001both 516. Let me call the meeting to order. Welcome to the March 12th, 2026 regular business meeting of the Horses Central School District Board of Education. Like to start the meeting with the pledge of allegiance. If you please join me. I pledge algiance 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. >> Thank you. Uh I'm going to make one agenda change note for this evening's meeting. Uh it's under section 1101, the board president's report. Um uh I'm going to give an update on the ad hoc committee and I'm going to ask for a motion to modify the current timeline for the ad hoc committee report. I'll explain that further when uh I get to that
002point, but so that will be a motion that's not currently reflected on the agenda. The first item of business for this evening is to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of discussing tenure reviews and individual personnel matters. There's no action slated to be taken during executive session. So we need a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Any comments or questions on the motion? Okay. Seeing none, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Nay. Any extensions? Okay. So, the motion carries. We will adjourn to executive session and we intend to reconvene to public session at 6 pm to pick up the public portion of the agenda. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. Thank you. The we're going to resume the public session of the board meeting. The board is
003returning from an executive session where we discussed tenure reviews and individual personnel matters. There were no actions taken during the executive session. So the next item on our agenda this evening is uh item two, the minutes. We have two items for approval, 2012 from prior board meetings. Is there a motion? Any comments, questions uh for on the motion? Okay, seeing none, call for a vote. All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. Any oppose? Nay. Any abstensions? Okay, thank you. That motion carries. We'll move to item three in our agenda. Uh the comment period and there are two sections now. The first section of comments will be under uh the board's policy for associations speaking to the board of education and um we have in the agenda I think four association presidents
004here to speak this evening. And just as a reminder, there is a a five minute period for those comments which we'll keep track of and give you a heads up if you're getting close. And um I would call then uh Dr. Tendis uh to speak on behalf of of the HAPs association. How many sessions a week? Um 45 scheduled sessions group individuals or one 20 scheduled sessions. Um 11 individual and nine group. What do they do with their job? School social workers are specialized trained mental health professionals who act in dividing link between home school and community to support student academic success and emotional well-being. They provide justice services including alluded to privacy counseling and addressing environmental factors that affect learning. I provide social emotional support services by meeting the students individually in small groups
005as well as pushing into classrooms. I teach tier one homework classroom lessons on a monthly or needed basis. I provide support to teachers and classroom staff through collaboration on meeting the social emotional needs of students within their classrooms. I assist building administration in meeting behavioral needs for students within the building. I assist families in getting connected with community organizations to meet a variety of needs within the family mental health referrals, food banks and abuse. I provide support to those students experiencing intense emotional disregulations in the classroom. They provide services by seeing small student in small groups or individually and providing pushing support. Um the whole again the monthly class character trait character strongly struggling behavioral and intense emotions. They help regulate our students with visiting building administration and behavioral needs. Working with teachers and staff
006throughout the building to ensure we are all meeting of social and emotional needless students. We have teams who work together to ensure consistency through the billing and tax referrals etc. We work with services. So they're very important to us. Additional technical skills pushing pull out. Um they're very vital to our community. And I just wanted to give them a picture month and I'm going to go on to the OCP part just in a little bit. pool. It's a mobile lunch. The mobile polic >> in our pool. >> Um it's going to be after school on April and um four people can go in at a time. It's more kind of having all the teams go against each other from school district. And >> that heated water Well, thank you very much. And Terry, you'll you'll
007make those papers available to the board. >> Put them in the update. >> Okay. Thank you. We appreciate your comments this evening and all that you do. Okay. Next on the agenda, we have Mr. Finity on behalf of the HTA. If Thank you. Here you go. You see that there are 1,000 students as intermediate and middle school complex. We have two separate schools in the complex building as a principal and an assistant principal to meet the needs of staff students. Looking at three elementary buildings, pre-K four, we have two buildings that are averaging this year 500 students and a third building that has approximately 14 students. There's one less grade the other two buildings. The elementary school level has a greater diversity of behaviors than any other buildings in the district as they serve greatest
008students. Yet they are left to handle the teacher less administrative support than the rest of the buildings. As a union president, it's not very often that I would consider speaking on behalf of the of another unit budget request. However, I'm the impact that such an addition would have on the elementary teachers that I serve. I feel it's necessary to comment on and ask me to consider the addition this addition to the 2026.7 budget. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> We have Mr. hallway on behalf of the HA. >> We're on. Is that on? I don't think it's on. I think Do I need it? I I'll talk loud. May you need it? >> Is it on? Okay. So, I'm going to do something I don't normally do. I'm going to read
009to you because I know I only have five minutes and if I don't read, it will be way longer than five minutes. So, I'd like to begin by again thanking you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the administrator's unit. Um, I know you are responsible for being fiscally responsible with a finite amount of taxpayer money and for making difficult decisions about how best to invest those resources in ways that positively impact our students. The addition of the three the addition of three building leaders to our elementary buildings will not only positively impact students, they will also have an overall positive impact on all staff and families that they serve. For those who do not work in schools, I understand it can be difficult to grasp why more building leaders are required to do
010the job that has been done by less in the past. I think we can all agree that life has become more complicated in many areas included including politically, socially and financially and the challenges that we see in society are reflected in each of our schools. 10 or 15 years ago, the job of the school building leader was difficult but has become increasingly complex because schools mirror the world around us. This is not a complaint. It's simply a reflection of our current reality. Every school building leader in our district is deeply committed to providing the best possible learning environment for our students, staff, while also supporting the needs of our families. However, with the increasing demands placed on us as instructional leaders, doing this job alone in our elementary buildings is no longer sustainable. Again, not
011a complaint. It's just a reality of our new normal. The number of students, as Mr. affinity talked about at the elementary level is um the number of students, families and staff who require administrative support in all of the levels has grown and the complexity of those needs have increased. At the ISMS and high school, we have assistant principles as Bill mentioned that support the needs of the entire building. That same level of support is now needed at our elementary levels. Again, not a complaint, just a reality that we're facing. I know you saw a slide at the last presentation showing the number of students and staff each building leader is responsible for. I see you will see that again tonight. And hopefully one thing that stands out is the significant difference between the ratio of
012staff and students to a single administrator at the elementary level versus the ISMS in the high school. I think it's important to know that just because the kids are smaller does not mean their needs are any less. In fact, crisis in an elementary building with elementary students could consume way more time than it does at the secondary level. I know we want to continue providing the high level of service and support our community expects and deserves, but doing so is becoming increasingly challenging without the assistant principal at our elementary buildings. Building leaders, as you know, they they do a whole host of things. I got a whole list of them here. It would probably take me 20 minutes to go through it. 504 meetings, building safety meetings, faculty meetings, site team meetings, sim meetings, support
013curriculum development and implementation. Complete teacher, teaching assistant, secretary, nurse, monitor, clerk evaluations. Uh they work with students who struggle with behavior, especially mental health. Now, support staff and families also dealing with those crises. We plan building events like dances, attend school events such as concerts, PTO meetings, socials. We work with community agencies, CIS, CPS, the Shiman County Sheriff's Department. This time of year, we're all gearing up for the state assessments, which involves days and hours of preparation for that to run smoothly. Again, there's a whole list of things we do. Not a complaint. We signed up for this. We enjoy it, but our elementary folks need help doing this. Now, our intermediate, middle, and high school all have assistant principles. And even with those supports, there's days we wonder, how are we going to get
014everything done? Our elementary principles principles have been doing exactly that for a long time. I'm sure I'm running out of time, so I'm going to skip ahead. Those of us who work in schools, we understand the tremendous demands placed on our building leaders and truly all school staff. Um, we certainly appreciate the support of HTA. I know the teacher assistant unit's going to probably speak on that as well. Uh we've spoken with our district leadership as well and we are all 100 in 100% in support of adding these assistant principles. So again, I thank you for your time as a board. I thank you for your leadership and I thank you for your commitment to ensuring our students get the very best in our district. >> Thank you, Mr. Holly. I'll just say if you're
015uh if there were portions of that you weren't able to cover, you you certainly can submit if you want to give the paper to Terry. She can make sure the board receives it. Well, we're happy to receive it. We we appreciate you taking the time to come and speak to us this evening. So, thank you. And then we have uh Miss Benelman on behalf of the HSSA. just wanted to take a moment to also um share my support for the proposed addition of the three administrators. uh this these positions have the potential to really strengthen our building leadership and enhance the need support for students and really help ensure um smooth effect on management of the elementary schools. uh when your visitors working through the budget process, I'm always uh standing to highlight the importance
016of the people who are working with the students, the teachers, the teaching assistants, the members, the cats who are supporting student learning and providing um the individualized attention. But and um as the district continues to plan for the future, I hope that while we'll be remaining committed to supporting and maintaining those roles, we also um consider adding the support to the administrative leadership. Um combined with strong direct classroom and student support that would allow our to continue to provide um the level of education and care that was known for. Thank you for your time afterwards. >> Thank you. my first comments. So, we'll shift now to the second part of the comment period for community questions and comments. Item 3.05. Uh we do have a board policy 2370 that governs the this comment period. But
017essentially, if anyone um would like to address the board, you can approach the microphone, just identify yourself, and then we do also have a five minute timer that we'll keep, and I'll certainly try to give you a heads up if you're getting close. And if you go a few seconds over, that's totally okay. Okay. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Eric. I am one of your employees. I'm also with the transportation department. Uh I've been with the department five years now. Uh the last two years I have been the sole uh floating bus monitor. I like to consider myself a student management professional. Uh we're a very busy department as you all well know. Our main focus is to transport all the students from K to 12 safely and and as efficiently as we
018can to and from school on a daily basis. This is becoming increasingly difficult for our bus drivers as student behavior is just not well. Um we work on it on a daily basis uh with our other student management uh person in the office as well making phone calls to parents interacting with the principles, assistant principles, you know, trying to figure things out and help to get the students back on track. But it's not just about the students. It's also about my fellow bus drivers and how much stress it puts on them on a daily basis. We're running 60 plus uh bus transports a day. Uh some buses have 50 to 60 students on it at a time. Can you imagine what it's like trying to drive a bus safely when you have 50 plus elementary
019students on your bus and they've just gotten done with recess. Uh it's it's a little much. It's quite a daunting process. And our focus is trying to drive the bus in a safe manner, watching everything that's going on around us, checking our mirrors constantly, and then also trying to look up every so many seconds in our uh student mirror, you know, trying to determine what's going on in the chaos in the back of the bus. So me, the student management uh floating monitor person, I'm hopping from bus morning and afternoon, a different bus every day. Some buses I'm on multiple times because of the problems that we're having with some students, which is, you know, is basically bad behavior. You know, we try to get to the bottom of it. Everybody has a bad day,
020but when it's the same student day after day after day, there has to be something here. So, I'm asking please if you would certainly reconsider bringing back the two uh floating bus monitors that we had three years ago to again help me as well as help my peers that would be greatly appreciated. Uh for example, this last February last month, our numbers of writeups on student behavior doubled from the previous year, same time, almost 100 rights uh for just that month alone. Uh we're also taking into consideration phone calls that are coming from parents. You know, kids go home and uh report that they're being bullied. uh whether it's verbally or physically those phone calls are coming to the office and then incredibly information comes to me I get on set buses and try to
021work out those problems and I also try to help the drivers come up with ideas on how to better work and interact with the students and problem solve. So I I believe our positions are very beneficial. um the founder Martin Luther here. He was one of the floating monitors three years ago as well as the other gun when he's not here. But I I truly believe we have an important job, you know, work with the drivers and kids and make it a safe transport so we can avoid having to get off awful lot of fun. But again, thank you very much for your time and our religion speak. Thank you. Thank you for your work on behalf of the district and for those comments. >> Good. Thank you. teach everybody to work in this district.
022You shouldn't be there. When I first took this job on I loved it public I can't see everybody behind me. My main focus you're driving is responsibility. We have to check our perspective 10 seconds. We're not just talking about we're talking about a big passion. Try doing it your own. See how distracting that is. Now you add all these things to you one bus driver. Let me smack it. You got five, six, seven. Now again, we're not good job. But we're asked if we should reimplement implement few a little bit of safety when I say you know I was position back the first one was in that bus driver and that opportunity available I thought that was the best way to help our fellow bus drivers yes it's help students but number one I say
023it's the drivers because we're trying to do our job safe as we can we love it we committed a good thing with this district but we got full train all the We don't get thrown out. We get fresh come up with our ideas. So we learned a lot without success with two more safety monitors brought back that gives us a really good creative accident we have more chance you had a snowstorm ice everybody else back we're not just trying to I should stay not eating your phone. So by having three of us being able to uh go a lot of buses, it was so much easier. But I was the first one that when there was two more had it. It was fantastic. Three of us have we stay on the buses. Eric is not
024on top of the buses. important person for all those processes. It was impossible to meet him again. And I felt like I was elected with um again positions you got to realize yes to students but no super safe. One person can you one person and doing children problems. Everybody has a bad day. Once leaving the band, plus a lot of times accident. So we're asking you please say yes to maint. We've done it before. Please don't take me to this. There's a few things save us a whole lot. So my prayers heavily for bring back and for a lot of districts have long safety department that's our jobs to go out and talk with students and try to open up they're trying to find problems most time say why is this school doing this driver
025can't see a lot of times students get trouble like what was the driver doing answers right now everybody social workers parents teachers whatever we have to be but we're hired we pay for a job what we did we need help but say yes money back in two think about future thank Thank you sir. moment. was developing this past over an hour on the bus. If it wasn't enough to often have to be out with us for about because of the longer days of the Bible. My friends and I sometimes feel tired of vacation with my desk to be with I also see how affects my brother and sister until about 3:50 and if they were the bus they made our performance around that makes me feel very short activities but after school my I know
026manyamilies have the same students and families and feedback. I understand how to high degree as others do this before you Thank you for your time. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Hast. That was very well done. I think you have a future as a student board representative. As educator myself, um I take great pride in the fact that he's both with other students who are in attendance today at the Herson's Intermediate School um and advocated for his peers. As educators, we must always remember that students are watching us and modeling what they speak. When they observe respectful dialogue, civic engagement, and adults working together to solve problems, they learn the importance of using their voices in constructive and meaningful ways. I am proud that Jack felt empowered to do that. That being said, I do
027want to stress how difficult this year have been for our family. Like many families, my husband and I both work. We rely heavily on grade parents for before and after school care with Jack attending intermediate school with a 7:10 start time and the siblings temporarily helped the center street due to the building project. Maintaining schedules have been extremely challenging. As you can imagine, a family with three children attending two different schools with a significantly different schedules makes logistics and extracurricular participation struggle. For our family, extracurriculars include religious education, baseball, softball, soccer, cheer, scowls, advanced orchestra, choir, show choir, orchestra, nisma month, and more. The current schedules often mean very little to no time for family dinner, homework, or even the chance to just simply sit together and enjoy each other's company. I understand that changes
028take time and careful planning. Our family has proved that we are flexible and can adapt when changes occur. We have worked hard to adjust and make everything function this year. However, please know flexibility should never be mistaken for sustainability. While families like ours will do what it takes to make things work, ultimately we need solutions that truly work for everyone, not just for us all. The ad hoc committee that has been formed is something I strongly advocated for. I collected signatures. I attend meetings virtually, sometimes in person when I can, and have spoke with community members and members of the board in hopes of moving this conversation forward. I'm very grateful that we now do have a committee and facilitators who will help guide the discussion so that we can work towards what's truly best
029for our students. They deserve that. As both an alumni of the district, as an educator, I appreciate if we were holding meetings and allowing the community to share its views. However, listening must go beyond simply hearing comments during meetings. It requires truly listening to the concerns of students, families. We need to be transparent through all processes and communicating openly about how decisions are being made. Most importantly, when the needs of our students and families are clear, we must be willing to act. Meaning meaningful change should not be delayed longer than necessary. Making thoughtful adjustments sooner rather than later can make a significant difference in the daily lives while being success of your students and their families. Please remember that we are teaching shaping the future. Some of who came here tonight to share their voices
030and support another voice in their districts. They are watching how we respond. We owe it to them to listen carefully. Please be transparent in all actions and continue exploring all possible solutions that will benefit the whole entire school community. They are depending on very much for your comments. Once they come here to talk to you, it also helps committee members and so that was really help. Secondly, I realized that it's been about a year that I was here from my student have uniform. They do. So I want to thank um Damian for following through on that because um unifi Anybody? really important. I don't I appreciate. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. I I won't try to respond to that question here in the moment, but we I noted it down and I think
031it's certainly something we can try to speak to. So, thank you for sharing that. Do we have any other community members that would like to speak to the board this evening? Okay, then we'll move to the next item in the agenda, but I want to thank everybody who came forward, both our association presidents and our community members. uh is very valuable for the board to hear directly from all of the folks in the district. So, we appreciate you making the effort to come to the meeting. Next on our agenda is typically a report from our student representative, but um Serenity has a conflict this evening and is unable to be here. I think I think it's because of spring sports. So, we will uh move past that item and we'll move to item five, superintendent
032report and presentation. So, Dr. Douglas, um, turn it over to you. >> Thank you. So, to keep my comments brief, I'll do them before the presentation cuz that's really why everyone's here. Um, first of all, big shout out for Little Shop of Horrors. This is that time. All the kids do a wonderful job. Four nights. I mean, to see the little puppet to the giant flower at the end that eats everybody. It was well done. Wonderful. and it was a major change within our green room players. Uh, and I think everybody did a wonderful job of pulling that off as they go into a new direction. So, congratulations. I would remind everybody if you have some time this weekend to travel down to Bingmpington to watch the girls basketball team, go and compete in the
033regional competitions. And if they win there, they head on to Hudson Valley for the state championships. They will be playing Cornwall, who is a bigger team, but as Coach Scott told me, we're faster, so it should be a heck of a time. I know several of the kids went down uh this past time, and we do really have a wonderful student body that goes out for these events. We want to congratulate all those that competed at the state levels, especially I I'm just singling this one person out, Alyssa Bllye, being one of the first girls in horse heads in the first statewide wrestling championships to take, I believe, a fourth podium. Uh, and that's a huge accomplishment. And she's only a sophomore. When we started this program, I remember seeing her and she was just
034gung-ho and she's this little and she's not that little anymore, but she was in the same weight class and has has grown and grown and grown that she lost to the number one and she lost to the number two, but she wrestled herself back and she's got two very bright years ahead. And I just want to commend everyone for bringing that, especially the board, uh, to fruition as quickly as we did. Uh, spring sports has started. If you notice, there's a lot of things going on. Unfortunately, they started a week earlier. That means a week more of rain uh, and cold weather. So, we will be seeing a really push at the end to get outside and that will put uh some hecticness on the facilities uh and also shorten and compress a season in.
035It won't compress the lacrosse season cuz they play in any weather. Um but just be aware, please come on out um as we celebrate and going through the end of this year and graduation this year will be starting like as always on the Wednesday night and moving through. This will be the last year of that. Next year we will have a specific Friday night graduation come rain or shine. So just to get everybody into the feeling of that, please understand prom season is coming. Senior prom season is coming. Please, parents, uh, community members, be aware. Talk to your kids. This is some of the hardest times of the year on administration, faculty, and staff because this is the time that students are celebrating, and we just want to make sure that we regularly have those
036communications to try to avoid any uh unfortunate events. One of the things that uh we wanted to talk about and um I just wanted to let everybody know because of the start of uh the schedule with the new start times and everything. We did the early arrival at the elementarymentaries, we extended it until the April break. Uh it has been coming down with people making adjustments and so forth, but we're going to carry that out through the end of this year. But as the board said, next year this will not be an opportunity that's provided. Roughly we had 25 to 26 families that needed it. We have always said all along that throughout that the adjustments will be this will be over a year and a half. So going into next year that would not
037be something that's supported in the budget. Uh at this time with that statement, I need the board to consider uh we had to do a follow-up on the capital project and it was supposed to be scheduled but some things got in the way. Uh the problem is we're in music in our schools month and now every night throughout March pretty much has something going on at one of our levels. I know it's not the easiest, but we need a special meeting on March 18th at the request of Hunt to give you the information that you sought at the February meeting where they have sort of the priorities that the board sort of set and then what would it take to get to the level that we've already done at the other schools to try to
038bring the the uh district to the same type of renovations for all students. uh they need that because it's really quintessential. They need about uh April, May to June to get any sort of direction. It's not a decision by the board, but narrowing in on what scope you'd want to be looked at specifically so we get the estimated dollar amount so that the board can have that discussion of whether or not they consider moving forward with that. So, I would ask that during the president's report uh motion for a special meeting on the 18th time. I can probably be flexible on time because I know there's a national honor society at 6:30. I don't know if we could start at 5 or we could start at 7 to try to mix. So, if people are
039out, they're out because it will go on for a little bit with the discussion. And it will be also tape recorded so people can also see that discussion as well among the board. Other than that, we are deep into the budget season and I know my team's ready. Katie's looking at me like, "Hey, hurry up. We want to go." Um, so other than that, we'd like to start off with our budget presentation. You'll see it as you go around. You have it online. It's switched from the draft to the finalized. I don't think there was many changes, but uh they've tried to do that because on budget, we are constantly working right up until we come here for the board meeting. Are you all set? >> Build. >> Okay, thank you everyone. Like James Brown.
040Um, I'll do what I can do here. Are you sure? Oops. I just went ahead of there for you. Does that freak out? Okay. Okay. Good evening everyone. Um gonna hop right in. So, as promised, um, a lot have work has been done since we last talked to, uh, close the gap, and we're prepared to discuss those, uh, things with you tonight. Uh, so, first of all, we'll, uh, hit state aid. So, some good news since we last talked um, regarding state aid. One being a change to the foundation aid, uh, we had a slight adjustment to our foundation aid when they reran the February database. We are receiving an additional $72,000 um to the number we were initially given. Our excess cost a projection came in from Quest Arceis. Um based on that projection,
041we are anticipating an additional $22,000 uh for that particular aid bucket. and our Bosey's aid calculation um was rerun based on our most recent BOSIES bill and the costs were incurring through BOSIES to date and we were able to bump up our Boseies aid um anticipated for next year by an additional $237,000. Uh so just um for state aid alone we are able to increase our revenue budget by $512,000. Got to pop through these real quick. Uh so no changes to the tax cap calculation. Uh one thing I do want the board to keep in mind is this calculation um at this point does not include um any use of the debt service reserve. Um remember that this the debt service reserve is a mechanism to bring the percentage down the percentage increase down of
042the de of the of the tax cap. It is not a gap closing tool. It is a tool to bring down the tax levy. So right now there is no debt service funds in this calculation. Uh so the 4.95% is where it stands at this time. A summary of other budgeted revenues. Um a few adjustments here. Um we are able to uh pick back two of our Boseies um room rentals that we had to move out for a year due to construction. Uh so by picking up those two rooms, we can add um additional rental revenue. Uh we were renting four this year. This puts us back up to the six that we've historically rented to Boseies. Um Amaya Heights, as we know, um are building their own transportation facility. They're expected to be up
043and running for the start of the upcoming school year. Um they are asking for our support for the summer months um July and August to use our facility to while they finish their own facility. Uh so funds have been added to cover those summer months for the maintenance and the rental contract. And once they uh have fully uh vacated our our property and no long no longer need us to uh service their buses, we will be selling um any parts and inventory that we have on hand for them. Um and we anticipate that to be around $20,000 once we um sell their inventory back to them. Uh so that totals around $55,000. Uh so between that and the state aid, uh since I saw you two weeks ago, revenue has increased by $568,000. Um increasing
044revenue to uh almost $112 million. On to expenses. Uh brief summary of where the expense reductions came. $438,000 um in a broad c category of salary reductions. Um I'll let Tony speak more to um the review of classroom sections and programmatic needs. Um you recall one of the items we had put on the list as a consideration for um an addition to the budget was shifting uh three school lunch monitors back from the school lunch fund back to the general fund to kind of take some of the stress off the school lunch fund. Uh we did an analysis. We um took a closer look at that. Um we think we're comfortable leaving that alone for a year. So we took that off the table. We're going to leave that in the school lunch fund for
045another year. Um so that's a savings that we're going to realize in the general fund from the budget I presented initially. Um benefits. So any changes that we make to salary, there's a corresponding decrease to benefits whether it's to our ERS or TRS contribution, social security uh contribution due for those salary increases. Um, and the budget also now includes the increase to our um, employee health insurance contributions. Um, now that we have some estimates of our premium equivalent rates. Um, sorry, I want to hop back to salaries to that big bold note that I overlooked. Um, when I referenced that we've um, had some salary reductions. I do want to point out as we have in the past, no livelihoods have been impacted. No jobs have been lost. No, no person has lost their job.
046Anytime we look at any salary reductions, we do so through the process of looking at retirements, vacant positions, things of that matter. So any reductions you see here tonight, no livelihood was lost. uh Boseies, we continue to review um all of our BOSIE services. Our our Bosey's bill in total is around $16 million. So, there's a lot to fine-tune there. Um so, right now, um we are able to make a reduction of just over $300,000 and that's ups and downs in a variety of services. um namely you know big picture things laptop replacement cycle special education services and you know a host of other um other Bosei services we participate in um miscellaneous supply equipment contractual budget needs um primarily in the arena of of athletics um we spent a lot of time with Damian
047um looking at what's truly needed for his programs um but one thing I do want to point out because you know it is kind of a large number when I speak to one program. Uh $50,000 of that was moved from athletics to Boseies. Um the payment of officials is now being um uh shifted as part of a Boseies coaster. So Bose we can pay for it now through Boseies and it's now an aidable venture. So, um that 50,000 was reduced through the athletics budget is one of the adjustments I made on the Bose side. Um once I get a good handle on um an estimate of what that aid might look like, that'll be added in. You'll see that in the next meeting. Uh so with those items all together, uh total budget reductions, um
048just over $1 million. So here's the summary. So everything I just spoke of is now included in this uh summary slide. Um the budget is now down to $112.2 million. So, when you think back to the uh increased revenue figure that I talked about earlier, the 111.7 million to this new um expense number, our new gap is has gone from 2.1 million down to $567,000. So, we made great strides in the last two weeks and um bringing this budget to a close. Um once we got this presentation done, we kept working and finding more areas. So some more to come in the next couple weeks because we're we're still not done with that work. Uh so just want to review the slide um that we've been talking about from the beginning of um some of
049the larger ticket items that this budget includes. Um health claims. Uh we all know we need to keep something in the budget to keep pace with the increasing cost of our our health claims. Uh the three assistant principles um we heard um uh from the HTA, the HAA, the HSSA speak uh very eloquently about why um these positions are needed. Um it's a multi- uh unit need um not just for the principles. Um, so I won't um delve too much more into that because I think they spoke very well on that topic um themselves. Um, as I mentioned, the three uh lunch monitors, uh, we opted to strike that ourselves as something to take off the books. Superintendent search, that's ultimately up to the board on how you want to conduct the search. If it's
050something you wish to do internally, uh, that $45,000 can be removed from the budget. Um but again that's that's up to you and your prerogative on how you wish to conduct that search. Um the next two items are replacement vehicles um both with the moral of the story that they're replacing trucks um that are in uh such a state that they will no longer pass New York State inspection. Um if we do not replace the trucks um if we feel we can't comfortably fit them in the budget um that can happen um but it will cause some logistical and operational obstacles that we will have to figure out. uh laptop replacement cycle. Um Tony and I uh worked with Bill Giant Kohley um many conversations um looking at the uh current inventory and classroom usage
051and we were able to reduce that by $70,000. So that was part of the decrease you saw in the Boseies line. Um and again the two floating bus monitors you heard from um some of our uh bus driving team tonight on the benefits of that position. Um think of it as an extension of our school and the social emotional supports of our students um not just in our classroom but on our buses. Um and also think about it as an area where uh the APs can be in support of those um those uh floating bus monitors. They can work in tandem in helping with those behavioral plans for those students that might need those supports. >> I probably did >> this particular Good evening. Uh this particular slide was just one that was requested last
052time we met to show what it would be as divisible by two. Um so I'm not going to spend time on this. This slide does look different than what was put out yesterday. Um we just divided um the one that was posted to the um board docs last night and kind of separated it into two for clarity. Kind of was messy and long and small fonts yesterday. We tried to make it look a little bit different. Um but essentially in the end both will be um so of all the slide deck Tom I referenced that there was an update. This was the only slide we really changed um to make it more readable. So there's the numbers that were requested last time to show that to visibility. So I'm here tonight to talk about um
053two particular budgets. Uh starting with the athletic budget. Um we worked uh very much uh through several meetings with uh Damian to uh come up with what you're going to see here tonight. Um the salaries I'm going to get to momentarily. We have a breakdown on the next uh slide. Um I'll go to contractual. You'll see a year to year actually a a decrease. Remember this line includes some of our our dues. Our athlet athletic trainer is a and that contracts the a bulk of that particular line. Um red crosserts and other various um our attorneys are the invites we go to more and more for certain teams are also housed there. Um greens fees I believe as well. So year to year um we actually have a decrease. We're doing really well and making
054sure that we're being uh very responsible with our uh our work in athletics and contractual Kitty discussed the officials move. It's zeroed out here only because it's added to the Boseies and I'll talk more about that when I get to the Boseies line. So that's why you see a zeroed out from the 50,000 previously allocated down to the zero supply lines. We see a slight increase. Um um some of the ads here was some of the work we done with the unified teams and ensuring that they're on the the cloth cycle right for our our unified soccer. make sure they have the goals and the the right correct balls. And so part of that supply increase is seen there. Uh normal cost of business for rising cost of supplies. We talked about during that finance
055in uh during the um facilities. We saw that increase and Katie had spoken to the the rising uh cost of supplies in general. So some of that is represented there in that small $6,000 increase. Uh we also had some small needs for uh I think one blip for from cheerleading supplies that went into that. So again, a small increase of $6,000. Equipment, you see a slight decline there. Um, it was uh we have included that uh last year Damian talked to you about the helmet replacement cycle, ensuring that our our helmets are on a replacement cycle. You hear that out of our mouth a lot recently. We're very much want to make sure that we level out our replacement cycles so there's not one year where we get a large blip in any one item.
056Um, so we've leveled that out. But I know Tom and Damian have worked through that as well to ensure that our helmet cycles and we're we're we're going through replacements. Um we also took a look at our our uniform replacements that too has its up and down depending upon the sport. So Damen's done a nice job working with the coaches and looking at the um the cloth and what we have and trying to make that level. So there's not any one year we see a spike because we take on too many teams. So, uh, strategically stretching and and and consolidating and making sure our replacement cycles of uniforms are done properly. You'll remember that also the size difference. You can't back in the old days, you used to get the extra large coming down from
057the varsity down to the modified after a couple years. No, we buy appropriately sized uniforms for our children. All right. So, that is part of this replacement cycle that we are now on. The Boseies line. Um so we while it's 50,000 you'll see uh was um the movement over um recently something we do not have control over is the um section 4 contract for officials. On average we're seeing an increase of about $5 per official per event. Um it's it's just part of their contractual obligation that we did not sign off on. Those costs we do have to keep up with. Um they're reflected here. A good substantial amount of that Bosey's increase is due to officials and to uh rightsize and make sure that we're on um prepared for all uh competitions. Also, there
058was an increase made by the contract that again we don't have control over the number of officials that are required per sport was changed and we have to abide by that rule. So we've we've incurred some additional cost for officials um by no fault of our own but this should represent it and the bonus here is hopefully we'll find out what that aidability is. So being a Bosey's aided expense, we'll make sure that's tied in. So I guess it was a good time to have that increase because now we're able to absorb and have revenue back the following year. I'm going to break down the salary uh really quick. You might remember me saying that we've kind of moved our salary items into um for directors into the overall one. So you'll see that during
059the instructional um this kind of just carries those coaches. Um those are normal contractual obligations from year to year. There is nothing different. We have the same number of coaches being allotted. Um we just have there some some veteran coaches that in our three different sports and that is no additions. That's just year-to-year. The pool did have a bump and that's of no surprise. Um we we lost the gym space. We have to have use the pool more often. So that requires more expense for lifeguards. So you'll see an increase there just during the construction project um as we have to use the pool as PE space. Next we have the time scores and supervisors. So there's a slight increase there. Uh also um this the section uh has the a new rule or a
060newer rule to where the higher seat hosts the home event and therefore um gets the advantage of the it used to go to a neutral site when you went into some sectional play. Now it goes to your uh the higher seat. We do well in athletics. So we host a lot of events. It's a good thing because the concession stands get used and it comes back to our students and to our kids groups, right? But the opposite of that is we do have to pay that they'll pay for the officials. We have to pay for the timer scores and supervisors. So we've because of some of our successes we've had um or some of the tournaments that are uh the sections um that we put on, we do have to compensate a little bit in
061that increase in that line of um what is that $9,000 or $11,000. So um slight increase there to meet that need. And I believe that's all I have for athletics. I think there's um I want to stop there and see if there's any questions. I know we talked about stopping and we can see if there's questions before we move on if that's okay cuz otherwise to go back. Is that okay with Dan? Yes. >> Thank you. Um you mentioned the helmet rotation. Are we still on a 12 to 15 helmet per year rotation? I think that's what you guys mentioned. 2016 this coming year 19 this year. Okay, so that is up from last year I believe because it was 12 to 15 I think scored last year and it is still roughly 750 each
062or somewhere in that range, right? They're pretty expensive, right? Protected that nagging. Okay. >> And then just to confirm, there's still 29 varsity teams, 14 JV, and 24 modified teams. We haven't cut anything right now. And I can of course send this as well. Glad I put my glasses up. No, we haven't. We have 70 athletic teams currently. >> Yep. That's perfect. Thank you. Thanks. >> I want to also mention that um there are other teams we have that are still um coming out of like um a stip um our unified team right now is not um officially in our athletics budget. It gets paid out of our inter murals. Um so as we that sport develops uh that one is um thank you unified soccer. Right now it's paid in a different way. It
063still comes out of district lines. We might that might become something futuristically that we'll see in this line. And >> is there a reason that it's not in athletics when other unified programs are correct? >> Yeah. So you start up the program and until you get to the competition level and you're against other teams. So it was it's a slow roll to get there. Our other unified teams did something very similar. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions? Yep. Krina. Um, yes, you had made a mention about some of the positions that are being lost through retirement and I just wanted to make sure because last year um >> I'm sorry. I'm just really quick. We're doing athletic is it athletic question because I will go to the instructional >> Oh, I just gave
064you I thought you were talking about all the slides up to this point. >> Oh, no. I just want to stop for athletics. So you just the athletic department, right? >> Right. Right. Just an explanation to the next couple slides. >> Okay. So then I did just have a note cuz I wrote it down that you said you had to use the pool more because there was the missing gym class. So that made me think about fourth grade swim. So is that part of the reason my fourth grade swim ended? So then my other question is for next year I know that we're going to make those kids up and have it be fifth grade. Now that we have that, can we have fifth grade and fourth grade to move it back to being in
065fourth grade instead of making it always a fifth grade thing? >> Our program in is going to be in a fifth grade. It's better coordination with a single gym teacher from the is to the high school, the logistics of running three different buildings through that particular program, losing time um with the transportation of those three. It's housing in the fifth grade and we have plans to ensure um trainability of the staff. We need a year to do that. those kids won't miss this opportunity that we implemented as a district and I several years ago. We're not losing it. It's just we're going to push it to to fifth grade and P staff is excited about and have been working on it. >> I Yep. And I understand that. My thought on that decision to push
066it to fifth grade is that's a transitional year for kids and I think that that's hard for kids. I can remember being in fourth grade and having my friends and still being nervous about, you know, not my closest of friends seeing me in a swimsuit that I'm not with. And the other thing that I think about is, you know, that's a year that we could be potentially um helping a child learn how to swim and protecting them from potential disasters. So that's why I like the idea of having it younger and I just wanted to share my two cents about that. Um so those were that was the only comment or thought that I had on um the athletics. Quick question on slide 13 when you were sharing that we incur more cost because we
067host more events. Correct. Are we still charging admission to those events to help offset? >> We still have a a process for that. But these are sectional events that we're incurring more. We don't get the we don't get the gates out for that. We love but we don't for for section these sectional events where we're incurring timers, scores, and supervisor costs. We don't get the gate. >> Interesting. >> We just get the concession. >> Okay. Up the price on the concessions. >> Mhm. >> 70 bucks for a thing of popcorn. >> Thanks. Just have one more followup question. So, back to the helmets. I'm sorry. We said that we're upping it to 20 to 21 this year. Is there a justification to why we're upping it? Is there just a cycle? Because I thought last
068year I went back to my notes and it was 12 to 15 and that's a big jump like 15 to 20 21 like at the cost that we're looking at. So I was just wondering what the justification was for that increase. >> So part of you I to cover it but if you're welcome to >> uh what happened was last year we had that's where we did not have a 10-year cycle. So, we needed I think 15 to 18 last year, but to properly put in a 10-year cycle, you need roughly about 210 helmets. So, it's about 21. But now, we'll be able to go from the 18 to 21 and keep that going each year without having to regularly come back to the board uh like we've had to in the past at the
069beginning of the year for an extra 40 or 50 helmets. So now that cycle is fully being implemented into the budget so that we have enough helmets currently and we don't have to uh come back because last year we had the ability to get some junior helmets still and that helped keep it down at that point. Yep. Any other questions on the athletics? If not we can move to the next section. Oh, you did. Okay. >> I didn't. It's not really a question, but maybe we could discuss later about the swimming staying in fourth grade. I know we missed a year this year and they're going to do fifth grade next year, but maybe going back to the fourth grade, so we can talk about that later. >> Yeah, it's more I mean, it's not
070a budget issue. It's an instructional issue. So, it wouldn't be really appropo to the current conversation. Okay. Thank you. move on to the instructional budgets. Um, so a change in a philosophy that we've definitely taken on as a system and our close work that Kelly, Joe, and Tiffany do and with myself is not used to uh break out special education and that's not our mentality anymore. They're kids. They're instruction. They belong here. So, in previous years, you will say a special ed presentation by Kelly. Um, right now it's an instructional budget. Everything from student services and ed support are found and in and six buildings are found in here. Anything in the instructional. So a clarification for those that were wondering what happened to the special ed budget. They're students in our instructional program. They're
071here. Um so salaries I'll go into a little bit more detail in a second. Again, these contractual conference supplies, equipment, boseis, textbooks, these are all representing ed support, student services, and our six buildings um in in whole. So, our contractual, you'll see a uh a rise there. Um it this the main cause of that rise from year to year is the um negotiation in the new uh SRL contract. You might recall at the end of last year um a change in that with the pay that we found out um worked into the b after the budget had passed. We found out was a $35 to $50,000 and we had to we had to pay it this year. We had to find the money. Now we have to properly allocate for it. So the the the
072contractual increase right there is the is that SRO program as it was told to us at the end of last year. um but now appropriately budgeted for conferences we're maintaining um this has been an ongoing conversation you know I'm passionate about professional learning and continuing professional learning opportunities we're maintaining it for now with hopes of being creative in how we provide those experiences supplies um actually a slight decrease remember this line includes um some of our computer hardware you might find in a building or furniture requests we have constant updates ates to whether it be a teacher desk or a new carpet for a classroom. A variety of or desks outfitted for a class. Um flexible seating initiative that we've been on for the last several years. Microscopes that we have to purchase again replacement
073cycles that we are on. Um included in those would be special ed supplies of uh the FM systems that we need for students uh with with hearing um issues and need that system put in place. um AED replacements that we've been working heavily on with Kristen Renowitz, our our RN and the excuse me, our um nurse practitioner and that work that um I'm implementing. We're excited about that. And also um line Oh, no, sorry, I jumped. I went to equipment. My apologies if I was still talking about supplies. That was error on my point. My part I just went over the equipment line. My apologies. I will go do something right now. I'm going to finish equipment and then I will go back to supplies. So again equipment we see um a slight increase computer
074supplies, furniture, flexible seating and the work that we do with our departments uh say our technology department, our PE department and music all have equipment lines uh to make sure they're up to date with their large pieces of uh what they use with students on an everyday basis. Those Microsoft replacements, my apologies for the confusion. I jumped in my notes. All those things were equipment. I can go back to that if there was confusion, but I'm going to jump back up to supplies. Supplies is our building level classrooms and offices, postage, paper, office supplies. We do see some inflationary cost, but we've been holding steady and true um and being uh conscious of that line and what our expenditures are as a system in our instructional realm. Uh we have been moving things around appropriately
075to um we had a lessons some lessons learned with the consolidation ensuring our departments um with having appropriate number of uh supply lines uh for the students that they serve especially at the elementary. So very much focused on that but we see a reduction from year to year in supplies equipment. I've already mentioned bosses um large line you see a only a small um increase again lots of services in $10 million worth um that lots of it lot most of itable which is good uh we come in as revenue and as been said in last previous board meetings we take every opportunity to try to take advantage of BOSI services because of that revenue for instance the officials that we just talked about and we are also looking at um another adable cost in the
076instructional realm and that has to do with dual enrollment with ACE courses. There's a new course available for that as well to offset costs of salary um for those teaching ACE courses. So we're if we in the next couple weeks K and I have a task to figure that out and come back to the board with understanding how that would affect again that might just be a shift from an operational line to a Bosey's line but again benefit of of aid. Okay. So it won't be a necessary reduce the gap um from the expense side but the revenue that we receive back will be beneficial and could adjust a gap. So we're working through that. We'll have an update as we next couple weeks on that particular coaster. Again, that's for the ACE classes offered
077in our buildings. Let's see. And then um textbooks. This is just a state aided number. It's dictated at $58.25 per pupil. It's a number that we we expend um for the purpose of textbooks, which has a very broad uh definition, which we're thankful for, and we continue to hope the state broadens that definition to meet the new we're core way through the 21st century. And I hope they update some of the language on how we can expend that money. So overall increase in the instructional budget all told from salaries all the way down is only 2.03%. We've really done a great job just kind of um keeping true and focused on expenditures and taking keeping a close eye. So kudos to the department, you know, and um ed services um student services and our six
078building leaders for the work they do to keep this in line. cells. The prek6 is not really one that's going to be officially locked in until we get to the other side of April 1st, right? Because that's where our byboard policy, we accept kindergarten enrollments and you you are guaranteed a spot in your home boundary up to April 1st by board policy. Although we do have a good idea of our prek and K numbers coming in um that you know those are moments come we have good census information and GI Connell our star works with the buildings to ensure uh what our numbers look like the chart you saw for the uh assistant principles and with the detail kind of is a product of that work and what our numbers look like right now there's
079an indication that there are three sections that will not be needed next year in pre in K through six so prek through program. We have also retirees that match that. So, I'll repeat that. We have retirees and we have a lowering of needs of sections in our buildings. In other words, we have a fifth grade section going down to four sections. All right? We have we're losing some of our fifth sections in some of our buildings. They're either moving on to fifth grade. When we see a bump, we're going to have to likely add um staff into the fifth and sixth grade. But overall as a system specifically to our K through six we are seeing a reduction of three through retirement. If the governor um stays true and the uh the budget is passed
080with a prek grant as is, we would anticipate another significant removal of um cost from that line. Right. So the governor's proposal, the $10,000 per kid is significant compared to the 6500 maybe we currently get per kid. So that additional monies and it's not it's right now not clear if we have to meet the minimum requirement of 133 students in our prek to take advantage of that. Uh it's rumored that we will not. So with that we should see uh could see upwards of close to $200,000 additioning um to take off um the prek through six revenue line or expense line. So we hopefully that moves forward. We won't know until the official budget is handed down. the grades 7 through 12. Um this does have a one reduction. Now you know over the years
081we uh Tom and I and with the board support have added um in music positions at the high school. At one time in 2023 we had three instrumentalists. Um when we've he and I first started we had one. Um, so we expanded it and we've gone up and down over the years from one to through two to three down to two. Currently, we have a a vacancy that we are doing without in the instrumental music at the high school. Our numbers at this time do not warrant the need for it to carry to next year. So, it's a vacancy. We're suggesting that we remove that music and that is shown here until we see that the numbers require it. And we've held true to that. when the numbers require it, we've added the position and
082came to the board and suggested that. So, at this point, um with the numbers as they are um about at le 75 and our high school instrumental, um we were hardressed to have um continue on to fill that particular position. The uh school counselors and clerical we see uh some breakage there. We do have some retirements that is why you see a reduction. We are maintaining staff strong directors and clerical likewise no change. The only thing that's not res uh represented in the directors and only because of its payment payout is we do have a point4 of a retiree that does a variety of work primarily she works with our in our cse uh for those students attending the boseis program. So we do have a point4 that's not represented there. Um that offset within
083the director and clerical goals principles assistant principles and clerk that number does have the three assistant principles in it. You remember this budget is inclusive of those three positions and that is why you see the increase there. All other things um contractual obligations as is all these lines. We're maintaining strong in our teaching assistance and teacher aids. Uh we've been proud proud to add those over the years. We want to maintain those. Uh there's no reductions there as needed for CSSE as well as having those classroom TAs available. Health um school health services. Uh you do see a decrease here and you will see if you think from years past you might see a decrease in FTE. When we consolidated center street we were very conscious of livelihood. There was no person that was going
084to lose their job because of that consolidation. We did have a uh position in our health services that was at Center Street that we did not access. We we knew a position would be opening. We carried it in the budget this year. Um a building level positioned open. She had floated up into that point and now will be that that appointment is no longer needed. It was kind of a floating one. We do have subs and other ways to fill those positions as well as a um a nurse practitioner to assist. So you will see that that you see a reduction there from year to year. That is because um we had carried that center street uh nurse um through uh our LPN and now they've the position is no longer needed as we've had
085people come in and out of that service. Uh and then services this makes up our school psych social workers um that um Alicia spoke to earlier, right? our OTP um speech are all included in those 37 from our prek through 12. No significant move there contractual obligations. So overall uh 2.4% 4% again of the of the amount we work with in in this world as you know it's more than reasonable we believe in a good start to our increase of year-over-year questions on instructional band position you say um reducing this year's band teacher in there now or it's just nobody's in there now >> I'm sorry what teacher >> the band teacher said you're reducing the >> music teacher currently is vacant nobody's there >> correct >> she's running without the two pe like >>
086it's running yeah classes are all running students needs to be met with with a current without that pos someone in that position okay we carried it for the first semester to finish out classes that were assigned to the person that was there they have left the second semester wasn't needed. >> Okay. And then are you reducing school counselors that are returning or >> No, just a breakage. >> Okay. >> Of Yeah. Okay. I wasn't sure how you were then if you let me sorry about that. Okay. Thank you. >> Um Okay. So you mentioned the contractual salaries are up and that was because of the SRO contract that we the increase that had happened. >> Yes. >> Can you refresh my memory? Is that contract locked in or are we going to get hit with
087another surprise? >> Oh talking. >> Okay. >> Great question. >> Yes. Um so yes, I've reached out to the sheriff um just to get a feel for where we're at now. So the the 50,000 per SRO is where it's going to be. Um the only fluctuation um in salaries that we will see is our sergeant who is an active duty officer whose salary lives under um the contract of active duty officers. Uh so I'm waiting for a calculation based on um the step schedule within the contract um for what his movement will be. But as far as our our officers, our SRO's there, they will remain at 50. >> Great. Is that 50 for this upcoming year only or is it a lock in for x amount of years? >> Um, it's my understanding that
088the waiver is for two or three years. it it um currently on the legislative side there is no talk of extending the waiverss as well as there's no talk of raising the allowable amount. So this is a county initiative. Uh the 50,000 is pretty much what's going to be there at least at this point unless the county legislature does something because it does not appear the state is going to. >> Thank you. Um and then my other question was um last year in our second budget revision uh after the first failure um we cut out the seventh grade language programs. Are there's any initiative to bring those back? >> No, not at this point. You you good, Julie? >> Yeah, I'm good. I'm sorry. >> No, it's okay. Trina, >> um I had some questions
089about the three teachers you were saying in K through three. What um grade level do they teach? Specifically, those positions or the K through six, what you said teachers are retiring. They're they're not in the uh I guess is it's public consumption because their retirees are in the board docs and they've been recognized and put in their um I think in December. So um Kayla I'm going to look to you but I believe it was um Miss Carol Goff and she's at our is um Lisa Okonnell uh at Ridge Road and Mrs. Tillingast at Gardener Road. >> What codes do they teach? Oh, sorry. This the second first. So, we have two interventionist, two reading teachers. >> Thank you. Kindergarten. My bad. I'm sorry, Shel. Kindergarten. >> Okay. So, we're having in that we're having
090two reading teachers and a kindergarten teacher that we're not replacing them. >> So, >> we're not replacing that position. We're absorbing it. >> Okay. So, we will still need that kindergarten position. It won't be her, but there's going to be another grade level that is going down. It's a it's a large movement holistically. So, will we still need the appointment of four kindergarten teachers at Gardener Road? Yes. So, but Shelley, Miss is leaving the system, right? We know that someone else in the system is going to bid into that job. Okay. So, you're thinking of the reduction because it's going to be somebody who would be a different pay scale. >> Not just that, she's she's she's retired. She's no longer on the payroll at all. She's zeroed out. The all those three all the
091retirees are zeroed out in the budget because other people will that are in the budget will fill the positions. So then as people fill them what you're saying is you're just going to shuffle the kids around amongst the teachers >> just a sections. >> So the staff but you're red but your staff is becoming less. So essentially they had students that they taught at some point or had a class size right kindergarten they had a class size and then they're moving people and so maybe a fourth grade teacher takes it but that fourth grade teacher had students. So now >> maybe not. No, we're saying that if we had five sections, I I don't think there might be one instance. If we had five sections at a grade level at a particular building, it's likely
092next year we only need four. >> That's the excise position. >> So, that person's got to go someplace. They'd fit into one of the open positions. >> So, my my question is, does this mean that there will be an increase in studenttoteer ratio within those sections that have shifted? Okay, that was my question. And then you were and then you said the two reading teachers, are those positions also going to be filled in the same manner? >> Correct. >> Okay, >> we will have people that actually those are some coveted positions that they may end up leaving classroom to go to that position. It is governed by contract. So once we have it, the biggest thing you can get uh Katrina as well as the board is whenever you have retirements, it allows you to
093take not breakage. Breakage is really the difference between one teacher at a higher level to a teacher replacing it at a lower level and it's just that amount between the salaries. When you have a retirement, you have 100% full attrition. That means if they say they were making $100,000, that means there's a full $100,000 savings. With breakage, there might only be maybe 10, 15, or 20 depending on the gap. >> Okay. So, we're keeping the same number. Yep. >> Of the reading teachers. And um last year, we did reduce the budget by some teaching assistants in the reading departments. I believe it was four total that was in the end because we ended up adding that they landed another jobs >> right but we shifted it so we ended up with more teachers >> correct
094>> less TAs but essentially it was less bodies total >> no >> cuz it went from like 19 to 12 >> do you remember last year we had 19 and then it went to 12 cuz I I my mom and I both asked multiple questions about that with the TAs. >> So my um and people who help in those um questions. So then they're looking at the instructional values and the details. And I know that there's been discussions back and forth about um the wind schedule and their math being later in the day. And I'm wondering if we were able to add more TAs or more people in those positions that would be able to help with aiding in the scheduling so that schedules could shift and then kids could additional TAs wouldn't mean a
095schedule shift. Schedule shift is dictated by the principal. So I'm not sure that connection if you're talking about having more bodies on hand to assist during the wind block. I thought that um the difficulty with some of the scheduling, the instructional scheduling with the kids having to take math in the afternoon was due to the fact that there was a limit on how many kids needed the help with those assistants or going to math AIS or reading AIS. And so those teachers weren't available. And then to make that all of that scheduling work, that's why the math ended up having to be scheduled in the afternoon for those kids at Gardener Road. So I'm wondering if we had more >> staff available and to be able to help throughout the entire day with the kids
096who need that help if that would shift it to allow the schedule to then shift and have math in the morning if you added something to that. So when we're having discussions about instruction and salary and people who could go in those positions, I'm wondering if that's something that could be on the table to consider. That's >> very true. >> You were you were really suggesting you want to add to the budget. >> Well, because we do have we do see ads to the budget right now. We have a few of them. >> Still have a deficit, >> right? And you still have a defove that. So, what I would suggest >> I'm just kind of asking I mean I I guess you could take it that way, but I'm asking if um that Well,
097yeah, if that could be a consideration to think about how that might be able to shift things if there were more people in those positions. >> So, quantity is not the always the the answer to to our to our work. The additions that we've put on thoughtfully in our conversations are you've seen them. The idea of assisting adding more teaching assistants is of course a a good idea. Now there's no doubt about that. But when we think about the job that you would ask a of a math interventionist and being well trained in the ins and outs of the math world, something I can't even speak intelligently to um and understanding the acquire making any transfer of that level and doing tiered interventions. the level of service and the determination of the district to make
098this shift was to make sure we had the appropriate professional certification to do the job which is a teacher. So that's why the teachers were were added because that is where we got the level that's needed um for the work that was needed in the system. So, while I don't doubt having volunteers or people or TAs or others helping in a classroom, it it wasn't the level that I think we really need our students to have, which is that that interventionist that understands and goes through our Ames webin because it really a teaching assistant is going to listen and and be directed by the teacher. Now, our RTA, some of our RTI uh teaching assistants might as well be teachers because they're they're just awesome. They've been around for some time. However, the current market,
099I'm not sure what you're going to get for a TA that would be able to handle math and reading intervention, understand valley, understand the vast knowledge required to do phmic awareness. And it's not going to be a TA to deliver that level. It's it's definitely the level that we went to this year intentionally in how we built the elementary classrooms. >> Let me You're actually just a little bit ahead of what the next screen is going to be. So that's going to be the discussion for the board Katrina. So I don't want you to think we're not hearing that, but that is a discussion that's coming up because really we need to know both sides. What does the board want? What does the board not want? It's it's ultimately we're getting to that point. The
100caution is we have cut over $12 million over the past two and a half years. I think to add people to a budget is an ongoing thing that the board is reluctant to ever make reductions to. So cautionary right now we already said it would take 2 to four years to correct the budget from the issue that we had two budget cycles ago. As you can see we are starting to get there. Often times boards will rush and say well let's add this let's add this. Caution slow down because once we get there we need to make sure it's sustainable. But that is the discussion that's coming up. So, if you can just hold on that, not against it. It's just I need to hear from the board. Other questions? Other questions from board members
101in the instructional budget component that was presented? Eric, >> was there a window of time for us to have that information about prek >> and >> the the the funding? >> The we wanted it like yesterday, but is there a window like do we anticipate maybe knowing sooner rather than later that would help us have some of those? >> Please call Tom Omera. Please call Chris friend. tell them we need the budget done before April 1st. >> Um it's it's really right now we know in the one house budgets both the Senate and legislature included it a little different but they included it. The governor has said she wants it. So you would think that it should be a done deal but until they make the sausage in Albany you never know what's going to
102be in the final bill. So, it's something we're keeping an eye on. We can't count on it, but if it does, it helps us in some other areas. Remember, like I like I said earlier when I was talking to Katrina is that we want to make sure we get the budget into the point that we actually potentially see some surplus and start to build the reserves before we start cashing and digging into the reserves. So, it's a balancing step, but hopefully they will do it. I just want to be cautious that we're not removing things that we really truly need and then have this I don't want to say flood of money but >> that's why we have the extra >> money come in >> we could come back >> right okay got it >>
103okay you want to cover the last slide then and we'll go to the discussion. >> Well, basically in general, what is this our third third meeting now? Um, we're at a point where everybody remembers this slide. It's the budget summary. You can see our expenditures and revenues are closing in. And that's with what we know at this point with the ads already in this budget setup. We still have to look for reductions in the amount of $567,000. Um, here's the thing to the board. There is not a lot of looseness in our budgets. There hasn't been, you heard, almost $12 million reduced. So, what's in the budget is what we need. And the extras that are proposed are things that we've done without and we're getting there. If we have to, we'll do without them.
104But ultimately, this is the board's budget to present to the community. That is your key role, right? And as you're developing it, this is what we have. We have a tax levy of 4.95, which is the 2% tax levy limit requirement from the state. So, so that people don't get confused, that is what the 2% tax levy is. Right. The ERS reserves were using 500,000. We're comfortable with the ELA of 200,000 and fund balance of 1 million. Now, if we have extra money, should we consider bringing those down to try to get the budget in a stronger position. It's a balancing act. But ultimately, we've got to close that gap. And we only have the following tools on the right hand side to do it. additional foundation aid in the final budget. I am hopeful
105from what I saw in the one house budgets that they are proposing both the Senate and the legislature making some tweaks to the same pieces that they put into the foundation aid last year which we saw in a good increase. not what we'd like, but it was I think about 200,000. If my my my thoughts are if they're tweaking the same things they just put in brand new last year and they're increasing it, Logic seems to think that they should be saying that we're probably going to see a little increase in money there. We don't know about the general foundation aid just because they are trying to only help the districts that only got 1%. So we we use that one as a viable to bring down the 500. We could possibly use reserves if
106we find there's no other way. It's still too early in our process as we go through it to look at that. So that should stay up there. Even the fund balance use uh and obviously budget reductions. But you've heard me say I do not recommend a tax cap challenge. We want a decision tonight whether or not you really feel we're going to challenge because those are our numbers and if you add to it, you are going to have to consider a tax cap challenge. So that's where we're at as of right now. We have another meeting in roughly I think it's March 22nd 6. Which one? It's wait a second. Next slide. March 26 is the next meeting. Depending on our discussion tonight, we might be able to close that. We just don't know how
107close we'll get, but we really can't close it until we know the budget. If we get the budget, we might be able to bring you our final budget at the next meeting. I don't believe they'll be done in that that time, but I do expect them to be done somewhere close to the end of March. Uh that's what we're being told. So with that understanding, having the discussion now about whatever our ads are or the the the discussion really turns to exactly what I said to Katrina. Is there something we're missing that we as a board want to put up there? Is there something that we have up there that you as a board are absolutely dead set against? I'm not worried about that one. I just want the discussion so we know where the
108board's thinking tonight with final discussion really emulating with the whole board at our next meeting that we close the gap because I think at the next meeting if we're close and you give us that final direction we won't need the meeting on April 16th but we're always available. I know she I know she's going to give me the evil eye on that one, but that's we're let's face it, you've been here. This budget's in a lot better position than we've seen the past two years. So, that's the only reason I'm saying that. We will use all of our available options to try to make the best budget possible with the board's knowledge as well as for the community impact as well. So, I think we have a lot more to do, but I think we
109have a much lighter lift than we've had in the past. So, at this point, I think I think Dr. Douglas, what would be helpful is if you hear from board members on points of view, excuse me, points of view on the use of the gap closing resources. >> That would be great. and and then um any statements about either the pending budget ads or other things that may have been you know overlooked and uh I think we can you I'll just sort of go and I'll take notes try to keep time of that so we keep ourselves on schedule. So who'd like to go first? Christine. >> Okay. Um so um I am not in favor of a challenge um to the to the um levy. I um I'm always cautious of using additional reserves
110and I will always default to the recommendation from from Katie and and an on that. So, you know, right now I' I'd like to kind of hold on on using additional reserves until we get a little bit further along in the process. Um, with that being said, you know, I am hopeful that maybe we'll be lucky and get another 200,000 from from the state and to help close that gap a little bit. Um, I I'm not in favor of any additional ads. Um, when you look at what's already been proposed as as ads that we've already added in, um, I'm in huge I'm a huge advocate of the three assistant principles. I was last year. Um, I'm I'm still in favor of that. You know, you look at the numbers, you look at, you know,
111the the the how the needs have changed over the years and and the increase in numbers in those schools now that we've gone from four down to three. Um, and and it just I to me that one is a no-brainer. I'm I'm a I'm very very passionate about that one. Um, and then, you know, just to hear the support from the other the other units tonight. That was that was really nice to see um staff supporting staff. Um, I'm also in favor, you know, thank you to the transportation department, uh, the bus drivers for coming in and, you know, it was it was nice hearing hearing that support as well. Um, I'm also very much in favor of of the bus monitors. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like to be a bus
112driver with all that craziness happening on the bus on a daily basis. and um you know the the amount of responsibility that our bus drivers have in you know maintaining the safety of of those students on the bus. So having those floating bus monitors um I also think has got to be a priority. Um I would I would challenge a little bit the um and I know I know this is tough and and it's hard to say this. Um, I would challenge a little bit, you know, are we able to get by another year without the trucks, right? You know, and and I, you know, I mean, you know, is are we are we just going to incur more expense if we don't do that, right? And and I, you know, I don't know. So,
113I think I would probably put those lower on the priority list. The other suggestion is, you know, looking at do we really need to add and again I know I'm in the finance committee meetings every year every month as well. So I'm seeing the health claims and I and I know what the trend is, right? Um but is that an area where we can reduce a little bit um going into the budget to next year to help help close that gap? Um, but I think, you know, that's kind of where where my brain is. Um, where we are in the process right now. >> If I can just give you a little feedback on what you stated. >> Yeah. >> The truck and the cargo truck, I think you've heard in previous, >> they are
114absolute necessities. They're at the end of the youthful life and we've been patching them for the past couple of years. So, uh, and one of them is not added money for this, right? Correct. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, that's one thing. Um, as far as the health claims, we need to throw as much money as as possible. Um, I would tell you even if we got more money, and I don't mean it to sound this way, we need to be at wherever the 2% tax cap calculation says, and we need to raise that revenue. And if say we got enough revenue that we close that gap and we went in a surplus, whatever that surplus is below should be put automatically to health claims. The reason being is we really should be at
115about 1.5 to 1.8 ate and that's I mean we just can't we can't cover it all but we're hopeful that some of the things that we're doing we're going to see some savings next year as well. Um, so that's sort of the thing. It's hard. Remember last year we did 500. We should have did one. We should have done 1.5 million. >> Mhm. >> So we're trying to build and get it up to that point that the regular increases would match. And I will tell you, you you saw that we had that big year with healthcare. Every other school district that is a defined plan is having that problem this year >> where we've already gone through it. So ours is we want to start getting back into the trend of each year, making sure
116we keep up with the trending analysis. Sooner or later, it's going to level off and you're going to have a good year. You put that money away, but you still keep that healthc care moving forward. So hopefully that helped. Aaron, >> I am not in favor of a tax levy challenge. I think there are a couple of areas in the budget that I would like to address potentially for to target um for reduction. The first one being uh the superintendent search. Can you share alternatives to the $45,000 that could possibly be used? Um, I'm referencing potentially utilizing Boseies uh and to assist with that superintendent search and not incur this fee. >> Uh there there's a couple alternatives. First of all, I don't think it will be as high as 45,000. Uh we had to
117have a placeholder as we've looked out. A lot of them are running between 20 to 30,000. So I think there's some room there. Uh there's a couple things. Uh you can utilize a Boseis which is a free service. Uh our Boseies the district superintendent is a resident of the district which can potentially be some complications. Uh I trust her and so forth. But I've also said to a lot of people the district can also conduct its own search. >> Uh we have a wonderful HR department. I have a wonderful district clerk and ultimately I'm going to end up doing this after I retire. >> But we have the ability here which is zero cost and ultimately the board will make all decisions. When you do go out to a search consultant, you have a tendency
118to get who they want to put in front of you. The way we would probably consider in setting it up is the district clerk would receive all the mir the um receive all of the information which as a team we would bring that to the board and the board will ultimately make the decisions. We want to see this person, we want to see this, we do the functional piece of that. So that's an option. Uh and there's also another option that you might be able to find a search consultant that's also co-sered through Boseies. So that if you do something through Boseis and that search consultant say charges $30,000 right and if we're 70% it's going you're going to uh get you know $7,000 back on every $10,000 if that's the ratio. So you'd get
11921,000 where it's only costing you $9,000 to do that search. So I think you have all kinds of options. If you said zero, you're kind of limiting it to either in-house or Boseies one way or another. >> Uh, and >> I I would suggest that we as a as a team consider that. Um, you know, and and that's an easy strike in my mind, in my opinion. Okay. Um, I also um am absolutely in favor of the three assistant principles. Numbers say it all, especially looking at the chart. um and we need to have equity amongst our administrators and uh especially through workload. So I am an advocate of that as well as for the two floating bus monitors to restore all of that. I do have a question on on the trucks. I know
120we had just shared that. Do we always need to purchase and this is me really not knowing. Do we always need to purchase brand new or do we have an option to purchase a used vehicle? >> There are um different a set of rules for districts purchasing used. Um we really need to purchase used. Um you recall couple years ago maybe we purchased the used snowplow from the town of Horsteads or Schunk County. It was a whole special agreement. It was a whole thing because it was a used item. So to find a a used truck from a a a municipality, it can't just be from anywhere. Has to be an intermunicipal exchange. Um used is difficult. Um buying new there's warranties, all sorts of other things. Okay. >> Um used is messy and not
121always advantageous. >> I appreciate that. It was just thoughts that I was having and I didn't know the logistics of it. So, thank you. >> And the ones that we can get rid of, we would put up for auction and see what kind of funds we could get. Um, if we put it up for auction, get a few thousand bucks from them. >> We don't think anybody's going to buy. >> Now, I have I have one final >> You never wanted for something. I have one final statement and this might be a little bit out there but I figured if we're having this conversation we might as well have this conversation. So when I go back and I look at the conferences for I think it was some something like 36k that we are utilizing
122and I apologize Tony that I didn't ask this question during that option but I didn't think of it then. Um are are we visiting other places and going to largecale conferences or are is there some sort of a a consortium that we can be a part of where we are doing amazing work here, right? So we we are ahead on um you know portrait of a graduate. we are doing this amazing work for MTSS. Um, are we not sharing our knowledge with other people or have the ability to go other places and charge for our services to share this information of the work that we're doing, but also in a reciprocal way. Are there other places that are doing phenomenal work that we would like to glean off of them? Is there some kind of
123a an arrangement or a barter, if you will, to maybe bring down some of those costs? >> I'm not sure about bringing back those costs. And thank you for your words, by the way. Um we did host if you remember GST Boseies several districts came to us to to our system and see what we did and you know wanted to learn from how we approached our science of reading work and our um so we hosted that event this past summer I believe as far as going someplace and offering and doing sessions absolutely but we start we incur costs it's not like we would be invited for free to do those things right as far as consortiums has been great support. I'm monthly meetings with them and they host our new networking meetings through the state.
124We do have opportunities at the admin level. Um I can tell you from an inservice point of view, we've uh definitely flexed our um professional learning through uh synchron asynchronous learning opportunities through edeb and some other um um platforms. So we we've looked elsewhere. um just had a conversation with TA units just the other day about increasing that platform and what does it look like for them and we've purchased services for master teacher um uh software for our TAs to get professional learning. So we're looking at creative ways. Sometimes it's been online learning has been our cheapest way to make do with that particular money. However, when we did the reductions Tom was talking about over the last several years. Um part of that was to engage our title 2A funds completely and wholly in
125FTE you know in teachers and our our um our the people receiving that support to keep them on special assignment to continue the work. So with that came that reduction of conference monies available that usually that's for historically for for decades that's where the districts look for that. We really reinvest it to have our our soldiers in house and have them trained appropriately to turnkey our own professional learning locally and have those sidebys sides. Um but we are also always looking out to other districts. It's powerful. You know that I know that to learn from others. So we've harnessed that money as best we can. Uh yeah, it's always a wish to do something large and big and go someplace like we used to go to model schools or other places or but really the
126reality is we're good with that because we're going to be creative. >> Okay. Thanks, >> Julie. >> Good. Okay. Um Okay. So, I am also not in favor of a challenge. I don't want the idea of using additional reserves or touching the fund balance any additionally. Um I support and appreciate all of the uh units coming and supporting their peers tonight. And I do support both the assistant principles and the bus monitors. Um I would support us looking and having a real discussion about reducing that $45,000 superintendent search fee and really considering in-house or Boseies um to get that off the table. I know our maintenance team really they took the hit last year and they really need those trucks. My question is, can you refresh our memories on what it looks like if we
127don't have those trucks this year? >> I don't want to get Mike to beat me up out back. So, >> so me. >> Fair. Fair enough. >> You can run faster, Katie. >> Lucky me. >> She's He takes Mike on. No problem. And I I'm just I just would want to hear because if we're talking about that I mean we know that they forgo what foregoed one last year. I just want to know what it would look like if if we didn't replace them. How what adjustments would they need to make and would they be able to do it? >> Correct. So um the transportation truck um so that is a vehicle that transportation uses um as a service truck. So that is a truck that they use if they respond to an accident. They
128use it um if they need to plow turnarounds. Um if a bus needs to be towed out of a ditch, if they have a bus broken down out of town. Um that's what this um particular truck is for. Um, so last year when we did the budget, both transportation and facilities needed a truck and it wasn't feasible at the time to buy two trucks. Um, so the two departments got together, looked at their vehicle inventory, um, what was good stock, what wasn't. Um, so last year facilities got a new truck and there was a swap over to transportation for another truck that was in better shape than something else they had at the time. This year we're looking to get transportation the new truck they're looking for. And in doing so, they're able to give
129facilities a 2016 truck for their purposes, which will replace an old 2000 truck, which is the truck that will not pass inspection. So, they there's really a two need truck in this scenario, too. But by buying the one, um, the 2016 can be shuffled down to facilities to get rid of the one that's really the problematic one that won't pass inspection. >> Could you clarify? >> So, you're asking for one truck, >> one truck for the transportation line, >> so we can eliminate 64,000. Is that how I heard it? >> Nope. Two separate things. two separate items. >> Yeah, you said one gets pushed down. >> Yeah. Two two separate scenarios. So, ignore the cargo truck for a minute. Okay. So, the transportation truck, if transportation is able to buy this truck, facilities has a
130old 2000 truck. That is the truck that will not pass inspection. If facilities or transportation buys this new truck, they have a 2016 truck that will fit facilities needs where facilities can ditch the 2000 truck without the worries of being down a truck that won't pass inspection. So facilities remains whole with what they need for the purposes of these other trucks. So the two-year plan is met for facilities and transportation to get the two new trucks that they needed. They worked out a plan the last two years to kind of swap vehicles instead of buying a larger fleet of vehicles. They're by hook and by crook using other inventory to make do with what they have. So that's one scenario. The facilities cargo truck is a different truck. So we have two enclosed vehicles within
131the district. We have the big white box truck um that you might see driving around that, you know, hauls, you know, furniture, bigger items, things like that. The cargo truck is used 4 hours a day by our courier going around the buildings delivering mail um etc. It's also used to um transport uh technology equipment uh smaller items within this within this vehicle. Um, it's a 2015, 150 plus thousand miles on it. It's in the maintenance shop, constantly needing repair. Um, it also will not pass inspection. If this one is not replaced, then we only have one covered vehicle, which is the big white box truck. So, by only having one, it does create some logistical problems of how things are being transported within the district. Um, by only having one covered vehicle with inclement weather,
132depending on what they're hauling, >> it may lead us to have to rent another truck throughout the entire year from either U-Haul or another place. >> That's just to do the operations. >> Have we looked at the quote of what that would be? Just hypothetically, if we didn't, is it going to be more or less than 64,000? >> I mean, it could be on a fairly regular basis the rental would have to happen. So, it could rack up pretty quickly. >> Um, you're pretty much saying they both have to stay on the table, otherwise we don't function. >> We would have some logistical issues. We'd have to work through. It would not be easy. And the laptop, we've already reduced those down as much as you possibly can to stay on the cycle. >> The
133laptops, yes, we made a a good bite out of that. That's not to say we're still not looking. So, but with that and the chunk that you did take out, are we going to run into next year or the years in the future where we have a whole, you know, because we took out quite a lot, are we going to run into where we're essentially Robin Pier or PayPal? >> No. And yeah, we want to make sure we level out that replacement cycle. Our biggest concern is not going to be necessarily in the number of required laptops. It's the quotes that might come in the conversation we've had with you at the last board meeting, I believe, about cost per unit. CPU costs are going up with the RAM cost for AI technologies. So we
134we're being quoted that we might get have a um more cost per unit, but the number we need and we we feel good about this and working through it with this number and staying at a level um the initial 10-year projection of our laptops when we created this in 201920 was after right after CO um was to we'd max out at a million and on one year and the next year come down to 300,000 and we'd bounce. We've we thought we'd level out at about 600 and change. Um this number will bring us probably about $500,000 level which we think if with the market never knowing that will be our level moving forward. So we also have an initiative of introducing iPads into lower levels rather than CPUs which has a significant cost savings as
135well. So, >> so we're looking at um the iPad usage um at the lower levels and that again that that'll be a savings. So, that's why we we do feel comfortable. It's a good question. We we will track that. It's going to come down to perunit costs in the future especially. We do have um touchscreen which costs more. Um there's conversations, do we remove that? It's a $60 cost per unit. Um it's it's nice at the higher levels. Do we need them at all levels? So some of these conversations we're looking at ensuring we still have the proper processing speed and the right type of RAM in the computer and memory. Got to do a lot lot of cloud-based now. So we're we're on it. Uh we have uh you know Bill and is working
136through with Katie and I and how that looks. So >> to give an example, I had to sign a boasting request for technology today because if it didn't get in there going to be a 20 to 25% increase tomorrow, right? So that's what we're dealing with. They were able to re reduce, but we've got to maintain that site. >> Thank you. >> Who uh would like to be heard from next? Katrina, >> I am also not in favor of doing a challenge. I did have a question though about the flyer that you sent home. Um, will it say that it's going to be the 2% levy increase? That the levy is 2% increased by 2% or will it give them the 4.3% when they read it? So, they're >> It says both and it always
137has. >> Oh, it's going to say both. But what do they see? Is there one that they're going to see bigger? >> No, they see right throughout and they see it right on the report card. >> So, the 2% is just that inflationary factor within the calculation. Mhm. >> So we've met the requirement of the misnomer of the 2% tax levy calculation. >> It's one factor within the formula. We're not exceeding it. They'll see the 4.95% >> at this point and let you know without the conversation of the debt service usage, but at this point in time that's the percentage of that they would see. >> Okay. And that is strictly within the formula of the law, not exceeding it. >> And that is also the requirement. We must put that tax cap report card
138in it and send it out. Even though we can sit there and say this meets the 2% that that report card, which has always been in our newsletter and I believe everybody clearly understands will always have that percentage in. And last year, what was that percentage that we put in there for our initial budget? Do you remember? Because we did challenge, right? >> 335 2.51%. >> And that was for the first budget that got voted down. >> Okay. What was the first budget that got voted down? What was that percentage? Do you remember? I think that would be a good number to look at to see what that percentage was because if for some reason I know that it's not, but if for some reason it's similar to that 4.3% I think visually that's an
139important >> thing to think about. >> Um so um not in favor of challenging the levy and we you've got it down to 500,000. I think you're going to probably see maybe a way more money come. >> That's what we're hoping, >> right? Cuz it's not quite there yet. So, that's going to be beneficial. Um, I had the same question about the healthc care claims that Christine brought up. Is there a way you could scale that back? You guys already answered that question. Um, not in favor of the superintendent search for 45,000. I think we can find a cheaper way to make that happen. Um, I really appreciate everybody that came out and advocated. I have to say I was confused because I thought the two floating bus monitors was a position that we kept
140from that 2023 time and then he said that it wasn't and then I went back and I looked and there was like a star by it and it said this was retirement. So I'm I don't know. I'm confused about that whole thing. I think we definitely need at least two floating bus monitors. Um, and I've said this before and I really think that we should look into, like I said, when I drove for the Heights, we had lunch ladies who were food service workers and they didn't have their license, but they were good aids and they would come and they would help on the buses and it was a way for them to make a little bit extra and it was a way to help the drivers not have the distraction. And I think if
141we are able if we were able to ask them to do that and if it was a minimal cost and it's a way to get people on the buses, you know, those kids know their lunch monitor and they're friends with that person and they respect that person. And if she's going to pick up some extra hours and go ride the buses, I I think that would be a win. Increase the two because we heard a we had a lot of people come tonight and talk about how desperate they are for monitors. And I think that maybe looking at that and seeing if you could increase more, not just two. I understand >> we're going to try to look at it. The problem is is we also have have to adhere to employment and labor law.
142It isn't just give them more hours. Once they cross a certain amount of hours, they go to overtime also have to work between two units which is problematic. So where we do we have had some people do that but I want to clarify one of your things. You said you think we should go back to two floating monitors. >> No, I said I think we should at least add these two. >> Right. Okay. That but I heard you say at least two. Yes, we should have three. We have one. >> I'm saying we should really be working towards adding more to that, especially if they're saying that there was an increase of 100 writeups. >> We will look at that. That's a lot. >> We will look at that from the director's position. >> Yeah,
143I I think that's um very stressful. I've driven the bus so I know how stressful >> I believe you can't get off the bus if they aren't acting appropriately. >> Yes, it but it's Yes. Well, it's it's complicated and and it's tough and so I really would love to push and advocate for that idea of seeing if there could be crossover to utilization to help with that. I agree because I think in our first budget, the first budget that we had last year, we asked for just one assistant principal to float between the three buildings. We didn't ask for three. We ended up with one >> three, but the board settled upon one. >> Right. Right. The ask was for three. We settled upon one. That budget was voted down. So, I'm very nervous. I
144would love to give assistant principles. I know they came. I see their value. I see I understand how important it is. I think we have to budget community perception as well. And we also don't want to see our budget get voted down again. So, I can't say that I am 100% in favor of having three assistant principles. I think that I would be pushing it if I, you know, were to say try one and see if that goes because I the community response last year was the community response and we have to acknowledge that and even though we're doing less, that's why I said I think that number is important to see because what somebody thinks when they read that newsletter is something to consider. We have our perspectives. They're not listening to the medium
145and hearing all the advocacy that people are coming to say and do. You know, they are looking at their nice egg bills. They are looking at their other tax bills and people are getting really squeezed right now. So, I I think that's a tough thing to say because when we say ads, that goes on there and and people do read what you add and you have to >> read that newsletter. That's for sure. >> Yes. And so, I think we have to be very mindful of that. Um, so that you're asking I know you've heard most people >> taking notes on us >> so far. >> Your question first number is 3.03% 3% >> last year >> for 12, >> right? And this year they're going to see 4 point >> but this number included
146>> debt service it was up near seven. >> Right. I know I know but what they saw >> correct but we haven't had the discussion about the use of debt service yet to bring down that 4.95. >> So I wouldn't worry about that yet. We're going to try to build the best possible. >> Okay. So but it was at three. >> Okay. So that's that's what I'm saying. Like so it was at that 3% when people read it they voted it down and they saw it. Right now we're at that 4% visual and we're still putting these ads in. So when people read it, you got to take that balance between the two to think about well what is their perception because they're not here at all these meetings here in these discussions getting the
147specific answers. What is their perception when they see that? >> No, I know we're not >> in that. I know right. I know. So that's why I'm saying we may have to look at using that to bring that down to be make sure that we're below that 3% because people don't want to see that. >> Ultimately that will be our discussion to get towards the close. Uh I will just say remember the long history of our community. Yes, they voted down a second in a row tax cap challenge >> right >> at 51% which normally in the past would have passed. When they revoted, they voted with a supermajority to pass the one that's below the tax cap. In the past 12, 13, 14, 15 years, anything that's below the 2% tax cap limit, they've
148passed every one of them with super majorities. >> Mhm. And I and I, you know, again, I would love to do this. I know how much the principles need it. I and and I would love to give everybody every single thing. I think that was a sticking point for the community and I and I think we do need to look at that debt service for sure to make sure that we're bringing >> at that at the end, >> right? And you're going to look at at the end, but that's what I'm saying like that percentage is an important piece to the budget and and how that looks to people. >> Are you almost you're over year five? Are you almost done, Katrina? Uh yes. And then the only other two things that I was thinking
149again was talking about um because what else would we like to add talking about those potential um like if we were if we were to compare what would be like through assistant principles or possibly getting more people in other positions that might be utilized. You know, it would be nice if the kids had French available to them in the middle school. I know we cut that position, but I know that there's a lot of kids who had that extra study hall that were impacted. So, that's a that's, you know, thinking about the that thinking about having extra assistance to help with the MTSS work to help with changing of the scheduling. Um, yeah, and then the monitors, those are kind of like the asks. And then one quick question. Somebody mentioned in the comments about
150um the attendance the monthly attendance reports. Could we see one of those just to get an idea of the attendance report? >> Who mentioned comments monthly attendance report? >> I think it was Bo. >> Oh, genius. Okay. >> He said we get the monthly attendance report, >> right? Oh, so could we could we just maybe see one of those? >> Yeah, that's great. Okay. Thanks. >> Okay. Thank you. Who else hasn't been heard? Would like to be heard on the budget? >> Sue, please. Um, if we can keep it under I would not want to challenge. We're trying have to go between two sides if they're far apart. Um, but I would not want to challenge if we can close this budget and make it only the 2% of what we is it the 2%
151increase or whatever. I would support the budget. Um, the superintendent search I don't think we need the 45,000. Um, we always use Boseies when I was on the board previously and that worked out just fine. um they're there to service and I think that would be a $45,000 savings. I also think we have a self-funded plan and I think there's a lot of different plans within our self-funded plan. So maybe it's time to look at the different plans that we have. I know they're a negotiated item, but maybe it's time to take a serious look at what plans we're offering are different. Um, >> collective bargaining agreement. >> Thank you. I don't know all the terms. Um, and maybe there could be a cost savings there, too. The only thing I would say I would
152like to add back in is maybe having NISB. I know that's like $10,000 for the board. Um, but it is a um tool that the board could use. I think it's eight or 10,000 to put into it. There may be board members that at times would like to go to the conference and learn different things about being a board member. Um, that would be the other thing. And then I think I think if it's how it's presented to the community. Yes, the community is very set and they always say there's too much administration, but it is a different age than when our children went to school and uh lots of different behaviors and mental health issues. So, I think it how it's presented in the budget letter. Um, I think if it's kept, like I
153said, at the 2%, I think the budget would vote. It would pass. >> I I'm trying to Our budget, no matter what, is going to be at the 2%. If you're saying bring it down to 2%, that's a whole different discussion. That's cutting another $1.4 million >> tax. I'm just not using the right word. >> No problem. Believe me, that's the that's the confusion that's been out there since 2010. So, >> right, it is confusing when you look at the two things. And you know, I look at the difference between what our taxes went up from last year to this year. It's like $150. That's what our taxes went up. So I think yes there's increasing cost in NYSAc and you know expenses as a whole but we want to make sure that we're doing
154the best for our children and um the children are getting what they need and our test scores are showing that. Um, and so that would be my thought. If I can respond to your NISBA, um I think we're getting healthier that that was a sacrifice by the board as sort of their share of it that I have a little connection with NISMA that I may be able to do something that we build into it for next year and they will work with us to get us back into full swing for the next budget with some cajoling and negotiations. I think they're okay with that from what they've told me. >> Okay. Because I look at it this way, Tom. They have a $112 million budget and if the bills if the board can't have8 to
155$10,000, >> I know, >> you know, I just think that's pretty sad. >> Yeah. But what I'm saying is I think that is going to be able to be doable, but I think I can get some cost savings out of it because I've worked with Barry at Whistle for a long time and we had a conversation just recently saying, "Hey, if you could do this, we could do this and we'll try to help you to get back on." >> Right. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Yes, I would support the budget uh the way you have proposed it. Um and hopefully the gap could be closed so we don't have to look at reductions. And my screen just went blank. So, um >> I I'm going to go out on a limb and say we're going
156to get this closed. We I mean, look at we feel much more confident about this budget than we have in the past. We just don't know how it's going to close up totally yet. But we feel we will get this closed. But we have some things that we could strengthen and we need to strengthen, but that's why we're not strengthening them as much because we got to first and foremost close this budget gap. But I think we're going to be there. And if that's the case, for the rest that haven't commented, are you okay with what we're doing with what the general people have been saying if we can close this gap and stay at the 2% tax levy limit? >> Yes, >> Lauren or Cara. Yeah. >> Uh so I also am not in
157favor of challenging the tax levy. I'd also like to strike out the com for the 45,000 for the superintendent search. It definitely makes sense to add elementary assistant principles because the numbers of the schools went up what 25 to 30% each school when you combined, you know, four schools down to three. So, when you look at the numbers of the other schools, it makes sense to have that added assistant principal. That's to me a no-brainer. The bus monitors also no-brainer. I think we need at least two more bus monitors. I'm in favor of that. I like Katrina's idea of how the heights had a combined option for people. So maybe looking into that at some point. Adding NISB is a great idea. Um just two questions I had because I'm new to the board. Um
158are there any ways we can share services with Boseies to save on cost? And Angie mentioned something about taking early aid on buildings. Did we implement this or what does that look like for the future? because are we going to have a bigger hit in next year? I don't understand. I just don't know the line item or how that I don't know what that really is. So, if you could explain that, that'd be great. >> Uh I'm trying to remember the first first question. >> The first one is can we combine services with Boseies anywhere to try to save in our district? >> Yeah, we tend to do that a lot and that's why you see that we were able to reduce some things in Boseies. We constantly will continue to look at that. But
159remember the cost to go to Boseies is a one-year cost to the budget. So we have to try to be very strategic about it that when we add the cost this year, we won't see the savings on it or the return on aid until the next year. Whenever it's people, it doesn't pan out as well. When it's programs, it's much more efficient and we try to do that. And Boseies has always been very good about it. It's sort of like what we said about the officials. That's a new one. I think it can be potentially problematic, but it's better to get that aid now and see, let the officials worry about how they're going to have to deal with it. So, that's one of the examples. The other thing on the aid, I'll have Katie
160come up, but the early aid is so that you don't keep keeping adding debt and having to pay for it without funds coming in that are earmarked from the state to offset that. And that's that smoothing. And what happens is that smoothing is out over 15 to 20 years. Every school always tries to get early aid as soon as possible because if not, you're paying four, five, six years on absolute debt that you're occurring without any money coming in. And so that's one of the reasons why you always do that. And we've been doing that ever since our first project and regularly do it because it's advantageous to us. It was just that one year where we had the time because we haven't had debt come on that we had the hiccup that we had
161caused the budget problem. Now it's leveling out and smoothing. Correct. So the traditional way um building aid works um um so our projects have been quite large. Um projects that can be um approved and completed within a a shorter time span. aid is um granted um the the longer of um 18 months after the commissioner's approval or at the the filing of the final cost report. Our projects um go exceed those time limits. And with the borrowing that we have to do to fund these projects, they're large projects. Um they're um aggressive timeline projects. Um, so if we didn't file those early aid starts to get the aid um, flowing early, we would be borrowing debt without that offset of aid, which means when you look at our tax cap calculation and that capital exclusion,
162you would see a whole lot of debt without any aid to offset it. So the state has an early ASA start mechanism for those projects that can't be completed in that 18-month window um for you to start generating that aid. So as we've been going through these larger projects, we work with our fiscal adviserss um and we work with state to get those early aid starts filed um so we can get the aid coming in as quickly as we can to offset the debt as we have more debt coming on the books. We have the aid, corresponding aid coming on the books at the same time to keep things leveled out so we're not um putting any undue burden on our taxpayers um with aid that we should be getting that we're entitled to. >>
163Okay. So you don't think you don't anticipate this having a larger effect next year, >> right? So right now we >> Yeah. So right now we're borrowing for 2627. We're fully borrowing um what were authorized under the um second referendum and we filed all the early aid starts. So we're getting all the aid and we've borrowed all the all the debt. >> Okay. >> For 2627. So referendum 2 is set. Um there'll be um a little change in the debt service schedule once we convert it to a long-term bond um in a year or two. But once that's set, that also um you know there's a amortization schedule. But even with that, um, with the way it's structured with fiscal advisors going from short-term debt to long-term debt, it's it's not going to be a
164big jump. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thanks. You're welcome. >> So, I'm not in favor of the tax cap challenge. I'm also not in favor of any additional add-ons other than the ones for up for consideration on slide 10 on your budget presentation. Um within that slide uh as a lot of people have said I would strike the superintendent search. Um, I do have another question on the transportation truck. Only on the wording it says vehicle being replaced will not pass inspection. I completely understand that. But then no new money added for this purchase. I think that I need some uh clarity on that. >> Right. So part of the remember I said it was part of a two-year between transportation and facilities. So last year um 95,000 was added for the truck that facilities
165was buying. That money is still in the budget. So 80,000 of that 95 is going towards that transportation truck. So that wasn't new money added for the transportation truck. It was already in there. pay to if I can think of it this way. We put it up there so that everybody knew we were going to buy that truck. We didn't really have to put it up there at all. We could have just said we're buying one truck, but we've already got $95,000 in the budget. >> Right. So, like so like Right. I think I said in I think I said in the beginning >> we try not to do that >> that these were just some of the the larger ticket items within the budget. We wanted you to be aware of the money for
166that one was in there, but we still wanted you to know it was there. >> That's what's happened over the past couple of years where we had money in there and we cut out that 9 to12 million. That's how we end up doing it. I mean, it's just like if you had an extra section and you didn't need it of teaching, that teaching cost may be in there, but you never know if you're going to need it because of enrollment. So when you get to the next year, if you never needed it, if you just buried it, you're building surplus. We don't do that. And we haven't done it for the past several years, but especially the past two years where we've had to have reductions. >> Sorry if I can just add. So things
167like one-time purchases like a truck or something of that nature, if it's a one-time expenditure that has, you know, a singular pot of money, we'll look at that and say, "Okay, we have $80,000 in the budget that was for this one particular purpose. Is there something that we're hearing from a department or something that's another one-time singular purchase that those funds could be repurposed for versus a budget ad? And if we hear no, then we'll reallocate it to another purpose within the budget. All right. So, so what I'm hearing is really you only want a facility cargo truck. You want the other truck, but there's money in the budget for the other truck. There's no money in the budget for the facilities cargo truck in the new budget. It's all in >> It's all in
168there >> now. >> But the 64,000 um portion of that had to be added as new money, >> right? All right. Okay. I I get it. It's a vocabulary issue right now. >> All right. Um and then I I guess No, I guess I'm all right with everything else. um until next meeting when you come back. And if you do your magic and you come back and the budget's closed, I'm happy with everything. But it's kind of hard now to say, "Well, X this and X that when you're telling us you think you can do your magic and do it." So, I'm good with everything until next meeting when you may tell us >> you need a different back. >> Yes. Okay, thank you. I'll just uh speak briefly. Uh I'm share everyone's sentiment. I'm
169not in favor of a challenge at all, but I think we should go out at the maximum allowable 2% levy. Uh I know that we had initial lesser years with with having to use our reserves maybe a little bit more than we would like. So ideally, we would stay away from additional reserve use. Uh I think the you know we're optimistic that maybe we see a little more aid come in that helps us close that gap as well as some some continued budget reductions. In terms of the ads on slide 10, uh I am very much in favor of the assistant principles for all the reasons identified. I think it's um I think particularly with what we heard tonight and what was really clear to me is they may fall in in a role where
170we consider it administration but you know they're not sitting in an office somewhere you know they're dealing with students and families every single day right they're touching the students they're critically important for the success of our students and our families and I think it's we heard loud and clear from a variety of units that that's an important ad so I support that as well as the floating bus monitors. Thank you for coming out and sharing um the views on that. I'm very supportive. I if if I had to strike anything from this, it would be the superintendent search because I'm confident that we have other ways of doing that. As you've explained, Dr. Douglas, that would be adequate. So, I find that's a way that we can tighten the belt a little bit there. But
171everything else I I think we've heard is important and I'm supportive of it. So, kind of like Warren said, we'll see where we are next meeting in terms of another turn of the crank. Um, but I think it's been great work to get us this far along and and we really are in a great position compared to prior years. So, thank you for all the efforts that you've put into this Kadian team. >> We want to thank you for the discussion and helping to lead us to where we need to be. I mean, the best part about it is ultimately once we settle a budget, we're going to rely on the nine of you. You must pass your budget. So, that newsletter is us. We're going to need all nine of you to go out
172and start beating the ground and ensuring that people understand the budget and hopefully you'll be successful at. Ladies and gentlemen, our next future budget meeting is Thursday, March 26th. Depending on the state and everything, we may have one Thursday, April 16th. Uh, as well as we have to have a budget in place for adoption Wednesday night, April 22nd. That's also the night that we also have to approve the Bosey's budget at that point. Thank you. Okay, so the next item on the agenda is finance items for action. And we do have a fair amount of the agenda left. I don't know if folks need a 5m minute recess. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> Is there is there a motion for >> Okay. Okay. Second. All in favor of a fivem minute recess say I.
173I. Any oppose? Nay. Okay. So, we're going to recess for 5 minutes. We resume the meeting at approximately 8:53. Recess. We're going to resume the the meeting. Next item on our agenda. Thank you. Next item are the finance items for action. We have items 6.02 through 6.19 for approval. Is there a motion? >> So moved. Oh. Second. audience questions on the items in the motion one. I'll abstain from uh 6.12 and 6.13 213. Okay, thank you. Others do you heard? >> I had a question on change order logs. The first one for ridge road. Um, can you just when they were talking about it's um I can see that some of the omissions are for shades and I understand that shades are very good to have with sunlight. Um, but can you explain to me
174the undercut in the parking lot in the um cut area? Could you just give us a little bit more idea of what that is? >> You mean the saw cut? >> Saw cut. Basically saw cut is removing concrete and so forth for demolition or input and sometimes it's needed because the levels don't sort of match out. Uh in this situation that's usually what they have to do and that's never shown on a drawing. So it's a natural change. uh as the undercut at the parking lot. That is usually a lot of the time uh required because of the equipment going over it or that as they're repairing it, they undercut the parking lot and they have to remove material. Sometimes like in the stadium we had patches where like 20 foot by 100 were bad
175soil and they might have to dig down 10 feet, pull the soil out. It's sort of the same position. actually in very good shape in both projects right now. Very minimal this past month. >> Schoolboard clocks. Are we getting multiple clocks for that? >> No, those are in the locker rooms. It's it allows the teams and we have them out in the stadium. What they are is they are synced to the main clock. So when you go in, if you got a 20 minute halftime, >> they different. They can actually see the live clock. >> Okay. And this is Okay. >> Yep. >> Thank you. and they apologize because they thought they had put it in. It just didn't save the last. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments from the motion?
176>> Okay. Seeing none, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor of 6.02 through 6.19 say I. I. Any opposed? Nay. Any abstensions other than Warren's noted extension on 6.12 and 6.13? Okay, motion carries. Move to item seven, personnel items for action. We have the HR recommendation 7.02 for approval. Is there a motion? Okay. Comments or questions on the motion? Sue, >> I just want to recognize Katie Kurtwood who's been in food service in our district for 29 years. I'm sure over the time she's touched a lot of kids and made a lot of food for a lot of kids. So, thank you and enjoy coming up. >> Thank you, Julie. >> Um, and then abstaining from Q1, R6, and R5. Um, and then R3 actually is a repeat approval that was approved last
177month. >> Okay. You said Q1, R5, and R six. Just make sure I got that right. >> Uh, I'm standing from Q1, R six, and R5. Yeah, thank you. And then R3 is a repeat. >> Okay. Anyone else? Okay. So, we'll call for a vote on item 7.02. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppos? Nay. Any abstensions other than Julie's on 7.02 Q1 R5 and R six. Okay. Motion carries. Item eight, miscellaneous items for action. We have an action vote on 8.02 through 8.05. Is there a motion? >> Any questions or comments on the items in the motion? Julie. >> Um, abstension from 8.05. >> Okay. I'm going to be abstaining from the 8.03, the revised safety plan. And I had a question about 8.04. Um, do we have a calendar committee? >>
178Yes, it's me. >> Oh, okay. I was just curious if we did have a calendar committee. Uh, okay. >> Yeah. It's done usually by superintendent in the district. I do consult with the administration as well as the uh teachers unit one is because that is a requirement of the contract and it's pretty prescribed. The only newness in this year which I already notified the board is because we've made so much cuts to curriculum work. We have plenty of time now that we are adding in half day curriculum so that there's at least two full hours or six hours at each of the levels throughout the year. Oh, those are the extra conference days. >> Yeah, they're the they're half days. >> Yeah, >> I'm sorry because I'm just looking at the calendar. Do we normally
179have so many half days for the 7th through 12th graders? There's four of them this year. >> That's what I was just talking about. Those are now curriculum days. the students will be at a half day, but that's where we're going to do curriculum work that we actually cut out of the budget. >> Okay. So, just if a student were to go to Boseies, do you think they would miss their PM class those four days? >> They are still allowed to come in and go to Boseis. So, like new visions and so forth. Uh that will be really left up to the teacher. >> Okay. Will they still have transportation though like the CTE kids or was that like because it's a half day, no busing? Um if well it's a half day with busing
180if we know ahead of time. I'll leave that to the principles. They can arrange that. Okay. A lot of times CT has been very good. Kids that can drive they'll give them the one day pass. >> One day. Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Any other questions or comments on the motion? >> The first day of school is going to be September 3rd. >> No, September 8th. Okay. Because when I look at the schedule, it's not those two days like the first and the second are black, but third and fourth are >> That's for teachers at home. >> White. Okay. But should they be a different color? >> No. The lower corner, first day of school, preK through 12, Tuesday, September 8th. >> Okay. So, definitely Tuesday, September 8th. Yep. >> And then when is
181the the final day is the 24th >> for students? staff must be here for the 25th. >> Okay. Are you allowed to change the color coding of this after we approve it? >> I can always change it. It's hard because the program only allows you the highlighted colors. That's why I had to change. It actually prints out much better. The one that I can put online, I can change the color because you can see it. But if I have to print it, I had to change it this way so you could see it when it printed. Um, so what I put online I can put with black light. >> I don't know what it is about it, but the turquoise plane are my eyes are having a very difficult time. >> Dark magenta and then
182you couldn't see the letters either way. Yeah. >> Okay. And then um and we definitely have that full day off that Wednesday before Thanksgiving. >> Yes. This year we do. >> Okay. >> It always we're on our first of our six. >> Okay. So I will vote yes to this. But if you can change those colors, >> I'll work final production. >> I know. There it's real bright. Okay. Thanks. >> Okay. I'm going to I'm going to I think Yeah, we're going to call for a vote on 8.02 through 8.05. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppos? Nay. And then any abstensions other than the noted abstensions of Katrino on 8.03 and Julie on 8.05. Okay. Motion carries. We move to item nine, the policy section. So, first we have a policy committee
183report from the March 2nd, 2026 meeting of the policy committee. Mr. Conklin. All right. So um first of all I want to talk a little bit about policy 6680 and that is the internal audit policy and the committee's recommendation was to delete that policy which would be in line with what the board did with the external audit policy. Uh both the internal and external audits are required by law. both must be uploaded to state portal. So the state reviews them. So there is oversight. So by deleting this, it's not like we're not going to do an internal audit. The state will still uh see it in the portals and if you don't upload it to the portal. Obviously there'll be um whatever consequences are imposed if you don't follow the law. So the since it's
184by law and we already did it with the external uh audit uh policy the recommendation was to do it here. All right. on policy uh 6700 uh the purchasing policy. This was entirely rewritten and I just want to if you excuse me. So the green is the new part of this policy and um under Roman numeral 2 the cooperative purchasing session uh section I just want to give you vocabulary lesson for a second. Um in part it is written the district may procure some contracts let by and then it lists government organization. So I'm focusing on the vocabulary word let because to the lay person that's an awkward place to put the vocabulary word let. So under contract law, let means to award or assign a contract and it is often used in the context
185of construction or public bids. So legally it makes sense to those trained in the law. For the lay person, it is an awkward placement to the word let. All right. Um also there is a typing glitch that will be corrected um under Roman numeral three it says the following procedures will be followed and then immediately it goes to Roman numeral 4. So it appears as if something happened with Roman numeral 3. Well, Roman numeral 4 shouldn't be there and everything for Roman numeral 3 is what's under Roman numeral 4. So, there's a formatting glitch there. So, um we didn't miss that. And then under Roman numeral 9, uh it has to be included by law, the prior consultation. Um, and the committee asked if we could change the vocabulary, which says before enacting this resolution
186because the law in essence says it has to be included. And the lawyer said we could change it to before enacting this policy cuz that's what we're enacting. So that would be upgraded um for the second reading. And then policy 6710 the purching authority you can see we made some edits and policy 66 6720 the bidding requirements also we just made some edits. So thank you. Thank you very much. So we'll move forward then we we have an action vote on the four policies for second reading 9.03 through 9.06. So we need uh these are up for approval as modified in the agenda material. So is there a motion on 9.03 through 9.06? Any um comments or questions on the items in the motion? Katrina. >> Um I am going to be voting no on
1879.04. 04 policy 660 financial report statements for the second reading. I said this in the first reading but um the last time when we did that I understand that sometimes the financial committee has not met prior to but I believe that the financial reports should be given to the public irregardless no matter what every month those should be on the agenda and they should be up to date. So, I think having that line in there from September to June, making sure that we have those financial documents given to the public is very important. Um, a lot of times we are getting the financial reports and they are months behind or a couple months previous because we're waiting for the finance committee to review that. I understand that we still want finance to review those in
188detail, but I think it's important for the public to have up-to-date monthly reports. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else to be heard on the motion? Okay. All those in favor of 9.03 through 9.06 say I. I. Any opposed? Nay. Yes. Okay. And then any abstensions? Okay. So the motion carries and then we have as Warren just explained there are there were four policies reviewed by the policy committee for the first reading where there are edits proposed and so if there are any questions on those now would be an opportunity for board members to um state those for the consideration of the policy committee in its next meeting. I stated this before when we deleted the external audit room. I understand that it's a function of the state and that people know that, but I think that
189what's important sometimes is that when it comes to finance and different things, a regular person may not know everything that is in included for requirements um and they may not realize the functions of the internal audit function. And so having that as a shortcut in our policy book, especially when it comes to finance, and it's it's an important thing to have there because it gives them direction and it gives them the ability to have oversight as to knowing what that internal audit function is because they can go and look at what our policies say and then not necessarily realize that it's a state law. So it's a mechanism of accountability and I think it's important to leave that. I I get that it we're not doing anything wrong by deleting it, but I think it
190should be there. And I said the same thing for the external as well. Thank you. Any other comments for the consideration of the policy committee? Okay. So, we will move on then to item 11. Uh 11:01 the president's report. It is it is late and so I will try to be very brief but there are two things. One is as Dr. Douglas noted uh there's a need to have a special meeting and I think you said March 18th. >> Yep. >> Uh with the time somewhat to be determined. >> Normally it would be 6:00 but I know I think NHS is 6:30. Uh we could do 5 5:30. We could do seven to try to do that or we can do six and it's taped and I'm just trying to I know somebody has a
191concept and and I would say correct me if I'm wrong but to be clear there's no uh this is not for approval. There's no action to be taken. And so this is part of the process we've been going through where to the extent we are considering a third project, we've been given direction to hunt so that they can continue to refine what the scope of that might be based upon the expressed priorities of the board. And so the purpose of this is for them to come to us again say we've heard you thus far here's sort of some options. Do you have further guidance for us that they would then go back and continue to further refine? that there is no approval when whether and if we do a third project is not will not
192be decided during this special meeting. That's a future consideration. So I mean obviously ideally we want to make it so everyone can attend but just to be clear that's that's not on the agenda. So >> it will be broadcast so people can see it live as well and it will be posted to our website. >> Yeah. So, I mean, I'll ask forotion in a minute, but >> any comments about scheduling so that we can be clear in the motion what we're going to shoot for timewise. >> I have a personal conflict uh for the National Honor Society uh that evening. It starts at 6:30. It's at Edison High School, so I don't think even a 6 p.m. would work for me to be able to be here. So, >> yeah, I'm the same. What about
193Sorry, Christine. I have a conflict that evening as well. I'd be available from from 5 to 7, but I would not be available after 7. >> I am in charge of the National Technical Honor Society. I'm the MC and I set up all the chairs and I'm there pretty much all day. So, I am not available the whole day, unfortunately. >> I have a personal conflict as well on the 18th. I could do 5 to 6:00 p.m. only. >> Well, I have the same honor society thing. I mean, we could shoot is 5 to 6 PM do you think sufficient? >> It sounds like most people >> but at least five gets a bunch of people there and then again you'll have the ability to look at it and if you'll want to send me
194some information afterwards once you look at it I can relay that on as well. >> Okay. The problem is it's music in our our month and so we're pretty much booked up for and they are also booked up because you're coming into construction and they have to get it. They needed it in February. We had to do our budget. So I was looking at the 16th, 17th, and 18th, but the 16th is the >> we're having an ad hoc committee meeting. the 17th. I have no problem doing the 17th, but I was told by everybody else, you don't want to do the 17th at night. And so, they only have the 18th left to build. >> Katrina, did you want to be heard? >> Um, you said trying to do it at 5:00. I don't
195think I would be available by 5:00 to be able to make it. So, Wednesday wouldn't work for me either. Um, I wouldn't be available until probably after 7 o'clock, which at that point other people are also not available. So, it doesn't really seem like you're going to have that's 1 2 3 4 5 people. I don't think you'll have enough people. >> Well, well, it's hard because it's it's music in our school. It's all over. That's the problem. And depending on people that come out, we have always done the construction presentations here because when we advertise, some people tend to come out for that one. >> I'll I'll check and try to find another night. But >> what about what about the We talked about the fact that we have a board meeting, I mean
196a budget meeting that we may not need or could we repurpose part of that? need it earlier than that because in order to get towards the May June cycle to come back to you that's what they need so that they can work on it and also work with well try to get accurate estimates. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's tight. >> Yeah. I mean, our budget for two and a half hours tonight. That's why we had separated out and I don't they aren't available March 26 already. So, I can try I can try for another night somewhere between I can look. They said they weren't, but I'll push him and see. As long as you're okay, once I get a night, I'm going to end up having to request the special meeting. I just wanted to come
197to you guys first. >> Um, but to also make another comment, I'm weary of having capital construction presentations in the midst of budget season right now as well and what that confusion could look like to people and talking about things and having people say, "Are they adding this? Is this going to be an increase? What is what is this going to look like?" I I get nervous about that. >> Right. I'm just saying I maybe it's bait that people aren't available on the 18th because maybe it's not a really good time to be doing it. >> It sounds like people have a not not doomed. Well, it sounded like there was potentially a quorum from 5 to 6 PM on the 18th, but we don't have we don't have Matt and um he said that
198may not be enough time. Uh the the 19th was it if if hunt were to be a available on the 19th. Can would the 19th work better for people? >> I'm good on the I have a a work meeting at 8, but I'm good until 8 on the 19th. >> Okay. I 19th would work for me. >> You're good at 8:00 at night. You said >> I'm good until 8 and then I have meetings from 8 to 11 on that night. I wouldn't be able to be here until on the 19th until I would say seven. 7:30 would be better. 7 would be tight for me to get here by seven. >> I mean, >> but 7:30 I could definitely be here on the 19th. >> I think I mean could we could let's just
199see what where when hunt is available and then do a doodle poll and see when we get a I mean we've done that for special meetings. We're not going to get >> We need a quorum. We can't can't get everybody >> and see when we get the quorum and then that's when you do the meeting. >> Yeah. Okay. So, we don't >> whether it's the 18th or 19th >> or I guess >> or 17th, whatever whatever works, you know. >> Okay. So, we're not going to we don't need a motion there, but thank you for the discussion. So, the only thing I was going to talk about briefly in the president's report was a quick report on the ad hoc committee. We did have our second ad hoc committee meeting earlier this week on March
2009th. And the reason there was a little bit of a delay from our first to our second meeting was because we were trying to work out the details of engaging facilitator to assist us in the work and we did talk about that in our last board meeting. Um, we found a facilitator group. They're they're the name of it is Leadership Solutions Advisors LLC and they're an experienced group of former educational uh leaders who this is what they do. They go to different districts. They help with things like mergers and school closures and consolidations, very complicated, potentially contentious issues. and they come in and they're agnostic to the outcome, but what they do is have understand the process to work through to make sure that all stakeholders are heard and things are are um thoughtfully considered
201and then um options can be distilled from all the information that's gathered. So they were we had them present for our meeting on Monday evening and I appreciate the ad hoc committee coming together for that. We did some internal information uh gathering in terms of thoughts and ideas amongst the group and they laid out their process and uh at a high level the things that they would walk through which um include gathering information from the public through something called a thought exchange which is a kind of online way of soliciting information as well as a more traditional survey and that would come back to the committee. we would work through that information and distill it down uh and use that to shape how we view the the feasibility of the options. The uh the next
202meeting of the ad hoc committee is this coming Monday as was just noted March 16th. The um and so you know I think we are making good progress. what I have uh and ask of the board this evening um and I mentioned this I think last time right now the motion that we passed for the ad hoc committee calls for the report from that group by April 22nd and you know just because of it took longer to get the facilitator than I had hoped uh and you know the busyiness of life it's already March 12th and that doesn't give us a lot of time to do the work in a thoughtful way to have a report by the 22nd. And in fact, the facilitators said at the meeting that they of course we asked we
203we gave them the timeline of what the motion currently allows for and they said, "Okay, here's the things we can do between now and then." But in a perfect world, we would have more time so that we could, for example, do a focus group of students, right? Hear from students because right now the timeline doesn't allow for that. or have a second round of potentially gathering community information which again if we had another um couple of meetings in the schedule would allow them to spread out their work a little bit and in my view I think it's really important this is an important issue that's why we and I realize not everyone was in favor of it but you know that's why we have this ad hoc committee and I think we all want it
204to be successful we all want it to be done as well as we can and I appreciate, you know, those who voiced support for using a facilitator to assist us in that effort. I think if we were to amend the motion so that the report is due a month later at the May meeting, so it's currently May 19th, I'm sorry, May 21st. So what I the idea would be we move the mo the uh report date from April 22nd to May 21st and then you still have the June end of June as the end date. The committee has to be dissolved by the June 30th because you know then the board reconstitutes and and it's a whole different board. So it wouldn't carry over. I don't think as was stated in in the last meeting
205by Dr. Douglas and I've said this before, there's no way that we are going to be able to make the kinds of changes that took us years to plan for and make between May and September. We might be able to make small changes to try to address issues that are identified, but we're not going to be able to completely change start times because of all the planning and the work that that would take. So, I don't think pushing the report back a month will impact in a negative way the options or the outcome. In fact, I think that'll get us to a better work product. So, all that said, I have a motion to amend the original motion that I'm going to call for and then obviously we'll see whether there's enough votes to pass
206it. But, uh, let me read this. It is recommended that the Horad Central School District Board of Education approve the amendment of the motion previously passed for the creation of a temporary board of education special ad hoc committee on school start time evaluation. Whereas on November 20th, 2025, the Hored Central School District Board of Education approved a motion to establish a special ad hoc committee on school start time evaluation. Whereas the ad hoc committee thus constituted per the foregoing motion has met twice to date, most recently on March 9th, 2026. Whereas the ad hoc committee is receiving support from a facilitator group experienced in assisting school districts with the assessment of complex issues. Whereas to carry out its mandate, it is important to ensure the ad hoc committee with the support of the facilitator has
207sufficient time to engage the public through various means to gather information regarding current views on the current school start times to review and assess such information and to produce a report as called for by the original motion. Whereas the ad hoc committee per the previously approved motion is required to report to the board of educ education by April 22nd, 2026. Whereas the chair of the ad hoc committee recommends that the initial report date be changed to May 21st, 2026. and the final dissolution date of the ad hoc committee be changed from June 18, 2026 to no later than June 30th, 2026 to allow for additional time for the ad hoc committee to effectively and thoroughly complete its work. Therefore, be it resolved, the Horstead Central School District Board of Education President Daniel Christmas motions to
208hereby amend the November 20th, 2025 motion previously passed to establish a special ad hoc committee on school start time evaluation by changing the initial report date from April 22nd, 2026 to May 21st, 2026 and the date of final dissolution of the ad hoc committee from June 18th, 2026 to no later than June 30th, 2026. six. All other aspects of the previously passed motion remain unchanged. Thank you. Uh comments or questions on that um saliloquy I just gave. >> Um I just had I don't really have a qu I don't think I have a question. We have quite a few meetings between now and when the committee is going to dissolve. I have faith in our um the what is it leadership solution advisors that are there. I'm hoping to see you know some actions taking
209place. I don't think it's difficult work to try to get feedback. I don't think it's fair to say there's no way that even like I think you said some slight changes can be made. I'd like to just hear some more things about what the overall transportation because I've I've heard different things about buses waiting an hour. So, I don't know if there's like a chance to kind of view some different things, but I'm hoping we can come up with a lot of information in that short period of time just to try to make the best impact that we can for our students and for the next year. But I don't think bumping the date back one month is going to do something. I just want to Yeah. >> try to get as much done as
210possible. >> That's what I'm looking forward to. >> Yeah. Agreed. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any anyone else? >> I was just going to say we actually only have two meetings though between now and the April 22nd date. So yeah, at committee meetings I believe, right? >> Uh we're looking at >> 16th and the 30th. 1630th and and then an April 13th. Um but >> and then there is that spring break in between as well. So I think that personally I think that bumping it back to May allows us more time to get quality results. I support it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Katrina. >> Um I I would like to know um how much are they costing right now? How much is for their current time? Because when we bump it out, it
211will inevitably cost more. So, how much are they costing as it spans? What's the cost? >> Yeah, I'm sorry. I should have mentioned that in my report, but Dr. Douglas, go ahead. >> Uh, first, it would have been an individual contract with some facilitators. Uh, which means I would have to go through the contract purchasing here like the 10,000 then it would have to come back to the board. However, this group is run through DeCmo Boseies and they actually get Bosey's coser on it. So, anything that is the contract is actually with the Boseies. All we're doing is buying the service through Boseies at this point. So, they do have a fee structure. Do you have that for a second just so I can recall? And the fee structure is roughly three special ad hoc
212committee meetings. Facilitation twohour each is $6,000. It is not by person. It is by whoever they choose to come in. So I think at this last one they had two. I know they sort of said we have tend to have either three two three or four depending on what's going on. Um they had priced in at least initially in the contract one community stakeholder engagement thought exchange, one community stakeholder engagement traditional survey. Uh each of those are $1,000 a piece. One final report and presentation of the special ad hoc committee that's 1,500. So their initial outlay was about 9,500. >> Uh they also priced al carts for every two-hour meeting it's $2,000. For any interviews that they have to do, it's $100 per hour. For any additional thought exchange, it's $1,000. Any additional traditional surveys
213is $1,000 per survey. Focus groups, $1,000 per group. Elevating student voices, $1,000 per group. Targeted area review, $5,000 per review. Final presentation specifically to the board of education is $1,500. And then if there's anything else that all of a sudden comes up, they would end up pricing that through Boseies and getting it to us. Because it's through Boseies, uh what happens is we will get our Boseies aid, which is about 70%. For so for $10,000, we will spend the $10,000 this year, but in our Bosey's aid, we'll see roughly about 70% of that returned to us as additional revenue for the next year. one time unless you keep using it. Uh I feel comfortable and I even if it was an independent contract with us at the 10,000 I would have brought a contract back
214to the board and said I would say depending on the work you may need more which I believe you will to do it as best you can in the shortened time versus what we did. uh that not to exceed a $20,000 investment with Bosey's aid, meaning that you would actually get about $14,000 back if you spent that. But that would be left to the committee chair, but not to exceed the $20,000. And I can do that just because it's supposed to service. >> Yeah, that was a point I meant to mention. I'm sorry I went too fast through it, but I think it's I realize we'd have to we outlay the spend, but the fact that it's aidable means ultimately I think for this really valuable service we're going to end up only paying 30%
215of the cost. Okay, but that was just that fee schedule. Right now we're at 9,500 and that is not including the extra meetings that we are going to have. Do we know how many more potential meetings we're adding when we extend this date to May? Is it only going to be one? Is it going to be an additional two? And then you were saying that right now they've priced us at one survey that they'll send out and there's two of them cuz they spoke about those. So that's going to be $2,000. But then if the committee wants to be able to gather any more information, we would have to spend additional $1,000 each time they send out a survey. So that's kind of expensive. And I understand that we're getting aid put back on it,
216but then also to hear in the same breath that and this was a concern of several committee members and they spoke about it at the meeting. If there isn't going to be a change in September, then they said if if shifts or anything isn't going to happen, then what is the point of doing this if shifts aren't going to happen? some some people there were I did not say that there were several other people in the room that night. It was brought up multiple times by different people who said you know with this facilitation group and the work that we're doing we don't want our work to be in vain. We want our work to be meaningful and why would we extend it if it was already said in public session that this is not
217going to take an effect for that September school year. So, with that information from my fellow committee members who brought that up, I am not in favor of extending it because I don't really know how much more information we're going to get. Um, he had mentioned that night um that they weren't going to be doing the presentation. They were just going to give us the presentation and then somebody would be presenting it. Um, it wasn't really clear. They had said that um the share thing that we had done in the workshop that that link would still be available. It's not available. They said they were going to reach out to us and give the PowerPoint. We haven't received anything from them yet. Um so I have some concerns cuz that was Monday. We're now on
218Thursday. I have some concerns about the work that they're doing since we haven't heard anything. And uh a committee member mentioned putting a share together because several committee members were concerned about being able to ask certain questions for the surveys and have those questions be added. And we were asked if they was a share that could be put together so that we could come up with those questions and then do this a similar um exercise. And you know we haven't heard back on that. So to me, with a cap of $20,000 and even though we're getting the aid, um that's a pretty big expense and we didn't have a formal vote to have this initially. We were supposed to get the quotes back and then the approval and now it's going to increase even more.
219I mean, this is the public's money, so we have to make sure that we're doing it correctly. And I am I don't Like I I would say no, we can't do that. We have to stick to the plan. And I don't even know with this expense if they should be doing it. >> Okay. I'm sorry. I'm going to respond. >> Go ahead, please. >> It would with the aid. It'll be it would be if they spent $20,000 there'd be $6,000 that it would cost the district in the end. And it you want it done right. So I think pushing it off one month to gather more information is not um is is a good idea because it got started late. It got pushed off. We started in November, but for various reasons it didn't happen.
220maybe you only met two or three times. I would I'll be in favor of pushing it off till May 21st and just as the as the report um because we want community input. We want to know what staff are saying. We want to know what the community is saying. We want to know what students are saying. We want to make sure we gather all the information. And that's what this hopefully that's what this consulting group knows what their charge is and that's what they're going to do. >> Thank you. Yeah. And I in terms of responding so the you asked yourself in that meeting Katrina about the ability to get more public opinion and what they said was their timeline doesn't allow for that but if we can extend the timeline out we can have
221more committee participation in the design of the study they can be involved in the presentation of the report to the board and that's what I I am trying to make sure that we get the best product possible. for the community. And I think as Sue just said, that's what an additional month will do for us and allow us to utilize their services to the to the best extent possible. And I think I I just really need to because I've said this, you're conflating the the timing and the result. So what I've been saying is I don't think it's feasible and nor responsible to make a change as dramatic as we made if to you know flip it the other way in a 3-month period that is going to upset people's lives as much as the
222first one but on a much shorter timeline and there's a lot of work that has to be done around busing schedules and everything else. I'm not saying that that might not happen over a longer period. And what I what you're saying essentially is if we don't make the change by September, it's not worth doing or making. What I'm saying is the committee should take the time it needs to do the work to hear from everyone in the public and then determine what is in the best interest from a long distance from you know in in the long term. And if that takes 12 months to implement, so be it. But it's not so it's not a waste if it isn't in place by September. I think you're conflating those two. And that reflects your view
223that if if it doesn't change by September, this does this isn't worth it, right? which all stems from a point of view that we just need to change the start times which is not in my view willing to take into account what we might hear from all the people in the public and all the points of view that might think we should do something different or stay the same. So the point I've been trying to make is the responsible way to consider and make change is to not do it in an extremely rushed manner. And if we wait till May to get our report and then work through it, we'll still have the opportunity to implement the work of the committee, whatever that is. It's just over a longer term. So, anyone else want to
224be heard on the motion? Okay, I'm going to call for a vote. All those in favor of the motion on the floor to amend the report date for the special ad hoc committee say I. I. Any oppose? Nay. Any abstensions? Okay, the motion carries. And um Candy, I'll I have all that written out. I'll email it to you. I know I I read a tome there. So, we'll move to 11:02 board member comments. um as our last item on the agenda. So Sue, >> I just want to say uh good luck to the girls basketball team this weekend. And I also want to mention the Little Shop of Fours. Uh we went to that and saw it last Thursday night, opening night. And although it was very different not having an orchestra like I'm used
225to of the spring musical since the 1990s, um I really enjoyed the show and the students did a a great job um with the music and how they had to do it. So I just want to say I was proud of our kids and um it was it was good. So thank you students. Thank you to everyone who worked behind the scenes to make that happen. um students, parents, advisors, um thank you for continuing to support um our music program. >> Thank you, >> Julie. >> I also want to acknowledge the kids in the play and the staff that put that on. I thought that was fantastic as well. Um I want to acknowledge all the athletes who did go to states and competed. There was quite a few of them and I thought it
226was awesome that they did. Good luck to the girls basketball team and coach Scott. And then um I just want to acknowledge that I thought it was really great that when the calendar was made um just kind of kudos to Dr. Douglas and his team when they were looking at the calendar like they really took into account we heard on the board tours or I know my group did the teachers were really looking for um half days for planning and different things along those lines. And I thought it was really great that that's actually going into um work. And I think it just states that this is what collaboration is all about. and us actually listening to what the public and the staff and the students are saying and putting it, you know, if we
227can make it work, making it happen. So, kudos to that. And then on that note, um I just want to give uh I want to acknowledge um that young gentleman, Jack, as well as all the other speakers who came today to talk, but that young sixth grader who came and spoke to us. Um, I just want to make sure I acknowledge him because I thought it was very courageous of him to get up in front of us and um, talk about that and he did a really excellent job. So, >> we'll send we're planning on sending >> Excellent. That's it. >> Thank you. >> Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone. >> Christine, >> um, I just want to I know Dr. Douglas mentioned this already, but I just want to um reiterate um how cool
228it was that um Alyssa Bllye, who placed um in the state wrestling tournament, you know, she made history for for the school district. So, first female wrestler to place at state. So, that was pretty cool. And and she does have two more years ahead of her. So, it it is it is neat when we make history um or somebody in our district um makes make makes history. So, that's that's pretty cool. Um and we also had two two boys that placed at states this um last weekend. Uh Zach Shraggy and Connor McAllister. So that was uh pretty awesome as well. Um and then the other thing I just wanted to mention uh well also thank you to to to Katie and the team. Um you know this this budget season, you know, even though we
229still have a gap, it's it's gone really really smoothly. and I really do appreciate the way that we're looking at the budget um this year and starting it last year. So, you know, thank you for that because I I think it is a really great way to look at it. Um and then the last thing I just just something and I I've said this before. Um, I I feel like as as board members, it's our responsibility um to vote and um I think we owe it to the public um when we do vote and I feel like we're getting there was a lot of um um abstensions tonight and so you know typically when we abstain we'll say why we're abstaining if it's a conflict of interest. So, I just wanna I would encourage us
230as board members that if we are abstaining um to communicate why um you know I know it's I can't force you to do that but I think it is helpful for us to understand if somebody is abstaining from a vote as to why um and there there were quite a few tonight so it's just a personal ask of myself um just so I understand also as board members why people are abstaining. So that >> Julie wanted to just respond. >> I just want to respond to that. I apologize for not um indicating why because I know I had a lot of them. It um I'm a booster president for the baseball team and they were all baseball positions and uh donation from the baseball team. So, I apologize to the board that I didn't let
231you guys know why, but that was why. >> Warren, >> I'll just add to the sports teams that have been recognized and the individual athletes that have been recognized. Um, the cheerleading team also placed fifth in the state. So, that's another team that did um very well this year. >> Thank you. any other >> Okay. Uh just real quick, I want to thank you for helping with the safety plan, but I also wanted to give the board a little information because uh the safety plan was uploaded correctly uh previous and then all of a sudden because we deal with the safety through Boseies and Boseies has their rules and regulations about how their employees have to do with the safety plan and and save it on what's known as SharePoint as a share drive. Boseies
232is not we're being told by our person they are not allowed to save it individually down off of the SharePoint which means everybody can see it but what happens is they're supposed to take it down and then do the individual district and unfortunately what was loaded the link actually got to the SharePoint and Elmyra was in the process of doing that that's why you saw it started seeing sporadically They apologized profusely. I did ask them to correct that from now on whenever we have something if it's ours we will take it off the share drive is we are the clients of Boseies and we will work on it only there. So I do appreciate it that's addressed at this point. I know the safety team uh has put in a lot of hours on that
233as well as Terry individually read it. So thank you Terry. >> Okay. Any last words? If not, I'll call for a motion to adjurnn. All those in favor say I. I. Any pose? Nay. Abstensions. Meeting adjourned. Thank you.