001So, why do I do? Steven knows Is my mouth not big enough? four chairs are going to be used? They're not. And one for David. Just one. I'm so sorry. There's two over here. There's two over here. Just No, we need one. That's David. Oh, David. David pulled into the parking lot. Steven's not coming? David's coming, but No, he's not. We have four in here. I said we have four in here. We have six. Yeah, we have four. Yeah, David. We should bring David too. Yeah. We should bring David over here. But, if he looks at the other people like the behind him, he can read anything he has. Over here, he can private. Yeah, he can sit there. Yeah. Let the attorneys sit together. Steven moves Steven over there. Yeah. He is coming. Yeah,
002he'll he'll be. Yeah. She looks like Dilbert. Mary Stephanie looks like Dilbert. I can see it from her nose. I know. >> [laughter] >> He said he's definitely coming. Oh. Who is coming? Steven. Who is coming? Right? It's exactly 5:30, so Okay. Yeah. No. Whenever you want. Madam President. Anyone? Mhm. What? I said I'm not sure if he'll join us whenever We can Loyman can with the our emails or It is 5:30 I am calling this special meeting of the Board of Education to order. If we could please call the roll. Mr. Spitzer? Present. Mr. Collins? Here. Ms. Anderson? Here. Mr. Rider? Here. Ms. Forsythe? She's on her computer. She said she's here. Thank you. Mr. Lamb? Here. Ms. Kern? Here. Dr. Bernabei? Here. If we could please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I
003pledge 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 So, this special meeting has been called uh because four trustees have are seeking clarification on the um budget and the um possible layoffs of certain individuals. So, our intent here is to get clarification from the superintendent, ask questions, and discuss our concerns. Mr. Rider. I'll be happy to start. Um So, you know, we we all have information from pre-budget when we passed the budget on Tuesday. Believe there's a lot of information that is out there on social media and other places. So, I just want to clarify um There is a 59-person reduction in force in this year's budget, correct? Um and then can you clarify what
004the projected layoffs are? And then I I have a couple questions about the reading department specifically. So, if I could have 2 minutes to just kind of Yeah. Provide an overview. Yes, thank you. You know, um as you presented over the last few months, we have a series of challenges ahead of us and a series of changes that negatively impacted our budget. From decreasing enrollment of over 100 and 150 students uh to changing the state funding formula that saw us go from a 12.2% increase in funding to a 1% increase in funding. So, we also have decreased expense-based aid, which is again compounding that issue. On top of that, major increases in costs in other areas such as transportation and special education have really impacted our budget process. That's on top of the regular increases
005in the cost of doing business. Fact is, the board's going to have to make some difficult decisions, not just this year, but for several years to follow. Unfortunately, the largest part of our budget is people. We're a people business. No one wants to make take wants or make take pleasure in making reductions in faculty or staff, but whoever is sitting here next few years next few years is going to have to make there some recommendations to the board that will be very difficult. And we really have to adjust to our changing realities. I do want to stress 870 students as a decline in enrollment is the equivalent of almost three elementary schools in the Kingston City School District. I also want to stress this parent, we understand this budget adopted last week includes over $12
006million in dollars in allocated reserves. That's not sustainable. Basically, next year we'll have to increase revenues or decrease our expenditures by $12 million before we even start the budget process. Contrary to social media, reductions were made across multiple bargaining units, including administration. The first round of proposed reductions was with KTF. Due to time and requirements, that's how we had to do it. Other bargaining units' requirements allow for more time to make decisions and notifications, and those notifications will be late like late next week. Also, contrary to social media, there were not 59 teachers laid off last week. There were 16. We do have 31 reductions in the Kingston Teachers Federation uh bargaining unit. 15 through attrition through retirements, which we also offered a retirement incentive, and on and five takers. Um we really try to
007keep that number as far as layoffs as low as possible. Even as recently as 2 hours ago, we were looking at ways to reduce the lay- layoffs even further. Ultimately, it's my job to make recommendations to the board, and it's the job of the board's recommendation to take action. But you must do so using facts and data. Not using social media posts. We have a budget expenditure figure, any directives from the board for administration to make adjustments within that figure will be figured out and executed. We have a hard job ahead of us. But what I had to want to reiterate the needs of our students are the number one priority of the Kingston City School District. Mr. Warnecke. No, Mr. Warnecke. So, if I could follow up on that. So, you said KCSD was
008notified of 16 layoffs, correct? Nine of those reductions not just layoffs, but nine of those reductions came from the literacy department. Correct. >> So, we're going from 25 down to 16 literacy teachers. Can you just explain the plan, explain the need for that reduction, and just like to hear more. Sure, absolutely. You know, with with straight math, it looks a certain way. And I think I think I discussed that with all of you in the past. Um we we we continue to make to look at this. We continue to have conversations with Dr. Oliveto, who's in charge of the reading program. Um and we feel that we can we're looking at see who we can if we can increase that number of teachers that stay. Um again, we're in the in the area of two
009to three that we think we can bring back with cuts other cuts we've made over the last several days. But really our our focus and you know, my from where I sit, I do a lot of straight math. You know, I do a lot of straight this is how many kids we have, this is how many teachers we have, this is how many sections we have, those kind of things. But then the nuances have to come from from my assistant superintendents and my directors. And that's what that's what's been going on in the last couple of days. So, we are evaluating how we can change that. Um even though it's not probably not exactly how everyone would want it to be, but I think we can increase it. But we also have to look forward,
010and I think any reading teachers here know that in creating efficiency of how we can make sure we access those students on a regular basis. So, just because a teacher has a certain number of hours in their day, doesn't mean that every student they have to serve has that same that same availability. So, we have to as administration make sure that we figure out how to make sure that's that happens. So, there's not students being pulled out of of their tier one, you know, their their direct instruction to go to speech or go to flute lessons. Um and also make sure that we have room in every student's schedule who needs it for their tier two interventions. [clears throat] So, again, um our fiscal reality is a fiscal reality, but we're doing our best to
011make sure we can do other things, cut other things, and get people in place. So, I don't want to make any 100% promises, but I know after my meeting with Dr. Oliveto this morning, um I think there are there are going to be some um some of our reading staff will be brought back to um make sure we can provide those services. Dr. Collins. Um Can I >> [clears throat] >> can I just so that I just want to also say another clarification. So, when when teachers were informed this week, it was a verbal infor- you know, we informed them verbally. Nothing is set in stone until the board acts on on the about the abolishment of of positions. So, we continue to work. Sorry, go ahead. You know, Dr. Sorry. >> about No, no,
012it's okay. Um that raises a different question, but it it's right there. I wanted to just talk a little bit more about the reading teachers and just in light of the immense amount of work that the district has done toward literacy in the last three years, particularly in the CKLA introduction and and win blocks and all of the ways in which we're thinking about paying additional attention to getting our kids reading at grade level and beyond. Um you talked a little bit about some of the efficiencies that might help us maintain the growth that we're starting to see in that area. Are there other plans in place if we if it's not number reading teachers or people, what are the other plans that we are making in the district to accommodate the lack of bodies
013and human contact that fewer reading teachers might need? Are there other ways that we are ensuring that we're moving forward with this literacy initiative? Well, I think a lot of that just goes around the adoption of our new new curriculum we've only had in place for one year. Um and also professional development for all of our teachers, our tier one instructors. So, we need to make sure that we are giving high quality instruction first first instruction, high quality instruction there. Um but yeah, I I think again, I just keep going back to the efficiencies of it of it, making sure that the students that need to be seen aren't aren't getting aren't not getting their reading instruction, let's say they're a tier two student, and not missing, you know, one of their one of the
014reading instruction periods to do something else. So, I think there's looking at the number of hours in a day and the number of students who need services and making sure that those hours in the day for the student and the teacher are matched up that they can get what they need. It sounds like a collaboration too with guidance and families. I mean, it But is it because there's some prioritization to some things? >> Right. Right. I I mean, again, you know, the word priority means one thing, right? That that's supposed to be >> [clears throat] >> the priority. We talk about it here. We have a lot of priorities. So, I mean, it's hard to hard to really um use that word. But the priority of a student has the need for reading instruction beyond,
015let's say, a a tier two or tier three student, that has to be the priority. And I know it's hard for a lot of people to to take all that, but that's the priority over over everything, you know? So, if it's I'm going to my music lesson or I'm going to my reading instruction, they're going to the student needs to go to the reading instruction. That's our first that that's our first responsibility is is teaching. Um so, those are the the kind of things we're looking Sorry, did I answer your question? I think to the best of your knowledge, it sounds like right now it feels like any additional scheduling {slash} curriculum {slash} structural changes are not yet um imagined. Well, I think this process, you know, it is not a process that we've been
016we've had to go through for 12 or 13 years. You know, that always brings other things up. You know, so you you don't you know, when things are when things are good, you don't you don't analyze things every day the way you do when things kind of go bad. Um and we're taking a harder look at at almost everything we do. Dr. Barnaby, I just have a couple of questions. Have we hired over the past five years when we knew our student body was decreasing? Yes. For [clears throat] for the for some of the same positions or different positions than we're now getting No, for the same positions. So, why would we continue to hire for folks if we knew that our population group, our community was shrinking? Well, the most the Actually, this is
017a great question. Two things. Number one, I think that begs two questions, right? Why why we hire when we knew our state aid was going down too, right? So, so that with the as far as the state aid was concerned, that was dramatic. That was within one year. We went from 12.9% increase in foundation aid two years ago to last year finding out that we were at two. Um that was dramatic. We made a choice last year as a board having that dramatic decrease to allocate fund balances to make up that difference to not be where we are today. Well, over the last 12 months, we evaluated things we we had to evaluate and realized this isn't coming back. And and the governor's budget shows us this is not coming back. I mean, 1%. We
018went from 12.9%, which was almost $8 million to 1%, which is $600,000. That's that's unheard of. Um and not something we're used to in the Kingston City School District. I mean, we've always been classified as a high needs, you know, a low wealth district. We're no longer that. Um we are now a low needs high wealth district, um which creates a whole different thing. But yes, yes in quotes. But as far as the state As far as the as far as the formula is concerned, yes. But to I'm going back to answer the rest of your question, Dr. Barnaby. The um as far as looking at hiring, I you go back to the same thing. I mean, we we look at that. We made a decision last year to make sure we can continue keep
019everything in place for our students while we evaluate what's about to happen and and and kind of try to read the tea leaves, to be honest with you. Um but we have, you know, where our hiring has come is is been in where we are, not necessarily um creating new positions or those kind of things. And also, the board has made it had made a commitment in the past of certain class sizes at the elementary level. So, we wanted to honor that. Okay, thanks. And the second part of my question, you know, I I just want to say I'm not Pollyanna, and I appreciate a lot of the macroeconomic analysis and know that layoffs are part of our current environment. I mean, my own work we've decreased by 40%. Um and I do understand that.
020Um but I believe that due diligence with us and the community was just not done in this process. Um and you know, after But all of this and like really getting a final chance to look at the data that we didn't get a chance to look at when we made our choices, some of it. Um it feels like folks were hiding the ball a little bit and I defaulted to trust and I really feel that um I shouldn't have. And I say that because, you know, on this on a board where, you know, you're a new member, um you assume that the board members who've been part of this district for a really long time, the committees who were in charge of this, the districts that like there is a sense of how the the
021depth of knowledge that you all have. And so I kept thinking to myself, "I don't exactly understand what the details of this are." And I kept thinking to myself, "You're supposed to be a good board member." And I I I actually uh I defaulted to trust when I shouldn't have. To me, I'm curious about the process of teacher, principal, and any community member conversations that have been had during this budget process or that have been had in the past because um I think part of the issue we're seeing here, and I want to understand better, is that when people are sort of have a band-aid ripped off as opposed to our part of the process and get to name their priorities and actually get to say, "We get it. Let's help like solve it." It's
022a very different outcome from having to have a group of I don't know how many people sit sit like I don't know, 40 people in a room that are like, "We just had a make a a thing ripped ripped out from under our feet." And I will say I thought that was happening between us and the community. And that's why I kept saying so many times, "We'll have conversations." What I'm realizing I feel, and I hope I'm wrong, I really do, is that it was actually also happening between board and district or between between us and decision makers. I'm not sure. But I really want to understand because if there's a reason that this kind of information was made vague and is now being made clear, that makes me feel like the wool has been
023pulled over my eyes. I don't feel comfortable with that. So I'd like to hear a little bit more about how the process is, what it looks like, and I apologize. I really do. I apologize to this room and I apologize to my co- fellow board members. I would have never voted for it if I had had the details ahead of time. I understand we are in a budget crunch and there will be cuts, but this to me is unacceptable. Thank you. I think Mrs. Prince is next and then Mr. Wynn. I just had a question overall about the strategic approach to a concentrated group. Um when the sessions are had, I'm just looking for clarity about how the operations of this committee works, like financing, um teaching and learning when it comes to talking about
024if there's a specific um concentrated group of professionals that is going to be changed uh due to other decision making related to curriculum. Um so when you see this bench of reading specialists, um that I believe were listed as literacy teachers, I'm just I'm I'm sort of curious about when those conversations happen so that I can understand when to learn more about it or ask more right questions. Or if that was a coincidence. And can you comment on the place of curiosity? So are you are you directing your question to I guess all three committees. Uh Well, superintendent and the two committees. Um I'm happy to discuss as the chair of the finance and audit committee that jurisdiction of the finance and audit committee is not the budget. The budget falls within the jurisdiction of
025the entire board and and every board member is part of part of that process and all of those conversations. Finance and audit is is required by the state. Um it's a specific committee and we deal with the we receive treasurer reports, we choose the external auditor, there's other things. It's very limited in its scope and we're not having large budget conversations. The budget conversations are happening in this room, not not in committees as far as I'm aware. That offers a lot of clarity that I did not understand. I thought just as in policy when there's a depth of study and rewriting and all the work that we're doing that that was also done in finance. So that is my my bad for not understanding that. Um I did submit some questions to the budget workshop
026and didn't have a chance to hear a response for those, but I do now understand better my role and I want to be able to contribute and support the board and the administration and in a better way. I'm happy to speak on that with teaching and learning and school, but the answer is is is very similar in the sense that the decisions around uh positions and roles are not ours to make any decision. They're in fact no decisions. We are a body that um tracks the learning outcomes and diversity of our district both at that two levels. Mhm. And as a consequence, um make suggestions within the context of a of a committee meeting about uh future initiatives Mhm. for example, and we hear about uh progress of initiatives, Mhm. um but no decisions are
027made within that meeting. And in fact, we haven't met in the time frame of this budget process. Thank you both. Dr. Delano, do you want to respond to that or do we want to go to Mr. Wynn? Go to Mr. Wynn. Mr. Wynn. All right. First, people know that I am about cuts the farthest away from students and cuts of administration, not cuts of people with hands-on. Our mission excellence or our vision excellence for everybody means tier two and three also get reading. I feel that you can't do anything uh you can't do math, you can't do anything if you can't do reading. And I think these jobs or these jobs that we are eliminating are too deep and too many. I also have a problem with someone being critical of of the way the
028process was if we voted yes when two people from finance said, "We can't spend $3,000 for the board." But yet we voted yes to spend $3,000 [clears throat] for the board. And our two people, the two people on finance voted no. So I'm a little taken back by the attack on the superintendent and the board members about how things have been done in the past. I will support teachers. I will support reading. And I will support that we have to cut other places other than the reading teachers. Now, I understand the classroom size. We we have luxury classroom size. That was not what we were promised. That's not what all the teachers were promised. We now still have a very nice classroom size and it's not really impacting what is going to happen in the
029regular classroom. But we have got to be able to supply reading to ones, twos, and threes to make them all fours if we want to do what we claim we do. Um Mrs. Prince. I just had another um question. I had a question about communication just in terms of um I understand that there was information out in the in the media. Is there any protocol or for internal communications to sort of let faculty and staff know that changes will be made. I understand it can't be individual, it can't be specific, but is there any way that there could be um or is was there communication sent out to essentially hold this in a light that made it clear that there were going to be necessary changes due to budget constraints and a way to essentially
030deliver that message directly um so that there was less of a feeling of this being a shock or a surprise? Well, shouldn't be a shock. And the fact that the fact that we had four budget presentations, I think we probably had four questions during that time, also makes me wonder why anyone would think the wool was pulled over their eyes. So it shouldn't be a shock. I meet with Kingston Teachers Federation every month. I meet with the president of the Kings Kings Federation probably more than I see my family. So there's there's they were the you know, their leadership was in the process all the way through this. Knew months ago where we were. I said months ago where we were. So it's so it's difficult for me to understand why anyone and I and
031we talked about it. And we the the presentations were there. Ms. Carbon was here and gave the presentations. Um we knew where we were. You all saw the budget that was proposed by the governor. Um 1% increase. We talked about it publicly, regularly every meeting there was a budget presentation since February. So I I think that there's, you know, am I reaching out to individual teachers? No, that's not how this works. I work through I work through the teachers through the teachers union and the teachers union's conversations go with their with their members, which is appropriate. So um no, we didn't I didn't put out a press release that oh no, you know, we've got a budget problem, but it was very clear and our meetings are public, and they are and they are, you
032know, live-streamed, and they are live on our website. That's our opportunity, the board's opportunity, and my opportunity to communicate with everyone in the Kingston City School District. Mr. Rynis. You had an opened up with two minutes kind of explaining the background, and I think a lot of people think that we are just getting to this spot this year, and like we didn't understand it. Last year we had 1 or 2%. Um but this is not the first year that we've reduced staff. Well, like but it's the first year we've had layoffs. Can you remind the public kind of how like how many um positions we reduced in last in the current year's budget? This This year's budget? >> Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Mark. Okay. Yeah. We did I mean, you know, we we've done our best
033to use attrition, which is usually either people who resign and go to another district or people who retire and been able to reduce staff that way without having layoffs. And that that's how we try to do it with this, you know, as little pain as possible. As I said, no one wants to have layoffs. Um But we were working on the budget hole for this year's budget as well. We reduced a large number of staff positions. And if we go back in time and and watch the presentations that Ms. Carbon and I did, we said last year, right around well, a little earlier than this, when we allocated $10 million in fund balance, we said, "This is not sustainable, and we know this is going to continue. We need to We're going to do this
034now to save as many positions as possible, but next year we're going to have to make some really hard decisions." And And that's that's where we are. Dr. Brandy, just to say Dr. Pedellino, I appreciate the the number of budget presentations and the analysis was quite clear. So, I do appreciate the sort of macro economic situation that we found ourselves in. I'll specifically say the part that feels in felt incomplete to me and a little bit of like the wool being pulled over the eyes was the details of how it would actually who it would impact and how it would actually flow. Um and I'll say that I'm not questioning necessarily whether we would end in a similar place to where we are now, but that the process, and I understand the teachers union is
035a part of it, you're a part of it, the board is a part of it, we all have a responsibility to play in it, it has produced a feeling of not just we understand that macroeconomic issues are you know, there's layoffs all over the place, we understand that, but there's just something about the kind of communication, the kind of um sitting with people um that we haven't done and don't do, and I'm not going to say for the district and sure there are plenty of people in the district who sit with people and teachers and and staff, but um And you know, this is to the board as well. It's like this desire for us to sort of create something behind the scenes and do our best that people worked hard. Like I know you
036didn't sleep the last of nights. I know uh plenty of your administrators didn't sleep either developing this budget. It doesn't work to do it behind closed doors and then to rip off a band-aid and say, "Here we are." And I understand that you're saying people could have come here and asked questions a million times. Well, you know, teachers and staff and and hit working parents, it's not how it's not how people engage, and it's not how people internalize information. And so, the details of the thing that I know now were not made transparent, and that is why I would not have voted for the budget, not because I think that the numbers could be made different numbers. That's not how this works. The number is the number, but at the end of the day, like
037there's something in this culture of lack of communication, this lack of sharing with people, this lack of bringing people along that then produces this. And that is something I would not I wouldn't have voted for it on process alone. It just doesn't work. It doesn't work, and it's not going to work next year, and it's not going to work the year after that because it's not it's not how you respect people in in process. And getting people's perspective and having bringing people along in the process, like I'm just curious, how can we do that better? Is that actual question? Like what could we do differently next time that would not put us in a position where it's not just the hurt and anger of not having a job anymore, it's also the indignity. Like that's
038that's the thing about this. Like I just don't understand why we can't crack that nut, and it's you know, I I and I want to be a part of the solution, but you know, I don't know how many times I have we have to come to this table and say the same thing, and it's just it's enough. Well, I think you have a flawed view of the process. >> Okay. And and and the understanding of the communication. I mean, we have five bargaining units in the Kingston City School District, right? So, I meet with the leadership of those of those bargaining units. They're They're elected by the people that are standing around here. The president, the vice president, the secretary, etc. are elected to represent them. They represent them by coming and meeting with me
039to talk about these things. So, it's not No, it's not I don't go to faculty meetings and have conversations. I go to the Kingston Teachers Federation or or the ASP uh unit, which is the administrators, or ESP, which is our support staff. That's that's how the process works. So, there was communication with the leadership elected by the members that happens throughout all these processes. So, no, I I mean, I I don't know if you're if I should if you're asking do I go to faculty meetings have this discussion or do I go to department meetings have these discussions? No, I don't. I go with the elect I go to the elected people who are representing them in their labor union. Mr. Rynis, then Mrs. Kerns, and then Mr. Slicer. Yeah, I just feel like for
040me personally, the only place that I was would felt and it I think it's harsh to even say felt blindsided. I've already discussed the reading. I think there we have received lots of information through this process earlier than what I think is being put out here as far as specific bargaining units reductions, layoffs, and honestly, I feel like our energy the last 3 months has not been at the budget, it's been about internal communications, it's been about other things that I think we should have been not focused on, we should have been focused on the budget, and I don't think I put that on the administration, I put that on this board. Mrs. Kerns, thank you so much. Um I think there was a yearning and a desperation for more communication, and that's why there
041was a call to figure out how to be better communicators, to be really honest. There was something that felt very missing. And like I said, being on the committees that I'm on, I'm doing a lot of homework, a lot of work. We've produced more policies than I've ever seen be turned out, correcting things that are 20, 30 years old. So, my faith was in everyone holding into their roles and ringing a bell if something needed attention. And so, I find it to be really incongruent sort of putting it back on us for desiring a communication skill to be built so that we can work better together. I think it goes right back around to what our duty is to the children, to our faculty, to our staff, to our families, to be good at what
042we do so that we can serve them better. And I don't like the fact that this has been hung over our heads as if we're doing something to hurt the district or to steal money from the budget. It is within our responsibility to be good at what we do. And right now we are in a position in which we did not do something well together. And I firmly place that on the lack of strong communication. Mr. Slicer. I think it's funny, fellow trustees, that in the discussion, we seem to be juxtaposed to what's going on with the budget and the need for more communication when in fact they're the same thing. If we had more intensive, more uh dedicated uh communication, we might not be here right now. So, it's it's all the same to
043me. I feel the intensity and the power of the room. It's also pushing uh board uh to to lean heavily to more heavily into the details of what happened in the budget. So, in in light of that, I just have one question. Dr. Pedellino, in light of these layoffs, do we have a plan to continue to provide our IEP, 504, and other students who have mandated literacy support? Does it simply mean increasing case loads on remaining reading teachers? And can we see you that plan at the next Teaching and Learning Committee meeting? Yes, you can. Any other questions or comments? I I would just like to remind the board and our public that Dr. Pedellino informed us months ago that we were going to have some really difficult decisions to make regarding budget. He also
044informed us that he was working with not only the unit, the um leadership of the bargaining units, but also the principals to identify where there could be ways to cut. So, that rolling over budget year to year, maintaining a staff without having enough the student numbers, um is not good practice, and we were all reminded that we would we would be looking at some really difficult and we're here and there isn't anyone at this table that supports laying off staff. We need our staff, our students need our staff, but we also have a responsibility to have a balanced budget. And if in fact we can't find the cuts, then we're putting it back on our public, our taxpayers. And that is a serious question as well. So um communication is important balancing the budget is
045important, supporting our staff is very important and our students um and that is our goal in the work that we have to do. Any other board questions or comments with Dr. Barnaby? Mrs. Curran. I'd like to just take that back off of what somebody marked earlier which is that I do think we need to schedule a plan meeting forward um that holds a budget workshop a lot earlier that has it really penciled in because that also is you know doing something with our administration so that they have the time they need to prepare. So I think that would be really um important and appropriate um to put that in in our schedule. Um I think it's something that's necessary because also at the end of the day if we stand by the decisions we made
046because we worked really really hard on it, then there's no shame in what we're doing here. And that's what I think the most important thing is today. I am here out of curiosity. I am here because I want answers because I care about my constituents. I made it very clear in the last meeting that these are people's livelihoods that are in our hands um and that is a very delicate and fragile role to be in. At the same time we are responsible and it is not an easy job, but we are choosing to be here and if we stand by the decisions that are made, we need to stand by those with clarity and with care. Thank you. So um just for our public our regular board meeting is Wednesday. What is the date for
047the 6th? May 6th. There will be a public budget presentation during that meeting that is that is required and we will also have public comment during that meeting so that people that would like to speak to the board may. That is not happening tonight. So if we have no other Dr. Barnaby. Um I'm going to say this to um my fellow board members because to Dr. Catalino and others' points we have a responsibility as well. But whether I'm on the board or not the task of talking to each other respectfully, building strong communications across this board and then therefore modeling how we want to respect and talk to the community including teachers and faculty is the work we're here to do. And that produces the information we need to help us make decisions. When you
048have it in the backwards direction it is it feels crushing to people. And it is crushing to people. I'm not saying we do we don't have a conversation where there's a two-way street where it's a mutual conversation, but I beg us for the since October so whatever this is now May please let's put in structures so that that happens on a regular basis because again the point of of what Mr. Spicer said, communications about the budget, communications about our priorities, like conversation and again I'm happy to work with the the union on it. Why not? But it is also our responsibility. We are elected officials. So that is actually our responsibility. If you don't see it that way, then you just don't see eye to eye. But that is a that's that's a that's a
049principle you either live by or you don't. So please like whether I'm here or not do it. This could be avoided. Thank you. If we have no no further questions or discussion, I May I just bring up one more statement? Um so I would encourage everybody in this room and anybody listening on the live to not just be here, not just show up on the 6th which I'm hoping is not here, but a different location with more room and and longer public comment than a typical meeting. But you need to reach out to your state reps because the fact that we can go from a 12% increase in aid to 2% and then being in the governor's budget at 1% we are at the tax cap levy our budgets don't pass by a supermajority. So
050even if we wanted to, we are putting our budget at risk if we are to exceed the tax cap and we are being being pigeonholed into what we can do by the state deciding that because some folks have bought some houses at very high prices and used them as second homes that we are now a wealthy low needs district and that is just not the case. Please reach out to your reps and let them know that there is pain in their decision. I think it's important to addition to what Mr. Rider just said and and I think Mrs. Curran said something similar about the timing and the process and early start. We still don't have a state budget. We're going to vote in 3 weeks and we won't have a state budget then either. So
051you know we're we're making our estimates of how we do our budget based on something that could not be accurate. It could be worse. Hopefully it's not, but we there's no state budget. Mr. Rider. I'm just going to respond. So it's Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Sarah Anker Schupf. And if you don't live in Kingston, there are other reps. I think our whole district I think they have the whole district. And others. If we have no other comments, I will ask for a motion to adjourn. >> to make a motion to adjourn. Seconds. All in favor of adjourning this special meeting. Aye. Thank you very much. Thank you for the support from our district. >> the call now.