001I've only got to go. >> We are live. Oh, excellent. Okay, >> children. >> Thank you everyone. I'm going to >> I'm going to call the meeting to order. Uh today's August 13th. Um it is 7:17. This is the board of education regular meeting for August. I want to thank everybody um for their patience and us starting. Normally we start right on time as everybody knows. However, we're having um IT issues and a huge shout out to Matt and Alex who are on 247 call for every single meeting and logging in from their houses to get us up and going. Um really appreciate that. Uh first order of business, pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with
002liberty and justice for all. >> Exits are in the front and the back of the room. You can take a right or a left and um exit the building. Um I'm going to ask for a moment of silence in memory of Emily Foster. Please know that our thoughts and our prayers are with the entire family. Um, we'll start off this evening with the we actually I have um an item I want to add to the agenda. Can I have a motion to add under new business a request for extension of unpaid leave um after MLA FMLA for the remainder of the 24 2526 year for uh Miss Limy. So move second. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Report of the board chair. Um it's been a
003busy summer. Normally the board um doesn't meet in July. However, due to the referendum and the negotiations, um the board has been quite busy. So, I just want to take a moment to thank the board members for your time and your commitment. I know it's your summer as well. Um, as we begin the new school year, um, we'll be doing our board self evaluation this evening and then moving forward. Um, your goals actually I want you guys to set those in November because you'll have a new full new board coming on at that point. I don't think it's fair for a new board to come into pre-established goals. I think you guys as a team need to do that. Um, November will be an election year. We do have four people leaving the board. Um,
004and in last year or the year before, they changed when the um, elected officials will actually come on. It used to be that night, you know, you would get sworn in and the next day you would be a board member. There's um a time period now. So, what I'm going to be um doing is talking to the town clerk and finding out when that is. And what I would like to do um if everybody on the board is agreeable and the new electees is have a transition meeting where um we'll invite the new board members who have been newly elected to come in and kind of like just go over roles and everything. It's not going to be a heavy duty meeting, just maybe go over subcommittees, what each one does and everything. and um
005the elected board at that point really can't um vote, but at the same time, I think it's important for them to be able to kind of have a nice transition that goes back and forth. >> I think that's really you're doing that. Yes. >> Um board of ed schedule um for the regular meetings. Um and these are all just every year at this time. I do these reminders. Um the schedule for the regular meetings are posted on the website if anybody would like copies of the agenda or the packets um from audiences. Um they're available in the office about 24 hours in advance. Note there are times when we'll have added information that's not available until those meetings. If it is handed out at a meeting, then it is um an a document that is
006public. So um unless obviously we're in executive session. So um people who want those can also request those as well. Um our October meeting, I will not be in attendance. I have a conference that's away. Um generally at all the regular meetings supportive um education does do an audience of citizens. This is a reminder not really for so much this meeting but for all meetings in the future. Um it's an opportunity for the public to come and speak to the board. uh per per board policy and bylaws, public complaints may not include personnel matters, name individual board members or staff, parents or students. To keep the comments respectful, the board chair always reserves the right to stop public comment at any time if the rules of conduct are broken or if it exceeds a limit.
007Just want to remind everybody of that as we go into the whole season. Um other things, convocation is going to take place on the 21st. Normally the board uh chair does speak. However, I'm going to be moving my son into college. Um and I'm not going to be available and Laurel will not be available as well. So probably the staff will be happy to have one less speech and get right off to their realms. Um okay, other updates. um letters. We've received um several letters um from parents um regarding the cuts and the budgets um and several that are complaints. Some of those are personnel um I will not be reading them. Um some of them have had personal attacks and um have even now raised to a level of concern of threatening uh the
008board. Um and um as such I am not going to read off any of those letters. Everybody has received them. Um, Cave, um, please make sure that you're keeping up to date with on the emails from CAVE. Um, and this goes along to if anybody's out there listening who is going to be running for the board, you can um, log on to the CAVE through Facebook as well, or you can just go on to their website. There was a meeting for anyone who wants to become a board member and prospective board members um can get all their information from CABE. On September 17th, CAB is holding a meeting. It's online meeting and I'm hoping that people will attend to this. It's understanding the 25 change or the 2025 changes to the state education funding. um
009highly recommend this um as this could really affect our budget and our funding for next year. Um if any of the board members want to attend a CAB function or conference or anything, just email Dr. Drio and she will handle that with Kelly and then we'll move forward from there. Um, I guess in the same focus as the letters, there's been quite a bit of um of social media chatter. Um, many of them have been posted anonymously and it's unfortunate because some of the information has not been accurate that's gone out. Um, and there's no way to reach back to them. And as a board, normally we don't try to engage and I certainly don't have time in my schedule to do that. Um, but I do want to go over um what we went
010over in July. Um in July the board did meet and at that time we received information from the um from the business manager and that included the fact intram um the interim business manager I'm sorry that included um the fact that our food service was over. Thank you. >> I thought I I thought I had that. Um that our food service was over by $218,000. In addition, um it was noted that the grant for the social worker who's presently employed um did not come through. Um so the board did have to make some hard decisions and work with Dr. Mr. Prio on making those decisions um along with the enrollments. Um I just want to go over as well enrollment numbers which are in your packet and I also want to go over um information
011from the town clerk in regard to upcoming birth rates. So, in your packet, you'll find that the enrollment summaries are there as of August. Um, when we're doing this right now, the elementary school total is 324 students. The middle school total students is 361 and the high school student count is 241. So the year ending for 2425 total enrollment expected actually let me start with this year right as of right now the total enrollment of our district is now down to 928. The enrollment for 2425 was 957. was 9992. The 2223 enrollment was 9989. was 8 I'm sorry 987 and uh 2020 to 2021 which was co was um low but it was seems like a good number right now was um 958. I also um asked the town clerk um to start giving us
012information so we can get that to the business manager so we can start doing real formal projections for what's coming down the pike. Um and the birth counts for um let's see if it's probably easier for me to read them off here. the birth counts for um the year 2017, which would actually bring the kindergarten year to 2022 or 2023 is was 65. Um when we're looking at the birth counts going down or up, whichever way you want to kind of look at your calendar, for 2024, there were 78 births in East Tatam. 23 um is 55, 2022 60, 2021 was 85 and 2020 was 57. So why am I bringing this up? Because we need to look at the birth counts and we need to do a comparison of birth counts to what we
013are expecting coming in to the kindergarten year. So, I ran numbers and I'm going to do even more research on this as time comes along or hopefully once our business manager has time if we're at if we capture 100% of the people that are or the births and they actually all come to school here. Um, your projected counts for the school year 2029 20 U 30 could be as high as 78. It could be as low as 70. Um, 2829 you're looking at a class size of coming in that if 100% come in, which usually doesn't happen, you're at a class size of 55. Um, and if like 90% come, which is normally where we're at, you're probably looking at a class size of 50. And but there's some good news here. Um, 2728, um,
014you could be anywhere from 60 down to 54. But 2627, which is, um, the next year, looks like a bubble year again. And it could be as high as 85 or as low as 77. So where this is important is that as we are projecting out and we're looking at what our whole district is going to be, we need to look at what these numbers are going to look like and where we're going to wind up being in our budget. Um because the days have gone by where you used to have 100, you know, they're gone. And so if our incoming kindergarten class right now, where's my page are yours? Is 56. Um and the highest grade right now is grade eight with 83. you have to realize that coming years your enrollment is going
015to be continuing to drop. So, um I think that um that is really important. Um you know, there's been quite a bit of chatter that the enrollment numbers are not as bad as what we are saying they are. These are the real numbers. The high school only has 241 total students. The middle school Yeah. >> when you're done. >> Okay. >> The middle school has 361 and the elementary school is down to 324. Um, so that's all I want to say in regard to enrollment numbers. Um, exit poll results. Um, I wanted to go over that. Millie, >> I wanted to comment on the enrollment, but didn't want to interrupt while you were talking about the enrollment, but wanted to sneak in before the next topic. >> Sure. >> Do we have any like engagement
016or conversation or any information on why the enrollment is fluctuating so much? >> Well, our birth rates are fluctuating. Well, no. I know the birth rates are, but I'm just saying like for the ones that are in school from year to year, it's >> Are they going to other high schools? Are they choosing to homeschool? Like, I'm curious what the data is for that because we have a lot of data. That's great. Thank you so much for bringing that. But I'm curious like >> like why >> if from like the elementary to the middle or the middle at the high school why it's fluctuating so much is something >> curious about they go if they go to a private school if they go to a magnet school a tech. Yeah. So we if they move
017out of state we code all of that. So then the birth rate and the potential students wouldn't necessarily align with where they choose to go. Correct. So the birth rates are the birth rates in East Adams. So you assume based on this and where I really kind of looked at was the past history ones I ran off, you know, a couple years prior. >> That's great. and it came off to being I think I was off by like two numbers, you know, so I was pretty confident in that. Where it starts to really fluctuate is when you go from eighth grade into ninth grade. >> Okay. >> And with now with the Magnus schools, some of the magnet schools are actually starting off in the sixth grade. So you start seeing some drops there. >>
018Okay. I didn't know that. So yeah, you can it depends on the magnet schools and everything and trade schools now are really attractive to a lot of people and the trades are becoming more and more attractive. So um I think it's just important for everybody to kind of get a grip on this and hopefully I will try to put this all together for you guys and and leave it with you because you're going to need this for next year's budget. I would say too, it's important to know that you fall last year, fall 83 to 63, fall freshman, same class 53. It's a loss of 10 students, right? >> And that might not seem like a lot in other districts because you're assuming they go to vinyl, waritch, mercy, Xavier, whatever, but it's a significant
019number here because we are a small district. >> That's what like the play on numbers there. >> Yeah. Yep. for an incoming class in ninth grade is 53. >> Right. But I'm saying last year they were 63. >> Exactly. >> Right. Right. And I would suspect >> significant number here because it's a smaller district. And I was suspect that that 83 you're going to lose some going off too because you always will lose something going off >> and the trend seems to be going more and more towards some of the trades and everything too. Any other questions on enrollment before I go forward? Um I spoke to um the chairman of the board of finance and I was like you know where are the exit polls and where are we stand with with everything that's
020kind of going on with that. Um, basically the exit polls, it was really interesting when you look at the counts. Um, in for May of May 27th, they had 329 respondents. For the July one, it actually went down and they only had 310 respondents. And yeah, but the um too low number for board of education did go up by like, you know, seven seven points. Um the acceptable went up by three points. Um too low plus acceptable went up um obviously to um 11 points when you add those together. Too high um went actually down a little bit. Um, and then the town government pretty much stayed the same. So, we only had like 34% that participated. So, uh, Mr. Gelson did tell me that this is going to be in the paper. Um, and
021I would I'm not sure when he submitted it or anything, but I just wanted to share that with you. Um, also in my talk with him today, um, Board of Finance last night passed a $16 million bonding package that will be coming up for a vote. Um, that is going to include 2,387,000 for culverts. firehouse was 3 million or uh 400,000. That's actually for fire trucks, not for the firehouse. And for roads, 10 million. So, keep an eye out because I'm sure they'll have a public hearing coming up in that town vote. Um and um the roads that $10 million, they're going to spread that over the course apparently of four years. Um, and Port of Finance can speak to when that bonding of the $16 million is going to hit the tax rules and
022how that's going to affect the tax rules. It was also brought to my attention that in September um the firehouse um probably will have a presentation as of the last amount that the firehouse is um estimated to cost for the new one was $16 million. So, um, between now and when your budget season starts, just want you guys to be aware you're going to have the vote for the $16 million coming up for the bonding package and the firehouse. I don't know when that will come to >> that'll be a separate 16 million. >> That's separate. That's completely separate. So basically, there's a high probability that before we go to budget, we're going to have had $32 million taken out of the taxpayers in theory. Not that it's going to hit all at once, but
023that yeah, >> they're going to be aware >> that that is correct. So basically, when I was talking with Mr. Gelson, you know, and trying to get a feeling for where we're going and this has been ongoing talks with him is um I'm very concerned about the budget for next year for the board of education. >> I have a question for clarification because I don't always I typically don't understand the whole budget process. So the town is moving forward through the board of finance >> to bond these items which >> 16 million >> in theory I guess they were what was cut from the budget >> last budget cycle. So they never add >> they were never part of the budget. So the town is adding extra expenses through bonding >> correct >> for the
024town but the we do are we able to do that from the education side or we're not able to to bond for projects that really we have to wait >> for the board of finance and or the town to allow it to happen. Realistically, when they're going out to bond, they're really going out to bond for large capital projects that are one-time things. But because they kicked the can so far down the road and have not paved the roads, the board of finance is put together a whole package so that they can get all the roads repaired within the next four years, but it's costing us $10 million to do that. We don't can't do that in our taxes. So what they do is they bond it and then that's basically using a credit card
025and it's spread out over a life of whatever and then it doesn't hit your tax mill rate as difficult each time. >> Okay? So, say for example, like we have an elementary school that's not where it needs to be or should be and needs capital improvements, one-time capital improvements, and we have things that need to be done at the middle school or the high school or the school district property that one time would upgrade it. We're not able to bond that. >> That's not correct. you can and it's up to them of how they want to pay for >> the board of finances decide if it's worth doing or not doing. >> Um, in this state, this is not true in some states. In this state, the board of ed has no taxing authority and
026the board of ed has no therefore no bonding authority. There's no separate budget that is controlled by the board of ed. So, if there's a need for capital expenditures um on behalf of the school system, the school system has to present it to the board of finance. The board of finance has to decide if they're going to support it. And then if it's a bonding thing, it's borrowing money. That means it's then going to go to the voters because the board of finance can't borrow large sums either. >> Like the town the town only takes out x amount of dollars. So there's certain big things that are going to fall. They're looking at like the middle school build is about to fall off um like bond bonding. Right now the schools have the middle school
027which was 2007. >> I think it's almost done and then I think it's next year whatever >> and then we have the track and we have the Hback project, >> right? So what they do is and they go over this and they'll have their bonding council kind of come in and really that's where they have to draw the line is how much can the town be able to go out and bond for any of projects and stay with the rating that they need to do otherwise they're going to have to pay more money. So >> for for communities like this, bonding is almost like a revolving credit card. There's so much money that we bond as we're getting ready to pay off whatever we bonded previously. Now there's money room in the budget to bond
028more stuff. And the key thing is keeping the amount you're bonding low enough so that you don't suddenly get hit with really high interest rates. And just to like circle back and like put a pin in it, >> it's the board of finance that ultimately decides what's going to >> go onto a vote. >> Yes. >> For people to vote on. Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. Yes. I Yeah. >> But as board members, we have to be cognizant of all this. >> Right. Right. because I think from what I'm understanding from speaking with with um Mr. Gelson and what I am hearing from constituents throughout the town is that um we came in very high. We knew we came in high. we were able to still withstain, you know, a 5% increase, but that's not
029the norm, especially since they are now aware of these dropping enrollment numbers and where we are. Um, I think that we have to be extremely careful where the budget's going to go for next year because when you're looking at contractual agreements right now and um, just what they are, you're close to 3% increase right now for next year. >> So that's before you start, >> right? before you start. >> Right. So, >> can I make a comment about this kind of related or should I shut up? >> No, go ahead. >> My report's awfully long tonight. >> I I know. Well, we're we're stretching it on you. I'm sorry. >> Um I worked in a much bigger school district for a long time, for 20 years, and it was a pretty wellrun school system. But
030school systems have a tendency to swell and bloat over time. And that happened in this particular school system because little adjustments that could have been made along the way weren't. The taxpayers began to realize this and started rebelling. >> So is that what's are you saying that's what's happening now? >> Well, let me finish there. I'm I'm headed somewhere, trust me. >> Okay. Um the taxpayers started to rebel and part of what they did was to install a superintendent who was going to immediately correct that. Not over time, not through attrition. And I lost 15% of my staff. My high school was bigger than this school system. I lost 15% of my staff in one move. That would be the equivalent of 20 teachers going bye-bye. >> Yeah. In this district, >> wasn't that the
031same district that was like purchasing toilets to like stop giving money back? Like we're not doing that. >> No, we're not. But we do have bloat in the school system. >> And it's >> some not a lot but some. Well, for example, we have two board >> events. We we we don't have no >> so um >> there is but okay. >> Okay. So, what the whole purpose of this was just to kind of give you a financial overlook of where where we are. Um people seem to be confused in regard to the $218,000 that were over in food service. So, I just want to address that as well. Um the $218,000 is not what we expected and we did not budget for that amount. Yes, we did put money aside for uh food service
032for this year because we knew we were going to need it. I think that number was around 100,000, but we had to add obviously if we're 218 over last year. We're going to have to anticipate that as well. Um, and um, that's really kind of where we are. Um, some of the other comments I'm not just I'm just not going to even address at this point. Um, Dr. Tabino, do you have or anybody else have any questions on my lengthy report tonight? Dr. Fabrina, >> good evening everyone. I do have um several things to share. First, want to focus on the summer work. Teachers have been collaborating, which has been fantastic. Um middle school in particular, science, social studies, math, ELA, and high school science as well, and elementary social studies. So really appreciate um
033teachers coming in and spending the time to review curriculum and um make improvements and work collaboratively. Um administrators are really busy um with uh hiring um filling vacancies and with um the summer onset. I did have a couple of days of a retreat with administrators. The first one was in June with Dr. Helich from Sacred Heart who worked with us on focusing um to elevate learning um and develop some protocols. We are going to be doing a book study um with the instructional facilitators. So looking forward to the start of the school year um to continue the work. And then the second day for the retreat was this week and we continued the same focus from June but also spent some time reflecting on the district's um vision and really um pulling apart the phrases
034that we have in our vision so that we can memorialize and work collaboratively with the school district. um to get the messaging out that we really are committed to providing an excellent education. Um currently we're also preparing for the new teacher orientation which will be next week and convocation is next week. Um looks like at the high school hopefully the air conditioner right we're all hopeful. I was there today wasn't quite running yet but they're telling us by Friday. So um expecting that to be um ready for everybody. Also want to share that um in prior years there was work um that focused on transferable skills and those really do stand out as the work for the portrait of a graduate or the vision of a graduate that you may have heard. So, want to
035memorialize that work that was done and so that will be in my welcome letter. Um, and so looking forward to developing that and having a visual on our website and we are going to work with NEASK as a district K12 every school will be represented so that we can certainly have a robust vision of a graduate. want to share um that the business office had received some um hoax um invoices. The invoices came from what seemed to be legitimate vendors where the W9 and what seemed to be email communications between me and those vendors and they had my name as if it was an email from and but there was no way to actually pull down and look for an email and they were fraudulent. One was seeking $19,000, another one was seeking $54,000. So,
036I did go to the police. There is a report online to fill out regarding these fraudulent attempts and the police were meeting with the FBI um because there was routing numbers, account numbers for the money to be sent. Um so, we do have a tight system. We're small but tight system where I do sign off on any checks. And so, I'm sure we're not the only ones getting these. And unfortunately, there are victims that believe what the evidence is and then the money, you know, is gone. So, I wanted you to know that within two weeks, I already received two, one right after the other. >> Um, I did accept a donation on behalf of the district of $3,000. And that came um from a family that wanted to support um education. And so it
037went towards the math course offerings um for the summer at the high school. So if anyone wanted to do credit recovery or acceleration, that's what that went for rather than charging the students because they would have each had to pay $600. So this family was very kind. Um yeah, relatives of a student out of state, but really appreciate um their kind kind gesture. would like to um also speak specifically to um concerns out in the community. So, as your superintendent and a fellow member of this community, um I want to address specific positions that are not being filled. Specifically, the reading intervention position. Um there are two um positions and one is currently filled and will continue to be filled by the teacher who's in that position and the other one is not being filled.
038And so how did this come to be? So in a time when we're really looking at um student needs, we want to recognize the progress that has been made and there has been significant progress made. The um achievement will become public once the state allows superintendent to share the information. But I want to give credit to all the training that has occurred and the elevated focus in the classrooms and the collaboration at that level. Um and our enrollment is also decreasing. So in light of what madame chair has shared that became a potential position that we are going to monitor how we progress. In addition, at the high school, there were two full-time counselors. The recommendation by the association, the American Association of School Counselors for a ratio is 250 students to one counselor. We
039certainly have a better ratio than that, but with the decreased enrollment, not eliminating um a position, but reducing to a 0.5. And again, we are going to monitor because we're going to still serve our student population. In addition, the um 10-month secretary position is going to be shifted. So that school is the only school that has two full-time 12month secretaries. And so we're looking at how we can make shifts and adjustments um with the current staff and have a secretary in the guidance office. So working with the administration to make that happen. Um, I also want to be respectful in the fact that we're trying to realign our resources to serve the population that we currently have. Um, many families are obviously managing their economic realities and our goal remains to balance educational excellence with
040fiscal responsibility. That said, I understand the frustration. I understand the concern. I understand people are afraid. People are worried. It's a testament to how deeply our community cares for the well-being and success of every student. I want to assure you that every avenue is being explored so that we can continue that excellence that we strive. So these changes will be monitored. At the same time, I just want to reiterate that we have a duty to protect the financial health of our district and the taxpayers who support it. We earnestly are trying to do what's right even when it's hard. We should value the small community. We should value, yes, we have less students to serve, but we're going to still serve them well. And we should value that we can have dialogue and be respectful
041and not lack respect when people might have fears or concerns. It is very challenging when the manner that the community at large presents doesn't creep into a school system. We are educators in the school system. We need to model the behavior of respect in front of our children. And so I implore anyone who has concerns to call to call. We can process we can talk. That's the only way because the manner in which it is happening now is destructive. And it's it's just not right. No one's trying to take things away from children. We're still going to provide the services. But our reality is our reality and we are progressing. There's a lot to celebrate. We have a school of distinction. I would like us to come together and look at the positive and be
042very responsible in our decisions. That's what this is about. That that's it. There's no ulterior motive. There's no one's trying to harm anybody. >> Right. If I can interject just to finish what I was saying. >> Let her let her finish her. >> I thought she had finished. >> I appreciate everybody listening. Thank you. >> Are you okay? I didn't >> finish. So, I'm going to go round table. Go ahead, Jim. >> I'll correct what I said before. Maybe there's not bloat now, but there was the likelihood of bloat growing. when you have only 250 kids in a high school and you want to have two guidance counselors for that >> when you finish please. >> I we you've already said this. >> I can I finish please? >> Sure. >> Um the American Counseling
043Association reports the 250 to1 recommended ratio. They also report that the most recent figures show that the average ratio was to1. Do we want to be average? No. >> Do we want to do the baseline for our students? >> It's not it's it's not I have too much cross talk. Go ahead and finish, Jim. >> Um my concern is we have to keep sight of where we are. A few years ago, it took three referenda to get a budget passed. This year, it took three referenda to get a budget passed. >> Excuse me. We had $500,000 taken from us and we had to fight tooth and nail to avoid another $200,000 cut. If we are judicious in the manner that we handle the staffing, which is all anybody's trying to do, we can hopefully maintain
044the confidence not only of the school community, but of the greater community of taxpayers who pay our bills. If we don't, the day will come where we get zapped and we lose 15% of our staff in one move. And that'll be 20 teachers. And it won't be attrition. It'll be putting people out of work. I know. I lived it. There is nothing harder than looking at dedicated young teachers because those are the ones that always go because they have the least time in. Last in, first out. That's the contractual obligation. I just don't want to see that. >> Kira, do you have anything for Dr. Cabrio's report? >> No, >> I just wanted to say I guess piggy back off that that I think people need to realize too that we had no layoffs. If
045you look at even districts around us, there was significant layoffs in many towns. Many towns like I think East Hampton lost 14 or 15 student teachers. uh London lost like 150 or something like that. I mean there's I know it's not against but um >> flatfunded the number of flatfunded uh districts is districts is crazy out there. >> Do you have anything else? Do you have anything for Dr. Breer's report? >> Um yes. Um, I just want to say speaking for myself, I strongly disagree with not um, filling the reading specialist at the elementary school. I think uh, the what we have gained over the past few years is because of having two reading specialists in the school that has the highest population. And it we all know that early intervention has better long-term effects
046and if we intervene early, they're going to be better. I know that you said you're monitoring. I appreciate that. But we know it works, so why wouldn't we do it? Second, um I'm curious um for myself again is so as Jim mentioned, we went to referendum the first time it got turned down. Before we went to referendum, we were we had to take out 500,000 600,000 before it even went right. The board of finance asked that upfront. So we we we cut that. >> It went to the referendum. It did not pass. So, it came back and we you especially were were be were handed the fact that we could possibly have to cut up to another light large chunk of money. >> Correct. >> And you we presented a list of what could be
047cut further if our budget was cut further. >> Correct. our budget was not cut further yet we are tweaking and cutting and and moving things and and I don't understand how if and I understand that there's the food the the food services um I don't see it as a deficit I think that part of being a school district is providing food to students but that's neither here nor there that is more like what is not being funded and yes there's applications out but they're not being filled doesn't to me I'm I don't understand. >> Let me try to explain. >> I can I just >> finish? Sure. >> Sorry. And I don't mean to I with all respect I'm not trying to I just you know if I go I get distracted and I don't
048come back. Um the students for me and those that teach them, but even beyond the teachers, you're great. But like the students are what's most important and respect is earned. And what can be dis destructive is not being completely opened and nuanced. And I know that there was a discussion about having the confidence of the community and we have to be, you know, healing and hearing, but we don't have the confidence of the community. We get notifications and we have conversations about that over and over. And to to Kira's point, I I I do appreciate the fact that we have not had the layoffs that other districts have had, but the sheer amount of resignations we've had in the last six months is absolutely I I I don't understand why we have so many resignations
049and that should not be the way that we go about making our budget feasible. Okay. So, let me address several things. One, we went over this in July. The food service amount is over by $218,000. Some of that money, so whatever we had left over in our surplus from last year needs to go to pay for that. We don't have at this point. They haven't finished closing out the the year, but we're not putting a lot of money in our reserves. So, this is a problem because when we use our reserves to pay for capital this year, we brought those reserves even further down. So, in addition to having to pay off the debt from last year, the 218,000, we need to figure out how we are going to budget this year because we're going
050to have those same losses. It used to be under the prior administration, we had a shared um food service director with another town. Unfortunately, under that management, the school that was participating decided not to work with us anymore. We also had to absorb then additional staff so that we could have the proper staffing. We have to figure out this $200,000 for this into this year's budget. It's got to come from somewhere. We also have a social worker grant. that social worker grant was not budgeted properly and we made a commitment in April that we were not going to give out pink slips and lay off any existing staff. We need to pay her salary or his salary. I don't know if it's a male or female. I don't know the social worker and their benefits.
051that money's got to come from somewhere. Like we can't go back and ask for more money. So there has to be line item adjustments. That's it's it's as simple as that. And so that's that part of it. But at the same token, as Dr. Drito said, these positions are not eliminated. They are not being filled at this time. So she can monitor it. We have a new director of pupil services and I see you signing >> and right now right now it's an inrum. >> We also are waiting for the scores waiting to see where tier 3es are, how many are going to be in there and then let them develop that if the services are needed. I'm sure that is going to happen. And the same thing with guidance. We're not eliminating the physicians.
052They're just not being filled. >> But, and I I understand that I sound like a brat and I I truly am not trying to argue and disrespect you. I if we don't if we're not filling the positions now and our budget is what it is now and and every and you know, everybody's under the understanding that it's going to be even harder to pass a budget next year. How are we ever going to get those positions back if we don't have if we don't put them in now and next year we have le a smaller budget and by smaller budget is because the cost of everything is going up for everybody and we can't plan for everything. So, who would you like to cut >> so that we can fill because that's what it comes
053down to. What was it before though? I don't I don't understand. >> Because we have these other We have all these other expenses. >> The food expenses. >> $218,000 plus a social worker. >> That's $300,000. >> I don't want to talk over you and I'm sorry. Like so we plan for next year that we we have a smaller a like a more tightened up food services budget, right? And then >> if you could explain to me about why reserves are so important, like why is it like why wouldn't we be putting money into what we have going on now and instead of finding it important to put money like away for like what could happen later because what could happen later is always going to happen but what's happening now is happening now. >> No.
054So we've used up our reserves. We've not we haven't used up all our reserves, right? our reserves have been used and anything that was left over from the year usually either goes into reserves or goes into a capital project. Right? >> But what I was saying was because of this $218,000, anything that was left over >> has to go to pay for that. Plus, we need to this year figure out how to pay for it. So we have to figure out in those line items the 218 and the social worker. So if you're saying fill those other positions, what do you think what line items would you like to cut that are going to come up to close to $300,000? I will openly admit that I am not the line item finance person. Um, I
055I just I don't I just I don't understand how we got from >> Patty, can I ask you a question? >> No. >> The 300,000 missing dollars, so to speak. >> Not missing, but >> you know what I mean, >> right? >> Did we know about that before we submitted the budget for the second referendum? >> No, I know that. I I'm not saying that this is like we're like being sneaky and nefarious. I'm just I don't >> you might be even worse off >> how one is >> leading to the other. How >> 18,000 is from the 2425 school year. You're in debt. You're starting out the 26 fiscal year. Starting out this school year, $218,000 in in food service financial debt. It will be worse because we kept the the meal plan the
056amounts the same and everything else because you can't expect what are you going to charge $20 for a lunch? Can't you can't do that. >> So, it's going to probably even be worse. We'll have because we're not budgeted. We were at two like $218,000 loss for the 2425 school year. We did not figure that in for the 2526 school year, which is this current school year. So it might even be substantially worse. And social worker grant was not in the 20 the 2526 school year budget either. So you have that 300,000 plus dollars in debt and even worse because what's going to happen this year with services >> and that's just what she's no that actually helped me out a lot. Thank you. So, I like numbers and I know you do and you're really
057you have a really good way of like putting it in a way that I can like understand it. So, thank you. >> So, >> Sean, do you have anything for Dr. Deto's report? >> No, just interested to see uh the results of that kind of things. We have any idea when that would be? >> Usually, it's just before school starts. So, I've reached out. I had reached out to the state and they didn't have a time frame but I'm hopeful it's this month. Um so yeah like because my when we look at the scope of reading an intervention my huge concern is when students are an intervention and we don't see the results to reflect that and then we really have >> you seen you you know >> oh yes I know them I know
058them but the state will not allow superintendent to share them. Yes. Yes. significant the sign like huge huge >> and >> positive. >> Oh yes. I mean the elevation in the classroom like because that's where it comes from. It's all the work in that classroom. >> My my understanding was that one of the interventionists was out for quite a while last year. Is that accurate? >> Can you leave? Sorry. Yeah. my set. Thank you. >> Did you already go ahead >> replying to Dr. This has been coming along like um Okay. Yeah. All right. So, I think we went over this already with the budgetary concerns. There were obviously things that popped up. just, you know, I'm kind of saying this to the public here, like there are things that popped up we didn't know
059about them. Um, and so we also never made definitive decisions during the budget process. We did we could not make definitive decisions. We had to wait until we actually got our numbers and actually got all of our information. No one said this is what's happening. It was proposed. This is what could happen. And so that as a board is and and the superintendent that's all that we can do until we get down to game time. Um Facebook is not real life. Okay? It's not a place to get information. It's not a place to give information. Um, and people should really understand that when you post online anonymously with your name, whatever it is, you influence most of the public that has zero idea what is going on. So, you post your little thing with a
060couple sentences or your long paragraphs and somebody reads that and that is now their impression of our district. It is not representative of our district. Um, okay. Uh we have obviously gotten many emails that have been referenced. People throw out accusations. Um it's disrespectful. It's on top of the fact that um when you know speaking for myself, when I reply and say, "Have you gone to your building administrator? Have you gone to the superintendent to talk?" Not only have these people um said that they've done it and then not have not done it because I went right to the superintendent and asked those questions. So there were lies. They declined to meet with us to actually go over the issues. So please public do not talk but then decline to solve issues. Okay? Because that's
061it's not helpful. Um people's resignations have different meanings. People resigned to be closer to family. There's all different things that, you know, we we can't necessarily share or know ourselves. We can't know a lot of this information legally. Um, but it is not all because of the superintendent. It's not the superintendent's fault and everyone's resigning because of her. That's ridiculous. She's one person and it's disrespectful to make accusations about that by saying the leadership. Um, we all, you know, yeah, I think I get my point. Um, students are going to be served. That is why each and every one of us sit here on the board. We have had or have students in the district. We all want our students to be served. We all love education. We believe in education. Our superintendent believes in
062education. If you any of you want to visit her office, you may find me there because I'm there quite frequently or on the phone with her quite frequently. She's always um focused on student achievement and she's caring. She's on the phone with people at 900 PM on Sunday night. Okay, that's real. Um and then the last thing and then I'll stop. uh board members from time to time may make comments individually that are not representative of the board. We want to reduce this as much as possible. But please to the public keep in mind that um people will take sometimes one comment and look at us all as a unit and we do have individual thoughts and feelings and um opinions. So, I think it's important for us as a board to to maintain decorum
063and try to come together and and figure things out before we communicate to everyone. Um, but we're we're going to have different opinions on things because we're individual people and that's what it should be and that's how a board should come together. Um, I think that's what makes us makes us great and unique. So, that's that's me. >> Terry, do you have anything for Dr. Drito's report. >> Uh I do I and I I first of all I want to thank Dr. Drito for the amount of consideration and a lot of hard decisions that have really taken the entire board coming together and understanding the budget and understanding what we originally asked for, understanding what we ended up with. And it reminds me of, and I'm giving away my age here, but it reminds me
064of a song from long time ago. If you all remember, nothing from nothing leaves nothing. That is exactly what we're dealing with. And when you have to make decisions and try to take the path of least damage, I think that Dr. Debrio has done an amazing job with that and I want to say thank you. Are they hard decisions? Absolutely. Do we want to hear that we're not going to have all the things that we wanted in this budget? It stinks. It absolutely stinks. But we were voted down by the public, by the taxpayers who said no the first time. So, we went back, we looked at everything, and thankfully, at least that second time, that second referendum, everything passed. But we still are operating at a deficit. We're going to start the year having
065dealt with lost grants and food service of $28,000. You can't take blood from a stone, but you can make decisions that will have taken into consideration the students of this district, the employees of this district, and do the best you can. All right, I'm going to wrap this up. Um, there's a lot of I understand there's a lot of stress and negativity. I just want to address some of the things in your report. You want to say something? >> Just a couple of things based on what I hear. >> So, I can speak to resignations. There were at least five retirements. One moved closer um to another district to be closer to home. Um another resignation needed a full-time job. So, like that's reality. There are lots of resignations every year and especially for PAR
066educators, it's all throughout the year. So if you were to add them all up every year, there there are a lot, but there were also folks that decided it was their time and so they had celebrations and they decide to retire. Okay. Um I want to just um thank you guys all but let's recircle back and let's look at some positives. Um I am very confident in um the principal, the assistant principal, the um two president secretaries at that um at our high school are amazing. We also have a social worker and we have a psychologist. I would stress to people if anyone has a concern to please go talk to the staff at the school. I do hear you loud and clear. The physicians are not being eliminated. We're monitoring them. You're going to
067monitor them as well with counts because what we're seeing with birth numbers and counts, they're going to fluctuate all over the place. Um, thank you very much and thank the uh teams for coming in and doing the curriculum work during the summer. Let's refocus back on what we're supposed to be doing as well, not just finances, but the work for the students. Um, I walked in to Dr. Deer's office for things. She said, "You got to come down here." And the whole reading team was in there and they're all working on on the reading curriculum and it it it was just awesome. And um I understand that you have had the other groups in there as well. Um and I also want to just acknowledge as well the custodial staff who works year round. Um
068they're been working so hard to get the schools ready. Um and they are they're looking good. That HVAC project has been a lot. Um, so they still have a lot of setup and clean up to do. So when you see the custodians, please give them a high five and thank you for all their extra work. Um, these summer projects are are huge for them. Um, and I think that um, we do have an amazing um, group of teachers and I wish them all well this year as well. That's the end of your report. Um, okay. Audience of citizens. Does anybody want to speak? >> Yes. >> Okay. Heather Lamar, 118 Town Farm Road. Um, good evening. I'm here tonight as a concerned parent to voice my strong opposition to the decision to reduce the high
069school guidance counselor position to part-time. This decision affects my two daughters directly. One entering her senior year and the other her junior year, arguably the most critical years in high school when students rely heavily on their counselors for support, planning, and guidance for college and beyond. Currently, students with last names A through K will have a full-time counselor. But those of us with L through Z, half the student body or about there, will now only have a part-time counselor who is also brand new. This is not only unfair, but it's deeply concerning. Some of my concerns include, how will a part-time counselor manage the workload for half the high school population? Who will write letters of recommendation for college applications? Who will support students through application process, especially those who are first generation college applicants
070and need additional guidance? What happens when a student needs immediate support on a day their counselor isn't there and the other staff are busy? Already, my senior daughter is expressing stress over this. My junior is already missing a required class to graduate in 2027 and have had to reach out to the other counselor who is not her assigned counselor just to get help. I can only imagine how overwhelmed he must already be as the sole full-time counselor fielding questions from all sides. This situation is unsustainable. important things like graduation requirements, college deadlines, class changes, 504 and IEP meetings. These are all time-sensitive high priority needs that can be left waiting for a part-time schedule. In addition, I also recently learned that the guidance secretary position has also been cut or reduced. That is a major
071blow to the functioning of that department. Her role wasn't just administrative. It was essential. She posted all the local scholarships for our seniors. Who will do that now? Tracked students community services hours, which is a big deal to my senior who has almost 500 hours worth of community service right now. Schedule parent and student meetings. Organized IEP and 504 meetings. I know she does that because both of my children have those. handled a constant flow of students and staff throughout the day when I've been in there for meetings. That office is always full. With no one in that position, who will take on these responsibilities? Will they be passed on to the other secretaries? If so, that's unfair to them and unsustainable for the students. What concerns me the most is that none of this
072was brought up during the budget processing. Unless I missed it, which I could have totally missed it with everything that was going on. This position, as far as I was concerned, was already budgeted for. So where did the funding go? Why did we fight to get the school budget passed only to be blindsided by cuts like these? This feels like another example of our district taking from the kids. We were already we were already told there would be no world language at the elementary level, which many years ago we fought really hard for. No French at the middle school, no earth science teacher at the high school. And now this. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Anybody else? Um action on the minutes. >> There was one email that was from a student that
073wasn't able to be here tonight. Is that able to be read out? >> I I'm not reading any of them after the some of the comments that I' I've received. No, I'm just I'm speaking specifically to a letter that was sent to us from a student that was out of town right now that was wanting it to be read out loud. >> As I said, I am not reading any of them out loud um because of some of the tones. So, I'm not going to read one and then not the others. And I'll tell you exactly why con and I'm going to show you share with you this one threat. Consider these statements as a foreshadowing of your future email should you not decide to fill the second meeting specialist position. Another one accused me
074of not caring about school or anyone because my son has now graduated. And then I had some other personal attacks. So I am not reading any of the letters out loud. Okay. Motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of June 25th. Is there a motion? >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Hi. >> You make a note of when K left, too. So, put it onto your Yeah. So that way Kelly gets it. >> Do you want a new packet? >> No. >> Okay. Um motion to approve the special meeting minutes of July 23rd, 2025. >> Still moved. >> A second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? I it says Kira Thompson arrived at blank. I arrived at 5:40 specifically. I'm was 10 minutes late to that meeting. Sorry about that. >> Which one was that?
075>> June 23rd. >> July July 23rd. Sorry. >> Just circle it for >> um the July 23rd one. There was one other error. And what was that? >> Um, on the second page, um, it says, "Motion to invite the superintendent, Terresa Dabrio, to executive session, uh, for the annual superintendent evaluation was made at 609 by me and seconded by Mrs. Gity White. I don't know who Mrs. Gity White is. I do believe it might have been Mrs. Gity. >> It is on the bottom of the page. >> I think that's the first >> probably the first time I caught it. >> Are the times right? >> No. No. Started at 609. Superintendent. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you. 15. Okay. Which one is it? >> I'll mark it on page two of the special board
076meeting of July 23rd. >> I don't have uh Oh, wait. I'll go all the way down. It's like the last under number four. >> There it is. I see it. Okay. Okay. Motion to approve the special meeting minutes of July 23rd, 2025 as amended. >> So moved. >> Second. Any further discussion? >> Favor. >> I. >> Motion to approve the special meeting minutes of July 29th. >> I was not there. >> Motion to approve the minutes. Oh, sorry. >> Thank you so much. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> I was absent. >> Okay. >> I was on time for that. >> Yes. >> That's on time. >> Got it. >> Yep. Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> Okay, let's move on to committee reports, policy, and instruction. Okay. Um, we were unable to
077get a meeting time scheduled in July as we had hoped. >> Um, same thing happened in August. Um, there's just too much going on at this point. >> So, our next meeting will be September 11th. >> Um, I did uh, if you folks remember during, we had, um, a bit of a snafu with some of the paperwork around one of the policies. >> Yep. >> Um, it was repeated. >> Yeah. I took advantage of that to talk with Dr. Dabrio and we eventually met with one of the staff members who had some real concerns about some of the things we were putting in terms of handling money. >> Okay. >> So, um during that meeting we came to a compromise. I have shared that with the policy committee um and we will actually address it
078at our at our September 11th meeting and assuming that there is agreement on it at that point we will bring it for a new first read to the full board the following full board meeting. >> Okay, sounds good. Anything else? >> Nope. I think that's good. >> This isn't planning. I'm really sorry, but um I have we have not met yet. I emailed my committee and we're gonna set up a date as soon as possible. >> Yeah, Tony apologize. Paul has been Paul who is the interim, he's been um working so hard on and learned has been as well to close out the end of the year. So, I actually appreciate like a little bit of a break for him to kind of get up and kind of going on that. So, um that's where
079his concentration's got to be because in the past two audits have not been perfect. So he's really a perfectionist and really working with Val and Val has been fantastic working as well to really make sure that this audit comes out without a lot of problems. Personnel negotiations. We are in the midst of the teacher contract negotiations and um the next meeting I think they're conf confidential dates the board of finance chairs attend as well. >> Board of finance has requested a seat at the table and per the rules per the laws he is allowed to do that. So they want to see what's going on. Um capital improvements. >> Well, you're busy today. uh July 1st and July 31st and we reviewed the bills and the ongoing project the high school should be complete by
080the start of school and the elementary is still uh plugging along. That big main component, the switch gear is still not due to the end of November, December. So they should have everything like closed up. I went today actually in person to look and it's uh I you have to give those cases credit. It's it looks very clean but like the whole all the ceiling tiles are ripped out. There's the maybe prepare your students. There's the little flag. So if the no no student should be on the roof but any employee a worker that's on the roof they can't go past the flag. Um some of the duct work is on the roof. So, there are some actual um uh facade, you know, roof line changes, I'll call it. Um but it's going to be
081a great system. We just can't get it off and running until that switch gear comes. And that's >> switch gear is a major problem. >> We're not the only district, so don't think we're some kind of whatever. It's uh literally sounds like whatever this component is is missing from a lot of those projects. And those workers have been out there in this heat, in the humidity, in the oppressive weather working to do it. Like I've been in and out just on the grounds. Um, and they're there >> like doesn't matter the weather, working really hard. So like kudos to everybody that's doing everything to get this done. >> You know, we always forget to >> And he's everywhere. >> Yeah. He Don does a phenomenal job. And so I think that, you know, just a
082shout out to him as well. >> Majority of the project got done in the summer. It's uh >> yeah, a >> lot of it, like I said, the external stuff, you'll see the uh condensers outside and big new interesting looking condensers. And then the inside is all in the ceiling. A little outside too. There's some doctor on the roof. So you don't >> still looks good. School looks good still. We'll be specific there. >> Thank you, Lauren. We have not met Okay, rainboard >> have not met and nothing's scheduled correctly. >> Long range has not met safety. We will meet again in the um September months. Okay. No old business. Um new business. We added a line item. Can I have a motion to extend an unpaid leave um after FMLA for the remainder of
083the 2526 school year for Miss Limy? >> Lim. >> Still moved. >> Still second. >> Any um any comments? >> He's a great teacher. >> Awesome. >> Okay. All in favor? Hi. >> Congratulations to her and her new baby. Um, okay. Board event selfreflection at 9:00. I do want to get this done. >> Do you want Do you want me to table this? >> Yeah. Okay. Is there a motion to table the board self? Yeah. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? table to September next. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> I'm 100% in agreement on that. >> Sorry. >> Okay. Is there a motion to approve? >> We got to vote on it. >> Oh, I'm sorry. All those in favor? >> I Is there a motion to approve consent agenda 1 through 4? >> Still
084moved. >> Second. >> Any comments? All those in favor? >> I >> um discussion in possible action regarding the sale of the high school HP 115 54 inch. Um and let's start with that. the high school in your packet. There's some older equipment and there's two of these, one right after the other one, um that they would like to discard. Per board policy, it needs to come to the board. Is there a motion to to approve the sale of the high school's HP154 in? So move >> printer. Yes. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> discussion and possible action regarding disposal of the high school science lab equipment. This is old outdated equipment. Oh, actually, let me put the motion on the floor. Is there a motion? >> So move. >> Second.
085>> Should you read which items just so people know for >> clarity? So what they're doing and this is actually you are absolutely correct because I don't want people to think that we're wasting money or you know buying a bunch of new >> this is very specific and will be on file I'm sure reasons. >> Are you on that page now? >> I am. >> I'm going to read off quickly what those are. >> Okay. Well I am not a science major so here we go. Or an English major. students. >> Oh, I was going to read out her items. >> Oh, I was going to just read off her note. >> Make it fast and easy. Here, I'll do it. >> I would I would list the specific items. >> Yep. Okay. >> The
086refuge is supposedly seven. This specific >> teacher has been at the school for uh many years. We'll say almost 20. I don't want to give out any information. And they have not used this machine ever. uh the spectrophotometer. Oh, I think I did that. That sounds right. >> There are two reasons removal of this antiquated machine. They have uh updated the technology uh linked to Google Drive and therefore there's better options and secondly it's no longer functioning. So I think that would be >> some and then there's literally it's described as some type of ancient greenhouse plant incubator. They no longer need this machine and have never used it. Um, and the last two are two incubators. These incubators are outdated and inefficient. Uh, additionally, they have two other incubators that are large enough to
087support the lab instruction in biology. >> Is there a motion to approve? Some move. >> Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I >> I think I did that twice. All right. A motion to go into an executive session to discuss non-union wages and invite the superintendent in >> second. >> In favor? >> I I Okay, that's it for you guys. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate your service. >> Do you do you want a two minute? >> Thank you.