001Okay. Mrs. advised the general public that in compliance with the open public meetings act. The little a harbor board of education meeting was advertised in Asbury Park Press, Atlantic City Press, and posted at the office of the board of education located at 307 Road, Little Lake Harbor, New Jersey, and posted at the office of the municipal municipal clerk of Little Harbor. Can I have the roll call, please? Mr. Sakone present. Mr. Fangello here. Miss Lawrence here. Mr. Lee, Dr. Snder here. Miss Martin here. Miss Ber here. Go. Okay. Can we please stand for the pledge of allegiance? [Music] of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [Music] Okay. Approval of the agenda. Um before we do that, I want to make
002a motion to um move the public comment of the agenda to the end of the agenda. [Music] I'm sorry. Before board forum, of course. I don't know if you made a motion. Second. Second. Any questions? Good. On that, do we need to take a vote or is that okay? You just move. Was there a vote? No. Sorry. All in favor? I I Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion passes. Okay. Um I recommend a motion to approve the agenda. Can I have a motion? Second. Second. Any questions? [Music] All in favor? I. All in favor? I I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion carries. Okay, moving into the agenda. Um, I'd like to recommend a motion to approve finance items A and B. Can I have a motion? Motion. Second. Are there any questions? [Music] Okay.
003Hearing none. Roll call, please. Mr. Sigone, sorry. Approve motions and [Music] Mr. Fichella. Yes. Miss Lawrence, yes. Dr. Snder, yes. Miss Martin. Yes. Miss Ber, a no. The motion carries. Okay. Now against public comment. Okay. Um the floor is now open to members of the public. The board of education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues. The board requests that each statement made by a participant is limited to three minutes as cited in policy number 0167. There is a sign-in sheet located at the podium. So, please sign it before you speak. [Music] Hello Jack, the little lake Harper Association. Um, we just had a question more for clarification. And I know um it says on here our district is now eligible to increase the expenditures by up to 11,965,913 qualify for the tax
004levy [Music] incentiv,6 569,85 and we were requesting to increase expenditures by 3 million and qualify for the tax levby incentiv. I was just wondering kind of what the tax levy incentive aid and why we didn't go to the full amount or what that means by going to the full amount. So those were just the questions. Um obviously it's great you see the total went up with expenditures um 32,95. Um I just know last year it was about 35 million on the end of our budget that we had when we finalized it last year. So I was just kind of wondering um what this tax levy incentive was. Was that the max amount um we could have gone? Did we go a little bit less? Is that how I'm reading it? Thank you. [Music] He's going
005to address it after a couple. [Music] Good evening. My name is Aaron Sabinara. I live at 156. I've listened to meetings, written to legislators, shared and read, and now I'm here to speak as a mom of three children in this district. Last week, my fifth grader woke up so excited to go to school because he would be doing a steam project with his peer buddy, a student in a special education self-contained home room. Not only did this lesson incorporate science and creativity, but I guarantee my son learned more important life lessons that day about being a good person. My second grader was able to write, illustrate, and publish a book with other STEP program students, and he is so proud of their beautiful result. My kindergartner came home full of excitement that he was able
006to check out a book out of the school library this week. He has also been fortunate enough to be placed in a class of 22 that has the support of a special education teacher for part of the day. I know his success is in due in part to having a more average class size and the guidance of two teachers. I hope most of them know this, but I truly appreciate and respect so many of the staff in this district from Paris to principles to child study team and all those in between, but especially my children's teachers past and present. They are hardworking, creative, compassionate, and enthusiastic about their jobs regardless of their tenure status. This extends to the specialist teachers as well. I've seen my children learn to problem solve, use critical thinking, and express
007their creativity and strength through art, music, steam, and PE. As you know, the arts and sciences are part of culture, including history, literature, media, and communication, making them an essential part in helping us raise great thinkers, creators, and innovators. For some kids, these classes are simply the highlight of their day and possibly of their educational career. Elementary education without these creative components that help shape a whole child would be detrimental. I can't imagine the challenging decisions you are facing, but I would like a better understanding. I hope increased transparency within our community will help us all better comprehend what our schools will look like with the rumored significant losses to staff and increased class sizes. I can't imagine losing so many of the caring ski staff in these buildings. I can't imagine the burden of
008a split session schedule on teachers and families. I don't want to have to imagine a day where my children aren't excited to come to school. To have to imagine that my oldest son doesn't have the opportunity to anchor the morning news or play the drums anymore. Where my middle son isn't able to feel the pride of seeing his artwork on display at an art show, or where my youngest son is lost in an overcrowded classroom that may be out of compliance. As a parent, there is nothing more important than for my children to be safe, cared for, challenged, and supported at school. I'm asking you to please help ensure that continues, which includes preserving what they love about school and the jobs of those who work closest with our students. Thank you. [Applause] Would anyone
009else like to speak? [Music] Hi, it's me again and I still have questions. Um, last week I asked and I said I wish public comment Elizabeth Basetti, teacher at Fbon Elementary School. Sorry. Last week I wish that public comment was at the end after you shared, you know, the changes and tonight we got moved to the end and yet there was still no sharing. Um, so I'm curious about a lot of things. Um, number one, are the rules and policy different for a special board meeting rather than a regular board meeting? Um, because I thought that there was public comment at the beginning and the end. Um the old presentation is still active on the website and it's full of no longer relevant information um and giving a different perspective to the community every time
010they log on. So will that when will that come down since it's not relevant? Um, and will there be a new presentation explaining the new numbers? Our expenditures went up from 27 million to 30 million on tonight's agenda. [Music] And there was a change of $3 in special revenues. That's where that came from. Um, and are we still planning to go with all the cuts that were proposed before since we're we have all of these expenditures? Are we still in the dire crisis we were? Are you know are we still talking about all those things? Um, and one thing I wanted to point out was, um, our association has done the math. And if you take out our preschool salaries, which are, if I'm bunded in a different line item, um, than the regular budget,
011the cost of our salaries is actually a decrease of over $250,000 with the 250 with the retirees. So if we're being c even though we're getting an increase, we're still costing less. So with the retirees, so the initial um presentation had said that, you know, our salaries were part of a part of the big problem, but if we're going down, I don't see why that's part of the big problem. So again, I just have a million questions about, you know, where the numbers come from and what's going to happen with the numbers and what's being planned with the numbers. And I hope you explain to us. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Good evening everybody. Rick Meler from the Santa Paper. Mr. Green, I hope that um somewhere tonight you're going to explain not just the
012total increase in the budget but the and the taxes but the percentage of the increase and also um last time you u gave three examples. The average home uh out of 100,000 more and 100,000 again how much they would actually see their taxes increase. So hopefully that can be explained tonight. And the other thing is I keep hearing layoffs, layoffs, layoffs. Uh one teacher at the last meeting suggested 30. Can you tell us sometime tonight members of the board how many layoffs are actually going to happen? [Applause] [Music] I don't want it to roll off. [Music] Good evening. [Music] Okay, I have to do this. I don't need this. Thank you. Hi, good evening. My name is Nette Cummings, 185 Parkertown Drive, sixth grade test teacher and resource room teacher. I actually don't have a
013question, but as you all know, we've been diving into the budget and having meetings and things like that. So, I guess I just have a concern. I was looking at the um fiscal year that ended June 30th, 2023 and the fiscal year financial report that's on the websites um ended 2024. In uh the first 9 to 12 pages, there is a Little Lake Harbor Board of Education scatteragramgram diagram. It is very old. It has assistant superintendent, um, supervisors, special services, supervisor of curriculum, center of director, data specialists, maintenance supervisors, assistant business administrator on the last two years. So, this is not up to date. And I was wondering if this information is also in our budget report that's submitted to the state. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Would anybody else like to speak? [Music] Okay, that closes
014public comment. Um, yeah. So, we're going to answer some questions if that's okay. Uh, Lisa and Robert, but first I'll say the reason why we moved public comment to the end was because of an email that we received from Miss from Miss May. So, thank you. Um, yes, special meetings do have different policies. So, it's one public comment and we thought it would be better to have it at the end so in case we addressed any questions that you had. So, if you remember before approving finance A and B, I asked the board, do you have any questions? And that's our time to talk about it. All of us spent six, seven, eight hours in the last week individually asking Robert questions and reviewing the budget. So, that's why you probably didn't hear any questions,
015but we will address all of that and tell you what we learned and go over some of the questions that we had. So, I just wanted to comment on that. And then, can I say something also? Sure. Literally, we've some of these this information were given earlier this week and we literally I know that Abby and I literally went line by line um through this budget to look at every specific area and we still also have some questions, but we felt I I felt comfortable enough moving forward at this point and um and hopefully u most of your questions will be answered before you leave this evening. Yep, I would agree. And I'll just say remember this is the initial budget. Um the final budget will be voted on on April 29th. So still a
016lot could change and I saw firsthand. I went in on a Friday for three and a half hours and by Tuesday things were different. So things are changing all the time with the state and it's so hard to keep up with. Um so things are going to change between now and the end of April as well. So, do we want to turn it over to you, Robert, to kind of kick us off with some of those questions? Okay. There's a there's a new um there's a new state aid that just came out last Friday at about 3:00. We received a memo a little after 3:00. Sorry. 30. Okay. 309 to be exact. Uh it's called the tax levy incentive aid. And basically what that is allowing school district to do is increase their tax levy
017up to an allowable amount uh of uh that closes the gap between your adequacy spending and what is supposed to be your fair share. So this is this is a lot of information that I just gave you. So adequacy spending, adequacy spending is a formula that the state of the state department of education comes up with to say that if you are funding your districts properly to provide a thorough and efficient education, this is the amount of money you should be spending. Okay? And that and that this year is roughly $30 million. At the same time, if you are spending that much money in your school district, each district has what's called a fair share or a local fair share, which means that your local tax dollars should be a certain level of funding toward
018your school budget. Okay, I have those numbers here. So the district adequacy budget is 30 million and change. The local fair share as of now is 24.8 million. Okay. And our tax levy is 14.6 million. So this district is roughly $10 million short of its local fair share. Meaning the state feels that the school district is not funding its budget properly and that to fund the budget properly, we'd have to increase the taxes by about $10 million. Okay. And that's where that 11 million comes from. Yeah. That's Yes. It's that 11,965 that would bring us up. Exactly. That's the maximum we could have done. Exactly. So, so with this tax levy incentive aid, it's an application to the state and with that application, the tax levy funds about 95% of the application and the state
019will fund about 5% of the application. Okay? So, with this application, you have to be very specific about what you're asking for. This district is only going to be asking for staff relief, meaning money towards funding staffing and educational staffing. Okay? Teachers, child study team members, people who are in the classroom, people who have an effect direct effect upon students. Okay? So with that, we are going to be applying for a little over $3 million to the state for tax levy incentive aid, and that is going to go directly towards re uh teachers in the hopes that we will not have any staff reductions educationally. That's the focus and that's what this board just supported, not having any educational staff reductions. So we are very hopeful we are we are going to put this application
020in uh the the guidance that we receive from the state department of education is such that it should be focused on educational programs and educational items only and that's if you want to get it approved. So that's what our application is going to represent staffing. So we are hoping that this gets approved by the state. We are going to be putting in an application that says staffing, educational staffing, period. So that's the tax levy in sent to me. And what was that 151? So that decrease from the 569 would be equal to the 11 million. Correct. Correct. Correct. Uh so we thought we are not we are not asking for the full 11 million because uh you know we we we just don't need that much money to fund the educational staffing. The district is
021only going to ask for what it takes to fund the educational staffing at its current levels. And that 151 is the portion that this state is going to match us so to speak. $151,000. Yes, you are correct. So, Robert, the reason for this gap, right? So, the state thinks that Little Lake Harvard Township taxpayers should be contributing $24 million as the local fair share. Unfortunately, we are only contributing 14 million. That is correct. So, then that $10 million difference is this massive shortfall, right? And this the reason the reason for this just so I'm clear is one because taxes haven't been raised by school boards in a very long time years and years of that 2% cap. Correct. That is correct. Okay. And then the second reason is the homes in Little Lake Harbor have
022not been assessed since 2015. That is that is to my understanding. Yes. Okay. So, I know firsthand that there are homes that are we're paying taxes on a on a value of our home that is not what it should be based upon the market. So, that's going to create a shortfall. So, I just wanted to make that clear. That's the reason for the gap in the local fair share. You are correct. And then one last thing, as we raise taxes, right? So, this is going to be an impact on the taxpayers. Um, this will set us up for a better place next year because we will close that gap. So, we'll have a higher tax levy base. Correct. That is correct. Okay. So, the way that I think about it, Abby, is that okay, if
023you're taking 2% of 100,000 versus 2% of 200,000, 2% of 200,000 is more than 2% of 100,000. And then, Robert, I believe one of the other questions was the special revenue. Could you just explain why that decreased from the last year's budget to this year's budget? Last year was like million. So last year we were required to um include ESSER funds the full amount to the ESRE allocation and the ESSER funds are no longer available. So that's the reason for the decrease. [Music] Um and I just took some notes here. The new presentation will be posted I'm assuming. Yeah, we have we have a different presentation, but those numbers technically hadn't been updated until just a few minutes ago when the board approved this resolution. So, we have an updated presentation and we will uh
024post that to the website very early tomorrow. And then the fiscal year report, I know that's a snapshot of time. So, that work chart is probably outdated for that reason, but that's not submitted or that is No, that that was updated in the most recent um court report. I believe the first the one from 2023 may have been outdated but I believe the last one was had been updated because I remember doing that with the interim superintendent. Okay. So we can just make sure that that's updated on the website and that's submitted with the budget. No, no, the audit that's from the audit report that's not submitted with the budget and that that chart doesn't actually go to the state. That's that's just part of the audit report. that doesn't get uh the audit report
025gets reported electronically to the state but that's not one of the items that gets reported but the audit report is separate on the website that is correct okay [Music] the average cost per home. Yes. Okay. So, the tax levy is going to increase by 3,31,696. Okay. On the average assessed home in Little Lake Arbor at $28,000, the increase will be $416 per year. New construction. It's over, folks. The board reopen it. See, see me after me. [Music] Did I get other questions? No. Go up 100,000,000. Oh, okay. Yes. Okay. A home assessed at 308,000 will see a tax levy increase of 16 16 $615. And a home assessed at $48,000 will see a tax levy increase of $815. [Music] I think that's that was all the questions that I took notes on. Um so now
026we can open it up to board forum. If anybody would like to speak to the board, I'll go first. Um, you know, tonight is definitely a a first draft uh where we can apply for the the final budget. Um, it's interesting, you know, we sit up here at the intersection of in the crossroads of taxpayers, the school district, staff, students, etc. Um, and it's a a balance that we have to try to strike to see who we can help the most uh with our votes. And our at least my priority is definitely the students and making sure that they have everything that they need. Uh, kind of like what Aaron said, she outlined the day, the school day for her kids of all the great experiences that they have every single day. So, I know
027by voting this way for this particular budget, we're doing everything in our power to keep that exciting day of learning and and interacting with other students as um normal as possible without experiencing cuts. Um but that will come with a tax increase. But as a school board, I think we prioritize what's best for the students that come here every single day and their teachers and the staff that makes this place run. So, I know it's a a large tax increase and I support it because I want to make sure that our students have the best educational experience possible. [Music] Okay. Um, for me sitting in these meetings were what can we do to make sure that we do not have classroom sizes that are too large. Um, we know that behavioral issues have increased um,
028in the current day and age and to expect teachers and students alike to thrive under classroom settings that might be larger sizes would not be ideal. And it and my my my two youngest are in eighth and 10th grade. So, this was really and trust me, I don't think any of us want to see us to raise taxes, but I looked at literally every possible option. And I looked at um reassessing and when I looked at Stafford and Stafford's reassessing, that's not a solution for like three years. And we needed to think about something now. and we had already cut 23 teachers last year. So that increased class sizes last year. If we choose not to replace teachers that have retired, then we're already starting at a different area, you know, where there's some loss.
029And so again, I my children have the best experience here. So it's something that I want to maintain and make sure that the children of today and tomorrow have that same experience. And um so that's why I voted for this. And again, we as Abby had said, we've sat with a lot of hours with this budget thus far and I don't think we're done. Um we're still looking into making sure all our eyes are dotted and our tees are crossed and we thought of everything possible and we're being the most responsible um with our funds um that we are asking for and that we are given. And so I do believe it's fiscally responsible in that we're we're not looking to purchase something. We're looking to staff our classrooms properly so that everyone can be
030successful. Teachers and students um and parents are happy that also too that programs are maintained. Okay, that's all I have to say. I'm not good at off the cuff, but um I know I got into education just like many of you and also got on to the board because we love kids and we want to have the best that we can give to them. Um kids spend a majority of their time with teachers and in these buildings and I fully support this budget. I don't want my taxes to go up, but I fully support it because I want the kids to have all the resources that they can have to be successful. There are kids that need to be here because they have struggles outside of the buildings and outside of the four walls and
031also the teachers need to have the resources to be able to do their jobs and to do that in classes of 40 and 50 that would be impossible. So, I'm totally 100% behind this. I will never ever not vote for anything to support teachers and kids. I will say that right come out right. [Music] I just want to say that um this was a very very hard decision and a lot of the members have put a lot of time and um into this a lot of thinking a lot of thoughts um it's been very tough. It's a tough year especially for my first year being part of this and uh to me uh I've been through some tough times in my life with a lot of different things and to see so many teachers here
032um you know within the community um I come from a school district myself I work in the school district and um you know it tugs on my heart to to see that and I want to do what's best for the students for the staff for the community and unfort Unfortunately, we're in a tough position this year. So, I'm hoping things will turn in a positive for everybody. Um, and that's all I can do is hope for that. Uh, and hopefully on a higher level, the state could possibly do something more for us or people on a in a higher position will try to do something more for us because right now, um, we're we're kind of in a pinch, but we have to do what's right, what's best for everybody. Thank you. Laura, did you
033have anything you wanted to say? Yes. Thank you. I wanted to explain my very hard decision too tonight. Um, I voted no on the budget because I cannot support the 36% tax levy increase, total of $4.7 million, simply because the state claims our town can pay its fair share. While I understand that only half of my tax bill currently supports our schools, this level of increase is excessive. Furthermore, with the upcoming reassessment of approximately 11,000 homes in Little Harbor within the next two years, the financial burden on taxpayers could become even more overwhelming. We have an opportunity to implement reasonable staffing reductions that would not have compromised our schools, but instead the majority of this board chose to maintain the status quo. This decision risks putting yet us in yet another budget crisis next year
034because as we all know costs rarely decrease, they only increase. I would have supported a moderate, reasonable uh responsible increase, I should say, with efforts to reduce expenditures. But I cannot in good conscience approve a budget that places such a heavy burden on our taxpayers. My duty is to serve students, parents, and the community as a whole. And that means making a difficult decision but a I feel responsibly financial decision. Thank you. And Robert, just to clarify, it's not 36, it's 32, right? That is correct. [Music] 32.6% increase. Oh, did I miss speak? I'm sorry. 36. That's okay. we clarified. Um, so I'll just say again, this is the initial budget, so things could still change. Um, as most of you know, I've said this several times, I have three children, uh, who have all
035gone through the district, two are still here. Um, and for me, all it took was walking into my son's fourth grade class this year and seeing 28 children bouncing off the wall. um because that class, that fourth grade class is our largest class and they were impacted so much with our cuts last year. Um I couldn't imagine having a classroom of fourth graders of 45 students plus and that's what we were looking at. Um I do still have questions around the salaries which Robert is aware of and he will be getting us that information. Um, we've asked for a breakdown on the increases for teachers, the aggregate cumulative number, as well as the administrators and the support staff. Something that we need to see or I need to see before the final budget. Um, I
036want to be very clear that this decision not none of us took this lightly. Um, this kept us up at night, a lot of nights. Um, I'm a working mom of three and uh, this feels like a full-time job and it's a thankless helpless job. Um, but this increase is the only way to prevent the devastating consequences for our schools and our students. So, I tried to keep uh, the reason why I ran for the school board at the forefront and that was for my kids and their peers, for the students of Lil. So without this tax increase, I believe um we would be forced to cut an astronomical number of staff, which we learned about over the last month. Everything from teachers and counselors and support staff. Um we absolutely would have fallen out
037of compliance, uh state and federal education requirements, and then we would have been forced to eliminate things like art and music and steam. And these are to me these are not extras. These are these are not extra things. They're they're vital and they shape the experiences of our kids. They ignite creativity. Um and they help kids love coming to school. My kids love coming to school because they love going to music. They love gym as you know. Um they love art. They love those extra classes. It's what gets them out of the the learning and just gets them moving. Uses a different part of their brain. So, all I'll say is um if we're not going to invest in our children, then who is? So, that's it. Yeah. A happy drummer. Exactly. I shouldn't say
038sadly. That's terrible. But because of little I mean that's where it started. It's a very loud instrument for anyone who considers it, just so you know. Um but it's it's very true. Like when you think about this whole budget season and what would you choose? What would you choose for your child not to have as an opportunity or anyone else's child? It's it's it's like a Sophie's choice of what do you pick and it it is a difficult decision and none of us took it lightly. There were hours um we had groups meeting on one day and another day going through everything line by line to think what are our possible alternatives and I I wouldn't have voted for this if I didn't believe it was the best option and our only option and I
039I as well as Abby also have questions about the salaries and we're going to be working through that and hopefully we have the answers and everything is clarified for for our budget workshop on the 15th. Anyone else? Okay, that's the meeting then. Can um I have a Can I have a motion to adjourn? Motion. Second. Abby. Yes. I'm sorry I didn't hear you, but one final comment on the 15th just for in regards to I heard somebody say about the presentation. It will be updated after the 15th because we'll have all our numbers then. Yes. So that's that's why those numbers are no longer relevant, no longer correct. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Laura. Wait. Oh, you said thanks for officiating. Oh, please come back. We can put an update based upon the updated numbers
040that the board has approved this evening. Did you hear that, Laura? No, I didn't. What? What was it? Um, based upon the numbers that the board approved this evening, they will be posted on the website and updated. Okay. Because I know we're still waiting on federal numbers, we still don't have every moving part in this budget. [Music] That's true. But but based upon what the board approved tonight, we do know some details that we can update. Not without a problem, just on what voted on. Okay. Gotcha. Thank you. And then like Laura mentioned, the next meeting is April 15th at 6 PM and it's at George J. Mitchell. It is a budget workshop meeting again to kind of go over everything. Correct. Is that true? Another special meeting. That's right. I think it's so that
041we can all discuss it together at the same time without having to have separate meetings like we did this time. Yep. So we're all in one place. So workshop meeting to go over the final numbers before we vote on the final budget which will be April 29th. Correct. Not a voting, right? No action will be taken. Thank you. Venturing president. [Music] Can I have a motion to adjourn? Motion. Second. Okay. All in favor?