001Okay, good evening everyone. I'd like to go ahead and call this meeting to order. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And our mission statement is creating a better future one student at a time. So, first on our agenda is public comment. And we have several people who signed up for public comment. Just one. Okay. Sorry, I'm looking at the wrong list. Um, so if you could please come forward and use one of the microphones so we can make sure everyone hears you. Amber. >> Hey Joe, can you get your >> Of course. Yeah. So, we just wanted to touch base on >> Come on, Amber. >> Just
002touching base with you guys again on the um plans with the CO2 levels and our kids' health and and safety that have been an issue for many children. um mine, yours, um and lots of others. We just want to make sure we keep pushing this to see what we're doing, if the new monitors are in, um what the reads are. Has the district doctor gotten the new updated numbers. The last I had asked since last January. Um again um um so just yeah really where are we at with that? I know it's numbers. I know it's money and I'm willing to help with whatever when it comes to pushing the budget through, but the kids safety is key and it's not being addressed in many of the schools lately. It's like know where we're at.
003>> Okay. >> Thank you so much and thank you for coming tonight. Um on our agenda, we do have the CO2 topic as an update and also our at our next meeting this month. Um the subcommittees, we have various different tasks related to that that we will be working on and you will see it on our agendas at future meetings as well. But thank you both for coming tonight. Appreciate it. Okay, moving on to recognitions. We have National School Counseling Week is February 2nd to the 6th. So that was last week. Thank you to our um school counselors, um the Knights cheerleaders, Gabby Cooper and her teammates, um Western Main Conference champions at Class B South regional runners up and I will add last weekend got third place at states in class B. So good
004job, Gabby. and a recognition for Shelley Pride for the 2026 State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship. Congratulations, Shelley. Um, we have no agenda adjustments and so we will move on to presentations. So, first we have we have two presentations tonight. Our first one is a National History Day student presentation. Emma Starboard. I'm so excited. This is the best day of the year, I think. NHD day. Um, so please come on up. >> Are you gonna talk about our doc the documentary or are we gonna watch it first? >> Yeah. Jamie is here, our eighth grade social studies teacher. So Jamie, you're going to introduce Emma, which has been a a privilege watching uh Emma grow up over the years from Elm Street to we are now. So >> So Emma's here to present a documentary.
005Put it up here in the stream. Hopefully it doesn't glitch with the technology when I play so you guys can watch it and then she'll come back. >> Great. And we were in we were fishing in the protected area known as spearmint 2 and we were in dead spot. visibility was now. I could see there were two ships approaching on the radar screen and I suppose that there were other ships fishing in the area. They were going about the same speed as we were but in the opposite direction. Suddenly Thor appeared out of fog on our port side and Maria Julia came up on our starboard side. Thor positioned himself on our port back. This was said by a British fisherman about Iceland ships trying to harass his ship while he attempted to protest for
006Icelantic waters by continuing to fish in a prohibited area. The Atlantic cod has always been a federal resource for food in Northern Europe. In fact, it was so impactful that multiple wars with evil bullets erupted over species of fish and lasted over 20 years. The cod wars became one of the most unusual wars in history, proving that small countries were able to stand and defend themselves against countries that were powerful and successful. In the 1950s to7s, the cod wars was a revolution in maritime law and power politics between Iceland and Great Britain due to over fish vision. The reactions back and forth between countries resulted in the reform of the exclusive economic zone to 200 nautical miles and inspired countries to find ways to protect fish. Cod saved the cod. How the cod wars revolutionized
007and reformed commercial fishing in the exclusive economic zones. From the 1630s to 1944, Denmark controlled Iceland, including its fishery limits. For hundreds of years, Great Britain had been fishing in Icelandic waters, which helped source one of the most popular fish in the nation, caugh. This fish stood out from others mainly because it was affordable and excessive, especially for the working people who were not very wealthy. Britain's prolific fishing in the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean caught the attention of Iceland because of the decline in fish, which was thought to be caused by bread. This then led to Iceland to propose a change in its territorial waters from 3 to 4 months in 1952. Gray became frustrated because they thought that the accusations of their over fishing were false. Soon after, the UK government reacted
008and banned fresh fish from coming in from Icelantic ships, forcing Great Brand to rely more on themselves than imports from other countries. Iceland's goal was to lower the chance of over fishing, specifically from Britain, mainly because if not avoided, it would lower the fish population, causing a strain in the fishing industry as a whole. Soon after, on September 1st, 1958, Iceland extended their sea limits to 12 miles. This officially started the first war. Iceland protected their new limits with the Coast Guard. ensuring that British fishing trollers could not gain access to their waterways. Although this plan seemed good in theory, the issue was that the Royal Navy was one of the strongest in the world. Their boats were extremely powerful and could destroy Iceland's boats quickly. Iceland's boats weighed under 100 tons. Not nearly as
009powerful as Great Brand, but weighed between 2,000 and 3,000 tons. These small disagreements and precautions led to poor changes in fishing practices and isolated waters, such as being mindful of the amount of fish being caught in the places they were fishing. This then resulted in new processes and regulations. For example, forcing fishermen to fish in moderation and travel further for fishing. In 1972, Iceland pushed their ocean limits from 12 nautical miles to 50. Iceland felt that this was necessary to keep the population and stock of CO up mainly because economy relied so heavily on it. If Cog went extinct, then many people would lose their jobs, lose a sustainable food source, and possibly go into lots of debt. Britain reacted at doing what I feared that would do, and ignored the boundaries. As Harold Wilson,
010the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, once said, "Everyone should have equal chance, but they shouldn't have a flying star." This means that any country have a chance to get what they need, but they shouldn't have an advantage compared to others. After Britain refused to leave Iceland's factories, conflict rose. Shots have been fired in boats and rams leading up to the second cod. Anthony Crossland, a British politician, said this about British fishermen. To say that they are operating under extremely trying conditions is something of an understatement. Conditions are truly dangerous and are now nearly intolerable. As can be seen from the explosive reaction by the troller at the end of last week at Grimsley Hall and other fishing ports. Iceland next attacked Britain by using a secret weapon called troll cutters. These devices were
011made to cut the wire that connected fishing nets to the boats. Without the wire being connected, the net would be gone and they would not be able to catch fish. Despite the British trers attempts to we were fishing in the protected area known as Spearmint 2, he said, "And we were in dense fog. Visibility was down." I could see there were two ships approaching on the radar screen. It's over with the birds. which isn't working. We were fishing in a protected area. It would be a major international obsession because of the US military bases on their land as well as the ability to watch the Soviet submarines and their water. Also, without Britain's relationship with Iceland, they would lose benefits and prospects for the country politically such as strong relationship with the surrounding countries. However,
012if Iceland decides to drop out of NATO, they will lose more economically such as their resources and support with countries that were NATO members as well. As professor spar s said in the neocclassical realism in the north atlantic explaining behaviors and outcomes in the conglome each of the cod wars due to the fact that the domestic pressures on Icelandic statesmen were not to concede were far greater than similar domestic pressures on British statesmen meaning that the use of membership in NATO to pressure Britain into gambling. According to the Guardian, Burden sent a note to Iceland saying, "We reject your assertion that the presence of the Royal Navy in the area constitutes an active aggression against a NATO ally. The waters form part of the high seas in which British trers are fishing out of. It
013is the Iceland government who by constant violent harassment have now made it impossible for British trollers to fish there without legal protection and have thus made necessary. The decision which the government has reluctantly taken. It is the British government therefore which has caused a complaint of the use of force by a no ally. However, Britain did not know how crucial the impact of losing all relations with Iceland would be. So they brought their ships back home and backed down from the war. On September 8th, 1973, the two countries formed an agreement. Great Britain would have a limit of 130,000 tons of fish caught and would have a 50m limit to fish inside of the Icelantic Ocean limit. This agreement will last 2 years and settle the conflicts for a short period of time. The ties
014between Great Britain and Iceland stayed mainly calm until the fishing agreement ended in November of 1975. Iceland decided that they wanted to try and push their limits once more to 200 miles. This was a big jump from 50 miles which caused another negative reaction from Britain. However, due to a one-third decrease of cod in the 1970s in a fear of cod being extinct by 1980, Iceland knew that they needed to come up with ways to manage fishing in the waters. Eventually, Britain settled and accepted the new fishing limits. This expansion was recognized by NATO and they came up with another new agreement called the exclusive economic zone, also known as the EE. This is an area managed by a country that granted the rights to fish, explore, conserve, and conduct other related activities in those
015waters. With the Condors becoming the starting point for the creation of the exclusive economic zone, it demonstrated how other countries could benefit as well. For Iceland, it helped bring up the population of their most popular fish. For other countries like Britain, creating an EEZ opened new opportunities like tapping into their territorial limits for oil. Today, around 150 countries worldwide have an exclusive economic zone. In 42% of ocean's waters is covered by a zone. That means that around 58.4 4 million miles of the world's oceans has been taken over by countries. Although the cop wars started with wanting to keep their fishing steady profitable, it led to creating new systems that would help the environment as a whole by teaching countries that it's possible to preserve fish by letting us continue to do what we need
016to have a sustainable future. Anybody that had any questions? >> Sure. Emma, great presentation. Um, fisheries management is something that like piques my interest. our top fish management Florida as and he does work for the American Salt Association, so it's pretty close to home. Um, what made you want to do a presentation about this specific fishery? I for me it was that I've never heard of this topic before at all and I know that a lot of people especially me very interested >> and I thought about >> thank you >> good answer >> yeah you did a really good job That looked like a lot of work. I've actually never seen a documentary that well done at someone your age. So, you have some skill there. Absolutely. And I'm curious, does Maine have that? Do
017we have that on the east coast? Ezates. >> Really? Yeah. >> Wow. Emma, what made you want to do a documentary instead of the other options for NHD? >> Well, it actually started last year because I did a lot of work on specifically before NHD and thought that I loved it a lot last year. So I used that last year and it's also not as >> great job. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much. >> Okay, next we have Shelley Pride to present about adult education. That's a tough act to follow, Shelly. Most of that audience. Oh, wow. >> Family. >> Bring your own fan club. >> All right. Yes, please. >> Yeah, >> come on down. >> Thank you. >> My kids tell me I have a mom's voice, but I also have a teacher.
018So, >> all right. So, I'm in my second year here. Um, and it is awesome. This is our team. Um, I do not do this. I don't do adult dead by myself. Um, we have an academic instructor, liter literacy tutor, and we also have Jerry Cook who keeps everybody in line. Um, and we have an advisor. When people think of adult dead, one of the first things they think about is um otherwise known as night school GED um high school diploma. Um GED now is called the high set. Um it's made up of five exams and we now have uh five graduates so far this year. Um, and we have quite a few that only have one, possibly two tests left. So, last year we had 14 graduates at our graduation. We also have the
019traditional high school diploma and again, we're halfway through the school year and we have a quite a few that are one or two credits away. In our adult ed, we have um it's 20 credits to graduate and for a credit in adult ed, it's 45 hours of we call it seat time, but um so a half a credit could be 22 23 hours, but they also are able to show proficiency. It's not just a grade for us. And I have a save the date. It's the first Friday in June. Um, if you've never been to an adult dead graduation, I highly recommend. This will be my 27th graduation. Um, and I always make sure I have a package of tissues cuz one of the things in adult dead is there's stories behind every person that
020makes it across that finish line. We also have a group of 10 students right now that are participating in our English language acquisition. They are here to better their um English. We have five of those students that are actually co-enrolled at Central Main Community College. with all of our students, whether they're high school diploma or they're working on their high set. We offer advising to all of our students as well as career and workforce exper exploration. We if they want to go on to college, we help them from making sure their skills are ready to be a freshman in college to helping them fill out the financial aid forms to keeping them co-enrolled in our program to make sure they're able to handle their freshman year, which is our college transitions program. We also work
021on employability skills, resume building, um interview, we even do mock interviews with our students. We will make connections with local businesses that we know are hiring. Um or we'll take a former like a former graduate just ended up we helped him get the funding as well as the connection with a lo another local adult ed and he's doing his CDL class A right now. >> Does he want to be a bus driver? >> Uh no. He actually um is applying for a job in a in a local town to be a snow plow. >> Okay. >> Close. >> A snow close. Um, RSU 16 uh this year was a grant recipient from a CO-ABE which is the National Coalition of Adult Ed and NCCER which is the construction um credentials. We were the only recipient
022in Maine. Uh we were two re there's two of us in New England. Um and what this was is an a grant to bring the construction training program to our adult ed. And so far we have four students. We started out with eight but you know life got in the way for four of them. Um, but we have four strong students that are they've already received their OSHA 10 and their first aid credentials and they're working on their construction core right now. Their graduation will be midappril as long as we don't have too many more snow days. And with this program, we have partnered with a local um general contractors uh organization and we are working with them to do site visits during the month of March and there will be interviews. Um and in
023prior experience with this organization, the students that want to be hired are hired from being part of this program. So, so I'm a data person. I love doing numbers. And one of the things that has been really cool this year is in the fall we offered 39 courses in enrichment. We had 91 registrations. We have 41. Realize that this semester just started a couple of weeks ago. So, we have 41 courses and 42 registrations. So, we're already going to go past the fall. For workforce, we have five courses. One is the construction, but we also offer um keyboarding classes, um rotary uh notary um programming. So last semester we had 13 registrations. This semester we have nine courses and so far we only have one registration. and why um it's low even though construction is
024in this construction was counted in the fall because it started in December for us and for people that like charts um the registrations and the courses are going to exceed last semester. So, our most popular classes on the enrichment side are the estate and long-term care planning, Tai Chi, and Zumba. For Taichi and Zumba, people call before even our registrations are online. So, we have two brochures a year. Um, and our brochures are partnered with the school district. Half of the pro uh half of the brochure is school news and thank you to the school board. Um, we always have a letter and information in the back for you from you guys. And of course, we have to do marketing. Um, we have a website, um, in addition to our, um, brochure and we have
025a Facebook presence, we have over 700 followers. So that's pretty cool. Um, so we also this in the past year, so starting in July, we did a transition of our website and our registration program. So there was quite a learning curve with that. So even though we have our registrations are up and everything, we us as a program and we also had to teach our community how to use our new software stuff. So thank you everybody for supporting our program. Anybody have any questions? Andrea, >> is the GED test, I'm sorry, the high set test, is that the same thing as getting a high school diploma? >> It's different, meaning you take five exams instead of doing coursework for so many hours. >> And if you get the regular high school diploma, you have to
026do the classes. Okay. But there is statistics that the high set is actually harder to get than your high school diploma. >> I I have a question. Um you said we had a uh some of the students not not go through completely with the construction uh program. That's a grant. Does that affect the funding at all in any way that we had? Okay. >> Nope. Um the grant was for implementation and to pay for the instructor. Um the students actually didn't there was no registration cost. >> And is that something they'll be doing again next year? Like is that like the grant lift this thing off the ground kind of? Okay. >> I'm I'm looking for funding sources for it to >> continue. Okay. >> With all the push to get it off the ground.
027I want to do it more than once. >> Yeah. Anyone else? Okay, thank you so much, Shel. >> All right, moving on to our consent agenda. It's a little short this month. We just have the meeting minutes from January. There were no subcommittee meetings. Can I have a motion to approve? >> Okay, a second. Second from Andrea. discussion. >> Uh yeah, I have I um I'm hoping we can maybe get a little more added this uh on under the uh old business part where we're talking about the minor consolidated school ventilation project that feel like the minutes were a little light in describing that and um I'd be more than happy to send along like some what I what I my suggestion for what would be in there. But >> can you hear me now?
028Should I talk it louder? >> I can just talk louder. You guys hear me now? Cool. That works. >> So, I I took issue. I don't um I think there should be a little more detail uh in the minutes when we're talk uh um on the MCS uh ventilation project. Just a couple minutes were a little light. I And I have some suggestions I can pass along basically is was my concern on on the consent agenda. Um how does that work? I um I don't know. I can specifically explain what I think is missing if that's helpful for anyone. >> What's your concern that it wasn't? >> Well, I I I think there were a couple of things that came up in the discussion that didn't make the notes. I think it's just because Patrick's
029doing a lot and that I really think that's all it was. Um you know, Patrick mentioned in the beginning of the discuss Oh, that's right. Patrick mentioned in the beginning of the discussion that he it was his opinion that if we didn't go through with the ventilation project, we might as well start looking at closing the building. Um, we discussed our our presentation of the numbers to community weren't really in my opinion accurate because we were including numbers on the um on the service contract and that's not really like that. That's money that's already coming out of our budget. We're just moving our contract. But those numbers got wrapped into the thing. That's not that's not appropriate or accurate. And then I, you know, it was some of the things that I went over which
030was, you know, we still had concerns with space and I didn't, you know, I didn't really think this was a I didn't think closing this space we would have ended up, you know, I brought up the fact that uh the the um modulars were like 700 somewhere 750k a piece before we even did anything with them just to get them here. We're going to need three or four. It was just kind of stuff like that that I I feel would be kind of helpful for anyone that went back was like what went into that discussion. Um those were, you know, a few things I think would have been helpful for people. >> Do I need to make a motion for this, sir? >> Okay. Um so we have a motion and a second to accept
031them as presented, but we're looking to edit them. So, would we be able to just kill this motion and bring it back at the next meeting with a amended minutes? We also did want to mention that we understand the sound. We're having issues with the sound in the room for people that are physically here as well as people that are watching online. >> You through that, but I couldn't hear Randy. >> Yeah, we um >> people should be able to hear me. We so we've been keeping the meeting minutes light because we're assuming that the recording is capturing like all the detail, but now we've realized that the detail isn't getting recorded well on video. So, we're going to change the minutes and make them more detailed going forward. So, this won't happen again. >>
032But, >> yeah, and um we have Caitlyn, our former noteaker, no offense, um coming back starting next month to help keep us >> going because it is really hard to take notes and participate at the same time. Yeah, agreed. >> Okay. So, procedurally, how do we want to handle this? >> Can we just >> I mean, as long as that makes sense. Uh >> Steve made the original motion. >> Yeah. If you wouldn't mind. Do you understand why? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And you're okay with that, too? You're our second. Okay. So, we will take those meeting minutes back and edit them. And if anyone else has comments regarding the discussion, because I understand what you're saying. That was a very important conversation that we had. Um, so we'll get some more detail. >> Thank
033you for that and sorry about that. >> Um, okay. Superintendent report. >> Your microphone works really well. >> Almost like it's like your like I think jokes works really well. I don't know. >> Vibe. >> It's a vibe. Yeah. Randy and I don't have it tonight. All right. Um, so there is notification of new hires. We have none at this current time, but this is the time of season where we uh anyone that has the intent to retire does have to notify the superintendent of that intent. So there's some names here that are pretty big names in our district. Uh, and so I'll read through those. Uh, Stacy Field, our business manager here at central office, is intending to retire this time for realies. Uh, unless I can convince her otherwise. Uh Moren Mooney who
034is the Whittier Middle School administrative assistant is retiring. Uh Tammy White, she is works with Shannon Shanning in special education as an edtech at Whittier Middle School. Has been here a long time. Sharon Goss, Whittier Middle School math teacher. Uh started at Elm Street School, came over to Whittier when uh we we became a tri town uh middle school is retiring. Denise Mchugh has taught a variety of grade levels at Minet Consolidated School. Linda Bernier, Minet Consolidated third grade, also has taught a variety of of grades. U Elaine Brewer is had a long stint at uh PCS in title and then with all of our title funding uh had was moved over to MCS this year. She is retiring. Kathy Rybeck has been at PCS for a long time and she's an edtech in the
035special ed department. And then Sherim Reserve has been part of food service at PCS for a long time. So, uh, we look forward to, as always, in June, you do celebrate the retirees at your June board meeting with the principal or director coming to speak about them and you present them with a gift and we have some cake and uh before our meeting. So, looking forward to sharing stories on all of that wonderful group. Uh, also under notifications of resignation. I'm just going to skip to Tony Bennett because this was a resignation, but it's also retirement too. Got placed under the resignations, but it's mostly for retirement too. So Tony Bennett has been the maintenance here uh at supervisor at the at here at the middle school high school for a long time and it
036is time for him to uh retire and we look forward to celebrating him. And then Jackie Harmon who teaches kindergarten at MCS uh is is uh moving on and we will miss her. And then I have uh four things to talk to you about. One of them is going to be u budget and then we're going to talk about the CDS FAPE. We're taking on the four-year-olds with IEPs next year. I'm sure John will jump in and and talk with you about the uh ESS fuel tank replacement memo that I sent to you via email, but I also wanted to place on the agenda just to make sure we had that conversation out in the open and then an update on the carbon dioxide response to date. So, first up, I'll pop into budget. You
037do have a paper that was at your your your spot. And again, having the piece of paper that does say uh it has the the usual little uh piraphph on there. If you've been around for a while at any budget meetings, you've seen the piraphph. This will be year three with the piraphph. Uh this will be one of those things that I'll say to the budget committee. I know Lisa will be sitting over there of like throw it in your purse and if you want to bring it out and and talk to stakeholders, uh you have some documents to start talking to people about. So first of all, our FY27 budget. I will be bringing forward at the March meeting the superintendent's recommendation for the FY27 budget. But when we're looking at that, we do
038have uh five bullets there that are plans for the preK classroom space and staff as we welcome three-year-olds in fiscal year 28 with IEPs, but we do uh welcome foury olds with IEPs uh next year into our schools. Uh and you might be saying, well, aren't four-year-olds here? They they already are. They're in a part of our prek. Um but we're also thinking about just uh there's going to be an increase in numbers. Every school district we will be part of cohort three that have taken on this new law. Uh early adopters have found that their numbers have jumped way up. Uh and previously child development services or CDS uh used to service students with IEPs and now it'll become the district's responsibility. Uh cost will be covered for staffing mostly. um getting some new
039information from the state about how much they will be able to cover in cost uh as they start looking at just how costly this is across the state. Uh so uh our our CDS vape team is working diligently on the new guidance that is coming out to ensure we are able to respond to the students at four year four years old with IEPs. Uh also um wanting to uh be just giving you a heads up talking to the operations committee about the need for space because right now we'll be looking at our inclusive prek uh and students with uh high significant disabilities, those four-year-olds becoming part of PCS community because that is where our functional life skills autism program currently is for uh K through six. And so it makes sense to have them be
040part of that school. Uh however, we'll need to start looking at space. So we did do some walkthroughs. Uh we'll share with the ops committee. Uh our we did get one quote for a modular and that modular is a two classroom modular. And that's not necessarily where the three and four year olds would go. Um it would be some shifts of possibly moving uh other other classrooms out there. Um but it would be off of the first grade wing. So, when you uh if you know PCS, it's kind of down where Amy Eastman's room is and Amy Orlando's room or if you are familiar with PCS when you drive in for the drive line, being able to put a two room modular there that has a price tag of $275,000. And then there's the installation
041charges. So, John and I will walk the ops committee through that because if we are going to add that into the budget, I need to know that sooner than later. Uh so that can be reflected in our budget if we're going to just pay out the whole thing or if we are going to um cost that out. Uh our budget also retains our current staff. Uh we've had cuts 18 positions over the last two years between teachers and edte. Uh this this current budget has no cuts to it. It retains our current staff to maintain our stability, our class sizes, and our supports for our students. Uh it does invest in training tools, staffing and space for students with disabilities. As you know, as we have students that come in, it is our our by
042law and it's our job to educate free and appropriately all of our students. Sometimes that does mean out of district placements. You know, the high cost of those can be upwards of $90,000 a student plus transportation as well as students that need one-on-one and other types of supports that move in. So our budget does reflect the needs of our students currently right now as well as planning for the future. Our budget does also continue on with our math program and uh planning for literacy instruction pilot year one at K through six. Uh there is no increase to the literacy instruction. We were able to make that cost neutral which means Jill was able to look at her budget lines and um remove some things in order to bring in the literacy pilot. So no cost
043to the district there. And then also looking at how do we balance our academic programs, enrichment, athletics with staffing, space and funding realities. Uh so really looking at keeping what we have and making sure that we can pay for it is the key there. Uh as you start thinking about uh like the full budget picture, you know that the the funding formula is super complicated. I did send out a video. the finance committee is going to watch that for homework and talk about it on the 23rd. So, if you want to hop on and and uh or hop over to that and and talk with us, that'd be great. But the first part is always that kind of like famous pigraph. And this famous pigraph is the one from fiscal year 26. It does not
044represent fiscal year 27 coming up. It's the 26 one. And that seems to be sort of the rally cry around the budget to understand the different parts. So the first one is that pink color of the pie chart which is most of it and that contains our state subsidy and the required local and RSU6 has no control over this. It's set by the state and our 279s. Uh so and the the way that the state does that is it takes the town's valuation per main revenue service and and then multiplies it by the mill rate. And so you can see Mechanic Falls valuation as a town is $267 million times the mill rate of 5.645 then gives you the required local. That's the the amount that Mechanic Falls must raise to get our state funding
045formula which we'll get to in a moment. Minus valuation is $336 million times the miller rate is 1.8 8 million or 1.9 for required local and Poland's valuation and remember this is a three-year average. It's not just uh the la the most current year it has a three-year average is 1.2 billion times the miller rate and you can see Poland's required local is 6.8 million. Again, RSU16 has no control over this. its main revenue valuation times the miller rate set by the state of Maine and that's how they use their funding formula for the required local. So if you add up all of those required locals that's about uh $10.2 million. So our towns must raise $10.2 million to raise the state subsidy of to get the state subsidy of 13.5 million. Joe, >> is
046that an all or nothing prospect? Amy, >> no. You could you could say no thank you to parts, but it is a dollar for-dollar match. So if we said no thank you, then we would lose that amount in subsidy. So if we said, hey, no, we don't want to have we don't want to pay $500,000 of required local, then we would lose $500,000 in state subsidy. >> Uh, as you might be hearing too, the state funds 55%, the governor talked about that in her speech. uh that that's the first time that that's happened even though that's been law and that has been true that has been funded 55% and if you look at our uh state subsidy uh the state actually funds 56.8 56.9% of uh RSU6. So that's that pink part. It's what we'll
047get from the state and what our towns must raise and that covers most of our budget. And then you've got the green that we'll talk about. The green is also an important part for you to start thinking about because that is our additional local or the cost sharing formula as you remember. Um, so that cost sharing formula applies to 5.7 million. So that's that green section up there is $5.7 million. I think there's always confusion that the cost sharing formula applies to the pink section. It does not. The state tells us about what we have to raise locally. Uh so just reminder that the cost sharing team did meet we did have a referendum question to change the cost sharing formula. So using FY26 this current year's numbers um that additional local if you think
048about that uh in FY27 if we use this year's total budget amount of that 5.7 million uh we're changing that cost sharing formula to 85% valuation 15% enrollment and so you can see what percentage Poland mechanic balls and minet will be responsible for and If we think about the change in that cost sharing formula, Poland's share will decrease by $50,000. Mechanic Falls would increase by 35,000 and Minets would increase by 16,000 when you when you run that those numbers through of 85% valuation, 15% enrollment. Again, I don't have F FY27 numbers because we're still in the budget building phase, but I do think that's an important part for you as you're talking to stakeholders or they're here tonight to think about there has been that shift in the cost sharing formula to really look at
049uh evaluation enrollment. And just also a reminder that it's phase one of two phases. In fiscal year 28, it'll be 80% valuation, 20% enrollment. So, we are in that phase one. So that is budget. Uh I kind of gave you a brief example in there too about uh talking to the ops committee about the needs uh in order to be able to service our three and four year olds with IEPs. Uh looking at the modular at PCS. And then uh that brings us to fuel tank. John, did you want me to start that one off or did you want to All right, I'm on a roll. Uh in your packet is the memo that I did send to you. So, um, the existing 15gallon day tank at Elm Street School, uh, is an interior holding
050tank that receives fuel pump from an underground exterior storage tank. Uh, the day tank feeds the building's two boilers directly. When fuel levels drop, a pump activates to replenish the tank. Because the exterior tank is below grade, a gravity feed system is not possible. The day tank is the only viable method for fuel delivery in this building. Um, and the pump is controlled by a float system similar to a sump pump. Under normal winter operating conditions, the two boilers consume approximately four to six gallons of fuel per per hour. Uh, within the past year, the pump has failed twice. In both instances, it has become stuck in the on position, causing the day tank to overflow, resulting in oil and fuel spills. The most recent incident occurred on January 9th, 2026 at the end of
051the school day. Staff detected the odor, reported it, and which left us with li like limited impact as compared to the one earlier in the year. Uh during the inspection, it was determined that the existing day tank system is not code compliant, is not legal to continue using. So we needed to be able to fix that. And so, um, that system remains the only functional fuel delivery method for the building. As a temporary measure, staff were manually filling the tank by turning the pump on, monitoring the fill, and shutting it off with a fuel consumption rate of approximately four to six gallons per hour. This process required continuous monitoring to maintain the heat and prevent the pump from going dry. So that means we had staff going over there filling the pump hand with the
052four to six gallons every hour to ensure that that maintained on. So we had a fuel tank specialist. I did send you the quotes from precision tank come and take a look at how do we fix that and provide two options. A fuel replacement option at $54,000 and an alternative option at $23,500. As you know with your bidding policy, anything that is over $10,000 must be put out to bid. However, in policy DJ, there is uh a clause that does say the superintendent may forego the competitive bid process or RFP for purchases only when it's determined that the quality, expertise, time factors, or other important considerations outweigh the possible benefits of bidding. And so, uh, working with John as well as alerting Patrick and Jess, your chair and board chair, time safety considerations and operational
053risks outweighed the bidding policy. So, um, John and I looked at the two quotes and decided that the alternate option of 23,500 would be the best option for us. And we have moved forward without um that bid process. And part of that is notifying the the school board of my decision to be able to do that. John, did I miss anything with the ins and outs of the fuel tank? >> Who got the best? >> Precision precision tanks. >> I can't see that. >> Okay. So, precision precision precision tanks. Uh, and they are replacing the 15gallon day tank in the boiler room with a four uh inch diameter stand pipe oil reservoir. This will include a duplex pump set to supply the oil to the reservoir. It'll be wired to run when the boilers call
054for heat and only run when the boilers run. And that is a cost of $23,425. >> How long? >> Are you taking public? >> It's like everything else. You don't discover things until you go to replace something and then technicians come in and they tell you in such such >> they're not reviewed every year. like my has to get looked at every year when the guy comes in and says yada yada yada >> and if your if your whatever it is you're using is out of code as long as you're not making changes to it you can continue to use that system until such time that you make substantial changes and in this case because it was determined that it was >> so not presented before hey look it's out of code. We're not making
055changes to it, so we're good. But we are going to have to update it five years from now. Why was that not when it opened that? >> Okay, thank you. Um, let's Does anyone have questions about the not bidding? This doesn't happen very often. Steve, >> when they said uh resigned, they getting done immediately or they finish out yet? >> Uh Jackie Harmon kindergarten will finish out the year. Tony Bennett did retire getting done. >> Yeah. Yep. >> Christina, >> I have a different question back here on this one. >> The budget? >> Yeah. On the budget, um for the mill rate for Poland, is the mill is this is this the new mill rate because they took an increase? Uh that is to um what how the the school funding works is they look
056at how much it costs to fund the entire state of Maine and then they set the mill rate for education based upon >> Oh they they do. So >> that doesn't matter that Poland's taken that doesn't affect that. >> Correct. >> Okay. Yeah. Thanks. >> Can I just say clar clarification on that too? So the mill rate everybody talks about which I was set by the town except when we're dealing with school funding and then the state decides what our mill rate is for that specific. Okay. Want to make sure I understood that. That's a great question. >> Y'll come up in the community. >> Y >> I'm sorry. I had one more question. This is probably for Don. Could you describe to me exactly like So, there's no longer a 15 gallon tank there
057and they're using a a pipe to >> So, there is the day tank still existed. Okay. We just can't use the mechanical system to fill it. It has to be manual manual. >> Sure. >> And the that whole system will be coming out and the new system will come in and provide the new automation with There's also the safety enhancements that in the event that it overflows any overflow now reverts back to the primary fuel. >> Was that the part that was out of code like >> a switch system in the tank itself? >> Oh, okay. Cool. Thank you. >> CO2. >> Thank you. So, moving on to CO2 and this is an update on what we haven't had a board meeting in a little while. So, we just wanted to make sure we talked
058about this because it's important. So, what school? >> Sure. Uh, so a lot has happened since the um forum in January and as well as the board meeting in January. Uh John and I as well as building principles have obviously there's been increased attention and concern regarding carbon dioxide. And one of the key parts too is when we're having conversations, and you might find this too with stakeholders, is to make sure we're talking about carbon dioxide and not carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide is the the natural gas that occurs when people are breathing out versus the uh carbon monoxide is the poisonous gas from byproducts of, you know, your car running. And Yes. Yep. And so, as you know, part of the SRF application process is one of the missing components was we didn't have enough
059data to really put ours to the top of the uh list uh in 2024. And so, it was suggested that we test CO2 levels. And so, random data loggers were placed in rooms across our our district uh for a 3-week period. Each one of those data loggers logged three 3,330 3,300 data points which uh we are working with mechanical services to get those. We did ask them to disregard or look at not having the ones when kids weren't in there because those just showed good levels, right? Because there's no one in there breathing out. So really looking at can we have the data for when students are in there in those rooms. Um at that time the results uh were described to you as a board from BIMS as concerning but not dangerous. And then
060once the we talked about those at the forum those uh understandably raised questions about what those numbers meant for staff and students. Uh from there uh we John and I have had lots of conversations with family members uh as well as um uh different agencies. So we have talked to the department of health and human services. We have talked to the department of education. We have talked to the div department of environmental protection uh the department of labor uh main indoor air quality and you have also seen that I've written to members members of the legislature to really think about how do we fund uh ventilation projects in our schools and because situations like ours testing the CO2 doesn't happen very often. That's uncommon. Uh when John and I asked for uh guidance on, okay,
061so we're going to buy these CO2 monitors, which you can kind of see up here on the screen, it's plugged in. You can see some numbers. Um if we're going to put those in each one of our classrooms and spaces that are occupied where people are breathing out, what is the number? And at first, uh it was 5,000 parts per million. And I said, uh no, that's that's not going to work for us. That's OSHA. That's for employees. That's adults. uh you need to get some better information. We've got uh we've got four year olds through 22 year old students in our classrooms. And so Department of Labor did call back and said that uh the guidance that they are recommended, of course, uh any main state agency is not going to tell us what
062to do, but they are going to recommend was that the alarms go off at 2,000 parts per million. And so we have purchased the alarm uh the monitors and have set them at 1999 which I always say was a great year. Um and so they will go off at 1999 parts per million and that is an idea that we need to increase the amount of fresh air in the room uh because you have people breathing out in there and it's an indication of that it's low on the fresh air. It was super interesting when I talked to main indoor air quality. Uh they talked about uh the woman that I talked to in charge there. She's like, "Yeah, I got a CO2 dete detector in my um my my dining room and when my kids
063are over with their friends or significant others, the dogs running around, the alarm goes off, but it's not it's not an emergency. It's just an indication that you need more fresh air in there." So, uh she also suggested that we purchase extra CO2 detectors so we can loan those out to family members. So family members could take those home and actually test the CO2 levels to see how the fresh air is and ventilation is in homes and possibly partner with libraries and the town offices to have those available to check out uh as we look at that is the need for ventilation. So, we have asked our staff to really thinking about uh opening the window. Even just a few inches helps. And then if there's the wall units, uh we know we've talked about
064those. Those are not great. They're not big enough. But even talking with main indoor air quality, like even something that is like half working or or just okay is better than nothing. So, turning those on, making sure the vents aren't blocked, open the classroom doors when feasible, and reducing those high movement activities. We know we've got movement breaks in classroom where kids are running around and jumping around and doing exercises. So what we have done so far is uh John has inventoried all of our instructional places. We have orders out uh have not come in yet. We actually I will report that today was day one at Minet Consolidated School with all of the uh monitors in classrooms. And what we are doing that we'll end up doing at all of our schools is having
065a dashboard. So I'll show you the dashboard and we'll publish that on our website uh every Friday so families can be able to see what the um what the room's CO2 level was at the time checked. So we're going to do random checks throughout the day. Uh it's partial uh it's a assigned staff employee who just goes in checks the uh um the monitor and records the time uh that they were through through there. So today uh was our first day and uh actually the principal and dean of students Kayla and Caitlyn did the recording and they did it from noon time to 12:24 because if you remember on those graphs uh some of our highest peak readings were during those times. So we wanted to start there. If you'll remember, our our CO2 detectors
066are set to go off at 1999. And uh Caitlyn reported at the end of the day today that she had no detectors going off because windows cracked, doors are open, fresh air is getting in. And that was throughout the whole day when they were checked from 12 to 12:24. You can see the highest reading was 1499 in room 206. Uh and you can see all of the ensuing numbers from there. Uh so our next step is uh principles have their detectors because part of that is uh uh getting rolling those out with their staff. So being able to have staff set them off and you can set off your your CO2 detector just by giving it some good breaths right next to it like so there is that don't tell the kids that Gabby and
067Max because we are trying to like have make sure that the they're not uh intentionally being set off by uh students. So we'll have those in our all of our spaces and then we'll have that uh those numbers uh including adult education. We'll have those numbers at least uh five days a week for the first couple of weeks so we can start to get a sense of where we are because the ventilation strategy of just cracking the window does work. Getting the fresh air in. >> Amy, I turned around to see if Don King was here because I wanted to make a joke at his expense, but he's not. >> Oh, I could pass it along to him or we can connect. >> Curious what a monitor in his office would look like. >> Yeah,
068this is what the windows open. cracked. Yeah. >> Just do you want me >> just I know we have a public participation meeting. I know that this there's questions, but I also know that you have your meeting to get through. So, I'm not sure how to respond or not respond. >> We can't take public comment during the regular part of the meeting. I thank you for coming and please stay after the agenda the way that it presented. >> All right. So, this is the dashboard. Sorry. Are you done with your I do have a question about this when you're done? >> Yeah, I I'm No, I I can I can be done. Um we do also have like so our spreadsheet will be posted on our websites on Friday. Uh we did talk with Seammens
069who has going to come through and uh look at uh our re uh well actually mechanical services will bring their data loggers back to the high school. As you remember there was the baffles were closed. We open them immediately. So we'll look to see if we can get some new data points for the high school middle school. Um, and then also too, um, John, we're going to have just seams make sure that everything is is working correctly and properly. It's a a recommission of things just to make sure things are on track where they should be. And again, if the alarm does go off, then the guidance is is to to crack that window a little bit larger. We we know it's it's winter time. We know that it is cold temperatures but you know
070we we have gone through this before during the co years where there was that again that highlight of having that fresh air in the room the ventilation coming through those. So um uh yeah I understand that there's the heat loss and all those but when you're looking at making sure that we don't have any symptoms or this plays out with kids uh having discomfort with some cold um coldness. I haven't had any complaints about the actual temperature of classrooms. Um, some most families some families have been alerted to say, "Hey, bring an extra sweatshirt into class." I visited a lot of classrooms and that they're still um they're still comfortable. Um, so I'm just curious in a course that has no windows and we're not really allowed to open the fire door. How would we
071I'm pretty sure the CO2 levels are kind of higher than the rest of the rooms. Like if we can't really get fresh air to there, how would we resolve it? >> Yeah, that's a great question. I'll be interested to see what the actual levels are in there because, you know, just having the the CO2 detector in my own office or sitting on a Zoom, you know, in John's office, it's it's gets up to 1999, right? Uh John just says I have a lot of hot air and to stop talking but it's that's all good. Uh but yeah, the course is one of our highly anticipated like lots of people are in there. So there has to be that question is what else what other strategies can we put opening the door? Probably not. Or that's
072going to have to be the the strategy that we do use using some of those fans or also um seeing if the ventilation system that is in there is actually working to me would be the next biggest piece because if it wasn't working because those baffles were closed and now they're open and I wonder if that is enough fresh air circulating in. So I'll be actually maybe I'll tell Mr. Anderson to plunk that in there this week just to see. Yeah, because it's been interesting too like you know Mr. Vincent's put his in various classrooms just to see what this the levels are because again staff are having things cracked just even having things cracked a little bit helps um get the fresh air in. >> Um okay so when the readings were taken by
073BIMS were the wall-mounted units running? >> Probably not. I can't answer that. I I we don't have a checklist, you know. I I don't know if they were. Some were, some weren't. Even when we even when we gave this guidance and we went around to classroom, some of them were unplugged and not being used, and we're like, you got to plug those back in and let's change the change out whatever why the the light is red. >> Okay. A lot of things were being said when all of this started coming out, and I thought that I had heard at one point that they were told to turn those off during those readings, and so I'm just curious if they're all turned back on now. I I mean without even opening a window, what are the
074readings going to I mean >> we'll see. >> Yeah. I I just think that it's very important that people understand that there are there is ventilation in there that was probably not being used when those original readings were taken. >> And I I just do not think anybody knows that. >> Right. Because we were trying to Right. We were trying to sell our case for why we needed $6 million. >> Yes. >> Or Yeah. >> Yes. I misinformationity tests that were conducted in the district over the last several years. And remember going back three, four years ago, we were testing at school and when that air quality testing was being done, yes, everything was closed. The building became airtight because they didn't want to introduce any of the outside contaminants into the building while being
075tested. While the air quality testing was being building back last January. Everything was running just like it normally would. We didn't shut anything down. We didn't close anything up. We did discover and know that the ventilation system had been close up here. Um the exterior baffles were closed to prevent fol. But yes, we did not intentionally close the building up um to get those readings. In fact, if we had the readings that we got would have been 100% higher than Do you know if those >> units are running in the classrooms gen like generally >> so it depended it was teacher preference. Some of them didn't want to hear the noise so they unplugged them. Um some of them didn't just weren't using them. Um some of them yes they had faults. Some of the
076sensors were not working and um a lot of them had gone down just not weren't being used. have a clarifying question. So these levels they should not be concerning necessarily because you guys are taking the actions to resolve it. So there shouldn't be a cause for concern and we should be able to just go on about our lives as normal, right? Yeah, I think that's a definitely a way to look at look at it is CO2 levels are naturally occurring when you're breathing out and when you're in a smaller space and you are breathing out and it doesn't have that replacement of the fresh air. It is a signal that hey, you know, crack the windows if you're in your car, uh, or in a, you know, a tight space, even in your room if
077you're, you know, having friends over or whatever. Just be mindful of like the CO2 levels are are increasing because you have people breathing out. And then also too, there are symptoms that can happen once you get to that the higher levels and it it impacts different people at different levels. uh 5,000 is sort of that level for adults uh for eight continuous hours where you might see some some discomfort such as headaches. Uh and that can impact uh you know people 2,000 right now is what we're aiming for to keep the comfort which reduce headaches and fatigue and and um sleepiness are some of the most common symptoms and those should resolve once you get the fresh air in is is what what the the information shows. So, crack those windows. >> And I just
078I just want to add that all of this discussion here is great, but this is all meant as an interim measure because we have big projects that we're going to be discussing and budgeting for that will replace the parts and pieces of the system so that this will be correct and that this will not be necessary. whether we continue collecting data. It would be great to just kind of see how the systems are working, but our plan is to do the proper engineering controls to to update the different sections of building. So, Randy >> had a question. Max actually brings up a good point. What other class what other spaces are students using that don't have windows? And is there um is are they just not have an outside wall? Like, does a course have
079one of these ventilation? You know what they're talking about? Like every classroom has these white rectangle things on the wall. Does a course room have one of them? >> Um, >> maybe not. >> We have like shelves around our walls that help the sound. >> Sure. >> Probably not. Right. >> So, I'm curious what other spaces students are in that, you know, cracking a window is seems effective as long as you talked about that because I mean, as you know, we've turned different spots into, you know, intervention rooms. So that's why there there is that importance of having the CO2 detectors in there and making those backup plans, those plan B of is if we can't bring that down such as opening the the door or if there is no wall mounted then then where
080do we put that staff and students in order to not be above that 2,000 uh parts per million. >> Would even have like a fan directed to the hallway like is it is >> talk about it being both ways of being able to draw in. So there's that part of we do have leftover some fans from our co days which we some classrooms just naturally kept on to them but also if we need to order more then we're willing to do that. So we have both that draw it in and push it out. So those will be those will be the the science experiments that we'll be conducting. >> Thank you. >> Yeah you're welcome. >> Okay. Anything else about CO2 because we're going to kind of talk about it again when we get to
081the SRF. I think it's really great you're doing tables and keeping track because that means every community member if they look on the website. >> Yes. Y >> and staff have been trained on the procedure. >> Yeah. Yep. Um >> and you have that up there before what to do based on the levels. >> Yep. Y >> that seems nice and clear. >> Yeah. Y and again our principles are instrumental with that. We you know with our delay of the CO2 monitors with the snowstorm and then there's just something with shipping too. Uh we did we wanted to send them out all at one time and then I was just like nope we're just gonna get go over to Minet. Minet is a smaller school uh which was actually really great to be able to
082go through the protocol and procedure with Caitlyn and Kayla make some small tweaks so we can have a better roll out when we go to Whittier next and then uh PCS and the high school and Elm Street. >> Can you just remind me because I know we did the testing in January but we didn't get results back. Was it April? It was March 31st is when we had our results back. Yes. And we didn't get all of the results. We just got was it what was in that um presentation which again that presentation that sort of graph was the worst day. Uh again you know that probably is indicative of what most days were like but that was selected on purpose to show that worst day. And then also too like for the reason why
083John and I asked for the data points is is that floor map to mark it red was anything above a thousand. So, I wanted to be able to look at that and dive into that more because Department of Labor and even um the state seems like they're coming out with some indoor air quality um uh soon. I did talk with the commissioner of education which will lead into our school revolving innovation funds because I did uh when she called me she's like I I've received a lot of emails from you and I'm like yep yep she's like and a lot of other people have received a lot of emails and I'm like yep yep and she's like I just wanted to let you know that you know you you you're getting all $6 million in
084school revolving renovation funds. Maybe that'll let you sleep a little bit more at night. I said, "Yeah, but wait a minute. We're not the only school that uh has indoor air quality, and I'm I'm fighting for RSU16, but I'm also thinking about all of the other schools because I've had families say, "I'm going to do a superintendence agreement somewhere else, and I'm like, we'll have you ask them for their CO2 levels because they don't get checked." >> Start. >> Yeah. Yeah, we are the start of it. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so we have nothing for old Steve's watching the clock already. Um, we have nothing under old business. Moving on to new business. So, first up, we have consideration of a motion to approve the financials. Would anyone like to make that motion? >>
085Steve. >> Seconded by Andrea. Thank you. Discussion. Okay. Um, all in favor of approving the financials as presented? Opposed? extensions. Okay. Um All right. Consideration of a motion for the MCS project financing. >> Well, hold on. Let's let's hear from Amy a little bit. We'll have an overview first and then we'll get to the question. Oh, trying to make that big enough for people to be able to see. Okay. So, as part of our next steps now that you have approved the MCS project was for us to um submit uh uh bids for an RFP for bids for that project. And as you know, you have the minor mechanical ventilation at uh 2,440 uh $447,869. the minet building automation at 294,956 and districtwide energy projects at 76,942 for a total investment of uh $2,819,767. So
086part of the letter to proceed that I worked on with BIMS was for them to obtain um financing bids and um and then we were looking at banks to offer 15 to 20year pay period based upon what you had seen from their presentation uh in front of you at the last couple of board meetings and then being able to present those options to you. Um the biders uh returned their finance packages to me. At first they were going to be returned to BIMS and I I I didn't feel like that was the acceptable. I feel as though that they are in charge of the work and those should be returned to me as your superintendent to be able to ensure that all bids were returned and I did consult with Jess and Patrick and we
087did change that. So all financing bids were due to me on by February 6, so Friday by 5:00 pm. We also wanted to make sure to use utilize the banks that we typically do. So did work with BIMS to ensure that those RFPs were sent out to uh our banks that we use including Maine Bank uh Androskogan Bank and so you can see there on your on your paper that invitations were sent to multiple banks and three were received and considered and the three that were received and considered are in your your full packet. So you can see that Bank of America uh does have a interest rate of 4.263. 263 with the um repayment start date as 7127 which is what the board has talked about as that we would complete the work and
088then we would not start payment until fiscal year 28 which 7127 is day one of fiscal year 28 and with Bank of America the annual amount that we would owe is uh $265,41726 that is the lowest rate and does meet the board's uh the board's decision to start repayment after the completion of the work in fiscal year 28. Uh then you look at MLC um which MLC is was the next bid. They did have an interest rate of 4.43. Uh however, their repayment date started u March 6 uh 2027 which would be fiscal year 27. that was not part of the decision of the board. Uh we wanted the work completed before we paid on that. Uh so uh the annual amount for that would be 261,297 and that's because the the there's some earlier
089repayment there. uh having that extra payment in fiscal year 27. Um that does begin in advance of the completion of the work date because substantial completion of the project at mine. It would be done in the summer of 27 with completion of the work as in the RFP being done in the summer of 27 if there's any final pieces to be done. Um they did offer 18 and 20year leases. The uh amount for interest rate was higher on that. The substantial work is summer 26. >> Oh yes, sorry. Yeah, thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. Appreciate that. >> And then grant capital is the highest rate at 4.8, repayment date would be $7127 and the annual amount would be 288,26. So based upon uh looking at our conversations having the repayment date start in fiscal
090year 28 after the completion of substantial amounts of work uh and the completion of the project and uh and looking at rates then my recommendation is based upon bank of America that 4.263% and the annual amount would be $265,41726. question. >> Yeah. If you want to read the motion question >> right there. >> Okay. All right. >> I'm not going to repeat it. >> We will do discussion. I just want to get the motion first. >> Okay. So, the motion needs to say for proper legal reasons. I move that the resolution entitled resolution to authorize lease financing of a 2,819,767 energy conservation project RSU schools be approved in form presented to this meeting and that an attested copy of said resolution be included with the minutes of this meeting. >> So move that read >>
091and if you are looking for that that is in your packet to do what she just read. Okay, thank you. >> Second. Okay. Question >> just for the Bank of America. Um, did we get or can we get an actual annation schedule? >> It's in there. >> It's a 30-year. >> Nope. It's a It's a 15-year. There's There's the two payments. >> Um, no. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Multiple payments per year. Yeah, >> got it. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other discussion? We need a minute to breathe before we go. >> They have any problem with having the bids go through uh through you instead of them? They push back on that at all? >> Nope. They understood. I think um you know I feel Don has worked with the board understands uh you and
092me and how we function and how we want to make sure that there's transparency and opportunity for our our usual uh banks or vendors that we go through to have an opportunity to bid. So understood that and we worked together on that letter to proceed very quickly. >> We talked about this being like closer to 300,000 per year. Is this my now understanding that you know Bank of America that payment look more like 265 and a half per year? Correct. >> I have a question about numbers on here. So it says that um on the first page starts >> and then July next year. >> Yeah. And is that what's ting here that says substantial completion start? >> Yeah, it'll be next summer. >> I I don't have that answer right now. Yeah, I'd have
093to look at the scope of the work or understand what they were not able to get done in the summer. They are looking for most of the project to be completed this summer. >> Okay. But either way, until July. >> Yes. Yep. Fiscal year 21. Uh, sorry, fiscal year 28. >> Goodness. >> And I think it's on page fourish page completion date. Shift around a little bit. Okay. Any other clarification on this? Sorry. Um, all right. I'd like to go ahead and call this to a vote. All in favor of approving as motion to accept that passes. And then the next on the agenda is discussed. >> Well, do you want to lead the cheer or what? >> Sure. We won. So after many years of competing for money to fix our school buildings and
094submitting applications and gathering data and trying, we finally have been selected not only for one, but we were selected for all three of our projects that we applied for this year, which is unheard of. Um, and they were fully funded up to the maximum allowable amount. So this year back in October, we submitted projects with BIMS to fix the ventilation issues at Elm Street School, Poland Community School, and the high school Whittier complex here. So the this colored sheet is a fantastic representation of of it. So the maximum allowed per school is $2 million. So that was approved. Um part of that will be forgiven. So that is on the left. It's our free and reduced lunch rate, our 58%. Um, and then so for each school, 58% will be forgiven and 41% h or
09542, we'll say 42 has to be paid for locally. And that's the 0% interest that we talked about before. So on the left, that is the awards that we've won and we're very grateful. However, these projects cost at each school slightly more than the $2 million target per project. So, this is what we wanted to talk about tonight because we have the award money, the local responsibility, the 42% and then we have the project. I don't want to use the word overage, but that's what makes sense to me. Like when you talk about replacing the parts and pieces and the labor associated with it, the cost for each project is over the $2 million. So >> it's those things that were not covered by SRF because it had to be ventilation projects, advertising, insurance. >>
096So we do have so the colored sheet is the simplest like if you want to just speak to anybody in the community or people asking you about it, this is the best way to show what the cost is for each building. Um, and then the detail like the cut sheet with a little bit more detail. I feel like this is what we needed. Um, at the last meeting when we were talking about this, this is the what is included. Um, the parts and pieces and then insurance advertising for the bids and all that for each. So, there's one page for each project. And remember, this does not include the Minet project. That is separate. That's the one that we just voted on and talked about. Yeah. So, thanks Jess for that. And, you know, I
097think you covered it up well. The SRF ratings are in there. We were scored high on the list of of schools. That was exciting to have all of them um in there. Uh I did hear from Carrie Medics. If you look at who just was on the outside looking in, she just missed the SRF by.5. So, she did we did have a conversation when she called to congratulate uh RSU6 on our $6 million and then talk about her projects. So, it is a competitive piece. I mean, if you look at all of the schools that are after there, we know what that feels like to be below that that cut score. And so, for me, there's been that push back of like, why haven't you announced the $6 million yet? Because I really wanted you
098to understand that yes, it's 6 million, but really it's 9.1 when you look at the the SRF funding projects as well as the additional uh cost to be able to get those projects completed. So, it will be exciting to be able to say, "Hey, Elm Street, that does answer Amber's not sure if I'm just um question over there, too, of like what are we doing to fix this permanently?" And this will be um for the ventilation part, we will still need to consider the heating at Elm Street in Poland Community School in future years. But this is amazing. Um uh so Stacy is working on with the SRF to have the portion of the loan forgiven and portion repaid. she is on um a time stamp with the with the state. So, she's working through
099that part of that. And then finance committee, you we're going to have to have a conversation on February 23rd about that $3.1 million over here on the local side. So, I would suggest taking your papers here that have the appendix of the project budget and looking at that um column there, the local only because that is where uh those additional costs come um for each one of those projects. So, you'll need to the board will ultimately need to make a decision. Are you going to bond that or are you going to master lease that 3.1 million uh to ensure that the projects are fully completed? So that will be on the finance committee and then brought back in March for you to have discussion and potentially a motion >> quick question. >> I I am
100want to check my understanding. You have a line for contingency. Those are estimates that aren't necessarily fixed >> and required. I asked about that too. So as part of the SRRF, they want you to estimate that costs might fluctuate on parts and pieces and boilers and you know ventilators and stuff like that. So that's required. If we don't spend it, >> where does that money go? >> It just goes back to like the state maintains that like our ADA project that we had, school revolving innovation fund, we use the full amount. Yeah, we spent less than it is. So it just goes back into the school revolving innovation fund. at the state level. >> Okay. >> Obviously, we can't >> No, we can't reallocate it. >> But that is something to think about if we
101bond versus lease purchase because remember that the paying it back versus borrowing it all down at the beginning and the interest and all that. So, that's what we need to talk about after the committee meetings >> because there will be differences there in those options. >> These still have to go to a vote. Is that correct? Is that why? >> Yes, you are right. for some >> is not school revoling renovation fund u I had Stacy check with that in the bond bank is one all it'll be one $6 million question so it's not breaking it out per school it uh it is one which is I I think positive because we've talked about this is the start of really us fixing all of our buildings and this is a step in the direction that
102we are all one >> you say that's going to vote like a town vote election. >> Yep. So, at our district budget meeting, we'll piggyback piggyback that. So, we'll start with our in May, we'll start with um the the public hearing on the school revolving renovation fund. So, we'll present all of this and then it'll be on the ballot in June. >> Really? >> Yep. Yep. Um on the left hand side, the school revolving renovation side, the local side on the right side, depending upon what you do as a board, if you bond it, then yes, that would go to referendum. If you master lease it, it does not just like the minet project will not be on the ballot because you have decided that. >> Can I can I ask my question one more
103time? >> No. >> The logic of it is city. >> So in the column of local only is where we place the contingency funds which I get contingency if we have allocated those funds and we don't spend them because we raise them. We're not giving them to the state. >> Oh yeah. No, no, I thought you were talking left-handed side. No, rightanded side is ours. >> Yeah, there's nothing in the left hand side. >> I'm looking at the appendix. >> Oh, at the appendix. Yeah. >> Yeah. Can I just clarify that Joe for you? >> I think it's clear right now. >> Okay. Well, just for the SRF applications, we had to put contingency in there, >> right? >> I just wanted to make sure that he wasn't going any place. >> Yeah. The local
104side. Yes. Y >> this been designed already. Are they going to go through the whole process of design and take care of the problems? >> Those have already been taken care of as part of the application. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, the min project will be happening this summer. We've already moved forward in the process on that. So, this will have to be voted on and then if it does get approved, it'll be next summer. So, summer of 27 is when these projects will work. So the all the monitoring and the um measures to open the doors and open the windows that will be another school year before these change physical changes but all the equipment needs to be ordered like this is three more buildings worth of equipment. So it's good to have a
105little time on that. >> I need clarification. So this has to go to vote regardless of what the way we're going to fund it. My understanding was that if this got if we got this it had to go to a vote. Is that like a town like you know three towns >> the left hand side? Yes. School revolving renovation fund has to go to a vote. >> Okay. >> Yes. This left hand side, >> what you're saying is depending on how we decide to fund the local side, it may be a separate vote. Yeah. >> Or the board decides to go with >> master lease. Okay. >> Yeah. But we have to look at the interest and remember the bond bank with the timing and the interest like we need to look at all that
106again and make sure we're getting the best financial deal. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. Can you also just talk about because this is a lot of projects. It's a lot of extra money that we're going to have to pay to fix now really an incredible almost all of our schools but can you talk a little bit about what happens if this gets voted down in bond just so that people can hear it again. >> Yep. So um we've talked a lot about that too. Um, so because this was a competitive process, the school revolving renovation fund process, and we won and were funded, if we don't go forward with the project that's been approved, we are ineligible to apply again for five years. So, we will not get I hate to say free money
107because it's state tax money. Um, but we won't be eligible to get a 60% discount for five years. So that is >> so would it be safe to rephrase that as if this fails at the bond vote that the next or the polling vote that the next five years it's 100% out of pocket. Is that a fair way to say that? >> That Yeah. And we need to work on how to communicate this with everybody who isn't here tonight and and just make sure that the community is really educated on this because this is so exciting that we won. Um but we need to make sure that we follow it through or there's there's a big consequence um to to not because the work still needs to be done. >> Yeah. >> Anyone else have
108questions on this? You sure? >> Hey, >> you were smiling. I didn't know if that meant you had another one. Okay. So, more to be done at the subcommittees and expect that this will come back around on the agenda next month. We just wanted to kind of do a first look tonight and make sure everyone was on the same page, particularly with the local and how there's there's two different parts of the local that we need to um that we need to find. Okay, so moving on to the A team reports. Those were all provided. All the links were good this time. Um reports to the school board. First is enrollment and attendance status that was provided. I don't think we have any comments. It kind of es and flows. >> Yeah. And it actually
109wasn't updated for February, so I'll make sure to get that updated >> for next month. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Student representatives, we made it. Who would like to go first? >> I'll go first. So, as was mentioned before, the competition team got their states, which means we have a spot at the New England competition. Um, we'll have a team meeting about that to decide whether or not we'll be fundraising to go. So, that'll be a lot of fun to do. But it is an amazing opportunity and we for that. The girls ice hockey team has a playoff game this Wednesday. The girls basketball team has a playoff game this Friday at the Expo at 400 p.m. We will be cheering at that also. The boys basketball team has a pickup game next Monday at the
110expo. And the indoor track team did very well the last week at their meet. and juniors are starting to have conversations about classes we should start to take next year to prepare ourselves for after high school college trade schools and workers. >> Thank you, Max. >> Hey, so it's a big week this week. We're carnival. We're all excited for that. Um our theme is TV channels. So freshman are MTV. So today for our spirit week today our theme was up TV spiked my hair so it's a little bit puffy but I usually go back down tomorrow um is ESPN like sports the sophomores are doing ESPN juniors are doing Nickelodeon so Wednesday is Nickelodeon day and seniors are doing Disney so I'm excited for that. Um Gabby and I were talking at at the beginning
111of the meeting about how our classes are participating more which means that we can take um kind of a really big step back from planning and having all that pressure on us. So that's really cool that we can see that students are participating more and stepping up. Um the uh March 11th there's a big course concert that has elementary schools, middle school and high school. I think we're going to do it at the gym because it's so big. Um, and then after break, um, Olivia Snowman and I are going to Rhode Island to participate in the All Eastern Flyers, so I'm so excited for that. That's awesome. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> You guys have naked, >> right? They're going to Google it. >> Oh. Oh, boy. >> All right. Um, and then for the
112Whoa, I am really loud. Sorry, guys. Um, for the board for the board chair report, um, please sign the cards that are going around if you haven't yet. I have four thank you cards today um, from us and I'm just trying to keep the tradition up of thanking our staff members um, when we can. So, there's four this time. Um, we still need bus drivers and it looked like from John's report, we need van drivers in the future. Um, Elm Street School is seeking presenters for their career day, which is April 17th. So, I thought that was cool. Between the whole group of us, I feel like we all have some pretty interesting jobs. So, that's a good way to get into the school and volunteer. Um, I also wanted to mention all the high
113school teams that are going to the playoffs and states and beyond because I think this is so exciting as a parent and a community member also. Um, please attend your town council meetings if you can. Um, it's really important that we show our support to them as they show their support to us. Um, and then so we can all work together as we have these big topics in these big projects coming through. Um, they all have expertise in in these as well because they do road projects and building projects too, just like us. So, um, I went and looked it up. Um, Mechanic Falls, their next one is March 2nd at 6. Minet's next one is February 16th at 6:30. And Poland's next meeting is February 17th at 7. All different days, all different times,
114and none of these conflict with ours. So, please go if you can, if you've never been to one. It's fun and they're glad when we go. It is not like a hot seat situation. Um, and then just lastly, the subcommittees are going to meet on February 23rd. Um, and I wasn't sure if PR if you wanted to add a PR meeting. Um, because we haven't met. We do have another forum coming up. So, I thought that would be a good time to start. I don't know if you wanted I don't want to just put you on the spot, but I'd like to get that scheduled. Maybe we could email the the group. Um, and then I wasn't sure if we should adjust the meeting times for that Monday for the subcommittees because we kind of
115have heavy agendas because we just canceled because of the snow day and we have a lot going on right now. So, I didn't know if we wanted to tweak the the schedule at all. So, I thought I would just throw that out there. Right now, they're all set at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, but I just thought we might need to >> check. She wanted to expand her. >> She does not. >> She already knows. >> I already know. She didn't ask because she didn't answer. >> I know. I already asked if we could reschedule because I feel bad when we cancel because there's so much that we need to just attend to and be responsible with. So, um >> all heavy or is it ops right now that's heavy? >> We haven't done the agendas yet.
116Ops is definitely heavy, but they're last. Um so, it's finance is going over what we were just touching on with the SRF. >> Ours was heavy for January, >> right? And now you're doubled. >> So, that's why I just I thought of that and I just wanted to bring it up with the group. Okay, >> I I recommend we go to 90 minutes, not because I want to spend more time >> all of us. >> Okay, >> we're right here. >> Oh, sorry. Did I say that? >> Can budget start earlier? Does that can people be here at 4:00 at Elm Street for the meeting? Finance >> 3:30? >> Yeah, if we're going 90. >> But is that feasible for people that are on that committee? because that's kind of work time for a lot
117of people. >> Who else is on it? >> Natalie, that'll be your first one. >> What time? 3:30. >> 3:30 on a Monday. >> Yep. >> Okay. Who else is on that one? Christina. >> Bring the baby, probably. >> That's good. He's always welcome. Even better. Cheryl, are >> you on that one? >> Yeah. Is that okay? 3:30. >> Okay. So 3:30 >> will be finance policy >> ed policy at 5 Joe. >> Is that okay? So just a little bit earlier for you guys. Great. >> Okay. And then ops will be the rest of the night. >> Yeah. >> We don't want to, but we probably will. So 6:30 for ops. still with us. >> I'm sorry. >> Is Elizabeth still with? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> How she's on that? I was just thinking
118about the second. >> Oh, do you want to just email? Okay, that'd be great. >> Thank you. Um, what town is this? >> Poland. Okay. Um, sorry, I I regret that I had something else to say. Um, nomination papers are available for Poland. So we are sharing that the board of select persons they have one position available budget committee they have two available um school committee they have two positions for three years and one for two years so there's quite a bit um so Randy and Joe are the three-year terms so you guys will need to get your papers and um >> Alicia your position so you're appointed so you'd have to get papers to um to be on again and it looks sorry I didn't read this before right now I'm trying to read
119this whole thing quickly. So um nomination papers are available beginning Monday March 2nd must be filed on or before Friday April 10th by 4 p.m. at the town office. So >> thank you. Sorry about that everyone. Okay. Um motion to adjourn. >> Steve, thank you. Where's Andrea? Andrea's leaving. Second from the back row. Okay. Don't leave though because we have executive session. >> Um, all in favor of adjourning. >> Thank you. I'll see you in the library.