SVUESD Board Meeting - January 13, 2026

001Folks, it's 5:30. That's right. So, folks, uh, it's 5:30. We're just going to call the meeting to order, please. >> Give me one second. >> You bet. >> All right. Great. Um, Director Gordon Walcett, >> is everyone else? Perfect. Thank you. Uh so welcome folks. It's January the 13th, the regular meeting of the SBU ESD board of directors. My name is Chris Murphy and uh our posted agenda has been circulated. And our first item, sorry I thought I heard the phone. Our first item on the agenda is the pledge of allegiance. So I would invite anyone who cares to rise pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to theublic for which it stands. >> One nation under God. It doesn't >> justice fur. >> The second agenda item is public

002comments. Um just there was some conversation and there has been some convers regarding public comments. Um should it be during before each agenda item? Should it be just in the beginning? Um so just to let folks know how public comment is run at this board level. Public comment is a single agenda item but it's open for anything. Uh public comment as noted on the agenda is a time to address anything that's on the posted agenda. It's also any a time for anyone in the community to bring anything to the board's attention whatsoever. Um it's not a question and answer period. So please don't perceive the board's silence in response to any questions as being intentionally rude. It's just it's not the purpose of public comments. Uh but again, anything you want to talk about, now

003is the opportunity to talk about it. So, uh, I would ask that if you have something to share for public comment, please, uh, be recognized by the board, give us your name, tell us town in which you live. Would also note that because we have budget stuff that we would should really get through tonight. I'll first begin by saying, is there anyone who has never spoken at one of these board meetings who would like to say something? We'll give it first to the folks who have never spoken. Seeing none, for anyone who who has shared something and if you're sharing essentially the same point of view that you've shared at earlier meetings, I would ask let's keep this brief so we could then transition into the budget discussion which is really going to drive most

004of our agenda tonight. So, anyone else like to participate in public comments? >> Hi, Kelly Carroll Bennington and I will do you a favor and keep it brief. >> Thank you. >> So, good evening. Um, I'd like to go on the record tonight that to note that State Representative Mary Morrisy delivered a petition with over 300 signatures from local residents asking the SVSU board to add a discussion about the pledge of allegiance to the agenda. That petition followed all proper procedures. It was submitted in good faith by community members who care deeply about civic education and respect in our schools. and yet it has not appeared on any agenda where the public is allowed to comment. So I'm asking that this be acknowledged here during public comment that there at least is a record that

005the 300 person signature was submitted and basically ignored. And at a previous meeting the chair stated that this issue should be handled quote at the state level. I'd like to respectfully ask knowing that you're not going to answer, but what has the chair or this board actually done to move it forward to the state level? Have you written to the agency of education? Have you proposed anything to our state representatives? Because from the outside, it looks like nothing has been done and meanwhile families and teachers are being dismissed for even raising the issue locally. At the same time, the SVSU board is asking the public to complete an act 73 survey and provide the feedback, provide feedback on the future of education in our district. That's an important initiative, but it raises a fair question.

006Why should the public take the time to engage in surveys if their voices are ignored on issues like this one? Public trust is a two-way street. If you're asking families, teachers, and voters to participate in planning the district's future, that engagement must be respected, whether it comes through a survey, a petition, or standing here tonight. So, respectfully, we are not going away and the public deserves to be heard. So, thank you. And here is a copy of my comments and the 300 signatures so that you just know on the record it has been submitted. Thank you very much. Thank you, Kelly. Clark Adams Fittington. One of the things I'm would like to have published, I could discuss it, is a mechanism for the public to actually be able to interact with the board with their

007concerns. Uh whether it be the requirement we send in a letter or some sort of documentation that you would like to have this discussion and that the board respond to that circumstance. as it is. Now, it seems to me, yes, you can come here and speak during public comment, but there will be no discussion or the idea of an agenda item, having discussions during that or even having an item created an agenda item. I'd like some sort of policy or mechanism be published so that individuals can sit down and read the requirements to comply with it so they may be able to be heard and speak with the board on subjects of concern whether regardless any subject that concerns the public. I think the public should have a mechanism to address the board with back

008and forth on their concerns. Thank you. >> No one else. >> Hi. um Sarah Beth Ward from Bennington and I've been following the discussions about the pledge of allegiance and I wasn't able to make the last meeting um but I did watch it on CAT TV like the next day and I did write an email to you I think the day that day or the next day I never got a response so I would just like to read it in public what I wrote to you. Um, I've been following the discussions about the saying of the pledge of allegiance at our elementary schools. While I was unable to attend the last meeting, I did watch it on CAT TV. I was appalled at your statement about the teachers that want to say the pledge after

009the bell rings. You stated that it shows a lack of time management skills. As the mother of of an elementary school teacher who has dedicated her life to shaping the minds of this generation of students, I found your words and tone to be very dismissive. I would bet that you have not spent any time inside of a classroom. I think you need to trust the teachers as they know what is best for the students and how to manage their classrooms. Teachers have a hard enough time without you trying to micromanage them. Let that Let's try to keep the good teachers in the district. Everyone will benefit if we all work together. I agree with Mike Gardner that you don't do owe teachers an apology >> from Arlington, Vermont like permission to speak since I'm from

010Arlington. Sure. >> Thank you. So, at the last meeting, the board chair shared a fabricated narrative explaining his perspective on how we got to this point. And tonight, I would like to share my firsthand account of what actually happened. The board chair stated that in September of 2024, there was a request for an accommodation for a student to not be present during the recitation of the pledge of allegiance. This is not true. In September of 2024, I received an email from a parent. >> Just kidding. I'm going to stop because when the board chair made it made a statement, it did not identify the classroom that was happening. It did not identify anything. I believe what you're about to do is identify your classroom as the source of this. And I that cannot happen because

011we cannot be providing information that may allow any member of the public to identify a potential family or potential child. >> Well, there's no identifying information. If it's going to be a vector classroom, I would say that that's close enough. And so if you can adapt your statement to however you may need to do it to not reflect if it happened in your classroom, that would be my request, which for the board members is a longstanding practice, which is why we don't pull out aggregated data regarding student behavior, about special education, about anything for the fear that members of the public may be able to identify specific children. However, K. You are not being honest public. >> Thank you for the summary. >> There are many many many um I can share this with anybody

012after if they'd like. Um, >> I would ask you to be cautious not to share anything with the public about students in your classroom. >> I'm not sharing anything about students. I am a professional >> and these people were out in public talking about it. >> So, I've kept my mouth closed. I'm going to continue to speak. Thank you. Um, you have continually lied and not been honest with the public. You have backpedalled And let's see. You claim every child has the opportunity to say the pledge daily, but they don't. Four of my students arrive on the late bus. They frequently arrive after 8:30 a.m. Some mornings they don't show up until after 8:35 a.m. And that's not their fault. It's almost onethird of my class. One-third of my class that wants to say the

013pledge of allegiance with their classmates. and you are keeping that from them. So many things have happened since this all have started, but what I find most alarming is your dishonesty and your willingness to silence people with opinions that are different than yours. Mrs. Clark invited you to her classroom to see how organized she is and how well she manages her time. And I invite you to do the same to mine in my classroom. Do I think this Do I think you'll do this? No. Yet you so confidently told the public something untrue about me. Another lie of yours. You do not know me, board chair. You do not have the right to tell the public I am something I am not. Thank you for your time. >> Hi, I'm Miss Clark Elementary School. Uh,

014the definition of banned is forbidden or not allowed. This word was used by me when my administrator pulled me out of class during the school day and informed me that I was no longer allowed to say the pledge of allegiance at school. Still today, 16 months later, the pledge of allegiance is still banned during the school day at Shastra Elementary School. On a daily basis, the staff at Shasper Elementary School receive an email to our administration stating, "We need to say the pledge of allegiance by 8:25 a.m. This is before our school day even starts and also before all the school buses arrive and students arrive." As it stands right now, the directive from the board is to allow all students to say the pledge of allegiance if they choose, but this cannot happen when

015it is also expected before classes begin. Even the most organized teacher is not able to follow through with both of these directives. It is impossible. Not all students are in the classroom by 8:25 because school doesn't even begin until 8:30. Our administrator is not being flexible with the wording of this directive like all other administrators are. And this is why the saying of the pledge of allegiance has been such an issue in Shaspberry, but not in any other the schools in the district. This is why the discussion of the pledge of allegiance needs to be put back on the agenda and discussed so that the directive can be changed to not during instructional time. This change will give all students the opportunity to say the pledge of allegiance if they choose to because as of

016now not all students are allowed to if they are unable to get to school too early. >> Anyone else for public comments? >> Thank I live in Shbury. Um, I just I'm going to repeat what I've said before. It uh in support of the directive, which I think uh took a lot of discussion and a lot of work on the board's part. And I just want to make two points. Um I think the directive allows for kids and staff to be able to opt in uh to an opportunity which always feels like a more positive and workable model when we ask kids and staff to opt out. And I think that's um for me a really uh important piece about why the directive can um put can work. Um I think there may be issues

017with implementation which I think is a whole different issue that we might want to look at. Um I also want to share that just an overall thing. This is a public educational system open to all where we don't all have the same vision and values and that's both a beautiful thing and a huge challenge as clearly demonstrated. um this school system belongs to all of us. It's not my school, it's not your school, it's our school. And really together we have to find the middle ground where we can have a workable enough solution and and can also move on to the other important aspects of school issues which is critical. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else for public comments? Director Gordon, are you able to see if anyone online is raising their hand? And I

018will say anyone online who would like to please use the little hand wavy uh option. >> I do have everybody that is present displayed so you would be able to see it if anybody does raise their hand. >> Anyone before we close public comments? >> Thank you very much everyone. So uh moving on to the tit >> I'd like to make a motion that we put this issue on our agenda next month. So next month uh right now as the chair as the person will be crafting that that agenda the answer is no >> and why not >> for all the reasons that we've talked about at nauseium >> again >> people have come in several times >> yes >> and I feel that we're ignoring them >> so >> and I feel we should

019we should hear them out and we refer them but I I feel it's this board's responsibility to answer Okay, thank you for that perspective, Sydney. Moving on to our next agenda item, which is the consent agenda. Yeah, Brent. Hi. >> I I was I'm a representative for Shaspbury and uh you know that like I said, this is all new to me, stuff like that, but I just really feel that we we're kind of doing a little disservice here. I I just think that and I've read all of your emails every day. I get it. But there can be some tweaking of the wording. I mean, I can't believe that 16 months later, we're still talking about the pledge of allegiance. >> I agree. I also >> 16 months, >> but since it's not on the

020posted agenda, we ought not to be talking about it as a board. >> But you won't put it on the >> That's right. So, moving on to the next agenda item, which is our consent agenda. >> United States. >> Is this still the United States? >> Not. >> That's my question. >> So, on the posted agenda, we have the minutes from last month. We have three notices of retirements. We have one nomination form and one field trip form. Um so we'll begin with a conversation of the minutes. Please are there any uh suggested modifications or alterations to those minutes from December 9th? >> Okay. Hearing none. Uh any questions about the rest of the consent agenda? >> Yes, we're waiting for information on the going to come back to us this month. >> Okay. And

021and it remind me please, Sandy, what's filter information we're waiting for? the uh details on the staff key waitings the safety method key waiting that we I couldn't find on the website that I I feel that they should have them. I hope that they do have them but I don't know that they have. So we had asked to have that looked into and verified share that with us this month. >> So forgive me for for over overlooking it before. Are there specific questions you have about the safety protocols at Kiwen? >> Uh yes, >> she brought them up in the latest session. >> Yeah. And I apologize, but if you if you could please remind me of those >> now, then it's okay. We can move forward without approving this and if there is someone

022that is familiar with it, perhaps they could be here. >> Maybe the superintendent is. I don't want to presume he doesn't know the answers and I and I I apologize for not having that addressed here. I can follow up. >> Okay. Thanks. Thank you. >> And those were specifically noted at the last meeting operations. >> Crystal has her hand up. There's been nice. >> Oh, Crystal. Hi. Okay. I didn't realize you were with us. >> Crystal. >> Hi there, everybody. Um, I was just hoping that I could rehear what was said just because I didn't catch that. It kind of like the sound went out a little bit for me. >> W with regard to the key and field trip requests. >> Yeah. Um, so there there are questions regarding Sandy, I'll let you I'll

023let you phrase it. >> Yeah. So, the last month when it came up, there were a few questions that were unanswered and unfortunately there wasn't someone here to be able to help us and give us those answers. Simple questions, uh, safety protocols, um, have all the people, has the staff at Key Waiting, have they all been background checked? because they will be with our I believe I'm not positive but I believe they'll be with our students one-on-one and we know that our staff is um has these safety protocols and I just wanted that uh assurance that we that our students are going to be in good hands. >> So background checks I I get I know what that means. Can you can you please be more specific about safety protocols in general? Like what like

024we talking about like fire drill stuff? we talking about. See, >> it could be if I I don't know enough about it and I couldn't see enough on the website to help me answer those questions. And so I was hoping that um they would be answered. >> Okay. >> And I was also hoping that at some point um way back in the day when we first allowed our kids to attend Key Waiting that we would uh had some kind of slideshow or something to share with us what this program is. Mhm. >> Um, and again, I want to make sure that answers to the questions are right. So, potentially potentially fire bill stuff, potentially like water safety. I I I'm not I'm not trying to be difficult. I just want to understand >> background check

025that I understand. >> That is the that is the key piece. You know, what what are they what kind of background checks? >> Sure. >> What safety protocols do they have? Are they in the water? >> So, Sandy So, Sandy, just to clarify because I want to make sure that I'm hearing you correctly. You want to you just want to know what kind of background checks are being performed on people who are attending these trips that are not part of the school district. >> No, no, no, no. Who are working for keyway? >> I feel quite confident that our SU is very good about the background checks and I feel that they take care of people that we're sending. I just don't know about the staff that's there because there is nothing on the website

026to help me. >> And so safety protocol specific to staff. >> Yes. >> Okay. Not like all the other things that can necessarily fall in the under the umbrella of safety at a program. >> No. >> Okay. Just background. Okay. Thank you. I see Payne, you'll you take a note of that. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. Would you like me to follow up with the individual member or send something to the entire board? >> Why don't you send this on the entire board, please? >> Okay. Um Okay. So let's let us again table Kiwen um with that. So I would I would uh entertain a motion please to accept the consent agenda as published with item number six the field trip team. >> I did have a question about the nom speech

027and this has been something that we had asked as a board. Um I know that there's a pending um endorsement and a current endorsement. So, if the grade level is in that endorsement of the early childhood, then it it wouldn't matter. But because it says pending, I'm just hoping that there is some type of endorsement license for the teacher. >> So, it's it's my understanding the the state board of ed has all the authority it needs to to to both issue the licenses as well as the pending lensure. >> This is not a provisional. This is not a provisional. This is that third that odd third category that we had explained to us two or three meetings ago there lenture there's provisional then there's like something fluffier than that. Um so that it's my understanding

028that that this particular person falls under that third category that sort of I won't call catch all because maybe that's not accurate but like I think we at least I understood I know what license means I know what provisional lensure means then there's that other category and I think that's what this is >> so it's on its way. >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Great. Um, so does anyone care to make that that motion regarding the consent agenda? >> So moved. Thank you, Glenn. Do we have a second on that? >> A second. >> First and a second. >> Thank you, Crystal. Uh, we'll give it to Sandy, but thank you. Um, so any further discussion on the consent agenda as published with the understanding that we're tableing agenda item six. >> Okay. All

029those in favor of cons of approving the consent agenda as discussed, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? And it carries. Thank you very much. So, agenda item number four, finance, the the FY27 budget update. So, we will turn it over to Director Gordon for this, please. >> Good evening. The waiting room has been active, Mr. Payne, just so >> my apologies. >> Um, so I'm just going to share my screen. And there are a few copies um on the corner of the table here that are just the first five pages of the budget document that was posted online. Um but what I'm going to share with you tonight is uh kind of an abbreviated way, hopefully something that's a little bit easier to uh to digest than all of

030the vast amount of numbers that are on this documents being circulated. is >> um draft this is draft three of uh this budget. Um the last meeting uh we were at a 3% increase. Um there was a a comment like yeah see what you can do if we can get closer to level funding. So we are at a a 1.1% increase right now. I'll go into a little bit more detail, but um one of the factors is uh what we have budgeted for potential um salary increases through negotiations. So that's been tightened up a bit. Um and then we do have some changes to FTEES. So um what we have I I'll go through what's what's in versus what's out. So there were several asks that we had on the last draft. um many of

031which were coming about because of the title one school improvement grant that's ending June 30th of 26. We have received notification from the agency that they're going to allow carryover funds into FY27 and what those projected amounts are by school look like they will be sufficient to cover some of the FTEEs that we had included in the previous draft. So because of that um I've pulled out the the behavior coach at M Stark because we will have sufficient funds to carry that um next year in title one SI. Um the math teacher math coach at Poundell um is also going to be covered through that grant. The funds for uh Benel do not look sufficient to cover the two FTEEs that are at that school. So, the behavior coach and the licensed clinical social worker

032that currently are being uh funded through that grant are included in this draft of the budget. So, they we were planning to move them move them all into local, but I only need to move two um out of those four. Um also what remains in is the requested point4 clinician at Poundell and the current increase of a 0.1 um library media specialist at Monument. So those are in uh the other things that have come out um there was a request for a math teacher at Monument. There isn't a person serving in that role right now. So this would just be a new role. So we've removed that um as a proposal. We've also removed um there was a vacant classroom teacher position um at panel which we were using to fund the math teacher from

033title 1 SI but since that's going into the grant um we we've removed that position um that's been vacant for a couple of years and it doesn't look like we're going to need it um for an additional class at panel. So that came out and then we also have a vacant art therapist um that was I think I think she resigned the end of last fiscal year I think. Um so that is in the current FY26 budget but it's not being filled. So that has then been removed. So those are the changes in the FTEES. Uh with that um that has brought down our uh general state support grant or what we're requesting from the education fund. So that was a 9.9% increase highlighted there in peach um down to 7.7. Um the reason we're

034seeing such a big increase in this is you can see that our our fund balance has decreased which is a good thing. Um we are spending the money that we are budgeting. Um but it also comes with a cost right? So we have less offsetting revenue which then forces us to ask for more from the education fund. The other slight change on the revenue side um is our announced tuition for SVUSD um is going up just a little bit. So that is a a slight change from the previous draft. >> So just to um recap, >> hey, I'm sorry. Could you go back one more and just draw attention to the number at the bottom right? >> So the total school budget is up 1.1%. >> Right. um our trends in enrollment to decline. Um

035so I have SVUSD and Mount Anthony here. The next few slides they'll see I have both SVUsd and Mount Anthony. So, because this district is just elementary, we have to pair that with the secondary budget um to get every town's street essentially to pay for our um preK to 12 education. And this is just other member districts um in the SVSU um experiencing similar trends in their enrollments. Um >> well the enrollment number is important because it plays a big driving factor in the overall formula which we'll attempt to share with you folks. Uh we recognize that that is not something we as a group can control the number of kids enrolling in school and we're going to talk about one other driver that's kind of out of our hands too. But it'll be important

036when we go from the 1.1% to talk about what will be warned. >> What I have here is just kind of a snapshot of enrollments as of yesterday. These are um all of our districts, but I have the um SVUSD in the center, the six schools there showing what their current enrollments are as of yesterday. Um, I bring this to your attention because minimum class sizes go into effect um through act 73 as of July 1 of 26. So that law states that um we we should have minimum class sizes of 10 in grade 1, minimum size of 12 students in grades 2 through five. And for this district, for those schools that have um students in grade six, those classes should be a minimum of 15. So looking at those, you can see that

037some of our schools um are not going to be in alignment with that state law that goes into effect July 1. >> The other thing hand raised, sorry, board member were on the screen. Pastelle Crystal. Uh yeah, my question is I understand that um the minimum class size is going to be going into effect in July, but what happens with the schools that have combined classes? Does that number count at all or what does that look like? >> Well, so the AOE Well, I I will answer that kind of almost. Oh, you see the the next bullet that just came up on the screen. Um the multi-age classroom. So any of those classrooms that might be running a K1 or a one two um those classes are limited to a two grades per class. So

038you can't have a K12. It's limited to two grades per class. The agency right now is working on definitions. So Crystal, to your to your point, um they need to tell us. So they have a a lot of definitions to give us and and guidance as to how they're going to basic basically monitor this um the way the law is written that any schools that are continually um for three consecutive years not in um in alignment with what these uh laws state. they can come in and instill corrective action for the schools. We don't know what that corrective action might be. Um if it's going to be up to the state board, believe it's going to be up to the secretary of education. Um so just want this to be on your radar that it's

039going into effect. um you know it's three years before potentially any action will be taken but the AOE has been clear in the meetings that I've been in um that they will be monitoring and collecting data. So just wanted to share that with everybody because we clearly can see that we have some schools that um are not going to be in alignment. So, just to recap where we were from draft to draft three, our expenditures have um gone down by just over $620,000 or about 1.9%. The education spending is down a little bit more um because of the shift in our incoming tuition. And this changes our education spending per long-term weighted ADM down from the previous draft. When we look at UED and Mount Anthony together, um Mount Anthony adopted their budget last night

040at an increase of 4%. Their education spending did come down, but it's a little bit higher um at 9.3% increase. And then our long-term weighted ADM um across the board is decreasing. And this is one of the variables that goes into the calculation of what the estimated tax rates will be. So our EDM is average daily membership, which is the count of students enrolled in school between days 11 and 30 each year. That gets averaged over two years. And then we add what are referred to as state place students to that. And then all of those students that are in those ADM um groups get weights if they qualify. They get weights for um living in poverty. They get great uh weights if they're English language learners. Um sparsity and uh we have grade weights

041as well and small schools not the latter of which we um don't have for SVUSD or Pony Anthony. But >> there are not weights for students served with an IEP or five. >> Correct. >> So SVUSD has seen a drop in um their student body of 50 which when it is weighted is 112. Now Anthony saw a decrease of 35 in their enrollment and when that's weighted that became 86. So, between the two school districts, that's a drop of almost 200 um students, weighted students, weighted pupils. And I mention that because the way that the law is written, when we're asking the public to vote on this budget, which is only an increase of 1.1%. We're required to list what our education spending per weighted pupil is, which is 14,51. And when we compare that

042to this year, it's an increase of 13.1%. And that is what has to go on the ballot. So the budget's only up 1.1, but when the voters actually read the question, they're going to see 13.1. And then same thing with Mount Anthony, their budget's only up 4%. But because of their education spending per weighted pupil, uh, that's up 12.6. players mud. Right. >> So, for folks who are joining us for the first time this evening, we've had this conversation for a couple of months. If you'd like to play along at home, go on the website and underneath the superintendent, we have a one-page document. It looks a little bit like childhood shoots and ladders on one page as you kind of wander the path. On the back side, it actually has the math formula and

043all the variables identified. It is truly, as Renee said, clear as mud. Um, and so we sit here and tell you that your school budget is up 1.1%, but the change in spending is going to be 13.1. That was what will be listed on the ballot as we go to vote. We can talk and as Rene goes to the next slide. So, we we know that we have fewer kids enrolling in school. Uh, that is a statewide challenge. We've been in meetings all day today. um listening to superintendents and elected officials across the state. The other thing that is driving us and we're going to get into this a little bit is something called the common level of appraisement which everybody across the state is struggling with as well which is a complicated math formula

044again but what the state thinks your house is worth and what the assessed value and if there's a great discrepancy it actually penalizes you for not being closer to that formula. Again, that is something that we can't control. Many communities are struggling across this the state to keep the assessments of their homes up to date. Um, and so it it is a complicated system and I can talk a little bit under my superintendent's report about a conversation I had, but I bare you that right now. Renee, I'm sorry. Your next slide. >> Nope, that's okay. I just wanted I had a feeling you were going to put me on the spot, so I was just trying to pull up another file while you were talking. So we we tried to do it in one page.

045I I it's new learning for me as a superintendent. I get folks stopping me in the community. Tim, I don't understand, you know, how is it a neighbor in Shaspberry pays a different rate. I'm a resident of Pel uh and so all of that goes into the the model as far as uh figuring that out. But we have we are experiencing true trends that the rest of the state is fewer kiddos. Uh, I was on a meeting this morning with um Champlain Valley's superintendent right in the heart of Chittening County. You'd think it'd be a booming school. Their enrollment is down about 200 kids over the last couple of years, which is surprising. They're hopeful that they're going to build their way out of it with new houses, but um we shall see. Uh did

046your next slide? >> Yep. So just to wrap this up, um this draft of the budget before you um results in estimated tax rates um as you can see there. So this is a blended tax rate with Mount Anthony. And the way that works, it's proportional. So we have to look at long-term weighted ADM for each municipality um between the two school districts and it gets blended that way. um when compared to the FY26 or the current year's tax rate um you can see what those uh changes are projected for next year and what the the percentages are. So, um just so recall looking at this through draft draft two um the increases were just as I mean they were higher but just as jarring um between Mount Anthony and SPUSD we've cut 1.3 over

047$1.3 million out of those two budgets and it has barely moved this needle um on the tax rates for this board on average between the the four towns to drop that tax rate a penny, you would have to cut $380,000 out of the budget. So that's just for a penny. So they're they're really significant um significant amounts. So, and then to Tim's point of um the CLA can make this a little bit bigger. >> So, if you look at the bottom box that Renee has displayed, the common level of assessment is where so I'm a resident of Powell. My community currently sits at 67.14. Ideally, that number would be very close to a hundred and that would mean that they would have to ask less funding from our community for the budget. The state has

048an adjustment in its process. They adjust for that across state. It's an attempt to lessen the impact of taxes on folks for property owners. So you the second line down is their adjusted one. So you take that panel one or you can take any community on there if you like someone different. And you can see that it raises panel to 95.46. Um but again that is a that's an accounting maneuver not necessarily addressing the underlying issue which is in the eyes of the state our homes are not assessed at the value that they should be. And so what happens is we bear the cost of you know having to raise more money on housing that they feel is undervalued. So that's how you go from having a 1.1% increase in your school budget and your,

049you know, your taxes are going to go up much higher with that. >> Renee, it's probably a easy very easy question for you on the reallocation of out of district tuition from student services budget to the local budget. Could you help me understand that? I It's just due to eligibility and we need to be careful because of identity. >> I Okay. I Well, I noticed under tuition that we are doubling um from 26 27 and I'm wondering if those two orally they've we had Yes. It was in the student services budget. It's now in the local budget. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Anything else for us, Director Gordon? That's all I have for this evening. >> So, I I'd like to open it up for questions for director. I will say that's you know that

050the part that is within our control uh I think I think our building principles and our staff have done a remarkable job in keeping things in in keeping the growth in check to 1.1% of the stuff we can control I think is is really commendable because it shows that they're taking their fiscal responsibility very seriously and finding the way to do it. all this other stuff is outside of our hands and so it feels even to even to reduce this to a completely level fund would not take the sticker shock out of what we heard today. There's, you know, common level of appraisal, how students are weighted, like none of that is in our control. And so I feel like this is probably as good as we're going to get. Um, and again, thanks to

051every staff member who had a hand in putting this together and finding these cuts. Uh, but what kind of questions do we have for Director Gordon? Okay. >> Um, >> sticker shock. >> Yeah. Um, so if we are in agreement that this is as good as it's going to get, um, then we'll need a motion to advance this uh this proposed budget to be warrant for town meeting day. Please, >> that was said on both of the other boards with large hearing pieces. I will provide that motion for this budget to advance. Thanks, bud. Do we have a second on that? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. First and a second. Any further discussion on advancing this proposed budget uh to be worn for town meeting day. >> Okay. All those in favor, please signify

052by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any >> I I think the 1% looks good. 13%. People are moving out of the state and that's why our children are they're moving and they're taking their kids out of our schools. Vermont is the is very high on their taxes. Why are we paying for clinicians? Why don't they go to the general fund or something? It's just it's frustrating. I get phone calls all the time and people are upset. My own sister, it's hard for her to be here. she's going to be moving. So, I can't support 13%. >> So, let's Karina, if we could let's get through through the vote first and if we need to have further discussion. >> Just wanted to ask a question. >> So, we started the vote, but let's back

053it up because we've not finished the vote. And I mean, Cindy, what you say is is it's it's completely valid. Um it's it's the 13% is, you know, reflects those things that we as a local board can't control, but I think it's the kind of thing that I think folks at Mont Pillar need to hear for sure. Um, crunchies. >> You know, when when I go to vote, I read all the stuff and I'll tell you, if I saw 13%, I'd be like, "Holy cow, big old no." But now that it's explained that it's 1.1. Is there a way for the general public to know that it's not actually the 13.1? >> Tune in to your local school board. >> That's right. It's really And >> do I need to get a placard out there

054in Jaspberry? Well, and I think >> once once this board passes a proposed budget and I think we're that'll probably happen tonight, but we haven't done that yet. I think that we a conversation on on messaging needs to take place because you're absolutely because I mean the the the the communication that's come out of the superintendent's office provided that little road map that he shared with us a few months ago. It's been on the web page. It's that is great for people who are seeking the information out. I think most folks probably don't know that they need to be seeking out this information. Again, they read their ballot. they see 13.1, they think, "Holy smokes, this is crazy." >> So, you know, part of part of the responsibility of any board, I think, particularly this

055year is about controlling that messaging and and helping to explain to people what it is all the work that that this board that this school district rather has done to control costs to the to the extent that we can >> and understanding that a lot of this is out of our hands. Um, so let's any any further discussion or questions about about this motion that's on the floor? Okay, just a reminder that the motion is to um approve this bud this proposed budget to be worn on the town meeting day ballot. So, um any So, we we've exhausted all questions. All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Thank you, Crystal. Any opposed? >> We have Cindy who's opposed. Any abstensions? Okay. Very good. Thank

056you very much, folks. Um, with regard to uh to messaging, I think it would be helpful if any board member wishes to take it upon themselves to reach out to local papers, local message boards, nextdoor neighbor, talk to their actual nextdoor neighbors and not just uh the app that's that's on their phones. Um, spread the word and and certainly if if you I'm going to volunteer director Gordon and our superintendent like they have they have made they make it digestible every single year. uh I think uh even more so this year than maybe we've seen before. So chat with them if we have additional questions and tell everyone you can think of. >> I think if there's an easy unified message that we can get out that is you know something comprehensible to everybody um

057you know that we could spread that like as a parent at Woodford and on the PTG there you know like I can make sure like stuff's going home to like Woodford parents and kind of like spreading or sharing on social media things like that. But I just want to make sure that it's kind of like a unified message across the board. Um, and that the language is the same and easily digestible. So, I don't know if that's something that >> Sure. Well, >> wants to draft. >> Yeah. Well, >> I think Stephanie, the the stuff that we've we've already seen come out of the superintendent's office can stand for that that unified message. I'm I'm saying more like when we're talking to our friends or our neighbors. Again, I mentioned, you know, reaching out to

058the paper. Some people still read the banner, which is great. Um, and some people read it online or wherever they read it. Um, I know I know a superintendent does. Uh, but you know, I do as well. and and um suggestion. >> Sure. When when when you do that, just be sure to note that you you can note that you are a board member, but you're not speaking for the board because none of us have the authority to speak for the board. That's that's just the my issue. But yeah, Superintendent P. >> I think to your point, I think we can be one if board members say, "Hey, Tim, I'd like to participate in a conversation and have some talking points going forward." We could do that. The SPSU board meeting at the end of

059the month might be helpful. It'll allow us to get through all the boards approving the board or approving their budgets. Um, and then Renee and I I and Katie West and all that, we can help folks by saying, "Hey, here's some information." And SVU can say, "We're in agreement. This is what we want you going out and talking about." >> Yeah. Well, and I think like um the the papers, it's fair to say like there are some documents. I just think that there's a lot of people that may not read like an official document that's out there, but if there was like a a little blurb that was trying to like, hey, here's a heads up on, you know, voting sort of thing, like it might look a little bit differently if somebody's reading something

060that's um easily, you know, a couple sentences just like a full paper that they try to digest. So >> 13.1 equals 1.1. Trust us. >> Really, really. Um, great. Well, well, thank you everyone. And again, the director go Yeah, please. Should I just um I I meant to start at the beginning. Um there was a request from our new district clerk, just as a reminder for any folks that are running for seats, those petitions have to be turned in no later than Monday the 26th by 5:00 p.m. >> Great. Thank you. >> Okay. Um so again, Director Gordon, thank you for all the work in that and and spearheading that for everyone. Um >> okay, that brings us to agenda item five, which is policies. We have a policy to warn uh the the board

061member conflict of interest policy is up to be warned. So take a look at it. It will circle back on our agenda and then we'll vote on >> um I think that's a mistake on our agenda because we have already done this on >> May 13th of 2025. It was on our agenda then as an FYI which means it has gone through twice. >> Okay. >> So I think it's just a mistake. >> Okay. Very good. So it won't come back up for a vote. Um, so that puts us in motion to adopt. >> Well, we did because it's on it's an FYI. >> I think we posted it on every agenda informational for some, but other boards have to adopt it. So, understood. >> Okay. >> Um, agenda item six is operations. We have

062the tractor bid and the elevator bid. Um, so we'll begin with the tractor bid and Superintendent Payne, I'm going to pitch this over to you. U, we had received uh some questions from uh board members and it's my understanding you have some answers for those questions. >> I do. And like as I say that out loud in the multiple of piles I set it down on the wrong spot. Sorry. Apologies. Uh one second. Sorry. Don't mean to give you a heart attack. It's right there. >> Okay. Uh in no particular order, I want to uh I want to thank uh board members for submitting uh questions in advance with the hope of informing folks so they can make some decisions. Uh, I'll just start at the top. How many staff members have experience operating the

063proposed tractor like the uh like the one being proposed? Uh, this is according to Todd Sclary who is your buildings and grounds director for the ESD. Uh, he tells us that there are four district maintenance employees who work out of the Molly Stark garage and will be working with this piece of machinery if purchased. Uh, is this the best option for the staff and operational needs? Um the question that I remember from the last board meeting is that the current tractor which is a John Deere um has a back hoe. The question was can this not be used for another tractor? The question is the answer is no. It is not a universal. It is actually mounted to the frame. Uh so it's specific to the piece of tractor or the the the uh current

064tractor. Um and so yes that I think that answers the question that uh the current so the proposed tractor uh would be replacement of that and thus the need for the the backhoe. Uh where is this tractor stored? It's stored at the Mollyar garage. It's climate controlled space. They have the ability to wash and provide uh routine maintenance. That was a concern raised at the last board meeting. How many schools would be having access to this machine? It' be seven schools. Uh it lists a variety of things. Moving snow, loading, unloading school equipment, uh loading salt trucks during the summer. It provides uh excavation work, removal of concrete, landscape and ground works, uh among other things. Um why wasn't this purchase included in the current budget? Um the money is set aside in the current

06525 to 26 school budget. $100,000 was uh approved last year to be set aside for district-wide equipment and so the purchases coming out of that. This is not a request to come out of the 26 27 budget. Uh what other items might come forward next year that aren't reflected in the budget we are building now? Um I I think I understand this and that it's a um this would be anything that would be asked to be covered by buildings and grounds. Um I I can talk a little bit about that too because there was a request from board member. Um there is a document available to board me one copy just to show you before you say yes please. Um but it does break down individual schools grounds building interior exterior mechanicals. Um this would

066be a guiding document for the ESD to know what projects might be needed next year and over the next several years. That might be a future conversation I'm happy to return us to. Um, how do you balance asking budget reductions while considering this $100,000 purchase? Again, um, the hund the tractor is coming out of the current budget which has been approved by this board um, and is in place and tonight's conversation is about approving the budget for the 26 27th school year. Um, those are the questions that were in advance. there are any others we can record those and come back to you but the request uh and did everybody get the bid summary I didn't reach out to folks to ask is this the uh information that you're looking for so it would be

067the same format that we well some of you sit on the MAU board and we purchased a pickup truck in a previous meeting so it should show you uh what was requested bid submitted rationale for and then the recommendation for consideration Okay. Thank you, Superintendent Banks. Um, so we we've seen the the request. We have the the questions that were submitted. Those have been answered. Understand a motion to approve the tractor request. Uh, purchase request. Uh, specifically, >> this one is the $100,000 tractor. >> This is, let me >> This recommendation says uh 776,000. >> Is that with the trade? Yes. >> Yep. >> From Salem Farm Supply, right? That's the way. Yep. >> I preferred the other company. It's a little bit lower. >> It says that they didn't meet the specifications in regards

068to lift capacity and load constraints, >> but they didn't. >> Yeah. >> Sandy, that's listed out in the RFP. if you need reference. >> Okay. >> So, I'm sorry if I missed it, but is there a specific question right now? >> You mean flipping through? I'm looking for the load because I the other bid was lower and I would just prefer it and I can't see where the differences are. I can't it's too quick for me to be able to flip through them to see the differences. >> So >> you said 60 65 >> 76 it's like meeting half of the way. I brought one up. It did make the rounds to everybody. It was 51,000 something like that um equitable with the distribution. So I made an effort trying to save 50 grand now

069saving if we were push the other tractor through 26,000 just made the effort being noted not adverse to a you know a completely commercial Cadillac like uh product here as well. Is that a motion to advance the uh the tractor request or motion? Okay. It's just commentary. >> Okay. >> So, are you suggesting that they're are these Holly both industrial? >> They're both commercial grades. >> Are they both commercial? I didn't understand that in the one of them. >> They're not long charges. So, are there any, and again, not trying to be difficult folks, but are there specific questions that anybody has about the tractor bid? >> Yes. Um, the difference in the 70,000 and the 47,000 of the because I can't tell by looking at them. All I have is option one and option

070two. Um, so I guess I'm I'm curious which one >> exactly that's what that doesn't match up to >> those amounts don't I'm not sure if that was a different >> so that's from the capital capture this test submission there's that so what's the difference between the 80 the her inventory for that's a different that's it's the same place but two different tractors. So what's the difference in the tractor it's like >> so it looks like um Holly for capital tractor there might have been two tractors that she's looking at. I think that um and you recommended one of them the other one is less and I think she's wondering if you can explain that. >> So it's the difference of uh potential either 47 or 70,000. >> Uh I'm not I'm not looking what

071you're seeing. Uh, are you looking at the bid form recommendation? >> Yeah. So, >> handwritten. >> Um, I can't speak to that right now. >> Handwritten on the bid form standing. >> Yeah. >> So, it's Oh, it's a price for a New Holland versus it's a compact versus an industrial. So, I assume the cheaper one is a smaller tractor. I don't know that for but it it the salesperson has written compact versus industrial. I imagine that's a small attraction. >> And I'm sorry, where in the packet are are you what what document are you looking at in the packet? >> H23 >> of the of the bid summary >> bid SV. >> It's not something. >> So I'm looking at the proposal on that was in the packet and I'm on page 40. >> So

072there >> Yes. page 40 of the packet. Yes. Thank you. >> Yeah. You're welcome. Um and on that page it specifies where option one is the industrial and then option two is the compact. Um so does does that answer your question Sandy? >> No not at all. >> Thank you. soon. >> Um because I still don't So if I if I if I understand this correctly, Holly, um we're looking at industrial or commercial versus compact or non or or home is do you think? Well, I I think um a really good forum to to provide you with all this information on how we use it, where we use it, when we use it, all the different bells and whistles. I'm I'm happy to have the board to the Molly Stark garage. So, the guys that

073that are boots on the ground can actually explain all these things. Um, this was a collaborative effort to pick this particular uh model because it's sort of a unicorn of it's the Swiss Army knife of tractors for what they need. Um, I uh they are professionals and I what I would just want to make sure you understand is we we sent this out to a public bid. We put it the the parachute okay >> packet >> and we put it out to the public >> and then uh we invited people. We got two bids back and one didn't match. Right. So we didn't we didn't go to uh Salem Farm and say, "Hey, give us a price." We we asked and publicized to the whole community and said, "Please give us prices." And that's the

074only thing we got back. So I just want to make sure that's clear. >> You're welcome. Um I And now that you've said it's commercial versus non-commercial, I still like the option one. The New Holland, it's my personal preference of the options that you've shared. Um, and it is with the tradein, it's at $70,42.65. So for the board members, so we just for clarity, so there is a uh a 43page document with loads of information and a lot of sort of information that came in throughout the the the various steps of the product the process and then there is a bid summary and recommendation uh which is a two-pager. Um the two-pager is the summary and the conclusion of all the information that's found in the 43 pager. Um what the recommendation is is that

075the SB that we as the board of directors award the contract to Sale and Farm Supply and authorize expenditures from the general fund up to $76,160 to cover the purchase as outlined in the project estimated cost summary. So as we've heard that's money that's already been budgeted that we've already approved. It's coming out of the money that we've already said yes, use this for equipment. We have sent this back to Director Anderson and her crew twice. They've come back with a lower price. Um, they've answered questions that have been provided and I think it's time that we take action on this to give our staff the equipment they need to do the work that we're asking them to do. So, is there a motion, please? I would entertain a motion. Um, >> I make a

076motion to do option one, which is the New Allen B75D loader backho industrial within closed cap with a total price with trade in $70,42.65. No, I just make a comment before we vote, >> please. >> Um, I just wanted it to be on record that, uh, I think it's worth investing in what in what the recommendation is because there's maintenance people and everyone, they work really hard and, you know, they're doing the day-to-day task. And so I I don't know anything about tractors, but when I hear industrial versus compact, I immediately um feel like the industrial would be a better option. >> Make a motion. >> I make the motion for the industrial enclosed cat 75D loader back. >> Yeah. >> So there are two pieces. the I'm guessing the other one is also industrial.

077That's just a different um draft and I do know a lot more than I >> So Sandy, can can you explain to us how the motion that you're saying differs from the the recommended motion that's at the bottom of the two-page bid summary? >> Um the two-page bids summary. Um, I didn't feel that I understood exactly what the >> was giving me as opposed to what I did feel I understood from the other company. That's just >> So what's the difference in the motion? The motion. So there's a that the two paper ends with a recommended motion. You just made a separately worded motion and I I'm not following what >> she's recommending the capital director one versus the sample farm supply one. Yes. Yes, the two that she's talking about, Capital Farm supplies bid

078has two different models on there and those were the industrial versus compact that we were talking about a second ago. So, out of the capital ones, she's saying instead of going with Salem, she's making a bid to go with the capital, the industrial from capital >> versus the industrial from Salem, which was the recommended one. >> Well, we don't know it's industrial. It doesn't share this. We do know. >> Well, you had mentioned it's an industrial, right? I I would can I ask a question is that the recommendation at the bottom of the bid summary is that the board enter into a contract with Salem Farm Supply Expenditure. The paragraph above that prepared by the department it says the bid provided by Capital Tractor which I believe is what Sy's proposing does not meet the

079specifications requested in regards to lift capacity and load constraints. Point that out. So Sy's proposing. Hey, I hear you. Salem Farm Supply. Appreciate it. But I like the bid from Capital >> and we don't know what the load limit is for either of the bucket loaders. >> I think we do know that that that the team has said that the capital tractor does not meet that load. We don't we don't know the numbers, but I I think I'm unaware of anything that that team has done that should make us doubt that they're being honest when they tell us that it doesn't they're >> I don't think that's the right wording. I think >> then I then please correct me because I'm not I'm not following what you're asking. I just wanted to ask a different

080question because um I'm with Christelle on the fact of like I don't see anything about tractors and like for the difference of $6,000 when we already have it in the budget like I would go just with what they've recommended just because of my lack of experience off of it and trusting somebody who you know is is paid to do that. Um but what happens Sandy made a motion. Do we vote on that motion first? >> There's not been a second to that motion yet. >> Okay. So before somebody makes a motion for the other tractor. I guess I'm just wondering like what the >> we need to dispose again. >> We don't know what the load capacity is for both of them. We just as a board all we can do is believe that one

081is better than the other. >> Yes. Yes. And as a board again we we've we've sent this back to director Anderson and her team twice now. >> She's come back they have come back with additional information. They have told us specifically the c of the two bids they received. one does not meet what they need it to. And as Stephanie raises, it's a matter of $6,000. This is a team of professionals. And I'm not discounting the knowledge that anybody on the board may have about tractors. I also know that we employ these people as professionals to give us their professional input. And truly for for a a part of the budget that has actually shown us a decrease, I think we can I think we they have demonstrated that they take their fiscal responsibilities very

082seriously and we can even though they didn't tell us precisely what the different load amounts are, I think we can trust them that the one doesn't meet their needs and we can pony up the additional $6,000 that's the difference between the two. Yes, Cindy, please. >> Okay. I know nothing about tractors, but I want to know is that 70 some odd thousand you're asking us to approve is that with a trade in are we getting? >> Yes, there there is a trade in amount on the 43 the 43 pager it talks about what the different trade in amounts. >> So the one that they're recommending prior to trading two pages >> 91,660 and then after trade in is 76,60. So, does anyone want to second the motion that Sandy made? No one once, twice. Okay,

083three times. So, Crystal, was there a separate motion that you wanted to make? >> Um, and I would say at the bottom of the two-pager, there is a recommended motion to be made. And I I turn to you, Chrissel, because you had shared an opinion in favor of that, but it's really open to anyone. I would entertain a motion that this board of directors award a contract with Salem Farm Supply and authorize expenditures with the general fund up to 76,160 to cover the purchase as outlined in the project estimate cost summary. Anyone want to make that motion, please? >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Stephanie. We have a first. We have a second on the >> I'll second it. >> Thank you, Crystal. So, we have a first and a second. Any further

084discussion on this hearing? None. All those in favor of of the motion on the floor, please signify by saying I. I. >> All opposed. >> I Crystal, that was in favor. >> In favor, yes. >> Okay. Thank you. So, it looks like three, four, four against. So, the motion fits. >> Can I just say >> Sure. >> I will take you off on coming to the garage. I know nothing about tractors. I've been looking at at all the information stuff. >> I know nothing about tractors, you know. So, I will take you up on coming down. I'm just not comfortable because I'm not sure what it is. You know what I mean? So, that's why I'm voting no because I'm not sure even though I've looked at the pictures, the clothes, and all this stuff,

085read all the all the pages. >> Nice. I still am not quite sure why we need Maybe I need to go around to the schools and see. I don't understand why we need such a big piece of equipment. Maybe I live under a rock. >> We could move that rock with a good tracker. >> Yeah, >> if we have a good tracker, we can move it. >> Go down and see cuz I'm I'm unsure. >> So I just to that we'll move on to the next agenda item. I guess to that I would simply say this. There's lots of things that we as a board are faced with that we don't have professional or or intricate knowledge about, right? Not the least of which is that we're not educational professionals. And so we trust our

086our professional people that we pay to make informed decisions to give us information so that we can then help them do the job that that they're required to do. So, the notion of what I'm going to describe as micromanaging the folks and and I say micromanaging and I don't mean that like with a with a that anyone has a malicious intent, but it feels like we're getting in the weeds awful lot lately about second-guessing and triple guessing and quadruple guessing our professionals who we trust with a lot of things. And so, I would just ask that, you know, moving forward there is a certain amount of respect that goes along with being a board member. And I don't know that we always are are >> you know due respect to the tax you know >>

087community that puts us here >> right but but decision >> y and and the the question that you know that it was proposed in that two-pager. Hey we got these two bid we we did the we did the process we have these two bids. One of the two bids does not meet our requirements. So please give us the other bid. And what we just said was no we don't trust you. That's natural. That's natural. >> I do not like having words put in my mouth. Don't do that. What I will say is this. What I will say is this. >> We have they tell us what what the deal is and we've said no. >> And and I take it back. I don't know why we all just said no. I don't know why. I

088don't know why the four just said no. >> Right now. >> Sure. >> My job as a board member is to represent Pal and now we're talking about 70,000. Yep. And I totally don't believe we need that much. We don't need it. >> So we So it's we don't believe them. That's that's >> we turn that into we're going to get informed by them and >> let's move that forward >> to bring us to that and do this. And thank you Holly. >> I hope folks I would I would encourage any board members who have that concern. Please take Director Anderson up on the offer. I also think it gets into dangerous territory that if we start to expect our directors or our staff to just invite us in to to teach us about the

089what they do because there does need to be a certain recognition that they know what they're doing. >> I signed up for no said recognition at the beginning of this and have brought nothing but a common sense >> approach to everything that I've done from this year. >> Yep. So that's not fun >> and and there are more board members than just you >> and I I find it would be worse that we don't ask questions and we just say okay yeah okay I feel that we need to be informed and our our communities expect us to be informed and if you don't have the answers I don't know how one month is going to make a difference in >> so so I guess I I will ask again that if anyone has specific questions

090to for them to me I'll be the clearing house and they will all get forwarded and the sooner we can get those questions to director Anderson and her team the better so that question that answers can be gathered and that we can all make a decision on this. So, moving on. >> Is the tractor, sorry, I was out last month and this is my fault. Some medical stuff. I didn't catch up on everything tractor wise. Um, is the current tractor not operational at all? Like, do we have something that is able to use at this point? I mean, I know you had said like there's some manual snow removal stuff, but like what is happening for like the current need of the tractor if we postpone this? >> Sure. So, the current the current tractor

091has been sitting there since November 8th, whatever our last meeting was, right? because it needs about $20,000 worth >> that but I wasn't sure if it >> Yeah. So, um you can't sit in it because all the fumes come out because one of the issues is a fuel injector something. So, basically we're we're asking our staff to sit in a tractor that's polluting their lungs right now if it worked. If it worked. Um, and what I would offer is that we have um employees that are manually moving snow and books and everything one slip and fall and a her back is going to be way more than $76,000. So, our staff, I'm really proud of our staff that they've been like, "Okay, like we'll make do because we we ask questions. I wanted to make

092sure I give you all the answers to your questions." Um, and so we've we've done that. Um, I just want to make it very clear that since through this process, and I I understand where you're all coming from, and thank you so much for your support. Um, our guys are we have staff moving books, snow, salt, we have to take we have to go from the Molly Stark garage. Uh, I don't need to get done. The the question was the tractor is not working currently. The estimate is attached to the packet. It's a almost $20,000 repair bill. >> I did see sorry about that, but I just wasn't sure if it was solely in operational because I didn't read it as >> Yeah. So our our staff has been really really painful um the tractor

093to to answer your question. >> But I'm I'm asking a genuine question. If we're going down from say 50 to 70, but we have to pay 20 for something that's not working. a different bit of information to operate on. >> Yep. >> Rather than this type of stuff and obviously wanted to show a care for the men who drive it, >> you know, we would as well. >> Okay. >> That turns me around a little bit. So that I would even make the motion. >> I I still would like to hear from Holly because I feel it's important that she shares her passion and her knowledge with us. And I >> I don't bring the donuts. >> Don't mind. Yeah, I'll bring the donuts. and and I'm happy to do whatever I uh I will

094I will bring the donuts. I'll stand and >> but what we're asking presently Yeah. >> One last thing, we appreciate your offer. We talked about this before the meeting. It's a very nice offer. I would encourage you to pick a date, let board members know well in advance. They can come and meet Todd and the nice crew. Um, please know that your past practice as a board is that there is no meeting in February to give reprieve to my budgeting office >> and then your March meeting will among the items you have is reorganization. So it most likely will not be next month but it'll be the following month be reconsidered. That should not be sprinkled in. Just I want folks to realize we're not coming back in two weeks and going to revisit this.

095There will be a little bit of time >> and and in that >> in that time we can have a tour and everybody can answer questions. >> No, we're >> tomorrow and at the next snowstorm and the next ice storm we're asking our staff to do this manually when just so that's understood. >> No snow days. >> It can't snow there can't be any. >> So my hope is that folks can can forward their questions to director Anderson through me with enough time. so that when we do come back, we can make a decision on this >> instead of continuing to to bring more questions to the table, please. >> Um >> I you have one other bid. >> Yep. We have an elevator bid we need to deal with. >> We need to do

096that. We be respectful folks time is moving on to seven. >> So looking at quarter to seven. So hopefully I I expect folks have have read this. It's a one pager. The recommendation is for this board to award an elevator lift routine maintenance 12-month contract to Mac Brothers Elevator in the amount of $3,240. So, um I would enter >> I'm sorry. >> Where's the elevator going? >> No, no, no. It's not to buy an elevator. >> It's for maintenance and inspections for the year. >> This is what gives you that lovely index card on the inside that says this maintain. >> This does include the annual um inspection. >> My understanding is it's inspection and maintenance. It's a contractual maintenance and then the state comes through and verifies. >> Make that motion. >> Okay. Thank

097you, Glenn. We have a first. Do we have a second? >> I don't know. >> Second it, but I don't know what >> first. We have a first and second. Crystal, did you have something to to ask? >> I was just making a comment about, you know, it being the little card that you would get in a product. That's all. >> Gotcha. Okay. Thank you. So, we have a first and a second. Any discussion on this motion? >> So, let me let me clear. I just want to make sure. This is $3,000 a year. >> This is for This is for a 12-month contract. But is it $3,000 a year or a month? >> It it is >> annual. >> It is. Yes, it's an annual contract. One cost per contract >> and one breakdown

098of a good elevator would pay. >> And this is just the ele because it had your letter head on the tops. But this is just for our um what do we have? Three four elevators. I'd have to think on that. But yes, this is all for the elementary district. >> Okay. Pendell is the only one that has >> No. >> And Woodford has left. >> Woodford hasn't. >> But it has it has left. >> I know. >> And it has to be. >> We have our first and we have our second. Uh any further discussion on this hearing? None. All those in favor of the motion on the floor, please signify by saying I. >> Any opposed? I >> was that was that in opposition, Crystal, or was that in favor? That's an I. Okay,

099great. In >> favor. Okay, motion passes. Thank you very much. Superintendent Payne, where's yours? Item number seven. >> Um, two things. Uh, in our next meeting, um, an annual school calendar for the 2627 school year. Um, I uh I always wondered if there was a committee that gets together. Um so we started a committee this fall and we sat together along with friends from Southwest Tech and the teachers associations. Um that draft has been shared with the regional superintendent and as of last week it was agreed upon at the state level for superintendents which is past practice. >> So at this point we have a um and what I will do is uh I'm having it cleaned up and I will provide it to the board so you can see it. It's for no it's

100for your information. doesn't require any kind of approval, but it'll have a start date for the school year. Um, how many days for uh winter break? I'm going to let the kids in and let them know that's not two weeks next year. Um, February and April break. Sorry, some of the teachers in the room too are like really um and so that has been um done and uh I will continue to use a committee as the committee was very helpful in kind of avoiding some of the pitfalls. So, I appreciate everybody who sat with that. um group and so um that'll be information forthcoming to chairs and to board members. Um also speaking about information to board members um I had the opportunity to testify today before the joint senate and um house ed committee.

101Um I shared my comments with board members in advance so folks could see that. Um it really wasn't all that glamorous. I zoomed in. I was there for about 15 minutes but I appreciated the opportunity to talk. I got two questions in return. I got u question from one of the members asking about uh foundation formula which we can talk about as we go forward. We're going to have to talk about exact 73, but this is the idea to move away from the current process, determine an amount of money per student using weights. And um so I thought that was an interesting question. And the other question was, are you seeing in your community the declining enrollment like the rest of the state? My answer was yes. I did leave them with three suggestions on

102my part. I do not represent the board in these comments. These are my individual observations as a new superintendent. One, I asked for a budgeting process that would have give us the amount of money at the start >> and then trust communities to make decisions that meets their values and their goals and what their kids need. Um, what I see is the current situation is anxiety that just cranks up starting in about August as we go through how much are my taxes going and there's really we've kind of covered that in our conversation. I also asked for um a more streamlined process from the agency of education encouraging districts to experiment, innovate, try something, fail at something, and not constantly be constant and checklist and things like that. It's my wish list. And then the

103last thing, and I want to thank Sandy for pointing this out, was if you as a school in the state of Vermont are going to take tax dollar money, regardless of your affiliation, public, independent, religious, then we should have to do all the same things. You have to put your goals on the board. You have to share your budget. You have to get community feedback. You got to post your kids' achievements. I think that's only fair if we're all going to be taking dollars. Um, and so folks are very polite. Um and uh I was one of five superintendents. The superintendent locally that folks would know, superintendent from Rutland, CVU was there. Um the superintendent who represents Woodstock and the superintendent who represents the greater Royalton area. So um it was I appreciated the offer.

104I hope that we continue to be asked to speak our minds from the southern part of the state. As a longtime resident, I know sometimes we feel that Mount Pillar's in another time zone. So, um I appreciate that. Um one thing else that we didn't even talk about this evening but was talked about today in the presentations is healthcare insurance. Um which is a huge driver of our budget. Um the CVU um superintendent uh did some analysis and over the last five years or so it is a 46% increase for them and it's $30 million. It's a huge expenditure that is not addressed in any of the conversations in Act 73. That's all governance and budgeting. And yet, that's another thing that's really not in the control of this board. Um, as that is now

105negotiated at the state level and it's been a pretty consistent except for this year, it's a 9% increase, but it's been a pretty consistent double-digit increase over the years. So, um, and then I have a note to myself, uh, to get board members through the chairs, um, some information as you go forth and start talking about the school budget with folks. And again, if you would like to participate, hey, Tim, I need this specific thing. Go through the chair. U, I'll make sure that uh, Renee and Katie and I will talk at the end of the week as we kind of work our way through budgets. I'll stop there. >> Great. Any questions for our superintendent? >> Oh, good job. >> Thank you. Thank you for the notes. >> Yeah, you're welcome. >> Uh brings

106us to the chair report uh very briefly. So, as the as the members of this board know, uh we did receive a I call it a petition signed by a number of community members asking for a a revision to um to our directive on the pledge. We received it, but it was not addressed to us. It was addressed to the SPSU. We are not the SPSU. I forward it to the SPSU chair. Um I think I said that last part in the email that I individually sent to each of you, but just to put it on the record that yes, >> I guess it just passed through our hands. Um there there is a written um a written explanation of how members of the public can interact with the board. It's the correspondence board policy

107that's available on the SBUSD, I'm sorry, the SPSU website. Um also the public comments uh policy is also there. So, both of those things are written out about how members of the public can interact with the board. Just let's do that. Um, Superintendent Payne noted that we typically do not meet in February, the the piece this year. So, our next meeting will be in uh following. So, good luck to everyone who is choosing to run again. Good luck to anyone who may be uh running for the first time. And uh that will be our reorganization meeting as well. So >> and add in something to accommodate the tractor processing. >> Oh, >> because it's it's not fair if they're out there doing something manually and they're down a piece of equipment. I would show up

108for a night, you know, if it's a single meeting or something >> special meeting. >> We're going to have to meet. >> Okay. So we have to meet again tomorrow. >> Okay. >> So that's where I'd like to take. And so do we need is the the notion of coming back again for the warning is that we because we're waiting for the other folks on board to do the piece before we have a final >> I just drafted it today. Just want to confirm with our district clerk. Okay. >> Then I have all of the board seats correct the other um elected officials. >> Okay. >> And I need to confirm all the polling times as well. So >> is that likely I'll look with difference in the superintendent. I'll look to you. Is that

109likely to be one of our carousel meetings or will that be a meeting strictly of this board? >> Probably just of this because I think the other Well, I don't know. Okay, you can >> way to accommodate the request. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah. Right on. Cool. Um, great. So, we'll see everyone at least one more time. Oh, one more thing I meant to mention for chair before we go. Um, negotiations continue on. I I I represent this board on the negotiations committee for the teachers and for ESP. So, that continues. Uh, some progress has been made. Some tentative agreements have been signed, which is great. We're still moving through it, but we're we're on the right track. Yeah, Sandy. Hi. >> Um, we skipped agenda item eight, the SPSU. >> Yes, we certainly did. Thank

110you so much. Yes. >> Um, and it was very quick. Um, Director Gordon walked us through the finance, the budget, um, and we did approve the budget for the 2627 school year, and we also talked about the X73 survey, which was rolled out, and we hope that everyone fills it out. Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Anything else? Perfect. Um, thank you for drawing us to number eight. Uh, so 89, number 10 is the FYI, the budget status report, the treasures reports. Um, and that concludes our posted agenda. So I would entertain a motion, please, to adjurnn. >> Motion. >> Thanks. We have a second to that. >> I second. >> Thanks. Uh, we have first and second. Any discussion on adjourning? We never do. All those in favor of adjourning, please signify by saying I.

111>> I. Any opposed? >> I. extensions and