Kensington School Public Hearing/Board Meeting 01/06/26

001All right. Good evening everyone. Thank you for coming out. We appreciate um you being here. So tonight is the public hearing on the Kensington School District budget that will go to the deliberative session in February and then it will be on the March ballot. So um is that me buzzing? I think it's that one. Okay. Okay. So, we just we're going to do just some quick highlights from it and then we're going to show a video that um principal rule has put together. So, the FY27 proposed budget total is 4,692,79169. It is up $192,49343 which is that from last from FY26 last year um which comes to 4.28%. So there it's up 4.28% from last year. Um the we're going to go over what the key drivers and stuff were in the in the budget

002that that made those changes. But the first thing we're going to do is Are you ready? I'm going to move. Happy New Year everyone. I'm Becky Rule, the principal at Kensington Elementary School. Thank you for joining me today to learn a little bit about what's behind the numbers of our school budget for the 2627 school year. Hi, my name is AJ Salazo and I go to the KES school. A lot of things are fun in the school, especially one year when we woke up and had a whole school field trip. That was the best field trip I've ever gone to. And another thing is our principal, Mrs. rule is a really nice principal and she is happy to see you whenever you walk in the door. Another thing that's fun about the school is there's

003always activities like kids night out um what else and all the other fun activities that Kes does. So I want to thank Kes for making this my favorite school ever. I've got Caleb with me. Tell me, what are some of the things that you like [music] best about KEES? >> I like recess and I like PE STEM. [music] >> And what's some of your favorite things that you've done in STEM so far? >> Bbots. >> You like the programming the BBOT? They're a lot of fun. Hi, my name is Sarah Growthier. I'm a mom of three students here at Kensington Elementary School and I'm here to share that KES is a small school with a small budget but with a very big heart. [music] It does what it can with the resources that it has,

004stretching every dollar, finding ways to support our children. From my [music] experience, every decision that faculty make is centered on helping [music] our students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Even though their budget is [music] modest, their commitment to their students is unlimited. As an example, the faculty at this school do so much more than anybody know. They go to football games, to te-ball games, to plays that people are on the ensemble. They financially contribute to [music] fundraisers for their students. They don't have to do that. So, they teach more than just art and literature and math. They teach our students [music] how to be kind, responsible, respectful humans into any community that is priceless. Our core values here at KES are engaging students in meaningful learning, actively working towards building a positive community

005culture, and prioritizing the health and well-being of our staff and students. What matters most is that students want to come to school each day and that they feel safe, connected, and inspired to learn. When they leave us in fifth grade, it is important to us that they go out into the world as kind, confident, empathetic, self-driven, and academically competent students. So, what is driving our budget? This chart represents the biggest drivers to our school budget. First, the rising costs of health care, insurance, and retirement contributions are significant increases to our school budget. This is an obstacle not unique to Kensington Elementary, but is also being faced by many businesses and organizations in New Hampshire. You will see that of the $192,000 of total increases, the largest majority of that is coming from the increase in

006health and dental insurance. Our maintenance and facilities line is up about $37,000 as we look to tackle two larger projects in the building over the next few years. our HVAC controls and replacing our boilers, which have been going strong for decades, maybe even longer than I've been alive. But it is now time for us to strategize for their replacement. We've worked closely with our facilities department and have created a new capital improvement plan, which focuses on maintaining our school building as well as looking for efficiencies in our energy consumption. The cost of caring for the 20,000 square ft here at KES is increasing just like it is more expensive to maintain our homes. You will also see a change in our special education contracted services line which reflects an increase in students educational needs as

007well as increased behavioral support from a board certified behavior analyst or BCBA. KES is committed to highquality instruction and providing services for all children which include students with individualized education plans. Special education services are not optional and we are legally required to provide them. Our budget reflects how schools function today in terms of these early interventions and we provide staffing and spaces for services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech and language support. Other smaller increases include our first student bus contract, which is about $6,900. We've included $8,400 for an outside auditing expenses, $3,700 for increases to our food service program, $12,000 for the replacement of technology and devices, and an increase in our overall SAU assessment at about $5,900. One of the smaller but important changes is an increase in our books and

008curriculum line for $11,000 as we are preparing to purchase a new reading and writing program. There were re recent changes to state legislation and HB 1015 requires all New Hampshire schools to adopt evidence-based instruction based on the science of reading and KES is prepared for those changes. You will also notice a significant decrease in our staffing line. Given the current students in our building and those we anticipate coming to us next year, we're removing a classroom teaching position as well as reducing the time of our PE teacher, art teacher, and music teacher. All of these increases and decreases together total $192,493 or 4.28%. In New Hampshire, public schools are funded through a mix of state aid and local property taxes. But the key thing to know is this. State adequacy funding does not cover the

009real cost of educating students. In July 2025, the New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed that the state's current base adequacy funding level is constitutionally inadequate and referenced $7,356 per student as a conservative minimum threshold while also leaving that solution to the legislature. Under current law, the base adequacy money is still in the low 4,000s per pupil because the state amount doesn't match actual costs. Local property taxes make up the difference. This shortfall is even greater for our students with disabilities whose cost of programming and specialized instruction are more than our general education students. As a result, New Hampshire communities like Kensington rely heavily on our local property taxes to make up for this difference. A significant portion of special education costs, about 83% is carried by locally raised taxes. Kensington Elementary School has seen a shift

010in the amount of grant funding that we re receive each year. We no longer receive title 2 or title 4 grants, which in the past have funded activities like our 4-day summer kindergarten camp, which is an important transition activity, as well as paying for our teachers attendance at our annual SAU16 summer institute. These activities and others have shifted into our regular budget, and these grants are no longer available to us. Thank you for supporting our students and staff at KES. And please join us for the public hearing on Tuesday, January 6th, and participate in our deliberative se session coming up on Tuesday, February 3rd. And don't forget to vote on Tuesday, March 10th. >> All right. Thank you, Becky. >> Happy New Year, everyone. I am Becky. >> All right. Awesome. Okay. Thank you so

011much, Becky. >> Um, all right. So, we can do >> Yeah. Have people sign in if they want to speak and then open it up for public comment. >> Okay. So, we're opening up for public comment now. Um, if you'd like to speak, we ask you to sign up on the sheet and then we're going to run down the names there rather than having folks raise your hand. So, I don't Does anyone know where the sheet is? Um, okay. So, it's right there. And then three minutes is what we're going to um do for for how long you get to speak. Are you talking to me? Okay. Molly just wants to have a clarification over appropriation first grant. >> Okay. Sure. >> She's going to explain before public input. She's going to explain something. >>

012So for the public input, I just wanted to explain the total appropriation. So the budget that you saw in the video is our operating budget. Now, in all SA16 districts, grants were previously appropriated as part of the SAU budget, which is a completely separate budget than Kennedy Elementary. And so, the legal owner of the grants is the school district. So, we are moving the grants to the school district budgets. So, when you go to the ballot um in March, you're you're going to see a different number, which is 4,849,153. The reason why is you have to also appropriate the grant money. However, appropriation equals revenue. So there is no impact on taxation. So in the packet that you do have in front of you, if you flip through the fourth page, I think it is,

013you do see all the appropriations and you see that the grant appropriation equals the grant revenue. That means no money is raised in taxation. So when you see the different number on the ballot, the difference is the grant money. So I just wanted to clarify that. And then also not presented with the default budget. But if we when you go to the ballot, you have the choice between the proposed and the default. The default is the current year budget. So the 2526 budget plus or minus any mandatory cont um or contractual obligations required by law. So, special education services, any active collective bargaining agreements, um, but agreements like a first student contract, even though it's a multi-year contract, the specific contract is not put on the ballot as a standalone item. So, the increase in

014the bus contract, which we legally have to get our kids to school, that increase cannot be included in the default. So, if we were to go to default, we would have to find other areas to cut in the budget to be able to provide those services. >> [snorts] >> Thank you. Okay, great. Um, so I'm just going to run down the list. If you signed in and you don't want to speak, just wave and do whatever. Um, and then the mic, we're going to use this one right over here. Um, okay. So, Shannon Cole, you want to speak? You're good. Kelsey, you just signed it cuz you're like, we're signing this. That's what I would have done, too. >> Everybody was doing it. [laughter] That's fine. Yeah, that's fine. You don't have to speak. Although

015you did. You just did. Um, all right. Nick Saba, do you want to >> She made you do it. >> She made you. >> Courtney, do you want to say >> All right. Should we? Should I just keep going? >> If any >> I think everybody just thought they were signing in that >> I love that everyone signed in. >> I have a question. >> Yes. Let's do mics. So when you said that the um gym Courtney Brady 12 boy um the gym so th those hour a few of the different specialty hours are going to go down >> but they'll still have them services >> but they're just their hours are going to go down. >> Yeah. >> As best as we can project right now. If we have one kindergarten class that comes

016next year, and I know we talk about this every year, we never know how many kindergarteners are coming. [clears throat] This year we just had one class of kindergarten. Right now, we're anticipating one class of kindergarten again next year. So, if that's the case, um that we would then be reducing the time because there'd be less classes in the buildings. [snorts] And the same would be true for art and music as well. So there's less as long as we have one class of kindergarten. Right now that's what we're projecting is just one class. >> Um okay. Yeah. Great. Do you want to bring the mic around? Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat] And then don't forget to say your name first. >> Less Katie Lane. Um I was recently at a meeting um with the

017superintendent as far as health services and everything. He said he was going to work on renegotiating with the insurance companies and all the several unions that are in our area. So I don't know if that's going to be happening. He mentioned it for next year, but because he agreed that it was fair [snorts] is just unsustainable to keep going up by this percentage every year. Yes. Um I can respond to that. I was also at that meeting and the superintendent's office does have a plan to meet with teacher collective bargaining agreements and research other options for health care um and insurance. It is a it is not an immediate fix. So this is him. This is just the superintendent's office thinking long term as every other school district and businesses with the rising in cost

018of healthcare. There's no changes to the plans or anything for next year. We're already in agreements with all that. But we are looking to research and think about ways in which we can save in healthcare and not reduce um the insurance that our teachers receive. We don't want to cut benefits. We just want to think of ways in which we can save money. And there are professionals out there that work with districts to look at risk pools and other things. So that was the conversation at the superintendent's office is we understand this and it it it continues to go up and every district in the in the state is experiencing this as well as businesses. So there's a lot of thought and conversations about how do we address the rising health care costs without reducing

019benefits for teachers. That will not be in next year's budget. But a lot of times businesses do have to reduce the benefits. >> Our healthcare benefits for our teachers >> pay more for instance. It's been going on for years employees have to pay in more >> get you know full benefits without participating you know when the costs rise like that. Businesses do that. Um, we aren't a business as you know. We're we are a public entity and our benefits are negotiated in our contracts with our teachers and so it is a contractual legal obligation to maintain the current health care and benefits that they have. It is not something the board can cut or increase a percentage of that the teachers would pay. That is that is very different and the PBLR and other things

020would have us um in trouble for that. We have contractual obligation. Kensington School District as a public school has contractual obligations as we negotiated with the Kensington teachers in good faith. And so we cannot um and we have not proposed to change the percentage that teachers contribute in the budget for next year. We are honoring the contracts with the teachers. All right. Anyone else? Karen Parker. Um, thank you so much for all the good work you're doing. Everybody loves this school. That's so clear. Um, I have two questions. One is, um, why has Kensington School not produced an audited financial statement? All the other all the other schools in the district have have done that. Uh, that's one. The second one is what is the greatest obstacle to consolidating the school with East Kingston or

021some other small town school. >> Um so to answer the first question in previous years we used a um elected auditor and starting in this budget for next year we will have an outside auditor. So that was Becky mentioned it in the in the rundown of what some of the changes were. It's like $8,000 or $9,000 something like that. And um so we will be doing what all the other towns were doing going forward and that was in response to to public interest in that last year. So we we we are listening. We do want to be as transparent as possible. So that will be going forward something that's available >> to know that prior years. So we have >> I I believe that they would look through previous years. Do you want to talk

022to that? I don't know how it works. >> They're not going to do a deep dive into previous years. And just for clarification, Kensington by law has had its audits done every year and their financials done and submitted to the DOE. So we have had audits as required by law in New Hampshire. This town has voted to elect a local auditor to complete the audits, fills out the financial forms and submits them to the Department of Education and financing and it is approved every time. So we do it. We this town in the past had not elected to spend 10,000 a year on an accounting firm doing a a big audit and this year um we did because it was feedback from the community that they wanted to have the an accounting firm to do

023a full school audit but we have always had an audit every year by law. Um and then the I don't remember the other question. >> It was about what the obstacles were about consolidating. The biggest obstacles to consolidation between two districts besides the legal things cuz we would have to both towns would have to vote in the majority that they wanted to explore the option of combining districts and the other district has not the board has not requested that. So it's not something that this board could do on its own. It would it requires other citizens in a legislative body in another district to request it as well. um in the one of the biggest misnomers I would say and then I'll hand it over to the board around consolidation is this sense that there's

024empty spaces or that enrollment's gone down so we have empty empty spaces and um we did a program audit for the school board for the request for the before the workshop in November that we had with the Kensington school board and um when we did a program study there are no empty spaces in this building there are no empty classrooms um we are mand the law has changed in the LSAs around square footage per student has changed since this building was built and when this building was built special education laws were vastly vastly different. Um and so what the school is required to do and the amount of square footage per student is required has has changed since the building. Um, we have spaces here for therapeutic that keep students in district at their local

025school. And if we didn't have those therapies and those spaces, they would cost you $250,000 a year to send that student out of district and they wouldn't be with their neighbors kids. And the law mandates you attempt to keep them in there. So, if we were to combine schools, we would have to put a warrant article to put an addition onto the building to make space for all the students. There is no space for other kids. And I just would say that is probably the biggest misnomer that the building was built for 250 kids. Why can't you have 250 kids? And even the legislators at the state will tell you the law has changed around square footage required for each student. >> Do you have anything to say? Did you want me to add something?

026[laughter] >> Sometimes you do. >> I don't know. I have a lot going on here. >> Um, any other comment? I do have one, please. Uh the consolidation thing. Um I think that the uh confusion that we run into all the time is people don't understand that we're two legally completely separate districts because we're under the SAU umbrella. People tend to think we're kind of elementary schools in the same district. We're not. So it's a whole big deal. And if they say they don't want to do it, there's nothing. That's it. It's done. You know, we're It's like saying that we want to merge our town with Stratum. like the whole towns are going to become Kenzo Stratron. It's just it's a big deal. We're we're basically little municipalities with our own governing boards and

027they would have to figure out who's going to govern it, who's going to make I I it's not that I'm saying it's a bad idea. It's just it's an enormous legal entity. I mean, an enormous legal endeavor and that would be hugely expensive. So, that's that's some of the confusion. We're not in the same district. We are in the same district with the co-op. We're all in one district. It's the exit co-op district, but here we're we're our own district. And can I just add one more thing? Um because I think there might be some misinformation out there about what our class sizes actually are. Um just to be able to add students to our classes. So next year, if I think about what our class sizes, we anticipate them looking like next year. In

028fifth grade, we anticipate our class of 21 fifth graders. Our fourth grade would have 22 fourth graders. Um, our third graders next year would have 17 in each class. Um, our second grade class would have 22 students in it. Our first grade class would have 19 students. And then we never know how many kindergarters. So we already have larger class sizes than most of the other elementary schools in SAU. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other comments? >> How much does it cost to send a kid here? >> So you got it. >> Oh, sorry. >> How much does it cost to send a kid to school here? >> Can you say your name first though? >> Thank you. >> How much does it cost to send a kid? I I guess >> one child. How

029much does it cost for one child to go to school a year? >> I mean, I don't have that number. >> We >> It's not really done that way. >> I I guess I don't understand the question because we don't have a tuition rate and we don't we don't tuition students in. So, we don't have a tuition rate that I could share with you. >> Just doesn't work that way. >> Doesn't work that way. Yeah. >> How much does it cost to educate child? >> You it it depends on the student in the service, right? And I mean the DOE does have a cost per pupil formula that they they share out, but it's um it's when you're work in public education, it's not a one-sizefits-all for every student. And there's also a lot of

030fixed costs that are required in order to keep the building safe and operational. And those fix fixed costs such as electricity and heat and safety and security. All those things do not change if you have 17 kids in a class or 25 kids in a class. So, it's we don't we don't tuition kids in. So, we don't have a tuition rate like some private schools that people hear about the cost to send their kids there. And it's not um it's not a one-sizefits-all. And what it costs to educate a kid is so different depending on the kiddos's needs. >> Thank you. >> Oh, sorry. That's okay. Hi, my name is Superfky Le. I live on Dr. Library. >> My question is one I have a question about how many students do we have that are

031actually special ed? >> And secondly, how many are actually IEPs? >> Are actually what? Um yeah. So if um we have identified um a student as receiving special education services and that they would have um an IEP, an individual education plan. So currently in the building right now um as a percentage um I think we are around 14% of our student but I can double check that percentage for you. The special ed being >> 14% of the population has individual education plans. >> The special ed I would be probably would be considered wheelchair accessible. >> Do you know what I mean? >> There's many different categories of special education in the state of New Hampshire. So I think you're you're talking about some physical mobility. Yes. But there's lots of categories. So there's um >>

032how many of those that would be that first question. How many of them are actually disabled? >> What's >> So I think you're just talking about a physical disability, but there's 13 different categories of disabilities. >> Two different questions. One of them is the IPS and one of them is disabled. >> Okay. Sorry. Sorry. This IEPs and disabled are if a student has an IEP then they are considered to have a disability in the state of New Hampshire. 14% of the students in this building are considered to have a special education disability according to the law in the state of New Hampshire and federal IDA. Not going to get into a conversation. I would not recommend the board gets into a conversation in identifying physical disability categories and other for the public's information and voting.

03314% of the students at Kensington are identified as qualifying under special education, federal IDA and New Hampshire RSAs. >> Thank you. Great. >> Any other public comment? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Can I ask one more question? Um, one moment. We're going to Okay. >> I had briefly gone online and double checked. Um, I homeschooled. Um, I have several children um, grown up and on their own. Um, I homeschooled when my children were both in elementary and one that had progressed from middle school and then into high school. Um, you have a program that you're using that I noticed online. It's a virtual type thing, not something you'd use if you were hands-on. Why is that? >> I don't know what she's doing. >> Do you have a little bit more information about what what that

034was? the program that I looked at online, your caring type thing that you have on your description. >> CARES. >> Yeah. Your program that you've listed on your website people. >> Yeah, I believe that's what you called it. I'm not recognizing it right off the bat because I only glanced at it once and I didn't actually research it, but I did notice that it is not one that you would have for it's it's an online type of thing. It's not something you do hands-on. >> No, >> I don't know. She's talking. >> It's all hands on. >> Um not sure if we're talking about the the same thing cuz purposeful people is an interactive curriculum that students have meetings and conversations and role play and lessons. So I'm I'm thinking we might be talking about

035different mathematics and science. No, purposeful people is just is a social emotional curriculum. >> So, it doesn't have any of the normal things that people get to learn from um like reading stuff normally get at home. So, the purposeful people curriculum is what was adopted and is adopted SAU wide for that social emotional learning and that is led um primarily with our guidance counselor. Um and then teachers also do supplemental lessons in their classroom as well. >> What curriculum do they use to learn >> math science? >> Yep. So here, so we use the ready math curriculum for our mathematics instruction. And this year we're piloting two different English language arts curriculum. We're piloting the arts and letters curriculum and we'll be starting a fish the fish tank curriculum in the spring. So, we're piloting

036two different programs this year for reading and writing and speaking. >> Speak. >> I just wanted to quickly jump back to the cost per pupil question. I just want to make sure everyone um is clear on what the department of ed uh publishes for the cost per pupil, which is different than just taking a budget divided by the number of students in the building. So the department of ed publishes the cost per pupil well after the school year has ended. So just the other day they published the fiscal year 25 cost per pupil which is the 2425 school year. And what they do is they take the actual expenditures of the school and they back out in certain things such as transportation, fixed costs such as bonds. Um they also back out food service revenue.

037So, there's certain things that they take out and it all it's all detailed on the Department of Ed website if you if you'd like to review the calculation. Um, and then they divide that by the the ADM which is the the students intends and that's how they come up with the cost per pupil. But it's really important to know is a budget cannot be exceeded. So, if we get a lot of snow this year like we are, we need to have the money in the budget to plow. So yes, every year we do typically finish finish the year with a fund balance. And the reason for that is we have to make guesses on how much oil are we going to need to heat the building. How many times are we going to have to

038plow the driveway? Are there going to be any potential moves move in of students that might have higher needs? So we always have to plan for that. So when you take a budget and just divide it by the number of kids, it's not an apples to apples comparison to what the cost per pupil that the department of ed publishes. So I just want to make sure everyone knows that. So if you do research on the department of ed, it is not an applesto apples comparison by taking the budget presented tonight divided by the number of students. I don't need the mic. Um, does the does the school have an outstanding bond and unfunded pension liabil liability? Well, okay. Bond, no. >> So, there's no bond. >> So, there's there's no bond. There's a bond in

039the cooperative, which your tax statement has two lines on the education, local and co-op. locals Kensington Elementary. There is a bond there for the middle school. There is no bond here at Kensington Elementary School. Um I think way back when when this was put on there was, but that is no longer. Um in regards to a pension liability, I think I there is no liability that the Kensington School District is going to have to pay. What has to be reported in the audit audit and financial statements per Gazsby accounting rules is the New Hampshire state pension liability. So in every paycheck teachers pay a certain amount towards the New Hampshire retirement system and then for teachers the school district contributes 19.23% for teachers and 12.75 I think for employees. And so we pay during the

040duration of their employment and then when they choose to retire, it is the state of New Hampshire pension system that is paying that. It is not the Kensington school district. So when you see an OPED calculation in an audit report, it is not a financial obligation of the school district. It appears it as a accounting rule, but it is not something the school district has to pay. >> Nor SA6. >> No. Correct. So we we pay New Hampshire retirement through the life of their employment here. So that New Hampshire retirement system is fully funded for when they retire and then it's on the New Hampshire retirement system to be able to complete those obligations to pay the retirees. It is not the school district. So if for whatever reason the New Hampshire retirement system doesn't

041have the money, that is not a liability of the school district. Thank you. any any other comments this evening. Um I mean Becky went over um a lot of this in the video, but just to reiterate a few things that um you know she really combs through the budget. It's it's um it's a it's a real endeavor to go to do this budget and it's not something where we're throwing money around. I just want it to be really clear that um that she works really hard to to pinch pennies. Um one of the examples is not replacing a vacant teacher. Um we also share services with um East Kingston food service, professional development, some teachers and then through the SAU that shares expenses as well. >> [cough] >> So, we do as a small school,

042we realize we're not going to be able to have every single position here. So, that's why we share with um with [snorts] the SAU and with other schools um so that we don't have to pay for that extra position. And then um our trust funds, which should we talk about the warrant articles or is that something we do later? >> We can do that after >> after. Yeah. >> Okay. Um >> but you can talk about >> Okay. Yeah. just the the idea of of the trust funds um that we have for special ed and building maintenance and technology. That's something where we're putting money into those um trust funds so that when emergencies arise or when we need that money, it's there rather than having to go to the the voters and have this

043big budget um because of some emergency that came up. So, we're we're really trying to to be wise with taxpayers money. um like we all live here too. Um we all see the same property tax um tax bills. So just wanted to let everyone know that we we're not just you know packing the budget full of of you know random things. It's we're really trying hard. Um any other comments? >> Okay. Thank you so much. Um >> um I just want to clarify. So everything that we've talked about is going to be warrant article number one. And so on the ballot there's going to be a handful of warrant articles. This is warrant article one which is the operating budget. Warrant article 2 is a collective bargaining agreement with the teachers contract. So that is

044a separate article than what we've already discussed. And then warrant article 3, four, possibly five would be the trust funds. >> Yeah. Should we talk about that? See, I think if if public input's done, then I think the board can make a motion to move this budget to the deliberative. >> Okay. All right. Um I will make a motion to move to the >> last call for public input. >> Okay, we'll do that first. Okay. All right. Last call for public input. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> You were going to discuss the trust funds. Um is there anything that you need to say about those? >> Oh, no. Just that those are the three funds that we have. It's for building maintenance, special ed, and technology. And just the idea of of setting a little

045bit of money aside from the unassigned fund balance at the end of the year. Um, and we do there I don't know if it's in this, but we do at the end of the year, a decent chunk of money does go back to the taxpayers from the unassigned fund balance. So, we do take a little bit of it to put in those trust funds to save for for when these big big hits might come later. So, that's that's all it was was just to say we're being w we're trying to be wise with with the money. >> Are those balances published? >> Um, >> yep. The financials. Yep. Every month. >> Every month. Right here. >> Molly. So, Kensington has three trust funds. Um the special education and building repairs and maintenance trust fund were

046both created at the same time and both of them each have $77,488 and then the technology trust fund was just created a few years ago um which only has a balance of $5,000 in it. So if you think about it, if a student was to move in midyear that had high intensive needs, we would need to be able to to provide the services for them. And so our trust funds are actually very low compared to the other districts. Um and especially if a boiler went here, the amount of money that we have in each of those is extremely low. And so what we try to do is we try to contribute to the trust via what's called an unassigned fund balance. So like I explained before, we typically try to have money at the end

047of the year cuz hopefully there's no blizzard 78 or no unanticipated things. I mean, we don't budget assuming we're going to have money left over. We budget con making conservative estimates knowing it is going to snow. I just don't know how much. Um, those type of things. And so if and when hopefully when but if we had money left over and the warrant articles passed from fund balance instead of returning that money to the taxpayers to offset the amount raised in raising taxation it would go to the trust funds and they would be funded in the order in which they appear on the ballot. So if you finish with $5,000 you're not going to be able to fund all three. It would fund the first one that appears on the ballot. Okay. Oh, okay. Go

048ahead. >> How many times have you actually dipped into those funds? >> So, I started working here in 2019 and it is we have not done anything since then. >> But they haven't really been all this fun. >> But they all they haven't been that hot even for >> Yeah, they they were just created a few years ago. I'd have to go back several years prior to see if there was any withdrawals, but I don't think there have been. So, and I started in 2014 and um I believe they were started just shortly after buy started and we haven't dipped into them. However, we have um we have plans to use the maintenance fund in order to do some of the larger projects that we're talking about based on our new capital improvement plan. So

049we are looking to replace our controls and we're looking to replace the boiler over the next few years. So rather than put the whole replacement in one budget, we are looking to put some aside this year, some aside next year, and include some money in the regular budget so that when we go to replace the boiler in a few years that we've saved over the next couple years in order to do that so it's a lesser impact that year that we're doing it. So do you have put that in a grant article to get our approval to use those funds? >> No. For all the trust funds, the school board is the voted agents to expend from the trust funds. So what happens is we would ex the board would make a vote to expend

050the money and then we would expend the money and send the receipts to the trustee of trust funds who I don't know that is in Kensington now but it is a town employee and they would verify that the school board voted and they are the agents to expend and then they would reimburse the school district. >> You do have they do have to vote to put the money in though. Oh, you do have to vote to put the money into the trust, but like if when they want to expend the money out of the trust, then you don't need to vote cuz they're the agents to expend. >> But Molly, we have to it has to be spent on that particular thing, right? Do you want to say that? You say that. >> And and

051so the trust funds when they were created, it specifically says what it can be spent on. So like for example, money in the special education trust could not be used to purchase new basketballs. It has to be used for special education purposes. Okay, thank you. Okay, last call. >> Yeah. >> Hi. Sorry, I'm Alexio. Um, >> hang on. >> We're just going to do that. Just >> Hi, Alex Tero. Um, so the proposal is for a 4.28% increase. Just for everybody in the room to hear, how does that compare to other increases at a state level, local level? Are we in line? Are we average? Slightly below, are we exorbitantly higher than everybody else? Would be good to hear. >> Do you Yeah, you guys know that. >> I I don't have the state average

052on me. Um >> Well, we wouldn't we wouldn't have the state average. [clears throat] >> We wouldn't have the state average. So I'm I'm just thinking like other districts, but we're 4 4.28% and you think about inflation in cola is pretty solid. It's really if you account for inflation, we're really level funding and made cuts to get at that. So we it's really based on COLA and how much inflation has impacted everyone here. It's really a 4.28% 28% is a [clears throat] really modest. >> Yeah. And looking within the SA16, not all budgets have been presented, so I can't speak specifically to districts, but um two districts are not refilling a position, which we've discussed here. Um, another district unfortunately had a very sizable gift to them that happened because of two students that had

053passed away and that's no longer happening to that district. So, there's very unique things to each district causing the budget drivers. Another district has their first bond payment for an extension that they're doing on the building. So, there's really no districts where it's like an apples to apples comparison. Um and all of them have very unique drivers but all of them face the same health and dental insurance. So we are part of a risk pool and all of them were anywhere between I think it was 15 and 20%. Most of them were in the 17% range. All right, last call. >> Just as just FYI that the CPI inflation adjustment for social security is 2.8%. >> for social security. >> Yeah. Medicare. >> All right. >> Okay. Thank you guys so much for your public

054comment. We really appreciate that. Um I'm going to make a motion to accept the budget as We do it in the meeting. So you're going to close public. I've got a school board meeting. >> Okay. All right. Yeah. So all right. So I will be closing the public what what am I closing? >> Yep. You're going to help me public >> public hearing. Thank you. Closing the public hearing. You're welcome to stay for our meeting which is next. Um thank you so much. Oh, wait. The deliberative is on February 3rd. >> February 3rd here. 7:00 p.m. >> Is that right? 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. >> Um, >> and the town will follow. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Thank you guys for coming. >> Thank you. >> Are you going to

055pull your chair closer? [laughter] >> Nice. >> Come, my friend. >> So nice. >> Oh, look at this. >> All right. >> Okay. So, enough time in accordance with chapter 91 A3 2 A B CDE E or I. Keep going. >> Did you Did you play this over? >> No, I I was seeing and then this >> I did. >> We have 12 seconds. >> All right. >> Okay. So, public input is open for 30 minutes, I suppose. >> So, 7:03 p.m. >> We've started the regular school board meeting. And so, public input is open for 30 minutes. It's 7:03. Okay. 7:33. Okay. >> I should listen. >> No, >> I bet we're going to have time at the end. >> That's okay. because I don't know if this is gonna take us half an

056hour. >> It's It'll be loud. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. So, >> recording is still going. >> Um Okay. So, meeting minutes from the December 8th meeting, >> I did have a couple of things. >> You had some notes. Okay, great. >> Um on page eight of those. Um I think that you there's some miss the names aren't right. >> Uh so it said Karen Murphy. I don't know who Karen Murphy is. It might have been Karen Feld, the woman that was over there. >> Maybe she just didn't get the names >> right. And then uh Steve, it just says Steven and it's Steven Greenland. >> Okay. >> And then uh on page nine, it says Susan Barnes and Susan Vaughn. V A R N. >> Great. >> So you have that email? >> Yep.

057And you submitted those changes and email to the the recorder of meeting minutes. So, we will if the board is makes a motion to accept it with those. >> I don't know about that Karen Murphy, though. I think it might be Karen. >> Becky had a signin sheet from that day, we can look at it. >> I can look I can cross sign in. >> So, once she does that, >> Jill, we'll get the correct name if we have it. We'll add the correct name. >> I think it's Karen Feld. >> Karen Parkerfeld. Yeah. Karen Murphy. Okay, that sounds good. Um, Becky, did you have anything? I didn't I didn't have anything. Okay, Cheryl. Okay. >> Yep. [clears throat] >> Okay. >> All right. Well, I will make a motion to accept the December 8th

058public um as amended. >> Second, third. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. All right. Great. Wonderful. Okay. Committee reports policy. >> Okay. So, um, GBEF, uh, that was just a review. Um, and it's also coinciding with getting rid of that GCSA and GCS. They kind of got looped in there. uh the IMA on the daily physical activity uh that was a required revision by law and it's adding in that the SAU wellness committee will oversee that. Uh the JLA uh was just uh making the language more concise and um it was a definition of what school property is. So, it was the quickest meeting I've been to so far, which was really great, I must say. >> Well, don't get used to it. I know what's on the >> feeling dissecting words and

059that's really not my thing, but anyhow, so that's what it it was pretty easy stuff. >> Okay, great. No questions from me. Um, okay. I will make a motion to accept unless you want to do it. You want to do the motion? Okay. Second. I will make a motion to accept policies GB EF I M A H J L I A and to withdraw policies G CSA and G CS A R >> second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Okay. >> Safety and security. >> Nothing to report. Um superintendent evaluation committee. Um, we haven't met since our last meeting here and I think we meet in like a week or two for sort of a midyear check-in. So, that is that general correspondence. >> I don't have any. >> Do you have personnel?

060>> Yep. >> Okay. Um, community news. >> Uh, community news is due the 16th. So, I will be putting it in. And I think what I want to do, Becky, is in the community news, I want to talk about the opportunities that people have to come in like we did for the kindergarten coffee. >> That's a good idea. >> So, I might give you a call to see what because I think the more the community is in and see what's going on here, the less questions they'll have about what are we really what are we really doing here. So, I would love to do that. So, I would I'll give you a call or an email. And Becky and I were just talking too that um it would be good to kind of highlight what

061the PTO's been doing, >> what they contribute. >> That's a thought. >> Um and then what was the other thing I said? Oh, volunteering. >> Yeah, volunteer and the well that they um support our community time on Friday. So they pay for the guest authors and guest speakers and >> so we'll do a community connections kind of a thing. So I will email you and we'll get together on that. Okay. >> How many more before the end? Are there like two more? I >> I can't go that far. the stuff. I can't go that far. >> I can just go January 16th, which I can't do. All right, we'll come up with something next year cards to um about 75 seniors in town. And on the inside of the card was an invitation to bingo

062night in January and our winter concert. >> I'm old. Nice. >> Okay. Well, I guess you weren't old enough to get >> I didn't get one either. I didn't When we're both old. Not old enough. >> Something to look forward to in the future. That's [laughter] not old enough, my friend. >> I have my card from the kindergarten coffee thing on my tree, though. Very cute. >> That was a very cute event. Sidebar comment, but that was a very cute event. So, that's what made me think we should talk about all the ways the community is connected >> or can be if they choose to be. >> Yeah. Intergenerational. That's great. >> Good. Okay. >> I didn't see any of those people here at at any of those events. >> Just as a side side

063note. Okay. >> Yeah. Side note. >> Um Okay. Thank you, Cheryl. So, strategic plan committee. >> The next thing is that um we're presenting at the joint board meeting in a couple weeks. So, >> where we're having dinner. Did you see that? >> Yes. I saw that. >> That was so cool. Oh my god. >> I'm excited. >> I don't normally get that treatment either. >> The menu looked really good. >> Oh, I didn't know you'd be able to eat that. >> I don't know if I can actually. >> Great question to ask tomorrow. >> All right. So that is that for our committee reports and then um business and financials. >> Great. Um so after you sign the manifest, if you want to hand them back this way. They're over there somewhere. >> Those

064you want those? >> Oh, they're here. >> Um so included in your board pack was a current year financial. Um we just had a little bit of ups and downs regarding um incumbrance adjustments and a few purchases. Did anyone have any questions on any of those items? >> Okay. Um, so then for the 27 budget, if you wanted to after public input any requested changes or make a motion for warrant article one as presented um and state the amount, the total appropriation amount or there's further discussion. I don't have any further discussion. >> I think we've pretty much talked it through, haven't we? >> Yeah. >> I would make a motion to move the figure of $4,849 to warrant article one for the deliberative session. >> All right. Second. All in favor? >> I. >>

065Great. >> Um, and so the next conversation I'm gonna pass you down the warrant articles that were on the ballot last year. >> Oh, do we have to? >> And I wanted to have a conversation about um what Oh, I think we >> Oh, you need one more. I thought you were telling me to >> Oh, no. Keep going. um and just have a conversation with the board about what if any warrant articles you want to put on the ballot this year. The budget would be the warrant article one as as Molly talked about and then warrant article two is going to be the collective bargaining agreement. So, those are your first two and then you have three trust funds. And I think Becky talked a lot about the capital improvement plan and um a

066lot of work we've been doing and we will be giving the board a capital improvement plan. It's in a draft version right now, but a 5-year plan that is going to um be expensive, but we're really trying to long be some long-term planning. And this year is unique because I anticipate having a larger unfunded balance because a year ago we we put a position in for a second kindergarten teacher in anticipation of needing two classrooms but we didn't need them. We're right right at the cusp right at the cusp and we never went over. So Becky never hired the second kindergarten teacher. So we'll have a larger un fun balance at the end of this year. So, in thinking of um the fiduciary responsibility of the board in long-term planning, um really would recommend it's

067up to the board, but Becky and I did talk about it. Um if the board wanted to put up to $40,000 in that trust fund, which is more than you have done in the past, but you don't normally have this much, and you do have some big expenses that are coming down the line in the next 5 years. So, that that is something Becky I talked about. she could answer any more questions you have, but it's just something I wanted the board to consider. And I would have that be the third for an article because they, as Molly talked, they're funded in order as they thing and we think that is probably the top priority. >> The second one would be special education and other school boards have um their goal is $250,000 in the

068special education trust fund and most of them are reaching that and meeting it and then they're cutting it off. Like Molly said, this district does have the least amount in all of their trust funds. >> It'll take us like 12 years. >> What was the figure again? >> 250,000. >> No, no, no. What do we have? >> 77,000. >> 77. >> That'll take a long time. >> Yeah. >> So, another You guys can decide the figure, but Becky and I talked about it and we were we were thinking maybe up to 20,000 in the special education trust fund >> just to be thoughtful and responsible. And then 5,000 in the technology trust fund. The technology trust fund is for replacing um student devices and teacher devices and um >> the Wi-Fi >> and the Wi-Fi

069and stuff like that. We have a we do get to budget a little bit of that in the local budget um every year and um it's just it trust fund is recommended for technology in case like the servers went down. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> That would be Becky be like I don't have all the money for that. Um but it's not as much of a priority. So if you were asking our opinion, that would be the last warrant article. It would it would be the facilities and capital improvement, special ed, and then technology. And those were around the figures we talked about. 40,000 for um capital improvement, 20 for special ed, and five for technology. But that's just recommendation from us and answer any questions or thoughts or anything. >> So right now our

070the unassigned fund balance is 429, >> which is really high. You're not going to have that much. >> Yeah. Okay. But you >> and some things aren't encumbered. Like we don't encumber for substitutes cuz we just don't know how much is going to happen. So we do know we're going to have substitutes. Um we try to encumber things like Elnoba in the spring, but a lot of times we don't have eyes on everything that happens in the spring or even like things like mowing and we try to encumber for it. But there will be expenses every >> every month. So >> um you can't estimate what it will be. It's there's no point. And I'm just curious like [snorts] >> right now we the 400 well right now the remaining expense is 428. We did

071have a little bit of revenue come in. Um so the the 429 would be the unassigned fund balance which is much higher than we would typically do this. >> Right. Last year 20 2425 >> we we have not encumbered but we do have an expense related to the HVAC system but we're still working on estimates and um getting bids for that. Um so we do have a big expense that we would come that will take that will chip away at that 400,000 as well >> this year. My best guess is that we'd be closer to $300,000. >> Okay. >> Unexpended funds at the end. >> But that's so that's >> income or what we need to and do the the one that we know we're going to do >> more than a typical year. >>

072Way more. >> So this is the year to do it. >> This is the year to do it. And if you wanted to do up to more, you could do up to more. It Becky and I were trying to think about how much you typically put in or what this district does. that usually don't do big chunks, but again, this year is a real anomaly. And >> so the the the voters will see that number on the warrant articles. So we do we need to be a little bit careful in terms of even though we know that the money is there, >> the voters don't necessarily get that no matter how many times we try to explain it >> you'll get is we'd rather have it returned to the town to reduce the risk. So

073it's finding that balance of how much we're returning >> versus plan for the future. I mean, I wonder if like looking at the I'm looking at your your thing that you make, Molly, that has the last um the last six years on it. >> Um >> if we try to stay in the range of the highest year. Do you know what I mean? So that >> or even higher than that just so that we can say >> returning more than we normally. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um >> Oh, I got you. I'm with you. >> Yeah. So the highest so I was right in 137 in the 24 school year >> and that's just something that we'll have to really explain >> in the um at the deliberative >> and at the deliberative we're going to

074talk in more detail about the HVAC because like people were asking about what are the big cost drivers and that was one of the big cost drivers and nothing was really said about it. Yeah, because I think we wanted to have um we've had some updates since our workshop and the memo around facilities and coming up with a longer plan. So, we won't be spending as much as we anticipated this year um when we first met with you. Um but coming meeting with other vendors and coming up with a long-term plan. So, that's why we didn't talk too much about it, but we can at the deliberative because we will have more information for you then. And didn't you say you were going to have like the facilities guy for SAU at our deliberative? >>

075Well, that's a good idea. >> I don't know if he I at our deliberative I I can ask him. I don't I don't know if that I think that might take away from we can talk about that. We could we could >> how much like expertise >> I think I I want him to come to a future meeting when we are ready to look at the capital improvement plan. And in my mind, that 5-year plan would be ready to talk about in April. And that was one it would be a normal board meeting that we would Brian Stance could come and answer your questions as after you guys have had a chance to read the capital [cough] improvement plan and what we're looking at for 5 years. I wasn't thinking of it for the deliberative.

076>> Okay. It'd be it'd be just too much. >> I think it would be confusing. For the deliberative, it's really you're presenting your budget and and then people are talking about it. It's really not wouldn't he wouldn't be I don't want to say helpful, but he would be like, "Why am I here?" Because it's not a regular board meeting. Yeah. >> Um >> I think the controls piece we're going to be able to take care of this [snorts] year with our existing budget. We had some budget before that anyway. >> I do think the boiler replacement is a bigger conversation because there's a lot more to talk about. Years ago, the board talked about are we going to convert to gas? Are we good? So, I think it would [snorts] be better to bring Brian

077in when when we're talking about the boiler replacement, which is not this next coming year. We'd be budgeting the next year to do it than next year. So, we're still a few years out from the boiler replacement. >> So, it's not super relevant to would be relevant. >> And I think that would maybe be a better time to have him talk. It was part of we did have a facil an outside um company come and do a facilities assessment um which was really helpful and that's helping to to build the the improvement plan. >> Yeah. I'm just I like the idea about putting more into the into the trust funds. Um >> you know [clears throat] $40,000 looks like a lot for this town just because we don't have to put it away. But I

078think it's it's smart. >> Yeah. And I Yeah. Are we going to be using any of the trust fund for >> not this year? >> Really? >> We won't. But you will use the capital improvement trust fund [snorts] in the next couple years for sure. Right. >> You will be drawing from that 100%. >> Because when you hear it come from one person, that's that's a buzz that's going around town. >> Yeah. They're sitting on this money and not using Exactly. >> We're not dipping into it. >> But it is for you're not supposed to go to the trust unless you can't fund it from your local budget. So I think sharing [snorts] that you that's the point of the responsible you're supposed to use your local budget and that you have appropriated that year

079and then once you have exceeded all of those funds that's when you go to the trust fund. So maybe some more communication for that. We're not supposed to be dipping into it. >> We're supposed to be appropriating the funds and using those appropriations [cough] that year and then these are above and beyond what you appropriated that you cannot cover with what you currently have that you have to go to the trust. And that's part of the board's conversation when they make um when they vote to expend from the trust. >> So we could say there is an anticipation in the next couple of years. We are going to be dipping in depending on what you decide to do and how complicated of a system or what could be a $200,000 project. You certainly don't want

080to put that in one year's budget. be able to save a little >> to put toward such an excessive years. >> And I was just taking a quick peek to kind of summarize why we have the higher than usual fund balance. So we have the unfilled teacher position, but then we also have the health insurance that would have gone along with that position. >> Um and then when we made this budget last year, you'll see right now we have a sizable savings on health insurance. Um Kensington has a very young staff that um might see changes um as people get married, start families, >> go on another insurance plan from a single or couple to her family. >> Yeah. Knowing that we had assumed some things would happen not not a lot some of them

081haven't come to fruition. But [snorts] I also want to highlight across SAU we are seeing a lot of spouses lo lose coverage. So a lot of um I'm not saying that that will happen here but it's something our office is seeing a lot of spouses are losing coverage. So some people might be on a family plan that their husband or or wife if um is on and then we're seeing a lot of family plans coming on to the SAU that were completely unexpected. So, >> I just don't want us to get too excited about that health insurance number. Um because every every week I'm seeing more people not in Kensington but across the SAU joining our health insurance. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> Cuz private insurance is absolutely horrible. >> If

082you work for a private company right now, >> horrible. >> Thank God I'm retired. >> Yeah. And and then the other big area is I was just looking at the facilities. We have we have been under spending in facilities like like Dr. Bennett said because they haven't put in some of the purchase orders yet. >> Okay. So that >> that will be that will be spent down. >> Yep. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> Yeah. >> And so that alone I think it was like 58,000 right >> and it will be more than that. >> Yeah. So so we will definitely be less than where we're at right now. >> Okay. Okay. So, >> but even if it was $200,000 less, it's still um >> Okay. So, I Yeah, I just you just want to get that

083number right so that it it it is it's not offputting to I mean, I want to say like 50,000 into this the maintenance fund and 20 into special ed and five into technology. Um but what do you guys think? Well, if we can get the vote out, we'll be fine. I >> mean, because if it didn't pass, then there would be nothing. Like, you know, I hate to to be >> Yeah. Okay. Let me ask a question here, too, because I know that there's been some changes in how people are going to see this when they go in to vote. >> Oh, that's a good question. Um, for each of the Warren articles, does it say this will impact your taxes by X? >> We have not historically done that because if you you only

084are looking at the expense side of the house, we don't know the revenues yet. Like we we can project that like we don't even know how much the state's going to [cough] adequately. That's only a projection at this point in time. But under the trust fund ones, if that's what you're asking for, it says no additional amount to be raised from taxation under the each trust fund one. >> Right. Right. That's the that's >> the point is I don't like to put it does not impact taxation because it does. >> Okay. >> It's just no amount raised in taxation. So if you chose not to do the warrant articles or do a lesser amount in the warrant articles, that amount of money would go back to offset the amount needed to be raised in taxation.

085So yes, there is an impact on taxation. It's just it doesn't have to be raised again in taxation. >> But so Wendy's question is about the changes in the in what the ballot's going to look like. Will there be changes to what the warrant articles need or is it just the budget >> or is that just in the budget? I don't know anything about it. >> Are you talking about I guess what are you talking about the new requirements that it's not it's not impact on taxation. assessment scores and um >> okay >> cost per pupil. >> Okay. So that that won't be reflected in the warrant articles. Um they'll look the same. >> We will have to add it to the top warrant article. The top one >> for the one not the Okay.

086So it'll just be in the one about the budget. >> So when when when we are in the deliberative we want to be talking about how KES's scores are compared on a from a state level, right? Because they're quite a bit higher, right? They are higher than the state average. Yes. Are we Is it SAS scores that are going up? Is that what's going on? >> Mhm. >> Yep. >> So that's just our third years. >> We're we're higher than state. We're higher than um like 350 schools out of 400 in the state of New Hampshire. So we're like 60th or something like that out of 400 schools. >> So we're we're [cough and clears throat] it's not a bad place to be. >> Yeah. No. >> So that that's good then. >> I don't

087know. Sure. >> Well, I definitely think that it's very smart to increase the special ed fund and the other two are to me that's an obvious but the special ed I've seen too many things happen where districts have to go back and do >> like $400,000 they got to come up with. So at least if we've got this I I really believe that. But I like the idea of 20,000 going in because it doesn't bring it over a h 100,000 yet. >> Right. >> So it's kind of it's kind of like 99 999. Yeah. >> Maybe people will be okay with that. >> Yeah. But I definitely think we need to bump up that special ed. >> That that's that could be gone like that. >> Yeah. But I think we should do them more.

088>> Yeah. No, I'm on board with that. >> Do you think 2015? What do you did? You like that? >> Yes. 50 >> 50 for the maintenance. >> Yeah. >> As long as we're explaining, we're going to be using it. >> Yeah. >> In the next few years, we will absolutely be. >> So, it's I mean, I hate to to um to make the analogy with like a a [snorts] personal budget because it's really not that at all with your like own home budget or whatever. But it really does make sense that like if you know that you're going to have this expense, you're going to save some of your money. Like that really is very logical. It is a savings account for the school and you [snorts] you are being fiscally responsible by not

089having major up and downs and you're putting money away when you have it >> right >> to plan for the improvements that you know the building will need over the next 5 years. >> What might be helpful at the deliberative is to have a a guesstimate of what the boiler replacement could be. Sure, >> it will change cuz we're still a couple years out. So, you know that there's going to be an increase, >> but at least some estimate of what we anticipate it being. So, they know what we're trying to save for. >> Sure. Sure. And that and that we don't want to just have that big lump in a future budget. >> Yeah. >> I don't know, Rene, what do you think? >> Yeah. And I just because of I had another meeting

090with Brian and Mike from EBI that you had the um the audit with and there was just more. It's more than just replacing the boilers unfortunately. >> So it's actually more than the 250 that Becky and I originally heard which but they also said you could push it out 5 years if you do it in these steps. So I agree with Becky's idea of like the this is what we can anticipate we have to spend over the next five years. I'm just wondering I just want to make sure we're really accurate and that we have a responsible narrative, right? >> Because I'm worried we won't have all the information we need until April and then you'll say something at deliberative and then it'll be oh my god they said that at deliberative. >> We don't

091want to get into something >> 300,000 difference. I'll I'll do my very best to work with Becky and Mike and Brian to have that. But there's a lot of vendors that we would get quotes from and then there's a lot of people that are not doing it anymore and that you like call and they're like we're not doing schools anymore. We're not it's so it's like okay who can we get to come out and look. So >> it's a [snorts] it's a it's way more complicated than I ever anticipated and in order for us to be costefficient long term there's different avenues we want to bring in. there's different stakeholders. We want have the community to wrap around in terms of what this capital improvement plan looks like for the next five years and bringing

092stakeholders um community forums together so people can really talk about it. >> Well, where does that hold with Zeke's plan? >> That's in Zeke has been Zeke's been part of these conversations. Okay. >> So, Zeke has been part of these conversations. came to the SAU and met with Brian >> and um >> so that's a that's a >> and he he brought like these are the things I'm looking at how do we like it's a he Zeke has been great >> oh he's amazing >> he has been great in terms of this is what it looks like this is how we would do it it's just right now it's a lot of these are the lot of questions we have to answer >> and that's that's where we're at is getting those experts to come

093in I mean I've learned more than I wanted to know about HVAC and tea controls and all these different things. And there's three different systems in this building and three different wings and they don't all talk together and so you can't just replace it with one part. It's just super convoluted. >> I just look at that big thing and it's like weird. >> So I just want to I do want to give you information at the moment, but I also want to make sure that information I give you matches what you're saying the next month, the next month and in the fall. >> Yeah. >> And that's all I there's a way for us to be thoughtful. >> There's a way to um communicate that where like there's a lot more to it than just

094the boiler. >> Yes. >> The boiler is the big ticket. >> Yes. >> But then there's all these other smaller ones that I feel like the board can strategize for within our regular budget. But it's that boiler a few years from now that is our that's the one we're saving for to get to cuz I feel like the town needs to know like what is that thing that we're trying to do. They don't need to maybe know about all of the other >> well and it might not be a boiler. That's the thing. It's the heat. We need an HV. We need to replace the HVAC system, the the system and then we need to replace the machines that provides the building with heating and cooling air that is filtered is what I'm learning. It

095might not be an oil based boiler cuz that might be more expensive and not a great return on investment for the district. So Becky's right. There is a there's a whole HVAC system and a heating and cooling system that needs to be replaced in all three wings that have three different parts in Kensington. There is there is a big thing. There's a big system that needs to be replaced. >> And just good to know, I mean, they're going through this whole same thing with our town hall right now. >> Yes. >> And it's caused a bruhaha. >> So Oh, good. It'll take the heat off us. No pun intended. [laughter] [applause] >> Yeah. We first deliver I do want to be able to give the board options that include a return on investment. >> Sure.

096>> What do you spend this now and then what is your return on investment? Because you could spend less and have a really spend less now but your return on investment is not going to be great and in 10 years you're doing it again or you can spend more now and then not spend anything for 20 years. So there's that's why working to get you different options and and what you would present at the >> deliberative might tweak. So that's the only thing I worry about there. I think you could say like the facilities we do have to replace an HVAC system and there's air purification systems that we that we need to think about and that have to be updated and replaced and those cost upwards of $250,000 just to start. And so you

097want to be fiscally responsible. And while you have a larger than expected fund balance because you didn't fill a teacher position this year, you want to put it in a savings that can only be used to update the facility, >> right, >> in the capital improvement of the building. >> Okay. All right. So, are we making a motion to accept the warrant articles or >> Well, you make a motion. You would you would have to um I think you have to do each warrant article. >> Okay. And you would have to um really you would re like make a motion to um >> write a war on article. >> Um yeah, you have to say the number. So make a motion to add a school building repair and maintenance expendable trust fun article for the

098Kensington School District to vote and raise an appropriate up to 40,000 to be placed in the building repair trust fund. And that's really all you have to say and you would vote on each Warren article. Is that what we're going to do? 40, >> I think. >> Or 50. Whatever. >> I think 50. Is that >> I thought we said 50. >> Yeah, we said 50. Okay. >> Spend on the money. >> Okay. All right. >> And just do it in the order that you wanted to. >> So, start with the Okay. All right. I will make a motion to write a warrant article that will >> to put a warrant article on the ballot. >> To put a war article on the ballot that will say, is that all right? that will say, "Shall

099the Kensington School District vote to raise and appropriate up to $50,000 to be placed in the school building repair and maintenance expendable trust fund >> in >> should I read the rest of it?" >> This in that the sum would come from the fund balance available after. >> Okay. And uh previously established for building maintenance cost at Kington Elementary School, the sum will come from the fund balance available. >> Should I say the date? Is that accurate? The sum is to come from >> after June 30th. Okay. >> From the fund fund balance available after June 30th and no additional amount will be raised in taxation. >> Yep. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor? >> I I I >> Okay. Um, next. >> Which one do you want next? Special letter. >> Um,

100yeah, we'll do special ed next. Okay. I will make a motion to I already forget how I said it. Add to the create a warrant article. What did I say? create a word and article that will say, "Shall the Kensington School District vote to raise and appropriate up to $20,000 to be placed in the special education expendable trust fund previously established for the unanticipated special education costs at Kensington Elementary School. The sum will come from the June 30th fund balance available for trans transfer on July 1st. No additional amounts to be raised from set taxation. Make a motion. Did >> you second? Second, Cheryl. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I And then lastly, we will um I make a motion to create a warrant article that says, "Shall the Kensington School District

101vote to raise and appropriate up to $5,000 to be placed in the technology capital reserve fund previously established for technology expenses at Kensington Elementary School. This sum to come from the June 30th fund balance available for transfer on July 1st and no additional amount to be raised from taxation." >> Second. >> All in favor? I I I >> Okay, you did that like a cheerleader. I liked that. >> Well, I'm going to draft these warn articles and then I need to get your signatures. So, >> luckily I live in town so I can um >> Can you leave them here? >> I can leave them here for signature as well. >> Just make sure you keep picking out the dates when I'm out of state like you always do. >> Or I go down to

102your house, Cheryl. >> I know. You know, you know. >> Which one though? >> No, here is easier. I mean, cuz I'm in and out of exit all the time. Um, can I ask a question? >> What's the Well, you're kind of >> What's the last date that a Citizens War article could be? >> I have it in my phone. >> I have it on the calendar. >> Look at Yeah, we're all the 13th. >> Um, I think I got a little look at what is going to happen, too. >> We're not >> I think he's going to >> Not not on We're on TV. >> Not on air time. Um, >> we do want to know that, but >> let me go to my calendar. I did put it in my calendar. >> I

103have it in there, too. Um, >> we don't have a little PTS. >> If I can find my calendar, >> I have rearranged my schedule to be here for the delivery session here >> cuz you never know. >> I told my client I was going to have a little surgery. >> It's like a week before the >> I have it as Monday, February 2nd. >> The 13th. No, it would have to be be way before then because it's got to be session. Yeah. No, I mean January 13th, >> right? January 13th. No, no, she was saying February 2nd. >> Yeah, I think it's January 13th cuz the department of revenue timeline SV2 towns and schools annual town meeting of March 2026. >> I think my phone. >> All right, we're passing public comment. All right.

104So, was that everything for business and financials? >> That was. >> Okay. Great. Should we move on to principles report? >> Sure. >> All right. Let's do it. >> Um, I had three sections. The first one was on equity. Um, and we were talking about um, one of our recent community times. Um, and this is what Mon and I were just talking about, maybe trying to highlight some of our community times in the in our community news. Um, but we had a local historian and performer come. She actually just lives in so she was excited not to have a huge travel um [snorts] uh Cheryl Fay and she performed uh Life and Youth Theater Ginsburg for our students. Um one woman's show. It was kind of fascinating. She just was in constant movement and changing

105costumes um throughout the whole hourong performance and just sort of chronicled her life as um a young woman and then um going to college and then um you know becoming a member of the Supreme Court. Um so it was really it was really captivating for a onew woman show. So happy to have her back. She does um a lot of other historical women performances. Um so that was that was a lot of fun and um really interesting for staff as well. Um the second section was talking a little bit about growth mindset which is another one of our core values for the SAU strategic plan. Um and this highlighted an activity that our fourth graders um were working on and um they to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Um and really working on developing

106empathy and it is a skill that can grow over time. Um children benefit from these lessons. Adults might benefit from these lessons. Um, and so as part of the project and really thinking about how do we think about others and their viewpoints and how that difference differs from ours, they um created these footprints and and they're all created with different um textures and fabrics. And so they're also also um a sensory board as well. Um and so those are actually going to be going in some of the other classrooms. Um, so they'll be sort of distributing their project to other classrooms as well. Um, and then the last section was on belonging and connection. And, um, I have to say this was like one of the highlights of my year so far as we took

107our second graders to the peace greeters um, on December 11th and um, greeted about 260 soldiers that came off of the flight for the holidays. Um, I didn't realize that students weren't going to the peace greeters anymore because I mean for a very long time it was so common in the sea coast for classes and students to be going. And in talking with the um the peace greeters workers, they said we were the first class to be there in 5 years. >> I was shocked. I had I had no idea that students weren't going anymore on a regular basis. So, um I I can't tell you just like how special that morning was for the kids um and the soldiers and everyone that cried. Um so, uh I just I would love to be able

108to do that more often. I reached out to um my principal colleagues to say, "Hey, we really need to kind of put this back on our radar as a community to like honor and welcome our troops back." So, so cool. >> It was amazing. >> Yeah. >> Wow. And the kids got some they had made them um some like welcome back cards and ornaments and um they got to to to talk with them a little bit um too and pastel waters and just >> I think that would be a great thing to put in the news. Yeah. >> That's great. >> So we'll touch base on that. You be my memory. Okay, baby. I have a terrible >> It was really cute. I mean some of the soldiers were facetiming their families, you know, for

109the first time with the kids. Hi >> [laughter] >> photo. >> That's great. Thank you so much. >> Okay. Um, new business. >> Don't have any. >> All right. Old business. >> I have nothing from the superintendent's office. >> Okay. Any pupil related matters and personnel? >> Yes. Um, we did unfortunately receive a letter of resignation over the holidays from one of our paraprofessionals, Chris Kenoway, who has been here for many, many, many, many years. Um, she unfortunately needed to resign for health reasons. >> Um, so we with regret accept that, but know that she's working to get herself better and rest and heal and >> yeah, she'll be missed. We wish her well that um you know she might be able to return if there's some positions to open for her one day but

110um right now she needs to focus on herself. >> So um that is open um it's already on front line as as of posting so actively looking for people to stop. >> All right. >> So in the meantime we do need to kind of shift people internally just to covers of students. So it just the domino effect, you know, does affect other staff members in the building. So it's hard to be short short staffed in a little, you know. >> Yep. That's tough. Oh, we will miss her. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. I think that's everything. >> That's it. >> Okay. Motion to >> Sure. Second journ 7:44 p.m. >> All right. Thank you.