001Evening everybody. It's uh January 8th and this is the business and planning meeting and we're going to be uh the agenda for tonight is the 202627 special education and the systemwide budget presentation that we'll be presenting tonight. Um if you don't mind, we'll start with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, we have an exit right here on our right if you need and um >> and all I ask is uh so like to start it off but if whoever speaks [cough] if they could just [clears throat] announce uh their name and and their their title. So >> absolutely I am going to start tonight
002with the special education budget. I am Wendy McCabe the new people services director. >> So I will walk you through the budget. I first just want to talk a little bit about the process and some of the things that are involved in that process and what those big changes are. Okay. So to start when considering a special education budget, there's really some three main areas that we consider. We look at we have what's called the child find obligation. We are tasked as a district with finding children that live in this town that may have special education disabilities needs that we need to address. So identifying and understanding those needs is a big part of what we do. You'll see that reflected in the budget with assessments and assessments need to be updated as soon as
003there is a new assessment out. We have one year we can utilize the old assessment until legally we need to purchase one. And the way assessments are transitioning, they're transitioning away from the big kits that we used to have into online versions of those. So you'll see that a couple different times in the budget. And unfortunately when we can't purchase that big kit, we need to pay for the online subscription yearly. So some of these standardized assessments that are standardized that everyone uses that are norm reference that we need to use for our childlined obligations are going to be a little bit different. One of those is happening this year and then each year we're probably going to see that change coming. [cough] Um once we identify those needs, we need to look at how
004we're going to instruct those students and those services. They need specially designed instruction in areas of math, reading. We can look at OT, PT, speech and language, social emotional learning. All of those areas we look at to create a program for every individual student. And then within that collaboration is so important with the team that's working with the child, but also the families in the community. So all of that and then overseeding it all is compliance. So with special education, you're going to hear the words IDEIDA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, quite frequently. That is federal law that supersedes everything we do. Connecticut has their own laws as well. So we need to follow both. Connecticut can at any time raise the bar from IDA. They can't lower it. And there are several places that
005I Connecticut has raised the bar above federala. And that could be a talk for another day. If you want a presentation about IDA, I'd be happy to do that for the board. Um, in this budget, we are really working on strengthening existing programs and supports. There are no new programs or staffing proposed in this budget. So, what you're going to see is looking at maintaining what we have, strengthening those supports that we have. So, in this district now, we have several wonderful programs. We have our resource rooms and push-in models throughout all of our schools. We have two full-time pre-K classrooms and two part-time pre-K classrooms. We have one autism behavioral classroom that's at the elementary level right now. That program really involves some of our significant students with some significant disabilities that we are
006able to address with some ABA applied behavior analysis programming. You'll see a software package that is utilized for that program called Aerys. And that is something that along with most of our programs has increased in price for the coming year. We also have our program in East Hampton. We work collaboratively between the two towns. It's alternative high school called the learning center. We have six seats in that program and that is really looking at how can we support students that have social emotional needs without having to outplace them into another district. So this is our district program. Even though it's housed in East Hampton, we collaboratively run that program. We also have the east of the river transition program. This is under IDA. We need to educate students up and through the age of 22.
007So students, not too long ago, once they turned 22, they were out. Now we educate them through that year. So an example would be a student that has a birthday in July. Our school year officially starts July 1st. [clears throat] That's the new school year. A student that turns 22 July 2nd, they're entitled to that entire school year of education. So almost until they're 23. So that that has caused some cost increase because it's many of our students we are educating for an additional year. Um we have the effective school solutions program at the middle school level. That was something started a couple years ago and it's continues to be in this budget that I will present and that program really looks at providing social emotional behavior supports to students that may otherwise have been
008placed out of district at a much higher cost. So that's really the goal of that program is how we can support those students within our own schools. So the major cost areas of special education you'll see is number one tuition. That blue pie that is all tuition that includes out of district tuitions for students we place in private out of district placements as well as magnet student services. We do you'll see the magnet tuition is something that you'll see in Teresa's budget but if that student has a disability we provide the special education services for that student at the magnet school. So we are responsible for providing that and paying for that. So that is a parent choice that has nothing to do with anyone else except those parents. They can choose to send their
009child to a magnet school and then we will continue to financially support those services there. Purchase services, that's that orange wedge. That is our BCBA, our OTPT. They are hired by us, but they are part-time employees. So we consider them in the purchase services. We have a TVI which is teacher of the visually impaired and we have aiology services for students that are hearing impaired. So we contract those services. We don't have a need for full-time people in our district. Instruction that is that smaller wedge that is really all the materials that our teachers and our therapists and our counselors are using with students. So it looks like a very small piece in the overall picture. Um, and in each of these areas, you're going to see a decrease except that big tuition wedge, and
010I'll talk more about that. And in the other, which you can't even see, that's such a small segment of the the big picture is we provide small buses for field trips for students that require that due to their individual needs and then some travel dues and fees. So bottom line proposed budget is 2.12 and then the and that represents a $300,000 increase which is a 16% increase. Before we talk any more about that, I want to talk about where that is. That increase is entirely in out of district tuition. So that 301,000, it's really $5,000 increase in everything else because our out of district tuition is going up 306,000. That represents two new students placed out of district and it also represents increases which we have a couple of our out of district placement contracts
011that are in, but those come in throughout the spring. So this is anticipated what typically those increases are. Those increases happen every year and those decisions are made at the PPT level. So that is a planning and placement team level and that is under that IDA decision making. So that is something that we are federally mandated as a district to provide. Now I want to take a closer look. There is when you look at the line item you're going to think that tuition didn't go up that high but it reflects we moved 170,000. That's the cost of our ESS program. We have moved that out of tuition because it's not truly a tuition. It's more of a purchase service. So, that came out of tuition and went into purchase services. So, when you're looking and
012you're like, "That math is not quite right there." That's because the purchase services is going to go up $170,000. So, it's not looking like the whole $300,000 increase is in tuition, but in fact, that is where that increase is. If we look at the comparison from last year in the three main bucket areas, you'll see the purchase services and the tuition have gone up when in actuality the $170,000 move from tuition to purchase services is where you see that the two increases there. Does everyone understand that? It was a little confusing. >> I have a lot of questions. I'm just waiting for you to go through your presentation. >> We'll go through each item and you you'll you'll be able to get a good visual of what each of those are. Can you just briefly
013explain what ESS is? >> Yes. So, that is a program that we contract with Effective School Solutions and they come into our middle school and they provide a full-time clinician social worker to work with our students with some social, emotional, behavioral challenges. >> And that full contract is 170,000. >> Correct. >> Why would why do we contract and why don't we have an in-person Would it be cheaper to have somebody in person do that service? not necessarily when you look at the benefits package that goes along with a social worker at that a clinician at that level. So that is something they offer some oversight and they offer a lot more family components within that and and there's some professional development that we kind of get along with that as well for the staff. >>
014So I I see the the notation it says move ESS to psychological services. So, where is psychological services housed and what budget is that housed? Is that within your budget? >> That is in my budget. If you look, that's the purchase services. >> Okay. >> So, the psychological that includes our BCBA that we contract out and that purchase services looks like it's going up 168,000. If we didn't move ESS, it would have been going down by a little bit. >> That's the 16955. >> Yes, that was adjusted today. It still has 16955 on the adjustment. >> Right. If you look at I'm just up there. It was 168857. >> Which one is it? >> Is it the 169555? >> It's the one sheet. This is the latest one. >> All right. Just take a look.
015[snorts] And the purchase service is a combination of all of the purchase services. So we are looking at the 486930 and Christie why is that different? >> Yeah, it's the 16955. >> Okay, she's looking at the change on the cover sheet. Not on that sheet. >> We're talking two different things. talking the total versus just the purchased service line because then when you deduct the the negative transportation field trips it comes up to the 168 857 that you're saying >> thank you did a little restructuring of where things were supposed to be paid for >> that that's part of this process is when we look at it and you know there was a $280 that didn't really belong in that category so we moved it out and that's what I was talking about earlier that
016process of really shifting and making sure things are reflected in the right lines and that that continues throughout the finalization of this process. >> Do you have another question? >> I'm I'm going to let you finish your your presentation because it might answer my question. So, I'm not going to interrupt. >> Dig in and look at the lines and we can talk about what each of those services are, right? >> And that will that will help. Okay. So, if you we can go ahead and look right at your packet. And if you look to the the first section is director's office. You're going to see a page like this. Okay. So, this is overall reflecting an increase of $2,100. If you turn to the line items, you're going to see something new, and that is
017our purchase service of talented and gifted identification. One of the things that our district is tasked with is identifying students that could be talented and gifted. At this point, we are not doing a full screening for an entire grade level. Often, it's third grade that that's looked at, and we haven't been doing that. So, this will allow us to administer a screening assessment to all third graders to determine eligibility for talented and gifted. And that is something we are tasked with federally. And as a state, our requirement is we have to identify those students, let those parents know that their student qualifies as a talented and gifted student. We are not obligated to provide talented and gifted instruction. That is something that is little mismatch. We are required to identify. We're not required to service
018them. We do have some great things that we do in district. Um but again, the identification part is what our obligation is. So there are screening tools that we can utilize to do that. We have about 80 students in that grade level. So this is a an estimate based on an average of some of the different assessments. We as a district have not chosen which one of those we would like to do, but this would cover the cost of that for next year. >> Okay. >> You sure can. >> Does that so that would only be for those kids and then the kids behind them? >> For third graders, >> right? So this is just for those kids. >> So that means we've missed 4th through 12th of of doing that. >> It does. We
019have not screened as an entire district before. >> I um >> And is this like a history from being here, but I can tell you that the district doesn't have to screen all of a grade. That's I consider that best practice because then we're looking at every single child and giving every single child a chance to show what they can do. It's not an academic test. It's a test that really looks at their thinking skills. So, it's not your typical reading and writing. So, the other way that we identify students is we look at where we see some exceptionality. We say, you know what, this student is really excelling in creative thinking and able to problem solve. And then we can individually identify students that way. And that has been the process here. And that's
020an acceptable process by the state. This is just more comprehensive and it doesn't allow us to miss kids. I'm strong believer that sometimes some of those kids that may not show that aptitude in their daily schoolwork might have it and this will help screen that and for us to identify those kids >> and is that like a so we're just basically saying the 4th through 12th we're doing it the old way and we're going to start going forward right is what it is for the rest >> yes at any time a parent is able to say you know what I think my child is is gifted and we can do individual testing at at that time which has has always been the process from staff members identifying that or a parent. >> I just have
021a couple questions. So there's a a lot of changes between these two documents. One of the things that concerns me is that the changes seem to be in fiscal year 24 and 25. Why would that why would you have to go in to adjust in this updated sheet a previous fiscal year? I was using um the prior business manager spreadsheets and then when I came to do the totals because I did each category at a time. First I did the three schools you saw yesterday. Um when I went to go do the totals they weren't adding up. So I found that her numbers might have been old numbers in the last sheet. So I updated them to actual 2425. >> Okay. So that so the updated sheet is actual 2425. So so for instance when
022I look at the old sheet there's even new line items like under physically handicapped there's other wages is listed in the new sheet. I mean in the old sheet and in the new sheet uh that doesn't even show up anymore. >> That has been moved to vocational education services. So those are wages that our students in our transition program earn through their vocational work which gets put back into how they spend and the activities they do within the program. So that is still there. It's just moved to where it's better reflected which is the vocational education services. But in the in the old form, there's also a vocational educational uh area with other wages in it. >> And that was a duplication. It's a duplication. Okay. >> So we cleaned up. So I've heard I've
023heard different things about your ability to have to go in and clean up some financial records. And what we're seeing is that that is real real like you're having to go in and clean up uh problems from the previous uh staff that I mean clearly that's what I'm seeing and not knowing what was reported uh and how that was reported. I I can't answer that. It's just the spreadsheet that I had that was from last budget cycle. Okay. um it wasn't it wasn't accurate to put >> Well, I appreciate the transparency and going back and changing the previous fiscal year, but I you know, it obviously raises red flags when you see that. So, of course, I'm going to be asking about that. So, but I do appreciate the info, but you can see why
024I'm going to be going back and forth, back and forth. Okay, thank you. Um, so that there really isn't anything new within that besides that talented and gifted. I did was able to lower one of the the fees that ended up being 225 instead of 250 for one of the the fees for the professional organization. Does anyone have any other questions about that? There's a couple of things you'll see in there. One of them is called an IEP plugin. that is a program so that power school can connect to our IEP program to allow teachers to view students um accommodations and goals. So that is a required component for us to be able to have our school talk to CT saids our IEP program. Yes. Thank you. [clears throat] >> Next, we have early childhood.
025You're going to see a total decrease of $246 in this area and that is reflective of the actual needs of the teachers at this time for our early childhood program. The the big ticket item in early childhood is the teaching strategies gold. that is the software that they utilize to track student development. It goes along with um how they look at all eight areas of development in early childhood and it's an observational program that they then are able to create uh programs for kids and they're able to report to parents and keep track of progress that way. Okay, so that's that's the big ticket item. If you look through, there's things like gloves that are needed for changes. We actually um have it in there for all of our special education students because it's cheaper
026to buy it and so I'd like to go back to the director's office for a moment. I'm sorry. I was trying to get organized. What is the travel reimbursement for? >> That is mileage reimbursement for my travel. I do I we have a lot of students out of district. So when I go to those meetings or I whenever we place a student or I'm actually traveling a little bit probably more than typical because I need to go to all these placements and meet these kids. >> How come we don't do a per mileage uh reimbursement >> that that is a per per mile. So I may not use >> cost that is so >> that's an estimated cost >> of how many m of a of a percentage based on how many miles >> practice.
027So the 3000 is is just a is not a flat fee. It is a calculation based on mileage. >> I think it would be helpful to, you know, because when you look at it, it just looks like a flat a flat a stipen, an additional payment. So >> it's not a stipent. >> Okay. >> It's actually the exact mileage. >> Exact mileage. Okay. Great. Thank you. I'm sorry. >> I'm all caught up now. Thank you. >> Okay. Any questions about early childhood? There are some years where there's replacement costs for a lot of materials and with early childhood that's our pre-k classrooms. Things break, we need new items. We It's very low this year. We don't have any of that in in the budget this year that's proposed. >> Do we do we interface with
028OEC and get any additional funding like smart start funding or anything else? We were able to in the past um but that is no longer the case. They're ending some of those programs. That is originally from my understanding and I'll have to >> year last year smart start >> it ended. We there's still funding in the state budget for that. >> So it's a different model. I remember the previous director was looking at that model. It's not the same model. Yes, >> for every childhood. >> Yep, I'm all set. Thank you. >> So, next we go into physically handicapped and I'll go into each of these areas. It it for combined decrease in this area, $565. If you turn to the first section, you're going to see the New England Center for Hearing and Rehabilitation.
029That is for our our consult for services for students that are hearing impaired. So, they they come in a couple of times a month and work with staff to work with those students and that is per their IEPs, their individualized education plans. Is the American School for the Deaf also a vendor that provides this service? >> It can be. We have actually I went back through the history because I was curious as well. This is who this district is currently and in the past we had some much higher costs than this. So that could be the reason why we are at this. We even tried another place a few years ago, but this seemed to be a better price range. >> Good question. Um, we have the field trip. I talked about that a little
030bit. That is for when we need to provide small bus transportation. So, our students with disabilities have every right to go on every field trip with their gened peers and they may need a different transportation in order to do that and we provide that. Um, the work study wages, you're going to see that one is changing where we're putting that. We were working on that this afternoon at 4:38 Christine. So that is there was very small change in that over last year. We are getting additional students, but I was able to really look at the amount of work that they're doing and how we're paying them. So I'm not anticipating even though we're going to get three new students going up to that program, we're going to be able to maintain that the way that
031the model is working. >> So they're working in the district, they're working for the district. they are working in the community. So our transition program students are actually housed in Colchester. We run our program with Colchester similar to how we run it with East Hampton for our learning center. So that allows us to have a much more robust program. >> Are they in the bakery in Colchester right on Route 85 when what where are they working in Colchester? >> Um they work at Moheagen Sun. It's not just all in Colchester. It's throughout the communities. And these are not uh employers who are focused on kids with special needs. This is mainstream employment. >> Mainstream employment. So these students are going out into the community and they're learning from the workers in those jobs about how
032to work to present themsel in the workplace, how to perform those duties. >> And then we pay the students for their work. And then those they learn how to budget and they learn how to use that money to do different activities within the community. It's actually that's another presentation I would love to do about the transition program if we ever wanted to do that. We have a wonderful transition program >> um and it's a very good partnership with Colchester. So we split those costs 5050 with Colchester. We are considered um kind of housing that program even though it's in Colchester. We we run that. Don does a lot of stuff for us over there and then we build Colchester 50% for everything. >> Where is this facility? This is and I am new to this
033area so you're going to have to bear with me. It is um >> directly across from the Colchester bakery. >> Directly across from the Colchester bakery. Thank you. >> The old Colchester say it's next to a coffee shop. >> Okay. >> And it's across the street from a fabric store. >> Okay. Okay. I know where >> I know where it is. [laughter] Yeah, >> bakery is famous. So, >> is it really? >> Yeah, >> I know this doesn't help you, but we did have a really good presentation sometime in the last four years. We were at the high school, so it must have been previous to 2023 >> and but it would be nice for the new members to have it again. It was a really great >> We have a new teacher running it
034than I you probably [clears throat] had before. >> So, it's been a few years, but it was a great presentation. >> Set that up. >> Yeah. I work closely with the Colchester director for that program and I've been very again I'm still learning the the procedures and processes of that. I've been impressed with our program >> and and so where's the staffing dollars for that program? >> That will be in the district budget >> that we don't we we don't have that yet. Got it. All right. Thank you. >> Going over that. So all of that staffing the only staffing in my budget are purchase services. >> I got you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Absolutely. So, and that that's where you see right below there, you're going to see your OTPT. So, those are
035purchase services because they're part-time employees. They don't receive benefits. >> Can I just interject that some of those staff were in the high school budget? >> School budget. >> Okay. >> For the age that that over 18. >> Okay. >> It's considered an extension of high school. >> Still part of our part of our totals, >> but it was in the high school budget. >> Okay. Thank you. There's been some legislation to get because years ago all of our transition programs were housed in high schools and they just had a little separate area and those were I used to when I taught high school I called them my post-secary kids and they would do a lot more and then over time we've made it much more robust and the state is really pushing these programs
036and they're going to very soon require that they not be in a school that they be and we're already ahead of the game with this so we're in a very good place and our facility has they can they're cooking, they're doing housework. It's more of an environment that's going to stimulate simulate what they're going to have for adult life and that's where the state is going. So, there's going to be a lot of towns looking to for rentals and we're we're going to be all set. So, if you look through some of the line items or are physically handicapped, you're going to see the a lot of those assessments that I talked about require protocols, which is the the test booklet that the therapist or the um teacher would utilize to provide that testing. They're
037pretty pricey. you can see, you know, $120, $60, and those are something that is an ongoing need that we calculate how many students we anticipate that we'll be needing to assess during the school year and and purchase that many. I wish I could say you get a discount for bulk, but we do not. These will eventually all be going to that online format in the next 5 to 10 years. Does anyone have any questions? You're going to see some tools for handwriting and those types of things. Some sensory tools of the OT um the band which is for strengthening muscles. Lots of different things. There is some that help kids with focus within the classroom. And again, overall in the physically handicapped, we're seeing a a decrease of 565 across that whole category. Let's see
038all set. >> Lots of Amazon. Yeah, >> you know, that's the wonderful part about that is previously we were always and again in every school district >> we were really stuck with utilizing particular big cataloges and the prices like I would have teachers say I can buy crayons on sale at Walmart for 50 cents and in the catalog they're 350 a box like it's ridiculous. Now that we are able to use Amazon as a vendor, we can be much more competitive than those old school cataloges. >> So a lot of these items and the things that Amazon carries like the adaptive pencils and adaptive equipment for students is is wonderful that we can utilize Amazon because that allows Amazon has many many many hundreds thousands of vendors. So by us having a vendor with Amazon,
039we're accessing all of those individual vendors. I have a question actually about the Amazon. I noticed on some schools Amazon has no shipping charge and then I noticed in other places there is a shipping charge. It strikes me odd. Why would we have some purchases that have shipping and some that don't? I would think with mass bulk purchasing we shouldn't have any shipping charges unless it's like a really massive big item. So why is there that disconnect? And that's probably a question for you, not necessarily for her. Yeah, it's dependent on the vendor that um has contracted with the Amazon. >> So, when we're getting it for nothing, is it Amazon Prime putting it putting us to work? >> Okay. >> Business account. >> Okay. >> Unfortunately, some of these specialized adaptive equipment are going
040to be those vendors that >> have a have a shipping cost. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I didn't. [cough and clears throat] >> Okay. Next is our learning disabled category. So, this one does have an increase that is offset by a lot of those little decreases and there it's going to look we I separated out some of the items into supplies versus equipment. Um, if we put those categories together, you're looking at a decrease of 877. So, it's combining some line items. It is an overall decrease. Where you're going to see the increase is in the resource media. that is software programs. So we can take a look. There's two main drivers of that. One of them is are reading horizons. There's been an there's an increase in every single piece of software unfortunately. And
041in special education, we are tasked with finding what works for individual students. We can't just say this is what we're doing and it's working for everybody. Through our process of identifying those needs, we need to see what speciallyesed instruction is best for those students. And a lot of these materials, I'm a big proponent of hard copy materials. I don't want everything online, but there's online components that are for the planning, for the development of the lessons, for the scoring, and for the tracking, for the progress monitoring. Some of them are student facing, but those are smaller pieces of it. Okay. In the reading horizons, and then you're going to see the something that is brand new. The only thing that is brand new in that software is going to be the Woodcock Johnson 5. We've
042been using the four which is the big heavy kits where they would drag around these books um which of us old school people really like that. So we are now transitioning to an online format. So that is going to be a subscription. That subscription is based on the size of the district. So when I got that quote I had to you know how many students are in this district not how many students are identified with special education. We actually have a little bit lower rate of identification of special education by a little bit than the state right now average. Um but at any time we may need to do some testing with the student. So they only go by size of the district. So that is the current quote for the use of the Woodcock
043Johnson 5 for next year. That is for academic achievement testing and that is what our special education teachers will utilize to determine a child's educational level. and it gives um percentiles and it's norm referenced. you'll see the the Aerys subscription that is our that that is not just an online that's one of those hybrid that has a lot of materials that went with it that we've already purchased and that is for our students with autism that utilizes the principles of applied behavior analysis You're going to see instructional supplies. You're going to see a lot of those protocols that I talked about for those tests that have not yet turned digital. And that is what that whole next the page is is all of the different areas that we may need to evaluate. And you'll see
044we're not ordering large quantities of those. So, we're we're just ordering what we anticipate we're going to need for next year. I was able to combine some of the teachers orders and look at um where we can save some money and had people work together as teams to be able to really see what do we have, what do we need. And that's something that I'm going to be looking at ongoing is how we can utilize what we have. We may have something in district that another teacher is no longer using that we can switch over. So that will always be a focus. [clears throat] No, >> we'll make sure >> I think student category. >> Thank you. Any questions on physically handicapped? Oh, sorry. Learning disabled. There's a lot of lot of little items in
045there that I can explain what the use of any of those are. If you have a question for you, sorry. >> Absolutely. Um the individual like the total 27,553 and the individual pages aren't adding up to 27,553. >> I'm sorry. 27,535. >> We have been I've been trying to condense and remove quite a bit of that. >> So that will be a work in progress. if that you could bring that number down or >> Well, I I added up these sheets and it is less than $27, >> which reflects some of the things that I've been removing that we either have in district that I can move to another place. It's not something that we're not going to purchase or not going to supply for the staff. It's something that we don't need to purchase.
046So, the big the big driver in that area is really all of that software on that first page, the the 18,000. And then again, I think you are also missing a couple pages from this. And again, there it's not any of the big major drivers. There's a lot of those little materials. It could be a resource book. It could be a piece of a phonics tool that a teacher needs. So, we will make sure we have all of that for you. >> All right. tuition and I am going to ask that you um let me change in that page there is something that I need to redact. We want to make sure there's no identifiable information that is so within the board we're not going to say any student names or any particular names. >>
047We'll take that page back. >> I'm sorry. the tuition. >> There's something on there that shouldn't be on there. Please don't yell it out loud. >> Well, I have a lot of questions. I have a a lot of highlights on this page. >> You're not identifying an individual student, >> right? You It'll be fine. >> Something that we can't yell out loud in public. Just something quick. >> Any student names. >> That's all. >> Well, I don't have that highlighted. >> Right. I figured you >> Everything else is highlighted. Yeah. There's not the students were taken out, but there's another piece of identifiable information that we wouldn't want anyone to put together to figure out. >> Thank you. >> I caught all of them. >> I remember you thought you all. >> Yeah, I I
048did not like the way it was >> presented. So, this is the big cost of special education right here. These are the added district costs and private placements within special education approved special education schools and also the services that we provide to our magnet school students. You'll also see the cost of the learning center program here. And then there's some uh student needs that were created through settlement agreements in the past. So you may see some of that information here. Can I start? >> You can. >> All right. Great. >> So, uh I see we have tuition uh going to New London public schools. What What Why are we um sending tuition to a public school? >> New London public schools are all magnet schools. This is magnet a magnetition. >> It is. Every school
049in New London has become a magnet school. >> Okay. Um the next is the East Hampton Learning Center. um $169,954. Um I know we're sharing the cost of the East Hampton uh facility. Can you just provide more detail about what's going on? >> Also represents not just the building and the utilities, all of those costs, but also the staffing of the program. So that's going to be the bulk of that. It's staffed by a certified special education teacher, a social worker, and a paraprofessional. >> And so, >> so that's and that includes their benefits. All of the costs for those three employees is split 5050. >> And is there just three employees in the whole center? >> Yes. >> And so if I were to call my friend on the East Hampton Board of Education
050and ask them if they have a similar amount, it is a true 50/50 split. >> It is. And again this is this is an estimate for next year. So we always increase from the previous year because salaries increase cost of utilities increase. Their estimate may be a little different than we do. The budget we will be charged the actual cost. >> So this includes utilities as well. It's not just staffing and rent I assume all of it. And what is the location of this facility? You know that road [laughter] dance studio? There's like a dance >> Oh, the old It's the old central office for East Hampton. >> Yes. My My aunt used to teach there. >> And the It's a cool building. >> It is an old building. >> But I apologize for my
051lack of knowledge of the area. I can get to all the schools now without getting lost. I just want to point out if you weren't already aware that there is a grant at the state level for $10 million for expansion of IND district special education facilities. Okay. >> Um my next question and this I have to say took me by surprise. Why do I see Feinstein Educational Law Group uh on this list? That is a settlement agreement that's been a long-term agreement for many years that there's a student that is being provided services through that money. >> So he's an a lobbyist at the capital >> attorney. I understand but he's a lobbyist at the capital. I think he's actually a >> register. We're not paying him. He >> pushes out that money to pay
052for those services. So the the parent contracted with that law firm. We put they supply me with receipts and progress updates for every penny that's spent. >> Um >> before I >> Do you have a copy of the settlement agreement? >> I do. >> Is that public document? >> Yeah. >> And how long can Can you at least tell us how long we've been paying this and how much longer we have to pay this? Um, I would have to look at the age of the child, but we'll educate that child until they are through their 22nd year. And only Feinstein Educational Law Group can provide their education services. >> They're not providing the education services. That's an individually designed education program specifically for that student. And that law firm is the one that we rather
053than paying individually, the parent has had the law firm gets the money and they push it out and pay the individual services. We are not paying the law firm itself. That money, all of it goes towards services for the child. >> Okay. And then again, the ESS effective school solutions and that's been uh absorbed in purchased services. >> Yes. That's why you see that huge increase there. >> Okay. Thank you. >> It would have been just a little bit of a decrease in that area. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And again, these are anticipated services. So actual costs of what these out of district placements are, we you know, we kind of go on the history of how much they go up every year. And at any time student needs can change. So this is
054anticipated need. >> Do we have the excess cost reimbursement showing as revenue coming in? >> We do. We have an estimate of that. Um Christine can be a bigger help in how that's calculated in but we do have that calculated in as a decrease. >> Does the excess cost though come into the town side of the ledger or does it come into the board of ed side of the ledger? >> Right. But it goes to the town, but then it comes to offset, >> right, >> the district. >> Got it. Okay. Not for um I'm just curious. I'd like to know what our full excess cost grant was. Um that'd be great. Thank you. >> Does everyone understand excess cost and what that means that grant? Yes. Okay. >> Be good to explain it. >>
055Yeah. So with students with high needs, what we have is an excess cost grant. And what that means is every district is going to have students with sub substantially higher needs than others that are going to cost the district substantially higher amount of money. So what Connecticut does to help offset that is we look at four and a half times our per pupil expenditure. So if we have any students that were spending more than four and a half times our average per pupial expenditure, we can then apply those costs towards excess cost and then that grant and the state has a calculation and a formula which has changed recently. >> Not fully funded. >> It's never fully funded. So >> funded, >> not fairly. >> This is what we call one of those federal. >>
056So any,000 >> we get a portion back. We don't get the whole cost back. we get a portion sometimes that might be 70 sometimes it might be 62% um it's never going to be 100% and again it's only what's over that four and a half times so we're already spending quite a bit more before that excess cost comes in >> you're welcome with that >> yeah I'm sorry I just a little unclear about one thing and it's a big fundamental so this tuition thing. This is just special education kids or this is special education kids and anybody who's at a magnet school because they chose to. >> It is anyone that is at a magnet school that requires special education services. >> So we're and we're not paying for their general magnet school out of
057this magnet school tuition. So, some of these students are being paid their their tuition, their gened tuition that are we're obligated to pay towards that magnet school out of that budget. Services are paid out of this one. >> Got it. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat] >> I don't think so. I think it's nice to see a breakdown of the different schools and institutions. I don't think we've had that in the past, but it's just helpful to be able to see broken out how much are we spending for special education on each. >> Yes. >> You know, whether it's a school or whether it's a settlement that we have. So, it's like really feels more clear here. >> So, just appreciate that. >> Thank you, [clears throat] Jessica. >> Melissa, thank you. >> All
058right, final stretch. Can I just interject that >> there was um excess cost supplied of about 369,000 last year for tuition. >> Thank you very much. >> So that helps again in someday we may have a fully funded mandate there. Don't hold your breath. Next is our homebound. I am actually this I believe in the past there was some instructional materials that were included in this. I I really feel like we're able to utilize what we have at this point. So I took those out and it's just that flat 20,000. That is what we estimate based on prior use. Those are students that for whatever medical reasons the physician says they need homebound services. We provide those services and that includes educational tutoring as well as any speech and language counseling. any of those services.
059We are legally mandated to fund those and and pay for those. So that 20,000 there was a year I looked prior that it was it cost 32,000 and there's years that it's been lower. So this is we're only going to utilize what we need. >> Are those is that an ongoing enrollment potentially like kind of like it could happen at any moment? >> It could happen at any moment. >> So you have you have no idea. >> Yeah. Sometimes a child's medically fragile as they're going through a treatment. >> Um it could be something that is acute and shortterm, which is typically the case. >> Um and then whenever we have a student that's out on homebound services, there's always an end date provided. Sometimes that gets extended because things change and children's health changes.
060Okay, all set. Psychological services. So, this you're going to see a big increase, but that is that move from ESS to this budget. If we didn't put that ESS in this budget, we'd have just over $4,000 decrease in this area. So, that represents that move. Um, within this the purchase services, you're going to see our BCBA services, our board certified behavior analyst services, and we go through CRE. We contract with CRE for that. And we we have some um a couple of people that work in that role through CRE. We have one that works just at the high school and then one that does our middle and elementary. And then we have that effective school solutions for that larger amount. We were able to reduce just a little bit that CRE BCBA services because there
061was some training that was provided previously that we don't need to do this year. So I was able to take that out. The rest of that if you look for psychological services you're going to see a lot of those protocols. Again, those are things that like the is a we test to see if a child might qualify as having a disability autism. That's what those materials are for. The whisk is that Wexler intelligence scales and you'll see. So, all of that whole page, those are those protocols that we need to purchase in order to complete those evaluations. >> I have a quick question regarding crack. Is that something that we go out to bid on or h how do how do we end up with a contract with crack? >> That is prior to my
062starting here, but I can tell you in my knowledge of this area that typically um the rest are where we look to provide these services and we learn tends to be the risk in our area and for whatever reason we went with CRE. I'm assuming from that was due to availability of BCBAS because even our rest nowadays we used to be able to really go to them who had staffing needs and they're having staffing needs themselves. So that could have been simply learn didn't have a BCBA so we went with crack or it could have been due to the money. So at this point we are continuing that contract with them because we want to keep that person consistent. >> So if so so they're so they're a CRE employee or they have a >>
063CRE employee. So, we don't pay benefits, we don't pay travel, we don't pay anything. >> No, we just pay. And this we pay based on usage. We don't just give them this money. They have to submit monthly to me the hours that they worked and then I sign off on the payment. >> So, this, you know, could be lower if someone was out sick. We're not paying them district. >> Okay. Good enough. >> And different risks have different services. Not all of them have the quality or availability. So we might go to ed advance and subcontract there. So we'll go eastcon like we'll go wherever the services that we need and it happen to be crack [cough] and [clears throat] the the quality of service we want to continue with. >> Okay. Last but not
064least a whopping budget on speech and language. So this is really reflective of those testing materials. This does represent a decrease overall from >> Thank you. >> Questions. Any final questions? >> No. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thanks. >> And display mine, please. >> We had a technical issue. >> For whatever reason, Christine's email was blocked to Wendy. Can't explain it, but it says, "You're blocked." So, we sent it to it and she ran out to scan documents to try that way. It was very interesting. I don't know. I kind of understand it. love technology when it works. >> So I emailed you Dr. presentation >> in two separate two separate files. Sean, do we have extra copies to give to the finance members in the audience perhaps? >> I'm not sure if we do, >>
065which is a good idea because I didn't have a binder together. Do we have that extra >> I wanted to look at maybe this one because this is not this is not the board's budget. So, >> which is at least a follow along. >> Yeah. >> And it's going up. They're actually gonna be able to see it right here. >> That That was the email that we were trying to get to Wendy director, too. >> You know what? I'm learning new skills all the time. >> Okay, the other one I'm going to go over first. >> That one's after upside down just one page was the other one the other. >> So my email is up there. >> I don't want my email going up there. I have a lot of confidential information. >> Yeah.
066Do I show up? >> Just You should just be able to unplug it. >> Yeah. Just for a second. >> That's the same one. Are you going to give us a district? >> No, this one is in addition to everything else. right? >> There you go. >> All right. So, for this next presentation of systemwide, it's going to be a combination of Don, me, and Christine because you'll see the different categories um that are here. As soon as that connects [laughter] It's flashing. >> It's flashing. >> Who knew it would be me? Seems working. >> Oh, that was the point you >> seems to don't see. >> That's crazy. Happens everywhere. >> The health insurance is crazy. >> Happens everywhere. >> We're not on plan partnership, are we? >> No, >> we have a high
067deductible. >> Yeah, it's a high deductible plan >> with a consortium. >> Try to keep learn. >> That's through learn. >> We almost vote the state partnership. >> It It's a disaster. They're they just lost $25 million last year. I feel bad for every single town that got sucked into that because you can't get out. >> It's crazy. >> Things happen for I think it went up >> 30% or more to towns that have it. >> That looks too good to be true. >> They never was. >> That's usually >> looking at that state plan. >> Wow. >> They may be in two different location 30% this year. So >> some are middle school, >> right? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> See, we touched it. We should have never disconnected. Does it work? >> Can
068I go to your computer? No. >> I have a to use my computer only because I'm trying to look up answers along the way here. >> Yeah, we can. We can hard we can plug it in right next to >> Oh, okay. Great. >> Let's do that. >> My my ports. [clears throat] >> I mean, I will, but then anything cool. >> [cough and clears throat] >> trying until something shows up. [laughter] >> Now you get to be better. >> Oh yeah. Try HDMI. This shows the importance of IT person. excess cost um another payment 375. >> Thank you. And that was for >> last year. >> The first payment comes in around February. >> Yes, that's right. Still coming. isn't paid by us. >> That grouping is the shared services group highlighted. >> It's
069paid by the town. >> That has its own budget. services. Good [laughter] to see you. You too. Thank you so much. >> [laughter] >> school was the first one >> and then you should pick one. a third button right in here that says HDMI. >> It's not here. >> That's the zoom. So that's not going to help you. >> That just turns on that. >> Yeah, it's not anymore. >> It just stopped. Was the click chair working at one point? >> Yes, >> it was. It was. >> And then we tried and >> it was working. >> Is back on. >> I mean, this is back on. >> Is it still live streaming here? >> It was out for a second. Now it's back on to YouTube. Yeah, it lost the button option. Oh, wow.
070>> [clears throat] >> Do you want to try plugging it into see if it's a problem? Does >> Sure. HDMI. >> Oh, she did. >> HDMI. >> Yep. Right here. >> There it is. >> The other tablet. Yeah. Just took me a minute. Thanks for your help. >> Thanks, Linda. >> Yeah. Okay. Very good. >> All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> So, we'll go category by category. So at central office which is the systemwide um certified salaries include me Wendy instruction facilitators um and curriculum hours. Non-certified salaries are our folks in um finance, accounts payable, um payroll, um my assistant, and um Wendy's assistant. Custodial maintenance, that's seasonal, says temporary [clears throat] substitutes, [cough] that's across the district. overtime for custodial and maintenance and then there's a salary section. Then benefits is
071for the entire district and we actually have a lot of people who do not take our health insurance. About or a third of our employees do not take our health insurance. um dental insurance, life insurance, social security and Medicare, retirement contributions, um retirey sick payout, that's contractual. And then tuition reimbursement for certified and not certified, it's contractual. purchase services, vendors, legal is very specific. Employee training and development services is districtwide. PD repairs and maintenance services that's under DAN. The rentals are our copers. Then we have liability insurance, unemployment compensation, workers compensation, sports insurance, disability insurance. Communications is our phones. Advertising for jobs and travel reimbursement. Then you see the magnet school tuition that line item that you were asking about before. Under transportation we have regular education transportation, special education transportation, the gasoline and the
072diesel fuel supplies and materials. There are general supplies, professional meetings, instructional supplies, and we have electricity, postage, bottle, propane, fuel, and resource media. There's nothing equipment. We have non-instructional and instructional dues and fees. And that's the overarching. And then what's behind it, the other double-sided breaks it down even further. Oh, there you are. Yep. So under each category, those categories that I referred to in the cover sheet are now broken out by object code and the supporting documents under it. So you'll see all the categories are the same wording. After that, you have a pie chart that shows right now how much the salaries. shrink a little bit. >> This is everything for the budget. Our big category. So salaries, special education, transportation, insurance, utilities are not something that we can't follow through on. the
073other all the other categories to run the district. Then you are specifically asking about salaries. So the legal size document you would have every single position and what step they're on, how much the salary is without specifically it's all by every department or school. >> You just clarify the longevity and the extra pay. >> Yeah. As part of the contract pay is that like stipend or something they might be receiving? >> Yes. >> Most of the extra pay for nurses that work um a couple extra days out of school. And you'll note that there are some um salaries that don't match. TA brought it up. Um they're split between two schools. So if you see that an amount is low, it's because they're in two locations, >> right? >> So you might see somebody with
074a master's and you're like 40,000. Well, because part of their >> work week is in one location and then the other part of their salary is in another school. and and we have a process that the teachers need to notify us of a degree change. So there are four people that you'll see went from a master from a bachelor's to a master's and that's intentional. >> Yeah, they have to inform us by December [snorts] or break >> so we can budget for it for the following year. >> And if you don't see a trajectory, it's because they're new step. I was just curious. So like what just the regular stipens like for all the different stuff where would that be? >> So there were coaches in the school budgets. >> You'll see them in all.
075>> So just construction facilitators in this one. >> Yep. >> Oh yeah. all the after school activities, the athletics, athletics are in the high school and middle school athletics and then each school has their stipen line of other wages. >> A preliminary line now >> are you bringing yourself over from business manager? Are you in this budget? >> That's a shared service. >> Yeah, >> you know that's a shared service. It is a shared service. Facilities is a shared service. wanted to make >> it's not in our budget. >> Thank you. >> The last page last are not our budget our people, >> but they're in this the town budget. >> Yes. And it's offset by the educational cost sharing that the town gets. They get over $3 million that does not come to us.
076So the >> service in it >> is shared services and the nutrition is supposed to balance itself out. >> They're in their own account that we don't fund. >> Right. >> Isn't Don shared? Aren't you shared services too? So where are you in here? >> Facilities listed. >> I do not have facilities. >> Facilities listed. That's why I'm asking. Yeah, I do not have I did not have facilities on the old worksheets and didn't think to put it on because it's not our expense. >> So his salary does not is not in the board of ed at all. >> Right. >> None of those are. >> So even though it's shared, it's not we don't we don't participate there. The town is taking a portion of the ECS funding in lie of >> correct >>
077a transfer. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> We don't get any of it. There's no transfer for educational cost sharing. the town gets the >> That's what That's what I mean. In lie of you in lie of the board of ed transferring it, they're getting it straight from their Yes, you're right. >> Just closing down. I have a number of questions through you, Sean. I was waiting. You you seem to like your your I could see your brain was turning with something. So, >> keep it going. So, >> if you have questions, please. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, um I just want to go through the systemwide uh document. >> Yeah. Um the increase of non-certified salaries specifically is that because we have onboarded new staff it's all of the current folks that's the finance
078office pupil services asking about this percentage increase. So, it's a number of of it's not one person. It's a number of staff. >> Correct. >> That that equals the 51,959. Right. >> Okay. >> Uh going down to health insurance. Um I just again for the record, you're you have a what kind of a plan? >> We have a high deductible health plan with Anthem. Phantom >> that is um a cohort consortium through learn >> and I think you said a lot of our employees are not availing themselves to that health plan. >> Correct. >> Although we have recently gotten retirees. >> That's true. >> Who are finding um >> true >> the affordable >> care act is not benefiting them anymore. They're coming on certified people are able to come back through a >> small
079subsidy through the teachers retirement >> through TRB >> and age 65 they can be a part so all their claims would now be um a part of our health insurance >> and is that part of the reason why we have this increase? The increase um was already calculated by the consortium's consultant um at 14 15%. >> Is that Joe Spurgeon? >> Yeah. >> Does a TRB contribute? >> TRB gives a sub a subsidy for those retired teachers that want to come back and and take that, but it's $440. >> Thank you. Um my next question is the retire the retirement contributions. I see it's flat at 125,000. Do we what is our contribution? >> That is that is dependent on um payouts for sick or vacation time for their contract. And when I looked at
080what had happened over the last two years, I felt that that was a good number. >> Okay. And I think it's important for people to understand who may be listening that they are paying the retirement for teachers out of their state taxes. They don't understand that it is billions of dollars that they pay towards teacher retirement across the state. Um legal I'm a little concerned seeing we were at $200,000 uh last fiscal year. >> That's this year. That's this year, >> right? >> Thank you. >> So, are we expected to uh use all of that? >> I hope not. We've got more contract negotiations and we have the bidding for the bus. So, um I would hope that we don't come near that. But >> two contracts and the bid. So, that's that's why it
081was so high this this school year. two contracts and then separate stipens on top of that will be another negotiation. >> So like three negotiations in a bus bid >> and Easttown hasn't gone up to bid in 10 years in buses. So >> and when we pay those legal services our secretary you're you are you involved in signing those checks? Like how does that work? Actually >> you don't sign checks. >> You don't ever >> sign off on >> just the cover sheet. Yeah. >> Okay. So, I guess what I'm asking is who is reviewing the legal invoices so that because we've had a number of discussions where it seems like our attorney is getting paid for other things besides contract negotiations. Correct. >> So, how does so how does that get invoiced and who
082is signing off on those invoices? >> I do. >> Who else on the Isn't there a board of ed sign off? >> No. No. Once you approve the budget, I as a superintendent then utilize the funds that were approved. >> Geez, I could have sworn the secretary at one point in the past also reviewed and signed off on things, but that's not the case. >> Not physically, >> not but they physically review the invoices. Absolutely. That's what I'm asking. Correct. Yes. Correct. >> So, so Jessica would be seeing those invoices coming through. Correct. Okay. That's what I'm looking for. >> Yes. >> Can I backtrack there for a second? Also, at business and planning, when you're getting when you we get back to doing this, you should be we've had past practice where part of
083your reviewing the warrant is when they break out the legal services like what's general ed, what's special ed, and what's like contracts. So, when you're asking, you should be able to see that specific. >> Perfect. Okay, great. Um, and then this next one is employee training and development services. That's 51,000 for all professional development. >> It's cross. >> Yes. >> And I was looking at some of the professional development choices like rise Connecticut and others. Who is choosing which professional development or >> like Chris yesterday that was the high school. So rise network is the high school. Leader and me that's the high school. Building thinking classrooms was multiple schools. um responsive classroom was elementary. >> I guess what I'm saying is so Rise Connecticut was chosen, but did they choose did they have a
084did they have all kinds of other potentials and they chose that one? Like how are they choosing it? >> Correct. Did they come forward and really do some research and they've been working with that particular group for three years >> and they wanting to continue that? >> Um next is uh travel reimbursement. What is this for? $18,000. >> So that travel includes your travel and >> and anybody that if I were to put in for travel or anybody at central office >> Oh. or teachers for PD >> and for teachers for PD >> but it's also the superintendent. >> Yes. >> You don't have a separate It's not included in your contract. >> Separated. >> That's part of the contract. >> It's just separated out here. Separated out category. >> Yes. categories are created by
085the state to report. >> Got it. Okay, good to know. Uh, under magnet school tuition, how come we don't have any VOAG tuition? >> Well, we don't pay for VOAG because that's a state program and so kids can go for free. We do not for vinyl in Middletown. We do not pay for them to go to that program. >> But if they wanted to go to an outside program, would we have to pay? No. >> Okay. Okay. Um, next, professional meetings. It's a new allocation of 5,000. What's that for? >> I separated that out because I felt that um per the um EFS report that has to be done at the end of the year. >> EFS, >> the um educational finance. I don't know what that is. >> Okay. [laughter] >> But it's a
086system report. >> It's a system educ. I I remember that one. Okay. All right. >> So, you're mandated to separate it. >> Yeah. I calculated that what has been spent on professional meetings and moved it out. >> Okay. And then my last question is dues and fees. There's an increase there. >> Is that >> that's just because um they bought up Caspo Cape. They bought up. >> So, how much are we I'd like to know how much our Cape contract is and some of those other >> $4,000 off the top of my head. You don't have to get it to me now, but I I would like to see what what we're paying some of these advocacy groups. >> Great. Thanks. >> Um, just a random question. The sports insurance, is that higher because we
087don't have a trainer? >> Nothing to do with the trainer. >> I was just wondering if insurance would be higher because we don't owe somebody. >> [laughter] >> Um, you don't think with our changes at the elementary school, our fuel oil usage might be less. >> It's possible. I don't know. >> Okay. >> Don't shoot yourself in the foot. >> Possibly. >> But we're still using the boilers for portions of Right. Right. Okay. So, it's we if there's a savings at the end of the year, we'll be happy with that. >> And then on the flip side, do you think the electricity is enough? >> Yes. >> Because we do we do get someone solar credits. So, we get some of those. >> That's about 100% confident how that works, but we do get credits
088that come back off the bill. >> Do you write? >> What's that? >> Eight. >> Yeah. I don't do that. So that's >> it's an interesting calculation. >> That's all. >> Kade was 7240. >> Any anything else? >> I I had some questions back on the salary sheets, but we're not there yet, so I'm good. >> Just one question about the regular, you know, educational transportation. I was just curious because it's up a 100,000 but from like 24 went it went down and then it's a jump of a 100,000. I'm just curious on >> Well, we're anticipating that the new contract is going to be a significant increase. That's what we're anticipating. >> So, I talked to other districts that were out bidding >> and um it was about a 12% increase and then there
089were some outliers that were as high as 50%. Yeah, there was some crazy >> 12% and there's been as high as 50%. So, I sure hope we don't get the 50%. >> All right, stick with the 12. >> Thank you. Just wanted clarification. Am I allowed to laugh? Have you s done the RF >> P RF concentrating on this? That will be done on Monday. >> Okay. >> Stage. >> Your your edits were well on point. >> Much appreciated. >> Very much appreciated. We needed a second pair of eyes. Sorry. >> Okay, we could move for going your questions. >> Yeah, I just I wanted to go back to these shared services. I'm really I'd like to understand more why nutrition is in the shared service. I separate. >> It's not. It's a separate. >>
090If if you saw the color coding, they were separate. One was green and one was blue. >> Oh, I I can't. You got you got dark gray. Yeah. >> Yeah. By law, we have to keep food service cuz we get government funds in its own account. So, we wanted to show that >> it does run a significant deficit. >> Why would it run a significant deficit? >> We count down the the number of lunches to cover the costs. Um, and we also have tens of thousands of um, lunches that might not be paid and there's nothing we can do about that. We have to still serve the food and the state will not allow us to do anything really about it. So, we try to get families to pay, but many times they don't >>
091because they don't have to. >> By law, >> they're supposed to. They're supposed to, but there's nothing we can do >> to um >> Yeah. to compel them. >> Can you think of a way? >> There used to be that people used to withhold like >> your report cards or your diploma or like the state. >> So, walk me through this. So, I I am in high school. >> Yeah. You buy You go and get >> I go in and I buy and I'm going I go in. I get my tray of food. I get to the cashier and I say, "Yep, they still have >> I'll see you on Tuesday." They just let me walk [clears throat] right through without >> still give you the food. >> And then the next day, I go
092to the line and I go through the line again and they ask me for my money and I say, "I don't have it." And off I go again. And I can continue to do that over and over and over and over again >> purposely. And so what is the deficit that we carry for that? >> Um the most recent one there was like 18,000. >> And is this across all three schools? >> Yes. >> Which school has the highest level of deficit? >> I'm cur not I don't need it now, but I'm just really surprised. I have to say as somebody who's you know kids are older to hear that parents no longer have to provide any a pencil >> a pencil it's really kind of mind-blowing to me never mind the the discipline issues
093our poor teachers are facing like it's it's pretty eye opening >> that's why we have the increase in out of district students Okay. So, yeah, I had something to say. So, sometimes my lack of questions is because I've been through this process, so I already have the answers in my head. So, it's good that you're asking them, though. >> We do. So, first of all, it's it's um confidential information. So, there's one person, the business manager, who is allowed to know. She does reach out to the families to ask them to pay for their student lunches. It's not that it doesn't It's not that she does not reach out. >> So, it's recorded. That's not Oh, correct. >> Oh, yeah. We know who owes $1,000 or whatever. >> When it gets to a certain point
094is what Cindy had said when she was here that there's a threshold and then she reaches out and she says, you know, whoever it is that, you know, you owe this money and she reached out multiple times to the family. So, this is a conversation that we've had at business planning before in the past. And, you know, obviously it is a concern like there is a collections process. However, if you have I have a high school student example, if you have an elementary school student that goes through the line and their parents didn't put money in their account or they didn't, you know, they don't have money to put in the account, they're not going to turn away a student and they >> I'm not suggest let me be clear. Let me just be very
095clear. I am certainly not suggesting that we should turn away and say, "No, child, you cannot eat today." But at the same time, when are we gonna we should be holding parents accountable and I just want to know that we are >> that's why I offer this information that they are reached out to. >> It it has been a struggle over the years um 10 years ago what Dr. Dorito said. You didn't give them their their report card when the they graduated and they needed to have those documents sent to universities. You didn't do it. >> You same thing for library books. anything that they financially owed, you could hold them accountable. Well, the we were told then you can't do that. You used to give the kids peanut butter and jelly and a white
096milk >> so that they were fed but not what the other students were eating. Now you can't do that. And and I don't I I'm glad you can't do that because it's punishing the child for the parents behavior. But now all we can do is, you know, monthly take a look at who owes. If it's um a consistent amount, then first a letter, then the phone call. Most parents don't want to be bothered. You know, I will continue to send letters and phone calls, but in the end, there's not a lot I can do. So, I did ask the um office staff at each school to assist with this because when there are outstanding bills, that's not a confidential. Free and reduced is confidential. But if they have outstanding charges because they have a rapport
097with the family and maybe they forgot >> and so having them help us and reach out like do you know that you know your child's balance is 300 whatever like so we're going to do that again to try to minimize and reduce that. >> Sure. There are times, especially at the high school level, that they'll go through the line to get that extra item. Um, and the parent doesn't know. You know, they funded it for lunch. Um, but then they're getting extra items. So, when you do call, the parents sometimes are unaware. >> We do get emails though. >> Yes. >> Our kids are readers. >> Yeah. >> Yes, you do. >> They're they're a little hard to notice. >> Yeah. Yes. Exactly. >> And then you can say, "Hey, kid. money in their account.
098They have an account ice cream every day. >> Well, and there are no extras offered if their if their account is so they get their lunch, but then if they go up for the bag of chips or breakfast or they go up for the ice cream, it is not given to them. >> Yeah. >> So, I just had a couple questions. Moving on um to the salary. The I assume SSO is a school security officer. >> There's three of them. >> And so, are they at one at each school? >> Yes. And is it just one person? >> Yes. One SSO at each school. >> Okay. So, three people, >> right? >> What's a job coach? >> It's for the um transition program. those life skills. >> So, similar to a paraprofessional position, but at
099that level, they're considered a job coach. >> Off to the sites, the work sites with the kiddos. >> Sean, thank you. >> I want to bring up that not sure where it would be. It's kind of as we were talking about the nutrition thing is how as far as all the nutrition, I don't know how to word it, but it should be paying for itself. >> Yes. Separate account. That's fally funded. >> And in the past, we recognized that that didn't happen. I think there was a law $200,000 deficit that we >> Correct. >> We have to take it out of our operational budget and we have to cover it. >> So, yeah. So, is there any reason to believe that it wouldn't be the same as it was previous, which was $200,000? >> It
100doesn't look like it's it's trending that way this year. >> So, >> they're trying to make [clears throat] it more appealing. do different menu options, get kids interested. Um, and keep in mind just a couple of years ago, everything was free. Everything, breakfast and lunch, and people got used to that. I don't have to pay and just And so that has created like some bad habits. And so now, you know, they're trying to >> appealing a credit to this district um than the other two that I worked in. You do a lot of um fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh products >> um to make it more appealing for kids. You offer salads. Your deli options are are fresh sandwiches so the kids hopefully want to buy them as well as staff. >> I mean, if
101you can get staff to buy um lunches, then you're making >> that'll help. >> And so if more people are buying, what you're saying is it can be self-funding. Typically in other districts it is a little bit >> because it has to cover all the um food supplies we buy and all the salaries. >> That's how self-sufficient is >> it's an entity onto its own. >> While we're talking about food services, have we lost a tremendous amount at the elementary school for having no generator? Like you have to throw that out. That's a credit to Dunstone. >> Rotate every three hours. >> We rotated. It was really >> portable generators. >> We had a Yeah, we had someone assisting that we paid overtime to do that so that we wouldn't spoil have any food spoil.
102>> He did it all. >> Yes, he was. >> He did. [laughter] Great. >> We'll time that a little bit better. >> We are We're not going to be leaving the freezers full when there's a break. We can get the food in the morning we come back. because it happens in the summer too and people are away and then you know there's a thunderstorm or whatever and something did not click. Technology didn't work the way it was supposed to. >> So we've got to make sure we plan better like other places. >> I'm also talking about food services like TA said we've we've reviewed this extensively and business and plan. We're not charging like $10 for a meal. It is very not increased. >> I'm sure I'm sure that's talked about the quality of the
103meals as well. That's been something that's come up and I hope will come up in the future as well because that's important too to parents like maybe you're not having your child buy lunch because you don't like the options. So thinking about that, but there's also stuff around like Connecticut state mandated and the nutritional guidelines and how they can measure all of that. So it's quite an interesting thing. But I personally The list of allowable purchases like donuts for breakfast was kind of gross. >> Board member on our new committee. >> Yeah, >> that's right. There you go. The wellness committee. Welcome aboard. >> Experience with a student buying breakfast when she wasn't supposed to be. So, >> I was going to attest to that. Yeah, because even when I make them lunch every day,
104they don't they don't buy it. >> I'm not hungry for breakfast. >> You're going to snack. Do do we have the overall increase somewhere like in on a >> we don't have no because I have not this was just presenting to you requests now I'm going to go and really look at making some tough decisions to get a but you see all the areas that pie chart that we can't we don't control that are contractual Um, >> so uh I I went back through the document and the presentation yesterday. So if I have additional questions, Dr. send them to >> reach out. Yeah, absolutely. Come in. >> If you have suggestions, come in. >> Um, >> I just have some further questions like on a PD uh development called humanizing mathematics. >> Yeah, that's teacher
105request. I >> I just have to say you don't need to humanize math. Math is a math. Like I was a little surprised. >> I looked at the program and I looked it up this afternoon and I was $10,000 to humanize math. I I just have to say I was a little taken aback. >> So I I have some more real specific questions and so I'll put them together by by school building and and send them to you. And do you want me to CC you? >> Please. I'll be meeting with the administrators if there are going to be requested >> cuts to their budgets. >> And again, just to reiterate, when would you prefer to have all questions from >> Oh, this month, please. >> By the end of this month. Yeah. >> If
106there's questions to have you send it to the whole business. >> Yeah. Whatever. Whatever. We can all see what question you all get the same information. Please do. Yeah, >> I'll do that. Thank you very much. >> When would you be when would you be looking to >> present to the board next month? >> Send you updated sheets for the 2024 25 schools. >> Okay. >> So that as you're looking back doing your homework, you have the right numbers. Well, thank you everyone. Um, there's anything else and any last questions? If not, like to any we would like to give a motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> Thank you.