Weathersfield School Board Reorganizational Meeting - March 17th, 2026

001Is it done? All right. >> All right. Good evening. I'm going to call the Weathersfield School Board for March 17 uh to order. And we're going to start with the Pledge of Allegiance. >> Hello. Start. is >> right. Is this better? >> Yeah. >> Okay, great. >> All right. Uh we will start with quick introductions before we do our reorganization. Uh start with the board you want to start. I'm Marie, >> Vincent Juel, >> Sarah Steel, >> John Harrison, >> Brian Mart, >> Ste, >> Larry D, >> Brian Ellingwood, >> Julie Hayes, >> Christian. >> All right, thank you. Uh, so tonight is our reorganization meeting. So I am going to start us off by uh taking nominations for the election the chairperson of her board. Are there any nominations? >> I would like to

002nominate Sarah Steel chair second. >> Sarah, do you accept the nomination? >> I do. >> Uh discussion. >> Second. You seconded, John. Any discussion? >> Discussion. >> All right. Are there I think I have to say that. Are there any other nominations for chairperson? >> All right. Then um all those in favor of electing Sarah Steel as chairperson of the board say I. >> Any opposed? Extensions. All right. Sarah, I'm turning this over to you. >> All right. Next, I will take nominations uh and election of the vice chairperson like to nominate Amber. >> Second it. >> Any discussion? We'll take a vote. All >> in favor? I >> right. Congratulations. Amay. Next is um nomination of clerk of the board and the center of the manifest. That's the same similar right Christine. The same

003person does the job. clerk would take minutes at the board retreat and the signer of the manifest would go to the box sign financials monthly. >> So it can be the same person. >> Okay. >> We just needed clarifications. Um so the nomination election of clerk of the board. Do I have a nomination? >> I'll second. Everyone in favor I >> uh next is the nomination and election of the signer of the manifest. Do I have a nomination? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Nomination of representatives to the SU Bargaining Council. Thank you. >> Nominate them. Maybe we should do those around you. >> It's just >> although one two of us we can elect two officers for that. >> I can. >> Okay. So we'll still do um the representatives to the SU

004bargaining council. Do I have nomination? >> Megan. >> So we agree that we'll have two >> one for teacher and one for >> Okay. Um all in favor say I. >> I. I. >> And then nomination of representatives to the SU board. So I would be one >> nominate nominate. >> All those in favor of Amory and John >> and Sarah. >> Okay. All those in favor I >> designation of the truency officer be the Wizard County Sheriff. Okay. So, all those in favor of Winston County Sheriff Department. >> I >> designation of our official newspaper >> news. Um, there >> the shopper. Yeah. Springfield. >> It comes in everybody's mail. Okay. >> So, everyone in favor of um designating Valley News and the shopper. >> In favor? I >> um still establish our regular

005time, place, and date of our monthly meeting. Discussion is everyone still second Tuesday. 6:30. >> All right. So, is that we we actually vote on that, correct? Yes. So, um second Tuesday of the month, 6:30 either in the music room or in the AP room. All those in favor? >> I. And then I'd like to um adopt the Robert rules for small boards. I move we adopt Robert rules for small boards. I >> second. Yes. All those in favor >> I >> All right. Do we have any changes or additions to the agenda? >> Just one. Um we had talked about uh a short audit process report from Larry and he's here and that's not on items for discussion. So if we can add that should take long. Okay. Uh, next we have approval of

006the minutes from February 10th. >> I'll take a motion to approve the minutes. >> I'll make a motion. >> Any discussion or changes to the minutes? >> All those in favor? I >> are approved. Um, next we have public participation. >> Yeah. Anything that's not on the agenda. Yes. Correct. Would anybody like to be any to the budget, but she just wants to talk before? Okay. Laura, you can come up and just know who you are, but please state your name and where you're from. >> Uh, Laura Powers. I am uh the WA chair. I am also current Weathersfield employees, kindergarten teacher, and a community member. And I just have a statement that I'd like to read if you don't mind. Uh in regards to the budget, um I'm here to speak in support of

007our educators and our staff and to ask you to continue the long history of investment in public education at Weathersfield. Our school is a special place. It's a place that not only educated many of its current employees, but also their children and even their grandchildren. It's a place that has drawn families to our community and encouraged young people to either remain here or return home to raise their own families. It's what we would call a success story. The data shows this as well. Our enrollment has been increasing every year. Weathersfield is ranked 13th out of 275 schools by the agency of education and our middle school alone is ranked 14th in the state. Within our district, we have the highest test test scores and the least amount of staff turnover. These outcomes do not happen

008by accident. They are the direct result of committed educators, strong programs, and a community that has steadfastly supported public school. At the same time, it is important to understand the financial reality of our that our school faces. Every year, cuts have been made to our local budget. Yet, our overall spending has continued to increase due to costs that are entirely outside of our control. Expenses such as special education requirements, SEU assessment costs for shared services, high school tuition, health insurance, and food services continue to rise regardless of the decisions we make locally. The unfortunate result is that the only areas left to cut are the ones that directly impact the people and programs that make our school successful. And that means the only areas left to cut are also the ones that directly impact the

009children in this community. The reductions we are able to make include educators, athletics programs, classroom budgets that are already bare bones, fine arts programs such as art, music, library and media services, and our major programs. Additional cutbacks could also impact administrative assistance staff, custodial staff, and intervention positions that support struggling students. Cutting personnel has especially serious consequences. It means significantly larger class sizes and many of our classrooms simply do not have the physical capacity to hold more students comfortably. Larger classes also reduce the individual attention students receive and make it harder for teachers to meet the needs of every learner. This puts additional strain on the very staff members whose dedication has helped make Weathersfield one of the highest performing schools in the state. This isn't our first experience with fiscal austerity. We have already

010been dealing with the effects of years of reductions. Programs that enrich student learning and expand opportunities have already been lost, including offerings like foreign language instruction that many of our neighboring schools still provide. These are not luxuries. They are important parts of a well-rounded public education. When we talk about budget cuts, we are not talking about trimming excess. We are talking about removing people, opportunities, and support systems that directly benefit our students. Our educators and school staff are the foundation of our success. Stable, supported, and respected educators create strong schools. Investing in educators and in these programs is an investment in our children and our community. Weatherfield is proof that when a public school is supported, it delivers results. Growing enrollment, strong academic outcomes, and a stable, dedicated workforce. The question before us is whether

011we will continue to invest in that success or continue to erode it through cuts and the very thing that make it possible. I urge the board and the community to keep these realities in mind and to prioritize protecting the people and the programs that make our school special. The kind of place where both educators and students are supported, challenged, and able to succeed. >> Thank you. Is there any other public participation? >> Is there any online Christine? Okay. So, we will move on to the administrative report. Good evening. So, obviously you can tell that we're educators and we're in classrooms because nobody sat in the front just like it. So, tomorrow you're sitting in the back. All right. So I'm here um I'm here with Kristen Huer who is our amazing data MTSS coach like

012the job titles are numerous and amazing. So we are here to share some of our data highlights from our winter session. So I'm going to let her talk and then I'm going to jump in here and there. >> So we're just going to do the highlights tonight. We'll do the full report another time but you can hear from us. Um the first thing that we wanted to talk to you about is our VTCAP data compared to the state data. So we're about to take BTC caps next week, but this is our spring data from last year. And a particular note I just want to let you know that the Vermont state report card just came out on February 18th and Weatherfield was down to be in the 12% of the state or the top state.

013So it's pretty exciting. When you look at this ELA data, the red bars are the state the percent of students in the state who were at or above benchmark. The blue are Weatherstone students. So when we think about at or above above benchmark, those are the kids that when you think about our standards based rating, they got a three or a four. Or if you think about our star assessments, they were the blue or the green. Okay? So when they meet the outer above benchmark when we look at this you'll notice that the blue the weather students were above the state average in most grade levels. We were really close in fourth grade and we're hoping to achieve that this year. And with our math data similarly it's the same same chart. You'll notice once

014again our fourth graders were slightly below the state average. However um this was last year's fourth grade. our current fifth grade class on the most recent STAR assessment, the fifth grade class scored 68% permission. So, we're really hoping that that's going to translate into the next steps they take in the next couple of weeks. >> It's a very good year. You'll also notice that our eighth graders from last year were slightly below and we're making adjustments with our eighth grades next year that those students who are eligible for algebra will also be getting eighth grade. In the past, if they've been eligible for algebra, they take it instead of eighth grade math. and we realize that we're missing skills when we do that. So, we're really hoping that that change is going to make a

015difference as well. With the state assessment, only fifth and eighth graders take the science assessments. And so, once again, our students in fifth and eighth grade were above the states in the bench. The other piece of data that we wanted to share with you tonight was our K33 DES data. If you remember in the fall I stood up in front of you and I said we have a lot of work to do and so I wanted to share with you the work that we've done. So in the fall we had 33% of our students proficient on this K through3 assessment that measures early literacy skills. Our K through3 staff has put in a lot of work to fill gaps to meet students where they they needed to be and to take them further. And so

016at our assessment in February, we had 56% of our students meet professions. And we're really hoping with the work that we're putting in that we're going to see that trend continue. We do this one more time in the spring. And so we'll have that data to report to you then. >> Thank you. >> Any questions on the data that we just shared with you? >> Thank you very much. Okay, next up is items for discussion followed by motions if needed. >> Obviously, our most important is our budget. >> I just wanted to let everybody know >> here that there that I uh do represent a conflict of interest in this discussion. Uh so I will not be voting. um it's time for us to vote on the budget. However, I am asking uh the other

017members of the board uh to allow me to participate in discussion uh only and uh regarding the budget uh and I will refrain from discussing or getting into an avenue that's so I'm asking for the for the rest of the board to allow me to be uh in discussions if you should choose. If you're not comfortable with it, then I will recuse myself entirely. >> I was saying how does board feel? >> So to clarify, he will be part of the budget discussion, but he will not be voting on our decision if we vote tonight um or the next night, whenever. Um okay, our Brian is going to present. did. First off, I want to give a shout out to our BAV because they not only worked hard at the start of our budget season,

018but then I had to call them back up said, "Come back up. We need some more help. We need to figure some things out and to see what some possible cuts that we could do to make sure that our budget is able to pass the next time. So, I'd like just to give a shout out again to our BAC, their volunteers that did an amazing job. And then Julie, I think you were gonna say something real quick or are you comfortable with that or whoever whoever wants if you guys don't want to, I'm okay with that, too. >> All right. >> So, we um are not in the envious position to suggest budget cuts. Um but it was pretty clear after the results of the vote that um something needed to be done to adjust

019our budget to make it more amendable to the community. Uh we worked with Ryan um with a goal of getting below a certain threshold that would have double the impact on the tax rate. Uh so really that's what we set as a goal as a committee um uh to make enough cuts to get below that threshold uh to make an even greater impact on uh the tax rate. Um so uh there was a lot of discussion, a lot of back and forth um a lot of >> Hold on the microphone. You're getting feedback. Sorry. >> How about ma'am? further away. Better >> I talk about the microphone probably just as loud. >> Go ahead. >> Try it again. >> How about now? >> Better. >> Yeah. >> Sure. So, uh, lot of, uh, back and

020forth, uh, through the budget advisory committee. We really challenged Brian, um, and, uh, had our own internal discussions about what we felt was appropriate. Uh, it is not easy making cuts, uh, this large to a budget this small. Uh, I personally echo the statement uh, from Laura. Um, a lot of these things are that are driving this budget are beyond our control. And uh it's unfortunate that we at the local level have to make really impactful cuts to education here at Weathersfield. Um but this was the consensus that we came up with. Uh Brian, I think you're going to present uh uh the um ultimate uh uh proposal. Um but it was with consensus uh within the committee that this was the right path uh for the uh budget advisory committee to take uh and

021recommend to the school. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right. So, like Christian said, our goal was to get under the excess spending threshold to be able to present a budget for our board and our community that we are under that number because just like you said, it's we're getting sort of a buy one get one. So, we're getting more bang for our buck. So, by cutting if we got under the 259 part, then it's basically like saying we're under by 520 or 518,000. So, anytime we're making cuts at this level, because our BAC originally came up with a really good budget that was pretty bare bones as it is, there isn't any extras in there. So, anything that we're doing is going to affect students and that's unfortunate. >> Could I interrupt just for

022a second? >> Sure. >> Could I ask our CMO to explain for everybody in the audience what the spending threshold is and how it affects our budget? >> Sure, Larry, if you want to do it. >> Yeah. So um the excess spending threshold is set at um six for this year for fiscal year 27 the budget year we're working on 16,470 the budget as defeated I'm sorry 16,470 per year >> that's set by the state um so if you're under that you're you're under the threshold for every dollar you are over that threshold the state takes that So let's say it's $400 over the threshold. They're going to tax you on $800. They're going to take that 800 and put it back in. So in Weatherfield's case, it would uh re increase your uh education

023spending per pupil from 16,470 then with the threshold 17,770 set. That's the budget has to be met. So, for every uh dollar from a tax purposes standpoint, which Brian was explaining earlier, for every dollar under the threshold, you're saving $2 in taxes that have to be raised. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Did answer everybody's question on that one? All right. Good. All right. So, like I was saying, so whenever we are making any type of cuts, they are affecting the classroom at this point. So, we were trying to stay away as much as possible. um we had to look at some areas that we might be able to save some money and do some cost spending. Um so maintenance repairs for the building. So right now we had 25,000 set in that we reduced

024it by 7,000 which is a huge chunk because our building is in great shape. We want to keep it in great shape, but we will have to figure out ways to fix things. And hopefully that if we have a rainy day, we do have a small rainy day bud. Maintenance supplies. Um, again, 25,000 and then cutting that down 7,000 again. Um, so cutting it to 18,000. Um, really focus on what we're doing as far as with supplies, taking a look at it, seeing if we can be more fiscally responsible. Maybe, you know, bring your own toilet pick. Just kidding. Not bring your own photo. Just kidding. Um although that's been a tactic. Um other places, but also then um so cutting those down and trying just be a little bit more careful. Furniture furniture and

025fixtures totally just cut that out of the budget. We had $5,000 for repairs of chairs um and other furniture that is broken. We will skip that this year of replacing anything that needs to be fixed. Um, we do have some excess, so we will do with what we have for the excess. Um, athletics, our entire athletics budget is $51,960. So, we right now are cutting 15 thou are proposing that we cut 15,000 out of that. So, that would basically be the supply line. So, we would have to use some of the supplies that we already have this year or figure out other ways to be able to fund some of those extra things that we will need for athletics, but to not cut them completely. Um, classroom supplies. Right now, we have $12,500 for classroom

026supplies for all of our classrooms. We're proposing that we cut $2,000 off of that. I know our classroom budgets are already minimal, but we figure out ways to get the things that we need for our teachers. Um, and now's where it starts to cut people. Um, so right now we have a full-time, so FTE means full-time equivalent of a teacher. So one whole teacher, that cost would be about $110,000 or $109,000. So we'd have to absorb those students and other places at the school. So like Laura mentioned, we would have some larger class sizes. We would have to be creative on how we do that. SEI, which is a social emotional interventionist, we have two right now. one is funded by the SU, the other one is funded locally here. We would cut that position

027um and make that position go away. We also have a custodial um we have a PM custodian that we did cut last year and made her hours minimal. We would just cut that position completely and adjust our custodians as we could do it so that we would still keep some quality of care up for the school. We're also looking at cutting a secretarial position from the office from a full-time back to a halftime position. Um, right now we left our locally funded parah on there. Um, so we have still just one locally funded parah. When I got here, we had four and we've slowly dwindled that down to be able to save money for that, but it's nice to be able to have and it's it's a needed feature that we have at the school.

028And then um transportation and field trips, we went ahead and cut that out completely right now where that basically it pays for busing to go on field trips. So we'd have to figure out other ways through grants and other items to be able to um come up with ways to do field trips. So our FY27 budget increase initially that we took to the town was 11.95%. With these cuts, we were able to bring it down to 8.99%. So right under 9%. Um, we went from our total FY27 budget of $9,953,590 to9,690 16 and $116. But the homestead tax rate, the estimate right now from 2.1940 down to 2.080 and then our tax increase from 10.8 for homestead tax down to 5%. And then our pure per pupil spending like Larry talked about originally was at

02917,000 $17,7778 cutting that down to $16,869.39 getting us to that threshold below that threshold. We're saving more money and then the ballot language would have a percentage increase down to 7.46%. Can >> I just ask about the the threshold? Um, so Larry had just told us that the threshold was 16,470, >> but this is this is 16,89. So are we still 400 above or >> you are because this is where it gets complicated because >> we're uh discussing the ballot language. So those two bottom lines are the ballot language. I was asked to provide what the ballot language look like. >> Okay. Um that's that's a little different because uh you're comparing F by 26 27 um and that's why you notice that how the tax rate is 5%. Right? So when I'm talking about

030spending asset spending threshold I'm talking about the tax rate. >> So so are we below the threshold or are they the BC but >> the VAC would put you under the threshold. Yes. >> You have exclusions. Hi, sorry. Can you hear me? >> Yeah, >> this is Laura Skinsky. >> Whoever is asking that question, I do to support Larry. I think it's also relevant to note that the excess spending limit has things that can be excluded. Um, and there's a portion of our budget that can be excluded from the ex excess spending limit. And that number gets us from that 168 down to 164. >> You were reading his mind, Laura, because that's what he was getting ready to say. payment on your bill $234,000 a year and while you have it allows you you're

031allowed to exclude >> so that's >> so we need a bigger building right for the future >> by the way that's good point that no longer applies to any new buildings >> that I don't know the new grand >> but his grandfather Alford for that. >> So just to clarify, >> just to clarify, so the ballot language would say 16869.39 and then but you're saying the per pupil is really 16470 >> for excess spending threshold purposes. >> Yes. It puts you under the threshold if the amount and I put it uh you can't really see it on the if you scroll up to the right uh Christine. So you can see to get under the excess bank threshold you must put $259,000 in at 264 263 that puts you over or under that and I

032know that's a lot of money to cut from our budget and our goal as myself and the VAC was to get us under that excess spending threshold. Um and these don't have to be the cuts. These are just some proposed cuts at this point, but if you give me a number, we can make sure that we can get to that number. And that was my my goal was to get to that number so that we can save some money for our taxpayers and still get what we can do. Is it going to be harder to do the work? Absolutely. But can we do it? Yes, we can. We know what to do, so we're going to do it. Yes. >> Um, so I have a question about the locally funded PAR. >> Yes. >> If

033that was voted in and that person was cut, is that person going to remain under PSU or sort of, you know, is there a plan to >> or that? So right now the local >> services to be rendered here but under a different umbrella. >> Right. So right now the locally funded PAR is not on the chopping block. >> We're keeping it's the SEI >> social emotional intervention. Um, yes, the social emotional interventionist has I can't ever guarantee anything and so I'm but she does have she does now have a sped well that person has a license that she will be going moving on to a different position. >> Okay. >> So >> hopefully >> talking about the SEI that you have here uh who works for the SE. >> Yes. >> Is what is

034their workload like? What what are we looking at for explain to us? >> So I can Yeah, I'll explain. So right now we have it we we have the advantage since we have two SEIs currently that we have one basically downstairs that handles K through three and then the one upstairs handles 4 through eight. So that person would be spread thin. It would be more work for that person to be able to do more um work working with different students. They would have to be able to work with the elementary students, the little kids as well as the bigger kids and be able to go at it. So yes, that would cut back on students that might need a break. That would cut back on students that uh are having some difficulties and need somebody

035to talk to. So yes, it would cut back on that for sure. We would feel that with cutting that position. >> I mean all the positions we're definitely going to feel something. And so how many students here currently access the two SEI? >> Oh, go ahead. >> What's the, you know, potential for next year? >> So the SEI that we have upstairs is pretty amazing. So he can handle a lot and I have all my faith in him. Um, but they probably see about 30 kids per day. And that's just the number off the top of my head for sure. I don't know exactly two or >> probably each of them. They also go out at during recess time. They play games at recess. They help out with yard duty. They coach or not coach,

036they rep soccer games, kickball games. They do all of those things to be able to help our students to learn how to play better together. >> Could you just explain for us what their actual role is? Like what are they doing with students? >> So, what they're doing with students is they're trying to get them deescalated. So, they're trying to regulate those students. So, if a student's coming in and having some extreme anxiety or having emotional distress, they're able to talk them through it, give them some strategies to be able to work with and be able to calm them down so that they can go back smoothly back into the classroom so they're not affecting their learning or the learning of others. >> How does this differ from we are hope? >> It does differ

037from we are hope because we are hope has a case load and has specific students that they coach. So, it's more of a coaching model where an SEI can handle and help anybody that needs to be helped. >> At the SU level, how many SEIS do we have? And the other schools have that are on their payroll versus the SU. >> We have one here at Weathersfield that is funded by the SU >> Currently. and then >> okay. >> So I I have a question. Well, I can say there are two locally funded SEIS school and uh currently next year there will be one local. >> So Harland will be with one. Yes. So I guess what is plan B? If it goes from 60 students being served a day or needing intervention, who would

038intervene? Like one one man cannot um necessarily do that. So is there a plan B? Plan B is to um I will be working with students a lot more closely which I already do as it is plus our counselor and then a pair of supports right now that they have throughout the day in classrooms will also be helping out with that. That's the best plan right now. When we first when I first got here we had one NCI. Um and behaviors have definitely changed in the last few years. So it's it's going to be a struggle no matter what. Right. Yeah. Yeah, it's live. >> Um, so looking at you might close. >> Can you hear me now? Yeah. Okay, great. Thank you. Okay, so just taking a quick look at SEIS. Um, Windsor Elementary

039School um has uh three locally funded um SEIS and it looks like we have three. ABS has no funded SEIS that are all local. Um has no SU and middle school middle school their SEI uh one is local and the high school doesn't have So uh question. So of the 30 kids per day, what would you say the amount of time spent per child is? And for what level of reason? >> It would depend on the day. I would say maybe an average of about five minutes if a student usually needs a break. It's usually about a five minute break um where the SEI will take the student out um and work with that kid and then be able to get them back in there. Um if a kid is in crisis, it's going to

040take longer obviously. >> Is there any data on crisis events here that you have accessible versus the other sort of standard? I don't have them easily accessible, but we we put things. So, our FTI's also add everything into power school anytime they have any um opportunity to work with a student and then depending on the situation when they put it in there and how much time. I don't know if they usually log the exact they don't log the exact amount of minutes, but we have incidents all the time. Today, our SEI was used and was probably in the room with 30 minutes with a student with a with a or with a support or a staff member as well and then also came in with me. So, it takes longer. It just depends on the

041situation. >> And so our paras or the other uh staff members that you talked about potentially filling in for the second person that we have um how are they trained or how are they qualified to manage these crisis? >> So they do have training the SU provides training for the students. They do all of our training as far as >> talking about SEIS. >> Yeah. >> SEIS need to have a bachelor degree. Um and they are required to take um our safety care training which is our deescalation and then um last you know restraint training which is obviously you won't know what to do but >> so are the parents >> yeah my question was other staff members that are not seis that are proposed to fill in the gap that we might create how

042would they >> so um we do have some paras that if their assignment um requires it also have dees well everyone has deescalation training but then um paras that require um that may need to restrain a child might have a more intense child would also have to go through safety as well I'm I don't know how the board feels I'm a little bit hesitant about cutting that um that position you knowing a little bit about the level of need here uh and how much it has changed just since I've been involved with Weatherfield School. Um so I afraid you know of pulling that away uh you know for the sake of the rest of the staff uh for the sake of you know the administration for the sake of the student that's in crisis. Um

043we all know that that's a an increasing age year after year and an expensive need but um very important. >> Yes. Um so the SEO the likelihood of them being able to fill in for the NCI um how likely is that one and two how easy is it to back fill this position? It looks like this may be open or it sounds like the person is moving on. So is it something that's going to sit open for a year or is it something you can fill because well I agree with what you're saying but if it is open for a year right we can't >> it's open either way >> it's open but >> so we've confirmed this person is leaving >> this school or you don't have the answer >> I can't answer that

044for sure >> okay so our assumption is that they could be might stay right >> possibly and I because it's a direct stack an issue that involves one person because everyone's going to know who it is. I cannot >> sure. >> So, Jen, I have a question. So, how how is it determined which Sorry. How is it No, you um how is it determined which schools get SU funded SEIS and which schools have to absorb them through their local budgets? like if we cut one but then you know Brian's like we can't handle you know the volume of students like how how does that work? I know we can't just you know there's not positions just to pull from the clouds but how do you determine that when you're doing your budget? >> Um so

045the the assignments for the SEIS were in place when I came on in July July this year. Um, and so I would anticipate that I would need to meet with the building principles and determine the name of each building. Um, and determine the some models look a little different. Um, the model in the general mentor school looks a little different than looks like here. So, um, so I can't say that I will not be able to move uh 1.0 go over here because it funed position, but I really need to look at the needs of the students and the numbers of the students to determine if it's appropriate. >> So, you would basically be moving SEIS around within the SU not particularly hiring a new correct to >> and let me go back to Megan's

046question as well. So, um it is a tough position to fill sometimes. So we were lucky when we were able to increase from one SEI to two that we were able to get two qualified candidates that really met the needs of what we wanted at school. But that's not the easiest thing to do. >> And then if we didn't cut this position, what what would the suggestion be to save 58,000? >> I would have to go back and take a look at that and see. Um but again, I want to focus on that number and see what we what you can get at then I can make those cuts >> a part-time FTE 9.5 for the SEI help. I mean, it's not a good job, but >> I mean, of course, that would help, but

047I'm not sure also how appealing that's going to be to somebody to get that. And then you have to add in benefits and everything else, which isn't just cut. So, it's not just Sorry, it's not >> not just a 50% cut. Exactly. It's uh they do get health. >> And what what informed your decision to cut the SEI as opposed to the PAR? >> Because the SEI is a harder position to fill >> with having to have a bachelor's degree. >> Are there any openings in the ES budget that we could keep up here? and have it funded out of the SU. >> If I'm understand your question, um the SU is not going to be hiring new positions. So, is your question, can I move somebody around? >> Do you have any openings now,

048whereas this person would be funded by the couple years ago >> and they applied >> for jobs? Yeah. >> They can't course. >> Sorry. I you're saying switch out the PAR for this. Yeah. >> If you have an opening in the SU for PAR, >> could it fund this PAR while this PA remain in the weather field? >> Um any openings that are that are available are specific to the school. So, for example, if there was um a opening at Harland, it was specific to because perhaps somebody left. So, I'm filming backyard question. >> It It's not a guarantee. We went through this a couple years ago. So, we won't be able to control where they are. So the SU if she has a higher need at Windsor, she can move them to Windsor, which

049is not it's not a guarantee that we would keep our PAR. >> Yes. >> So let's get into what does this para do here? Are they assigned to one child 10? What do other jobs? >> They help out across the different students and they help out in different classrooms. So, and we switch around pairs depending on the needs at that moment. It's nice to have the flexibility having that pair to be able to be here to help out and support when needed. >> And do you have better flexibility with a locally funded parah or an SU provided? Yeah, a locally funed a locally funded PAR is not technically designed to a student or a group of students. So I do have more flexibility of where I put that para how we need to use that

050that to support our students. >> So overall that is more beneficial to this school and PAR in some ways. >> Yes, because we're they're all Yes. They're all beneficial. Yes. Yeah. I'm just trying to make >> they're more versatile. >> Yes. more versatile would be a better term. >> Okay. >> I have more flexibility with that person. >> Can I ask a question about field trips? >> Of course. >> So, do our kids just not do field trips or like what would what is the plan? We would look for outside >> That's right. >> We would look for outside sources to provide transportation. So, we could look at what >> a fundraising possibility, some grants that we could write. Okay. some various ways of being able to save that $6,000 by getting, you know, and

051then if we would never exclude somebody if they could not afford to go in, but if we asked for donations and parents were able to donate $15, but if we had another parent that couldn't, we would figure out a way to make sure that that student would be able to participate as well. >> So, you were saying if we if we wanted a certain number So >> hypothetically, we kept the SEI. >> Okay. >> But obviously we're 58,000 and change over what you proposed. >> Then you said if we gave a number, you would try to find that money to cut other places. So if we wanted to get under if you gave me a number and you wanted to get make sure that we got underneath that threshold which makes sense to me then

052we would find a way it would just affect other areas of the school which are going to affect students matter what matter what we do we're going to affect students >> always are going to affect students in one way or another some are directly affecting students others are okay the classroom might not be as clean today or it doesn't get the floor m every you know it's It's just gonna depend. So, um I'm thinking that um I mean rather than kind of micromanaging exactly what cuts Brian would make, um I'm wondering if we can all agree or disagree that we need to get under the excess spending excess spending threshold and if we want to address him that he needs to get under the excess spending threshold or if we want to say no, maybe

053we're just going to try to cut,00 ments he would focus. So I think we need to come up with a plan for what we want to do rather than saying to them exactly where it needs to go. >> We had a question from the audience and take that. >> Um so just around going back to the SEI so we're talking about cutting our locally funded SEI right? So what is the option of cutting our SU SEI and keeping the locally funded? Like we have no control over our SU budget and I think that that is the biggest pain in probably majority of ours, right? Like it's just we're sitting here saying we need to cut our locally funded, but yet we can't go back and cut anything. >> So So just so you understand, if

054we cut the SUA, we'd only be saving 25% of our salary. We only pay 25% of the SU. >> Yeah. 4. >> Yeah. We'd have to cut four SEI in order to equal that >> because of the assessment. So we we paid a quarter of approximately a quarter of the budget. >> Okay. Please state your name and where you're from. >> Dave Fuller. I've got a different question. It may solve a few of his labor issues. Is the maintenance or the bond payment part of the per pupil uh educational cost? >> Bond is not >> is the maintenance. >> Maintenance is right. >> Maintenance is if you scroll that down. Didn't you say you had $25,000 >> the top on the left? >> Wasn't it up the top? >> Back up on the top. >>

055First two line items are building maintenance and then custo. So, so the bond is not is there anything else that could be said to be like maintenance of the building? Where I'm going with this is would the board consider a special article not necessarily in the budget to say listen this is what we take care of the building with and then it's not part of the per pupil. So, you're trying to trying to get through both things at once. >> I don't know the answer to that. And I'm not sure if we can add an article to a rebuild. I think what you're saying, Dave, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think what you're saying is, for example, you could uh could you do an article, could the could the board decide for FY27

056to spend I'm just making a number, $50,000 out of the capital reserve fund for needed maintenance and repairs, zero it out of the general fund. Um, and therefore that would lower your education spending. It wouldn't be excluded, Dave. It just wouldn't exist. Yes. >> So the answer is yes. The board could decide to do that. Um >> so the next question would be does the school now have a reserve account for maintenance of the building capital reserves fund. We don't typically use it for day-to-day maintenance. We use it for like big projects like boiler needs to be replaced or something. >> I think Larry and I are on the same page here. I think we were going that. >> So maybe you can clarify that Brian and Larry. So, maintenance, repairs, and maintenance that $25,000

057line. >> So, don't >> is what kind of projects? I guess that's what like is it capital reserve type of stuff like >> it's regular maintenance on the building. If we have a window break, if we have a floor machine, >> the supplies would be the toilet paper. >> And the only problem with that is we already have in that budget reflects $7,000 cut out of each of those. So then our net gain on that would only be 36,000 if we cut both of those. But I see we're what is the value of our of our reserve? >> $295,000 cost $295,000 $4344 as of this Monday. >> And so say a floor cleaner was to break at the cost of $20,000, we would be able to you go into capital reserves for something like that.

058>> We've done we've done that before. It's uh it's rare, but sometimes that has happened. It's happened that winter I think four years ago. We would just go to the board and usually we just replace the part in the boiler. Right. Right. >> But if it's not the boiler, if it's something like a floor cleaner or something or uh some sort of vehicle of some type, we would go to the board and say, "We would like to spend $40,000 reserve." Jim would explain why it's needed and they would vote on that. The only uh district that can't do that is her mouth study can do that by the board. >> Follow up on that a little bit. I when I saw the uh reductions in in maintenance and supplies that it struck me we had

059we got a building pushing 20 years old systems are mostly designed to last 20 years. We got a a wood chip boiler that's 20 years old that eventually is going to have to be replaced. Those are capital expenses. Fortunately, we got a standing seam roof. We shouldn't have to worry about it in most of our lifetimes anyway. But nonetheless, there's still other things in the school that are going to continue to fail. And because I sign the manifest and I see the builds, I I I'm really um concerned that that maintenance and supplies and the nighttime custodian for that matter are taking a disproportionate hit in in the budget compared to some of the other items. Going backwards a little bit from what you said, uh Brian, we need to give Brian a number. he

060and then it becomes his job. That's the reason they make all that big money is at the end of the year it needs to come out close to zero as humanly possible and it's our job to make sure keep an eye on what's going on so that that happens and um that's something we should be looking at in the very near future for the end of this fiscal year. So I think we need to concentrate on a number that we're comfortable at the center of voters and and going a step further on the special article when I notice what athletics it's a pretty good size chunk of money and I would have no objection to a special article fun athletics and that would give the voters and and the parents and everybody that's involved in

061the athletic program get them out there sell the product. >> Can we do that >> legally? >> No. No. I mean, can we >> The question is, can we have that as a separate article? >> So, if the So, if I understand correctly, you would zero out athletics out of the general fund. You would have a special article of $51,960. >> Not in the budget. No, no, it'd be a separate article and if approved and if approved by the voters, if approved by the voters, >> yes, you would just send them a separate fund to that called the weather athletics fund separate from the general fund and we would fund it out of there just like we do everything else. >> Does that count towards our cost? >> It would not because it's not in

062the general fund. Can we add an extra article with the special election? >> I I don't see why. >> I don't see why not. >> But Why wouldn't we fund everything special doing that? >> I know we would obvious uh I don't see this as any different than a but where the auditors >> where the auditors say no. >> Yeah. >> I mean I was going to say the risk of that is if it's turned down we don't have any athletics. So >> we almost don't anyway. Well, in the in the backup, I think um as as a couple times have been said, uh Brian is the educational leader of the school, the budget advisory committee, committed citizens has worked on this and brought forward a proposal. Um I think uh athletics with the cuts

063that they made, they're comfortable with, I guess, is what I would say as as included. meaning it could function >> meaning I would I would not see the need for a separate article though I get what you're saying I I think you would trust your educational leader and the citizens who work on this >> is that I'm sorry >> no just for athletics is there anything more to save and I'm not sure that there is but for instance the town over the winter program strong athletics but you do like say K through four through the wreck program I know parents back to pay but that save anything more in athletics or is that raise 15,000 for supplies? Like can we get creative here? >> So I I believe and correct me if I'm wrong, Brian,

064but I I believe where the BAC landed on this was they picked the number and it would be up to Brian and the athletic director to decide if 15,000 is going to come out of the whole athletic supplies, maybe 10,000 out of this line and 5,000 out of supplies or of some kind. it it's it's a flat cut and it would be up to them as department head to decide how to cut it just like with Jim and the maintenance cuts and Megan to your point we did have discussion around kind of getting creative to see you know because what our question was why is that sitting within our school budget where locally around us there are the reps and and kids participate but it does come down to not all students would be able

065to participate then to take it out of the budget. And Laura brought up the point of once it's gone, it's nearly impossible to get it back. So, we're not comfortable with that either. Um, but so that's where we can't get that flat dollar amount and would leave it up to the athletic director. And Ryan, we're not saying it's supplies or we're not saying it's, you know, K through three sports. We're just saying this is the best. That's fair >> because again, we also want to still have the school be attractive and sports are a way to get those younger families into children and we all know athletics are a big thing. >> A fundamental question on on the grid got the public the budget committee's proposal. Who developed plan B? Did the budget committee have

066anything any input? >> They did. We developed it together, but that was our last case. Okay, >> ditch effort. That's why we did a plan B as well. But we came up with that and that's why we came up with cutting like 15,000 out of athletics instead of cutting the whole athletic budget and then adding more and changing things. And that's why plan B is on there. We came up with that together. I'm going to go back to Dave's question, too. Um, my concern about that as well about putting that into the capital reserve is that it's sort of deferring that cost. um sort of like where we've gotten to with our budget where we had extra money and gave it back to the taxpayers which it is the taxpayers's money but then it just

067lowers the tax rate every year and then we have that bubble increase like we had last year which I feel sort of gotten us into this situation. So, I I would prefer not to put it in the capital reserve because like we talked about, it's really hard to get it back into the budget and then we're going to deplete that capital um reserve really quickly. If we're putting $50,000, it'd be gone in less than six years. Just that would be my concern about that. I mean I think we all agree that we have to be kind of threshold correct in saying that. We have one more question from the audience. She >> um I was just wondering if the Oh, Laura War. Um I'm just wondering if the fulltime FTE well the FTE for the

068teacher is that vacant or is that an existing position that's >> It is currently an existing position that is filled. >> Okay. >> Um and then sorry, more questions. Um, and then just wondering sort of what falls into the classroom supplies category. I just I know like as a parent we don't get sent home list supplies to buy our kids. I understand that not everyone is in the financial position to do that. But I do think that there are a lot of parents that would be willing to send in additional supplies if needed. I'm just wondering so what is your mark for that? So there's more. >> Yeah. So each teacher gets a budget they have for their classroom and then uh they have supplies that we take care of for them and then we

069always accept donations. We just don't ask for help as much as possible. So different from where I came from where we had a list of things that you were expected to supply through your class. So, we always take those. But, and then we've also been really creative as far as during the summer time, media and I will go to Walmart and we're able to buy all the markers and all that stuff at a much price. That's help save some money. >> Yeah, I was just thinking about like different opportunities maybe for parents um or things like that if we're looking >> um and then just lastly back to the CI position. So we would only be saving 25% is that and I'm like new to all of this. So we would essentially we as weatherfield

070taxpayers pay for 25% of the SUIs >> of the SU budget. >> Okay. But Windsor has Windsor has four SEIs. So essentially Weathersfield's taxpayers are paying for full SEI position as cutting ours. Is that correct? >> Well, we're getting one. So we have we have one here. >> We have one, but we haven't cut another one. But Windsor also pays a higher assessment. >> They they have more students. So it goes by students. >> Okay. Um 25. So Windsor is paying a higher assessment and therefore because they have more students they require more positions but they're also paying more for it. >> So that like you said 45% of that pie is paid by Windsor. >> That makes so question about the future here. I heard you just say that this is a current staff

071member and so are we not renewing someone's contract or are you combining classes like or is this a retirement like what's the it's kind of hard to go along with the proposal if we don't know like are we going to have to figure this out after >> No, we won't have to figure it out because we have a plan for that and again since it is directly referring to a single person and a personal issue. I don't want to comment on that person, but it's something that we have a plan for that we will take care of and it's already made adjustment and there >> So you're confident that we're going to cut this position but not need it. >> Oh, we can always use an extra teacher, but we'll be able to come back

072to the >> Well, right now looking at our numbers that we have in our incoming numbers, we have 18 kindergarteners incoming. So that's part of what right there where we're going to adjust some because we don't have as many kids coming in as we typically have. And so we have some other areas too. We're looking at the class size numbers and looking at class size minimum but we can adjust some of those classrooms. I mean last year we did a K1 combo and it's worked out great. So that could be a possibility some page classrooms but it might not be. So once we get the number and once we get what what students we have we'll be able to develop our matrix and develop our students at that point our classes what we need as

073a board is how much we've been trying to better the teacher for a pair outuc. I'll just go out and say that I'm I personally am not with >> I feel uneasy about some of the unanswered questions. >> What questions? >> I can't I'm not I can't tell you the personal who's I understand that. >> Yeah. So, but I just was wondering if there's other questions you had besides that. >> That's that's how I feel. >> I would be prepared to make a motion. I'm not making this second to use the number came up with of 9,690,116 as our budget and then let the administration make it work. Uh that gets us under the spending spending threshold without getting into the weeds any deeper to do that or >> I agree that extra room from

074the 259 to >> right now that number the 9,690 that is that extra We will but I mean if you come up with a number that it has to be >> well so we're saying we need to cut 259 and then this proposal we're 263 right now >> correct >> that's over what we need to cut >> it's $4,74 just >> so I'm trying to give you some money back >> yeah okay I'm good with that trust >> somebody wants to quickly do the math that's perfectly acceptable >> the CFO And and I think it's important for anybody that's online or in the audience that the homestead tax rate it would tick up a smidgen from 5% and the ballot language uh percent increase would tick up a smidgen from 7.46. >> We have a

075question audience >> Christina. Um I just am questioning and kind of wondering and want the board to think about that this is a huge chunk that the BAC kind of recommended or was guided to recommend. Um what happens if it goes down? Where are we going to go from there? Because that's what concerns us that if we go so big right now, what where do we go? There's no other place to go again if we get voted down. Um what is the uh so there's a deadline of April 15. >> What um is so if we if this budget doesn't pass and then we don't make we won't make that I mean we might not make it anyway depending on how things go. Um >> it'll be tight but I think if we um pass

076budget we have to get balance correctly. we have to warrant it um to send out absentee ballots. So the law um the law states that we have to post 5 days prior to ourformational meeting and seven days prior to a vote, but I believe we need 20 days to send out the FC ballot. So >> really what are the pros and cons of missing? So what Emory is referring to is by provide the master agreement, we have to have uh teacher contracts to teachers by April 15th. We normally send them out April 1st because they are given uh two weeks to sign their contracts and turn them back in. Um so the longer you extend that out um if if we don't have a budget by April 15, our teachers uh get paints which feels

077terrible. Um definitely impacts the morale of the building allows teachers to choose to go somewhere else if they want to. Um, so if we can get the vote past part of April 15th, contracts are ready to go out now and they'll just be sent in time. If we can describe the scenario that >> so April 15th is the like the town vote, everything done. I'm not sure what time uh, you just mean school vote. Okay. Yeah, the school vote, the school election. Um, if it's done before April 15th, it's done by April 5 15th. We have to send out contracts by April 15th for staff. >> Yeah. >> Answer to the lady in the back. Some schools have come back with exactly the same budget because they just can't find the money. Uh Rivendell I

078think went five times something like that and they basically kept coming back with the same number and trying to explain it away that you want us to cut it. We don't have any place to cut other than substantially um jeopardizing our students education. And the board said we're not going to do that. and eventually they passed. Maybe the voters just got sick of going to the polls. I don't know. I'm not advocating that we need to do that or we should do that. But you don't have to make cuts if if the board feels that it's going to jeopardize students education. >> And that's why I'm saying what why are we going so big right now? I think it's in an attempt to pass the budget on this next vote so that we don't have

079to end up being slips to teachers. >> Also, if you don't pass budget by July one, you borrow only up to 87% discussion >> until you pass and that that's already drastic cuts. That's 900,000 well and then 80. So, it would be a huge >> 1.4 1.6. Uh so the the number with 259,000 as asked for earlier would be 9,694,590. So that would put you under the threshold uh 258 uh,000 does not still be slightly over 259,000. >> And what does the budget language read? I >> mean the you know the voting language okay. So if I give me one second. So if you did that, it would be a uh uh the budget increase year-over-year would be 9.04% instead of 8.99. Your um homestead tax rate increase estimate would still be 5%. Because we're

080talking about 4,000. Uh and uh the VA language would still be uh 7.46%. It was on $4,000. >> What did you put back in before? >> I didn't put anything back. I was asked >> if we just did if we just did the excess spending threshold. >> Anna, um the um can I get a little clarification on the excess spending threshold? If we cross over, are we double bill on just the amount that we cross over? >> Yes. >> So if we decided to keep the SEI, we would be double build on that amount. So that was >> that's a great point. That was my next question was can you do the math if we kept the SEI >> and if you kept the SEI you would be over the threshold by $92 per LWADM

081um for a tax rate of estimate of $210 37. So I put that in my which is live here. >> Um it' be a tax rate increase of 6.2% year-over-year instead of 5%. And then uh takes a second going to space. Um and then uh the B language increase would be 8.69% instead of 7.4 seconds. So, how much money? I mean, that's like 58 and change, but like what are we talking like? How much money if we saved some things or told Brian a number that was less >> um how much money would we have to like when does it really start making that number look scary again? I don't know what your definition of scary >> for a year budget increase or tax increase >> um for the year >> the percentage is what

082they look well I think they look at the ballot language but that's just my opinion >> so do you want to see what ballot language would be >> at 10% okay Yeah. >> May I stop sharing? >> Yeah, sure. >> I know that. >> Who are you? >> I'm sorry. I'm Kelly O'Brien. >> I work for school. I'm also a taxpayer. So, I know you want to cut 16 grand out of budget for custom. Don't get me wrong. I love it when people come into this building and say how clean it is. Who of us cannot do the job? We have a a maintenance person who's head person. His job is not to do the custodial work here. We've been here long enough, my partner and I. We get vacation, we get sick days, and

083we get personal days. This is going to make it so we're going to feel guilty if we take time off. I feel guilty now when I take a day off when I'm sick because I don't like to leave all my work on someone else to do. So, I think we need to think a little more out of the box. We have a new position that started this year that was a reinvented position. Okay. I don't know what that person makes or what happened. Look, if that's a dual position for this year, I don't understand why we're thinking about eliminating stuff. That's going to affect the students. I really think it needs to be thought before you guys make a final decision. I mean, I agree in bringing it down, but I think I think some

084of the things really need to be thought out a little more. Yeah, I was on the BAC committee. No, I did not agree with it. So, I just want to put my two cents in. Thank you for that. >> So, do you want to be under 10 or do you want to be over 10? >> 9.99. I will say that my opinion that um and I've always said like we need to keep it under 10. That was when budgets sweep five. We got voted down hard. I don't know that that just being just my opinion. Um, >> yeah, I definitely see what you're saying. I think though the climate, listen, I'm not an avid Facebook user to be honest with you all. I did go on because of the buzz, whatever that group is. Um,

085and there was a lot there, a lot there to unpack and I think there's just a lot of like I'm voting no and I'm voting no for all these things. So, you know, is 10% and I guess this is a better question for the town and and the community um 13.2.24% wasn't it? And there was a huge ask from the town this deny that um is 10% better because again you know easy just to say like cut the 259 because of the benefit that is but that has a huge effect on a school right like we can all agree I don't think anyone up here is saying we would legally cut that because we know that has a huge effect so is 10% more palatable and are we going different climate because that the town

086was voted down too, right? There's that dynamic as well. I don't have the answer for that, but I'm just putting that out there in the sense that is that a better way to go. And then for our teachers, I know there's a lot of teachers in this room right now. If you're handed a pink slip because we can't get this done on 4:15, right? You don't need to answer. You don't owe the answer to me, but are you looking to leave? And I think this is where like there is that hit to morale we're really concerned about because we value our teachers and we don't want anyone to go. But that is a possibility when you receive that pay slip. So what's the balance here? And I'm not saying you know not 259 or whatever

087the case may be. But what I'm hearing is there's a huge impact here. Could 9.99 get us over? If we give it a go and we have to vote and vote again, then do we do the 259 and our teachers hang in there with us knowing that there is that morale. I don't know. Sorry, it's my first year. I'm just trying to figure out uh what makes sense. >> Well, none of us have >> we have not been in this position either with a failed budget. It's not I don't think it's failed in anyone's memory. Correct. >> I think told me 30 years. >> Just want to make a comic. I think a lot of people and you guys did it at town meeting. Unfortunately, there was about 40 people in the audience for the

088school portion of town meeting. A lot of people don't understand the impact that the SD budget has on our budget. You know, there was comments on Facebook about the town's not going to crumble if you vote their budget down. Well, that doesn't really have the impact on our school, right? Because what we have to cut is such a big impact on our little school and our little school may crumble if we have to cut the $400,000, right? So, I know that we tried to push the handouts out and stuff like that, but I think my ask to the board would be to try to somehow come up with a better way to reach more past people to advocate the impact that the SU the lack of impact we have on the SU budget, right? That

089this is what it is and we can't make any changes. And if we have to continue making cuts, it's literally making cuts to inside our four walls. Because I know I've heard a lot of people be like, "Oh, I didn't realize that we have to pay for that or I didn't realize that we had no control over that or I didn't realize this." Like I just I think that that's a huge gap in our town of understanding how our budget works. I'll just say I think that we we actually did put forth quite an effort as a board in the last few weeks prior to this first election. Uh but yes, I I there was a huge disparity between I mean there's only 700 something voters to begin with of what 3,000 close to 3,000

090people at time. So, um, we did spend money and and put forth a pretty good effort standing outside in the cold and snow. Um, but you're right. I I wish that everybody here had some idea about how to get the word out better than we are now. We've been beating our heads against the desk for three years that I remember uh trying to educate uh people on this system, >> which we have. I mean, Larry's done >> he's done fantastic job um >> with the budget book and trying to educate people about assessment. Like the most people don't even know what the assessment is, you know, like what piece of the pie we pay and what why what makes it go up and down some years and some years were lower. And um you know,

091we've been trying the information is out there. people are just not accepting it or finding it um or accessing it. I mean, it's online. It's we pay ungodly amount for these books. Um people are just not reading it and they're not understanding the process because we have put it out there. I mean, since that was like our main initiative, like my first year on the board was putting poor Larry to work with all that. So, the information's out there. I just >> if everyone remembers, we were also dealt with a blow. Yeah. with some crazy rhetoric, you know, right before the election, uh, from the state all the way down through to our town, uh, which also, um, you know, made things a lot more difficult in the the last few days. Uh, we were

092also coupled with the town vote, which was a mess. Uh, and and, uh, I think a lot of people were were a no because of things maybe not. The other Yeah. The other piece, Jess, is um yes, we start the SU budget early. The SU board approves that budget. So, there's a lot of explanation about what goes into it and whether has representation. Um the biggest driver of specializ that um can probably speak better to it than I can, but she has to complete a service plan, which is taking every student in our supervisory union and looking at their needs. what's required in their IE and making sure that we have the staff on hand to meet those requirements. So, the way to reduce the Sing budget, which we talk about all the time, is

093looking at each IMP individually and and Jen's done a great job with putting some um protocols in place around how you are um assigned a one-on-one par educator and and a plan to fade that service um without um you know, connecting a student to a one-on-one forever. that's not good for the student. So recognizing those costs um as much as we would like to cut them by law we can't um the SU budget um in special ed went up considerably over the past couple of years and that is due to students who have moved into our district and and students who are needing care outside of our district in very expensive um different places. So yes, we do get some revenue back from the state on those students, but we pay price on what they

094do. >> It's hard. Um >> Oh, no. And I don't say that it's hard. And I'm not saying the SU needs to make cuts. I'm saying that our town's people I don't think realize that when we say we have to cut it, it's not we're not asking the SU to cut their budget. for asking our little town our little piece of the pie to get cut so significantly. So, >> um >> I just would reiterate what been said that we we tried. I mean, we were out there was a board member, one of us out there the entire day from voting day. I had two people often say something to me about the budget and asking questions about it. I was there for >> had their minds made up. Yeah. >> I mean, they were

095going to vote when they had their minds made up. I'm just saying like to get involved in Facebook interviewing with people is also a slippery slope. So, we try we put it out there. I mean, I know I posted several times about what what we can and what we can't cut. I don't know if we put we sent a mailer out. I I really don't know what else we do. Um Is there a way and and I have no idea what the legality is, but before we could we post to at least the school website listing what the actual cuts would be that we'll be we will be losing a full-time staff and we will, you know, when we're talking about 18 kids in kindergarten, but understand that's 18 kids in one classroom with no

096power. That is a very significant change to what your kids have been getting. And I'm a kindergarten teacher. There's no two ways about it. I know what it takes. And is there a way that we can list those things at least on the school website that we would be losing an SEI and not use the acronyms, you know, use plain language explaining, you know, what the impact is. Is that legal? Can we do that? >> I think you can, but um well, as far as the FBI goes, if you spell that out, I saw plenty of people post on Facebook that we shouldn't be funding that sort of thing. >> Yeah, I think that's that's what we're dealing with is people don't think that we should be funding these type of services, which half of

097them are statemandated or federally mandated. So, we don't have a choice. So, I mean, that's what we're dealing with is trying to convince those people that we have to do this regardless of the cost of what it is. And that's what we're faced with. >> Yeah. So, to answer Megan's question, uh, on the ballot language, to get it at 9.99, it would be instead of cutting $259,000 again on the active cutting threshold, it'd be $146,500 in cuts, which would be a year-over-year budget increase of 10.3% instead of the 11.95, which is voted down. It would be a estimated tax rate increase of 7.5% for the homestead instead of the 210.8 that was voted down. And the per pupil spending would be in the ballot $17,267.60 for a year-over-year increase of 9.99 as opposed to the

09813.24,00. >> So what are we looking at timelinewise? like say we put this out 9.99 9 um and >> I think you get one shot before the April 15th date. So we have one shot before the April 15th >> and whichever way you decide right to go with the excess bank the BC proposal for this or this you get 110% of that's what the board decided I think you have enough time to warn it once vote on it before April 15th and then if it if it passes great then we don't have to send those RIP bonuses if it doesn't pass then we'd have to send those bonuses >> but that means you have to pass a budget today >> I also want and say I've spoken with Fan just like >> John did and

099she was not confident at all with me that we could even get to that date because of us. >> We would have we would have to put this budget tonight, >> right? I'm saying even with that she, you know, she was not confident. We were talking about getting this done tonight. She was like, I don't think we can get the absentee ballots done, printed, mailed, >> you know. So, we did check in with our printer. We can get them printed. They can do their turnar around in one day for us with the printing >> and then we can get them mailed out. >> So, it's our responsibility to do a ballot, not the town, not the town office. >> The Yeah, our printer can do them for us. So, we would get that printed up.

100Um the cost is about $85 roughly to get a thousand ballots printed up and then we can have those mailed out by day. That would be tight. changed anybody's mind. I think people's minds are made up. Um, world affairs, state affairs, global affairs, grocery store, eggs, you name it. Voters were just upset with everything that's going on right now. Um, I don't 200 more people showed up this municipal vote than usual. Why? Because they're upset. Will the mailer have any effect whatsoever other than than uh spending a little bit more money? I just don't see it. >> No, we're not. I was talking about the >> We're not doing mailer again. >> That's okay. But we get we we could get them printed, done, ready to go, and they could be in the mail by

101Thursday. >> And that would be cutting in close Friday. Let's say we're >> I want to think of the logistics of actually holding the election. Our town clerk has to round up people to ban the polls for 11 hours. She puts in a 13-hour day. I don't know what's going on down the hall tonight. My guess is they're still shooting for their their third and fifth of May vote. I think it would really be unfair to all the volunteers that work in the polls in our town clerk to try to wound them up to have two to three votes within a couple weeks of each other. We need to know what they're doing down there. Really do. Have you had any feedback from teachers as far as how they feel about us not getting the

102>> not getting it done in time? >> Well, obviously nobody would be happy about it. I think the majority of our staff have enough faith in us that they would stick around. But I can't guarantee that because they have to be able to provide to their families and nobody likes it's not a good feeling. Even if you think you're going to have a job or you're, you know, almost guaranteed a job, it's just it's not a good feeling. >> I think there are two questions about that. my I just think that I think because of everything that happens with the town and things I caution both Not necessarily like a question. I just I think I just want to reframe. I don't think that people are voting no because they're upset. We are looking at

103increases to our school budget. We're looking at increases in the town. We're looking at a reassessment that is looming and the majority of people are not making as much like as much money that it's just not going as far. Like I wouldn't say that it is people that are wanting to say no to funding our local school. I think that you're in a state that has no control over health care costs. We have no control over things that are really causing significant issues until we sort of bring attention to those things. These are not local issues. I don't think anyone wanted to vote no to Weatherfield school. What we're looking at is people are legitimately not going to be able to afford to stay here. And I I don't think that anyone is mad. Like

104I don't think that people are intentionally doing that. I think people are just worried about being able to afford to stay here. >> So Megan, your proposal was 10.3% at 1465. What's the reduction that we take >> instead of did you >> I guess it's the 1465 that difference between the the 263 474 does that cover the FBI the custo$120,000. So you can have the teacher or if you kept the teacher, you don't you can't have much else. It's got about another 10,000. Um you keep the SEI risk the teacher position then you do have a bit more to play with probably the town. >> No idea. Budget committee is meeting tonight. The second order doesn't meet till Monday night. I think we should go first. >> I agree. >> I feel I have my

105own personal opinion. I feel like we need a separate ballot and we need to do it soon. >> So, we need a number today. Are we all in agreement? >> Yes. >> So, if I'm going to be moving things around, can you do a number not to exceed because I won't be able to get exactly 146,000, whatever. So, basically what we're looking at, Larry, is if we for our first and hopefully only shot, um, we're looking at staying with what Megan proposed at like the N Well, you said it was 10 point >> 9.9, right? The ballot. Um, >> so the number >> so the the total budget number for that happened would be 9,87,90. That would be $146,500 less than >> Can you say that number was defeated? I'm sorry. 9,87,90. 89807090. Um that's

106146,500 less than what was defeated. And my understanding is, if I understand the board, uh you would make a motion to approve that as a budget number. Brian would come up with the cuts to not exceed $9,87,90. And uh I would put that in the budget book and I would email you when it's updated. Since we're not printing new budget books, it's all online now. So, it's I could do it in short order. And I thought there was a larger >> I like for number. I mean neither scenario is I mean we're not any pets are not the best scenario. So um I mean I just I just think we know that it may not pass and then we have to go again but we could go two times and it still not be enough.

107So I just my personal opinion is we start a little smaller. I mean I like the threshold. I like what we get for our buck, but it is drastic on our school and I don't want to cut any of it. So, um, I say we talk about voting on his ones. >> Yeah. But um and then the timeline we're looking at like literally rolling this like this week >> meeting on the 11th November 14. >> Thank you, John. You say that again. >> Do we want to have theformational meeting again on the Saturday or do we want to try a different day? >> We have to have a formal if we finish the numbers tonight. We have signed the warrant or the the warning uh after the fact or we going to meet again sign

108the warning sign. >> Can we do anformational meeting like a night like this before night? >> Yeah, I think to move it but it doesn't have to be as extensive as for Saturday evening. Saturday special meeting got 24 hours notice. >> Can we do that? It has to be a formal meeting >> and it has to be warmed to agree on the voting official and Vince brought that up but she said that to us too. She's busy. We have to make sure that pictureable and you can find that out. >> I think it works. >> So voting. So we're have to ask but we're aiming for voting on April 14th. >> Five days after the 11th. >> They have to have theformational meeting uh in five days. You have to post it and then um

109you have to have a presentation meeting five days prior. >> We can have anformational meeting within seven days from today. >> Well, no sense. >> Or is it we don't know is this business days or not? I >> I looked it up. It says days. So calendar days it is. >> Okay. >> It doesn't it doesn't specify it in the law. So, um the warning has to be posted five days prior to the information meeting and um the warning has to be posted seven days prior to the vote the election. >> So, there has to be three days in between the two. >> Yeah. And and you want more. You want um >> for absentee ballots to go out, they need about 20 days. about that. >> What's the statutory requirement for getting the information

110out seven days before? You actually have a lot of towns don't even mail their town report. That is the information. So, do we have to do a mailing or we just do social? >> We have to do anformational meeting. You don't have to do a mail. >> But we have to do anformational meeting. >> So, we hold the meeting seven days before the vote as opposed to doing it the Saturday before. Well, we can >> you could >> you don't have to first have to have three days >> and that could requirement of presenting the information >> okay >> you I don't think you have to have three days in between we can do ourformational meeting on a Monday and then vote on a Tuesday correct >> you could not that Monday >> but >>

111you have you have not not one day before you have Monday >> yes so >> you don't have to vote on a Tuesday either it doesn't have to That's Saturday. Yeah, >> right. The warning has to be posted five days before theformational meeting and seven days. >> The warning be posted very soon. >> It could be posted on Friday. >> You need to require it well in advance. >> Okay. So, I think that BJ Christine whoever check with Lan, right? That seems to be the first point because she will determine when she can hold all of this official >> the election >> election and the information. She has to be at theformational meeting I'm assuming. >> Um >> or not really should be there. >> I thought you had to check. So datewise we holding

112like we have to wait for >> and that'll be in the war >> right >> and the information leaving date will be >> keep your email right >> we feel like we may be ready to vote >> well yes >> any more discussion I should say >> hi Sorry, this is Laura Skavinsky on the phone again. Could we clarify the amount? Is it Could you clarify the specific amount that you were voting to reduce the budget by? >> Yes, Laura, it's um 146,500. >> Okay. All right. I just wanted to confirm that. Thank you. >> Bring the ballot language to 9.99% increase. >> Yeah. I just um Okay. Thank you. >> I think maybe Okay. What I want to say actually that will bring it below the 10%. I am wondering if there's any value

113and Larry you can correct me if I'm wrong. If anything were to change um because I know that we do see the state does bring down differences that might affect this number. If our goal is to have the ballot language under 10% if there are small changes that affect that number I'm wondering if there's any value or if there's merit in voting. the board directed to be to bring our language down to a less than 10% decrease versus a specific dollar amount in case anything changes in the formula um between now and finalizing the budget. I don't know if there's value in that. >> Yeah, there there may be value in that uh from a PR standpoint, but the only thing that would affect from the state would be the homestead tax rate year-over-year difference

114increase. The budget for 26 is budget for 26. The year-over-year for 27 has nothing to do with the state, right? So, it would have if the yield changed tomorrow or the governor said, "I found an extra 100 million. We're going to throw it at the education fund." It would lower the tax homestead tax rate estimate because the yield would change, but it would not affect that by 27 budget year-over-year percentage increase, and it would not affect um necessarily the perable spending because the yield comes after people spending. on my uh on the budget book, if you look at the tax calculation worksheet, the yield comes after all the other stuff. >> Understood. I didn't know if there was any opportunity for the excess spending limit to change as well, but if there's not, then I

115don't I'm in support of the 146. Yes, >> theoretically the uh the legislature could decide to remove the excess spending threshold, but it looks like all you know all the tea leaves say that they're actually going to pass a 3% cap for 27 and 28. Uh that's at the set aside. >> Thank you, Larry. >> Thanks, Laura. And a shout out to Laura who joined BAC late. >> So if there's no more discussion on the budget, >> hi. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. Um, I'm Brianna Kabakus. I'm a third grade teacher at Weathersfield. And I just want to reiterate to the town that what if we vote this budget down, it not only affects the teachers in the building, it affects our students. Um, I've been in district two years and hearing

116that there's a position to be cut worries me. Um, it worries me. It makes me think of my family. Um, so I just want to reiterate to the town that, you know, we really need to be thinking about our kids in this situation. And the staff at Weathersfield does a phenomenal job supporting these kids. And I just want to really think about how we support these kids and the way that we can support them. And voting yes and supporting our school and supporting our teachers is a way to support our kids and keep our kids growing and doing what they need to do to be successful in the future. That's all I just want to say. >> Thank you. >> Hello. >> Hey Bob. >> Hello. >> Yes, we're here. >> Okay. Thank you. Um,

117so you know, the phrase PR was mentioned and I think that that's big here and I'm listening to this and I'm not really hearing from the dissenting voices that were so prominent and came out so strongly uh to vote against this budget. And so I think it's important to, you know, almost focus group this in front of people that that voted this down to to see what their perspective is before it back out to a vote. I haven't heard one person talk about, you know, this isn't enough or what they'd like to see cut. In fact, I think there was a fairly prominent member of the budget committee, uh, Dr. Murray, that I'm not sure if he's in the room there or not. Um, but he sat on the committee and then came out pretty

118strongly publicly against the budget. >> So, again, I just hope that, you know, optics is everything here. And I'm just I I don't know if you know I really think we first of all need need to be under that 10% just because optically it looks better. Um but again I I just think it needs to be focused group in front of people that that you know came out really strongly against it. And so, >> thank you. >> My I guess my question is when this goes public again in that next meeting, is there another is there an opportunity to amend the budget again or does it then have to go to a vote? >> No, we will go to a vote. Um, >> yeah. >> And then Bob, for clarification, Dr. Murray was on last

119year's BAC, not school this year. Just for clarification. >> Great. Thanks. Do I have a motion to approve the budget proposed budget um to go to the town for reoting at 9 million87 >> I don't have the right number what is it Larry thank you >> two things ago >> $9,870 879 $99 >> 9,87,90 have a second, but should we? >> Okay. Uh, all in favor say I. >> I. Yes. >> So Vincent abstains and the rest. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. You're going to do that. >> Tomorrow, >> right? >> Okay. >> And that will be >> all of us. >> Yeah. >> Well, actually actually that is We also need to moderator make sure he's available on the date. Yeah. >> Yes. and make sure >> coordinate with

120you as far as your availability. >> Okay. >> Um so our schedule our meeting will be on later. We'll figure that out. >> Okay, moving on um to the agenda. The update on redistricting. Redistricting right after that. Um and discussions. >> I can give you a little update. Vinc, >> but some of the most recently u proposed maps show us already. So we'll stop joining the rest of instead of being that maybe why not >> are we going to end the pursuit then as in Brian I know you're playing phone tag. where no longer >> I mean >> I would say if they reach out then yes but I would pursue it. >> Okay. I got that. >> Okay. Christine tell us just a little bit. Um so crossover is uh happening. um bills go

121to the other house. X73 is um does not have to cross over. There's an extended timeline on it. Um couple maps have been proposed. One is the Conland map proposes a shift to 27 large regional districts. The Bongard's map proposed the hybrid of 11 supervisory unions as using 45 districts plus 12 stands. Um, so there's just a lot of um concerns about all all this being presented and I thought Elizabeth Burl shared at a meeting last week that there is no bill coming out of the house to also work um around a map. So, um, just a lot of unknowns still. Uh, so that the concerns raised in testimony on these maps included limited cost efficiencies, the maintenance of Vermont's current fragmented governance structure, and a continued reliance on independent schools without providing appropriate guardrails

122around the same role of concern. So, um, there's there's a lot more to act 73 funding formula, etc., But at this point, a lot of progress hasn't been made in terms of the John. >> Correct me if I'm wrong. Way the way I saw it, obviously the Senate and the House lead and committee have leadership have really different ideas. >> Yes. And that's a lot of common that's a major hurdle to cover common ground. But the Senate burden, our district will probably survive. The House burden, it will not. Same thing with with school choice. But until it said and done, >> nobody knows. >> No need of speculating, no need of ringing hands. >> Yeah. Yes. >> One thing that's interesting about the Senate map from Weathersale standpoint is it would combine like districts across

123the state that are part of the same. For example, in our situation, uh Harland Weathersville, there are two K8s. They would merge >> as one district >> as part of a bigger SU not SU a much bigger >> of K8s. >> Yeah. So could be continued. Okay. Thank you. Um, next is boarding board engagement check-in, which I know we've all been doing. Um, I went to the Singo. It was fun. A lot more show up. It was there was relatively well attended, but uh I think there were still plenty of empty seats and it's really fun time. So, next time you see it advertised, I recommend it. >> My boys love that. really great event. So, thank you everyone who put work into that. I know it's probably a ton of work. Um, >> uh,

124the crosswalk update, any update? >> Uh, I spoke with um, Otis Elms at Regional Planning. He's their transportation guy. connect with Brians and I'll connect with them again this coming week and we're going to have a meeting with Brian's I'm not optimistic they already were saying you can't do it because X Y and Z and they had their criteria >> right >> okay thanks John and John for the LED update >> well this is embarrassing after so you know you propose motion printing and I don't have it. You got it on your phone? >> Yeah, sure. >> Please read it. >> BJ helped me out printing but it wasn't what I needed. Proposed motion for LED lighting project sum not to exceed $42,78269 be made available from the capital approved reserve fund. The amount of

125$15,22942 to be reimbursed to the fund efficiency set upon completion of the project. authorized the facility maintenance director to sign the efficiency gran. Um there's an explanation incentive is $4,35327 less than the boom quote. >> Okay. The boom includes 30 new fixtures with battery back that will be used primarily in the corridors. Efficiency of Vermont contributed $35 of the $143 cost of the fixtures. There also is money's upgrade required emergency lighting in the NP room and gym. >> AP room. The balance difference is summer labor. Sooner we complete the project, the sooner we see reduced electric bill and the sooner we receive the incentive monies. Efficiency Vermont is projecting a $5,000 savings on our electric bill. Uh this these are John words, but I'm convinced this is a very conservative number. The payback of the

126actual cost should be no more than three years. We also will be avoiding a substantial future cost of replacing 20-year-old emergency lighting battery. >> Thank you for bailing me out. >> Is that something that we need to discuss and vote on? Are you looking for us to decide? >> Yes. That way we get this thing moving at the Senate. More prices increase again on Ontario. >> I'll make the motion. to approve the sum not to exceed $42,78269 be made available from the capital improvement reserve fund the amount of $15,2942 to be reimbured to the fund from the efficiency months incentive >> any discussion we have a timeline like why is there a push there like we're going to lose incentive or like what's the in Woodbury wants to start doing bulbs. If you look around

127the building, it's pretty bad. There's the bulbs out all over the place and we want to be able to get uh high school help before they've alreadyed some someplace else. Um and the goal is get project done this summer so we can get the incentives possible. >> The incentives expire, right? So there technically isn't a time other summer labor. Now what would we be paying >> for labor or if >> I don't you mean per hour? >> Yeah. >> The number I thought was probably about 16 an hour and if you pay minimal wage you may not pick anybody up. Pardon me. >> Is that labor included in the 42,000? >> Yes. And then there's miscellaneous stuff like the permit, state permit like that. >> And the soon and what you're saying here is the

128sooner we do it, sooner we can start saving the $5,000. >> So 46 out reimburse 15. >> 42,782 will be reimbured 15. So it's 32,000 and and I spoke with Larry about it because somehow we got to look at and this hasn't really been the discussion has been completed but as the electricity bill goes down there may be a a mechanism we can use to reimburse the capital fund uh so we don't that's a nice next thing to have because you never know when there's going to be a major event and I think we should make every attempt to keep that fully funded. >> Now, the savings of $5,000 is that for >> year that's long per year. >> I just want to go on record and say even though I support energy efficiency, our

129uh capital reserve fund is for emergencies. This this is not currently an emergency. >> Correct. Uh, so optic wise, we're going to pull out, you know, it's going to cost us $28,000 out of this fund that we didn't want to touch an hour ago uh to put lights in that we don't need currently today to say $5,000 is going to take us five years to get. That's you guys. that there again. I think I just see it. So, how much is labor of the 42 >> 42? So, like we reink. So, I'm on I do think you're going to have to replace it. So, I like the idea of what you're saying. Um, it's that that 22 number is a steep of that. >> And and keep in mind, I brought this up before that

130we did check all the emergency lights and I was astounded they all worked, but they're all 18 18 to 20 years old and they're going to have to be taken out soon anyway. That would turn into an emergency and it's going to cost more than what this total amount is. Um, can we get some kind of I mean, so you said you'd look into some mechanism to put the savings back into the capital reserve fund. How soon would you be able to let us know if you find a mechanism like that for >> Well, it would be it'd be less money than you're spending on electricity. >> Yeah. So, I mean, so can we automatically just have that money go into >> the money that you're not spending on electricity? >> Yeah. How would I

131have it? You're not spending. You're saving money. Basically, what you're doing is saving money. It's more efficient. Uh I will just say, you know, the capital reserve fund is not just for emergencies. It's also for >> Yeah. He used it for the general. >> Yeah. It's Yeah. It's not it's not always Yeah. Jim um capital improvements, capital reserve stuff that's on the general fund. >> It needs to be used for capital purposes. That's what the voter set it up. else what happens to the capital reserve fund if one of these mergers are >> so uh when mount Windsor and West Windsor merged and Windsor had a much larger capital reserve fund than West Windsor it's now it's now mounty's capital reserve fund balance so for example if uh if the only mergers that happened districts

132in weatherfield then you would have a merge capital reserve fund all the money would be coingled That's how it work. >> Which means that's why we did the boiler a couple months ago. >> Yeah, I like the is there any how long would it take? Question was labor is currently working on it. I volunteered to work the summer on it with no cost. Um the only labor outside labor >> my opinion is let's pass the budget and then go back to this budget on it. If we waited until next month, >> if we waited until next month once we get through this is that >> I can't guarantee that the prices will be held and we also by that time get and I know that Brian wants to start working on mainly because so many

133lamps that are out. >> I'm not going to speculate on the fact >> that's fair. It represents the cost had that in the budget. The capital account had 2.95 and change, right? Correct. >> Sounds like there's probably not a way to put money back into it from the savings unless we said, "Look, we're going to spend 5,000 on electricity." >> Oh, there's rebates. Right. >> So that 15,000 back. >> It could. Sure. It's rebate. Is it just be a revenue source because the capital reserve just like when you put money in after year? >> We'll we'll have to we'll have to like build put it back in. >> Yeah. And then the 5,000 or more a month would obviously come off of our line. Our >> lower Yes. It would lower your education which lower

134your education cost. >> We have a motion on a motion. >> We still Yeah, we still have a motion. Um, any more discussion? Right. Um, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. >> John, you'll keep us updated. Okay. >> Make sure that we don't just And obviously you're at the mercy of the state for how long that takes. >> Yeah. >> By the way, another benefit of using the C reserve fund is unlike the general fund, it can cross the school year. So if the state is late and they don't get anything back until October, that means nothing to the C reserve fund. It's just fun. The general fund has to be closed out every June 30th. >> Right. Okay. Um next is the audit from Larry or the audit

135process that we um asked about. >> Yeah. So um we have contracted with RHR Smith which many schools use for the last several years. I want to say at least 10 years. Um they do good work. uh they um there's very few audit firms uh in Vermont, such a small state, that um I don't want to say they corner the market. There are others, but they're the ones that we've been using. Uh we um we go through a very rigorous process. Uh I got a lot of phone calls and emails when the issue across the river happened and it was all over the newspaper. Um and uh I was able to say, "Yeah, just go on the website and all of our audits are there." going back I think to fiscal year 23 I think

136everything else is in my office and at BSU if you want to see an audit from fiscal year 19 or 16 or fiscal year 10 it's all there and uh it's a very rigorous process we upload all our invoices and scan all our invoices uh they look through everything and remember um one of the craziness of the Byzantine Vermont uh governance structure is that I do four audits a year so what was happening across the river was And we have four audits. We have H Heartland, Madison, Weathersfield, and ESU. Um, and uh, ESU is um, even more involved because we take in over $750,000 in federal money with title and food services. So, they really go through uh, fine tooth comb. Uh, they're required to do that and they're um, authorized to do that on

137behalf of the federal government. So, uh, it's a various process. Everything is there online. Um we have had no findings in any of our audits. Uh I think going back to fiscal year 20 and I started in this role in fiscal year 22. Uh we've had comments. So comments uh if they become multiple times they become a binding. Um and uh so most of the comments have been around um uh the student activities fund at multiple schools not just Weatherfield School. uh multiple schools uh they don't uh as you can tell as you can imagine from an audit process when there's a lot of money changing hands they don't have a normal PO process like everything we do at the SU has to go through a PO process um the audits are pretty clean and

138at the student activities fund um while they do good work and it's necessary um that's where the auditors look that include services um less so lately because in Vermont uh we don't charge kids anymore so there's less cash floating around which is obviously a a red flag for auditors. Um so we've had no findings. Our comments have been very minor. Um as we get things uh we report them back up to the board. If you remember a year ago about the student activities fund uh at Weathersfield and we made some minor changes there. Uh the only other finding that was not student activities sorry finding comment uh that was not student activities was um journal entries. So every time we have to fix something in the software uh our controller goes in and does that

139and uh now they require the auditors have asked me which I've done to sign off physically just like John signs all the warrants I sign off on all our journal entries. Um we also have really strict controls in place which so our audits are pretty uh easy on the auditors. So, for example, uh I sign, you know, all the paychecks, but um but the principles do the hiring, right? Uh I approve all the POSs, but I don't create POS. Um I approve the POS, but I don't cut checks for the vendors. I can't create a vendor in the system. Um you know, so I can't create a vendor called Larry's Painting Business and and and then have Gail cut me a check. So, uh there's controls in place. Uh and our auditors really like that.

140Um it means uh you know it's um it may be uh I'm more hard on the uh married to a kindergarten teacher you know when they want to order something they want to order it right then and I get that but we have a process that we go through and uh it takes a little longer but it's because of those controls uh because the principal approves the bo and then I approve the bo and then the money gets uh ordered then it gets ordered then it comes in. So, we have a a great business office staff. Um, and I really want to point out that a lot of the work for the auditing process, which is very intense. Um, they come down and they set up shop in the SU conference room for four days

141straight and they have cleansers boxes and they go through everything and they're constantly, and by the way, in the Windsor House, it's it's convenient because they're in the office right next door to mine. So they they're constantly coming to my office asking for receipts, asking for invoices, asking for who approved this, where's this, and uh the minutes for the board meeting where they approved to take money out of capital reserve fund. We have to provide that to the auditors. And uh Diana Croll, our controller, does a fantastic job and I know um many of the teachers uh wouldn't know her and many of the support staff wouldn't know her and the board members may not know her other than by name, but she does a great job. uh she's an excellent accountant and uh make

142sure that our audits are really clean and everything gets expended the right way. We are dealing with taxpayer dollars and especially as I started with what happened across the river and all the concerns uh at local school districts and how the money was being spent. I think it's really important that when uh we account and that's really what accounting is. accounting for all the money that is being spent and uh Deiana can tell you right down to the penny at any given day where we are and she handles our cash flow. Um so I really want to make sure we give her a shout out because um I think uh a good portion of the audit and every time the auditors leave our office and they pack up and they come and shake my hand,

143they tell me what the findings were. Uh they're just so happy to work with Diana. She gives them everything they need and um it makes their life a lot easier which helps us in the report which helps the taxpayers. >> Great. Thank you. Larry, do you have any question? >> Yeah. How many years have we used the auditor? >> At le I could look back but I think at least 10. We used Angelino when Ed first started for about five or seven years and we switched to RHR. I want to say 10 years ago but don't hold me to it. Yeah. >> The only reason I mentioned it is I know the town every about five or six years would change auditors and they would just your work is different but they would find something

144different that that quite often it would show up on on the findings. >> Yeah. But it's not encourage you to change. >> Yeah. No, one good thing about using a consistent auditor is that um not only do they get to know our processes and our people and that saves a lot of time, then also um I can use them as a resource, which I do throughout the year. If uh if we get a question about something that um uh there's many questions that come up throughout the school year that uh we want to uh satisfy teachers or principles and make sure that they can spend the money that the school board approved the budget and the people approve the budget but there might be a little uh a different uh credit card receipt for example

145stuff like that. Uh I've always been able to go right back to the auditors and say hey just a heads up this is what we're doing. Does this sound right to you? Can I do this? and they're they're really responsive and uh because they know our layout and that we're an SU with different districts, it really um you know, they're able to get right back to me and help me out with any questions I have. >> Any other questions for >> Thank you, Larry. Let's see. Um, I guess we're at setting the next agenda. Um, before we do that, um, I think we should also discuss how we're going to sell our new budget and that engagement process moving forward the next couple weeks. I mean, I know we don't have specific dates yet until

146the next couple days, but um, we should probably discuss that as a board about work we have to do. Um, I would just ask people that are involved in Facebook and that are online if you can, you know, let people know that the next, you know, what the next round of cuts means. um to our small school and just ask them to please pass this budget because the next round I'm not sure what exactly Brian's going to work out that from that he is going to end up cutting and maybe sign that out relatively soon but um just so that we can get it out there that hey if we don't pass this maybe we don't have athletics or we have to make a big bunch of athletics or whatever and that's And then are

147we going to do like school type stuff or both stuff? >> All of it till there's six. >> So yeah. So I guess >> so yeah sign up sheet. Yeah, we can do a signup sheet again and unless anybody's got any fresh ideas, but um I I can post to the Villages of Weathersfield page just factual information. Um they no longer they don't want to have political conversations started up, which I 100% agree. I mean that page very nasty prior to the voting. Um, so I can post whatever you end up whatever ends up being what we're going to make, what we do, post that on that page. Um, and people want to share it on the political page, they they can share it there, but can't be turn the news as well that you

148think. >> Any other ideas, >> Laura? Is it possible that the school board reach out to some of the more outspoken members of our community, more influential members of our community, and ask for an audience with those members to discuss what cuts we've made and why we've made what we did and how it's going to affect the school in general. >> An invitation to ourformational meeting or that >> like a specific specific I mean, my hope is that they always attend attend that, but >> we're working on the dates tomorrow for the meetings, right? Um, you have a board meeting April 7th. I think it might make sense to combine your board meeting with yourformational meeting. That makes sense. >> That's doable for I mean I know you're all available that night. >> Yeah, that's

149a great idea. >> We would do it. We would do a short board meeting. There's not much on the agenda. Just >> so the seventh is the first Tuesday. >> But that's great. >> I don't know anyone else here, but I think we'd like it on the seventh. Tuesday. >> Yeah. >> Are you available now, Christine? It's the first Tuesday. I wonder why we have mistake. Um, April, what date are we talking about? 7th. >> We could have the board meeting on the seventh. >> If you're >> I can I can make it. Yeah. >> So, we would do our board meeting andformational meetings on the first Tuesday of the month instead. that would get us ahead of >> all that follows. >> So, we'll set the next meeting for April 7th. Will we do

150a 6:30 time or should we do earlier with information on like six or >> six? Six. I mean, what are we thinking? Like a half an hour of our meeting and thenformational or will we do it first? >> 6 to 7 and then we start at 7. >> Oh, we could do that. >> Okay, let's do that. So, 6:00 pm to 7 p.m. would be theformational meeting and then people can leave if they want and then we'll do our normal board meeting. following. Yep. Anything else on to put on the agenda? Obviously this the um kind of the update with where we're at, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we have quarterly financials April and um let's see administrative report and items for discussion. We continue that board engagement check in the draft agenda prior to

151the meeting and there's any other items that you want on there. >> Okay. Does any want to have anything else that they >> can I just say thank you for all your work but can I just say that this is my first meeting I attended a battle I started attending schoolboard meetings because I like slot board meetings but I don't know much is in the budget for technology but everyone you need to speak that way it was seriously like the last three hours or however many hour living sitting here it was like you guys were talking to each other. I have a headache from straining to listen to hear what was being said. So, um I know the two of you passed the mic back and forth, which is great, but everybody that talks really

152needs to talk into a mic. >> We're not typically in this room either, >> right? Yeah. >> Well, if you have so much participation because people are aware of what's happening in town and they're right now having this room. >> What is happening? Yeah, we we'll definitely um make sure that people can hear us. >> Maybe the first thing to say is can everybody hear us? >> Right. >> Well, then you kind of drown out talking to or you I mean I don't want to be critical. I'm sorry, but I I hear like every other word. I don't know how the people online could hear, but that's just my own. >> Christian, I >> totally agree. But usually school boards aren't this well attended. >> Correct. >> So I think this is >> right. Um

153so uh if we're in the other room it's a little easier but I agree it was hard to hear um around but I think for this space uh it's >> yeah noted. We will make sure anything else right I'll take a motion to adjourn the meeting. in >> favor. >> Thank you.