001Call this meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board of education approves personnel items 4 through 7. Motion. We have a second discussion. All in favor? I. Any >> opposed? resolved that the board of education approve the minutes from the December 15th, 2025 regular board meeting. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I opposed. 5-0. Resolve the board of education approve the minutes from the January 5th, 2026 special board meeting. May I have a motion? >> So move Bonnie. >> Second. Mary Joe. >> Any discussion? All in favor?
002>> Any opposed? 5 Z. Any amendments to the agenda? >> Okay. Resolve that the following consent agenda items be approved. 8A cse and CPSSE recommendations and nine A throughJ financial reports. May I have a motion? >> A second. >> Second jail. >> Any discussion? All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? 5 Z. We have a special uh recognition. Um, I don't know that we're presenting anything, but fourth grader Luke Jablonsky is the only Western New York child in 9U chosen for the All-American Football Championship game in Dayton, Florida. Congrats, Luke. Correspondence. Doesn't look like it. We have a special budget presentation. >> It's not special. >> Seen it. It's great. >> Always special. You're good now. You're in control. >> Good. Okay. >> Okay. So, the first thing we're going to take a look at
003is just the first draft of the tax levy for 2627. Um so, first draft is looking like it's going to be 3.68% um increase from year to year. That the net increase um on the levy is an additional $331,000. This amount does fall within our allowable formula and it does not require a supermajority vote. Um, I know it's been discussed in the past on what uh going over the tax cap would be. Uh, as rough numbers, an additional 1% on our levy would be about $90,000. And that anything above that would require that super majority of the 60 60% vote. >> So, this is the 2% we talked about it. We're going to stay there, but it is something that we probably should start talking about as we continue to move forward. Uh we just
004got our first aid runs last week. I know it's always super fun to try and see this. Um but we did get the very very generous 1% increase in foundation aid which for us is $75,000. So we have an additional $75,000 on our foundation aid. The other big increase where you see that year-to-year change of $475,000 um was an additional 200,000 in UPK funding. UPK funding is is money in, money out. It's not something that we can kind of stockpile for other purposes. So, it's what we spend is what we get back. Um, so when we look at other slides, you'll kind of see that UPK number backed out of the total of state aid, which is what we always do. The other slight increases in aid, you see some increases in our transportation aid.
005We did have a very significant um first student contract last year, so obviously that netted us a little bit more aid. And then the last project, HH21, that aid is starting to hit next year. So that's why you see that small increase in building aid. And Bosey's aid, again, one of our expense driven aids. We spend the money at Boseies, we get a so that's kind of the the bigger categories where you see that um amount be made up. >> Um continuing just to look at and be aware of foundation aid and our status as a safe harmless district. So again, we're getting that 1% $75,000, but the amount of Save Harmless that the district continues to receive is 1.7 almost $1.8 million. So when we look at the next slide, um what we should
006be getting per the current existing formula [clears throat] is about $5.7 million. So we're just continuing to see that gap widen between what we're entitled to and what we're actually receiving. again for how many districts are safe harmless throughout the state. Um I don't anticipate that we'll see kind of that scare that we saw last year where she threatened to take all of our safe harmless away. >> 600 500 >> the majority of the districts are safe. >> This election year they won't take away. >> Exactly. >> Um it's it's also just a really challenging thing to plan and budget for because we can't accept less state aid less foundation. Even if we wanted to say, "Oh, we have so much in reserves. We have all this other extra money. We're going to increase the
007tax levy." We don't want this extra foundation aid because we don't want to be vulnerable in the future. We will get it. The state gives us that eight no matter what. So, how do you budget appropriately when you're continuously getting more money than what you're entitled to? So, always the balancing act. >> So, this is the first pass at our revenues, our anticipated revenues for next year. So just looking at the first line is inner fund transfers. So our inner fund transfers are things like our capital outlay. Um well then we front that $100,000 we get back our building aid. But the other two interfund transfers that are a part of this are um supporting food service. So right now that number is about $20,000. As we continue to be C and as our program
008continues to improve, [cough] we believe that [clears throat] program will start to be self- sustaining. So that's just a first estimate right now. um budgeting $20,000 to support food service if needed. The other amount of that is we have to pay our 20% for special ed summer programming. So whatever our total costs are, the district is obligated to pay the 20% and then we get the rest back in our title, not our title, our 611 and 619 grants. So those are the contributions from the general fund that go into other funds. Um, looking at reserves right now, uh, probably anticipating using some from unemployment from our unemployment reserve, our ERS, and possibly Ebler once we get a better idea of possible retirements. Um, we haven't had any conversations yet on fund balance just because it's
009a little too early. Miscellaneous revenues are things like our scrap, our interest earnings. Um, I did do a little bit a tiny uptick in that just because we did just complete the borrowing for the capital project. So, we'll actually have a little bit more money to invest even though interest rates are going down. Um, so I'm hoping that that will kind of help stem that that bleeding uh property tax levy. We've already reviewed sales tax. I think right now it is fair to keep that flat year to year. And then state aid we already saw on the aid run. And again, the reason that's an 11 number instead of the 12 on the aid run because it has that UPK 400,000 backed out of it. Our vehicle proposition for this year will include two diesel
010buses. Um, one is the regular bus, one has the wheelchair apparatus adaptation to it. Um, we will be able to next year submit the waiver for the electric buses. Um it does have a very strict rubric from the state. So part of that we do have our study. Um we our biggest thing that we can hang our hat on right now is that the buses don't currently exist for the majority of our runs. However, will that still be true a year and a half from now? It's hard to say. Um and that will not be enough to get the waiver from the state. So, some of the things that we might have to consider um is putting out a vote and if that goes down that could is something else on the waiver that on
011the waiver rubric that could be considered um or showing actual progress towards something like a couple of charging stations, things like that. So, just a lot of conversations to have with that. That waiver can be submitted at the end of March of next year. So, that would be March of 27. with the understanding also some other schools may have these buses right and they have to charge them when they come here for our sporting athletic events etc. And that's what >> we have to show that we're >> and I can get that. I can send that out to everyone. Just the rubric for the electric busing waiver. We've had our study which is fantastic. We're ahead of the game in that sense, but it's not that piece of it is just not going to be
012enough. It's not going to be enough to say we have no money. It's not going to be enough to say the community doesn't want it. We're going to have to have some actual evidence or um >> they they don't have a bus that can do a run. So, what happens? Yeah. You think they're going to have it in one year? >> A year and a half from now. It starts. >> They're not. >> No, we're going to have to go through the motions. We'll have to do the vote. We'll have to >> keep writing your senator. >> You have to do what? There's a bill on the community. We're >> repealing the act. >> Can we do that now and get it over with? >> Are you sending an extension outside? >> I don't know.
013We we have no letter of intent to purchase any kind of >> That's the other proposition we will have is to establish a new capital reserve. Um I recommend going for a 10-year capital reserve. It just gives us a little more flexibility with our project planning. Um and funding that up to $2 million. We could, you know, certainly say whatever number we want. I think 2 million over 10 years, a million every five years is reasonable. Um, it would keep if we keep on our current schedule, a million dollars from the capital reserve currently got us a $12 million tax neutral project. Obviously, rates and things like that change, but that I think are safe estimates to use moving forward. Um, and we also have to authorize the transfer of the remaining funds of HH21
014to the new reserve. And that's just about $5 to $8,000 of leftover interest once the project started. So, we just need authorization to move that. So, all we're really going to do this year is get a vote hopefully passed to establish the reserve, not to fund it because we're not in that position yet. We'll do that moving forward, but we need to at least have one open. Okay. So, people understand that they have um so a lot of next steps. So, finalizing the tax cap calculation now that we had our ban closing last week for the project. So, we'll have an updated debt schedule that'll go against the the tax cap. continuing to have those budget projections with all of the supervisors and administrators, reviewing our reserves and our fund balance. Um, reviewing Bosey's contracts.
015We had our first participation meeting for Erie 2 Boseies, which was the bulk of our budget a couple weeks ago. Our Eerie 1 budget, which is mostly tech, was supposed to be on Monday. Um, but we obviously weren't here to do that. But Jason, uh, Christopher and Austin and I met to review the draft that I think will be in good shape. That meeting is rescheduled till March 5th. Um the plan is to have the first total expenditure budget presented to the board next month. Um as well as audit committee, second draft in March and the adoption can be in April, but also just as a reminder, the budget can also be approved earlier at the board's discretion. >> And Britney and I really would love to shoot for March if it's at all possible.
016We have all our numbers and ducks in the row just to be ahead of the game a little bit there. I will see >> the budget vote. Um, so first the budget hearing is going to be May 5th here in the library. The budget vote is Tuesday, May 19th, and we will have two uh seats open on the [snorts] board of education. And that is it for now. Any questions for me? >> Special presentation. >> It's great. >> See, it was special. Yep. >> All right. Uh any privilege of the floor? >> No. Had to ask. Um administrators and supervisors reports and we're also going to have Grace go at the end of the administrator so she can share her information with us at a little bit better time in the meeting. >> All right.
017Hello. Nice to see you. Uh so we are working to find our momentum at the elementary school since we got back from the new year. just having some days off, but we're um keeping focused. We actually completed our I Ready middle of the year diagnostic benchmarking. So, this is where all of our students participate in an online diagnostic for reading and math. We then use that data to really uh drive instruction, identify where are our kids in comparison to other students that are normed across the entire country. Okay. So, um just for a quick snapshot, I will uh throw the images and the data together for an update for you, but overall reading K through 4, we started out with um at the beginning of the year, tier 1 with um at 29%, we're now
018at 55%. So, that's fantastic. Tier 2, we started out at 56%. We're looking for that number to go down, right? Students who need more help, that went from 56% to 35%. And then tier three, our most neediest students, we um started off with 15% and we are now at 9% for reading. So that data is moving in the right direction. Obviously still work to do here mid year. Overall snapshot for math again at tier 1 we started at 9%. We're like okay we have some work to do. Already up to 33%. We're excited about that. Tier 2 started at 70% now at 61. And tier three our most neediest students in math. We started at 21% and we're now at 6%. So this tells us that our tier one instruction with differentiation, right? How are
019we supporting students in the general education classroom, meeting them where they are, it's according to this nationally norm data, we're moving in the right direction. >> I think that your media students have made significant progress. >> Yes. Uh this week we're welcoming back the Erie County Library Bookmo. Hoping that a bumper doesn't fall off or that the weather allows them to come. We're excited about that. And our fourth graders are participating in the National Assessment of Education Progress. So that's the NAP. It's done by uh every two years in fourth, 8th, and 12th grade. Holland was chosen. 5,000 schools. We are um chosen to represent rural America. So we're excited about that. Um all of our fourth graders will participate and it's random. Some will participate in the reading, some will participate in the math.
020It is voluntary. should take 70 minutes for most of them and the assessment will stop at 120 minutes. It's computer-based and they will send representatives to us and they actually administer everything. Our teachers just remain in the room as a level of comfort and support for our students. So, I'm excited about welcoming them on Thursday. Any questions for me? All right. Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat] >> How's it going? Good evening. Uh Scott Vindamman. Um privilege to be in front of you all for the first time as the hall middle school principal. Um >> that need to show up for work. Scott's been here nine days. First day snow day. [laughter] Then he had a holiday. Then he had a snow day. Then he had another snow day. So we really appreciate you being
021here. >> I've been told there's a little bit of magic so far in the start of my tenure here. So So it [laughter] >> you're the snow day king. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's been very interesting though. So, so like the momentum for the students, same thing for me. Momentum is it's been good though. Let me tell you, um like I like was said, it's very unique start having the first day have a snow day starting on a Friday. Then there was a holiday and then there was another snow day. So, it started again. But it's really been a joy to get to know the students and the staff. um really trying to walk around the halls, get to meet all of the students, um talking to all the staff members uh before class, after class,
022just trying to get a handle on everything that's happening at the middle school and get to know the people that are there. Um and and let me tell you, I came back to the building level because I wanted to that feel with the students and and one thing I will tell you is that that your students here are amazing. It's been a joy uh the last a little while there just to get to know some of the students here. So, it's been a lot of fun for me getting back into the the building level for that. Um, one thing I've been able to do too, especially it being kind of the end of the market period. I've been able to get into the team meetings and learn more about things that are happening with each
023individual student. if we have students that we have more needs. Um that's been a a opportunity for me to be able to get in, sit down and talk to the teams about things that are happening with kids across the different content areas. Um, since we started the I'm starting at the conclusion of one mark period, I think there's there's an advantage there because one thing that I'm getting to see as we're kind of uh putting together the data when it comes to just their performance um in the content areas, but also like the social emotional components um the information the the teachers have gained um over the course of the last two quarters um to be able to learn about the students. So they're passing that on to me and I think as a team
024we're able to come up with some unique solutions for kids u moving forward. So I think that's an advantage to starting at this point um versus the beginning of the year because you already have that data put in. Um some highlights I just wanted to share with you. Um one an additional thing that I've really put at the forefront um of of things that I've been trying to do as I've entered into the middle school has been getting to see the extracurricular activities. Um so I put out an email I asked about extracurricular activities. many people who were able to invite me to their meetings. Um just today I went to um there was a a meeting with both um the science club um the STEM club as well as um the art club and
025they were doing paperiermâché volcanoes. So it was the start of that and it was really cool to see both groups coming together and you know be able to show the creative side as well as the content side when it comes to you put this chemical into here and all of a sudden going to explode. So that was neat there. That's a two-eek project. So, [clears throat] the first one started today and it will continue into next week. Um, another highlight I want to share with you, the CBT testing simulation and math for grades five and six will take place next week on February 4th. Um, our team's hard to work trying to prep for that. Emma Buckley as well, just really trying to work to make sure all of those accommodations are set up and
026students are ready to take it. It's about 40 minutes total and we're going to be using both the the home room and the first period to do that. not quite the same as what they have for their their general um test, but a simulation nonetheless. Um so we'll see that for next week. Um and just an event update for all of you. Um the eighth grade moving update, which was really scheduled for Wednesday, June 24th at 6:30, it's going to be rescheduled um for uh Tuesday, June 23rd. Uh same time, 6:30. Communication will go out to all the families again. Um, and I'll have multiple um, reminders that will happen from between now and the end of the school year. That's what I have for today. Any questions for me? >> All right. Thank you
027so much. >> Thank you. >> All right. Hello to everybody who I didn't see before. Mr. [laughter] >> Um, I want to start off by congratulating a couple of our students. Um, each year the Western New York Federation of Women's Clubs sends us uh packets to do some writing um uh like a writing contest. And so this year they had a creative writing contest. Uh our our teacher uh Miss Schneider, Heather Schneider, she had her students submit work for it or creative writing. Um Rowan Rosowski, one of our seniors, he won second place in the poetry for his poet or his poem called A Familiar Tide. Uh Ryan House Houseour, another senior, got third place uh for his poetry called Tea Time. Tea as in sipping tea, not golf. Um Andrew Bull won third place
028in the uh short story category with his story titled Farm. And Katarina, our student who is here from Ukraine, she got honorable mention in the short story category as well called Friend from Ukraine. Um these students won gift, I believe they won gift cards. Um so there was a monetary prize that was associated with it. Um so that's really cool for them as well. And then we did have student um we did have students uh enter their work into the young writers club to be published in a book called um for this year's book called integers stories inspired by numbers. Um some Samara Whitcom was able to get her book published in there or her story published in there which is really awesome. Um and so our teacher Miss Schneider has been amazing in getting
029um kids interested in this stuff. Um, some other things I want to thank Steve Q for all his time here. He rerired on Friday. Um, and so Allison Bo is now our new teacher. She'll be approved later today as our permanent teacher. Um, so she started today in a middle school um, tech room teaching a high school class, but then she's here the rest of the day. Um, so thank you to her and Steve. Um, senior trip is coming up at the end of the week. So that we have all but about six seniors going on it. So they're really excited for that. Hopefully the weather allows them to get there, but it should be a nice um trip for those who want to go skiing and some other plenty of other activities that they're
030going to be doing. Um that'll end or that'll be a good way to start the second semester. So, we just finished the semester on Friday, so we're halfway through the year and Grace will tell you as a senior it flies by. I'm sure you're already halfway. Um I am going to be participating in some regionalization meetings uh with Kathy on sharing different things with schools, classes, and other things. So, those are starting to come up. Um, we also have a dance next Friday, our winter twirl will be coming up and we're hoping um maybe next week or possibly the following week. I'm trying to get a hold of someone in the um Holland Snowmobile Club to see if we can get like a groomer here to do a drive your snowmobile to school today. We
031allow students to drive their snowmobiles to school every day that the trails are open, but we wanted to have like an actual day where we could get a picture with everybody there because right now it's just like one or two kids that are coming each day. Um, I know Eden only has a day that they do it, so they that's where we got the idea with the groomer, but since we do it every day, we wanted to just make it one uh significant day, unlike the driving tractor school day, which only happens once. Um, but the trails, I was out on them this past weekend. They've been great. Um, and I'm going to try and get my sled here. I told the kids I got to leave at like 6:00 a.m. to drive here, but
032I'm going to do it. I got to plan ahead, get my clothes here the day before so I don't stink like two-stroke, but um so we're trying to get that. The kids are really interested in doing that. Um so that'll be coming up in the next week or two as we plan for it. >> Only the middle schoolers >> only the high schoolers can ride their snowmobiles. Y we haven't ventured into middle schoolers riding technically. I don't know in the safety course what age that is. Is it >> 13. So that's on the cusp of 8th grade. I would say probably no because the trail is a little far down the road to the middle school um down 16 compared to getting off right at the high school down at the the Legion. >> Oh,
033the stock market game. Well, you can present that. That'll be um so yeah. So that it'd be interesting to see that in the middle school, but I would just say for safety reason on 16, I would want them plus the groomer can't get down 16. So the mogulos are pretty bad to the gas station and then beyond. Um, but the high schoolers are going to are going to try and try and do that. Any questions for the high school, right? Grace has some other exciting news. >> Should I go Can I go now? >> Yes, please. >> Um, yeah. So senior year is going very well. Um, it's definitely been that fast. Um, I think like this year there's only like a handful of seniors not going on the senior trip, which is really exciting.
034And I think we're all end up being really grateful that instead of like going on a more expensive trip, we could go on a more affordable option and we can all go. Um, and then the exciting news is the um, economics class just wrapped up and now we're starting participation in government. And in economics, we all participated in the stock market game, which is kind of like we're just mocking like um trading stocks. And my group, which is me, Ian Zech, and Spencer Sinno, got second in the whole state, which is really exciting. >> Um check every morning. >> Yeah, it changes so quick. >> Like, wow. >> He did most of the work, too. [laughter] >> Well, at least he did some. He's not great at housework. >> Um, so that was really exciting.
035Another fun thing we did, um, we needed 15 hours of community service to graduate. And one opportunity we just had was, um, elementary schoolers came or kindergarteners came into the high school and then seniors got to come in and read to them. Um, that was a lot of fun. We all got some community service for it. And yeah, that's it. So, I'll add that they were they placed um team tab [cough] they were called. Team TAB placed first in all Western New York um in this game and they were second out of over 1,400 school teams that played. >> Pretty cool. >> Um they they with the with the fake money. It's too bad it wasn't real money. Oh, >> is that really? >> They went from 100. They started 100,000 and they were able
036to earn um $67,000 in the time that they they were participating. And it's Mr. Schmidt said it's the best result he's had out of 20 years doing it. >> We should talk. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Emma couldn't be here tonight. I told her it was okay. So, you know, she didn't have um anything else for me to share with you. Britney, >> one thing. She just gave it all to >> I just have a few things that I didn't put in my off day. I told you about driver in my update. We're just finalizing some details. Um I told you Dr. Rosol passed away. He was a former superintendent here in Holland and also in Hamburg. Um the weather has been crazy as you know. The hard part is like they said and I
037just saw some teachers I was talking to in the middle school. you know, they just get back from break, try to settle down, get into a groove. We're off. We're off the holiday now. We're off. So, it's been a little dicey. Um, but, you know, we'll figure it out. And then we have five break. So, you know, it's it's hard. It's just hard to be consistent. Um, Scott told you the pumps have been freezing on and off over the weekend. So, that's been a problem as well. We are getting new seals though for the the underground. They have those caps, right? And I guess the seals have failed, so they're ordering some new ones for them, too, because I guess freezing there as well. Um, they couldn't even get in the building a couple of
038times, like swipes at the garage. So, it was it was cold and cold this morning as well. We are interviewing tomorrow for transportation supervisor, fingers crossed, and then Bonnie and Mary Joe and I will interview Tuesday, I think the second. Y >> um so hopefully that will go well. Um we are down two drivers, one out and one gone. And um we have one that's going to be taking a test next week hopefully. Um that'll go well. Um Jay is out. We knew he was going to be gone in February. So you may find me over a scratch. Um we'll figure it out. We'll be good. It'll be me or Britney or somehow together we will figure it out. Um >> the blood, right? He's he's he's he's helping um the mechanics to kind of
039know like the things he does in the morning when you know we have to reroute or do you know change drivers or do whatever they've staggered their schedules like they used to be years ago. Um so um Britney and I are going to go up there on Friday and get a little oneonone on what maybe we don't know you know that we should know and make sure we have access to telephone numbers and you know drivers and the routes and everything else. So we should be good. Um, I have to say for Jess, the cafe she told me is fully staffed finally. It's like a first, like fully staffed. Um, and to Britney's credit, um, you know, our finances may be um, tight, but we have no designation on the fiscal stress monitoring. Um, we
040were upgraded. We don't really understand the system because it's minus aa, but anyway, >> we went from A+ to minus double A. >> Yeah, it's we whatever. But it's good. It's better. Okay. Um, and we borrow because our credit rating is so good at like just under 2.5. I don't remember exactly what the number was. So, those are all great things. Um, and other than that, um, it's just been a little busy and I know everybody saw this, but I'm going to show it again and she might take it and have you sign or you want her to sign yours. Sorry. Um, you know, they did this for every school, but I I will tell you, and I'm not just saying that because you're This is one of the nicest ones because I saw them
041all. Um, and they do get strategis has them all out for all of their components, so people, you know, other people see them and take them, too. So, um, they think they're wonderful, by the way. So, I think that's it. >> What if we took the capital money? >> No lie. Greece, right? needs to really start doing this. >> Might have something to say about that. But [laughter] >> I know. I know. That's what I said to Ian. I go, I don't know. It might be gambling for the district. >> Either have you been going to >> mechanical engineering like I think you missed your calling. >> She's going to be a nurse. You got it right in front of you. >> You could find her. >> No, I know she's going to be a
042nurse, but she just won. Did she not? >> No. No. She >> Well, maybe when you get into it, you might think about it. [laughter] >> Right, Bonnie? >> Bless your child. [laughter] >> You'll do anyway. Great. >> All right. Thank you. Um, resolve that the board of education authorize Mary Hill to attend the NISBA lobby day, February 11th, 2026. They have a motion. I'll >> move Kelly. >> Second. Russ. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Any opposed? 5 Z. Resolve upon the recommendation of superintendent of schools that the board of education approve the following merge sports with East Aurora Union Free School District for fall 2026. Field hockey, football, boys volleyball, cheerleading, and girls swimming. May I have a motion? So move Russ second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I.
043>> Any opposed? 5. Uh this is for the approval of the uh health and human services agreement. Be it resolved that the board of education of the Holland Central School District does hereby authorize health and welfare services agreements with the following school districts for the 2526 school year. Uh Frontier Central School District, two students at $1,9816 each for a total of $2,196.32. I have a motion. >> So moved by second. >> Second do. >> Any discussion? Just a question. How can we get them so random? Like why doesn't all the schools just fill in at the beginning of the year? >> Because they get one thing. >> Every single month you'll get one. >> It's from here on out it'll be like >> it'll it'll just >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >>
0445 resolves upon the recommendation of superintendent of schools that the board of education adopt the following policy. Um it's visible up on the the screen. Wellness policy for this year. Do we have a motion? Move. >> Second. Joe. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? >> 5. >> Alex did Mrs. Barbell did a good job. A lot of work. We're up to committee reports. >> We had >> Oh, deletion. >> Said it was included in the previous approval. >> Okay. >> But I can read >> it. But we do have a donation. So, we'll just say thank you very much for the UPK instruction support. NPA, ECASB or RNC meeting. >> Uh I attended legislative team meeting on Thursday and we are going over everything for what we're going to do
045for our cab conference. It looks like we've got um [snorts] meetings with a good portion of all of our constituents, which is great. Um, so we'll be moving from sounds like 8 in the morning right till 1:30 in the afternoon. So, um, I did email Kathy because usually I come up with a letter with our our bullet points that are mostly focused on our district. So, we'll come up with that. I'll tweak that letter. >> I'll I'll work on it tomorrow. >> Yeah, I'll tweak it. And that's got to be submitted to ECASB on the by the 6th and then it'll it'll go in the packets that we hand to the constituents and then I will most likely drop them in the mailboxes when I walk around. So there's that. >> Okay. Um nothing new
046with policy? >> No, but I have a handful. They're minor tweaks. So, um, I pushed them out to different, um, administrators to take a look at to see whoever, you know, it pertain to. Um, when I get them back, I'll probably scan and email them to you guys, see if you think it's anything significant that we should meet about, right? Or if they're very minor or there's no change, maybe we'll just bring them to the board as the first brief and see what happens. >> Fair enough. And it's two of you >> and Paula. Okay. No, no negotiations open. Assuming nothing involved honored. Transportation, nothing new. Tech plan, nothing new. Finance and audit, I think we're meeting next month. Um, and then facilities, we had a nice long meeting right before this one. Went over
047some updates to the capital project. Um, talked about some roofing scope uh additions that we're able to make. um and other optional items that are going to be submitted to SE uh for approval in advance of getting those quotes so that if they go through we're we're ready to add them to the scope. Okay, we have some information upcoming activities up there. Uh we have some upcoming meetings February 23rd. No second privilege on the floor. Uh we'll do a round table. So Grace, did you have anything else? Thanks, Russ. >> There you go. >> Um just one more thing to piggyback on UCSB. um they brought up the um looking into AI there was a um you know obviously it's not going away and and we have to figure out how we're going to deal
048with it with with you know across the state obviously and so we just decided that um everybody should have a local control with and then the association would look at that you know and support whatever the districts are um you know deciding for the because every district's different right but um the biggest thing that you know like I've pointed out is like with the AI is you know a lot of teachers need to we have to have professional development we have to in order to keep up with it you have to make sure that it's dealt with in a way that it's not being abused used or and it's being used in constructive manner. So, so that we've had conversations Jason built me in. We do have some people that are using it. Um we
049have some parameters. We have some guidelines we're going to take a look at and maybe put something together that makes sense, right? Um just to have a framework by which to work from. Um professional development is project at the moment. >> So, we'll work on those. Yeah, we'll work. There's many ways to do this. And on that note, not to interrupt you, but that connections thing like having teachers go to different classrooms is starting to blossom. So people are slowly starting to move in that direction. So our hope is that eventually that moves outside of our district and vice versa. People come here, we go elsewhere. So there's different ways to hit get deep, right? >> Yeah. We had a gentleman um he uh owns Black Passport Company, Jonathan Sullivan. He teaches at Hilbert College.
050So that college will have a big announcement in February about AI. >> New major. >> Yeah. But so anyways, we kind of had a pretty lengthy discussion about that. And you know, to me, I I always like want to put the X up because I don't I'm not a particular fan. I'm starting to learn, you know, that constructive usage is great, but it's just it's I'm old school. So, it's not easy for me, but and I can imagine how it is for, you know, but our children are going to be, you know, so whatever to do, whatever we can do to support them so it's used in an effective, efficient manner, I you know, anyways. No, I think >> uh a couple things. Number one, on our website, um can we put on about the
051prospective school board member workshop that's going to be offered March 28th for BCA? >> So, if we could, you know, put it everywhere to heavily because we will have two people. >> So, soon maybe. >> Yeah. You know, um however, we can start trying to push that all out. Um, two, can we start getting can we get all the information on the money that we put into the capital reserve the million dollars and you know what we were able to buy with it to start heavily pushing that out to the public to understand like we you guys we put this much money away this is all the stuff we want to do >> this project and >> so like if we start like in February getting updates you know whether or not we can even
052contact the paper to say you know how the pros and cons because you know like I said I heavily was against this long time ago because I didn't know any better. I know, >> you know, so if we could, you know, get more people, you know, information out versus just saying, "Surprise, May. We want to do this." >> So, you know, I've been wanting to do this. Maybe we can call Shel and we invite her >> and you and I have a conversation with her. And these are the things we talk about because we do want the public to understand it to vote to open it. you know, the fact of the month sits there, you know, how long there it's, you know, when you see the $2 million note, it could be only put
053$100,000 this year, you know, or >> right >> or you say like that the project that just ended and we have 6,000 $8,000, we want to put somewhere so we can put there, you know, that type of stuff. But if we can give them as much information now of what we did with that million dollars, um, it would be plus in our favor to push that. >> Absolutely. Oh. Can we go back to negotiations to start discussing retirement options for the future? You know, like the retirement incentives. We as a board in the past never were interested in it. You know what I mean? The pluses and the minuses of it. I don't know if that's where you discuss it, you know, because you just don't sit around and talk about it. So like, you
054know, like options like the number of the teachers when they will be eligible for it, whether or not there's possibility for any early eligibility. We've done some more. >> Yeah. We've done we was running We have a fairly young staff. We don't have significant retirements on the horizon in the immediate future or even in the the far future. And running the numbers of an incentive versus that have not really proven to show any kind of significant revenues savings I guess. Um the other piece is um you cannot use for any kind of retirement incentive. So that would have to any kind of retirement incentive would have to be fully funded by the general fund. >> So we did look at the seniority on both team service and our teacher staff like she said they weren't
055significant. We don't have like enough to offer to make it really worthwhile to even push somebody early and not let's say we've not experienced some breakage that would be anything significant either. So unfortunately without >> it would never be worth it, >> right? I mean we'll look at it again next year. We even had Mark look at it for us to you know we want to make sure we weren't missing anything and at the moment I don't think it's something for now. Um at the end of next year should we look at it again? >> Maybe. Yeah. Every year we probably should look at it to see what the deal is. >> And then one last thing with the increase in the UPK up UPK aid. So do we know what we spend in UK?
056I I don't think we get enough to cover our UPK currently. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, do we know what we spend? And with the $200,000, will it cover everything? Will we have a little off? Will we have a little off? Because you can only use it on that, right? >> What do you mean by have it left? >> Well, if forget 495,000, are we using it all on the UPK? Can >> No, our current our current UPK expenses would be covered up to that 400,000. Probably more like 275 to 285,000. So there'll be money that's not used that's you have to only can use it for UPK. Correct. So I'm asking is can we go back to the possibility of doing a half day UPK or you know like in my kids days it
057was only we had on Saturdays just so parents could give the kids a little bit in the school system or whatever else you know that's where my kids only went half >> until that money is actually in there and in the budget. This is just the first aid run. The executive budget is not passed yet. I would be very hesitant this year for next for 2627 to put any kind of significant staffing or instructional changes to UPK without knowing for sure if that will actually be in the budget. >> So when will that number be released? >> When the budget is passed at some point in April. So in April, I mean in April if if the numbers solid, you know, could we then say we're going to do I have to >> I would
058say by April would be I would say from my side it'd be very late. [clears throat] >> Delete what? >> To start up a brand new program and staff it and >> in April we we've added people September 1st for September 5th school day. You know what I'm saying? Or teacher. >> As far as I know, there was only one person left on the waiting list. I don't know that we have significant demand for additional UPK for that level of the funding that it would require. >> So, let's do this. Let let's let's wait to see if that the money goes word of mouth, right? Because we we don't that's not a guarantee yet. And let's have that discussion. We've looked at it. We kind of have a good idea what something like that would
059cost and we'll go from there. >> Fair enough. So, maybe we revisit this. >> So, say we don't have enough people that are interested. What else can you do with that money? So, you don't give it back. >> I know. I mean, you're going to keep it all, right? No, [clears throat] you it's an expense driven. >> You're going to find things for her to spend on the upper [laughter] on, right? >> It's it's very specific categories within the on an FS10 when you submit to get that money back via the grant. It's not >> furniture for them. No, >> make a new room a UPK. Make a UP classes are typically not allowed. >> Another aid perhaps part time. It's a dream of ours. Okay, that's where I'm I'm looking. She has she knows
060that staff professional priority would be >> make the pro you know make the classrooms even smaller you know if you have that I don't know how much money it really is you know I mean it's like what does one UPK teacher cost us for the year all >> depending on benefits it could be up to $100,000 >> but if we had that much left you know could we then >> and then do we know that that will be there for the foreseeable future before >> we just hire for one year and then tell them go next year so >> and districts to your point districts absolutely do post this is a grant funed position and that is not unusual. So >> I mean if it helps you know our kids for one year or anything
061>> no I think that there is a desire to have our one classroom has 18 students with one teacher and one aid. If we could get another aid we could bump that up to 20 students um and then we would have extra support. Our um right now our prek students are very very high needs. If there was an opportunity to get more staffing, I would recommend getting a special education teacher to support our UPK students. >> So, that would be, I think, the most sensible thing to do if we really thought that we had money and we would have to put it out there that it was grant driven because obviously we may not have that, right? Um because think about how tight our finances have been for us to have hired an additional teacher.
062We had this conversation a long time ago. It's too much money for to get what? Two more students. It's crazy, right? But because we do have students with significant needs that we get those two extra students and we could better assist, you know, support our kids. So, that would be a a good thing. So, let let's make sure in March or April that we know that's a fact and then we can move forward because I think we know what we want. So, I don't think it's going to be that hard. >> Those are easy >> because she's right. It's so particular. There's it sounds all those things sound great but we can't buy them with it unfortunately. >> Okay, one more question. I had a lot to do. Sorry. >> Yeah, you did. >> Did
063she say true? I can't. In our um claims audit report, there was that little comment in the bottom about contracting daily for summit. Is that a possibility or not? You see that little where thing where they charge us weekly and if we do it daily, how does that all work? >> That'd be a better question for Emma. Um >> Okay. Can Yeah. Someone just answer whether or not that's a possibility. I don't know. >> Will you write it down for me? Because I went to the bathroom. Don't have a pen. >> I don't know. >> Yeah, I'm good. >> Um I just had a question on committees. Uh, as you know, we've been working on forming three new committees, uh, with heavy community member involvement, and we're at the point where we're going to need
064to start scheduling meetings, but I wanted to kind of discuss how do we get the rest of the people on the committees we want. Obviously, we'll have board representation on each one, but um, other potential people that might want to be on those committees could be teachers, school staff, um, administrators. If if there's a committee that just send email through right to all of our staff members. >> I didn't even know if >> participation in government students would want to be up in >> um break rooms, e export members. >> Well, I think if that's a case, but honestly, we we had this discussion. You have to be careful how many of you are sitting on each of those committees, but yes, that is what you want. So, we had this conversation. We we want
065the history, right? Um, so yes, it would be everybody. Um, we could probably send flyers out, but you have a good amount of people that were interested. I thought >> 11 or 12. >> Yeah, 11. I thought it's a good amount of people. So, if you got a few people like we advertised in here, like if you send us something, we'll push it out in emails. We'll post it up on, you know, the bulletin boards here and there. Um, >> I don't think you need to go out to the public more because I think you >> that seem to be interested in very particular things from what I read. >> Yes. >> Right. Is it still like 11? I haven't looked at it. >> I haven't looked at the spreadsheet recently. [clears throat] >> We
066talked there hasn't been any news. >> That's not including my tests though, right? Like >> actually like 14, but they were all they were all you extra ones. >> Chris really wants to be on these. >> Yeah. He's [clears throat] like dying to be on everyone. Yeah. >> All right. >> Yeah. Just get me something. We'll do it. So resolved that the board of education adjourn to executive session at 6:56 p.m.