001I know Andrea was coming, but I don't see her as of yet. Parking is not a problem this week. >> Not today. >> All right. Welcome to budget meeting number three or four depending upon how you're looking at that first uh painoint meeting. Um and tonight we've got article three, five, six, and seven to go through. Before we get to that, uh, any updates from our town reps since we met last week? >> The, uh, Poland net to be raised has increased a little bit by two 2.43%. >> What was the reason for that? >> They added some um, funds to the CIP, I believe. Any questions for our town reps? Andrew, are you hearing anything out there about school budget or questions or anxiously to hear the I think I'm just hearing from the
002the town side just concern just waiting. Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, um we'll we'll talk revenue. I do have the the revenue sheet in there in your packet tonight. But before we get to that, just wanted to walk you through our reminders of uh our budget. Our priority areas are next year we will take on the responsibilities for four-year-olds with IEPs and those will be serviced by our C16 staff members. We do have 18 students that do have IEPs. Uh five of them will be what we will be part of a a program at PCS. All of the remaining students will will just attend their hometown elementaryaries or their hometown prek. Um funds for those staff, you may see those out there are paid for reimbursed by the state. So we are looking for a
003teachercoordinator that the administrator of the program uh a teacher some ed techs as well as a part-time administrative assistant. Right now those like I said those funds are covered by the state. Our budget also retain uh prioritizes retaining the current staff we have with being able to uh have the 17 cuts that we've had in the past two years. It's really important for us to be able to continue on. Uh we feel that we are bare bones. We're stretching the dollars and to maintain those class sizes that we have across our our three elementary schools as well as the offerings that we do have at the high school. Uh part of our our strategic plan was a skilled workforce and uh Lisa, Mary, and Lisa did leave to you board members. You'll get that later
004on with your board packet is one of ours is is our alumni and how we engage our alumni and and did put that out there to see how many alumni that graduated from PRHS are employed by RSU6 and there's 23 graduates on there uh in all parts of our of our employment. So, you know, I think about the schools been in existence for 26 years. That's, you know, approximately one per one per graduating class. Um, so I think that's interesting. There's even more that have gone because we, as you know, we didn't have the middle high school until 1999 when it opened. So, there's lots of them that that graduated from their their middle school, went on to a different school. Other things that we know and hopefully you're talking about is valuation is up
005in all three of our towns and that's the three-year average and that's really important piece because you'll see that that is the required local. So as you know by now the state takes the valuation for each one of the towns and multiplies that by a bill rate and that is what each town is required to raise and that is of course in article 12. So we'll see that multiple times. Um, you know that our enrollment is down. We peaked at enrollment numbers last week from year to year and our enrollment was down about 61 students from last year this school year. And our biggest biggest uh trend downward is our prepaid enrollment. And we saw that already as as we've been working through is just uh only having the one AM session at at PCS,
006only having AM at uh Mechanic Falls and having an AM at at min. So, our prek enrollment from year to year was down 24 students. And part of that is those students do way more in the funding formula. Uh and um but uh those students also had a bump up in economically disadvantaged. So that kind of offset itself. We also looked at last week the staff ratios of how the EPS funding formula doesn't necessarily look at how many buildings you have, but how many uh students and staff you have and creates these ratios. And we one of the pieces that we did look at was where we are uh where we over and where we're under. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. We do have five buildings and some of those conditions you can't
007just easily share them across the the buildings. So your nurse uh school administrative assistants, uh school principles, teachers. So we are aligning closer to EPS what PS says as I compared that 2017 versus this what we're predicting for next year and fiscal year. So, also you know by now we've got the minor project which will begin this summer. I think it's really important because the big question that I'm starting to have now is what are those payments going to have for the minet project? And that's not until fiscal year 28. So, uh if you don't remember anything from tonight, at least remembered project does happen this summer and with substantial completion and then um the the payment will start for fiscal year 28 and that first year payment next year. So when we're sitting around
008this table next year, uh it will be approximately $282,000 for the min project. U we also have the school revolving renovation fund. We were awarded $6 million through that. You are well aware of that. 3.5 million will be forgiven and we have 2.5 that we have to repay of that six and that does have requirements through the state and Stacy's working through a bond for that 2.5 that we have to repay but we know that those projects are not 6 million is not enough to complete those there's an additional 3.1 million and so our board and our finance committee on Monday night will continue to look at how we are going to pay for that 3.7 million um uh that in order to complete those projects. So, will we master lease that or will we
009um bond that out? So, we're just kind of looking back through some of the documents that mechanical service gave us because I just want to put this on your radar because people are asking, well, how much how much is that going to cost? And somewhere between $475,000 to 500,000 for the school revolving renovation funds. and those won't start until fiscal year 28. So, um, that is a lot when you start thinking about this time when we're sitting around the table of of threequarters of a million dollars in the projects for all of our buildings. Great news, uh, having ventilation, but there does come with a cost with that. And thinking about our taxpayers and how we're going to work that into the budget in a very intentional way is is is weighing me down. Um,
010but we'll talk more about that finance committee uh on Monday night and then also at the board in April. I can bring back any information that I have for you meeting on April 8th. Any questions there with my update and just general reminders? Somebody probably repeat what I'm saying. Does the board meet before the final budget committee meeting? >> No. >> Our budget meeting is on April 8th >> and the board is the 13th. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> The board looks to have the go through all of the TAS and that everything's been T8. >> Okay. So, the board won't have voted on the SR of project funding. >> Correct. >> Before the next meeting of this group, >> correct? But there'll be a recommendation and that does not come in the
01127 budget. the 28th budget. Yep. So, it's just sort of a look ahead. Right. See, no other questions on the update. Uh number four is action items from our previous meeting. Uh we did talk about the cost of the PCS modular and and at that point in time it was it was not in the budget and there's still some loose ends to be able to tie up. the board had just freshly voted on moving forward with the modular, but it came down to which cost center, how we're going to pay for it. Are we going to pay for it outright, which means the whole cost, or are we going to finance that? And I still don't have that answer. I plan on talking with the finance committee on Monday night. And then we have our
012meeting here at the budget committee on April 8th. So, I'll be able to share more information at that point in time with you. So that did see there that that will be an agenda item for April to talk about the modular and then the revenue sheet. So number four is revenue sheet and uh if you want to um move into your packet that's the uh usual spreadsheet that uh you know goes this way and takes through all of our our funding for uh our budget. So Stacy I'll let you talk during the numbers. >> Okay. First part is the required local. As you know that's called required local because it is required. We do have to raise that in order to get our subsidy. For FY27 the mill expectation will be 5.645. That is down
013from FY26 which was 6.1. However, the town valuation, the valuation of the three towns combined went up $245,766, $766,666. So that's why we have such a large increase there. The local only debt is just the ADA minet compliance and the middle school. The additional local is what we need after all the other revenue sources have been realized to fund the budget as it is proposed. And these calculations are based on the 85% valuation and 15% enrollment cost share that was ch that changes starting FY27. So just to interrupt I did put there what article those correspond to. So you can see that on the right hand side. And then also too for those of you that are visual and go back to that pie chart, uh that required local is that pink section. The local
014only is that blue sliver and then the additional local is the green part of that pie chart. See if you're additional. >> Under the state revenue, we do have an increase in subsidy from the state. And then down to other revenue, we will have an additional tuition student next year. You do see a decrease on the interest income. Uh currently we are at $15,900 in receipts for revenue for for interest income in this year because rates have dropped and as we've talked in the past as we use our our fund balance up um that is a little lower gives us a a smaller amount to invest. So I anticipate that will actually not all be realized for FY26. So we are decreasing it for FY27. The fund balance is the same at a million which
015brings the total difference to 1,48965. Capital improvement you actually see a decrease of 43,100 for the ask. And then adult ed is the same 130,000 but again because of the cost sharing shift there is a difference to the towns in what their amount to be raised would be. There was a question last time how many years we've been asking for the 130,000 and I did look that up. FY27 will be the fourth year that we have requested the 130,000. Before that it was 90,000. So then there on the bottom you can see the total increase for FY27 and it is lower from the 1.4 million because of the decrease in the CIP. So that would be the tax ask of 1.273 for FY27. And I always lose my voice this time of year. I don't
016know. I'm just talking too much. Any questions on the revenue? I know you're all pros at it by now. questions. >> These are still based on the what you're planning on the health insurance. So, >> correct. Yeah, this is still based on 12% for Anthem. I've not gotten any information from them. We should be hearing the beginning of April. To pop it back around to that machine if you need to. There's always a lot to take in. Questions, you can get them. Can I bring up something? Can we talk a little bit as a group as far as um I'm just thinking about the modular? Um, I I would I would actually like to talk about see what everybody feels about just paying for the whole thing upright this year because if you pay for
017it over a couple periods of years and now we're looking at a 34 of a million dollars for the next 5 10 years, you might as well rip the band-aid off and get her done because adding more to to to the budget for next year on top of what you're expecting, I think, is going to be hard to swallow. I mean, not not that this isn't, but it might just be easier just to get it done and over with so we're not funding it more this first year just be just due to the what we're looking at for ongoing additional local cost too. And I'm going to be selfish while it's at 80 at the the newer rate before it goes up to the bigger one. I'd rather pay the lower amount too on the
018additional local bill if that is is that going to be an additional local bill or just >> Yeah, I'd rather get it done. So that's that's my two cents. >> Appreciate that. Huh? I appreciate that >> for anybody who cares. >> I think it would be an easier cell if we did do it that way because like uh Lisa said that 28 we're going to have that big everything's going to start 28, right? So, we're going to add on more payments with the loan for the modular. And it's not like we can get out of buying this, right? This is we have to have this because of the kids coming. >> Well, I feel like I need to have some discussion with with subcommittees and board too about our modular because we do need space.
019We're out of space at ECS to be able to to house our students. um not necessarily that the three and four year olds would be out there, but I I am wondering or starting to think about fiscal year 28 and uh to take on threequarters of a million dollars plus our usual increase. Like if you go back our budget increases over years, we do average around 1.5. You know, if you look at going back to 22 to 23, it was 1.6 million. 23 to 24 was 1.5. 24 to 25 was just over a million. 25 to 26 is 1.4 was I was round up to 1.5 and now 26 to 27 is 1.5. So like that's like keeping what we have. Um and now adding like so 1.5 is our just our our basically maintenance
020of effort. And now to add, you know, potentially threequarters of a million dollars to that. I'm I'm wondering and seeking guidance too from the board as to I feel as though like that is going to be potentially um looking at our budget and saying, how do we make some reductions elsewhere? And as you know, we have no other productions except for staff. And do do we start looking at um floor plans and do we start looking at number of teachers at each grade level? Uh because I I am starting to wonder like we do have we we built you know some PCS back up to have some four teachers per class per grade level uh and having those lower class sizes. Are we moving in a direction of of going to three teachers per grade
021level and having a little bit bigger class sizes but still being optimal? Then you have if we decrease a teacher and then you have a a room available. See what I'm talking about? Like there's four first grade teachers, you decrease to three, you're going to have a classroom available. So, I'm starting to just wonder long term about um our our our schools, our floor plans, and then what really the taxpayers are going to be able to afford in fiscal year 28 when we're coming at them potentially with a, you know, $2.5 million increase because our increases haven't been that. I'm not even sure if it's ever been in the 2 million ranges just going back the the years that I have to look at the increases. That just seems like a lot. And I just
022wonder if it's just not really financially in responsible right now. Um when we look at because I do like I I do hear what you're saying like we're out of space, but is there a potential for space because we're going to have to face some cuts in the future? Amy, at the beginning you asked about what we're hearing out in the town and sort of what I'm hearing is what you just said, okay, is are there some ways that that we can tighten things up? I hear class size. Um, and you know, it really does boil down to the bottom line. I think people do want small class sizes, but it does boil down to the tax bill and I think that's the piece that we don't get until we get to sort of the
023end of this process in terms of what the impact is. Um, but that that is the conversation that I hear out there is just how do we get control of the budget so that it doesn't end up being $2 million every year to the point where we can't sustain that. And I think we're I guess the conversation I hear out there is that we're getting close to that. And you know, one of my questions was I know in the past that we have had some open positions that we've been able to um not fill and eliminate. My guess is we're probably out of those that are there any positions that are currently vacant? I mean, that's what I'm I'm reading in Lewis about Lewon is they're looking at ones where teachers are retiring or they're
024vacant and not filling them. I think it's harder with retirements, but >> yeah, at this time, no, because my has been the center of those of of you have teachers retiring and then there's two teachers per grade. Well, that becomes our issue, right? Is are we going to have a class size of 30 first graders? I I I don't think I'm not behind that and I don't think other people might depending upon their perspective, but I don't think that that can happen. So I guess for me is you know also too in talking to the board is I'd like to talk to someone who's like an expert like so we've talked about potentially like do we like there's other schools out there that are struggling with their floor plans like in use of that because
025you know we've gone back to the drawing board and we're like well if we take these two large classrooms like John and I are looking at that at PCS and we knock the wall down in between and put two walls do they still have enough room um in there to have class sizes, but then it's like, well, those are, you know, cinder block or whatever, and those can't happen. It's a structural base wall. And it's like, I feel like I need to talk with someone on behalf of the district and the board to say, here's our here's our our four schools, our four including the middle school, and like is there a path forward for declining like our enrollment going down slightly? But then also too like having the three preK through six schools is
026is kind of where I'm at of because I'm just very aware of of spending wisely and stretching because that has been what we have always done is is what can we go without and and we did that last year like like you said with with uh some the retirements or teachers not coming back but we're not there anymore to be able to do that. It's going to have to take some some really painful conversations about what programs are we no longer going to offer. >> So So Amy, are you suggesting that the modula might just get completely pulled period? Is is >> it's a pause? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Well, I mean, and still I mean that that's obviously you guys's bigger decision. I mean and I get that. I get your
027reasoning. >> Yeah. But again, looking at what we're faced with next year, mechanic falls and mined having to go that extra 5% change next year. >> Yeah. I'd rather pay for it now where it's the smaller amount because I'm even even looking at our amount this year, that's a killer. >> Yeah. >> Um but I'd rather see the extra this year because next year it's going to be even higher and much higher. >> Yeah. So, we just need to we need a little bit more time to assess and make sure that we need it before we order it. And I know the time is getting tight. We set our deadline for ourselves of our April meeting because it needs to be ordered if we're going to have it and set up in place for the
028fall with all the systems connected and the fencing and everything. So, but we just we don't want to order it if we don't absolutely have to. So, just some some more time to consider. And I guess also too for me um having wonderings and curiosity about students out there. I taught here at the middle school and I taught in a the modular and it was not connected to the school. Um and that was fine. Like there wasn't even fence there when I started. Um and you know but that's different to have seventh graders coming in and out of a building into a modular even though there will be a fence. just it's you know there is that sense that you're you're not part of the school and there's that that nagging part of me of
029saying I I have some safety concerns around that of of first graders um or even other kids of second third being out there and having to exit the building into the outside and then enter the building. Uh there's just some some some um safety issues or safety concerns that I have. So >> when you were a teacher, were you was that middle school? >> That's >> that was my experience too was with modulars is I was you weren't there all day whereas that's >> Yeah. That's different. Yeah. >> Definitely would be a different field. >> Yeah. So I guess yes, we're out of space when we look at it through the lens of the right here, right now and what's coming. But then also if you start like peering out beyond that like what else
030is potentially coming like you know and for me that that what's coming is the you know the half million for school revolving renovation and then the 282,000 for you know the min project and that just seems like there's there's going to be no way to avoid cuts at that point unless unless maybe the the funding formula is magical and gets re gets changed and we have that but there are simul ations don't show that we're we're either very small. We get small addition or we get a small subtraction. So, it's not like that's going to be something to put our eggs in for a basket. So, >> can I This is uh sort of related. If you make a class that has 30 first graders in it, don't you have to hire more ed techs
031and stuff to run herd on that? That'd be like hurting cats. 30 little kids. And >> I Yeah. No, we wouldn't we wouldn't go in that direction. I mean, you'd have to look at other alternatives for to be able to have that. You would want an edtech there to be able to help support students. But yeah, that I don't even think some of our classrooms would even fit 30 students at that age and stage. >> So, cutting a teacher, a full-time employee with benefits, you'd be adding an edtech with benefits. >> Yeah. >> So, it's not going to be a dramatic savings. Yeah, >> that's what I was thinking. It's so rearranging class size >> is >> and with the bubble grades that we have in some of the different schools like it's not going
032to be consistent either from year to year with which school is the one that could consolidate grade classrooms versus which ones now can't. >> So, so that's that's been keeping me up. And so it's one of those things of like I, you know, talked briefly with Jess about that and then obviously coming back before the board saying maybe a pause might be the best thing for us is really where I'm at. You know, here to get things right, have to be right. And I don't know, you have that gut feeling. I have to listen to it and say, "Wait a minute." Like what is what is our our fiscal year 28? Like when we start that school year, what does that look like? How many staff do we have now? Are we just going to
033have some room because of other cuts that we're going to have to make in order to fund the projects? >> Um, I did work with uh elementary kids and modulars when I was at Elm Street. It it's not a good arrangement. Um, you know, we always would look to put our oldest kids out there, our fourth, fifth, or sixth graders. Um but they did not always feel a part of the school. Communication was always an issue no matter how hard we worked at it. Um they always felt like they didn't get the messages. Um and then there was always the bigger security concern. So I would see it as if we have absolutely no other alternative. We have to have a place for them. But if you can find a way inside the building, um
034that is certainly a better option. >> And that's what John and I have been trying to do. Like I said, if we take down this wall, make it into three rooms or what else can we do in order to and we'll be okay because year one, if you remember, four year olds with IEPs and there'll be five students as of right now in in the inclusive prek, which would be adjacent to where Nicole Pat's prek is right now. And so that does place title one, but I I feel like we could look inward to be able to find out a spot for those three staff members that have that space right now. Um, with maybe some moves to because we do have, you know, a coordinator and a part-time administrative assistant that we were planning
035on having some space elsewhere so there could be some shifting uh in other spots would be where where I would recommend. So I How big is the library at that school? Could you take the library and put it in the modular instead and then open up that space? I mean, yet you'd have a lot of traffic coming in, but at least you're everyone's >> everybody's there. I don't know how big it is. I've never been in that school, but >> no idea. That's it. >> Yeah. So, I'm gonna get back to the uh drawing table with Brandy and Danella at PCS, the principal and assistant principal, to see if if what else can we come up with for at least year one. I do hear what you're saying about paying for it now. You know,
036the it's 8515. Um, but I said, I'm also thinking about the future. there's gonna be less staff in our buildings, then is there potential for rooms to open up or is there also to like moving of programs? Um, so like is their functional life skills K2 program moved to a different building? So like there's that shifting part too of what do we do? and like that's why I keep coming back to is is there an architect firm out there that at least can come in and like look at it with fresh eyes and say like hey what have you thought about this this or this and and that would just feel I don't know feel better to me >> but that costs money too. >> Yes. Yes. Yeah. >> It's money well spent though. Yeah.
037I mean, because if you make if you make a decision and then it doesn't work, then you got to go back to the drawing board anyway. So, you might as well start with a proper plan to begin with. >> I agree. And just like we hired the engineers to come in and assess all of our parts and pieces of our buildings and help us kind of build out the CIP with details, I think that this is similar to that where we need some expertise to just support our decisions. Yep. Yeah, kind of my my big thing that's been in the back of my mind. >> So, pause. >> I agree. I'm glad to hear you guys saying that. I I didn't like that >> any of that. I didn't like any of it. How were
038forced to deal with it? >> Yeah. >> Especially for how many kids it is to address. >> Yeah. >> Um >> Yeah. >> So, I'm looking forward to maybe >> taking another look at that idea. >> Yep. So, we're committed to that. Like I said, it's Yeah. So to be continued. All right. Back into articles, right? Is everyone all set to move on? >> All right. So, just like the usual, um you've got your your detail sheet of any explanations that are over the 1500. And then you've got the accompanying financial. So, as I mentioned last time, um, at our first meeting, all of the salaries and benefits were in contingency. We are still working through negotiations with the teachers as well as all work agreements except for support staff. However, I did mention to
039you last week that I really want to be as transparent as possible with our taxpayers. So like when we go through article one at the district budget meeting, I want it to be the most accurate representation of that. I don't want to have 1.8 million in contingency because that just looks like we're hiding money or we're hiding things. So we are slowly working on putting a best prediction back into the lines. So you will see uh some some increases there for salaries uh because we are making some predictions as to where things are going to land um for those salaries for the teachers as well as any other work agreement that I'm working through right now. So I just wanted to give you that heads up. So um but article number three is the first
040one and um you can see there uh that is our LRTC tuition that we pay. Uh it is uh up $5,110 over last year. We sent 70 students to LRTC approximately for their programs. Uh LRTC receives subsidy just like our our our school district does. And these are for we have a cost sharing model and that's based upon our enrollment there. And so our cost uh our portion of that is the 13,328 for cost above what they received for uh state subsidy. So that does result in a cost of increase of $5,110. >> Is that based on um per student or is it a percentage of the costs that we're sharing with them? So whatever is above >> 70 seems high. It was like I was thinking it was in the 50s that we were
041um and definitely this is money well spent. >> Super popular. >> Those are our seats that we have. Uh sometimes there is that swapping and trading with with other districts of hey I I don't I don't I have nurse seats available. Do you I know that you've got a wait list and can we swap and I need multimedia. So there'll be those swappings that do happen to accommodate, but our seats are are anywhere from 68 to 70 students. So, >> and is that Oxford and Lewon or just Oxford? >> Nope, just Lewon. So, we we have um there's programming at at Lewon. And then with the new Edward Little opening, there's programming there also. And then we also there's programming at Central Main Community College. So, we actually make the circuits with uh with picking
042up and dropping off of kids, not just our kids, but others too at those three places. Uh and just to give you a heads up, they're adding a landscaping program that's part of their costs uh that are are above and above and beyond EPS uh that they receive. And so they're hiring a staff and they're getting equipment and supplies in order to have landscaping that will be out of the Auburn campus. So super cool. Looking forward to seeing that. And I do hear that their uh their hair styling is gonna be open soon for like you to be able to go in and get haircuts there. So, super pumped about that. Not fluffy grandma. >> You never know. >> I'll make a motion if we're done discussing to accept the tuition line at $13,328. >>
043Second. Any further discussion? All right. All those in favor. All right. So, we move into article five now, which is student and staff support. So, there's a variety of things under this one. You've got guidance or school counselors, health services, library, and technology. Uh again, just a reminder that you will start to see those those salary lines populated based upon our prediction of of a placeholder for those salaries. So as we look through on that page 105 under article five of your financial uh under guidance is that first page there. There are no budget lines that aren't contractual that have an increase greater than the 1500. So I'll give you just a moment to look through that those guidance lines. Are these guidance counselors or social workers or both? >> Guidance counselors. So PCS has
044two school counselors. Uh ESS and Minet uh have uh one each. They actually share half and half. So, um there's one in each building and then Whittier has one school counselor and the high school has three school counselors. Move on to page two of five. That's where you'll come into health services and that's all of our nursing and uh none of our lines under health services page 205 have any um any increase greater than500. So just a reminder we do have an RN at PCS we have an RN at Elm Street. Uh at MCS we have an LPN at Whittier we have an LPN and high school we have an RN. And then also under our health services contracted service line too, we do have to h have a district physician that does meet with
045our our stipened district nurses to go over standing orders and student plans and and those components. So that is uh under the contracted services and they just provide help and support to us uh as needed throughout the year. >> And what do the supplies include on that line? under health uh line 60 >> um we take our student population and we've times that by $4.75. That's about the average of what we spend per student and that's what the supplies are allotted per school. >> So that's for the whole district. >> That's for the whole district. Yes. >> Uh also too, you'll see that there is an increase there and it's uh we have to do ear the ear testing. So the I always mess it up. Is it audometer or audio meter like >> audio?
046Yeah. No, I can't see. >> Looks like audio. >> Audio. >> Um, so ours have failed and don't meet the new requirements from the state. So, you will see the $1,200 increase there, and that is to purchase one new one this year. So, our nurses can uh have that uh in order to do testing appropriately, and then there'll be one in next year. So, we're doing a two-year phase in of those, too. Right, moving on to page three of five and that's instructional technology and we have Mark who is our tech director here tonight to walk you through a couple of lines that are above the 1500 but have an offset somewhere else and answer any other questions you have about our technology. So you'll see that line 72 has a little bit of an
047increase and that's just moved from line 77 and 69 from moving just ordering devices and trying to plan for the future last year. Uh trying to offset costs. Um and so line 74 software programs and subscriptions um just renewals increased. It's nothing new, just maintenance. As well as line 78, there's nothing new. It's just the cost of maintenance for that those programs. Uh line 79 is a new line. Uh it's the equipment line that's been moved, the 20 I think there's a $20,000 increase in there. And uh it is for excuse me uh that's been moved from contracted services uh for equipment. Um we just have never had that. So that's we've moved the hit from one line just to its own line. >> Where did that line go? 35. >> So line 79. Uh
048the equipment lines coming from uh the offset from last year is the contracted services. >> That's line 69. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> What type of equipment are we planning to buy next year, Mark? Is it just replacing laptops or is it servers or >> So the the hope is for network switches uh just to to add uh as well as access points for the increased power needs of cameras and uh phones as we move. That's our tech line. Move on to improvement of instruction and that's our curriculum director, Jill Matthew. uh I gave her the night off because she has one one piece there that again is it's actually costneutral that was uh with our looking at our literacy uh program selection for next year in year one phase in. So as we look
049at uh on that page three of five I will point out two things before I get into uh her her note there for line 98 but on line 82 and line 90 those are still in contingency. The line 82 are stipens and those are contractual stipens that appear in the teachers uh collective bargain agreement. So you'll see a huge decrease there but that decrease is actually um sitting in the contingency right now. Uh we do are planning on working on stipens uh next week with the association. And then you'll also see on line 90 in their contract is uh a set aside for courses. And so it's been 70,000 for a while, but again, we're we're working through our negotiations and that will also be sitting in under contingency. So I do hope to be
050able to bring those out of contingency and into the regular alliance by uh before before April 8th and but definitely before the board looks at the budget on the 13th. Um so those are some um decrease uh some just pieces I wanted to point out to you. And then also too, you'll see that uh there is on um line 98, you'll see that there's a the dues and fees is up $12,610. But um there is actually cost neutral because if you look at line 83, Jill has decreased her stipens curriculum work in line 83, she has also decreased uh line 96 for general supplies by $2,50. line 97 books by $1,500. And then over under staff training on the next page, she's also decreased the amount needed on line 99 and 100 in order to
051have that offset for our our literacy um program pilots for next year. So all of those together equal that $12,610. >> I just have a quick question about that. Um, we just got the new math program >> and that's still being rolled out. >> I mean, it's being used, but they're still kind of working on it and training on it. Is it does it make sense to start the literacy program now, too, or wait until the math one is done and kind of cruising? >> Um, it's part of our literacy leadership team. So, it is made up of staff members under Jill's direction and they are committed to having a pilot program for those on the literacy leadership team as well as a few others to be able to look at a couple of programs
052next year. So, >> so it's not to start one. >> It's not to start one. Yeah. It's it's to look at a couple of programs to make a final decision and we'll bring that final decision next spring to the board as to which one we recommend. And that was also one of Jill's pain points that you may remember her talking about. >> Yep. >> So, she was able to find that with having it be cost neutral. And then just the rest of article five, there's a lot of things that, like I said, are in there. There's the library on page four or five. And are the the increases to benefits in those lines or or still in contingency on the library? >> They're all in. The library is all in because the majority is edtech
053in the library and that is a settled collective bargaining agreement. This is the second of of year This is year two of two or one of two. >> Yeah, this will be the second. >> Oh, this will be >> I know. You never know what Yeah, you're in. We're talking. >> Yeah, I know. I'm talking about file year 20. >> So, the library, all of those on on four of five and over on to five of five. there are no lines that aren't contractual that are above the 1500. And then the final one in there is assessment and assessment that houses uh our contribution to our our teacher evaluation system. So that's online housed what we call vector. So all of the evaluations are in there, the self assessments, uh our portion for PSATs and
054SATs that our juniors and seniors take as well as a seal of biiteracy, our language testing for those students in Spanish and French. So that's what makes up that amount as well as a small amount for our our testing papers for bringing us when we our kids come in um to our school, we want to sit down and test them to see where they are. And so there's some a small amount in there. That's what makes up the assessment line. So there's a lot the three of things in article five. >> I'd like to make a motion to TA article 5. >> Second. Any other questions? >> I guess I I guess I need a better understanding about the guys working with the high school. It's a big chunk. What's three people? >> Uh plus
055that includes um a little bit of Carol Langwise, right? >> For scheduling and like administrative. There is secretarial support. >> So it's like three and a three and a quarter, three and a half positions. >> Is your question like what do they do? >> Yes. Yeah. Just to better understand it because it seems like a big big number I guess for what I was, you know, >> as a parent of a high school, multiple high school kids, they help them pick all their classes. So at that age they pick like which math class, which AP class, stuff like that. And they help them with all their future planning for colleges, scholarships. They run sessions with parents on financial aid and all they they do quite a bit and they divide by the alphabet. So there's
056three of them and they traditionally have based on your last name, how they're spelled, that's what chunk of kids that they work with. They they consult Gavin can tell you because he just graduated like how many meetings they have with each individual student during their years of high school and really advise them on a variety of things. >> I think I think I had one when I was in there each year and then if you want to just have more just contact them and then they would be happy to like meet you and all that. So >> I think I just had one for each year >> just to take classes and all that. >> Yeah. So there's that part of like what you said of like just the high school navigating that. Then there's
057also the part too of providing support if there's you know friendship issues or other relationship issues in which you would seek out guidance counselor. They're also there to be able to support their students. questions for article five. Seeing none, I'll call the vote. We had Jess motion and Andrea second. All those in favor? Opposed? Can I just check your vote? All right, moving on to article six. So, Mark, thank you for being here tonight. Head on home. Those high schoolers will be waiting for you tomorrow morning, I'm sure. Or teachers, right? >> All right. Article six is system administration and that is made up of the superintendent, the board and the business office. And you will see that uh first up is line number six and that's purchase professional services and that is to pay
058for our audits every year. So that is an increase of our audit services. Uh I feel as the board it gets really good information from the audit. Yeah, it starts in in uh June, May is when Stacy starts collecting everything and then um they're also in person and then just all of the follow-ups with uh then the fi the final presentation to the board and it is part of law to have an audit every year. >> Yes. Yeah. And there was the new Gazsby this past year that was a ton of work >> where they had to estimate our liability for Yeah. for the insurance and leave. So that did add time to the audit. >> Do we bid for auditors like we do for other services? >> We have not bid in a while,
059but I will tell you that auditors are dropping their clients left and right, and we would probably have a very hard time getting another auditor. >> Yep. Just just from the county's perspective, the county needs an auditor to do not only the county but the jail >> and they they increase their fee for this fiscal year by almost 50%. >> I'm not kidding. You had no choice because there, as you said, there aren't there aren't any. Well, I think you also hear too that board members, our audit is clean and Stacy's easy to work with and everything is set and available. So, I think there's also that part too of I'm wondering if amount charged is not as what you're seeing of like huge increases because of we're not easy but like we're fairly organized.
060Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And does this line item have salaries and bennies in it or it's still a contingency? It's hard to tell. These are plugged in. >> These are okay. Yeah. Thank you. >> Um, also there on line number nine is the uh liability insurance and that has has the annual premium has increased. And then other than that there's um no line that has increased more than 1500. But I will call your attention down to line 33 because that's a huge decrease. Right. That's something that we don't talk about. And that was our year one of our transfer from our our our financial software from ADS to APA fund. So that is our after our our year one now we're moving into year two >> and that is system administration. If there's no discussion,
061I'll make a motion to accept the amount presented for article six. >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor? All right. Moving on to article seven which is school administration. So that is principles, assistant principles and the main office. I will just give you that reminder that the dean of students, we do have a dean of students here at the middle school and we have a dean of students at min consolidated school. They are not under this. They are under the teachers contract. So they would be under uh that article one. So if you're thinking about them, yes, they do act as assistant principles, but uh they don't have that title, so they don't fall under here. >> I'm sorry. >> Deans, >> our deans of students. Yeah. >> So our article 7
062school administration does not have any um lines above 1500 that are not contractual. just kind of call your attention to a couple of them because there's, you know, one that's pretty close and that's line 13 under PCS administration. Uh so that increase is just to align to the actual for their title one night. Uh title one is our our literacy and math funds that we get um through the federal government and part of that is parent engagement. And then also uh so being able to to host our parents at night and have activities for them to be able to do as well as they have the long-standing tradition of healthy heart day uh in which they have people come in and help support that as well as some snacks. So that just is aligning to
063some actuals. But you can also see that there is a slight reduction in uh line 14 um to offset that and that was just a conference reduction for um one of the the administrators because you will see that in line six professional credits is there and one of our administrators would like to be able to take a course and so uh we kind of do the whole would you rather do a conference or a course type of thing and and and um so they have elected to take that course instead. Does the PCS section take into account that we'll be changing principles for next year? >> It does. Yes. And if we needed to support that new principle in any other way, we would find ways to be able to support. >> Okay. Because that's
064what I'm thinking. If we get somebody new, they might need a conference. >> Yep. Yeah. There's still money in there for um smaller conferences like being part of the MPA and they be part of the new principal cohort if it was a brand new principal. So, I'm definitely in there to support and if not then we'll figure it out. Then it continues on to page two of two. You can see Whittier and then PRS Any questions on school administration >> line 55 of why that would have a big decrease for the support salaries. That was the portion of that position. >> That was the position that we reduced last year. Yeah. So, under the high school, there was a student um student assistant position that was decreased in fiscal year 26. >> Yep. Student support
065services. >> Yeah. So, why are we why do we have the that probably come out. >> I'm guessing the contract wasn't settled like last year when we did this. So, >> okay. It ends up reflecting the following year. >> Okay. All right. >> I couldn't hear all that. >> I'm sorry. >> I couldn't hear all that. >> So, when we did the budget last year, >> y >> those changes hadn't been made. So, they don't catch up until the next year >> when because then you start comparing the budget to budget. on the end that has just spread out in three different places. >> I'll make a motion to TA article 7. >> I'll second it. >> Any other discussion? Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. What are we what are we making? >> A lot of
066those are are requirements of of some of them are special ed. Uh and then we are decreasing those of like all just being able to mail out using our reach my teach because we have that now to be able to get like you your children's report cards of your children's like progress reports. So we are looking at being able to peel that back throughout the years to be able to say hey we can reduce our postage but >> yeah and some of that too is also like the postage meter is also one of those expenses too that is that is quite high but we have peeled those back um over the years as we go more digital >> cuz isn't it about $1,000 to send like a single piece of paper folded in half to
067the three towns all the residents? >> That's the mailer for Yes. >> for like I know that cuz the board we used to send out flyers and then we're like it's $1,000 every time we want to send one thing. So we've cut back on our mailings as well but then we hear from the community that they want them. So >> yeah. question, >> right? >> Yeah. And there's that. >> Thank you. >> Jess and Lisa, is that >> Yep. >> Any other discussion? >> Increase,000 benefits. What is the plan? justification. >> It's because of the state coding >> because middle school is considered elementary. Elementary is K through eight and that's why it has if you look at the last three codes the cost center. >> So that's dictated by the state that we have
068to break those out. Any other questions? I will call for the vote. All those in favor? Unanimous? Okay. All right, that brings us to our end of our articles for tonight. So, a preview of our April 8th meeting. So, we we have off next week, but uh uh article uh April 9th will be a big one because we will talk about article 12. And again, if you go back to your revenue sheet, that is our required local. And again, because we do uh mirror our budget meetings just like we do at the district budget meeting with the little slips of paper, we'll look at uh article 13, which is a debt service one to be able to raise the funds needed in article 10, even though we've already TA that one. Article 14 is the
069additional local. So, want to make sure I've got the best numbers again as we continue to work through that revenue sheet. Uh, article 15 will be one and that was just authorizing the district to spend the money in articles one through 14. Um, and then we've got sort of the the easy ones I call them. Article 19 is if we receive more state subsidy, what do we want to do with that state subsidy? Typically, we put that to 100% towards tax relief. Um, but we'll talk about that and vote on that next on April 8th. And then article 20 is grant funds being able to if we receive grant funds to extend those. That's what article 20 is. And then we'll talk about uh article two which is special education. I needed some more time
070as we're looking at kids and programming and needs and changes for next year and who's moving in. There's a lot to keep up with. So, we did not TA that one because I felt as though I needed some more time because we did have those uh spring um IEP meetings that may result in changes for students. And then article 9 we kept off because of the modular discussions. So, I do want to have that on Monday night with the ops committee. And then uh article 11 we held off on because that was the contingency and uh I didn't like having the 1.8 in there. I wanted to try to keep that in there. I understood why. but then also trying to get that out to the actual line where they need to be. So, we'll
071take a reook at contingency and that'll bring us through all of our articles. Um, what else do I need to bring for next time? Are we going to get the ones that had contingency? Are we getting updated ones or just the final numbers? >> Updated ones. >> Okay. >> Yep. Amy, will we have some tax impact estimates by them? >> We will. Yes. I'm going to talk to those with finance committee on Monday night hopefully. I know we're we're uh needing some assessments from the towns, right, Stacy? In order to calculate those. >> Yeah. I need the mill right. >> Yeah. Can't calculate them without that. >> Yeah. So, yes, we hope to to get those from the towns in order to calculate that. >> Have they been requested the mill rates? >> No. Okay.
072>> So, I have one more question back over what we talked. So, we are taking a million dollars from the fund balance to offset the total budget, correct? >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And that aligns to with previous years. So, fiscal year 26 was a million, fiscal year 25 was 1.6 million, and then fiscal year 24 was 1.5. Um, and then fiscal year 23 was 874,000 just to go back a couple of years. Anything else needed for information? What is ting? >> Just tentatively agree to it based upon the best information we have at that time. >> It's got to be something reasonable. >> Agreeing to it because we understand that things may change or we may get better information. We need to circle back around and say, "Wait a minute. So now this happened
073and this is what the result is." >> And we don't want to be confusing if we say we approved it because it's like we're really just recommending to the board for them to approve it. So, >> completely different words. >> Yes. >> All right. You want to get a hold of me if you need any uh additional information or want anything brought forward on the 8th. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Y is done.