001There we go. So, yes. >> Thank you. My mic. There we go. Wh my light. Did my Oh, it's on. Yep. I'm on. So, we were able again without um loss of any specific positions to people that are in in district now. But we did we were being attentive. Um so that's almost a total of a half a million dollars that we have cut from the budget. But it doesn't. I think that when you heard the amounts as far as valuations within your towns, that's the part that we cannot control. We can hear you when you say you need to cut the school budget. We think that we responded in kind, but we can't fix how the valuations impact either one of the towns whether they go up or down. >> I have a question
002that goes back to July. >> Sorry. Um >> yeah, thank you. Now it's off. Now it's on. >> It's on the edges. That's what they show us. >> Testing. Testing. >> Oh, okay. It's live feed. So, um I know at the July meeting there was a vote on the budget and it passed uh by the people that were in in the thing. That is correct. >> And that was the same budget that I I understand failed at the >> in August. Yes. So then when we got our property tax statements, >> at least the letter that came with it said that the school budget that was budgeted in the property tax was the one that passed in July, which had a 2.2% increase. So the question I have is if it passed in July but
003then failed at the ballot, it's still being used as if it passed. And I'm kind of wondering >> that is >> why have a why have a ballot? >> Thank you for that question. But that is by state statute because the school district needs something to go forward with. So they all the state statute requires us to go back to the last PA budget passed at the district meeting and the towns needed to get their tax bills out. So they used the number the best number they could. >> We're clearly showing that it's going to decrease even more. And if the town goes forward, since the towns have gone forward with those bills, your towns will have a surplus when it comes to the the school um budget line. >> Okay. Does that make sense
004how she what she's say sharing with you? >> It it it does. >> We have to have some kind of operating budget because people work throughout the year. So, it's always the last budget that was approved at a public vote. And even the budget meeting that takes place up at the high school when there's a vote and everybody vote, that's considered a public vote. It's not the big, it's not the big community vote, but it's for anybody that wants to attend that that meeting. >> Um, so that's whatever that has been approved, that's the last approved budget that we operate from. So when we meet again at the end of this month at the end of well the end of September when we come back for a public validation again vote um what if that
005whatever number is approved then that will be we will shift again and that will be our operating budget until it's voted on in November. So it keeps changing until we get a an affirmative vote from the whole public at the vote at the ballot. So the question I have is what hap I mean I'm going to I'm listening to listen very carefully all the budget but what happens if in September it doesn't get passed does it just keep at the 2.2% >> I'm going to let to D again >> if if we in September the district meeting up at the high school we cannot leave that meeting without a budget. So whatever budget is decided on at that meeting is the one that we go forward with and that's the one we go to referendum
006with in Octo in November. >> That answers the question. >> Any other questions, comments, wonders. We're so thankful that there's so many of you here and we really appreciate we've worked hard tried to get the message out that we do want to engage with you. We do want to be responsive to you. Um, and we're open to ideas and suggestions. I think that, you know, um, the board hearing and saying we want to get to zero. We want to get to zero. That there's no increase from the year before. That's that's where we're at right now. >> Yes. >> What income what impact does it have on the overall picture of the three positions that you didn't fill? >> Excuse me. Excuse me. if you could speak, anyone who wants to speak, if they could
007speak into the microphone because this is being um broadcast. >> You said that there were three positions that were not not filled. Were they new programs or what impact will that have on the overall school programs? >> Thank you for that question. Um we are have been monitoring enrollment districtwide in early July um and as we went through the month we were noticing numbers that tradition at the m at the elementary school we've had two of each grade level so two kindergarten teachers two first grade teachers um Mr. Wilcox and I have been watching numbers and by the end of July early August we were not noticing that we could do some shifting of students and so in kindergarten instead of having two kindergarten classrooms and two first grades so four altogether we went with
008three and we did a straight kindergarten a straight first and then a multi-age K1 um we did that again in third grade we looked at the numbers it was going to be create if we kept two teachers and we this open position. It hadn't been filled and we were struggling to find a qualified teacher to fill it. It would have made classroom sizes of nine or 10 and instead we opted to keep them together. So that's what we've been doing and then with additional support. So we're adding not adding positions but we have title one support that can be in classrooms to support core subjects like literacy and math. So the teacher won't be in a classroom with 20 students all by yourself. The teacher will have support at different times. So that's how we
009were trying to answer that question. any other wonders or worries or voices of support. >> And board members, if there's things that you want to ask the public, again, this is open form, so it's a really good time for dialogue. Um, so I guess a kind of open-ended question to the room. I know that you haven't we haven't had the the validation, the referendum on the zero increase budget, but sort of how does that sit with you? The idea that we directed the administration and that they were able to um get us to a point where we're not increasing our budget from last fiscal year. Um, I would be interested to try to get a sense from our communities. Sorry if I turn around then. I I can't be polite and be heard. Um, but
010I'd be interested in trying to get a a sense from our communities of of whether you feel that that is sufficient movement on the part of the board and the administration, whether it doesn't get as far as you were hoping for. I think we're trying to get a kind of a read from you. I may be way off base, but I'm wondering how much thought goes into starting here and working to the future. I I'm particularly interested in the special ed budget and what can we do in the lower grades to sort of mediate some of that way down in grade kindergarten so that when the children get older the gaps are closed and that's not always possible. I understand that. But I think, and maybe you're doing this, but I I'm a firm believer
011in the earlier we start, the better we end. >> We are as well. So, thank you for that question again. Um, we have one pre-K classroom. Mr. Wilcox has been monitoring this year. We had eight students on a waiting list in preK. Um, we partnered with Waldo Cap um for our pre-K programming. They have already uh petitioned the state to allow us to increase enrollment by and we have to go by square footage of the classroom. We were able to add at least one new pos one new enrollment to that. So we're working on that. The administrative team and the board a little bit but not quite all the way. We've we're throwing around some ideas. We agree that all the research absolutely supports the earlier interventions the better for all students. Right. So, we
012know that we would love to consider if you know room and space if we could get two pre-k classrooms and whether they become universal prek which means that the district has enough room to offer anybody that lives within our catchment areas to attend prek so that we don't have waiting lists. So, that would be because of square footage and because of the rules and the laws of early childhood, we can only have so many students. So, we would probably have to have another classroom again. that means increasing the budget by another um a number of positions because prek again there's so many teachers to so many students. We also are throwing around the idea of what it would look like to provide um district um preschool um some kind of daycare preschool because um what
013I've learned just being here in the last two months Stockton Springs and Searsport are really daycare deserts. We really do not offer daycare. There there aren't for lots of reasons, I'm sure. But what we're noticing is we have a lot of students that are going to other districts because of daycare. And then when they get there because of daycare, they're requesting that they're allowed to attend because if they've been there since they were a baby, moms and dads want to keep them there in kindergarten and first grade and second grade. And then what we're finding out from the state once they've developed these relationships in these new districts then the parents want to keep them there for sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade. So we have kiddos that belong to our district but through no
014fault of their own and our own we don't have the daycare. So, one of the brainstorming thoughts was, wouldn't it be interesting to have a daycare that we could open up for not just for people that work in this district, but just have a public daycare that kids could come in and get not only daycare, but start getting those early interventions. A long answer to your short question. >> And this is a far reach, >> but how possible would it be to offer some parenting classes? >> It is a far reach. We can't compel anybody, of course. It's a great idea. And so I think that you're probably aware if you if you know education, Title One, part of Title One is absolutely offering family engagement, family education. And it's really important. And we try
015and lots of subtle and not so subtle ways. We're invert and overt in the way that we invite moms and dads in. And we try to practice um Tenny Spiegel is our title one ESO coordinator for the district. and parents invited in and learn, you know, what are the best strategies and techniques for engaging in literacy kinds of activities at home? What are the best ways to engage in math that make it fun that we're not just practicing flashcards or things like that, but how can we make counting and number recognition and all those early skills fun at home? So, we try to do that, but again, we can offer and we can invite, but it doesn't always mean, and again, we're not again, no shame to any mom or dad. We know that moms
016and dads are working so hard and they're working all day and then kids come home and guess what? I have this feeling when I get home and I put on my comfy clothes. I don't really want to get up and then go to an event later on that evening. I So, we understand that. We understand that moms and dads are working really hard and it's not always easy to get up and be motivated to do those things. So, I think we have to be creative in what we can offer and how we can do that. And I I'm not there yet, but we're working on I think that you've got a large team that's saying this is important and we recognize that. >> Oh, I know you. Hi. Um I was really shocked to see
017how few students graduated from Searsport District High School last year. Um what how many students are in each school? >> So actually I have I have that data that I do an enrollment and again for the board every every time that we meet that keeps them caught up. So right now when we're looking at total enrollment for the district let's see if I can find the right page because it's all over the place. Um, sorry. It's 300. I think I have 398 is our total. That's where it is. 398 students. That's up from last year at the end of the year already. And I have it by grade level. And you're right, the cohorts are small. One of the things that we're working on, the board has made it very clear. And when I talk
018to you about um superintendent agreements and students that are going out into other districts, we have a number of of students. So again, um right now we have 28 students that are attending other districts that that live in Sears, uh Searsport and Stockton Springs. We have 16 though, so it's a wash, not quite a wash, but it's a there's a a 12 student. We have 16 that are coming in from other districts. So we have 16 in, but 28 out. So there's a 12 student difference right there. One of the challenges that we're learning as a superintendent, I can say I'm denying I your request to go to such and such a district. I'm saying no. We really want you to be in our district. You live here. Um we think that we can provide
019our job is to provide an adequate education and we think that we have the capacity to do that. the superintendent of the receiving can either follow my lead and say yes, I'm going to deny because superintendent Miller is denying or they can go say no, you're welcome because guess what? They're trying to get enrollment as well. Parents can then go to the commissioner of education and ask for an appeal one way or another. What I have found in my few two months here is that the commissioner their p perspective and it goes back to if you were K through five in another district and you've built relationships. They're now saying that's in the best interest of that student to stay. Even though I've done it because it's a daycare desert here and I know if
020I denied K5, guess what? they would appeal and the commissioner would say probably deny because they need to go to daycare. But now they've built six years of relationships and now they're denying when I'm saying come back in sixth grade. And then what I'm finding is again based on prior leadership here, anybody that had been approved prior and they've built relationships, they're they're they're overturning all my most of my denials. So far, I've had four overturned and I think there are many more out there that um they're appealing to the commissioner. So, I don't So, we're working. I think that this board says we want to keep our kids at home, but I think part of the answer first, we need to start with daycare. We need to figure out how to keep our littles
021here. And once our littles are here, then there won't be a need to build relationships any place else but here in our home district. So, that's one idea. Yes. just get a microphone from Ruth. Sorry. >> So, I just have a question looking at the student population. >> Mhm. >> So, right now in the fifth grade there's if I'm reading that right out of the >> So then, but in sixth grade there's like 33 and 35. Does that mean that there's going to be less sixth graders next year or that there's just um was I mean so did it looks like there's fewer people in the fifth grade that will become sixth graders than are there now? >> That's correct. So every year the cohorts are different sizes. We know that in any district. It's
022based on whatever the birth rate happens to be. And again it will go back to superintendent agreements and where people have gone. Again, we're trying to pull them back, but you're right. Our current fifth grade cohort is uh 26 students. Uh >> right. >> Yep. Fifth grade 27 students now and our current sixth grade cohort is 35. >> Right. So, it's good. So, it's you lose. >> So, there is a there is a difference, right? But then again, you look as we go through it will change every every cohort's a little bit different number. It's not the same, >> right? So, over let's say the last three or four years, how's the total? because right now it's 398 or >> 398 we think that over the last and again I'm sorry I don't have that
023data right in front of me it's gone down a bit but again compared to what it was even in June we we're bouncing back and I think that's the part that's our goal is okay there was this downward trend and now we're trying to bring it up and I think right now we're saying yeah I did a little bit of a happy dance today because I think it was 372 does that sound right in July and I think it's up to 398. So I feel like yep by doing some denials and things like that that it's >> turned. >> So I have one more question and it goes to the daycare. >> So is what the board proposing in the long run is public funded daycare for people that live in um Searsport. >> We
024haven't got that far at all. We're not even we haven't even talked about finance. What I'm s But it doesn't necessarily mean public funded. You can open and run a daycare, but you can still charge, >> okay, >> within a on a school campus. It doesn't mean I don't know if you've been watching the news, but I think is it Scow Heaggan? Yes. >> Just opened a huge complex, a huge complex. And they have birth to age four, five daycare. Now, that's open to the whole community. But they have built in their new building this amazing new complex. And they've built in daycarees right there. >> Yep. So, but it doesn't mean that they're not charging anybody that needs daycare. It doesn't mean that if you have, you know, a two-year-old and you'd like to
025enroll that we wouldn't charge you. I don't know exactly. Again, we haven't got that far. We're just talking about ideas. How can we yet support this need unless you'd like to open a daycare? >> I have. >> You might know a friend or two. Yes. Let's pass you a microphone. >> Give you this one. >> Raise my hand. I'm in a room for my teachers. >> Good job. >> You'll get a sticker later, >> right? >> Yes. >> I have one. >> I can find you. >> It's a Viking related one. >> I have Viking ones in my office. >> Okay. I was going to say I took it from her. >> Yeah. >> So, I just want to talk about early intervention for a second. Um, I have a kiddo. This one right here,
026as you can see, that's not running around the room like he just chugged a Red Bull. And the reason for that is early intervention. >> Um, he has been in special education programs since kindergarten. >> And they've been incredibly helpful to him. But special education is very expensive because it really is specialized care per child, per need, per kind of understanding of what their disability might be. I've also spent thousands of my own dollars on various therapies to get him where he needs to go to get him back into those regular rooms. But at the end of the day, there are lots of families that can't afford occupational therapy. >> There are lots of families that can't afford speech therapy. So those services that are coming out of this budget for those services might be
027the only way that that kid ever returns back into a regular room. Those are not cheap. Um I don't know if you opened a single bill in your home, lights, water, sewer, cable, whatever you might have. Um that stayed 0% increase from last year. I can't think of one. Um and if I do, I I will gladly get back to you, but I can't think of one I've paid recently that stayed at 0% and offered the same quality of service necessity to fill the goal. So when I think about things like special education and early intervention, they really do make a difference, >> but they are not cheap. I see teachers in this room right here that have been absolutely critical to my child's success and not leaving the school district. Now, some of those
028teachers have very advanced degrees, and it's really hard to pull that kind of talent for a teacher that's staying before school, after school, sending the emails, answering your really annoying IEP questions. I'm sorry. Um, but I appreciate them. Um, and I appreciate them because there are many school districts that are not offering that service to their child. Their teachers are coming in from X to X. they're attending the mandatory stuff. That's not my experience at all. It It hasn't been since kindergarten. Like, sure, you have some teachers that you really love and some that you're kind of impartial to, but every single one of them has gone to bat for my child in a way that absolutely makes me feel better about paying more money for that education. >> But we're not this year. So,
029I think the 0% increase makes me a little nervous because I feel like we're going to end up losing out on opportunities for those kiddos that are really, really important. And your special education kiddos are going to be the hardest ones to keep in the district. Special education services are so hard to come by. Parents will shop district to fulfill the learning needs of their child. So, when you're talking about kiddos leaving the district, is is that a contribution? Right? Are they looking for services that we can't offer because there's no budget for it? It's critical critical critical to like think about the services that are being rendered and the folks that are rendering those services cuz that is critical to the success of the school. And I don't know at 0% that you're going
030to have a school that folks want to stay at from kindergarten to 12th grade if the the services don't continue the way that they are. Thank you for that comment. I do want to share that again conversation with the board as well as administration was very clear that this these cuts we were trying not to impact students and we feel like this year we've been very strong about we're not taking away resources we're not taking away again people we have to be careful of we have to monitor all the time and you're you're not wrong it's a it's a fine balance always right um but this year we're we're feeling fairly confident more than fairly confident we're feeling confident that the choices that we're making as far as budget budgetary cuts um are not going
031to impact students directly this year. Next year, as we build the budget, it's going to be important for us again as a team. We have to be talking. We have to be looking and watching and deciding what might need to be put back in again. When you talked about um cohorts and numbers and things like that, if we get an enrollment of a kindergarten class size that is already up to 35, we know or first grade, we know we're going to need two teachers back and not just one. We know that we can't just be creative every year. It's going to be a little bit different based on numbers and we have to pay attention to that. But also similar to your home finances and what you do at home. There are sometimes that um
032decisions that we make that we really need this but this is something that we can wait on. Our administrative team are already looking at Deian and I have asked them to already look at the things that have been requested for this year and prioritize them into buckets. These are the mustd dos, the must needs we have to start have to start the school year. Those things have been ordered. These are the things that we will need next, but we can hold and wait. We don't need them right now, but there's a good chance we're going to need them. These are things that we might be able to wait another year. So, we're looking carefully at the budget, and as we build the budget, we'll do that same thing, but we have to pay attention because
033you do it all the time in your personal finances, right? there are things that are the wants and the things that are the needs and and the needs we know are based on the students that we're we're taking care of. So >> right behind you Deanna >> I just want to thank you for your thoughtful process and uh these are tough decisions. Um uh Dr. Just based on what you were saying about the desert of um daycare in the area, what's the status of the afterchool program? And I'm I know there was talk originally of cutting that and um I'm I don't know if >> there has there hasn't been any talk of cutting it except that our current the the current um person that was coordinating the afterchool program um was not a is
034not able to do it this year. But I think it's it's whether it's posted now or not. I don't know if it's posted, but it will be posted that we'll do that again. Okay. And we're already looking actually at if if there's the ability or the possibility to redesign what that after school program looks like again based on conversation. We've been I think lately has been a lot of enrichment. yes to enrichment, but there is there can there also be part of also adding um intervention as well, support for some of those kiddos that might not have that support to practice some of those skills. So, can we blend that in? I don't know. But that's conversation and the administrative team is working together on that. >> Thank you. >> Chris, did you want to
035add something to that? No, I was just going to say that she must have read the same newspaper article that I did and I was just as surprised to hear that about the afterchool program because there's been no discussion of discontinuing that at this board. >> Yeah, it's in the newspaper. >> Yeah. >> Was that the same Bangor Daily News that couldn't get the number of votes right? >> Was it that >> that one too? So in the newspaper you saw something that referred to RSU 20 as >> getting rid of the after school program it was >> and they said that we'd we didn't pass three budgets which wasn't accurate. So pretty much that entire article was inaccurate >> to be fair. I will own this not that part about the after school program,
036but somebody did call from um the paper and it was during a week that there were a lot of things going on and she was very insistent that she speak and Jessica was trying to take some information and um I didn't get back to her. So she printed >> made it up. >> Lesson learned on my part. She printed something that she thought was probably accurate, but she had no input from anyone in the district. And I did try to get back to her, but it was it was after the fact. It was too late. It was printed and it was probably not a fixable thing. And I suspect that they wouldn't retract it. So perhaps she'll call back as we move forward and I'll be able to give her some accurate information. >> Any
037other questions, comments? I'll just let you >> I always I always have lots of questions. That's my that's my nature. >> So, um so when I I went to school a long long time ago, right? Um and when I went to school, there was a big special needs program back in my god this is back in the 60s. totally you know but so the question I have is I understand the importance of it but how many of the students within this Searsport educational district are classified as special education versus nonspecial education because that that goes a long way to trying to determine teachers what you're offering and all that and so is it disproportionately is it normal is it I mean I don't I just would like to understand that >> I don't know I
038apologize but >> thank you I don't know exactly so I'm going to turn and look do >> say somewhere between depending on the cohort between 35 and 40% >> 40% that's a safe estimate >> districtwide um I will say that um the main state average has increased tremendously if you go on and look at the the data that I think that the average now is 25 plus percent >> statewide now um a lot. It used to be that it was if it got over 20. So, I can remember I've been around a long time, too. I can remember it was back in the 18% and we thought, "Wow, that's a lot." And it slowly crept up. And I would say um statewide I think it's it's so much higher than it used to be. Um
039but I think that um it is high here, but I also think that there are good reasons for it to be high. And I also think that we have talking to director Littlefield who is the director of special ed that we have um just as this um person shared earlier that we know that when we start to do interventions and preventions sooner rather than later that it's going to pull our numbers down. So again, I think that we're starting to make some shifts and some recognitions of what are the things that we can put in place earlier for all students, not just for, you know, somebody that we that we um think is identified. We want to put it in for all students so that we give everybody those opportunities to practice those skills that
040will support them. And it's a shift in as well classroom teachers just in in instructional practices for everybody so that we're really practicing those skills. We're really building on and again the focus I think in K12 especially literacy and math literacy and math. Literacy and math they're so important. Can you integrate science and social studies and health? You absolutely can. But we need to focus on those core subjects first and then we can get the content the learning about other things later. So the reason I asked is because if it's that high in this district that by mathematics and finances says that the budget would school budget would be higher in this district based on the fact that you're taking care of a higher percentage from a state idea of special needs students. I don't
041know. I mean >> I think that's accurate. And Diana, do you want to talk a little bit about the special ed um funding that we receive and how that plays out? >> Um are you referring to the idea grant? >> We receive around $180,000 a year um in idea grants, which is to help, >> it's not to supple, it's not to supplant, but it's to supplement our budget. and we are able to pay for um some support, some ed techs through that. We're able to hire um what we refer to as professional services, but OT, PT, um psych services, things that we aren't able to we we don't need a full-time person on staff to do with the cost that would be incurred for those kind of professional positions. We can we can bring in
042a contractor. And so the grants help us to do that. Other other than that, our our special ed budget does go up every year. This year, it's not up significantly, and we aren't able to it's it's in order to maintain the federal funds. We can't spend not budget, but we can't spend $1 less than we spent the year before in order to maintain the federal funds. That's a criteria. Not that we're shooting for that. There's we usually have no problem doing that because of increase in wage and benefits that come with the contracts, but that's just one of the hoops we have to jump through in order to get the federal funds. Anyone else? So, we'll be bringing this back on September. >> I believe that's the 24th. >> 24th back at the captorium. >>
043The board will vote tonight to to bring to move this budget forward, the new budget figure forward and then it will we'll once again have a district budget meeting where people can vote on each article >> and then we will have the budget validation referendum on November 4th. When will the budget be up on >> prior to the district budget meeting? >> So in again I think that you're aware but perhaps not. So our finance director Deanna is retiring in a couple weeks and in the midst of all of this we are transitioning to a new finance director. So, we have Deanna is work is already working closely with a new finance director. Um, but that's going to create a little bit of a bubble, but we're they're working really hard. They're communicating a lot.
044So, we're hoping that this will be mostly seamless, but we're working on that. But I but just to be aware that Deanna will be Yep. um sliding out and somebody else sliding in and we're just trying to make sure that we're doing keeping all the the balls in the air at the same time for you so that you know what's Yeah. What's what's going on? >> Any others? This is last chance and then we're going to move into the board meeting. But this is a chance again open dialogue with response from the board. I think you know as part of the board meeting it becomes just the board. There won't be any dialogue back and forth to the community. So we just want to make sure that you're aware that this is a time for
045to have dialogue and but once we start the other meeting it will be the board having their meeting and you're certainly all welcome to But we won't be a back and forth so much questions. >> All right. >> Close the Let's call the meeting to order at 6:42. >> Any adjustments to the agenda? >> Yes, there are. >> You've got this. >> I do. >> So, you say them. Um there'll be a 2A will be to accept the new budget amount of 12,47,192 and B will be a Walt do county tech center report. >> Is that it? The two >> that was under new business. Denise, I'm sorry. >> Um she gave it to me under adjustments to the agenda. >> Oh, okay. Actually, probably the committee report could have gone under the committee report.
046We'll make that 9A instead. >> What will be 9A? >> Waldo County Technical Center >> report. >> And shouldn't the budget vote come in under new business after the budget discussion? >> Um, >> because we've already Yep. Sorry. >> Y Sorry, Denise. I didn't get you set up very well on that. >> That's right. She gave me that. It >> is very last minute. Actually, it's probably will have to be C or A. >> I think you could make it B and just move the current B to become C. >> Okay, we'll do it that way. Sorry guys, that's the way I got it. 12 million47,192. Motion to accept the board meeting agenda as amended. >> So moved. >> Any discussion? All in favor? Celebrating excellence student and staff in the spotlight. There is none.
047>> There is none tonight, but we will start in September. Okay. >> So, we have shifted from recognitions, I think that you're all aware, um to celebrating excellence student and staff and the spotlight and principles will be bringing. So, um Josh and Bill and R.J. and David all work together and they've created a schedule. So, you'll have Yes. >> I know you don't have an official one, but I just want to thank the teachers for the open house because that was um it was very nice. Thank you for coming, too. But it was really nice and I saw some of you floating around. um the different schools and as always the staff and the teachers have gone over and above um and poured there. I don't know if any of you from the public had
048gone in to see any of the classrooms, but I pretty much want to live in the eighth grade home room and the library at the middle school and I don't want to leave the elementary school. So, um I'd encourage you to take a peek because they did seriously the hours that I've see are cars when I drive to and from work at all hours of the day and night. So, it was beautiful and I'm not anxious about kiddos going to the middle school and leaving the elementary school, but I know that they're going to be in a very safe place. Um, and it's just it was beautiful. >> I will do a followup with that, Ruth. I hit every um classroom in the elementary school. I ran down during the rainstorm and hit the middle
049school and the high school. Um, been a while since I've been to that south end, but I went down to I I acknowledged anybody. I I looked in every door that was open and thanked them and welcomed them back and um I was very pleased with the turno um turn out >> yes they turn out. Um the parking lot was packed. Um parents were in all the buildings and it was it was a great opening day and then we had our staff serving hot dogs and watermelon and ice cream and um it was good. It was the kids were so excited. It was It was a joy to see actually. I was very pleased. Thank you. >> It was very nice. Unfortunately, I never made it out of the high school because there was so
050much to see and do and talk about and I would just like to say the facilities are beautiful. They look fantastic. Um, and the classrooms that teachers have set up are wonderful. Um, I did want to ask Dr. Miller, one question about number four, celebrating excellence. Didn't we have some recognitions this morning? >> We did. It's in my superintendent. I can do it now if you'd like. >> Nope. I just wanted to make sure they weren't left out. Thank you. >> There was just a member from the public that couldn't see the meeting. I apologize. And there they didn't think it was working. >> Thank you for checking. Consideration of minutes for the board meeting of 8:195 to >> approve. Second. Any discussion? >> All in favor consent agenda. >> I need to abstain just
051for the record because I wasn't here. >> Okay. >> You didn't ask me that. So, I'm >> No, I'm sorry. I kind of thought you was going to vote. No action required on the consent agenda. Public participation. Is there any? I see none. Report from the administration. >> The superintendent. Wait, I'm typing. Wait. None. I'm doing two things at once. Um, I shared this with you digitally as well. Better late than never. I was a little bit behind on my superintendence report this week and I was typing it tonight at quarter 6 trying to get it done. So I've shared with you I gave you a hard copy you can pull up in front of you um updated enrollment. We are really excited. If you look at enrollment again early August um the elementary was
052at 151 students and we're up to 164. That's a net gain of 13 students just in the last couple weeks. If you look at what Josh and Bill have reported at the middle school level, we were at 109 and now we're at 220 121 students um and at the high school from 111 to 113. So you can see that we are building again our um enrollment. So we were at 371 in early August and we are now at 398. So we're pretty tickled about that. I shared with you also just by cohort the grade level so that you could see what they are total across the district. I added a section I told you that I would get back to you on superintendent agreements so that you had those numbers and I will continue to
053add those as we go through. I think that we could get a couple more changes but this is where we are right now. So again what I shared earlier today that we have 16 students coming into our district from other >> Put your mic up close. >> Thank you. >> Sorry I'm getting feedback. >> No no I appreciate that. Um, we have 16 students that are coming into our district from other districts um that have been approved and we have 28 students that have requested to go out of district. I want to share with you that at this time four of the 28 requests that I denied were overruled um by the commissioner. So that even though I denied, the commissioner said it's in their best interest and is allowed allowing their request to go
054to another district. We've had one request to attend another district that the commissioner actually supported and upheld with us. So that the commissioner denied their their request. And we've had one request that um a family from our district wanted to attend another district and their superintendent um did not support. So I did not support as well. So they're staying here with us. Um they did ask for commissioner to um review and it was denied. homeschooling students. We have right now um registered th um 30 students that are living in our catchment area that are being homeschooled. So, I wanted to share that data. I think those have been some questions. Sabrina, >> sorry, this is actually about the um the superintendent agreements. Sure. Not the homeschooling. Although, thank you for that information. So, I should
055probably know this, but just so that I'm super clear, if there's a superintendent agreement, then there is no like the family doesn't pay any tuition, right? It's an agreement that we're going to make this trade or not trade, but >> Yes. >> Is there also an option in Maine that a family could say, >> well, I really want them to go to this other place and choose to pay tuition to that school? >> Yes. Yes. >> And how would that just like >> So, the state of Maine has shifted. So it that that used to be the case that if as the home district I deny and somebody really wants them to go and the other district is open, the other district would say you're welcome here if you pay tuition. Um when I talked
056to the commissioner and I did I shared with Denise that I had a conversation through email with the commissioner and actually I spoke to her in person at a a workshop that I attended. Um while they understand they're shifting a little bit for a while there was a lot of shift in potential for school choice in the state of Maine it is I think we're coming out of that now and they're recognizing and I've I've tried to share our case that small districts are really struggling to maintain any kind of capacity when there's this push out of anybody that wants to go someplace else can go someplace else. I think that they're aware of that and there are a group of superintendents in the state of Maine that are working to change the law right
057now. So, it is in process. Whether it will get uh voted and approved by the legislature, I don't know, but there is um some some language that's being push moved around and they're trying to get that up again um as far as that goes. So, yes, can somebody accept that? And the other piece that the commissioner said, generally superintendents collaborate with each other. And for the most part, I can tell you all but one district. I am collaborating with superintendents. They're calling me, I'm calling them. We're emailing. We're talking about, you know, does this benefit the student? Does this benefit I think one of the big shifts that I'm trying to put out there for um families, >> moms and dads, it's their right and they should advocate for what's best for their child. They
058have one little child. My job as superintendent isn't to advocate for one child. My job is to advocate for the 400 kids that go to RSU20. And it feels heartless. And I think when I sit across the table for them, they look at me and I've been told, "You don't care about kids." And I do care about kids. But I also care about the other, and that's what I said, the other 400 that are here and want programming and want these wonderful things that can only happen with population with enrollment. And so I'm advocating for the district and their job is to advocate. And there's there's no hard feelings on my part. I understand why they're advocating, but I do understand that I I I'm pretty sure there's hard feelings on their part that they
059don't feel that what I'm doing is in the best interest of their student. And so it's it's tricky, but I think that we're trying to make that shift for the district. Um and I think that we're not the only district that's trying to do that. >> Oops. >> Sorry. Can I just um one other question about the numbers that you shared tonight. >> So four of the 28 that were on there. So there's four more that are going to be added to the 398 >> students that we've got >> as of four they're part of those those 28. They're part of those 28. >> So could there be another 24 that are in some process right now of appeal or >> there could be. What I'm trying to figure out is like what's the potential
060impact on >> So I think all of the ones that are in enrollment that Josh has at the high school and and um not so many at the elementary but middle school high school I think that they're enrolled because their parents have made sure that they're enrolled. I think that we could actually have some in limbo that might be denied if they're pursuing. Not all of them always pursue um a commissioner overrule an appeal. Not all of them do. So I think again um Chris might know actually because she's here and she did well you've been doing a lot of enrollment and tracking for me I think as far as that I mean are you aware of anybody that's kind of quasi >> right right because technically if they're going to appeal the commissioner they're
061they're kind of in limbo and I I get an email that says that it's being and I don't think I I think that the four that did appeal have gone through but I'll keep you in the loop if if I get any more. And my question is with the homeschoolers, of those 30 students, if they attend part-time for classes, would they be added to our enrollment because we would draw that >> and hopefully maybe that we're looking into that that maybe we can entice them to come at least half a day so that it >> um >> again I think that that's something that both principles are trying to again we're trying to get out there in the public and I again part of the shift that we're trying to build something that people are
062interested in. I think for homeschool kiddos often as a principal I remember especially at the elementary level moms and dads might not have an expertise in music or art or fizz and that's sometimes how it would start that they would come into the and just attend art class once a week or sometimes at a socialization believe it or not they wanted to come in for recess and lunch and things like that that they might not have experience with when they're home with just one or two other siblings. Um, so we do invite, we will invite, and I think that could be part of one of R.J.'s messages that there are wonderful things happening and and curriculum that's happening within our schools that we invite anybody to take advantage of, even if it's just one class.
063>> Thank you. >> Sure. So, uh, again, you're already aware of this that we had a board of directors and admin retreat and workshop and that was great and I, um, again think that there should be more of these. I think that communication, collaboration, and brainstorming I think is so impactful for all of us. Um, Tenny is here and she hosted an I Ready Math PD. Um, was that just last week? >> Because it seems like a month ago. And it was um multiddis. So, we had a number of districts that are using the I Ready math program that came in and did professional development. And so, that's for that's our K5 math program. And there's a lot of there's a lot of um flexibility in that program. There's a lot of things that teachers
064can use to collect data to do assessments and interventions. There's just and not just interventions on the low end. I mean all the way across the board. So we can look at kiddos that are here and what are some next steps that we can do here? What are some steps here? So there's a lot of capability here. So that was well attended and a full day. It was a long day. So we have had teachers in you know in our buildings and and doing things. We did new staff orientation last Thursday. We had I want to say a good dozen for sure, right? And then we had a couple that were here for part of the morning. And um again, our kitchen staff, our food service program has been amazing in all of these events
065that we've been having that have been providing lots of yummy food. When you when you when we're learning, when we're talking, when we're moving, it's nice to have um things in in our bellies as well. Um so there was um a lot of work. You can see the list that we did. Um we talked about um B Mr. Bradford was there with technology. We did talked about what professional development curriculum and assessment looks like. Um Josh and SRO uh Kobe Levit provided um Alice Pimemer um and that's our alert lockdown inform um counter and evacuate. That's our um active shooter training. And so they had a little bit of that training in the afternoon that I attended. Um it was a great day and it's a great way to build those those new relationships with
066our new staff. So that was lovely. And then the last two days we had all staff yesterday we had teachers in again as Ruth said um working in classrooms collaborating with each other building making all those little shiny little things happen in their classrooms and welcoming um families and students yes last night with a cookout. And then today we had all staff and it was a great morning um with everybody in the cafeteria again. We had a great breakfast put on by our our food service program. Um we did um some recognitions and I think that's what Chris Brager was talking about. So I did want to share that. Um we looked at la um recognized longevity. We have um let's see more than 17 staff members in this district that have more than 20
067years experience um in education. That's pretty amazing that you have that many people that are staying in a district and doing those things. Um, and then we did the staff awards. And I I think that you're aware that tradition here in this district is that it's voted on the spring before by staff members. So, these are staff members voting for their colleagues. We had um outstanding district employee was Vern Nickerson, who was our transportation coordinator. We had outstanding K5 classroom teacher Tabitha Eaton. She's third grade. We had outstanding K12 classroom teacher Anna Raman. And I'm not sure what Anna teaches. >> Seventh grade. >> Seventh. Thank you. And then we had the RS uh U2 um 20 service award to our principal Josh Toothaker. So that was very exciting. Yes. Um and then the rest
068of the morning this morning we really um again based on our administrative retreat we really focused on effective um parts of a lesson, what um good instruction looks like. Um we had a great morning of PD, a good almost two two and a half hours of PD with K12 staffing. So it was a great day. It was busy. It was active. It was um and I think feedback I think I I know I didn't go back to the the schools in the afternoon. I think the feedback was pretty good, but it was an engaging morning for people. So that's my report. >> I'd just like to say that Jessica did a great job inviting the businesses here last night. You had Down East auction. You had the museum here. You had the fire department people
069here and the YMTs or I'm not sure which department they was with. It was great. You had um the staff out front greeting the people, the ones that wasn't in a classroom. It was overall it was a a great atmosphere. So, she did a great job um inviting them and it was good to see for something new and they seem to like it. >> And I'm blown away. Mr. Cook's been here 41 years. Like, hello. That says something about our district, >> doesn't it? I That's exactly what I said. Yeah, it says something about it this way. >> All right, committee reports. >> Julie, so Dr. Miller and I attended the Waldo County Tech um monthly meeting last week. Um Jessica Wood was reelected as the board chair and you should be getting um an
070email this week from Waldo County inviting you to um attend a meeting and a dinner on Thursday, October 16th. Um, tours of the building will be offered and dinner will be served prior to the board meeting, but new language about the CTE programming, the standards and so forth needs to be added to the cooperative agreement. So, they need to have a joint Wallow County board meeting with all from all three districts and with a quorum for our from our district. Sorry, >> we need a quorum. So, at least three of you to attend. So, not only will board members be invited, but the high school um administrators, I think, are being invited. Um the director, Travis Wood, shared his goals for this year, and he's going to continue working on upgrading the building safety um
071and making the students and staff feel more inclusive and allow them to have more collaboration. He said that culverts um in the front of the building had been repaired. Infinite Campus uh data program is being rolled out for attendance and grades and posting assignments. Um he was very thankful to um to Bob and to Dr. Dave and RSU71 for their help. um they updated their emergency plan and it's been approved by um Waldo County Task Force and they had for their professional devel development um Brian Kaine come and talk with the staff about creating a more inclusive culture. Um Bonnie Kine is the director of student services. She gave us the enrollment numbers and one of the proposals that's being considered for next year is to change the electrical trade programming to an HVAC program.
072They also are going to update a survey that will be sent out to all high school students um sort of to see about their interest in a cosmetology program, an agriculture program and offering a CDL program and those results will be shared with the department of ed. And then um the IT director gave his report and um his big takeaway was that he's working on updating the Waldo County Tech website and he's hoping that it will be ready to go live at the end of October. So >> do they have numbers, Julie? The enrollment numbers. >> They do. It's on the back of your >> Y. Did you want me to tell what the number would? >> Y. >> Okay. So in auto collision, we don't have any morning students, but we have one in
073the afternoon. Carpentry, there's two in the morning, none in the afternoon. Culinary arts is 3:00 in the morning, one in the afternoon. Electrical trade, we have none. Small engines, which is only offered in the morning. There are none. Welding has two in the morning and none in the afternoon. The explore CTE, which is only offered in the afternoon, there are four. And Strive, which is offered in the afternoon, there are three. >> Julie, I'm I'm sorry to interrupt. Are those the numbers of students that are coming from RSU 20 or are those the total number of students in at the tech center? >> Just RSU. Sorry. >> Yep. Auto Tech has two students in the morning and one in the afternoon. The CNA program has two in the morning, one in the afternoon. The education
074PI group has one in the morning and three in the afternoon. Graphics has four in the morning and two in the afternoon. Diesel, which is offered in the afternoon only, has zero. The Aqua program which is offered in the morning has two and the ESP program which is offered in the morning has six. Do you have the total number? That's what I was really >> Oh, total. Oh. Uh I I meant how many students are out there now. >> Not just from sir. >> Correct. >> Do you have >> I don't have it with me. >> I do. If you want me to run to my office. >> No. Okay. >> Because they've been decreasing as well as we have. So that's what I was wondering if you had a total. >> And my other
075question is, are they still talking about um fixing up the building and the cost of it with the engineer that they hired last year? Is that still in play? Yes, he is coming back um to do a presentation. I think probably it's being pushed till November now because they've got to change this language. Um, but yes, the goal is to uh continue looking at making repairs andor >> So, do they have a total on the repairs that they're looking at still? >> They do not. >> Okay. It's it changes quite frequently because it's in the millions. That hasn't been the last number that we were given was not that. But yes, so they're going to pick and choose then what they're going to fix first. >> I believe that's the plan >> instead of the
076overall because the overall is in the millions. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions for Julie? Thank you, Julie. Old business selection of select the delegate from your school board who will return the October 18, 2025 MSBA delegate assembly at your Augusta school board me uh August school board meeting. Has anybody um made Laura aware that you would like to attend at this time? I know that they talked about this at Waldo County Tech and they needed a representative to go from there as well, but they were pretty specific that you needed to be sort of techsavvy um because this part of it is going to be held virtually um on the 18th. So, if that makes a difference to anybody. >> You're pretty techsavvy. Really? No, not really. >> It did sound
077so convincing. >> Good, pleasant like this. >> She just put her head down. What do you mean? >> I mean, so it's a it's a Saturday in October, right? And is it the full day? >> I do not believe it's a full day. I think it's a morning, I want to say, because this is the delegate kind of part that you're representing our district. I think I but there's a link there and I think it told you the information about it. That's why it's in blue. If you >> can we let you know at a future date. >> This one says September. Let's see. Main school board association 6 to 7:30. Hold on. >> But wait, those are No, those are the September ones. >> Yeah, that's >> that one doesn't seem right, does it?
078>> No, that's why I was unsure what the >> not sure what that is. I do not know. >> I mean, honestly, like, not that I'm sorry. I'm sure I'm supposed to be thrilled about the idea of doing this on a Saturday, which I am totally not. But even if I wanted to throw myself on a sword, I I just don't know. I have no idea whether October 18th is a possibility for me yet because I don't have all of Violet's like dance schedule and everything else. Correct. You I might not even be here. Yeah, exactly. Like I think a lot of us just don't know, right? >> That's why I said, could we bring this back at a later date? We did. So it was on the other the other agenda. >> Yeah. Can
079we move it ahead again? >> Okay. >> Do they do they have a deadline by which they need >> looking at also please select the delegate for your school board who will attend the August the October 18th >> um at your that's why it says they wanted you to select it at your August board meeting. Um I'm trying to find if there's a date and a time but >> I'm I'm still six days a week guys. I know it won't be me. >> Did we Did we send someone last year? >> I don't think we had anybody. >> I don't think I don't think we've ever sent any. I mean, I not I've been here. >> Not to this one that I don't recall. The next one, yes, but not this one. >> So, October
08018th, beginning at 9:30 a.m., delegates must be techsavvy and will need to be in attendance no later than 9:15. It doesn't say how long. I'm not seeing >> I I think we might pass on this one till the next board meeting September 9th. >> Bring it back. >> Yep. >> Maybe we'll have schedules by then, but >> I don't think they'll say no, we can't come if we >> go with a decision late. Right. >> Right. >> Got it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And is there any way Laura that you could reach out and maybe try to find out if there is like is it half a day? Is it an hour? Is it Yeah, >> I think that would be very helpful to some of us as well to make a decision. >> It's
081not like you want to be there all day. >> Yep. And the next one, MSMA fall conference October 23rd 24th innovate to elevate unlock and student achievement. And that is in August and they will put you up if you want to go to that one. And that that is helpful that one. But as I say, it's sad day and I'm six days a week. It will not be me. >> Thursday. >> Oh, is it Thursday? >> It doesn't matter. I'm six days a week. I won't get out. It is really helpful if you think about and again no pressure for this year but it might be something that you guys think about in advance for the years to come that even if one person this is a very small board and I know that but
082if one person you kind of rotate through it's it is really good professional development as a board you do learn I've been to October 23rd >> as an assistant super and it is really helpful >> see if we can get the day off >> I have to check because I in an out ofstate conference and I don't know what day I get back but it's that week. >> Okay. >> I will go on a year that it does not land on my birthday. How's that sound? >> That's fair. >> It always lands on my birthday. So >> Julie want to think about it. We're a little We're out. We get a little time with this one. I've I've been given permission to take personal days if you didn't have anyone else that totally wanted to
083go. Totally. So, >> she's looking pretty good right off the top. I >> think so. >> I'm writing in the notes, Julie volunteer. >> They do say they accomplish a lot down to these ones. I will say that >> these are different little professional development segments for like 40 minutes and things and you go to a lot of different ones. You get to sign up and pick the ones that are most either applicable to your board or to yourself just for professional growth and and I did get I did benefit a lot from them. >> I did >> everyone that has gone has has come back and reported and said they did learn a lot. >> Okay, I will go. >> All right. I like that. >> Look at it this way. You're getting it
084done this year. >> Yeah. You're off the hook for the next four. >> That >> new business, the budget. Um we'll make a motion to accept the new budget amount of 12,47,192. >> Second. >> Any discussion? I am going to discuss this as far as the town of Stockton goes. I hope that people can understand. I know this is hard. We we went back to a zero budget, zero increase and because of the evaluation, Stockton went up. It it it seems hard to believe, but that's the way it it came and it and it's not of any fault of ours. Um >> it's less than half a percent, though. >> Yes. But I'm still saying it's still an increase over over last year's. So, um I'm sure that it's still going to upset some, but
085at this point with the evaluation, that's where it's coming from. It's out of our hands with that one. It seems hard to believe, but that's the way that it is. Um we will be meeting, I believe, to discuss this. Um um Dr. Miller, have we set up any meetings with the um selectman again that the town manages? >> As I said, I emailed both of them and I invited them to tonight, but other than that, again, that's >> so if we can if we'll follow through with their schedule and maybe um attend um both places for um a talk just so that we can make it known there as well. We can go back to their is that what you're suggesting if anybody on this board wants to go Denise and I and attend their
086meetings. That would be great. >> Do you have the dates of those? >> Not yet, but we can find those out back to you. >> That would be great because I would like to go if possible. >> Deanna, what did did Searsport go up? Like I know our budget stayed at zero, but do we have like if Searsport went up valuations? Oh, >> oh, I don't I I don't have that. I don't have that data. The valuation the valuation went up, but somehow >> the mill rate went down >> that Yeah, the mill rate went down and somehow our in this school part of the budget, we are not going up. In fact, we go down somewhat >> and and that would speak to the valuation in Stockton going up at a higher percent at
087a higher percentage than Searsport went up. Mhm. >> So that's what is always going to create inequity >> which is outside of >> our control any control. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> So we'll we'll find Yep. Go ahead. >> Um so when we had our uh kind of retreat workshop last week, >> we and I think this is where we were just sort of talking about, but I want to kind of close the loop. Like we talked about trying to get some communication from the town managers that would help explain to people in ways that I think none of us feel very confident doing >> how to understand where the school budget fits in with >> the revaluations and assessments and all of that kind of stuff. >> Totally understand that people couldn't be
088here tonight. That's fine. I'm a little concerned that we may not get a turnout of community members for like a standalone meeting to talk about that. So now I'm wondering if we could aim for either some kind of presentation from the town managers or something that we could hand out to people on the 24th when we do >> the meeting over at the cafeterium. um you know an infographic I mean I don't know something >> so that we can be having the the vote and the conversation about the articles with people really clearly understanding how all those parts fit together >> and and I think both meetings will be held before the 24th in the towns the the town selectman meeting and I'm hoping that when we go and maybe we can do a follow-up
089with uh Mr. Gilway and Sadi to see if we can get the print out um exactly how that's going to go and and where the where the difference is in the assessments and where that assessment cost comes from from both towns because I'm sure that they have them and that way we can also incorporate with the way that you're talking when we have that um articles out that night so we we can actually explain it again. >> Yeah. So, I'm I'm hoping that they have a both have a select men's meeting before that long before that. Or if not, maybe they'll let us meet with them at some point um long before the 24th >> because we do need to know that. >> I have another question, but go ahead, Laura. Your hand went up
090first. >> I I want to caution us. >> I thought I had it on turn. Thank you. You're good job there. I appreciate that. I do want to caution us that we can only be responsible for our budget. I think we have to be really careful to try to explain a tax budget from a town that's not our budget. Correct. >> That's their job. And I want to be careful about trying to build capacity. That's not my expertise. I don't think it's any of our expertise. I think that we can only say we're hearing the public as we did tonight in the forum. We're hearing but all we have control over is our budget. >> Correct. We have to look at town the towns to say people are asking for more information about their tax
091bill and how that that information could impact the vote. But I want to be careful that I don't want to be put in a position to sit at the budget meeting and have people ask about their tax bill because that's not >> That's not us. And I just want to be clear about that that >> um but can we invite and again I don't know Deanna might be able to better answer this. Can we invite town managers and town selectman to be there to answer those questions or is it not really that's not I'm not sure that's the forum at the budget meeting because it's about the school budget. It's not about their tax bill and that might have to go back to their towns to have those conversations. I think what I was looking
092for, excuse me, Chris, what I was looking for is when we attend a selectman's meeting when when we present, I know you've already sent it to them and I sent it with one of the selectmen tonight that this is our budget, we became at this, but because of the assessment of the towns, this is there. That's their job to explain in which they both have newsletters and everything else. And I think it would behoove them to um state in their newsletter um the budget's down as far as the school budget is. We came in at zero, but due to this is this it's not the schools that did it. It's the assessments from the town. Maybe that's what I'm kind of leaning for that they explain it in their newsletter. Not it's not our job
093to really do that, but it's I would like to ask them to do that when we go to that meeting. That's what I'm looking for. I hope >> I'm getting out ahead of you and I'm going to say that I in my experience do not see that forthcoming from the town of Searsport and I'm trying to get somehow out in advance of that because the questions are still going to come up. I fully appreciate your point, Laura. It's valid >> and we will still be sitting there on the 24th and people will be linking >> this to Yeah. >> And I think again I shared with you at the the worship. Sorry Chris, you go next. I know. >> Sorry. >> You're holding it. You still got it. >> I had a great conversation with
094James Gilway who I think he he does want the town to understand and I and I shared with you in the email the information. Thank you. Holy cow. I'm bad. Um >> took me a year >> and you know you could have things that you could throw at me. those little ducks that I gave you >> on. Um I think that he was very clear about recognizing that it it wasn't the school budget that it was valuations that were shifting their tax bills. So I think again inviting them to come to if we want to schedule one more public forum >> in a situation like we had tonight that they could hopefully speak out if we could get a date perhaps. I'm just suggesting that we have another month before the public budget meeting that
095they could share that that might be an opportunity. Chris, it's your turn before we go. >> Thanks. Thanks. My question does actually have to do with the taxes though, which is, you know, uh but it the question is it it seems that the tax bills have already gone out in Stockton Springs. Is that right, Marca? >> No. >> Yes. Yes, >> they did. >> Yes, they did. >> That they were going out. So I think that >> went out. >> Oh, so they haven't gone. So that was >> Searsport. >> Okay. Okay. So I think one of the questions that it would, as you said, Denise, behoove the town to answer is how will that bill be adjusted? >> It goes back to what earlier it probably won't be adjusted. What will happen is once
096the bills go out, then it goes into >> a surplus. Okay, >> that's what I believe is going to happen. >> The town of Stockton told me they were not sending tax bills out until we approve a budget. >> I appreciate that. >> That's normally normally the tax bill I just said. >> They're different than Stockton. >> Yeah. I mean, see us for it. >> Uh, yeah, we receive our tax bills mid September towards and then they're due by the 31st and you can do >> one half then and then the next half in April. So, yeah. Yeah. and and according to the town, she said that they called the state and that they did not believe they'd be sending theirs out until >> Well, that's a question I think that they should answer and
097I just wanted to put it out there because I think it's going to come up. That's all. >> Well, and the thing is that that does that does not preclude Stockton Springs from making their tax assessment payments to us, which they are doing. >> Correct. So again, I think I shared with you earlier when I met with Mr. Gilway, their struggle is right now they have no more surplus. They used to buy down >> the taxes and s for a number of years they have no more and just like we we have to have they have to have an operating budget. They have to have money to operate the town and that's why they couldn't off >> and and that's when I said to them in the office when I was in there last week
098I said C sports going out. She said they can't be and I said they are going out. That's what they told us and they have gone out. So unless something changes. That's what they told me. >> Nope. They're out. Mine's burning a hole on my counter. >> I have one too from Sport. Thank you. Yeah. So that's in a form of a motion. Is there any other comments? Any other questions? All in favor? Okay, we move that one. Um, welcome uh draft 2526. Welcome to the RSU 20 school board handbook approval. Should be in your I think we downloaded it, wasn't we? If we wanted to. >> I put it in your last your budget. Um, I have one question before you go. I don't know if you need to make a motion first. That's
099in the form of a motion. We need a second. >> I'll second that. >> Now we can talk about it. >> Well, I just I could not open the document. So, I I looked at the hard copy that you gave us um at the workshop and I was just curious if those adjustments were made or appropriate even. >> They h they are appropriate. They have been made. It's been contra based on that as well. We still had to really as a group I know that you would give them permission for me to set some norms but I'm really not comfortable with setting norms unless we have a conversation as a so I'm wondering if we table this and come back and add it to another agenda where we have time actually to talk about the
100rooms I think it's really important that this committee really is in agreement I I don't think I it's kind of like making rules in a classroom without having kid input I feel like it should be something that you I'll say this is what we need and this is how we need to operate in this agreement and discussion about that. So my recommendation is to bring this back um at another meeting and have a conversation about norms before we move forward. Do we need to do that as a meeting or can we do it as a workshop? We could do it as a workshop. >> I believe we also need to have some goals in there as well. >> Correct. >> So goals and norms. So I did I was able to do the goals because
101I think that you shared with me strategic plan was the goal and I and again in the new one I'll send it out as another link if I have to do a PDS so that you can see it but I have outlined the steps of creating a strategic plan >> um in the year to come and I that one I didn't have a hard time with because you gave me clear direction. I'm just uncomfortable just setting norms and and telling you this is how we're going to we're going to operate. >> Do you want me to withdraw my motion? I think. >> Yeah. >> Yep. I'll withdraw my motion >> and I'll withdraw my second >> and then we'll table it. >> And I would be in favor of having another workshop to create those
102norms. >> Do you want to set up um send out some dates that work? >> So you you have two scheduled per month. If the next meeting in September is a regular board meeting, we can look at the last meeting in September that fourth Tuesday and make that your workshop. >> Wait, is that the day of the budget? >> Chris will be the chair on the 9th. >> The So the budget is on the 24th, which is a Wednesday. So our board meeting would be if we were going to do it would be the 23rd Tuesday. that same. >> Are we allowed to do it on the same Wednesday? >> Is that accurate? Am I right? Maybe it's the 23rd. I don't have my calendar the budget budget workshop budget. >> I feel like it's
103the 24th. It is Wednesday. It is Wednesday. So, we could do a workshop on Tuesday, Tuesday the 23rd. >> The policy meeting on Tuesday the 23rd currently scheduled I believe at 5:30 >> we do. >> So what can we do? >> And then we have a board meeting at 6:30, right? >> Yeah. So we could have our workshop at 6:30 following the policy meeting. Okay, I'm good with that. >> I'm totally fine with that. This brings up a much larger question around the calendaring which I am still really struggling with because now I have no like I thought there were going to be invitations for all of these committee meetings and I got nothing and I can't seem to find like I can't find an RSU board calendar that I could subscribe to >> and
104and I don't care like if we just want to say I'm going to give you a sheet of paper and you need to put it into your personal calendar that's fine but >> I thought Jess was going to to a list that had all of them including the policy. But if you go on the RSU 20 website, somehow my board meetings have shown I don't know how I did it. I clicked show athletics and something else and it all the board meetings popped up but not the policy meetings like not the subcommittees >> but >> sorry Ruth if you on RSU 20 where the website or do you have access to some kind of calendar? Um, try accessing your calendar through your Google your RSU. >> I am and I got nothing. >> So on
105August 26, you don't see Oh, you know, >> nope. I don't have >> So it might be that it might be that um Jess needs to share the the um RSU 20 district calendar with you. >> I can't subscribe to the RSU 20 district calendar. I couldn't find it. So I guess the answer is no. That part I that part is way techn technologically over my head. Sorry. Okay. >> I'll make a note and I'll make sure I believe that Jess has added those all to the calendar. So I need to find out >> what it's sounding like is that she may well have added them to a calendar that just none of us actually have >> access to. Correct. and maybe a paper copy for us old folks. >> I believe that we did
106in a prior meeting you had a list of all the committee. >> We did, but then I think we made some changes to it. So, it would be really helpful to to get that updated for the next meeting. Thank you. >> And while we're on the topic of my not knowing which end is up, is there anything happening in the next week in terms of any of our committees that I need to be worried about? >> I don't think so that I know of. >> No, but next week Thursday, well, curriculum, but I think that's so that's on Tuesday. is at 5 and on Thursday is personnel >> and back to back. >> So >> on the 4th >> what time? >> Starting at 5:30 is personnel if we have anybody again. Do you like
107to meet if there's no one on the agenda? >> No. >> Okay. So right now I don't have anybody on the agenda. >> And after that I'm gone. Chris will be the board chair for the night. >> And then building and grounds is that on the 4th. >> Oh, we'll be there for that. >> Um, and again, I'm not sure what's on the agenda. I'll work with Mr. Grady and I'll let you know if there's anything on the agenda that we need to connect with. There could be some updates because we have the doors and things we can talk about >> The following week, I don't see anything on the agenda. >> Just the 9th, right? >> Right. The board meeting on the 9th, correct? So that'll get us should be at 6, but I
108will not be here. >> Okay. >> Just to confirm that curriculum committee meeting is 5:30 on Tuesday the 2nd. >> 5:30 on Tuesday the 2nd. >> Thank you. >> So no finance on the night. >> No. >> Got it. >> I will not be here. >> And it's Chris. Chris and Julie, right on curriculum. >> Yes. >> And I did I did get an invitation for that one. >> Okay. I'm send I'm sending another one. I'm working off of mine, but >> me, too. >> But not all the other committees. I didn't get the other committees. >> The fourth and is for the personnel and buildings and grounds on the fourth if we have them. Anybody else? Date date and time is going to be the 9th, correct? For the next board meeting. >> Motion
109to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor at 7:35.