00131. We'll go ahead and call the meeting to order. Can you all please rise and join me in saying the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. And our mission is creating a better future, one student at a time. Public comment is first and we have Matt signed off. Matt's changed his mind. Thank you. Okay, moving on to recognitions. >> Oh, wait. Sorry. What did you say? >> That was public comment. Now we're on to you. We're on to recognitions that Max is going to do for us. >> Okay. I'm gonna have class of 2026 and Ashley's here. NHD winners. So for individual exhibits, first is Mallerie White. Um second Madison
002Lance Lchester and Marley Simpson. Um third Ellie Arsenal. Honorable mention of Sans Mallerie. Brena Bergman, Mackenzie John, Lily Sedigrin, Kasley Rose, Chase Cook, and Ava. exhibits. First is Leila Billings and Kristen. Second is JPonte and Ricky Cummings. Third is Abby and Elo. Honorable mention Cameron Allen Jude Cece Cobb and Emma Stevens Dagel and Holly Holly and Livy Kosta and Jack Mar. For individual websites, we have in first place Bryce Simpson, second Noah Skelton, third Nolan Davis, honorable mention Bishu, [clears throat] Jacob Richards, Logan Benson. Group group websites first we have Andrew and Bren Royal. Um second we have Charlotte Swenson and Campbell. Third, we have Oliver and Jeffrey. For individual documentaries, we have first Emma Starboard and um Smith. Second, Evelyn Sandberg. Third, Bryson Woodberry. Um, Bryson Woodberry. Uh, papers, we have first Satie Fox.
003Second, Owen Tapley. Third, Kimmy Sawyer. [snorts] For individual performances, we have um first Hannah Case. Um, group performances. First is Alice and Julia. Um, and in addition, projects for these students will be displayed at the Po Historical Society Museum, uh, Lily Lily Kedigrin, Emily, and Mallerie White. Great. Let's give them a round of applause. That's good. [applause] That's a lot to be excited about. Thank you, Max. Nice job. Thanks, Gabby. Um, okay, we have no agenda announcement, so moving on to number five, presentations. We have the senior class trip. So, my name is Jessica. I'm the senior class. that are going to present our plan. >> All right. I'm the senior class president. >> Speak up. >> Hi, I'm Max Benton. I'm the vice president and the SRB secretary. We're here to do a proposal
004of our >> Oh, can we get uh a microphone in front of them, please? It's very hard to hear from this corner. Thank you. I thought I was going deaf. All right. How's it? How is it? Is it good? Louder. Okay. Um, so on Sunday, May 24th, we will depart PRHS at 9:00 a.m. Um, we will be taking the buses. Um, we will be arriving in Boston, specifically Quincy Market at 11:30 a.m. Um, we will have lunch together at Quincy Market. Um, and then after we will have excursions from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Uh, and then we will end with a harbor cruise boarding, the sunset cruise and dinner, and then eventually come back to PRHS. >> Okay. Okay. Our choices option number one, walking tour of Boston. So we you so gosh teachers and
005students who want to go on this can either shop around or they can take the freedom trail. I I've learned that the freedom trail is kind of long. I didn't know that. But um [laughter] um you have either of those options, shopping or the freedom trail, students and um chaperones. Our second option is the aquarium. Um, yeah, the aquarium. So, we'll have students and teachers go. Option number three is the Red Sox game, which I think a lot of our classmates were looking forward to seeing. It's our main event, um, which is at Fenway, Boston versus Minnesota Twins. And then chaperones. So, we're going to have a 12 to1 chaperone, um, which is about seven chaperones. And then we're giving um priority to senior class adviserss and other staff members as needed. All right. Our
006eating plan, we will provide snacks and water and drinks on the bus. We are hoping to continue to fund raise. Currently, it's going to be lunch on your own, but if we get enough money, we're hoping to provide students with $15 to $20 depending on how fundraising goes. And then dinner is going to be included in the Harbor Cruise. Oh, this is my slide. So, um, what I did was I'm predicting about 75 attendees. It might go up a little bit um or down a little bit, but that's kind of where we set our budget. I don't think if you want um so and then I took the overall budget and I picked the most expensive excursion and said if all 75 people want to go to the Red Sox, um this is what our
007total cost would be. So, it's about just under $14,000. Um, and then this is our price breakdown. So, we would need two RS16 buses um for about $2,800. Um, we're predicting about 500 for snacks and drinks um both to and from Boston on the bus. Um, the aquarium group rates are $12 per student, 21 per adult. Red Sox sounds expensive, but it's actually a really good deal. If you've been to the Red Sox games, it's only $41 a person with our group rates. Um, and of course, our walking tour free, so no one will pick that, of course. Um, and then our big ticket item is the harbor cruise and dinner. Um, which is about $100 per person. Um, again, that boarding starts at 5. We'll be on the cruise from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
008Uh, there's on board DJ. There's a buffet. There's unlimited drinks throughout the time. Um, so I think that they're pretty excited about it. So, I'm pretty excited for them. Um, and then Ashley's gonna tell us about fundraising. I don't think I need the mic either because I'm pretty loud. Okay. So, like seniors have done for three years now, we're doing an Easter egg hunt that is going to be we've already put out forms on Facebook. We're doing $25 for 50 eggs, 35 for 100 eggs, and 60 for 200 eggs. The senior class and hopefully the help of some juniors to kind of rope them into into the tradition will be hiding all the eggs outside what were signed up the night before. sir. >> 9:40, sir. And then on Saturday, April 11th, we're doing our
009cornhole tournament. We're doing it the afternoon. Last year we did in the morning, so this year it's a little different. We're going to be doing it 400 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. $20 a person, which is 40 per team. >> There's going to be prizes, food, music, and fun. >> Yeah. >> Um, and we're trying something new this year. We did a cornhole tournament last year. Um, and we kind of like worked together to do some problem solving, finding all the cornhole boards. Um, but, uh, the Coopers, I think she's going to talk later, um, had a contact for a host, a cornhole host, and that person comes and does all the setup, has all the boards, does the scorekeeping, um, and then cleans up after. So, we would be able to either participate in the
010cornhole tournament ourselves or, um, sell concessions, um, and those raffle tickets. So, we it kind of helps us um stay organized um in some ways. So, we're excited about that. >> That's all we got. If you have any questions, I don't know if you need Questions? >> Where are you on this? >> Yes, thank you. Um so we have enough money to pay for the trip as um stated in our budget um with the goal to produce some additional fundraising [clears throat] for um our end of year events but also to give money to each kid for lunch. [clears throat] Are they >> Andrea >> needs? Um >> I don't know yet because there's a lot of teachers who are interested in um chaproning but I will reach out to you for sure. put me
011on as a backup. >> I will. >> Sure, >> Randy. >> Um I'm sorry. I'm just not clear. So, the kids get to pick one of those three or are you guys going to do Okay, >> so we're going to do some events all together. So, lunch together. Um then they go away for a few hours with chaprons and do whatever they're more interested in and then we come back together for the >> Okay. >> Are they going to have enough time to finish the Red Sox? >> Okay. They're they're Yeah. Yeah, >> you're trying to cram a lot of stuff in there. >> I think it's Tuesday's boarding time. So, I think we might have they might have to leave a little early, you know. It's really It's annoying. >> And how do we
012sign up for the eggs? Because I'm totally on that. >> Yeah. Um, so there's a link um on Facebook and I can um also share that with um Amy's school on Facebook and then you just click the link and it puts you into Google form. >> Sure. >> Do you have a high schooler? Because it was in the high school like the family. Oh, in the board materials. It's in the high school newsletter. The family newsletter. Yeah. >> Do you know how much more money you have to raise to give all the kiddos 20 bucks for lunch? >> Um, I'd say probably like 750 to a,000 um would be a comfortable cushion. And then we also have some of the end of the year stuff we need to budget for as well. >> So that's
013what we're hoping with this class push fundraising. >> Would anyone like to make a motion to approve the senior class trip to Austin? Andrea, >> I make a motion that we approve the senior class trip to Boston. >> Okay. Thank you, Andrea. Second from anyone. >> Second. >> Okay. Thanks, Joe. Any discussion? All right. All in favor, please raise your hand. That looks like everybody. Congratulations. Have fun. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next up, we have Jess Madson presenting about Elm Street School. Perfect. I also gave you guys the copy of my presentation. So it's as well that you don't know me. Um so today I thought I would just walk you through a little bit about our school. So, first up, I just want to introduce you to your first team. Our leadership
014team is comprised of a few educators within our school. The assistant principal Amy Jenkins is on the leadership team. We also have Karen Grindle who is our math intervention teacher. She also serves as the NTSS coordinator. Uh we also have Parkin who is a first grade teacher at our school, Victoria Kelly who is a third grade teacher at our school and Lyanna Linda Lin Scott who's a special education teacher at our school as well. Um going on to the next slide. I don't think it's going to work so well today. But um the next slide is just some key information about our school. So I wanted to give you guys a little bit of data, a little bit of information about who we are. Um at Home Street School, we currently serve 201. Uh our
015afternoon prek, we weren't able to offer a session this year because of our low enrollment numbers for prek. So that's kind of something that we've been struggling with over the last few years is sort of that inconsistent enrollment in prek. I think one of the barriers is our schedule. As you guys know, it's a four day, half day program. So, for folks that work jobs, it's really tough um to be able to kind of manage that that schedule um for for students, too. So, uh something we're definitely keeping an eye on, but our educational team this year, we have 15 classroom teachers. Um you've heard us talk a lot about our post school title program. We have two teachers, four support staff, four specialized teachers, seven support staff, four specialists. We offer art, PE, SEAL
016and music. We share those staff with Met Consolidated School. We also have support staff person that runs library for us. Um, some key data, our free reduced percentage is 64.21%. So, uh, over my time school, I continue to kind of watch that number continue to increase within our community. Um, our special education students do about 27% of our population special about 6.5% students have medical degrees and our overall attendance average 937%. So it's been nice to see our attendance uh begin to rebound from our co years. I think the data will show you a little bit. You know, our community does have some needs, but we definitely have really dedicated particles [snorts] for our school. We did our goals a little bit differently this year. We set goals around three key areas. One was growth
017mindset. I'll talk a little bit more about that. Our math implementation and then positive school engagement. Um in terms of our math implementation, you guys have heard that we are having a math program this year. [snorts] Really for year one, we wanted to just set some goals around making sure our teachers were comfortable with it, making sure the students understood why we were adopting a new math curriculum and really making sure that we were focused on a few key components and really doing those key components well. Uh growth mindset, we set a goal around growth mindset and I'll talk a little bit more about the data because I think that will help you understand why. We do a survey every year with all of our elementary students in Panorama and it asks students questions about
018uh the effort they put into school. Do they think that they can work hard or they think that they can [snorts] um achieve more in their classes by putting in more effort? Do they ask for help when they need it? Those are all key questions that we ask our students to help better understand them as learners and to also figure out, you know, how can we help support their initiative and their desire to really push themselves and to give their best each and every day when they come to school. Um, we also set a goal around positive school engagement. If you remember last year, I talked a lot about just being a building goal in terms of making sure that classrooms are places where students want to be. They can come and they're engaged in
019their learning while they're there. And so we did a lot of last year with that. We set some building goals this year, but the big piece is we wanted to start engaging [snorts] our students in that conversation, having conversations with them about what does it mean to really be in the driver seat when it comes to your own learning. We feel like that's been a piece that um we haven't really put our kids in that position to really [snorts] think about that as well. Um so the next slide talks a little bit more about these goals um and kind of why we chose them. We did a SWAT analysis. I'm sure you guys are familiar where you look at your strengths, your weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. We did that last spring with our full staff.
020Um, and our leadership team spent time this summer really digging into what are the things that teachers and our staff really thought were important. And we also really dove into that panorama data that you heard me talk about earlier, that that survey. And one of the things that really stood out to us is this fall 16% of our third and fifth graders, 19% of our sixth graders last year showed that when they make a mistake, they'll ask the teacher. [snorts] So that really stood out to us and as really started to dig into that. You know, we really start to feel like our kids there's there's a a lack of them understanding the role the important role that they play in their own learning and how do we help them understand that they have a
021job to do when they come [snorts] to school and their job is to give their best to do their their best and ask them we're there to support them. So, we've taken this whole year we've done more growth mindset challenges. Um I was in a second grade classroom the other day. We have a new student that just joined. um that one of the students was chatting with her and she said, "Oh, I can never do this." And one of their students was like, "Whoa, we don't really say I can't do this at our school. We just say that it's hard, but I can do this if I work really hard at it." So, it's really neat to see the kids [snorts] taking off. And um we just redid our survey a few weeks ago and
022already we've seen our grades three through five are up to 31% of students said they're willing to uh ask for help when they need it that they understand that they can play an important role in their learning and 44% were sixth graders. So nice to see that we're kind of talking about it and the kids are starting to embrace that challenge as well. I also threw in two other data points down at the bottom because I was really proud of these ones. This asks students, you know, do you have an adult at school that you know cares about you, that wants um wants you to do well, wants you to succeed? You can see in our three through five students, 94% of our students said they do. And in our sixth grade students, 95%. So
023that put us in that 80 to 99 percentile. So that just shows that the kids really know that at our school we care about them. We have an adult who we feel they can go to when they need support. Um, the other things I just thought I would highlight for you, these are just some important things that take place at our school. You guys have heard us talk a lot about [snorts] during the outside initiative. We continue to do a lot of work with that, including PD. We have a couple teachers that set a goal of 100 days of being outside, not just for recess, but being outside for authentic learning opportunity. Uh, and that's been super cool. They have charts and the kids cross them off every day. Um, and you know, that's our
024go team down there, math implementation. I talked a little bit about that. I threw a couple pictures. Um, it's just really neat to see how the shift in math um, a different approach in terms of our kids really starting to understand. Um, but there's a lot more to math than just memorizing facts. There's it's really about being able to engage with each other, have some discourse with each other about mathematical mathematical thinking and reasoning. Um, but also persevering. Um, and I think that would be the word that I would use to describe the math curriculum this year is teachers and as students are really persevering and they're really putting a lot of effort to to really making this be successful um this year for us. [snorts] The other things you've heard us talk about a
025little bit as far building assets reducing risks. We did opt to stay in the third year of the branch this year. Uh, so we continue to receive some coaching. We continue to have some professional development with them as well. But the really thing I really love about her is now that we've really learned the structure, developed infrastructure, it's something [snorts] that has really helped us embrace that all of our kids are important and we all have a responsibility to make sure that each and every one of our kids has their needs met. And the bar structure allows you, you're talking about kids regularly, you're setting goals for your kids when it comes to math, literacy, social, emotional, their behavior as well. Um and I just love the conversations that come out of uh these meetings
026and bar itself as an organization has been really helpful too [snorts] in terms of here's the structure but you know your school you know your students and and you really need to make sure that this structure works for your school and your kids. So we've had a lot of flexibility um in how we do that. And that graphic there just shows you a little bit of what bar has accomplished in the month of January. We set a goal to write 100 positive postcards home to our students. So just telling them some positive things, teachers giving them a lot of different feedback. 37 students were talked about in small block meeting, 42 in academic meetings, and nine community connect. Um so just it does provide the opportunity to to really talk about our kids. A new
027thing we implemented this year was wind time. Um and so what we did this year is we uh it's kind of cool. I would say I like it a lot. uh the kids like it a lot too. But um we we built it in a structure period in our day [snorts] where um our students are sort of shuffled in terms of where they need to you know to kind of have their needs met for literacy. So we use our interventionists. We've used our prek morning teacher who doesn't have obligations in the afternoon along with the edtech as well. All of our intervention team is part of that. And then we've done it by grade level. So grade one and two partner together. So we have first graders that are going into second grade classrooms, working
028with second grade teachers. We've done the same thing with third and fourth grade as well. Um, and it's been a really positive experience. Kids have really liked it a lot, but also we're seeing some some incredible growth out of that. Teachers are learning a lot about intervention and kind of how to do those in that small group as well. Um, the last thing I thought I would just talk a little bit about [snorts] this year was we tried something new with our fifth and sixth graders. Um, we decided to mix it up a little bit and um we have sort of a new shared five six model. So in this case all four of our teachers the fifth grade teachers and the sixth grade teachers they all have a homework uh but they each kind
029of concentrate on one subject area. So I have a teacher that writing one that teaches reading one that teaches math and then we added a STEM class and that has been super cool to kind of watch that come to life. There's a few pictures here of some of the different STEM activities in that class. Um and Mrs. Wood who's an alumni of the RHS as well [snorts] and she's been really uh kind of embracing that curriculum this year and kind of really building something very cool that integrates some of the science, social studies, math and also some technology as well. And I just threw in some quotes from some fantasy graders who can get a sense of how they feel about it too. Um, and the last thing I just, you know, I know community
030engagement is always something the board is really wanting us to make sure that we are engaging with our schools and [snorts] making our schools accessible to the community and the out. So, I just threw in some pictures of different activities and different events we offer to our community. One is our title night. It's our biggest night. It gets attended by most people. We also um last year did a grow with grown-ups at the end of the year. We have parents come in, write thank you letters to their teachers, and then do some celebrations with their uh kids and participate in a wildcat huddle. Um this is a picture of some teachers that organized the float in the K Falls KV parade. Uh that's always fun. We always get a great turnout for that in the
031summer. You know, our fire prevention day is a huge day for us at street school. We love having fall department come in. Um, we did a NHD, just had our story walk, which is also really well attended event. Um, we had a girls on the run team now for a few years, which has been super cool. And there lobster from that came for our career day as well. I also know this year we [snorts] after school programs for our students. We have girls around which we talk about stitch club writing club and um super app all the staff that run those donate all of their time a lot of resources that we're really just this other thing I really wanted [snorts] to highlight for you guys is um I'm not sure how many of you
032know but for the last three years school has hosted a summer program that has been no cost to apply for this competitive grant to the state of Maine. We've been awarded it three years in a row. Um we're getting ready. We're drafting our year four right now. Um in we've been we've been awarded over $150,000 for our summer school program. We bus drivers for the summer doing that program as well, which gives them hours in the summer that they're always looking forward. We've kept 12 staff employed on average and it depends on how many students. We've serviced 139 students to this program. Um and the whole program is overseen by our assistant principal Amy Jenkins. She did an incredible job with the program and running it. We have uh we always are asked to kind
033of come up with a theme. So we've done the main post. We did a farm to table theme parks [snorts] and conservation. [clears throat] We always try to connect it with a field trip at the end. We've gone to botanical gardens. We've gone to the lighthouse. We always have guest speakers come in dairy farm. So, it's been really nice to get kids out into the community, but also to bring in as well. And um our plans for summer 2026, uh we do anticipate um applying again photography. We have heard that uh you know there there is less funds in title available but we know that we are going to ask for what we need [snorts] to production will be always really strong application to make sure that we are in the running. Our theme this
034year is um stories that shape us local voices and global tales. So storytelling, we got some cool things about podcasting and content creation that that level of engagement got some theater groups that have um reached out that we've reached out to kind of start talking about writing and arts to kind of give it a little bit of spin. Um we have 10 educators already. We anticipate a few more that are interested and again we're hoping to service 45 students. Um, and last but not least, you saw all the fun we like to have, so I thought I would do one more club. Uh, here's just a list of some fun events that happen [snorts] at the end of the year. We'd love to have anybody come and join those. We're really looking for diverse career
035day experiences. Um, you don't have to be here. We always try to make it fun and engaging um for you guys and we'll walk you through the process. We would love to have um you guys are more than welcome to attend any of these events. The talent show is always a big day. Um, and those are a couple of our students doing their ballet performance from last year as well. Um, great. That wraps me up. I don't know if you guys had any questions. >> That was great. >> Yeah, great job. [snorts] >> Anyone have any questions for Jess? >> Okay, you did it. Thank you. Fine job. All right, moving right along to our consent agenda. We have the February meeting minutes, the revised January meeting minutes, and the February subcommittee minutes. And we
036were going to have updates from the subcommittee representatives. So, first is Randy from operations just to give some highlights from that meeting. >> Sure. [snorts] Is this necessary? Probably. Okay. Um, uh, what did we talk about? We talked about the roof. Um, $450,000 in the, uh, CIP budget is going to be for that portion of it. Um, we're still looking at like $900,000 before that the project's done. And, um, we're talk actually some of this stuff is going to end up coming up later in the meeting. So, but that's an issue that we're going to be talking about uh in soon is um uh whether or not we want to put a uh a bid out now for that, but we'll get in a little bit more of that. The other thing that actually came
037up too, it's um [sighs] we're going to be looking at maybe getting a modular at PCS to try to deal with some of the CDS kids that are coming in and trying to get a space moving some things around. So that's again on the agenda. We'll be talking about that in a moment. Um engineering design at Minet is well underway. So that project is moving forward as it is. Um they're doing CO2 testing at Minet. Uh they've got most of them in there as far as those CO2 readers. So that's been kind of interesting. I think uh the plan is to have some of that data available online, but they're still trying to get John hit a problem getting as many uh devices as we need basically. So, it's taking a little longer, but that'll
038be neat. Uh keep an eye out for that on the website. I'm sure Amy will announce it when it's all together, but anyone with concerns will be able to actually go see like what, you know, their kids' classroom is actually reading. Um I think that's kind of the the highlights. Like I said, some of these things I'm dealing like we're going to be talking about them in a moment. So, I don't know any other questions or anything that I kind of skimmed over. >> That's great. Thank you. [clears throat] >> Um, personal and finance from Patrick. >> Yep. Uh, so the first thing is we reviewed the finances. Um, nothing really stood out to our group too much. Um, the CIP has around $120,000 left in it. Um, which we assume will be spent here
039shortly. Um and then everything else seemed to be uh pretty good on that front. Um a lot of the buildings [snorts] have uh really been focusing on their uh transportation uh budget going from field trips and whatnot. I don't know if everyone remembers that that's kind of been coming out of the operations budget and now John has told them that it should be coming out of their building budget. Um so it's definitely a shift uh from the for the building principles to understand the cost of that. Um Amy went over the PCS principal search timeline. Um so that's the applications are going to be due April 27th and there's going to be meetings. Um we will uh need to have at least one board member a part of that uh part of those uh interviews.
040Um but as we get closer, we'll reach out um for a board member to volunteer for those. Um most likely it's going to be after the business day. um if there is any internal candidates especially don't want to pull them out of their areas uh to interview them and then also external candidates same thing um we went over the LRTC uh cost sharing formula uh so we're most of the districts that are sending students to LRTC um is now going to be uh 13,327 if everyone remembers the state is not uh covering the entire tuition amount anymore um So $13,000 for us to send I believe it was around 40 students 70 >> 70. So $13,000 to send 70 students there. It's uh very affordable. Um still um talked about project grad insurance which is
041going to be later on as [clears throat] well. um where [snorts] we will be talking about um in the past [clears throat] it what was thought of one way and now um they >> we're evolving it to come here talk about project grad and uh really engage the board in that aspect if we're going to be covering uh insurance for that trip want to have understanding of that um went over then another big thing that we're going to talk about tonight is the financing the local column of the SRF. Um so not all the grant funds covered the entire package to do the HVAC system. So um we're looking to there was only three of us in the personal and finance meeting. So we really didn't feel comfortable making a recommendation. Um we can talk
042about what we talked about and where we would like to see things but we weren't comfortable really making a recommendation whether it's bond or um a purchase lease program. Um, so we can talk about that a little more later. And we kind of ran out of time at our meeting. Um, but there was also uh in tonight's meeting to discuss uh Michael Brennan of Portland for LD1892 um to help uh main school construction program um and send a letter of support for that. >> Thank you. And then ED policy. So Joe wasn't there. Emily was, but she's not here. So, we're going to go to Andrea. >> Okay. Um, well, you didn't see a new business. We moved two different policies that we've been discussing to new business for you guys to vote on today.
043And, um, that's Yeah, we do. We did. We opened up discussions on the superintendent evaluation tool that we've been working on. the um questionnaire and things like that. We got that finalized and ready to go to you guys. Um also the one of the policies is um our examples of um for nepotism. We wanted to review that because we're now we have two board members that have a connection to the school other than being on the board. So, um just wanted just uh want to make sure everything was up and up on that. So, we reviewed that and we moved um one policy that we discussed, but we moved it to the next meeting because Joe wasn't there and that was kind of his baby about advertising in the schools and [laughter] who gets to
044do it and all that. So, we discussed it, but we didn't make any decisions because we're going to make Joe do it. Excellent. >> You're welcome. And that's it. >> Thank you. Um and we have no update from public relations, but I will um follow up with them because we need them to meet and make some progress. We have another forum coming up. Um can I have a motion to accept the consent agenda? >> So move. >> Thank you, Steve. >> Seconded by Andrea. >> Okay. Any other discussion? Do we need to make any other edits or anything? Okay. All in favor? Okay, >> thank you. Moving right along to superintendent report. >> I have on there a notification of new hires. We hired Angie Roberts, Angela Roberts, the secretary at PCS. Uh we have
045no retirement. We have one resignation, Andrew Canton or Chuck Canton as he's known. He is a French teacher and his letter of resignation is part of your packet and that'll be at the end of the school year. I can kind of see Gabby's face over there. A little bit of going, "Oh man, losing a good one." But um Mr. Canton's letter is in there. We wish him well. Uh in his new adventure, we also had attached there my February community connection newsletter. Just putting in a plug for Optimus Club. Um Mary Martin is is president of the Optimus Club and we have uh I I attend the Optimus Club and part of that is they're looking for chaperon. So, if anyone is is willing to chaperone a middle school dance on April 11th, and really
046it's a it's a social because there's basketball, there's, you know, games and and fun going on. So, if anyone is looking for that, uh, you can contact Mary. And then also too, just giving you an update as as you remember, we did take the ecology school out of our budget at $30,000. And [clears throat] uh we were able to work with the ecology school and Poland Spring to be able to send our students in sixth grade for a one night trip. As you may recall, it's typically been a two-ight trip, but we're working on a two uh two-day one night trip and that'll be in April. So, we're getting we're booing pretty fast to get all of the uh groups made and we're super excited because that's all three of our elementary schools attending the
047ecology school and it will be a a late dismissal. They're not getting back until 5:00 that night. So, we do also appreciate our teachers staying later and that way they get one more lesson at the ecology school and uh we're we're doing our best to get out the word that to thank Poland Spring and um because that is a pretty big lift by by both the ecology school and Poland Spring to be able to do that. Our cost will include uh stipens that are contractual for our teachers to spend the night and then the [snorts] busing. So, that is our cost. So, we're we're figuring somewhere around5 to $6,000 is our only district cost there. So most excellent. And then also too, you may be seeing out there that our our our CDS, our FAPE
048are taking in the four-year-olds with IEPs. We have started advertising for teachers. So if you see those out and about, uh we have the preK teacher that will service our students, our four-year-olds with IEPs at the inclusive program at PCS. Uh if they have IEPs, it doesn't necessarily mean they're going to go to PCS. they may if they if their IEP is is is okay, then they can also just attend um their hometown prek. We also see that we've are hiring a part-time admin administrative assistant and then a coordinator for that program and all of those those costs are covered by the [snorts] state for this year coming up. So that is those those out there and if you know anyone that's interested in the early childhood because we'll be taking on the three-year-olds in
049the following year. So, I'll send them our way if you know anyone that is interested. And then finally taking you through budget. So, um [sighs and gasps] I want to be able to give you the higher level overview because I know that you appreciate having all of the background information, but also uh hopefully doing it in a way that uh is consistent every year uh and also builds your knowledge because I think we get to a point of like, yeah, this makes sense and then we go away from it and then we have to rebuild that knowledge. So, um, first of all is just looking at our our staff. We'll never miss a chance to say thank you to our staff. You know, these things dedicated, strong community, positive family engagement, and supportive um um
050school climates all help our students to grow. Uh, and then next up on there is our our four focus areas of our strategic plan. And uh during our budget committee meetings, we are I am asking administrators to talk briefly about each one of those. Um and it was great for Jess also talked about her fifth and sixth grade program last week. Uh Eric talked a little bit about some of the new course offerings at the high school. Uh in a couple weeks, Jill's going to talk about all of the alumni that we have employed here in RSU16. Spoiler alert, we did put it out on Facebook just to make sure we capture everybody. Um, and then also Joe talked about some of the programs that we're offering for our special education students alongside our our
051our our typically developing peers. And of course, we can't stop talking about the school revolving innovation fund. So, uh, those are are lofty goals in the strategic plan, but that certainly guides us as to our decision- making. Uh, you'll hear it again. uh our budget, what we know and how that responds is really in our in our budget each year, you may recall it the the administrators do do their pain points. So, what's keeping them up at night and they share those with the budget committee and those are available on our website, too, if you wanted to take a a another glance through those. But our our our budget has nothing in it beyond uh maintaining the staff that we have and preparing um our our our buildings to be able to receive three and
052four year olds and being able to make sure that we are are having the best strategies to be able to work with our students with disabilities. And those are the the five bullet points that you see there. And again, we keep circling back around to those because that is what's guiding our our our budget development. All right. So, now getting into the the nitty-gritty. Don't fall asleep on me because like this can get a lot. Um, but I'm hopefully going to try to break it down for you in in an easy way that was either maybe okay for your first time if you're just hearing this because you're new to the board or maybe it's your 38th 42nd time knowing this. >> 31 31 or 32. So, uh, every year the Department of Education says,
053"Okay, we're gonna give the state subsidy, the state funds to our schools, like and it has to be a partnership." They're like, "We'll give you a pot of money, but you're going to contribute to that pot of money." And they make these decisions for us. And this is and so their first step is, well, what can the the RSU 16 contribute to education? So, that's what this this this graphic is. And so what they look at is they look at our valuation. So you know you can look at that bar graph and you can see the valuation of mechanic falls in blue minet in red and Poland in that orange color since 2022. It's on the the rise in all of our towns. Look at Poland specifically. And so that's what the state uses to
054say, hey, your valuation of your town is this amount. And so we are going to multiply that by a mill rate designed for education and we are going to tell you what your town is required to raise for education. And so if anything if you if you don't want to look at the all of the graphs that just that bottom right hand is there's the valuation. It's a three-year average and they multiply that by the mill rate and then that gets to how much is required local. So if you do go to the next page, you can see when you take that valuation times the mill rate, then you have the required local for each one of those towns. You can see the required local for McKinn Falls is 1.5 million. Minet is just under
0551.9 and Poland is 6.8. And those bar graphs actually represent what the required local is. And so you can start to see that it's directly tied to valuation. So, the state tells us this part. Then they'll tell us how much they'll give us for a state subsidy. And with state subsidy, they're going to be looking at our students. How many students we have? Are they free and reduced lunch? Are they special ed? How many prek kids? Uh how many teachers do you have? They're going to be looking at all of those things to be able to say this is what will kick in. And so the state is um is is their their portion is $13,492,999. That is what they will kick in for RSU16. So um the you always kind of look at the
056sort of the where did we end up from last year to this year. The good news is is that's $226,000 more than last year. What the state gave us. The state does by law have to fund 55% in RSU16. they're just under 57% funding and that's based upon the demographics of our kids. So again, that's a lot to digest, but the first part is always about the state funding formula and that's why it's like exciting like for me to be like, oh, when's that coming out? Because I want to know how much the state is going to give us, but then there's always also that part two of what are we required in locally in order to raise from each one of our towns. And so that makes up the EPS budget, the essential programming
057and services. That gives all of our kids according to the state a fair chance at the rigorous main learning results. And so that total is 23,722,585. Now, you know, our budget is not that. And so what we raise is above that is called that additional local. We're not going to talk too much about that today because I don't have an additional local number for you yet. Um, and again, usually the second the second part too is is kind of like by now is people want to know like what is the enrollment? Is our enrollment growing? Is it declining? Where are we? And so I did give to you the both of those those printouts here on of of our of our enrollment. You can see uh our enrollment by school and in that sort of
058stacked bar graph. And then you can also see in the second one to the the right there is just a look back. So it does look at um 2010 as the bar graph all the way up until 2026. So you can see that there is those declining numbers, right? I mean even Poland stayed steady there for a little bit and not on those blues, but you can start to see the slow decline there as well as you can start to see um the red of mechanic balls and the yellow of it declining too. So enrollment is important. And one of the things too is like we we have our decline our enrollment is declining but it's not like it's all in one building. Like it would be easy if it was like hey you know
059Poland now has only [clears throat] like 100 kids like we would be having a different conversation but it's spread out amongst all of our buildings. So we have you know 50 less kids but it's it's you know five here 10 here 20 here and there's not much you can do with uh you know like can't close down a classroom. we still need to have classrooms with our kids. They just do have less in them now. And then always to giving some context is this is one of our pieces of being able to say, well, what are our kids doing across our graduating um classes? And um I'll I'll leave this here for you is just being able to see uh the the sort of the class of 2025 stats. It does go all the way
060back to 2020 just so you have those to see, you know, our kids attending four-year colleges, two-year colleges. um vocational programs, military, are they taking a gap year? Uh do we have any early graduates? And then how many diplomas we we issue. And so that's always another handy one to have for people to be able to talk about our kids as we work with their with our taxpayers monies to get all of our students across the stage. And then finally, just our budget over time. Um, so yeah, our budget over time has increased and and and it's interesting and we're we're trying to dig into uh I think we all know that costs have gone up. most of our costs are for our staff salaries and benefits as well as just the rising costs of
061of everything, but then also to special education and we're legally to provide the services as determined by the IEP team has also one of our our largest cost centers and we continually see that every single year the needs of our students um we have to respond to them and we have to do that legally. And so, uh, that just shows our budget over time from 2008, um, uh, and then all the way up through consolidation there in 2012 and then, uh, where we've been on that journey since. And then, as you know, we have our Minet project to look forward to. This one um, is is set. We've got um, our heating and ventilation. This will be one [clears throat] of our our visuals that we use to be able to share out uh you've
062decided on our the what the project will be the 2.8 million and then with that we also decided on the master lease actually had a kickoff meeting today with Bank of America our attorneys Bank of America's attorneys and then Don from BIMS to ensure we've got all of our timelines u ready to go to to meet that. So, we're on our way with that. And so, that again, that's conversation for you. We'll not um begin payment until fiscal year 28. So, just keep that in mind. And that will be about a $300,000 cost in fiscal year 28. So, you need to start thinking about our natural increases every year as we go back to that other chart like our our natural increases uh are about 1.4 to 1.5. And now we're also thinking about that
063um payment for the Minet project. And then we also have more excitement with this school revolving renovation fund. And this is our other um our other visual that we're trying to explain uh because it can get a little complicated because we do have uh the school revolving renovation side. And that is $2 million at Elm Street PCS and then middle school high school. And 58% of that six million is forgiven. So that means just under 3.5 is forgiven. And the portion to be repaid for that right hand side is 2.5 million. And Stacy's working on uh the timeline again given by uh the DOE and the uh bond bank to be able to get that prepared. And that will be a question on the referendum uh on June. So we'll have question number one, the
064budget, yes, no. And then we'll have question number two, the school revolving renovation fund. And it will be one question. We're not we are not allowed to break out it by school. It's one question for $6 million. Um tonight you'll have further discussion. Um Patrick will lead that from what the um the finance committee has. The project for those three buildings or four buildings if you look at that is yes, we have six million in school revolving renovation funds, but that's not all the funds it takes to complete that project. There was stuff we couldn't put into uh the the grant. um and there's just additional costs in order to fully complete those. So on that right hand side, that 3.1 is what you're going to need to think about for tonight and start um
065thinking about your options are bonding that or doing that tax exempt that master lease on that 3.1. So, um, right now those that total is is 9 million and, um, so you've got the the four million from MCS and the 9 million for the school revolving renovation funds. And that work will be done next summer and then also be in the fiscal year 28 budget. [clears throat] So that's kind of where we are with the overall with the budget because it is sort of the now and the next is sort of making sure that we're thinking about what happens now and then what happens next year in fiscal year 28. Um our budget committee did meet um and we had our well really our second meeting but our first meeting and we looked at our
066we go article by article just like we do at the district budget meeting and uh we go through a process. We don't hold up slips of paper, but we just do a vote. We we what we call we TA them. And so we've been able to TA um three of the articles. Article one is the regular instruction. So that's all of our regular ed. Uh article four, which is our trips, our co-curriculars and athletics. And then article 10, which is our our debt service. Uh we do have on hold our contingency amount because right now that contingency holds all of the salaries because we're in negotiation with the teachers and then I have to work on every other work agreement because basically everybody in the district uh is is their work agreement is up except
067for the support staff. So we have to get all that right now our best guess is in contingency. And then also to as you know special ed es and flows especially in the spring we want to make sure that we have the the the most the best predicted budget we can and um uh special ed in order to be able to TA that before we bring the budget to the board in April. And at April is is when we look for an approval because that will allow the warrants to get to the towns in order for them to be able to sign them during their regular scheduled meeting. And also we get our our booklet, our 30-page booklet out to the printer. So then that way you have that for your your April forum. And
068so that's that's what we look forward to as our next steps. We got budget meeting number two on Wednesday and budget meeting number three on the following Wednesday. And they are our packets are online. So, if anyone's saying, "Hey, where do can I find that information?" Then just direct them right to our website. So, that is uh my overall update as well as just kind of giving you a heads up of where we are with the budget as and uh an overview of the 279. >> Any questions for Amy before we go on to business? No, great job on your charts. >> I try to keep them the same every single year so then we have consistency and hopefully it gets easier. [laughter] >> Okay, so we have no old business. So moving right to
069new business. The first item is a motion to approve the financials as recommended by the personnel and finance committee at the March 2nd meeting. >> To approve the financials, >> right? [snorts] >> So move. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Okay. All right. No discussion. All in favor of accepting the financials, please raise your hand. Okay, that's everyone. Thank you. Next, we have consideration of a motion to approve project graduation coming under the district's insurance for their event as recommended by the personnel and finance committee at their March meeting. >> Second. Okay. So, discussion and I know we have someone from project grad in the audience. Would you like to say anything about where this request came from or you want us to just discuss along our way? There was
070never a discussion about >> surprise. >> Okay. Thank you. And for those of you that haven't had a senior yet, it is very important tradition at this school that we do not talk about where Project Grad is actually happening. It has to be a surprise for the students. So, we're going to be vague on purpose as we get into this because we appreciate the tradition. Okay. Um, who was going to talk about this? Was this you? >> Sure. Yeah. Um, so yeah, at the old location at Central Maine, um, they didn't, uh, require us to provide the insurance at the new location. They do, um, >> or they did. >> They did. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. And so, um, yeah, we're kind of looking at it like a any other field trip where the
071district covers the the transportation insurance on on that side of things. Um, so moving forward uh for project graduation, we're looking for um the leaders of Project Grad to come to our meeting, kind of give us an envelope of confidentiality of where they're going and that sort of stuff, and then we'll we'll vote on it just like any other senior trip and whatnot. Um, so it's just kind of having that open communication everything the students find. [laughter] >> So kind of having oversight like we do for any out of state trips. >> Yeah. >> I know Max is like [laughter] >> a good question. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Are is everybody happy with this? If they come under the district insurance, is that going to cover >> what you need? Amy location will allow
072at the same time kind So, but it was a lot of legis and John King getting a little bit harder for that to get that covers. I was asking that no, Stacy. Double check. finance committ. >> I was just concerned that they they have the coverage that they need. >> Yes, they have the coverage that they need and >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Sounds good. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, on our agenda, it says that we're going to consider a motion to approve them coming under. So, does that mean they're going to come back and tell us about their trip later or this is it? This is it. >> This is it. Okay. Would anyone like to make a motion that we use our district coverage to ensure the project grad event? >> Move.
073>> Second. >> Thank you. Okay. Any discussion? All right. All in favor, please raise your hands. Thank you. Students, vote yes. Important. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much. Um All right. Next is a motion to accept, well, this is an easy one. A motion to accept $6 million from the state revolving renovation fund SRRF award as granted to RC16 by the main department of education and acknowledge our commitment to proceed in accordance with the guidelines, requirements, and process as outlined by the department. I'll just add that this is mostly a ceremonial vote. It's just saying that you as a board are in favor of the SRF, but you have to follow all the rules outlined by the DO. [snorts] >> Can I do that with just by saying so moved? >> Sure.
074>> All right. So moved. >> Thank you, Andrea. Anyone have a second for that? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Elizabeth. All right. Discussion on this. We know we need it. We're excited. We got it. Okay. All in favor? Okay. Opposed? Steve's voting now. >> How much we gonna bite off? >> Okay. Noted. Um, moving on to consideration of a motion to approve the superintendent evaluation tool as recommended by the ED policy committee at the March meeting. >> Move. >> Second. >> Okay, we're moving right along. Discussion. Who was at that meeting? That's you. Yes. Andrea, what would you like to say about that? >> Um, >> very similar to the year before. >> Yes, very similar. Didn't make much changes. Um, >> very minor changes. Yeah, >> everybody seemed to be happy with it.
075Um, and it's consistent, which is what we were going for. So that, you know, when we're not here anymore, they still have a a way to do this proper. So there's questions to go to the board, there's questions to go to the central office staff, and then there's questions for the A team all in the tool. >> Yes. >> Yep. Just for everyone that wasn't here last year. Okay. Does anyone have any questions or discussion about the tool? Do we want to talk about timing on when this is happening? We're just preparing for it to happen. >> Oh, didn't we set up the time? >> Yep. It's outlined in your your policy. Do you want me to? >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Sure. So, it to be right around this time after you approve that
076mid-Marchch is the the board chair and vice chair will distribute that to the groups that they need to go to and then um it it's due by April and then there'll be some you taking in all of that information and then looking at um being able to the board vice chair and policy chair will collect and compile the feedback to draft the superintendent eval report. And then there's some meetings in May in which you'll go over that in executive session by yourself and then [clears throat] you'll invite me in to go over that with me. So that >> we have we don't invite you in. [snorts] >> Then I go home for an early dinner. >> Oh, okay. [laughter] We have it. >> Okay. Any questions or discussion given that additional information? Thank you. That
077was very helpful. I forgot the dates already. Okay. All in favor of approving the tool. >> Okay. Are you opposed? >> No, I [laughter] Okay. Sorry, didn't see you over there. >> Just making sure. All right. Okay. Consideration of a motion to approve policy BCC as recommended by the ED policy committee at the March meeting. >> Wait, we have a motion. >> Want a second? >> Second. Okay, now we'll discuss. Andrea, you're on the hot seat. >> Yes, that this is the one about nepotism. So, we just wanted to go over the policy. Did we change any of the language? We updated some of the language. Yeah, but [clears throat] there really weren't that many changes. >> Amy, do you want to add anything? >> Sure. >> There's some some some bigger pieces in there.
078I think we have come to the conclusion. I think maybe Angela be summarizing you. It's like there's not too many people that want to sign up to do the board, right? Like so there's that piece of I think that I'm pointing you correctly. I want to say that. Um so like how do we honor the people that do want to be on the board but also uh that their connection may be with having an employee. So, uh, we did look at the the nepotism policy from our attorney, uh, and being able to look at how can we if we have if you're elected to the board and if you already have an immediate family member who's employed, then that can still happen is what one of the major pieces are. And it's designed that way
079for rural communities like ours to be able to uh tap into people as long as there's not that direct supervision. [snorts] So, you know, there's been some instances of a board member having a a spouse that coaches or a spouse that subs and that that would be able to continue because they're not the direct supervisor. So, you know, if it was, you know, Caitlyn as a principal employee, her husband, like that can't happen. Like that's too close. [laughter] >> You wouldn't hire him. No, >> I don't want him. >> So, that's what it just allows you as the board to be and our communities to be a little bit more flexible. You said a board members spouse can't be a teacher. >> A substitute teacher. Yes, they can be >> can be a sub full-time
080employee. >> Well, that's the difference with our our this policy here is employees who are employed on the date that an immediate or extended family member of theirs is elected to the board. So, that could still happen. >> Yes. >> If they were working here first, >> it's happened before. Mhm. >> Yeah. >> And they couldn't serve. >> Correct. So, this is a [snorts] pretty big change from from that. >> That's a noble my >> Okay. Any [clears throat] other questions or discussion on that policy BCC? >> Was there actually a change you guys did or is this just because kind of reviewing what it says? Because I I wasn't clear where was there actually like word changes? There were word changes. Um have to pull up the um the ed policy >> and do
081we have to approve that word change >> or is it just >> that's what we're signing on. I just want to make sure >> didn't we vote on this last year and voted it down? >> I think we keep sending it back. I feel like it's been on the the ed policy like I don't know if it's because of the we had no meeting in January and February, but I feel like it's been discussions. [clears throat] >> Yes, we have been talking about it for a while, but >> we had a vote on this. I don't remember if it passed or not. I know there was a couple of us that held that for it. >> I don't know that I don't know that we were enough. >> Not necessarily the policy. I think it
082was was the we had language in there that if an immediate family member was going to be employed then the board had to vote to um have employment. So that happened with >> Yeah. We voted as we made an exception to hire >> members family member but we didn't actually vote on >> we didn't do a policy change. >> Okay. >> So we're just trying to clean up >> before we change. >> Yeah. And we have that now. Yeah, that's why we have >> Yeah. >> And is that what the change is? The change is saying um if they're already employed here. >> It is. Yeah. It's the drum. >> Why is this even up to us? I feel like this should be up to the towns. They're the ones running the election and deciding
083deciding who they send here. I'm kind of like I this is probably more of an open-ended question, but like is this even our like right as a board to to say who can and can't be sitting here? >> Yeah. It's part of your policies to be able to say how do you run your district >> like our norms just to avoid any conflict of interest or >> Oh, I understand. >> This isn't really about us either though, Andy. This is about like everybody in the district. So this is kind of just the way I see it is this is a protection from for us as board members but also an opportunity for member family members who if we need subs if we need ed tax if we need to work here but keeps a separation
084between us and them. So this this is up our alley because it has to do with employees of >> RS. So with the expectation then in that scenario that they wouldn't be voting on some kind of some pretty significant things like >> approving a contract for example would be a big one that comes to mind. >> Yep. That's in C. Board members are expected to recuse themselves from participating in any personal action involving an immediate or extended family member employed by the school unit >> which has always been our practice in the years that I've been on the board with different people that have had different connections to employees. I'm just being dumb. As far as I know, if you was on the board, your family members couldn't be here, work here. >> How come
085we're all of a sudden changing that >> because we can't get people to serve on the board anymore? >> I don't think that's the problem. Why? Because spouse or whatever works at the school district. >> Well, I would argue both. We can't get people to even work in the schools. >> Yeah. >> Not enough of them. I think the can we sure need open >> and I think that's why the ed policy is taking so long because there has been like that questions back and forth like we came up with scenarios at our last meeting and then so I emailed our attorney and said is this what this is saying because I I gave him the two examples that we were talking about uh coaching and then substituting and having a board member and he
086said in both of those cases that those people because they were employed first can retain their their coaching and their substituting um status. They wouldn't have to resign from those positions. >> How have other districts approach this issue or or are you aware of that or had a chance to speak with their superintendents on this angle? >> Uh I haven't looked at their their um their their policy. I mean, we can go on BCC and look at multiple districts. Uh oh, actually Christine, you brought up when the last time we looked at this was does say February 22 up there on the revised and then prior to that was 19 and then it was adopted in 12. So uh yeah, I don't know where where uh other districts are if they're using the old one
087that we had um the from February 22 or if they've adopted more of the the nimble one for that we have [clears throat] tonight. >> That's not state law. That's just >> what's the state's recommendation. >> The state law is defined under there. You can see under the um the following definitions are provided from state law at the top there. And then um it is cited where it does need to be um cited under the legal reference. So we are within our right to be able to say, hey, we're going to look at employment of of immediate family and um and employees a little bit differently than what we have in the past. And that's I think you know ed policy there's not too many ed policy people here but that's really what we have
088really spent a lot of time going back and forth and bringing it back. >> What are you guys worried about? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything because I feel like there's enough separation between board and like the tier of like admin and processes of like supervision and administration and stuff that >> we're just worried that it um that uh we wanted qualifications to make sure that we were doing it right and we were making that big change to open it up to more people. So yeah, we just wanted ducks in a row and the lawyer says we haven't. So [snorts] >> what about like Steve, Randy? What are you guys worried about that we might be missing? >> I'm worried about someone getting on the board even though they excuse themselves. Is
089their wife or husbands >> for the school par 16? >> I agree. >> I I don't like the whole mess. >> I I agree. I'm worried about rubber stamping >> I mean if you have a board member who has spouse or other relative in district they're going to have to inform the board everyone on the board is going to know it's not like they're coming in here and hiding that their spouse district so like it's up to the board to say okay well they see that board member voting why don't you confuse Like I think that's part of our responsibility as board members, right? Like if my husband was a coach, like I'm not voting on whatever like support staff, right? Or >> and that does say that in the policy the board shall be
090notified if employee has an immediate or extended family relationship with any other school unit employees or board members, which is actually taking it to that next level of we hire you. Do you have any other um immediate family here employed and the board shall be notified of that? >> Patrick, >> I also think we have 13 14 other members of the board that can vote the other direction. So, one out of 15 is not going to sway [snorts] the entire board to vote on >> Alicia. >> I mean, I I understand both both sides here. I mean, it does make sense, you know, trying to trying to get more people involved. Um, I seems to me that, uh, part of what makes getting people on the board um difficult is because, um, the perception of
091what the board's function is and how they are in the community. And I think if there is an added level of nepotism or muddying the waters a little bit, even if everyone here can say, well, you know, yes, we know this person has these connections, even if that's a reasonable argument, that may not be perceived as a reasonable stance to the larger community, particularly when some of this financial stuff is going to go through regardless of what people vote on it. If they think that this is just a, you know, a body that's somehow connected to the school and that there might there might be some um agendas being pushed forward, even if there's the whiff of that, I think you're probably going to do more damage to the board than otherwise. [cough] [clears throat]
092>> Steve >> question, when did they change all this? I remember a guy getting elected to the school board and he couldn't work because his wife worked at mechanic falls. So when did we change all this to get [snorts] this far? I don't ever remote. >> You haven't. That's been the ed policy's work for the last couple of months as you're looking at some of the scenarios we've run into. So we haven't changed anything yet. Our policy still stands from what you're talking about. It does. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, this is just the ed policy work bringing this forward to the to the board um for your consideration. Um I don't know. I guess I guess I'm kind of I Yeah. And then I I I I'm concerned I guess like where do
093where's the line? Like I just feel like the there could be a big long list of things that suddenly this person can't contribute to. I mean, it's not just votes. It's committees that maybe you shouldn't be on, like, you know, negoti like the negotiation team for these contracts. Like, all right, that's that's someone that won't be able to be on that. Um, I I I'm concerned that it won't be as cut and dry on some of these things or maybe either some people on the board or even uh community members will wonder, well, gee, should that have person voted on that? And maybe the connection's kind of convoluted and barely there, but it's enough there to raise concern. Um, there was something else on that, too. I don't know. I hear what you guys are
094saying, but at the same time, like if if they're open about it in their election and the community elects them knowing that they have, >> you know, they're married to a teacher that's already there. >> Yeah. But will they know that? because that we didn't know. That's not up to, you know, they when when do they have to um tell us? Is it after they're elected or is it during >> I mean when will the public know though? They might tell that's what I'm wondering. Entire public, >> right? Like could they go through a campaign get elected and then and then notify the community that >> because it technically wouldn't be a board member at that point. that currently reads, "The board, well, this is the new proposed. The board shall be notified if an
095employee has an immediate or extended family relationship with any other school unit employee or board member before the board takes any employment action affecting that employee. So that that kind of narrows that down to if like we were having to go with dismissal of that employee, they would have to disclose that." So >> well I think also what we might be missing and we can all brainstorm this but even number five says exceptions to the policy. So it's my understanding that anytime one we have to be notified which is number four which is what you just read. But then number five says we need to approve an exception to this policy which the only way a board members immediate family can be hired as if we approve it like we did for Jeff's son. That's
096how I'm reading this because it says that family members can be hired with the or they can be hired basically except for these exceptions. And then number five says that the board has to approve them if the board member comes first. But if the employ Yes. So I think yes, if the employee is here then there the and the board member gets on it's all set. It's if the board member is first and then we want to hire >> their immediate family. >> Yes. then you would have to do the exception vote that you've done before. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's it's a it's a big change. >> Yeah. >> Do we feel ready to vote on the policy? The motion is to approve it and it's been seconded. So, we can vote. What if
097um because I tend to agree with Randy on like negotiations and like these big ones where like if I if if I like my husband happen to be a teacher, there should be something written in here that says that I'm not allowed to serve on negotiations or something like that. You know what I mean? Because I feel like that is a big conflict in >> I feel like it the wording puts it on the the board member to take responsibility and that's fine, but like I don't I wish there was something a little more forceful in there, I guess. I don't know how you would even set it up, but >> So, do we feel like we could vote it down and then send it back to the subcommittee or do we want to withdraw
098the motion and then send it back for some reworking? I just feel like that committee has talked about this extensively and they really need some direction on what the board wants before they bring it back again because I think they're tired of this particular policy. I mean, >> I don't like none of them. >> We haven't really workshopped this either with all of us. So, I think that is part of the problem is there's three people last time trying to do this. So, >> yep. >> We've survived all these years without open the can of worms. >> I mean, I feel pretty good about it. I think there's enough layers. The board has to approve all of the hiring anyways. But I do agree with Brandy that I think for these specific committees where there's
099a direct access there should be some sort of buffer in here that just keeps it transparent even keel and put boundary in there. >> And you can do that as a board look at the the the what it's saying and make additions to it to fit what it would be best for us as long as it falls within state law. And adding that in would fall within your purview. So, send it back to us. >> Well, let's go ahead and vote. And if the change is not approved, then it's not approved and then it can go back on the agenda >> for more work. And but for the meantime, it'll stay the way that it is. >> Okay. [snorts] >> Well, who made the motion in the second? >> Steve made the motion. Andrew was
100the second. >> So, we'll go ahead and vote because we got other stuff on our agenda. Okay. We are voting all in favor of approving the policy as written. BCC, please raise your hand. >> I think I'm gonna have to do >> we're going have to do the roll call. >> I think so. >> We haven't done this in a while. Okay. So, when it's close and we don't know how it's going to go, we have to do the weighted voting by town. So, we have to actually >> Oh, you're doing >> Yeah, we have to call names and people are going to say how they vote and then we have to multiply it by the the weights from the towns, right, Andrea? >> Four. Gavin, >> no. >> Jess, >> abstain. >> There's a
101no from Gavin. Yes. >> What? >> Don't say yes. Say correct. [laughter] >> Correct. >> Okay. So, abstain for adjustment. Yeah. Patrick, >> I'm still a yes. >> Natalie, >> no. >> Angela, >> no. >> Elizabeth, >> yes. >> Jeff, >> yes. >> Cheryl, >> yes. >> Steve, >> no. Christina, >> no. >> Alicia, >> no. >> Randy, >> no. >> So, we've got 24. So, that's4 the biggest controversy we've ever had. >> 1500 and then again. >> Okay. So, it does not pass. Thank you. Moving on to F. Consideration [snorts] of a motion to [laughter] approve policy BBA as recommended by the ED policy committee at the March meeting. >> Uh this is uh >> wait motion. >> Oh, so yes, we do the motion first. Sorry, >> I'll make a motion. >> Steve
102approve one. >> Seconded by Natalie. Okay, thank you. Oh, she got you. All right. And then Andrew is going to give us an overview of what BBA is. >> Okay. This was um about absenteeism on the board. >> We um wanted to make a a clearer policy of uh >> Andrew, can I just interrupt? Sure. >> That one's at policy for next one. This one's about the board self-evaluation. >> Oh, you were winding that up good, but hold that for next month. [laughter] Oh, did I say the wrong one? >> Oh, schoolboard self-evaluation. Yeah, >> I I'm sorry. I don't even remember doing that one. >> Okay. So, uh it's a new policy. You didn't have a schoolboard self-evaluation prior to this and looking to look at all of the way that we evaluate every
103single one of our employees. All of our employees does follow a a self-evaluation before they go through using their evaluation tool. And so part of that of that policy was saying yes we want to make sure that we have it on policy that you do your self-evaluation. It's been a practice that typically you've done. You've sent out you know your own survey amongst your board members and asked to look at various questions. And so this just sort of like it puts it into policy that you will you will do that every single year based upon your goals and then that'll help guide your goal setting for the next year. So really getting back to what you used to do as a board is is ask yourself to self-evaluate, talk about the what came out of
104it and then make your goals from it for the next year. [clears throat] >> So that's BBA. >> Yeah. Okay. Any discussion on that? >> Okay. All in favor of approving policy BBA. Steve is having a night. Opposed. Steve is opposed to self-evaluation. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Did you want to read the numbers for the >> the official numbers from the BCC policy are 264 for and 496 against. against. Thank you. Okay. Discussion and consideration of a motion for the crosswalk construction bid. So, uh, last January we started talking about putting in an ADA compliant pedestrian crosswalk, uh, from on Route 26, uh, across from the middle school, uh, high school in order to go over to where the Dollar General is. And those would include curb cuts, asphalt landing and detectable warning plates,
105concrete sign bases, and the installation of RSU supplied signposts, solar RFBs, and crosswalk signage. Uh we have our kids that like to cross to go over to the Dollar General and Mickey De's and uh and also the the gas station to get snacks. Uh so part of that was just bringing our attention to making sure we have a safe way to get our kids across that. Well, um, that came with a cost to it and we looked worked with the town of Poland and the town in Poland said, "Yeah, we'll give you some some funds for that. We'll we'll we'll chip in $7,500." And so at that point in time, we were left with the remaining cost, and we weren't really sure at that point in time how much that cost would be, but we
106didn't have the funds in the CIP. So, if you've ever met our SRO, Bernie Wesley, she is uh she's very good at engaging um community and students. And so, and Ava Wlette uh decided to partner with Bernie and take this project on as part of her senior celebration, which I will send out if you'd like to attend her senior celebration. Uh I will send you the date and time for that. Uh so, you can see her full project and why she did it and all of the steps that she did. So Ava has taken on the fundraising portion of that so far and she has raised $3,000. So with the town of Poland's contribution plus what Ava has raised so far, we're at 10,500. So at that point in time, Bernie and John felt as
107though we were getting close to being able to actually make this happen and went out for bid. And you can see those bids there. Um we received five bids. The construct Oh no, thank you. Backing up. Five bids were received to construct the new signal crosswalk at at Route 26 near PHS that goes over to Dollar General. You can see those five bids there and uh they were opened this past Friday and uh we are recommending that you go with JPAT uh Pratt Construction at $15,000 to meet that project spec. So that means that we are really close to being able to have that $15,000. Uh that is if you approve that bid, that would be our cost of that project and we're already at 10,500. If Ava doesn't make that, then um we're prepared
108to be able to use some of our operations budget in order to make that happen with the town of Poland uh AA's fundraising portion and then being us be able to chip in that remaining amount. We are prepared to do that $4,500 in order to get there. >> I have a question. >> Ready? How come J Pratt Construction is only $15,000? That's like less than half of all these other ones. It's Are they just doing this out of the kindness of their heart? >> Uh they weren't present. None of the biders were present when we opened the bids. So they do the sealed bids and they're all open at the same time. I think that's part of, you know, the benefits of a sealed bid is you don't know what other people are offering. So
109you really look at the the cost and the price of the project. uh and you offer [clears throat] what you think is going to be competitive. >> Okay. So these these aren't contracts where what's the kind of contract where if you have cost overruns it gets added into the and this isn't one of those contracts, right? No. >> So this is the amount >> the 15,000 from JPAC construction >> lights already. >> No new lights tonight. >> There's the lit crosswalk with the flashers closer to McDonald's. This one's going to be closer to the drive where the kids >> I'll make a motion we approve the bid. >> No, we didn't. >> I second. >> Okay. Thank you. Any discussion on this? It >> looks like acetto didn't like really read the uh is that
110Did we get that that that's maybe what happened with some of the other ones that they're so far away from me from >> Yeah. No, John didn't make that note for what the other ones were. I if if they didn't read that as you're saying that I'm sure John would have made that um that note. [clears throat] >> Okay. >> I do have all the bids if you'd like to look through them. >> Well, it's nice to see more than like two or three people bidding on a project. That was really exciting for me from OP. >> Super excited by that. like they just came in fast and furious on Friday. We're like >> So it's Yeah. No, and even the the I forget which one John talked to. They're just like, "Well, yeah, there's
111there's more openings now for smaller projects because before there was it felt like there was no one was taking on smaller projects. They're so busy with big projects." So yeah, we were thrilled to get the five. >> And all the towns are sharing our bids now, too. So I'm seeing a lot more. Pratt's >> a local one, too. I've seen their trucks around. Are they out of Hebrin or something like that? Yep. Yep. Nice. Any more discussion about this? Excited to see this happening. All right. All in favor? Okay. Thank you. All right. Discussion and consideration of a motion for the local only portion of the SRRF. The board will review and discuss financing options for the 3.1 million local only portion of the facilities improvement project. So this is the green [snorts] chart that
112we're going to have on the screen in a minute. >> Sure. Absolutely. >> I can go for it first. All right. So these are the indoor air quality projects that we're looking at. The Elm Street School, Poland Community School, PRHS, and the Middle School as well. So, we have the SRF on the left that gets us to $6 million where uh approximately 42% will need to be repaid under the SRF um which we will uh put that out to bonds in June. So, that 42% or 2.5 million will be at 0% APR. That's a big thing is that we're not paying any interest on that left hand side. So on the right hand side in your packets you also have all the rundowns of the costs and which ones are in the SRF funding and
113which ones will be going towards the local side. So for each one of those Elm Street School, PCS and the high school um above and beyond what the cost is for the SRF. So for Elm Street School around 600,000 PCS about a million and then the high school middle school renovations 1.6 6 million approximately or 3.128 million for the total. Um so what we talked about is our two options of either going to bond in June or looking at financing it um and the per the tax exempt uh purchase lease or as BIMS likes to call it the tell. Um so I made some pros and cons of each. Um, so in the bond bank, if we were to uh go to referendum in June, um, we would go to the bond bank in November,
114get that rate at the time. Um, but with the bond bank, we would start making payments on that immediately, which I think one of them might end up being in fiscal year 27. >> No, we have to we'd have to do fiscal year 28, >> right? Okay. So, fiscal year 28. Um, but that option is lowest APR. Is that right, Angel? >> Uh, bond bank is the lower. Yes. Where they're about 3.5ish. I did run a sample amorization schedule for 15 years for that. And and with current rates, you're looking at like your first year of like 3% and then in 15 years it being like 3.4%. And so it does fluctuate through each one of your those years. >> So 3.5 would be the safe number right now. And that is something that the
115taxpayers would uh vote on in referendum in June um as the for the telp. Um so it's it's kind of one of those where you pay as you take money out. Correct. >> So um you it's more flexible with the projects as the projects have more expensive and less expensive pieces to it. Um you won't be paying as much upfront as as you go. you will um make more of those payments and then higher APR. Um and that's one thing that the taxpayers do not vote on. >> So like I said earlier, there were only three of us in the personal finance meeting. Um we weren't exactly comfortable coming to the board with the recommendation. We would rather have a discussion here um with all of us. Do you want to add anything now or
116>> Yeah. So my understanding or I guess the questions that I asked at the meeting was my first finance um meeting was um if if we put it uh if we do the bond and we need to put it in the referendum um the voters may not know that if it's voted down we wouldn't have the opportunity to access the um funding the amount that we're being forgiven for five years. Is that accurate? Um, so that would pretty much put a squash on this entire project. Um, so that was something that I thought was kind of interesting, the difference between the bond bank and the tax exempt lease purchase. Um, I think they both have pros and cons, but um, it would just be probably a pretty devastating thing to have it voted down. Who
117else was that? >> I was not. >> Who else? >> What do you want us to add? >> Okay. So, you want the taxpayer voice. So, the bond bonding the local would be your preference. So now those are the finance committee people. Um what does everyone else >> what's the rate that we're looking at for the tel? >> Well we go out to RFP on that like we just project. So if we look at the minet project that was at 4.3. So >> that would be somewhat around there. So that's kind of you know we I don't know what the banks would bid on that but it's roughly about the same amount right like so like the minet projects 2.8 8. This is 3.1. So again, I'm I'm predicting [clears throat and laughter] based upon
118most current knowledge. >> Cheryl, I agree with what you're saying. It goes to the voters, but at the same time, they didn't get to vote on the project. I think you get very upset if they don't even though you know it's not the same but we hit it twice a day has to be bonded. So the left side the local part that is going to bond question on the June ballot. We have no option about that. So that number is going to be on there. So the question right now is do we want the right side number on there as a bond as well and is that going to be confusing because the description is basically for the same thing but they're two different dollar amounts on the same ballot and they both have to
119pass but all this doesn't happen. Are we allowed to sh >> We've been saying we've been I think you could have a backup plan and the board could consider um you know I'm not recommending this but if it doesn't pass that referendum you could decide to go with a master lease to be able to fund that 3.1. that did not um in my opinion did not go over well in previous uh options when we were looking at a bond and that failed at the polls by I think four or five votes and then you were considering a master lease. Um so I you know I'm not sure where the voters are with with that. Uh but yeah, you're I think you're right as to the communication of like how they're actually tied together uh will
120be will be >> the wording of the question on >> but maybe I ask you that too because we don't get to pick how they're worded and that's frustrating but we can add clarifying details like in italics under but can we narrow down our perspective on this to like two sentences that's that's an incredible challenge. Yeah, >> um, what was I going to ask? Um, >> no, come back to me. I totally forgot what I was going to ask. >> I'm good. >> Okay. >> So, I was wondering if we could just I mean, we've sent out letters before, mailings. What if we put one out before the vote that explains that in detail that if we don't vote I mean we've been doing it at meetings but there's quite a few meetings we had
121on this and people don't not everybody knows. We have been trying to get the word out but maybe if we actually I think that that would be the one time it's really warranted to maybe put it out to let everybody know that if we don't if we don't agree to this it's going to cost more in the long run. we're going to be paying 100% of it when everything >> and the great news >> when things don't work >> is there's advertising built into that local only column. So if you're looking at that local only, you'll see that there's some some money in there for us to be able to do that. So >> yeah, then they would then they would know exactly, you know, all the problems we've had in the past where we've
122had to have emergency services. Yeah. >> It it's going to end up costing it's something that has to get done anyways and this is >> if they understand it like that then I think we should be able to trust them to >> Right. This is worked hard on this for years and this is the most financially >> viable option that we've been able to find. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> I mean, is this something that the schools could also work on? You know, I don't know, like newsletters that went home that said, you know, this is this is what it means to our school. this is these are the parts, you know, >> this is how they interact with one another. If you say no here, this doesn't happen. Just really like spell it out
123and send it home in the newsletter or you know, >> and in our um board packets those link some of those links are the school like the principal reports and in those they do share the family newsletters. So there's certainly like I have like the first couple [clears throat] pages and then there's all sorts of flyers. So that's where that would fit right in and that gets emailed to all the families that are full. So >> yeah, it's better. We used to get Friday folders [laughter] would be like stuck on paperwork, but now it's right in their email. >> I I remember my question. Um remember when we did the the master lease thing, we did it because there was no time to do a bond, >> but now we have more time. So if
124we do the bond and they don't approve it, do we still have time to do the master lease and save our money? Because if we don't do these projects, we don't get any money for years and years, right? We get shut out of the SRF. >> Five years. >> Yes. For five years. >> So the left side, the mobile [clears throat] part has to be paid for by bond. >> Okay. >> That's in the requirements that we agreed to tonight that we're going to follow all the procedures and do all the things for the SR money. So that has to pass. If the left side doesn't pass, then the right side doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. You have to have both. So, it's just the >> how do we explain this? And we're really hoping
125that the advertising people are really going to help us. >> Well, and I think that's part of it, too, is you know, sitting down with with Don from BIMS and his advertising team. Her name is Jen, is this isn't their first time trying to explain that. They were talking about Greater Glouster just down the road and trying to educate theirs with flyers and card stock and and note cards being sent home. So, I feel as though we have some experts on our side to be able to explain it and hopefully in a way that is is understandable and maybe they'll pull that out and take that to the polls with them. Um, or at least ask some questions and we can do it at multiple hits because there is there is our our natural newsletters
126and Facebook page and websites that already happens. We've got all of you that carry information back to your people, but then you're right, hitting the the mailings at home do seem to be a really important part for our our three communities. So, but we and we we've got a budget for that. So, it's it's great news. >> And if we can really emphasize if we don't use this money, we are locked out for years and years. So, I think we need to uh like really emphasize that part. I know it's going to hurt, but if we don't do it, we're not going to do it ever. >> I have a question. Why aren't we um looking into master lease? Because with master lease we can do increments which I understand that's what as well you
127don't need to take all the money. >> Sure have that. >> So I think what I'm personally weighing is having the local taxpayers vote versus the school board just saying yes tax exe exempt lease purchase. Um, that's the only reason why I'm doing that is because I'm I'm I'm leaning towards more having the taxpayers actually have a say in the process rather than us just moving forward with the tell which obviously we're not going to prove the tail at help prior to going to referendum because what what's really the point doing that anyways >> if the bond fails we don't >> right so I would I like putting both of them out to the taxpayers that way. Um, >> so I understand that, but why are why is it just either a bond for the
128town to vote on, which I think is dangerous because if they vote it down and then we just go ahead and do it anyways, that's business and we are like scarring what you were saying earlier where like we're not even listening to them. It's going to be voted on the first half and then I think that's the initiative. So adding double questions I think is dangerous. But why aren't we saying bond or tel or master lease? You know what I'm saying? Because >> well that's the same thing. The tel and the master lease is the lease purchase. It's the same verbiage. Sorry. >> But then what but what everybody has always said a master is not a t. Don stood there and said a t is not a master. >> Well we we would be
129looking at a tel. >> But why? That's my point. Because with a master >> you don't have to take all the money if the pro if the projects aren't as expensive as they >> same thing with the tel. So the tel we don't have to take the money. So if it comes in lower Yep. Okay. >> And the reason why a telp is so much better rather than a master lease verbiage is because banks the interest that they garner or the profit that they make off of their loan is tax exempt because we're a tax exempt company. So right so they don't have to pay any income taxes on that side of things. So, it's tax beneficial for these banks to give us a lower rate because they know that one, it guaranteed and two,
130they don't have to pay. >> Okay. >> That's fine. I just didn't know if it had that same key point because that was a good seller for us on the master lease. And if we don't need all that money, then why would we take it? >> Yeah. It's the same thing like when we I talked to um Bank of America today for our Minet project is like once we go through the closing of that and all of our money will be deposited through into the bank account and then then we'll get invoiced and then those invoice have to be approved by us and then Bank of America and then then BIMS will get paid. So it's the same thing. And so like then we can make decisions as to where that money sits because if
131I mean mining projects is probably a poor example because most of it's going to be done this summer but if only like half of it was going to be done this summer we still have that money sitting in an account that's drawing interest. So that's like a positive there. That is one of like it you're spot on. That's a positive of the the master leaf master lease or the t is that you're you're you're collecting interest on that because it's your money. >> Okay. So that's good to know because I don't think that was brought up anymore. But along those same lines, um, Angela, I would add that if you look at the detail sheets for the projects in the middle column, the contingencies are a lot of money and we're required to have them
132in there, we're required to budget for that. So, it's in there. But if we did a bond, we're spending that money. And if we do a lease, we're not. So, if there is a savings, like the one school I have the PCS fund up in right now, that's over 300 $370,000 in the project. So, That's potential saves. >> and when they were pitching it, like he was they talked about that. They were like, "Yeah, these things don't even really apply to us because we're BIMs." And then like it was they gave us a range. It was for all three. They were thinking like 8.6 to 10.1. And so I understand we have to count on that, you know, the higher number. But >> I don't I I one of the thing I and maybe it's
133going to come down to what makes the most sense with the rate, but like I had no problem saying let's go with the telp or whatever and doing it if they if that first one passed because if it's you know it doesn't really matter you know if that passes then I was I was willing to see that as the community wanting to go forward with the project so if you know if the rate made more sense I would have had no problem saying that's the that's the opportunity for the community to shut this down or not you know what what we're potentially talking about now is I mean I mean as long as we're explaining and hopefully it won't work but like one passing and one not and then it might as well just be
134none passing. And I um I guess I have a question too. So if if we decide to go through with two bond questions and the bond, you know, they both pass and then we go through the summer and realize you know what um this help would make a lot more sense. So we locked in on the bond if the town votes on the bond. >> Yes. So the question is was the difference in interest rate which we're guessing if you haven't did it but it's 0.8% % more expensive to do a purchase, lease, help, whatever, compared to the bond. Is that offset by that contingency money? >> I mean, we is how we would know. We wouldn't know until the project's done, you know, and whether or not BIMS wants to try to actually say
135walk away from this project and saying it's lower than we >> sucks. I don't know. [laughter] >> Yeah. Because if you if you bond it at the 3.5ish, you're looking at a million dollars in interest. >> And then the idea of holding the money like that's not is that going to really matter in this case because these projects are going to be all kind of happening. >> Yeah, it's the same thing as they're >> right like >> finish start finish. >> And that's the So I mean the idea that we might hold on to this money and get some kind of interest benefit out of it. How for this scenario? I don't know that that that's not really >> Yeah. H >> send it back to finance after the the discussion to >> so we
136have time. >> How much I was say how much time do we have? >> This is our first discussion. Okay. So we can elect tonight to send it back to Patrick and his subcommittee to work on this further. But at our next month's meeting, we really need to make a decision in April because for it to get on the ballot, if it's going that route, we need to be able to give the town's notice to plan for that for June. So, we have a little time and this is an important decision. So, maybe we should take our time, send it back to the subcommittee. >> Sure. Um, so I asked Stacy the exact same questions. How much time do we have? >> Yeah. >> She really wanted an answer tonight. Uh, >> but we we
137talked through it today with Stacy and we're okay with the April like April would be because again it has to like in order to get to the warrants because it's also like the budget piece too for all of the warrants to be signed at each town meeting. We want to make sure we give each of the three towns ample time to be able to do that. So yes, we're we're okay with with April. >> Send it back to us. We'll work it. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> And then feel free since those meetings are open if anyone would like to attend. That's the first meeting on the last Monday of the month at 4:30. So if you want to discuss. Okay. So we'll take no action on that. Um we have more though I
138now discussing consideration of a motion to approve sending the support for LD 1892 letter as recommended by the personnel committee. >> Indra. >> Do I have to make a motion to do that? I make a motion that we send the letter. >> Okay. >> Second from Stephen. >> And what's this letter consist of? >> This was in the packet and it is to support the legislation that is being worked on now which is to >> I think there's a bunch going on today or yesterday for that. >> Yes. >> This is regarding school construction and changing it to make it better. >> Better >> people like us >> better. Did anyone have any? >> It's too bad the bill won't be retroactive. >> Yeah, we need to add [laughter] that was my note. Yeah, we
139need to add it at the bottom. >> Goodness. >> What do you have, Brandy? >> I say it's too bad it wouldn't it's not worded to be retroactive. >> Yeah, >> but what is it? They're talking like 25% on the school. >> This the wheels of >> Yeah. super fast. >> But they're talking like 25% on school responsibility rather than whatever it is now, I think is what the bill said. >> I'm not sure. Is [clears throat] that the same one? This is about increasing the debt limit of the state. >> Maybe that's what I'm thinking. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yes. Okay. Yeah. Okay. >> Any other questions about the letter? >> Okay. Um all sorry please raise your hand if you support sending this letter out from us to them. All right. Thank you.
140Okay. Discussion and consideration of a motion to approve a two classroom modular at home community school as recommended by the operations as meeting. >> So move. >> Second. >> Okay. Do you want Randy to give an overview or do you want to give? >> You want me to start and you can pick it up if I'm when I miss things? Um, >> yeah. I'm disappointed we have to deal with this. Uh, but this is the uh CDS. I'm using them scrapeers, right? CDS kids like to try to have some space for them. Specifically, we're looking at PCS. Um, I don't know. Let me see here. I don't know how many of you familiar with how PCS is set up or their plan their idea and this idea is to kind of basically group them up
141where a lot of those students are anyway. It's kind of near the office. Hey, there we go. Um it's like the section that kind of faces out towards 26. Oh, no. Yeah, I'm talking about where we want to put the CDS. But yes, that's where we're thinking of putting the um a new modular. Um I think our quote was around 275. That's to buy it. The big discussion we kind of had was whether or not we want to buy it from Skiabi or lease it from >> Wilcott. Yeah. Will Scott. Will Scott. Um their lease they were asking 540,000 and that was a lease that was I think that was a five year. Was that five years? >> Five years. >> Right. >> We don't keep it. I don't I don't think that included like
142even a bathroom or anything. I think all that stuff would have been extra which >> we're going to be looking at that for this one anyway. That's 20, you know, that's that's delivered on a slab that we've supplied. >> Um and uh we're think you know Amy's suggestion is that we put a first grade class out there in one of the title what is that one? Title. Yeah. And um which you know I'm I hate I don't really like putting a first grade class out there, but I don't know that we'd have any other options either because then we'd be talking about moving, you know, fifth or sixth down there, but and then we're likely going to have to we're going to have to do a bathroom in there, right? Is that the idea? Or
143we don't know yet. >> Include a bathroom in there. >> It does include a bathroom, right? So the question we're going to have to deal with is if we're putting first grade out there, are we going to be expecting first grade? And what's the Sorry. So what what is the rule too? Like some some first grader has to go to the bathroom and there's one teacher in there. Are we like is there a rule or a policy in place? Send that little kid inside or >> they'd be able to go in. >> They would be able to go in. So >> yep, because there's the first grade classes are right next to it, too. So they would just be taught to be able to come in through that modular be fenced in and come in
144through that door and go to the bathroom. But the littlest kids, we looked at the um where the actual CVS kids are going to be. They need to be closer to the bathroom because they're even younger. So, they can't go the length of a hallway to get there. So, they are going to be in another part of the school that's closer to a bathroom. >> And there's actually state rules about their distance to the bathroom for prek students. So, another another reason to put them closer to the bathroom. Um, another thing we talked about too was uh like having some sort of covering so when they walk out that door that's you know it's raining or snowing or something they can actually just go into the go into the building without you know too exposed
145to the weather. We can't close it in because of like fire stuff. Um so it's going to have to stay fenced in some way but probably like a gate or something that opens up to the out to where the playground space is. Um, anyone dealing with PCS that I don't I don't think this is going to affect drive line. That's kind of come up a little bit. I deal with drive line enough where we're basically merging kind of in that space anyway. So, I don't, you know, I think we're lucky there. That was always been that was one of the problems always where we're going to put this thing where it won't affect the drive line. >> Uh, I don't know if there's any other questions, but um >> difference made it easy, right, between
146the lease versus the purchase. Yeah. >> of the portable. It was our committee. >> And you know, I've I've brought this up a bunch of times too for different reasons, but they, you know, a district that looked at leasing was whatever towns Tobago and Casco are a part of. And they leased buildings, consolidated a school, and then immediately regretted it and ended up b dumping a bunch of money into the Casco and the Casco Elementary. And >> oh, the Crooked River School. >> Yeah. That's why that got fixed cuz that district decided that leasing modulars was a big boo boo and um >> so yeah I don't know if we buy it you know John kind of pitched you know it as things move we you know we can move that building to another campus
147if we had to um sucks it's going to cost a bunch of money it's going to you know if we do it it's going to be on this on this budget don't one of the things I've kind of kept in my mind too is you know it's going to be pretty close to what what we're going be paying for minet. So, um it's just kind of getting us used to that, I guess. Like, we put that money in there, it's not coming out because it's just going to end up likely going towards the minet payment. >> Did we look at anyone else for bids or quotes on this because I do think 276 is pretty darn high for basic >> for a two, right? for a two classroom that I guess yeah as far as
148I know those are the only two and I don't know that we had more than two the last time we had this question of modulars I think it was skiabi and a lease option um and then but th those were four those were four classrooms I think when we were looking at them before that's why it was closer to the 750 number uh these are just two >> I don't know are there even the other I was wondering that >> a question sorry >> uh I'm not sure if there's other options. Patrick, do you have other options? >> I don't know. I just feel like we're >> That's super expensive for basic shells >> with no plumbing, >> right? There's none of that. Yeah. >> It comes with heating and it's finished. Just no furniture.
149>> Yeah. Okay. And it includes the setup and connection to the school which is an outdoor like they have to go outside and then inside but it's all >> Are we going to need a ramp for that too though? >> We can't because of the egress. Yeah. >> Are we going to need a ramp for this? That is something that didn't even come up yet but >> need to be ADA complant. >> So I mean that's something I thought of today. Where's that? >> Did we consider that when we went that close to the building? Um yeah, other our responsibilities is the permitting. So working with town of Poland to get the fire [clears throat] alarm, sprinklers, propane tanks, connection to HVAC units, and then we have to install the ADA um ramp steps and
150deck. >> Uh so my question is so we're doing this because of the third and fourth graders that the >> three and four year olds >> three and four year old Yeah. three and four year olds that the state is mandating and and they're not offering any help for funding for this. >> Not for not for nothing else other than like a half admin and like a half part-time teacher I think is what they're going to cover. >> Yeah. >> No, it's totally up to the district to try to figure out a space. >> It's incredible. >> And it getting a little off topic for anyone that's listening like out in the community. This is the number one thing that infuriates me is that the state puts these mandates on the schools and says good
151luck with it. And you know it I'm not saying these folks these kids shouldn't be served but like to put it on the backs of the community like this considering the cost it is just >> it's infuriating. >> I agree. Yeah. >> Jeff is this drawing to scale or I mean is this just a planning thing or is this kind of >> Yes. So these are the four locations we were looking at. there is that part of putting right out front, but I said no to that one because I feel like if we were looking for an addition, then maybe we might do that. That was a tactic I think that was used here. Um, but there was a modular put right out front. Uh where you enter in uh and then here were two
152other options uh to put it here and to put it here. But this would take the drive line. So for you those of you that aren't familiar with the PCS drive line, you come in off of 26 here. This is the parking lot. you kind of stack here and then you drive around the school um through drive line. So, this made the most sense. Uh you know, I was a little bummed out that there's not going to be that connection like we have at like Minet. Um you know, when I taught here at Woodier, I was out in one of the portables and did have the the fence around. You know, it's it's okay, but there's also that sense of, you know, not particularly like you're not part of the building, but um and I
153hear what you're saying about first grade being out there, but the other first grade classrooms are there. Yeah. >> Um, you know, we're still assessing that. Like I met with the PCS leadership team today to talk about spacing to see if they have any ideas of how do we make a maybe potentially make bigger moves to be able to to to utilize that space. >> Well, [clears throat] would there be the concern of moving like the art class in there instead like and keep you understand what I'm saying? Like is that was that discussed or what would be the hesitation in going that direction? It was it was part of that like just the the far away of being have like you've got all of the upstairs the fourth, fifth and sixth being able to
154then come down the the third, [clears throat] second, first room to get out to art. I mean it's definitely can be done because right that's what's best for kids isn't always easiest for the adults. So, I think that was that was part of that is like if we're going to move art, then considering a different classroom to centralize that with the other specialists, [snorts] even though the other [clears throat] specialists are in the the other hallway. >> So, this one we do need to take action on tonight because we need to get this thing order again because it's like a 14week lead time and we need to have it in place and ready for students in some time. >> So, is that going back to my question, is that is that the Not only is
155that rendition u Yes. >> Is that the footprint or there I mean could it be a square instead of a rectangle or I mean that >> yeah that's the rectangle. Yeah that's >> the 28 by 68 that that represents the 28 by 68. >> I thought I had >> also thinking about there was also I seem to recall there was an issue about parking. Mhm. >> If you turn the building, would that give you any additional one? That seems a little bit p I have not done drive line at this school before, but that seems a little pinched, >> at least compared to what it is now, what people are accustomed to. >> Yeah, [snorts] >> I I would have a concern that somebody's going to clip the edge of the building perhaps. Yeah, we'd
156have to probably look removal that >> we're probably going to have to look into like that grassy [snorts] area because we do the merge happens after that turn technically. So, it would either have to happen before which would be tricky because you know people are kind of trying to let buses by, but it might involve dealing with that lawn a little bit. Yeah. >> Like for a car wide. >> So, two two things. If you turned it 90 degrees and then does that buy you any space to put of parking. >> The orientation of how you enter, you go into like a little entryway and then one classroom's to one side and one's to the left. >> There's some closets and storage kind of in the middle. And that's where the bathroom would be if
157we paid for the plumbing upgrade. >> And there's no parking over here. This is the the playground, >> right? Yeah. That's >> So the parking is over here like this is 26. >> So all the parking's out front or to the to the left of that. That's what I'm asking. Is there any >> There's no parking space. It's like basically playground space and some P, you know what I mean? Like there's a four square kind of thing and then it's just the cars for drive line going through there. Parking is either like cut back where they hypothet. Yeah. >> So you got an awful lot of pavement there. You need some stripes and you can make parking wherever you want it. But >> I mean we have to make a decision tonight. But I do
158think is a little expensive on their floor. >> I wouldn't even know a suggestion as far as like a company to say go check these guys out. I don't know. box modular has the same exact square footage for the bathroom that has available shipping for main but it's too late the distance between the door of the modular and the door to the >> I don't think we have any place from that all the way inside the building that way to get outside. So, it's probably >> I'm sorry. You said it's already gone out for a bit. >> This This has been >> like we said about the crosswalk project. Sometimes we get a bunch of bits and it's exciting and sometimes we don't. >> I don't think this was a bid. This was all doing
159research, wasn't it? And just looking up companies and going >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We didn't do a formal bid process. We asked for we requested co quotes. >> Are we supposed to for something like this? Go through a formal bid process even though there's probably only one if we decided to purchase. >> I mean, normally we would get a dollar amount, but it's time sensitive as well. Just wondering if we could approve not to exceed put it back out. >> That quote was also only good for 30 days. So, >> uh, they said they would extend it for us because they knew that we were talking about it. >> Yeah. And I know John talked to other places. I don't have that those those companies written down and I'm not like So, I'm assuming that
160they didn't bid on it for a reason or didn't have access or something. So, um definitely can look at more, but at that point in time, we do run the risk of not having um it be ready for our school year. >> Do we feel ready for a motion on this topic or do we >> I thought we made a motion. >> I made a motion. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Yeah. >> Sorry. Thank you. >> We feel like we're ready to make a decision on this. >> Yes. >> Okay. All in favor of approving the modular as Okay. >> I didn't put me on the first one. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> All right. Moving on to administrative team reports. We are here for our information. I hope you all read them like I did.
161um reports to the school board. The enrollment and attendance was also provided to us from the student representatives have been so patient. >> Yes. >> Who's first tonight and spring sports start this month. So hopefully you have good seasons with that like we did for winter and fall. >> Okay. Um so this Wednesday 6 o' we have the all chorus concert with the elementary schools, the middle school and the high school in [laughter] the gym if you want to go. Pretty excited. Um on the 25th we have the all band concert. I don't think any I don't think the elementary schoolers are going. I think it's just middle and high school. Um that's either at six or um six or seven. I'm not sure exactly. Um and then oh um Scarlet and I just got
162accepted into District 2 jazz. That's really fun. >> Um oh Winter Carnival was last last month. Um I think our last meeting was the beginning of that week. seniors won. So that's felt really great because usually we get last place once. So I it was really funny when we were talking about what we wanted to do for winter carnival. We were like, should we do something that will get us disqualified or should we do something that'll make us win? [laughter] Um and then um oh I don't know how to share this yet, but I've been telling people I got the uh the main principal award, so I thought that was really cool. Um this me and I are going up to I think it's Arnold for lunchon on April 11th to receive my award >>
163and it's a scholarship, so I'm excited for that. >> Congrats. >> Um Olivia Snowman and I just got back from Rhode Island a few weeks ago. We attended the All Eastern ACBA conference which was so fun. Oh my gosh. So it was basically four honor choirs. Um and my honor choir had 250 people in it. Was the biggest choir I've ever been in and it was so cool. Our conductor um he works at the University of Texas. Um he was awesome. Just we had a we had a great time. I got to meet the the the blonde from Pentatonics. So, that's really cool. Happy birthday. Wasn't his birthday though. But yeah. Um and gosh, oh, seniors are officially one month away from senior celebration. >> Yeah, if you guys you guys are welcome to attend
164mine like 3:00, but and that's all I have. >> Thank you. Great job. All right. Uh, school board chair. So, first of all, are the thank you notes? They have not made it back to me. Are those going around over there? Okay. Can we make sure those get around, please? And then the policy. Did that come back? Policy BB AB. Did everyone sign that? >> Yeah, it came back this way. >> I signed it and passed it that way, but I haven't seen it since. >> We need to make sure the policy gets this way. >> I got it. Golden ticket. >> Yeah. Okay, thank you. Um, MSBA meetings are coming soon. Um, we're missing one tonight. So, our next chance is 3:18 and 3:26. They're at 6 p.m. on Zoom. We have invites in
165our email. If you can't find it, let me know and I'll forward it to you. I'm unable to attend both of those, but it' be good. Somebody go from our group. Um, please join us at our budget meetings. So, these are on Wednesdays right here at this comfortable table. Um there's no public comment at those meetings, but it is very good information to receive being in the room as the discussions are being held. So the next one is this Wednesday at 6. Um the April board meeting is going to be so this meeting on April 13th >> in the conference room discussed on the subcommittee and we're going to try to get better acoustics and better seating for our audience and just kind of smaller space but we measured and we think we can do
166it. So we're going to try that. Okay sweet school it's the first door where the accessible entrance is. There's a big aluminum ramp in that door right there. Um Poland has three seats available for school board. So please if you're interested get those girls have one available and those all opened in March. So those are available now signatures to be 25 at least. I recommend getting more than 25 to just make sure that you get one on the ballot in June. And Met at their election just last week elected Gerald, again, congratulations to Cheryl for joining us again. And we will have two new members, Gina and James, coming from line to join us for next year. Um, the MSBA legislature day. Um, that's in our email. Also, you need to register by March 20th
167and you attend March 24th at 9:00 a.m. Um, this is to visit the senators and the representatives. That's really great if you ever been to an event like that or one of them for work and it's it's great to actually meet these people and explain how what they're doing affects you. So we always board executive session tonight. Please do not leave. Um and then our next meeting and that is it for me. >> I'll make a motion wave. >> Thank you Steve. >> Second by Andrea. All >> thank you. All right.