Virtual Special Meeting of the Operations Committee Wed 6/3/2026

001Thank you. Good evening everyone. This is a special um meeting of the operations committee. Today is June 3rd uh 2026. Uh it is 7:34. Uh we do have a form of the committee. Um I'm Jennifer Perez. We have Marissa Estraz and Joan Bur Jennings here. Uh we also have board members Joseph and Albert Benales. That's it for board members. I believe I'm sure more later. So, we'll get started with approval of the meeting minutes from May 6, 2026. We have a motion. >> Motion to approve. >> Okay. Meeting minutes from March uh I got to pull up the J. I'm sorry. >> March 6, 2026. >> May 6, I'm sorry. >> May 6. Sorry. Motion to approve the meeting minutes from May 6, 2026. >> I'll second the discussion. >> All in favor say I.

002>> I saw your mouth jo I believe said I. >> All righty. Um I just want to know Mr. Trader is also joining us. So we'll move on to the first item agenda. um the discussion and possible referral to the full board the following solar contracts for central high school and curio school. So I believe Mr. Garcia you're on. >> So um I want to just start by saying thank you to Mike Zur for his hard work and diligence in putting these programs together. He's been doing a tremendous job with the sustainability of the district and making sure that we're um you know making sure that we're conserving energy in every twist and turn. Um so I'm going to turn it over to him to uh walk through these solar projects. >> I'm live. Yes.

003Okay. Good evening everybody. Um here >> for the um discussion and possible referral to the full board for the solar contracts at Central Marin and Curial at Curial and Maran. All panels will be on the roof at Central. Most panels will be on the roof and we're also going to create a carport in the parking lot from near the gym out to North Avenue. So, we'll cover one parking space and the sidewalk and a little just a a little bit onto the grass to cover that. Um, I think that'll be great for inclement weather um and snow and rain that the students that do walk that way 400 ft uh will be covered. >> Not fully sheltered, but covered. >> Um, Mr. mute your mic. >> Oh, sure. >> Thank you. >> And uh all

004three projects will save us um significant uh money on our electric bill. The estimate for the first year of savings is about $140,000 total for the three projects. Committee members, do you have any questions? >> I do. I have to say this project makes me very happy um to obviously be using renewable energy to help reduce our bills. Um I do have a number of >> questions, some of which you you actually just answered about expected savings. Um, so we're expected to save about $140,000 a year. Um, how much are those savings inclusive of the cost of the solar? So, are those savings after the money that we put in to pay for the solar panels? >> U, we are not um we do not own them. It's a purchase power agreement. uh third party

005company is owns the panels, maintains them, installs them and does everything. We do have to purchase the electricity that the panels produce, but we will be buying it at a greatly reduced rate than we would pay directly to the utility company. >> Yep. Excellent. >> So there's no capital out of pocket for the board. >> Okay. Excellent. So my other questions are in regards to I'm keeping Tisdale in the back of my mind. So like if the panels need to be maintained, repaired, who's responsible for doing that? And >> side question, can they make us a priority? because I I really didn't like that at we had to wait a few weeks to get someone in while you know the roof was um so can we add that as part of the contract we need

006to make priority >> uh yes um the um the attorneys have reviewed all the contracts I will speak with them and you know make make that clear that we want to be a priority so that we don't have a situation like that. And if I can briefly on that um on Tisdale. So Tisdale Tesla took over. So it was that delta of time of um them sort of getting their bearings. Um so that was sort of that that issue that we had with responsiveness. >> So you know whenever it's whenever someone else purchases you know we go through that heartache of of reestablishing those relationships and everything. Um but this program is being done through Greenbeck and we've got a tremendous relationship with them. >> Y excellent. >> Okay. Um last qu uh I won't

007say it's my last question but who will be maintaining these? Will the city be responsible for maintaining or is this third party person going to be doing it? >> The third party is responsible for everything. >> Okay. We don't have the the staff honestly or the the technical skill sets, you know, to maintain, install and service everything. And with this being a PPA, >> if the panels don't make uh electricity, >> they don't make any money. They don't get any money. So, they have skin in the game that, you know, everything needs to be working properly. >> Will the city have access? So, I just got solar installed in my own house and I have like an application on my phone just to keep track that the panels are working. Will we have access to

008make sure that >> we you know the panels are working as well? >> Yes, that's part of the program. >> Okay. And then my last item >> um in regards to these PBAs is about the warranty. I know the contract is about 20 years. Um, is the warranty for these panels should something happen be for that duration as well? >> Yes, the vendor is responsible for the 20 years. When the 20 years are up, there's a few options that the board of ed could choose to buy the system and own it outright or to just basically abandon or have the system removed. And after 20 years, the general rule of thumb is, you know, the panels have probably, you know, they they don't have much life left in them, >> right? They've reached the end

009of life. Um, >> okay, I said last question, but this one is really my last question. I'm sorry. Um, is the thought process to, so these are central government carry out. Is the thought process to do this with other schools as well and try to shed as much you know reduce the utility bills as as much as possible. >> Yes, absolutely. Um one of the the biggest challenge is um the age of our roofs. Since this is a 20-year commitment, the roofs have to be with uh only a few years old when we install the solar. >> So, Marian is a couple of years old. Central is a few years old. Um Curial was just done last summer, >> I hope, I think. Um and in the future coming up we have the board of

010edge nutrition center will be getting roof and I believe school >> probably next summer. So we probably have to start the process over to you know get >> um vendors to for installing solar at those locations >> and to that and to that point also u we are also looking at the potential of carports at JFK carports at Johnson. So, you know, we're really no leaf unturned. Um, you know, Mike has done a tremendous job of analyzing every district. We already have designs for for both Johnson and JFK. It's just a matter of working through the details. Um, you know, banking these together. Um, it makes a lot of sense for us. And then, you know, as we build out the solar, you know, we want to have an enhancement where, for instance, central, you

011know, you have the covered walkway, you have the carports, you know, so we're working in a way where We're building an ecosystem not just through sustainability but also for for the participants in the district. >> Excellent. Thank you so much. I think it makes sense considering one of our top three most expensive line items on our budget is utilities. So I think it's a win. Thank you so much for your time. Mr. >> Yes. The other question I have is what is the percentage cost of living that is or is it locked? >> Uh our rate is locked for the 20 years. >> Beautiful. The reason why what I'm trying to point out here he's saying okay we're going to say $740,000 a year at the very first year we every one of us know

012that keeps increasing rate by 20 years the rate would have gone up 50%. So compoundedly we will be saving way more than you know 50% more than 140 down the road. That's the point next year. So it is a win-win situation for the future because we have a lot. I do have a personal I do have a panel on my roof and I for 20 years they're responsible for any again at the end of 20 years they will either yank it out or replace if I choose to be much more. Shut up. >> M question or Mr. >> Yeah, I got I got a couple questions and some concerns. Um yeah, first of all, why why is this contract structured in this manner rather than uh just like uh I know some solar companies they

013just charge um >> they they we get the whole credit we buy for the we buy from them at a discount or something like that. There's another way to structure the contract that other people use. Can you tell me a little about that? Um not positive of what you mean because you know they you buying the electricity from the solar company. >> It looks it looks like we're splitting the credit with them that we get from having >> the way it is structured. >> Well, they received the tax credit for >> correct >> and as a and as a split Yeah, >> Teresa says there's an echo. We'll have to figure that out. I don't want to switch. I don't want to switch 71% and get 78%. So, we got three different tiers of >>

014No, no, it's it's just the show itself. >> That's the echo. >> It's not You don't hear it on teams. >> YouTube based on >> I think it's the real tight. uh purely roof mounted systems are much easier. Uh the carport system they need to do more structural analysis and you know build the cantal levers or trusses or you know the things that are going to hold the panels >> and it also depends at each site where UI's transformers are that their wires ultimately feed into the transformer. and you know what it's going to take to run the conduits and run the wires from the roof of our building or from the parking lot of the building to get to the transformers. At Central they are tying in at two different transformers. At Curial it's

015one at Marin it's one. >> Right. And yeah the I'm I'm definitely concerned about the the shares because it seems our largest producer which has the most potential for revenue. We're getting the smallest the smallest share out of all the three schools. I we're we're getting 21% of those savings and they're getting 78 as opposed to us getting 28 at Marin which is a much smaller mileage output is shift those at least a one or two% towards our favor. >> So so that's based on the cost of of them putting the system in. So that's what those credits are used for. Um, you know, and like to Mike's point, the central is a little more complex. Um, so that's why the the percentage points are where they are. Um, but you know, once again, no

016capex out of pocket, day one savings, you know. Um, but you know, there's only so much wiggle room when it comes to that because it's all based on the system and there's a host of metrics for the grants and everything that they've got to present to the federal and local governments. >> Okay, next question. canopy. Do we have to remove any trees to get this environmental savings? >> No, there's no trees anywhere near there. >> Okay, just I can't I don't got the whole topography, so I got to ask. >> No. >> Um what >> I thought about that also, Joe. >> I know you guys I gotta ask. That's what That's what I'm here for. Um what else? Transferability. We mentioned the transferability of the contract and Miss um Mr. Mariamz brought up the

017point of the waiting. It seems like they got unilateral rights to transfer transfer this contract to whoever they whoever need be. However, we're locked in. We're locked we're locked in no matter what. What happens if we need to sell a building or get rid of excess of building in within a 20-year time frame? I I I see there's I can't bring it up right now. My phone's acting up. um some sort some sort of penalty where we got to pay off if we're in default or something like that. >> I can't >> I believe there is, but these three buildings in particular um we've just recently put roofs on. I don't think you know I don't foresee in the future the board of ed wanting or needing to get rid of either any of these

018three buildings. They're all newer buildings in, you know, our inventory. And if the, you know, if the board of ed were to vacate them and they became basically property or used by the city, I think it would just transfer in that way since the city and board of ed, >> right? But it doesn't appear that we have an absolute right to do that. Um, like when I sell my house, if I put an improvement on my house, if I enter a long-term contract, maintenance contract, I can make that part of the mortgage for the most part as part of the sale agreement that they take over certain warranties of my household. And I don't think we have that protection in that contract for that to be to for it to be transferable our the benefits

019that we receive because I'm not I'm not just thinking of school closures. I'm thinking of um what about what about an accident? F, god forbid, a school goes on fire and that school got to come offline. Um, who's who's responsible for the rest of that contract? >> Yes. Um, honestly, I did not get into all of that. The contract is about 50 pages. I know the attorneys have reviewed it all and I'm not an attorney. Um I can try to dig into that and you know give you my opinion but um we can certainly look into that further. >> Right. Yeah. Just just the transferability and the protection just I mean because even if it goes to the city because it is a city building u they may want that transferability if god forbid something

020happens and they make it into an apartment building they may want to be able to capture those benefits. I don't see why we wouldn't have the same assignability as the vendor would be able to give. U what I think I have something else. I can't recall what it is right now. Uh I I think that's all I got for now. Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. I was just going to chime in and say that usually with most most PPAs there's a transferability clause so that if for example in my in my example I put in solar panels on my house I sell my house tomorrow the new owners responsible for the solar panels including the payment um so we should certainly make sure that's in the contract as Oh, Mr. Bahan. >> Thank you, Madam

021Chair. Question, Mr. Garcia. I'm going back with Mr. Suck say that um um um contract something's wrong with the building because I know the building belong to the city. So, the the something wrong like Mr. Let's say the city responsible or us the board education or is is responsible >> as as part of the contract the the provider is responsible for everything. So if we get a roof leak based on the unit they've got to fix it. If there's an issue they've got to fix it. There's plenty of protections in the contract. These contracts are very um standard also. So, you know, this is our standard contract that we've pretty much used throughout my career in um in solar um with some enhancements. I think they've uh added some additional protections for us within this

022contract. But yes, um they would be responsible for everything. >> All right. I wouldn't be sure, Mr. Garcia, because I know we don't I know you do the job amazing and your team, but we don't want surprise from the city. You know how everything go. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> I see no further. There um question. Is there a motion on this item? >> Yes. Um just trying to go back to the agenda. Sorry guys. Okay. Uh motion to refer to the full board of the following contract solar contracts. Central High School, Luis Munosing School, and Kiel School. >> Second. I'll second that. Um, no further debate. All in favor, say I. >> I. >> Thank you. We'll move on to review and possible referral to the full board of the

023updated ED specification of the special ed school. Is that both you and Mike again? >> That'll be me. Um, thank you, Mike. I don't see PJ in March, but uh >> uh PJ's on. >> Okay, great. I don't see the second page. All right. So, um Edspec, the state had requested um that we update the EDS spec. Obviously, this is a unique school that we're building out here. So, the state wanted a little more detail. They wanted to understand some of the spaces that we anticipated in and uh constructing in the in this program along with some of what the programming will look like. Um I think we all understand that this will be dynamic as we start to build it out because it is one of a kind and very unique in an urban

024school district, but the state wanted a little more detail. They want to have a better little little better understanding of what our intent was. So, what we've done is we've created a space plan along with um spelling out some of the programming within the facility. >> We have any questions members? I have some questions. Um, so I was a a a little bit surprised that the school is for 251 students and I know this is mostly um for those out of district students getting serviced to bring them back into the district and and save money that way. But is the thought process? Well, I guess my first question is, do we have 250 students out of district or is the intent to also some of those students that are in our current schools right now

025under this bed program to have them go to the school as well? >> Madam Chair, I can I can address that question. Uh it it's a combination it's a combination. Uh we have more than 200 uh some 200 we have about 270 some odd kids that are out district placements but we also have kids in district that can that would benefit from a pro program environment that we're going to be uh developing within that school setting. Uh it has to be a a very you know um modest you know transition. So we won't we won't automatically fill that school with that many kids because it's it's it's a it's it's going to be more of a therapeutic setting. So we have to kind of develop that based on the needs of the children that that

026we service across the district. Uh we have kids at BLC that could benefit from this from that school. We're looking at combining you know some of those therapeutic uh services that we currently provide in the district but expanding upon those things. There's all kinds of new innovative programs and therapeutic uh ideas that we're going to be developing as we go through the whole process as well. And so uh it's it's a combination uh to be able to provide those services for the for the children. And uh there's all kinds of unique opportunities and programs out there now. Uh and that's what we're doing. We will be researching that. We'll be going site visits to some of those. And we we feel that I think we want to bring some of the board members to some

027of the things as we start developing programs uh to see some of those things. There's a a lot of local area schools uh and districts that are using programmatic and therapeutic methods of supporting their children across different disabilities uh and that we can that we're looking at you know recreating in our own space. So, uh, uh, it's it's so unique and so, um, you know, um, you know, individualized that we're going to be it's going to be state-of-the-art and we really want to take our time and do it the right way, uh, as we open up the center. So, that was a great question. And if I got to add briefly to that, um the way that we're we're formatting some of the spaces that we understand that in the future if this program really

028does well that the potential of of bringing on additional students from both the district and out of the district, we'll build this in a way where we can add a wing to it, right? Um and some of the spaces we're going to build up so we have additional capacity. So, a regular size gym, a regular a regular size cafeteria, which is in the space program currently, you know. So, we're thinking of the future also. >> Excellent. And that's kind of you first saw where I was going where it was kind of like, you know, more and more every year we start seeing our sped numbers >> going up slightly. So we need to be prepared um should we need additional space in this school to you know provide our students the resources required um okay

029I'm just checking my notes here I think okay I th those are all my questions thank you >> madam chair can I add a little bit more to Marissa's uh question >> yeah the other the other idea is to be able to, you know, um, recruit other students from other districts that may want to pay for those services as well, right? So, you're spot on. And I think that's the that's the beauty of of this unique opportunity for this district is to be able to do that. And that's really if we do it well and we build it well, they will come. And I think that's really the the the the emphasis of making sure that we do special education well in this district. And and that's why you see that our program stuff is

030changing. It's going to change on a yearly basis because the needs of children is is changing. And the opportunities to do education differently for this for this group of children is different. And so we got to grab those opportunities and work through them. And so, uh, I'm very very excited about this because this is a very very unique opportunity. Uh, and and the largest district in Connecticut doing some really innovative work in this area is meaningful. So, I'm excited. So, I'm glad you guys are are asking the question that you're asking. So, wonderful. Thank you. Y I and I was just going to mention really quickly um was I really like that we're thinking in that manner because ultimately we need to ensure as a district that we're sustainable and kind of with the prek

031mindset where we have these programs at our school that bring us revenue. We should attempt to do that in any each of our schools if possible. Thank you. or Miss Bony, did you have any questions? Okay, Mr. Sak. >> Yeah, a couple of questions. Um, not too many on this one. Um, yeah, it says in the document we you need a space waiver from the state. >> Yes, because based on the programming. So um you know because of the nature of the facility it's not a typical facility where the square footages are uniform uh for regular regular session school >> and you don't we don't anticipate any u issues with that? >> No no the state the the beauty of it all is that we're working closely with the state you know um just just

032for them to get back to us to want to enhance this is just a testament to the work that's being done to ensure that this is going to be a success for Bridgeport. >> Right. And um the the warming space that needed to be determined has that been figured >> the warming space. >> Yeah, warming kitchen for the kitchen for the food for nutrition. >> Yeah. So uh we have full functioning kitchen. Um we also understand that there's uh specific needs. So all of that will be addressed um similar to what we've done over at the winter ske program. uh you know for children that need uh food to be blended any uh nutritional needs can be addressed in that building across the whole entire gamut. And final question, we didn't re we didn't revise

033the student population downward, did we? >> It's the same. >> Um, I believe so, but new projections are being created, so we're, you know, making sure that everything is what it is. Um, but we're confident in all of our numbers and our details and our budget. I feel really good about this and super excited on what we're going to deliver to everyone. >> Right. A suggestion if the state comes at us to revise numbers upward. More is always better, Joe. You know I love more. >> Mr. Medina, >> thank you, Madam Chair. God bless you, everyone. Um, I just was wondering and I know I'm I'm a little bit behind and and uh looking at some of this stuff because it was some of it was uh placed a few hours ago. Um, but I

034just wanted to ask, are we going to get a new rendition? I know when when this was presented before us, um we were given like a picture of a size of a building and then it was um it was said that it was going to be smaller. What are we looking at here as far as these numbers? Is this a two-story building? Is is this a three-story building? What are we going to get a new rendition of this as far as the building layout and stuff? >> Yes, you will. So um once we get through this first hurdle of um sort of having the discussions on spaces and programming, the next thing will be that we'll get into schematic design. Once we uh hire our architect and get into schematic design, we'll get you guys

035the first rendition of the layout. The original rendition, if you remember, was just a box that showed you how it would fit and that we had enough space. So in order to to present a application to the state, we have to prove that we can fit at scale. um the square footage that we're requesting, which we were able to do with that rendition. But, you know, because now that we have definitive spaces with square footages and programming, that schematic design will give you guys not only the shell of the building, but the interior, so you'll be able to see what classroom spaces, where they'll fall, and how that all will uh play together. >> Thank you. that that was my concern right off the bat because again I can't put this into a building format

036because that schematic that you shared with us you know it was it had one section and then another section so you were according to what I when I asked the question specifically it was said that's the possibility that we can actually make it bigger or it could be expanded and I want to make sure what is this rendition that we have before us as far as number of classrooms uh because Again, we're looking at here like for example in the orange academic programs uh intensive program intensive classrooms one through eight I believe that's I believe that's the grades we have three um three staff capacity in each classroom I guess uh eight students per classroom uh 800 square feet per each classroom. So, I want to make sure that this schematic reflects either what we

037were shown or what we will be shown in the future because it's always been a concern when it talks about buildings because we need to make sure that we fit and we fit our kids there. And if we can't fit more kids, then we should try to look at, you know, making sure that we get the biggest bang for our bucks and make the building bigger. So that way we can uh service our kids because any day we can get another 20 or another 30 kids uh at any given day because this is the way special ed is uh you know it it works in a sense. Um but thank you. I'll save my next uh rest of questions for the board meeting. Thank you very much Madam Chair. >> Mr. Chber. >> Yes. So

038what what numbers are we talking about now? numbers in terms of um population, square footage, >> population >> 251 uh >> and where the and what how does that where are we drawing those numbers from? >> Um based on the square footage and budget. So, >> no. >> Um, you know, legislation gave us X dollars. Um, >> so we're building it based on that at a 46, I believe, 45 46 47,000 square foot. Um, at 75,000T gross. Um, so, you know, what we've done now is we've taken those numbers and started to put the programming in to make sure that within that structure of square footage that we're working towards, we can fit it all. The good news is that right now um the program is robust. We have the spaces that the that the

039academic folks need. Um you know this was reviewed and we spent man we spent a lot of hours on this over the last three four weeks. Um but you know we fit it all in right now and the budget is is where it needs to be. So we're we're trending in the right direction. >> Yeah. I I I think George more than what I'm asking is where are we thinking these students are coming from in terms of uh where are we pulling them in from? And I that's why I said this is probably more of a a Dr. Avery question than a you question. Um you mentioned BLC, you mentioned uh you know bringing some in from out of district. Um where do we think we're drawing these students in from? Are we moving skain

040back over there? Um, right. So, >> thinking >> Yeah, man. M man m man m man m man m man m man m man m man m man m man chair it's it's it's a combination of all of those you know uh Mr. Traber uh remember what what my my the thought process is as we build it we would look at areas that we can you know bring kids we have we have some kids that are in out of district placement that you know that we're paying people right in our vicinity to to service these children so we can do that you know because at the time these kids were outplaced we didn't have the services in the district so those low lowhanging you know opport opportunities to bring those kids back in would be

041very easy to do because we all have these robust programs inhouse already. So when you start looking at who we can bring back, we can that's what we're going to start looking at the disabilities they're you know the support that they're getting in those outdistments if we have those support and and that's one of the things that we're going to be doing is looking at all the out of district placement students currently out there right now. what are their disabilities and what services are being provided in those outdistments as we build those services inhouse. Then we can start gradually bringing those kids in. And we can't just do all of them at one time. It's going to be a a PPT decision based on we can do these things inhouse now and so we need

042you to come back into the district and work. So and then and we have current students that are potentially out district placed. instead of doing that now we'll have those robust programs in district to do so I think we I think overall we we got you know a 100 plus students that we're going to consider but then we look at those other 50 60 you know you know uh number of kids that we can either solicit from other districts to come in gradually as well uh but we want to service our kids first uh and I think we have enough to be able to provide that and and but remember this is only going to be a prek through eight school. Some of the the kids that are out district place right now are your

043your high school kids or your seventh and eighth graders that are going to be in high school. So we're going to have to keep keep room for those out of district placement because we don't have those placements in district. So So again, it's it's a combination and we got to be very thoughtful as to who and what and when to bring those kids in. I think we have enough at least 200 plus to be able to do that with >> 200 plus currently out of district that we could temp we could we could aim to bring back into district. >> That is correct. Yes, sir. >> Um and but that's going to be a few years before we draw on. >> Yes. Yes, sir. >> Okay. Um All right. And how many at BLC >>

044right now? I think there's a total of about 50 kids on the books and about 20 to 30 kids that come on a daily basis. Madame Chair, if I could jump in for a minute on that. So, so a couple things that we we looked at. Um George, myself, Dr. A ravery um and the group that worked with MP planning um who actually um was working on our ed specs and the projections. Um, we originally talked about a regional facility and when we looked at what we would have to do for a special ed regional facility, we were told that we probably should start off with, you know, um, our own students at first and then, as we said, build into having that regionalized facility knowing that at any point in time, we can work

045with George and we do have space and room to be able to add on if necessary. But right now, those numbers came from projections. They came from our PSIS information that we have based on students in district and out of district, plus their disabilities. So, their disabilities are going to be factored into some of those children that we're going to be looking to bring back. some of the medically fragile, some of those children who there's no way in the world we're going to be able to bring back in service, um they weren't brought into the mix as far as the projections go, but everything that we did was based off of um what we were projected and then George and I went back and with the company and we wanted to mandate and make sure

046that we had the square footage of each classroom, what kind of classrooms we would need and what that would look like in this unique setting as a special ed school. >> I I I do understand that and I understand we have a three to four year uh leeway, you know, lead time and so I'm just trying to get a sense um of the point that I believe Mr. Sakalovic was referring to earlier and one that you've made many times in the years over the years uh uh PJ uh which was uh you know making sure that we build a school big enough and I did hear George's comment earlier that we'll have space that we could theoretically expand if we had the opportunity and the need. Um so we're in position to do that. you

047know, the the year the heartache we've had over the years of have being forced or compelled by state rags in process to build two. >> Um, but I was just want to get some numerical idea of the situation we'll be in. >> Um, and this gives me a better idea of, you know, where we're at numbers wise. Um, and we have this this lead time, you know, to sort of plan it out. It's not like it's going to open and we got to sort of fill it up quick. Um, so it's it's all it's it's all there. I see it. Um, I just wanted to see the numbers a little more clearly. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Yeah. Mida, do you still have a question? Your hand is still up. >> Actually, I do. It

048was uh actually I was putting up, but I needed a couple seconds because I think if I'm right, gentlemen, when I'm looking at these numbers, um I thought it was adding it at the bottom. Each section has a square footage individually. It's not grouped together. Correct. >> Yes. The total square footage of the >> Do my math. I >> Okay. >> Yeah. I was I was adding it and I messed up. I thought it was a total here and a total there, but it wasn't. So now I can see it. So I'm doing my math now. So >> is there >> I just thought it was off when I when I added it. Um Madam Chair, I'm sorry if I may. Um the total program area is showing me at the bottom. I'm going to

049go talk the last section, the black box. Uh it says 46,688. And then the estimate gross square footage is showing me 75,500. Can you explain those two numbers? >> Yep. So, um, your gross square footage is everything. Your walls, your mechanicals, your plumbing, everything. And, um, your your roof, your envelope of the building and your 45,000 that is your program space. Those are your classrooms, your lunchroom, cafeteria, things of that nature. >> Okay. I think you started saying something that just threw me off. Square footage, it has to do with usable space, meaning what you step on, not the walls. So, I think I want to ask you that question again. Total square uh total program area is $45, $46,688. Then you're saying the estimated gross square footage 75,500. It's what again? That 75,000 is

050your gross. That is everything in the building. So, your mechanical rooms, your um your back of the house stuff, uh your your walls, your depth of walls, your roof, um that's everything. So, you have there there has to be a calculation for everything that we're building because remember, we're touching bricks and we're putting those together. They have to be um in the equation. >> I'm going to check that. Thank you very much. Is there a motion? >> Motion motion to refer to the full board the updated ED specification of the specialized school. >> I'll second further debate. See none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you. Moving on to discussion of possible referral to the full board with the membership with council of great city schools. Um this has been brought before

051us I believe back in um it was either September or October. Um we didn't really do much with it. Um so I just wanted to bring this back to our intention. I know Dr. speak a little bit to it, but um you know the the invoice has been included in your um uh packet for what uh membership would look like for next year. And then it in the packet also shows what the council of great city schools can provide for the district for the board and for the district. So, not only would it be uh would it serve us in terms of helping our own development as a board, but it does help in terms of developing uh administrative staff. There's uh workshops that you know people on the executive cabinet can go to or

052administrators and different departments um can attend and it comes from an urban uh uh perspective. So there there's a lot of other cities out there who are using this uh this platform or this this uh organization. Uh it's it's similar to what we use with CA um CA is Connecticut focused, but this is kind of a national pro uh platform and uh there's a lot of districts like ours out there who um really benefit from it. Um I'll let Dr. Avery speak to it a little more. I know that um personally I I know of other board members throughout the country um who have highly recommended it for us uh and I know we used it in the past um as well. So Dr. Avery you can speak to it. >> Yeah, thank you madam

053chair. I I as I I've never been a part of the great city schools, but I've been around other superintendents that have been part of the great city schools and I think it's you know as I I've been in the district almost two and a half year three years now and the unique opportunities that they provide urban school districts is so unique and so robust that you know I think it will do our districts so much better when it comes to professional development, you know, talking to other districts that that are dealing with HR issues or finance issues or maintenance issues like we are. Uh, and to have that we have no resources in Connecticut that will give us that that flexibility and that that magnitude of support that is needed. Uh, I know the

054district may have used uh and been part of this the the organization in the past, but I think, you know, under under my leadership and hopefully under your leadership, we could really have a robust opportunity to advance the opportunities within our district to to to showcase and do things a little different than we have in the past. And so, I'm I'm recommending and encouraging the board to consider it. At least I know the the the price tag is there, but I think you can shift some of the the the the dollars that you're that you're giving CA that can also be moved to uh supporting this organization and then you could you could do a um you know a limited, you know, engagement with CAVE if you need to. I do know that on the

055federal level, Great City Schools also advocates for dollars for large urban school districts that over the years have gained a lot of dollars to not only Bridgeport but other large urban school districts. So again, I would encourage the boards to consider. Uh I think it'd be a great uh and I tell them we will maximize those services and what they do for us is give us a monthly usage of what we're using and who's attending meetings and all of that. And I can tell you I can require all my divisions in the school district to be a part of it and and participate and so that you can see the participation uh from the board perspective. Uh, and I know we had looked at the board doing some training with them at one point in

056time as well. Uh, but I think the cost was high because we were still kind of groggling about the the the membership. But if you're a member, you get such a great discount on those types of services. So again, I think it'll help the board, help us as administrators in the large school urban school district perspective. So again, I encourage you guys to consider it. Thank you, Madam Chair. Any questions? Mr. uh first see any >> I'm sorry I I had a quick question. So the thought process is have them basically pay for themselves using kind of grants that they would be getting for us on the federal level or it almost sounded like reducing our the other option was reducing our membership with CABE in order to be able to afford to pay for

057this one. Is is that an accurate assessment? >> A combination of that. That's correct. You know, uh so we would have to kind of, you know, decide on which with options that we can keep with Cave and which options we can move, you know, to uh this organization, you know, to do a combination because I mean Cave does a lot for us from a local perspective, right? you know, but but Cave doesn't cater to the large urban school district perspective, you know, like we need, you know, and so when you look at some of the policies and things that we get, it's really not as robust as we could get, you know, in under the direction of the great city schools because they they focus on large urban school districts. Uh, and the models and

058programs that these large school districts are using will be be beneficial to us as well. Now they do advocate for funding for large urban school districts. So that's where that funding piece comes in, not necessarily grants, whatever. But we will get grant opportunities because our grants department can can also, you know, u leverage what they have in their grants department to get additional dollars focusing in on how to serve students in larger urban school districts. So it's a win-win that way too as well. Miss M, >> thank you. Mr. >> Yeah, here's the thing. I love great city schools and uh however, yeah, they're for big urban districts and I'm not I'm not knocking them. Definitely not knocking them. However, the only reason we qualify as a big city school that's qualified for entrance into

059it is because we are the largest city in Connecticut. However, we will be the smallest district in great city schools and we'll be sitting with like people like hundreds of thousands of students. Um, and we're minuscules to them. So, their policies don't necessarily straight us 100%. Nor does Cape because the majority of Cape is small towns and on the other side. So, we we I do believe we need a hybrid of both. What Dr. Avery says is correct. It has been very useful for staff in the past. I've utilized it a lot especially around the equity work because um the bigger cities they're not afraid to name race. They're not afraid to name name things for what it is because that's that's their live reality for most of the people in that group. Whereas in

060CA sometimes we get a little uh tiptoeing around the issue and we're not naming it as well and they got 169 districts which probably 120 so odd or probably like 90% Caucasian. So, it's a very delicate thing for them to service all their clients. Um, that being said, um, I do like the idea of using cave on a menu basis because we we got we actually got some duplication of services as well with like policy development and some trainings that our law firm will provide for us for free as well. And we could always use the me the use a menu service for board because I'm sure we'll still want to attend convention and all of that to stay stay in touch and maybe some of the webinars or seminars that we could pay pay

061as you go pay as you go basis. So so so I'm basically in favor of it but I still haven't seen the price tag yet and that's the next step. Thank you. >> There's a invoice in our portal. It was >> Yeah, I haven't had a chance to look. Thank you. >> Um Mr. better hand. >> Thank you, Miss Paris. Uh the sound good information you give it to us. I would like to get more information, but question was going to be what is the difference between this program and having um not getting Kate in full because you know we got a contract you know whatever we have over Kate that's going to be a little difficult. there's going to be a conflict because we're going to have another um program and then with the

062cave you know I don't want to get conflict or cave say guys you have this situation now you can deal with us because you do you know you have a you know contract you know anything can happen so um and the cost is the most important thing so like to know a little more details >> yeah all all those details are in the portal you have those that information in the portal for you uh it breaks down all the programs it breaks down the cost, all of that's there. Uh, and again, it's it's a matter of trying to figure out, you know, we we got to make sure that we stay local and we got to make sure we stay in connection with that. So, we'll definitely be able to do that. Uh, you know,

063but it this reduces the cost that we pay for CA uh like like Mr. Sakovic talked about the policy piece, you know, Shipman and Goodman does policy across the across the state and so they're our attorneys now. We can get policies from them. We can get student handbooks. We can get all those different types of things from them at a very minimal cost because they're are attorneys. We pay for that as a service for through CA. So, that's what I'm talking about shifting some of those dollars and then be able to put some additional dollars in there to to to meet that that the the cost amount. Uh and again, but I think the training that we are going to get will help us do a better job to be better performers in urban school

064work uh if we do utilize great city schools. >> Sound good. Anything is good positive for our district and and training for us or not not you know whoever is coming after us whatever it will be good so we can be ready. I appreciate that. Thank you Dr. Avery. Thank you madam chair. >> Mr. Medina >> and there he goes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, are we them actively? Because I thought we were already members actively and I um I've been getting emails from them regularly and I've been waiting for some time now, a few months because I asked to get clarification that way I know whether I could participate or not because I didn't want to cause anybody any headaches or anything like that. So, correct me if I'm wrong. Are we still actively

065a member of them? >> We haven't paid our dues. We haven't we haven't paid our dues, but there are lying us to to keep, you know, connected with everything. I still get those emails, too, Mr. Medina. Uh, but I talked to the president of of Great City Schools, and they just really wanted to to support the district. Uh, and so they've allowed us to kind of keep connected with what's going on because hopefully eventually that we were going to take care of and and I told him that we were we were, you know, financial strapped and we but he said we'll just kind of let you kind of keep going uh and and hopeful that we will be able to say, okay, we we're ready now to re-engage uh and so this is what this

066conversation is about tonight. has anyone communicated with them uh on the subject that you guys were just talking about and I just want to be very specific and lined up that once we are a member of them that maybe it does my question is maybe it does open us to be able to apply to certain grants specifically because we are a member. Did anybody ask specifically those questions from them or had that discussion with them? Madam Chair, uh yes, I when when I spoke with the uh the president last year, we had those convers that same conversation, Mr. Medina. Uh and because you are a member, you'll have access to specific grants, services, and programs. Uh and that's one of the unique opportunities that we could tap into uh to be able to do that

067as well. So, yes, sir. >> That will offset the cost. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Chabber, >> you're on mute. You on mute. >> Is the president the director the same person that came and ran the uh the questionably legal retreat that we had? >> Absolutely not. >> It's the It's the person who came to our meeting in October or September presented to us. >> Okay. Um, I I have a couple of concerns beyond we have the cost factor. I mean, it seems to me we're putting the cart before the horse here. Um, and you know, we need to we have an item on this agenda which is called our budget. Um, and we need to settle our budget. Um, and so notwithstanding what the cost of this is, let's figure

068out the budget and then look at what else we want to spend money on. Um, I have concerns about this organization beyond the budget, but we have been members of this organization for many years and I don't have any huge problems with continuing that relationship. But when we were compelled through that uh retreat to look into the budget, look into the organization, there were questions raised about that organization's uh uh associations with the charter school movement. So, uh, you know, I would like to not have to make this decision now. I'd like to make this decision after we get our budget taken care of and then sit down and make a decision about what this what whether we want to continue our relationship with this organization. We have had it for years. As I said,

069we continued it for, you know, years ago and I in general, I think we're probably a good thing for us to continue it. Um but you know as a result of that contentious uh period with looking at that retreat um and having it we looked closer at that organization and found some stuff some history around the country where allegations were made about the organization that made it suggest that suggested that it had some ties that we I want to look more closely at before I make a decision myself uh as to where they're at. Um, so I I just raised that tonight, those concerns tonight. Um, >> I I will say the rationale for putting it on the agenda is because we are looking at the budget. So we don't want to approve a budget

070and then come back in July and say, "Hey, we need to add this to the budget that we already approved. This kind of gets us in a line item already. We already we're going to have to renew CAPE eventually. So CA's going to come before us, too." Um, so it's going to be one or the other and that's kind of already allocated from what I talked to Avery Dr. Avery on it's in it's in the budget already. So we have to just decide you know and the time to do it is before we approve a budget so that we know it's in there not after we approve it and have money around for something else. That's that's my perspective on it but I don't know if Dr. You want to add to that or not.

071Yeah, my perspective is >> the budget is, you know, whether we're going to balance our budget with $9 million um and how we do that, not dealing with an item like this first. So, I hear what you're saying, Madam Chair, but I'm done. >> Dr. A. No, I I think I mean both both both sides of the issue is is is prevalent, but I think like uh Madam Chair that you mentioned really some of those costs already in the budget regardless of you know and and as you as you look and as we present the budget to you this evening for consideration for Monday approval, you're you're going to understand and see where we are with our finances uh with these dollar amounts already included in that budget. in moving it forward. So again, that's

072that's a decision that the board will have to make and we we'll leave that open-ended for you guys to consider uh as you list I think the next agenda item is we'll be talking about the budget. So uh I think you'll be pleasantly and pleased regarding where those numbers lie uh as Ner and I go through that those numbers for you guys. So thank you madam chair. >> I see other questions. Is there a motion to bring this to the board? Motion to refer to the full board the membership with council of great city school. >> I'll second that. Um all in favor say I. >> I move on to discussion of possible referral to the full board um the fiscal year 2627 operating budget. Take it away Dr. Mr. Is Nester on? Because he

073>> I'm I'm on. I'm on. Yeah. >> All right. Nester's gonna uh present this this evening for us. >> Okay. Good evening everyone. Um basically what we're going to do, what we're going to try to do tonight is kind of rehash the budget. >> Can we make that bigger, please? More. >> Um let's see. Okay, good enough. >> Yes, thank you. >> Okay, basically what we're doing tonight is rehashing the amount of monies, additional funds we receive from the city, from the state for next fiscal year. So, what I'm going to do here, you're going to see the very first number that says the total operating budget increasing by $10 million. That $10 million count towards what you call the minimum budget requirement. as an alliance district. The 10 million the city of Bridgeport allocated

074or appropriated to this to the district for next year is a permanent increase, meaning they're obligated to keep maintaining that $10 million, should I say, to infinity, pretty much to infinity going forward every year. every every additional dollar the city of Bridgewood adds any year towards the school district, they have to maintain that. They cannot fund the district less than that amount as long as it counts towards the minimum budget requirement, which is the district's operating budget. If they attempt to do that, the state will penalize them $2 for every $1 they they allocate less to the district. So basically in a nutshell this $10 million is there will continue to be there every year being provided by the city of Bridgeport to the district through taxpayers money through tax yeah through taxpayers money. The

075next line item is the where which one says FY27 state supplemental aid one-time funding is very specific there very clear that's the $15 million this we received or get appropriated to the district to Bridgeport school district during the budget during the state legislative budget session again it's a one time it's not it's not carved in into the state budget next year. However, the district has to lobby hard for it to part of the minimum budget requirement, the ECS, what they call education cost sharing going forward. So, if we don't lobby hard enough or if the state decides to change their mind, we have to look for another $15 million in 20 fiscal year 2028. FY27 state supplemental town aid one-time funding. This is strictly one-time funding. It's not nowhere. They did not imply that it's

076going to reoccur in fiscal year 2028. So, if you combine the 15 million and the and the 10.3 million outright in fiscal year 2028, we will need or need additional $25 million from the state. Then we're going to have to add normal cost of living increase for fiscal year 2028, which will run about $15 million. Depending on how much the state increases the health insurance premium again, if they increase it drastic, as they did this year, it's going to be more than $50 million for cost of living increase, which includes wages, light bill, gas bill, and every other and transportation increase. So basically what I'm trying to say here, $25 million that's not guaranteed for fiscal year 2028 plus costability increase for 2028, you're looking at $40 million that the district will have to look

077for for fiscal year 2028. Barring assuming all things being equal, what I mean by that, unforeseen circumstances. So that's pretty much what it is. So the budget that the board will be adopting on Monday, the total appropriation is 329 million 329,850,680. That's the total appropriation the budget the board will be adopting. Any question on that or before we keep going forward? Now when we prepare the budget, we started with a 61 61.6 61.6 million projected deficit. Out of that 61 million, we've gotten 35.3 million between the three those three revenue accounts. The rest of the balancing act was done by operational efficiency, attrition and reducing some programs and we will go through it as we go down on the gap closing measure. Anybody has a question as to the revenue appropriation or does not does

078not understand that we are starting fiscal year 2028 with $40 million monetary need addition or monetary need. >> Mr. Nicole, we're going to take questions at the end. >> Okay, >> you can do your presentation. >> Okay, sorry. Okay, so we started with $61.6 6 million and those are the categories or the line items that make up those variances or increases $47.7 million is basically status quo budget. However, like I explained, the health insurance for the health insurance for grant employees and the wage increase for grant employees because we know grants, federal grants and state grants are flatfunded next year, the the health insurance increase for those grant employees and their wage increase. The only way to absorb them is to shift those liabilities to the operating budget. Those employees have to get their wage

079increases. They will they have to pay their health insurance. The district has to pay their health insurance increase for fiscal year beginning July 1. Then in addition departmental additional request these are what we met with the principles and the department heads. These are the the total amount approximate total amount they requested in order to run the district or the schools much more efficiently based on things they need. So that's approximately $8 million. If you add 47 plus 3.4 plus 2.4 plus $8 million, that's how you get the 616 $61.6 million projected monetary need, additional monetary need for next fiscal year. We can scroll down and let's scroll down. Scroll up, I'm sorry. Okay, we know we started with uh $61.6 million. Again, the budget that Dr. Abra and I proposed to the budget, initial budget

080we proposed, we realized with $61.6 million, there's no way we can provide or the principles and the department had the additional things they needed. So, we basically said we cannot afford it for now. Let's basically go back to zerobased budgeting which is status quo budgeting per se. So we take we took away that $8 million additional request. We terminated effective school solution in the amount of $1.3 million and projected operational savings attrition $1.5 million reduced. Okay. Now as when we started the state told us that the initial health insurance was 20%. But they later came back and said okay we think we can bring it down to 14% from 20%. So the $3.6 million is a reduction from the 20%. So that's a saving from the initial projection. The same issue is applicable to grant

081employees. one a million dollar one a million $30,000 reduction from 20% to 14%. Then we decided to decrease made a decision to decrease professional learning program half a million savings. All those items expenditure reductions comes up to $15.9 million. Since we cannot mix revenues and expenditures when you're doing the budget you have to isolate them in tiers. You report revenues reduction separately or revenue reduction or increase separately. You report revenues separately. So going back they have the same financial effect to be honest with you. But it depends how you report it. On the revenue side, we will be getting $600,000 from nutrition center for inind services of services we provide to nutrition center, which combination of HR, payroll functions that the district employees provide to them is about $600,000. The district pays for nutrition center

082retirees out of the health insurance. So, they reimburse us approximately a million dollar. So, those two combined will give you 1.6 6 million uh reduction reducing the deficit 1.6 million plus 15.9 million is 17.5 million million gap closing measure. Take that 17.5 out of reduce it out of the 61 million you come to $44 million and that is the $44 million gap that Dr. Ary and I presented to the board the very first time. Okay. But we said, "Okay, now we go to tier two." Tier two solution of closing the gap. The city of Bridgeport gave us $10 million additional money. Take that 10 million out of the 44 million in district special excess cost reimbursement. In all fairness and due respect to the state technical team, the district historically never knew that we could

083build for indistation in district reimbursement. They are the ones that brought it to our attention. Most district in the state don't even know that. But because they're so versed and knowledgeable with the language of excess, you know, special ed, they brought it to our attention and we filed. So we're getting 5, we're going to get about $529,000 next year. It's going to be ongoing every year. So we've developed the format whereby we will be filing for excess cost special ed in district excess cost expenses to be reimbured by the state. Then we talked about the additional special aid uh state monetary infusion of $15 million plus the additional $10 million. So combination of those would give you $35.9 million reduction or application towards the 44 million. If you scroll down further up further, I'm sorry.

084Scroll up further. No, you're going the wrong way. Okay. Now, right here again, we talked about the revenues coming into the district to balance the budget in the amount of 35 uh $35 million. Now, we took some management actions, costsaving measures, efficiency programs, review special education and regular ed route for efficiency. then bring we have a we have our 12th grade students who are out of district who will be graduating. They will not be coming once they graduate. The district will try to bring as many special ed student or retain many special ed students inhouse and not place them out of the out of district. We're estimating about $5.1 million savings to be achieved from that. redesign agency substitute teachers back filling when we say redesign it currently we have in all fairness we do

085have high number of teacher absences so what we're going to do is basically assign Kelly and Delta parah certain number of Kelly and Delta par to each school every day religiously if there's two more than in those absences the principal has to be m take initiative or take an action or take management action by consolidating classes possibly letting the teachers who are chronically absent know we have to take some action so with that we feel we can save about $1.1 million in Kelly and Delta substitute teachers every day at the end of the year then decrease professional learning program that will save half a million dollars. The state the state of Connecticut increased SEMR which is regular employees pension uh employer pension contribution by from 20.78% to 21.93%. So that's additional cost to the district

086in the amount of $495,000. We're going to review all the sped program contracts and try to streamline them as much as we can. That's that's additional $750,000. Now, let me clarify something here. This budget basically what it means is that this next year budget contains approximately $7 million worth of assumptions. 5.1 million $5.1 million on item number 13 and and $1.1 million on item number 14 and seven and uh $750,000 on item number 17. That's approximately $7 million worth of assumptions which the management or the district or management the management has to make sure it happens to keep the budget in balance next year. Every budget, every year has assumptions, but those assumptions have to be made to materialize. So, it's not unusual to have budget assumptions as long as they're feasible and they're made

087to materialize. So, in addition, we later get better information or better news from the state that they're reducing the health insurance premium from the 14% they told us earlier. I guess a lot of district complained and cried that they cannot afford that drastic increase in health insurance in one year. So they brought down the rate from 14% to 12.5%. That's where we're going to end up effective July 1. The health insurance increase from this year to next year that the district will be paying will increase by will increase by you know 12.5%. cumulatively between board of education and the city the the cost of the cost or dollar cost of that 12.5% increase is $9.7 million. Granted they reduced it to 12.5%. The actual cost increase is $9.7 million. So people are going to say

088why are you having some financial problems when they increase one line item or when your one line item increases by 9.7 almost $10 million just on health insurance alone. We haven't talked about wages. So these are the issues or the factors where the monies are going so people will know. So those expenditure reductions is 8.1 million. When you add the $35 million that the state and the city had given us to the $8.1 million, that's a total reduction of $44 million gap closing measure, which is the number that Dr. Avery had presented to you. Now, let me be honest with everyone. The initial item number 13 was $5.4 million projected savings. But if I leave $5.4 million projected savings, you're going to end up with a surplus. So the best thing I did was reduce

089that savings in order for the budget to balance. And finally, originally where so people wouldn't get confused, if you recall, people are saying we have all this deficit of eight or 9 million. The reason why is because of the $8 million. Look at the last footnote. We were trying to add back $8 million that the principles and the department head asked for but we realized we cannot afford it. So I took it out. Taking it out makes the budget balanced. Basically what it means the principles and department heads additional things are requested beyond current year. We cannot afford it. That's basically what it means. Then there are major items that got re will that will be reinstated in fiscal year 2627 budget proposed budget which the board will adopt. I figured I'd bring this to

090the board's attention. The next year proposed budget will retain or maintain the 2 to1 kindergarten parents. In other words, you the teachers, the schools will have two to one kindergarten parents next year. This fact is built into the budget and there will not be any extended walking distance next year. Meaning the same bus routes that we have now is what's going to be maintained. The cost is factored into next year proposed budget. I know it's a lot of data, a lot of information, but I'm open for questions. So, currently the budget is balanced. Um, and I I indicated how I balanced it. It would have had a $20 and something thousand surplus, but I had to reduce the assumption in order to balance it, you know, in order to keep it in balance. you can't

091have 200,000 almost $300,000 surplus at the end of the year. Um, plus it's an assumption so we have to work on it. >> Questions? Any questions or >> Mr. Mayor? >> I have a few questions. Mhm. >> I know we were looking at um bus routes and efficiencies in the system. Where in in these um measures is that or >> item number 13. >> Okay. The >> it's a combination it's a combination of different initiatives that comes up to that $5.1 million. So we're pretty confident. I mean Dr. Avery can speak to that. We're pretty conf we're pretty confident that Dr. Re could address that please. >> Yes, madam chair. Uh yes, Mr. Himemen said we are still working through analyzing some of those bus routes and things. We have another meeting on Friday to

092try to figure out if there's any addition. So any once the bal the budget is balanced any additional savings will go into a savings account or come back to the board if the board wants to spend that savings account. Uh and so efficiency a lot of that has to we we've been in ongoing conversation with we transportation and working with PJ's group um you know PJ may be online he may can add to you know the timeline and that's one of the things that the state is is working with us on as well Edram and and his team is working on making sure that u that that we look at those analysis and make sure that we add to those those routes and things. It takes a little bit of time to to go through

093and look at who's going which bus is going by the same street and all those types of things as well. So, but we did add, you know, a few, you know, um at least a million and two to that five million uh regarding, you know, the the savings of that. But again, that is an ongoing opportunity and we have a little bit more work to do around that. So you'll hopefully hopefully we'll see another million or so that will be added to a surplus uh moving forward as well. >> And PJ if PJ online he can kind of add value to that if he's not uh that's basically what uh what we talked about. >> PJ I'm I'm here. Yeah. So thank you. Um yeah we're working with the technical assistance team. Um we we

094have been optimizing routes um and looking at all kinds of route optimization. Um within that um we we have found some savings. Um we're looking at in district out of district special education as well as um our regular uh bus routes that that actually are happening daytoday. um within that I know the technical assistance team has also looked at um the Wii contract and um they're looking to work with them uh to work on some deals with uh optimizing their contract also by possibly paying um a little bit sooner to get discounts from that. Um, and I know that um, while we were looking at that, we were also looking at other things in the contract that um, we were looking to um, start endorsing um, within next within next year, which is um, some

095penalties on um, late buses, um, some different fees that we're going to be able to get from there. So, there's a whole bunch of transportation options that we've um we've we've taken and um we don't have a solid number yet because we're still looking at it and still coming up with um um cost savings um but hope to have it, you know, within the next month. >> Um PJ and Nester, do we happen to know the um when the Wii transportation contract is up? uh because that's that will be another way that we're going to be able to save some dollars as well because we pay them millions of dollars to transport our kids, guys. And so we have to do a better job of negotiating that contract to the things we want and the

096optimizations that we want in order to curb that cost. So do you guys know when that contract is up? >> I think it's up 2020. I think it ends this year of 2027. >> Okay. So again, that's that we need to tie that into um our um our whole process as well. >> Thank you. And kind of along the same lines of of buses, I know, and I keep bringing this up, the fines, the cameras that are on the buses. Can we tap into any of that money? And I know historically we've said no, but has there been any movement on on that component? If I may, Madam Chair, again, I spoke to Danny Roach, uh, the city. I said, Dan, Danny, when the city want was pushing this contract through, you promised the district

097that we will get a piece of the pie, if you want to put it that way. >> Then after the contract got signed, they get the city's getting the money. I called them. And I've spoken to him twice this month. I said, "Dan, the board is not happy." Okay. You, with all due respect, is it seems like you guys played a fast one. I used that word to him. He goes, "Well, well, well, it's supposed to be for public safety." I said, "Okay, if it's for public safety, the board of education has more than enough public safety. Give us our own share. We will use it to buy cameras in the school. That's public safety." He goes, "Oh, that that's a good idea." I said, "Yes, we have public safety needs. So, don't tell me

098it's for public safety because we have public safety needs. Buying cameras, equipping these schools is public safety, so we're entitled to it." >> Yep. >> We have to put up to be honest. >> We're going to pursue that. >> Excellent. Thank you. Um let me just go um a quick question on excess cost that we were not getting before the 529K. So right now that's that's estimating what we can potentially get now but can it be expected that that amount would increase over time? >> Yes. >> Okay. Perfect. Um, and I guess this question is up there. Um, it do we know with certainty if the state will increase our health insurance? It seems that that's a major driver in a lot of our deficits and obviously we have to pay our our health insurance.

099>> But go ahead. >> Yeah. Do we do we know that that that will happen again next year? >> Honestly, your guess is as good as mine. The last three years they've been increasing the rates. It runs about six 5% 7%. This time they went they went way up there as well as as well as the sem which is the pension employer pension contribution. I had mentioned to the board in 2014 the rate was like almost 8 n 12%. Now is 20%. You're looking at you're looking at $6 million increase permanent increase every year. Permanent. They increased it last year again. They increased it. They now they started inching it up a little bit. But each move you've seen the effect from 20.78% to 21.93% is half a million dollar. So if they tweak it

100or increase it a little more next year, yes, the money keeps going away one way or the other. health insurance pension contribution. We have to pay these employees wages. And the sad thing is when they increase these rates, whatever wage increase you give employees, you have to contribute that increased percentage. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, thank you. Um, Nester, my last, it's not a question, it's a comment. Um, I'm I'm We don't have any money, but I'm really I just want to like have it on the record. I'm actually quite disappointed about getting rid of the $8 million the principles had requested. >> I know if we had the money, we would have given it to them. Obviously, it's very clear we do not. Um, but I I would like to propose obviously with the

101board's approval if if we do get additional money try to trickle it down to the actual schools and the needs of the principles because it's it's a mind shift that would happen at each of the campuses, you know, for the better. So, I I'm disappointed in it, not surprised because, you know, we knew we had a $44 million deficit and we only got $35 million. Um, so just kind of wanted to put that out there. Thank you. Uh, Miss Burks Jennings, do you have any questions? Um, I'll hold my questions. Uh, Mr. Kovic. >> Yes. Can we go back to page one, please? I want to do this in >> Sure. >> What page? >> Page one. Yep. Right here. >> It'll probably be pretty brief. Um, okay. So, let me see. Yeah. I just

102want to hit the the revenue portion and just get a a brief breakdown just make sure my understanding is correct. >> Um the one time ECS formula uh was based on the allocation of $172 million being awarded >> outside the ECS funding but allocated in the same manner as if it was in the formula which gives us $15 million. However, it's nonrecurring revenue, >> right? >> And that the non because because there's actually some superintendent going around and and some real really really big respectable finance people that are under the assumption that the foundation amount was increased which it was not. So that needs to be made abundantly clear to anybody doing any kind of advocacy. foundational amount is still 11,525 and it has not increased. >> Y >> that brings me to the next

103portion which is next year's budget as you raised that money is not guaranteed. However, there is another $162 million in the I'm not sure if that's the right number appropriated for supplemental funding. However, there's no distribution method or anything written into the bill. So, that money is in flux. And I would like to also point this out that that number 13,87 why I mentioned before is important because that's what the foundation amount needs to increase by in order for us to receive addition one a single additional dollar because if it doesn't increase that fund, we we we are potentially flatfunded under that money. That's set for next year. One additional danger I don't think you mentioned Mr. Unquo is there's a possible we if we have a shrinkage in our school population >> since that

104money is outside the formula it is not subject to the hold harmless. So if we lose 500 students we lose 500 times >> yep yep >> whatever the foundation and whatever our allocation is for that. So there's a potential for even a reduction over this year's award for that portion. And as you said, the 10 million's not there again next year. So, all right. So, can we flip pages? I just to where are we now? Just the next page. Let me just look at that. The gap measures fin school request and financial needs health insurance. Okay. The MBR. Okay. Yeah, let's look at that. And the only the only thing locked in as a guarantee to increase is that $10 million that the city gave outside of the outside of the supplemental town aid. That's

105not going to be recurring. >> That is correct. That is correct. >> Okay. So now next page please. Okay. Now I just want to talk a little bit about uh I just want to make sure I got an understanding of this. Our our n last number was $9 million assumption and you said we currently have approximately $7 million in assumptions which I was counting the assumptions as potential gaps because it's not in my head it was not real. It's still not totally real. >> However, we're going to capture some of those savings obviously. >> Um 18 and 19 are relatively new. Correct. 18. No, that's No, no, they were there. They were No, they're not relatively. They were there the last presentation I made to the board when I notified you that the that the

106state reduced the reduced it further from 14 to 12.5%. >> So, this is this is the eight. Yeah. Yeah. I'm trying. Um Yeah. Could you try? I'm sorry. I'm I'm a little stuck on the going from nine to zero. Um well well the nine was the assumptions of the se of the seven. >> I'm trying. Okay. I'm thinking of where is the two. All right. Yeah. Yeah. Never mind that. Um yeah. So basically we have a balanced budget. >> A precariously balanced budget with no wiggle room. Absolutely no wiggle room. No wiggle room whatsoever. No contingency at all. Right. And should any of these numbers come in under expectations, we will end up with a potential gap sometime during the school year, which we'll be monitoring closely. Correct. >> Yep. Absolutely. Y. >> Now, now

107that brings me to a cushion. There's still $5 million out there that was awarded in last last session in the bonding bill. Do we have any updates on that? because we that $5 million could be a cushion um against all that. And while I like Miss Sesamera Gimenez's um uh suggestion to bring back some of the services, but I would prefer librarians first. However, seeing as we have no cushion, I think we need to protect we need to protect ourselves from going into deficit during the year first should we see any extra money. Um because yeah because I'd hate to cut off. While I am celebrating that we are probably not going to have to make any more cuts this year. I am mourning the loss of every single job especially the librarians that we

108cannot bring back the cut. I mean I would I would suggest reversing any cuts should we see any windfalls first before bringing the wish list. >> Those things really really hurt to take away from our children. And finally, the excess cost reimbursements and all that. What we got to remember is excess costs are given to us because we're spending entirely >> excessive amounts of money. Y >> and excess cost reimbursement is only a portion >> of what we're spending. So if we if that if that cost raises that five if we get more next year that means we spent more. Well, >> and being as it's a percentage of the whole, >> it's going to damage our budget more than it helps increase. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> It's important that we recognize that. And finally,

109the bus assumptions. Dr. Avery asked a good question about um the expiration of the bus contract. However, he asked it with um a positivity in mind. I would like to look at it from the other way. They're currently in negotiations for employee salaries. No vendor will come to us and negotiate a contract at a loss. So we got to take into account that there may be cost pressures and we may have to revise our assumptions for a more costly contract as well. So those those are just things I think we should really really keep in mind as potential triggers. And I believe that's all I have. Um thank you >> uh Mr. from Medina. Mr. Sagabi, will you drop your hand for me? That'll be helpful. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I would like

110to open up by recommending, um, Madame Chair, uh, because of the discussion and everything that we so far discussed, uh, two high things came up with that transportation. Uh I know we've talked in the last uh month or so highly about it and what's going on and how can we save. So I would love to recommend and putting a table into everyone's ear to maybe have a uh a committee and or again a committee and or to open up uh about um transportation and it specifically. we have uh an opportunity right now to make sure that we we do the best moving forward to uh have those dialogues to figure out those contracts to figure out those things. Um you know you guys all know I've spent 26 years in the bus industry school busing

111over 12 years and city busing. So again that those discussions could be made and should be made and I think we should consider that. Second to um Miss Himenez uh uh and and also Joe's uh comment about the 5 million that is out there looming and my thoughts were hey let's try to give the teachers what they need but also we know and I'll put it out there to us we know that we have nothing in the ISS we have no money no contingency no emergency money whatsoever you guys know for a fact that any given day we can get 20 or 30 or even five uh specialists students that will be driving costs up the roof. We need to plan ahead. Um uh the students and the families are asking us to take a

112look at that. Dr. Avery is keeping a look at that. Nuke, thank you very much. Everything that you presented today seems to be giving us a really nice overview on where we are. How can we get make this happen? like uh Joe said, >> kudos where we're almost not, you know, have that moment that we have to cut any services, but at the same time, we can't add anything. Um the librarians hold hold a huge huge part that they can do so much with it, with with AI and with curriculum also and things like that that that is an essential that we can get a a a big bang for our dollars bringing them back uh faster, sooner than later. But definitely the teachers and the principal campus leaders recommendation we have to take a

113look at it. Um so we should continue to fight for that five million because that will help us at least maybe invest half or more uh two/3 maybe into what we need to do. Um but I'll reserve the rest of my um uh questions for later. um you know the bus situation we still waiting for those contracts that happened last year that we haven't heard anything about um to make sure we can look at that and see how it was done that way we can learn from that and uh and work um so I you know put that out there specifically I'll send it through committee if you need to madame uh chair or if not you can write that down as a referral because we need to have these discussions and it does it

114will help us it will benefit uh and will uh you know great things. So thank you >> Mr. Benahan. >> Thank you Madam Chair. I'm going to be brief. Um I know you give all this information to us and to our community and everybody's listening to us. I know. I don't want people in staff and community and parents and student get stressed and depressed because we going to do or um trying that. I don't want they think that we're going to give layoffs. I don't want they think like we're going to be crazy because we're going to be we're have no money. I know we can do this and I know Neestor and everybody here and everybody listen to us. They understand this year like we fight for our students. We fight for our parents

115and staff and I know next year whatever they we need the money. I know the state and the city that will give it to us because they know what we want, what we need and what we need especially for our staff that can give education to our students. I know the governor and the city and all the time the all the towns they see what we did because it's not I. It's we. I just want to be clear that because people they think oh I did and it's not I did. It's we did. And I know I want this message and for the record that everybody listen to us is going to be okay because we go we we going to be working together again to be sure our kids have a good education and

116our staff be okay. I don't want the kid to lay off or nothing like that because for now on for the record and you know I always do it I was always say no to lay off to nobody. I know sometime we have to because we don't have no choice but my big N O is going to be always but I know this year over next year next one and you know that because you're a professional in this I know you give us the information and I know as I said we going to do this next year and we going to have the fund for our students. Thank you, Madam Chair and everyone. >> Madame Chair, if I may clarif >> again to the board, I think I've been very transparent. I think I call

117a spade is spade. I call it what it is. No one is going to say, "Oops, no one has been giving any surprise at all." that is the way I I communicate or I'm not I'm not politically correct most of the time but I relate the facts that's that's just the best I can the best way I can put it I'm not scaring the community or parents or whoever is listening but it's quite obvious definitely obvious we have a $40 million monetary need come 2028, we have to work hard. We have to lobby hard. Do whatever we have to do during the next legislative session in order to prevail. It was not intended to traumatize or scare anyone. But again, it's good for people to be aware and not say, "I thought the budget was

118balanced last year." Yes, it's balanced, but it's nothing permanent about it. That's all I'm trying to express tonight. >> Thank you, Mr. Traver. >> Yeah, I don't think you've overdone it, Mr. Nicole. Um, I think that, you know, we have a legitimate concern about whether this we can achieve this budget. It's been expressed by some board members. We have a concern about whether it'll be good enough. We have uh a need to keep trying to get the 5 million that's been raised. >> Um, and we even have another option which we haven't touched. We still need to sit down with uh Deputy Commissioner Hughes or whomever they designate to talk about MARB and whether or not that's an avenue that's worthy of pursue. >> Uh where there might be 10 or 20 million which would

119get us librarians, get us the principal's list, but we know we don't know whether that's a an option we want to pursue because we don't know the strings that are attached to it. So we we we have other options. In the meanwhile, y'all have presented to us a balanced budget. So, nobody's going to be losing their jobs. And that's uh worth uh noting and and and and being public about. Um and that's means nobody's losing their job in the short term. Um and that's, you know, that's good. And next year we have a heck of a fight ahead of us. So, you know, we know we know what we got to do and we got to start getting to work. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Dr. Avery. >> Oh, I'm good. I I just

120want to, you know, you know, you know, really, our jobs, guys, is is as a as a board and as administrative staff is to work together like we've done and we've been very transparent to the community about where we are financially and all those things. And so, I applaud everybody on this call because we we fought a fight and and we got a balanced budget uh and and we still have a lot of fight to do. And remember uh members of the board there is a possibility for a mob what you know the the municipary something board that we can go mark and get money from. So that's a possibility as well to add to the things we need and and work from and and our job my job as administration of the district is

121to find out how to get access to those dollars. And right now there's no there has been nothing coming from the state, you know, regarding how to access those dollars because I think they're still trying to formulate the the policies around how to in engage in in to getting those dollars. And so I I got my my boots on the ground ready for that to happen. And we're going to get we're going to fight to get some of those things because there's there are some immediate needs that we need, but we have no resources to do it. Uh, and we're fighting for our kids and that's what we're going to fight for collectively together. We uh and and whoever else want to join that that fight. Come on. City, state, everybody's going to get it

122done together. So again, we're not done yet, Bridgeport. So here we go. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> With you, we're going to make that different. >> Um, go ahead. Motion to refer to the full board um the fiscal year 2026 2027 operating budget. >> I'll second that. >> Any further debate? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Okay. Thank you. So we'll see that on Monday. Um, you know, thank you, uh, you know, Miss Nicole and, uh, and you're, I know it's a small team in that finance office, but you miss you miss St. Louis and yourself and but I, I appreciate you both for the work you're doing and then, you know, all the other board u cabinet members who are, you know, contributing this. So, um, like like other people have said,

123it it wasn't an easy year. Um, but thank you for presenting us a balanced budget. uh and anything else we get hopefully um you know we can use it to for restoration purposes um or whatever the board chooses. So um >> madam madam chair may may I add to your comment madam chair? >> Yeah >> Mr. Mr. Nicole I I can't I could we we could have never done it without this gentleman right here guys and so we're very fortunate to have him uh in our presence and working with us to try to fight for the monies for our kids. Uh I I want to personally thank him too and the team his team they're they're they're few but they're powerful and they do a lot of work and they pull their hair out and

124this doesn't have any hair to pull out but he he he's he's fighting and fighting for us and and we do it with joy and with pride and um you know the whole executive leadership team is it's a few of us guys and we we do we work hard and so I I can't say enough about you know and they smile every day at the end of the we're we're all, you know, fighting with each other and each other, but that the next day we're all happy and ready to go. So, it is what it is. That's what that's why we're we work so well together. So, thank you guys for what you guys do. So, I I'll turn it back over you to Madam Chair. >> And so, the next item on the agenda,

125this is our final item. Um this is um a discussion and possible referrals to the full board. The seed um special education purchases for fiscal year 26 year end closing for new sped slash furniture and uh sped curriculums. this is coming before us um today um because we do have to spend this money by the end of the year. So I know um Miss Hughes and uh Dr. Avery and I think Dr. Whitley's on we're going to talk about this. So we'll listen to you guys and hopefully we can move it forward. >> Yeah, thank you m thank you madam chair. I'll take I'll take the lead on this. Uh I want I want to make sure I emphasize to the board that yes this item came at as a lastm minute item. Uh the

126money has to be spent by June 9th. Uh we the district has submitted the C grant application to the to the uh the state. The state kicked that back to us last week saying that we could not use those funds the way that we presented it the first time. So and I don't want to leave any money on the table. Uh because this is the money this this seed money is for the special ed children in you know in in in our district. And uh yes, it's a last minute thing and I I put the we put the quotes in the portal for you guys to consider. Uh but I think it's a it's a great spend. I want to make sure that we can spend it. But I did not want to sign a

127a a um a PO for over $25,000 without getting your approval. So that's why this is on the agenda for the full board. Uh, and if we can get it, you know, you know, pushed to the full board for Monday for approval, that's really what I would like to do because I don't want to again leave any money on the table. We are adding special ed classrooms as part of the C grant opportunity. Uh, but these teachers are are going to need a space. They're going to need the kids are going to need classroom. We're trying to reduce class sizes and all that. So, that's why it's on. And so otherwise we would have we would had time to get get it to you and and get it to a committee as well. But we

128would uh appreciate if you guys would consider it. Uh if you don't pass it that money is going back to the state and our kids won't benefit from it. So uh that's why it's here. So I'll turn it back over to you to Madam Chair if you have any questions. >> U miss her. I >> I just have one question and it's around the quotes. I saw them. Um, I I obviously I'm good with spending money like this. I certainly don't want to leave any money on the table. It's a awful narrative for a district that's strapped and has deficits and then we're sending money back. It's not a good optic. Um, but do we know for sure that the seed grant will cover and pay for these um items? >> Yes. Uh, >> Dr.

129Whley. >> Dr. Dr. Whley. >> Dr. Whitting. >> Yes. >> Excellent. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that if we approve anything, um, we weren't on the hook for it. If the same thing that happened last week, they would, you know, deny it for whatever reason. Okay. >> Okay. the the only reason they denied it because it was part of the the C grant is for new staff, not existing staff. So, we had we pushed staff into the the C grant to pay for staff, you know, but when you look at the the timeline of when those staff members were hired, they had to be hired prior to July, whatever. But some of these teachers came on afterwards. So, we could not you could not use it for that. But we submitted it that

130way and they they they pushed it back at us and that's why it it came back at a late notice for you guys. >> If I if I may go ahead >> if I may, Madam Chair Hannah, correct me if I'm wrong. We already did a budget amendment with the state of Connecticut for these items reclassifying them to purchase all these things and they approved it this last week. >> This is correct. The revision was approved on Monday. Yes, >> the revision was approved by the state. So we are not going on a limb not knowing it's already been approved by the revision to purchase these things have been approved by the state already as of last week. So >> but the board hadn't approved it yet. That's >> I know but I'm just giving

131uh Mr. Menz the comfort that it's already been the revised budget has been approved by the state. So we're not guessing. >> Gotcha. That's really helpful. Thank you. I'm all set. Uh, first hand I see is Mr. Sakalovic. >> Yeah, Dr. Avery actually asked one of my qu most questions. What was kicked back? Um, yeah, as far I'm okay. I'm pretty much okay with the furniture, but I got a question concerned about the curriculum since it's um last minute. Has it for staff? Has any staff reviewed the curriculum to see are we familiar with this firm? What have you? Michelle, Miss McKinley, Marge. >> Hello. Uh, yes. The, uh, which curriculum are you referring to, the ULS or the wonders in HMH? >> Uh, there's there's one called Teach Teachtown. That's the one I'm on

132with currently. >> Teachtown was the the second quote. Uh last week at the ISS meeting we we presented the ULS which is the curriculum for our LEAP and some of our SOAR students. We had submitted that to with our committee meeting and we wanted to make sure that you could see other quotes. The teach town was significantly higher which is one of the reasons why we selected the ULS curriculum. The wonders in the H uh in the uh HHM is our current curriculum that we already use except we're not using it in our sore classrooms. And right now we're working with our special education teachers in um adding uh intervention strategies to make it accessible to our our um uh special ed students. >> Okay. All all all I'm saying in the portal is actually

133is that one. Okay. That that explains that. And uh U and the ULS I'm not seeing the what else? >> The ULS we we presented to ISS last week Wednesday or Thursday. However, we only uh presented one year. What we're proposing in this grant is three years. So we went this 67,000 for one year and I believe the three-year was uh 200 approximately 210,000. >> Okay. And and encompassing the both the three is a uls right and the furniture will spend us down to zero. Correct. >> Correct. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh Mr. Medina. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I just wanted to say thank you. Uh so more than a comment than than a uh question. Uh because uh Dr. Avery when he spoke uh it gave

134every confidence of what we're doing and why we're doing it. And that's what we think. We don't mind. I want to make sure that we make it clear and I make it clear for myself. We don't mind when things come up last minute. when it's this urgent the way it was said the way it was been presented and the reason why this is why we have these meetings. So um I I thank and thank thank you Nu also for uh presenting to us that they already have. So that was a great point uh to the comfort of Miss uh Himenez and myself because again they already approved this. So this is something that we can almost when we pass it it's going to be a benefit and we're going to see the you know we

135got to spend that money. She said it very clearly and I I agree. It sets a bad president when we got money to spend and we don't spend it. Um, so great job you guys finding it. I'm glad that they they caught it or said no on time. That way we can make it pivot. So this is what it's about. So when we have to pivot, we're definitely going to respond and I know everybody else would uh respond and say this is what we're talking about. We need to do this. So I appreciate everybody. >> All right. Is there a motion? Motion to refer to the full board uh the seed special education purchases for fiscal year 26 year end closing. >> You add the last two items. Uh Abby. >> Oh um uh new

136sped classroom furniture and uh sped curriculums. >> I'll second that. Any further debate? See none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. >> Um, and the last but not least is a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> All right. Uh, second that. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Okay. Thanks everyone. Have a great day. Thank you.