001Uh, welcome to our regular budget meeting on May 22nd. Would you please stand and honor America and join me in reciting the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I need a motion to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of discussing individual personnel matters. So moved. Second. All in favor? I opposed abstensions. All right, we'lljourn to executive session and our plan is to return by six o'clock. Good evening everyone. We are um returning from executive session and now uh to continue our regular business meeting. Before I start the regular business meeting, normally uh section three is the community comments and questions. We're going to alter the agenda tonight and
002let the public see the presentation of what um recommendations are for the new budget. And then once you see the recommendations, then we'll have the public session and comments. We're not eliminating it. We're just putting it in a different place on the agenda so everybody knows. you'll see recommendations and then um maybe some of your questions will be answered or maybe not, but you'll still have an opportunity to speak. All right, so with that said, um we need approval of the minutes. We had two meetings, our regular uh minutes and then our budget hearing minutes. Can I have a motion, please? Second. Questions, comments, curiosities. All in favor? I opposed. Opposed. I'll be voting no on 2.1 or yes on 2.2. Abstensions. All right. So, as I indicated, we're not going to do uh section
003three at this time, which is the community questions and comments. And we'll move to our report from our student representative. Hello. This past Monday, 35 student athletes signed their national letters of intent. The 2025 spring art show was held at the Arnet Mall and ended on the 18th. Intermediate School Symphonic Band performed at the Northeast Concert Band Festival at Ithaca College. Horses seniors will be participating in their senior walk at elementary schools on June 11th. Horsed High School's Interact raised money for their international fundraiser supporting international relief teams. Horsed Unified Bowling took first and second place in the section. Unified Basketball had their senior night May 21st and senior prom was a success this past weekend. All right. Thank you very much. All right. So, now we'll go with the uh report from the superintendent.
004Okay. Thank you. Thank you, President Conklin. Is this on? Hello. There we go. Thank you, President Conklin, member of the board. I'm going to start off with the um budget presentation first and then I'll open that to the community and then I'll come back and finish uh any part of my report if that's okay. Okay. So, if we can transfer to over here you should be good. It's coming up. Technology has to warm up. So test Ladies and gentlemen, members of the board, members of our audience, we're here tonight to talk about the revised budget overview for the 2526 spending plan. As of uh the district-wide vote across the state, the district did not uh receive a 60% approval on the budget that was the board's budget that was presented to the voters. Therefore, the
005board has to go back and rework the budget. The board has ultimately a few options. At this point, because of the rejection of the first budget, the board can, if it chooses, to put up the same budget. It could go out and challenge again. As your superintendent, I would not recommend that you consider that. In addition, the board also has the ability to go straight to a contingent budget and not vote again. That would require about $3.5 million in reductions. As your superintendent, I would not recommend that either. You have two chances, and that's the facts. It's not like other people out there in social media who think, well, they can keep voting and voting and voting and voting until they get it right. They can't. That is the laws of the past. The laws
006since 2011 2012 is that you only have two attempts. If the board is unsuccessful, if they choose to go out for a second attempt, you have no option. It will go to a contingent and then it shifts to the administration and we must comply with the uh state required reductions or amounts. So those are the options that you have. We're here to present to you figuring that you would prefer to go out a second time because we did get 50.9 which in the old days this budget would have passed but at this point with the tax cap levy limit by the law of New York State the minority controls the budget on a challenge. So that's what happened. So, we started working on this over the past couple nights because we're still under the board's
007directive to try to keep it away from students, to try to keep it away from staff as best as possible as well as programs. I can tell you just like we said, it's not that easy. I can also tell you that we did not have the same tools available to us back in April that we do now. One being we got an additional $400,000 in aid that if the budget would have been approved, we would have used it to lower the tax rate. That would have been our recommendation to the board. And I think everybody wants to keep the tax rate as low as possible. So tonight, we went through where we were at. The projected state aid for 2526 with the new aid figure is up here. Our total state aid across the board,
008this is sort of the slide you've already seen, is still right at that point 4%. It's not keeping up with what we need to run a district, but we heard the voice of the community. Ultimately, the community is the one who makes the final decision on your spending plan. So, here's the projected aid, and that includes the 400. In addition, we have to show the tax cap calculation. Notice we have a third column. The defeated budget was there. We still have to do the calculation with the revised budget so we can show the changes from the pilots and everything else. And it's still at that 2% allowable growth factor. That's the only thing that has to be 2%. That's the misnomer. Everybody thinks it has to be 2%. No, it could be three, four, 15%
009could be your 2% calculation. In this situation, our last budget, the calculation was ultimately 7.4%. In this new calculation, you'll see a different calculation. So when you go through this tax cap calculation, both slides, this slide and this slide give you the full calculation of what you can raise in a tax levy, the amount of change from year to year. In the defeated budget, we could raise $3.5 million or 7.4% change from year to year. And that 7.4% 4% change also included the board allocating $1.3 million to bring the tax levy down to that point of 7.4. With the new calculation, we can no longer raise 51 million. The new calculation is the far right slide that says we can raise now from last year up to $50 million according to the state's calculation, which
010is 2.246454. 246454 or a 4.7% change from yearover-year. Now, that also includes at that 4.7 the $1.3 million in debt service. In other words, we already were going to use it. Why wouldn't we use it again? Because if we didn't, what are we doing? Going to punish our tax base because the budget was defeated? That's not the purpose. We're trying to build the best spending plan with the most reasonleness. So that's the te tax cap calculation to this date inclusive of the 1.3 the summary of the budget revenues. Basically we have the changes in the tax item and the state aid. Those are virtually the only only changes. This slide was 3.03% beforehand. The extra aid and the change in the tax has brought the total revenues to 2.15 because that's how much the revenue
011is going to change from year to year. So we have brought that revenue expectation down. Our reserve balances are exactly where they were before and projected at the end of the year. The summary of the budget expenditures we have already met to address the 1.29 29 something million gap that we were covering with the debt service. Now without the debt service, we still have to cut that and we have addressed it in the area of salary, benefits, debt service, bos services to balance out that our revenues and our expenditures match at 2.15%. Notice our budget was 1 105 million. Now it's down to 104 million and it is matching the 2.2 million uh change from year-over-year. So the question is what has changed from the defeated budget? In other words, these are our recommendations to
012get to this level. And this is using some of the things that we had from last year that we identified as well as using tools that we just be a ca became able to use since the board adopted the budget on April I think it was 21st. So, we received roughly additional 400,000 in state aid revenue announced to the board approval at the of the first budget. So, that helps bring that $1.2 something million down. In addition, the following reductions from the first board proposed budget, we added an assistant principal. We have removed that and cut it from this budget. In addition, we were because the district does need these positions. We were looking to replace a retiring principal account clerk in our business office. Again, we will again do more with less. We're at
013the point it's going to start being less with less, but we're going to do that and try to get through another year. That would be a retirement attrition. We also now have to sort of I hate to say it fish or cut bait. In our foreign language, world language positions, we have two retirements. We have been looking for five months to fill these two positions. We have no candidates even after that search. Everybody's looking. That does not mean we're going to change the program. It does not mean the students aren't going to get it. It just means we're going to restructure it just like we did with our French program. The students will still get their checkpoint A at the eighth grade level and it's a savings to the district without impacting any individual. That's
014about $146,000. In addition, we need these uh transportation and facility vehicle. We talked to both facilities and transportation. The stake truck is 95,000. This transportation department service truck for our bus garage is 75. They have said they will figure it out for one year. We kept one in. We're cutting this for about 75,000. In addition, we have spee special education funds. This will not impact student placements. We will always have the placements for the students but at this time Boseies can't even get teachers for certain classes. So we have to augment the service already which means we don't have the cost of Boseis we do it but if there's a service I have every confidence in my team the business office myself and this district that we will still take care of those students and
015we will make sure that they are always getting their placements that we can place them in and their education. In addition we've talked to finance our medical um health insurance payments. We have not been hitting our stop loss. So, we have a calculated risk of moving our stop loss from $375,000. In other words, we cover up the $375 up to $500,000 because we have not been even hitting that. And that will result in a yearly savings of about $269,000. Also, you just heard one of my administrators I've sponsored has become a superintendent. we will look at that position and just like with any position we will have some type of change in salary and structure that there is breakage and we've included that into this budget. And then last uh at this point to get
016to that 1.29 29 million. We have just learned just yesterday that our auditors as well as it's legal that because we are going to have significant construction costs to shifting rooms and so forth that we can take some of our budget and move it to the construction for this year so that it's build out and not held against the budget. And we might be able to do that for one or two years. So, these are things that are temporary shifts that eventually we're going to have to shift them back to the budget because ultimately all of these cuts will stay away from students and programs and individual livelihoods. But it does have a huge impact on the district's operations and sustainability like we said last year is something we are going to have to be
017concerned about in the coming years. So, those are what has changed from the defeated budget to bring it in line with what we just put up there. What the revised budget includes, remember, we had to work on a couple ads, but we also said what we were trying to do in the budget. It's about students and programming. First of all, this budget, if it's accepted by the community, still remains staff and program strong. We tried to keep it away, like the board said, from our student populations and our programs. In addition, it maintains all current educational programs in academics, arts, and athletics. It's the sustainability of a summer learning academy that we just added because although that was added and you know, you would think you'd cut it, this is some of our most vulnerable
018kids. It was grant funded and we still think that's vitally important and if we're able to make the reductions and get below the 2% which we have, we feel that this is best for our students. In addition, the multi-tered system of supports to ensure each elementary building after consolidation has an appropriate social, emotional, academic, and behavioral supports. Everything we talked about, the two intervention teachers, relocating teaching assistants to increase support for primary grade levels, all are still included. It also rebuilds the allocation of curriculum work hours. This about 20,000. We also need it because it may be needed because of contractual obligations that we're still vetting. And then last, what we said is ensuring fourth grade play at each of the three elementary schools. So this keeps everything in the budget that we talked about
019as well as eliminates things to bring it within the 2% or what's required of a 50% approval of this budget if the community so chooses. Ultimately the 2526 revised balance budget you can see the expenditures are in line with the revenue there is no gap it uses a tax levy increase of 2.2 2 million ERS reserves same as before 600 EBR reserves 200 interf fund transfers 145 and a fund balance of 1 million debt service fund right now we talked about 1.3 but ultimately the board's got to give us this a direction the defeated budget used 1.3 million and brought the levy down to 7.4 four and brought the full value tax rate down to 1642 or 48 cents per thousand or $48 per 100,000. That was defeated. So in this revised budget, we're at
020the 50% level, right? Our tax levy rate if I mean our tax levy increase if you use 1.3 is according to the chart 4.7. If you choose the 1.2, it's 4.9. If you choose 1.1, it's 5.12. And if you choose only 1 million, it's 5.33. All of them have a corresponding adjustment to the overall full value tax rate. Because as an administrator, we sat there and said, "We're going to use 1.3 on the last one." It's kind of hard to come back to you and say, "I would not recommend 1.3." It takes a tool off the table, but it's the right thing to do because it gives you the lowest potential tax rate at the highest conservative estimate of 7 cents per thousand or $7 on a $100,000 house for a year. And that's the
021highest projection because we heard out there, well, they're saying it's maybe. It's not maybe. That's our conservative high projection. So, one of the things we kind of need guidance on from the board is what are your thoughts of what we said? What are your thoughts on debt service? Because I think we met exactly what it is. And some people will say, well, why didn't you do this before? We didn't have access to the funds. We didn't have we were trying to hire Spanish teachers. We have been able to revise our Boseies programs and get information from Boseies that they will not be able to fill certain programs. We need the trucks, but we have to make sure we meet the needs and try to keep it away. Those are all the questions. I didn't know
022a person was becoming a superintendent. You see what I'm saying? So, everything up there is something that was after pretty much April 21st. And we're trying to give you the best options so it's not hard to take against program. But we are at the end. There isn't much except now program and staff and we're trying to avoid that. So I'll open it up to the board. Thoughts? So, I'll open it up for comments. Does anybody wish to speak? Sue question. Um, thank you. So, what you're looking to do is go out for 50% voter approval. Yes. Because the people spoke unfortunately. Does this mean our fund balance will then be below 4%. Because you're no at this point it will be established at 4% for next year. It will still be the same still 4%.
023Okay. What did we have before and for did we have a million dollars? Uh last year we used a million dollars in that fund balance. Okay. So, the printout sheet that you gave us um in April, all those things are still like you presented them to us. Like these right here, these are all still in there. Okay. And the um fourth grade plays. Oh, yeah. They're there. Okay. So, on your budget scenarios, you have three different things. Can you Sure. Um explain that a little bit better. Okay. Okay. To me, basically what happens is if you use no fund balance, I mean not fund balance, if you use no debt service, zero, we were going to use 1.3 million. If you use no debt service, our tax rate would be somewhere right around 48. The
024same exact as the challenge. And that's because in the challenge we used 1.3 to avoid the cuts. Now we aren't using the 1.3. we make the cuts and we're using the 1.3 to lower the tax rate. So, what this chart is is going up there and using from the far right where it says if the board said, "Hey, we don't want to use 1.3, we want to use 1 million." The corresponding estimated tax rate in the lower box is what would go out to the community, 16 cents per thousand or $16 per 100,000. And each column going over is an additional $100,000 being used of debt service to bring down the overall tax rate. Because we went out at 1.3, our recommendation to the board is strongly to consider use the 1.3 and put this
025tax rate at the lowest possible rate, right, of seven cents per thousand or $7 per 100,000. Okay. Thank you very much. You're welcome. Julie on slide on slide seven. Can you um the equipment supplies and contractual are the cell phone pouches included in that that we may need to consider? No. I will be talking about that a little bit later tonight because just so that you know the state in its infinite wisdom passed a law. State Education put out a memo yesterday that says, "We aren't telling you anything because we weren't involved. So unless the state gives you guidance, you can't do anything." And so we're waiting for state guidance. But it is a law, right? It's a law, but there's no mechanism of guidance at this point that we can move forward with. So
026we'll we'll continue to talk about that in a second. So my next question is um I am okay with the 1.3 debt services. I think it's what's best for the taxpayers. Um I appreciate this budget um in the aspect that we are focused on obviously the kids not taking anything from programming away and also from staffing. I think that's really important to make sure you were providing resources there. So I appreciate that from you and your team. I do have a question regarding the intermediate school in regards to the fact that we do have that vacancy with that principal and asking about is it a good time to potentially restructure that building and go to one principal and two assistants is the same size as potentially advisable. It's a good question. We are dealing with
027a lot. We are making a lot of shifts that at this point trying to turn something around that has taken us over a year with the elementarymentaries would be very difficult and even more difficult in trying to get it all done and then try to do the hiring. if that's something that the board would like to consider and I think you know I had a good conversation with staff today that you know if we ever thought that we need to take some time and work with them and work with the board and do it right not just do it in a hurry especially if we have these options at this point Katrina Okay. So, the um language teachers, I guess I didn't realize that before. Are we do we currently have teachers that are filling
028those positions at the middle school that are retiring this year? Yes. Okay. And so, how many teachers does that leave teaching Spanish at the middle school? Uh it's a variety across the high school and the middle school because we have some people going back and forth. Okay. So that means that they would end up having to do more and that no they have they have to meet their contractual obligation of teaching otherwise we would have openings that we don't need people to fill. We will have enough to fill those positions. I'm just concerned because you know when I went to school I know that we had multiple languages and multiple I used to take lots of languages and I just don't know if necessarily not being able to fill that is a benefit or not.
029You know like do we have the ACE programs available for the kids who are advancing? I I understand, you know, that teach French. Um, they don't offer that and we do and I think that's a good good thing. I I don't know. I don't know if the cuts from there should necessarily be from there. So, that was my comment on that. Um, and I just don't know exactly how much it is. So sometimes I think that when we get these screens to see the dollar amount associated with what it is that's being kept out of would be helpful. Yeah. If I can answer you first of all on the first question. Uh it is not uncommon. There is like six or seven openings for Spanish. So we're all competing for the same source. Everybody's in
030this situation. We had people come in and guess what? They get offered a job away from this area and they take that five months without having candidates pretty much means we've got about maybe 12 13 weeks and we kind of have to have a plan because we can't wait until August and then all of a sudden changes. That's the hard part. Now as far as the cost like I said it's 146,000 for the two teaching positions. So, I mean, for me, at 146,000, it gives us such a hard position to fill and if we say we're taking that off of the books for now and maybe we're missing the opportunity to actually have the person, you know, that we might have been able to get to fill that position. So, I don't know if I'm
031necessarily in favor of that. Um, you did answer my question about the stop loss about going um to the 500,000 um And I guess I was asking the same question that Julie was asking. Do we intend to fill that administrative position or maybe we say um for the time being we just don't fill the intermediate um principal position until we figure out what the best course of action is financially for that one. Okay. Let me address that real quick because I see you've got several. Uh we have to have a building principle no matter what. That's required by law. So, we're going to fill a position, whether it's an interim position or the position that remains to be seen. It might be like we did at Gardener Road with an interim for a little bit
032to give us some time to try to do it right. Uh depending on that discussion and uh the decisions tonight, we'll go forward. My recommendation right now is we've got so many things going on that we need to stay the course and probably deal with either filling the position or interim. and there is breakage from it already that's built into this budget. Okay. And then um we've talked about this before, but then I um with the what the bud budget includes. So when I hear includes, I'm thinking that it's increasing the budget. Um but the reallocation of future assistance to increase um the support levels that my mom and I had said multiple times is that we're going from 19 people servicing children to 12 people servicing children. So do we actually save money by
033keeping it at the structure that we have right now? We're actually not saving money. It's the money that's in the budget. We're just re allocating and restructuring positions that were already in the budget. They weren't added. The two RTI were using the restructuring to add two new RTI teachers to it to provide a higher level of service of four RTI teachers at each of the elementary buildings along with a teaching assistant for each. Right. I I get that when you say add, it makes it sound like you're adding more people. You're No, we're restructuring. Yeah. of the teachers but the um teacher assistants the kids the the studentto person helper ratio will be less um so that's I just don't know I I was very concerned about this budget and um I think that my
034concerns are even greater and I don't think that the Um, before I get to this stuff, um, what's the current fund balance at? The full current fund balance. Katie, do you have that? Current fund balance. 3.8 million. 3.8 million. 3.8. And we still also could pull more than the 1.3 from the debt service even though it's not necessarily what we would like to see. And I know that we just need 50% majority and we got what 51% total. 50.9 50.9. So my concern is that the public came out and they said that they didn't like this budget and um maybe they didn't like the budget. Maybe they're upset about um how the redistricting has happened. Maybe they're upset about, you know, the comments of I don't know. I haven't heard from the public yet, but
035there's a lot of different reasons I think that this could be happening. So, that makes me very concerned. And I I don't know if with even using the one the 1.3 and bringing it down to the 4.7 if that's going to be enough because I think that what people are going to say is yes, we have the tools that we suddenly have, but they're going to say, "Oh, well, look what they could do when we voted it down. Now they've gotten it down lower." So I feel like people will say well look they can still do it without it. Look at the money they had. So it puts us in a very difficult situation. And I think that this also whatever we end up choosing to do this year will be reflective of what happens
036next year. Right? So I think we have to be really careful with what we decide to do. So, I personally would have liked to have seen other options with instead of decreasing the use of the debt service line, what it would have looked like to use more from the debt reserves and even if we took like an extra half million from the general fund or something like that to try to push it down even lower. Um, you can't take enough. If I can correct you, you can't take from the general fund. That's the budget. Okay. You take a million from the fund balance. It's always you could Okay, but let me let me finish please. You could take more from the reserves. Our administrative and business position is you are going to kill the outy
037years if you do that. That's why we've recommended what we feel is the best. Just like with debt service, we don't recommend going above 1.3 because you got to have out of debt service. And I think it's like what is it 3.1 right now? been reduced by the 2 million we allocated for this year. Yeah. And so what happens is you've got to plan a 50% draw off of that. And if you keep going up, you aren't going to have anything for next year. So what you're going to do is you try to step down so the impact doesn't hit the tax base over many years for using it. So it's the right financial move for using that resource that we have. So we're pushing it at 1.3. Believe me, I I would love to
038see that number at zero. And right now, every h 100,000 you can see every hundred,000 is three cents. So in order to get that to 1 cent is $200,000. But that means we've just taken from 3 million 1.1 I think it's two 2.1 because we'll put some money back in. We aren't going to hardly have anything left for the next year. And it's an unwise move to use it all in one year. You've got to position it and aortion it off over many years. Remember, we used 2 million last year. We should be using one. We went to 1.3. Next year, we should be using 500. We're probably going to be 600 to 750. And then we've got to go down that way. That's proper accounting for it. I do I I understand that. I
039think that when the people come out to vote, you know, this room isn't exactly packed and then there's a bunch of people who have come and have just said no to the budget for whatever reason. So, it may not be the wisest choice, but does it help to make sure that we don't end up on contingent? You've got to make sure of that. Yes. A whole bunch of other things. So, you know, you're kind of in the position of pick bad or worse. And I would prefer to not have worse. I would prefer to try to do as much as we possibly can to ensure that it's going to pass. So that's why and and look at I agree with you 100% but that's what the board has to do is this is the board's
040budget your budget you are responsible for this decision and the community is weighing in on your decision not mine that's why I'm presenting it to you. So that's why I just wanted to be like I said I I understand recommendations but for me I have to make the decision because I hear from people all around and I looked at these numbers and I you know he asked me to take it down to seven cents it's I'm not saying that what you did is not good. Um I'm just saying that I'm very worried. Could you wrap up please? That's it. Thank you. Go ahead. Um, I I do have my mic on here. No, my mic. Hello. That would be my husband not turning my mic on. He has a boy. I wasn't going to say
041Um, if we're talking about revised budget scenarios, I agree with keeping the 1.3 million of debt service use. I feel that's appropriate um just because we said we were going to do it before and I think it gives us the best option to bring um the taxes down for involved. Um, I do want to add and talk with the rest of the board about beginning the conversation um that Julia brought up about shifting of principles, merging middle school, intermediate school. I realize that this is maybe not the appropriate time to do that, but um I think that as a board we should entertain that conversation and especially with moms we're leaving right now at this point. Um also right now my question for you Dr. Douglas is is there an assistant principal at the intermediate
042school right now while Cammy Malone was doing her intern road? Yes. Yes. Okay. Yeah. It's basically Robin Drava came back as an interim at this point while Mike's there. Obviously after this year, Kim returns as the assistant principal. uh depending on what we do, I would not rule out other people interest in the position of moving up and another vacancy could occur. So, right, we're we're on the same point with that because I was thinking, you know, if that I just can't talk about it personnel, of course, but if if it were an option to put somebody into that role and keep, you know, another role open right now as interim, that that could assist us while we're moving forward. Yes. Um, if I can if I can add to on that, it's not as
043easy as just saying we're going to do it. That's why the discussion takes place and it has to, but it's also a contractual discussion and I can't just arbitrarily do it. I have to have discussions and 8 weeks is probably 8 to 12 weeks is not going to be the appropriate amount of time. But I believe people are willing to have discussions. Yeah, I think it's I think it's worthy of a conversation whether it it fails or it doesn't. It's worthy of conversation when we have an opening of something of this nature that we always talk about this when we have openings like this to see if the staffing or the student members warrant it. It's fair to have those conversations. Um and I think it's healthy for us as a board to discuss that.
044Um, I see and and maybe again this may not be the appropriate time to have this conversation, but I know that there is an interim administrator that is coming into her district. Um, where would they be placed during this? Are you okay? Sorry, Eyelash in my eye. I can't see. What do you can I I don't understand what you mean by there's an interim within the HR recommendations number J there is uh an interim administrator uh that will be on boarding from September through January unless that's not correct that's an internship yes but it's not an interim [Music] administr that that's coming in, right? Um, where will their time be spent? We provide all of our interns when they come to us a full experience, not any one. We provide secondary, we provide elementary, we
045provide special education, and we provide district over the course of a semester. Once they are through that, then they're able to be certified as an admin as an administrator depending on their hours. But at this point, this person is just an intern looking to complete their program. No problem. I meant to say intern. I think I have intern. Yeah, no problem. Um, so they will go across all of the Okay. Thank you, Christine. Um, just a question and then a comment. So, with this Spanish, are there any um children right now who have been denied the opportunity to take Spanish because we've been short teachers? None that we're aware of. We're not short right now. Well, no, but you were saying you've been trying to hire. Yes. Right. So, since we haven't done that, everybody
046who wants to take Spanish still has been able to take Spanish. Okay. Um, and I, you know, I'm I'm not comfortable going above the 1.3. Um, I am, um, I I feel good about the 1.3. I think going from a from 48 um from $48 down to seven. It does seem like a significant decrease. Um, and that is the conservative high, right? We have to wait till August no matter what, right? Um, I think our role as a board is we also need to be looking to the future, right? And that's what our reserves help us get through the future. And if we were to continue to deplete now, then we're just going to be in an even worse situation next year, right? And so I think um it's just really important just for us
047to continue what wherever we end up with this is just to continue to educate the community to the importance of also looking forward to the future as well. Um so I am um I'm supportive of the 1.3 um and then taking it down to the to the 4.7% levy increase. Thank you. And if I can remind the board as well as the public, the levy increase is only the amount it's increasing from year to year as a total. It has nothing to do with what you pay in taxes. It's the rate that matters. Last year, our estimated rate was $24 per 100,000. It ended up being 444 per 100,000 on the rate and it drove it down below 16. Right now the estimated rate will go from 1598 or 1594 up to 1601 on the
048conservative high side in August. That could be negative. Just we have to always look at the data that we have right now with what it would be at the conservative high estimate. Maryann, did you want to speak? Yes. Squeak squeak. Am I? I'm on. Okay. First of all, I want to thank the community for coming out and voting. You each have the right to vote with your choice. We had a good turnout. Not as what we hoped. I want to thank uh Katie and her team and all those that were involved in setting up the first budget. And I also am amazed that within the short amount of time from Tuesday till today that so much work has been done to help bring the budget down. Um maybe I shouldn't have phrased it that way.
049That didn't sound good. Uh, I totally agree with what Miss Dale said about the reserve. Uh, I would hate to see that used and then be in worse situations in the future. And the future is our responsibility as a board. Uh, a couple of things that do bother me is uh when I hear negativism about things that we really cannot control. I think we have a great district here and I would like to see more positive comments being made among the public because it is quite a remarkable district with quite a remarkable staff and I think there are some things that um people need to move on. decisions have been made and it would be better for everyone including the children if we accepted those decisions and moved on in a positive manner. I know
050there is a nearby district who a few years back went through some consolidation and changing of the way the schools were set up and it was like how will we ever survive? Well, they did and it's over and it's positive. And I think being negative doesn't help anyone. It doesn't help the staff. It doesn't help the community. And most of all, it doesn't help the children because they hear this at home. So, let's try to think of things uh worrying that people are going to be saying, well, you know, why didn't they do this before? I guess that's human nature. And I'm sure there will be that kind of talk. But when those people who were responsible for our first budget worked on it, they were thinking of the district. What would be best for
051the children? And those things that were added were things that would enhance our district for the children. And that's that's what we're here for. And so let's think about that. Yes, there were some things that were now cut back. Yes, they're saying, "Well, I guess we can do without that." But it it was there for a purpose. And so if we can think about things that way, certainly they it wasn't like, "Oh, let's put this in and let's put this in." We knew and they knew the people that worked on it that it was going to be a hard fight. It's it's been that way in a couple of other districts, but Horses has always stepped up to the to the fight and made it work. And I hope we can do that when the
052next vote comes for this budget. And I thank the team once again for their hard work. Hi, how many times are we? I just wanted to say ditto. I couldn't say it any better. Thank you. All right. Um, I think uh we should support this uh proposal. Um, it saves jobs in the community. It saves livelihoods for people. It saves programs for children. Um I think Miss Dale is correct. We have to use our re um retain some reserves for rainy day. So to use more reserves at this point in time could negatively impact us into the future. I remember back in the great recession, the district did have reserves and as bad as the layoffs were because we had reserves, they could have been much worse. So, I don't think we should funnel more
053than 1.3 million into this budget. I think we should look for a rainy day meeting and leave it where it's at. So, I support the recommendation um because it keeps us staff strong. No staff is losing their job and um the public made that abundantly clear last year that they wanted um to retain jobs and this revised budget does that. So I think um I I support it as you uh presented it. If if I can add I just did a quick calculation just because people ask what does this mean for me at $7 a year at the 1.3 per 100,000 and of course it can be multiplied depending on that. If you do the division it's 13 cents per week. It's less than 2 cents a day. It's like 1.9 cents a day for
054the whole year if you have a $100,000 home. That would be the increase at the highest level. The last one was about I think it was 90 something cents a week in 13. So we have tried to think of the community and it is important to note I think everything Katrina said we have to be very much aware of the next budget if not approved will force us to contingency and all the all the things that we said even if it wasn't approved go into place even in that contingency budget but we will have to reduce another $2.25 million. There is no way any other cuts come from anywhere except students and program at this time. People will be out there and say I'm fear-mongering. I'm not fear-mongering. I'm just telling the facts. Social media
055does not have facts. People out there that are not in the education world that do this day in for the past 38 years, my team included, do not know the facts. I know Sue understands, you've said it. Back in our day, we could present a budget and present a budget, the pay for play, all of that. That's not today. You have two shots and only two shots. If both shots are defeated, you don't get a say anymore. It is a contingent budget. It's prescribed by law. So much for administration, so much for capital, and so much for program. I can tell you we are so administratively light we don't have much to have to even meet the administrative component capital we don't have to do much we do have to in a contingent budget cut
056all equipment and then no one here can use these facilities without paying 100% of the cost I got called by summer cohesion already and I told them you need to make a plan as emergency backup because they won't be able to afford that. Those are some of the rules. We will cover that in the final presentation which we will have to have a meeting Wednesday night at 6:00 because we need time to finalize and prepare this budget and get everything eyes dotted, tees crossed because Wednesday is the last date that we can prepare a budget. So, we need to walk away with that guidance tonight. We aren't spending a lot of time on contingency, but I need the board to understand that is a real dilemma if the board's budget is not successful. Julie, so
057you started off by saying that some people say that you're going to push here and the statement you just made, although it may be very factual, it was a fair statement. And I think that we need to change the way that we educate people and the way they talk and the language that we use. And we really should be pushing more educational pieces because it's not fair that whatever we do, our kids are going to go to the pulls of vote. Right. Right. So the two cents per day, the 13 cents per week, those are the educational we need to push out and not the fear fear tactics of what happens if it doesn't pass. I understand those are realistic things, but the community needs to hear why it's important, right? We're not cutting jobs.
058We're not cutting programs. We are here for our kids first and that they shouldn't be suffering the consequences of our decision. Correct. And that's the educational message that we need to push out over the next few weeks to really make it happen. No, I I I agree. Unfortunately, in my position, I need to make the board as well aware of all the potentials of your decision, Miss Dale. So, I I agree with what Julie's saying, but I also think it's important. Um I mean, I've never lived through a contingency budget, right? And so, I mean, I'm assuming there's a lot of community members that haven't either. I mean, I I've been seeing things all over social media, people asking what does that even mean, right? So, I also think it's important as part of that
059education piece to educate what does a contingency budget look like? And we will have that at the next meeting in writing. Yes. Right. because contingency back when I was on the board earlier in the 90s look much differently than it is today I believe and I don't know and it would be very helpful and I think useful to educate everyone on what contingency um in 2025 is and how everyone is affected. So, what are you asking I don't mean to Well, it's still green. It's There you go. Just green. Green. Okay. Uh, I don't mean it to be fearful and I understand what you're saying, but I do think there's something else that, you know, I remember discussing this with my neighbor when it was budget time. Horset has a great reputation right now. And
060so people who are coming into the area, most parents do some shopping and they look around and they want their children to go to the best school district that can be provided. I know my own children chose their location simply because of that and I'm proud of them for doing it and we've got some competition not too far away and if we were to be in a contingency budget contingency um that might turn some people away also teachers who are looking for jobs so we have to think of that as well. I agree with Julie wholeheartedly. The kids are our first and most important responsibility. But if we're having problems, new people coming into the area may look another way and we don't want that to happen. I believe you were going to ask me,
061Warren, what do you need from us? Correct. Do you need any other guidance? I need to know are you okay with the reductions that we have presented first of all? Um I I thought that we were going to um hear from the public too first before we made our decisions on this. Are we not? Are we just getting our I thought we were going to have No, I just wanted to know if Dr. Douglas needs any more input from the board and then I'm not open to the public. Okay. Well, and I just wanted to make one more comment as it was going around. And I'm not trying to be, you know, uh, make anything seem fearful or anything like that, but I know we have to have the 50%. Having the fact that it
062just went that we it got voted down. Um, I think that we really have to try if there was any way that we could even make it better than what it is with the point from the 0.07, 7. We should try to do that so that we don't end up on contingency because I lived in contingency and I know that that is something that's very that the public is very capable of insets is coming out and voting things down and I am nervous about that because I don't want, you know, because we're thinking about the future. I don't want the future to be coming up that quickly. So that's the only reason why I thought, you know, if we could see something else more. I, you know, I know that we need to save reserves.
063I know we have to do those things, but we haven't been in a position where we had a budget go down in a in a long time. And I think we really have to take note of that. And I think we have to listen to what the public is saying. And I think we have to be really careful. And that's all I'm trying to say because yes, courses is excellent and everything that everybody does is wonderful. our teachers, our staff, all of that. I just I think we have to be really careful because I don't want it I I don't want it to end up any worse. So, that was the one question. Then the second one, I just need you to know your recommendation for the debt service. I'm hearing everybody's at 1.3 or
064more, but 1.3 is up there. So, we would probably go with 1.3 unless the board tells us something different at the end of this. Okay. So, that's all I need. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to my team. All right. So, now we will um as I indicated, open it to public comment. Uh the period is intended to last for 30 minutes in total, but at the end of 30 minutes, the board can vote to extend the comment session. Um those who wish to comment, um we ask that you go to either of the two microphones, um state your name and address. Uh you will be allowed uh five minutes to speak and we ask that you adhere to board of education policy 2370. And if you need to read that policy and
065you have a smartphone, there's a um uh a policy in the back in a queue where you can take a picture and the policy will come on to your phone. Um the policy in part states that the board will not permit in public session discussion involving individual district personnel or students. So, and please note that the comment section is not designed to be a discussion, but designed to hear your concerns and for us to um take into consideration your concerns. So, with that said, the microphones are at the end of either aisle and you can find your way there. Is this on? Is it? Yeah. Okay. Um, first of all, I just want to thank the school board members and the students who come for their endless time and hours that you guys put into
066our district. It was uh brought to my attention while campaigning. Oh, by the way, my name is Cara Sheen. forgot that part. I live 129 Bington Road North in Horetss. Um, it was brought to my attention while campaigning that the superintendent's contract is to be renewed. I would like the board members to take a look at page nine, item D that states, "The superintendent and or his spouse and legal dependent shall be provided with health, prescription drug, optical, dental insurance coverage under either individual or family plan for the superintendent and his spouse and legal dependent for the remainder of their lives." End of quote. I have heard of spouses receiving continued coverage, but when it comes to dependence, their usual um parental insurance age cuts off at 26. If our district is to pay for
067dependent potentially for the rest of their life, that could cost the district, this is lowballing because things go up every year as we all know, upwards of $2 million in taxpayer dollars and this should be removed from a new contract. This clause does not have the best interest of our community, nor is it a fair stipen uh stipulation. Also in the contract on page 10, it states if they re relocate the insurance if the insurance can't avail then they get paid a cash equivalent. I think that's something that the board member should also look at. I hope over the past few days you were able to communicate and see why this budget failed. I think all of you have the same um thing that you're stating tonight that you really want to make sure this
068one passes, but why did it fail? And we need to make sure that it does not fail again because it was very equal um just, you know, right around 50% either way. So, we really need to make sure that it doesn't fail and what does the public want? How can we generate more revenue for our school and spend less so that we uh can abstain from these big tax increases? And how do we make our staff feel good about all of our upcoming changes? Are we sharing information with them well in advance? Are we taking time to revisit start times for next year? There just seems to be um unrest in people unsure about the start times. So, I'm not sure if that's something you guys have time to look at. Um I am hopeful
069for this budget. However, I know when things are close, everyone seems to get their sides up. So, we need to really put the message out there and be clear about what good things we are going to do for our community when we get this budget passed. Um, thank you very much all of you for your time. This microphone has to fall. She'll get it for you. Thank you. My name is Angie Fin Lac. I live at 10 Glider Circle. And before I begin, I just want to say um again, just like Cara said, thank you for being here. I understand the amount of time and effort you've put into this. Um, I also want to be transparent on um the number that's up there for $1,594 per 100,000 of this year. Mine is actually$1802. So
070if people go home and they start like doing their own calculations, it may not be 1594. Just kind of put that out there. Um, yeah, mine is 1802 per 100,000 currently. Um, okay. So I sent this via board email, the board email. So, um, because I know you guys don't like surprises, uh, I assume you got it. When did you send it? Today. Please know this all would have been said tonight regardless of the election outcome. As an outsider of the district, I heard the rumors of how much bullying occurs by people who sit in positions of authority. I had heard about discrimination that occurs and how teachers feel micromanaged. But what I have witnessed firsthand these last few months are the effects of this toxic leadership. I witnessed blame shifting when the state aid
071is low without acknowledging that they are often directly correlated to cuts being made in previous budget years. I witnessed district employees publicly bait and attack the community they serve on social media. And I have observed a board who was wallowing in such poor leadership that they yell at each other, slam the table in frust frustration, and don't seek to hear from the community until election time. Well, thankfully I didn't get elected, so I can speak freely in this open forum. Going forward, the board should be demanding clear information on how expenses will impact future revenues, specifically forecast regarding building aid, transportation aid, and BOSI's aid. A line item budget should be standard procedure, not provided 5 minutes before the vote. Our goal as a district should be to have 70% of our budget fall under
072the programming component. Right now, it's it's not 70%. and I think it's 66% and may actually be less after tonight. The superintendent's contract is a hot topic in our community and it must be addressed. I personally think a true leader would respectfully decline a raise during these fiscally stressful times. The one thing that sticks in my mind during this budget season was when Dr. Douglas pointed out that he could be the first superintendent to ever pass three 60% budgets during their tenure. That struck me as an odd priority. However, the biggest issue I see is this weird perception of transparency. I've learned that the district often focuses on what is required rather than what is right. Many people didn't even realize they voted to close Center Street when they approved the capital project. Going forward,
073the board should aim to do a better job at meeting the community right where they're at. Say what you will about Corning Painted Post, but at least they showed their community in writing exactly what would be cut if they voted no. The activity from this board and administration has had this dichotomy of being both vague and threatening. Today, I would have appreciated seeing a slide on precisely what would have been cut if the new budget doesn't pass. True transparency lives in the gap between doing what is required and doing what is right. And it's the responsibility of this board to demand that the superintendent tow that line. This board needs to find your backbone, stand up, and do the job that you are elected to do. Our superintendent has his own job to do. Don't
074give him the power to do your job, too. You don't work for the school district. You work for the people that elected you. Thank you. If I can just address one. If I can just address one because Angie said her tax rate is at 1802. For the community out there, the reason it's at 1802 is because of an equalization rate. And at any time, if you don't understand it, please call our business office. We will explain it. The true tax value is $1594. And what that does is compare $100,000 home in any municipality in any school district across the state. If it's higher than that, what your municipality is doing is saying your value of your house is being taxed at a lesser amount and it has to be equalized to the tax rate of
075full value. If it's lower than ours, they're saying it's above 100% which they do not do. So that's why it would be above. So if you have a question, please contact our business office. They will explain how much the assessors are taxing you or what their equalization rate is because ultimately that is set by the state, not even the municipalities, to make sure every home in New York State is assessed and valued across the state at the same 100% full value. Thank you. Jesus. Uh Jessica Benelman, 4889 Hillview Road. Um, I want to thank um the board for considering a budget that lower both lowers the tax rate and does not include staffing cuts. I know last year was incredibly difficult for a lot of staff with the job in jeopardy letters and with the
076budget failure um this week the tensions were definitely high not knowing what came next. Um, so I really appreciate um that uh there was the uh consideration to lower this without um impacting livelihoods. I'd also um I've had a lot of conversations since uh the budget vote um from people who say, "I don't have kids in the community, so what does it matter if I said no?" And I mean beyond the obvious that a strong um as was stated from a board member tonight that strong education systems enhance property value which everybody knows. There's a lot of other benefits that come from this. Um education and investing in education uh in helps reduce crime rates. It fosters a more stable um community. well- educated individuals are more likely to contribute positively to their community um
077and which leads to a safer environment for all. Supporting education um and a school system is an investment in long-term well-being within a community and benefits all the residents regardless of if they have children. Um we have many opportunities where our students and staff um engage uh retired and um senior members of the community. Um and it allows our um children to realize that learning is a lifelong process that involves everyone. Um supporting education isn't about just helping children. It's about investing in the future of the entire community. Um so whether it's um so even without children in the school system I hope that the community will come out and support um education for everyone to have a slightly better quality of life. Thank you. Good evening. My name is uh John Sash. I live
078at 149 Bington Road North. Um I want to commend uh the superintendent for his hard work on uh making um the cuts to reduce the tax levy down to 4.7%. Um the one thing I would bring up is this. Your vote was at 50.9% and your tax uh levy we overrode it's 4.7%. It seems like you're playing with razor thin margins right now. Is it possible to get the tax levy down to around 4% and you might have a greater chance of passing the budget? That would be my only recommendation. I think long-term we have many systemic problems in the district that we can look at and one idea might be to do multi-year budget planning for the board. Um, I have a lot of experience in this area. I do work with school districts
079already, but thank you very much uh for my time. Have a good night. Mr. Sash, just it it just confused me a little. I think you said could we try to get it down to a four somewhere around 4% levy in this under the under the defeated budget it was at 7.4 not 4%. I know. Okay. Your tax cap was at 4.7. So what people voted 50% I was assuming that at 50% simple majority it would have passed at the 4.7%. Yes. So that's what I was getting at. Yeah. So what I'm saying is if you put together something that's at 4.7%. We would assume that you would still get the 50.9% but what h what happens if you get 49%. Then you're going to contingency. Correct. So, what I'm saying is to eliminate that
080risk, maybe you want to bring it down a little to try to get that maybe to a more comfortable um level because no one wants a contingency budget. That's all I'm saying. No, I just appreciate I just wanted to understand what you're saying just because I couldn't understand it from the vocal. So, thank you. Yep. You're welcome. Okay, seeing nobody else walking towards the microphones, I'd like to thank um those who spoke tonight and gave their input. And I'd also like to thank the public for coming out and listening to the presentation tonight. And just to reiterate, the revote is June 17th. You're reading right off the top. All right. Uh, yes. The revote is June 17th, but I would ask for a motion from the board at this point for the board to meet
081as a regular meeting at this point on May 28th, 2025 here at the high school as we have to finalize the budget by statutory requirements once the board gives me the final decision. But if we could set that date, it's that's the last date and we need as much time as possible of the Memorial Day weekend. So that's the motion is for a meeting if somebody will move it as well. Second. Do you have a time? What time? 6 o'clock. Questions, curiosities? I know it's going to be here again, but this light's just We'll try to fix the lighting. I understand. Mary Mau says, Kinley, please. Um, Mrs. Mau, just a second. We I asked for anybody else to that was going to come forward. Oh, okay. Okay. I don't That's okay. I don't mind
082if she wants to make a few minutes late. No, go ahead. Go ahead. You can speak. We just didn't know. Hi. Yeah. Yeah. And just let her know. We had a motion on the floor. We'll let her speak right after it. Are there? Sure. All right. Can Can I Can Can I just interrupt you for one second? There's a motion on the floor. We'll let you speak. We just have to take our vote on the motion. So, all in favor? I for the May 28th meeting we're talking about right now. All in favor? Opposed? Abstensions. All right. Where do the senior citizens fit into this budget? Okay, cuz I just lost my Star program. I netted out $69 extra a month in my social security and I netted out $5 more a month in my
083pension. And that was enough for me to lose my star program. my taxes last year, thanks to the ST program helping to pay them $1,600. I have no clue where I'm coming up with that from this year. You have to think about the older generation as well as the younger generation. And what is that ratio? Is enrollment up every year? And if so, by how much? Or is enrollment down every year? If so, by how much? When I graduated from South High School in 1971. Okay. There was graduates. Well, actually a little bit. My grandson just graduated last year from Point High School. 300 children. the highest graduating class uh I believe was in the mid70s and that was over 700. So every year it seems like the enrollment is going down and perhaps that's
084why the taxes are going up. I don't know like how many right off hand do you know how many new students enrolled this year? We just so that I can help you. Districts across the state are seeing enrollment declines. Some are seeing enrollment increases. Over the past three years, we had an enrollment increase and we had an enrollment decrease roughly about 10 to 12 students each way. This year, I think the last time I checked, we have an enrollment increase of nine. We've sort of leveled off where we are. The projections in the outy years from our diographers is that our elementarymentaries tend to will will go down a little but that's why the elementaryaries are now going to be filled at 92% capacity instead of I think it was 61 that they currently are
085at. So there is some trending there and unfortunately I I came through the schooling in in the 70s the the issues from the 70s are not the same as the 80s9s the 2000 2020s. So the costs are entirely different too. It's like I was I I was asked you had a $75 million budget now it's at 105. Why is it gone up that much in this many years? Well, if you do the inflationary index of costs where actually from that 77 time to right now we're supposed to be about $105 to $108 million. So we're actually under it but that's because of the cost of doing business has changed over those times. So we to answer your questions, we are watching those things, but that's what every district is facing. And in regards to your
086STAR, we've actually experienced this with a couple other residents over the several years um for different circumstances where they just hit over that threshold and the state quickly pulls it away. A lot of times if you can come in, we can talk to you to try to help you in the future plan for those, how do you say, that borderline area because I hate to say it, they don't really care. Once you go $1 over, one penny over, they're going to resend it. And that's probably something you did not know was going to happen because you were right there at that level. But you should still be getting a basic star no matter what. And if that's not the case, we can use the basic star. basic star versus enhanced star. Enhanced star is for
087those I'm not getting the basic star e either. Yeah. And that's what I would say. Give us a call. We can at least look it up. I know Terry does this often times and we can try to assist you the best we can. Unfortunately, we have no control over that. But we do try to help people that are in those situations because I just I just think that the taxes and what they're and what they're proposing those tax dollars go for is it really all necessary? I mean, obviously the school board probably thinks it's it's necessary. Um, but if if there could be some kind of a ratio of senior citizens to middle-aged couples, middle-aged couple couples that are working versus senior citizens that are on social security. No, you know, I mean that may
088make a difference in the decision making of this of the budget because I mean there's no new factories coming in. There's no reason other than perhaps maybe the school district for people to move here. There's there's no incentive because there's no jobs. And so to see these this budget is just amazing. I mean you have to think to me you have to think of the children but you also have to think of the senior citizens and that ratio you know like have we got 70% children versus 30% senior citizens or something to that degree and and I will tell you at this like the exit polling we actually tried to pull as much information about who is our community that's voting. Excuse me. And it is something we know. Our older generations, our more senior
089generations are the ones voting. But in the past, it's been the same. our senior generations and they've been overwhelmingly passing issues uh and concerns or budgets because they somehow one is they're part of the greatest generation still and they look at it in their own view and not everybody has the same view but they are looking at it and they tend to be the ones that primarily vote in favor. I can't say that's always the case but that's been the demographic that we've seen in the past. Well, I didn't invoke this one. Yeah. And that's why I think the board is trying to look at this to lower that impact too as best they can. Or is there any way that you can look at the average income of the county people or the school
090district's uh parents? That's the hard part is we don't have that information. But I can tell you just because there used to be um group US business first out of Buffalo. And here's the hard part. In the southern tier in this region, Horse is considered the most wealthy affluent district of all of them. Even compared to Corning, Big Flats is considered one of the top five communities in wealth across the upstate New York area of all districts. And that was about six, seven years ago, just pre-COVID. I unfortunately, we love that information, but we don't compile it. They did. And after CO, they sort of stopped compiling it because they ran out of staff, unfortunately. I will tell you, we do have a major piece of industry coming into Horseheads that's being built, and that
091is the rail project uh at the holding point. It's expected to bring over 500 to 750 jobs. That would be wonderful. Yeah, that would be wonderful. Well, I thank you for your time and thank you for allowing me to speak. Of course. Thank you for coming. [Applause] So, one of the things I was asked just one second please. One of the things I was asked also as you consider it is and I forgot to ask up there. We brought this down to just under 2%. Do you want us to go lower? But if you do, if we go lower, we are looking at other things that are going to be less popular. I think we are pretty much outside of non-staff and program impacts. So, we just have to let you know. We'll try to
092figure it out, but we would need to know tonight to get ready for next Wednesday. And next Wednesday won't be a long meeting because we've got to present the budget and the board has to approve it because we have to do a newsletter everything else by statutory and get it out within two more days. I mean we're on look at we had like three four months we have seven days that's all. So those are the things that we wanted to make sure that in the final before we leave that you can comment on. There was one other gentleman that came forward. Hello everybody. Uh my name is Azie Farooqi. I'm um I live at 7 Turnberry. So I'm deeply concerned about the year after year increases in budget and tax levies. Last year was a
093massive increase which the taxpayers absorbed and again this year the board asked the community to pay more. How about the board take a close look at all the expenses and make cuts in the right areas? To me, academics are important. So, prioritize funding academic and teaching programs and cut in other areas. It's the board's job to come up with the right budget and funding the right programs. If there are revenue shortages, then reduce expenses rather than continuing to ask people for more money. People are tapped out and pragmatically cutting their own costs and expenses. Why can't the district do the same? Speaking of expenses, why are seven buses being budgeted for $1.9 million? That comes to over $270,000 per bus. That seems extremely high for a bus and is a cause for concern when a
094simple Google search result shows that buses cost around 100 to 150K. So, seems to me we're paying double for buses. I'd like to know exactly how much we're paying for each bus and if that is a reasonable price. Thank you. If I can just give a quick answer. Again, this isn't a debate. The buses are set because we have to go by bidding and requirements. We don't get to set the price and we understand that. That's by the office of general counsel. that is the 1.9 is up to it because we had to add to that. Doesn't mean we're going to spend that, but we had talked during the board because of potential tariff increases. Uh so we had to sort of protect that we have to replace buses because they're governed by the Department
095of Transportation and they have a 10-year cycle. So, we're looking at only what's coming off the cycle because we're obligated to keep that according to the New York State Department of Transportation as well as our transportation meeting the needs of education. So, hopefully that helped there. I'm trying to think of what the other one was because I just lost the train of thought. You had the buses. What was the other one? You had a question. No, that was it. It was just try to be more pragmatic. Yes. Oh, I know what it was. Thank you. Uh, I don't know if you watched last year, but you you make a good comment. What are we reducing? Last year, we reduced the budget by over 6.5 million, and it still was not enough. This year, we've already
096reduced to get down to this point, probably another million, now 2.2. So, we are trying to do that, but unfortunately, our costs and revenue streams don't add up. And if we we do exactly what you say, which we sort of brought that out last year, everybody got upset because we were going to have to reduce and that's why they challenged. I didn't want to challenge this year. I don't think the board did, but they also didn't want to cut people. So yes, I said I would be one of the only superintendents ever to do this three times. I don't want that. But unfortunately, I have to do what my board asked me to. And this is the first time in 20 years I've ever had a budget fail and I've ever had a budget not
097get a supermajority. So I take that personally, but it's the result of the time. So I understand that. Uh so we have been cutting, but to meet your point of what you're saying is if we cut more, it's going to go into program, it's going to go into academics, it's going to go into athletics, it's going to go into art. And our number one mission is education. None of the others. But that doesn't mean the others aren't part of education. That's the hard part. And that's what the board I think tries to balance not only for the district and the community's expectation, but also for the seniors and everybody else as well as the students. So hopefully that address that. Yeah. Like I said, the board has to decide for the right area. And you
098just saw the lady before me. She's getting hit with a tax levy, right, that she's unable to pay. So you guys have to look out for the community as well. All right. So thank you very much for all your comments and um we will move along. Do you have I need direction from the board. Are the cuts okay and debt service or and or Whoops. I'll state that again for the record. I need just from the board are what we presented to get down to 2% or slightly below that 2% okay? Do you want us to go deeper or not? And then the amount of debt service to bring down the tax rate. Our recommendation is 1.3. Our recommendation is probably to be at the 2.0% or slightly under and that would lead to what
099we've shown. But ultimately, it's your decision. Ours, the budget only turns to me once it's approved. Katrina, I mean, I I hear what the community is saying and I think that the community really did come out and speak and I think the one gentleman talked about it is down to 4%. I really don't know if that is going to be good enough. When I think about the number of people who come out to vote for the older generation don't want to give they do they would give anything but they can't give anymore. They do look us to do it and they look to see what we do and the discussions that we have and where we make cuts from and they want to see the board after doing that. I think that they do want
100to see, you know, more line items. That's what people have said. So, it does fall back on us to make these tough decisions. And I don't I don't think that what has been presented. I don't it is so thin that I think that we are really you know it's like a flip of a coin and I don't think that we should be taking that risk to have it get shut down again. These are hard choices and tough conversations but we have to figure out what else could be possibly caught. I know that they were talking about you know the one extra vehicle. Do we get do we say we can't do another one? Do we have to look at computers? I don't I don't want to do these things. I understand that everything can have
101an impact, but we do have to balance it with everybody in the community so that it doesn't impact the kids even more. So, I think we have to look at things, you know, I don't know. I I I can't look at what other I know what I would do, but I'm one of nine people and I am just voicing what the community has said and I'm nervous. So I think that we should be looking to try to do more and if you bring us more with other options at that point everybody else can say yes we think this is a good idea or no we can't and it gives us time to sit down and think and process. You know, it's it's a very tough spot to be, especially with like holiday weekend coming up.
102I get it. It's it's a tough spot. But we do have to listen to the community feedback. We really do. I I would just like to ask what recom what further cuts would you recommend? I would look at things like um I know that we like our SRO programs a lot. I don't know if we necessarily need to have one in every elementary school. I think we need to have them in the bigger places. I think that those people also have positions and jobs also too that they might be able to go to. I think about um you know um I don't there's a couple of lines in the budget. I don't know if it was necessarily a contractual thing or not contractual, but there's increases in those lines. What increase? And if you tell
103me, we'll tell you if it's contractual. Um if it's about staff and personnel, yeah, you can't talk about that. That's an executive session. Um so you know when you think about the um you know the system that the raptor system I know that they say that that might be minimal from the Boseies coasters but all of these things we have to look at them we have to see what all of these things cost. I know we want to have the computer to student ratio to be 100% with the replacement cycle. I understand that that is could potentially be a hardship and it's hard for people to do that. But does it mean that we say, you know, only for people who have a certain level of threshold monetary wise do we provide them a computer?
104Because it might be people in the community that have needs and don't mind buying a computer. So if that's something that we can take off of the district so that it helps with, you know, the other end of things, maybe we do that. We do We have to be able to really look at all the stuff and not do such a big overview to be able to really sit down and break things down so that everybody feels good when they're in the conversation. That is what is helpful I think to people. So that's why I'm nervous. And I'm not saying these things like myself. I just feel like I have an idea of the pulse from what I hear from people. So that's why I'm saying these things because I want to be careful because
105I don't want to see 3.9 having to be cut because that is going to be our kids, you know, but they're but but the community doesn't see that. They they don't that's not so I'm just I feel like my my job to say that to everybody and to try to figure out a way that we can make it work. So that's why Let's Well, you brought up you brought up one the SRO program. Just you know, anything that we can do, we have to try to do it. Yeah, we do. Well, you brought up one the SRO program. The question is, does the board want that safety and security in the elementary school? Because if if it's going to be one that would be at the next level no matter what, we mentioned it last
106year. if it's two officers, uh, and we don't control that. And just so that you know, you did say most of these are officers are retired, so it's not about their job. They do this because they want it. But that's about $80,000 if you take two SRO's from the elementary. But that's the same thing that we put up last year and people overwhelmingly came out because it's safety and security like Raptor is. Raptor is a very small expense because it is Bosey's adable and it keeps pedophiles and other people that are labeled out of our schools because they can't get in. The question is, is safety worth it? It's not it's not convenient, that's for sure. Uh so all we need is discussion from the board. Maryanne, right? I'm speaking for myself. This is my
107own personal opin opinion and I would hate to see the SRO program taken away. I believe safety of our children is utmost. Um Dr. Douglas, if we were to go and try to lower things um beyond what was presented today, would that mean staff program? Uh well the SRO is not our staff but it is some type of staffing and it does affect individual student programming. Um and the only reason is because they're ingrained into the elementary schools and so forth. Uh the Raptor is more about the safety and security check in and out of schools. Uh but that wouldn't in effect program. It just means we returned to like 1970, 1980, 1990 where we had to watch people who came in and be appropriate. Uh as far as the one-on-one computer with the potential
108of a cell phone ban, that's how parents are going to start getting in touch with people. The hard part is we cannot do things based on the social economic need of somebody and say if you can afford it, you have a computer or if you can't afford it, you get a computer. Uh, that would be problematic. I already saw Caitlyn say that would potentially be of a discriminatory nature. So, we it's good ideals and everything's there. I mean, you either do the one-on-one or you don't. It will save money, but it will also knock down the budget next year because it's also bothable. So, what happens is you always have to balance when you cut something out. If you're getting funds the next year, you'll get them for one year, but the next year then
109you got the whole, but you aren't paying for the thing. So, it's it's a balancing act. I can tell you administratively Tony, Caitlyn, myself and Kelly, my administrative team as much as possible have gone through and tried to do everything we can if we start going anywhere more and this is not like anything. It's just saying we can reduce but it's going to mean staff. It's going to mean program and the board is still trying to say how can we get the best possible plan for the community to consider that will be above 50% and still be successful and positive for the district, the students and the community. That's what we've tried to bring you with the potential of lowering the tax levy as much as possible with that. to get it to 1% one
110cent or$1 per 100,000 you need $200,000 more in reductions or debt service. We don't feel comfortable going above that debt service. So, it's $200,000 in reduction if you want if you go negative. And remember, uh that was one thing, you know, last year it was suggested as a substantial tax increase. Substantial last year was no more than $24 on a $100,000 home. But in August, it ended up being negative 44 on a $100,000 full true value of a home. So it was actually a tax reduction. That's why our rate is below $16 right now and everybody else corning and those are up near 19 2021. So when you look at it, it may look like it's a tax increase. It could. And our 10-year average is a lot of time. Whatever we put up, except
111I think it was really one year. the tax rate is lower than what we say just what we put up just because we won't have the final information from the municipalities until August when they set the final rates. So that's always the hard part. We're doing the estimate. Our estimates have been conservatively very much on the high end. So that's the balance that you've got to do. I mean, you could go down to zero and say the assessments are going to come in higher and we have no control of that. That could be a negative.6. It could be a negative dollar. It could be zero. But we know right now we're close to zero. Did that go up? Oh, sorry. Thank you. I'd like to speak to the SRO for a second. I would be
112opposed to cutting the SRO's. And um my experience with that was back in the great recession. Um I was still employed at the time, but they had budget meeting and it was out at Breeport Town Hall and you couldn't stand in that room. And there were so many people there. And at that time we had uh one SRO in the high school. And the first three speakers that spoke they said I don't care what you do with the budget do not take away the SRO. Safety is the most important thing. And that stuck with me. The the public when they see the SRO's it gives them confidence. It gives them uh a feeling that their children are safe. And um if it had to be something else, but not the SRO's, I would be adamantly
113opposed to cutting the SRO's because the public spoke earlier on their desire to have it. And we were very fortunate to continue to add and I think it should remain especially given today's world. Christine. Um, so, so two things. So, I I agree with the SRO. Um, we had this discussion last year as well. And, you know, if if we were to propose cutting that, then we'd have a whole other group of people in the audience saying that they're concerned about safety, right? So, I think it's it's a balance. And the SRO's, you know, we've talked a lot about it that the SRO's also help with the social emotional well-being um well-being of our students and particularly in the elementary schools and because the SRO's are so are so hands-on with our students. So that's
114also another resource to help in the earn the in the learning and the education of our of our students as well. So I am I'm also opposed to reduce that. Um, you know, I think I think the computers, you know, we we talked about this also, um, I think several years ago, you know, when we were looking at the 101 and and the question was asked, you know, can can students bring their own to minimize that cost to the district. Um, you know, the pro and what was explained at the time because I didn't even think about it either until it was explained, you know, there then there's no control. Then you have students bringing a computer in that has all sorts of stuff that they're bringing in from home and and we know what
115our kids have access to, right? Um when they get on the internet and and so you just you can't control that. Um and then that adds a whole other element of concern and um potential education of our students that we don't want them to have, right? Uh so, you know, I think I think that's that's a hard thing too um to be able to allow allow students to bring their own devices in. Um, so you know, it's hard and and I it's not and I don't have any other ideas on on what we can cut um that that wouldn't include staff and impact the students in that way. Um, you know, and it's really unfortunate. All of our all of our bills are going up, right? And and taxes everywhere go up, you know, property
116taxes and and and our income taxes and all of that go up. And and it's unfortunate that the only thing that people can have a say on and vote on is their school taxes and and those are the things that are impacting our students, right? And and I and I know it's it's it's something that, you know, we feel like we have a control over and we we we we can't control when our water bill goes up and we can't control when our phone bills go up and all that stuff. Um but we can control this. But this is the thing that is probably most important in our community is is our students and and all the and all the staff um that we have in this district and it's what makes Horse Heads Horse
117Heads. Um, you know, it's why I moved to Horse Heads when when uh we moved in here. And it's it's it's sad to me that our community is so um is is there that there's so much tension right now and there's so much negativity and you know, versus us rallying together to really lift up the district and lift up the community. So, I um I guess I don't have anything else to say. I'm sorry. I I'll keep rambling. So that's it. Julie, so um I that I'd like to see some options and see what that looks like and what that number comes down to. Are there athletic programs that have multiple coaches that we can reduce the coaches down? Does every co does every team need as many coaches as they have? Is that an
118area that we could make cuts that still doesn't impact I know understand the re ratio of athletes to coaches would be impacted but it doesn't take a program away from the kids. Is that an option? Um I think we have to get really lean and we have to look at it and say if the and and I don't mean to pick on uh Mr. Chicago's department. But if the maintenance truck isn't a necessity for this year, we just don't do it. That one is a necessity because the truck that they have is no longer able to be put on the road. Okay. And that's why we went to them and said, "Hey, instead of two, what is the real need?" Right. So I guess for myself it's like you know you just kind of we
119we got to find ways to tighten it up and be really really lean and you know we're here to work with your staff in doing that but I think that we have to hear what was proposed tonight and the aspect that people are still looking for it to go lower than what we have up there. The only comment I can say, Miss Monahan, is we are very lean. Unless you want to impact, like you said, the coaches will impact students. Period. The programs if we cut modified will impact students. Just by removing the coach, yes, there's savings, but that is what the board asked me to try to keep it away. If the board wants to make more cuts, we'll give you more cuts, but you're going to be in here on Tuesday night because
120we have to be done Wednesday and I can't do this in a live meeting and reset the budget. That's why I'm looking for the direction tonight. I'm not saying cut modified. Um I don't think we should cut that type of program when we've done so well to build that up. Y but I do think we need to look at the entire big picture and really I if there's an area that's not being utilized properly or we can or attrition and we're not filling a position or something along those lines. I think we need to do it. Yeah. And I can assure you that anytime there's a position we are looking at whether there's the need or attrition. We've already exhausted most of those. Aaron, I just want to speak on speak on the SRO situation.
121Um, as a former administrator myself, um, I had the opportunity to attend a number of workshops from um, state and FBI officials that talked about the need for SRO's in elementary schools. I can tell you right now that from those trainings, um, individuals that may have nefarious or evil intentions, um, can most likely get into a school in under 10 seconds. And that's just the reality of it. And I don't want to put a child or teachers or staff at risk when I know that a frontline uh police officer can help to mitigate that and to put into effect an emergency plan. I never want to think that a child uh or a staff member could have been saved if we so I would be vehemently opposed to removing SRO's from elementary schools. Um I
122know I have shared this before but I am a data person and I am a visual person. So for me uh and and I believe people in the community would appreciate this as well as it has been shared with me that uh to be able to see what a a contingency budget looks like, right? So line item for line item, what does that mean? So staff reductions, what does that look like? Program reductions, what does that look like? because we can talk about it until until we're blue in the face, but until we put a dollar amount to it and have a visual of a sideby-side comparison, for me that's very advantageous. Um, and then of course, you know, I'm going to ask what I'm going to ask next. Is there something in the middle?
123So, is there what we have now? Is there a a worst case scenario in my opinion, which of course is an austerity budget or a contingency budget, sorry, is the other word. Um, but is there something in the middle? And and I, you know, Tom and I understand that you you defend the budget. That's what you need to do. You need to defended the district. I I get that. But I think um, you know, we have to have these conversations. They're difficult and we need to have visuals of what that impact would be, you know, good, bad, ugly. So, I just want to make sure I understand. So, some of you are saying that you want to see what cuts look like. And my understanding is it has to be finalized Wednesday. So if you
124want to see these things, do you want to meet next Tuesday and Wednesday? Are you available? And then secondly, I've heard a lot of broad generalities that we have to get lean and things, but I other than the SRO's, I haven't heard any suggestions on where you would be comfortable, which staff you'd be comfortable letting go, which programs you'd be comfortable letting because it seems to be the the next phase is we have to hit programs and we're dancing around. You say we got to have hard conversations. Well, tell tell the superintendent what programs you want to see cut, what staffs you want to see cut, and don't speak in generalities. Go my Sue. Go ahead. Go ahead. I'm sorry, Sue. I didn't mean to. Um Tom, you made a statement that $200,000 would bring
125us down to what? One cent about it. 100 roughly. It would bring you down to about one cent or $1 per 100,000. Every $100,000 brings you down roughly three cents right now. Oh, okay. So, if we found another 200,000, that would bring us down to 1%. I think what I hear is we want to make sure this next budget passes. We don't want to oh think, uh, well, we've looked at this and we've got it down to 4.7. We want to make sure this passes because we don't want contingency. We don't want to cut 3.6 million. I don't want to have to do that. That's for sure. No, we don't. And we want to be able to say, okay, we've given it our best shot. 200,000 more is you make your fund balance. Well, you
126take, you know, your fund balance is a little under 4% then if you took $200,000 from that, even though you don't want to and you don't want to be lean, but in your in August when all your tax things are I don't know the right words, but the the assessments and everything could end up driving it down. Yeah. Right. We could we could even come in lower like we did last year and then that 200,000 more that we took to get this down is taken care of in our assessment of the taxes. You don't What happens is say we use 200,000. I'm looking at Katie trying to see if she's going to yell at me if I say okay we take that extra 200,000 out of fund balance. But if we take it out, once
127we take it out, that doesn't mean it it goes back in. We're using it to lower the tax rate. And that means it's one less tool next year because like Mr. Sash said, you want multiples. We do look at what our multiple years out look like. We already know that most likely next year is a 2% limit again because we don't see inflation coming down. But the more tools we use this year means the less tools we have for next year. So you're trying to balance it. Now if we were doing sort of what I think you were saying is say we got it down to 1 cent and then in August it goes down more that could be the case and then we're in a negative. So we're actually not giving money back. We're
128just not raising as much funds for the next year too because once you raise it it's in the next year's budget. So it's trying to balance that. It's like if school districts go out at 000000 every day every year, sooner or later they're going to get hit with 20 25%. Because no matter what, the money keeps going up. And that's what a lot of the small school districts are in. So you try to manage and that's why throughout this a lot of people have said, and you've heard me say, you want to keep up at the rate of inflation, which is 3.1% right now. We're already below that in our year-to-year budget expense. It's 2.15. So, I'm not against finding the 200. We we'll try to we'll try to find it, but I can tell
129you one of our next cuts is the SRO because it's before. It's not a mandated program. And I agree, we don't want to. No. But we we lived for many years, even before I came here, with one at the high school. We went one at the high school, one at the middle school. Well, any reduction that I would look at is one at the high school, one at the middle school, intermediate school, and one at the elementaryaries. and we'd have to rotate them like we did probably I think it was like three 3 years ago or so we did rotate. So, we want to be mindful, but you know, people will say, "Oh, so if somebody comes and hits a school, they just don't know if they're going to encounter an SRO. So, do we
130consider that a good plan?" I agree with them. No, it's not a good plan. We're we're taking a risk. But a lot of this budget, you heard us say it's a calculated risk. We can look at where we can try to sharpen our pencil to keep it away between now and next Wednesday. And if we can, we have no problem going below and trying to get the best possible. The problem is is we can't get the win Wednesday and everybody says, "Oh, well, now that we're here, I want to add this or I don't want that." We've got to do this budget. And unfortunately, that's the nature of the state with this turnaround. They only give you about six to seven days. That's what I was going to say. It's unfortunate that we have we
131worked on the budget that we thought would hopefully pass or we wanted it all to pass. We thought it was good what we presented and now we have a very short window to say okay make something so it will pass and we want to make sure it passes because we do not want to affect our programs for our kids. And I think that's why we really hit that debt service. It would be wrong of us. I mean you could literally think okay we have the same exact budget without using debt service. It's at 48. Well, guess what? We put one out at 48 and it failed. So, should we not use the debt service and leave it at 48? And that's at the 2%. Which only requires 50%. Right? We're actually driving that down to
1327 cents, which the one thing I probably I don't disagree with Mr. Sash. That's what I was trying to understand. But we've cut the levy almost in almost close to half drove the rate down that if 48 went at 50.9 most likely seven should be above that but that's where the calculated risk comes in. You have to take that as a board members. Yes, it's it's a tough tough situation. So, I just wanted to say when I suggested the SRO's, it's not because I'm for it. I don't want that. I I'm just listening to the community tell us that they can't handle anymore. And I don't want to see the sports programs cut. I don't want to see our social workers cut. I don't want to see any of the cuts that we had from
133last year. So, those are the cuts that it's a it's a rock and a hard It's a rock and a hard place. But also too, um I I would like to make a motion to go into executive session at the end of this meeting to discuss some of the um lines that I see on here that could potentially be um that I can't talk about. Yeah, I understand. Because I think we have to have discussions about some of these things. So um I make that motion for the end and then I think that after we come out of that executive then we can then you can have a little more guidance for where you want to go. Yeah. If I can suggest I would rather go into executive session now because I I don't think
134it looks good to the community we wait then go in and then come out. Do you see what I'm saying? Because if I need to Well then I'm fine. Okay. Then I would like to go into executive session to discuss some of the lines. Yeah. Is there a second? Second. I'll second. All in favor? I opposed. Abstensions. Could we give the public a sense of how long this would be? Let's try to keep it at 15 minutes. I don't think it's going to be much longer than that. Okay. So, whatever you think I would say 45 to an hour, honestly. You You think? Oh, yeah. Oh, I wasn't trying to be that quick. I It was I just have some quick questions. Let's start at 30 minutes. We'll send somebody to tell you if it's
135more. Okay. All right. So, we're returning from executive session. Um, at this point in time, I'd like um the board to at least say we're content at 7 cents and if it can come in lower, we would appreciate that. Or if we're going to spin our wheels and just say cuts have to be made, then we need to hear what cuts you want. But just saying cuts with no meat on the bones, we're spinning our wheels. So we either say the budget as presented tonight is acceptable and if in the next few days um some things might change, they review and they can get it a little bit lower, we would like that also. But if it had to come back as we've seen it tonight, then we would also be willing to accept that.
136So that's the direction I think we need to go now. We've all spoken on what's gone on. So I'll start with Julie. Are you acceptable with that idea? I accept that idea. Thank you. Aaron, I also accept that idea. Maryanne, yes. Liz, yes. Christine. So, so I'm just clarifying. You're saying if they can bring it a little bit lower, that's that's what we're going to accept at here or a little bit lower. This or a little bit lower? We're not going high. Well, yeah, obviously. But, right, we just want to make sure we have something that we can pass. I don't want to put pressure on, but they're taking notes. Yeah. Thank you very much, Katrina. Um, yes. And to try to be lower as much as we can and um I do think that
137we should um have a Tuesday meeting also just in case. I don't think we should just wait until Wednesday. I think we should try to have Tuesday a Tuesday meeting and a Wednesday meeting on the books in case we need it. If that's okay. Is that okay? Can I have a moment? Yes. I'm like, what's this? Please. I couldn't tell what the hand gesture was. So, um, I don't know. Hello. Yes. Yes. Excellent. Um, so again, thank you for the conversation. I just want to make sure I'm I'm clear on the direction that you want my team and I to work on so I bring you back what you're looking for. I'm hearing seven cents is better than where we were. We'd like to see something potentially better, right? If we can, if we can,
138we will work on it. So two things to think about in order to so there's two different scenarios. There's things we can do to reduce the budget, right? So whether it's salaries, expenditures, contractual, whatever that bring down the budget. The levy is something different. That's a revenue source separate from expenditures. So to bring the levy down, there has to be other tools to consider to bring the levy down and the rate down, which is the things we've talked about already is not using any more debt service. And as far as any debt that's incorporated in it, we need to stay on track so we're not creating a bigger balloon problem in the future. So we can reduce expenses, whatever they may be. If the board wants to give more direction on something more specific, um
139that would be greatly appreciated. Um but what would happen is if the expenditures go down, we can levy less which would bring that down and we'd have a carryover amount next year. There's a certain calculation if you don't levy the full amount per the calculation, it carries over to the next year. It's a oneshot use it or lose it next year in the following year. So there is a calculation that would carry some of not all of it some of those funds over to the following year. But to bring that seven cents down, bring that 4.7 down, we need to look at other ways to bring down the levy in addition to the expenditures. So it would have to be a consideration of do we want to be under that 2%. calculation because we can't
140use more debt service. At least my recommendation, Dr. Douglas's recommendation is we are not using more debt service. Correct. So it's a matter of going beneath the 2% levy calculation. Yeah. And it's basically additional expenditure reductions. So the expenditure reductions which means we need less in the levy which would then in fact bring down the rate. Right? So every $100,000 in expenditure reduction will bring that rate down by about 3 cents. And then next year when we calculate the levy, there's a carryover calculation for what we did not utilize for the 2526 budget that we do have the opportunity to use, but if we don't use it in 2627, those funds are gone. Yeah. Just so that the board understands what Katie is saying is one of the uniquenesses of this. So our 2% says
141that's where it should be. If say we reduce expenditures by 200,000 and get it down to one one cent that 200,000 there's a percentage calculation but say it's just $1 for $1, but that 200,000 goes over to the next year saying the district can levy that much during that next year on top of their 2%. It's still part of the 2% calculation. It's just the way they do it. Uh and that's to help try to stave off districts making too much of a reduction. and then next year they've overred reduced and they don't have the ability at 2% to raise it. It's a safeguard in there. But we did it one other time. I think it was during co I think it was during co it was like 38. So that 2% turned into like
1422.38 in the calculation carried over $300,000 that we used in the subsequent year. But the board needs to understand we have to reduce the expenditures to get that right. The only way to get that levy down is to cut expenditures because the other tools we have to bring down the levy we simply cannot use. Yes. So we'd have to go under that 2%. So for us if we're doing it so I'm not spinning wheels is we are going to look and try to keep it away from program and staff as much as possible and we'll be seven seven cents or below. But our goal is still from what I understand try to stay away from staff and program and see what we can do to make it a little better if we can. If we
143can't, it's seven cents. That's the way we understand it and that's what my team will do. Okay, everybody understand? Yes. Is that fair enough? And that gives us the direction. Yeah, I can tell you and and I agree. Tuesday night. If we have that direction, we're bringing you the budget and it's done. So, we actually need some time. Wednesday night is there. I mean, we're not going to be changing on Wednesday night if we meet that requirement. Is that what you're asking us to do? Yes. I say yes. And we will still have I mean in our presentation at that time we will have an extra part of the presentation that will say if this budget is not what the community wishes what will be happening afterwards cuz I think that's what you also asked
144and we need time all day Wednesday and over this weekend to really do that and try to make it so it's generic enough that it doesn't cause people too much alarm but specific enough that it helps people understand its staffing and its students program. Is that fair enough? I think we're getting there. We tried to do that today. It's just still too early. Is that what you expect as well? Yeah. But but I think I think with that though is I think you got to be I I you need to be specific enough, right? So people understand when you say staff and program, what does that mean, right? Because if I'm I'll just go with like extracurriculars or whatever. If I'm a sport parent, I might say, "Oh, well, sports will be okay. They're going
145to get rid of the arts." Or if I'm a music parent, they're going to say, "Well, that they're going to keep music, so they're going to get rid of sports." So, I think I think it needs to be specific enough that people really understand if we go to contingency, this is what it looks like and this is and this is how we would do it. No. And I think that's like I can tell you just using this and it's not anything against sports or extracurricular. We are going to look at how do we provide our educational services first and foremost. Then what are the extras? That's even APs all of that. It's modified programs. It's extracurricular. It's field band. It's our clubs. It's at not just at the high school but we're trying to look
146at it across the whole spectrum. And we're not just trying to look at what is students. We will look as much as possible. You can see we have cut from last year's budget into this year's budget already three and a half administrative or district level support positions and the new assistant principal for four and a half. We will still look we're I mean we're trying to balance this as much as part as possible across but we have to still do the job and the operation. So that's what I mean. We'll try to balance that. Our big thing is we're also trying to we'll have some conversations with the unit leaderships to know that if we put up it's going to be two teaching positions. We may not say exactly which teaching positions it is because
147I don't want to put somebody's name up there. That's what we had to do last year and we don't have time to issue any letters to let them know. So we want to also be respectful but that's again we're expecting only to be for a contingent issue not the budget that we would put forward at 50% approval. So I want that clear because I want people out there that are paying attention. That's not our purpose. This budget 7 cents or lower that's what we're working on. Keep it away from people and program at this point and see what we can do. Okay. And that's basically for us. It's Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday is what we'll be working on all this weekend. Uh, and then we will be ready to go Wednesday night with a budget
148that meets exactly what you said. Is that fair enough? If I can, this is not a vote. Thumbs up, thumbs down. Do I got it covered? Do you have what you need? I do. May I ask one more question? Oh, god. And I don't want to I don't want to open up Pandora's box here. Um, but it's a similar conversation to we had last year um where a board member said, "You bring us options. Let's talk about some options." Options weren't really presented to us. And I'm kind of hearing the same thing again this year without really hearing what options to explore absent the SRO conversation. Is there something you wish us to explore? I would rephrase that. Okay. We're going to explore whatever we need to explore according to those things. Is there anything
149that you know of right now that's a non-negotiable you will not accept? That's better. So for myself, I will definitely just stick with I would prefer programs for our students take first priority and not be impacted. And if that means that there are reductions in staffing somewhere along the lines that we can find, however, that we can it that fills that gap without affecting our educational platform for our students and or our programs for the students. That's the route that I would support. And the I'm glad you clarified because that's not what the board just said is stay away from staffing and program. She was asking for options. So, I said, "If you're asking for the options of what I would like to see, that's more of what I would like to see. For myself,
150I'm more I don't want to take away from our students who weren't at the voting box." Other non-negotiables, we have our direction. Are we meeting or Tuesday or now? Wednesday. We really only need the Wednesday. We're going to bring you the budget that goes forward. We'll keep it under those parameters or less. 6:00 here. 6 o'clock here. I expect unless there's a major comment section, I expect maybe 15 to 30 minutes because we're going to meet the requirement. Thanks, Tom. Okay. All right. Moving along. Thank you. Do you have a report? This is the longest report. I think I can't um let me turn my paper over. First of all, I got to talk about cell phones. Okay. Unfortunately, the New York State legislature and the elected leaders and our governor has put into law
151that no student should be accessing their internet controlled devices from bell to bell. That's what you've heard. They've written into the law. I have the law here. And what's funny about it is yesterday the New York State Education Department came out and gave us guidance because we don't follow the governor. We follow education law which is the commissioner of education. The commissioner of education said they will not provide guidance for this law that the governor put into place because they never contacted or incorporated any of the education department in it. So, as far as the field knows, we are rudderless. They have told us to contact the governor's office and ask them for guidance and all the specifics people have. The governor's office isn't talking to anybody. So, we don't know exactly. Even our legal
152has told us until they give us the guidance. Yes, the law's there. You're not in non-compliance if you don't have the guidance from who wrote the law. So, we will be working on this. One of the things is we also want to talk to our students and our communities. That's part of it. We are going to try to do the best we can to help people out and understand. Uh but we need that guidance before we can go forward because it's kind of hard to write a policy when your lawyers can't write the policy because the law and the guidance from the office of council for the governor is not providing legal the specific standards of what they expect. So it's just a wait and see unfortunately. Now the one thing is we are indetermined
153of how those devices are stored. We don't need pouches. A locker is absolutely fine. It must be off and put away. But people need to understand it's not just a phone. You can't have your watches that are internetbased. You can't have your headphones, your earphones that are internet-based as well. anything internet-based unless it's a computer that's required for education is not going to be out and we will have to develop those protocols. But we want to work with the students and talk to them and parents, you know, we want to provide them the opportunity because one of the pieces of the legislation is we must provide a way for parents to communicate with their kids. All of us went to school when we probably didn't have cell phones. And guess what that way is? You
154call the office, you leave a message, the child needs to get a hold of the parents, they can go to the nurse's office or the main office or the one look at kids are resourceful. Every kid has a onetoone. They have an email address. They will use that email address and contact their parent by email. That's still allowed, but you cannot distract the education environment with something that's not school sponsored. So, we will work through it. Our teachers tend to do this very well. Uh a lot of them have devices or things for storage. Uh at this point there's no expense but it is more figuring out how you're going to handle it, how you're going to work. Even a backpack can be considered a storage device but they can't take it out. So lot
155more to come. We just want people to know we are aware of it. We are working on it. As soon as we know more, we will put out and we'll probably have an evening night for parents to come in as well as discussion with staff and discussion with students as well as discussion with the board. So that's that piece. The other part for tonight which we promised a long time ago which is we've been working on and it's the start time finalization. We said we were in plus or minus 5 minutes. So when you look up here, the start times for 202526 because we need parents to plan is our first school that opens is the middle school intermediate school. And if I can I need to go so I can see this. It's right
156here. It's hard to turn around and see it. The start time's here for the intermediate middle school. Our buildings will open at 7:00. That's 15 minutes before the middle school starting of class at 7:15. Remember, we said 7:20. We had to move it cuz buses need 20 minutes in between. We only had 10. So 7:15. Now, if you notice, buildings open. There's an asterisk by it. And I'll get back to that. There's a reason. The instructional day will go about and the ending dismissal time for the middle school is 2:05. Now, because the middle school and intermediate school are riding on the same bus, they virtually have the same starting, but their schedule is a little shorter, and we have some uniquenesses in that as an elementary schedule. The intermediate school also, the building opens
157at 7:00. The CL students can go to their classrooms at 7:10 because that's when obviously staff will be ready to receive them. There's an asterisk by 7:00 because I wanted to talk to the board about this. and the starting bell for the intermediate school. Notice there's a 5m minute shift that's to help a little with drop offs, but we also have a morning meeting time in the schedule, which the principles will explain. So that the kids are expected to be there by 7:20, but we have some time to help work and make sure they get breakfast and so forth and get ready for the day. At the end of the day, once they go through, notice their ending time is the same as the middle school. That's because on paper, that's when they end. But
158our buses will be there roughly about 1:50 because they actually start dismissing before the middle school and get them out onto the buses in their seats assigned and then the middle school would will release at 2:05. So a lot of the intermediate school parents that come and pick up will be parked. They'll come pick them up and they can leave really almost before middle school departs. No matter what, we cannot control parent behavior. We will try to do the best and we'll provide advice. Parents will need to make sure that they try to look at the times and not come at the last minute because that's what we do see is you know the parents that come like right now at the intermediate school at the middle school there's not an issue at 7:20 but
159the real issue is at right around 7:35 7:40. Well that's because the intermediate school opens up almost 40 minutes before the students are supposed to be there. that's a problem and it crosses over. We'll have sort of a similar issue, but we've tried to offset and stagger it because it's the first year. That's why the asterisk's up there and you're going to see it later on the elementary. It's hard to adjust and we are flexing some of our people to cover when students are there. So, when the doors open, there's staff there to work with the students. We'd like to open that up probably another 10 minutes and cover it. We just want to make sure you're okay with it at least for the first year and if nobody's coming cuz we want to make
160it so that people that really need to drop off early because they've got to get somewhere and that's what we're doing with the elementary have an option and we open up that 15 minutes to about 25 which is currently is about 25 minutes and it allows a year for people to try to get into the practice plan and work it out because ultimately if somebody's having a We can work it out in a system. I know people won't necessarily agree with this statement, but our buses will be there and they will be picking up and you can utilize them. Just call the bus garage. I'll throw out a shameless plug. Right now, everybody, I think before June 1st is supposed to be filling out whether they need busing for next year because that's how we
161set it up. No one will be denied, but we start setting it up between June, July, and then we clean it up July, August to put out. And if somebody comes in after that time, we just ask for 48 hours. They will address it. So that's the middle school intermediate school. Does everybody think that extra 10 minutes would be a good idea? I do. And we just didn't want to assume it because officially our staff at the middle school will be on duty at 7:00. And we're putting this out tomorrow. We didn't put everybody's time up there because this is about the students. we will take a take care of our employees over the weekend and get them their information because they're waiting to see this too because they have to make plans, right? And
162then what happens is our intermediate school, our cafeterias will be open. We'll receive the students and cover them just like we're doing right now just with an extra 10 minutes before this. We don't know how many people will avail themselves of it, but if they do, that's fine. If they don't, we'll draw it back eventually, but at least it gives everybody a good chance running. questions real quick. I don't know if we need to open 10 more minutes early, but I don't think it hurts to do that. My question would be um academic study hall that you have for athletes. I haven't started that conversation yet, but good one. Okay. Cuz if it's before then we're No, we we are looking at something probably at the end of the day which would be helpful. Okay.
163Thank you. Yeah, no problem. Yeah. I don't want. No, then we're really others. Um, you're So, you're saying 10 minutes earlier than 7:00 a.m. So, 6:50. 6:55. If a parent wanted to drop off, we will help cover that. Uh, what time does kids world get there? 6:30. Uh, Kids World starts at 6:30 at our elementary. They're still working on a middle school, intermediate school option, but they just don't know yet. They've got to look for staffing. So if Kids World's there, they actually have even earlier that they can show up, but they have to participate in Kids World. So Kids World for the elementary school, even though they start at 8:40 a.m., is going to be open at 6:30 a.m. It is this year. Same thing. Hope to know what it is next year. Yeah.
164Oh, I know. This year at 6:30. Okay. This year at 6:30 with the current Okay. Yep. Um Oh, you're on the other screen. I haven't gotten there yet, so I Yeah. No, I I mean, I jumped ahead. Okay. So, that would be 6:50 a.m. still in discussion. So, I our recommendation is we do it because it will help our parents no matter what and then see how it goes and then we can always draw back and shorten it if we need to. But does the staff want to do that? It's not up to the staff. We hire the staff that will do it. Oh, yeah. Okay. I don't know. I Okay. I think it's It provides others avenues for some additional uh opportunities to work too. So we've always had staff covering these things right
165now. Okay. Yes, Miss Universe. Um so the middle school bell will ring at you have am but I know you mean PM. Oh, I did that again. At two at 2005. So, if they're doing sports, what are we going to do with our middle school students that have sports right after school, but the high school's not getting done till 2:35? Well, actually, any student that's coming up for a JV or varsity will just take the regular bus and have a pass to get off at the high school for their sports. And then those at the middle school will have to have some type of study hall coverage after school. That's sort of like what Miss Monahan was talking about. Okay. uh because our staff are actually still going to have time after work that they
166have to do their duties as well. Okay. Before sports start. But yeah, we will work out those details on behalf of the programs. Okay. And I'll correct that. For some reason, I keep missing that A.M. to PM. Even Tony missed it for me. Okay. So, that's the middle school intermediate school. The buses come in, drop off, and they have a set time, and then they depart immediately in the morning. It's easy. buses roll in. Once the doors are open, they let off and they go to the high school. The high school, the building will open at 7:20. Uh, and then basically the students can go to classroom and breakfast at 7:20. The cafeteria is open. Our staff will pretty much be there when the building is open. Uh, which currently we don't necessarily have. We
167have a little offset. And then the starting bell for classes is 7:35. That is you're in class, we're going. And then we're in the instructional day. They have a 7-hour day which was reduced down by about 12 minutes. And it's an exit dismissal at 2:35. That coordinates that 2005. They got to load the bus, leave by 2:15, and they need 17 minutes in traffic to get over to get into place for 2:32 to load at 235. and as they get throughout the year they should uh get uh a little more efficient at that. So that corresponds there and that's the first run. Then they have to go out for all the elementarymentaries but remember the elementarymentaries are a smaller defined area. So the elementarymentaries we tried to keep that it it really we should push
168it back to 845. We tried to keep it at 840 and we're going to try to do that throughout the year. Um, and if we have to, we'll have to adjust the next year. And that's just because we've been testing the runs. It's tight, but we wanted to try to keep that as as we indicated to the families because there is roughly from 8:15 to 8:25 is when our elementaryaries start right now. Uh, that's about a 15minute shift from the intermediate school or the elementarymentaries depending on how they drop off. Uh our buildings, we've heard, hey, I got to get to work by 8 o'clock. Well, our buildings are opening 40 minutes before. Currently, they only open 35 minutes before. So, we extended it by 5 minutes, but this first year, that's why the asterisk's
169there. I'm probably going to try cuz remember, they all have kids world. So, they could drop off if they wanted to anytime from 6:30 up until the start of school, but that's a pay program. So, we're going to try to assist as best possible. Uh, but we would extend that to 5750 if the board's okay with it. That's our recommendation. So, at least we have them an option. And if they don't use it, and we would really ask our community, please only avail if you absolutely need it, not just because it's a convenience. That's what we'd asked, but only time will tell. So, we wanted to do that. Uh students then if they're dropped off, they'll be eating breakfast and stuff. Uh but they'll be held in the cafeteria or whichever the building does. And
170then the students can report to the classrooms at 8:35. Teachers are on duty there. And then the starting bell, in other words, when kids are expected for education to begin is 8:40. And again, there's still some of that breakfast time, morning meeting time, as well as at the end of the day time to get them ready because they're the littlest kids. And we want to be able to get those kids out to buses that are there there so that they are loading possibly at 3:26 or a little bit earlier and then pulling out as soon as possible. Their delivery is somewhere around 45 minutes. And just so the board knows all of this, we have been told our bus runs are an hour or less is the expectation of student ride time. Now you have
171to understand going from the middle school to the high school and sitting that's not ride time. That's because of the program. Um, but their actual ride time to get them from our school to home is an hour or less. Special needs programs, we've tried to target an hour and a half or less just because they can go all over the county uh and so forth. And we're trying to minimize where this year they've been 2 hours, 2 and 1/2 hours, and that's been corrected as well. So, those are the start times. We will help with everybody else. Any other questions? Yes, please. So, our high school kids riding with our intermediate and middle school kids, too. Yes. So, that's all one thing. One one full bus run, we're going around the whole district one time,
172not two like we currently do. We don't know how to calculate any potential savings until we run through it. Well, but you have to go back out to get the elementary kids again. Only in the area like if if say you end at the high school cuz that's where we're going to drop off from the high school. That's why in the redistricting, all three are sort of touch points right at the high school. So, it makes it quicker to get out and come back to the boundary school that they go to. Okay. Um, yes, Kids World is available, but they have a limited amount of people that children they can have in their programs, too. So, I think it's it we would have to pay someone to be there at 7:50 or um 650 um
173to cover that time for the buildings. And we currently do do that coverage and pay for it. It's just a little bit extra, right? Uh just so that you know, Kids World sign up and that's why it's important now. Kids World sign up, I think, start between June 1st and something like that, isn't it Katie? First of all, yes, it's already open. It's open. So, by having this now, by getting it out, Kids World will send out another uh opportunity because although they take limited numbers, if they have more requests, they will try to service it as long as they know upfront. Other questions? Yes. Um, what about the preK programs? Do we have uh starting and end times for sure for those? Yes, we've already announced them at the la the previous board meetings.
174I think what we said is preks will start currently the same time that they're starting right now at 9:00. And because we did make the shift uh with education days, we did that as well contractually with prek, but they should end at 2:45 in the first year, we said we were going to end the day at 2:30. One is to build capacity and also to try to build in the educational opportunities for the prek over the course of the year. Okay. So the first year they're ending at 245 and the next 230. The second year it's meant to be 245. Okay. So the first year is 230. The second year will be 245. Yes. And that would correspond with the contractual shift. Okay. But the good part is prek is pretty much at the same
175exact start time. So there isn't a lot there and we've actually hit our number that we're required to for funding, right Tony? Were we a half a student under the prek or were we a half a student over the prek requirement? We're close to 133 and a half. Yeah. So if anybody out there has prek students, please give us a call. Other questions. So we will put this up on the website. Of course, we're still short a communication information specialist. So, this will probably go up uh on Tuesday or Wednesday uh once we can get in touch with Sam, who's been graciously helping us at a perdeium uh or per hour uh work to help us during the transition. We are in the process of interviewing for that position over the next couple weeks. We're
176hoping to have some resolution to that to bring to the board because we need help. Okay. Thank you. Anything? Let me get to my thing. I'll try to go quick now. Uh budget vote. Uh obviously we know how that turned out. We do want to thank everybody for coming out because ultimately this is the only avenue that people get in New York State to weigh in on the spending plan that you guys develop. No other place does that. They just take a vote of the board, majority rules, period. Uh, I imagine we probably wish we had that authority, but the community wouldn't like it. It turns the board political. This board has never been political because we go to the community and they decide and then we have to respond to them. So, I congratulate
177them on at least weighing in and I also congratulate the board on having the discussion that we've had. Uh, the budget revote obviously will be June 17th. That's mandated. It's also a region's day. It will be in the exact same location. We will, we heard people had a little difficulty. We had it signed up. We will even do more signage on that to make sure people understand. Um, end of the year celebrations are coming. Graduation, if you haven't already, please get that to Terry as soon as possible. Uh, graduation is Wednesday, June 25th, 2025, 6 p.m. at the high school. And please be aware that it is weather dependent. We make that call if if possible, as early as possible. We will make that call all the way up to Wednesday afternoon before if if
178it's very close and then we'll go to Thursday. Then we'll go to Friday and Saturday it's rain or shine. Bring your umbrellas. Hopefully we don't have to do that at all because everybody told me they want it on Wednesday. We should be done right by then. Yes, I hope we've had enough rain. Uh I want to thank everybody. I want to thank the faculty and staff, the community as well uh for everything. I know uh it's a stressful time and I want people to know it's not not stressful for any of my team or myself. We are humans and we are residents and we would ask for the same common courtesy in the future. Thank you Christine. Ad hoc committee report. Um so last board meeting we presented the new um board evaluation and we
179did get some feedback. We got a little bit of feedback at the meeting and then we got some feedback after the meeting. So we have up for vote later on in the agenda um the new board evaluation template that you all should have saw um and also the answers to the questions. Essentially from what you saw initially um the changes that were made we eliminated two so we reduced it the whole thing by two. We also added in um comment sent um sections after each of the bucketed items and then we also added in um some uh um examples in the open comments at the at the end of the evaluation. So um I think we covered most things. um some of the feedback and questions that we had um was just a matter of
180pointing to where it was consolidated in in another line item. And then also we had some that um you know we discussed as a committee and the committee was on board with keeping it as is um whether it was an in alignment to what we currently had or alignment into our operating norms that we put into place last year. So, we will um hopefully if it gets passed, we will implement that for this year and then if there's still additional feedback, then the board can make the recommendation to continue to look at it and make make revisions as necessary. That's it. Thank you. Sue has a question. Is it on the agenda tonight? Yeah, it is. It's down under um president's report. President's report. It's an action. It'll be an action there. Oh, because I'm
181like, where is it? I'm looking like Oh, president's reportive. Got it. Got it. Okay. Cuz I'm like, oh, I don't see it. Okay. Thank you. Sorry. All right. Section six, finance items for action. I need a motion for 6.02 through 6.22. So moved. Second. curiosities, discussion, comments. I have a or a question. Under the um total votes, they don't show any absentee ballots. I'm just wondering why the absentee ballots are on the vote. Oh, under 6.21 on um I just clicked out of it. Yes. 6.21. Summarized. Is Terry here? It's all summarized. Terry, come forward as the district clerk. Yes. 6.21. I see that it's summarized, but always in the past there was a list of how many absentee ballots there were and who got what absentee ballots. Do you want to explain that on
182the final report you have to fold them in all? It's not broken down that way or is that what it is? That's exactly what it is. I can't hear you. I can certainly go ahead right to the mic, please. I can certainly get you that information, but we're only required to do that. Okay. I'd like to see that information. That's no problem. Okay. Thank you very much. You're welcome. And while we're on the topic of uh certifying the vote, uh you don't certify, you're just acknowledging. All right. Acknowledging the word was there. Well, that work before you leave tonight. You have to see Terry because you have to sign that document. How'd I do, Terry? All right. So, you cannot leave without signing that document tonight. If I can just clear it up because I
183know in the past the board had to certify the vote. Uh, actually, the board never did. Once you have a district clerk that's running the vote, the election official once they file and fill out and sign it at the end of the night, that vote is official. This is just so that the board knows and it becomes a part of the record. Uh officially, I don't think you have to sign it because once she signed it, we just do that out of protocol that anybody that was here that night has at least acknowledged these are the official results. There we go. You got there. All right, Katrina. Um, I had a question on the 6.09, the budget transfers um page one over two. It's uh I just wanted to know about um the handwriting curriculum.
184Which one? 6 point. It was like the first thing. Oh, 6.0 handwriting curriculum is what you're talking about. Sorry. Yeah. What is that handwriting curriculum? Could you tell me a little bit about it, please? I can tell you a little bit. My my true expertise is lies with uh Tiffany and Jill, unless I will put Kelly on the spot briefly. If she could speak a little bit to Dana Bowser, better than I Yeah. I don't know. I just wanted to know about it and like in general, I don't know about it. So, that was that was just a question. It's it's one that has been directed in in our curriculum work with staff. It's literally a handwriting program. Us teaching students how to form the letters appropriately, upper lower case, goes first grade through second
185grade. First through third, I think actually. And then we start into cursive with Zer Blowser. Okay. So this is like the cursive one and that comes into at what grade level when we start doing the cursive. First, second, third, third. I want to say third. Second, beginning third. And this is both manuscript and cursive depending on the grade level. Okay. And this is just starting to come into the it's been in conversation for quite some time. I think this was um last year. Yeah. I'm I'm trying to remember exactly what additionally we are purchasing through this particular but it's just to continue the work in there in the curriculum work. This is part of the teacher directed. Yeah. This is something they wanted to make sure we start implementing. um we've created a lot but
186we also recognize that sometimes we do have to go to a vendor for a product that of researchbased um and so this is a small little piece of that work that we do in our ELA curriculum that they found a better way so yes we want to make sure that we we get what the teachers are asking for and want and this is the example of that okay thank you I'm sorry I can't give you some more specifics I will gladly no that's all I just when I was looking at it I was like there was just a lot of the little different things and so I was just wondering what exactly it get some Yeah, dusty on that one and I'll certainly reach out to Tiff and we'll do a board update. No, that's
187great. Thank you. Um and then on the district reserve plan, are we approving where we're putting the money for the reserves or is this just giving us general information on it? Um this is just general information. Each year the board is required to review its reserve plan. Um once reviewed and approved, it does go up on our district website. Um, and it's just a document that explains what reserves we have, um, what their purpose is, how we utilize them, and our our target goal for what balances we'd like to see, and what our current balances are. Okay. So, you're not approving putting any money in it tonight. This is this is just where they're at. This is just where they're at. And purposes only, right? Um, that goes on our website for the public as
188well. Okay. And we don't have anything um that is more current than the March of 2024. We did it as of the end of our third quarter. Okay. Because the thing it just for like the debt service fund, it says like the March of 2024 on the presentation. 2024. Should it be 2025? Which presentation? this when I click on it when I was looking at it and the summary. Okay, so the top page does say March 31st, 2025, but then when you went down to the summary of the debt service fund, that one says as of March 2024. Yeah, we'll correct that as a typo to the 2025. Okay. Yep. Okay, that was my question. Thank you. Um and I had the same thing. I was curious about the absentee um the absentee ballots and
189then okay um for the paging system on the uh change order log. So that says owner request o r for the system and it can no longer be repaired. We're lucky that we can possibly get aid on it as we have it open. Yeah. Okay. Cuz it was just a larger item. So we wanted to ask about system at all. Okay. Yeah. It's all of our buildings pretty much a lot of their utilities until we do the updates. That's why they're important are really at end of useful life. Okay. And then the um gym abatement um they were talking about for the I'm guessing that's for the asbestous abatement. So this is um a a field condition in addition to what is already there but is this like in the contingent already like including it
190part of the natural process of change orders or um allowances but it's not uncommon to find undisclosed asbestous abatement that we have to address. Right. I know. I just wanted to make sure that that's not anything um that's going to this is still coming out of the capital all in the budget. We don't take anything out of our all in the capital budget. It does not come anywhere from our general fund. Okay, that that's the good part is everything capital is kept entirely separate. It has no bearing on the budget. uh that is just the debt ser debt service that we pay that that's where we get the aid and that's a non-contingent expense that must always be carried forward. Okay. Um and then Katrina Yep. And then one question on the appointments that we
191make. Do we always appoint um employees that also work in the district? Uh I will leave that to the district election clerk which is Terry. But yes, there is certain requirements. They must be I believe Terry just nod. They have to be residents to be an election clerk. Yep. Come on down. Sorry, Terry. That's okay. She getting her steps in. And if you know anybody that wants to, please, all they got to do is contact Terry because we are always looking for people. School law allows for district employees to act as inspectors. I mean, I could get you the site the the law, but I don't know what it is at this very moment, but could definitely get it for you. Yeah, I that that was the only question that I had. Um because I
192wasn't sure if it was like a conflict of interest or anything like that. No. Okay, that's that's all my questions for the whole section. I just had a a similar question. So, is that why certain people are paid different compensation for like I understand um the first person being the chief election inspector, but um is that law also allows you to pay different rates for those? Well, the law doesn't, but we pay different rates because the certified election inspectors, we get them from Schmunk County Board of Elections. So, they have to be certified to be able to operate the machines that we have. So they get paid a set rate. The other people um you'll see I mean I don't want to point them out but people that are students who um come in and
193help us with the vote which we enjoy. They do an amazing job. They get paid a different rate. Then we also have um staff staff and then we have um sometimes community members that are included in that too that'll get a different rate. Thank you. You're welcome. All right. Thank you. Oh, Erin. I just have a question. The question is on um 610 through 612. Are these health and welfare service documents still coming in? Yes. This year, you might even see some in June. Yes. You might even see some next year. Come on, folks. That's how they do it. It's not you guys. Come on, districts. Get it together. Well, I think the one was dated what back in January and it just made it to our door for May. I think Katie, if they
194don't get them to us by June 30th, we can deny them. We're required to pay. We're required to provide. Yeah. So, document one of those. We still have to pay. We still have to provide. Right. Whether we approve it or not, we still have to pay it. Oh, I get it. I just find it obscene that these are coming in in May and June of the year in which we are providing services for. Just saying. And you would think they would maybe want their money before now. Yes. I I just had to say it because it's it's ridiculous. See, you didn't even have to say anything. I'll just abstain on 610, 611, and 612. Candy. All right. Call a question. All in favor? I opposed. Abstensions. All right. Moving to uh personnel items for action.
195We have our HR recommendations. Can I have a recommendation, please? Second. Curiosities, discussion, comments. Julie, uh, section O, the extended school year staff, is that the summer curriculum? Sorry, just a second. Mhm. Yes. Okay. Thank you. No, it's not. That's the extended school year, isn't it? That's the ESY extended school year program. Yeah. Yeah. It's not summer curriculum. Oh, okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Yeah, I heard extended school year. Sorry. Yeah, sure. Thank you. What is it called? Extended school year. Yes. Why? Yeah. Extended school year. A program specifically for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities. Oh, doctor. Okay. I didn't hit. Thank you. We'll have to have hearing test. I know. Katrina. And then I had a question too. Um for the extracurricular non-instructional stipens for the people who resign. I am just wondering
196if we could um may excuse me, maybe get like an exit survey as to why because I don't know if we're going to get people to fill those extracurricular spaces. I don't know if it's because they have too much going on or time shifts, but I would like to know why they're choosing to not continue with some of those things. I think the feedback would be very beneficial. So ask the principles they would give us the I mean even just in general like whenever anybody who is doing something that's helping resigns I think that would be good feedback to have. We'll ask our HR to look into it. Thank you. Yep. Provided. Okay. If there's any way that you can get it to us, I don't know if you can. It's actually a personnel matter.
197Okay. So yeah, but if you could I can talk in general terms in executive session, but it's not information we do we put out. Okay. Because of the personal nature that it could be shared. And I know that's not the intent of the help. It's just it's just good information. Yep. you know, because if they're leaving because they feel like they're not getting, I don't know, like enough of a stipen or if they're leaving because of personal reasons or if they're leaving because like just to get an idea if they're leaving because they need more people to help them with a particular program. All those things I think are it's just good information. But I mean just along that point, I mean maybe there's a way that um Caitlyn that we can like maybe affinitize
198the reasons and just look at it in general buckets versus like over the course of the year and then it's not necessarily tied to an individual HR recommendation where people can say oh well that must be this person type of thing. If I can give an example, we had some exiting in a sports program sort of in mass and out in the social media sphere. Oh, there must be something wrong. There wasn't anything wrong. The individuals were having families and they needed to make a change or something. So, a lot of times those things happen, but nobody will know that because we can't necessarily go out and say it at that time. It does come out eventually. And a lot of those people often say, "Hey, we'll be coming back in the future. Just right
199now I got to do this." Uh it's just like, you know, you sort of get burned out after a certain amount. We have a lot of senior people. Uh so we've got to be careful with that, but we have no problem. We do try to ask that and ascertain from our principles what's going on. Thank you. Yep. Maryanne, uh I don't know if I'll direct this to Kayn. Is it necessary for them to give a reason when they want to resign? Because I think that's kind of personal and I I wouldn't if I was in the position I wouldn't have to give a reason why. No, it is not necessary but them do volunteer. They work closely with their principal. So that their reasons are generally many times they're shared just on a voluntary. Okay.
200Thank you. Honestly, I don't think we have a right to know. But if the rest of the board wants to know, it's their life. They can choose what they want to do. Well, if they don't want to share it and they don't feel comfortable, I'm okay with that, too. But if they wouldn't mind sharing, just so we have the information, I think it's good to have forformational purposes. You know, I think you're thinking if we can make improvements from it, right? If we can Call a question. All in favor? I opposed. All right, moving to miscellaneous items for action. I need a motion 8.02 and 8.03. Second. Curiosities, discussion, comments. Call a question. All in favor? Oh, we're almost there. Candy, I just need to abstain from uh 8.02. All in favor? I. All opposed?
201Mr. Smith, it looks like a good trip to Boston. Enjoy yourself. Looks like it's well organized. Thank you. All right. Section nine. Um, first we have the policy committee report and that is going to be me and we met on May 8th and we had first readings for policy 6210, 6215 and 6220 and basically we made some vocabulary and grammatical changes uh to the policies. Please. All right. Need an action vote on 9.03 through 9.06. Can I have a motion, please? So moved. Second. Curiosities, discussion, comments. Call a question. All in favor? I. I. opposed abstensions. Do we have any questions on the first readings? Moving along, uh we have the board evaluation template. Um, can I have a motion to approve it, please? Second. Curiosities, discussion, comments. Question. I just want to thank the
202committee for all of their hard work. Thanks. We had fun. They worked very well together. Call a question. All in favor? So much better. I opposed. No. Oh, I'm sorry. Abstensions. So much better. I'd also like to thank the committee for all of their work and the time they put into it. All right. Section 11.02 board member comments. Aaron. So, I have some things that microphone again. So, I have some things to say. Uh, particularly based off of the elections this past week and listening to I made a very bad mistake. I read a lot of the things that were on social media and my heart really hurts. Um, I was very affected by many of the things that were written and the the hostile and asserbic nature of some statements that were made. Some
203things in particular that I'd like to address is that comments that we as a board are rubber stamping. We're just rubber stamping whatever is is given to us. and and I vehemently oppose that. I think what people don't understand are the numerous numerous conversations that are had between us individually with Tom uh with with the staff. We are asking questions. We are digging deeper. Um, and to say that something is rubber stamped is absolutely unfair and frankly mean. Um, I'm going to move into my next comment now, which really stems into just cruel comments. Just absolutely nasty, cruel comments about people on this board. Um, I'm I am shocked. This is not the community that I live in where I hear people talking so horribly about other people, especially during uh the board of education
204member race. There were things that were said about people across the board, either people that were running or sitting members of this board that were just hideous. And and I am embarrassed that I would read these things that people would put their name on it quite frankly. Um and and also I want people to understand we're not paid. We are volunteers giving copious hours of our time to sit and read, to talk, to take action upon and to read this vitil, this absolute hideous words that would come out of people. Um, you know, it's uncalled for. And on top of that, our kids see this. Our kids see it. They come to us. They ask us questions. Mom, why is this written? Dad, why is this written? These are kids' parents. I am shocked and
205I implore you to do better. And if you have something to say, come here and say it to us where we can possibly respond to you, answer any questions that you have. We did have people in the audience here tonight, but quite frankly, if you are a classy individual, uh we will not respond to you online. We won't. It's not worth our time. It's not worth our energy. But trust me, there are things that I would like to say. So I felt that it was necessary to say that whatever it may be, do better. You can be upset with the taxes. You can be upset with what you think or you perceive that we're doing or not doing, but we're the ones sitting at this table. We're the ones working. We're the ones trying. Take
206that into consideration. between before you spew your hate. Thank you. Bravo. [Applause] Miriam. Okay. Thank you, Aaron. I'm not a social media person and I have not read any of those what you're talking about. Maybe it's better that I haven't. Um, but on the positive side, I was so impressed to see how many of the horses athletes are going on to colleges to play sports. Um, two of my children had the opportunity to do that. And what really thrilled me, and I can't bring up their names right now. I had written it down, the papers at home, but there were a couple, and if if you're out there, um, come to a meeting. and they'd love to meet you that are going to Duville University. It's a well, it was small. I'm sure it's bigger
207now, but it's where I did my bachelor's. And so, yay. Those that are going to Duville, I hope you have a great season. And congratulations to all of them. D1, D2, D. I think there was 22 if I have the number correct. 35 even better. And that's not all of them even. Oh, it's amazing. And congratulations to the students, to the coaches, and to the parents because if you have an athlete, you put in a lot of time, too. So, good luck to all of you. Christine. Um, so I won't repeat what Aaron said, but I 100% agree and it it was it is very difficult to read knowing how much heart and soul each of us sitting up here puts into this for and many and and several of us for many many years.
208Um, what I will say though is, you know, one of the things that I noticed every time we get to this time of year and the comments go up is many of them are not factual, right? So, if you're a community member and you're trying to learn more about the district, please please use caution in in in reading the things that that do get posted on social media. um because there are there are many that are not factual and and I did not, you know, comment because I don't really think it's appropriate for board members to be commenting. Um but just if you have questions or you see something that you wonder if it's true, please please contact the district. Um you know, one thing that I will say that was a recent one um
209which upset me as well. There was a comment around um Mr. Christmas being elected and how that was convenient because he was the number one person on the on the ballot. So that must have been strategic. And that's not how that happens. It is a it is a random draw that all of the candidates have the ability to go into the district office to do that draw. And if they're not there, then there's somebody in that office that's appointed to do that random draw. So, you know, just I just wanted to clear up and there there are lots of other onfactual things out there as well, but just just be cautious as you're reading that stuff. Thank you. So, um thank you Maryann for bringing that up about the athletes um and the signings because
210it is exciting for all the students. I would also like to say it's too bad that we don't know where all our talented music students go and what colleges they go to because um we do have a lot of athletes and there's always a big signing and you know where they're going to go but we also have a lot of musical talent in this district um artists artists or artists um that should be recognized too. So that uh so thank you for triggering my brain. I should all be honored because I just needs help sometimes. Um are we selling Hibard Road? I mean we talked they talked about it in last year's budget, but we have about another year we have about another year before the board can make that determination because we're I mean
211we're down to school. We're relocating into schools right now and at the end of summer we will be relocating into the portions of Ridge Road to house and then at the end of this year, not at the end of this next school year. That's the time that we would have to look at that, right? Because I knew it was put out. Yeah. Last year, but then we never heard anything and that triggered my brain. Sure. And I almost forgot it. Okay. Thank you very much, Katrina. Um, I agree with Aaron and I I think that everybody has said it. You know, this is a volunteer position. Um, we all do take our time to be here and it does it doesn't feel good when you read comments out on the social media world. It doesn't
212feel good to see um people who are trying to run getting tore down. um and things escalating. And it it this is this is why people stop running and stop volunteering is because it doesn't feel good at all. Um, and it, you know, you can come and talk to us about it, you know, about the the concerns you might have, you know, of whatever it is. We're we're definitely here to listen. Um and then um I just wanted to recognize um a horse's graduate who has passed away um Christina Regula Regula. Um and I just wanted to say that in memory of her to please donate life. Anybody else? And then I'll go last. No, I just everything that's been said I would have said so I won't repeat. Well, just to wrap up, thank
213you Sue because our visions and voices are out that highlights our art program especially. It's one I mean Mr. Bell and the art department and all of our students do that. We will get a copy for each of you. I only have two copies here right now, but we will get that out. Please, if you get a chance, look at it in our uh schools as well as the kids that had it have it as well. Uh I just want to address letter from Mrs. Fin Len cuz one is you're here. So we did get the letter at 4:44. So we were already over here. So, the the district clerk, the district clerk is where everything goes to. And then the district clerk will either bring it to the next board meeting, which has been
214explained numerous times before, or I'll include your letter to my update tomorrow to them as well, which the district clerk does. And then uh I am also a person that receives it and I will clear up anything that I feel is potentially either accurate or not accurate. I've written before and not respons. Well, it goes to the board when we when we have it. We're very straightforward. It's just normal. Yeah, that is the board's choice. Thank you. So, as well as I just wanted to let we have an election over uh and our welcome letters are going out to our board members and this is for the board. I've taken advice from the board over the time. Uh in addition, those welcome letters will start their training process. They will have eventually a meeting uh
215with the board president, myself just to start off and start the uh introduction into it as well as try to set up things that work with their time schedules. But one of the things that this board has talked about is we need people and we will reach out to them. But the board calendar is already being developed that we wanted to try to get ahead. So we are targeting the week of August 4th for the summer board retreat. August 4th and and I'll put this in my update tomorrow so that the board here has it. I will ask the district clerk to contact uh the newly elected board members that are not on the board to reserve that as well. I think that's a week before. You're saying that day? The week of I don't
216know which day yet because I have to try to find somebody. Yeah. And then we are also and I'll put this in the update. The educational tours are going to be slated for Tuesday, October 21st. That's 8 to 12. The mid winter retreat is January the week of January 19th. that's sort of like regions week or something. Uh the board retreat there 4 to 8 so that you have that. And then February 5th will be the capital construction tours 8 to 12 districtwide. And what that does is meet all the requirements of what the board's supposed to do. But I'm trying to get those dates out now. I'm going to get that I'm going to give you the draft calendar actually because we've got it roughly. I've just got to make sure everything aligns once
217we get all the calendars and I haven't checked with budget. I always don't. No, you don't have to. I will send it. I'm just letting you know that we've tried to be as update will be coming tomorrow. Awesome. Yep. I just wanted to make sure everybody knows and then we will reach out to both Cara uh Sheen as well as Matt Fineberg to make sure that they at least reserve those dates. And then what happens is uh it's up to the board to start planning that come July. Uh it's not my responsibility. I will assist but the board has to decide what it's going to be. Okay. And then welcome letters. Thank. All right. This ladies and gentlemen, thank you. We will see you Wednesday. All right. Um, one last reminder, you have to see
218Terry before you leave and sign a document. Uh, this concludes our meeting. Can I have a motion to adjurnn, please? Second. All in favor? I opposed abstensions. Thank you everyone. Drive safely. This concludes our meeting.