001Okay, if I could have uh called the regular meeting to order and stand for the flag salute. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, thanks everybody for that. Um I will make a motion for approval of the meeting agenda minus the proposed executive session. And I'll remove that. Got to get a second. >> A second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? Do we have any blue cards for all? Okay. All right. We'll move on to item D then, special presentations to the board. Uh we have the athletics presentation. Jamie, floor is all yours. >> You just have to push that button, J. >> Push the button. It's
002the most important part of this presentation. >> On the microphone. >> All right. I got the the green now. Okay. [clears throat] Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to come and uh to speak and to this is a good opportunity to for me to update everybody about some of the things that have gone on in athletics and are upcoming in athletics. Just as a you know kind of a piece of information. Some of the information that you're going to see is going to be based on winter from last year, spring from last year, and fall from this year. Just based in terms of where we are right now and some of the information and the data that I have. So, again, I like to go through our our sports offerings. Um, this year was a
003little bit different. So in the fall you'll see we had two boys soccer teams um one girls soccer team at the modified level and then the rest boys cross country girls cross country football and girls te girls tennis. Um obviously the numbers dictated that we did drop down from two to one soccer team in terms of the girls and we did have enough to field two boys soccer teams. We have to kind of see what that looks like from year to year. We do go and we, you know, we we pull, we canvas, we try to see what kids are interested in coming out. As you know, we've supported two soccer teams, girls, girls and boys soccer teams for the last two years. Um, but then we got there this year. And then we had
004a number of kids who, for whatever reason, didn't play, didn't come out. So, we're kind of right on that fence, right on that borderline. Worked out really well for our girls. Um, our boys, our teams were a little thin just based on numbers. We didn't want to cut anybody if we if we didn't have to. So, we ended up, I believe, 15 and 14, but as you know, as the season goes along, those numbers dwindle a little bit. Um, so we will re revisit that. Our coaches do a great job of trying to again canvas that things change over the summer a little bit. So, we try to project as much as we can. At the JV varsity level, everything was the same. Um, the only difference being that we did offer girls flag football
005last year. So all those other um sports remained intact and and we had good support with those in those areas. Uh winter sports same we had great support at the at the modified level. We supporting two volleyball teams for the girls, two basketball teams for the boys and girls as well, rifle and and wrestling. And then again the same over on the JV and varsity side. I do have a couple asterisks on there. Um, obviously with with swim, wrestling, and hockey, those are sports that are not housed here. We are combining with other schools. Uh, swim, we combine with Mexico. Girls wrestling, we've got um a young lady that goes over to Phoenix and girls hockey we combine with OGO. >> And the difference though, it's important to say they don't charge. >> Correct. None
006of those none of those programs charge us. And that was what happened to and why we ended up having to eliminate boys hockey with ice time with all those things. It was a pro-rated cost and it was really um quite expensive. Spring sports um again baseball, softball, we've got good strong numbers in all those. Boys and girls lacrosse, boys track, girls track, and then over on the on the um JV varsity side is where you see your your flag football right over there. And again, it's only at the varsity level for the flag football participation report. Um, like to do a sideby-side comparison. Again, remembering that these numbers are based off of 2025. And then again over here for the modified numbers, you'll see that winner says 54. That's winner one. Um, I actually was
007able to go in today. Winner two started today. We updated that to I've got it right here. 1324, I'm sorry. So, you can see those numbers are down just a little bit. And then our spring will be a TBD on that side. And again, I couldn't calculate all those numbers because we're not there yet. But you can see that the the numbers in terms of the JV varsity from last year to this year are pretty pretty steady. They hold pretty strong. some of the achievements um that we had last year and this year in the in the fall. Our girls indoor track team were league champions. Our indoor track team for the girls also won the section three championship. With track obviously being an individualized sport, you have several different medalists that in in different
008events both on the boys and the girls side. We had two state reps for boys wrestling. our flag football inaugural season. They were section three champions and then they were a regional finalist. So they had the opportunity to go to Sunni Morrisville and play in a regional final. Um this year that will expand every year with flag football. It's getting bigger and bigger. So you're getting more teams in. So obviously going to be a little bit more competitive. Our cheer team did outstanding in the fall this year. Um they won four competition championships. This is obviously in addition to what they do on Friday nights when they come out and they support our boys or our football team, but they also won those competitions which are usually all day competitions on Saturdays. And then they
009won the section three championship as well as they were representative down at Hudson Valley in the public high school athletics association. So that was pretty impressive from where that program has grown. U Brook Catelan took that over where that has grown and gone to pretty awesome. Uh, obviously one of the things that we really try to impress and one of the things I take pride in is our scholar athlete. Just so and I I try to review this every year so everybody kind of recognizes what this looks like. Scholar athlete team 75% of the roster must have an average of 90 or above. individual scholar athlete. If the team does not meet that criteria, uh that individual is considered an individual scholar athlete. A school, there's two um different types of schools. School of excellence,
010which means 75% of your varsity teams are recognized as scholar athlete teams, and school of distinction. Every team is a is a scholar athlete team within that season. It's represented and recognized fall, winter, and spring. Fall of this year, we had nine out of our 10 teams. So 90% were scholar athlete teams up there, both cross country teams, golf, boys and girls soccer, tennis, boys and girls volleyball, as well as cheer. Winter, we couldn't do it because we're in the middle of the winter season. So that'll be that's a TBD. And over in the spring, you got baseball, lacrosse, girls lacrosse, uh, boys and girls track, tennis, golf, softball. So, seven out of our eight teams were scholar athlete teams, 88%. So, both in the fall of this year and the spring of last school
011year, we were recognized as school of excellence. We're really trying to shoot and try to get that 100%, but we're not quite there yet. Maybe in the winter. Well, and I I think I think it's worth mentioning that that that if you're if a student, you know, the data is proven now. If you're a student involved in extra AC extra activities after after the classroom, it your your grade point average is much higher than if you're not. And I think it just goes to show whether you're in band or whether you're in drama or whether you're playing a sport, there's a there's a distinct benefit to that. >> Yeah. >> And and and and it and it proves out. And I think that to to me I this this is the most important slide that
012that you show >> it. It really, you know, at the end of at the end of the day, I you know, success on the field is very very important and competition is a great thing to to experience, but to me, we're in the business of education and it and the the students that participate in this and show that they have outstanding grades are really what we're all about and it it goes to the core function of what we do here. So, yep. >> It's a huge hat huge hats off to your coaches, too. When I say coach, [clears throat] I know for a fact the importance. >> Yeah, I was just going to make that point as well, Tom. I mean, in when we have our meetings, we talk and they're great about we send
013out grade sheets every couple weeks and and you build a connection between our our staff members who may or may not even know if a student is on a team, but we get those rosters out. Now, there's a connection there. And we always encourage our teachers, hey, if you're having an issue, reach out to the coach. There's an extra set of motivation there. just because of some of the relationships that they have with these kids. And you can see obviously by the numbers it's working. So, so we're really really proud of that. And like you said, Tom, very very impressive for our coaches to go out there and they know that that's at the forefront of what we're trying to do. At the end of the year, every year we have our um scholar athletes,
014which is our two top, one male, one female. Our two um athletes that have to play a minimum of two sports. last year was Owen Schlutoter and Delena Humphrey. They are recognized up at OC. Big section 3 event. 108 schools are recognized with all their athletes. I believe Owen won an additional scholar athlete award while he was up there, which was a monetary award. So, it's just always great to recognize those students up there when you're amongst all the top top student athletes in in the entire section. So, I thought it's very important that they are recognized. some highlights and pictures. I think pictures do a great job of telling the story of what we do here. Obviously, our flock here on a uh on a Friday night. As I mentioned before, our boys indoor
015track and field section 3 champions. These were some indivi individual champions. This was taken up at OC. You can see the the t-shirts and the medals. Um not sure if this was a one of the relay teams, but a number of those those guys obviously all meddled in their particular event. Here was our girls indoor section 3 team champions. Again, this is a this is a uh award that's recognized for the entire team. So, it was pretty impressive to win the entire section and be rep represent the entire section with what they did up at uh up at OC for these indoor events. Kind of in the middle right here is our our unified celebration. This was just an amazing celebration because it's it's just great. You can see in the background [clears throat] our
016entire student body and the way they the way they come together and embrace this this team and these kids and everything that the the name of it and what it's called and what it does. It just unifies our our general education students as well as as our some of our special education students as well. We're getting ready to embark on um unified bowling. So, our bowling and our and our basketball, it's just it's one of my favorite things to do because it's just pure. I mean, the joy of of those kids and you see Asa in the front. He's our he's our superstar right there. Everybody loves Asa. But those kids just I mean, they love this and they really enjoy taking part in this event. If you ever have the opportunity and you're able
017to to get over here, this is this is something we did um during an advisory. So, this wasn't an actual competition. They just did an inner squad thing, but really cool for all of our students. >> Yes, they do outstanding jobs with them. >> This is our flag football team. Um, inaugural section three champions. So, um, the one thing I will say about them is they survived the worst spring ever in terms of it was freezing cold and rainy at nearly every game, um, including their regional championship. But I'm I'm I'm glad and you can see by the numbers the interest that that we had in this sport and I think it's really something that's going to continue to grow. So it's it's nice to to see that pay off for them and for them
018to do something a little bit different. You know, it's a different type of sport obviously in the spring than what's than what had we had just been offering previously. Here is our this was this fall. This was at the sectional championship. Um, again, the the leaps and bounds this program has taken and holding a banner up and this was the same group that represented us down in um down at Hudson Valley. It was awesome. Um, we did our 2025 athletic wall of fame inductees this year. So, again, this was this is one of those things that we planned and we planned we planned and the weather put a put a crimp in it, but we were able to hold that ceremony. So, um, we have, um, Dave Sierra was a longtime trainer here. Uh, Brett
019Traml in the middle. Brett played football and wrestled. And then Leah Brett McNeel who went on and she's in Colorado now in the Air Force doing a lot of great things. It's just really nice to kind of recognize these folks, bring them back. Both Brett and Leah came all the way back from across the country and you know you're recognizing them and then you hear about all the great things that they are doing with their life and and they started here within the athletic department here at Central Square. Uh this is something we try to do and try to recognize them at an athletic event that was supposed to be a basketball game. It got cancelled due to weather so we couldn't really rescheduled just based on the fact they traveled across country. So, we
020had a nice little um ceremony in here, but it was really, really good to do that. And we'll have another class this year as well. This is something I really take pride in in terms of what we try to push and what we try to promote here. Um, this is something that when I I received, but it's a reflection of the entire community. It's a reflection of the athletic department. It's a reflection of the teams. This was the um the Mike Anthony Rick Britain sportsmanship award and this is awarded to the program in section three big schools small schools that shows the best sportsmanship in terms of this is the girls basketball officials committee. So they look at not only what our coaches and our kids do on the floor, but they're looking at and
021they vote on us b [clears throat] excuse me based on our student section, our fans, all those things kind of how we interact with them when they came in. So we won that and we also won the John Aruro wrestling sportsmanship award. So we got two sportsmanship awards in section three last year that again I think is is more fundamental to what we want to be and what we want to do here. um you know the the wins and and all the things that we just showed and talked about as far as accomplishments are impressive, but these are things we're developing young people and setting kind of a standard here. So I think that's something that's I take a lot of pride in that. I think it's really important and I think our coaches understand
022something we really want to promote. You know, we try to really do a good job of, you know, understanding officials are people and officials are going to make mistakes and we need to make sure that we are representing ourselves with good character and um Central Square with good character. Uh this is just a kind of a fun little thing that we do here. This is our Jersey Mike's um student above program. So what it is is basically Jersey Mike has Jersey Mike's restaurant. They reached out to us and they said, you know, we want to be able to recognize your student, your student athletes. So, we use this more as an opportunity to um I reach out to coaches and I say, I want some some of your student athletes that you would like to
023nominate who may not be your superstar athlete, but they're the ones who are coming to practice every day. They're working really hard, great attitudes, all those things. So, I just think it's important to try to recognize them. They get um a t-shirt and usually um we always give them a player of the week. It gives them a free sandwich or something, but it it gives them an opportunity. We put this out on social media so they can be recognized there. So, I think this is just another nice incentive for for our students. Signing day. Every every May we do our signing day so we can recognize our student athletes and where they're going. Again, I think it's important to make sure that we recognize any of them that are moving on to participate in something.
024You know, we have we have anywhere from division one, division two, division three, junior college. The landscape of college athletics has changed tremendously just in the last five years in terms of with NIL with all the transfers and transfer portals. And that's not just at the division one level. That's, you know, coaches. I was just talking to one of our our parents of our student athletes today and you've got coaches who are now taking kids who are 21, 22, 23. They're grown. They're grown men and women over some of our high school kids. So, the time, the effort that that our student athletes are putting in, again, I think it's very important to recognize them, recognize the families for all the the sacrifices and the things that they've done. Again, another stepping stone towards who
025they want to be in the future. So, we will obviously continue with this and have this again in the um in the spring up and coming to Central Square. So, one of the things that I [clears throat] want to take the opportunity to talk about because I know that and I I won't be long-winded with this, but there's since I've been here, there's been a lot of different um scheduling things that are talked about who who we play and competitive levels and things like that. So, I'm going to kind of be somewhat general on this and try to kind of nutshell it for everybody because it's pretty it's it can be pretty complicated, but what our league has gone to is called the Bradley Terry model. We started talking about this um probably two or
026three years ago and it's something that was developed by a student up at SU and basically what it is it's an algorithm and it takes into it takes into account your school your school record who you played um doesn't really take into account final scores and things like that because we really don't want to encourage you know you beating somebody worse you know that's not great sportsmanship but essentially What it does is it it it spits out these rankings which are called the Brad Brad Brad bad Brad bad Brad bad Brad bad Brad bad Bradley Terry rankings and in most of our sports we're broken up into two divisions. We're broken up into the Empire and the Metro. And what happens is the Metro is a lot of times your Liverpools your CNS your Bevilles
027your your bigger schools and then down in the in I'm sorry that those are the metro schools. The Empire schools are us um Fulton as we go. When you cross those teams over and you put our athletes out there with some of those athletes, sometimes the difference is pretty evident. There's just a lot of things, a lot of factors that go into that. So, what we did with the Bradley Terry model, we said rather than than completely divide this and based on enrollment, we use the Bradley Terry model and now it's going to divide you into kind of where you sit competitively. So even though you might, you know, be a smaller school, I'll take a JD for example, smaller school, JD, huge participation rates and things like that. They will now be competing in
028certain sports up in the up in the metro side of things. So the competitive balance, I think, is going to be much better. It's been really hard for me to explain to people um when we've kind of gone all over the map with who we were playing. There was one year we played everybody one time around and it's hard for me to explain when CNS is nearly one and a half close to two times our size why we are playing them. So this is going to kind of balance that out. It's going to be on a two-year rolling average. So, if you do really well in your division and you're in the Empire, that third year, you might get bumped up to the metro and you might play some more difficult teams and have some
029more competition. On the flip side of that, if you're struggling in an area, it's going to bring you down. So, the two the two divisions are going to be much more competitive. We try to do that with almost all the sports that we can possibly do it. We do it with your your basketballs and your soccerers and and all those things. anything that we can develop that algorithm for and use that. Um, that's what we're going to base that on for the next five years. We're going to kind of run with this and see how this goes. I think it's going to develop much more competitive and spirited opportunities for our student athletes. I think it's going to be really good for us in all of our sports. grassroots programs and the things that we
030offer communitywise. This is some of the same stuff that we talked about and that I have talked about last year. This hasn't died down at all. We we continue to work with all of these programs to try to provide them with opportunities to utilize our our facilities to work with them and run basketball tournaments or any type of gym space. As we all know, gym space is at a as a is at a premium around here. Um there's just not a lot of other places for our local youth to go to. Um but we try to work with softball softball leagues, um little leagues, anything that we can do as they're the grassroots program that those are going to be our athletes that are going to come here. So those that just kind of gives
031you an example of some of the the things and some of the groups that we work with. These again are some of the usage hours and schedules. This hasn't changed a whole lot, but what what I will tell you and as as most of you know, you go to into almost any one of our gyms during the winter time any night of the week. It's booked till nearly 9:00 at night. And that's not obviously just with athletics. Um that's with drum line, that's with um all of the band students that are in there as well. So there's no shortage of of use in there and we're just trying to maintain and try to schedule them in. Again, I give my my secretary um Stephanie a shout out for all the work that she does and
032trying to balance that when you have when you have um you know weather delays and cancellations, all of those things. And we're trying to constantly rearrange and and and keep those things up to date so that we can maximize the opportunity for these for these groups. So trends moving forward. Again, as I mentioned before, I felt like um just looking at the fall numbers, I think that our JV varsity numbers held pretty steady. I think that our modified numbers dipped a little bit. I can't be 100% on what that is all the time, but I did list in here because I do think it's one of the things that is a bit of a barrier that we are fighting this year is the fact that there's no 530 bus. And I only say that just
033to just to um have you recognize what I see from my perspective in talking to my coaches that when we had 42ish kids that signed up for one team in the spring and then we only ended up with 23 and 28. I think a part of that and the communication that they have with parents is it's hard it's hard to get kids to and from when we live in a district that's as geographically big as ours. So, that's just something that I I understand that where we are in terms of um tough decisions and things that we have to that we have to consider when we make those decisions. I just think that that's one of those that getting those kids involved as seventh and eighth graders is super important. Back to Steve's point about
034keeping them engaged and keeping them um academically engaged and making those connections. For some of those kids, that's the first opportunity that they're going to have to actually be involved if that's not something they've done, you know, coming up in in third, fourth, fifth grade. This is their first opportunity to do that. So, that's where you can kind of get that hook sometimes. So, that's just a plug to them and to those buses that we that we had previously. And then again, the loss of some of our coaches and a couple of teams obviously felt. I'm not I'm not telling anybody anything they don't know, but I think it is it's my job to say these are things that I recognize as well um in my position in my role. So, we are doing the
035best that we can with all of our awesome coaches and athletes, but it's something that we want to continue to grow. you know, when we when we add a, for example, at flag football program, I want to be able to say, "Okay, we're going to try to offer that at the modified level so we can grow it at the varsity level." But again, I understand the the things that we're up against. It's just something that I wanted to, you know, to mention in my report. I'm glad you did because the runs obviously govern the runs out. >> But when the governor puts the runs out, um that's going to be something that we talked about last year. I mean, there were people that that spoke after the fact when the first budget had failed, but
036the bottom line is this. It's it's most likely going to be the foundation um increases will be at 2% again, not the four or 4.25 or 4.3%. So, if we were to go out at 3% like we did last year, we're going to have to make another $1.2 million in cuts. And so, that's why it's so very important that we continue to get that message out to people that these are real things. We did all the research before we had forecast five show when a student is a in an athlete or in band, their GPA is like 18 points higher than if they're not playing a sport or or an extracurricular. And so we know how important that is. And we know that that 530 shuttle bus that most districts don't, right? I mean, I
037live in Western Sea, they don't offer it, but for years we provided those things, paying for the elementary students to have their uh school supplies. Well, we had already purchased those last year. Families are going to see that for next year because now if you got three kids and it's $40 each, you do the math. It adds up quickly. We used to be able to pay for those things. And so, but but I'm glad that you brought that up. We've recognized it. We talked about it in cabinet. The 530 shuttle did hurt uh participation. Does anybody have any questions about any of the information that I have provided here tonight? >> Thank you. I appreciate the time and the opportunity. >> Thank you. >> Now go home to your kid who's still in town. >>
038Yeah. My kid for college. >> Yes. Go. Great job. >> Or you can stay for the electric bus presentation by Moren. This >> is going to be riveting. >> Yeah. Yeah, he's not staying. I'd be with him, too, if I could. Right. So, another riveting topic here. Um, I wanted to do put a little bit of something together because tonight on the board packet is the letter of intent for our bus purchase that will be then um put on the voting dockets or ballots for the May vote. Um, we ask for the letter of intent because they really need to get in line for the buses to be made. And even when we give them a letter of intent, sometimes we're not getting them. until like October, November of the following year. So that's the
039reason that we ask for it so early it seems probably to most people. So just a little bit review refresher on transportation aid. It's paid on operate general operations, but it's also paid on the bus purchases. All districts are entitled to transportation aid and the percentages run between 6.5% and 90%. 90% is the highest approved transportation aid ratio you can have. We're currently sitting at 83.6%. So, it is pretty high. So, it's important um that our transportation costs do receive a good amount of aid. Districts must have voter approval for all bus purchases. We also must have SED approval for bus purchases both to generate the transportation aid. When we purchase bus buses, they are aided across a five-year amortization schedule at this point. The electric buses were originally aided going to be aided across
04012 years. They have amended that to be eight years now. Again, nobody knows how long these buses will actually last. So, that's been one change in the new regulations. And they pay aid on two semianual payments with an an assumed amortizization rate. What this means is if depending on when we purchase a bus, we might get a half a year of aid, four full years, and a half a year or we might get five full years in a row. So, what would it look like to purchase the electric buses versus the what we have on the docket, which is um g diesel and gas buses. These are the two numbers, the differences. It's a little under 1.7 million for six large buses, three small buses, and two vans. If we were to do electric, it's
041about 4.3 million. Just to put that in some different context, the difference by the bus, it's about two and a half times more costly to get an electric bus and about three and a half times more costly to get a small electric bus. Now, just to put this in context, there are nicer grants that we would get once we buy these buses to compensate for some of the some of the difference. But legal counsel has said, and I think it's important to note that when we put these on the docket for a proposition for vote, we have to put the total price on because that's really what we're on the hook for. We have no idea what aid and what um grants will be applied. This is the fleet as as it currently stands. We
042have 98 vehicles. We have seven large 65 passenger buses, 24 smaller buses, two seven passenger gray vans, and two six passenger Ford Explorers. And this is the um where they currently stand regarding the mileage. SED would like us to have a 10-year um turnover of buses and we currently do. We've met that and we've been maintaining that for the last probably four or five years. I think it's been that way. And but that being said, because our district is so large, we do have buses that run over 100 and 150,000 miles. And if if you look at this, on the large buses, we have 21 buses that are over on the mileage side. But on the smaller buses, we're we're good right now with this proposed new bus purchase for the 26 27 year. It
043brings us even further along on the um on the large buses. We would have less buses over the 150,000 miles. and it pretty much keeps in keeps us intact on the 30 passenger buses. So, let's talk about the electric bus. The electric bus initiative, the legislation again currently has not changed. So December of 25 is still requiring zero emission buses that are purchased by 20 after 2027 are only electric and that 100% of all fleets need to be transitioned by 35. National Grid has we've done had a feasibility study done with National Grid. Um Gerardian Energy provided us with our initial study that came and we discussed that it came out about March of 20 2023. That company became Polar. So the they are the same people working on this fleet study. So Polar gave
044us an updated study in May of 24 and then they just gave us a new finalized it's called a fleet electrification plan in October of this year. These are required by the parameters of um SED. Basically, we we are required to do the fleet study and we have done it and um it has been paid for by a NAERTA grant. So, this part gets a little fuzzy because I'm not sure I can 100% explain each one of these categories, but um Tom ran it through AI. So it had we have a beautiful comparison between the 23 study, the 24 study and the 25 study. And it's interesting because PLL plan the 25 study just so everybody knows has they have to make the study fit the guidelines. So this plan is saying that we will
045buy all of our buses electric from now on going forward. We'll talk about that a little bit more at the end. So, the number of vehicles that could be electrified given the current study has changed on each one. You can see them up here. Um, we have 84 total buses running routes. Originally, they said 70 or 51 of the feasible routes could be done with electric. On the second one, they had the parameters changed and they said only 21 of the buses could be done in electric. And now they're saying it's still they're up to 72% feasibility, but they're planning that it will be 100% by 35 because they have to make our plan work for the study. Um the the fleet composition is we're saying that we want to stay with the Bluebird buses
046because that's what we're set up for at transportation. And the route analysis are basically the same. they're um they are doing some different scenarios based on temperatures to try to make them work. And then you can go through the rest of these criteria. Um for the low temperatures, they're saying - 255°. Um but just so you know, on the plan three, there was four scenarios and they were not using a negative 25 degrees on the one that they were pushing forward. um the charging infrastructure. This is where it gets fuzzy to me. I can't quite tell you what this all means, but it basically the charging stations and the chargers that we would need has been changed between each study. And they're starting to come up with different chargers so that they can make the
047peak loads managed um between high and low, especially because we have double runs. So, we have to be able to manage those charges in between to have enough electric left to do the afternoon runs. The big part here for us is the um the electrical service upgrade. They each one of them is recommending and obviously we'd have to upgrade our electric service. Um and then they're going to use different power management programs to help us um manage the electric peak loads and the charging. We >> were at a conference and I was talking with somebody from state ed. They couldn't wrap their head around the fact that we had the double runs. So, I don't know where they lived, but in their mind that we do our first run, pick up all elementary, middle, and
048high school kids on the same bus, which very small districts do, right? And then that's it. And then they come back at the end. And I explained that at Central Square, in most districts, they pick up the um middle school, high school kids first, bring them in, drop them off, immediately go out to the furthest areas, make their way in for the elementary run, and then repeat that in the afternoon. and that it was hard for them to wrap their head around that. And so I was just trying to explain to them with the whole charging and the peak times, they're like, "Oh yeah, we need to look at that." And so we have a lot of constraints regarding our parking and our um parking lot out there because the um the charging stations are
049need to be put down the middle of the lots. There's a lot of need to maybe tweak that around and we absolutely need the utility upgrades to have the power to to have this happen. >> Moren, are they still um relying on diesel generators to power the electrical chargers? >> Yes. So, if you look at right here, they t there's implementing and the costs is only in this third study and the utility and capacities are changing. But the bottom one, the environmental and the operational considerations to make the plan work, which is plan three, they're they we have to buy fossil fuel heaters on all of the buses. >> So heaters and diesel generators to power the chargers. >> Correct. So that's why that was highlighted. But you have to remember that Polara is trying
050to meet SED guidelines when they make this. So there's no criticism of the people studying this. It's just of the people making room. >> That's basically one of the the big things that they've done in the final study to make it work. >> So it basically then it rounds off the key differences, the scope and the fleet size. If you get down to um the third plan, they've expanded the feasibility to this to 72 buses with full electrification by 35. They show progress through there. They're hoping technology will um yeah will come into play for the charging infrastructure and the power needs. Um plan three, the last one um plans for larger charger counts. So now we're up to 57 level two two chargers and 15 level three chargers. And they and which that means
051we only need a moderate electric upgrade because they're going to balance that against the power draw. um on the power management and the optimization. It does include in plan three a detailed model and it's recommending those type two power managements to reduce the peak so that we can manage our electric draw um and the routing and the temperature analysis plan three includes the fossil fuel heaters. That's how they're getting around that. And then um as far as imple implementing and finance planning. It only plan three has anything regarding that. And they're saying approximately 2 million to um bring in the electrical upgrades that we need and upgrade the transportation center with the charging stations. and um the basically kind of they're not really changing the parking lot, but they're changing the way we park and
052and put our buses through there. >> So, is that 2 million out of our pocket? >> Well, we would need a capital project. >> No, right. But that's that doesn't that's not the grants. We're the grants would be on top of that. >> There can be grants. I mean, that's there's >> for the two million >> for the 2 million depending on which pieces parts of that. Some of it has grants associated with it. Some of it won't. Okay? >> You know, like they will give you grants towards the actual chargers, >> but not necessarily for our transformers and the power needs that we need to be have it brought in. >> Um, >> all different. And the buses that were the 4.5ish million that we might put on the or that we're going to
053put on the vote for this coming year, do those include all those upgrades that the the study said would be required for them to be feasible for our runs. They include the diesel heaters and all that stuff. >> I'm not sure if they include the diesel heaters. I don't know if they do. >> So that number is likely to go up then. >> Yep. Yep. That's true. Because I don't think at that time we didn't have this study when we were getting pricing on the buses, >> right? And I I mean just pointing it out because when we put the bus purchases historically out, it's it's a no-brainer as a taxpayer to approve it, right? I mean, you're talking about $1.5 million, six or eight new buses, and it's going to cost the district all
054of 15% of that. So, it makes perfect sense. But 15% of 5 million is a lot more than 15% of 1.5 million. So, >> Exactly. >> No, it's a tough it's a tough pill to swallow for sure. Um and right here the utility and the site constraints. Um, plan three does give us some detailed um, utility analysis and includes the national grid programs and the potential tra challenges with driver home charging, which that's another piece of it. They're saying potentially if some of the out schools, you know, coal, if [clears throat] if some of the drivers would be potentially charge them at their home and they don't come all the way in and all the way out. But, um, we basically said that Then we're like, we're not doing that. >> Putting chargers in at
055their homes. >> No. Yeah. We have to put a plug there somewhere, right? >> No. So, that's what I'm saying. It's They've got some different ideas in there. We did have a meeting. Jason and um Chuck were in on it and I have asked them for some changes and some and some what do you want to say adjustments because I I basically asked them if we could adjust it that we're buying another full year of gas diesel on this vote which is what I know that the board is interested and wants to do and that's what we're approving tonight but um but then I asked them to do that for even another year and then, you know, push us out a couple years to see if we have a better understanding of where where we
056would be if we started to implement this. And I wanted to um read you I had an email from them today which I thought um I thought was interesting. So he's, you know, saying that he's going to go through the reports because we asked for some clarifications of what what parameters changed, you know, like obviously we can see that the the fossil fuel heaters is a huge change. Um, but there's a bunch of different things and it's hard to really pick out, but he said, I wanted to follow up. Um after speaking directly with the project manager at NAERTA um they confirmed that they do not object to the plan reflecting the district's intent to extend the full fleet electrification beyond 35. From their perspective, however, the report still needs to present a timeline that
057demonstrates how the 35 deadline could be achieved. So they're not going to change this. Basically, they'll give us some addendums to it, but they're not going to make it like we they won't say that we can't do it. >> Yeah. And and and I think, [laughter] you know, for for those that are that are on the board that recently, but you know, I' I've been on the board through throughout this whole thing. And then I also I have a solar system at my house and I have a plug-in car. And the technology, I've said this in the past, the technology isn't there. It's not there. And it then if you take into consideration also Micron and the overall electrical needs that that project is going to require, it's going to require the same amount of
058electricity that all of Syracuse is currently using. Now, you're not going to have the power to power the buses. the buses. My plug-in car during the summer, when you go to the winter, it drops by half. I have a solar system that hasn't worked in two weeks because of the snow. It's just it's where you live. And so, if you take I don't put any value in the study when the study says this is the outcome that is required. >> Okay? this is how you get to the end and this is what it has to say. >> I I I have no I've I I have no confidence in that and and sitting on the board as electric me an elected member of the community. I don't believe that the taxpayers money is going to
059be well spent whether it's state or local school tax. I pay state tax too. that this is not a good use of taxpayer money. It might be. I mean, if if you follow battery technology, and I said this in the very beginning, is that Elon Musk is going to outpace this study, it's going to outpace Governor Hokll's want it in that battery and charging technology is advanced over the last two years. Incredible. I mean, you you if you were to have Elon here, he would tell you that that AI is going to self-drive buses and pick kids up. And that someday might happen, but that day is not today. So, a best use because overall the budget, this district cannot be placed in. It's going to have a lot of burdens placed on it over
060the next 10 to 15 years by by 2035. I will not be on the board in 2035. >> I wouldn't be here either. >> Right. So, but if but but if you're looking in long range planning, you have to have an understanding of what success of the district's going to be and with what's coming and the burden of our transportation costs, which are bigger than I'll put our transportation requirements up against anybody in New York State, right? and that we're going to get handicapped with technology that isn't going to meet our needs. A study that I I would deem as flawed just in its conception. It I just can't I I know I can't support it. Now, if we have to in talking with Tom earlier, if we have to check a box and say,
061"Listen, we've got to put this out to the taxpayers to vote on one bus, then then we'll do it." Because if we didn't have to check the box, there is no way that it would leave this board as far as I'm concerned. It just doesn't make sense. And and the bonding requirements and the overall money that it's going to take, it's just not going to be successful. >> I think it was FM. Don't hold me to that. >> It was a school. it was FM that they had a bus and when it got below 30 degrees they the time that it would hold a charge was diminished by 78%. And so what I don't want is if we end up spending and and that's what people say. Well, but there's grants out there, but it's
062still taxpayer money, right? Whether it's not school, a budget money, but they're still paying that money. And if they see that it's $5 million and those buses are on the side of the road, they're not working, they're going to look at us and say, "Why isn't my kid when's my kid going to get home?" And I'm gonna say to Chuck and to Jason, hey, uh if we have a diesel bus that can go pick them up in the cold to It's just that that is the worry I share in his concern. >> Yeah. Cuz cuz if you're not so if if if you're going to have to have it's not only electricity that's provided, but if you have a power outage, if all the buses are full with diesel fuel, you can still start them
063and go. But if at 2:00 at night, those buses lose their capability to charge. Unless you have an emergency power situation that understands that you've lost power, but all your buses still need to charge. So you're going to fire up this emergency generating system so that you will have a fleet that's able to go. So if not instead of snow, you know, snow day, you're going to have electric power outage day. >> Right. So it you're just it you're you're taking steps backwards and I don't think that the study looked at that. Right. >> Oh, absolutely. >> Right. So So when you lose power, I mean, I don't know about anybody else in the community, but it happens pretty regularly. you want to know >> go up on Salt Road and it happens all the
064time. So if you're planning on taking your bus home to charge in Salt Road, you're really asking for trouble. But it it and I I I put a little humor to it, but to me this is a this is the biggest thing that since I've been on the board that's come before it as far as financially decision making as far as how it relates to the district and and it it's it's a flawed plan and requirement right from the get-go. So to piggy back off what Steve is saying, we've been on the board the same amount of time, but conference after conference after conference since this mandate was even talked about. I would say 95% of what I've heard presented um talked about amongst peers, board member peers, superintendent peers, it's not feasible. It doesn't
065make any sense. And yet we continue trudging on and and [music] trying to you know require these plans that well it has you have to make it feasible and tell us you can do it when it's like okay well how much money and time and you know all resources are we going to put into creating this dreamscape that just in reality makes no sense whatsoever. I I just I I don't I can't make it make any sense. We've been vocal. The the whole board's been vocal. Tom's been vocal. You've been vocal. We've had Chris Ryan here. We've had I mean, we've talked to everyone and it seems like everyone agrees that it just doesn't make any sense. And so, I can't wrap my head around a group of people continuing to push this forward. It
066just it it doesn't make any sense. >> I do feel like we will see this change. I don't know. We'll see. >> I don't see how it I just don't see how it can't. >> I don't either. Um, you know, I was happy, as I told Steve, I was happy to see that they changed the I mean, it was another little thing, but they've got a grid that's strapped to the ends of its limits, right? And there's no power left and they're paying people to install solar to try to help, you know, offset some of these things and they're they're trying to do everything that they can, but it's like, how about we just pause? I mean, like Steve said, in five or 10 years, the technology is going to be so far advanced that
067it would require half the draw. You know what I mean? to and and the grid would have five or 10 years to expand if there's another nuclear power plant put in or what you know whatever the case may be. But it just seems like for whatever reason this flag has been planted and it's like we are the message seems to be we are not moving it. You just figure out how to get there. I don't care how much it costs. And it's like to the general public who's voting for these people. It's like this is all going to fall on our shoulders. I mean it's not just the district. It's us as taxpayers individually. I mean, there's the money's got to come from somewhere. So, I I I'm just It's incredibly frustrating >> like in
068[laughter] a Thema and Louise movie, right? We're we're screaming like >> it's a joke >> like we're screaming towards the cliff end that somebody needs to hit the brakes and just say and it's and it's okay to to say, you know, every every two years we revisit it and reanalyze it as long as somebody else is paying for it. Um, and then is it still viable? Well, I'm hardressed to go from 27% of their runs or 27 runs to 78. >> Exactly. >> I'm I'm not buying what that study is selling. I mean, because it it just isn't >> that's just a means to an end. >> Yeah. I I I know, you know, it it just And I'm I love clean air. I I love the whole concept of it, but we are it
069just doesn't make sense. >> But if it takes a diesel generator and diesel battery heaters on the buses, our footprint for fossil fuels is going to go up. I >> Right. >> I I just I I don't >> And I I tell this story all the time because I was I was in our, you know, our state board of education, you know, they they're doing a presentation on it in Buffalo and I asked, "Okay, so we go and we take our football team Yeah. and we we drive to Watertown. >> All right. So, so I says, "So, how how are you going to charge your bus when you get there?" And I'll never forget it. Another board member says, "Well, we're going to tow a diesel generator behind the bus >> to charge when we
070get there, >> right?" And it's like, "So, how about you just put the diesel fuel tank right on the bus and just leave it alone?" >> And I've I've told that story over and over again to our fellow citizens, and I always get the same reaction. You got to be kidding me. That's what that was their plan. And I go, it's not a bad plan >> If that's what's required, but it doesn't doesn't make any sense. >> I think bottom line is what should have happened is Hokll should have met with National Grid, planned all of that out and said, "Okay, here's the allocations. This is what's doable or not doable." But now they made schools not only in the food business and the clothing business, but also in the mental health business, but now
071in the in the electric business. >> Right. >> Understood. Yep. >> I mean, not for nothing, Moren. >> AI summaries. Oh, I'm sorry. >> No, not for nothing, but I mean, aside from all of this now that all of like the electricity rates have skyrocketed, I just keep thinking of long term, what is it going to look like for our district specifically with how much money we're going to have to spend on our national grid bill? I mean, maybe she did meet with National Grid. Maybe this was incentivized because otherwise we can't make it make sense, right? It just seems like there's got to be something benefiting somewhere and it isn't us. That's for sure. [laughter] >> So, the summaries of the plans obviously they each um are go back on top of each other
072and the last plan it's a successive. It builds upon the first one, the second one. Um it's obviously reflected advance it's reflecting advances in technology and planning sophistication that we don't quite know yet if it's going to be there. That being said, so what are we doing here? Basically, we totally don't know who's paying for it. If we would get building aid or state aid on the capital and project improvements that we're needing at the transportation center, transportation aid, we would get on the buses and NAERTA grants are available. Um, it is feasible if we have enough time and enough resources. Um, it does require voter approval. And one thing I want to say to the board is nothing goes out for voter approval unless it has board approval. So on the waiver is out
073right now and it has a grid of scoring. I sent it with Tom sent it to everybody last week last weekend. Um, we definitely I think score a three because the utility upgrades that are required are a problem. So that one we could answer no, we won't have the utilities available. We can score a three on that one question and that gets us the waiver. But there's an other factors category and I almost would like to say I don't know if you're remembering that you know because is voter um having the voters reject it turn it down is one of the questions which we don't we haven't done that so we don't have that in our pocket but I almost want to say you're forgetting that even before voter approval is board or I mean
074yeah voter is board approval and the board members are elected by the public and if they aren't going to put it on there we're never having a referendum that has Well, there's another tallech. >> No. Yeah. >> Is that learning curve? >> No. >> And the heaters. >> Yeah. And yeah, the mechanics are going to need training. Um, we don't know about battery life and replacement yet at all. We one thing we have I've changed on this slide is we do not need to replace our lifts. When they brought out the electric bus there last summer, they put it on our lifts and it was good. So we do know that at this point from two years ago. Um so we're talking about potentially putting one out for approval in December, but right now we're
075voting for diesel gas for the the proposition in May. >> That's all it is. was the last one out and it got shot down. >> Yeah. >> I haven't seen the district. >> No, in Mexico. Have they done it twice now, too? >> Yeah, exactly. So, that's basically what I have. >> We updated it. I've got Jason >> Chuck riding. Yeah. [laughter] >> But, um, >> well, this is all your fault. Moren and I just want to hold you accountable for it. >> I know. I know. >> So it So I just want to make sure that everybody understands that your our bus intent letter is diesel gas >> for tonight. >> One other question. You mentioned the waiver in the calculation and I did look some of that over, but it's an annual calculation,
076right? >> Nope. This is a one-time waiver. >> Um we have to submit it by March. >> One time for how long? >> Two years. for two years, >> which is why I asked Polar to do a two-year like push. Okay. >> So, because I'm assuming we're going to get a waiver, >> so we won't have to purchase them for two years. So, I asking them to change the study, which they basically said they'll do an addendum to it, but >> but that doesn't change the end date of when it's required to be 100%. So, we would just have to buy more buses in a shorter period of time. >> Y >> Well, not necessarily. we would just our fleet would go back to being less and not as up todate. >> Okay? So it
077would be longer 10 year buses or whatever. >> But the other thing too is they rumor is that don't even think about getting a second waiver if you didn't put a referendum out that got that didn't get >> that got turned down. >> Yeah. No, I I think we're as as as [clears throat] a board I think we're in a tough spot because we have to put it out because that benefits us in the long run. But I mean >> that's why we're not putting out the regular >> right but I think it's pretty clear at least with respect to Steve and I and you know everybody else can speak for themselves but that I just assume not put it out you know like I if it was me I don't want it I don't
078think it's a good idea I don't think it's good for the district but because we need that no vote to help with the scoring to get the waiver I I don't see how we cannot put it out so >> put it out and tell people look they'll look at things that I'm putting out hey we're putting this out vote No. >> Yeah. No, no, it's common sense. From the grid that I'm looking at the matrix, we will get >> a waiver >> based on the first one. And that's for >> So, is there talk of a secondary one? >> It just says it's the it says this is our first waiver, but um no, the >> rumor is that in order for people that got the first waiver to get the second one, the criteria
079and the points will go up and you can't even do it if you didn't put one out that got shot down. >> So, why? And again, you can't answer this, but just rhetorical question. >> I think they have to be changing this whole thing, >> right? Because how can why can't we just do >> doesn't make sense, right? I mean, there's districts out there that this makes perfect sense for, right? I mean, it it makes perfect sense for big cities. They have small runs, you know, they have a lot of time in between to charge, but I mean, again, we talk about the round table with Chris Ryan. He is on that side of the table. He talks to his peers all the time. And he was in disbelief as well. Like I don't understand
080how they're not considering the difference between a pro, you know, a small public school in an inner city area versus the biggest geographical district. How are we comparing them as if they're orange to orange? You know, it's like it's apples to oranges. It's a complete different environment here as it is in New York City. It just again, it it doesn't make any sense. So, I'm I'm hopeful that the waiver is just time for them to get their ducks in order so that they can actually have us do a feasible a feasibility study. That's a true feasibility study as opposed to how can we make this feasible, right? I mean, that's not a feasibility study. So, >> no, I get that. >> Yeah. Great. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Okay. Again, thank you, Moren. Um, on
081to item E. Could I get a motion for accept item E in its entirety? >> I'll motion. I'll second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor. Okay. On to item F, consent agenda. Could I get a motion to accept item F in its entirety? A >> motion. Good. >> Second. Any discussion? All those in favor. On to item G, student board reports. Let's hear your thoughts about electric buses. >> Oh, I I don't know enough to have a thought. So, [laughter] uh, well, today, uh, I know that Mr. Kalufa had talked to me a little bit about it earlier. Uh, some of our student government students and other just, uh, probably more students that volunteered, uh, went to all the elementary schools. They were broken up into two groups. I was in the group that
082went to a Cole Hastings and the middle school and then the other group went to Millard Hawk and Brewerton Elementary. Uh we acted out a little play to some of the students. It was around 5 minutes long. It was to get them excited for the new book called Toys that they're reading. Um it's going to be really good for all the students to interact about it and um just dive into it and learn the history from toys. And it was really good that we got to act it out for them to get them excited about it because they're going to be spending the next um I think it was around a month on it. And uh furthermore, we had a very successful DECA regional competition at Le Moy College before Christmas break. Uh we have
083around 15 students attending states in Rochester and regionals itself. We had over a hundred students from our school attending. So that was really great. And we had middle schoolers there. We've had middle schoolers the past few years, but we just continue to increase the amount of inschool uh middle schoolers we have. So that was really great. And uh yeah, we're really excited for that in March. To add on to the DECA thing, they are recently, rumor has it that they're going to be changing facilities of where they're holding the DECA conference just because all in total of um not just our district but other schools in the area. There are too many people coming to the DECA conference that they're going to have to increase the space that they have. Um regent week is coming
084up. Um, Boseies is holding clinical or any hours of any program um outside of Boseies so that they can increase the hours they have for whatever program they are in while school is out for those region stays. Um, we have some sports competitions coming up. Um, track meets, we have a basketball game tomorrow and we have Color Guard having their first competition in two weeks. Um we break break went well. Um a lot of sports activities were cancelled over break um because of bad weather, but thank goodness those aren't school days and we didn't have to lose any snow days. Um and end of marking period is coming up. So um we're making sure that we tell our fellow students that grades need to be in. >> Okay. Board members report. Um, I know Christy
085and I were both judges at TECA and it's I I'm a big one to have an understanding of feedback and I did entrepreneurship and I had a judge, a partner judge with me that was not a school teacher. He was he sold insurance and did financial planning. He has he had two daughters. Both of them are school teachers. So, he kind of got roped into doing it. and we had I think uh groups come through. I think there was six from Central Square. We weren't supposed to ask where they're from, but we did it anyways. Um but his comment to me was, "Oh my gosh, what a program and students you have at Central Square. >> Very well represented. Did a great job." He was super impressed by it. And I think, you know, when
086you get feedback like that, I think it really goes to show what the program is, uh, it's a validation of of your student body and what's going on here. Cuz it was it they just did a great job. I mean, they give a scenario. You got 10 minutes to come up with an answer and go in and make a presentation to two, you know, old boomers, you strangers. Um, I thought was just just fant. It was my first time doing it. And uh I really enjoyed it. And there was a lot of kids. Yeah. They need to they need to figure it out cuz there was there was a lot of kids. >> We were all over Le Moine. >> All over Le Moine. We took it over. It was crazy. But it well represented
087in it. It we had a great time. And then um and then the second thing that I'll do is I sent out the board members. I'd received um a letter from a resident about the new um if you're 100% disabled um being tax school tax wave. So if you veterans >> for veterans if you're if you're rated at 100% disabled. So I would have you take a look at that and then we'll develop a way to go forward. That is my understanding that is a board decision. So it it will be on on us. I think it um I'd like to have it considered, you know, one way or another, but maybe an open discussion about it uh within the next couple meetings might be uh warranted >> so I can answer it. So, >>
088and so for the people in the community, no, it doesn't mean it just goes away. It just falls on everybody else. >> Yeah. Well, we we can we can discuss I'll I'll put out an executive summary about it. what the things I'll make sure that uh our attorney does it so we have so we have an understanding of what we're going to do numbers wise moneywise because it doesn't it you don't get refunds back from the state it's it just puts uh uh more burden on somebody else. So more to follow on that is guess is what my my thing is anybody else. Okay Tom you're up. Yeah. And I don't want anyone to think that I was trying to sway either way with that. I just want everyone to know the full information. >>
089Yeah. >> That that surrounds that. Um, a lot of things that I was going to say, thank you that they did a great job and they mentioned that. Um, one thing that I I am excited about, um, Corey Whitney, uh, from the sheriff's office. I spoke with him today and they have not done a multi- agency active shooter training um, in a long time. and we know unfortunately that's something that's really important that they do and he wanted it to be at CSI for a week and they go fullon but he said it's kind of like airsoft nothing would damage anything he assured me on that um so I said 100% yes you know so that we have that building you know if something like this and they can all the multi- agencies and the
090EMTs can be able to work together to hone their their skill and and better their communication for, god forbid, a horrible thing it could would ever happen in our area, then I'm all for that. So, they're going to be working out the details on when that week would be uh over the summer in CSI. But, I just wanted to let you guys know that we have a great relationship with all of the different um you know, the law enforcement agencies. So, I did say yes to that. The weather was horrible uh over the break and you're right, we would have had probably two more snow days. Like legit snow days, not like when I watch the weather report and it's green grass and blue skies, like 3 ft of snow, horrible, white knuckle driving home.
091Uh yeah, pretty scary stuff. So, at least we didn't have to burn any vacation days. I'm happy that the weather is going to creep up into the 40s, so we won't be on the roof shave uh shoveling snow like last year. So, yeah. No, overall I loved going to the presentations to the elementary two elementary buildings into the middle school. They loved when you guys went over there. Um, and the really cool part is they all said, you know, what elementary they went to and whether if they were at Cole and they the students said, you know, I went to a Cole, the kids were just so excited to see that or when they were at Hastings and I heard it was the same thing at Brewerton. So, it's really cool that they're able to
092then look up and kind of emulate, you know, the role models that they will be doing those things and and that's why I love when you guys talk up DECA because everyone I talk to, it is one of our best programs and that when I [clears throat] talk to college admissions people and they they see DECA, their eyes jump right to that. So, great job. Thus concludes my report. [cough] >> Okay. Thanks, Tom. Can I get a motion for item H in its entirety? >> A motion. >> Get a second. >> I'll second. >> Earl, you can decide on the tie. Um, any discussion? All those in favor? And could I get a motion for item I adjournment? >> A motion. >> Can I get a second? >> I'll second. [laughter] >> Any discussion? All
093those in favor? It's a wrap. Thank you so much.