Crawford Central School Board Facilities Discussion Meeting (Mar 3, 2026)

001Good evening. We like to go ahead and get started if everybody could please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. 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. Our first agenda item is public comments regarding the agenda of March 3rd, 2026. Each person that would like to speak who has signed up to speak will have 3 minutes. Uh that will be up front here uh in the podium. Um Rachel will be uh setting her timer, so once I is finished, if you haven't finished, if you could please close up uh your remarks in in what you're saying, okay? Uh when they when you come up to the podium, if you could please uh

002state your name uh and your address, um we would greatly appreciate that, okay? And please speak clearly into the microphone. Uh this is being televised, so we would like to hear what you um have to say. Um our first uh speaker is Katrice Williams. Hi, I'm Katrice Williams. I'm a parent of students at West West End and Mash. I'm also a district employee. I served on the finance district planning committee, and my husband and I are heavily involved in the community. Um I wanted to start with reasons to support basically the mega elementary that was proposed by district planning committees. Um first would be resource availability. Larger schools can offer more resources, including advanced technology and diverse educational materials, um specialized staff. There'd be no more traveling specialist teachers, um like art and music. Special

003service programs can be better supported. Um a wider range of extracurricular programs and clubs can be offered, enhancing student engagement and community outreach inclusion. Um operating at a larger scale can also reduce cost per student, allowing for better funding allocation and better support among administration and ESP staff. Diverse peer interaction, students benefit from interacting with a larger, more diverse group of peers, fostering social skills and open-mindedness. And I'll share a quick personal story about this at the end. Um also, the mega school could often um have better facilities such as gyms, dedicated music rooms, art rooms, science labs, and improving the learning environment for all students. I also wanted to touch base on consolidating MAMS and MASH with Cochranton Junior-Senior High School, at least to start with extracurricular activities. Um very recently, there was a

004basketball game where high school students from both Meadville and Cochranton supported and cheered for each other. They weren't divisive. They fostered community of unity and collaboration among the student body. This supports the reasoning to combine athletics and extracurricular programs. Activities would experience enhanced student engagement. Sport teams would be more competitive and resource, let alone actually carrying full rosters. Cochranton parents have expressed concern that their athlete wouldn't receive equitable playing time. I personally challenge that. Um my son is Coach Collins' nephew, and he was not given any playing time during the football season. He barely had enough film to submit to colleges for recruitment. Um luckily, he was recruited by Mercyhurst, and he plays for their football team. Um, a varied representation of ethnicities, creeds, and races at a school can mean more multiethnic, philosophical, and

005interracial dialogue. Studies have shown that students of all racial or ethnic groups who attend more diverse schools have a higher comfort level with members of racial and ethnic groups different than our own, and an increased sense of civic awareness, and a greater desire to live and work in multiracial settings relative to their segregated peers. This ease with diversity can benefit kids in both their future personal and business relationships. This is especially personal to me, as my son was a victim of racial harassment and discrimination while enrolled at a Central Pennsylvania School District. The community was not diverse, and the students made a point of making sure my son knew he was not only unwelcome, but less than. Dividing the youth of our community is doing them a disservice. There have been several meetings with the

006board, and a few more on the calendar. I hope you are truly taking what is being said and presented, and analyzing all of it. Not making decisions based on personal preferences and feelings. Being dismissive will not foster a thriving community or school district. Thank you for your time. >> [applause] >> Our next speaker is Jenna Stanley. >> [clears throat] >> Hi, I'm Jenna Stanley, and I live in Cochranton. The Crawford Central faces a financial crisis. Four citizen committees representing 31 volunteers, teachers, staff, and board members confirmed that the status quo is not an option. The data does not support closing Cochranton. The Meadville elementary consolidation is clearly the higher priority, lower disruption action. Combine the four Meadville elementary schools to a maximum of two. Move grade six to the middle school level district-wide. Sell the

007instructional support center and relocate the staff. Neason Hill should be the one of the schools that is closed. It has never received a renovation since it was built in 1977. Carries the highest renovation cost in the district and has a functional capacity for only 121 students. It is not a viable investment. This consolidation is supported by all four committees, each independently arriving at the same conclusion. This leaves both communities, Meadville and Cochranton, with schools serving every student at every grade grade level. Closing Cochranton is not required to achieve solvency. Cochranton elementary needs only 2.9 million in renovations and has available capacity for 269 students. Cochranton Junior-Senior High has room for 383 students, but enrolls only 322. Moving grade six from the elementary improves utilization of both buildings. Redistricting can shift additional enrollment toward Cochranton, strengthening

008both schools' financial standing. Consolidation alone is not enough. The financial committee identified four additional actions that combined eliminate operating deficit entirely. Renegotiating healthcare costs, adjusting the tax millage to reflect 30 years of inflation, offering early retirement incentives to senior staff, and generating a one-time revenue through timber harvesting on district-owned acreage, and the sale of closed properties. Another option to consider is whether early childhood classrooms could be utilized to increase enrollment. The combined impact of these actions I've outlined is enough to cover the projected deficits, preserve every academic program, and avoid furloughs. Every committee's non-negotiable satisfied. Both Meadville and Cochranton would maintain conveniently located educational facilities. The path is clear, and the decision now belongs to the board. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Tomisa Kiskadden. >> [snorts] >> I am Tomisa Kiskadden. I live in Vernon

009Township. Uh I have two kids at West End. I'd like to second what Katrice said, so I'll just build on that a little bit. Um first I want to thank the school board for being members and devoting your time to the district. Crawford Central School District is currently facing many challenges that other districts are also facing, and it's mainly financials. With decreasing enrollment, low capacities and numerous existing buildings, less funding, and increased operating costs, the possibility of continuing what has been done in the past is no longer a viable option. I'm not here to give you options. You know the options. Well, there's 50,000 options on the table. Um changes are required to be made to ensure a viable, efficient, and productive future for our students and community. These changes, including building consolidations, are needed

010to ensure the students will have access to adequate resources and proper curriculum for successful transition into a future workforce. They will have challenges like we have not known. They will have to compete with artificial intelligence and robots for jobs, and we need to keep pace with the needs of today. We need to provide them with STEM opportunities, technical competencies, career readiness, quality education, and the skills necessary for them to be successful adults. Spending our dollars on resources towards the development of the students will have a far greater return than spending those dollars to keep old, out-of-date, and high-maintenance buildings in use in Cochranton or Meadville. Both Cochranton and Meadville that applies to. All of them are under capacity. All of them need money. All of them need evaluated. These decisions will be difficult and unpopular

011and may go against your own personal feelings. I hope the board has the fortitude to make these difficult decisions anyway to strengthen our district and provide the best for our kids and their futures. And I hope the community can also recognize the need for these difficult decisions to be made and provide support and come together where and when needed. Our kids are always watching how we adults respond to change. Let's try to keep our minds open to what things could be rather than only how things have been. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Tara Kellerman Good evening. My name is Tara Kellerman. I reside in the city of Meadville, and I'm also a 20-year veteran teacher at Meadville Middle School. Um in the city of Meadville, coincidentally, our property taxes are by far the highest in

012the county. By this, I mean that the city of Meadville home and or land owners contribute over 8.3 million dollars to our district through property taxes alone. The second highest municipality to contribute is Vernon Township with 7.2 million, then West Mead Township with 4.6 million, and lastly, Cochranton and the surrounding muni municipalities there with an approximate property tax contribution of 3.56 million. The data alone based to on each municipality is very disproportionate. I realize the board cannot do anything in regards to redistri- redistribute Oh gosh, I'm sorry. Redistributing that money, but I do feel that at minimum our school boundaries can be realigned. My main reason for speaking, however, is to advocate for the middle school remaining as a seventh and eighth-grade middle school. I'm a 20-year veteran teacher of the district and have taught

013at Meadville Middle School for the past 18 and 1/2 years. There has been much discussion on moving sixth grade to the middle school. In no committee presentations, however, did it state exactly how that would occur. I have heard many talks that the Meadville Middle School has enough room to house our current sixth grade population from the Meadville schools only. This would include approximately 160 students. With our current facility at MMS, reports state that there is only 45% of the school capacity being utilized. These numbers were taken from a 2023 reports that was provided to those various district committees. I as a teacher at the middle school middle school would like to see or be a part of a discussion on how exactly 160 additional students will currently fit at our school. Looking at numbers on

014a piece of paper tells a person one thing. Walking through the complex and mapping out how logistically this influx of students would work is an entirely different picture. In addition, simply feeding all of those students would be a logistical challenge based on the size of our current commons area where we house our lunch, bathroom facilities, and so forth. Cochranton has approximately 106 students in the seventh and eighth grade, and that number can easily be incorporated into our building while still maintaining a middle school philosophy. The middle school philosophy looks at the entire student where we have teams of teachers who know those specific students on that team very, very well. In the middle school, I believe it is very important in order to make not just in order to influence students not in just their

015education, but their social and emotional being as well. Middle school students have a very difficult time um just adjusting as far as their adolescence and going through all of the changes that they go through. Uh so, I do implore you not to make any hasty decisions and do what is best for all of our students and their families. Thank you. >> [applause] >> And Amelia Finnerat. Hi, good evening. Um I'm a parent of three kids in this school district. Um I live in Meadville. Uh and I've been a taxpayer in the district since 2015. I'm here to ask you to reject the plan to close all the neighborhood schools in Meadville to consolidate into one larger mega school. Um neighborhood schools work because they are embedded in the communities they serve. Families can walk. Parents

016can volunteer or pick up their child more easily without having to take off as much time from work. Teachers can get to know siblings and families and families build and benefit from networks of connections and community. The logistics, I think, are really relevant here. Uh longer bus rides for 6- and 7-year-olds aren't a minor tweak. They're a serious disruption, especially for that age group. Working parents would have to juggle earlier pickups, later drop-offs, and after-school activities or events that are suddenly all the way across town. Sports, tutoring, music lessons, open house events, other events, uh parent-teacher meetings, and everything just gets harder when the school is no longer part of the neighborhood rhythm. For many families, especially those without flexible jobs or reliable transportation, having a school so far away from their homes is a

017barrier. Personally, just given the winter that we've had, and which we may have winters like this again, two of my children would have missed a few days of school this year because the bus could not drive down the hill cuz it was too icy and I had to drive them myself, but this would have been impossible if their school was all the way out at West End because I would have been late for work, which on those particular days would have been impossible. So, we were also a one-car family for a long time and it was very useful to have the school within walking distance, which would not be the case anymore. Consolidation is often sold as the responsible financial choice, but once everything is factored in like construction, expansion, infrastructure upgrades, and increased transportation

018costs, the math gets a lot less impressive. And I'm sure that our taxes won't decrease even if our kids are getting a worse public service at one giant far away school that we can't even walk to. If we're going to upend families' lives, we should at least be certain of the payoff and the savings that they're real and and not hypothetical. So, this may sound efficient, but efficiency for the adults in charge doesn't always translate into better outcomes for kids in the long run. So, before we close schools that are a functioning part of their neighborhoods, let's make sure we're not trading community stability and practical access for a plan that looks good, but might not actually deliver. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Okay, next part. Can you guys hear me okay? Yeah. Yeah, okay.

019The next part, what we're going to do is a review. The board just to reiterate some of the things that the board has been doing. We Uh, had a feasibility study that was done. Uh, that has been uh, gone over with the board, uh, twice. Um, we have done tours of the building, uh, and the biomass that is now at the Career Tech. Uh, we've had community meetings since November. Uh, with four different committees. Uh, community presentations. Uh, we've had done, um, McClure, uh, energy audits. And we also, uh, the board has been meeting with, uh, employees of the school district, uh, with some focus groups, uh, with teachers, administrators, support staff, and students. So, up on the screen, um, you will see some of our our notes. Um, we don't have a PowerPoint. Uh,

020this was a little bit easier to, uh, put things down. Uh, the board, uh, responded to, um, a request, uh, from one of the board members last, um, committee meeting, uh, to respond to an anonymous individual survey. Um, there were just some questions. It really wasn't like a survey regarding their initial feedback about school facilities and where we were heading. Um, I just just want to reiterate that no decisions have been made. These are some summary points, uh, that that came out. There's no direct quotes, uh, but these are summary points, uh, that have been brought up. Uh, so, one of the questions, uh, was around secondary school consolidation. Uh, the board, um, has had varying viewpoints about consolidating secondary facilities. So, what that means is not everybody agreed one way or the other way.

021Uh, some of the key considerations that were raised, uh, student transportation times. Um, an overarching goal that um, it there would be absolutely no more than 60 minutes one way bus transportation for our students. Uh, additional transportation costs, community identity and school culture, uh, enrollment decline trends, um, aging infrastructure and renovation costs with that what what that would entail, uh, potential educational benefits of grade level alignment, and additional transportation studies, uh, they felt would be needed before final decisions would be made. Another option, uh, was Cockranton, uh, making that into a K-12 school building. Uh, most of the members did not currently support merging into one K-12 building at this time. Uh, some openness exists for future consideration if the enrollment changed, uh, if it decreased further. Uh, some key considerations that were raised, uh,

022looking at space limitations, there would be required renovations, uh, developmental separation concerns from having kindergarten all the way up through 12th grade in one facility, construction costs, uh, program additions to that we needed to review, uh, is it possible that we could, um, provide curriculum for our technical students at Cockranton, um, who might receive their academics there and then go to the career tech. Another option was moving grade six to the middle school or Cockranton High School. Um, again, the board has varying viewpoints about moving grade six to the secondary schools. Uh, some of the supporters, uh, believe that there were was efficient space usage. Uh, this was a common practice in other districts as far as the grade span. Uh, possible future demographics um necessity moving forward. Um opposition uh concerns were student maturity,

023developmental readiness of sixth grade attending the high or the middle school or Cochranton High School. Uh there was a preference to study that more. And it's possible uh to even wait until further consolidation might be needed. So, maybe to put that off. Uh the next item was consolidation of Meadville elementary schools into one consolidated elementary. Uh there was not a strong unified support for one single consolidated elementary school. Uh some members favored exploring grade level buildings rather than one full consolidation. Some of the considerations that were raised um supporters uh cited teacher collaboration, uh consistency and continuity in our education and instruction, and it would reduce reduced issues with uh overflow, extra classrooms, and transitions. Uh we have students that are um very transit uh in in the city even though we have stay put,

024so that would eliminate uh some of that. Uh oppositions uh increased bussing times and costs, uh large student population in one building, um depending on where it was um emergency planning risks, especially if we're not close to the city, uh potential decline in parental involvement uh if it were at a location where parents uh could not walk or have uh transportation. Um again, transportation for parents readily. Um long-term enrollment decline um might create unused space. Uh financial sustainability, and uh negative student behaviors in a single school. The next item was consolidation of Meadville elementary schools, possibly two consolidated elementary schools. Some of those key considerations building condition and renovation costs. The historical significance of certain city schools. Bus accessibility on public transportation routes. What is the enrollment capacity? Look again at grade level building models.

025There's a lot of repairs at Neason Hill to sustain financially. Second and First Districts are at capacity with space and student >> [clears throat] >> classrooms. Neason Hill could be a valuable property to sell. And also Second District having historical value to the community. Those were all some key considerations. Another item was closing elementary buildings and boundary restructuring. There was a broad agreement that at least one elementary building closure may be necessary for long-term sustainability. It was also on boundary review was necessary looking at what elementary building and therefore into the secondary buildings students would attend. Some of those key considerations again are building renovation costs. Property value potential. The traffic patterns at First District. Transportation efficiency. Having equitable enrollment distribution. Avoiding yearly annual rezoning disruptions. Boundary changes to add Cochranton um, and closing a

026school. Again, looking at grade level configurations, uh, possibly closing one elementary for now and moving on to the next step. Um, and the Instructional Support Center, Business Office, and Maintenance relocation. Uh, the board has consideration to relocate the Instructional Support staff to another location. Uh, the ISC contains, um, those that are listed there, the superintendent, uh, the superintendent personnel, attendance, registration, special services, curriculum, title programs, technology, the Business Office, and Maintenance and Transportation. Uh, some other key considerations, uh, would be the potential sale of the current ISC building. Uh, relocating to underutilized school space, so that would mean relocating to a specific school. Um, administrative accessibility. Avoiding unnecessary new construction, um, and keeping the administrative teams functional and and intact. Uh, it was brought up to consider any alternative, uh, that was out there to

027relocate the building, uh, whether that would be in a school, adding on to a school, or constructing, uh, a new wing. Um, also consider looking at ISC for an alternative education, uh, placement school. Um, it was also brought up about, um, not even about buildings, but looking at sports and extracurricular considerations. Uh, discussion acknowledged this is one of, uh, one of the most sensitive topics in our community. Uh, there was no unified direction in either way. Uh, we would like it to look at further study and community inputs, um, and that would be required. So, concerns, uh, considerations, uh might be low participation numbers in some programs versus others. Uh financial efficiency. Uh community identity concerns. Possibly combining only teams with lower numbers. Uh what is it the compliance with the PIAA and the timelines

028for that? And student participations and opportunities uh would be limited. Um two other important things uh that were brought up was the solar energy review. Uh there was general agreement to review the solar as a potential cost savings and revenue source. Um so that will be something that will be forthcoming to our board in March. Uh key considerations, uh some skepticism, uh emphasis on careful financial analysis. And review does not necessarily mean we're commit, but we should definitely take a look at that. Uh timbering the district land, uh there was a broad support for reviewing this as well. Uh some considerations raised were um responsible forestry practices, no strip clearing. Um preservation considerations and ensuring that property access uh where needed. Um the board was also asked about their non-negotiables and what were those priorities.

029So, one of them really centered around student-centered priorities. So, students must come first. Part of this was not just about cost savings, it was also about uh curriculum as well. Um physical and emotional safety of our students. Uh avoiding the excessive bus times. Manageable class sizes. Uh those range from 15 to 20 uh to 25. Uh supporting our struggling learners. And avoiding pushing students forward, uh meeting their skills without meeting those um um targets um without readiness. Community priorities, uh preserving Cochranton schools. Uh avoiding overburdening taxpayers with excessive debt. Uh maintaining community identity where possible. Transparent collaboration with committees and stakeholders. Um no mega school. Uh no bus runs with excessive times. Staffing priorities, uh one was do not furlough staff. Um hiring additional staff as needed that would support our students. And limited limited

030ISC team breakup. Uh financial priorities, uh long-term sustainability was a key in everything. Avoiding excessive renovation spending without return. Reviewing all potential revenue sources and keeping tax increases reasonable and predictable. Some other things uh to look into, um a comprehensive transportation time analysis no matter what um option was looked at. Updating our enrollment uh projections. Renovating versus a long-term operating cost comparison. Grade level building feasibility. Uh looking at alternative education building options. So, some of those uh were ISC, second district, East End. Where where could we have alternative education um programs? Impact analysis on extracurricular. And financial modeling of each configuration. So, moving forward we have a lot to do. We have a lot of great opportunities to look at. Um so, I do believe and these are some things that came out in the

031themes that the board remained committed to collaboration, research-driven decisions, student-focused planning, and transparent community engagement as we move along in the practice. So, the next thing that we're going to do is um go around, talk to the board. Again, there's no decisions that are being made. This is the first of our discussions, uh giving some direction, might needing some more research or some tasks for the administrative staff to look into and to report back. So, I'm going to turn it around. I don't know who wants to be our first. Let me break the ice, uh Sure. >> [laughter] >> All right. Um first off, I I want to say that you elected us to represent you. So, that's what I'd like to do. Um this may sound a little bold, but after I throw out

032my suggestions, if you totally hate it, I'd love to hear you boo me. If you love the idea, just sit there quietly, maybe whisper to the person sitting beside you. If you have think it has some starting points, then, you know, give me a little bit of applause. So, the booing, wait till after I finish, please. Um So, it was brought up in the committees, the facility committee, that closing the instructional support center admin, central office, whatever you want to call it, would have zero effects on students. It may be minimal. So, you know, so I think we should take and contact Crawford Tech about purchasing the former Integrity Auto Building um to become our new maintenance facility. The If we look at it, now that the biomass building is in their possession, They no

033longer need that space. So, with that said, technically, we already own a third of it. You know, that pie might cut a little differently, but you know, we own a third of it. We are currently paying off a $6 million bond for the biomass facility that was inside that part of that structure. So, I think those facts give us a very good negotiation leverage. Admin can be split up and housed in buildings throughout the district. This would eliminate, potentially eliminate the need for vice principals and replace them with dean of students cuz the admin would be in the buildings and could help out. Again, that's something for a discussion. I'm not saying that that's what we have to do. So, but yeah, would make admin available for respond quickly to anything in buildings. We heard

034community recommendations for students not being on buses for more than an hour. Cochrane currently has students on the bus for an hour and 20 minutes. So, that tells me right there that closing Cochrane is a a no no go. We just can't do it. In fact, I I sat and spoke with Gerardi's on this matter and they've run several scenarios and there is no way that they can get these students to middle schools quicker than going to the Cochrane school. They just cannot figure a way to make it do it. So, with that said, I think we could take and redraw the lines a little bit to fill up the Cochrane schools or use other creative ideas to be utilized to shift students to Cochrane. And then if and when attendance levels decrease at the

035Cochrane schools, combining them could be revisited. Um and also with that I want to say that I think we need to have a discussion with Lake View and Comber Perry. You know, if if they're facing the same issues of declining population, are they going to face closure? And if they do, where we at with that? Are we going to have to absorb some of those students? Um so, you know, that again, that's a conversation I think that needs to be made or had before we can make a solid decision. Um we heard that our meetings that sixth grade students are entering into the middle schools at different educational levels. Um therefore, we suggest Mims Elementary School be converted to grade level schools. Uh I I think that is a really good idea. The um it

036would kind of give us a mega school concept, but it'll be scalable. So, initially, you know, we could look at First District because it's a has a smaller space available as be a K through two school. That would then, you know, um get those students with a small, you know, keep that building and then the smaller kids would have the smaller playground, seems to work. Second District could be uh third and fourth because it's a little bit more space, give the kids a little bit more space to run around playground. Nason Hill could become fifth and sixth. Um again, more space for the older kids. By keeping the three cities uh schools, all schools would be within a 1-mi radius of each other. Um is less than 10 minutes from Nason Hill to Mims. So,

037using a staggered start-stop uh end of day, you know, start of day and end of day, uh the bus could possibly drop students off and pick them up with little travel time between schools, and then we may be able to get away from the double bussing. Again, that is not a me thing there. So, um parents having different grade level students would be be 2 mi of another building. By be By creating grade level buildings, all students should be advancing to the next grade on a more um equitable basis. Uh let's see. The extra classrooms can be used to create alt ed classrooms if needed. If the enrollment continues to decline, we can switch to a K through 3 and a 4 through 6 configuration, which it most likely would then eliminate the first district

038um building because the larger school would still be the second district in Neeson Hill. >> [snorts] >> Uh as a pilot program, I think we should be moving this uh sixth graders in Cochran Elementary to the high school. Uh there seems to be a lot of support for that idea. Uh the uh students and uh teachers all seem to support this and think they could offer even more educational opportunities for the Cochran Elementary students by moving them. Um I'm going to suggest that we close West End. I know everybody's going to say, "Well, it's our newest building and needs less least amount of renovations." But I personally I didn't go off of memory. About a week ago, I went out and drove around those roads. Literally to make sure I was remembering properly. If you

039travel those roads, um Middle Road, Cotton Road, and Brooks Road, they all have narrow shoulders or maybe no shoulders at all. You're not going to find guardrails anywhere. Um the ditch the ditches are very very deep. So, I think adding uh additional traffic to these roads is a huge safety concern. Um the narrow roads and then putting four times the amount of traffic on it, I personally feel that it is a high risk that I would not have agree with. Um let's see. Mims, uh if Graves building levels are successful, we can revisit about the pods. I know we've heard pros and cons on the pods that are up there. So, I don't know. I'm not a teacher. I'm not in that building. So, yeah, with that said, yeah, we would just have to revisit

040that. Um staffing, um since admin will be in the buildings, the need for assistant principals, as I said, could be evaluated. That would save costs. Deans of students could possibly be used for some of these duties. Again, that cost savings. Um if staffing levels exceed the building needs, teacher and support staff could be offered an early retirement incentive. Um and then we would kind of hopefully require those students or the the staff members to be on the sub list. Create a very solid sub sub list for us. Um for me, non-negotiables is acquiring unnecessary debt. Uh I'm I'm not in favor of strapping my grandchildren and great-grandchildren with debt that, you know, um for a building that may be obsolete in a couple years. So, the mega school building definitely is a no for me.

041Um because, yeah, as I said, we'll be stuck with an empty building if if uh the declining population holds. Um And also, logistics of having extra traffic headed to one building. I you know, you have all the parents, the buses, and everything. You right now, I think if you stay out here in front of this building, it's a little bit of a nightmare. Um whenever the students are being dropped off and picked up. And um so, doing that all to one building, I I think it's going to be a bigger nightmare. Um having schools in Meadville and Cochranton keeps uh our schools on two different municipal water systems. This adds flexibility to disaster planning. I I know the recent things with the water main breaks and everything, this is something we have to consider. You

042know, it's okay. If we had to, the cafeteria in Cochranton could serve Meadville and vice versa. So, if there is a situation where, you know, a disaster event, we lose a school, we have a backup plan. Um West End being on public water offers some um additional options in disaster planning, but the biggest problem with that is the fact that there's no public water. Any change out there to the water system is going to probably take at least a 1-year in DEP approvals. The other option is a huge expense to go out to public water. So, um being a former water system operator, I kind of know the hoops that we will have to jump through to do that out there. Um and then we have uh we will have to plan for potentially sprinkler

043systems if we add onto that building, could trigger needing uh fire suppression tanks put in the ground, whatever. So, you know, I am not in support of anything that would add uh onto that building. So, that that is my thoughts and again, no no decisions have been made. I've adjusted these already just after meeting uh last night with the admin and if we uh meet with the staff tomorrow and if we meet with the students going forward, I may adjust my thoughts a little bit more. But, I think from what I've heard so far, the this is the plan I would support. So, now it's time to boo, sit quiet, or clap. So, I'm just going to piggyback. Can you guys hear me? Can you hear me better? I'm just going to piggyback off of

044Ron a little bit and I know that it will not be in favor of everyone, um but from talking to community members on the side and the committees and stuff, um I have to agree with Ron a little bit about not utilizing West End, only because they do not have a And correct me if I'm wrong, but I called CATA, they do not have a bus route right out there that parents can get to if their kids are sick like the city schools do or East End Hill. East End Hill has a CATA stop right there. West End does not. That's not feasible for parents in town that don't have cars. If their kid is sick, they need to have a way to get up there. Um Ooh, what else was I going to say?

045I am in agreement of keeping um Second District, if we had to go down to two schools, I would say um keeping Second District and East End Hill, only because the traffic at First District is atrocious. I don't know if anyone has driven past there, um but there's days that I feel like our kids um could potentially not be safe if they just run out. There are crossing guards there and the crossing guards do an amazing job, but kids are kids. They're going to um do what they want [snorts] to do. I'm just going back and looking. Um some of my non-negotiables were smaller class sizes, that was mentioned multiple times by teachers. My magic number um is 12 to 15. I know that sounds like it's bad, but um with 20 to 25 kids

046in a class, especially with leaders, [clears throat] they're not learning. Um And just from hearing from my own daughter who is an academic that could be accelerated, she's afraid to to up because she's afraid that kids will act up in that class like they act up in her academic class and she won't be able to focus. Um No student on the bus for more than an hour. Really, for me that's pushing it, I would say. Um but more than an hour one way. Um I also found it um interesting that the range of classes went down to just having academic and accelerated versus our basic. Um so I would like curriculum-wise to look back at that. I just think that if there's students in academic classes that are struggling, our test scores are lower, um

047then clearly they need more help and that comes from the basic classes. Um And then if we want a physical and emotionally safe environment for not just our students, but our staff, um we want to ensure that our staff is coming to work and enjoying work and is not like I don't want to be here. Am I going to get hit today? Am I going to get pinched today? Um Sorry, I'm just going to mix this. I'm not as prepared as Ron. >> [laughter] >> Um I'm also not in support of the mega school. If we did do it again, I would say Newton Hill just because of the bus stop. I know everyone's worried about the money. No matter what we do, especially with the mega school, we're going to throw money. Like we're

048going to have to spend money. So if that comes to the renovations and we make it to what we need, the money's going to have to be spent somewhere if we're consolidating buildings. We're going to have to make space. Um I think that's really all I have for now. I didn't think about the Cataumet thing. That's a really good point. >> before I said that. I was going to say that Cataumet does not have stops. good point right now. I mean we can ask them when I talk to them they were not They didn't have to say anything about it but we can explore that and see if they'll add one. Cuz they already go through all of them. Yes, they said that's the furthest they go is with one. Um I guess just some

049of my thoughts on on the elementary school situation. Looking at the floor estimates and and being on the finance committee and We talked about a $27 million bond to do this the mega school project out of the West End area and as I looked at that and looked at the floor estimates for full renovation of first district and second district we could do that with $10 million less. That might not include air conditioning. Um My thoughts are that that uh possibly I think we need to look very hard at the grade level schools. Um pretty much where we are right now except for that um I have a I have a real problem with the with Mason Hill the amount of money that that it needs to have put into it. I would be in

050the first district, second district then West End for fifth and sixth grade. Those are my thoughts right now and and um some of the other schools have a lot less need as far as renovations and capital improvements needed. And I think we we go all in on first and second district and um and do work on the other buildings uh you know, on a year-to-year basis as we go and uh to help our budget situation out. I think those are All in all, I you know, the the the timbering I think is something we need to look at. I think I'm I'm also I guess something that I really think I'd like to see the district very strong look at is some sort of old building and um I think possibly we could take the

051We could have done this last month taking these uh East End off of the out of the auction and and possibly make it a building. Um you know, the location for it isn't great, but maybe maybe the ISC building is a good location for a multi-age learning. It's it's got fairly good access. Possibly East End is an administrative building that but um you know, just I guess I want to put our thoughts out there. So. Just Just real quick to answer Jeff's concern about East End. Uh taking East [clears throat] End off the auction block any point prior to the day of the auction, we would write a check to Nichols Auction Service for 10% of whatever the appraised value of that building is whether we get a one bid or not. So, that means

052the appraisal was about 280 some thousand the district did. We'd write them a flat check for $28,000 to do nothing. So, at this point I mean, that that was raised during the discussion when you're looking at putting it up for sale, what would happen. I asked and that was uh Rick's response. You got to in the contract 10%. So, if that building goes up on the the block on April 19th, I believe it is. 18th. >> no bids, we can reconsider at that time, but I would not suggest writing a check for $27,000. Um I think it's in the best interest to see if we can just get rid of it. But if we're stuck with it, then that comes back to being the playing part into um some graphics or whatever that might be.

053But since I've got them, I can put them in there as well. Um mega school is not going to be 100% sold on a mega school, especially West End. $27.5 million to build up there, and I know Ron had addressed some things about water, sewage, um the roads, bussing directly from Van's office to West End was 7.2 to 7.6 miles, I believe it was, 16 minutes by car. So, you figure 18, 20 minutes by bus on a good day. You're taking all the students from within the city, transporting them to the furthest point west. And I think if you look at the map, which I did not, so don't hold me accountable to it, but I believe we are very close to our furthest west boundary lines with Conyers. Um and we're going to bus

054from outside of Mingo this way, on the other side of I believe in Miller's um store, all the way out to West End. Um and I'm just not comfortable with the $27.5 million price tag, although I do believe that grade level buildings could accomplish some of what we would be looking for in a mega school. We would be utilizing K through whatever, and all those kindergarten, first, second grade teachers would be within the same building. We'd have some kind of better internal supports, um supports within that building to help those teachers function. We've been through several meetings with staff. We've met with secondary, elementary. We have met with our administrative team. Tomorrow night we are meeting mit- meeting with uh paraprofessionals, secretaries, and other supports on ideas of what we can do. And we keep

055hearing things about alternate ed, what can we do about this, about how do we get parent involvement. And I think if we send all of our kids to West End, our parent involvement is gone. We have and then we heard the lady speak tonight about transportation. And yeah, CAT is a viable source, but CAT is not going to run a bus all day long to West End, at least I don't think so. And if we can't get kids to school in second district, and I'm not going to reveal the number which was spoken to last night on how many days have to happen on the the attendance support four days or more, it's a pretty decent number. It has to be met to provide these kids an adequate school. I agree. You guys have very

056good tempers to something was the driving force. If you can't get them to a walking school, how we know that they're going to be up and ready to go to a transported school? Um I mean, that's a concern. Bussing is the other big concern. We hear no more than an hour. I don't know what single bussing would look like. I don't know what double bussing would look like. We would have to do a feasib- feasibility study on transportation, and that was recommended in our finance committee's recommendations to look into what would that cost. And everybody says you're going to get reimbursed, you're going to get reimbursed. When are we going to get reimbursed, and when will that reimbursement drop? The way the state operates with our reimbursements, one day you might have it, the next

057day you won't. We've been pretty lucky in in the last two budgets. The the proposal for this one and the last one, we got some equity and um uh level up money, I believe it's what it was called, that may disappear in future budgets. But the biggest thing with the the mega school was 3 years I believe the finance recommended. I don't have that in front of me, but I believe it was in 3 years we're right back to where we are now. Not enough money to pay our bills and we have an 80 or 27.5 million dollar bond we got to pay and I think I'm correct and I know Josh is right there and I think he's nodding that we're back to the drawing boards. We have a multi million dollar debt, a

058big big building and from what I have seen between the feasibility study and I've looked at enrollment numbers from 23 24 from the actually from a district study we did presentation in November we had numbers from 2013 2014, numbers from 23 24 and I asked for the current attendance numbers that we have now. There is leveling off within the city. We have some growth at West End, it's not a town. We have some growth at Nisun Hill, but we have kind of leveled but we're still seeing some decline in total enrollment. By 2033 I believe the projections are we're down more. So building a mega school we are building a school that's already going to be too big and several years down the road and what do we do? We have no wiggle room. The

059only wiggle room we had we just closed. So I am kind of in support of a grade level keeping first second and my idea is to keep I know no one is going to like it is Nisun Hill because of the just the structuring from stop stop to stop time wise. Second district first district to West End still going to be anywhere around that 15 minute time frame to transport all the way out there. I would have that fact. It it might be very doable, but we would not have to do the 80 or the 27.5 million dollar expansion. We pick up the renovations we need. I believe West End was only around a million dollars a little over a million and we have second and first as Jeff already mentioned. If we close Nissan

060Hill, puts us more into a viable download that we would not see this major shutoff in 3 years where we can't really afford to move it off. And this is my opinion and um I'll leave it at [clears throat] that, but feel free to move. Yes. I can go. All right. Let's see here. Can I be heard? I can hear you now. I can hear you. >> [laughter] >> I struggle with microphones. All right. How about this? Can any No. Not yet. How about this one? Okay. Um so, I'm going to I guess kind of go with Jeff here. Uh the price tag to repair Nissan Hill has gives me major concern. Um I do really like the idea of the grade level buildings, uh talking to the teachers. This sounded like a very good

061idea not only for the students, but for the teachers as well. Uh the resources would all be in the schools. Uh the students would be going into the high school at the same level if they're all being taught within the same building. Uh the resources can be shared and it just seems like a very feasible or the best route to go for our staff and students. However, I would like I said, side with Jeff as far as closing Nissan Hill versus West End uh just because of that price tag and I definitely [clears throat] would not want to close all of the properties that are not landlocked. So, I would want us to keep at least one if, you know, the board does decide to close West End. I I ask that we try to

062keep Nissan Hills, so like I said, we don't have only landlocked properties in Needville. Um I do not see these savings as a benefit from closing Cockranton schools or combining them at this time. As mentioned, the transportation costs and even the transportation times on the buses, we do currently have at least one student that I am aware of that gets on the bus in the morning at 6:17 a.m. Um and that's to go to Cockranton. So, I would really worry that student would have a 2-hour drive ride to school just to get to school and then another 2 hours home. That's 4 hours on the bus. Even just an hour and a half in the morning and an hour and a half or hour at night is not feasible. That's not beneficial for our students.

063Um also with the closing of any school, I would ask that if possible, we keep as many teachers on staff to act as aides if they're willing. Um hopefully, if possible, one per grade level would be would be good. Um but maybe we could do, you know, cut that back a little bit. I also would like to keep our class sizes, if possible, to 15 would be my preferred. 20 25 would be the max. And then um again, I just want to reiterate that again, no decisions have been made. And we really need to make sure we are doing what's best for our students and [snorts] our teachers. Like Laetitia said, we want our teachers to be happy to come to work. We want them to want to be here. Um it was my first

064grade teacher that made me want to be a teacher myself and [music] to continue on to school board and working within the school district like I have been. Um our teachers are very valuable resources and I feel we need to take care of them just like they take care of our students. I think that's it. Did I cover everything? Mhm. Hi. Can you hear me? Hello? Okay. So, I look at this as an opportunity to bring together two locations to become one district. Regardless of whether or not we close the school or we keep the school open, I think that we should become one school with multiple campuses. This is becoming a big issue. It has been an issue the entire time I have been on the board. The Caughden versus the Meckville, Meckville versus

065the Caughden. Um I want it to be Caughden Central. Whether we change the titles of the schools or not, we need to, as a community, come together when this is done and support whatever decisions are made. We know that whatever we do is not going to be popular with every single person sitting in this room or outside those doors or within a 50, 60, 70-mile radius of these schools. We definitely have your best interests at heart. Your students, your teachers, your communities, your families, you yourself as you sit here in these chairs. We want to do what is best for you. We want to produce educated children to go forth into the world to to to help foster what's going to happen in the next 20, 30 years. We're seeing the struggles from our teachers,

066from our admin, and all the people that we've discussed things with recently. Our students are not being educated. Our teachers are being bullied, to put it bluntly. We need to have a change. How we get there, we don't know. But it needs to happen. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to make our district the best district? Are you willing to put your feelings aside to do what's best for the district? You are asking all of us to do that, but are you willing to do that? And that's all I have to say. >> [applause] >> I just want to add one more thing. I know it's Can you guys hear me? Can you hear me now? Okay. Um and I know this isn't important to everybody, um but it is important to some

067in here. Um just to talk about the sports consolidation, cuz we didn't really um mention that a lot, just the one time. I just want to um let everyone know that from what we've heard, people want to keep everything separate, um but whatever we decide to do, it will be done on the PIAA timeline. I know that was a big issue the last time when we had a million people at a meeting, um because it does affect the students, um especially like the juniors and the seniors, if you change numbers halfway through, they then become ineligible for postseason. So, like I said, I know this isn't like top of the priority, but for the ones that do care about sports, I want you to know that we um are keeping that with consideration, as well.

068I have an addition to that. Thank you, sir. So, if we were to look at the combination of sports teams, maybe you know, look at the ones with lower enrollment. I would ask to visit the idea of providing a community bus from Cochranton to Meadville. Maybe it leaves the campus at 4:00 or arrives back at like 6:00, 6:30 to help with the transportation so the students can still participate easier in the sports [clears throat] because I know transportation from Cochranton to Meadville during that time for parents at work might be an issue where parents students can't participate as much as they had been. And it was also brought up yesterday at our admin meeting about looking into a potential like a community shuttle type thing for the district in general. If we consolidate or something

069like if we could hire someone if your kid is sick and you don't have a car. Mhm. Oh, we can bring them home. If so, we're we're trying to look into stuff to help families. We've also looked have talked about looking into next year um group stops for winter when the weather is bad. Um like in central locations at I don't know, the hospital or whatever. So, try to help alleviate those walkers that have to walk when sidewalks aren't shoveled and stuff like that. So, we're trying to take any and all suggestions into consideration. If you guys have any suggestions, you can email us. Um I'm not saying I'll respond to everybody. We if we get a ton of emails, but we are reading them. Um I've had students email me. I have emailed them

070back. So, we are taking in everybody's concerns, thoughts, and trying to come up with the best solution for our community, Copper Hill and Nixa together, cuz we are one district. The other thing I kind of want to point out is the feasibility study, whenever they presented >> [clears throat] >> they put in unnecessary upgrades, okay? There is things that if you are renovating that portion of the the school, you have to bring it up to current codes. But you don't have to just go through the building and randomly upgrade everything to current codes. So there there's areas in the school where they're saying about the handrail is too short because it doesn't extend to the bottom step. We don't have to correct that, and so I would look seriously at every number on there, especially

071for Nixa Hill, because we have to make a decision really soon on that. And so I I think we need to look at that and say, "Okay, let's take off everything that is not necessary, and even they used to went through there and talked about putting new receptacles and stuff in." Which you know, again, it it's not a requirement unless you are doing that part of the building. So so yeah, I I did the several pages of before on the the study itself and and questioned a lot of stuff, and then they redid the study, but it there is still the things in there that are not necessarily required to be done as one renovation. And a lot of that, whenever you're dealing with parking lots and and cement work and curb work, that is

072a a huge cost too. And if we start saving money elsewhere in the district, that could be done out of the regular maintenance budget instead of putting it in as part of these renovation costs. So I I think we could take a really close look at the numbers for the renovation and get a more realistic number on Nixa Hill. So, you know, that's my opinion on that. You know, I don't know if anybody shares that opinion, but that's you know, I'm a buildings guy. That's literally what I've kind of done most of my life. So. Since you're addressing Nissen Hill, the McClure numbers will no longer be any good after the end of the month, if I'm correct. Dr. Gallatin, am I right? So, if there's any if there's any intentions of the board to

073even reconsider that, and have consideration during our committee meeting, to go into any further discussion on Nissen Hill, Dr. Gallatin and the administration will have to advertise such document that states that the board is considering renovations to Nissen Hill. >> [snorts] >> It has to be advertised 10 days prior to any vote, which means it would have to be advertised pretty much ASAP. That if we decide during the committee that we want to do something, that we would be within that guidelines to do it. In other words, the guaranteed um savings is gone that they projected, and the guaranteed pricing is gone. As I said during the committee meeting, I think it was committee meeting when we were meeting, no matter what we do for renovations construction, a lot of the pricing now going to

074be driven by what we all keep hearing about data centers and data center construction. It is out that these people building these data centers are willing to pay top dollar. When I say top dollar, I'm not talking $60, $70 an hour. We're into the hundreds dollars an hour, two, $300 an hour to get electricians and to get HVAC people Indian plumbers into these buildings once they start, because they want these data centers cuz there's money to be made. We have a data center proposal down in Beaver County. That's what we're talking. The cracker plant is now up for sale, if anybody's not aware of it, the cracker plant is for sale. Um but data centers are popping up there. We have one near Butler, another one. There's another proposed site. That you think what's going

075to happen with all the union people that are up here? They're going to be heading just like they did when the cracker plant opened. Um all of your union guys that are down there where they were making $70, $80 an hour compared to what we could pay laborers. But now, I'm not putting fear in my trying to make anybody make a decision, but I just want to say that we're looking at whatever that number was, 10 million, 12 million for Nystrom Hill, that we probably could pull some of that out if you didn't want to do it. If we wait another year, that's not going to be that number. It's going to be much, much higher. That $27.5 million for West End is going to be much, much higher. No matter where we go for

076renovations after this summer, it's going to be much, much higher. But to get the ball rolling, that I mean, I would suggest putting it on the agenda Yeah. for consideration that we don't waste and and miss an opportunity to do what we want to do. Second of all, we when we see that we have a tendency as Jerry has mentioned over and over again, >> [snorts] >> we need to have meetings. And I think what we need to do is if we're looking at any kind of consolidation schools, and whether it be it seems like we got some some kind of a direction towards grade level, keeping first, second, and at this point it looks like West End. I would like to see the district try to do a feasibility study on transportation, what that

077would look like, what kind of configuration you would have because if we kick this down the road another month, it's going to be waiting another month to get anything out. What does it also look like? I mean, if we're going to do it, I don't think there's enough support on the board for a mega school. But what would that look like as far as transportation? Several board members in the last several months have mentioned that if we're going to do a construction and renovation project or consolidation, where's the payback? Because if we're going to do something, that was really part of what the process was to to encounter. We're going to close schools, we're going to get something back. And we keep hearing we're not going to eliminate staff. We're not going to do this,

078we're not going to do this. So what are we really going to save? We're going to save the overhead of those buildings, and that's about it. And some utilities, but not a whole lot because we're saving the utilities on the other buildings. But I really like to see what that transportation study would be, what the times would be. And yes, it's going to cost money because no transportation companies are going to look at doing that for nothing. And and just get back to us so we have an idea of where to start. Um and we can keep talking and talking and talking, but we're really not getting anywhere. I mean, this is my opinion. Can we add to that um looking at the boundary lines also? Like sending kids to copy this. And I sometimes

079I think the boundary line is a good idea, but it's also a bad idea. Because we could be gerrymandering the boundaries year after year. We going to do it every 5 years just to, you know, to get a few more kids in one building over another. I think we need to stick rather than have all the confusion to a parent my kid went to first last year, well, this year he's going to second, you know. Um I mean, if it stays the way that we have current case six, then we go building by building, it's a little different story. And you want to know what that would look like for bussing and how would you tie your schedules? If first district's your first drop, second district second, West End figure 16 to ride to West

080End, but your West End bus is coming in to drop there first. How would that look? And if it's going to take a lot of work on administration's, not that we don't have enough already to do, but I think in order to start making decisions, we have to know what we're getting into and what that would look like. I mean, that's Are you saying look at it as West End versus Mason Hill? I'd like to see both, yeah. Okay. That's what I wanted to clarify that. But I would be looking not at the current structure we have. I'd be looking at a grade level because it seems to be some of the recommendations from these staff meetings we've been having with staff utilizing our K through three staffing all together in one building. We'd have

081all our title one teachers in the same building where they're struggling and then build from there our teams that we need to do to try to increase test scores and and just educational purposes. I think it would work better than keeping several K-6 structures. At this point it seems like we're going to keep sixth grade in the elementary school, but I don't see a whole lot of movement to the high school or middle school at this time cuz that still needs a lot of work. I do think Cochran, since they have actually prepared, maybe take a look at that as to what we need to do. Directing you as the administration to pursue what that would look like uh whether it's union dealings or whatever we have to do PDE and do a a I

082don't know if it's a pilot program or whatever. >> Everything is something that we have to look at mostly. Um So with the boundary lines, we're going to need some direction. We can't come up with 50 different scenarios to figure that out. So um I think it would behoove us as the administration to say this is our recommendation for grade level buildings and developmentally which is the best building, you know, Mhm. here here to have that come back and talk to you with that. Yeah, sure. I guess that would be the thing. Yeah, do Kim, do we need to do K through two, uh three and four, and five and six right now or can we go clear down to K through three and then four, five, and six? I I think that's a big

083step and then what um Kevin and I discussed also is doing it in stages where, you know, if we do select First District as your K through two, do that one year, then the next year do the others. So, you know, that might be a scenario so we don't have complete chaos, you know. The only way you can do you level in two buildings you'd have to have West End addition without being decent human. What do you think what else take a look at that and we can come back recommendations based on the classes minimum appropriate sizes and and that sort of thing and special needs and all that. That's the recommendation. I think while you're also looking at that, don't forget to include some adult alternate ed classes. Or take a look at the

084ISC for adult ed as well. It's looking at both options. I don't know if that's that's kind of what the board wants for the new building. I mean is there any way to do that? You definitely I'd like to see state of the inner the city schools and then West End is you know an option but you know I I think the bussing with everybody and I think we've heard from the the people [clears throat] that having the ability to get to the schools you know versus trying to get out to West End makes a lot simpler. And so you know I I think we need to look at it both just inner city versus what's the bussing going to happen to go out to West End. Zack I don't need that. I'm loud enough.

085When Zack was speaking last time, right? Inner city schools, there's grants available if we keep students in the inner city, right? So that's going to help financially for us. If we keep them inner city, there's grants available. [snorts] There's more things we can be doing. I'm in agreement that keep them local. If we bus kids all the way out to the West End and we put $27 million on it. It's just it's not a good scenario for taxpayers. The other thing is you know West End at 322 and Eric can back me up on this, 322 by Salvation Army. How many accidents are there on a year? Tons. They'd have to do a traffic study, red lights. There's a lot of issues out there. The other thing is, talking with all the teachers, talking with

086the administrative staff last night, behavioral issues are a major factor in some of this thought process for me. Listening what the teachers go through and the struggles they put up with in school, it's phenomenal. It's been an eye-opener for me. Total eye-opener. If we can do something to facilitate helping teachers manage the students, the behavioral issues in these schools by consolidating grade levels and having the right people there, I'm sure every teacher out there is going to say yay, but uh >> [clears throat] >> we need we need to look really hard. And like I was just saying, everything that started these committees is cost savings. We're trying to save money so we don't have to raise taxes. So far everything I heard, we're status quo. I don't see cost savings. I haven't seen a

087return on investment anywhere yet. I haven't seen where we're going to save this this district a bunch of money that was projected by the finance committee that we need to do. There's there's some hard decisions we need to look at. And so far, any plan we put out here, we're talking about adding transportation, adding this, consolidating bussing kids from, you know, sports and stuff. It's all cost. Where are we saving money? We need to look at this, right? We need to We need a solid plan that's going to save these taxpayers money. What are we doing? That that's my question. It's it's a hard question and everybody here needs to look at it, including every parent out there. That's staffing is the only is your big cost. You know, we we see that. I mean,

088well well I mean if you look at the budget that was presented, it's the you know, salaries and benefits is 45% is that right? 45% of our budget is, you know, so you until unless you can offer um some early retirement incentives, yeah, we're stuck because you know, as pointed out certain schools are weighted heavy on, you know, tenured teachers and you know, the higher benefits and everything. So wages and benefits. So that I mean, I think that early retirement has to be part of our plan uh going forward if we're going to save anything, you know. Um just just to add to that that if we get our schools where they need to be more people would be willing to bring their kids back to our schools. It might help. I know it's it's

089a way of throwing up great things and hoping they'll grow. That's true. But if we can get our schools to be the school of learning and not the school of just existing a school where our kids can come and and learn how to read so they can get to that next grade level and not just be pushed through because that's what's expected of us to do with them. There has to be a way of moving forward without losing some of the things that these people need. Our students need teachers. Our teachers need support. We need transportation. And again, I don't know how we do that. A miracle, I don't know. Uh thinking outside the box, um Something has to change. We have to be the change. We can't be status quo even when it comes

090to doing the things just because that's what's expected of us. We have to be the leaders. Where other school districts might say, "Hey, look at Copperas Cove. Look what they did. Look what they did. Look what they did in 5 years. Look how they turned their schools around. Look what they did for their kids. It was hard. It cost them something, but it was worth it." Is that what we want to be? Or do we want to be hiding behind the dollars and the transportation and our kids cannot read when they get to 7th, 8th, and 9th grade. When they graduate 12th grade, they can't even go to Walmart because they can't fill out an application. That's where we're at. We need to get our kids educated so they stay here, so they bring stuff

091to us. We have to invest in them. And by investing in them, we're investing in their school, in their education, in their teachers, and where they're at. Do I know how to get there? No. But we here on this board are not miracle workers. We need every one of you to help. We need everyone. This isn't a board decision, honestly. This this is going to be a community coming together to help. Teachers are going to have to get together and say, "What is more important? My pension in 50 or 60 years or teaching these kids in our in our cities in our current areas?" And if that is not what you're here for, maybe you shouldn't be here. If you're not here to teach, and you're just here to get laid off drugs, you're here

092to get uh cushy six hours. Sorry. If you're here to get six hours a day instead of working eight and a half, nine hours like the rest of us, if you're here to do that I'm not saying I'm not saying that it's you in this room. I'm not saying anything to that. I'm not saying that it's you. I'm saying that that is what teachers does not do. You're wonderful. 9:00 at night. Oh, I get it. I get it. I'm not saying you're them. I'm not I'm saying that if that is what it is it's the only thing that we have. But that might not be what we need. You are here because you care. You You You We I've seen you guys here at many meetings, but I can guarantee you there are teachers that

093are not here. I'm not trying to be What? Well, I'm not trying to be divisive at all. Please don't think that I'm trying to say that teachers in our district are not good teachers. I I'm sorry. I I take it back. You still need 30 people and a million dollars. So, right. Cuz I didn't mean it. All right, redirect to me. I did it. Additional revenue for the How do you want to get additional revenues raised taxes? No, but find after school Okay. So, Monday, um we 16th, we have a committee meeting. I mean, so I hear on that right now that we want to discuss um the Nisan Hill piece of project. So, we know whether to get that posted. Um so, we're going to make you sit in on that. I going to

094say well by posting it does not commit us to doing the project. It just says we're advertising you in case we do move forward. Is that correct? It'll go ahead. What the advertisement what the advertisement has to say That was easy for you to say. >> [laughter] >> What the advertisement has to say is that there's going to be a a vote about it. Okay. >> Whether you actually have which way you go on the vote whether you actually do have the vote, it just has to be advertised that this is a possibility. So so I mean we could decide tonight to do that advertisement and not that we would do that. But I'm just saying you know we could say tonight let's go ahead and advertise and then when we vote then that's what

095is just determined the direction of it. Yes. Yeah, so I mean there's nothing wrong with advertising it and so yeah definitely we'd want it on the agenda so we can say yes we're going to advertise to do this. And can we look like Ron said to see like what exactly we need I'll look at to have done >> I will look at the Mason Hill stuff a lot closer and then I'll have some answers for Monday. Okay. When's the drop dead date? Well we need to have it this month the March meeting the March 23rd I mean if if we were going to move forward with Mason Hill drop dead to sign a contract what the end of June? End of June. End of March March We have to be able to lock in We

096have to be able to lock in the prices and everything. That's why this is kind of necessary. Jerry in order to lock in the price in the end of March in order to have the building and it it will be a rush to have the building ready to open on the first day of school September 1st or 2nd. Do we have to have a notification on him? 10 days before the vote. So in essence we should just say tonight we got to advertise Yeah. Yep. That's what I would say yeah. Just do do the ad and then we'll see how the vote comes out. Yeah and so the other things I hear we'll start working on coming up with a comprehensive grade level consideration plan. Looking at transportation at West End. Um depending on what

097direction we want to go boundary lines what that might entail. Um and reviewing Lake Stevens High School High School. Can we also get information on if [clears throat] the board at the vote is a majority they don't want to put the money into the building where all those students going to go next year? It would remain open. NEC High School would still remain open because we're beyond the we're beyond the point >> wouldn't be fixing anything. Right. Okay. I mean you can put repairs Yeah. But paint job Um we can put some repairs and so forth but we're beyond the point of closing the building for next year. >> Yes. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that that wasn't going to be like a Oh by the way your kids going to Yeah if

098we want to if the board wishes to close a building we would definitely want to make that an early fall um for the timelines there's there's projected timelines that are out there that you have. I mean I can think that is with just voting that's two building building and grade level buildings we probably can't do for another year at least. Just for planning. Oh for planning yeah. And and the following year yeah. Yes. Or you put like the following year yeah. Yeah. And I think that that's your that's your place was the school closing grade realignment procedures that Dr. Dallas put out and the referendum or public hearing prior to for school closures. And I believe we had an email sent that was sent from Dr. from Rachel was forwarded to us as well with

099guidelines. Just if you want to re-look at that, you can you have that. And we set hard dates. Like let's let's say that um we're going to decide we're going to go grade level, right? And we're going to move forward. And we set hard dates that we need to meet these requirements. Let's say we need to I think it's going to take the administration >> going to have to like look into it, but yeah, it would have to be early fall if you want us to get this together. Well, I would just like to be able to plan so we can have intelligent conversations around it. >> the transportation study being done before that so we can like read it, talk about it, figure out if this is going to add money, if it's going

100to be cheaper to bus the kids to West End or cheaper to fix Mason Hall. Like we need to be able to have actual conversations before we have to make a decision. Keep them all in the city. See that Yeah, I forgot about the grants being available for the inner city stuff. So that was a good point to make too is to Yeah, if we stick with those schools, are we going to have more grant opportunities for Mason Hall than we will have for West End? Well, no matter what, we got to find them. They can't bust the state to do this, right? So if we're going to do grade level, let's say October, we got to have a decision made. I would I'd like to see a calendar so I can say We need

101plans. Those grants were income based. So if you move kids around and you change the incomes of the kids that go to the schools, then it doesn't matter where the school is. It's who attends the school. So you have to factor that in. >> Well, Zach kind of mentioned that it was different that we it had to be an inner city school inside city limits. >> Yeah, but I I think she's including would be like second district, the poverty rate of second district is probably greater than first district, definitely greater than East or West End. And I believe those were kind of the poverty generated uh grants that we've got to It's far off. If you look at our three regions, most economically disadvantaged. We were pretty close. Okay, so I mean that that's another

102component we have to look at, so. But if you move students with from other areas where you're meeting not meeting the income requirements, you know, that would change that. Right. Cuz it's based on your area and the kids and the family like the families that go there and their poverty levels. So if you're pulling from the wider area, you might not meet those It could throw that off. limits. I just want to say I I hate to put anybody on the spot, but can we, you know, maybe ask the finance committee now that they have a little bit of direction explore those grant opportunities and will they be lost if we do a uh keep West End into the mix of things? You know, is there better grant opportunities with sticking with the inner school

103versus closing, you know, one of the schools and keeping West End? You know, Yeah, I'm ready to be able to ask PBS that. Okay. Yeah, so They'll want to know more about the grants. Right. But I think that would be a a good piece of information, too. You know, if we're going to lose grant opportunities going forward, um that might help sway our decision, too. I would also like to remind everyone that our job here isn't just to cut costs, but we can also look at revenue increases, as well. I know like Timber Ridge is going to be a one-time in, you know, payout. Um but maybe we could look at, as silly as it sounds, like a district-wide bike lane system. Or I believe it was the finance committee that had suggested before and

104after school programs. Something along those lines. I think some of our families might even find that helpful. I think Cocalico may have a daycare that would address that. Um but maybe if that's something in Needville, maybe that could be explored as well. Um maybe we can all try to come to our next committee meeting with uh you know, revenue increasing ideas as well as cost savings. Just so you know, we're not just focusing on what we can what can we also bring to the table. Well, from my end of that out there, let me throw the plan out that I thought of. We talked about foresting, you know, Cocalico right now that back lot where the wooded area is is landlocked. Um which we have to take and kind of see what's available to access

105it. But what if we did timber it off, get the one-time fee, and then find a developer that we could take and say, "Hey, we'll do a tax incentive where you build houses and we won't start collecting money until that house is sold." And and you know, so so we're kind of offering more housing, which then would attract more people into the district. And we could possibly do that other places, too, um where we would have extra land. Um and so, you know, I mean, that that way you build houses, get more tax revenue. That's That's one of the things I've been thinking of, too. How can we do that? Hey, Jen. Remember that company that was going to come present buckling I was curious they wanted to put up cell towers. No. No. Towers.

106Cell towers. Were we going to have a presentation on that at I can have them come in. I didn't That's your revenue too. anybody wanting to look into that, but I can have them do that with PSBA. Yeah, I want to have them do that, too. >> [cough] >> Yeah, it's continuous revenue stream. I just want to thank everybody for being here. Um, thank you for volunteering your time. Again, I just want to reiterate no decisions have been made and I thought the board want to work with the teachers, the students, the community to try to get the best solution for everybody. We're not going to please everybody and we know that. Um, but we want to try to make it the best situation that we can. Ditto. Thank you again. We still have two

107board members we haven't heard from. Can we hear their opinion? Well, um, well, first of all, I want to mention if we even if we close buildings, even if we do close any buildings, no matter how we make consolidate or whatever, uh, any existing buildings are going to need some repairs and or maintenance if we're going to sell them instead of just having them torn down. I just wanted to mention that. Um, also, I I am in favor of possibly doing the grade level buildings and I would tend to prefer Mason Hall as the 56th grade building, but I I'd be wanting to consider West End, too. So, um, that's pretty much all I have to say that hasn't been said already. As the son of a former teacher, listening to our teachers and the

108struggles they're going through has been eye-opening, me, as Jerry said. Um, I've thought long and hard about that. I haven't come to any successful any substantial conclusion, but I do believe that we're not going to win any favor by opposing our teachers, by making enemies for our teachers. You are possibly the most important link in this entire system. >> [applause] >> BECAUSE IT IS YOUR DIRECT EXPERIENCE with our students. You are the link. You are the one that are bringing the ideas to them and making them into the citizens that we need to move forward in the world. Um, there are a lot of things to consider. I have not even come to a concrete conclusion, but we do need to have revenue. We can't just take. We have to work as a team, both

109us and the community. Um, I'm looking forward to having your input and your assistance because we need it. Thank you again, as the teachers said, for your time and for being here, for being involved. I I and the rest of the board appreciate it. I guess before you guys all go, I just cannot let this sit. I know Tammy said, I I kind of understand where she was going, okay? I feel terrible. She feels terrible about what she said. She's telling me that. I just want to say I applaud for what our teachers have done, what what the work they they do, what they're going through. Having sitting through several meetings, both secondary elementary teachers, and hearing some stories, trying to figure out how do we engage the parents to support the teacher when it

110comes to educating their child rather than rewarding their child for bad behavior. We had the discussion again last night with some of our administrators, and I'm sure we're going to hear tomorrow night when we meet with our paraprofessionals, cuz some of them are also taking the I'm going to call it abuse. Um but the kid goes home and they're rewarded. Teachers do not deserve that. Teachers deserve support. We deserve to get them what they need to teach. If that means um and and it's going to be a tough decision down the road, smaller class sizes which has been recommended. Um that's what we need to do. Cuz if we lose these kids between kindergarten and third grade, we're losing them for life. Because those are the critical years to educating. And we keep hearing over

111and over and over again that we have 24, 25 kids in a class, and we have 15, 16 of them with IEPs. And those kids are being disrupted. Only takes one or two that causes total chaos in the entire classroom. How do we address that? And it's not a simple answer. We haven't figured out that answer. But I think with the the the teaming of our teachers, our administrators, and collaboration with the board, somehow getting the parent supports out there that we need. And And it's not being a parent thing. I'm a single parent. Rough. It's you know, totally is. Trying to get from point A to point B, it's a rhythm. Tonight, rushing to get here. My heart is here. Kids, I got to take care of the kid, too. One in college, one

112in sixth grade. I don't know the struggles that's going on in second district, first district, but hearing the stories of the the abuse that our teachers are are going through, it has got to stop. A mega school is not going to stop it. It would help. It's not going to stop it. Now we have more of a just with the child and the parent, child and the school. I don't know, maybe you guys have an answer that we haven't heard as to how we engage those parents, bringing them back to the school. Getting them in there, working with the with the the teachers and and finding what do these kids need. And the other part is the biggest mental health crisis we have in in the county. I mean, people are going to say there

113is no mental health crisis. If you if you say there's no mental health crisis, you don't see the picture cuz there is. We have kids that have gone through more trauma in their lives than most of us will experience ever. And they're only in kindergarten, first, second, third grade. And how do we address that? I mean, it is a big problem. And it's I mean, it's been on my mind, their minds. We've been through those meetings. And I don't know what that answer is. Until we we figure it out, we keep going along. And I know our director of special services is doing one hell of a job trying to get as much as we can. There have been cuts in budgets in past years that have gone back 10 years, 12 years. We've eliminated

114teachers. And it's time to bring them back because the system has failed. It's not working. And and Dr. Elswick, which she was involved last night, I mean, I mean, we hear it. Some buildings were were doing certain things, other buildings it was a loss. They never brought back. We need that. And if our kids can't read in seventh grade, we have failed. And is it our curriculum that has failed? Is it our teachers that that everyone wants to point the finger as it's their job to do the work? It is not just the teachers' job to teach. There's a home program, and as Jeff has mentioned at a meeting, reading at home is a big component of that. And if our parents are so busy doing everything else they have to do and they can't

115meet that, where do we find that little avenue to fill in to get that child what he needs? And I don't know if we have the answer. We We could be laying in this room tonight and nobody wants to say anything, but if someone has an idea, send us an email. Reach out to whoever reach out to the school and say, "Hey, have we ever looked at doing this? Have we looked at doing that?" And if it means and like Jerry says, we we keep adding a bus, but if it means we get a bus, a mini bus, we go out and pick up some parents and bring them in for a training and and get them on board rather than the When that parent gets the phone call from the teacher, the teacher rather

116than holding it out here cuz they're just getting vulgar now, but they can hold it up here and have an actual conversation with the parent on how to address this problem with their child, I think we'll see development grow, we'll see our programs grow, we'll see our kids growing and we'll go somewhere. But until that happens, it it is just everybody wants to scream and holler, "It's not my kid. It's not my kid. You're picking on my kid. This is happening. That is happening." And all the teacher's trying to do is teach. And and yes, there are problems. I mean, in every every profession out there, there's a small percentage that's bad. We all know that. I don't care if you're a doctor, a lawyer, a police officer, we got some in the room, superintendents,

117board members, we all have those bad few, but there's a hell of a lot more that are on the positive side. It's probably more like 99% that are doing a very good job and they need to be commended. And yes, we have problems with the budget. 49 40-some percent salaries and benefits. Everybody wants a raise and health care is going out of the world. How do you control those? Well, yeah, we can we can offer early retirement incentive, but do we really want to get rid of all the teachers that have been here for a long time that have that have the trains and have the the profession down to a science on teaching. And as far as health care, it's not going away. Um and until we get some kind of health care plan

118that everybody gets it. I don't want to go down the socialistic path, but health care is is just this year, 22% we went up. Next year, what's it going to be? At the highest IU they said 27%. >> 20% of the IU? 20% is what they're predicting. I don't know what the universal cost is going to be, how you're going to control that. That is just something we have to keep figuring out year after year. But that that's what we're here for, to figure that out. What we got to figure out is what's best for kids and how to get teachers what they need to teach. And I'll leave it at that. >> [applause] >> All right. I think we had some good great comments, not good comments, great comments and a lot of thought

119that's gone into this uh from a lot of people. So, um our next meeting um we are committee meeting on March 16th, Monday, followed by our regular board meeting on the 23rd. All right. Thank you. Thanks, everybody. Appreciate it. Thank you again. Go get