COOP Budget Committee Meeting 1/22/2026

001With the quorum present, I'd like to call the co-op budget committee meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. Tonight's meeting is a regular meeting uh for the month of January. Um that's actually [snorts] back to our regular schedule of meeting on the fourth Thursday of the month. Um the agenda was in advance as necessary. Like to introduce myself, Darlene man, and the members present this evening who include Tom Enry, Melanie Leake, Brian Rder, Roe, and Tony Stenis. Um I am expecting Tom Solon, so maybe he needs a few extra minutes, but um Dave Glenn has an excused absence this evening. Also like to welcome Lance Fino, our um business administrator. If you could all join me in the pledge of allegiance. Ice flag of the United States of America and to the stands indivisibley for all.

002>> Okay. Um I'll ask if there are any agenda adjustments this evening. Seeing none, I will appoint it's Melanie tonight. Melanie is our process observer and we'll move on to the approval of minutes. I'm going to change the way we normally do this. So, um, sorry. Okay. So, I will take a motion to approve the minutes of the December meeting um as amended. >> So, I'll make a motion. >> Okay. Move my ro seconded by Melanie. Yeah. >> And I'm going to just run through um the revisions that are um being made. So, on page four, line 30, we're replacing ADA with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Page seven, line 31, we're going to correct the spelling of budget. Page 11, line one, we're putting quotation marks around masters. [snorts] Page 11, line nine, replacing

003um the compound word select board with two individual words, select board. Um and on page 11, line 45, make the residence into plural resident sense. So those are the amendments that are being offered this evening. [snorts] I don't know if anyone has any others they'd like to add. Seeing none, I'll call the vote. All those in favor of approving the December minutes as amended. >> Opposed abension. Sorry, you did the next word. >> I wasn't there. >> Okay. Thanks, Brian. So, Brian's obstaining. >> 501. Okay. Um, seeing no public present, we'll move right over public input and um move into the financial update um for the co-op. So, I did have an opportunity to share those results with you earlier today. Um, so Lance, if you could lead us through those. >> Sure. Um so

004latest revenue expense report there's been some adjustments since believe the last one was uh as of October 23rd. Um so at at that point the balance and the expenses was 868,000. It's gone up to 1.389 million. So an increase of 520,000. Um, I'll kind of go over the big drivers of that, but there's a few. Um, the first being some hiring savings and vacancies and regular education. Um, so, you know, as we move through the year and we have funds encumbered, we can adjust those if if we haven't made a hiring or if we've hired somebody um that's less expensive overall. So, we make those adjustments. So, so that's gone up. Uh the biggest drivers of that $520,000 increase um first special education. You know, early on in the year we have a lot of

005money encumbered for that. Uh we don't know exactly what's going to change. Um and sometimes when things shift in special education, there's large amounts. Um so in October, we predicted a shortfall of just over 6,000 there. And as of right now, we expect um to have $240,000 left over in special education funds. So a swing of $246,000 there. Um some savings on out of district tuition was the big driver of that. Um so that's the brunt of it. um small switches throughout the other lines um as we move and adjust in encumbrances, but another large one was within benefits um balances up $100,000 there. Again, it's a savings from some of those unfilled positions as well as um you know, different elections as people choose to take benefits. Um so that was the big driver

006there. Revenues coming in a little higher than expected, which is typical. We we see those come up as we estimate those pretty conservatively early in the year. Um so gone up about 150 115,000 there. Um so the big change is the projected fund balance uh in October back to it. We're predicting $86,000 as we've been able to make those adjustments. Now we're predicting $67200,000. Um so a large increase there. Um so you know we'd rather see a trend in that direction than than the other to to be frank. Um but you know the big driver being special education and some some hiring savings with vacancies and benefits um as we are able to adjust incumbrances as we move through the year. It's kind of dumb. >> I was just going to make a comment that,

007you know, when you're trying to anticipate expenses, you got to be conservative and when you're trying to anticipate revenue, you have to be conservative. And that sometimes results in having a large uh delta and which is good for the community, but we want to make sure people don't misunderstand that as a a way to accumulate extra resources and give them back. We got to make the point and explain that that's [clears throat] the right way of doing this. Otherwise, it could be misconstrued or misjudged or misrepresented and create uh you know uninformed uh reactions that uh I mean that's that's the right way of doing it and uh I'm glad that things are the way they are. And I think that's that's something that'll come up when we just, you know, closer to the end

008of the year when dialing in what that fund balance is is going to be. You know, what what might be retained, what will be used to return to taxpayers and offset taxes. >> Some people would say, well, if you're consistently coming up with a big uh on a spend fund balance year after year, that means there's something wrong with the way you're creating budgets to begin with. You're They're too large, right? >> And and I think people that do they say that don't understand really the details of the process. >> Yeah. And we also cut as well. Didn't we cut expenses as well? >> Well, but I think as a matter of the methodology you're using, I think that's exactly right. I mean, if you have to anticipate what could happen, you have to have

009some reserve, right? >> Part of budgeting is risk management, >> right? And and one of the I am very grateful that consistently on the years that I've been here, the the school uh the superintendent and the school uh principles, they work together to make sure that at the end of the year there's always some resources left over. >> Tom Solan, did you uh Tom Solan who arrived at 6:40 p.m. for purposes of the minutes? >> Actually got here early, but then I couldn't get in the door. >> Ah, yes. [laughter] A few of us a similar problem. >> It's unlocked now in case anyone wants to show up. Um, we just had our meeting last night and we got the same information and I'm going to talk to a little bit more in the my

010report, but 100% [snorts] on target and it's something that that we do want to discuss. Um, and the point that he makes and that we discussed last night is that you don't have the option back for a second cut. We have to budget case. We can't budget for average or typical. And as you know, as R said, being conservative, it's it's it's that and and more. And It's it's great that this committee has that perspective and understands that. Um, and it's nice that unlike the SAU, we can turn it back when it's unused and we don't just keep moving it forward. And that's something that we talked about. I'll report on that. >> Okay. And just to add to that because I understand clearly because I have to listen to the community. um they they

011a lot of people find negative things out of a positive situation. But to me, in explaining it to people, it's no different than an equity line of credit. You have the ability to spend it if you need it and you don't, it's there because an equity line of credit is your money. It's your ability to borrow against your assets. This is no different. And it's it's it's a good way to manage your money so you're not managing in emergency mode. Things are planned, things are organized, and we have extra minutes stays with the community. >> And and you know, budgeting in and of itself, you know, a year and a half before or, you know, a year before you [snorts] you know what your student population needs are going to be in in specific cases

012and things like that. you we really do rely on the expertise of people in the positions that are they're in to be able to um you know manage that risk, put forth what the expenses are, you know, what we anticipate them looking like and then honestly being forced to work within them. Because while there are years in this case where we're um seeing some savings in special education, there have been years where that has not been the case. And so other decisions had to be made to enable um and you know balance things in other aspects of the budget. So um it does work both ways and and school districts simply cannot go over budget. So um you know we appreciate everything that everyone puts into their um their estimates as we work through the

013budget process and as we continue to work through this the year and look at incumbrances and evaluate on a ongoing and consistent basis where where things look like they're going. And this is a great point in the year to be able to do that because in October things are just getting underway. We just had the full staff, you know, all in. They haven't been here for that long and things like that. And so at this point in the year, you know, you can see a a little bit of a more clear direction of where things are really going and can anticipate a little bit better. So, okay, great. Thank you. Appreciate the conversation. Uh, let's see. Uh, next on the agenda, I have um the FY27 warrant overview. So, in reviewing the articles that'll come

014up, we can get a little bit more into a budget discussion. Um, sorry, I don't have the warrant up. >> In that file that you forwarded for us to read ahead, was that the order and was it going to appear? >> Yes. So, we'll get into that in a minute. It's been a day. So, yes. So, um there's new legislation this uh that's in effect this year that moves the SAU budget to the first article in OAR. So, that's the reason why we see it listed as article one. um for this year and ongoing unless the legislation were to change and then after that um without any um bond articles or you know anything like that we are moving into the operating budget collective bargaining and some other things. So um >> and and and

015is this order cast in concrete or is it going to be adjustable can be adjustable at the district meeting? >> Well, articles can always be including that first one. >> If someone were to go to the microphone and want to change the order to move something later in the meeting up, yes, there's nothing that says you have to vote on it first. The the law says it has to be presented as the first >> it has to be listed on the article as the first art on the warrant as the first article >> after that at a town meeting. >> Yeah. >> And what [clears throat] bill is that? Do you have a bill number? I don't have the bill number from last year, but it was um it was in uh the 20 uh

016spring of 2025, I believe. So, >> do we understand what the Russian offer that was? >> I just, >> you know, I honestly I >> I don't think there was one. Well, >> what was what was proposed or speculated is that because it's an item that can't be changed by the meeting. Um, but whether it's especially in situations where there's a a a big difference between what's being voted on and the default um that it would enable you to anticipate what's coming on, but I that was that what was said, but it doesn't really hold water because in [clears throat] co-op you don't know what the result is there. Um, speculate. The reason is to give a platform to make a pitch for how excessive the expenditures are to try and sway the audience to

017u to vote against other budget items. >> An opportunity to sabotage the propos >> or to criticize it. Right. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So in our Sorry, time and rate. >> It's a ballot vote, right? >> It is a ballot vote. Yes. >> So it so it's very time consuming and putting it first >> doesn't uh benefit the the meeting in terms of >> it does not have any time limit on it. But it is a ballot vote. So you know it's not like a one-hour ballot vote like we have in certain instances we have to have a certain period of time for ballot votes. In this case it's a ballot vote until the room votes. If I was playing chess, okay, I would see that as contributing to uh showcasing the types of meetings

018we have as not being good too long. The audience cannot participate and therefore we need as we do. When I look at a lot of these proposals, I think of it in terms of how is this impacting that decision and what he just explained makes kind of sense. So in our case for article one uh we would be voting on 1,230,494 as the co-op share of the overall SAU budget. And as everybody knows it's a this is a vote that takes place in each district. Um we are the district that goes last this year. So uh the moderator will be able to have the votes from um election day in um in Brooklyn when the school district votes because they're SB2 and from the Hollis meeting as well. So there will be a result announced

019um at the meeting itself. Okay. Uh moving on to article two is the operating budget of 31,716,292. Um so that is the amount we dis uh we discussed last month. Um it came in um under guidance and continues to be at the same place that it was last month. We made a decision as a budget committee not to um adjust guidance which I still support and I will say that for the budget trend file that was shared there is an updated um nothing changed. >> Are you sure? We were told last night that it dropped the that it dropped a little bit from round five. >> Um it might have dropped a >> I think from round four from round four. I can I can jump. I think um from the just the staggering of

020the meetings what was presented at the last board meeting compared to the last budget committee meeting. Yes. Was slightly different. >> Oh, that's so it dropped since the last board meeting but >> but not since the last meeting already dropped. >> Yes. >> Okay. Correct. >> Thank you. >> So, um the additional information that was included in the budget trend file is an updated CIP. So for um fiscal year 2027, the amounts that are listed tie out to the new items sheet for the safety items and the maintenance expenses. Um so that's where you see the 691 and the 106 come together. And uh Lance has provided an revenue estimate which I will incorporate um into the aortionment estimate and the tax estimates um that we share that will be as part of the public

021hearing presentation and later in the annual meeting deck. Uh the amount um in estimated revenue is up a little bit. Last year at this point I believe we estimated about 1 6 million. Um the new estimate for FY27 will be 1.8 million which is really related to an increase or anticipated increase in special education aid. That's the main driver. So I don't think I'm not sure if anyone has any more questions. I'll just to give you a little few statistics just as reminders. That operating budget represents a 3.76% increase from the current budget and overall once we're done looking at the whole warrant it would be a 4.17% increase. As I mentioned I have not had a chance to um work through aortionment and what the estimated tax impacts are. We'll absolutely have that for

022the public hearing but um we stand right now there uh for the operating budget at a 3.76% increase and um guidance. The amount listed in the operating budget came in um a little over 377,000 below guidance. And most of that, a lot of that is attributable to changes in special education, which seems to be on trend with kind of things happening with results that we're seeing, the revenue expense report that we're seeing this year that'll look like it's trending forward next year. question. >> You mentioned so the co-op school district meeting that is March 19th. >> Yeah. >> When's the Hollis? >> Uh I believe >> Oh school district >> Holl School District I believe is the se is the 19th a Thursday? >> The 19th is a Thursday. Yes. >> I believe the Holl

023School District is on the seven >> 17th Tuesday. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Great. And then the elections are the um week before. So >> and I think Hollis >> Holl town meeting >> town meeting is the Saturday 17 14th March >> and Brooklyn are both on that Saturday. >> It's not March 14th. >> Hollis and Brooklyn are both on that same Saturday. >> It cannot be >> we had that discussion. >> Town meeting and Brooklyn town meetings are both on the 14th. My understanding was that both of those meetings used the same uh broadcast equipment. [laughter] >> I don't know whether that's true or not, but I'm just telling you what I read on the calendars for both for both towns. >> We'll have to follow up on that. >> Okay. Um >> quick question.

024Yeah. >> On the war articles as written as you send them out, are they including the results of the latest legislation that the department was passed to incorporate the tax impact in each one of those war articles. >> Uh I don't know what you're referring to. >> Question. >> Okay. >> We are required to do that in Brookline. um believe that was a vote, >> but yeah, if they have if if if a community or district passes um you know, the past an article that requires the tax impact to be included on the warrant. It does have to be. >> Yeah. >> Um >> but we're not doing anything differently this year from what we've done in the past. >> But I would actually I didn't mention this. Um, [clears throat] oh, on the ballot.

025No, let me let me think about this for a minute. So, on the wouldn't the warrant articles for I didn't ask this in halls, but for halls and the operating bud um co-op need the language that discusses the proficiency scores. >> So, again, we we have that in Brooklyn. Um, >> so yes, so >> I I can confirm. >> Yeah, I would double check that, Lance, because I'm pretty confident it needs to be um in the language for article two for the operating budget. >> Has the warrant go into legal review yet? Do you know? >> Many times. >> Usually they they look at our >> and and I can look back to see if we've asked that specifically about uh Hollis in the co-op. Uh, I can I can look back through those emails.

026Um, I >> I think the language might and this might be why it's not, but the language might say that the proficiency scores need to be listed on the ballot, >> but not necessarily the warrant. I think you're >> so the warrant and the ballot. So, but I guess the question is, is it so a warrant isn't a ballot like someone's seeing on election day, but it does it Yeah, I think that technically that makes sense because you don't have any discussion or presentation at the time of voting and you know why that was put on is to >> support the board as we do. >> Yeah. So yeah, if you could just double check like if legals approved it and that's great but if you could just double check that I would >> make

027us all feel better I think. So that would be great. >> Um so at this time are there any other questions about the the number or anything with the budget itself. Um, at this time, I would like a motion um to move 31,716,292 as the budget committee's recommended operating budget to be included on the warrant. That does not mean it's the recommendation of the budget committee. We do that recommendation after the public hearing, but it's just to confirm that we're acknowledging and moving that particular number to the budget. >> So moved. Thanks Melanie. >> I'll second it. >> Seconded by R. >> No. Okay. I don't know if there's any other discussion. >> Okay. Seeing none. Um all those in favor of moving 31 716 292 to the article um operating budget article 1 2

0283 4 5 six. Great. 6 0. Um, the next article is for the second year of the support staff contract which is valued at $131,512. So, I anticipate that someone from the um school board will can maybe um at the public hearing give a little bit of an overview about what the contents of that budget um are. I anticipate that there um you know increases to salary and maybe some changes a complete explanation from someone who was on the negotiating team. >> Yeah. Who was on the negotiating team for that time? Do you recall? >> Of the people who were on it, there's only one who's still there. So that means that Christa was on it. Tom was on it. I think >> we won. We won the last um the last >> You asking

029me? >> Yeah. Oh, >> you were the one before then. >> Um >> Kate Kate there. >> They told me >> there but there was somebody else who's not there. >> Yeah, >> but >> somebody Liz Brown anyway doesn't matter. Um >> but there is there are people over there >> that can speak to it. Great. >> Um we have 300,000 um articles I'm sorry, Tom. >> What? There was some negotiation going on. Aren't we going to get any update [snorts] on what happened? Wasn't there a negotiation? >> That hasn't concluded yet. It's not part of It's not impacting the war article. >> Oh, it's not a money issue. >> Well, it will be a if it happens, it'll be a sidebar agreement, but it hasn't concluded. I asked the same question. It hasn't concluded.

030>> [clears throat] >> So if it concludes with a financial implication that misses this warrant, do we know how we proceed? >> I can forward that question to Gina. Lance can take that back. >> I I don't know. In the past, we have had How does it happen in a standardized contract? You just do it even though money doesn't match up if you have a sidebar agreement. >> I would assume a lot of some sidebar agreements are more of like you know management rights about >> No, but I'm talking about ones that have associated expenses >> financial impact. >> So if if the warrant is approved if the if the if the warrant is approved then the contract continues in its entirety for the year. Well, the the the contract itself is already sanized. >>

031The Hessa contract. >> No, this is not for Hessa. Hessa um wasn't the one being like re evaluated. It was >> Oh, it is. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I thought it was the professional staff. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I thought it was benefits. >> Give me a second. [laughter] >> Yes. Yes. That's >> okay. All right. I'm sorry. >> We're all right on top of this one. >> Sorry. Sorry. [laughter] So, >> oh, >> that's a whole different set of questions then, is it? So, it's anticipated that any cost of change of something that's negotiated would be covered by the 131,000 included here? >> No, my understanding is that from what I asked last night, the warrant article reflects the contract as it currently exists. Okay. >> We don't know what the change will

032be, so we can't make any changes to the number. >> Well, that's all well and good, but >> So, you're not making changes to the contract. >> We have an XXX >> next next month. >> I mean, this thing needs to be concluded. Didn't the school board say, "Well, wait a minute. You can't negotiate forever." >> I mean, >> I haven't been involved with the discussion. All I've been involved with is the information that was given to us last night, which is that negotiations are ongoing. I don't know what the elements are, whether it may even be that that the the plans or the you know what they're trying to get that is not identified yet. >> Okay. So, >> I we have run the timeline pass legal. Okay. And have gotten the Okay. I

033I I don't want to speak more than I should because I'm part of that [clears throat] negotiating. >> That's kind of leading into my next question was is there I mean if I recall with the the profession >> because I I I know nothing. >> No. Well, I'm looking at you because you you've worked on professional staff agreements, but is so isn't there a timeline involved like by a certain date prior to like things need to be concluded like isn't it in statute? >> That's when we have to get ratification of a contract. This is not ratification of a contract, >> right? You're not even we're not even there yet. But there is a there is something that leads to the a specific end date for ratification to occur in general >> if we are

034trying to get it approved for the next um next fiscal year. >> Yeah. Okay. So, and that's usually right around like the end of January. We're kind of like in that window, isn't it? For us, >> we try it's always been a point of of discussion, but our goal is to as for the profession for the professional staff contracts is to have uh a TA in time to present to the budget committee before the meeting at which they take positions. >> Okay. And and so this >> which would be this meeting? >> No, because we're taking positions at the public hearing >> on the 19th. Soary, >> so actually you have a little bit more time because we have actually in the past walked into the public hearing um immediately following a vote and I'm

035pointing to you like from your school from the school board um where they they um went through their process with the um the contracts leading like finishing at 6:30 before a seven o'clock meeting >> before the meeting. >> So So and in I mean, we do have a later [snorts] public hearing which is the 19th which of February which is I think the latest we've ever gone. Um, so that does give some additional time, but also, uh, I think if you wanted to change or add to an article, you still have time to have another hearing in advance of the district meeting. >> The question that that hasn't been answered for me, and to be fair, I didn't ask it was whether it needs to be >> right >> and I didn't ask it because

036the way that what I did ask was answered made me think that it did not have to be captured in the warrant article and that did not seem um unusual only in the context that I know that our sidebar agreements with that I've experienced with the professional staff and with the um and with the support staff even those that did have financial impact for instance the change given um supplemental money um we've had ones with changes in position other things like that they were done in a cycle where they were negotiated, brought before the board, approved >> mid year. >> So I don't >> and then and then any financial implication had to be absorbed in the budget that that you were operating within. >> Yeah. And that and that's probably what it is is

037that they're not looking to raise appropriate additional funds for whatever we're doing. >> Right. >> Okay. Well, According to I I think I can add this piece. According to our agreed upon timeline, we should be completed prior to the public hearings. >> Okay. So, there might be an update to article 4 and we'll just see how that works itself out within all the legal guidelines. >> We'll be in like the right context to have the overall discussion because it's a joint meeting. >> Right. Exactly. >> We have to take a position tonight. >> Article. Did I say article before? >> No, we're not taking any positions tonight. We can't take positions um because we we take them after presenting the information, hearing from the public. Moving the amount to the um article was just like

038our kind of step to say we're acknowledging that's what we want the article itself to say because that's the only article that I'm the only article that we own on that. >> Point of clarification. Last night I thought that that was going to be the case and I was told that the board and I don't know It's true for the budget committee takes positions on the warrant before because the warrants they're not up for discussion so the public can see where their support and objections >> during the hearing. So I know the I was I know I was told that the board will be taking its position before the hearing starts. >> Okay. Well, that will move things along after the me the hearing ends because the budget committee in holding the public hearing taking

039input can still adjust the number on technically adjust the number presented on the article. >> They can. >> Yes. >> Okay. based on information presented. It's never happened. I'll >> say that, but based on information presented um at the meeting, >> if specific requests are made, they can be considered by the budget committee. >> Can the Do you know if the board can do similarly? >> Uh I >> because we have other warrants in there that are money. >> Yep. if we can change. >> Well, when I say like specific specific amounts, I'm speaking specifically to the operating budget. >> Well, I'm saying for instance, if if the hearing >> there was compelling arguments to change a a contingency amount or something, >> if if it can change, then I would like to know. So

040that in my mind, I think that board positions should be formed. getting public input. >> So in the in the past that's what the board has done. >> Um >> I'll I'll >> but I think it kind of >> has reached out to you yet? >> No, I have not >> because after last night Oh, she won't be she won't be reaching out to she's she's indisposed. >> Okay. But uh I know they just wanted to confirm with you the 19th was your plan meeting as well because we assumed that it was >> make sure >> um I'm just kind of speaking now as I said all everything that I just said I think I'm trying to think on the Hollis side is the board taking positions before the meeting >> I don't know that

041answer offand >> I think the select board for the top. Anyway, that's traditionally how we've done it has been to take positions um after the public hearing concluded. >> We have Is is there a statutory requirement to do do it that way? >> Well, I'm I've I've had boards that have taken positions on warrant articles before holding a public hearing on them, which I think is poor practice. Um, but there's nothing illegal about it because you can change your vote on things later on. >> Yeah. >> After it. But if you're going to do that, then why take the vote before the public meeting? It kind of just sends a bad message to the public. >> Agreed. >> But but until the board articles are actually officially published, you can change your votes on them

042>> in a meeting. >> Of course. If you're trying to look up the answer to my question, >> I'm just trying to glance and see if something jumps out at me as I scan the budget preparation part of article 32. Um, >> she reads very fast. First hearing or any supplemental hearing is recess at a later date at additional time sponsor. All purposes and amounts of appropriations to be included in the budget or special warrant article shall be disclosed or discussed at the final hearing. The governing body or budget committee shall not thereafter insert in any budget column or special warrant article. an additional amount of purpose of appropriation which was not disclosed or discussed at that hearing without first holding one or more public hearings on supplemental budget requests. So that's basically saying um

043if if decisions and recommendations are made as a as a result of the public hearing, if something were to change, you would need to have another hearing to change the amounts and positions. Um, so yeah. So our practice has just always been has been again not being able to read all part of 832 at this point has been to take positions after the public hearing. >> Can I ask take positions on petition warrant articles as well >> if they have a financial impact. We certainly can. >> Um I the way we've just managed petition warrant articles as a committee has been it. >> So anything with a stated financial impact absolutely. Um some of the petition warrant articles that have presented in the past have for lack of a better word implied financial impacts. So

044if you're if there's something like a budget cap or a tax cap or something that those have financial implications and we've made a decision, we kind of take it on a case- by case basis as a committee if we're comfortable taking a position on those things. So, in those cases, we have >> um SP2 we've kind of left alone um and not um I think did we have a charter commission one previously? I don't think we took a position on that. So, anything that has a financial impact whether stated or for again lack of a better word implied >> or um attributed to the language we have taken positions. Okay, >> that makes sense. >> Did you? >> Okay. [clears throat] Um article four uh is uh the building um and facilities maintenance expendable trust

045fund of $300,000. The items included in that are comprised of 300,000 are uh a roof uh section at HBMS, duct work, and track resurfacing at the high school. So, those are the three items um recommended for that 300,000. Article five is the $125,000 contingency fund. Um, article six is shall the how so this is um is this is a recommendation of the superintendent and the board but based on the by the board based on the superintendent's recommendation. Shall the Hollis Brookline Cooperative School District vote to adopt an open enrollment school program designating the Hollis Brookline Cooperative High School as open enrollment as an open enrollment school pursuant to New Hampshire RSA 194-D for the purpose of enabling the district to admit non-resident students to HBHS with 100% of its eligible resident pupils permitted to attend

046HBHS and 0% of its resident pupils in grades 7 to 12 permitted to attend and open enrollment schools located outside of the district and further to limit the number of non-resident pupils who may attend HBHS under the provisions of RSA 194-D to no more than five students. >> That is going to be altered after last night's meeting. Do you have the wording there? Uh we don't have updated war uh wording yet, but um the two main things is make sure we address the middle school in there because it's it's not stated explicitly. >> Um and then also adding language to limit that enrollment to certain grade levels. So that way um the goal is to prevent needing to add sections. >> No more than two students in any single grade level of the five. >>

047Correct. So um open enrollment has been a big topic in the legislature last year as well as this year. Um so the way the legislation passed last year it said that only schools who each identify as open enrollment schools could have students move between them. So each school had to be designated as an open enrollment school. So one that would accept >> students. But there but there's a you know about you going to get to the catch. >> Yes. So, um there was leg a court case later in the year after the legislation passed um where a district that was not designated as an open enrollment district still had to um I'm sorry, which way did it go, Tom? Accept or pay pay >> it? It had [clears throat] they had students they had families

048in their district that sent their students to other districts and then asked their home district >> to pay for it. >> Right? So now that district where the students were coming from who would have to pay was not designated as an open enrollment school, but the court found that they still needed to pay the cost of those students going to another district. So this type of article is something thing that I >> Tom if you want to explain why it's coming maybe you're the better person to explain why it's coming >> the reason that they were ordered to pay was that they had not taken a position and therefore the default is if you don't take a position then you are participating so that has implicitly required that any schools that don't that want to

049have control over that aspect should declare themselves open enrollment and then put the limits of their participation in in that uh statement of how they are behaving. So following on that and the overall question I could then say okay I'm going to be open enrollment my limit is zero >> correct >> and and all the elements what does that do >> we could you well if everything zero then that's not a change to your position >> so I so I rather say we're not participating >> I I understand but the the concern is the concern is they're not sure how the courts would rule in that case so it was thought to be safer to um make a change. It's like when we did the >> $1. >> And on top of that, >> the

050the the feeling is that in the high school, we do have room for a small limited number to come in. And >> do they >> the way the Yes. And the way that the the reimbursement goes is that you the sending district reimbures the receiving district at 80% of the sending districts uh New Hampshire state stated cost per pupil and where the co-op is below average and their cost per pupil And though the neighboring districts to us who would be most likely to send are higher, we probably would be financially whole if that occurred as well >> at the beginning because who knows what the future will bring. >> But you can change this every year. >> The other question that I have is what about special education students? >> The send the the sending

051district is responsible in most instances. It it's really an elaborate thing. Um I would encourage you if you still have the link to the NHSBA stuff. The webinar is recorded. I didn't attend in person, but I watched [snorts] the recording and it was very thorough. >> Oh, that would be great. I will find that. >> I haven't seen that. So, >> it's an interesting discussion, but this is also one of those articles that the budget committee would need to decide whether or not to take a position on it or not. just to ask a question. >> Um we we could because it is dollar impacting there's revenue associated with it. So >> just yeah uh I'm concerned a little bit about an absolute number like say five students because um we also have students going

052out. We have students that go to uh NSHA for certain programs they offer there that we don't offer here. at and that's the you know animal science programs students going there. So it maybe should be looked at as a net number. If we have five students going out and five students coming in that's a net zero. >> So students going to those programs aren't aren't considered open enrollment students. Um, we pay for the students that are tend attending those programs already at, you know, designated rates that are actually based on cost per pupil. >> Tuition students aren't included, >> right? >> CTE, um, other programs, hardship, any of those, open enrollment is an entity unto itself. And I do believe that the numbers that were proposed in this warrant article took into account the total

053picture of enrollment and as is thrown in our face on a daily basis we are not at our peak numbers currently. So big the bigger concern is that certain grades um having just a couple of students in a course could drive it to have to have another section and that was the the biggest concern about having too large a number. >> So what was the real your original motivation behind this proposal >> to uh stave off a uh external petition warrant article that was put forth that was that might be detrimental that did not have the forethought that's gone into this one. So this was this solution really was the result of an anticipated or potential >> it's preemptive >> but I I think in my opinion it creates more other issues that you know

054the law the law created a situation that requires a school district to take a position. The court ruling reinforces that requirement and we and we were convinced by compelling arguments and past legal cases that to not take a position was a very was too large a risk that we were willing to assume. >> Okay. And as you said there will be changing to the changes to the wording based on your meeting. So, we'll get that in an updated version, >> but they're they're very very subtle. What it is is >> Oh, like you said, the grade level >> the middle school wasn't wasn't in it. So, we want to explicitly state middle school is zero >> because with middle school because they don't have the same elective structure, right? It's a very different impact if

055if if children come into to that and we didn't want to get into the situation where all five students came in at say the sophomore level where we do have large numbers. Our lowest enrollment is at 11th and 12th grades. We could we could handle a couple in in the lower grades. That was the reason for the wording it as proposed. >> Further discussion will happen at the district. I can tell you that. >> I'm sure it will. >> This is somewhat controversial. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um are at this time I know the window is still open for petition articles. Have has the district received any yet? >> There is one for the co-op at this point. >> Can you say what the topic is? >> Uh yeah, >> I believe uh establishing a

056charter commission, >> but it doesn't go on the warrant. It's a valid question. That's why it's not on the warrant. >> Okay. >> So, question about the charter commission. Are you familiar with them? Because >> Salem has one. >> Oh, well, for the town, not for the >> district. Okay. So, um what does that entail? Can someone >> No. >> Um I'm I've asked for the details of it. It's a pretty complex process, but this is to look at creating proposing a charter government. So, it's not there isn't a it's not a proposal for a charter um I don't know what the term is, but a charter system or charter government. It is a my understanding is it's a proposal to set up a committee to do it. But like SB2 proposals, it's it is

057a it's not an informal process. It is a formal process that forces um subsequent downstream in that with a timeline, you you do the study, you come up with a proposal, it has to be brought before the leg the legislative body, it has to get voted on. So um it's not a trivial thing. somebody's curious about it. Let's let let's let's >> not a sense of the meeting kind of vote. This is a an important one, >> but does >> and it's not going to be since it's on the ballot, [snorts] it's not going to be brought up or discussed at the annual meeting. >> Okay. >> Um so to the best of your knowledge and this is just an opportunity for us all to just you know what we can and educate ourselves. Is

058it a process that by the very nature of the fact that if it were to pass it like starts um ensures a process like that you have to move forward or does it allow for a study committee to evaluate if it should move forward? >> I don't know specifically. I don't think it does anything that mandates that the charter form of government come into existence. >> Okay. >> But I I have asked um for someone to give me pointers to it and a copy of the uh petition or article because my guess is that it references the RSA and that's what I'm looking for just just to learn about it. >> Okay. >> Who has a point of authority for the commission members? I don't know. I don't I >> This is something most of

059what I know about it is from the days when Jim Belander used to say just become this as a viable alternative to SB2. >> Here's what I do know about a charter. It what it does is it requires you to create representatives for that the people vote for and those representatives now become your surrogate um uh votes. So >> Oh, that's what I was asking. So there's an election. So you run for you run for the committee and the community elects you or the other person. >> Yep. Okay. >> So, you said it becomes your votes. Does that take the place of a blood comp committee or a school board? >> I I it my understanding and it's limited is that the charter can be very explicit about which elements are impacted. So you can

060literally spell out that it is the this charter government will have jurisdiction over you figure it out. >> Yeah, >> but it would change our articles of agreement. It would change a lot of things. >> I don't know if it would supersede a vote to have created a budget committee. Whether it can override that or not, I I I just don't know. >> Well, if you could find out the RSA that's referenced, that's a good place for all of us to start >> to answer your question and RSA is not referenced in the petition >> unfortunately >> but I did look up charter committees and the um towns that have them are usually very large >> like Salem 30,000 people >> and um very different from our town. >> Okay. Well, that ties up the

061warrant as we know it for this for for for our purposes this evening. Any >> are we expecting other petition warrant or don't we have information? >> I believe the date is February 3rd >> sometime in February. >> Oh, so it's coming right up. >> It's coming up. >> We got Well, we got almost two weeks. >> Yeah. Let me see if I can find the calendar. >> February 9th. >> Oh, February 9th. >> Still out of time. That's a lot. >> Yeah, that's a lot of time. >> Okay. >> So, if you're done with warrants, I have a question. >> Sure. >> Um I can't make uh the next meeting. I'll be out of the country. Um >> The 19th. And I would like to be able to take a position on uh the

062warrant articles. Is there any ability for me to do that? I'm out of the country. I'm not going to listen to the meeting. >> Yeah. Um, >> I mean, you can just say no. >> I I don't I honestly I don't think there is, Tom. >> Yeah, >> your vote is was part of moving it tonight. So, your support is part of the number, you know, that we put forward that shows your support for it. Um, >> some degree, he could give you a written statement. >> Yes. >> That would at least make your opinions and and concerns Can he participate via Zoom? >> He's saying to because of time differences. >> Yeah. I'm not >> differences. Yeah. >> And I've never I listen to discussions like this. I've never been swayed. I've done this

063many years and by um a budget by a a hearing where essentially two or three people show up. >> Understood. So, I'm just I mean I'd like to be able to offer an opinion, but I'm definitely not going to be here in the 19th. >> Well, here's the question. I I don't think there's anything procedurally that uh that prevents you from doing so. You could perhaps make the offer to any any committee members present tonight if they choose to to take their positions tonight, couldn't you? Uh I guess I I don't >> I mean it would be pro problematic if the numbers change because then >> uh we supported or not supported a number >> but but I think you can you that's what you can support it based on what is presented tonight. >>

064Yeah. The question the question is what's the last date that we can make it take a stand on these things? >> Could we have the special meeting just for the purpose of voting on these things sometime? >> Well, yeah, I don't want to I don't want to be the cause of that. >> I think the biggest thing is when does this have to go to publication for the for the reports? >> I don't know the date for that off the top of my head. I got the I got the impression that yes >> I mean I I'll just turn off I guess I'm not happy about >> I'm not happy about it either. You're a staunch supporter of the district. You have been for years and we you know put a lot into the process.

065>> Um and I wish I just don't know of a way to include your vote. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, I >> I'm happy to I'm happy to take a statement and and read it into the record. um at after the public hearing um before we take a vote as a committee so that it's it's on the record. >> Well, I mean I I could make a statement here. >> You could make a statement here right now. Yes. >> It will be in the minutes. >> Okay. Um well uh I'm unable to be at the uh February 19th hearing and um I would like to uh support um article one, article two, article three, article four and article five. I I I think that's what was six. six was the open enroll. >> Yeah,

066I'll leave that one alone. >> Okay. >> All right. Sorry about that. >> No, I I appreciate that that that you you know if there's any way I can come up with I I just don't know. >> Yeah, I I know. I I've thought about it, [laughter] >> but it ain't changing my trip >> here. It's Greenland. [laughter] almost that but I not. >> So if we're we've completed that I'd like to just move on and have a a brief discussion about the metrics and kind of come information that will be included in the public hearing deck. I shared with everyone um the deck that we used last year, any information in it or estimates at the time which was on February 3rd, 2025 for the FY26 budget. I don't want anyone if any number

067is discussed this evening, I don't want anyone to have it attributed um to the FY27 budget. But what the public hearing present deck basically does is after introducing the warrant um with the stated you know dollars associated with each article I do uh I I try to keep it I think I keep it to about 10 minutes 10 to 15 minutes or so I try to keep it moving along but just to give a brief overview of our enrollment and our enrollment projection for the co-op the composition of the students um Hollis and Brookline. It's important obviously because of our aortionment formula. I have a chart that shows a cost per pupil trend. Um, I have uh a trend in local tax effort, a summary of revenue and state aid and the changes that are,

068you know, take place year-over-year and uh and then kind of run through the estimate of how things will be aortioned. on the kind of the calculation that takes budget less revenue. It gets to an amount to be aortioned. Um we take out all the grant information to get to a total tax effort. Um I provided in summary for the co-op, talk about the aortionment formula [clears throat] that exists and then talk about the impacts by town um with an overall estimated tax rate impact and percentage changes to the bill and then we run right into the public hearing and all the the associated articles. So um we'll share a little bit of information um SAU budget, the fund utilization for um capital, um our operating budget, some basic information um you know increases and decreases

069and things like that on the operating budget and kind of just give some you know high level information and we take input from the public on each article. So, I'm not sure if there's any other information um people feel would be compelling or important to include uh when we move on to the and we won't have a meeting after the public hearing before going to March meeting. Um and that presentation is very similar uh but I do include um a little bit more information on cost per pupil. um just kind of present some information in a different way because people don't like to look at a chart full of numbers and might you know piraphph or something like that might work but I don't know if anyone has any idea or some as I said

070something compelling that they think is important to include in either one Tom Solon looks like you have a list >> I have a couple of comments general comments >> go ahead >> I sometimes uh in my business, we tend to have something called bottom line up front where you start out with the bottom line. And so instead of having waiting 10 15 minutes to hear the bottom line summary chart that says this is basically where the money is going, this is what went up, this is what went down, I would start out with that. Part of the thing that I noticed is if you start out and the first statistics you bring out here is the one that says this year we had 20 students less than last year. All of a sudden that triggers

071this argument that says you have fewer students that come the budget is going up >> and I think we need to avoid that argument alto together and I think we need to somehow change the structure of the presentation to focus on the bottom line and I think this year is a good story to tell. The the numbers are reasonable. The school came out with a lower number. So somehow we need to I would maybe work with you to maybe uh >> is that for the public hearing or the March meeting? >> That's for the March meeting. >> Okay. >> Uh eventually we need to maybe rethink how the the order of the story. That's all I'm saying. >> Okay. >> Do we have a quick one? Oh, go >> ahead. Um do we compare the

072uh cost per pupil to the state average as well? Um, so I do have a chart that I introduced last year for for the March meeting that trends >> page seven, slide seven. >> Uh, on on the public hearing deck. >> Yes. >> Is that the one you're looking >> the one that you sent to us? >> Yes. So yes, that's that's one cost per pupil chart against the state average, but I have another one that I use um in the March meeting that trends every district in the state and then finds the co-op and the state average. So what you see by looking at that chart is that where the co-op is lower than the state average and in the lower >> last year third um This one was shared. >> At the district

073meeting, >> so the darker line furthest to the >> left um is the co-op and then the other line is the state average and then you can see the trend of every other district in the state. That's good. >> Um not adjusted for inflation. Um nominal dollars Um and that's based on the most recent um information which would be the f the the update in March will be for the FY25 data. But the data for the public hearing is more concise specific to the district and um you know is that kind of one forone uh comparison to the state only our district um for the last 15 years. where we're always under under below the state average. >> So that's that's a good positive signal. I think >> you know one thing that you seem

074to miss and maybe it's not appropriate to do it. Our costs are lower but our performance is higher. We're always in the top performing not only in the state but in the country. I think that's important for the people to know what they're getting out of this besides how much is it costing us and how do we compare to other schools. We compare very nicely with below state average in cost and below most schools in cost but our students are exceptionally good and to me that's a value because we're paying less and getting good results. >> So we so maybe the school board should be making that point. We should be in for that. >> Someone should because people in the town need to know that. I think it's just my opinion. >> So I

075would ex I'm not sure if there is an intention by the board for March meeting and for the public hearing. We're really trying to keep it to content of the warrant getting the articles read to the record getting input and and the the bigger larger discussion is at March meeting where [clears throat] those kind of comparisons and things are drawn. Maybe you know there's there probably copies of the you know district report card and things like that. um that'll be put together and position and some information from the district on the articles themselves and and things like that. And I'm not sure if the board or the superintendent plans on, you know, drawing some of those conclusions um and presenting that and that might well be the case. So, and I'm not going to steal

076the thunder at the school board. [laughter] >> That that's a that brings up a good point. Somewhere I heard a discussion and I don't really recall where now that uh this would be a good year with a new superintendent to have the superintendent speak. Did that occur here? I don't think it did. But that discuss well anyway I I think that's a good idea. Um and uh you know she doesn't have to go on for 20 minutes. She can go on for three minutes to five minutes um and be impressive. But that's a that that's something that we haven't done in the past. >> Not in the recent past. >> Yeah. In the recent past. Uh but particularly with a new superintendent. Um it would be nice to sort of introduce >> introduction to a

077district official introduction to a district. >> Yeah. I don't know where that discussion occurred but but I was at a round table where that discussion did occur. >> It was right here. >> Huh? >> It was here. Yeah, I thought I thought it was here last month or the month before. >> Oh, was it? >> I think we we had a general discussion of um about what we can do to better communicate. There's a point Tony has has brought up multiple occasions and I I think it transpired in one of those conversations where we're brainstorming what can we do >> and where can we do it >> you know you would have got >> I should have been listened to myself >> blame you >> or credit you I should say >> my age >>

078losing it >> okay well if anyone has any other ideas or you know >> I do have something >> oh yes Tom you were the one who raised your hand >> [laughter] >> Um, my guess is that you probably can't see it in detail, but you've seen this chart put up on websites for petition articles. You've seen it put up all sorts of places. What it's showing is declining enrollment and raising rising budget. My um thought and suggestion is can we create a slide that is essentially the information. We have the existing slide on uh co-op enrollment and to take that and overlay it with inflationadjusted budget and and say you know it'll show two things. First of all, one of [clears throat] the one of the fallacies in this is it doesn't go to

079zero. So what you're looking at is a zoom in of a contour that in the grand uh view is a small percentage fluctuation. On top of that, [clears throat] it's u it's not using inflation adjusted values for the budget changes. And I just think it would be valuable for us to present same data in a what I would consider more accurate manner. So that if and I don't know that it will but if someone is familiar with this or if someone chooses to bring this as part of a pres presentation that we have something that has already been brought up that we can refer back to as a rebuttal. >> That's my suggestion. >> Great. >> I firmly support scales that start at zero. >> I don't think any reasonable scales should start at zero.

080But I have concerns about doing this particular one. So, u having charts. So, we're sitting here in a large room. People are looking at a big slide up there. It's a long meeting. We're going through, you know, dozens of slides to begin with. Adding another slide that has multiple sets of information overlapped on top of itself is really confusing. It takes a long time to absorb that kind of information. And I think it's going to be lost on people unless you really spend some time talking to that one slide, but we already have lots of slides that we're trying to go through. And >> my thought process, Brian, >> I appreciate it, >> not to dwell on it, >> but to have it entered into into the court, >> but but people have to understand

081it first. And for a slide that presents a lot of complex overlay information, it takes time to understand that. Most people in there have never seen that chart before. >> Oh, it's been shown this few people chart has been shown >> at at least the last two if not the last three um annual meetings. >> And how many people have understood it? Um I don't I can't I can't speak to that, but we have people we have a group of people coming to our >> um our schoolboard meetings every month now >> talking about this. >> Yeah. I' I've expressed my concerns. >> Yeah. Al alternately if you want to create it and we'll start we'll start doing it in a in a different context. But I'd like would like to have it created by

082this committee who has the accurate data. >> Does that chart have the references where they got the data and okay, your point's been made and I would like I think I I get it. We can look at it. I think we're spending a lot of time on that chart. >> Okay. >> But I appreciate the context. I will say we have that information individually and there might be a way to bring it together, not to dwell on it and in a more uh simplified manner that combines data but doesn't um >> look like a circus on a on a page. So, we'll we'll see. I appreciate I appreciate the input and and >> that's it. >> Yes. Thank you. >> I I'm not I just I thank you. I appreciate the input from my perspective.

083Um one of the things I'd like to if if and anyone can reach out to me at any time and and say, "Hey, Darlene, I think we're really missing blah blah." you know, um we've we've talked about unreserved fund balance information and um you know, things like that. Uh we'll probably talk a little bit to the long-term debt picture for the district. Um not that we have any debt that we're adding in this view, but it's good to just kind of remind people where we stand and really look at, you know, on what a low percentage um our debt is compared to our whole budget and things like that. So, but while we're bringing up I'm sorry, Tom, right before we get to um the board overview, there was something I meant to discuss with

084the articles and kind of required information that needs to be brought forward. So, Lance has copies of something called the mandatory report to vote to voters on school expenses. It's something that was required by House Bill 1265 and it's required for every school district. >> You know how I'm glad you got >> um to be posted on 11 by 24 and on a piece of paper that's 11 by 24. Um, and Lance, I'll let you going to kind of talk to the specifics. I'm sure one of the first things you'll say is that the scale is not to zero and that is based on the wording of the legislation itself. >> Sorry, I had to just say go ahead, Lance. >> Uh, yes. So, um the language in in HP 1265 lays it out pretty

085as clear as anything is um uh laid out in in law what this needs to be. Um and that includes truncating the y- axis. So for cost per pupil had to be to the nearest thousand. Same with average teacher salary and then administrator salaries to the nearest 100,000. Um, so it requires three line graphs and a table. What you see there, um, what they're named, what the title on top is all laid out in the legislation. Um, the cost per pupil comes directly from um, New Hampshire Department of Ed. Uh, and it is adjusted for inflation. um [clears throat] they write specifically in the law that you can use the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator. That's what we chose to do. Um districts have done it slightly differently. We chose December as our benchmark

086because that was what the latest data was. So going back we could just be consistent. Um average teacher salary also adjusted for inflation comes from the Department of Ed. Um and same calculation was used there. Um, administrator salaries is a unique one and and you see some interesting dips there. Um, I'm gonna [snorts] read from the law. Um if I can they define um in administrator um as superintendents, assistant superintendent, directors or coordinators of diversity, equity and inclusion or functionally equivalent officials whether or not their salaries are listed by the department of education and business managers or administrators. So within the SAU that's shifted a little bit whether there has been one assistant superintendent or two. Um so you see the jumps there. Um, again, next year there will be another jump because we're back

087to having two assistant superintendent. Um, and then the table has to list those. >> Are they by the school board or >> um >> they'll be made they're going to be made public. It's going to has to be posted in the newspaper. >> Um, so they they'll be published soon and in two separate locations. Um, I'll double check. I thought it was 18 by 24, but >> it's 18 by 18 by 24. Yep. Um so posted on two sheets of 18 by 24 paper in two other locations. We um can add to those posted locations some additional information. One thing that definitely will be on there um is the breakdown of the district's portion of the administrator salaries um because each district is not paying that amount. Uh it was advice from legal to have

088the full amounts on on all the reports. So one of these is going out for Brooklyn Brookline Hollis and the co-op. Um happy to answer any questions about it. We we did a lot of back and forth. Um, some districts included non-inflation adjusted data, which does stretch out your y-axis a little bit, but in my reading and I got word back from our attorney this afternoon. >> So, for example, the 495311, >> is there going to be a description of what that dot means? meaning uh two two principles, one assistant principal, one >> uh >> I can explain it here and we can add something to the side but like on this specific posting we cannot add anything >> the way the posting is >> correct they explicitly state >> nothing else included >> information

089can be provided >> so so the problem now is it could be easily misinterpreted and >> yeah that was the point >> so we will when where it's posted in our public places. We will add a third page to include that um and and some context on there as well. >> I I would think that it would be good to [snorts] the first time I get to see it too >> to what >> this is the first time I'm seeing this. It would be nice in contrast to the third graph that's on here which is going to be a zigzag because of how we title our positions >> to perhaps think a larger group and I don't know whether it should be entire SAU staff [snorts] um payroll or whatever >> but somehow show >>

090[clears throat] >> that has a lot more uniformity to it. Pick pick a group. So that the big issue on this one that impacts us is that when we're able to, we like to have two people with the title of assistant superintendent because of the fact that that gives them ability to conduct board meetings and it lowers the um lowers the rate at which they have to contribute to New Hampshire retirement. So it creates a a benefit to us functionally and a savings to us financially to do so. But it means that in 2024 25 which is the last point here uh one of our SAU staff members did not have the title of assistant superintendent. They had the title of director of So they don't show up on this graph. 2026 they will show

091up on the graph. It's not like we added a person or increase our payroll by that giant amount. It's that we changed the title so now they have to be listed on this graph. >> I just hope Don captures that point that you just made in the meeting minutes. Was that thing people need to understand? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So what the community sees is we talk every administration. >> So what you're seeing those two data points that are high were the years when we had uh the person acting in the role that had the credentials to be an assistant superintendent. The four years the next four points we did not have someone with those credentials in the role but the credentials were achieved during that year and title was changed for and the uh

092in the years we didn't have that position, we did have the role of a director of student services, but that's not reflected in the other totals. >> Exactly. >> So, it's interesting. >> So, what you do see happen obviously um when you expand the scale is some leveling off of the um impact. And so that might be another um recommendation if you're adding additional information to adjust the scale accordingly and >> show what happens when you when it's kind of the same thing that you had just mentioned. Show what it kind of really looks like and provide some addition. >> Greenland is not really that large. >> Greenland's not really that large >> depending on how you map it, right? So, are these charts going to be presented by somebody to the district? >> No,

093they're >> they just get posted. >> They get posted with our budget information. >> That's going to be dangerous. >> So, I have a question. >> For the average cost per pupil, >> how do you reflect what we all the schools is an average of? >> There's an average. The state report has an elementary, a middle, and a high school. So for the co-op, um it's a combination of middle and high school, and their average is the >> Is it weighted based on number of students? You know, >> I would suspect so. Um I've never asked how they come up with the I mean, I would expect that there's a calculation behind it based on all the reports that the DOE has at their disposal to be able to calculate that. Uh but in a

094district, you know, um I would say for Hollis or for Brookline, the average is the rate for the elementary schools. >> So is this the average? >> This is just the co-op. >> There's a separate report. >> Average is >> inflation adjusted average is 24,000 um per pupil. But was kind enough to include um the backup data and um the cost per pupil calculated um 23,444 and the 24,000 is the inflation adjusted and I think one other important thing to note Lance is that the anchor year is adjusting everything to 2020 you make you said that in your note but everything is adjusted to $25. >> Correct. >> So inflate the numbers this year. >> Yes. Based on the the inflation reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So RA so sometimes you see what

095what um we've typically presented when we show inflation adjusted results from the budget committee is that we pick in the earlier years as an anchor year. Um and the the the impact shifts. This is doing the opposite. And this has been there have been a lot of conversations about this just among um among the districts on the best way to you know present the data and and and ultimately the you know aside from using the calculator you know the districts have you know run this by legal and made decisions on how they how they want to proceed. So >> is there any way to show the state average around here? Because >> you just look at that one number >> who is going to look at a big giant piece of paper. >> Two charts

096each on the paper. One, you know, two two are on one and then the other paper has the other chart and and the other graph and this little chart. So based on the chart you showed earlier that showed all the districts. >> Yes. >> That needs to be adjusted for these numbers to make sure >> I don't need to. Okay. I don't Okay, let me go there. >> I would post this and put a sign right next to it that says the state is requiring us to post this. It is highly misleading. >> No, that's a judgment. I think there will be fireworks at the at the district meeting. I mean, there's going to be a lot of confusion. >> So, just so that everyone knows this has been Yes, this is a requirement and

097we're complying but >> for the three districts in the SAU. >> Okay. >> Wow. >> Um, great. So, I think we're ready for the schoolboard update, Tom, if there's anything left. >> Yeah. Um, one of the things I when we reviewed the u projected unsigned fund balance, >> we had a discussion that as is in many cases it's A lot of times these are driven by big swings in special education or other similar items and that uh in order to preserve the integrity of of the ask when we ask if we don't use it there is a recognition that it's it should go back um in the past couple of years we have selected target amounts of what we want to be able to return based on projections the last two years I think it's

098been 200,000 and we've been able to do that or more um assuming that something doesn't come in that's an unanticipated need that would dramatically change what the projections are um the board is comfortable setting the goal to be able to return $500,000 to the voters um from the current year. >> At least 500. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We're at 600 plus right now and there is um a strong expectation that that number will grow as uh other elements get firmed up because again we budget for what we have to do and we look for opportunities all along the way to for cost avoidance without impacting the education. So where that happens whether it's through hiring whether it's through um windfall things such as u the fact that maybe our energy bringing some of the stuff

099forward on the energy will allow our our fuel cost to go down. Who knows what it's going to be but the idea is that it's we don't anticipate un unexpected growth. We hope for unexpected savings and with the projection where it is now, there was a discussion last night at the meeting. If you're curious about it, you feel free to to plug into the live stream. Um, but I specifically asked, is there support for me communicating to this body that our goal this year will be to do 500,000 or more back? And there was unanimous support for that as a target because if you look at that the number is is significantly larger. We've already picked some key things that we want to use um that we want to pay for. We last year we

100kept a chunk out to allow us to pay for the elevator work because there's a 52- week lead time on it and we didn't want to wait until the year that we supposedly need it to pay for it and then have to wait another year to be able to do it. And and so this that's part of what's going into this is is is that but but again that allow us to have the elevator in proper operation based on anticipated needs that are going to be moving up into the building. So, it it all [snorts] plays into the same thing. Long story short of that unassigned fund balance, the board is and the administration more importantly is is is actively looking at sort of quarantining $500,000 at least to return. I think that's pretty bold

101statement. I wanted I ask that we publicize that now so that again it's not a guarantee. It's not an official commitment. It's a goal. It is a goal and it's an intent. >> And I think that that plays into the conversation when people talk about are we overbudgeting? We're not over budgeting. We are budgeting for what we might reasonably need and when we don't need it, we will give it back. Um the other uh thing is uh so we talked about the umition war article about that. The other thing in regards to using the un unassigned fund balance sometimes we as we get towards the end of the year we say okay we're planning on doing this next year but we've got the money now. Is there a benefit to to use the money now

102and and therefore not spend it? And superintendent [clears throat] expressed a view that I thought was an interesting one and one worth this body considering is when you're just flipping it over the July 1 timeline. It's you've by that time you've already budgeted for that and it's taking it is one hand handing it to the other. if you if you don't spend it, you give it back, but then you have to have your budget and you take it right back. What she was saying is if we do have a larger amount and we're looking, we've already got this budgeted, look farther down the schedule, couple of years, so that you can really perhaps stave off future expenditures. So instead of the in 26 looking at 27, if we've got plan needs that are scheduled, do

103you look at at at u bringing in a a 2028 item that you didn't want that you want and you need but you didn't want to uh [clears throat] so that is a thought process and I I wanted to present that to this group so that the pros and cons of such a thought process can be evaluated. in months and years to come. >> So, >> go ahead. >> I have real concerns with that because the contingencies fund is supposed to be there for contingencies, you know, emergencies that come up, things we're going to go over. >> This is the contingency, Brian. >> This is the what? >> Unassigned fund balance overage. So, >> it just feels to me like you're treating that as an extension of the budget. You know, you're basically expanding the

104budget with the unassigned fund balance. No, what I'm saying is if you look at if you look at right now um the data that that Lance presented, there's 300,000 to be um using the maintenance trust, >> but that is money that is um already expected. You you know the conversations that happen is is the maintenance trust is it a savings account or is it is it just things like that? But these are these are that's a section of roof. For example, this year we we used it to do a section of roof be because we um uh it would allow us to put solar panels on sooner things like that. We have a lot of these things like like the roof where you know you got chunks of air and it was just thought would

105it be better to for the taxpayers for us to use already collected money to pay for known needs with it rather than playing with a budget that this was a thought process. It's not saying we're doing >> we want to explore the pros and cons of doing something like that >> but it feels like the the thought here. This sounds exactly like using it as a slush fund of having money set aside that should be in the budget, but you're not really putting in the budget. So, you're not being visible about not that it's not that it's intentional. I understand the thought process goes into it, >> but how is the effect different from that? >> Well, the you can't put it anywhere. So, so in I see I'm going to lay this out and

106see if I'm interpreting what you're saying correctly, Tom. So, say there's $750,000 left at the end of the year and you've committed $500,000 to return, you're suggesting a way that the board wants to spend the 250, >> right? >> So, rather than um look at that 250 and say, "We're going to advance um I don't know the paving that's on next year's budget. We're going to advance that and get that done in June. >> We're gonna we're gonna pay for it." Yeah. >> Yeah. We're going to pay for it. You're saying, you know what, paving is covered, but >> in looking at 28, we see maybe a lot of the projects that didn't get through and didn't pass at into F FY27. >> Either that or something that says that you've got a section of

107roof that you know you're going to have to do. Let's [snorts] get that one done too while we've got while we've got people doing the 2027 section. >> Right. So, if I look at say the FY28 section, yes, you'd say, "Okay, let's let's do Yes. Let's do two sections instead of one." And then that knocks something off of the FY28 CIP because, you know, you're it's it's due to be done and you're going to you're going to um you know, move it move it up. So I don't I don't know that that's tremendously different from what you've been doing. >> I'm just relaying what was stated. I thought it was an interesting expression and uh it was >> because I guess because I look at it as if you're advancing a project like I just

108said, let's you know, move paving up and let's take that off of FY27, then that opens funding in your FY27 budget. And I would anticipate that there's a whole list of other capital items that like I said got prioritized out of the budget. >> Yeah. I think I think it's how you do it. I don't think it's so much of things that are lower priority as this. So if let's say you you've got something you're going to do this summer. >> Yeah. >> And you say, "Well, it's in the 27 budget. We've got money left over in the 26 budget. let's pay it now and then we won't pay it. And essentially what you've done is you've >> pushed forward your your unexpended money. >> Yeah. >> And what she's saying is if you really

109want to make a difference, perhaps it makes more sense to actually spend it on something that's that you haven't already collected money or plan or or put into a fixed. If that's the case, then you should remind maybe you should take some action to not spend that money or maybe reduce the budget the following year by that same amount. >> Yeah. Because you can you can look forward at the CIP as you go into the next next budget cycle and you can say, "Oh, we already did this project. We can take that out and it lowers it." Or you can say, "But we can, you know, you can change >> it has a it can have a domino effect." Yeah. Yeah. And shifts. >> To me, it makes sense if there's some synergy involved where

110because you're doing that, you've saved additional money by lumping things together. I think you said something about the roof and the in the solar panels. It makes sense. It doesn't make sense to do them separately because the cost could be more in separating them out. But while you're working on the roof and while you're doing HVAC or while you're doing some electrical, it fits in. Everything fits in. And because you pulled it from ahead and doing it now, not only I are you getting something done, but you're getting something done at a lesser cost. I think that's something that can be easily sold to someone. You know, I think we see this around our homes, too. If you're going to do the plumbing, you know, in the bathroom, maybe do the plumbing in the house

111rather than peace meal. And if we can find some things that have some relative synergies between them that save [clears throat] additional money by pulling it forward, then it makes sense to do. I think the point in her bringing it up was just so that she was just sort of giving um some insight into her thought process and when when we see proposals it it will not be a shock to see it might not be a shock to see that it's something that isn't for the next month something for the next year. >> I think a point of clarification here though is that really what what the voters do and what you know we do to some extent is we define a bottom line number that we give to the school the [snorts] school board

112in particular and the school board manages that. So the budget that's proposed to us that doesn't necessarily mean that's how they have to spend it. They could in in theory they wouldn't uh but they could in theory take that money and do completely different things than what was in their budgetvious. Now, obviously, they're not going to really do that, but the point is once we approve the numbers, it's it's the school board's respons, you know, in the school board's um purview to manage those funds however they see fit. So, really, you know, you're asking for our advice here, but really the power lays entirely with the school board. There's something about this that kind of strikes me as being wrong from a budgetary process thing because you're not for things for things that you never

113budgeted for that hasn't hasn't been socialized. >> Potentially, >> but there potentially savings there for it, too. So, it's reasonable. It is reasonable. There's just something about it that just strikes me as not being >> I [snorts] think we have to see what actually comes out of this and and it may be that when executed >> it it might not be something that the administration decides is is really the way they want to go. I just thought it I thought it was a novel idea and something I hadn't heard expressed in that way before. And I'm I'm saying to you not so much for approval or advice is you folks own the budget and you take great care. No, the the budgeting process creating budget and you you take great care in that responsibility. So

114I I wanted to share it with you because I found it interesting. I hoped you would too. That's that's I'll leave it at that. >> It's it's very reasonable to do that. It is reasonable as I stop and think about it. It's it's a very reasonable approach. But there's just I can't quite put my finger on it. That raises like a yellow flag for me. >> Depends what word you use to describe it. >> It also depends on what the money is used for and how much money there is for it. >> Is there money going back to the taxpayer >> or are we talking about all the money going back? >> No, this is this is talking about [clears throat] the types of items that the administration recommends to the school board to potentially

115from the unassigned fund balance as we approach the end of the year and we know what we have back. So we have we're going to have this chunk of money we hope and based on the projection that Lance has given us tonight it currently is in excess of $600,000. The board has said that knowing that number um and actually the number is larger but but after the the items that are anticipated it being used for one of which is the the elevator because of the one year lead time on it. Um because of that, uh the board wants to essentially um carve out a chunk of that and say, "Let us plan to at least have this amount to go back." But there will be, we hope, additional money that maybe in consideration decision we

116asked, do you want to add to that amount or are there other items that we for appropriate uses of this money that's already there in the line with what Brian has said. You know, we have bottom line capability. The money has been has been approved for use for the schools. What's an appropriate use? >> So, regarding process, can the school board just go ahead and do what they need to do and they don't need to include the budget committee anymore in that? >> We don't need to budget committee we have, I believe, have to have a hearing on on use. >> Okay. >> For for use of the unassigned And I think the school board has included the budget committee in past times, haven't they? >> They don't have to, but they don't have a

117>> No, I think you have whether >> Exactly. Exactly. But I think we've been a part of the conversation. >> I don't think there's any surprises in what Lance presented tonight. >> And I endorse what uh Tony said. Uh you know, a that's a good example. uh doing the roof so you can put the solar up. And there's another piece of that. Once the solar is up, you're saving on energy. So it from an economic point of view, that's a good example of of uh something moving up if you can. >> Yeah. One of the questions I did raise last night and we don't really know the answer. We want to going to look into it further is find out based [clears throat] on the timing that we've been able to bring the items in

118to meet what we expect are the qualifications for the rebate programs. Find out um based on the anticipated schedule for the high school mountings and complet dates of that. Will we be able to apply for and potentially receive any of those rebates in next fiscal year? That's an unknown right now. >> That would be great to know. >> And I did reach out to our [clears throat] bond council to ask about >> what can we do if >> legally what what are options with that? >> Yeah, because the question is when it was a lease, we could have we had a lot of options. But with a bond, it's more restrictive. Can we use it towards payments? Can we do we need to refinance if we want to apply it to principles? All these questions

119that's driver for that one. So that but that I the fact that we're asking the question and need to find that out that is a really positive thing. >> That's it. >> Great. Thank you. Um I want to be respectful respectful of everyone's time. It's 8:28 and we normally have a two-hour meeting. Um so the last section is the legislative update which could be lengthy. Um so there are a couple ways we can go about it. But I did share with everyone a link to um updated uh LSRs that link to bill names and things that are happening at a very fast pace up in conquered. So um >> can you just talk about the two or three highlights the important ones? >> So um SAU consolidation is still on the table. um open enrollment.

120They're always talking about funding levels for adequacy and the statewide education property tax. There are actual bills that are talking about so the statewide education property tax is a collects 360ish million dollars. The number has never changed. So now they're talking about changing that number. It's never been adjusted for inflation or anything like that. But if that number goes up, statewide education property tax rate goes up and things like that. So there it's all you know related into a big pool but that money comes directly back to your to you know it it stays within your community and things like that. Um there are pieces of legislation that uh uh stipulate subjects and certain things that need to be taught in schools related to firearms and firearm safety. Um that would be mandatory. uh there

121are just a host of issues and and and and items that are being addressed. So I don't want to rush it, but I do want to put attention to it. So I'm wondering if there's any um if anyone has any interest. I I said earlier that we would not be having a meeting in February because of our public hearing. we certainly could meet again or have like a workshop to talk through um you know legislation and kind of what the high points highlights are if anyone's interested in that um I'd be happy to be available um the second week of you know sometime during the second week of February we can talk about a date then I don't know if you're traveling Tom >> no that's good >> oh okay um >> before you leave

122right Leave the 16th. >> Leave the 16th. >> Do you have the calendar up, Lance? >> I can get it. >> How about Valentine's Day? >> I just Nope. I think I have something else. Um, >> that's a Saturday. >> What is the HSD >> workshops are very important charters are very >> uh the 10th with a snow date of the 11th. >> Okay. So, thank you. So, maybe the 12th. It's a Thursday. Um, >> I think there is a governing I say governing board meeting. >> Oh, there's a governing [clears throat] board meeting. >> Oh, yeah. >> I have for the 12th. >> You have what? >> I have us down for the 12th. That must be an error. >> I think we were originally thinking the public hearing might be that date. So,

123we probably >> That's the SAU public hearing. Isn't that the 12th? >> No, the SAU budget public hearing was in December. But there's I have another one on my >> there's a governing board meeting on the 12th >> like a regular standing governing board meeting. >> Okay. I had a hearing. >> So it's there's there is no hearing on the >> No hearing on the 12th. It's the 19th now. >> I think we originally >> Well, there's an SAU governing board meeting on the 12th. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> What about Monday the 9th? >> I thought the question was whether or not we wanted >> if you wanted to do it. And if you wanted to, or you know, we could wait till the very beginning of March, March 5thish. That seems to be

124maybe before things start rolling. >> So So we could have a a meeting just to discuss two things. >> The uh legislation. Yeah. >> But all the warrant articles that have been submitted till the last minute, you know. >> Oh, any of the petitions that >> petition warrant. Yeah. >> February. What if February 9th is the Brooklyn School District? public hearing. >> Oh, okay. >> Um Um >> What happened to the 12th? It >> was the governing board meeting. So Tom Solon wouldn't be here. >> I can't vote on anything anyway. >> You can't vote anyway. So we can go back to the 12th. [clears throat] The 12th looks like a a date. >> Yeah. I don't I don't know that it to me it makes sense to have a meeting just to vote to

125discuss legislation that we have very little impact on. But on the other hand, we're we'll have other petition warrant articles and we do have we should have an opportunity to vote recommendations on those. >> Yeah. >> The ones that we decide that we want to have recommendations on. >> There may be some updated numbers. >> Yeah. >> And there there could be some some collective bargaining information as well. So >> the 12th works for me. >> All right. We'll go with the 12th then. >> Yeah. And I think the legislation is very important. >> I agree. just because people don't track that, right? It's very confusing. >> Yes. Our schools >> and it it is and I appreciate your the expertise you bring specifically to that Melanie because there's so much happening and so many,

126you know, things that get changed. So, for example, you know, one of the bills that you can um submit public input on is, I believe it's House Bill 1131. It's on uh scheduled for a public hearing tomorrow, but it was the the topic I'm about to discuss is the trail is it's it's a trailer to another bill that is being described as like dead on arrival. So whatever the topic originally was, it looks like that would have failed. But now this trailer bill has been added that would change of like if you were to a district like ours were to vote on SB2 right now. Um based on legislation that's passed I would say within the last five years, three years um we would vote on that at town meeting. Prior to that legislation, it

127would have it required an all day vote. So now this trailer bill is being, you know, this language is being added as a trailer to House Bill 1131, which would return the voting mechanism back to an all-day ballot vote. you can certainly go online and provide input um however you see fit, but again it's something that comes up and that we're not necessarily aware of because I can give you a list of LSRs and House bills and you can go on legis scan uh New Hampshire legis scan and look up to your heart's content, but these trailer pieces and these amendments that get put submitted at the last minute aren't there and you have no way of knowing that that's even a topic. And I know what happened to me a lot last year was

128things that looked like even based in legis saying, "Oh, on this date it's going to have a public hearing and you go in and you try to say, "Okay, I want to look at House Bill this because the education committee is seeing it on this date." And then all of a sudden it's not there because the schedule changed and they don't tell you when the new date is and scan isn't updated. So it is very hard to keep track of everything that's going on. So um that's and it is important. There are over, I believe, over 300 bills just for, you know, relating to education in school districts. And, you know, the things that don't people think won't get traction often do. The things that get so much attention sometimes get resolved, then sometimes end

129up carried over and discussed again. And so, it's just it's it's just a constantly it's it just feels like >> is the school board association helpful here? They should be. Well, yes, the list of LSRs and things that I gave you is, but again, even when those things come up, sometimes the bills they ask, you know, say this one, you know, we're tracking this, this, and this. I can look at four or five others and I'm like, but you should be tracking this, this, and this. >> Well, so that's where NHSBA does re rely on the delegate convention annually to >> identify the issues of priorities. They've got I think five people in in that office and there's over almost 500 education related bills this year. So they they have to pick and choose. They

130do file positions on them regularly and the update that that uh is referring to does include if you if you go in through the NHSBA link, it does include their positions. Some of it it'll be oppose support tracking and that sort of thing. So they're tracking most of these but they they don't necessarily take positions on them. >> They just inform. >> Okay. Um I would like to just also say that the window for filing um is open now. Um so rolls C and Dave No. >> Uh I'm for the co for the Apollo school district the municipal not >> budget committee not this one. >> Um Raul and Dave Lynn um their seats um are up for election and the window [snorts] is open. So um you can stop by the SAU office to

131get a form. You can get one um by email through Diane Levit. Um, but if you wait until the last day, you have to do it in person. So, just kind of make that statement. And the last day is next Friday, >> which is the 30th. >> She said she'd pay me in her 30th. 30th. So, >> I just wanted to announce that. I think that's it for me, Melanie, as our process observer. >> Well, it's 8:38, so that's not too bad. We did start a few minutes late so >> two hours um a lot of good conversation and um you know concerns as well and I think again it's important that we're talking about the legislation in my opinion but all in all a tight meeting very good very well done >> um so

132at this point I will at 8:39 p.m. I'll take a motion to adjourn So moved >> from Brian, seconded by Tony. All those in favor? >> I. >> 6. Thank you.