Newfields School Board Public Hearing/Meeting 12/04/25

001Yes. >> Okay. So, I'd like to call this meeting to order at 5:32. This is the public hearing for the impact fees for the Newfield Elementary School Board. Um All right. Thank you. So, um at our last board meeting, we discussed um how we might proceed with looking at some of the impact fees that we had available to the school, some of which are expiring um at the end of this month. And we felt it would make the most sense to have a public hearing today on two potential um proposed uses of um those fees. And the two that we discussed at our last board meeting was um one uh capital improvement plan and the second was to see if we can get a uh set plan or a plan set, I don't know the

002official plan set for the uh next concept design for the proposed uh project. And so we had decided to do a public hearing on both of those today. Um I think we have some updated numbers for the amounts of those uh two um that we didn't have last month. >> Yep. >> Um Ellen, are you the keeper of those data? >> I have the amount for the capital improvement project. >> Yes. Thank you for um coordinating that. >> Um >> capital needs assessments. Yes, EDI is our recommended vendor. We've used them with other schools within SE16 recently. Um, our facilities director, Brian Sans, has previous experience with them as well and he highly recommends them. Um, and then their their communication has been very thorough and they've been responsive in a timely fashion and they

003came out with the bottom line being $7,200 for the capital needs assessment. He also said that once we give him the green light, if if we give him the green light, that they could turn it around. I have copies, Mike and Karen, if you would like them as well. >> Oh, awesome. >> They can turn it around within 20 business days. So, they would be able to turn it around by the end of the month. Um, and we' be able to spend We have to have a plan in place by December 10th >> for how to use the funds that are expiring at the end of this month. And then we have to expend the funds by the end of the month. >> Perfect. Yeah, I appreciate this um letter from EBI sort of outlines

004the scope of work which is excellent. The capital needs assessment um and you have the copy there. It's on the second page. We don't need to read it in detail, right? It's a typical scope um scope of work. >> I don't think so. The comprehensive overview of like recommended repairs and a timeline for those repairs, >> which is great. Um, we have the initial uh schematic that we've been using so far that was designed I think or set up by Rusty a couple years ago. >> Um, and it's been helpful uh for sure, but we really would like to have something a bit more uh formal and comprehensive that we can uh refer to over the next couple years in terms of planning. So, um, how do you want to do this? Want to do

005one at a time, one potential? >> I think that makes sense. All right, Jean, do you have any questions about the proposed scope of work um from EBI before we open up to >> No. Okay. >> No, I I don't. It all makes sense. >> I know you guys just saw it, >> please. Yeah, this is this purpose that >> So, um >> maybe if you could just what I realized I was watching the video, we didn't have folks state their name. Newfields is such a small town that we often don't need that but for the purposes of the people writing the minutes. [laughter] >> I'm glad I'm Karen Styer. >> Thank you. >> Um so my question would be have you identified things that do need to be done >> and do you feel

006that it can be done before the end of the year? >> Will some of these funds be used? some of the $7,200 is all for the scope, all for the report. >> So, the amount of money that's going to be expiring um at the end of this calendar year is $7,397. >> Yeah. So, we have a total of um Thank you, Molly, for getting this updated. We have a total of $40,000 um that is, you know, expiring at staggered times. From my reading this sheet, it's a six-year window, I think, that these funds each time they're allocated. >> Yeah. So, this this spread was prepared by Sue McKinnon. And um >> Can we can I show this to >> Sure. Yeah. >> So, what I did is I just printed the part that Sue [clears

007throat] referenced >> and then in the body of email, >> which was back in September. [snorts] >> Awesome. um she had referenced the 42,575 available to the school district. Um by the end of the year, the 9,825 had to be spent. That is, um as of Sue's email, I think it was back in September, >> I think. So, >> um and so in a few board meetings ago, we had authorized I believe it was up to 2500 for the TF Moran. There were two invoices that we received totaling the uh 2004 27.82, 82 very close to the 2500. So if we take out that 2427 from the grand total of 42575 that leaves you with the 4147 or if you're just looking to see what needs to be spent by the end of the year

008that's the 9,825 minus the TF Moran which is the 7,397. >> Thank you. This is what I envisioned. >> You're almost there. Correct. >> And you wouldn't you don't risk losing those funds. >> Exactly. And the reason why we designed this public hearing today was just so that we can have the conversation before um and hopefully proceed um with before it was December 10th is the point by which we have to have I think a plan in place to use it >> which this is I feel as though this is what we're doing. We're developing the plan. >> So I'm very eager and enthusiastic about this um utilization of the money. I feel like this is going to touch a lot of other components that we've already been discussing things like LED things like, you

009know, driveway. I know Brian at the last meeting was talking about external um you know the facade painting and stuff. So I think this would be a very useful um use of the money. So any other questions about this particular one? We can always come back to it too. I just wanted to discuss the two. The other uh utilization that we wanted to discuss of these impact fees and this would be above and beyond the expiring 73 >> um is the um the concept plan set. So Jane, I know you have a good sign for this if you want to get >> I was talking to Chris at TF Maran about this last week >> and the plan set is to get the complete so what we have right now is a concept design concept

010design does not give the any engineers or anybody who's going to do the work uh the ability to do a proper quote we are getting estimates right now on what the work would not true. We can't get quotes anyway, but um it gives them much more information like, you know, do we need a drainage design? Do we need cuts and fills? You know, how are we going to build this analysis? And this is going to be a few weeks to do, you know, three to four weeks to get done. It's going to cost about anywhere between 14 and $15,000. Um this is this work needs to get done before we send bids to um any send out for bid so that anybody who bids on this has a very clear idea of what work needs

011to be done um and what it entails. So um so that's that is kind of that next step. We could we have two options. we can use it for this or we can build it into the um uh what we put into the warrant article or the the the money we're asking town for. However, because of the short time frame between when we when we know uh if this passes or not and when we need to get bids back and start the work for hopefully this summer, um it gives the contractors who would potentially want to bid on this a really short short short window. So if we do this now in anticipation that this will pass, then we give ourselves an extra month to two months of lead time to be able to get

012give the people who are going to bid on it the time to properly bid it out and quote it properly. So um so I would recommend doing this before March um as soon as we have this is there are still some things changing in the concept plan but um once those are settled then as long as it is done before March and if we have a go in March which I hopefully we will then we can immediately go out to bid. That makes sense to me. I guess I would have two questions. One, logistically, is this something that needs sort of clear access to the ground? Like it's there's snow on the ground now. So, is it something that >> No, because they have all the topographical >> they have everything >> and they've done

013a survey already. Got it. >> So, they have everything they need. They just have not been able to do the plan set piece of it which is the really deep dive into making sure that what we have put together as concept doesn't need like additional drainage. What are the runoff [snorts] issues? What are things that you know talking to DOT talking to permitting? All those different pieces and parts that you would do. >> Sure. Um I'm very aware there's a a lot of people from the comm safety committee here. Um I'm if folks want to either chime in or if Jane wants to speak on behalf of the committee. Is this something that the committee feels is a very um reasonable thing to to do? I'm assuming yes, but I don't. >> Yes, please. >>

014I want to ask a question just for the references. >> Absolutely. >> This is Karen again. [laughter] >> Um this is over $10,000 that you're going to spend. >> That was my next qu. But yeah, go ahead. I I don't want to throw >> but I I just would like to know what the requirements are for that biggest. >> So that was going to be my next question if we needed to do um uh different bids etc. Interestingly one of the policies I didn't look uh it might not be gerine to this but one of the policies we changed there was a proposed amount change from 10 to 15,000. Yeah, it's from 10 to 15, >> but I can't recall, Molly, if that's not to put you on the spot, but if that's relevant to

015this, >> I think it's still 10,000. We'll both look it up, see, >> but in any event, I think it's a a relevant question. I would say it sounds like it needs to be done before March. There's only I think $100 that is potentially going to be um lost if we don't do this in the next week. Um, but we we would be able to use the remainder of the money, Jane. Correct. Like after we did whatever needs to happen. >> I I assume that you could spend that $100 on something >> as a school community >> if you if you chose to hunt and for right now that there must be something >> always. >> Yeah. >> Now, in terms of procedure, Molly, I don't know. Is that something that we would discuss here

016or is that at the board meeting? >> Um well, so in proced so for procedure wise we would vote to um accept in the expend the money per the RSA. >> Yeah. >> Um >> but we would need to make sure that the expenditures meet the requirements to spend impact fees. Correct. >> Outside of the public hearing public hearing is just to be able to accept and expend the money. Um, but we would just need to make sure it's it's >> And could you say that you're going to spend it, but you don't have the provider yet? Like, do you have to have the person that you're going to spend it with? >> Not necessarily. I mean we what we do is we take the meeting minutes from the meeting today which we will document

017the board's vote to accept and extend the impact fees and then we spend the money out of our operating budget and then we send the receipts over to the town office Sue McKinnon and she verifies that yes the board did take the vote to use the impact fees. Yes, the it is allowable uses of impact fees and then she releases the funds back to us and we relieve the expense. >> So there's nothing set in stone saying it has to be documented but I would think it would be practice to >> um Molly just to clarify that that motion to accept and expend happens at the public hearing or happens at the board meeting. >> I believe it would happen in the board meeting. So the public hearing is together >> just to discuss right

018>> on >> the use of impact fees right for the town >> how the town feels about >> right >> and one of the to Bobb's earlier point one of the policies that we're looking that just I swear it's a coincidence [laughter] that we're looking to update today um is in regards to bidding requirements I believe this would fall into that um whereas it typically is 10,000 and it's being recommended to raise it to 15, but there is a piece in here where it can be exempted by the superintendent. So, we would need three bids unless the superintendent exempted it. So, >> I I would assume that we would probably want to do that if >> Yeah, that would be my recommendation to exempt it from the current policy because we already have the work

019that the concept work thus far that was designed by TF Moran. I think it makes sense to go back to that source rather than start start fresh someplace else. >> So [snorts] in most likely I'm going to make an assumption that most likely what we would do is just keep our eyes dotted dots dotted and tees crossed is to make sure that we get the superintendent exemption just because we're doing two things at once in one meeting. But >> I think that's something >> yeah we can do that in our next meeting. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um perfect. Bob, do you have any uh questions? Input is anybody? >> No. >> Mike, I'm sorry I said Bob. My brain is melting. Yeah. >> Identity. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Bob Mackey's a very famous uh Broadway,

020you know, design. That's for my brain. >> There [laughter] you go. >> Um good irony. So, um I think that was a pretty good discussion. I don't know if you'd recommend us closing the public hearing and then moving to the next or >> do we need to keep it open for a full 30 minutes for public comment? >> That was my question earlier. I couldn't remember what it was. >> I can remember the answer, but yes. >> Excellent. Perfect. >> But I I mean for all intents and purposes, we will continue the conversation if folks want to talk about. Great. >> Okay. So at 5:48 um I'm going to make a motion to adjourn the um public hearing for the impact fees. Do I have a second? >> Oh yeah, absolutely. >> Perfect. All in

021favor? >> I Okay. Uh subsequently at 5:48, I'd like to um call the Newfield School Board December meeting to order. Um and first thing I will do is open up public input at 5:48. [laughter] So, we'll have uh at least 30 minutes uh for public input at 5:48. Beautiful. Um and right on time, the first order of business we have is the staff presentation. Is that work or no? >> Want to wait cuz we've got two kiddos to go with Yes. >> Perfect. They're coming around 6 minutes. >> Perfect. Yeah. So, no rush. I just wanted to make sure because we're early, so that's good. Um all right. So, let's do meeting minutes. There are a couple of um unidentified people that we like to identify. >> That's all I had on mine. >> Okay.

022Well, we should make sure that ours match. >> Match. Yeah. >> So, um on public input, the first unidentified audience member I had was Karen. >> Um asking a question regarding the presentation? Um is Mrs. Bullard's last name spelled correctly? I don't >> um No, it's B R O U I L L A R D. >> Okay. So, we could just update that. Mhm. >> Um, then the second one, it says, "Another identified audience member asked for insight into employee health coverage." I think that was Jim. Yep. >> Jim Lieberman. Okay. And then he also I thought was the next person who's who asked if Miss O'Keefe had any insight to the other district. >> Yes. >> Would you? >> Yep. >> Okay. And then after Karen's, someone had a question about the safety project.

023I believe that was Hobie. >> That was Hobie. >> Okay. So, the exact ones. [laughter] >> I was like, those are important people. Don't turn because >> um right here education teacher >> that was >> special education teacher >> special education that was um Melissa and Susie right >> this was >> no Christina >> that was Christina sorry >> so that we should probably >> maybe just correct her last name again >> yes >> okay um but other than that I think everything looked good to me >> I don't have anything else on the >> kudos to cat I I do appreciate she she clearly has to go back and forth and >> she went a lot a little bit. >> Excellent. >> Thank you, Cat. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Um yeah, other than

024that, I make a motion to accept the uh public meeting minutes. >> I will second it. >> As amended. >> Oh, as amended. Yes. Seconded as amended. >> All right. All in favor? >> I Perfect. Um and then we have the non-public session meeting minutes. >> I had no changes to that. >> See? Okay. >> Okay. So, I'll make a motion to accept the non-public meeting amen minutes. >> Perfect. Second. >> All in favor? >> I Okay, full. All right, we are on time. >> Um, we still have other people coming, right? Other guests. >> Okay, beautiful. So, do we want to go to the central office update? >> Sure. You can start with that. You want me to start since yours is probably going to take a bit longer or do you want to

025launch into the financial piece? >> I try to do the financials really quick. >> Go ahead. So included in your board pack is a current year financial. And first of all, thank you for signing on the manifest. I know these are still there, but you want to back this way. >> Brian's on his way. >> Oh, he is. Okay. Y >> um so we didn't have that many expenditures added. Um and we still don't have any identified unanticipated revenue since the tax date was just set. >> Yeah. >> Um did anyone have any questions on any of the expenses? A lot of it is just expenses being added per the usual um flow of the school year. >> Yeah. I think right now usually I don't have any until like right around, you know, January,

026>> but everything looks good. >> Yep. >> Um Go ahead. Sorry. >> And um yeah, so that is the current year financial. Um I don't know if we want to talk about accepting the impact fees. Yes. >> Okay. So, >> good timing. I mean, I know we had it also on the agenda later on. >> Yeah, I'm happy to jump if that makes sense. >> Back in 1992, new fields accepted um RSA 19820b or hyphen B um which allows you to accept and expend unanticipated revenue. So, if the board chooses to accept it after holding the public hearing, which already happened, um then we would be able to accept the unanticipated source of revenue. Um and the impact fees are not part of the planned revenue for new fields each year. So, they are not

027on the MS24. So, therefore, [snorts] it is an unanticipated source of revenue that we could hold a public hearing to accept and extend those. Um, and so if you wanted to accept and expend the impact fees in accordance with the RSA 19820, then um, >> need a motion. >> We would need a motion to do so with the amount um, and then a vote of approval by the board. >> Do you recommend two separate ones for in the different amounts? Uh, or is it easier just to do collectively? >> I mean, it's probably easier just to do it collectively. Um, as long as you're comfortable about spending that because what's going to happen is we will make the expenditures. >> Yeah. >> And then our accountant will get the receipts and show exactly what was

028paid and then [clears throat] we are going to print off the wonderful meeting minutes that CAT does to show the board's approval as well as the invoices that were paid showing that they qualify for the usage of impact fees and our accountant will send those over to the town and then the town will send us back a check to reimburse them. >> Okay. [snorts] So, um, to that end, I'll make a motion that we confess. I'll make a motion to accept and expend the unanticipated revenue of up to $22,200, which would include, can I say the components? $15,000 um, which was the upper limit of the plan set. Yep. Up to and $7,200 for the um, capital improvement project. So, those two collectively is 22,200. And this is just to say because in the last

029meeting minutes the number 2500 wasn't documented. Okay. The approval was. So you say in addition to the previously approved $2,500 just so the number is documented. >> In addition to the previous That's part of the motion. >> Yeah. Just say in addition to the >> In addition to the previously approved $2,500. [laughter] >> Uh do I have a second? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thanks. Any discussion? >> No. >> Okay. I would like to say or ask all in favor. Hi. >> Sorry. [laughter] I All right. Perfect. So, that has passed for the board. >> Perfect. >> Thank you, Molly, for doing that. >> Pause and do the budget after. >> Yes. I mean, that's up to Bobby. >> Yeah. No, it's good timing. That sounds good to me. >> Okay. So, I'm going to put

030a pin in the finance update. >> And we'll come back to the budget. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> I do have some superintendent office updates as well. >> Yes. So, we'll do that after. >> Yeah. >> Chase, I wonder if you all want to stand right here. So, you're talking to the board that the camera can see the kids. >> Do you want me to do that? I might be taller. >> That was perfect. >> No, I wasn't going to cut it. did this. Okay. Do you What do you want to do next? >> Um you >> I think that would be >> okay. >> Molly, thank you for making this. I I was envisioning something with this existing. I started making my own. >> The camera's right there. So if the student can

031be >> So the camera is right behind you. So maybe over here would be even better. >> Let's do this. >> Unless you want to be on camera. >> Yeah, that would be really cool. >> Be on camera. >> Yeah, thanks. >> Scooch right in. >> Right there. [laughter] >> Awesome. >> All right, you guys ready for us? >> Last. >> Thank you. So, we just want to talk to you guys a little bit about some of the stuff we're doing here um to support students and just strengthen our school community. And these girls are going to help me get through that. Um I'm Tracy Elward. For those that don't know me, I'm a school counselor and this is Lillian and Laney, extraordinary students. We decided to Hey. [laughter] >> All right. So, one of

032the first things we do, I started with the morning is wake up wellness and some of the re uh research. I actually am not going to bore you with the research, but I will share these slides with you if you'd like to look at some of it later. Yeah. >> Um is just giving uh students a choice in the morning is promoting their self-regulation and independence, supporting their emotional wellness. Um just getting them engaged and making them really feel like they have some sort of ownership here. Um and so do you ladies want to talk a little bit about wake up wellness? >> Sure. I really like way up because I'm um experience I had I was doing this fair and I need to learn how to make stuff and then origami suddenly popped up

033on the wake of wellness and it was perfect because I learned how to do some origami for the fair and it like almost helps and like engages in like what we need to learn. Yeah, >> I like that. Um there's always different choices. So on that one, there's like moving Monday and choir reading. So like if somebody's feeling like they want like they're really energetic one morning, they like have that choice. And there's also like a really calm choice in that it's mixed grades. So that like if like um like I would be able to like be with my brother and sister or anybody that like wants to be with me that are that are from a different grade. >> Yeah. So when they walk in in the morning, this is their choice board that

034changes everything for them to make a decision and they just off they go. Um it's fantastic. Um and so purposeful people is um a character strong curriculum and this is a curriculum we chose um for us here. Um a lot of research shows that if you are building character in kids, it's also building their resilience. Um, and it's a real strong protective factor for them with anxiety, well-being, stress, um, um, all sorts of resilience, belonging. Um, so I do purposeful people lessons once a week with all the students in each classroom. Um, and do you girls want to talk a little bit about that also? >> Sure. >> Do you want to do you guys can you think of a few of our character traits that we do? >> We last year, I believe it

035was perseverance. It was one of the funniest videos [laughter] that go along with it and there are characters called homemaker. They're like little aliens and then they teach us about it. And then there are always catchy songs that like help us remember how to do it. And for first it was like I believe um it said it was like [snorts] be cool like a popsicle when you're trying to the hardest thing. >> It's just always fun like learning about the different things and having different like songs that go with it and like learning how to do it. Yeah. Like also like when um like if somebody's having like Mrs. noticed like somebody's been like there's been lots of like a certain thing but it's not been happening like for like everybody but it's been happening

036to like a group of people and been happening for a really long time. Sometimes she'll like change up the lesson and make it about that so it comes up in later life like but also like solves it right now but also so it doesn't happen again. >> Um they're a lot of fun. Um some of our other character traits are like respect um empathy honesty perseverance. They're all in a fun um and then morning meeting slides. kind of gave you guys just an example. I made these I made a set of morning meeting sites. So, there's one um a week for every um school year, every week in the school year. And I just tied this. This is for teachers to put up on their board in the morning. And they're um this is a

037just an example of a Monday. I give them a talking point to do like a circle chat with the kids. There's a video, there's a song, there's a book [snorts] recommendation on here. Um, Fridays is some um is a day that they ask um about lessons for the week. So, it's just kind of reinforcing what we did in um our lesson for the week. And then the staff pursuit, I gave you an example that you can read. So, part of it is the reason for the staff pursuit is just to sort of encourage our staff to model the character trait that we're um learning about that month. So, this one is choose one student and commit to investing at least two minutes a day for four days in a row, checking in on them to

038find out how they are, how their family is doing, and what um is one feeling they have been experienced a lot recently. Um, so is there anything you girls want to share? I know what they love about the morning meeting slides, one of their favorite ones, as many just kind of alluded to, is >> this song. >> The songs in the videos. [laughter] Do you guys want to say anything about this? >> Yeah. Like sometimes like we won't always do it in the classroom, but like it's always something like if our teachers are always like, "Hm, what should we hear about?" Like it's always like there's something on there that we could always use and sometimes it's helpful. >> Yeah. It helps us build like a consistent language that we're using in the school. [clears

039throat] Um it's really nice to walk by the classroom and hear the teachers using the language that we're using um in our class. It's maybe not so great for the teachers, but I like [laughter] it because um this week we've been having to write an essay. It's taking a lot of time. Sometimes when um we can just say, "Hey, what about this?" It's almost an excuse to stay on the rug longer and [laughter] >> just gave away a secret. >> I'm sure it didn't get past your teacher. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. So, I do a lot of snack and lunch groups. Um, just for friendship issues and [snorts] teaching social skills and conflict resolution. Um, helping them with stress. Um, helping them feel included. We have some new students this year. We've had a few

040in the past, but just to get them engaged with other students. Um, and my two friends here have been involved. We actually had a lunch bunch today to talk about this. That was fun. But do you guys want to talk a little bit more about snack and lunch? >> Yeah. Sometimes when we have to go in Mrs. A's room for a lunch time, it's not usual because I wanted. It's usual because I'm having a problem. They talk about it. Um, but then like she has a pet turtle and he climbs up on a rock and it's sometimes fun to just watch him just swim around and climb up on a rock cuz it's almost like calming at the same time and like joyful and at the same time he shows perseverance trying to get his

041true story actually. He works hard. He works hard. What do you think, Lily? Do you have anything to add for Snapdragon? Um just like also like they can also like there's like it's not always like a conflict but like sometimes like like other teachers can also sometimes take people just for fun but like you also take people like if they're having a really hard week or something. So like to like just like help them figure out a solution or halfway solution. >> Um and quiet lunch. So, we just started quiet lunch maybe I want to say we're a month into it at the most. Um, and we decided that our kids needed somewhere that I don't know if you've ever been in the multi-purpose room during lunch, but it's very loud in there. And so,

042some of our kids were asking us like, is there somewhere we could eat that it's more quiet? Some kids want headphones on because it's so noisy. So, we found a way to make quiet lunch happen. So, I host quiet lunch um every day now except for Wednesdays. And I have half of the um three through um fifth grade students eating quiet lunch with me. So the multi-purpose room is also probably quiet lunch now too. I haven't been down there. Um but these girls come to quiet lunch and I will let you share what that's like. >> I like it because sometimes at recess um people might be asking me crazy questions like a bunch of stuff blah blah blah. Um, and when I walk into quiet lunch, it's just quiet and they can't ask me

043any questions anymore. I get to enjoy my food, which [laughter] is great. >> Yo, [snorts] >> that's nice. >> It's also like it's just like also even if you're not having a bad day and you just feel like you want to like just have a quiet time after recess and before you start learning again, like there's also a way to do that. But like like I like Like we do like know in Wednesday to like still kind of like be able to like encourage some kids to still be able to like talk to their friends and stuff. >> This is actually a good point that we didn't talk about earlier. >> Um but it is quite literally quiet. Um we put soft music on. It's just like acoustic music. Um we turn the lights off

044and the kids just read or they color and they eat and it is a beautiful thing. It is the my favorite 30 minutes of my day. So [laughter] nice to watch them. Not because it's quiet. I love it. But it's just nice to see [snorts] them. >> I mean, there's pictures up there. Some of them, I mean, there's, you know, friends groups that sit together that are chitchaty and they will sit and just read next to each other and it's just a beautiful thing. It's really nice. Um, after school clubs, um, I just put some examples. These are the ones that just finished up. Our after school [clears throat] clubs are really popping. Like we have a lot of teachers now that are um, wanting to do them. And so these are just some examples.

045Lego club, dog and cat lovers club. They adopted a pet and spun a fake pet obviously. Drawing club, everything turtle club. And ladies, you want to take it away with after school clubs? >> Yes. So it can it's like it's like fun for like kids, but it's also like nice for like parents at the same time. like [laughter] if they like end up like like capping like knowing like oh I'm usually pick them up like I know for a for a few weeks I'm not going to be able to make it on just say Wednesday and like they might be able to sign them up for a club and it'd be fun for the students but also for the parents at the same time. >> Yeah. >> What are some of the other clubs you

046guys did last year? Can you think of some other examples? Two things I want to say about club. First of all, all the clubs are done are fine. Second of all, I love it because sometimes when mom's not home and dad's still working, I get bored. >> So, it's nice to do something and just not even sit around in the school or they or sit on the bus. It's just nice to like actually be active. There's a new thing that Is it okay if I bring up the sho? Oh, that we're looking into. Yeah. That we're talking about. Yeah. >> It's not studentled. It's student idea, right? >> Yeah. >> Students come up with the idea and then teachers help them and like we they make a club and I have a few ideas about

047this. I like the idea. Like I want to do it myself, but sometimes me and L were thinking about it might get a little bit out of hand because [laughter] Um, a few people are going to do a club which inspired another person to do Pokemon club and then everybody talks about that during school and that kind of makes the people don't do Pokemon crazy. >> Um, and also if kids have an idea but then like nobody people a bunch of people come to another kids club but they don't come to your club that might make them feel a little bit sad. Not that kids can't handle it, but like if teachers don't get any club, like they're kind of fine with it, but kids might have a harder time with that. >> So, I'm

048kind of iffy about [laughter] >> Yeah. So, we're talking about it. >> Yeah. It's good >> brainstorming. I like it. >> Um >> Lillian, did did you anything else you want to say about clubs? >> Like there were a few like there's a like a lot of these are new clubs, but like I also like how the clubs are like changing but and like but like cuz like last year there was like mini science club and like cook club and stuff like that but like this year they're also like different and there's always like there's always like a mix of people between the clubs. >> Yeah, different grades >> because like if like it's always like a mix so like >> it makes it kind of nice for him. >> Um okay, assemblies. If you've

049never been to one of our assemblies, I highly recommend it. Um, we we love our assemblies. Um, but our assemblies this year have really started to um change a little bit in the sense that we're trying to give students a little bit more [clears throat] ownership. Um, but our assemblies really are for us to have like constant or consistent communication um in the building. We get our message out and um to everybody reinforces our school values. We talk about our uh character trade at all of our assemblies. Our new character trade that's coming up. Um and we now have fifth grade leaders who lead it. Um which is really nice. And these girls would like to talk about some of the things on the screen. So I will let them do that. So, the fifth

050grade hosts are really nice because like like we're looking forward to it, but um it's also like like it's like kind of boring listening to the teachers like it like being able to like [laughter] hear >> but like the golden trash can we like it because it encourages the >> Can you tell them a little bit about what the golden trash can is? >> Yes. The golden trash can is award that our custodian gives out and it's for the cleanest classroom. So, you have to sweep and you have to do a lot of things to try and get it. And so, he goes around and tries to get the golden trash can but or try and see who like see who get who is the cleanest classroom. And I like I think it's really nice

051because it like encourages our class to like sweep and do stuff like that and like makes classroom player like overall even if we don't get it still like encourages our class to try and get it. >> Who are the reigning champions right now from last year? [laughter] >> Well, I think about two different things because that was verific composting. We like um at our assemblies we connect to our community. A few um assembies ago we had um a Camp Lincoln person come and they were talking about it for the family farm came and they're talking about now we're going to do like lunch scraps go to something for helping reduce the compost and the girls all around is um like it's an after school program for running and then there's also cross country which is

052running so it's also if you don't have a club on a certain day there's seven rivers girls will on cross country like a bunch of things that you can do. They're active in the daily and then they usually come out to something big girls 5k cross country I believe you had a race every Wednesday. >> Yeah. It just helps students always persevere and do something after school that they want and like they can be proud of it and at the assembly they'll get noticed for their perseverance and that felt really good. >> Yeah. Awesome. Thank you, Adrian. Also [snorts] at our assemblies we do some student talent. Um, so we try to have like four to six um, talent acts for every assembly and the kids sing and they dance and we have a lot

053of musicians that play that are amazing. Um, Laney's little sister is in one of these pictures that's a little blurry but she did ribbon dancing for us at our last assembly. Um, and this is a really good chance for our students to just show what they can do and to get up there and to not be afraid and it feels really good for them. Um, do you girls want to say anything about that? Have you done any talent? >> Yes. >> What have you girls done? >> Well, what we did, we um wrote a song and then sang it and [clears throat] work with Mr. K, our music teacher to do it. And I feel like it almost connects the whole school. And Bill's perseverance when Cleo and my sister Molly were doing it like

054um a teacher knew that like they not that they were doing bad but like they wanted to give them extra boost. So they started clapping and the whole school clapped with the music and after that my sister came back and she was beaming that and that >> we really did a song called Got Cold on you and it's kind of nice because you get to express your talent and you get to work with somebody and everybody gets to see it and then um some talents people are talking about for weeks. >> [laughter] >> really good. >> Yeah. And I like how there's like a mix of talents. Like it's always like you're there's always different things and there's like always like like a good like a like there's always like a mix of things that

055people like like and don't like. So like it's always there's a little bit of everything in them. So it always gives you a chance to like hear some really good music and hear or like see some really good dancing or hear some really good music singing or something like that. >> Yeah, you might see a friend that you didn't know could do something. It's really cool. Our assembly that's coming up on the 19th is going to be a really good one. So, you're available. We recommend you come >> and leadership opportunities. So, this year we started doing fifth grade leaders. We used to do third through fifth grade. Um, and it was kind of based on um I don't know they want it was a lot of um maybe raising money for things for the

056school, stuff like that. And this year we're really trying to focus on like kindness projects like what can we do to build community and so our fifth grade class um did a project. Do you girls want to talk about the project instead of me because it was really cool for you guys? Okay. So, first thing I want to say is I'm a little bit upset about only for a while, but it's okay. They're really good at it. Probably a bit better than me. Um, the bubble activity. So, fifth grade made us all bubbles >> and like everybody went into the auditorium. Everybody was super excited not knowing what's happening. And then they announced it with Bubbles. And we all went outside. I did recess. I had a little fortune teller. He kept getting um and

057apparently for the buses he was too. >> Yeah, it was [laughter] the bus. >> It's kind of funny, but um my bus driver, Mrs. Robin, somebody started blowing bubbles and then the next person did and like it went down the bus and then like the bus was like totally like silent. It [laughter] was really kind of funny. I was like I was like what's going on here? Is this bubbles like magic or what? [laughter] >> I'm sure everyone's okay with this. >> They have a podcast. >> It was fun. The fifth grade they each had a job. Um there were bubble fillers. There were um delivery coordinators. There were label makers, label attachers. They made they filled all the jars. They made really nice messages on labels and they labeled all the jars and um

058gave them to the kids. It was a really great project. So we're going to be doing a lot more of that with our fifth grade this year. Um, and ladies, >> Any questions or comments for your What was your favorite? >> Um, my favorite thing was, >> how about you? >> Um, I really, um, enjoy Quiet Line. which is really nice and it gives them the opportunity to choose different things and have a choice for lunch. >> I think you both could teach others how to give presentations. [laughter] [applause] [cheering] >> I just want to thank you Mrs. Elward. Um I am just so thrilled that you are part of the school community. Um, and I also wanted to thank the board before I I joined. Um, the decision was made to have a a

059full-time uh, counselor. I think it's really important and I love um, all the work that you've been able to to bring to the community. >> Love being here. >> And then the school community just working so well together with all the great ideas. It's awesome. And ladies, thank you for your presentation. We want to have more kiddos at these if we can. And >> this is [laughter] great. >> You guys want to head out. >> Beautiful. Yeah. Yeah, please don't feel you need to stay for the rest of the board. >> You're welcome to. >> I [laughter] wanted to stay and I was like, yeah, there's a lot of a lot of policies and numbers and things. >> Thank you. >> Excellent. >> Okay. Um, >> bye guys. Um, all right. Um, so the next

060we were just going to >> Let's see. Are you okay with um Molly finishing the budget? >> Okay, perfect. So, Molly, take it away. >> Yeah. uh at the budget here. Could we tape that and play that before the vote is done? >> That was actually something I was going to say under the superintendent's updates. So, I'll say it really quickly, which is that we're in the process of making videos for all of our budgets within our school districts featuring featuring students and really telling the story of what happens at our school with the budgets that the town graciously passes. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. We did it last year in the cooperative. So this year we're doing it for all of the schools in SE16, all the districts. >> Welcome, Brian. Thank you for joining.

061No, please. We're happy to have you. >> So Brian, I left the manifest over there for you to sign. >> Trade. >> So they're just passing down an updated copy of the budget. Um, is very similar to what we had talked about last month. Um just a few minor tapes. Um so just to remind everyone [clears throat] how this is organized. So the very first page is a highle summary. Um historically we've always had the food service fund and the general fund. The food service fund we do always call it separate because if we were to end in a positive balance which we never do um that would be that would not be given back in the tax rate. So it is treated a little bit separately and at the end of the year you

062cannot be in a negative position. We do treat it the same way as every other food service fund in the district even though you do not receive federal money um here. Um in all other districts the food service fund cannot be in in a negative position because it is a fedally funded program. So that's why it is kept separately. Um and then this year we are appropriating the grants. So that is all of your title grants, your IDA, any safety and security, any grants we might get. Um that is being appropriated in the district budgets. It was previously appropriated as part of the SAU budget. Um and it all flowed through the SAU, but for many years now it has been the recommendation from our auditors that it really needs to be appropriated in this

063district. Um and so this is an SB2 district, meaning that you go to the ballot, you don't go to an annual town meeting. And so in coordination with legal counsel, we talked about well what would be the default because it's not previously there. So our legal council had advised us to use the FY25. So the 2425 school year actual grant expenditures. Um and you have to keep in mind some grants are 18 months long. So it's you're not always spending the same amount. Um as well as we hope to see opportunities for more grants down the road. this um we have seen some safety and security grants somewhat recently. So we did we have always was historically budgeting $4 million in SAU. I scaled it back to 3.5 across the SAU just because we're not

064going to reach that $4 million level. And so we did spend about 2.8 million in the last fiscal year. So to give us a little wiggle room in case we get more grants, I said, "Okay, let's do 3.5. We'll spread it in proportion as how everyone actually spent the money in uh 2025. But again, grant money, the revenue equals expense. So there's nothing raised in taxation. Okay. And so but the article one will be the total of all three of those funds. Um the second page does detail out the the grant appropriation. Um and then in regards to major changes that is your general fund and food service fund. So the 141476 that is the major changes that you see on the the first page. This these are your major drivers and then after >>

065this is down from last >> time. Yes. >> Well, I was just comparing those two. It's down because we moved some money out of that maintenance and repair line because remember we had talked about potentially using trying to use that for paving not only and it was not an uh sufficient amount to cover the paving. Um and then also we felt it was a great strategy to take it out of local budget and plan for it in the bond for the school safety project. >> And if the bond doesn't pass, what's the plan for paving? we would not be able to pave if the bond doesn't pass. So we would that would be an unfortunate you know >> we have a capital improvement plan that we will hopefully have at the point to >> that's

066why we put so much energy [clears throat] into connect making connections in the community and talking about the importance of the school safety project. >> And then then we have the line by line budget. Um and then lastly we just have a comparison between the default and and the proposed. So your default is the basis of your default is the current year budget meaning that this year's budget um plus and minus any mandatory expenses or expenses required by law. So things under the special education that is a requirement by law. Um a CBA that has previously been on the ballot. So this year it was the Paris negotiating correct? >> Yes. So the teachers have an active CBA, meaning that even if we went to default, they would still step for the CBA because that

067was on the ballot as a standalone item. However, contracts like the bus contract that was not a standalone item on the ballot. So that would not be reflected in the default. So the increase that we do have to pay for a student cannot be reflected in the default. Um so we would have to make that up in other areas. So this details out the differences between your default and your proposed. >> Okay. >> Um so as as we mentioned we did make a few changes. Um uh the main area was in relation to the maint I think one thing that's important to me anyways. Do you have any comparisons on like other SAU uh elementary schools, what their budget increases are? >> Sure. Uh they're all they're all very unique. Um so Kensington and Brentwood

068actually have um positions that they're not filling. So it would be an unfilled position that's vacant right now. So it's not like they're letting anyone go. It's just a position that's vacant right now that is moving under the budget. So, it's hard to compare to those districts when you're taking a position out. Um, it's hard to compare to East Kingston because there's certain things that in East Kingston, like for example, they're having an increase in technology because long time ago, there's unfortunately some students that have passed away and the families had given a large sum of money that the town was a that school was able to use for quite some time. Now, they can't. Um, so there's certain situations like that in every district. So there's really not an apples to apples comparison um

069to do that with. So that's that's a really difficult question to to be able to compare that. >> News is kind of unique I think because 80% of our tax bill is education. >> I mean that's the new tax that just came out and I know this is only a piece of it, right? There's also the >> Yeah, Cameron say I mean the superintendent's office and the high school and the middle school. >> So the superintendent's office is embedded in this budget. So yeah, so every district whether it be the elementary or the cooperative have a piece of the pie of SAU. So you'll see there's a line in here called office of the superintendent. >> Um that is Newfield's portion. And what about the increase for the high school and the middle school that

070we're going to have to taxpayers? I know it doesn't >> that's that's voted on separately in a separate ballot measure and >> my only question is this is going up 4% and that goes up 15%. Is this >> No. Well, it all depends on >> it's optics really >> because and what I was going to say was I received the same tax bill, >> you know, not the same bill, but the same at the same time in in the mail and I noticed this year and it's different than years past. It used to be broken up at least by like local and um the you know the larger co-op. It's not broken up. It's one number. So I do think that's a little I don't want to say misleading but it's confusing to the the

071taxpayer you know what portion is what. So I do think it is helpful to understand the actual percent increase for the New Fields school district here and then you know I'm sure they're going to have something very similar for the um co-op at that that budget hearing. >> I'm only wondering if when you have the deliberative session are people going to ask that question? Typically, we haven't gotten that because they each >> district. So, there will be a deliberative session for the co-op. So, they >> we can't answer the questions for the co-op, but if they do come up, >> it's kind of unfortunately we we can't answer them. That's we do have a representative on that board. Um, but I don't think when is their next schoolboard meeting? >> So, they were actually supposed

072to have a budget workshop the day of the snowstorm. That's >> right. You know, that >> which didn't happen. So now the budget workshop is going to be right before the school board meeting which I believe is on December 16th and the budget advisory committee was supposed to vote on their recommendation. The reason the budget advisory hadn't voted so far is we December 1st was the deadline for retirees. So, we had to make some change. We we waited until after December 1st um to incorporate any retirees. Um and then the snow happened and so that will happen at the budget workshop on the 16th. So, the budget advisory has not voted yet. The school board has they've seen a draft of the budget. They haven't seen the full budget presentation yet. Um and that's where

073we're at. I I think one of the things that we don't talk about often enough is just the structure with regards to how New Hampshire funds public education and the amount of significant pressure, financial pressure it puts on local taxpayers. And given that, you know, we rely so heavily on property taxes to fund education. You know, New Hampshire spends the least amount per pupil than any other state in the in the nation. Um we're 50th out of the 50 states in terms of the amount spent per pupil. Um there was the Claremont decision as you know that as to what constitutes an adequate education in the state of New Hampshire. That legal battle has been going on for decades with a recent ruling saying that I did bring this data with me today because I

074think it's helpful to say it out loud that you know we could the state current allocation is [clears throat] $4,100 per pupil. Um the Supreme Court of New Hampshire ruled that to be unconstitutional. That's not the first time they have ruled our current funding structure and the adequacy amounts that we that the state gives as unconstitutional. Um and then what the the new the latest ruling with regards to the Claremont decision and how New Hampshire funds education and what constitutes an adequate education is that what the ruling is calling for an increase to the funding of at least to at least 70 $7,356 per pupil. >> And what's the source of income for that? How are you gonna finance it? >> That's what this That's what the legislature is still >> income tax. >> That's

075what the legislature is still That's what they're still working out. They don't have an answer, but nonetheless, >> I mean, you know, we don't pay state tax. We don't pay >> sales tax. So, our property taxes are going to be high. >> I think the other thing to point out is that there's still, you know, there's some unfunded mandates with regards to public education in New Hampshire, special education being one of them. you know that those funds for for IDA from [clears throat] the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act come from the federal government. IDEIDA in its history has never been fully funded. So that's additional responsibilities on local towns and taxpayers. Um and it's you know the I think another thing to point out is that the needs of students have changed and schools do

076more than ever before in terms of you saw it this evening's presentation social emotional learning you know professional learning communities. It's just that there's a lot happening I think in public education as it's transforming in terms of what's best for students and basing um our practices on current research and whatnot. So again I think it's helpful to talk about and you'll see all this in the video. Yeah. >> Um but talk about just some of the wonderful things that we do and the the barrier that we're up against when it comes to the structure for the education education funding. >> Is there an item in the budget that shows state funding this year compared to last year? Is there any comparative there that shows the actual difference in state funding? >> So that's going to

077be on the [clears throat] revenue side. So unfortunately with the way we do things in New Hampshire, you only do half of the equation in the spring and you do the other half of the equation in the fall. So when we do vote, when we do post your warrants in the MS26, we do put a projected revenue amount on there to the best that we can. That is not the final revenue amount by any means, but we do try our best. Um, but when you go to a ballot, you are not voting on the revenue side at all. You are only v voting on the expense [clears throat] side of the house. And then what happens is by September 1st, the business office, my team looks at all the sources of revenue, whether it be

078earnings on investment, adequacy, um, special education aid, uh, food service sales. We we put all of that on what's called your MS24 and we report that to the state by September 1st. And so then what happens is the department of revenue says, "Okay, I have this budget that was voted by the new fields taxpayers from the spring. I have this sources of revenue that Molly's business office had sent me. The delta has to be raised in taxation and that's how you get to your tax card. So on the tax card, there's two lines. There's local education and then the co-op. Um, and then it has the adequacy and swept for both sections. swept is just it's um moving it from one section of your tax card to the other. It is all raised in local

079taxation. Um and so that's how you are determined your tax rates determined. And so I actually have an Excel spreadsheet that details every line of your tax rate out and I line it up side by side with every district in SAU and attach all the tax cards for our superintendent. >> This is very healthy conversation. I'm glad we're having it. I will say that in the nine years that I've been in New Fields, while we've had lots of robust conversations about budgets in all different forums, I will say the majority of the people who I've talked with about discussing the Newfield Elementary School budget, everybody that I've 99.99% of the time they agree that it's a really um trim and efficient and responsibly uh designed budget. Um and and there is some further discussion about

080the other budgets within within our school system. >> It doesn't come up in this body. Yeah. >> But I think it's a helpful conversation because it's the same laws that apply to the the co-op as well. And those are those conversations happen and they're pretty robust. If you've ever been to [laughter] those >> there I remember >> well the co-op budget hasn't been discussed with the school board yet. I can tell you that um we were very very careful, very um most people that were building that school budget are also taxpayers of this district. So we we we get it and um we tried our hardest to keep it down. >> I'll also say just for what it's worth, um now that I have one of my Newfield Elementary School graduates in the the co-op,

081I'm actually very happy and very impressed with the um the quality. I don't know how appropriate that is to say here, but I'll just say it. Um, so, um, if you don't have any exposure or knowledge about the co-op, um, I'd recommend you just, you know, attending one of those meetings and voicing any questions you have. >> And the biggest driver at Newfields and all districts was the health insurance. And I know Jim, you had several questions on that as well. >> I did bring some additional information and I know you and Jim have emailed in addition to that, but Jim to answer some of your questions if this is an okay time to do that. I will just say for the purpose of the minutes, Jim Leeman is is here as a um >>

082this is the budget advisor. All three of you I think >> all three of them. >> Fantastic. >> Yes. >> So yeah, it's perfect. You know, I would suggest we go like section by section through the budget and then jump around topic to topic. >> Sure. I think I've sort of asked my questions and I don't know before I read it to accept it as it is >> but I have to go >> you can express your um >> recommend recommendation >> I mean my recommendation would be to accept this I I have a similar question about health insurance but >> I mean I don't know if that's helpful or not >> I mean it is need a formal vote. I can >> Okay, I think that's perfect. We can also talk about the Is

083it the just the three of you are on the committee? [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> Thanks, C. >> The grant. Yeah. >> Are those band appropriations built into the line items throughout the budget? >> No. No. No. No. So, what? >> Yeah. I don't so I don't where does that show up anymore? >> Yeah. >> So it's it's not in your line by line budget. So So what happens is we have different grants. We have title grants. We have an IDEA. We get safety security. We don't know what grants we're going to get. [clears throat] Um we do know we're going to get a level of grants. So um Susie does typically plan for a level of grant expenditures. Um but we won't know what we're going to get for quite some time. And

084so >> is it getting cut? and they are going down. Um and so for me for many years way before I joined SAU the decision was to appropriate all the grant funds in the SAU and so >> in the SA corporate not the not the local >> correct not not not this budget >> at the um central office >> central office so it gets rolled in but not really >> yeah and so what would happen it was part of the SAU budget but it was not assessed up to this because there was no impact on taxation because revenue Revenue equals expense for grants. We cannot expend grant money um unless we are have the grant activity approved which then we will get the revenue to offset and relieve that expense. But the like we were

085mentioning before we only do half the equation in the spring. So when you vote on a ballot that's your authority to expend. So we cannot expend money unless we appropriate the money. So by moving it to the local budget, we are appropriating that grant money for the approval to expend. But when we set the revenues, we're also going to set the revenues equal to the 104,114. So zero is raised in taxation. Does that answer your question? >> So what's in the line by line are items that are needed to operate the school that is raised in taxation. U with Jim's recommendation, are you can we go by section by section? Like start with regular education. >> Yeah, I'm happy to do that. >> Let's start with page one. >> Yeah. So page one, uh regular

086education. So it's the 11.1100 uh line. >> And as we go section by section, I think it's just super helpful just to point out some account codes. Um so the first two numbers is your 11. That is your general fund. When you get to 14, that is food service. Yeah. >> Um, and then the next section, which is a four-digit number, is your function. So, we'll start going regular ed, then special ed, and then we'll eventually get to transportation and health insurance. And then that third set of numbers, that 50 >> number. 50 signifies expense. 501 is salary. So, see that first line where it's a 50110? Those are all your teachers. Then 50112 that is a salary line but it's the provision for retirement meaning people at the end of service. Um 50118 those

087are your instructional aids. So anything where you see it starts with 501 that is a salary. >> Okay. >> Thank you m. All right. So regular education any questions or comments or again Susie from Yeah. >> I know you are a key member of building this. If you have any context you want to add >> to build on to what Molly said with salaries. That's not something that's >> negotiable. >> Um it's it's well >> in in the budget it's something that's already contracted >> and so all teachers would be stepping and possibly tracking for the collective bargaining agreements. All pair of professionals would be in at level of funding meaning where they're at today um because that would be in board article number two. And then anybody in a non-union would be put in

088at a 3% increase unless um otherwise specified by human resources or the super >> um >> staffing is the same from this year to next year in terms of section. >> Yes. Anybody? Right. >> Correct. >> And do we have any to Molly's point earlier? Are there any vacancies that um >> is very well staffed? Yeah. So, unless folks have other input, we can move on to the next one. >> Okay. >> Um, >> and I just want to point out we do have that open enrollment line. Sorry, I didn't but we did set that at a dollar because we don't have any indication that it would be used at this point, >> right? That was going to be one of my updates under the superintendent central office updates as well is that you know

089the recommendation is for us to you know not be a receiving district and that has been the general um sense amongst our colleagues and the other superintendents in the state. So that makes it more of a moot point >> but by law we have to include a lot. >> So um I'm going to recommend that. Thank you for bringing that up. I don't want us to that's a whole other topic that we could talk for hours about but thank you for noting that and that explains the line item there. >> Um so the next item the section is special education. >> The other professional services for special ed. >> Yeah 7500. So that can range from um testing that might need to be happening um to um if we need to bring in a consultant

090and it's just been uh everything that we've done have has been consistent across the board trying to flatline things and looking at past year's budgets seeing if we've gone up or not necessong with >> last year we budgeted a dollar and we spent 6,000. >> Oh, thank you. Okay. So, some of this is our idea which um covers um some of our special education um contractors has decreased almost by half. So, if we've had $50,000 in the past, we now have $25,000. is a huge cut for us in how to cover our special education needs. So, that's one reason why this was brought up because we're and we're navigating um students that we think are coming that we know that are coming in from our preschool, not from our preschool, that our preschoolers coming up.

091Um and recognizing or or trying to um we know what their needs are. So matching their needs with what the contracted services are. And I can't speak to that because it's it it's private information >> with the pro, you know, we we're charged with developing programs, right? Individualized education programs for students with disabilities. So this isn't this is part of that charge. >> And that's the same with the tuition, the specialized tuition where you've got to allow a certain amount for that as well. They have to go out of school. Um if there's nothing else uh the next one is a I think also a placeholder for bilingual yes I don't think we have any need to but it's important to keep that line open >> uh student body activities looks to be no change

092and I think we saw some really excellent examples of some of the student body activities today um and I think it's money worth And just jumping back to special ed tuition for one one moment. Um in our trust funds we do have in the special ed trust fund 134,000. The goal is 275,000. So even our trust funds are not fully funded to where we want them to be. So that's why we feel it's super important to budget for that special ed tuition because if there was a student to move in, we don't have the trust funds to support that. >> Um next section. Any questions in the body? Next section was guidance services. So we saw miss a is that can I say that it's that's our one that's our guidance our school counselor >>

093and contractual >> yes >> and any um salaries that you might see that seem a little bit higher a lot of times the teachers are tracking as well >> I'm not sure exactly know what that means Oh, sorry. Uh, tracking is when you go from like a master to a master's 15 to a master's 30. >> Um, and they move across. So, teachers move step down or up, whichever way you look at the grid. [laughter] And then, um, they move across as they get more credits. And so, at this time of year, we take a look at who's enrolled in courses as so they might not be quite done yet, but we anticipate them to be done when this school year starts or sometimes people have track already checked and we have to Correct. >>

094Is it like a step function? >> Yeah. >> So the step so the steps go for years of service and top was 10 here. >> 10 years. So at 10 they'll stop stepping but then they can move across the grid to track. >> Does the guidance counselor on the teachers contract? >> Yes. >> And so is the nurse. Um questions on that one. Next one is the health services which includes the nurse. Thank you for for saying that. >> The only people in this building that are not on a collective bargaining agreement are Susie >> and maintenance >> custodians. Right. >> Everybody else is on a collective bargaining agreement. >> Food service. Oh, and food service. Sorry, food service. [clears throat] >> Um, compression file on health service. Otherwise, we can go to psychological service.

095There's no change there. Speech path. Maybe we could take the psychological, speech pathology, and OT collectively. >> Not that they're the same, but they're sort of >> in the same category. Any questions on those? They're all what we call related services under special education. >> Perfect. >> So are they under the propriety [clears throat] agreement as well? >> They are um anybody that is a staff member is anybody that is a contracted service would be [clears throat] a contracted service. >> Some of them are contracted service providers and some of them are staff members. >> An easy way to tell if it's a 501. >> Oh, that sounds great. Thank you. Yeah, >> it is not 501, it's comfort to service. >> Oh, okay. >> Um, any questions on that, guys? >> Um, improvement of

096instruction service. >> So, this is this is the one line that I um brought up. If you look at your 221050322, it's your professional improvement. Typically our title two and our title four grants have been quite robust and they are decreasing significantly and so I can no longer >> [snorts] >> um rely on that money. Um and the SAU has also we are um working quite diligently at um all coming under an an alignment with MTSS and with that comes professional development that is quite frankly needed and um encouraged by the superintendent's office and $4,50 is a is a low amount when it comes to how quickly that money can be absorbed. Department of Education. Is that what that is? Is that >> the difference in between the 9950 budgeted and 17,981 spended last year

097almost twice the amount spent in the budget? >> Is that the variability of the grants this year >> or that year? See >> that's what I don't understand about the grants how it affects the the dollar. >> So when when we when we don't have the grant money to spend, that's when it's spent here. >> So you add it to the number. >> So for here um and I think did you also go to some addition did anyone go to PLC conferences and stuff? So there was some additional conferences and learning that has happened. But also >> typically Susie would reach out to her title grants to pay for that. So we wouldn't have budgeted for it here. But when that's not available then we have to pay for it. And so when we did

098we used to budget the four million in SAU I did scale that back to 3.5 already which we might even be able to scale back further but again grant revenue equals expense. So there's no impact on taxation. >> Right. We're about halfway there. Um moving on to media services or do we still have more on this improvement? Okay. Uh media services. There's a slight increase there. It looks like media salary. >> Is this the book the 50641? >> Yeah. But it is the proposed budget is the same as it is this year and the year before. You're saying in the past it was more. Okay. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> Are you making a recommendation or just observation? >> You know the student body is larger and I think uh it' be nice to have

099$1,000 more there but that's really up to you guys. I think that there are creative ways that we can um have uh donations to our school um that we haven't we haven't done yet. Um including book fairs and partnerships with NPTO. Um, a lot has gone in over the last four years into the library in recreating it, bringing in new furniture, bringing in new paint, how it looks. Um, that is definitely been an area in which we've spent a lot of time in. Um, I I in my professional opinion, I think that when we are having to have a incredibly lean budget, um, we have to get creative in different ways. And I think we should try some of those ways um to to bring in more books. >> Um computer instruction service up there

100that software is it like updates and things? Mhm. >> Is that for the school as a whole the software technology line or is that just for the science >> teacher? That's everything. >> That's for the whole school. >> Um to I do have a question. I know some of the software stuff um is that that is paid for is some of the platforms that are SAU wide. Um would that be included in this line or is this only building specific? >> It is. So what we always do is at the beginning of every budget cycle >> um we take a look at what software is used across these sometimes >> cuz going to BJS is more efficient than going to the corner store cuz um with the co-op we have the buying power of going

101to BJs if it was just new fields. So like things like Alma or or Frontline it will be paid directly by the co-op and then we pay our share back to the co-op. >> Right. Okay. >> So it's our way of shopping at BJ's. [laughter] Okay. Um, okay. Any questions on that? Uh, the next one, these are like little categories. Schoolboard services. >> Is that saying that our our salaries are going up? I didn't >> Well, I think some of it was misbudget, but also we had like um the school Well, the school district treasurer, but then also um >> Oh, it's another person. No, it's uh because you have the the treasury of your clerk. >> So, I think it's the clerk in >> Got it. Okay. Check. >> The clerk is >> Oh,

102no. The clerk's on the next page. >> Clerk's on the next page. >> Yeah. >> Treasure is on the next page, too. >> I see. >> I wouldn't mind getting it. >> It's not [laughter] that much. Yeah, I can I look at the notes in here. Let me just pull that up. >> I guess while you're looking at we can probably look at all of the oneliners. It's the I'm on page five, the clerk, the district treasur, audit service, legal service. >> The audit services jumped significantly. That seems a jump. >> So audit was um overspent. We it was came in higher than last year's budget. So we do get quotes in advance and so we we did base it on the quote from the auditors and if you look at last year we extended

103more than budgeted because we made the budget before we had their quote. >> Is this a BJ's type thing? It's auditing. >> No the audit [clears throat] audits individual districts. Yeah. >> But we same use the audit same audit firm. So it's kind of going to BJ's 18%. >> Yeah. >> Maybe it would have been 25. It was 6750 on average 2122% increase 45 years >> and they do have a lot of increase requirements that they have to do more Gazby required items. >> I don't remember are we required to get an audit every year or is it their gaps I forget. >> Um so you are required to do an audit but you're not required to use an audit firm. So, um, every district in the SAU except for Kensington, um, uses Plaza and

104Sanderson. Plaza and Sanderson is very well respected, um, audit firm in the state. Kensington actually uses a locally elected auditor, but they're actually putting in the budget this year to go to Plaza because the locally elected audit report is not nearly as robust as the Plaza consent report. >> Okay. also seems more independent. >> Yeah. >> Although I'm not an F. >> Yeah. And um the auditors are fantastic as a resident of the town. >> Yes. >> Well, thank you for that. Sure. >> Thanks, Molly. >> Um All right. Any other questions up until um legal services otherwise schoolboard expenses? What are those expenses? just >> I was just I was I was just logging in here to see what the notes. So, just taking a moment to log in. >> And then while Molly

105is doing that, the office of superintendent, that's what we were talking about before. It's our district assessment. >> I think the schoolboard expenses are like >> memberships to the >> membership. Yeah. So the school board on the ones that's a 501101 would be a salary, >> but the schoolboard expenses would be to your schoolboard association. >> Yeah. Got it. Which I will say are very helpful to to have. We have access to to folks to um >> sample policies policies and some legal guidance. >> Yes. >> Um okay. So any questions on school board or office of superintendent? Next one is the office of the principal services. It expands five to six. Page five to six. >> The salaries equity line. >> That's that's our equity chairs, right? >> Yep. >> Yes. >> Well, for

106the equity comm equity and belonging committee, >> each school has one or more representatives that are that receive that stipen to be on that committee. Got it. Thank you for being on the screen today. >> Well, it's not us, but [laughter] >> whoever is on. >> You're welcome. >> Whom? Yes, it is two two teachers here at >> um All right. Operation of maintenance and plant. That's just right. Sorry, I missed that. Um and then the next one is operations contract the salary for the maintenance or is it >> the collective bargaining agreement? >> They they're not unionized >> but it is a 501 as we've learned. So it is >> they're it's not a contracted service. They're our employees. >> It's a salary. >> Is that your question Mike? >> Yeah. um operation of

107plant building services. Are we still yet taking advantage of the excellent um rates with the oil? I know previously the person that we had here was um like locked in certain great rates. >> Yeah. Um I know you're talking about Rusty, right? >> Yeah. Brian's hand. >> Brian now has he is taking over Rusty and he's pretty involved in it. >> Cool. Um but it does look like I can bring down the um the sorry you won't get raises guys. Um [laughter] because uh the treasurer the name of the treasurer is the fourth person in here whereas we have a separate line for the treasurer so I can so he he got he snuck in on this line as well. >> So what about the clerk? The clerk the clerk is >> No clerk doubled

108up too or no? >> No no no the clerk needs to be there. It's just there's two lines for our our >> you double counted. the treasurer. >> Okay. So, it'll be 2200 on 2900. >> Uh, is Yeah, the 700. Yeah, we'll go back to the 2200. I just need to take that out. >> Okay, cool. >> Cuz his name appeared close. >> That makes the percentage go down to just four instead of 4.01. Probably not, but >> probably not. Not for >> uh Okay. >> $700. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Thank you, Molly, for catching that. Was there any question on the operation of plant building service? All right. Next one. 2630 care and upkeep of grounds. All right. Uh 2721 student transportation. Again, I'm forever impressed with the creative double run that we

109do here. >> Yeah, we try we try our best. We do have a new transportation coordinator this year, too, Sandy Row. So, she's bringing in some innovative ideas and >> working really hard. >> Yeah. Just in case and you're not aware that um our buses do the middle and high school first and then they circle back and do the elementary. So, the timing of when school starts and when school ends, we utilize what's called a double run, meaning they do the cooperative students first and then come back and do our younger kiddos. Um and then we do have a new contract with first student. This is actually the first year of that contract um that Dr. keyword that fal year 26 or 27 is the first year >> current year is the first year so

110it I believe it was in the spring of last year it is a it used to be what's called a 3 plus two three years locked in two years additional um and I would I would have to circle back to see what his new contract is but Dr. Diski worked with them because they had seen some significant rising costs on their side. Um and so they did reach new agreement in the spring and the first year is the year right now. >> Cool. Um all right. We have the special transportation service is >> special education transportation, right? >> Like specialized vans and >> Yes. So if I'm right, we didn't actually expend any last year, but it's important to keep in budget because it can be very expensive. >> Student moves in and like we

111were saying before, we don't have the trust funds to support that. >> Well, and students needs change too, you know. >> Totally. >> I guess the other question is, is that an adequate placeholder? >> I have no idea how much special education transportation cost >> in district. It's not it's not excessive. Um, I wouldn't say compared to if you were to have a student go to an out of district placement for special education, that's exorbitant. >> So that's reasonable. >> So I think this is reasonable. >> Mhm. >> Just just ask the question. Okay. >> Yeah, we've had that before and it's very >> like a shock. >> It's daunting. >> Yeah, I can imagine. >> It's very daunting. >> Um, but it is the special education fund isn't going to even touch that. >>

112And field trips. What a fun spot for it to be in. I guess transformation there. um $6,000. >> All right. Um and then the 2900 support services other insurance. >> And here's where we have that. Yeah. >> Secure one. >> Yep. Secular one. >> Yeah. So, this is the the health insurance. >> Yes. I can provide some additional clarification. I did speak with Heather Murray to get her um to get some more specifics from her. So with regards to I think there was a question around is the health insurance plan set like is it set for now and can we change the prov can we change the provider. So what she's saying is that we have we have yet to sign next year's agreement that usually happens in the spring. Um but we would need

113to go out for bid and negotiate with both associations. So that would be the you know association for for teachers and then the pair professional association um as to a new provider and the plans of those providers. Um one thing that's happening again part of this central office update is that um Dr. Andriski recently reached out to the association leadership across the SAU to um convene a meeting so that we can talk about how to better maximize the you know the excuse me better minimize really the cost for health insurance so that we can keep keep the rates more reasonable and just how to how we how can we better control that. Um, we're also in discussion about the possibility of working with a broker um to RFP or RFI insurance companies and thirdparty providers

114to see if we can get a better deal with similar levels of support that we've received already from Health Trust. Um, again, it's a process that that takes some time and we wouldn't want to rush that process. Um so we're going to gather some additional information this spring that will help us inform a decision regarding the budget process um in 2627 for fiscal year 28. Um in terms of you know the the plans decided for each district that's you know that happens through the negotiations through the um with the associations and the board the collective bargaining negotiations and then I had I posed to her the question around the timeline for that we use to decide the plans and the providers each year. Um so the plans andor the providers um eg health trust or

115anthem are written into each collective bargaining agreement. Um so changing plans or providers would occur either by opening negotiations outside of the current time frame or waiting until negotiation occurs normally. Um and you know new fields we have 15 people on our insurance. So going out alone and not within a group already within the SAU would really um eliminate the ability for us to be priced as a large large group and then we would lose the ability to spread our risk in an already volatile environment. >> So the question really is um you we get our health insurance as part of the through the SAU. >> Yes. >> Right. So you have all those AB5, AB10, all those different plans. There's six or eight plans. So currently the options for our staff are um an

116AB10 plan and an open access plan. Now other districts, I mean other schools systems in our district after they might have an AB15 plan or AOS plan or [clears throat] this or that. So our contracts are moved on that. They don't specify a specific plan, but the bargaining agreements uh some some school districts do in their SAU. So, do we have the ability to offer instead of the AB10 plan, the AB15 plan starting in July 26, for example? The reason I ask is >> um you know the annualized rate uh for the AB for our plan uh the total cost um is $47,54 family plan. >> Mhm. >> And that's >> significant. >> That's a lot. >> Y >> now the teachers are paying 20% of it for the pair professional the practices on the

117family plan. the so teachers taking $9,400 out of their paycheck >> to cover that. >> Um the school district's paying $37,600, you know, per year per employee on the family plan. So when the when the prices go go up as they have the teachers are having losing money out of their paycheck every year as well as you know and there's a substantial increase if if there there's the possibility for almost a win-win situation seems to me if you could move people and again I don't have access to the which they're on the open access plan or maybe >> uh 10 plan but the amount of dollars that the teacher would save if they're on the family plan, for example, might exceed the additional cost of the $5 more per co-ay or $5 more for the

118um office visit, you know. >> So, there's actually a possibility for a win-win where the school district could save, you know, $4,000 something with the teachers on family plan and the teacher might, you know, save a couple hundred dollars or something, a few hundred dollars potentially. So, so that's why I'm curious if you could switch from an AB10 plan to the AB15 plan which does something um you know for and since the health plan doesn't start at July 26 you know Molly is trying to send those to us. So there's an opportunity where the school district saves and potentially the teachers save or maybe >> you know that's that's the type of calculation I think it's important to look at. Jim, I think the question I would have is would that be a consideration that

119would change the budget or change the expenditure when we go to um because it sounds like there's a lot of potential choices to make, but we we can't I don't think I'm >> Well, I I think you have the potential to save 30 to $50,000 if you offer slightly different [clears throat] menu of health insurance plans for our current employees. I'm not talking about fighting just with the existing plans that are available in the in the SAU and for what it's worth I I spent a lot of time looking at this exit stratum and um the central office um both the exit co-op and the exit school teachers have the AB 15 plan deductible so the majority of the teachers in so we're we're paying basically the high new fields has the highest health insurance

120costs, most expensive plan uh out of all the SA districts. Now, I don't know how many of the teachers are on that plan or staff are on that plan or on the open access plan. The open access plan isn't all that much cheaper quite frankly. So, I think there's opportunity with plans that already exist for our district to save maybe could start saving as soon as next year's budget, >> certainly the year after. >> Right. No, I hear that. I think I I would want to sort of act on that suggestion and it sounds like that acting on that suggestion to inquire would be a conversation with Heather and not we we can't do anything tonight. >> But I think that's super important. Yeah. >> I'm just pointing out the fact that I I want

121say as a whole I think that you've done a great job preparing the budget model. I mean you know there's not a lot of increase there and what is increase is contraction. I don't really have any complaints on those. But one area that we tend to assume is not is sort of out of our control, but I don't think is >> is the health insurance. Yeah. >> Figure and and that that's one area that you know I mean >> Yeah. >> It sounds like Heather has heard that concern. >> That concern. Exactly. And she she was already concerned. We all have been concerned. And that's part of the re part of the reason for the meeting with the association leaders in January. And then what what were you going to add about that? >> No,

122I was going to say I walked in on the meeting where they were organizing that today because I because I know it's a concern. So I just know I haven't been part of it, but I just I walked in >> and during that was being organized today. >> Ellen, is there any role for a board member to be a part of that or was it truly make sense to you as a SU? >> This is SAU and union leadership for now. I think this is the first step and then I can certainly bring that to Chris and Heather who are organizing that to mention that in terms of like how is what other opportunities are there for involvement or whatnot but this is the first step >> because that way I Jim I would be

123happy to participate in that conversation from a board level if >> the healthare program part of the contract the actual terms of 10 or 815 or whatever >> I don't think I think the percentage contributions >> I do think it's part of the CVA I don't think the plan is in the >> I don't think the CV I don't Yeah, I think >> just the 80% >> correct. >> Yeah. Yeah. The percentages are not the plan but the percentages. >> If you change the menu which >> change the menu, right? >> It's a good point. It's a very good point. >> So I think you have the opportunity to to to save and I don't even know that necessarily the teachers and the staff would be >> impacted a lot >> much. They might they

124might even marginally benefit. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for doing all that research. That's helpful. Yeah. >> Yeah. So that that's the question I guess I'm really asking. I understand the school district and can't change whatever source whatever the right provider is. Health source. >> Health. Health trust. Yeah. >> But can our school district uh because it's not specified say instead of offering these two plans as we have, we're going to offer you the AB15 and the um open access plan. options starting the summer of next year. >> And then the teachers would actually pay less of their salary if they had to do a co-ay. That would be the tradeoff. >> Yeah. Right. Right. Because there's a huge increase. I mean, uh, from year to year, so when the premium has

125gone up, lots of teachers are losing money out of their paychecks. >> Sure. >> To pay for the >> for, you know, to save $5 on a office visit. Yeah. >> Great. >> I hear you. >> So there's opportunity there. Yeah. Okay. So I wonder So is the answer to that that we can as a school district do that or not? I know we're not going to decide tonight, but >> it sounds like we can and I have every intention to u pursue that act, but it sounds like I'm not yet invited to the table yet, which is okay. You have have the preliminary conversation about >> Yeah, I'll certainly bring it back to Heather and report out and what I the information that I find. >> So that's all I really wanted. expected decision.

126>> No, and that's >> I just want I'm glad to >> to raise it. No, I >> would raise it and I would raise it. You know, I mean, the joint board's a different situation. There's opportunity districtwide when you look at $47,000 a year for family plan. I mean, I that's that's well above that's well above uh you know, the average health family even family healthcare is playing cost for other people. >> Okay. All right. Um, that section does have other categories. So, is there any other uh questions or input on anything else in the support service other section? Food sera and then retirement [clears throat] that's below it. There's New Hampshire retirement. So, it is a function of salary. Those percentages are dictated like 7.65% of all salaries. And then retirement is 12.75 for

127employees, 19.23% for teachers. >> Okay. >> And that's anybody that works over 80%. >> Um, food service management. >> Food service management is your planned loss. So at the end of the day, the food service fund cannot be in a negative position. And if any students are um have unpaid balances, so even if the food service was in a positive position, any unpaid balances have to be covered by the general fund. >> Um next and last category is the food service management. >> And so we do we do treat Newfields like every other school district that has the federal funds where it's a separate food service fund. Y >> um and so all of the salaries relate to the people that work in the food service department. Um as well as all of the costs

128to offer the program. >> Perfect. I got the net, by the way. >> You did? >> Yeah. >> Uh okay, that was that was useful. I'm glad we did that. Thank you. Um budget advisory committee, do you have any other questions, thoughts? Would you be willing to recommend this as proposed >> with the $700 taken? >> Yes. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> I I wouldn't I I'll I'll say it. I wouldn't mind leaving something in there. I mean, the school board has the school board line item has not changed since I've been on the school board. Um, and we are doing way more than what we have done in the past. Um, between all the committees and all the stuff we're doing in general. Um, I wouldn't mind upping it a little bit, but I will

129also kind of it's not that much either, but still I wouldn't mind I wouldn't mind upping it just a smidge. Maybe not 700 because it is going to be divided between three, but I think we're doing a lot more. >> Um Brian, do you have any >> budget advisory committee? [laughter] >> I uh I accept the budget as is. You want to increase it by a couple hundred. Yeah, perfect. >> Well, we could also >> It's not It's not a reason to [laughter] >> Good to know. >> All right. >> Um and I did look at the um just as an aside, I did look at the teachers contract that was signed previously and the wording, this is just something to bring up for the um insurance. The wording says that health insurance provider to

130be determined by the association, which is the not it's the teachers association. It says association and the board >> and the board. So it has to be negotiated between the negot the association and the board um between the individual two person. Thank you for that clarification. No no no no >> but it is that adds a complexity on top of it. >> So we have to make sure that um it is in line with the undocumented the contract that's >> but it's not immutable I guess is >> yes 100% >> the realization that we all >> 100%. It's not as clear-cut as we would like, but it is something that we are I think as a board >> there may be options for the teachers be able to save. >> Yes. >> Several thousand a

131year,000. >> That's how it should be. >> Teachers contract is coming up for renewal I think next year. >> Perfect timing. >> So that might be really helpful. >> The contract. >> Yeah. The contract goes through Oh, this is 2024. Oh shoot, I brought the wrong one up. All right. >> Yeah, it'll be next year. >> All right. I am mindful of the time. It is 7:19. So, um, anything else? Budget advisory committee, are we? Um, I I heard Karen as a Yay. Yes. Yes. Okay. Beautiful. >> And I think the only thing is we just want a motion to take this to the public hearing, which will happen in >> January. And then um so if the board wants to make a formal, >> they agree with it. So when I print the warrants,

132it would say actually no, you do that after public hearing. I'm sorry. I'll make the motion to >> Right. Yeah. >> They need to make a They don't need to make a motion tonight. >> No. Well, they would just want to decide what to take to the public. >> What to take a public hearing, right? >> Make a motion to bring this uh budget to the public hearing. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Is that with the 700 in it or or so? As is >> as is tonight. Okay. >> Okay. >> And then after the public hearing, we'll get the as pending there's no changes after hearing what the public has to say. Then we'll get the recommendation of the school board and the budget committee. um at that point so it can be

133printed on the warrant. >> Perfect. >> Great. >> All righty. Thank you everybody. Thank you Molly. Thank you budget advisor committee. Um all right, Ellen, you were a champ and did your superintendent office updates like sprinkle throughout. I'm so sorry, but I want to give you the floor. >> That was it. [laughter] That was it. >> Thank you for being so >> It happened naturally. Okay. >> Um Susie. >> Yeah. >> Principles. So, um I I just want to highlight a few things that you saw in the presentation with our two fabulous students and um Mrs. Elward is that there's a lot of intentionality that is going on behind the scenes that the students alluded to. They may not know what is being structured behind um some of the decisions. For instance, we have um

134the majority of our classes are one per grade. And so the same 15 to 20 students have been with each other for consecutive years with no movement. And so what we're really spending time with is creating opportunities um for that type of movement inside the school structure. So, wake up wellness um they have opportunities to be with other students. The another another [clears throat] um added bonus to that is that that multi-ageed group benefits everyone involved. If you're having any struggles with friendships in your class, knowing that you have friends on either side in either grade helps. It also um subsequently helps teachers. they get to know all of the students and it's truly a we um instead of just my class. When you're seeing different students come in for Wake Up Wellness and getting

135to know them, that's an added bonus. Um Silent Lunch actually came off of the um birthed out of the reading quiet the book Quiet. >> Um she has a TED talk Susan Kaine and um we are going to um work this second semester. In the same way that we have offered opportunities for wake up wellness when they first come in the building, we also want to give those opportunities at recess. For instance, they would have a menu. So, they wouldn't necessarily have to go outdoors to do um a playground. they could um they could potentially do a quiet read in the library or um whatever choice. And that is allowing students an hour out of their day to make their own choice and how they want to rejuvenate and relax and refresh themselves. So, we're

136really excited about that. We're working with the NAA on using the snack shack um opening that up, cleaning it up so that we can have that as an art center during recess. um so that those students who want to be creative can go in and um do that. Just again trying to multiply all their opportunities for free choice and build relationships across grade levels. Um as far as the uh principles report, we had a phenomenal Veterans Day ceremony. It's one of my favorites of the year. Um we had a wonderful speaker that was highlighted and then I think the most uh beautiful moment was when I think we had um 28 veterans they lined the side of the multi-purpose room and each one of our students as they exited shook their each veteran's hand and

137said thank you. Um it was a really beautiful moment for both the veterans and for the students >> um to have that exchange. >> We had great student led conferences. I think we've struck a really nice balance with students having half of the time during that conference to really highlight what their grows and glows are but then also giving parents um face toface time with the teacher without the student. So, u both teachers and parents have um given us feedback that that's been positive. Uh we put a survey out just to get some feedback on some of our major areas and that that feedback was very strong. Um and we'll continue to do that. It um for each one of our um conferences just so that we can uh for for parents and families to

138have an opportunity to give us feedback. um on a pretty consistent basis. Those are the big highlights. >> That's great. Thank you. >> I am also very proud of this budget. We I really feel like we worked really hard at being um incred we try to be incredibly fiscally responsible. Um and what's important to note is how all of it is interconnected. When you have super quality high level [snorts] instruction which our teachers give that decreases the amount of support that students need um for extra which decreases our special education cost. It's it's so so um intertwined. So when we have strong professional development, that's that's a direct impact on our students and and all all those factors not going out of district because our teachers know how to um are better equipped for this

139student that is is um now our new type of student. That all that it it all comes together. And so I'm I'm really proud of the staff. Um, I'm thrilled with our special education team. They're incredibly strong. Um, and just the interconnectedness that the whole team has is really remarkable and and so this budget is a reflection of the hard work of the staff. >> Thank you. I could and we can tell there's a lot of hard work that put there. I also want to acknowledge and thank you for um leading your December board report with the safety committee update um that we're going to disseminate. I think you you send that to the parents. Um so that's a really helpful >> um thing to share and we could also um you know well I

140get we'll wait till we get to the >> to the safety committee update. Um beautiful. Any other questions for Susie? >> No. >> Beautiful. Thank you. Um okay. Next we have the board report and committee reports. Um policy. It looks like a lot. It's not a ton. Um >> I can make this short if you want. I only have one comment >> for which over the policies. >> Sure. Go ahead. [clears throat] >> Because everything else I'm fine with. >> Okay. And as long as you unless you guys want to have some discussion about it. >> No, that you are usually our policy. Uh >> Hulk's not the right. [laughter] Yeah. >> Like you know you have good eyes. >> Yeah. So I mean we can talk about the one that we have to revisit

141but the only one that I had questions about >> um was the crowdfunding one. >> Yes. Okay. So that is a new um policy and it was born out of I guess they were saying at every um audit every year it's brought up that we don't did you you share this so why should I talk >> Molly was the last >> you did a very good description of it so >> yes so when [laughter] comes every year they have um checklist of things they have to go through and one of the things they look at is do you have a crowdfunding policy and our answer is no and so by implementing the policy We are um hoping to satisfy the audit requirement. Um it it is we used the exact model policy recommended by the

142schoolboards association which was also reviewed by policy and Sanderson. Um to be honest, I have no intentions of crowdfunding at all. Um but in the event it happens, we need to have a policy. Jane, I will say the one thing that did come up was does this come at all in conflict with things like uh the boosters, right? That >> that was my exact question like how does this reflect any type of on property on school activity that the PTO does that >> um like other donations that might come to the school, not grants but like right >> you know maybe local community donations. How does this affect that type of >> Yeah. So, I asked our auditor that exact same question. >> Awesome. >> So, this is her answer. >> She has it ready.

143So, >> I love it. I love it. >> Hi, Molly. I think that draft policy looks great. As for your question about the booster of PTO organizations, you can certainly segregate these if you would like, but I think it may open up a loophole in determining exactly which organiz organizations you are referring to. I think the better approach is to ensure that any PTO or booster club clubs are not utilizing the school district logo and ensuring that they are clear that they are separate organizations. You could include wording in the policy that refers to such organizations that work to the school that that work with the school district to say that those organizations should ensure any campaigns they initiate are clear in their messaging of these not a school district campaign. I also think it

144might be a good idea to limit the websites that are available to be used, including those specifically in the policy if we wanted to, but again, we don't have any intentions of using it. Um, there's many options. >> So, to that, I I I I think the policy itself is good as long as we can maybe just communicate and I don't know who would be the communicator, but to the different groups that exist, NPTO, etc. to just abide by these things because we now have this policy >> like correct. It's a different logo. our logo or anything, >> right? >> But I guess it would be helpful if they had like a checklist of things to maintain that they continue to to do. >> Yeah. I mean, we are supposed to have like the crowdfunding

145request. I mean, and and and along those same lines, like what about like a fifth grade gift? Those types of things. If it exceeds that $2,500 threshold, are we now considering that a cap? No, no, no. You're just in you're just in my face is in my way. You're fine. >> Is that kind of Are we kind of mixing mediums there? you know, are we what I want to make sure we're doing is allowing the people that want to raise money or donate to the school school funds, school, not school funds, school programs, um or you know, the betterment of the school, whether it's going to be the gardening club because that might not be um a donation, but is it is time and it might be plants. That's that's expenditure. So, I'm kind of

146want to make sure that we're aligning for that in this and not excluding those organizations that are already doing so much for this building and these students. >> I will just point out, sorry, M just to preempt your answer. Um, this policy specifically says for the purposes of this policy, crowdfunding is it's defining it the practice of using online sites >> to solicit raising money. So, donations are completely separate and we have a separate policy covering >> Yep. I do remember donations and any donation over the amount of I think it's $5,000 um would have to be accepted [snorts] by the school board. >> Um it's a separate policy. >> Okay, good. That is kind of I wanted to make sure that that was clear because the way that I was reading this is to

147solicit donations on behalf of the school district. We're this is technically not on behalf of the school district dollar values, but I just want to make sure that it is >> Yeah. >> donation to school, not donation to school fund funding, >> right? The only thing that ever came close to crowdfunding that we did was um way back when CO first hit and it was just like oh my gosh like what is this? Like >> we and we wanted to make sure all all children had food. >> We um we from the bottom of our hearts were doing the right thing and trying to ensure all kids had food and we actually had um donations coming in to sustain the food pro food service program because it was a period of unknown certainty at that

148time. Um, and so we we had a lot of money come in in a very short period of time because everyone was so generous and that was the only time ever that we did a crowdfunding situation. >> Okay. Um, and the last thing that I had I think um is under M does not request food or beverage items inconsistent with the district wellness policy JLCF. We have that at New Fields. I don't know if we have a JCLF and I didn't look. I should just >> we have a boneless policy. >> I know we have a policy. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I just want to make sure cuz I was just I didn't do my due diligence >> big initiative like two years ago. Everybody has several. >> Yeah. >> Um Okay. So, >> yeah,

149that's [laughter] those are my questions. Thank you. The only question I would add is are there items in the schools that have been crowdfunded in the past that may belong to somebody else? So like donor's choose or adopt a classroom or something where an individual teacher may have solicited iPads or something else >> funding >> and that when they leave. So sometimes that's problematic with schools is that if a classroom has donated a bunch of stuff to donor shoes >> and then all of a sudden the teacher leaves they take the rug and the the seats out of the classroom or something like that. So, it's just that's the only confusion that I've seen from crowdfunding versus donor's shoes versus donations is the lines of who does it belong to if it was donated to

150the school. >> I'm not aware of anything. >> Susie echoed the same thing. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Good. >> Um I we can go through all the other policies if you want. We have the brief there. Was there any questions that folks had on the brief? You know, I think the only one other one I had was IMDba, which was high school credit, which that's added even though it's not that's for the for so that we're not adopting that anyway. >> Okay. So, to that end, um I am going to recommend make the motion that I'm going to hold off on the one we're revisiting from last meeting. um that we adopt BH, DFG AA, DJ, DJ E, DJF, DKC, IHCA, IKFG, and IMBA. >> All in favor? >> I Okay, perfect. >> Wait.

151Um, >> not >> so I'm not doing the uh first one the I'm holding off on ADC for a second. >> Yeah, hang on a second. I just want to make sure. >> And then just to just to um clarify, we voted on all those. Um, some of those were revised, others we were just reviewing there changes. >> Um, as far as ADC from last month, it was the tobacco products ban. Uh, there was a question, Jane, that you raised. I thought it was a fair one about the school bus. Um, I sent it to Ellen and um, >> Alison. >> Thank you, Allison. And her response uh was the school bus is considered a school vehicle >> because it is quote purchased, leased, or rented by the school district from her her lens. >>

152Okay. >> Um, she said we could certainly reference policy EA if we wanted to. um but it's not necessarily but as far as um and then she offered to uh craft additional um language but then we didn't do that >> cuz from her perspective it was inclusive. >> Okay. As long as we clarify that that's fine. >> Yeah. Okay. So, um I'll make a motion to accept uh ADC tobacco products ban. Do you have a second? >> Yep. >> All in favor? Okay. The last policy, we're just withdrawing the uh IKFA. It's an early graduation policy that actually isn't too relevant to us, but it um is absorbed into other um changes of the policy that we just voted on. So, uh make a motion to withdraw IKFA. Do you have a second? >> Yeah.

153>> All in favor? >> I perfect. All righty. Safety and security. >> Okay. >> That's not really a sigh. Okay. Um, so there's been a bunch of changes and >> just a reminder as my understanding of the safety and security we have to be sort of um anything super detailed. >> Oh, no, no, that we did that hasn't met. >> Okay, good. >> Never mind. I was going on to this. >> Oh, the school safety. Oh, well, can we I'm going to wait. So, safety and security has not met. >> Has not met. >> Okay. Superintendent Evaluation Committee. >> Not until January. >> Okay. Strategic plan committee. We met this week and um at the joint board meeting in January, we'll be doing a larger presentation on all the KPIs and um kind of getting

154the joint board's um input and interpretation of all of the kind of work that we've been doing. So TBD >> Okay, perfect. Sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off. All right. So now the NES school safety committee. >> Was there something that you >> No, I was just speaking to Molly about oftentimes the board excuses her, but I said I told her it would be helpful if she stayed >> for the financial. Is that okay? Thank you. >> Yeah. >> We can take a breather if you want. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> All right. So, there's a couple of updates and things are moving um super fast, but um I will share with you uh one, two, a couple of the things that have um three. Yeah, I've printed out enough. >> Okay, >>

155that's for you. >> And you guys have already seen this, but you haven't seen this, right? >> So, I'll do that. >> These are the latest versions. I did include a version of this in the school packet, but thank you, Jane. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, this is a couple of things, too. The first big thing to update you on is the bond amount. Um because there was a um by me in this interpretation of the quote that we got, not the quote, the estimate that we got from um Barasa. The estimate for this project currently is between 388,000 and 466,000. So I would absolutely recommend that we look at a bond that is $500,000 or no not to exceed $500,000. >> Okay. >> Um what we're looking at for the concept itself um there's kind

156of a couple of things to talk about. one is um the direction of flow. Um Mike was absolutely has been amazing and a lot of the committee members have been just kicking it talking to a number of um community members and they will continue to do so um through December between now and our January meeting. and some of that feedback this plan might change a little bit >> um depending upon feasibility discussions with DOT things along those lines. So this might not be the actual super super final but I don't currently expect that the number will exceed $500,000. >> Love it. Um but currently um the flow is from the firehouse around the back of the building and then it will exit on the far side of >> Piscassic. >> Um the current driveway that

157is along the side of the building will be um will have ballards or some kind of way you cannot get over there and that will be a walkway. And then the existing front of the building will be um a walkway and or more green spa and green space there. Um there will be a ramp um from the Piscassic Road. Um the crosswalk will be moved over a significant amount. There will be what we've included is the lights for crossing lights on other side of the road. >> And then the stairs that are there currently will be removed. The um there will be a dirt lot that will be leveled. Um not paved but leveled. It'll be a gravel lot on the side of the building. >> So I just um gravel, not dirt. >> Uh

158it'll be gravel. >> Yeah. >> But it'll be gravel. Um they will not be like striped spots. Um and it will likely not be um p uh you know snowplowed in the winter time. That's not going to be a year round um opportunity. That will most likely be during fair weather. Um but we will have parking for um disabled people up at the top of the building here and then in the back. And this um the ramp currently that's in the back of the building will just be freshened up and kind of made nicer. >> Um there will be more spots along the back of the building >> as you see. There's going to be more spots kind of along the very um NYA side of the building. >> Um and um what we're looking

159at now is >> um having two-way entrance from uh the far side of Piscic, so towards the west side. um up into get into the gravel lot to allow people to get in and out. Um and again, depending upon Mike's been having some great conversations with Chief Young, um things along those lines, this may change a little bit um depending upon access, what we can do, what's feasible, um getting access to this parking lot, which is the only um parking lot that we have versus parking spaces in the back. So, um that's kind of what we've looked at. And then that second handout you have is really similar to um actually that is what Mike Palavi, Beth, uh Lieberman, all of our even um like Karen, all of the committee members have been um using

160and Palavi created that. I had nothing to do with it to be able to really understand why we're doing this, >> the risks that we're taking currently with um the students walking and the students crossing traffic and our proposed solutions. So, this is more going to be public facing something for people to be able to ingest and understand why we're doing this and the importance of it. >> Yeah, I think it's great. So things are still moving but as a board um there might be some small changes to the concept dependent upon some feedback from chiefs and things along those lines but that shouldn't impact the dollar value we go to um the bond with. >> That's great. >> Any I know you got this is this is our team part of the team. So,

161do you guys want to add anything that I have not? >> No, I think that's that's completed. I do expect to get with Brian tomorrow and then >> Great. >> Perfect. >> Yeah. >> I think we're trying to get planning and select >> select board meetings. Yeah. >> Probably John Hayden too individually >> just to get this view. So yeah, the lobby deserves a lot of credit for consolidating all our thoughts and >> making the case in a nice small document. >> No, I agree. >> She did. >> We did we did have a meeting with the dear trees homeowners association last night and she offered that to the group. >> Oh, great. Real positive reception >> especially among the parents students who were very much recognized [clears throat] challenges and like the the rough

162out of the solutions. That was a good early indicator. >> That's brilliant. >> So, the the plan between now and January is when we meet next. We don't meet as a uh committee again in December is for everybody's kind of been assigned >> communication >> who they're going to be talking to. Um uh and then to get those communications done kind of talking as a group. has been very vocal about what they're hearing back. Um any type of um small changes that we can make and then um and when we come back and potentially convene in January, maybe before then, but definitely in January, we'll be able to say, "Okay, we have a really good um plan. We've talked to these people. We've had buyin. We've had feedback." and then we can be able to

163um do some you know larger um community type things. So they've been they've been really doing so much groundwork being able to talk to all the different community members as well as Susie talking to the um you know parents things along those lines. Um the group has just been um beyond expectations. >> Yeah. I I I can't thank you all enough. I think this is exactly what needed to happen. I also would just put a plug if you haven't um if you're out there, if you haven't seen them, these are all posted. So, I actually I make a point to watch the videos afterwards because they're very I appreciate the update, but it's I I love being able to to see and hear the the dialogue. Um, one other thing that I just wanted to

164share on the school safety pa web web page is a copy of the PDF of the pre PowerPoint that I had given >> way back in I think it was February or Mar forget when it was mid March, April. Yeah. After the vote >> after the original vote um just for more historical context of previous but um in that PowerPoint are um photos and there's actually videos on there. It doesn't look like they're videos, but if you click on it, I had linked them so that they actually play. >> Yeah. >> Um, so if you're wanting to see I think there was some ask of, do we have any video of what it looks like when there's lots of cars? And there are some. >> Yeah. >> And there is um, you know, Palab's been

165really good about kind of putting that case together, seeing it. Um, and even the a lot of people who were on the committee had never seen the impact of, you know, school drop off, school pickup, the kids coming into school, and then all of a sudden eyes were open. Oh, this does need to be fixed. >> Yeah. >> Um, you know, and obviously we have people in the community coming to meetings and saying, "Hey, this does need to be done and we needs to be done now." So, I I do want to make sure that we have a good plan to put forward for um that March vote. >> Cool. And these guys are doing a great job. Um, >> awesome. Do we need to amend or adjust? I know we had voted at one

166point the bond like a recommendation to of the dollar amount. >> I think when we get to the bond part, >> we can adjust the number, right? Because it's until we get to the bond itself, it's somewhat moot, but we now know what it's going to be under, you know, half a million. I guess my question would be I know you communicate with the bond people a lot but knowing that the number is not going to be as high as it was >> at some point if we can get those numbers >> for another bond schedule. >> Thank [laughter] you. >> I'm sorry you have to keep doing that. >> Now we have a number. >> So I know I heard 500,000. >> Yep. >> Is that the number we want? >> That's pretty much

167the number. >> Okay. And do we want it for like a 3, five, seven, 10 year? >> I think what I heard was longer. 57 impact rate if we did 10 year that looked like the best option >> and what Mike had put together and I don't didn't print this off was he just done some Excel magic >> love it >> and um dependent upon what the town tax base makes valuation was the bond payment and you know assuming a 4.5% bond payment percentage, what would be your tax expense? So, um, you know, this is over a 10-year term. So, it's all malleable, but it's a really nice way for when we get to that conversation to say this is this is this is what you're going to this is how it's going to impact

168you. >> Yeah. >> So, thank you, Mike, for doing that. That was really very very useful. >> Um, and I can share this with you if you'd like. It's just kind of wonderful Excel file which is great >> I think. Yeah, having this is great. I know this is going to be changing but if we can ever get digital versions so I can sort of look a little bit more closely. >> Um >> if you're going to update them maybe >> it's going to be updated again and what I what I'm what I'm >> want to get is >> versions out there that aren't >> Well, there are is going to be a version. This version is already out here. >> Y >> but it's >> it's generic cartoon. It's generic and it's and it's

169meant to be, which is good. >> I'm hesitant about this because I have a sneaking suspicion this is still going to have a few more updates. >> Um, and in regards to the set plan, this needs to be final before we can get to the set plan. So, we're still a little bit, you know, further away from that. But, um, I'm okay with kind of this until it might flip around for a moment. But, um, it's [clears throat] this is a really good conversation point because regardless of what happens, we're going to be in a horseshoe pattern. >> Yeah. >> Um, not a we're going to be in a large horseshoe, not a very vshaped horseshoe. That sounds ridiculous, but >> I got it. >> I just asked the bonding for schedules for a $500,000

170bond for 7, 10, and 12 years. >> Perfect. I thought you were going to say she got back to us. I was like, "Wow, she's >> do five." Seven. >> Yes. >> Great. I I'd rather not do five, but I'd rather see what five is >> because it is it is a lesser number. Now, >> I don't have any other questions, Brian. >> No, I just want to say thank you to Jane is I think understanding that school is the hub of the community and people come here for sports and for everything after school. this is a a community issue and so any neighbors or anybody that's uh you know interested one of the best parts about our town is that is that the school is the focus and you get to the library and

171the store and everything from here >> and so um you know my encouragement would be to make sure your neighbors know about this and make sure folks know that this is good for everybody and that main street is a really cool thing and it's really nice to see that we're protecting the safety of the people walking too. Yeah, >> thank you to Jane and everybody. >> It's really in the committee. It is. I'm only a very small cog. Usually when I walk in with an agenda, it gets blown up and it turns out to be better. So that's that's great. It's um it's uh it the community that's coming together for this is really um I'll I'll I'll throw that to them. It's a great great way to >> and a very hardworking group. Yeah,

172>> very hardworking group. And you see the outcome of that when you see students presenting and and this parking lot will be full when they have their talent showcases. And so thanks to Susie and everybody for >> keeping the kids. >> Anything else to add, Susie or Ellen? >> Committee members. All right. Beautiful. Moving right along. Thank you um Jane. So old business. I think we had impact fees, but we we addressed that, right? >> Yep. I think we're good. >> There's nothing else we need to do on that. Beautiful. Um, >> we made the motion. Yes, when we made the motion. [snorts] >> Yeah, we made the motion. >> Um, and then the other old business item was LED lights, which we have some updates on, which has some financial implications, but I think

173>> we don't have to. Well, the So, what we had originally thought was that the to get LED lighting here would be approximately $40,000 was the number that we received last year. Um, and then and we were told that there would be the rebate. So, we were looking into, you know, when does the rebate expire, when does the work need to be completed, and what is the dollar amount for both the project and the rebate? Um, what we've learned just as of today is that the project cost is $94,69. >> I'm sorry, what? >> Yes. Well, holy wow. But >> and then with the re the rebate would be $16,364 and that leaves the total project cost after the rebate at $78,245. So um >> So thank you for getting that um Ellen. It was

174it's very important data that we were looking for in terms of what these numbers are. This was sort of our intention to have this done so that we could take advantage of the um rebates because as Ellen said the it is essentially 16 grand less than it would otherwise be. That being said um you had spoken to our >> Yeah, I spoke to Brian Sans at length. That's our new facilities director who has a significant amount of experience in this area. you know, so he's been informed as to all the goings on facilities related for New Fields Elementary School, including the school, the pending school safety project, including um the um I can't Oh, the capital capital improvement assessment um that he knew was also going to be discussed today. You know, some additional numbers

175that he gave me are that we'd be looking at saving $4,15 per year. um and it would take us 19 years to get to the return on our investment. 19 years for this project. He also believes that this is coming in high and that our you know what we would that this would necess right and this so the the cautious plan would be to and because of the dollar amount for this too. I would not be recommending that we make an exception to the policy as you know we are for the use of the impact fees the policy requiring three bids that we would need to go out to bid for this and so that we could compare the different numbers from different companies. Um that being said, you know, as we talked it all

176through, um one of the, you know, the the recommendation that he gave and that I am in agreement with is that we put this on on hold until we have the completed capital improvement assessment report. So that because the you know what I think what initiated this um work with regards to the LED lighting was energy savings and wanting to to be energy conscious and certainly this is even after the rebate it's almost double what we had anticipated. So that would be my recommendation is to pause while we gather more comprehensive information that and I and we still have time. So, I think we have until July 1st, 2026 per Eversource. >> That was the other thing I wanted to raise because it was unclear when to me when the rebate was going to expire

177and also what the rebate was going to be. Right? Those are the two questions that to me if it was $100,000 rebate then we'd be netting positive like duh, let's do it. But, um, it's not that obviously. So, um, and then it goes till July. So, that's the other piece. Um so we'll have I think maybe if we can steer the um capital improvement person or steer them but inform them that this is something that we were considering. Is there any you know value or recommendations that you have um absolutely to do it and then I guess >> this particular bid or not even a bid but this estimate that we have that incorporates the ever source >> is it it's saying that this set of numbers is good until July 1st but is it

178is it's still not clear to me is it true that we there are no more rebates after July 1st >> that that's a question we did not Right. Um, we we were very focused on this rebate. So, I'm not clear as to whether or not there are any other rebates potentially out there. So, I can ask that question. I can >> we can certainly look into that uh through Eversource, >> but I do appreciate that we don't the deadline isn't the end of this year. That was what I wanted to make sure we had. I wanted to make sure we act. So, I think it's fine to to wait. >> Okay. >> Um, but I do want to hear what you guys think. >> Um, go ahead. LED lights are my biggest pet peeve. And

179so my um my my preference would be as looking at the um capital improvement plan. They look at natural lighting and if there's more efficiency and bringing in bigger windows and and energy efficiency and in natural lighting that doesn't have a recurring cost. And so I wonder it would be would we find that there's way more benefit for natural lighting and improving our environment versus electronic lights. That's a fair state. And the other the other question to that point, Brian, is >> you know, this assumes every single light in the entire campus, I think, is replaced. That's what it looks like. >> Yeah, >> that's like sort of the extreme. You know, I know that the town did all the, you know, this I don't like art. Sorry. But, you know, personally, I don't love

180the aesthetic of the um LED uh external street lamps, but they are saving our town a lot of money. So that I think it was a a fiscally wise move for the town to do that for us. And I agree with you, Brian, that personally I don't know if I would love, you know, LED lights in every classroom necessarily if there's other ways of doing it, but perhaps exterior lights or whatever. Um >> I mean it one of the things and I I agree um to put a hold on this but I mean one of the things that is also a consideration is like we could put in a whole solar array and that's going to be a better return and a faster return than you know LED lighting. >> So I mean if we're

181even thinking about spending 78k forget about the 90 78k put a solar array on the roof and that's going to probably you know bring us way more returns than this. And I mean I think >> that yeah that'll come out of the out of the capital improvement assessment perhaps right how how of course we want we want to ask the question how can we be more energy efficient >> right well thank you for getting that information I know that was um hard to get because you had to talk to a lot of people right it's not just ever source it was >> there were there were there were delays that were out of our hands [laughter] >> um do you guys have any thoughts on that just because I know you've been part of this

182conversation >> no I'm kind of I'm disappointed ointed that it was kind of out of scope and we can't move forward with it as we had expected. >> But I can't Yeah, that's this is >> the source of the $40,000 estimate the same source who now came back with 94,000. >> No, >> it's a good question. >> Okay, >> not to my knowledge, but that >> um beautiful well I guess what can I just raise one more? So, we do we had budgeted $40,000 for this, right? >> So, >> um just just want to note that. >> Yeah. >> So, that's $40,000. Um >> that's also $40,000 when we can put into a you know a maintenance fund or not even maintenance fun. >> Oh, I'm not complaining. I'm just I just want to make

183that point. So if there's other >> that's going to be a savings >> in the budget line, you know, >> and you did deplete your is the capital reserve maintenance fund. >> the maintenance fund is currently at 38. >> Yeah, but it went it it was lower in years past. It has been lower in years past but the trust fund goal is 150 whereas you know but we haven't met special education >> safety and security is fully funded and we like out of the four trust funds only one has has hit its trust fund goal. >> Yeah. So when we get to the those um >> fill in the blank uh articles >> the war articles [laughter] that that's and that's done next month. >> Yep. >> Correct. Yes. >> All right. Before we know

184it. >> Yep. >> All right. Um, can I just add that to piggy back on what Brian said, if you walked around the building on any given day, >> the majority of our classrooms usually, if not there, don't use lighting. They only use natural lighting or they flip only one set of lights on. There's all kinds of research about overhead lighting for students. And so I the faculty is very serious about natural lighting and and implement it very regularly. Thank you. That's good enough. Sure. I appreciate that. With >> question about about that funding source that would that in in building maintenance, is it labeled for LED light project or is that something? >> No. >> You know, I it's notated. >> That was my point, Brian. >> Yeah. Well, and so yeah, one of

185the questions that I've had a lot is the is the front wood part of the wood and all that. And, you know, wonder if there are ways to improve the front aesthetic. um a historical line to be >> yeah it was just appropriated on a maintenance line. It was not specifically called out for any sort of specifically for LED. Um >> yeah that what you're speaking to Brian was specifically allocated in the f in the plan that Rusty Listister did give us and that was part of what we took into consideration when de developing the budget for this current fiscal year. Certainly that exterior paint piece. >> Yeah. So, good news. >> Awesome. >> All righty. Um, I know that we are going into nonpublic, right? Yes. >> So, I don't want to forget that.

186Um, >> before we do that, uh, do we want to talk about the January meeting? >> Yes, please. >> Yes. >> You think while I can head out? >> Yeah. >> Thank you so much. >> January. [laughter] My kids are going to love it. They like We saw our first Celtics game uh like a pregame, not pregame, preseason thing. It was so much fun. Big one. >> Neat. >> See you guys. >> Thanks. Bye. >> Okay. >> Good night, Molly. Thank you. >> What's our current meeting date for J? >> January 8th. >> I saw five. >> Okay. So that I want to can I should I call you back? >> Thank you both very much for all of your time and effort with all of our >> various committees, right? [laughter] >> But really

187it's it's engaged folks that >> keep this going. So thank you. >> Yeah, we appreciate you especially late into the night in this dark cold [clears throat] dark cold month. >> I know. [laughter] So yes, our current meeting date is January 8th and according to the statute, it has to be um the last day to have a bond hearing is January 20th. Um it has to be um no more than 60 days out or 60 yeah 60 days from the town voting day which is March 10th. So that put us at 61 days. So if we move it out a week, that would be the safest bet to January 15th. So that would reduce us down to 61 minus 7 puts us at 50. Why can't I do math right now? 54 >> in the

18850s. >> 54 54 days if we did January 15th for And that would be >> Thank you for catching that. That would do a little math. >> Sorry to interrupt. That would need to be a bond hearing. Mhm. >> Right. >> A public hearing on the budget. and a board board meeting. >> So, all three of them have to be at the same day. >> Yeah. And the >> I mean, they don't have to be, but I just think it's especially for all these folks that we have been very that have been coming. I think that would be thoughtful. >> 5:30, 96. >> Yeah, we hang in there. I'm going to throw a wrench in this because there's no way I can do the 15th. >> Um, I've got orthodontist appointments, all things, all things

189that can't be moved. Um, and if it's a bond hearing, I'm assuming you want me there. >> Yeah, we would like you for everything. >> Yeah. [laughter] Um, >> what about anything else that we >> I can do everything else that way? I cannot do Thursday, but I can do Friday, I can do Wednesday, I can make any other day work. >> So, on your point, you obviously if we could trying to keep it on the same day. >> Yeah, that was for in order to allow people some predictability with our schedule. >> Yeah. >> The 22nd. >> I am away. >> The 20th is the last day you can possibly have it. >> Yeah. those like annoying windows, >> right? We could >> let me check. >> Yeah. >> So, we're talking the 13th

190or 14th. >> Yep. >> So, Tuesday or Wednesday? >> Tuesday or Wednesday. Fine. >> And this is January. >> January. Yeah. >> Okay. Um >> I >> Go ahead. >> The co-op board meets on Tuesdays typically, and I would I would hate for folks [snorts] who wanted to go to that to not be able to because of this. So, I think Wednesday would be the safest bet. >> Yeah, I could do Wednesday. I'm assuming it would be regular schoolboard time. >> Yeah, I think you guys could pick the time. If given the uh plethora of meetings in one night, we could move it. You could go earlier 5 5:30. You could do 5:30 again, >> which I think got a meeting that goes until 3 and there's usually some follow. >> Yeah. So, >> on

191the 14th I could do 5:30. Um, if that works for everybody otherwise the 12th >> I'll put it in 5:30 this time. >> Um, [clears throat] if I can be a a nudge and >> or 5:30 is a struggle because I got to get like usually a lot of my meetings run late. Um, six would be preferable if we can manage that. That would be appreciated. I'll >> put my only thought Jane I I actually it would be easier actually for me too. Um, but my only thought is if we're doing all three of them, I just want to be conscious. I could be like super efficient and um try to really stick people to agenda, but I just don't want us to be going to like 11:00 at night. Right. So, we have and

192not that we will, but we have, you said the the the bond hearing, the budget hearing, >> public hearing on the budget, right? And then >> in the school board meeting. Yeah. >> And the school board meeting. Maybe we can aim to have a light board meeting agenda that day. >> Yeah. Like no policies. [laughter] >> Actually, it's so funny. If we were going to have it on the Thursday, I was going to miss the policy meeting for that month, >> but now it's after it's after the >> That's true. That's true. It's the next one. >> I I [laughter] 5:30 is hard only because it's there's a lot the 6:00 would be good. >> And we can keep the meeting light. Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you for catching that, Alan.

193important. >> Okay. Change to six and clean. >> Oh jeez, this is a huge. Okay. >> Say for this event, >> we will plan also to have legal counsel. >> Yes. At that meeting that would be really amazing. >> Typically they're at the deliberative but this given the complexities here I think it's prudent to have legal counsel for the public hearing as well. So we will plan on that. And yes, >> I will say I do remember us having the bond hearing last this earlier this year and it it was >> we didn't have legal counsel and it wasn't you know we were fine but if it's if you can arrange that would be great >> with this one >> having them for the deliberative is very >> we'll definitely get the deliberative I think

194it's prudent to have them at >> yeah if you can get we can swing it >> I would agree. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Um so Let's do nonpublic under uh RSA. So I make a motion under 91A 31 I I section A um to go into non-public. Do I have a second? >> Let's do a roll call. Bobby A. Yay. >> I Okay. And that is Jane and Brian. Okay. Thank you. That is at 809. All righty. Um, I would like to make a motion at 8:18 to get out of non-public. Um, let's do a roll call. Um, Bobby I, Bobby Kelly, I >> Jane, I >> Okay, perfect. Um, and anything else to add or motion to? Not. All right. Motion to adjurnn at 8:18. >> Thank you. Thank you

195very much.