001to the flag of the United States of America and justice for all. Lara, you all good with attendance? Okay. Public comment. Uh you will have three minutes to uh stand at the podium. Please address your comments to the chair. Um audience, please be respectful of everybody speaking. Everybody has the right to their own opinion. Um first up, Rob Taylor. >> Rob Taylor. >> I'm Rob. Is this working? >> Okay. Um, I'm Rob Taylor from Jay. I'm a teacher, a science teacher here at Spruce Mountain High School. Um, I've been told the board is seeking to cut an additional $200,000 uh from the budget this year. I've also been told that to accomplish this, a high school science department staff position um will be cut and that will reduce our staff by 20%. Uh, to say
002the least, I'm concerned. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and our department is wellforged. a chain uh cut by 20% can't reach what it formally did. Um there's no fat in this budget at this point. Every cut will impact the program we will offer our students. Um it's important to note what the science department currently provides. Um we offer two University of Maine early college courses in environmental science and physics that allow upper classmen to simultaneously earn high school and college credit. We offer elective classes in natural resources, micology, forensics, and electronics. These electives extend student learning beyond the regular class experience. Um, teaching topics of high interest and taking students outdoors. We offer an intensive program in anatomy and physiology. Students who take these courses report back to us their
003readiness for college programs in health, medicine, engineering, environmental science, and science education. A 20% reduction in staffing will eliminate some of these programs, and we will just be providing the basics. Um, to be a full-time student at Spruce Mountain High School requires taking six credits. Elective classes are often highly populated, and with our current slate of electives, it's a real challenge for all students to schedule the required six courses. Fewer course offerings can result in students not having full schedules and spending large parts of their day in study halls. There's never been a greater time for science literacy. Um, I recently had a 2025 graduate from last year majoring in a science field tell me they're excelling due to their experiences at Spruce Mountain. And this is typical for students who go into science fields
004from our school. Our science department is highly innovative, supporting initiatives such as outdoor education, a chaga agriculture project, managing a school greenhouse to produce uh produce for a local food bank, growing experimental American chestnut trees, and using planted balsam furs to learn about the main holiday wreath industry. Students collect water quality data for the Livermore Falls Water District. Serve as stewards of lake local land trust properties and participate in watershed surveys. We have New England regional and national award-winning science extracurricular programs. Our students mentor middle school students and we've established the district's first ever unified program with special needs students and general education students working together in robotics competitions. We have science teachers who have obtained outdoor educational trip leader certification by doing training without compensation. All of this is threatened when the staff offering
005these opportunities is cut by 20%. Finally, the notion of eliminating positions simply because the person is not returning to to the school from a retirement is concerning to me. Any cut to the budget at this time will have an impact on students. Um, I found about the reduction to the science department less than 48 hours ago and taking a knife to the budget at the 11th hour in a process is not the way we should be doing business. We should be looking at the efficacy of what >> Thank you, Rob. Please wrap it up to do it better. >> Thank you very much. Good evening. I'm uh Chris Bodwin. I'm a I've been working for the district now for about 22 years. I've lived in Livermore. I've been a taxpayer. I've lived more for about
00622 years. Uh basically ditto from what Mr. Taylor just said. Uh budget season's always really difficult and I know you guys are trying to be very responsible. You have a tension between the taxpayers and providing good programs for students, right? It's very challenging. Um I am here as well to speak about the additional $200,000 cut. Several concerns. First, RSU73 is already in the bottom third of per pupil spending in the state of Maine. If this additional $200,000 cut is approved tonight, the total budget increase will only will be only 2.4% which is well below the regional inflation rate of 3.1%. In real terms, that means we're already reducing what we can provide for students. And we say that we don't want a direct effect to students, but what's already been cut, it's it's bound to
007be a direct effect. Those positions that weren't filled at the elementary school, you know, things are already starting to happen. Um, I've also heard that this proposal would directly affect students at the high school by leaving an anticipated open science position unfilled. Not filling that position doesn't eliminate the need for those classes. It simply shifts the burden, as Mr. Taylor has already said, to existing staff and takes away a lot of programming and electives. As he has already said, these programs really do matter. Many students, many, many, many students over the years, including my own two daughters, have benefited from them. My daughter is graduating from University of Maine Orno this May with a biology degree. Much to do with the with the influence of Mr. Baker and Mr. Taylor and I thank you for
008being for them being such exceptional educators that should be able to stick with their specialties. Opportunities like these begin with strong science programs. When we look at the actual cost of taxpayers, the impact is fairly small of this extra $200,000. I just went to Berry Fruit Farm tonight, had an excellent blueberry hand pie for $4.50. That would be about the cost I believe per week that I would be saving on from this. The impact to me individually is very small. The $200,000 to the district to the the science program is huge, huge and many longl lasting years to come. The impact could be Thank you, [applause] Kim Simino. Good evening. I'm Kim Simino. I'm a resident, parent, and taxpayer of Livermore. I'm also an RSU73 elementary school edtech. I'm also a bus monitor. Gives me
009an inside look into what our schools truly need and what they are doing currently with limited resources. I understand the concern about rising property taxes. Many of our community members are on fixed incomes. I share the and understand the need to be thoughtful and responsible with our town's money. But it's also important to understand that the budget the administrators have brought forward already has significant cuts. They made hard decisions to avoid making more staff cuts beyond the cuts already proposed. In my building alone, we will not fill two grade level classroom teachers. The additional $2,000 in cuts sounds like a lot of money, but when the amount is spread across all of the three towns taxpayers, the savings comes out to less than $5 a month for Liverour and J taxpayers and less than $2
010a month for Livermore Falls. I can tell you firsthand that the impact of removing another $200,000 from our budget will be felt more deeply by our students and the less than $5 will be felt by most households, excuse me. Working with kids directly every day, I can assure you that those cuts matter. Frankly, our children don't deserve less, they deserve more. [applause] Kylie Marott. Hi, I'm Kylie Marott. I'm a resident of Jay and I'm a three sport athlete at the high school. Tonight, we are here to on the behalf of the student athletes at this school to address the potential budget cuts and impacts these will have directly on us student athletes. All sports boosters were asked to provide additional funding for sports programs. However, they are already providing significant amounts to sports programs covering
011the following. First, let's talk about the cost of summer leagues and team events. These are not co covered by the sports budget from the school. The summer leagues give our athletes opportunities to improve their skills, build teamwork, and stay active during the offseason. However, these leagues can be an expensive and registration fees, travel costs, and other expenses can make it difficult for some families to participate. We want to make sure every student has a chance to play regardless of their financial situation. Next, there's the cost of team gear and apparel, especially for teams that are in need of additional outside of regular athletic budget. Warm-ups, travel gear, and practice gear are not treated. Some of our teams are using outdated or worn down equipment. Every team deserves to feel confident, prepared, and most importantly, safe.
012And having proper gear plays a big role in that. Athletes also have earned the right to be proud of their team accomplishments and should not have to worry about being able to afford a leather jacket or other championship Phoenix gear. Another impact and focus is senior scholarships. Our senior athletes have dedicated years representing our school with pride. Offering scholarships is a way to recognize their hard work, leadership, and commitment. It also helps support them as they take the next step into college trade school. the military or the workforce. The class of 2027 alone has roughly 36 student athletes, 16 who play two sports and five that play three. In scholarships alone, that will cost about $5,800. And with these cuts, the boosters may not have the money to cover anymore. But that's it for me.
013Finally, well, sorry. Finally, let's talk about fundraisers. We as students already have two fundraisers for each sport we are part of and two fundraisers for our class. In addition, there will be fundraisers for other programs as well. These fundraisers are essential. They help cover summer league costs, provide team gear, and contribute to senior scholarships. But if we try to add more fundraisers, it puts more stress on us kids and more stress on local businesses who are already proudly supporting athletics and extracurriculars to the best of their ability. This will also pin programs against each other, leading to unnecessary fundraiser wars between groups. Research shows clear percentage differences in attendance, behavior, and academic success among student athletes. Data from the National Federation Federation of State High School Associations indicates that high school athletes graduate at rates
01410 to 15% higher than those not involved in extracurricular activities. Thank you. >> Oh, I can go. Okay. Um, a study at the University of Kansas found athletes have lower dropout rates around 5% compared to nearly n 11% for non-athletes with significantly better attendance. Um, in closing, supporting us students through these efforts is an investment in our growth opportunities and future. Together, we can ensure that every student has the chance to succeed both on and off the field. Cutting this funding and expecting it to be covered outside the athletic budget will directly impact student athletes and participants of other extracurricular activities negatively. Thank you. [applause] Zoe Grooms Jonathan Kursfeld. >> Good evening. Thank you for uh holding time for me. My name is Jonathan Kerszfeld. I am a homeowner in Liverour Falls. I have a
015child at Spruce Mountain Middle School and I have a one-year-old who will be joining kindergarten any day now it seems like. Um I am a former professor of economics at Bates College and so I want to start by applauding those students for the bravery of stepping up here and advocating for themselves. I think that is very uh impressive. Um, don't worry, I'm not going to give a lecture on economics. [laughter] Um, I am currently a department director at a state agency and I have learned that there uh is no time outside of a classroom for a lecture on economics. Um so we have a budget problem uh or really a tax revenue problem and be it household business or government when you have a revenue problem you start by examining the situation and tightening your
016belt so to speak or trimming the fat. Um, and that is a natural place to start. That is rational and smart. Um, but as was someone stole my thunder earlier was say and was saying, uh, there is no fat to trim in Spruce Mountain, right? Uh, we have been operating on a thin budget for a long time. And if there was fat to trim, I think the first $600,000 really covered it. And when there's no fat to trim and we cut and a school budget. We are talking about cutting educational programming and that's not doesn't stop with the immediate impact on the children in the schools. Right? The sequence of events is that we cut programs and we increase dropout rates and we decrease graduation rates. And when we do those things, we increase substance
017use rates of substance use in our community and we increase crime rates. When we do those things, we don't just increase expenses for public safety and for EMS services, but we decrease the likelihood of new residents and businesses coming to our communities. And then we decrease our property values, and that means less revenues for our our communities. And now you'll see we're in a we're in a downward spiral, right? There is a time for budget cuts. I don't think this is that time. And so I'm here to beg everyone on this board to send us the bill. Nobody likes to pay higher taxes, but sometimes it is just what we have to do. And I think everyone really is prepared to do that for for the children in our communities. Thank you. [applause] >> [applause]
018>> Len Wlette. Hi, my name is Lynn Wulette. I'm from Jay. Thank you for allowing me the time to speak this evening. I would like to thank the managers, the administrators, and the superintendent for their time and effort spent on the development of next year's budget. It's a lot of work. And I would like to thank the school board for the your time and effort in reviewing and considering the budget that has been presented to you this year. Um, very valuable service that you're providing to our community. Our society in America is structured in such a way that we come together to contribute to the greater good. We fund fire departments hoping that we never need the services they provide but knowing at the same same time that someone will. We fund road maintenance services
019so that we can all move about with ease. And we fund education so that we give all children the opportunity to improve their minds and to prepare to launch into their futures. It's the way things are done in America. I have a newspaper notice that my mother cut from the paper in 1955. It's a short piece announcing my birth and the birth of others that week. The title of that article, future taxpayers. That's the way it was then and it continues to be today. They didn't like taxes then and we don't like them now. But we continue to contribute to the greater good because it's the right thing to do. Please avoid f further cuts that will impact our children. Night [applause] Emma Towers. Hello, my name is Emma Towers and I am a resident
020of Jay. I'm a graduate of the Spruce Mountain class of 2023 and I'm here as a community member as well as someone who works directly with the youth in this district. I'm here not only to express my concern regarding the potential impact that budget cuts may have on the student body, but to be present as an example of what is possible when the schools and community invest more than just the academic minimum. As a very involved student, athletics, clubs, extracurriculars shaped who I am today. I was taught discipline, leadership, and many more traits that have led me to be successful in life beyond high school. Through these extracurricular activities, especially sports, I was able to discover my passions, stay engaged, and get involved in the community. I did not succeed through the classroom alone. My
021success is a testament to the investment that my school and community placed on me as a whole individual, not just as a student. Through working the last couple years with the afterchool program, I have been able to witness firsthand just how vital these same opportunities are to the success of our students. School years alone are pivotal times in exploring one's worldview, building confidence, and feeling like you have a place in this world. For many students I have worked with, these activities are the reason they show up each and every day. They are the only place where some of these students find belonging and meaning. Without opportunities belong beyond the classroom, some of these children would be completely lost. Cutting out these opportunities will disproportionately affect students who rely on school-based programs and will likely reduce
022the amount of engagement and effort these students put into their schooling. If they don't feel like they have a place to belong, why should they show up each day? Excuse me. I urge you to reconsider sports and extracurriculars as a priority rather than a privilege. They are foundational to the student development and long-term success. When our students feel connected to their school, they invest in it. I hope you will hear our concerns and invest in the students, too. Thank you. [applause] Carrie Mitchell. >> Good evening. I'm here tonight because I'm deeply concerned about the proposal to cut so many teacher positions in next year's budget. Some may say these aren't really cuts because nobody losing their job because of retirements, but unfilled positions are cuts. I know budgeting is difficult and tough decisions have to
023be made and as a taxpayer, I want our district to be financially responsible. But as an educator who works with children every day and would do anything for them, I also know that some cuts cost far more in the long run, especially when they directly affect students. One cut is a third grade teacher due to the retirement of a close teammate of mine who I've had the pleasure to teach with for 30 years. Third grade is not just another grade and I learned very quickly when I moved down to this level. It is a major major transitional year for students. Not only do these kids move to a new school building where academic and behavioral expectations significantly increase, but it is also the first year students take the required state assessments, which means teachers must
024not only teach their grade level curriculum, but they must also teach students important test taking strategies and help build the confidence and stamina needed to succeed. Research has consistently shown that third grade is a makeorb breakak year. Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is one of the strongest predictors of future success. Studies show that 88% of children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade never actually catch up and many are at greater risk of dropping out of school. This year provided a perfect example of why maintaining reasonable class sizes matters. When a teammate of ours unexpectedly had to take an extended leave of absence, the remaining third grade teachers, we stepped up and offered to take in all of her students since our class sizes were manageable. We did
025not do this because we had to, but because we care about our students, the district, and her. By doing this, we estimated that we will have saved at the end of the year approximately 15 to 20,000 that would have been spent on a long-term sub. Not sure about the math, though. We clearly were mindful of taxpayer dollars in situations like this act as a reminder that schools need flexibility and support built into our staffing, not fewer teachers. As both a teacher and a taxpayer, I believe we should absolutely continue looking for ways to save money and run our district efficiently. But those solutions should not come at the expense of the students that we serve. Our community expects us to work together to solve problems creatively and responsibly. The example set by the third grade
026teachers this year, I think, shows collaboration can save money while still prioritizing student success. That same spirit of collaboration should guide our decisions moving forward. I respectfully ask the board to reconsider the decision to eliminate so many, including two elementary classroom teaching positions, and to work with staff in the community to find other solutions that protect both our taxpayers and most importantly our students. We want to be part of the solution and work together with the board to find ways to save money that do not negatively impact the students or their education. >> Thank you, Carrie. [applause] >> Steve Bian. So, Steve, res budget as proposed. When originally presented to the board, 600,000 had already been cut and at last week's budget, an additional 200,000 was proposed as a cut. And I'm concerned that these
027added cuts would prove excessive, disruptive. Several people have talked about some of the downstream effects of the budget cut, including loss of science programming and impacts on rates and so on and so forth. There's another context to think about. This town is on the ropes. The loss of the mill, there's a huge hole in our economy. And if we are not careful, Jay could enter a death spiral with an aging population, net out migration, and failure to attract new families and new blood. The resources we have, most especially our schools, need not only serve current students, but tomorrow's students and tomorrow's families. I fully understand the temptation and reasoning behind wanting to make radical cuts in the budget to save money. I have run a small business for 40 years, and budget tightening is something
028I know very well. But in hard times, we don't burn the furniture or sacrifice what it takes to serve the public. Superintendent Albert cut 600,000 from the budget request he had received, and that left a budget whose year-over-year increase is in line with the regional inflation rate. I understand that Jay's per pupil costs are already low compared to peer schools in the lowest third of the state. I don't know the consequences, although we're hearing of them, of the further $200,000 cut. Presumably, we will hear that, and we have been hearing that tonight as the board listens to the school's presentation and those of the public. I urge you not to insist on cuts that will threaten school's educational mission, both for today's students and the students of families we hope to attract tomorrow. Budget challenges
029should not lead to short-term solutions. Thanks. [applause] >> Okay, Scott's going to go through the proposed 200,000 that we asked him to cut. >> Good evening. I think I've said at other meetings uh I believe it's 77% of our budget is salaries and benefits. So when you are required or asked to cut a certain amount of money of 200,000 after already cutting 600,000 it usually ends up involving positions. So, um, and really we had to look at cutting $226,500 because at the last meeting we voted to approve for a new bus because we were having some issues with a couple buses and we wanted to make sure our uh fleet was safe. So, we added in the 265. So, we actually started with $226,500 to start. Um, we then took a look at transportation under
030one section. That was line 646. That's con uh contracted professionals transportation. We cut $3,000 from there. That is um [snorts] some of that is uh Bailey Brothers work on that, but you have a new bus coming in. You shouldn't have to spend as much money on that new bus for repairs. Uh, we also cut $200, I mean, excuse me, $2,000 from propane and transportation, that's actually propane for their building. Uh, if you take a look at what they had spent in years past, and this year, we felt we would be comfortable. We could cut another $2,000 out of there. And then we also cut out of line 660, that's the equipment line under transportation. We cut $5,000 out of there. So, there'll be something that we might not order this year. We'll we'll wait and
031see. Um, next we took a look at special education. U, this was actually mentioned at the last meeting, but we realized that the program moved the money into one area, but didn't pull the money out of the other area. So, that's what you're seeing here. The PLLD is a position that's uh for Maine State Retirement PLLD. Um, it was moved into the other position when that person moved, but it wasn't taken out of that position. And so we were able to cut 56 $5,640 there. Uh line 506 is tuition. We realize that we have a can't go into great detail, but we have a student that will not be going to an out of district placement for a full year, only a half a year, and that is the half a year cost for an
032out of district placement, $36,89. Uh, we also found under special education line 634 under instructional supplies that the the money that she had in there for wall padding was had also been in another line. So, we were able to remove that $3,600. It's still in the budget to put that padding for the wall, but we don't need that second amount in there. It was a mistake. under regular instruction. Lines 186, 80, 189, 192, that's the science teacher retirement and not filling. Lines 186 is salary, 189 is benefits, and 192 is mainstate retirement. Understandably difficult to try to look at cutting teachers. Um, didn't want to have to fire anybody in order to do that. I I do know um it's difficult for the science department and I don't want them to think that I think
033less of the science department. We have a great science department. We've had great teachers, had great programming, but when I took a look at the numbers because they only we only have to take three credits for high school science, the numbers are down. Only 304 out of our 418 students take science classes. our senior class who has 97 students in it. Only 29 of them are taking a science class this coming this year right now because Foster Tech and the fact that many of them have taken science classes before their senior year to get to that point. Um I then took a look at their individual schedules and and talked with Mr. Deport about it as well. There are some things in here that we've offered and I know it's scheduling is difficult at the
034high school, but we have some repeat classes that have small class sizes that maybe if with the the principal, the guidance department, and the science teachers, they can sit down together and and correct some of those. I'm just looking at regular biology. We have one class of 10. We have one class of 11. We have one class of seven. I'm looking at bio uh college prep. One class of 11, one class of 10, one class of 13. Now, I know they really try to have some one offering on a green day and one offering on a black day, which makes sense to help with the scheduling, but we have some of these that are on the same day. I know some of the students mentioned or Rob might have mentioned it's great that we're offering
035micology which is a study of fungi, forensics and so forth but do we have to offer them every semester or can those are semester classes can we offer them one semester? Um so there are different things that you could possibly do and be creative with. I said I didn't want to cut 200,000 but that was my job so that's what I'm doing. Um, athletic, we cut another $2,000 under middle school athletic stipens. Uh, and we also cut another $500 out of middle school athletic officials. Uh, we cut $6,500 more out of repair and maintenance for high school athletics. And we cut another $10,000 out of athletics general supplies. Now, the the young ladies pointed out what the boosters have been donating things for. It sounded like before that they weren't donating anything, and that was
036not true. Um, they they went off the list. They've also donated that the ladies didn't tell us they've donated quite a bit of money to the tennis courts that will hopefully be open at the end of the summer when they finish that project. The boosters raised money for that as well. So, and then lastly on the budget cut, we cut $28,500 in professional stipens. Those are our curricular stipens. Uh we're going to do what other a lot of other districts do and rotate those. We have six different groups. We have language arts, you have math, we have science, unified arts, uh social studies. They don't all have to meet every year. Uh they can still do work in their late arrival days and things like that, but they're not going to have afterchool meetings. um
037they'll rotate through like other districts do so that we were able to save money doing in that area. So those are the $200,000 in cuts from the last meeting. >> Questions for Scott on those cuts? >> Sarah, uh going back to the science teacher position, the one who's retiring, what actual science class was taught? He does almost all chemistry and one RTI program. Yeah. >> So pretty critical science. So I understand science is split into life and what's the other one? Physical. >> I think so. Yeah. They're giving the thumbs up >> Rob if we can ask him. >> So you want Rob to talk. >> May I ask him directly? >> Okay. >> So Dr. Mr. Nichol is retiring. He's a chemistry teacher. Chem we we require three credits for high school graduation. Um
038chemistry is one of them. So somebody is going to have to teach chemistry next year. Um so the notion that um it's really not Dr. Nichols uh position. Um it it's really about rotating everything else around. So the effect is um first of all, we've had less than 48 hours to even think about this. So, I have no idea what the real answers are. We've talked as a science department. We had lunch with Mr. PL today. We don't have any answers because this we're doing this at the last minute. Um, but what I can tell you is the things that I spoke about earlier, um, our early college programs, um, uh, our electives, those kinds of things, those are the things that we're going to lose. It won't be what Dr. Nichols doing. Um, and
039this notion that somebody retires, I just don't get it. Uh, personally, um, you know, I I really think we should be looking at, um, what's best for kids. >> So, Rob, let me ask you then, the remaining four science teachers, are they all qualified to step into the chemistry role that is now vac? >> No. Um, teacher certification is split um, life science and physical science. Um, some of our teachers are dual certified, some are only life science certified. That creates some other issues when we go to do scheduling because some teachers can only teach some kinds. >> So, do you envision a big loss in the electives? >> I I do I if you have if you just think about the fact that um we have five science teachers each teaching six classes all
040the time, right? So, that's 30 courses. You take out a teacher, you're going to take out 20% of those courses. Something has to give you. You just My analogy of the chain is is valid. You cut the chain by 20%, chain doesn't reach where it goes. Um we can play all kinds of games with schedules and numbers and those kinds of things, but there are going to be opportunities our kids aren't going to have. >> Okay. And and just to clarify, you said not all the teachers are qualified to teach chemistry. How many are >> um >> is it two or three? >> I believe two. >> So, two. So, only half of you are going to have to split it. [laughter] >> You don't want me to teach in chemistry. Uh I teach all
041kinds of science. Uh never taught it before. Yeah. Uh but I'm one of the two um that's certified. >> Okay. All right. Thank you, Rob. >> My my expertise lies other places. Thank you. questions. Um, Rob, I should have I should have said, Rob, hang around, will you, please? [clears throat] You said part of the what he taught was RTI, and that's RTI within the science. >> So, um, actually, um, Dr. Nickel offered that offered an elective in electronics for both semesters and um you know he's he's on some medical leave leading into his retirement. Um so um we have a a long-term sub in that position and that's going very very well but we really didn't have anybody that was able to offer that um electronic selective. So the RTI program was established because
042this person was very comfortable in helping students. Um so it it's RTI right now. Um but typically that's an elective um when when um we don't have a long-term sub in the position. >> Thank you. That's RTI is at any level prek prek to 12 is important. Oh, look at I broke the microphone. >> Can I ask what's RTI? >> Uh response to intervention. Um and it's a uh it's a strategy for helping kids that are struggling. Um when a kid is having difficulty in a particular content area uh response to intervention um it provides the kids with additional help to to make grades and and improve their academics. >> We have RTI throughout our entire district K through 12 and this is what has made a huge difference in filling gaps that kids have
043had because they were out because they had a bad experience whatever. But it's crucial to getting our kids where they need to be. And every opportunity we have for RTI, it's not a special ed. It's just this kid has some weaknesses. Can we get them up? And it's priceless. >> Thank you. >> All right. Well, [clears throat] I'm just doing some math in my head on this science position because obviously I don't want any position to go. But just thinking back to what Scott said and if we would then have four science teachers about 90 kids per class that and they're saying that they teach six classes uh a like block, right? Green and black. So that's about 15 kids per each of their classes. So I I guess that's still leaving six classes that
044would be in addition that are um extra uh opportunities for kids because 29 kids and as seniors is not a lot of kids. And not to boast but my daughter's taking anatomy and phys physiology at the community college her senior year. um to get those three credits. So, I hear what everyone is saying. I just am doing the basic math because that's what I've done for the last four meetings is looking at these numbers going back through and I and I hear and I want the teachers to know that I support teachers fully. But I do think that it we can still offer most every science class potential. looking at the numbers, if we have four science teachers left here with only 15 kids per se, um per class in the required classes. Um and
045then giving opportunities for those others to still be able to explore some of that um other science related uh topics. All right. Um, Scott, I know we're supposed to be asking you a question, so I'm going to ask you a quick question. We have already been told that two of the science teachers would have the um accreditation needed to teach chemistry, which is a required course. Two of them. That's 50% of the remaining ones should this cut go through. That's half of them. Um, and one of them has already indicated very publicly that they are not comfortable teaching chemistry directly as that is not his skill set. And I greatly appreciate your honesty. Um, and I was going to save this for later, but in this room right now, there is a teacher who quite
046literally saved my life because she kept a science class open for me. Just me. Just one. She's right there and I wouldn't be here today without her support and the idea that cutting a science teacher, you know, and I know you don't want to do it. I know you were given that as a directive and I appreciate your cander in that, but when we're talking about science teachers, a lot of people assume, okay, we're just pushing them through, you know, people who specialize in science, they'll get the electives and we'll call it good. That's not enough. It's not enough for our students. I would not be here today without Donna Pier right there. And she kept the class open for one student. We talk about, well, 15 kids, you know, maybe shift around, maybe we'll
047lose this. There's only 29. Only 29. I was one of one. And I wouldn't be here without my science teacher. Thank you, Donna. I know this has been very difficult. I appreciate the admins for working hard to find these cuts. We're trying to find a balance between giving our kids a good education and getting this budget passed. Um, I work in the public every day and we have seniors that are struggling financially and with the assessments that came through last year in all three towns, people saw their taxes jump a lot and they're very concerned. And my goal is to get this budget passed because it worries me if it we didn't take anything getting it passed and then we're in a whole other dilemma. I respect teachers. I didn't want to see any positions
048go. But the bottom line is our numbers are down in the primary in the ele the numbers are dropping. That's why they were able to do this without overt taxing the teachers that we do have. I mean, it's a sad fact they're down, but we just don't have a lot of people coming into these communities. And even in the high school, our numbers, 51% of the kids, the seniors and juniors are going to foster tech. So they're not at our school all the time. So I feel like we always say we've got to trust the administrators. We've got to trust the admins. So I think, you know, we need to trust that they're doing what's best in their buildings, and we need to work for the taxpayers as well. Um just a point of order.
049Is it not our school board um board of ethics that we represent the school and community but specifically the best interests of our student body and our school staff administrators? Isn't that um a point of order that we have to follow? That's still in there, isn't it? >> That is in there. But we represent the taxpayers at what as well. >> Understandable, of course. Um, but just following up with that question, the best way to serve our taxpayers isn't to ensure the isn't that to ensure that their children have the best possible future. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> on Phoebe's um point and I can't find it right now. I had it five years ago. Um but it's in there somewhere. School board is one of the strange public service positions that states clearly
050our job is to provide education for our kids. Our students are our first priority. It's not the taxpayer. >> It's not the voter. And that is in the law. It's been interpreted. If I had it in front of me, I would cite it. I would much rather, and I did, vote to pass the original budget that was brought to us from our administration. Even though I was extremely concerned that we included the cut of two elementary teachers, I will stand forever on the top of my chair and scream if we do not do it well from K to five. You can throw all the money you want after that. You're not going to get the same response. [applause] But in reality, I had to look at the numbers and I had to say they've done
051their best. They can do that. And I really wish we had passed that original budget. I disagreed with adding 20 $200,000 additional cuts to this budget. I still don't like them, but you've done a great job and the administrators have well of trying to do it fairly. Um, even though it means a position at the high school, I know what it means at the elementary school. We're used to having to say that's not my field. I don't like doing that. We have a new math program. It's new to me and I don't like it that way. We have to adjust and I I know you'll do the very best. Even though I would rather that we put keep that position. I would love to be able to say I'd like to go back and make
052a motion that we pass the original budget, but I don't think that's the reality here. People are not willing. I may have to try it. I don't know. Um I we we need to look at our future. Our future is an investment. Our kids are our future. I said this at our last meeting. In 15 to 20 years, these kids are going to be sitting here. And if not here, in another town on a school board, hopefully trying to be a leader. Um, this is an investment. We're all worth it. I think the critical piece is this budget does not go past the rate of inflation in our area. I can afford it. I live on a fixed income. our kids are worth it. And so I will make the motion that we go back
053to the original budget proposal that [applause] we voted down last time. >> What's the numbers? >> Mason what? >> So >> yes, including the adjustment of [clears throat] adding the one season of esports as I originally made that proposal last time, that motion. Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Mason. >> Uh do do we need to have a do do we do so we okay in a discussion? Thank you. Uh so I'm going to be a tax I'm going to be a taxpayer in five six years once I get out of college. when when we cut this budget to where we have it, we're not going to get that money back next year or the year after that. I have I have seen school budgets. I have seen how how
054school budgets operate. Once you lose money in a classroom, you don't get it back. And what I'm concerned about is you're cutting these things now. It hasn't gone to the town. But yes, you we are responsible for the taxpayers, but we're also responsible to our teachers, to our students, and if we don't give them the benefit of the doubt to provide them with the best that we can before bringing it to the taxpayers, what are we telling them 5 years from now when that's not even an option? [applause] I'm going to try to make this short. I want to thank uh the public for coming out and speaking up tonight. I heard a lot of what you had to say and I just thank you very much. I want to thank the administrators for uh
055the work that they've done. Um I'm going to tell you why I'm not for this this cut. Um, I don't I don't want to lose the the science position. And um, when I was here last week, I kind of just did some quick math and you know, I learned math right here and I wasn't really good at it. You can ask her husband cuz he wasn't impressed. Anyways, >> he didn't throw you under the bus. I did some quick math math on the numbers Scott presented on each average household of uh with an average uh price of $200,000 on the home and I I added that up and I divided it by three and then I divided that by 52 which is how many weeks are in a year and uh it came to $3.39
056and $3.39 I surprised that we are hashing this out the way that we are. Um, I I had spoke to three or four people who were on fixed incomes and I told them the the uh, you know, what was at risk here and they were like, man, that just means I don't get that diet diet orange mocha latte frappuccino one time a week. Um, so in speaking with them, I mean, they were like, "Yeah, the $3.39, absolutely. I I get it. We want to take care of our taxpayers and we want them to see that we're being diligent and and respectful uh with their money. Uh when I look at the budget, I don't see a bunch of fat. I don't we're not we're not sending the basketball team in a stretch limo to the
057game. We're not doing that. Um so that's why um I'm I'm not in support of these cuts. Now, there were some cuts that Scott talked about that I mean, he found some errors and found that this really wasn't needed. That's fine. That's great. Um, but I'm not I'm not for this and then I I will be not vote. That's why I'm not going to vote for it. Thank you. [applause] >> Just one more comment um from a fiscal perspective. Um, I am an example of someone who graduated from this district and 20 years later moved back with my tax dollars in my science profession. Thank you, Mr. Haynes, science elective. Um, and let's look at it this way. If we have lesser quality, no offense, Rob, chemistry classes, [laughter] if a student graduates high school
058and goes to college and struggles with chemistry and has to drop out or not the school but the class or retake a class, how much is one semester of college to one family? >> 30 grand. and college. This is a cheap price to pay for the students of this district to ensure they do not lag behind their peers in the college system in professions that make good money. And if they're like me, they come back and they invest it back in the school district. [applause] I'm wondering, I'm sorry to to ask for a repeat, but could we please go over the lines where errors were found? >> I'm assuming those errors would stand as money saved possibly. >> Yeah, there's only two that were actually errors that was under special ed. It was the PLLD,
059the 5640, and then the instructional supplies, the because it was in there twice. That's uh 910 thou 9 $10,000. >> About $910,000 >> to include to include the Rob, we're doing board comments right now. That's why I haven't recognized you. >> Oh, he is. Oh, sorry. >> Just to follow up on your comment about if if kids go to >> go to um school and struggle in chemistry, they're going to be paying that tuition. Um two of the courses that I teach are early college classes. Kids get four credits in physics and four credits in environmental science. So they don't have to pay for those courses when they go on to college. So we're saving those kids money. >> Madame Chair, >> point point of order. We are still uh technically debating a motion. Um
060so so this is technically we are still under board uh board discussion. >> That's right. still looking at >> um I'd like to amend my motion after this is comment not the motion. Don't get nervous. [clears throat] We found we have those two errors that amount to about 8. Where's your paper? >> Right there. >> Thank god I have people to help me. It takes a village. Uh there's the 8,940 that was in wrong places. That's just a correction. We also have the 3,00 $36,089 from a student in special ed who will not be going out of district. Um that's a total of three. Did I do the math? >> Thank you. 45,300. It's a wonder I go shopping by myself at the store. 45,329 from the original budget number which we represented last week
061and the addition of one one season of esports if I can have a second. So I just want to clarify on the transportation area some of those cuts. Is that because we are getting the propane bus. So those can also be included in cuts pertaining to what Elaine just said. Because we have another propane bus. We can cut propane or No. Is that not >> Yeah, we can still cut those. >> Yeah, we can still >> Oh, no is raising her hand. So, she's here. >> The building. >> Yeah. >> And then the equipment, transportation, is that related to the new bus? And the professional transportation cut on the top line is not related to the none of this is related to the bus. Gotcha. Okay. Thank you. So, can we please Elaine, if you
062wouldn't mind, redo your um proposal. Okay, great. Thank you. >> Right now, we're up to uh amending that number again. the original budget minus 55,329 plus one season of esports. >> We got that covered. Forget forget forget the esports part. >> I'm sweating. Scott, if we were to hire a chemistry teacher to replace the retiring chemistry teacher, would the salary, benefits, and um retirement be pretty much exactly the same as the 1237 735. >> It most likely it would be less unless we hired someone who had their doctorate. But you need to be very careful when you talk about especially the cost of health insurance depending what someone you you can't say I'm only going to hire somebody with single health insurance. You can't do that. And the difference between single health insurance and possibly
063full family health insurance is about 25,000 bucks. So, >> so in this total of 123735, what health insurance amount have you figured for that? >> I'd have I'd have to look it up. That was the whole package. That was his That was one line 186 is the whole regular instruction for high school salaries. 189 is the whole line for high school teachers benefits and 192 is the whole line for mainstate retirement for high school teachers. >> Okay. So, it could be less. >> It should it should be a little bit less, but I'm not going to say it's going to be a little bit less. >> Take that original 226,500 and only subtract the 123735. and put through the rest of the cuts that have proposed. I agree. >> Wait, what? >> So, >> she's
064she's saying put back the science teacher. Everything else on there that's cut stays as cuts. The 123,000. You know, we can round it to just 123 if we want. >> Yeah. If we just subtract 123 from the 2265, that's our cut. I'm not willing to amend that. >> Um, I do just want to speak so everybody because like I said, I do this number stuff. So, I know a lot of the kids that came up and talked about the athletics. What I do want to mention though is looking at our athletic budget, we spent $273,000 and we've budgeted 330. So that budget was over by $75,000. So the cut to the athletics is still not even close to what they're actually spending. So I hear those kids. I love those kids that I just saw,
065but it is not going to impact, I think, what they think it is. Looking at the numbers, we have already overbudgeted by more than 50 to $60,000 in the athletic budget. So, I just want to make that clear. Looking back into the budget regarding the high school athletics, I didn't get to the middle school. Sorry. I acknowledge what you're saying, Jod, and you know, I agree with you. I think that's something that Scott's going I'm going to ask Scott to address, and I'm sure you will, too, is the budgeting and the actual accounting there. Um, it needs to be changed. Um, and I think that's a thing that we'll be looking at in the future. I would hope. >> Okay, we have a motion. Uh, Andrew, >> I would like to support Elaine's motion to
066go back to the original budget. I feel there were fair cuts made to it. It stayed within the rate of inflation and it's something we can live with. However, I also recognize the realities that there are those who want cuts one way or another. I'm been looking at the board and I see over here or we see awards for Environ and robotics. Those are probably the most awards any group in this school has gotten. And with the emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math, I think we should restore at a minimum the science position we got. Although I support Elaine's motion, I think it I hope it passes. But if it doesn't, I hope that people will be satisfied with the restoring the science position and accepting the other cuts. That way both sides when
067we restore the integrity and of our science department, we satisfy those who want to make budget cuts. Okay, we have a motion on the table to do the original amount plus >> um >> never mind the esports. [laughter] >> Um that's that's >> I want those. >> It's taken care of. Don't worry about it. We've got that. So minus >> 559 >> 329 roughly. >> Okay. Laura, can I get a roll call, please? >> Can you put >> Sorry. Could we hear the motion again real quick? I'm sorry, Lane. I just want to make sure. >> That's all right. If you people tell me what >> I want to make sure that uh >> we know exact number in the actual budget before >> and were there any amendments accepted to it? >> No. >>
068Okay. >> What was the what's the number? >> There was an amendment proposed but she rejected >> I rejected it. >> Yeah. >> How what amount? >> Right. >> Okay. which means we'll still cut the transportation costs and also put in the propane bus and we'll cut what was on this list from special education, but everything else >> Stays is what she's saying. >> Does that make more sense to you? >> It got confusing. >> Okay, >> whenever you're ready, Laura. Yes. >> Yes. No, >> they cut all of this. That's gone. >> Yes. >> No. >> Yes. No. >> Yes. Motion carries. [applause] So, these numbers will be given to our lawyers tomorrow to put them into the warrants. And the warrants will be here next week for you guys to vote on the
069individual warrants that will then go out to the towns. Next regular school board meeting, March 12th at 6 o'clock. As Scott said, budget warrants will be approved. Uh teacher workshop on the 20th, policy meeting March 23rd. And I will accept a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Thank you everyone.