 this year. Well, the revenues, they were $96,000 under budget. That doesn't include

102the transfers. Your state aid was $141,000 um under budget. That's mostly what made up that difference. Your expenditures, >> yeah, your expenditure was 182 under budget. Um, your budgeting has been really good actually over the last several years. Um, >> hold on, back up. Our budgeting has been what? >> Very good. Like the expenditure part, it's been very close. >> Good job. >> You know, you saved right within it. There's another chart for um you were able to use reserves. That's what the state likes to do. It's not just have reserve actually use it. You use 70,000 for the workers comp and use 71,000 for people retiring. And they like to make sure that you're actually putting money in and actually using it because a lot of places don't do that because that's where money

103is just stored, but you're actually using a reserve. So, that's good that you're doing that. Um, this is the first year you've had a program balance. That's the money that is used for next year's budget for the last five or six years. You didn't have any money to appropriate. So, um, you were able to do that. So, that's good. And then the non-spendable that's in the financial that increase 32,000 that's your school lunch that because you're the negative balance the general fund has to record that as nonspendable because if you were to close down tomorrow you would have to pay that back to the school lunch. Um that's what that is >> and that's I just elaborate that's what I was talking about when where we jump that transfer over to the school lunch fund

104up quite a bit. That's also what we're approp >> we have to pay ourselves back. >> Yes. Well, we have to cover that 32 and then pay ourselves back. So, I jumped it from 130 is what it used to be to 230. Covers that 30 plus, you know, 60 and change,000. >> It's really hard in a small district because you have the same cost no matter what and you don't have that many kids to make it up. It's very hard to every district has their school lunch. Um, so the general fund the unsigned fund balance decreased $157,000. Um, the unsigned fund balance was 7 $7,000 which is 3.48% and remember you can only have 4% so you're under that. Um there was times was pretty high but you got it back down. You can see

105it was three four three. So you know you've done much other than that. >> Everything was out of whack with >> co actually this >> I think I was at 15% for CO or something. >> Yeah I have it on there. We'll get to that. >> Oh okay. >> Um so this the next is a chart which kind of helps a little bit. Um so you had the perfect um amounts made last year. It shows your income and your loss. So during 2023, that was when you had the bus purchase. So it wasn't we had recorded as a um as an expense and >> it wasn't in the budget because didn't realize that that's how it was going to be reported. It's wasting um money to do that. So that's why it was so much

106then. But if you look at 2021, you were $1.3 million, but that was when all your money was shifted to the federal fund. So you had a lot more money. You didn't have those expenditures you normally had in the general fund. And that was all the school districts had the same thing. They kind of paid money in the general funders. So that's pretty much like there you can see the percentage of your budget. You were really pretty close except for those two those two years. So >> yeah, that also we um so in that same year >> 2023 >> yeah 2023 we also that's our transfer that's our um so we made that 1 million 386 then we transferred that that's what we used for the capital project and then and then we had the

107transportation thing. So when we gave the lease back there was no actual money exchanging hands. They got the buses back and then we didn't pay the item. I didn't know that I needed to record that as a sale and and an expense. So, I had to record the lease payment, which I didn't make. They made. But basically, they said that their them making that lease payment was me selling the buses to them. >> You're right. >> I said, "Oops." But there was no actual >> the actual show fund balance was in 2021 to 25 and how much we restricted fund balance was been pretty um consistent you know the last three years but you can see in 2022 and 21 you did have pretty big high fun balance at the end of the year. Um

108so you've you fed that back into what I'm saying um your budgeting. It's been much easier without all that co money and well you didn't even know it was going to happen in it was very difficult. The next chart shows your fund balance. So the red is your total fund balance which in those two years were high and it's kind of leveled off but your restricted fund balance. You can see it went down in the middle big spikes. So that's good. That's what you want to see. Um the next one is your general fund balance. The one is the assigned unbound and the appropriate unbound. You can see the zero for those years. It's just sharply it's level off again. Um so in the general fund things that you want to look at in future

109monitor the changes income balance. You don't want that to be too high. Um you want to monitor the variances in budget taxual like last year expenses were really good. The problems with the revenue, but just monitor your reserve activity, too. You as a board have to decide how much you think should be in the reserves. As long as you have it documented why you want it that way, the state can't say anything. That's what your plan is. I can say it, but you've got a plan. So, make sure you have a plan why you're doing what you're doing. And um that'll help you out when you come in and ask questions. >> Yeah. No. Well, just ask a question. So, if we're looking at our next possible and we're talking about four or five years

110looking at our next bond project, so we need to get the reserves built up. It It's almost like we have a fiveyear plan that the state could say, well, this is, you know, but this is what we're doing. We're kind of forecasting for that. This is why we're saving this money. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. Because then you have a reason why some some districts have, for example, they have really high workers. and they feel because something could happen, a catastrophic accident could happen at any time and they want to be prepared. Um, the state might not agree, but if you have a plan and that's why you are doing that, they really can't say much because that's what you decided. And that's just one example. >> Well, by but by law in a reserve fund,

111you can have 4% of your budget. Correct. >> Um, they they're outside of your >> what the 4% is not reserved. reserve is how a lot of schools manage their 4% because um they keep it within the 4% by putting money in the reserves. But you want you want to make sure you don't put too much on the reserve because it's hard to get those out. >> So but the the 4% limit is just on appropriate >> what's unappropriate what's left over. >> Right. Right. >> Left over. Right. So it's what's not in reserves. That's the money we can use. >> We can have as much money as we like capital reserve as much money. We've had districts with 12% and >> well we had like 15 one year >> for a short time. >>

112It's it's better if you can use your reserves and because you can like you always in retirement you're always going to be able to use that. So if you put too much in there you can use that all the time. You're always getting retirement cost go down. You're just going to keep going up and up. So that's one that you might want but you know and like you said if you're doing capital that's expensive there um the school lunch the operating deficit was 32,000 this year. Um the nonspendable part is what you have left over in the inventory and so your deficit from balance is $386,000 at the end of 25. So that's, you know, it's pretty high, but that's where Caleb was saying he's gonna gradually pay that back. So >> I actually sent

113a fiveyear plan for your next year. I sent a five-year plan to the captain the child nutrition. >> Okay. >> And I said child nutrition department, >> right? >> You know, because they said, "We want you to get they wanted to get within 30% of expenditures." So I said, "We'll do 60." That's where the 60 came up from. >> I didn't just make it Okay, I'll do 60 a year every year till we're down to 300 or until we're down to like 80,000 bucks and then that's when what they say is fine. >> So the special aid fund that's for your federal fun and your state funds reported in there um you only have $348,000 this year. So you way below any single budget um and I pretty sure it's going to be the same

114this year. Um your capital projects you have fund balance of 6 At the end of this year, you had negatives before, but you had payable. So, once they got converted into long-term debt, that that counts as income. So, it makes it your positive now. Um, your capital outlay had 8.9 million. 26,000 was from Smart Schools loan act. 124 was renewal through the bus garage. So, bus garage because you lease that, we have to put it on the books as a um like a fixed asset, a right to use asset called. So that shows up as revenue and expense in the capital project. >> We have to break out an interest amount now. >> Yeah. >> So they they say you got 48 says it's 48,000 a year. They take the five years and then some

115portion of that is >> right. Principal part is interest >> and then the rest of your capital project work. Um the next chart is not too nice too much upside down. Um >> but hopefully turn off your management letter. You did have quite a few comments in there. You had a rough year with your staff in the business office change over. So some of some of the things didn't get done that normally do. So it's already been corrected. There's um things that have been done to so you don't have any deposit. You have more staff there. So and we've got the contract with Boseies that you can use them if you need to. So, >> so yeah, in March we got a temp worker from Boseies, but between January and June, we had had student

116in the accounts payable, the our original accounts payable clerk left. Um, she got a job outside of here and then I put Samantha in that position, but she went on maternity leave before expected. Um, and before the new hireer got in, so from January to February, I did all of it, which is generally I'm too honest. She's just go and tell them. I was like, "Yeah, I did all of that." Uh, and then in between there, what we did was we had um we got our new staff member in and then I got a temp person from Boseies and then when she was gone, she came back and Sam did it. So there was a period there where we had four or five different people doing accounts payable. Um and that caused those things which

117which were gone over in the audit committee meeting. You guys will have a copy of them at the April meeting of the findings. Um Beth and Justin, you went over them with them, but the entire board will get a copy of the corrective action plan. >> Then you know small issues we um discussed with committee. We went over every finding we had um the written recommendations um put in the management letter. We did give you an unmodified opinion on the financial statements. That's the highest level that we can get because you are in accordance to generally accept accounting principles. So all your approvals are there. Um you have your fixed assets, you have your um75 which is the um sanctuary for what you have to your retirees. So that's all they've done. Um so you

118you important is looking at the fund accounting. So the the front pages that have the appreciation and all that it really doesn't affect what you're doing with the budget. Now you want to look at your fund account. That's where everything look at your budget. Keep doing that. Um like I said with the budget hopefully will stay that way. Um and then so in here the management letter is the one that like will be said what was going on. This one here is also old SAS 115 letter and that just tells you like the new things comp just to tell you the things that if we had any problems we'd have to put this in here management that's one of the big things to let it down is if you have problems with we're supposed to

119consider what would happen if management overrided things um and we don't see yours it's small but you have enough people in the business office usually to you know unless there's collusion you you have you do have covered you have control so it's good and we're always ready to start having an entrance very soon so and hopefully everything will be in run more smoothly this year and get it done by 15th that's my goal >> mine too o overall we're we're we're in pretty good shape >> you have you have some balance you're not um your insurance controls are Even with the having the short people, you still had controls. Things didn't get >> processed in a timely manner, >> right? They got processed and you didn't have, you know, nothing was being overrided that we

120saw, you know, when we were doing the test work. So things still were being followed. Um it just period done and getting information. Yeah, hopefully everything will be ready to get everything done. Our goal because this is very very hard to do when it's after the fact, you know, we have to do it's not what we plan. We plan, you know, so many audits each season. So, it's hard, but it goes over sometimes, >> but nothing was nothing extraordinary where we got fined for it. >> No. No. >> You hear you hear stories about other schools where, >> right, >> they lost money. >> It's catastrophic. So, >> right. And and I'll tell you what's scary right now and you Thank goodness. But the bankruptcy you got to do all you know write up. You

121got to look at that every time because we're finding people are getting lost checks. They're getting a going out. Um you know that's the key thing is those banks just making sure and even checking in now. I mean I'm sure you're checking in. >> Well, we got hit with those and we caught them very quickly. >> And that's the key. >> Um we got uh Yeah. And well, that's what happens if your if your bank wrecks aren't aren't done and aren't done well. It can take a long time to find one of those checks. But we had >> Jeff Bank called us to tell us >> Chase. >> So Chase called us uh from like an investment banking thing saying we got a check for it was it was somebody's like a personal name. He

122said, "Did you write check to such and such? Do you make checks to personal people?" I said, "Yeah, sometimes for like mileage reimbursement, things like that." And he said, "Would you have made one for $50,000 even?" I said, "Absolutely not." >> I remember that. >> Yeah. >> That was just last year, wasn't it? >> Yeah. >> And we got that money back within like two days cuz we found it. Well, the one we stopped before it even came out, right? Chase Chase was good enough to call us and say, "There's some guy there." But then when I went to the bank statement, two other checks went out that same day. The other banks did not call. But because Chase called, I was able to call Jeff Bank and say, "Hey, look, these none of these

123things happened. They they asked them and >> We got the money back. But that's been a big thing that's going on with other school district all over the place. I mean, it's it's been an issue. They they get the checks, they wash them, >> they put their name on it, >> and they copy them. And we've seen it twice. And we we caught it both times. We got the money back both times. Um the first check will actually be one of your checks that you might get out of the post office or somewhere. Um, like the one was going to Felons >> and never got there. So, you call Felons and you say, "Hey, uh, did you ever get this check?" Nope. Somebody took it out of the post office. So, the first one's real.

124It's in your check sequence. Then they take that because it's got your banking information on the bottom and they make more fake ones >> and you catch those because either they'll use the same check sequence. So you'll see check 7209 come through twice >> or there'll be one that's just not has nothing to do with you like so it'll be like 72089 and then it'll be like 686,900 you know they'll put a number that's like not in one of your sequences but we've been able to catch both instances where they've had them and that's not exclusive to our school that >> we just had one they sent an email and told them there was a new rally number >> and they had just changed bank account so they didn't think anything of it and they

125did it and they lost $2,000 So yeah, it's those emails. >> It was not here $50,000 because and they they love they did the AC to that thing. But >> that's why you got to have training too for your people too to watch for those emails. Those emails are pretty good now. >> We get them all the time. >> Yeah. Susan, thank thanks a lot for coming out and doing this tonight. I just had a couple of quick questions. um when we engage with the public, right? And and oftent times, you know, a taxpayer wants to engage with a board member as they should. >> Um hey, how's our fiscal readiness and and where do we stand as a community? What would you um recommend from your purview, right? Where do we sit? You know,

126we're in an academic institution. What's our grade? A+, right? Are we a B? Are we a C? Um we never >> and then second any recommended improvement areas for us as a district moving forward. What are your top two or top three areas that we should focus in on and have, you know, strong consideration to make sure that we maintain high fiscal readiness. >> I would try to just make sure you get reports timely and get the audit done because you don't want to be on that list that you're giving. That's what I would try. >> Timeless. Timeliness. Okay. you're not in a hole. You've got some balance, >> but you know, just keep monitoring your budget and try to get these reports done earlier. >> And nothing glaring from your perch. >> Well, you

127you've been our auditor for what, 10? You've been here for quite a while, right? >> Well, you remember back seven, eight years ago, right? When we were we were leading >> the stress level in New York State >> as far as financial, we were the first. It's >> one place you don't want to be first at >> and in three years we or two years we got rid of that. >> But that was Yeah. It was >> we were we were in bad shape. >> Yeah. >> So So from from from that point to where we are now. >> Oh, you're much better. No, you're >> Would we get an A? >> I like I like grades. >> From a teacher from a teacher perspective, I like I'm a gradeber. Even as a student, I

128was a grade. I just want to make sure we have an >> the timeless >> Oh, no. It will. >> Yeah. >> Well, not to make excuses for him, but if he was the only guy there for a while >> trying to get it all done. >> I'm not I'm not afraid of accountability. >> Listen, seven years ago you were >> Yeah. No, I know. >> We know. >> We don't even want to talk about seven years. >> So, that that'd be the number one improvement is there. And then you're saying just to make sure to ensure that like bank wrecks we keep up on them. We check everything. Um continue bank wrecks. >> Um is there another one? >> Just keep trying. Um >> so it should be approved with >> right >> listen

129if you need if you need to go back you could always email us and we can talk about it at the next meeting also. It's in the national ones that we found, you know, significantly. >> Yeah, there were four or five of them. I've got I should have given you a copy of them before I came here. >> That's all right. But we'll >> That's a recommended improvement area right there. >> One of the journal entries. >> Yeah, the bank wrecks. They were they had to be redone because there was issues with those. Um that's what held up trying to get those changes adjusting um journal entries should be approved. The cash receipts Oh, they weren't deposited. Sometimes it was once a month because there's only one person here. So >> from January to May

130it was once a month. >> Yeah. cash dispersements. There was one that the purchase order was processed and um the accounts payable person somehow was able to process the approve the PO. >> She was able to do your approvals somehow. >> But we fixed that after we found it. She had she's not able to do it anymore. >> And it still had Kayla still had to sign it. So was it like >> she didn't just create it and then just approve it. >> Yes. >> Still it couldn't go any further and so he signed it and then the things were too. So it's not like something but it really she shouldn't have had that >> right >> and I don't know what happened and then just the extra classroom was always actually your extra class

131but there were two payments that didn't have the invoices with it. So um >> and that's our extra classroom activity fund that's with um >> the all the the clubs >> activities that's under um miss >> and that's always hard because you >> all right that one bound that wasn't >> but that district >> that's >> so that holds some some recommended areas y >> wonderful >> right >> thank you for >> could you explain what happened with the cafeteria >> cafeteria just that you have more expenses than you lose money on it. >> Yeah. Because you don't get a lot of bigger schools, they get a lot of um because they have a lot of lower income in the whole area. So, they get more um money than what you do here. So, your

132poverty level isn't as high as there. So, they get more of that. And plus, they have to save so much going through. They have more kids so they can pay their people without going to the hole. Here, you only have so many kids, so much revenue. And yet you have to pay their their health insurance retirement. You got to do all that. So it's very hard for a school district to keep to make money. >> The cafeteria has always been upside down. >> Yes. I can tell you specific. >> The only time it looked good was in co. >> Yeah. Yeah. We did go during Well, they gave us a ton of money. >> The only time it looked good. >> I can tell you specifically this year. So we had a 32,000 was the

133loss. So normally what we do is we transfer that transfer over into the cafeteria fund is the taxpayers portion of it. So, we get uh I think we spent 517,000 and we got 480 something. So, that's where the 32 was. And you know, I'll take I'll take it on this one, too. Um but I did think what was going to happen was the costs were going to come down. Groceries have been up so much. >> Eggs in particular and eggs and dairy. >> Um but I thought it was going to come back down a little. So, I didn't increase your transfer in because we hired um we hired the extra person in the cafeteria, the part-time person, and that's about what that cost like right around 30. Um and I was hoping a lot of

134the groceries were going to come down. That's your next biggest portion. So, salaries are like 200 change thousand and then but groceries are like 150 grand and they were like through the roof. They used to be 100. So, I was hoping they would come down a lot >> and they have >> over the next year and they have not >> and they probably won't. >> Nope. And that's what and that is why when you see on this year's budget so for 2526 and we will get the audit done on time this year but um the >> we transferred in this year 230 instead of 130 so we will I mean there's almost no way that we won't have a a gain. The question is how much. >> Um but that that's essentially what ended up

135happening there and then I figured we would take care of we would pay that back. But what ended up happening there was I didn't adjust the 130. probably should have made it 160, but I was hopeful that we were going to spend less money on groceries. >> He was betting. >> And each chunk each chunk that I put into that transfer is money that comes out of the budget that we spend on on student other student expenses. So, you know, I don't like to put that up too high if I don't have to. Didn't work out. >> Well, they always say what goes up must come down. False. >> False. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you for your time. Good luck with your advis. >> Good luck with >> take care. >> So, you're

136So, we're pretty well set then, right? We're good. >> Yeah. I think I have all the information I need. I can get Tracy um the info for you. I will get you guys a copy of the findings so you can have them read them, see the recommendations. You're going to you're going to get that to me so I can have it as an attachment on Friday's email. >> No, I can hand it to you right now. It's in my office. >> So, I'm very honest person. >> You're going to send me an Yeah. >> Is everybody Is everybody comfortable after this? >> Yes, 100%. >> Okay. >> I want to make that very clear because what we don't want out there is that we're going backwards >> because we're not. So anybody that's saying that

137we are don't understand budgetary and don't understand what goes on here because obviously we're in a much better place than we were five, six, seven years ago. >> Now people can go back and look. >> Amodore lived it. >> I lived its >> we all we lived it. It was not it was not fun. But >> you know uh hearing that we're going to be in a bad place and we're going the wrong way really really did not set well with me. That really really did not settle on me because I know what we came from to where we are today. >> Oh yeah. >> And hearing that really get under my skin. So I hope this settled it all and who's ever saying it out there when they say it to you, please put

138them in their place. Let them know that that's not the case. Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, uh, Caleb, just one question. If we would have had an audit committee come in and do a internal audit or something like that, what would that cost? >> So the internal audits costs close, it does cost close to 20, but what they'll do is they'll do four reports. Not you could probably get it for a little bit less if you did two reports. An internal audit works a little different than an external audit. So as she was explaining to you, her job is to make sure that what I'm telling you is true, more or less. That's in layman's terms, that's what she was essentially saying. She comes in. If I I tell you guys at the end of

139the year I had 2 million in cash, she writes letters to the bank and finds out from the bank if I actually have $2 million in cash. That's one of the tests they do. So she's really just checking to make sure that what I'm telling you isn't >> it's truthful. >> Yeah. So what an internal auditor does is they come in and make sure your processes are good that you know and they'll give you recommendations on how to clean up. I'll give you an example because I used to do it for some of the school districts around here. One month you know they would say an area they had a concern. Hey, I want to make sure we're paying the price we got for our fuel. That was one of the tests I would come

140in and do. Hey, I want to make sure uh the cash is all good. I want you to go through all the bank statements, make sure everything that's leaving is going to something for the school and isn't going into some person's account. Um, so they'll have like a targeted area each quarter which can be guided by the board and by the superintendent. They'll say, "These are areas we want to look into to make sure it's going okay." And then like for instance, that's what I did for I did with Monaceel School District. I went in, I would go through all their their fuel oil bills and match them up to their bid and make sure they weren't paying. And you would and it's more common than you would think that some of that gets missed,

141especially in a bigger school. There's tons of transactions going through where like something would go in wrong. And I'm just giving you examples because they'll come in and do something different every single quarter. >> Oh, maybe anybody remembers back when there was a scandal right here. >> Absolutely. That's how the business office left here went to went to uh >> went to Boseies because they 16 $18,000 they took it. >> And it's also the reason by the way that we do our um >> Was it more than that? >> 2025. >> All right. >> At the airport. >> That's Yes. And that's also the reason why we do that phone call with Jeff Bank about the wire transfers because it was getting done through wire transfer. So, we now have a a they Jeff Bank

142won't put it through until they call somebody who didn't send it in. So, like if I send in a wire transfer, they either call Tracy or they call Lisa. She's the backup on that and they'll say, "Caleb's putting a wire transfer through to this amount into this bank account. Is this right? Does this look co and >> it's a checks and balance thing, right? I mean, you know, there's other people outside checking on that kind of stuff that, you know, that's to protect us, >> you So, like um Lisa will send in the uh 40 when we take money out for people's 403bs, Lisa sends it in >> to the bank and then the bank calls me to make sure that yep, this is legit and it's not going into such and such's account. But,

143um yeah, so the internal audit is usually like five grand a report. They usually do it quarterly, so it's usually about 20 grand. And you can kind of direct what they look at. And the only thing we add to that is if it's a very large AC or wire transfer, Caleb will call Jeff Bank and say, "I am getting ready to put in it is an extraordinary because usually what is that? The February payment." >> Oh, the February bond payment is like a million dollars. Yeah. >> So, he'll call ahead just so they know we're following the same procedure, but it is a very large wire transfer. We're just giving you a heads up so that they know we still go through the same protocol that Caleb puts it in. They call me and then

144I have to go through certain steps and go through all the forms to make sure it is valid and then I sign off on it date and time. >> Before there wasn't good. >> Yeah. Oh yeah. >> Take a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll take that motion. Second. I'll >> second. Motion Christine.