001Um, welcome to uh the February 3rd uh budget and finance subcommittee meeting. Chair statement. This meeting is being recorded by the budget and finance subcommittee. If any other persons present are also recording, you must notify the chairperson at this time. It is 11:40. Call roll. Call to order. >> Sure. Call. >> Yep. >> Member Webb, I'm here. member Goodwin >> and vice chair >> child. Yep. >> I don't know if we should do it that way, but you know. Hi. >> Okay. Oh, it looks like we because well it says if numbers are online real quick. Oh, that's just for all of the voting. Sorry. Public comment. We have no public in the room and we have no public on Zoom. So, if any public were to show up, I would >> reopen public comment
002on uh next up is the approval of the December 8th uh subcommittee minutes. Did you get a chance? >> Second. >> Okay. Oh watching this. >> Okay, so now Zoom has had its regularly scheduled temper tantrum. We have unanimously voted to approve of uh the December 8th minutes. So now moving on to the next uh the main event, our budget update. >> I think you you had had earlier stickling around with the calendar. >> I don't know if that's something you would mind showing for a minute. So we have a budget calendar that was kind of based not kind of based on last year's budget calendar basically just kind of rolled over in that sense. I've talked with the mayor and the mayor's aid >> and calendar is being pushed back in terms of the
003city side for a full month. So, for example, >> I think >> um for example, in this calendar that we have right up there, you'll see it says April 1, mayor's proposed budget, city budget released. >> She'll be doing that by May 1st. >> Okay. So my point in some of this and this is somewhat new and they're they've talked about this with the city council is my understanding knowing that numbers are being released later and later each year whether they're governor house senate you know all that type of stuff getting back preliminary cherry sheets which just came out so in keeping with being a little bigger city doing things I don't say later but later in the fiscal here >> versus doing them so early. >> I think before I'm seeing it was March
00411th. >> Yes. >> Oh, for us the mayor. >> What are you on last year's? >> Yeah. >> So when you what we probably not have to do but could do and should do obviously here with for your your blessings and stuff is pushing things back >> for that. >> Sure. So, for example, it would show that we would have a budget and we were somewhat under this assumption, maybe wrong, but that we were going to kind of do this anyway, that we were not bringing like to the school committee next week a budget knowing that it would be the next month because the mayor had already really said we don't want to see that like capital improvement was I just met with capital improvement last week. >> So, those were pushed off on purpose
005is the point being in that sense. So, what we can do is I can have You're fine with that. Um, Becky go through this and kind of look at dates and slide things off where appropriate. That's fine with you. >> Sure. >> Um, do you think we should make a motion for that update? >> I think so because we voted on this. >> So, can we have a motion? >> So, moved. >> Okay. And the text of the motion is >> is to move um our submission, our FY27 budget submission to um align better with the mayor's >> um budget probably midappril. >> Okay. So, the motion is indeed to direct Becky to update it to reflect our reality. >> Um do I have a second on that motion? Um what I wrote down was
006move R 2026 to align better with the city budget. >> Okay. >> Which in turn just for your information would be almost like one month one. >> Yes. >> Should we add that to motion or >> No. >> We don't need to. That's justeneral so that we understand what >> second. >> Okay. All in favor? I. It passes unanimously. Then um thank you. In terms of the budget itself, we have Andy, I be superintendent Sullivan have met with all our principles, all our department heads to go over their requests. So we're compiling those right now. We were fortunate to Andy has rolled over and I say rolled over. I know some you may not want to see this or hear this, but we will go through line by line. But if you were to take
007this year's budget and add in the raises that were already negotiated, we also have some four upcoming units to negotiate right now that will take effect potentially for July 1st. They are the custodians, the cafeteria workers, the bus drivers, and administrative assistants clerks in schools. So that'll be happening some point this spring. If you were to take all that, roll those up people over with raises, steps, you know how people move down steps, etc. And I'll just give the basic list of Thunder >> Andy, but the it would come to a 7.2% increase and that is $1.7 million. >> Yeah. So that is without that is not adding anything new. What was the >> what was the percentage again? >> 1.7.2.2 >> 7.2% >> 1.7 million. >> Okay. >> Oh, maybe I misspoke a little.
008The only thing added I say only is >> spent tuition of >> we have if you remember we had several move in that have resulted in place tuition rate increase also back >> and that was about degree. >> So barring the increase of move in people who moved in and attending out of district placements in that increase there. There were no other right now positions added or increases to lines etc. holding those. I think that when you look at that right at 7.2% increase of $1.7 million, I think we probably can assume maybe incorrectly, but probably correctly that we will not be getting that money from the city side and it's not any of our first rodeos doing this. So, we we know that. But you do have to when I say the word start
009even if it's a loose start there just so people get an idea hey this is the budget that just is rolled over barring a couple of ads right there but not even adding new bodies that people think they want or new paper or >> so would this be level service >> level service Okay. >> Wait, say that again. >> OSD, which is >> operational service. >> So, they set the rate as a state agency that sets the rate for students who are attending a special day approved day schools and it's 34 >> 3.04% that those rates went up. So that number went up in the line and then the additional move in people which were so 400 something. >> Yeah, I heard that. >> So we we did it as I mentioned we met with
010all our department heads, principal, etc. Some are asking for things. I don't think there's a lot of big asks, but we're now calling them. We're running numbers of class sizes. >> That's the question. >> Yes. >> I don't know if this pertains or doesn't pertain. I don't think it's going to make the number move as much as I want to think it is. Do for the people who are retiring. Do we have any people retiring? And is their budget line drop down or is it staying the same? >> I would say just a little depend on if they're retiring, we could assume they're maybe at one of the top steps. >> Yeah. I'm just making sure that if we do have people retiring or leaving district to our top tier people, we are like >>
011bring allocating them back down when we're rehiring to a realistic level. >> You hire inexperienced want to hire the most experienced know that's available for Jeff. He's the $75,000 place for any retire. So again that looking at the high net about 20 grand savings if you will on that placeholder with what it is that retire and that that's the gift. So in a perfect world yes >> I just didn't know if we were bringing them back down to like >> No. So then I'll address that though. So somebody retires at let's say $80,000. Why do we put 75 in there? Because if I put 52 and I'm looking for a physics teacher and there's one applicant in the entire Western Mass space them >> and they're they have a doctorate free mask. We're going to
012pay $80,000 for that, right? Then in different subjects, it does sometimes you have a little more play with some of those subjects, whether they might be some of your elementary teachers, sometimes in the past it had been at secondary level English and history teachers were a little more abundant. um they're all starting to get less abundant now, but um but they are a little more abundant than a chemistry teacher or a physics teacher or a calculus. >> Well, I said I didn't think it would be like a drastic decrease, but I just want to make sure. >> Just a little. >> I mean, $5,000 is $5,000. Still is $5,000. >> It's a couple buses. >> Yep. So, do we have any ideas on where we could find savings to compromise with the town and not
013get the 7.2 2% we need but try to keep as many of our people as possible because I know that we've been running on a lean budget for years and years. So >> there there are things like >> next uh there are some vacancies that we have carried over. Uh and the question now becomes similar to those that were here and those that watched uh after the redistricting was pulled off. you know, the administrators went back and looked at how it is that we were doing things that resulted in some vacant positions no longer needed and so we're able to get back into the level of amount that we received from the city. That exercise is going through again now. So, there are there are vacant positions we have that we carry over. It's just
014a matter now with the program director whether or not those are needed and or we'll look at our enrollment numbers. So what's here you know different grades vary as you you've seen as I I might have mentioned I believe at times we generally run two grades each school or two class two classes of per grade of teachers and in many of those cases that works out fine. There are a few anomalies where you probably have just just over enough for one teacher in some places where you're having a second hired. We've talked about it's not going to end up having happening now. I know that in terms of any type of restructuring, not even redistricting, but restructuring of grades. For example, if you we're running two second grades in each school. source there are six
015second grade teachers. The numbers would probably truly dictate if you house them all in one building. And I say that for that this is future thinking down the road you could probably minimally have five maybe you could even get them into four depending on where you thought the comfortable classroom size was. Right? Um but because they're spaced in that sense you don't have that efficiency and it's not a perfect world right because then people would have to be busted. You wouldn't have neighborhood schools etc. There's all pros and cons to all that trade. But we are looking at all of that. >> So in the past we were if we had a bubble >> a bubble group that you know principles were given the I don't know the directive that they could do like a
016two three combo to kind of even it out and we did that really well. Um and teachers were okay with that. um we worked really hard to put kids together that we thought were should be together. >> So we sort of evened out our numbers um by doing a combination because there were those bubble groups that went through um we did it all the time. I mean sometimes it was um a one two sometimes it was a three four. It depended on >> depending on where the number above or below is, right? And we'll be looking at >> so I just that's another way we were flexible with that. Um >> is that feasible with the way we've been standardizing our curriculum? This goes beyond budget and finance. I don't know if that's a valid
017question. >> No, that's something that's something I'm talking about with the principles and with assistant superintendent Sullivan as you've mentioned with the curriculum, with the testing, right? the progress that we're trying to make. Obviously, two of our schools right are under we're in working with the statewide system of support SSOS. You've probably heard that acronym at times and that's the high school and newer right now. So, as much as we we listen, we are going to look at everything turn there's that tradeoff, right? Do we combine yet we're getting pressure that kids aren't reading as well or doing as well as standardized testing? What are we giving them? So, we'll have reports for you and I'll have not we do we do not have it today, but I'll have projections for next year at each
018grade in each school. And I hear many times from school committee members and I've heard this going to city council meetings. Mel one time with me and a few others have gone as well too where people have concerns about class sizes and what's high is is always um I guess debatable in life, right? What's what we what we all consider high, right? is is from where we came from, from what we've seen, from what we wanted for our our neighbors, for our own children, etc. is I'm joking with you. Is 24 high in elementary classroom? Is it 22? Is it 20? Is it 18? And where? But I'm saying where is it? And wherever that number is and we h we have so many teachers, right? Then we know that equals the budget. A lot
019of times >> we had a practice but not policy. And that practice was 18. >> And the minute we went over 18, we advertised. That was a practice. It wasn't a policy, right? And it was for many years. >> Does GPS have a policy in place like that now? >> I don't know. I I don't think so because the policy manual was done by MASC. So I don't think it got personal, >> right? >> Like like local. It's sort of like the laws. But it was definitely a practice. and parents, we knew parents looked at class size was critical. Um, so where do the convers and I'm just looking for clarity, not um where like if we have some things we know we want added and I know that's a horrible word to say in
020this this fiscal year, but when does that conversation happen? >> Does that happen now? like if you I know you did listening sessions a lot of school committee members went out and listening sessions with whether it was [clears throat] schools PTO's um pack groups that type of scenario >> and if there are different things we've heard obviously we'll take all those into consideration >> okay and then just find out how much that would cost us to look at it >> right >> I mean it's just do we want to make the list now >> well I think we did the list a little bit right >> yeah I think I feel like it is in Yes. >> And we'll start adding a cost to those. >> So, it gets to be >> Go ahead. >>
021I don't want to say it gets to be easy. Not easy, but it does get to be somewhat black and white with numbers where things equal this. And oh, we either have money. >> Three pairs equal a teacher. I wanted a teacher. I had to give up three pairs. I've lived this. Cut 26 teachers because you built a new school and now you don't have the staff to put in it. Yeah. >> No, >> I get it. But I think there's some things that need to be taken care of that >> would bring some goodwill from people, >> right? Increaseable costs, right? >> Right. But goodwill might bring money back. I mean, >> oh yeah. No, there's that trade-off, right? Keeping people in the city and not going to whether it's other private schools, school
022choice, charter schools. >> So, one of my one of my big concerns and it's been it's been going on forever. Um, it goes back to whenever they reopened the elementary schools is at four corners. There's a pair in each classroom and we always were told that was because ACES was there. There are special ed programs and disabled children at each elementary school. So I really find at this point in my life and as somebody who's lived Greenfield public schools and I listening to all these parents and teachers too, there's an equity in staffing in Greenfield and I would like us to look at um a parent in each elementary classroom. Federal Street has a behavior program which can be intense. Newton has um seeds which is the children um you know who have de developmental
023needs and it's still a struggle. It's still a fight between the three schools because nobody wants to take a new kid from another school. That fight is still there. I hear it. And with our special ed numbers of 20 some odd percent population, it makes sense to have supported classrooms. You know, the the class size versus supported classroom. I kind of want to >> look at that. Okay. Because one of the things um when you look at all of the research around improving literacy imp you know lowering our special ed numbers um creating supportive classrooms. Um and then the other thing is more reading specialists at each elementary school. We have to do something different for reading and it really has I think has to do with staffing. Um, right now they're there used to
024be one reading and one math. I don't know if they're paid out of title one or if they're regular budget. Years ago they were title one, but they've been shoved into classrooms when teachers are gone like they're subs. Um, so kids haven't gotten those services that that need to have services. It's happened year after year and then that's just because we don't have enough people. Um, and I'm not criticizing that because but it's bottom line is a good strong reading program takes reading specialists. If we could hire two more reading specialists, it's definitely for Newton because it's the most underperforming probably federal and I don't know how high Four Corners is scoring, but at least two more for each of those schools. And then you have supported classrooms. the teachers really I think it would
025take off. We put in a new reading program. It's a core and there's no magic core. Um, a lot of money was spent on it, but what really needs to happen is to give the teachers the support they need. And everything I'm hearing is class sizes up. We don't have enough paras. Kids need more support. Behaviors, you know, again, more support for the behaviors. Um the high school also um feels they're vocal [clears throat] about it that they don't have support parent support in the eighth grade which they had for those kids when they were at the middle school. So I think there's it would lower a ratio adult per child. Um, but it also might also solve a sub problem by putting a parent in each classroom because we know at Newton there were
026two third grades that just didn't have a teacher all year because people were out for different reasons. >> And then then we're looking at their scores and saying you're underperforming but you didn't have places. Right. >> Right. So it's kind of like at least with a parent in that classroom there's some consistency some routine for those children when instead of all of a sudden >> then when you eliminate a building based sub >> I don't know if that's ever been effective because the original plan because >> I mean there is a building based sub you know and >> so like if I if you're >> they really exist. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Oh yes >> they do. >> Yep. >> No I wouldn't. Well, if you have a look at all this, >> but every
027time we turn around, we use an IIA for something that's not supporting a child. They're at recess. They're in the cafeteria. They're subbing. Meanwhile, the little child who needs somebody to say to them are the words of a child at the middle school. I just didn't know what a word meant. I needed somebody to help me, but there was nobody there to help me because the teacher was busy with that's straight from a kiddo. I know at the high school when I sat there and I knew how hard it was for her to learn to read because I was her elementary principal and here she is at the middle school going really succeeding but she just needs a little so I think I think that's what I'm hearing now what it costs I don't know
028I think it needs to all be laid out to look at um because we've cut teachers as we've had declining enrollment and I get that, but we've added a lot of other things and I'm not sure those other things really make a difference to a child. I want to make sure the money is going to the children. >> I still need to understand transportation. I don't I mean, I just had to park with the vans and they're all sitting there. Um, I want to I think the last time I saw a list of like and I don't know if it's up to date how many people we are hiring and the last time I saw that there were more van drivers being h working for us than there were elementary teachers at one school. That
029bothers me. We're here to teach children and I agree transportation is important but I don't think we should be in the transportation business. On transportation note, didn't we at one of the meetings ask for that uh company to >> He will he will be coming to your mark meeting. >> Oh, wonderful. >> The transportation director. >> This is um some we're going to look for a report for transportation >> efficiencies. So that would be finding what we're doing with our transportation and how we can get more savings. >> What about questions? If we just canned transportation, how much would we save? >> Well, so I would think we will. I don't know if we'll get the exact name, but we'll find that out. So, I did talk to Chair Son last week. >> Yeah. >>
030And we put him on being Rich the consultant coming in for the March 11th meeting. >> Well, I love you so much. >> I'm going to miss you. >> Yeah, he's almost wrapped up. He's almost wrapped up his um wouldn't quite be ready for next week. Um we've talked but um it'll be ready and he will he plans on coming in per in person. Worst case we did say he could but >> is that one of the questions he'll answer is how much we're paying total >> we know how much we're paying. >> Oh okay. That's >> okay. >> Issue use a phrase that Steve member commented presented the fact of doing our transition on our own. They were they described it worth I would never have described as way that it would be self-supporting
031>> right I remember >> that would never have been never said that I mean so and admittedly I have also shared that um based on their projection that they were talking about I will give ed to the transportation director Jake Wilson at the time that they they did grow the the revenue generating where we you know they were estimating 200 grainers. There have been some years where we've actually doubled as far as conc. So, um the and then I don't they didn't they didn't believe it, but when you look at what Greenfield spends for transportation offsetting what it is that we collect on the re for both the way Desi takes it from regular and sped transportation, we are right in the middle as our total cost for regular and sped transportation most of dark
032communities. Those are the districts that Desi compares us to. >> So does that include the salaries and the and the health benefits for 19 people or 20 >> all whatever benefits are that would be >> is that included in that >> um no city. >> It's not a city. >> I know. >> Yeah. >> For everybody. >> Yeah. We can I mean I would add that it was see I mean we are solid it's a fair point but we are solidly right the total cost we are not exorbitant in the stat sheet >> and for context talking to people from other districts transportation cost increases going up is a problem that is universal to western mass right now it seems and we are legally required to provide a lot of this transportation so the question
033is whether or not it's cheaper to contract out versus run inhouse. And I believe that is the question that the report that we're receiving is really addressing >> buying both bus. He's actually looking at that even though we didn't ask, but he's doing it anyway. >> Wonderful. Um and then uh dispenseed transportation both what it is that we currently do ourselves um and also because of the fact that we don't have to problem. So what we have to outsource so >> I don't I don't think we outsource that much that much outsource >> I understand we do outsource. I'm saying it's not like we're talking like 20 vehicles were out. Probably a handful would be my guess. I could be wrong. >> I s a lot of pickup lines. >> So, a lot of pickup
034lines. >> I guess I'm just questioning the efficiency. I just parked and there are 10 vans sitting in the parking lot of the church >> and as somebody who you know our taxes just went up major. Um, we all got hit. And so when you see vans sitting in a parking lot not doing anything, you wonder like, is there another way? Could GCC be using them? Could FRTA be using them? The Senior Center be using them? You just wonder. And then you see a a van that's only got, and I'm a Honda girl, so you see a Honda that's only got 20,000 miles on it needing repairs because it's just sitting somewhere. um you know >> well that's certainly >> you know don't get me wrong I mean these things get done you know I
035I we were talking about it earlier and it's like the vehicles that we use for the transportation even though I understand they're sitting there also time >> you know nobody's leaving school you know so um there would be a reason why they would be sitting there at this whether or not they could be used elsewhere there are some legal items are have the school bus signs on the school busy on it that I know and because we tried to do that our buses for private things and time state police said that it is not appropriate for anything other than 70 transportation etc. So, we're checking in if there's a vehicle that the people want us, but at the same time, um, it's no different than I mean, how many times a year do when when
036the police vehicles come? It's part of the capital. I think at least two two police cruisers are, >> but they're on a replacement cycle, we don't have a replacement cycle. beat these to the breath. >> And so, and then also, we were just talking here, whether or not we whether whatever comes out of Rich's report, does the pendulum swing to fully outsourcing or does the potent pendulum swing to bringing it all in? So, I don't think we all have the the appetite to do anything else. I'm with you. I don't want to busting through this either. Um but at the same time I just signed a purchase order increase because for vehicle repairs because the DPW who's supposed to be doing our vehicles don't have the capacity. So we have to bring our vans to
037a private contractor to do the repairs on our vehicles because the garage here >> and and we don't have a um one of the thing we also it's not a revelation but there is no because you are in the business until you're not in it. Right. Um there is no regular rollover. So for example, we have roughly 12 vans be 13ish but call you know realistically with the amount of miles they put on these vans every two every year you should almost be replacing two just for a cycle. So every six years six to seven years you're getting replacement because after six years I would bet those vans are going to be close to almost 180 200,000 miles on them. in that sense. But there is no, you know, you talk about strategic plans and
038long-term plans. There was no plan in place. We found none that every two years we're going to buy or every one year we're going to buy one vehicle or every two. There's zero of that. This will get flushed out as well in that report. >> Yeah. I I'm thinking that our discussion is a little premature because I think we need to have that report in front of us. And it sounds like Just wondered where we were with that. >> Yeah. >> My only question like with the vans I I know again it's premature. We're still talking prematurely here is like are we using the vans or the buses like to the full potential we could be? You know, are we able to use them like for a field trip, you know, instead of paying kasmuscus?
039Are we able to use them for after school? you know, um are we able to use the vans maybe for middle school sports um who don't play the same time JV and varsity do? I know JV and varsity need a little bigger of a bus for all that equipment. Um but I'm just cur like I'm just like I'm like >> my understanding that efficiency will be addressed under >> Okay, cool. >> Right. But even we do like small drive. >> So these passengers are there seven passenger vehicles that were >> well I mean I'm talking about like the yellow the yellow school bus for like after school for middle school >> that like you know I sometimes see again I was here yesterday for dismissal of after school. Um, you know, and I saw about
040like I mean there could have been more. I didn't say the whole time, but like five kids got on the big yellow bus. I mean, they could have gone to the high school after. Again, I I'm speculating here. >> I guess that leads to the next question. Will he in his efficiency report look at the riders >> like Oh, good. >> Yes. Okay. >> In in routes >> because I know our buses a lot are in the afternoon very empty and they're full in the morning. And that's always that's always tough from a um I spent my career at secondary level basically. It's tough because you have to have the seats for those who are eligible to ride >> 100%. >> And because when it's sunny days out and kids want to ride their bike
041to school, I'm joking, ride with their friend. But on a winter day or when it's raining and their parents car breaks down and they they're eligible for a seat, you got to have that seat. Um, similarly the after school part, you all know this, but you run into the >> well there's nothing like >> I can say again I only can speak for middle school only my personal experience I've never filled anything out like I know my child stays after this day and this day but I've never been asked if I need a late bus. So there's nothing really official saying like there we know that we need x amount of seats because there's like 20 kids on student council and they all need a bus ride home. >> I wasn't referring to the club
042thing. We know that we know where you live. We know that if you ride home on the traditional yellow >> correct >> but I'm saying like on the after school but we don't have any >> there's nothing I filled out saying I need. I do think we're getting a little far away from the budget and finance. >> I believe they called, but we'll we'll check that. >> Okay, >> back on topic. Sorry. >> Yeah. And I think as silly computer, >> we need to get one of those really long pointers on a scale. You >> might want to wheels. >> Okay. Yep, >> we're back. >> And the record uh little thingy is still next to so we should be good. Um where was I? I think after the March 11th report, we'll be able
043to discuss this in more detail with better data. So getting back to the budget update, I suppose my question would involve looking at the calendar again to figure out um roughly because we originally had it that early February would be the publication of the proposed budget. So are we looking at that early March instead or or April? >> Um I'm going to talk to Aaron. Sorry, Aaron. I guess they make it >> on the website >> they say chief staff politely this morning and she was generally told me right about a month but that she'll have better fig dates >> uh soon and she was traveling when we spoke this morning in the area but we'll get me what the mayor's calendar is so we can kind of flush that through. >> Okay. So what
044we're looking at is likely early March publication and then >> within the two week period or whatever the required period is our special meeting to approve the budget. Um let's see. >> Well that special meeting potentially we go to April. >> Oh yes April. >> So if you took the the blue February if you kind of see that blue February >> Yes. and just transpose it down. Yes. um almost I don't want to say um February jokingly could be March >> and if we were just pushing it back one month we would almost just say those are that's what's happening. So in March, we would potentially present, right? Maybe we would have a subcommittee meeting. >> We've always been early. Most districts, I mean, South is Mother's Day, May every year, right? >> Front of
045town. >> Um, and you just don't know what the feds or the state or anybody's doing anymore. But I think if we were to we being sub here I don't want to tell you what to do right but we guide you late February early March like even this week in March the week before the school committee if we were to come back we would have better figures for you some different things. >> Sure. >> Yeah. Um then we right you um was similar to that Monday or Tuesday of the week prior to our school committee could deem whether we're ready to go or like you just mentioned oh we just got numbers from the mayor not number but dates we're still really early tinker around for another month we'll bring it to the April meeting.
046Yeah. So, I'm thinking our next meeting does sound logical to be roughly a month from now, beginning of March to see. >> May I have your attention, please? The school will now be conducting a lockdown trip. Please go into lockdown mode at this time. This is only a trip. Again, you're going into lockdown. or you know we're almost done. >> Yeah, we're almost done. >> Yeah, >> we're locked. >> Yeah. So, >> unlocked. I get it. That door is locked and the other one outside is locked. I'm >> just saying, [laughter] >> but yeah. So, it seems like our our plan of action right now is to meet again beginning of March to go over more detail that and we've already we're already going to be updating the budget calendar. We voted on that. So,
047are there any other budget update questions or things we need to know right now? >> Just really regarding anyone look at the chapter we are now back to receiving just the minimum amount that per people because our foundation enrollment went down by 55. So our chapter spending increase is only 122,325 and then on top of that our choice and charter sending uh choice went up by 20 students or to the tune of $458,188 and the charter went up by four students but that because of their formula that increase of charter spending is $210,170. So right that choice >> setting in or out >> out. Okay just >> so the total >> it's a loss >> make sure everybody >> total coming off the top amount is 668,35. So right there is like >> just >>
048it's going to be brutal. >> Yeah. Come on in. >> Everybody releasing you from the lockown. You want to come see us? >> Yes, we love Frank. >> Nobody comes out till the budget's set. [laughter] >> Okay, we have to come up with a budget really fast. >> Yes, comfort dogs in every class. [laughter] >> There's something to >> So, yes, we had a lot of money on porch going up. We know that. So I'm going to present some things to you in the future about choice charter privacy. >> So >> when I knocked on a lot of doors in the town >> and I asked why of parents who took their children out for one reason was class size two was bullet. >> So those are the two things and class size has been
049big in Greenfield since long as I've been here. I mean they all talk about how many kids are in their classes. Um there was a question parents um at the middle school there was a social studies class of 29. I don't know if that ever got fixed. >> Um and then just basic question is science and social studies year long at the middle school. >> Thank you. >> So >> just have one one >> that is a gold star for Roland >> but it's year long >> one. Yeah. They each have the whole seventh grade 100ish kids. Okay. of one science teacher and one social studies teacher and one math teacher which if you ask my child she's very happy just to be very clear. >> That is excellent news. >> Was one of my
050and then so Andy had said to me that in last year's budget stuff they had staff list. So, I went back. I saved everything and I found the list and and the middle school listed 10 more teachers than the high school. So, what was just >> that's that listing is redistricting. >> Okay. >> This be undone. So, if you look at the >> Oh, that was with the four extra teachers that were to be hired. >> We have post nonred redistricting but change that to the mayor >> because that didn't make any sense to me. I mean 10 high schools usually have more staff because they are doing AP and stuff. >> Okay. >> So I think based on what I'm hearing everything we present about increase we need to explicitly link to the people
051and the class size. I think that is the only way we can frame it for people to really understand the consequences and what the human cost will be if we're not able to >> make things better for children. >> Yes. >> But it shouldn't be shaming either. >> No, it shouldn't be shaming. It's just more of >> shaming. No, that >> and everything that was awful. So I just can't that again. Think >> it was bad. >> Well, no. And also the mayor does not have a money tree that she's ever revealed to me. >> She's got nine grandchildren. She [laughter] is the first mayor to really I'm going to tell you like sits at the table with us. Okay. Most of them never even showed up at the table. And actually, you can see
052her what was it? The fire panel. I could see her head going doing the math and she said I I got that people were still arguing with her and she just said she was paying for it because that was important. >> Well, it I think it so from a nonshamy I think the framing is just like we are asking for this money and this is why this is the impact for the kids. This is these are the people whose jobs we can save. So I I think keeping it framing framing everything on people not shaming. >> Exactly. >> And with all of us going in eyes wide open that the state aid isn't where it should be. Who knows what's happening with federal aid. Um we are digging ourselves deeper into a pit with choice
053and charter. And we're not the only district having these exact same issues. the town health insurance. All sorts of towns all over Western Mass are having to make cuts that they can't afford to make because they have to pay their health insurance bills. So, we we don't need to shame people for being in the same impossible situation that we're in. >> Said out loud. >> Yes. >> Yeah. We're we're all going to be civil and nice to each other this year. >> Yes. Maybe. Um, >> you want to look at your calendars for maybe that first week in March? >> Um, >> oh, I apologize. >> Are we having a meeting next week? >> Next, well, not this subcommittee, but the full committee. >> So, we can either or because usually the scheduling happens for
054Becky for beginning March, but early March. Um, >> well, I'm Well, that's the question. Do we would it make more sense for us to meet before or after the March 11th transportation study? >> After hear what the official date from >> would because it's budget season would would you guys be amendable to meeting both before and after? >> Absolutely. Okay. >> So, we will schedule very early March and then schedule >> would we have Roland's budget sort ofish by then >> to go over before the meeting and then have >> Yeah, I would like to do that. the transportation and then have the transportation presented >> well finetuned I wouldn't say the final tune but the final tune budget >> prior to the end >> regarding the whole transport whatever comes out of this report
055quite honestly is not going to be able to address that by 27 because if indeed let's play out the hypothetical that he's saying we need to contract out we do have an existing and when that is done you need to bargain that bargain that out for That's what's it's been done when school districts be the easier one when they contract out switch from self operating food service management to going with a self- operating food service to a service management company. You have to bargain that >> which we're transportation is up for bargaining this year. Okay. So, right, it's just a thing as far as this this report is going to be valuable, but it is not going to just >> unfortunately you >> I wouldn't be surprised if it comes in like mixed messages to
056be honest with you. >> Yeah. But you know what I mean? So, because a lot of the challenges I say and as much as I don't want to say that I sound like or to give or saying let's go ahead get in the transportation business. um when you look at the I'll say the foundation that they potentially lay with what it is that we are looking to do and what it is that those that have come after and the transition have grown into one of the challenges that tree center currently have is is the staff you know is to be able to get enough drivers so that we're not contracting out even on the you know what we pay our staff internally versus what is that we're paying for a contractor is less >> I
057mean and it as jobs, >> right? >> You know, there are people who may not be a good fit to be an IIA, but we are still employing people within our community, >> but we're still paying them more than we are pair professionals with children. That was so the context of when they started this and I remember Northampton was about to go belly up because of homeless transportation and we had just got 50 CH homeless children and I'm the one who had them go and there were so many vans in front of my school like it was just open a door check the driver because we had it was a horrible time because all of a sudden Western Mass Northampton was in big trouble. Um, and that's when this was all discussed to keep us
058from being as bad as where Northampton did because they were having to out of >> because that's when the suite started two guys in a van sweet transportation. >> Yeah. I think we're going to have to see what the report says from there. I mean, we can we can discuss this till we're blue in the face, but it's not going to go >> far. March 2nd and 3rd that Monday or Tuesday. Those are the days generally here. How you do it, right? >> Okay. >> I like this time on Tuesday. >> Okay. This time on Tuesday. So, do we want to check with Becky to see because of the way the month shook out uh March 3rd. So, pretty much just changed two to a three and we've got the scheduling done. >> 11:30. Yep.
059Okay. >> A lot. You said March 3rd possibly. >> March 3rd. >> Yeah, I don't see 11:30. >> Yep. 11. >> Wonderful. Okay. Um, in that case, unless someone has anything that they need to say or something they want added to the agenda for that one, uh, we would have a motion to adjurnn. >> So, second. >> All in favor? >> I. And we are adjourned at 12:33. Uh, thank you for this amazing, entertaining broadcast. Come back next month for the cliffhanger resolution.