RSU73 School Board Budget Meeting 2/12/26

001United States of America to the standice for all. Laura, are you okay with attendance? Okay. I will entertain a motion to accept the school board meeting minutes from January 20 22nd, 2026. >> Second. >> Any omissions, additions, subtractions? No. All those in favor? I >> I. Are those opposed? Any abstensions? No. Motion carries. Uh public comments. You will have uh three minutes. Please address all your comments to the chair. I have >> Ash Nichols. Oh, Moody. Ash Moody. Oh, hi. I would like to speak out about the fact that you guys are cutting esports for next year. I would like to point out that we >> Hello. >> Okay. I would like to speak out about the fact that you guys are cutting esports for next year. At the last schoolboard meeting, you were told

002that we had six players when in reality we actually have seven. We have gained one more member since the numbers were given to we have four students that are not graduating and three that are graduating. I would also like to point out that the school only plays our coach Gath and $40 for our equipment. I would like to point out that we have four teams this year. We have one Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Team and two Super Smash Bros. Solos and then we have one Mario Kart team. I would also like to say that at least one of our teams for the last couple years have made playoffs. This year we have at least two teams that are going to make playoffs. I would also like to point out that we have two seasons. Why

003not cut it down to one? That's all. Ellen Graham. >> Good evening and thank you again for the opportunity to speak. I appreciate the hard work that has gone into crafting the budget. It's often said that a budget is a statement of values. In that spirit, I would like to make note of the large cuts to library books and the edtech position in the library. There are other many un unspecified instructional cuts that may impact learning, whether in the library or in the classroom. There's also the combining of the GT position with the ESL position. Two very different instructional domains. I'm concerned that these budget cuts undermine the core purpose of the school, which is to provide academic instruction and support. The purpose of the library edtech position is to free the librarian to directly

004help students access library resources, learn to research, identify misinformation, etc. I cannot imagine a school system that does not have robust library services and I urge the board to reinstate those cuts. It was noted last week that the school district has been unable to attract a person for the GT position. Perhaps this deserves some scrutiny. Why has it been so difficult? Students who qualify for GT services who need these services should not be denied them. Last, I note that not every board member was present last week. I believe that budget deliberations require the the presence of everyone on this board. Members were elected to serve the public and should show up for their responsibilities unless severe extenduating circumstances exist. Thank you. Uh, student reps, do you have something for us tonight? >> Yes. Yes, I

005do. Um, so good evening. I'd like to update the board on several important things happening here at Spruce Mountain High School. Um, as we've had a had a big week for our winter athletic programs. Our girl our girls wrestling team will be competing in the state championship at Belfast High School on on um February 17th. Uh our N our Nordic ski team will has also qualified for the state championship and will be traveling to Fort Kent uh to compete on Monday uh February 16th um and uh the 17th. Both of our boys and girls basketball teams have advanced to the to the regional uh tournament to play at the Augustus Civic Center. The boys will play um uh the boys will play on Monday at uh at 8:30 p.m. Um and then uh if they

006if they win that game, they will continue um through uh to progress throughout uh the tournament. Um, our alpine ski team has also qualified uh in the state championships which will take place on the 23rd and 24th at Black Mountain in Rumford. Uh, times are still are still to be announced. Uh, I'd like to recognize our cheering team which competed at the Class B uh, championship this past Saturday and our boys wrestling team which competed in the regional finals. Both teams represented Spruce Mountain very well. In addition, I'd like to share an academic update. Uh on uh this past Tuesday, uh 12 members were inducted into the Spruce Mountain High School National Honor Society chapter. This is a significant accomplishment uh and a testament to their service, character, and leadership. Overall, it's an exciting time

007for both our athletic programs and academic programs. And it's great to to have so many uh Spruce Mountain High School students representing us at such a high level. >> Thank you, Mason. Any questions for Mason? No. Thank you. Any other board comments? Andrew, I'd just like to make a uh comment on Wayne Neil's presentation last week about the bleachers. It's come to my knowledge that uh the installation went well and everything, but one thing I hadn't known is how they dispose of the old bleachers. And what I found out is they got very well repurposed. They've used the lumber for the and the metal for the shop program here, which has saved them considerable money from having to buy lumber at retail or or scrap metal for welding practice. And uh the instructor was very

008thrilled about that and I guess I got some other projects possibly in mind for it too. But I thought that was very good that nothing went to waste on the old bleachers. Thank you. >> Other board comments. Tanya. >> Um Mason already said it as the student rep, but I did want to congratulate the students on being inducted into the National Honor Society. That's quite an accomplishment. So I wanted to make sure that the board acknowledged it. I just wanted to say congratulations to the boys and girls basketball teams. I've had a chance to go to a few of the games. They've been very exciting and sitting on the edge of your seat. And also, um, congratulations and good luck to all of our sports teams that are competing. our Nordic boys team which uh

009won the it team means one skier. He Sam Gisinger um won the MVC out of all the schools represented. Um did a great job. I'm sad and I hope we can get some more interest maybe through the fact that Spruce Mountain Ski area itself where a lot of kids TJ um grew up started racing and that kind of thing. I'd love to see we have some great trails out there now. We have great skiing. It'd be great to see this sport get back again. I personally am following the Levit team because I have a grandchild there. Um, and I will be going to Fort Kent uh for 2 days. I really wish Sarah could get some colder temperatures up there. That'd be good. But Sam's had an outstanding season. And I really want to support

010those guys. And thanks so much. And hopefully we can get some more interest. Work on that, Sarah. Would you? What comments? >> Phoebe. We're approaching that time of year again for February vacation. Um, and as always, I'm going to remind you guys to drive safely. Be very, very careful. There are buses filled with children even during winter break uh during this February vacation. Uh keep in mind there are going to be children that are going to be in the vehicles around you. They're going to be doing different things, different activities, sports events, sledding if the weather permits. So just please be very careful. Um we did see some kids um not on our hills of course, but uh sled in their driveways and they tend to rear into the road. So, please be very very

011cautious while driving. The other thing I would like to um address is our teachers and our staff. Um I want to thank each of you for what you guys do. We couldn't be the school district we are without you. And often we forget about that. We get so excited about the holidays for our kids. We get so excited about these different things, these activities. We can't do those things without you. We see our teachers do sports as coaches. We see them encourage kids to pursue different activities to expand their horizons. And I want to thank each and every one of you for being that inspiration for our kids. Thank you. >> Any other board comments? >> Superintendent's report. >> Okay. Good evening. I got a chance to read to quite a few classes. I got

012to read to Mrs. Gerrett's special ed class. I got to read Valentine books to Mrs. Butterfield's, Mrs. Talbettz, and Ms. Kushman's kindergarten classes. And I also got to read a Valentine's book to Mrs. McFersonson's second grade class. I also got to be involved in the purple fuzzy cow science experiment with Mrs. Kuthpson's second grade class. It was an experiment on solids, liquids, and gas. And it ended up being a tasty treat cuz it ended up being uh soda floats. So root beer floats or in their case they had grape soda because it was purple. So purple floats. So it was fun. It was a great great lesson for the kids and it was a fun way to do it. So uh I was also have attended three negotiation meetings, two with the teamsters and one

013with the administrators. I did attend our policy meeting and there'll be a couple policies later in the meeting to approve. And then I also attended the Western Maine uh administrators consortium where we reviewed and accepted a final plan for reertification for one of our area administrators. And then we also reviewed and approved an initial plan for certification for one of our area administrators. >> Questions for Scott? >> Okay, TJ. Hi everyone. Um Mason stole all my thunder. That's great though. I'm so happy that he did that. Um we're pretty excited about this uh uh this basketball season, wrestling season, and I just want to uh draw attention to the hard work that those students, athletes have been doing. Uh and this is the end of it, right? So this is where everybody wants to see

014us win. So, if you're going to come out, be at the civic center, have fun. Again, this is the first time we've been at the Civic Center since I've been here. So, it is really nice to have that. Um, so get out and come see them. So, enrollment 418 at Spruce Mountain High School. We're up one. Um, I'm going to go through some of our discipline uh here. So, remember last quarter I said uh we had 11 the whole quarter. Um, we now have 12 for the first four months, four weeks. Um, and it is due to the the uh cell phone thing that happened, but they're learning, right? We're going to get through this. Uh, I asked my staff today, you know, what do they think? Uh, how's it going? And every single one

015of the staff members said, you know, this is the right move. So, um, we're we're going down it. We're going to work through this. Um, it is a learning process. um the quarter three attendance, so the first four weeks we are at 15%, we're up a little bit. We've had a lot of kids out with flu and COVID and things like that. Um I look forward to after vacation. If you remember February break is for the flu. So back in the day when they first created this, it was all about the flu. So that's why we have it. Um, and that's all I have because uh we've already talked about everything else. >> Questions for TJ? Phoebe. >> TJ, you're missing some of your thunder. >> What's my thunder today? >> Um, so a group

016of your high school kids um got together and they worked to bring um animal supplies to the Farmington Animal Shelter. >> Oh, wow. Um, and they all they all did this on their own. >> Yeah. >> But that's a feather in your hat. Don't forget. >> I want to find out who these students are and I want to recognize them. So, we'll find out later. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Other questions for TJ. Thank you, >> Chris. Good evening. Uh the middle school right now has a current enrollment of 269 and our yearly uh attendance average is still holding at 94%. Uh January 16th, we had our schoolwide spelling bee with Abigail Fitch finishing first and Landon Beat finishing second. Um tomorrow, February 13th, we have our annual Phoenix time derby race. So if

017you're around in the afternoon, stop by, check out for some really whole school excitement. Uh February 27th is our next gen is our January student of the month in Phoenix award assembly. Uh March 6, we'll have a staff versus student basketball game in the afternoon. And then March 12th and 13th is the Spruce Mountain Middle School per performance of Shrek Jr. in the evenings. And last uh right now we've had 25 out of school suspensions for the year and 22 in school. Last year we had 36 out of school and 21 in school at this time. >> That's it. >> Questions for Chris? >> Thank you. Patrick, this had to be you. I figured. Good evening. Um, so it's budget season, so I want to talk about money in a good way. So, donor's choose

018seems to be going well at the elementary school. So, we had another uh Mr. Toner put in for donor's choose and was awarded $1,100 so that he could buy a microphone system, a speaker system for the gym. And then he also got 24 new basketballs and a brand new parachute. Um, which helps with our budget going forward. Um, we had our first annual talent show at the elementary school and it was awesome. We had 40 kids, well 40 different acts between dancing, singing, jokes, impersonators. These kids got up with no fear and performed their little hearts out and it was awesome. Um, so we're definitely going to do that. We had one student was able to name all the countries in Africa under a minute. I was like, I know four of those. So, I

019I felt pretty smart that day. Um, so we'll definitely do that again in the future. Um, tomorrow I heard that I have two board members that are coming to the school with over 6,000 books. We're doing our second free book fair. So Phoebe and Elaine will be in and we're doing our fall into love reading tomorrow where kids will be able to come in and take I think we figured how many what 10 books a piece or something like that. >> Up to 10 books per child >> per child to take home over vacation. Take them for themselves, siblings, cousins, we don't care. You take a book, give it to whoever you want. Um so we have over 6,000 books available for the kids. Um, school attendance now is 288 and the last time I

020was here was 282. So, we've gone up six. Questions? >> Questions for Patrick. Michelle, >> just to thank you um for hosting the talent show because I think it is an opportunity to showcase the different and like unique talents that kids may not know about each other and their peers and my son definitely came home talking about it and he did mention the one with the countries. He was pretty impressed. So, like they're paying attention to one another and um I think it's wonderful to be able to appreciate different skill sets and strengths. So, thank you. >> So, you should thank the PBIS committee because they're the one who came up with it and like I've said before, I just try to say yes for anything they ask. So, it was all them. >> Have

021a question. Elaine, >> first of all, I've always thought that the best administrators are actually facilitators. They don't make the rules, they facilitate for the educators there when they say, "Gee, do you think we can the administrator finds the way to make it happen?" Because the teachers are wanting it for the kids. So, I appreciate you being a facilitator in this. Secondly, I Phoebe deserves all of the credit for finding sources to raise enough books. We have 288 students. Each of them gets to take 10 books. She has done all that. I am just doing lifting tomorrow. No big kudos here. Phoebe, thank you. And you, this is not the only year she's done this. She's done this for several years for our kids. >> She's already done it once this year. >> Yes. And

022I'm just there to lift boxes. So Phoebe, thank you so much. Our kids appreciate. Other questions for Patrick? Nope. Thank you, Dassy. In order. All right. So, we are at for enrollment 324 students. We have a couple registering this week. Um, if you I know I didn't give the breakdowns last time, so I will today. Okay, we have 55 preK, 104 kinder, 82 first graders, 83 second graders for a total of 324. Exciting news, we are down from 16% chronic absenteeism to 4%. So huge, huge. Um, and it's like I say like it's kudos to the teachers, you know, they create that environment for these students and I told them today at the staff meeting like thank you because it's because of the work that they do with our kids that they want to be

023there every day, you know, and they just create that love, nurturing, safe environment and it really is um for them. Um, and so more good news, our behavior referrals are decreasing solidly every month. We went from having 400 in October down to 300 in November. We're down to 200 and now I'm down to 100 in February. Um and so it is the work again of all these systems that are in place. Um the dean of students works so hard to support staff in implementing a lot of tier 2 interventions. Um and then of course we have that next layer of the social skills teacher working with these students doing group work and and then we have the tier three levels as well. And it really is once we get those systems in place, they work.

024And so with PBIS and MindUp and those frameworks and curriculum, we're able to decrease our behaviors and more learning takes place. So that's fabulous. Um we completed our NEWIA testing. We're still in the midst of STAR testing. Um got a few to wrap up for tomorrow. Um but our for our NEA scores um the kindergarten stayed in the 60 sec 62nd percentile for um newas in um in that area. And then first grade went from the 52nd to the 58th percentile. So they increased and then grade two went from the 44th to the 46th. So they increased as well in their NEIA scores. So all around we're we're doing a lot of celebrating at the primary school. Um, last week we had our PBIS celebration and we will be bringing it back next year. It

025was a huge success. It was global play day. We played all day and the kids just had a great time. So, um, it it's just kudos to the teachers for all the work that they came together as teams to create that fun day of in the in of learning because we know children learn through play. Um, we're actually hoping to bring Playworks to our school. They were offering a free professional development day. Um, so we're looking at scheduling that. The outdoor learning committee is talking about that. They got a grant, so they are putting in an order soon for rain boots and gloves and all those things. Just get the kids outside even if it's raining. You know, it's just they need to be out there. Um, so yeah, that's all I have. That global

026day of play was a big success. My niece came home and said, "Best day ever." >> I heard that a lot. >> Questions for Dazzy? Lane >> Darcy just clarification on the NEAS that's fall to now. >> Yes. >> Okay. So that's just in these month this chunk and those are those are really good numbers. Those are great improvements. >> Y >> uh I don't really have a question. I just wanted to say my son he's in kindergarten and he's in Mrs. Butterfield's class and um he loves her so much and >> just about like the absenteeism thing. He does not like to wake up in the morning and go to school, but over Christmas vacation, he cried >> because he missed her so much. So that's just, you know, the power of these teachers

027is, you know, these kids miss them when they're on Christmas vacation of all things, you know, and then also that play day. >> He could not stop raving about how much fun he had and all the different things and all the different stations and all the things. >> Yeah. So, you know, that's the teachers are doing amazing. You're doing amazing. So >> yeah, >> I love it. >> Other questions for Tassy? Thank you, >> Sherry. So the play day was my first full day at the primary school and uh I was exhausted by the end of the day. But the good news there was not as many behaviors as I expected. So that was like the kids were really engaged in. So that was great. Anyway, um we currently have 344 students in special education.

028This is nine less than my January report. This includes 24 open referrals, which is the same as my last report. I think we're pretty constant with we'll close, you know, we'll find a kid eligible and then a new referral comes in. So, um we're stuck right there at 24. Uh the primary school currently has 76 students with IEPs. That is one less and there are 11 referrals in process. The elementary school has 85 students in special education. That's one less also with five referrals in process. The middle school has 74 students with which is two less with four referrals in place. And the high school currently has 109 students in special education. That's a decrease of five. And there are four new referrals in place even at that level. Uh we have 14 students at

029out of district placements in special purpose schools for day treatment programming. It's three primary school students, two elementary, four middle school, and five high school. This continues to be the same as my previous report. However, we did have one student move out of district, and then we just placed another student this week in a program. Uh current position updates. We have had um two edtech 3s within our district who are either waiting to receive their teacher certification in the mail or they're finishing up their last class uh for their certification. So you'll be seeing their names very soon. Jenna has been spending her days um every other day at the high school mentoring the high school teacher. And although the primary teacher hasn't started yet, I've been spending partial days in that program. So, um,

030the room will be ready and they will are definitely ready for her after vacation. I'll continue to mentor that teacher as she transitions to her new position. We continue to have three edtech one positions open at the high school. And I hope all of the teachers and edexs have a wonderful vacation week. It is well earned. Questions for Sherry. Michelle, >> I don't know if you can answer this question. And it's okay if you can't uh for confidentiality reasons, but are you able to uh give us an idea on the overall the majority of the reasons for the out of school district placements whether it's like um behavioral based needs or if it's a condition a level of condition that can't be supported. >> Yeah. 12 of them are due to severe behavior and two

031are severe disability. Okay, thank you. Other questions for Sherry? Thank you. Okay, so the scholarship committee met and the two winners of the Masha and Louie Brown scholarship are Paris House and Leah Burgess. Okay, on to policy. I will accept a motion for the first reading of policy GBO, family care leave. Second discussion. The only thing that was changed in this policy was the 12-month period. We're trying to align it with a couple of our other policies. So, it's a rolling 12-month period. So, by law, we can make it any 12 months the way we want to do it. Like, you could have it July 1st to June 30th. Um, but we found that it's better to do rolling because then they have exactly a year before they can use that uh opportunity to take

032time off again if if if needed. So, it just aligns with our other policies. That was the only thing changed in that policy. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed? Motion carries. I will accept a motion for the second and final reading of policy BDB board officers >> discussion. >> There was no change from the first reading. We we did bring it back to the policy committee but there was no change made between the first and second reading. All those in favor? All those opposed? Motion carries. On to the budget review. >> Down. >> Come on down, Wayne. Sherry, Wayne, Norma. Jesus. >> Yes. Is this on? Oh, yeah. >> Yeah, it's on. >> Okay. I hate >> Oh, yeah. >> Should be starting on page 18. >> Yeah, page 18,

033line 386. primary resource room. Um, line 386, there's one teacher and half of the special education social worker who works K to 5. Line 387, there's one edtech in this line. The reduction is for the second edtech who's paid through local entitlement federal funding. Line 388, substitutes for the teacher. Uh we do not get a sub for the social worker. 389 is IEP building coordinator chair. Um they chair meetings, review paperworks, and this is a contractual stipend. 390 is benefits for the IEP coordinator. 391 is teacher benefits and half of the social work benefits. 392 benefits for one edtech. The reduction in benefits is because of the federal funding to pay for the other edtech. 393 teacher substitute benefits. 394 retirement for the IEP coordinator. 395 is teacher retirement as well as half of the

034social worker retirement. 396 is retirement for one tech. 397 is retirement for teacher subs. 398 professional development will be covered by the federal funding that we receive. uh instructional supplies for the resource room as well as for the social worker. This is specific special education needs like flashcards, manipulatives for reading and math, fidgets, flexible seating, adaptive writing utensils, and other things of that sort. Uh line 400, classroom sets of books to align with uh the IEP goals for reading site words, phonics, and other specific reading skills. And line 401 is dues and fees. Um this was removed because the current teacher doesn't need any dues and fees. And that's the resource. Questions regarding the uh primary school resource? Awesome. primary self-contained. Line 402, there's salary for one teacher. Line 403, salaries for six edte in

035the program. The reduction is due to the transfer of one edtech position to the elementary school. Line 404, substitute for the um teacher. Line 405 is teacher benefits. Line 406 is benefits for all six of the edte. Line 407 is the benefits for the sub. Line 408 is teacher retirement. 409 is the edtech retirement for the six edte. Line 410 is the substitute retirement. Line 411 contracted special education includes board certified behavior analysts and um an AAC specialist which is augmentive alternative communication devices. We have a specialist that comes into district monthly. Um, these are based on student needs as determined by their IEP. Line 412 is professional development that will be paid for by federal funding. Line 413, instructional supplies for life skills include materials to build communication books for some of our students

036with limited verbal skills. Um, these are students that don't use the AAC devices. They use um picture books instead. It's the start of their um, communication. binders for discrete trial programming, spring scissors, and learning center supplies. Line 414, dues and fees in the life skills program pays for the membership to to Toby Davox for making the communication pictures with a program called board maker. Questions regarding primary self-contained? Okay. elementary school resource on page I mean line 415 there are salaries for three resource room teachers and the other half of the special education social worker line 416 is salaries for four edtes line 417 are the substitutes for special education teachers I believe um 418 IEP coordinator same as the in the primary school she chairs meeting and reviews paperwork it's a contractual stipen Line 419,

037IEP coordinator benefits. Line 420, the benefits for three resource room teachers and half of the special education social worker. Line 421, the benefits for four edte. Line 422, benefits for the special education subs. Line 423, IEP coordinator benefits. Line 424 is retirement for three resource room teachers and half the the special education social worker. Line 425 is retirement for all four edte. Line 426 is for retirement for special education subs. Line 427 is profession professional development travel and that's to pay for one of our district safety care trainers to attend her annual reertification. Line 428. Instructional supplies include flexible seating options, standing desks, binders, folders for maintaining files and student work, classroom scissors, laminating sheets for special education materials. Uh line 429, core connection books to align with the corrective reading program used within the

038special education classrooms. And line 430, dues and fees. Um, this covers the certification cards for those district staff members being reertified in safety care, which is our chapter 33 restraint and seclusion deescalation physical management. It is $7 per staff member that is certified and we currently have 75 people certified. So, this is only a portion of it. Questions regarding elementary resource line elementary self-contained line 431 um 431 is self-contained teacher salary line 432 salaries for seven edte line 433 special education substitute salaries this year is higher due to having a long-term sub in an unfilled edtech position. So the salary is accounted for in the salary line. We had the same scenario for part of last year as well. The position is now filled. So um line 434, benefits for the self-contained teacher. Line 435,

039benefits for the seven edtes. Line 436, benefits for the subs. Line 437, teacher retirement. Line 438, edtech retirement. Line 439, substitute retirement. Line 440, contracted special education services. Again, for the board certified behavior analyst and the AAC specialist based on student needs. Line 441, professional development will be covered by federal funding. Line 442, instructional supplies include safety care supplies, sensory and communication boards, supplies for communication books, groceries for cooking, file folders, adaptive writing, and coloring utensils. And line 443, dues and fees are not needed this year. Questions regarding elementary self-contained. Middle School resource line 444, salaries for three resource room teachers. Line 445, salaries for three edte. Line 446, special education substitute salaries. Line 447, IEP building coordinator to chair meetings and review paperwork as a contractual stipend. Line 448, IEP coordinator benefits. Line 449,

040benefits for three resource room teachers. Line 450, benefits for three techs. Line 451, benefits for special education substitutes. Line 452, retirement for the IEP coordinator. Line 453, retirement for three resource room teachers. Line 454, retirement for three edtes. Line 455, retirement for special education subs. Line 456, professional development, was moved to federal funding. Line 457, instructional supplies, including binders, class sets of headphones, individual whiteboards, and subscriptions to Scholastic News Magazine. Line 458, books to replace tattered and worn copies, as well as to purchase a new classroom set of novels to align with the curriculum. And line 459, dues and feeds, dues and fees, includes a super teacher subscription. the big drop in 449 >> lane change. >> It was changed. >> Lane change. Okay. Thank you. >> Uh other questions regarding the middle school resource.

041>> Okay. Middle school self-contained. So line 460 the middle school self-contained teacher. This is currently has nothing has been spent this year because we were unable to fill that position. The life skills teacher at the elementary school has been the case manager for both programs at the elementary and middle school. And two edtech 3s have run day-to-day classroom instruction um in both buildings. So two edtech 3es at the elementary, two edtech 3s at the high school. Um, so she was doing the case, she is doing case management and she consults and spends time her week split between the two classrooms. Uh, we hope to fill this teaching position next year. Uh, line 461, salaries for six out of the eight edte in the program. Two of these edte are paid through federal funding. Line 462,

042salaries for special education substitutes this year is higher due to a work-related injury. 463 benefits for the teacher. We are planning for the family. We are planning for a family plan in in hiring the new teacher. Um line 464. There's more in 463 too, but I'll get to that in a minute. 464 benefits for six techs. 465 is benefits for special education subs. on four uh 465, sorry, with um subs. 466, the retirement for the special education teacher, you'll notice, is zero, and that's because of how our payroll system works. They can't calculate the retirement. So, that is accounted for in that benefits line currently. So, there is money planned for, but it can't go in this line yet. Okay. Um 467 retirement for six techs. 468 retirement for the special education subs. 469 is

043those same contracted services for BCBA and AAC specialists um based on student need. Line 470, professional development covered by federal funding. Line 471, instructional supplies, uh, groceries and other supplies for cooking, laundry and cleaning supplies, personal care supplies, sensory tools such as weighted items, fidgets, and noise cancelling headphones, binders, sheet protectors, dividers, file folders for discrete trial programming. Line 472, books related to science and social top social studies topics with real life connections. And line 473, dues and fees are not needed this year. questions regarding middle school self-contained Michelle >> just in general is there where does the funding come out of for the out of district school tuition >> in another section >> okay all right thank you >> we will get there yeah um high school resource oh sorry okay high school resource

044line 474 um salaries for four resource room teachers are in that line 475 salaries for six edte. This is where one of the edtech positions was cut. This that position has remained open for more than a year. Um line 476, special education substitute salaries. It's higher this year due to the part-time subs for open positions. Line 477, IEP building coordinator chairs for meetings and reviewing paperwork as part of the contractual statement. Uh, line 478, IEP coordinator benefits. Line 479, benefits for the four resource room teachers. Line 480 is benefits for six edte. Line 481 is benefits for the special education subs. Line 482, retirement for the IEP coordinator. Line 483, retirement for the four resource room teachers. Line 484, retirement for the six edte. Line 485, retirement for the special education substitutes. Line 486, professional

045development is for our other safety care trainer to attend her annual reertification. Line 487, instructional supplies include individual whiteboards, calculators, class sets of earbuds, and flexible seating. Line 488 includes classroom sets of books to align with the curriculum at a lower reading level. And line 489 is dues and fees to cover some of the reertification cards for those staff members being reertified in safety care. questions regarding high school resource. Good. High school self-contained. Um, line 490, the salary is for a life skills teacher. Currently, we're contracting with a retired teacher to do the case management and supervision of two edtech 3es because we were unable to fill this teaching position this year. We anticipate hiring a teacher with less experience than the previous teacher. So, this line does have a reduction there. And we do

046have an edtech 3 finishing up his last two classes. Um, line 491, salaries for seven out of the eight edte in the program. One edtech is paid through federal funding. This is also where an edtech has been cut. This position has been open for over a year. Line 492. Substitute costs are higher than budgeted due to subs filling in the open edtech positions as available. 493 benefits for the special education teacher. Line 494 benefits for seven edte. 495 is benefits for the special education subs. Line 496 is the same as the middle school life skills. It's retirement for the teacher. And because that is open at this point, it is reflected in the benefits. Line 497, retirement for the edte. Line 498, retirement for the subs. Line 499, contracted special education, is extremely high this

047year because we're contracting with that retired teacher. Next year, we anticipate an increase in um in contracted services needed with the board certified behavior analyst and the AAC specialist based on the incoming students. So that contracted that's over so much is in the salary line for this current budget. Um so that's why we kept we increased it just by a little bit but not enough to meet this year. We don't anticipate going that high next year. Line 500 professional development travel will be covered by federal funding. Line 5001. Instructional supplies include personal care supplies, file folders, adapted line paper, laminating sheets, index cards, reading and math manipulatives, sensory tools, adaptive measuring cups and recipe books, dry erase boards, counters, glue, card stock, social skills teaching tools and mats. Line 502, no additional book purchases are

048needed this year. And line 503, dues and fees are not needed this year. questions regarding the high school self-contained. >> I have a question. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. um on the tech salary. Um it's showing the increase of 46,000, but I I'm just wondering did we add another position because it's been at 140 162 and now it's gone to 208. There is currently there's another Yes, we need to add another position. It's transferred from another area from last year. Um and that is because of the number of students that we have at that level. Now that students can stay till the age of 22, we have more than 20 kids in that life skills program. So we have two edtech 3s currently up there which was an addition this year.

049Awesome. And then another question if you don't mind the benefits for the teacher that's going up even though we're going to get a lesser potential um salary for a teacher. I noticed that the benefits are going up 50,000. Is that that's because we're suspecting maybe a family plan? >> We always plan for a family plan, but also the retirement is there because there's nothing in the retirement line due to the payroll system. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. Um, next section is special education administration. Line 5004, this is our tuition for K to8. Um, we have seven students out of district at the special purpose private schools for day treatment. And line 5005, the tuition for private, this is 9 through 12. This line is for three students in grades 9 through

05012 to attend out of district special purpose school. This line is reduced because we do have a graduating senior. Uh line 506 special education director salary. Line 507 this is assistant special education director salary which is a split position with the 504 coordinator and the rest of those salaries are in the building budgets. Uh line 508 salary for one special education administrative assistant. Line 509, director benefits. Line 510, assistant director benefits. Line 511, administrative assistant benefits. Line 512, administrative assistant retirement. Line 513, assistant special education director retirement. Line 514, director retirement. Line 15, um, is our postage. For each IEP meeting, there are at least three mailings. That's minimum. Um, additionally, we must mail permission to evaluate forms, evaluation reports when they're completed, and provide self-ress stamped envelopes for any paperwork we mail home that

051requires a signature. Line 516, professional development, will be covered by federal funding. Line 517 does have an increase this year. These are for our general supplies in our office for paper paper envelopes, files, um working file folders, basic office supplies, binders, organization, and data tracking supplies. However, we need to purchase a new academic evaluation kit. We are on our last year of being able to use um our current kit because they it they updated it. So, we have to buy a new kit or we would be out of compliance. Um line 518 dues and fees is for cell phone bills and MADSE which is the special education equivalent to the main principles association. MADS doesn't really stand for the letters anymore that's and for anything anymore but um it is the special education directors. Um

052so those dues pay for myself the assistant director and our administrative assistant um to be part of that and they offer trainings and lots of guidance. Um and then 519 is the main care seed. Um the main care seed is the statemandated local funding portion that school administrative units must pay for school-based main care services which is about 38% of of the total cost of those billable services. Questions regarding special ed admin? Michelle, >> I'm sorry. Um it if I heard correctly you're planning for 10 out of school district students for next year and we currently have 14. So two of them we will have 12 total next year. Um one student who is a state agency client is graduating. We don't pay the tuition for that student. The state does. Okay. >> Um so

053that's one of them. and two of them um attend a day treatment at a public program. So I'm able to pay for those two out of federal funding. >> Okay. Is that included? Is that number reflected include or is it taken out of the federal funding? >> The tuition for those two students is taken out is paid for by the federal funding we receive. >> Okay. Is that I'm sorry. Is the number reflected after it's taken out? >> Wait, I'm not sure. There's this and federal funding are two separate budgets. >> Okay. I'm sorry, but I needed that clarification. And then >> generally speaking, if eligible is just sort of the concept and the thought process around this that we are hoping to gradually hopefully metriculate these students back into the district. Mhm. And we

054have Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. In the last two years, we've brought two students back. >> Thank you. >> Other questions regret Oh, >> Sher, just housekeeping. I want to thank you for being so direct and explaining every single one of these, including general supplies and all that you've done. You've made it very easy for me to understand and I don't have a long attention span. So, I thank you so much. It's it's I made the teachers put send it me details on everything they wanted. So, I guess I could only do the same, right? So, the next section is K to8 homebound. So any special education student or section 504 student that's removed from school more than 10 days whether for medical reasons or for suspension must be provided tutoring must be offered tutoring

055services in order to access their special education services and academics and I say offered because not all parents want to accept that service. So but we still have to offer it. Um so that is what is in this line five uh line 520 is the primary school tutor salary. It's not often we we use that line. Um five line 521 is elementary school tutor salaries and those were reduced because we have not used that line. Um line 522 is the middle school tutoring salaries. Line 523 primary tutor benefits. There was um five line 5 22 23 and 24 are all zero. Um they were new lines created there. 523 24 25 sorry. So then we get down to their benefits are on line 526 for the primary school tutor benefits. Line 527 it says substitute

056benefits but the line is elementary school tutor benefits. And line 528 is middle school tutor benefits. Line 529 is professional benefits which there's no teachers. We typically don't have teachers. Um and it's tutors are paid hourly. So there's no professional no teacher there. 530 is the primary school tutor retirement. 531 is the elementary school tutor retirement. 532 is the middle school tutor benefits. Um 533 is contracted tutoring and this was removed because we have not accessed this service. Um we we attempted to during COVID but it did not work in our favor. >> Questions regarding K to8 homebound? Okay. uh 9 through 12 homebound. Line 534, high school tutor salaries. 534 is the tutor benefits, which is zero, but 536 is where their high school tutor benefits are. Line 537, professional retirement. Again, there's not

057any um it's not a teacher paid position, so there's nothing there. Line 538 is the high school tutor retirement. questions regarding 9 to 12 homebound other special education programs 9 through 12 line 539 it says contracted special education we don't have any other programs so that line is zero uh psychological K to8 this is for special education evaluations to determine eligibility we contract with two companies to complete psychological evaluations as well as one retired teacher to do our academics Uh line 40 is evaluations for K to2. Line 541 is evaluations for 3 to 5. And line 542 is evaluations to 6 to 8. And line 543 is evaluations for 9 through 12. Questions regarding psychological evaluation K to 12. Okay. Speech K to8 line 544 is contracted services. We have two in-person speech language pathologists

058that we contract with to provide the services to our students in grades K to 5. At the middle school, we have a high techch program which consists of an in-person facilitator and a tea therapist which is also done through a yearly contract. Line 545, primary instructional supplies for speech to provide visual schedules and communication boards as well as tools for social pragmatic skills. Line 546 is those same supplies but at the elementary level. Line 547 is middle school supplies for speech with the same communication boards and social pragmatics tools. And line 548 dues and fees were removed since the providers are all contracted. this their dues and fees are no longer our responsibility. Questions regarding speech K to8. Um it looks like was that on? Yeah. Between uh it looks like we have quite an

059increase going on between uh for next year for the speech uh the contracted services. Are we anticipating uh more pe more students or or there is an increase in the contracted rates? >> Okay. Wow. Okay. Thank you. >> Other questions K to8 speech. Okay. um 9 through 12 speech. Line 549 is the other portion, the high school portion of that high-tech contract for the in-person facilitator and the online taotherapist. Live 550 is an unused line. Line 551 is the instructional supplies needed um for the high school in the therapy setting. questions regarding 9 to 12 speech right um OTC OT so occupational therapy K to8 RSU73 employs one full-time occupational therapist and contracts with one therapist up to 3 days per week line 552 is the primary school portion of that full-time occupational therapist line

060553 is the elementary portion of the full-time time occupational therapist. Line 554 is the middle school portion of the full-time occupational therapist. Line 555 is the primary portion of the full-time OT benefits. 556 is the elementary portion of the benefits. Line 557 is the uh middle school portion of the benefits. Line 558 is the primary portion of the OT retirement. Line 559 is the full-time elementary portion of the full-time OT retirement. Line 560 is the middle school portion of the full-time OT retirement. 561 is half of the contracted amount for the second occupational therapy services. Line 562 is professional development which will be covered only for the full-time OT but by federal funding. Line 563, primary school instructional supplies for individual student therapy needs. Line 564 is the elementary instructional supplies for individual student therapy

061needs. And line 565 is the middle school instructional supplies for individual student therapy needs. questions regarding OTK to8. Andrew, >> it's just a comment, but as far as speech therapy goes, I've known kids who've been the benefit of that program, it's remarkable the progress they make >> and to be able to get up to speed with the classroom and everything. It's one of the few therapies I've seen that really works and I'm glad you support that. Thank you. Other questions regarding OTK kid8? Okay. OT9 through 12. Line 566 is the high school portion of the full-time therapist salary. Line 567 is the high school portion of the full-time occupational therapy benefits. Line 568 is the high school portion of the full-time OT retirement. Line 569 is the other half of the contracted OT amount and

062line 570 is professional development and travel which will be covered by federal funding. questions regarding OT 9 to 12 physical therapy K to8 RSU73 contracts with a private physical therapist who oversees a physical therapy assistant to provide direct therapy to our students who have this related service as part of their IEP in order to access their educational environment. The therapist is on site for evaluations. The physical therapist herself is on site for evaluations and is responsible for the IEP goals and progress monitoring. Line 571 is the K to8 portion of the contracted physical therapy. Line 572 is primary school supplies for those physical therapists. Line 573 is elementary school supplies. Line 574 is middle school supplies. Line 575 is primary school physical therapy equipment. and 576 is elementary school physical therapy equipment questions PT K

063to8 PT9-2 line 577 is the 9 through 12 portion of the contracted physical therapy cost line 578 is high school supplies and 579 is high school physical therapy equipment questions PT 9 to 12 special education summer school. Under federal and main regulations, all IEP teams must consider whether each individual student demonstrates significant regression over extended periods of time away from school, such as summer vacation, that cannot be recouped in a period of time equivalent to their grade level peers. They must also consider the severity of disability and the benefit of extended programming. Line 580 is the salaries for teachers. We advertise for one edtech I mean one teacher per building. We often have these teacher positions covered by our edtech 3es. Line which we legally can do. It can be a teacher in edtech 3

064in the summertime because it's to maintain skills not to teach new skills. Line 581 is the salaries for the edteex. The number of edteexs is determined in the spring after the IEP teams have determined who requires services and what the individual needs are within that learning environment. Line 582 is the benefits for the lead teachers. Line 583 is the benefits for the for the edte. Line 584 is teacher retirement. Line 585 is edtech retirement. Line 586 is the instructional supplies for programming. And line 587 is also instructional supplies for programming. You'll see that this year's budget there hasn't been anything spent out of it yet, and that's because it will pay for this sum, this upcoming summer. Questions regarding special ed summer school. Are you sick of listening to me yet? I'm almost done. um

065K to8 behavior. Line 588 is the primary school behavior program teacher salary. Line 589 is the elementary school beh pro behavior program teacher salary. Line 590 is the middle school behavior program teacher salary. Line 591 is the salaries for three edte at the primary school. Line 592 is one out of the two edte in the elementary school program. The second edtech is paid of f out of federal funding. Line 593, two edte. Line 594, teacher substitute salaries. Line 595, primary school behavior program teacher benefits. 596 is the elementary school teacher benefits. 597 is the middle school teacher benefits. Line 598 is the benefits for three edte at the primary school. Line 599 is benefits for one edtech at the elementary school. Line 600 is benefits for two edte at the middle school. Line 601 is

066substitute benefits. Line 602 is primary school teacher retirement. Line 603 elementary school teacher retirement. Line 604 is middle school behavior program teacher retirement. Line 605 is retirement for the three edte at the primary school. Line 606 is retirement for one edtech at the elementary school. Line 607 is retirement for two edte at the middle school. Line 608 is retirement for substitutes. 609 is contracted services for the board certified behavior analyst that consults at the primary school. Line 610 is contracted services for the board certified behavior analyst at the elementary and 611 is the contracted for the middle school for the behavior analyst. Line 612 professional development and travel will be covered by federal funding. Line 613 professional development and travel for the middle uh elementary school covered by federal funding. And 614 is middle school

067which will also be covered by federal funding. Line 615, instructional supplies for individual student needs with flexible seating, sensory tools for deescalation, and supplemental social learning curriculum materials at the primary school. Line 616. Instructional supplies include double-sided dry erase boards, extra dry erase markers, flexible seating, adaptive writing utensils, sensory tools for deescalation, all at the elementary school. And line 617 is instructional supplies that include binders, index dividers, anchor charts, planners, light covers, clipboards, colored pencils, and timers for the middle school. Line 618, no book purchases are needed this year at the primary school. Line 619, social emotional learning curriculum books at the elementary school. and line 620, replace tattered class novels and buy one classroom set of novels to align with curriculum at a lower level. Line 621 is the primary school dues and fees

068that are not needed this year. Line 622, elementary school dues and fees for the facts and fitness program. And line 623, middle school dues and fees are not needed this year. questions regarding K to8 behavior program. We made it to the last section. High school behavior program. Line 624, professional salary for one teacher. Line 625, salaries for three edte. Line 626, benefits for one teacher. Line 627, benefits for the three edte. Line 628, teacher retirement. Line 629, three, edtech retirements. Line 630 is the board certified behavior analyst contract. Line 631, professional development and travel. That will come from federal funding. Line 632, general supply line. This line is not used. The the instructional supplies in 633. This includes supplies for the classroom as well as mats to go on a small wall. Um, in all

069of the other buildings, we have spaces for kids when they get physically aggressive. The the walls are made out of the mats like that are at the end of the gym, right? So, the kids fall into the wall, they don't get hurt. Um, and we don't have a room like that at the high school. We do have some concerns about an incoming high school student who could be physically aggressive and was denied out of district placement. So, we need to plan for him. So, that is in that line. Uh line 634 replace books that are worn within the classroom and 635 are dues and fees for a classroom software subscription. Questions regarding high school behavior program. Okay. Thank you. Thanks. >> You're up. >> Yeah. We're going to take five minutes. >> He's quick. They

070have to wake up after I put him to sleep. This looks like a double. Come on. Not yet. >> Don't worry. She's short and sweet. >> Yeah, mine's not very long. So line 636 through 644 unless you want that's all contractual unless you want me to do one of them by one. I have 20 22 shared bus drivers with well sorry I have 14 shared bus drivers with Wayne eight 30-hour bus drivers for 180 days. two bus monitors that I share with um EdTE and food service and I have six van drivers that's included in the salary and wages and that's going through negotiations right now. So that covers page 28, page 29, line 43 and 44 in the um salaries and benefits. Line 45 contracted professionals that is Bailey Brothers Harry J. Smith Spring

071Company, Affordable Fire Protection, Citadel Technology that covers bus van cameras, radios, St. Mary's Regional Medical Center, WorkMed, Drivers, Drug Testing, and physicals. Main information network, that's where I do all the background checks on all employees in the district and volunteers. Um, DA Global Solutions does our drug and alcohol pool testing. They're the ones that um produce our randoms for all the drivers. O' Connor WC Cressy Main Commercial Tire Nappa Auto Parts Portland Glass Von Motor Supply Wallingford Equipment Franklin Printing Sign Works Reggie Sales and Service Hilltop Collision Alire Center Unity School Bus Parts Paris Farmers Union Overhead Door Company Hussy Communications and prices of parts and labor have increased as everyone knows. Also, older equipment such as our camera systems cost more to repair and replace. They need to be updated for firmware and preventive

072maintenance. Increase and drug and alcohol mandatory testing has also gone up 3.7% this year. Line any questions? Sorry, getting ahead of myself. Page 29, line 646, contracted transportation. This covers ride source reimbursement of parents reimburse 50% for McKenna Vento transportation and that's federal law. Uh special needs students coming in the fall, unknown transportation needs because there are coming in with I IEPs. We don't know exactly if any of that's going to include transportation increase McKini Vento in special transportation needs. >> Yeah, remember in that line there is no special ed transportation line. It doesn't exist. It should, but the state doesn't have that. So most of what that is is all the stuff that she deals with with special ed students, getting them to different places with the van or our special buses to do

073that as well. Page 29, line 647, water and sewer. As far as I know, there's no change with that. Page 29, line 648, repairs, maintenance, equipment increase due to older equipment and increased prices for parts due to having an older fleet. This includes lawnmowers, tractors, skid steers, increase in tire prices, ages of buses. We have 13 buses that are between 10 and 17 years old. DEF for buses also fall under that. And yeah, lights. I mean, I can go on for days for that one. >> What is DEF? >> Uh, it's diesel uh environmental fluid exhaust fluid. Diesel exhaust fluid. >> I asked for a lane. >> Thank you. Oh, sorry. >> It's to make it cleaner. >> Yes, it's cleaner >> for the environment. >> And that's actually why I'm trying to get away

074from the diesel buses also because next year it's going to be a law that they have to have two tanks and we spend a lot of money on D deaf. Page 29, line 649, repairs of maintenance grounds, sanding, plowing, trash removal, custodial, mowing. It's actually uh decreased. Lost my place. Sorry. Yeah, I went down $1,000. We >> right I know I'm losing my 6949. Okay. Building 650 repairs of maintenance of building locks doors painting sanding fire alarm testing that's also decreased a thousand. Property insurance I believe that's gone up both due to rate increases. Line 51 and 52 auto insurance um 63 line 63 communications that actually is um we have to pay for FCC licensing we have to pay for the tower um anything you do with FCC they they charge you for everything.

075So, and then travel, that's for training. Some of it's mandatory, some of it's um justformational stuff for our drivers. They usually go April vacation up to you uh Mount Blue. General supplies, roof rakes, garden hoses, rags, paper towels, toilet paper, pens, paper ink, gloves, filing, files, um, office, just office equipment. Line 56, electricity rate increase. Um page 29 657 propane due to propane usage. It's actually decreased. Hold on just a second. Crystal, are we still in that that program with the solar for the electricity? >> And is that is that saving any? >> We are, but um legislature just passed >> some rules on that. So, we're not gaining as much. were not saving as much cuz um there were people out there. They pushed the legislature because the electric companies were losing money and

076uh solar solar was there was a there's a battle going on there and we kind of got pinched, but we're we're still all set with that overall. Plus, we had four different buildings this year. Last year, I think we had five things and this year we have four that is a different contract electrical and that's electricity costs have gone up. So, But we are still saving money with the solar. That's a 20 that's a 20-year program. But we're not getting the benefits that we got in the first couple years that we're now because of the change in the law. >> Line 658 vehicle fuel that's gone up and that's due to um predicted increase to CDS special transportation and Mckin Vento needs. I just today the McKini Vento I got three more clients today. So

077that start after vacation equipment um no difference no change dues and fees that is for mapped uh main association for people transportation membership main motor transfer uh membership that helps us actually gives us a discount on drug testing and easy pass tolls. So when they go out of town for trips, it's a much easier process for them to just grab an easy pass and go with the bus instead of worrying about cash and receipts and principles and interest. Crystal can probably explain that better to you, but we went down on the principal and up on the interest. And I believe that's for the new bus, the pro. >> It's the new buses. So the new buses, you pay more in interest than you do um with the ones that you're paying off. So that's just

078bus leases. Do we have any buses? You said we have quite a few that are are older in the fleet. Do we have any that we're in the process of getting ready to purchase? >> Not not at this time. No. >> Um, who doesn't want new buses? But I I just think financially we can't do it right now. >> Questions regarding transportation. Andrew, >> now now that we have the propane buses online, are they meeting the expectations of cost savings and reliability that was promised to us by the vendor? >> Maintenance-wise? Yes. Um, we had a little problem with the propane bus. We had to um they set up a lot higher than the other ones and we have a student that has a difficult time getting off and on because of the way it's

079set up. So we had to order a part like an RV step to go under the bus that comes out. They have to pull it in and out for them. So that took time to get that. Um, fuel-wise, we've only filled it once since we've had it. And we've had it since >> Yeah. It's so obviously, yeah, it's been a good investment. And we haven't had to plug it in once. >> Regarding line 645, I think you mentioned that was Mckin Vento, correct? >> That includes Mckin Vento. includes and also special services combined in that. Um in the McKini Vento is that if I recall specifically for our unhoused population, >> unhoused unaccompanied teens um if somebody loses a boiler and has to go live in a hotel. >> Okay. Do we have a a

080number roughly on how many students uh we are servicing in that program districtwide? Well, it's not just our districtwide because we have to provide 50% for any other school district if they're in our district. >> Okay. >> So, if somebody goes to Edward Little and they come and move here with their grandmother, I have to provide them 50% of their transportation. >> Okay. Thank you. Do we do we have a number on that on how many students roughly? >> Right now I have 11. >> 11. And it's because it's not 11 families, it's 11 students. >> Okay. And does that include the three that we are uh going to start providing? No. >> Okay. >> Nope. >> Uh quick question and I apologize if you already said this, but how big is our fleet? Like

081how many buses, vans? What's the total number? I have seven vans and I have 30 I want to say 33 buses. 33 32 or 33 buses. >> And how many buses or vans run just for the transportation every day? Not for the extracurricular or the sports? >> 22 buses run every day and six vans. >> Okay. Thank you. Other questions regarding transportation? I have a couple. >> Can you hear me? >> Mhm. >> Norma, I just have a couple clarifying questions on line 638. Is the 99,000 because we hired another driver? We're going up on our budget for salaries for bus drivers by $100,000. >> We're in negotiations right now. So, we're not we're on the high side. >> In order to bar in order to bargain in good faith, you have to put a

082a reasonable number in there. It doesn't mean that's what the number will be when the negotiations are over. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. also on line 4 or 648 um for your repairs and maintenance and I think you had said like this is the scary line. I guess I guess I just question if we're putting enough in that budget because it looks like in 25 you were way over budget and you're projected right now to be over budget if you don't spend more than $10,000. So, I'm just questioning if we're continually going over budget that that may want to increase. You mean request repay as maintenance above that $10,000? Well, I mean in 25 you were at $112,000 and you are already with still 5 months left already 73 out of your $85,000 budget.

083So, >> well, I last year we lost an engine. >> Okay. >> And um >> so that's why it was so high. >> Mhm. >> Just just something to be con, you know, I I'm a counting geek and I just hate to see lines that we're obviously going over. Um, and I don't have the obviously the 24 or 23 to see if you have gone over every year, but it might be something to consider. Um, 652 the auto insurance. Is that because of the new bus the or is that just the rate increase is literally going up $12,000? >> It's just the rate increase. What's that percentage, Crystal? Okay, >> we increased um throughout the district 25%. And that's what they are expecting. >> It's for that's a huge increase. >> It's not it's not

084just us. It's how it's insurance works throughout our country. So when you have devastations and all of that, we all assurance all goes up whether you've had a claim or no claim or added anything. >> Yeah. Thank you, Crystal. And then the last one is 659. Our the equipment budget, we're we're averaging it quite high at 16,000, but it's quite low. um our usage in that line. Can you explain why we have 16,000 budgeted when we're only, you know, 3 to 5,000 maybe in usage? If the skid well that equipment covers our lawnmowers, our tractors, our skid steer, I mean, it's definitely needs to be there. Um I I personally don't think it needs to go up. We haven't We've just been repairing it and repairing it. We haven't been really But if we do

085need it, it's going to be there. >> And those that equipment doesn't come under way. >> No, I pay for all the district fuel and equipment. >> Okay. >> Just >> Yeah, I was saying maybe decrease it, not increase. Sorry. So, just to clarify, Jody, um years ago, this this used to be um all one unit. So, it that's why um all the vehicles um all the tractors and such were always kind of sort of in in in facilities and maintenance. But when uh they changed it to two two entities because of all the work um it kind of fell into transportation for the tractors and so on and so forth. So >> Okay. So that's not just the lawnmowers and tractors for the transportation area. That is for the whole district. >> Correct. That's

086for the whole district. >> Okay. Okay. So, we're we're talking six buildings for like mowing Norma's lawn. >> She doesn't really have a lawn down there at all. So, >> thank you. >> I don't have a lawn. >> Other questions regarding transportation? Holly? >> This is probably a question for Crystal. How often do we shop around for auto insurance and how many companies actually service school policies? That's >> since I've been here um we go through um MSMA because they are um used to districts and um they shop around themselves. So their carriers uh get you know get changed but we go through them. >> Is there any other options? Can we price out anything on our own or is that unfeasible? >> Yeah. What >> you get discount? >> Yeah. And you know, we

087do incentives and we do um different housekeeping things um throughout the year that bring the price down um by quite a bit like well three grand, two grand. Um making sure our our safety is up to date, making sure we watch certain videos, attend certain trainings, and you earn so many points which helps lower the cost. Um there was a a email going out here the over the past few weeks um on the business manager list serve and they were asking different uh districts if they have you know ventured outside MSMA and a couple of them had written that they had gone one had gone with cross insurance and one had gone with another one and the savings was only good for that one year and then it went above and beyond what MSMA is

088charging. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Can I just add to that real quick? Um, we've had a couple incidents where we had to have vehicles replaced and it was amazing to deal with them, too. I mean, they were fast, quick. The appraisers were here within a couple days. Um, that's something to be said too because I know personally I've waited for adjusters sometimes for a couple weeks and we can't afford to have any vehicles down for that amount of time. >> Other questions regarding transportation. >> Thank you, Norma. All set. >> Good evening. So we'll start with uh page 29 line 663. Um salary of custodians. Again like was said um at this point in time we're estimating due to uh negotiations about um at the primary school uh we have four

089custodians there. Um then line 664 is the salary for the subs. We moved that out. um it's so hard to find anyone to uh that's wants to clean and stuff. So um we utilize within um same as line 665 we subtracted that um benefits custodians lines 666 that is our transfer to open positions um that's why there's a a good decrease there. Um line 667 same thing is a lane change for retirement. Um line 668 is the uh contracted professionals which is the annual contracts um that consists of um Seammens uh Genie roofing IPM which is modern pest security of fire with main fire um I switched to to them with a savings this year um elevator Stanley elev elevator, uh fire extinguishers, um sprinkler system at the primary, we have to have that inspected.

090Uh gym equipment, um and the generator servicing for that. Um line 669, water and sewer. Over there, we have um a well um and also a septic tank on on property there. So with that, it's a little bit more for uh state fees for the well, salt for the water softener, um septic we have pumped every year. Um uh line 670 repairs, maintenance to equipment is the HVAC repairs, which is our heating system, um security system. We deal with some cameras, uh, custodial equipment repair, elevator repairs, pumps, motors, so on and so forth. Uh line 671 repairs maintenance to the grounds that consists of ice melt, sand salt for the winter, lom, grass seed, parking lot paint, any signs that we need. Um playground chips, catch basin cleanings, fence repairs. Um line 672 is repairs,

091maintenance of the building. That's uh plumbing, anything plumbing, electrical, roof repairs, door locks, window shades, paint, toilet replacements, uh flooring, um window, anything like um and then line 673, copier lease. That's the lease of the copers. We um there's a increase there this year due to moving copers around in the district. Um line 674 is property insurance. Again, that's up 25% or so. Um communications that has to do with phone lines, landlines, um monthly average. I was looking, you know, at our past budgets. I adjusted that. >> Hold on just a second, Wayne. Sorry. Um, the copier lease. I thought that was under technology. >> No, >> except I'm sorry. >> Everything except the lease. >> The the equipment and all that stuff is under technology, but the lease itself for some reason has always

092been put into operation and point. Wayne loves the fact that everything gets put into action. >> Let's just throw it over here. It's it's not it's not Most of these things are from the state with the numbers and that where you have to put them. They don't always make sense, but that's where they are. >> Okay. >> It's a good question. >> Good question, but >> very good question. >> So, I lease them. Chris just puts the toner in. Sorry to open up that can of worms. >> Okay, continue. >> Okay, so um line 676 is travel. Um any personal vehicle use um that's usually if they of course we have to go for bus physicals or um anything for uh drug drug or alcohol testing. if they use their own vehicles, we have that

093there for that purpose. Uh general supplies is 66 677 that consists of toilet paper, paper towels, soap, cleaning supplies, trash bags, rubber gloves, nuts, bolts, stripper, wax, any any and all things that takes to clean our schools, keep them fresh. So, uh line 678, electricity. Again, I you know, I looked at past usage and like Scott said, you know, with with um a solar program. So, that's gone up a little bit there. Uh line is heating. It's It says heating oil at this point in time. Obviously, um, we brought that down because if we do change to propane, >> it says propane at the moment, but it used to >> Oh, but it used to say heating volume right there. >> That's okay. >> I didn't change that on mine, but um we're we adjusted

094that down $5,000, hoping that if that's the way that we go, then um that would give us a savings. Uh dues and fees is boiler license, elevator license, water fees. We also belong to uh main rural water association where we have the well we have to be have to have a licensed person to draw water to have it tested for the through the state to make sure our water's safe to drink >> questions regarding primary school operations. >> Okay, line. So this is for the Spruce Mountain Elementary School line 681. Again, that's uh salaries for the custodians. Um there is three down there. Uh one during the day, two at night. Um 682 is salary for the subs. Again, it's the same as before. Um same as benefits for the subs. 683. 684 is benefits

095for the custodians. Um new employee taking benefits. Um line 685 is retirement that was when a a employee left and there was no main peers um isn't offered to the to any new employees now. So if we have the ones that retire then we don't have we can save there. Uh line 686 contracted professionals again that's um for the elementary is seaman's gen roofing modern pest main fire um fire extinguishers that need to be um maintained A+ athletics for the gym equipment generators servicing and backflow testing for the water where we have town town water um where was I line 687 water and sewer building uses adjusted from the monthly average again I I check last year's this year's I you try to give it a ballpark figure um line 688 repairs maintenance of equipment

096HVAC repairs security systems Cameras, custodial equipment, elevator repairs, pumps, motors, line 689, repairs, maintenance, ground, that's ice melt, sand lom, grassy, parking lot paint, signs, playground chips, catch basin cleaning, and fence repair. Um line 690 maintenance of the building. Same plumbing, electrical, roof repairs, door locks, window shades, paint, toilet, sink replacement, and uh flooring. Line 691, copy lease moved again, moved copiers around the district. That went up there. Line 692, property insurance increase. Line 693, communications, phones, landlines, adjusted that uh to um cover because I know that was short. Um line 694 travel. Same thing there for um anything related to their physicals. Um 695 general supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, soap, cleaning rubber, gloves, nuts, bolts, stripper wax. 696 is propane for the building um for heat. Adjusted down from last year's usage. um

097we didn't use as as much propane as as what we we thought we was going to need. So um 6 uh 697 is electricity um I adjusted due to last year's um and then line 698 dues and fees again boiler license um water fees for backflow down there questions regarding elementary school operation. >> Oh, Tanya, >> what what does it mean? I'm kind of dumb when it comes to this, but it's fine. >> Copers, like when you move them around the district, why does it cost so much? >> So, this year >> Yeah, if you want to, Chris, >> it it's a whole new uh whole new lease leasing program. We're on basically a a 5year cycle for the lease. So basically when the lease runs out um because we have copiers in the district,

098when the lease runs out, we lease a new set of uh copers and it all depends on where they land in what school. So this this goound we ended up with four at the elementary school, three at the primary school, three at the middle school, and only two at the high school where with the last lease we had more at the high school. So you see, so the number shifts depending on the number of new copers that are at the buildings. >> Okay. >> And don't we keep the cop some of the copers once the lease is up? those, but we're not paying on them anymore. So, so we we we have those in the build. They're still in the buildings, but we're not having to pay on that. So, >> yeah. >> Thank you.

099>> Question. >> Does that answer your question? >> Moving on to the middle school. Uh line 699, salaries for the custodians. Um at the middle school, we currently have five custodians. um there one during the day um two halftime two 4hour positions at night and two eight hour positions at night. Um line 700 is salary for the subs. We moved that out. Um line 701 benefits for the subs has been moved out. Line 702 benefits for the custodians. Again, that was a shift lane change. Um, line 703 is main peers, which is the retirement. Uh, there's one currently in that. Line 704, contracted professionals again. Um, elevator, so on and so forth for that. Um 705 water and sewer building usage it's gone up. Uh 706 repair and maintenance of the equipment which is HVAC

100repairs security systems cameras custodial equipment repair elevator repairs line 707 repairs maintenance ground that's ice melt sand lom grass seed parking lot paint signs uh catch basins fence repair also um their soccer field um painting um and maintaining. Um line 708 is repairs, maintenance of the buildings, plumbing, electrical, roof repairs, door locks, window shades, paint, so on. Line 709 is the copier lease. And that's where you can see there's a decrease there at the middle school. Um line 710, property insurance increase. Line 711 is communications, the phone lines. Um, I adjusted that one as well because we were always a little behind. Um, line 712 is travel. That's again, um, appointments, physicals, um, drug testing. Line 713, general supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, soap, cleaning supplies. Uh, line 714 is the propane usage for the

101boilers there. Um, I adjusted that. We seemed like a little low from year to year on that by 300. Um, electricity, I adjusted from years past. And then dues and fees. Same thing is uh line 716 is boiler license, elevator license, water fees for the black backflow testing, so on. >> Questions regarding middle school operations. >> Sorry. Um I So in here is the um repairs for maintenance and grounds and all that stuff. Since the AYS has use of like that soccer field and all that stuff, do they take up any of the burden for any of that? I'm seeing >> nose. No, we don't we don't do anything extra for them, so to speak. We don't um we don't paint fields for them. Um what's there is what they use. Uh they bring if

102they have any of equipment that they need. Um like for instance the soccer the soccer program they bring their own soccer goals the smaller ones and stuff use half field stuff like that. Um they will use our equipment that's that's there. Um but no, other than that, AYS is Yeah. Yeah. You're welcome. >> Other questions regarding middle school? >> Okay. I I apologize. It's so repetitive. So, um it's building for building. So, line 717 is uh salaries for the custodians. Um currently here at this building we have five which is um two during the day, one is in the kitchen, one actually in the in the school itself. Um one 4hour position at night and two eight hour positions at night. Um line 718 is moved out. Line 719's moved out, which is a salary

103for the subs and the benefits for the subs. Uh line 720, benefits for the custodians. Again, um moving moving ones around. Um line 721, retirement main peers. Um they've either retired or resigned. So there's a savings um line 722 contracted professionals um that went up just a slight amount. Um it was never put in for the uh outside bleachers at for the the inspection. So that's just that's just a portion of this of that expense there for the bleachers on Griffin Field. Um line 723 water and sewer building usage is averaged out. Um, line 724, repairs, maintenance of equipment. That's um, heating, HVAC, security, cameras, custodial equipment repair, elevators, pumps and motors, um, line 725, repairs and maintenance to the grounds. Now, this is the one that is a large amount because obviously we have

104a lot of fields, we have a lot of painting. Um this takes in all the um all the ground. So um we do a lot of uh so with the sports fields um we have fertilizing um repairs um takes a lot more money in that sense. So it's ice melt, sand and salt, lom grass seed, parking lot paint signs, sports fields maintenance, field paint, catch basins, fencing, anything that needs needs to be done outside here. Um sidewalks during the winter. Um, so line 726, repairs, maintenance to buildings, plumbing, electrical, roof repairs, door locks, window shades, paint. Line 727, copy or lease. Um, it's moved around in the district. Um, line 728, property insurance increase. Uh line 729 is communications which phone lines. Uh line 730's travel travel for bus physicals so on. Uh line 731

105general supplies same thing toilet paper, paper towels, soap, cleaning supplies, so on. Line 732's propane heat for the building. I adjusted that for down a little bit. um from last year. Electricity brought that up. Um building usage 734 is dues and fees, boiler license, elevator license, water fees, and backflow. Um line 735 is for the um bleacher and truck lease. Um and then 736 is it's interest roof bond. So that must be done. I guess some reading >> gone down that's the interest on all >> the interest on all that. So >> and you'll see in 735 that's where the roof came off. Remember this is the last year that we had to pay for it. And you'll see farther down under debt service that we've gone up 74,000. And that's what the prediction is

106for if we vote to get the new boilers over at the primary school. So it's a $10,000 difference. It's just in different line >> truck lease. Can you explain that? I only because I had I know we purchased a truck. >> Yes, that's >> a while ago. And do I remember why, how, when? No. But I had a member of the public ask me about that. They also asked me about the plow on the truck. Are we now doing our own plowing? I'm just following up. >> So, um, when I ca when I came into the, uh, the position, um, it was brought to the building and grounds committee to purchase the bleachers and the dump truck that we had, um, could not pass inspection anymore. So, we purchased a new dump truck. And with

107the old dump truck, we had a plow on it as well because we to save the district money, we actually plow central office. Um, and we also plow the the um maintenance garage down there as well as some of the other smaller areas like when the buses move. We we plow all that um get that out. We pile play some the primary playground. So that's why we just did a complete replacement. >> Thank you. >> You're very welcome. Thank you. >> Other questions regarding the uh high school operations? Michelle, >> in general, how are the um the conditions of the grounds like where they left off? Like for example, I know last spring only cuz I I had one who was in the sport like he thought there was like a backhoe taken to the

108baseball field and he was so mad that somebody came to like he thought it was a competitive team like another team that was like playing a prank. But I only asked that because like where are things generally at like the conditions of things going into the new >> Yeah. So like like for instance for that that was just >> like a freak of nature. >> Freak of nature. Yes. Um never never in my 20 years here have I ever seen that field in that condition. Um hopefully we never do again. So So that's why like you know we kind of keep that. But what's that? >> Was a sinkhole. >> Yeah, it was just a freak sinkhole. Um I don't know if it's from just different weather related, you know, where we had so much

109rain last year and everything else. >> So it's it's not like it that was just an oddity. >> Yes. Yeah. It's never never has happened. So when Yeah. When I got that that video that day, I was like, "Oh my word." Yeah. >> So, um but that's why we, you know, we keep that there. Why I hold it just in case something and then in the end we can go like uh like this year I had a chance to uh do the softball dugouts. Um I put new a new shingles on that. Um we put more money into the baseball field. Had a chance to do some um ground work around there. added some more infield mix to the ball uh softball field and baseball field, you know. So, yeah. Thank you. >> Other questions

110regarding the high school. >> That's it. >> Thank you. >> Still have systemwide. Nice try, Wayne. >> That's what we said. Nice try. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I'm sorry. systemwide. Um line 737 salaries of the supervisor. Um contracted increase. Uh line 738 is salary of the custodians. Um that is I two what do I have one? There's five total. So, um, and then I have one for two hours during the summer. Um, line 739 is benefits of my benefits. Um, line 740 is benefits for the custodians. Again, we had transfers, people bumping around. Um, that went down. Line 741 is my retirement. Um line 742 is the retirement of the custodial staff which is now gone um retired um or moved around the district. Line 743 is contracted professionals for systemwide. That's again um would

111be main fire um seammens um yeah same as all the rest of them. Um line 744's workshop professional training that's to keep up the uh water license 12 hours per year training for that to stay in compliance. Uh line 745, water and sewer. Um we went down on that. Um line 746 is waste removal. That's um still contracted with Cassella Waste Con. Um I'll be looking into that this next year. Um, line 747, snow removal with Jean Castone Ways contract that went up $500, which is great. Uh, line 748 repairs and maintenance. That again, that's for um HVAC, security systems, custodial equipment down there. Um, elevator. Oh, there's no elevators in that one, but motors and pumps. Uh line 749 is repair, maintenance of the building, plumbing, electrical, roof repairs, door locks, window shades, paint,

112flooring. Line 750 is lease of the copers. Um that went down. Line 751 insurance for the building grounds. Um increase of 25%. Line 752 is communication phone lines. I adjusted that line. Uh line 753, general supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, soap, cleaning supplies went down. Um I know we didn't use as as much down there for general supplies. Uh line 754, electricity, just a minimal up there. I shut Scott's lights off in his office more often. Um, line 755 heating oil. Now, heating oil was adjust it that was adjusted. So, that was Yeah, I noticed that that line has been a little little skewed through the last few years. So, um, line 756 equipment. So, this line is more like um custodial if we have anything that's broken. So, custodial carts, vacuums, scrubbers, uh carpet

113extractors, um winter equipment like if we need salter or something like that. Um yeah, just a cleaning equipment replacement. I went um line 757 dues and fees. That's boiler license, water fees. Um, I also take care of the shredding for the district as well out of that line. >> Questions regarding systemwide operations >> under snow removal. Do you do you take bids for that or do you So, we take bids. Um, >> that's usually right now we're under a three-year contract with that. So, >> Okay. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Yep. You're welcome. under contracted professional services. What is this? Because I know the buildings all had their own. So what does this cover? >> So this is this this actually systemwide is plant operation. So it's more or less central office. >> So central

114office down there still has to have where adult is in there. We have to have modern pests come in uh because they use the kitchen. Um we also have fire extinguishers. Um, we have to deal with also our main fire comes in. >> Okay. I forgot we had >> so on and so forth. No, that's okay. >> Okay. Communications I assume is the same on his phone lines. Yeah, it's >> all >> other questions regarding system. >> I'm off the hook. >> You're you're done. Thank you, Wayne. >> Thank you. debt service. >> Crystal, you have the list over there. >> This is the debts that we've had right along. Um, plus the phase one of Seammens, phase two of Seammens, and then the new boiler, an estimate. We put in um 74679 as a

115as a payment on on the uh first payment for the new boiler if it is approved. questions regarding debt service >> and the contingency Scott. >> I mean that's what we have in every year in case there's an emergency at years ago it was like 200 to 300,000. Uh we've brought it down to 100 really for emergency purposes that we have every year. But luckily we haven't had to spend it. That's the goal. And like I said, it then it does carry over for the following year for undesated money that we can then use to put back towards the budget. >> Any questions regarding the contingency fund or any other questions regarding the budget as a whole that you might have had from the last time we met? >> Yeah, because we have everybody's here

116to answer questions from the last time as well. So, yep. I know we had some follow-up questions from last time. I had some about the high school athletics and the increase in equipment cost. I think it was 10,000. I got to find my page. Yeah. Could you answer those for me, please? And thank you. I think Jody had a question about that as well. Jody, did you have any questions? >> Yeah, I have a couple of questions in the athletic area as well. >> I'm trying to find my page. >> It is on page 17. Elaine, >> I thank you, Jody. >> Yeah. Um, so Mark, I think one of the ones that I had in there was repairs and maintenance. Um, you know, we're we're showing that we're wanting to increase, but our past

117expenditures is nowhere near. So, wondering where where and why that amount is what it is. >> I can't hear him. Is he on the mic? >> Is that better? >> Okay, >> thank you. Um, so some of that money goes into um things that that come up like this year we've we've done um we've had to pay for movement of uh ConX box. Um there's an addition in there that was not budgeted for last year that was the um helping to pay for the paint machine. Um we do have some projects around the facilities that need work. uh the um the uh tower down at the football field, the the concrete block uh foundation is cracking. We need to get that repaired. Um we do have paint and um different projects that we do around

118the building that some of it will take place. Some of it's it's at um when it can be done because you know sometimes I'll I'll say to Wayne this this needs to be done and it it just can't be done at that point in time. So sometimes it gets pushed off to later in the year or um because of the spring it doesn't it doesn't get done at that point in time. So, we do put that in there because there are things that pop up and and we do have projects planned. >> So, the increases for new projects, the reason why it's more was because of the paint machine. Is that correct? >> Well, the the reason that it went up the 5,000 was because in the past we had we didn't have the paint

119machine, so we added that in for this year. Okay. All right. And Elaine, I think you were you had mentioned, which was also on my list, is just general supplies. >> Was that your question, Elaine? >> Yeah, 10,000's a big increase. I know things are expensive, but could we have some more detail? >> Sure. So, last year, um, we put $10,000 into purchasing a mat with the middle school. So, they paid 14,000, we paid 10,000. So, because we had to put that in, then I I bypassed two sets of uniforms, which I usually do on a four or five year basis. So, now I have four sets of uniforms that I have to purchase. They roughly are $300 to $4,000 a set. Um, and then there was some transfer of um supplies for the drama

120program that was not within the extracurricular budget and is now in the extracurricular budget. >> Okay. And what's your regular rotation of of uniform replacement? >> Um, I usually do two uniform sets depending on like which group I'm working with. If it's a small group like across country, then I will add that in as a third in a year, but usually it's um two teams a year, which usually gets us four or five years out of a set of uniforms. Football has never has not had a new set of uniforms. I've purchased some pants, but they've not had new jerseys since I've been here. And I've been here 9 years. >> Yep. Good. That's good to know. My other question goes back to line 372, athletic stipens, and we were told that next year there'll

121be no Nordic, which makes me wicked sad. Um, I would hope we can maybe if there's any kids, we can look to combining them with other schools in the area. Um, and I will go back to we had a public comment earlier about esports being um being discontinued. Yeah. The seven kids. Those kids are are really engaged in this. This is something that they're they may not be athletes, but this is also we discovered and put it in because it's important to these kids. It keeps them engaged. Um what would be the cost of just the E team um stipen >> the the E team sports stipend? So that whole program is roughly 10,500. >> Um >> that's with the stipend you've got game fees you have to pay. >> Well, there's no game fees

122anymore. When it initially came out, there were game fees. PlayVS would charge game fees, but they've they've gone away with that. But, you know, you do need a controller here and there. Every year we have to purchase part of the license. Um, and then, you know, yeah, the big thing is is the stip end, >> but it's not that big. >> Um, it's I also I'll I told Mark and TJ they had to cut $20,000 out of the athletic budget because I thought it was high and we need to look at places that we can cut. Um, what they do with it was is up to them. And who knows, you you could start next year and have four kids come out for soccer and you don't have soccer and you might have money for

123another program later on. >> Yeah, I guess that and looking at at current like basketball. We've got a a varsity coach >> and we have a JV coach. That's it for basketball for both boys, girls. We've got track and field. How many kids do we have participating in track and field? Um, anywhere from 25 to 30. >> And how many coaches do we have? >> We have three. >> We need three. >> We had four. >> Do we need three? >> Um, >> I'm not trying to be difficult. I really am not. I'm I want us to be able to >> engage as many kids as we can. It's not always athletics. This is a different kind of a sport. We need to offer our kids as much as possible. So, I'm asking you to

124be creative, >> right? Please. >> And and understand, you know, the last thing I want to do is is cut programs for kids. >> I know that. >> And you're talking to the the chairman of the MPA esports committee because we got into it right at the beginning and I've I've sat as a chair for four years. So, it's it's certainly not something I want to do. Um I've had conversations with with the current esports coach about So, esports is two seasons. It's the fall and the spring. So basically, they get a stipend for the fall and they get a stipen for the spring. So, >> you know, the question is, can we can we just do one season? Can we, you know, how can we try to fund fund this program? Um, you know,

125when you look at the the cost per participant, that's well above anything else that we run. Um, yeah. I mean, if we if we, like Mr. Albert said, if if we have a point where, you know, if I've only got 16 or uh or so soccer players and I don't have enough for a JV, then there's a possibility of moving money around. But right now, that's just >> I I hope we'll make that a priority, please, for the kids. >> Mhm. Thank you. >> If I can just ask another question. Sorry. >> So Mark, um for your total line, I see that you know your actuals uh for 25 or 273,000 and what you're budgeting is $331,000. So that's a $60,000 increase. I mean, I I know people are looking at this difference, but I

126am I'm not a I don't believe in the difference. I want I like to look at the actuals um of 25 versus what we're our budget is. Why are we $60,000? Why are why is that budget asking for $60,000 more? cuz cutting the Nordic team and esports. Um I I just don't know why we went up $60,000 in a year. >> Well, I mean it's it's across everything. It's contracts, it's officials, you know, officials are getting paid $100 for doing a game plus travel. Um, you know, and depending on the sport, you're talking anywhere from one to six officials for for an event. Um, it's the cost of the uniforms, the increase in in what I've got to purchase, it's the increase in basketballs, it's the increase in golf tees, it's um, you know, adding

127adding the paint machine in. It's um you know we transferred a little bit of money out of dues and fees. Um we cut some pro some programs that we've had there. Um it's it's the you know I'm not adding anything other than the wrestling program which you know every time they go to a tournament it's it's $300 to $400 for that Saturday tournament. There's six or seven of them a weekend. It's, you know, addition of the of the coaching staff there. Um, yeah. I mean, everybody on this board and probably knows I'm all about sports and I I I'm very clear. I just am questioning that. And I also being a a booster parent um and was a part of the boosters know that the boosters definitely are willing to help this budget. I asked

128several times, can we buy soccer balls? Can we help get new uniforms? And I was told, "No, that's the school's responsibility." And I left that soccer girls booster money with a lot of money when I left that position. So, I think we might want to look to our boosters to help your budget if necessary as well. >> I just want to clarify, sorry, I didn't mean to holler in this thing. Um, so I just want to make sure I'm trying to follow Jodie. So if you look at FY26 actual, that's what we're still in. So money it, this is from December. So we still have January through June to spend in that actual. And then the next line over is FY26 adopted. And then the one way over to the right, FY27 draft, the whole

129budget is down 4,86590. >> She's >> and I think I didn't know if someone's looking at FY25 actual and adopt. >> Yeah, I I I understand. So I look at actuals cuz that's what we spent. So in 25 the 25 actual is what we spent for the whole year. Um, and that was $273,000. So from 25 to what you're asking right now is $331. So that's an additional at least $60,000 from what was spent to what we're budgeting. And so I think very clearly in all these questions that I've been asking for these two meetings is that our budget and I understand that we want to have a little bit of surplus in case something happens but our budget numbers from actuals to what we're budgeting for this 27 are you are very weird in

130some categories and this would be one of them. $60,000. You know, it doesn't matter. In my mind, this is me. In my mind, it doesn't matter the difference cuz that's just a budget number to a budget number. I'm looking at what we actually spent and like putting it into perspective of what actually should be in there. Um, and and I've done I've said this on many lines. Maybe one line should be increased and some of these should be decreased because that actual number is showing what checks or whatever was actually written in these areas for 25. And I understand that the actual for 26 we still have 6 months left but also a majority of our money potentially could have already been spent when we don't know that. So, um, just I I'm just clarifying

131that I completely understand this budget and that's what I'm looking at is the actual from 25. I I I do not see any reason to be comparing a budget number to a new budget number cuz if you're not following a budget, what does it matter? >> Questions for other things? Does anybody else have any other questions regarding the budget as a whole? >> Jody, are you good? >> So, our next board meeting will also have budget involved in it. Okay? So, you can ask questions there. We'll have a number to show you of what it means at least with what we've proposed what that means for the towns we'll have to pay percentage wise and then you guys will have to take a look and decide and make a motion that night um to see

132where you want us to go. make a motion and then everybody needs to vote on that dollar amount where you want us to go because that will then give us a week after because I we'll probably should have that March 5th board meeting just on budget. Okay? So that you can see because we have to set the numbers that night because when you come on the 12th those numbers have to be set because you have to sign the warrants. It doesn't mean that come budget meeting time, we've taken money out before at budget meeting time. We'd prefer to have the numbers set, but we've when we've getting new information, like in the past when we found out that health insurance wasn't as high at that budget meeting, we took the $100,000 out or whatever, but

133we really need to be moving in that direction. So between now and the next meeting, questions that you have, thoughts that you have about what direction you want us to go and when you'll see what it is the overall cost is to each towns, it'll make it a little bit easier for you to make that decision on which way you want to go. And then like I said, I want I want the whole board to somebody makes a motion for a second. You have the discussion of where you want to go and then you vote for us to go then go back and do whatever we might need to do with the administrative team. And if it means adding money in that would be fine, too. But I'm >> um if we have any suggestions

134on possible cuts, are we are you open to hearing them? You you can make suggestions at that meeting, but but to be honest with you, it's the administrative's team's job and my job to make those decisions cutwise. It's your job to make the decisions moneywise. >> Okay. But we're not But we're not deaf. We We're not deaf. We will >> Okay. You have your pink sheets with your co-curricular hires, new hires, resignations, retirements. The next uh President's Day is Monday and school vacation week. The next regular board meeting is February 26th and there'll be a finance meeting at 5:30. With that, I will accept a motion to adjurnn. Then save.