001What is what did we vote on last year? Last year it was a 4.23 which passed. We just went out with a 6.86. It fell. Right. And I understand Tom's concern because the difference between five and zero, right, is is huge. So, you know, if if it sways 20 voters to change from three to five, you know, like, and that's where Tom's I'm sure his concern is coming from. And you know, for me, I had a significant amount of disappointment with the amount of misinformation and, you know, misunderstood. And I don't I I I'm not saying anyone was doing it intentionally, whether they were or not. No one will know except them. But there was a lot of information that was being shared that was being um like cherrypicked and and it was very explainable
002and reasonable and it wasn't a product of extreme raises or anything like that. It was literally just person A moved from X to Y and therefore that budget line changed and that budget and it's so it's just it's incredibly frustrating. I I think we need to make sure that we get that information out out there. My concern being those as Tom just said those things aren't going to change. So, you know, the salaries are what they are and the raises I think for our contracts now across the board are are 4%. I mean, nobody's getting raises that are 13 or nine or whatever. It's it's it's 4%. And so it's competitive in the market. It's the market. And so again, you're you're going to these are negotiated things. It's not like, you know, we we
003just sit around this table and pick a number off of of a marker board and and throw it at the wall. It's it's it's a process and it's to stay competitive. And so those things can't change. The only things that we can change are optional programming and we can't cut salaries, but we can cut positions. And so, and and even there, Tom, we're restricted, right? Because there's a lot of positions in this district that are mandated by the state. Correct. All special ed ones are. The other thing, too, Chrissy, is I think it's important is there were a lot of parents that were posting on that forum going, "Oh my god, the admin unit got look at this line item." Here's the deal. Sometimes we have teachers and they have a horrible medical crisis and
004they're out for an entire year but they have sick days. We have an administrator that could be out for an entire year that to replace them especially for administrator salary and benefit. It's no less than $150,000. So to do that that what people don't know that they look at a line item and go wow look at that look at those rent. No it wasn't a raise. We had to operate that building. We had to hire a replacement. And so those are things that I think people run with and they're like, "Look at these rays." That's not that's not a raise. Right. Right. But but but I also think too that if if you know with with Moren's presentation, right, and she always gives the scenario what percentage we might get or what we traditionally get
005and if it's going to be a standard, you know, with the current, you know, uh state administration and and leadership that it's going to be 2% every year, then then that changes everything. And the district is going to have to be you, you know, because it's going to have to be streamlined. It's going to have to come to the realization that this is what we get and we're going to have to go because there's no way you're going to make up over time that 2% only right through the school tax roles. You're just not going to be able to make up that gap. So, it's going to be to me it's going to be a big reset as far as what the school uh is going to be going forward and what it's going to
006be offering and and and things. Boseies, right? Well, how many kids can go Boseies? But but trust me, in my own personal opinion, it's more important to go to Boseies than to have football team. It's more important to go to Boseies than it is to have a ba baseball team. More important. We're we're as as our fundamental reason for being here is education, right? Not for playing baseball, not for marching on a band. It if you could afford it, fine. But if you can't, there's nothing you can do. Kids have got to go to class. And if and if and if you're we're going to be affecting one of their pathways, it's nothing I'm going to support. So So um I guess the only other thing that I'm going to say is aside from all
007of the things everybody said about how unfortunate and disappointing that this result was, you know, if the 2% as you just said is for the state aid increase is going to stay. People need to realize as well, state aid is more than half of our budget. So when you're when you're increasing 2/3 of the pie, only 2%, right? You have to double the other third, correct? To make up what you lost on the other side, because 2/3 of the pie just went down 2% because if we normally get four and it went down to two. So now you got to have 4% more from that other third just to make men's meat. I mean, it's basic. It's basic math, but it's hard it's hard to understand and and you know, a few years ago when
008we did the zero percent, we were all, you know, it it felt good and we were thought we were doing the right thing, you know, but unfortunately all those dollars that we left on the table by not going two or three are gone probably forever. I mean, that was the effort here. We we wanted to give the public the opportunity to try to all right you saved the money then put a little extra in now try to bring us back and and that got voted down and now here we are debating whether we should go for three or four or five and it's like whatever number we pick all that money that's up to the t tax cap is on the table and gone forever and so taxpayers need to understand that that tax cap
009is there it's calculated based on what people think that the community can afford. I mean that it it's it's not a number that's picked out of the sky. It is that's what the government thinks that we should be contributing. It and and the thing about it is is that um I have met with Assemblyman Barkley. I have met with Sen, you know, Senator Ryan and we've written the governor um in our displeasure about the 2%. So that's where it needs to change. So, and that's where you know it you want to come out and vote for the budget. What you really need to be doing is when advocating to the politicians and voting them voting them out basically is what we're talking about. So, well, and in all fairness to them and I playing not
010necessarily devil's advocate, it's a reality. In the last four years, we've increased our taxpayer contribution what, Tom? 4%. Yes. In the last four years. Yep. And so the government's looking at us like, uh, you know, you got to you got to look at your taxpayers. You can't just keep expecting us to foot the bill every single time. I mean, it's taxpayer money either way you slice it. But, you know, if if if the taxpayers aren't willing to put more money on the table to put towards the education, then then the cuts are unfortunately what's going to happen. And if if this persists, the the cuts are the cuts are going to be major and severe and and probably long term. The community is going to have to understand and be patient, too, because the things
011that they've had over the past few years since you've been here, Tom, and helped promote our district. Those things are not going to be available. So, they will need to be um understanding of the situation. So, you know, the weekends, uh, with coming in on a Sunday, we aren't paying overtime for janitors. We aren't, you know, all of that stuff. And this is what happens when, you know, the budget goes down. Everybody's got to tighten their belt. No, I think you all hit the nail on the head. We if everything we're hearing is that safe harbors we're going to be at 2% in the community is really saying we can stomach two or 3%. Then really what we're what they're saying is this is the type of program that you can afford. And so when
012we look at different we have the best business department deca sending chaperones to Orlando. There's gonna have to we're gonna have to operate and reset based on the standard that the community is saying this is what we will support and the community has spoken and so so that's what we have to look at and make cuts accordingly. So, can I get a, you know, a not a consensus that we need to be in the three to three to 5% range for them to look at? Yeah. Well, look at it first. I mean, to to Lor's point, look at it. Yeah. three to three to five in that range I think is is fair as a goal for them to or or even consider like here's here's this the cuts that get us to five and
013here's the cuts we'd have to make if we go to three and then we can have a conversation about and then be prepared and then I would say be prepared for zero because that that to me is the selling point you know is I as I've said internally is is you know be careful what you ask for because you just might get it. Yep. So, so what I hear you guys saying is that have scenarios ready. If it's a contingency 0% and we have to make up almost 2.3 million, these are what all the cuts would look like. If we went out at 3%, these are what all the cuts would look like. If we went out at 4%, these are what the cuts would look like. Correct. Okay. I think that you know how
014they helping the public understand that the cuts are going to start was like extracurricular because we're not cutting curricular and These kids need to be successful first. We're going to start at the bottom with all the fun stuff whether it hurts or not. I'm a sports parent. It sucks to say that, but the kids need those things. They need their teachers. Right. Well, one of the unfortunate realities of that, and again, I don't necessarily disagree. That's probably where we need to start, especially all the optional programs and the extra teams and all that kind of stuff that we've done to try to get kids more involved and more, you know, excited about coming to school. And we all know the data, the attendance, the grade point average increases, all that stuff. So, you know, that's
015why there was the push. That's why the mental health push, that's why the social workers, the counseling, all that kind of stuff to try to help all of these people and all of the kids kind of recover and and you know, all that extra COVID money that had we had if we had it now, we wouldn't be in this situation, you know, and and why is that? Well, CO happened. Yes, it happened three years ago, but the co problems aren't gone. I mean, they're far from they're far from fixed. You know, kids are still regressed. The behavioral issues are still there. Um, so, you know, the money's gone, but the problems remain. And so, we're going to have to have be real creative in how we address that. And I do I do don't want
016people to walk out of this meeting going, "But I didn't hear them talk about administrators." So, I really need people to understand we're not administrator heavy. So everybody sitting at that table, including myself, I'm also the McKini Vento officer that takes phone calls up until 9:00 at night and on the weekends. That's a full-time job in itself. And I do all the hearings for the district that saves about 125,000. So when you look at those things and our our administrators, our principles and our assistant principles, they're exhausted at the end of every day. They're running constant. any given time they're doing three different investigations. Whether it's alleged bullying, kids bringing drugs to school, um kids, cell phone stuff, uh vaping, flushing vapes down the toilet, we can only let two in the bathroom at a
017time, all of that stuff. They are exhausted. And so when you look at those things, I don't want people to think, well, I didn't hear him talk about administrators there. We're not administrativeheavy district by any means. If you look at other districts our size, they have far more administrators than we do. And we're not complaining about that, but that's something that I think needed to be said is that we are working 10hour days. Everybody at that table right there is. And you all Yes. Yep. I didn't vote for the cuts. I just put that on record. Anything else? Make a motion to adjurnn. Oh, he's got to finish. Um Moren was asked me to just say could we do 12 to 9 instead of starting at 8. Yes. Oh for the hours. Yes. So what
018Moren I just wanted she is at the hospital with her mom. That's why she's not here. But what Moren wanted me to say was they were exhausted. Right. So we saw that in all of the uh the locations. We had people calling in that they couldn't come in and we just want to make sure that there's no mistakes. Right. Just to be clear when you say they, we're talking about the pole workers. The pole workers district. No, the it's the pole workers were literally exhausted. And that was from 8:00 to 9:00 at night because it used to be from 6:00 in the morning to 9 at night and they'd have to get there at 5. But even doing that, the longer that they're there, the more a chance for error. And and that's why Moren
019wanted to say some districts it they don't even start till noon, right? And they close at 9:00. I don't want to do that. But she was looking to see if there's any way to get a little bit of reprieve there for the hours because the poll the certified pole workers are just struggling. I don't have a problem with that. I don't either. Can I ask a goofy question? How many people compared to you know believe it or not this board this this election pro you broke it down and there were didn't because no but when I was calling for updates substantially evening that was a rule or what but to me if right you know because I don't really no there really weren't it started really at 9:00 they started to start pouring in. You're
020talking a 9 hour day 12, right? Because most people, right, mo most people came after work, correct? Or if they don't work, they came at any time during the day. Yep. 12 12 to 8. 12 to 8. It's It's Ry's parting gift. Wait, I think they don't they have to go to 9 or No, his parting statement. Some close at 8. You're right. Some close at 8. You're right. Yeah. So, so 8. Some close at 8. And it's not a rule that it has to stay to 9. Well, when you think about it, if they go to 9, they're past 9:00, right? They don't get out of there until We didn't get out of there until 10:00 last night. Okay. You're You're being Yeah, you're being kind. The only so the only the only concern
021about that is if if it's an eight hour swing, anyone that goes to work around that time won't be able to vote if you think about it because if it's they can't if it like people that go to work at 11 or 12 o'clock in the morning won't be able to get to the polls, you know, if they work an 8 hour day. If it's only eight hours, it doesn't give like for instance people that work at 10 until you know six might go to the polls now at 8 or nine on their way to work and like you getting home having to get the kids do all your stuff, get to the games, do all that. I I just worry that that having only an eight hour window it might make it hard to
022have that be at the front or the back of What if we went 10 to nine at night? But that's it's less but it's less because it's not 8 to 9. But is that because somebody was saying they wanted it to start at noon? 10 to 8, right? Yeah. 10 to eight. Like a 10 like that's a 10hour window. So at least they should be able to go on one side or the other if they work in that area. I just I don't want anybody to think that we're trying to manipulate something to change. And that's why 8 hour window makes me nervous because if that's right when they're working, they can't. No. And I don't want Yeah. I don't want that either. And is there is there absentee ballots and stuff available for this
023if we do a revote? I believe so. Early mail available. Okay. And they could do that. Okay. All right. So, we're It's 10 to 10 to 8, which means they got to be there 9 to 9 anyway, right? Yeah. It's better than 10, right? No, I agree. I I think it sounds great. Okay. Okay. Anything else we got to do, Pearl? This had a tough couple days. You looked at the revoke calendar. Yeah. So, we'll have to have a uh public hearing board meeting on the 2nd of June 2nd. No, it's a new one. June 2nd, you adopt the budget. The new budget. The next day, the legal notice must uh be published. Oh, the Oh, public hearing is on the 9th. Okay. All right. So, there's two there's backtoback meetings. Yep. It's like the
024days of Andy. Um, okay. Remember Andy, we used to have meeting every two weeks today. Yeah. And then the vote is the 17th. The vote. No, I think collectively as a board we have a work. Yeah. What happened? Turn on your mic. And I think we're obviously we're the ambassadors for the community. I think this is our opportunity to uh streamline things and and and really find where we can uh you know obviously working with Tom common ground. Yeah, the common ground for sure. But I also like you guys are talking priorities. You don't want the pathways cut. Bose seas is a pathway. You don't want us to say no to any of the you know 176 kids. Okay. So that's an that's a lot of money. So that I mean that's where millions are
025going into all of the kids going to Boseis. So that just means on our and I agree with you. I love that pathway. We're just going to have to get really creative depending on what we go out with to be able to hit that number. Yeah. Or you know look at the college courses. And Tom, can I interject? So as we're working right because we've been working today for this. Are there any other priorities that you guys are saying no so that we know not to add to our our thing so that because that's a big one that we may have been talking about earlier today and so we'll remove that. So are there any other things that the board is saying we do not want to touch this so that we know what your
026thoughts are so we don't as we work this out. Not not for me. To me, you gota, you know, it it if Dave was here, I'm sure I'd be talking about zero balance or zero budget build is that you start at zero and then you work up. What are your fundamental things, your contracts, your lights, your things, and then what's left over and and I, you know, I I know my phone's going to probably start ringing now, but I I'd rather have a kid learn how to weld than learn how to swing a tennis racket. 100%. Okay, that's and I guess so the only caveat that I will add to that is and I don't know that there are any in existence right now but if there are students that we are paying to go
027to Boseies and they have attendance issues or they're not utilizing that opportunity in the way that they should then we should not be sending those or don't pay for it paying for someone to or not go. Yeah. And we don't cut third grade reading scores. That's right. Nothing curriculum for me to start with. I mean, that's I think we should start at the bottom. Well, unfortunately, I you know, all the extra reading tutors and reading programs and all that stuff that we added during COVID, I don't know if we can sustain that um anymore, which that's not that it's to me that's curriculum. But these were all things that were done extra to help and right and we were taking leaps and bounds and trying to improve and become more of a premier district. And
028the problem here is now we're going to have to go back and see what we can preserve. we're not going to be able to take those leaps and bounds anymore. I think essentially the hardest thing is all of the things we added during the pandemic, but things that we realize we can't do without. I don't think any parent's going to say, "Yeah, get rid of a police officer." We didn't have all of them before the pandemic. I don't think anyone's going to say, "You know what, Tom, before you came there, there were no counselors at the elementary." The trauma that we see a growing number of the I see every CPS report. We can't we can't we we can't get rid of those counselors. So it's like the state we were shut down whether we
029liked it or not and there were a lot of issues. So we created all these positions that are very expensive. So now we have to look at all of those and say we would love to keep different positions but the priority I heard this board say before safety got to have the police officers got to have the counseling supports. So inevitably the only way to be able to make up you know even a million dollars that's that's essentially that's 10 teacher salaries right? And I'm not saying we're cutting 10 teachers, but I'm saying if we're going to get to that point, we can hit all the lowhanging fruit, the second modified teams and all that stuff, and see where that shakes out and have something prepared for you at the next board meeting to be
030able to say, "This is where we're at." Okay. All right. Sounds good. Anything else? Can I get a motion uh for adjournment? I'll motion. I'll second. Any discussion? I'll list some in favor.