ESASD Regular Board Meeting (April 28)

001God's You need that. All obedience to order. Please stand 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. Thank you. Uh Patricia, roll call, please. Okay. George Andrews. No. Rebecca Bear, present. And catill here. Mark here. Jason Goldstrom present. Keith Clark present. Debbie Kulich present. Wayne Roner. Rich Lameus here. Nine present. Okay. Thank you. We welcome all of our guests and employees who are here joining us this evening. Please be sure everyone has signed in on the attendance sheet outside so we have a record of who has been here this evening. An executive session was held on March 24th, 2025, April 11th, 2025, and April 14th, 2025 for

002the purpose of discussing personnel. An executive session was held before this meeting u to discuss personnel litigation and negotiations. We now have motion to adopt the agenda. Motion to adopt this agenda for the April 28th, 2025 as submitted with the board of education reserving the right to add to the agenda and take further action on any items raised in executive session where immediate action on such items is considered to be in the best interest of the board. So moved. Second. Questions? All in favor? Opposed? A motion to approve the minutes of the March 17, 2025 board meeting. Second. Any questions? All in favor? I opposed. Okay, we are going to move uh first to our student board representatives. So, uh let's start with Alyssa from High School North. Good afternoon, everyone. So, nice to see

003all your smiling faces. Um to reintroduce myself, my name is Alyssa Dina. I'm a senior at East Strasburg North and I'm honored to be this year's student representative. So, okay. We're going to start off with some academics. On April 7th, senior Jaden Gatson and sophomore Jaden Batoon represented North at the senior level Monroe County Championship Championships. And we want to issue a special congratulations to Jaden Batoon, who earned the title of Monroe County Spelling Bee Champion. And this is the fourth year in a row he was did so. He won once twice junior year and now he's won twice at the senior year level. And this is four consecutive years in a row. This is just amazing. Um, furthermore, we want to congratulate Joseph Soktowski, James O'Brien, Amari Collins, and Xavier Redon for the impressive

004performance at the Husky Dog Pound Business Competition at Bloomsburg University. And this is basically just a Shark Tank competition. Um, out of 199 teams from over 600 students across Pennsylvania, they placed 19th place and they got cash prize of $200, which they split evenly among the four of them. On April 10th, the North Reading Olympics team, small but mighty, traveled to Eastn High School to compete in the IU 20 Reading Olympics Spring Challenge. They placed eighth overall, outperforming nine other teams across the Monroe and Lehigh Valley districts. And furthermore, Miss Weatherhold's transition class teamed up with the MCTI cake decorating students to learn piping techniques as well as cupcake decorating skills. These students then put out their talents to on a competition in a cupcake pores little event. And it was really fun because the

005North Stew staff members and the North Drive live team, which is our morning announcements team, got to judge their final projects. And so that was really fun. It was really nice. We're going to move on to the arts. The North Art students, Jasine Floyd and Josephine Ramirez, alongside their teacher, Miss Ilch, will be exhibiting their artwork and the 2025 Masters in Grasshoppers art show at Mansville University. The work, as you can see on screen, will be displayed throughout the month of April. And the North Spring Musical Susical had a very successful weekend at the beginning of April with performances on the fourth, 5th, and 6th. They had an amazing turnout and the cast delivered an amazing performance and just would like to thank the community and of course some of the board members who came

006out to see the show. Valentina Gdiva auditioned for and was selected for the PMEA All States Choir. And this is very special because this is the first North student who was able to do so. She ranked number one in her section at regions. And on April 12th, she rehearsed and performed with students across Pennsylvania under the direction of Dr. Rolo Dworth at Temple University. And we're going to focus on some athletics. This spring, several of our sports teams looked to celebrate their seniors. Unifi Track hosted Banger and Pocona Mountain East and came away first place finish at their senior night meet. Track and field recognized their seniors during a home meet on April 23rd against Pocon Mountain West. And on April 29th, our baseball team will celebrate their senior night facing off against Strazburg. And

007we just want to issue a special shout out to Jennica Doyle who just recently on April 22nd recorded her 100th career strikeout for the team, which is really amazing. Um, and finally, some extracurriculars. Our northeast sports teams made it to this quarterfinals of the state championships in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with outstanding season and only losing three matches this entire season. This marks the third year in a row that the team has made it to states. And we just want to issue a special congratulations to the captain, Jacob Etraa, who has been nominated for the PIA all states. And if voted, he'll be the first member of the Northeast sports team to compete in a state level. And finally, East Strasburg North has been helping out the community. In April, Rescica Elementary Student Council and

008the Community Service Club hosted a food drive for the Timberwolf Pantry. They collected an impressive 11 total boxes of food to support North students and their families. And this is the second year has generously organized this event. And additionally, the North Faith Club is holding a classroom competition to collect toiletry items and small s snacks. And this donation will go towards Street to Feet, which is an organization to support people who are homeless in the Strawburg area. And this concludes my report. Thank you all for your attention, and I hope you enjoyed this. Thank you for anyone who attended the North Play. I don't know who the Cat in the Hat was, but it was perfect. That was good. Not surprised you didn't wear the hat tonight. Thank you, Alyssa, for your report. Carl with

009the South High School. Hi everyone. How are you? Good. How are you? Good. Um before I get started, I know I saw Dr. Vitali, Mr. Carut there, but I wanted to shout out JTL's um musical that was as this past weekend. They don't have a student board rep, but um the middle school production was outstanding. I got to work on the sound for them. um their director, Miss Stevens and Miss Goldston over there did a great job. It was really great. So, I just wanted to acknowledge that. I don't think an event happens at South without Carl there. I don't think that's I saw Dr. Vitali. She was like, "What are you doing here? You don't even go here." Surprise. Um but getting started with our South, we also had some successful spelling bee um

010contestants. Um, we were represented by Achilles Mitsianis, Jubilee Owie, and Sierra Pizaro. Jubilee finished in third place overall and was able to win a $200 milary award. So, congratulations and we're grateful they represented us well. Moving on, our Spanish classes took a trip to a Flamco Ballet. Um, it was called the Hispania Show, a journey through heritage. It was in Allentown on March 27th and they were able to learn about the cultural richness of Hispanic America and Spain through the exciting musical performances. Additionally, on April 4th, our special education students enjoyed their spring gala. Um it was a fun night of their the students, their families, alumni, and the staff um getting to celebrate the end of the year, dancing, food. Um it was a great time. And to piggyback off of that, our bone

011appetite classes took part in this by learning about catering and baking and they prepared all of the desserts for the spring gala. So that was really cool that they were able to actually do that for our own school. And our amazing 12 plus program continues to thrive at South. They have assembled um larger items for distribution to our central admin team. So this year they have packaged items for a sensitive bunny event, an HR event, and for incoming kindergarteners. So that's very exciting. Also for World Down Syndrome Day, they visited Biddy and Bose's Cafe in Bethlehem, which is the coffee shop whose goal is to hire individuals with disabilities for competitive employment. So they were able to learn about all of the opportunities there, um, and really see what that has to offer for them.

012They also took a trip to Aquattopia, which has had a partnership with South's program for more than two years, um, teaching housekeeping and hospitality skills, and they gifted us tickets. So, it was a wonderful day that the students got to go to the park, um, and just have fun. Uh, additionally, we had South students that participated in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Youthled Leadership Conference. Um it was hosted at Kalahari by Youth Infusion um a nonprofit which aims to produce young leaders and show them what their voices can be used for. Ages 15 through 18 came together to showcase leadership, creativity, and passion. And several of South's students were there at the 3-day event. The East Strazburg Shade Tree Commission through the Burrow of East Strazburg donated four trees to South High School for Arbor Day. Mrs.

013Bixler and Mr. Ryner's class were involved in coordinating the event, picking spots to plant the trees, and communing with the grounds team to get them planted. And then on the back of your flyers, we also had a celebration for Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22nd, hosted by the Red Cross to clean up Yet Park right behind our school um to bring awareness to what Earth Day is and beautify the community. We also had a very successful art show. Over 250 pieces of art were displayed and we also had a schoolwide contest for the best piece in the show. Over 57 different pieces received a vote for being number one, but the winner was Ray Rodriguez with the piece Free at Last. Our minathon was on April 5th from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Approximately 150

014students raised $11,478 which was donated to the Four Diamonds Foundation um which leads pediatric cancer research. And during the event, students were able to do traditional hourly dance, color wars, um, which the juniors did win the trophy this year, other various sports activities, and most importantly raise awareness about pediatric cancer. It was a very fun and successful event. And I was sent in with information um to thank everyone who participated in the South community for our March Madness basketball game. everyone who cheered or participated. It was a great event to fundra for our Special Olympics program at South. Also, we have had a very successful spring sports season, but I was especially sent with information about our track and field team by Mr. Cromise, who we have some allstars this year. At the Pan Ram

015Invitational, the girls team finished fourth and the boys team finished second. Both teams competed at the ESU Invitational on April 19th. The boys finished first and the girls in sixth. And we had many district qualifiers come out of this game. And right now both teams are 6-0 and won the rivalry against Stradsburg for the division championship. That was very exciting. They actually did just have another track meet against North. So I'm not sure how up to date that number is. Um and additionally, Ivan Lawach will compete at the prestigious Penn Relays on Thursday the 24th and he is ranked as one of the best javelin throwers in the country. So, we're very proud to have him at South. Another um athletic achievement, South's football coach Matthew Walters was selected as a finalist for the Tampa

016Bay Buccaneers National Coaching Academy. So, he will travel to Tampa during the rookie mini camp in May. And this allows attendees to take part in coaches coaching sessions, excuse me, master classes, and other networking opportunities. So, it's very exciting for our program. Um, additionally, our county band um was hosted in Honesdale and some of our South students got to participate and play along students from the area, which was very exciting. And lastly, in music, our band also went to a music performance assessment hosted at High School North by PMEA, and they earned top ratings from all four judges there. I did just want to let everyone know, too, Miss Clog sent me with this information. Um, Miguel Reto was a graduate about two years ago, I believe. He was class of 2021, if I'm not

017mistaken. And he was just named the drum major for Michigan um, band. So, that's a Big 10 school and that is from our district. So, something everyone can be proud of. So, that's a huge accomplishment coming out of South's band. And just some upcoming events, if everyone wants to mark their calendars. Um, there is a jazz night at the high school tomorrow night. Uh, Tuesday, May 6th is the choir concert. I am pretty biased. I think you should really go to that one. I'm playing piano. And on Saturday, May 10th at 7 p.m. is our band concert, which will also be great. So, thank you. Thank you, Cor. Appreciate it. And Miguel was his claim to fame was one of our people that organized the uh pandemic lip dub that we had outside and he

018was a big part of that and that was a lot of fun during the pandemic. We wrote a few places that pulled off a lip dub during the pandemic. So that was that was fun. All under the regulations. We did not violate any regulations of doing it. Okay. And to represent Nyla to represent um MCTI. Good to have you with us. We're excited. Welcome. Good evening. Join operating members, administration, and guests. My name is Naya Joseph. I am a senior at High School South. You've seen me through Zoom. you've seen me in person today for the first time. Um, and I'm happy to be here. I have a chair here, so I'm I'm happy for that. So, to start off my board report, on March 13th, myself and my sister Laya, she is sitting in

019the back um competed in this pendot innovation challenge. And this year's theme focused on increasing seat belt safety awareness and challenging driving behavior. and working together, the two of us placed first in the region. I don't know if anybody saw Rosemary Brown's post on Facebook. Um, and we will be competing at the state level this coming up this coming Wednesday, April 30th, to see if we get the state champion. Um, on April 2nd to April 4th, MCTI Skills USA students competed at States and Hershey, PA. MCTI students worked hard and the following students placed in our district. Isaiah Sourge East Jburg North competed in criminal justice and placed first. I competed in prepared speech and also placed first. And the two of us will be moving on to compete in nationals in Atlanta, Georgia the

020end towards the end of May at towards the end of June. Um for those of you who don't know, Skills USA is a national organization that serves teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers and technical skilled and service occupations. Um, HOSA students did run a blood drive on April 25th and it was very successful. Many staff and students participated and donated blood. The National Technical Honor Society and the Interact Club hosted a highly successful Trek for Tech on April 26th at Dansbury Park. A great turnout of runners and supporters made the 5K event a memorable one. MCTI sincerely thanks all the local community members and the participants who helped make that event such a success. I also want to add that me and my sister were a part of the

021helpers that were at the turn turnaround point and when I tell you it was raining and the only way to get back was walking another 1.5 miles but you know it it was a great event and we had many different baskets awards and raffles and it turned out great and this concludes my report. Thank you so much. I appreciate and congratulations on your accomplishments and I thank you for the three of us once three of you once again reminding us why all of us do this to hear all these great accomplishments. Thank you. Okay. Uh superintendent report. So before I get did chief just walk out? Yes. Okay. So before I get to my report on the agenda tonight is an updated agreement with our school police officers and they have come out in full

022force again. Two for two. Give me a mic and I'm good to go. Um in front of you you see 200 years of experience in policing. We are truly incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and committed for individuals who keep our schools, our students, our community safe. So, Chief, I didn't know if you wanted to say anything. Do it now. That way. Okay. Meeting uh members of the board, I know that a lot of you don't get to see our school police unit very often. Sometimes when you go to the building and so forth, so I I asked them to come tonight. We have half of them here, which is better than nothing. But these are the people that keep you safe every day. We have 217 combined years of experience on our school

023police unit. They come from NYPD. Uh, one of our officers, two of our officers were at 911. They come from Philadelphia. Rich isn't here tonight. I'm going to miss Rich. Rich is going to retire and I'm going to miss him because he's done he's been here since I've been here. We have some from Pake, New Jersey. We have uh Phoenix, Arizona. He's not here tonight. We have uh guess I better use my glasses. City of Beth. We have an officer from City of Beth. He he worked with me when I was down there. Oh, sorry. Twice. He had it made. He had it made. Thanks for saying though. We have officers from Strad Regional. Uh we're also from uh US military and uh town. So you can see there's a lot of experience here. Uh

024we just don't hire anybody here that just doesn't have any experience. These guys are all and I call them wizard veterans. They come here. A lot of the people have been here for many many years which means it's a stable place to work. They they like what's going on. And I am very proud of them. I'm extremely proud of what we've been able to accomplish. Mr. Cara is in here. He was one of the only people on the board when I got hired in 2008 and saw this whole thing evolve. So kudos to my guys. I appreciate them. I hope you appreciate them. And thank you very much for what you do, folks. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And just for the record, Chief, I am here and I'm proud of you. He's online.

025He is online. He's virtual. He's He's virtual, but he's here. He's here. Voice of I hired him. Remember that. I hired you. Keith, if you don't want to hear that because I can say something, but I won't. Be nice. Thank you, Fred. Next. I'd like to on behalf of the board thank all of our school police officers uh for the amazing job and and being the true heroes of our schools and and most importantly being the front line of defense to protect our kids and our staff. So uh thank you. I've worked with many school police officers in this district and it was a pleasure to work with all of them and I saw that commitment firsthand. So uh thank you so much for everything you do. We appreciate it. Okay. Thank you. You're more

026than welcome to stay. go home and have a good night. You work hard during the day. Enjoy. Although we've determined this is the safest place in the world right now, I think so. Second that one. Yes. All right. Um, so thank you everybody. So I have a brief presentation. It will not be super long. I had an amazing opportunity to meet with student leadership groups at every single building over the last month and a half. So, I'm just going to report out because I think it's really really important we give our students here a voice, but I think that we need to give all of our students a voice and my hope is to be a conduit of that voice. Um, there we go. So, first before I start on my last data presentation, I

027had an error. So, I just want to update it. Originally I said that there were 206 out of 468 of our seniors have been with us K to2. It's actually 206 out of 568. So it's 36% of our students stay with us for all 13 years of their education. Um, so again before I start and dig into it, next week is educator appreciation week. And I I take this as not necessarily teacher appreciation week, which is what it's called. I believe that everyone who interacts with our students throughout the day, is an educator. That our school police officers educate on how to keep calm and deescalate situations. Our bus drivers educate our students on how to have nice greetings and start the day off nicely. Everyone who interacts with our students is an educator. Next

028week is our educator appreciation week. So, please just take a moment and when you see our educators in our district, thank them because they are the most dedicated group of individuals I have had the pleasure of working with. So, I just want to make sure that we're identifying them and thanking them for the Okay, now I need to say I've had so much fun over the last month and a half meeting with students. It showed me and helped me understand why I entered this profession. I entered this profession to make a difference in the lives of children. It reminded me of my purpose and my reason. So, thank you for even entertaining this. It was amazing to sit down with our students and chat with them and they were asked two questions. What do they

029love about their experience? And what is one thing they would change? Now, sometimes they said the bus ride was too long and could I move the school closer to home? Um, one student asked if we could come in two hours later and leave two hours earlier. But overall they had really really good ideas to help us as a leadership team understand what their experience is every day, what we are doing well and what we need to do a little bit better. So I'm just going to go through every school. I don't know why it's set up like that, but we're going to go through all of them. Bushkill talked about their strength of teachers. They love the breakfast and lunch. They love spending time with their friends and assemblies and all those special activities that

030we have. Then when they talked about concern, they talked about at like the lunch choices. We got into whether we like the walking taco. Like we got into the nitty-gritty about lunch choices. Um they talked about their playground at recess and they thought that their playground was lacking and when they go to other schools it's a little bit better which was interesting. Um, they talked about unkind friends and that sometimes their friends are not kind to them and create a really negative environment. They would like to change classes like the older kids do. They would like to not be with the same teacher all day long. And they feel they want more teachers to deal with negative and naughty student behaviors, which I thought was super insightful. And I think any teacher at any school

031would agree that they want more teachers. At East Alber elementary school, hopefully you start to see some trends. They talked about breakfast and lunch. They talked about their friends. They talked at length about math and how much they love the math program and the math class. I've never in my life heard children talk about how much they love math and like I was all over it. They talked about how great recess is. They would love more of it. and they talked about their specials and that they enjoyed having a wealth of specials and different opportunities. When they talked about some concerns or things that they would change, flexible seating was one of them that they don't want to just sit at desks all day long. They would like new and refreshed rewards for PBIS. They

032would like students who behave appropriately. And a very interesting comment. One fifth grader felt that it was completely unjust that fifth grade was on the third floor at ESSE because kindergarteners should be on the top floor because they have all the energy. So they should be the one running up and down the stairs because I said to the fifth grader, I get it. You're old bones walking up and down those stairs all day long. She was absolutely in agreement with this. JM Hill feedback is exactly kind of in line with the other elementary schools. They love the teachers that teach them. They love recess. They talked about library. They talked about physical education and the program which is like um what I equate to the presidential fitness awards that we all know from being old

033enough. Um and they talked about field trips and field days that it just adds to their experience. some concerns that they talked about and again they were really insightful. They talked about when they come in in the morning they're rushed and that it's a really negative way to start the day. It's like let's go, let's go, let's go. Get breakfast, get to class, get your book bag out, get your homework folder, do all of that. And they feel rushed and that adds some level of anxiety and stress in their day. Um they felt that the playground equipment was old and outdated. They requested not to make up snow days. And if you vote on this elect on this calendar for the 2425 school year, you are going to show them that their voice matters because

034we're not going to make up two snow days. They requested that they have the opportunity to play in the snow at recess time and they would like different cafeteria options. Middle Smithfield um talked about how much they love their teachers. They then spent a lot of time talking about how much they love math. Like I was just enthralled with this. They talked about again friends lunch and recess as being really positive. When they talked about the things they would change, they did talk about student behaviors. They talked about their playground equipment. I would say every elementary student talked about that they want swings. Swings appears to be a hot topic item that we are not offering our students, which is fascinating. and they asked for more math time. It just makes my heart happy. Jessica

035students um talked about their teachers, their friends, lunch and recess as being positive. Their concerns were recess restrictions. And what that means is this time of year, our students sometimes have a little bit more energy and are a little bit more aggressive in football and basketball. So, as we come become a little bit more aggressive, sometimes our principles say, "We're not going to do those activities anymore." They don't like that. Um, and they also wanted more options at lunch. So, oh, and they love learning. So, that the last group I met with was Smithfield. Um, Smithfield talked about their teachers. They talked about special activities and clubs. They spoke about math. So, three out of the six elementary schools specifically talked about how much they love math, lunch, recess, and they love that there's a

036lot of opportunities to help other children. Um, they again talked about recess restrictions. They suggested that we hire refs for recess so that they can play the games they want to play. And I know we're all laughing, but like these kids came with solutions. I love it. um they were frustrated that the teachers have to purchase the recess equipment and they didn't think that there the teacher should have to purchase it that the district should do that. So that's something I'm going to look into. They wanted other lunch choices. They're very upset about the condition of their field that it doesn't have enough grass and they would like to be able to use cell phones at lunch. At the end of my meeting with Smithfields, a very kind student, and I'm not going to share

037his name, he raised his hand and he said, "May I show you something?" And I said, "Absolutely." And I'm going to share with you. This is what makes us this student created an entire slide deck because he knew he was going to meet with me. He knew he had an audience of change and he wanted to share his insights. So this is his slide. He created this. It's wonderful. His ideas for recess are whiffle ball, pickle ball, bean bag toss, indoor bowling, ring toss, mini golf, kick dart, which he had to explain to me what it is. I still don't really know, and foam bats. So he feels that that would be beneficial. I just want to say again, an elementary student created this and presented this. The benefits for students are elementary student everybody.

038It would be a fun and safe place, different activities for everyone, and it's cost effective because parents would donate money to buy these activities. If you notice under number one, a safe and fun place, he literally put it would increase morale among students. If you're not in love with this, right, Bella, I can't Um he added that I personally think that it would raise student happiness and encourage them to come to school every day and to learn to play at recess and my dad would volunteer to help with the PTO or donations. This is why I think that we should include new sports and activities when we give students voice an opportunity to share and make change. This is what we get. So my time I have very limited time during the day. This reinforces

039that my time was spent well that our students not only identify problems but they will be part of the solution and also offer through finance through their deck. And if a student would like to play a sport they could practice at school and it would raise the population of sports players and would give our school a better history. So he's talking about theater programs into our varsity sports. I I agree with to me. Um so my elementary experience was wonderful. I'm obviously completely in favor of elementary because that's where I spent most of my career. But it was wonderful. Then I went to the intermediate students and started talking to teenagers. Um the conversation about what they love as we would anticipate was a little less. Um, but we were still able to identify. So

040this morning I met with Leman students and they talked about their strengths were the teachers, food, the food choices in the cafeteria and opportunities for activities. Some of their concerns were transportation, that they're late to school and they're losing academic time, which is fantastic that they're identifying that. They talked about bullying, that students are unkind to one another. They talked about vandalism specifically in the bathroom of students writing on the walls and doing nasty things in the bathrooms. Um, we talked a lot at length about that and I tried to tell them I promise it was a new not a new behavior that when I was in school and dinosaurs walked the earth, it happened. But I also said I don't understand why you would vandalize your own space. And that really talks more about

041the school community and people being attached and kind of connected to their community because if they love and have agency over their community, they will be less inclined to destroy it. Um, and then most of the conversation was talking about feeling respected, which if you spend enough time with teenagers, I think any teenager is going to talk about that they don't feel respected enough. Um, when I met with JTL students, they had a lot to say. um their strengths. They talked about all the opportunities for activities, whether it be extracurriculars or athletics. They love the option of being with friends throughout the day. They appreciate their specials, the spirit weekend events, and their teachers. Um they were very concerned about cafeteria practices that they don't get to sit with their friends, that they can't just

042walk around as they want. We talked all about when you have hundreds of kids in one space and keeping order is really difficult. They didn't seem to understand that. Um they they want to be able to roam free in the cafeteria and do as they please. They they feel that our food options are unhealthy, that there's too many calories in it. I say this with Mr. Linhardt had cookies out for the children. As we scarfed down the cookies, they're telling me about the unhealthy food options in the cafeteria. Irony is was lost in that moment. Um, they would like to start later and for an earlier dismissal. Um, but they really talked about that that early start for them is really difficult to get up. Um, they do not like that we restrict cell phones

043and transportation was a big concern for them across the board. When I spoke to the North students, um, they were again very insightful. They're really grateful for opportunities in clubs, the teachers who care and the course offerings and the programs. When we talked about concerns, they talked about course offerings and they didn't feel there was enough options. So, I met with um the administrative team up at North and I've asked them to keep meeting with these students to understand exactly what that means. like I met for like an hour, an hour and a half and it wasn't enough time to dig into all of that. They talked about that they recognize their friends have mental health needs and they feel that they're not being met as a community and that that's really concerning to them.

044They talked about student behaviors and in their perception students are not held accountable for their behavior. Um they feel that there are inconsistent expectations. And then the last one was really the most concerning. Um, and we again we met as an administrative team up at North High School and talked about this at length. They talk about that the students in the school are disengaged. That when they attend activities or clubs after school, they're doing it just to socialize, not for the purpose of the activity or club. They talked about that kids don't have ownership of their building. they're destroying the building and not taking kind of that pride in being a North student. They felt that there was a lack of connection and a lack of community. They feel it's partially because of the placement

045of the building. So they they talked about that our students at South are able to walk across and go to Duncan at the end of the day and hang out. They all have to get on a bus and leave. They talked about that here at South there's an outlying community of companies and businesses that support South, but up there they're just looking at trees. It was super insightful and real problems that exist. Um they weren't in the solution side yet, but I think if we keep meeting with them and keep having conversations, I think we're going to get there. um they care and they want their school experience to be better and this is what they identify. The South students again we're going to see all of these trends. They talked about their teachers. They

046talked about clubs, sports and activities. They talked about the courses. They love that they have an opportunity to give back to their community. They love the facility. They talked about how big it is and the windows everywhere and that they get sunlight and vitamin D. I'm not kidding. Um, and they love the opportunity of dual enrollment and senior release. They talked about bathroom accessibility that bathrooms are closed down during because of vandalism. They do not like that courtyards are restricted. They do not like the congestions of the hall, specifically that that main hall by Maple A outside the office. And they feel that we're not doing enough to prepare them for college for their application. So, not that they're not going to be successful in college, but we're not doing the work to get them

047into college and help them with the application with FIA and FASA and all of that kind of stuff, which was interesting to me. So, what's next? So, first of all, as a board, you have to be excited. You have to be excited that our students are identifying that they are caring individuals in their classrooms. and every single slide talked about the programs and opportunities that our students have and they recognize it, they value it and they appreciate it and that only comes because you as a board have kept that as your focus. What's next for me is to continue leadership groups. I would want to make sure that secondary I meet with them at least four times a year. I have asked the building principles to meet with them more regularly so that they get

048in that cadence of having a voice and be problem solvers not just people who admire problems. Elementary I'll meet with them about once a year. Um the director of food service because food was a lot of topic is going to create a youth advisory council and meet with students at schools to talk about the food that we offer and the food choices. We have started climate surveys. So like this gives me a snapshot. I want to keep digging in and getting more information. So we've distri distributed the student surveys which closed. Parent and family surveys are open now. Faculty and staff climate surveys will be distributed on Monday on May 1st rather Thursday. Um I'm going to dig into those surveys. It's a lot of information and I want to spend some time really looking

049at it. And then I would say by June 15th, every department is going to have their survey data. So they already have the student data. Um because I already that. And then in your June or July board meeting, depending on how much work I can get done and how quickly, I will present to you the climate survey results. And then from there, we will set goals. Every administrator will be asked to set one goal based on the climate surveys results. Our participation rates are not what I would like right now for our climate survey, but it's new. So, my hope is that as people see that we are responsive to these surveys, I'm going to tell you, you're going to hear me talk about the data of these surveys all the time. We need to

050do this because this is what our students are saying. It helps guide us and inform our decisions. I believe our participation rates will increase every year because people know it's not just a survey to do a survey that we are actually using this and setting this as a goal and a focus for our district. Where would I have received a climate service grant? It was sent out in an email. It's also there's a link on PE on the um on your Sapphire app too. It was sent out through ESASD um through like a mass communication message. I did not Every building is resending it. Um, so we sent it out districtwide and then the buildings are resending it this week as well. Maybe adding it to the whole page. Any questions, thoughts, or concerns? Thank

051you for taking the time to do it. It's really important from um Mr. Brenamman at North that um he resent the link and it's also located at North Sapphire page as well. I saw the link on Sapphire when I went on today. Thank you. Thank you. Great. Hold on a second. Hold on. You're wanted. Yeah. Okay. Oh, so you're Yes. I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. I I just wanted to say before you guys left, uh I want to make a motion to change the order in which reports are given. I don't ever want to go first anymore between those three over there. Okay. They're fantastic. It was bad enough I had to follow them. Then you come up with these incredible superintendent reports that I have to follow. I can't even hold a candle to the

052elementary school student who did a a slide deck. It's no you guys. Yeah. Whatever. I second the motion. Yeah. No. All in favor? No. I just I just want to commend everybody else again. you know, all the work that goes into putting this together, getting everything from everybody for the entire month, putting them together for us and present to us. And of course, Doc, you have very little to no time. And be able to put all that together is impressive. So, I appreciate it. And again, listen, next month I'm going to bring pictures because Okay. Hey, I have a question quick of you high school uh seniors, have you guys committed? Can we hear where you committed? That's very exciting to us. It is. Um, I'm going to University of Delaware for finance. Awesome. Yeah.

053Nice. Congrats. I'm going to Pace University in New York City for business of art and entertainment. Awesome. Good for you. I'm going to East Strawburg University for hospitality and tourism management. Congratulations, guys. We're so proud of you. We're dismissed now. Thank you. And and before Na leaves as well, um you know, she she said that she had she had received No, where's the G? She said that she received first place uh in her rec uh it was a recitation speech. What was it? I I Yeah, I'm She recited it for us at the Joocc. I'm not going to make her do it now. Um, but I mean for those of us who were there as well, uh, moving was was the best thing, the best way. It it was absolutely incredible. So, it's next month.

054Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it it it truly was. I mean, if you'd like to I mean, you're more than welcome to. The floor is yours. I mean, I'm not embarrassed enough at this point. So, um, I I can't, but I don't want to put you on the spot, but it truly was inspiring and it was moving. I think she should do it. Maybe I'm already talk. I like to hear it again. Yeah. You gonna do it? Oh, it is next month. Okay. Next month. You can It's up to you. All right. Okay. Yeah. Right now the podium podium. It's all yours. Sure. There wasn't a mic when I did it competition. So, there comes a moment in every journey when you stand at the edge of a dream, uncertain whether you have what it takes

055to take a step forward. There's a weight of doubt that rests heavily on your shoulder and a small voice that seems to whisper in your ear that you're not enough. that the path is too difficult and that your potential will never be realized. And at that moment, you have a choice. You can choose to take a step back, stay in your comfort zone, and convince yourself that your dreams are not meant to be. Or you could take a step forward, no matter how small, and leap into the unknown. It's easy to let fear hold you back, to let doubt convince you that your dreams are too far out of reach. But I want to remind you that every great achievement started at this moment. Started when fear was too loud and the path was unclear.

056You see, the difference between those who succeed and those who don't is not the absence of fear. No, it's the courage to take a step forward despite it. We all know that growth doesn't happen in your comfort zone. Growth happens when you embrace the unknown. When you trust that even when the road is hard, the journey is worth it. That leap, however small, ignites a potential within you. And with that potential, everything starts to change. So what if we stopped holding back? What if instead of listening to our doubts, we believed in our potential? What if we imagined ourselves stepping boldly into our dream, letting that spark that once was inside of us grow? You see, I've always imagined potential as a match. At first glance, it's small and significant, much like our individual talents

057and dreams. But the thing about a match is that it has the potential to start a fire. A fire that can grow. A fire that can change lives. You see, as a child, I struggled to learn English. And I often found myself getting pulled out of class to receive extra help. And I there were many times where I wanted to quit because that mountain of learning just seemed too steep. But my parents who always saw something in me that I couldn't, always reminded me that I not only had the potential to learn the language, but to master it. They saw the potential within me that I couldn't see for myself. And years later in technical school, I would face new challenges, complex concepts, difficult frameworks, and a classroom full of peers who seem to understand

058things effortlessly. Imposttor syndrome grew and fear of failure crept in. Can I do this? I asked myself. Do I belong here? And in my darkest moment, I finally remembered the match my parents had lit for me. I remembered that with every attempt I was building momentum no matter how many times I failed. And that everything I was doing was leading up to something that I couldn't see. And then there I was. The match finally caught. And at first it was small, a fickle of light. But then it began to grow. And then I finally began to understand. Everything came together. That mountain of learning that once seemed so steep was now finally within reach. And that tiny match that had the tiny flame was now a roaring fire illuminating the pathway forward. You see, this

059is a turning point in every journey. the moment where your persistence, your courage, and your effort come together. You see, we all have potential within us, already burning, waiting to be ignited. But it needs us to strike our match. It needs us to keep striking our match, even when it doesn't appear at first. Because when you imagine a roaring bonfire, you realize it didn't take one match to get it started. It took two, it took three, it took four. It took the moment where you felt like giving up and decided to strike your match one more time. That is when the fire truly begins. And I won't stand here and tell you that the journey is easy. There are going to be moments where you strike your match over and over and over again and

060nothing happens. But all your effort is building up to your future success. So when you reach that point where you're ready to step into your dream, I want you to remember that the potential inside you is powerful. It has the potential to light up your world. It has the potential to light up the world, but it just needs the right environment. It needs your persistence, your self-belief, and the support of those around you who believe in your potential even when you don't. I want to leave you with this. Every master was once a novice. Every champion was once a contender who refused to quit. And every great achievement, no matter how grand, started with a single strike of a match. So don't let fear hold you back. Don't let doubt cloud your judgment. Embrace the

061unknown. Embrace the challenge. Strike your match and watch as everything changes around you. In the words of Ralph W. Emerson. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. So remember that you are capable, that you are enough. Strike your match. Ignite your potential and watch as the world lights up around you. Thank you. Thank you. Wow. All I can say is you don't have tears in your eyes. You don't have running down my face here. Uh I believe Jeff Jason's on for they haven't he say well I was going to say with that I yield back my time. Thank you so much. Thank you all. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you. Night guys. Good night. Thank you. Oh my gosh. I don't even say All right.

062Uh on Monday, March 3rd, the MCTI Joc met to discuss the following items. Uh finance, curriculum and instruction, student activities, personnel items, and the progress of the conference center. As you heard, we heard that um recital from Miss Jones, which was just amazing. and we heard the student report as well. The JOC reviewed and discussed the independent auditors report for the MCTI for the previous school year. The report came back clean, found no questionable costs or any major program audit concerns. At that point, we moved on to the business and finance uh items that required uh action which as per audit, we were then able to transfer back the excess revenue to the spending or excuse me, sending schools for the 2324 school year. We then approved Hulip Packard uh financial services companies uh business

063lease agreement in the amount of 128 or 38,000 $293 for a term of 36 months. Uh we completed a change order for the installation and completion of landscaping, seating, and signage for the new addition in the amount of $13,350 as per uh township. We motion to approve amendments to the St. Luke's MOU uh and for these was Northampton Community College articulation agreement. Uh theseUS amended St. Luke's Health Profession volunteer experience and uh Northampton Community Colleg's uh business and hospitality management for our students. The GOC then uh approved the position guide for maintenance/custodian worker. We approved field trips for uh veum to attend the talk at the CIU20 in East um and substitution appointments. There was also a memorandum of understanding with MCTI and the education association regarding placement of the new salary schedule. Um we

064also approved the selected support staff comprehension plan which will be uh effective July 1st, 2025 through 2028. The next JOC meeting will be held Monday, May 5th at 7 PM. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Jason. I have the Colonial IU 20 report. We had our meetings week and uh one of their big events, one not an event, but one of their big capital projects is going on. And since we do contribute, uh the roof at Colonial Academy, which is the alternative school, is a major project for 1.2 million is being completed this summer. uh when those students or staff will be in the building and will be completed by the time students return. Um the CIU20, the intermediate special ed prom will be held on May 2nd. Um that's always a really wonderful event down

065at the IU and uh there'll be uh pictures and all after May 2nd on the IU website to view uh the students at that event. Uh we did as a board approve we approved one budget our contributions from East Straburg. However, the three other budgets at the IU. So we did approve the budget for special education, transportation and for Colonial Academy. Um there was a presentation and I think this is uh very interesting just not uh worth noting. Um about three or four years ago there was an identification the IU was really not retaining um any of its staff. Well, not any but was not retaining staff members on especially in support staff roles. You can imagine being a support staff um in some of the IU classes. Very challenging uh job and they were

066losing people and they were concerned about that. So they did a whole study and they set goals for uh building a positive organizational culture and they were happy to report that in these four years and they showed us all types of statistics which are available on their website uh of how they used just a positive approach and support to their support staff and saw a dramatic increase in retention rates saw a dramatic drop in absenteeism um and like I said It's really worth looking at. I actually wanted to present at some point and present to our board members some of the things that they did which I think are was worth us even looking at here in our district. Um they also put a very strong effort for par professionals that include very um intensive

067training before they actually even stepped foot in the classroom and then follow up and supportive training beyond that. And you know again something that we could talk about at another day. Um the last thing just to make aware um I know it's the end of the month but April was autism awareness month. There were many events and awareness events throughout the IU also throughout our own school buildings. Such an important uh issue to be aware of and uh the month is now ending but there were many many things done for autism awareness month. So just wanted to report on that and that's my report. Yeah. Okay. Uh, next we have educational programs. I'm sorry, we have properties and facilities. Uh, Wayne, sorry, Wayne. Uh, property and facilities committee met on April 2nd. Uh, items requiring

068action. Uh, high school south track repair. A motion was made by the committee to recommend Miller Sports Construction with, uh, 6,000 coming from a grant and 2,000 is coming from our budget. Uh, number two, a motion was made to recommend waste management for a 5-year contract totaling 838,573.92. A motion was made to recommend payment to CHA for invoices for JTL partial flooring replacement for,1722. [Music] The Rasca school flooring replacement was for $3,17120. JM Hill school for flooring replacement for $2,225 and a transportation center for $3,86. Um, South High School Stadium. A motion was made to recommend payment number three to Scrant Electric for heating cooling services for 28,226 uh dollars. That's for the boiler and hot water heater. JTL school motion was made to recommend notice to proceed for the replacement of boiler and hot

069water heater. Uh items for discussion. The north bus garage. A motion was made to recommend option 3E with a limit of $125,000 to add a restroom and bus driver lounge. North Campus Stormwater project is scheduled for bid opening on May 5th for stage three repair. Nitorium roof leak update is that the contractor is installing insulation at this time. uh northwater tower generator. The contractor is pouring a concrete pad for the propane tank. Uh the new digital scoreboards are up and running. The next property and facilities meeting is scheduled for May 7th here at 5:30. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Wayne. Appreciate it. Education, Programs, and Resources Committee and the EPR committee met on Thursday, April 10th at 5:30. Mrs. Lori presented the B Alliance update. highlighting the various holidays and celebrations for the month of

070April. This list along with support materials and articles was emailed to all the staff. The April coffee chat was women in leadership roles. 25 women along with Mr. Snyder attended. Um the professional development session presented by Greg of encouragement with the topic the invisible thread of belonging was a very successful session. Many of our staff commented um on the effectiveness of the speaker and that it was one of the best speakers that they had um had presented to them in many years. Um looking at forward in the agenda for today, just a reminder that the second look for the science curriculum materials is less than we originally um had given to you because the nth grade science curriculum is going to be written next year. So just have that notation. Uh, speaking of curriculum, we

071are in the first look for our math course curriculum, grades six through eight. Just keeping in mind this is kind of a retro look because all of the materials were purchased with esser funds um already. Um, also in first look are EL, family consumer science and business. Um, please take a look at those curriculum even though we meet because of the way scheduling went with the off time. We will be meeting this Thursday, but we do not take a second look at that curriculum until our next meeting in May. So, if in reviewing the curriculum, if there's anything um that you need have questions or concerns about, make sure you email me so that I can um you know, speak to the directors directly. I would like to thank Mrs. Blow, Mrs. Brotherton, Mr. Sanker,

072and Mr. Lair. there are our um respected department chairpersons for their informative presentations and for all the teachers in those departments who really uh work diligently on putting the curriculum together. It's really a lot of work um to you know know what your you know know the standards know your objectives really what it is that you want your students to know and we talked about tonight and saw so beautifully through our uh students and through um what Dr. Vitality have presented to us that the courses and the programs you know these learning opportunities um that we have for our students is why we're here. Um so anytime we have all this curriculum being presented you know it's really important that we um acknowledge all of the teachers and the hard work that they put into

073it. Um in addition our our meeting was uh quite lengthy and you know enjoyable truthfully there were so many great presentations. In addition to the u curriculum presentations uh at our meeting we also had a lot of product and agreement presentations. All of those product and agreements um that we discussed are on our um recommendation list tonight for the board. I would like to thank those presenters for their excellent information. Um, specifically Dr. Jill Greenwood for her presentation on the ELA writable product. The EPR committee is recommending the purchase of Writable from HMH in the amount of $31,200. Um, this is, you know, really important. Having, you know, formerly been an English teacher, you know, grading was my life. Uh, when I retired, I was so happy to retire because I thought I might die

074with a, you know, purple pen in my hand. I have used red ink. And um so this is a product that really allows for uh immediate feedback for students and really has progressed from things that we've seen before, but it allows all of the English teachers to um add their own comments and it's just it's really a a pretty phenomenal um aid, you know, for our students and for our teachers. Um so I wanted to thank her for bringing that to us. Um secondly, a thanks to Mr. Tansen, Dr. Paparado for their presentation on activate learning middle level science product. The EPR committee is recommending the purchase for JTL in the amount of $119,43052 and for Lehman Intermediate in the amount of $95,8764. As we're moving forward in our steels um standards, obviously it's really

075important to have um updated materials for our teachers and um this one is really quite outstanding. So, thanks to them for their presentation. Um next, I would like to thank our instructional technology coaches who came out that night. Excuse me, Mrs. Allison, Mrs. Cidle, and Mr. Wescott for their informative AI presentation. you know, we've been talking a lot about AI, um, and they did a review and really high praise for the magic school product, um, which we can, you know, move forward. We did talk about at the meeting that we will, um, remember how we just got new policy last year that we agreed to. So, anything with EI is obviously new and constantly changing. Um, so we will, um, look to u policy, you know, adding to that policy in the future as well.

076The EPR committee did re does recommend the purchase of the magic school uh product in the amount of 117,000 that is going to be funded through the 2526 technology department budget. Um I would also like to thank Mr. Snyder uh for his informative and detailed presentation on the dual enrollment agreement with Lacawana College. Um, one of the things that we have, you know, been discussing quite a bit, not only in EPR, but also obviously here, um, is our dual enrollment program. It was nice to see in your discussion, uh, with the high school students that they see how important, you know, that is. Um and as a board in particular on APR we discussed it uh you know that we really it's a college college courses for the students but it's not something that you

077know the board necessarily wants to you know pay for uh since they are taking college students. So uh Mr. Snyder um really did a great job. is new on the job and uh already has uh an agreement with Lacawana College which is you know no cost to the district. So uh for students to get that and as all of you know when we do our dual enrollment particularly like our um you know teaching uh component that we have that we do that in conjunction with MCCI and ESU um and MCCI has already said that they will accept the WA County credits that was also what did I say Northampton I said MCI oh I'm sorry community college their presentation was so still on my mind. Um, and then lastly, but of course not least, a

078thank you to Dr. Vitali for her updates and informative presentations on both the code of conduct, the special education comprehensive plan, which, you know, we had all talked about and were part of, and the Pike County Emergency Responders Program, which is, you know, sadly amazing. and um being able to look into all of that continuously looking into that to offer more um opportunities for our students. So, as I always say, unfortunately, Keith is not sitting next to me because I always bust him. Um, you know, when he says everybody comes to policy meetings, and I always say, and I'll say it again, everyone should attend the EPR meetings um to really learn about the excellent programs we offer to our students, to meet the awesome educators who come to these meetings, to provide us um,

079you know, with the information and the wonderful learning opportunities that we to our students because this is why we're here. obviously uh for our students and the programs that we uh try to offer them so that they will be successful in their own right in whatever it is that you know they want to do moving forward. Our next meeting is actually this Thursday um because we meet the first Thursday of the month and it's crazy time frame but it is this Thursday at 5:30 either here or on Zoom. If you are interested everyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. And now we move on to the finance committee. Rebecca, I'm not as exciting as the other ones. I apologize. Um, so we have on the agenda see tonight the purchase

080of max cases in the amount of 51,36525 for the new Chromebooks for grades K 5 and nine. And you'll see the purchase of wireless microphones at the high school south auditorium at the cost of 27,77069. And I believe norths were purchased a couple years ago and souths are due to be replaced. And that's that is a little wireless ones they use for the place. And you'll also see on the agenda reimbursement check from train from a prepayment discount. So we paid early and we get a discount back. And you'll see the five-year discussion of the five-year um beverage contract. We're going to discuss that a little bit. Um we have the budget presentation which we'll hear this evening again. Um the high school south track repair for Javin long jump. You'll see that and you'll

081see um as Wayne spoke about our garbage bid results from waste management. The JTL boiler and hot water heater notice to proceed. Um the JM flooring abatement bid we received from the state environment. Um, we're working towards uh the bus depot up at North to um expand that and make that more friendly for our drivers. And we have the CHA invoices A through D that were um recommended from the properties and facilities. And that's for the JTL flooring, Russica partial flooring, Jam Hill partial flooring, and the North Bus Transport Center. Those are those invoices. and the application of payment for the electrical, heating and cooling for the high school south fieldhouse equipment replacement and um also is the capital payments that we have to do and purchase the writable that um Miss Coutrillo spoke about

082for um that and also the other recommendations for the pre-ol agreement with Lacawana College and the recommendations to purchase the activate learning that Miss Catrill spoke about as well was um that's for JTL and then also the one for Leman and to purchase Magic School. And that was it. And our next meeting is April is May. Oh my gosh, that's May. When is our next meeting? No, May 12th. May 12th. May 12th at 5:30 both here and via Zoom. Okay. Thank you, Rebecca. And from afar, Keith for policy. Yes. policy met tonight and uh just to let you know the policy committee is the backbone of all other committees without policy we don't exist as a district just touch and um from afar we discussed policy 252 dating violence which is a new policy policy

083824 maintaining professional adult and student boundaries policy 218.4 for gangs, which was a review only, no change. Policy 226, searches. Policy 802, school organization, which is a review only, no change. Policy 804, which is school day and emergency closings. Policy 817, workplace threats and violence. We're repealing that policy. Policy 822, automated external defibrillator, AEDs, review only. No change. 825 state mandate waiverss review only no change. Uh policy 905 stu citizens advisory committees which was a review only no change. Policy 912 relations with educational institutions review only no change. And policy 914 relations with intermediate unit review only no change. And just for the and I know we discussed this before but review only no changes. These are those older policies that have not have been looked at in years. Uh and that's why we were

084uh we're looking at them as we are going through each month. Uh we ask that you uh entertain those uh and we ask that the administration put them post them for the uh noted revisions for public review during the month of April and subsequent board action in May. Uh and encourage everyone to attend our meetings. Our next meeting will be May 19th at 4:30 PM and it will also be live and in on Zoom. Okay. Thank you, Keith. Appreciate it. And our final uh presentation tonight would be on the 2526 budget and that would be Peter. That's the thing. I'll help you out. Thank you everybody for for being here. And on the the last but certainly not least, I would imagine. So, we're just start with the 2526 budget for tonight. The we'll start

085with the market values and assessment for the April update. The um me minimalize this for a second so you can see it. So, the Monroe County assessment update has a ne has a $35 million almost a $36 million loss from the 2024 assessment value. That's driving a lot of why the district is losing real estate value and the reason why we're losing local um re uh revenue in the district. The Pike County revenue is up 415,000. And so, we're going to look at this and this is going to be the basis for the entire uh local uh revenue assessment value. The value of a mill in Monroe County is 2,275,798 and in Pike County is 175,415. These numbers reflect net assessment uh changes from appeals. Um so this is and these are the latest uh

086values assessment that came out in January. If you look at the next slide, this is changing. So I want to we're going to first we're going to talk about the fund balance assessment first and then we'll talk into the the revenue slide first. Um I want to talk about the revenue the fund balance to discuss and recalibrate from the previous um uh discussion. So there's been some talk about the the fund balance and I want to go over some of the category what these categories mean in your fund balances so that we can we set the conversation from that. The non-spendable prepaid uh fund balance. The non-spendable is an amount that cannot be sent because they're either non in a non-spendable form or legally or contractually required to remain intact. And that number is 5,813,693.

087The restricted amount, you have zero dollars in that, but that part is a part of the fund balance that is restricted or to be spent for part of a specific purpose. The constraint on these amounts must be externally imposed by creditors, granters, contributors or laws or regulations of other governments or by enabling legislation which is would be the school board would would uh put those limits or assign those uh guidelines or restrictions to them. The assigned amount is reflects the school board's intent to use that money for a specific purpose but is not considered restricted or committed and that number is 17,432441 and that number is a set and is assigned to balance the 2425 budget. The committed number is the portion of the fund balance that can only be used for specific purposes as

088a result of formal action by the school's highest level of authority and that would be the school board. There is no highest there is no higher level of authority um in a public school system than than the school board. So that's assigned or committed by the school board and that's $24 million. The unassigned amount which is which is really can be used for anything is 398127 and that brings your total fund balance to 51,227 351. Now that is just the general fund. You guys do have a capital reserve fund too that is at roughly $15 million, but we'll talk about that when we get further in the slides. So when you go into the next slide, this will be what your assigned and your committed numbers are. So the assigned have two different two you

089guys have assigned two different codes for the assigned or two different definitions so to speak. The board can name these definitions to anything you guys want them to be. They could be you could I could you could be creative. It could be whatever they want them to be. The board has decided these to be future pasers and healthcare costs, which is $18 million, or future curriculum costs, which you've decided and designated to be $6 million to the total assigned fund balance at $24 million. The committed number was balancing the 2425 budget, and that's at 17,43244 or 441. Now, these come out when the audit is completed. That's when the board designates these fund level numbers. They're also done. So they are done as of June 30th, 2024 or when the next audit comes out. You

090will redo these and reassign, recommmit, redelegate these numbers um when the when the next fiscal year audit is completed, which will be done as of June 30th, 2025. But these are what they are and what they are assigned or committed. These numbers cannot be assigned or changed without a board action taken um by a vote of the of the majority of the board of education. So now I want to before we go on I want to so because these this budget presentation is is long and before we move on are there any questions from the board members regarding the fund balance or the recalibration of the fund balance or anything of those of those nation of those uh no so option one in the in the in the budget. So, I'm going to present the

091options that were presented at the at the uh at the finance committee. This would be the 0% tax increase or the rebalancing step every year because we're a multi-county district requires the board to uh rebalance it based on the market value and the tax assessment value of the district. This would require this would be um if the district just put everything in and nothing changes, nothing changes in the assessment value. Nothing ever nothing of that nature changes. Monroe County would be 31.05. Pike would go up slightly. 016 at a millillage rate to 126.21. The annual increase from a homeowner in Monroe County would be $0. The annual increase in Pike County would be $3.69. However, the lost revenue for the district would be 1,65,482. This represents because of the fact that Monroe County had lost

092um the tax assessment the tax assessment dollars that I mentioned two slides ago um due to assessment appeals. That would be the lost uh local revenue that we had uh that we had incurred. I will go over the revenue in the previous slide. The in the next slide, excuse me. The average assessment value for a homeowner in Monroe County is 106,000 106,900,000. Then in Pike County it's 23,210. Now the average assessment value is not the market value. It is the assessment value of a home. So you might be able to sell your house for 200 some 200 $300,000 in Pike County. You may you're assessed at 23,000 or something of that nature because Pike County has not been reassessed. Monroe County has been reassessed. So let's go to the revenue summary and we'll talk about

093what this actually means in real dollars if the board chose option one in the 2025 2026 budget. The local revenue for all sources of local revenue which includes real estate taxes includes investment on investment on uh earnings on investment which includes um the uh the local uh uh revenue on your local earnings on um the I'm trying to think of me I'm trying to think what I'm trying to say here because I'm having a brain freeze right now because it's late at night. It is the earnings on uh the taxes on the any local revenue that comes out which is the earnings on your income tax earnings that comes out from the local revenue piece sources. Everything put together comes to 107525 547. I apologize for the the brain freeze I'm having. And that increase

094still has a 114,0002 or1% increase. The reason that being is because the local income tax revenue that we normally get has been trending upwards. We normally budget $4.3 million, but the trend for the last three years is we've been getting $5 million from that. So in the budget, we've put in $5 million because that's what the local three-year trend has been. And I reached out to Burkheimr who collects that revenue and they expect to get $5 million in from the local uh from the local income tax collection uh agency as well. So they believe that can be the normal trend for next year as well. So that helps eat away at some of that revenue. The interest earnings as well, we've been budgeted conservatively at at the $ 1.5 million level. We were able to

095increase that by $250,000 as well to $1.75 million. The reason being is historically that number has been very low. However, we've increased it over the years since I've been here to bring it up. And even this year, we're going to overshoot that again because we're already over. Last year, we budgeted in 2425. In this current year, we budgeted 1.5 million and we've already collected over $2.3 million in interest earnings. So, we've already shot that again. And in the current investment uh earnings uh market, I expect to be able to go over that as well. So with all that put together, we're able to uh over to defeat that $1.6 million revenue deficit to meet that in the state earnings. Uh in the state earnings revenue, we have 76,050 or 54,332 or a increase of 6.9

096million or 9.98% increase from the year from 2425. That includes the $5.5 million of the tax equity payment that the governor has budgeted. That will also carry over to next year is included in his budget and there is no indications that it's coming out. So we believe that's going to be staying in there as well. Now this is only revenue uh this is revenue centric. It's not expense ccentric. So um that is expected to stay in there. Also in there is an increase in transportation subsidy. Uh we've been budgeting $2.5 million. In the last two years, we've gotten close to $3 million. Um and based on the the trends, we believe we'll get close to $3 million as well. So that makes up part of that as well. So that makes up that 9.9% the

097majority of that 98% increase on the federal revenue. We go from 9.8 million to 4.985 million or a decrease of 4.8 million. Now that is not anything to do with a decrease in title money. That is our ESRE money uh going away. All the ESRE money is now cashed out. That is just a uh taking out the decrease in the uh in the Esser money or or a near a 49.19% decrease. The other revenue is a sale of fixed assets. Um it is it stands to reason that we can go over that $50,000 with the sale of our school buses that we have for sale. um that will offset the expenditure um that the board spent $5.8 million on buying the school buses. Um so that number and the $50,000 we could overshoot that, but

098I didn't want to go I didn't I wanted to be conservative on that number because I didn't want to over overshoot it and then have some problems where we didn't sell the vehicles and they're still sitting there a year out. So that's some reason where that number could go up a little bit. So the variance uh between 2425 and 2526 is 2 mill 2.1 million or 1.15% increase from year 1 or from 2425 to 2526. Is there any questions about the revenue projections at this point? So last year the legislature the governor appropriated money for us $5 million that can't be spent until this is this coming fiscally, right? There's talk on in the state about an additional amount in addition to that. Is that what you meant before? And is that included in this

099fiscal year? Will that have to be then following this school year? It's going to be basically a roll forward. So that $5.5 million we get and then it's basically put on our our books as a prepaid uh prepaid revenue or not a prepaid revenue like a deferred revenue and then we'll go on to our fund balance and then we could use that and then the next year we get the other 5.5 million and then we have to do it. It's just like a rolling it's like a roll forward. So we're not going to get 10 million. No, it's just going to be 5.5 million. Yeah, it's not going to be like $10 million. Right. You're right. You're on you're on the right track with that. Are there any other questions? Okay. So this is the

100budget summary with option one. The revenue the total revenue of 188 565 443. The expenditure 21185850 with a projected deficit of 23,24047. The um the fund balance the projected fund balance uh is 51,227 351. When you take it all when you take both the assigned fund balances to the budget amount at 17 million and the funds to balance the 2526 budget the ending capital or the ending general fund balance is 10 million 5 uh 55 54503 however um the basically on the trends that we're looking at for this year I don't believe we're going to realize the 17 million uh 432. I believe we're going to come in somewhere around $7 million for the deficit for this year. So I believe the ending uh C general reserve fund B or the C general fund balance

101will be 20,9869 uh 944 um and the capital reserve fund balance is 15,204191. So I want to make one statement about the capital reserve fund balance a more of a real time um re uh balance because we have spent money out of the capital reserve fund balance as we spend on real time projects like the scoreboards and different things that have come out. For an example when you guys well when you guys approve the refund checks from train that money will go back right back in there and you guys could respend that money. the fund balance, the general fund balance is more of a kind of a static type of thing where the capital reserve things is something that you guys could spend on projects that have a life expectancy of 5 years or more.

102So that's something that you should guys know that this is more of a realtime capital reserve fund balance um than is than is the general fund balance. Just so you guys in the public know that when you add the two numbers together that gets your total fund balance because I know that has been a question in the past. Does the deficit that you're showing for um next year include the anticipated deficit for this year we're in right now? Yes. 19. So it doesn't include that extra 10 that we may or may not show. The anticipated column, it does. So if you look at the anticipated column where you have the the 7 million and the 23 million that has that has what I believe the anticipated deficit will be and then so the ending general

103fund balance be 20 million 986 944 there's a third there's a second column if you're looking at it will be this column right here right but you're saying the fund balance is still going to be negative 23 what the end of next year will be 20 million 936 94. Yeah. So, what I'm saying is is that the the fun box will be in the positive. It won't be a negative. It will be a positive. You know what I'm saying? Or what I'm trying to grasp my head around is the projected deficit of 23 million. Okay. Does that include the projected 10 million 17 million from this year or does that projected deficit? Yes, it does. Yes, it does. It does not. Okay. So, so her question is, is the $17 million included in the $23

104million deficit? No. No. No, it doesn't. I'm sorry. They're they're different years. 24 school year there was a $17 million deficit. We're saying we're only going to really realize seven million of it. Correct. And we're going to have to pull that out of the fund balance. Then what Pete is saying is that for the 25 26 we're feeling it might be a $23 million deficit which we will have to pull out. So it's total in the two years 30. That's what I was trying to get my head. But it's a the 23 is a feeling. It's just like correct. Just like the seven feeling only. Exactly right. Was a feeling for the year before. Correct. It was only based on the numbers in for us in front of us right now. Yep. Absolutely. But but

105this year is going to be seven, not 17. So 20 the 23 could be much different than than this. Yeah. Or not. Or not. It's it's the war. It's it's it's really the budgeting is going with the most aggressive expenses and not spending every dollar you have budgeted. So when you look at we'll go to option two which is the 2% tax increase. And the option two for the 2% tax increase increases your revenue by 1.65482. And the reason that this is um my particular uh uh the administration's particular uh recommended option is because this actually goes gets back to a b the basic real estate revenue that we've had this year at 8858038 and this replaces the $1.6 million we lost and particularly to one of the properties that we had uh that we

106lost an assessment appeal on. This will bring the Monroe County uh uh real estate revenue rate to 31.59 and the Pike County mill rate to 128.42. It will annually increase the average homeowner of 57 uh in Monroe County $57.72, the Pike County um average homeowner at $551. Uh monthly it'll be $4.81 monthly or Pike County $4.58 monthly. And this is a just a 2% tax increase um for for the revenue. If you look at the budget summary here, we have actually we've decreased the budget by an average of $2 million from the budget presentation that we showed you back in March. This was a a lot of hard work by a lot of different departments. And this will go and we'll show you on the per the per department uh summaries. This this was a

107very large decrease across um several different uh almost every department has cut their expenses. So it was a 2 million B $2 million decrease and that was actually also an option one as well. But this will go show you the the same expenditure or same expenditure level from 211 805850. The revenue did increase by that 1.6 million to 1901 189568. And it goes to show you that the ending general fund balance was 22,6169. And that would raise also that would just keep on a more that would just replace the $1.6 million that we lost in an assessment appeal for one of our top 10 property taxes that have that occurred earlier this year. Um, if we go to option number three, which is the 3.5% tax increase, this would uh make the Monroe County Miller

108rate 32.13, the Pike County mill rate at 130.59 and would increase revenue 3,2071 171. The annual increase of an average homeowner would be 116 and 16. The Pike County would be average resident would pay 105 and 37 for 12 months and the increase per month would be for Monroe County $9.68 and Pike County $8.78 and this would bring in an additional 3,2071 171. I think it's important to note too that while you may not need the tax revenue, the increased tax revenue this year because the fund balance is relatively healthy, this builds on itself for subsequent years. The district really hasn't raised taxes for about 15 years in in any appreciable manner. And so it's important that you note that fund balance will will begin to exponentially decrease. And as it does that, it will

109become harder and harder to make up the structural differences in in the budget deficit as you go forward. So that's why it's important to build up the revenue as it continues as it as it as it continues to go on. So as you look at the revenue here, the revenue goes up to 1917 257. The expenditures stay the same at 2185850. The projected deficit is 20,14,593. And this will keep your ending general fund balance at 24,2127 758. Um, and I'm using the anticipated, not the uh not the projected, but the anticipated at the end. And option four is the act one index, the act one index tax increase, which would be a 5.6% tax increase. This is what the max of what the district could could raise revenue-wise if they needed to uh this particular

110year. I don't know how much how much more or how much bigger the aquin index will get more than 5.6%. That's also something to keep in mind as well. The uh the millage rate for Monroe County will be 32.78 under this option. The Pike County the millage rate would be 133.24. As as you also note here, the change from prior year um the Pike County mill rate only went up 4.3%. Um under a multi-county system once you hit 5.6% 6% in one county, you're not permitted to raise the taxes anymore. In the second county, you are you officially hit that limit. You're not allowed to raise the taxes anymore in either county. The Monroe County uh the Monroe County annual increase would be 184 and 93 cents and Pike County would be 166 and 88.

111The inc the annual the monthly increase in Monroe would be $1541 and Pike $13.91 and the increased revenue would be 5.2 million. Under this particular option, the anticipated uh general fund balance uh number would be 26,161 and 533. Do you guys have any question on the four options that were presented? So let's go through the the 25 and 26 expenditure details. Um the one thing I want to mention uh we did have a healthc care call uh for the spring rates. The spring rates uh may have may have to be increased slightly from 11% to up to 13%. Um I'm still efering that. I have a call with them on Wednesday to get some more specifics. Um so there was a slight increase in the in the healthcare cost beyond what was budgeted. Um so

112we'll have to go through that but the salaries are 88 million 620874. Uh the benefits 63 million287 210 or a 5.69% increase. The professional technical services 10 million 934477 and that's for IU for special education services. The purchase property services 2.2 2,493 88 830 8883 or a 12.2% increase from 2425 and other purchases services 15,647 or and 697. This includes a charter school tuition at $9 million. Um we have uh I know that this is a big uh this is where I think we could we could have some expenditure savings with the state. There is legislation that is moving through um where we can experience a perhaps a two to$2.5 million savings expenditure wise if they do pass uh charter school reform and cap what we charge to tuition to cyber school tuition. So if

113you do talk to any state legislators, please push hard that they reform um what we pay um our cyber school our cyber school tuition charges. So that is something that I know is being pushed hard through the uh through the system right now. Our supplies 9,263 244. This is not just school supplies. This includes electricity, natural gas, the water. There are some school supplies in there, but the majority of this is really our electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, and things of that nature. Our property 2 million 8 2.8 million to 14.21% increase. And the other object in debt service is 18,72128. This is a decrease of 4.14%. This is new debt issue for school buses. And there's leases that came off of this as well that uh some of our leases are falling off of

114that as well. That's why there's a decrease in there. When you go on to our one of our last slides here, you'll see a lot of these decreases. This is some of the cuts that we have made to make up for the $2 million uh and savings that we made from one budget presentation to the second. I know we came back and said we're going to make two uh some cuts and these are some of the cuts that we made. As you could see, some of the big ones that we have made in the in the grounds budget, they cut $130,000 from the grounds budget. In the legal services budget, there was $111,000 in cuts. In the maintenance budget, there was 168500 $168,000 in cuts. In special education, there was $227,000 in cuts. Uh in

115transportation, we were able to make $45,000 in cuts. As you could see, there's a lot of work that was done to make this a a reality. Uh in budgetary reserve, we cut $250,000 from the cuts. In the Colonial Intermediate Unit, we cut $384,000 from that. Uh in insurance premiums, we had we uh we added add 52,244 from that. Um and also in utilities we're able to cut 13,000 uh300 thou $13,300 from that. We did have a slight increase in tuition uh up to 139,000. There are some of our students that are in our our outplacement programs. Um we had some increases from there students that are outplaced. So you look at our expenditure details from departments. These are the building departments that were able to cut. There was a universal cuts across the board all

116the way down from Athletics North all the way down to Smithfield as you could see. Uh most of the buildings made their cuts uh exclusively and they did an excellent job at this. I'm very proud of all the budgets and the department heads that made their their budgets work under this. So now I want to get to these these last two slides. First of all, are there any questions about these departments? Yes, George. Yeah, I got a question. Under the benefits, you say health insurance costs are going up 11%. They're going up 11%. They may go up to 13% from last year. Is that is that that money part of the uh assigned? No, that's that's not part of the fund balance. That's just budget coming out of the the general expenses. But but but

117we have the it says the the health health is 11% the the assigned for the 18 million is for health and uh Yes. So that money in the in the general So could we take could we take money out of there and not have that assigned and put it into into this budget for the healthcare? You could, but I've asked that question to our trust our trust managers and they said that it would not uh decrease the uh the increases because it's just a one-time cost thing and our claims are going up through the roof and the cost is an actuarial thing and not just a our it's not because our reserves are running out. The reason you put the money in there would be if our trust is running out of reserves and they

118needed like a rehab, like they needed money to make our reserves go up. Like so say for an example, we running out of money in our bank account at the trust at ETP uh or EPTEP and they needed money. Yeah, that's why you would cut a check out of that reserve money. It would not it would not take money out of the out of the uh out of the claims because the claim are we're having bad history with our claims. So you're saying the actual health insurance costs are are going up. Correct. Correct. This money is there to pay. Yeah. Like if you had if we had if we didn't have like say stop-loss insurance or something that was we had a run on if we had a run on our reserves in the uh

119in the in our in our bank account there or something of that nature. Yes. I just c Yeah, I asked that because I was trying to stay I was trying to save off if I could if I could make say make a double payment or or triple payment to try to save off the increases of of the health care claims. I was trying to do that but um was not possible. Do we pay the health claims out of that account? Uh, we pay we pay the health care claims out of our general fund account out of it's a general fund budget. So that money is just in case. It was Yeah, it's just I don't And who determines the amount that we put into that reserve? Um the money that we put into the general

120fund reserve the healthare reserve um the trust itself. It's based on it's based on claims history. No, I don't think that's the question. I think the question is When you talk about the fund balance and the assigned funds, you were saying piecers and health care costs that we allotted $18 million in the fund balance. That's the question that decision and that allotted $18 million cover that difference. Am I right? Yes. And is that something that who determines that we need $18 million to be assigned for that? I know Pasers the state does, but who determines how much we need to put aside for insurance? The board made that. The board made that decision before I that the that fund balance decision was made. You guys can change that. You guys could you guys could allocate.

121You're asking that either. No, I I think I I think the question was who So I I don't think I think the question was who def who So let I think we need to take one step back. George's question was hey can't we we have this assigned money in our fund balance. We know we're going to see these costs in health care. Just we take the money, we'll move it over there, call a day, right? That that's Yeah. Did I get that right, George? Yeah. I said is a healthc care increase this $63 million, right? Can we use our reserves to go? Exactly. We're going to So, you have to look at it this way, right? All the money sitting in the bank. Okay. When we create this budget, we know that we're going to

122have a shortfall. We're going to have a deficit. Part of that deficit def deficit is going to be caused because of our healthcare and our peasers. We're going to say we're going to pull it from there and fill the gaps, right? And that's what's going to help us get through that time. We plan the money out. We knew we were going to need it. We're calling on now to cover the gap. What do But is that 18 million needed for to cover that gap or is it some other number? Well, right now it's 23 million increase. I'm talking about the healthcare you can't you can't look at it that that much easers and healthcare are are 18 million easers and healthcare we've assigned in our reserve budget a a chunk of money we've assigned to

123use that when we need it yes that's what we've assigned we've assigned it when we need it now we need it now we're needed is it going to be all of it I don't know it just depends on what where we end up at the end of the year. And that was a an assignment a that we assume that we that you and I would assign 18 million. We could have signed 12 million. We right we could have signed arbitrary sign million and we can move it if we want to. That's what that's what we assigned. So it it's a it's an artificial not an artificial number it's a real number arbitrary uh it would change it would change the basically the numbers of it doesn't change anything on the next year's budget. It's important

124to know that these are two separate pots of money. The pot of money that's in the bank right now can help fill the gaps in the budget in the deficits. Yeah. That's all it's there for. But when he's talking about here are our expenses. So we have this 11% increase in health care cost. He's just saying that's what's going to that's what it's projected to be for next year. Part of the budget. Yes. Yeah. You pass this part of the budget and we can fill that with the T with the reserve balance that we have sitting in the back. Yeah. That's what that's what I was trying to Okay. Does that help? It does. And I think there were the the step forward question was can we take money from the fund balance and put

125it to the healthc care trust and say can we reduce what we have to pay and per claims to and use some of the reserves that we have at our fund balance to pay at the at the healthcare trust level to reduce the claims that we have to fund in our particular claim. We still have to pay for one way or another. Yeah. And I don't think and I don't think we and we cannot do that because I've asked that question. um it doesn't it doesn't reduce the claim exp it it doesn't reduce the claim exposure um at that particular level. So I've already asked that question to help reduce the claim level. The only way that we can reduce that 11% would be if we red if we change the plan design of our

126health care plan and what is covered and the only way that we can do that would be through negotiation with our labor unions and particularly particularly teachers union because that drives basically all of our plans. So that's the only way that we could reduce that 11% would be through that. So and that's not really predictable. Yeah. So that's I I thought that's what the question was and I think Rebecca's question was who determines what we have to keep at the trust level and that's guided by the trust bylaws and and I think without you asking what preserve we have to keep at the trust bylaw level that's guided by the trust bylaws that we agreed to when we were at the trust level. Yeah. So I don't know. I don't I I have to I'd

127have to look at the trust by I don't want to give you a wrong number and be wrong. I'd have to I'd have to email you what we have there by somewhere around 4 and a half months worth of cost. Okay. So if we would give them more money worth of cost level it wouldn't help us any. So the reason we keep that money in assigned would be if we somehow if if somehow we drop below that number because we had bad like a really bad amount of costs and we have to put money in immediately like in an emergency situation and that's why we'd have to do that. It would not lower the cost. It would not lower the expense level of what we are paying because of our plan design and what we

128cover and how we cover that. You know what I mean? That's why I've already asked these questions because I'm trying to avoid the bigger expense because I'm afraid that the 13% is going to go higher next year and I'm trying to avoid that um by any way I can, but I've already asked these questions at the at that trust level. So, I'm sorry if I confuse anybody. I I didn't mean anybody. I didn't mean anything. So, the next two slides might be a little scary and I don't want any any fear. These are just worst case scenarios. Okay. So, this is what the annual surplus deficit will look for the next three years. Um, four years, excuse me. I can't count apparently. Um, the blue option will be if we didn't raise the the revenue

129or the taxes at all, 0%. The brown option would be the brown color. I don't know, it's not color on you. Oh, it says color on your print. The brown option is 2%. The red option is 3 and a.5% and the gray option is 5.6%. And that's what the deficit would be forecasted to look like. Um that is the worst I mean these are the worst case scenarios. Um as you know the worst case scenarios and budgets as you know this district has been very well performing on the on the expenditure side and that's a good positive thing. The bad positive, the bad thing is that eventually it keeps spreading out yearly and eventually it's going to come it's going to come home to roost. I'm going to show you another slide that I know

130was that is is a little more scary too, but I'm going to explain it to you. So, this is the projected fund balance. The fund balance right now, like I said, is this is showing you it's a little bit higher than what the the dot is because at 51 million, but if you look at the the trend lines for the blue option, the brown option, the red option, and the gray option, the blue option is 0%. The brown option is 2%. The red option is is 3.5% and the gray option is 5.6%. Now, it does show it going in the negative. Um, but as we have talked about in the past and we've talked about a little bit in the f we talked about a little bit before, what happens is when you project out

131and like for this year for example, you budgeted a $17 million deficit and we come in around $7 million. The same thing could be true next year. But the problem is when you raise revenue this year, you may not need it this year, but it compounds itself next year and the following year and you add revenue up like a stepping stone. That's what you kind of that's what you need to look for as a board looking into the future is saying you want to smooth out this trend so that the line doesn't go down like where the line's not going into a straight uh I don't want to say a cliff but straight down into into a dip where it kind of smooths itself out to where you get down to the zero line in

132in five or six years. This isn't meant to scare anybody. This is meant to say what the projected what the projections could look like in five or six, seven years. Now, obviously, you guys have seen this before. You guys, I know you've seen this before in 2015. You've seen this before 2020. You've seen this before in 2022. You've seen this before. I'm talking about guys that were showed this before when I wasn't here. Now, you saw us before in 2015. and you said the district was going to be broken by 2020 and you had $50 million. So, I understand you guys have seen this before, but this is is is real because the deficits have are here now. And I'm I'm sharing that they're they're here. So, this is going to be something that's going

133to occur in the next five or in the next four or five years even if this line smooths out. So, George, what is your what is your question on this? Do a deficit. We do a tax increase or not. Right. Right. Right. This year for the other years, do they show any tax increases at all or is it we just doing a tax increase? A one and done. One and done. Is that is that what show is showing a one and done or is it showing a uh increase year after year? In reading the chart, it looks like it's saying a three and a half% increase every year. Right? So if you look at the chart, if you look at the chart, um the blue line is showing no increase in year one, but it

134would be um it would be it would be would not show a t it would be a three and a half% increase in year in years 27 through 30. In 2526, it would be a 3 and a half years every year. In the brown line, it would be a 3 and 12% tax increase every year. And in the gray line, it would be a 5.6% tax increase. and then three and a half% tax increase every year after that. And that's with expense at the same level at the same clip, right? So there's obviously opportunities to reduce expenses as you go along with that. Yeah. So three and a half% tax increase is the baseline that I used for every year. It's just I only use this year as a start to say no tax increase

1352% 3 and a half% or 5.6%. Yes. Can I ask a question? Yes, sir. What what basis are you determining what the state's contribution will be and the federal government's contribution is going to be to the uh to the income to the district in these future years? I kept on both levels, sir. Okay. So, again, we always talk about this. We don't know what the governments are going to give us. So, you're just keeping it flatlined. And so, it could be a lot more. You're just giving worst case scenario in this case. Correct. Yes. I always, you know, I always go with the worst case scenario because I don't believe they're going to cut our revenue. But I do believe if they keep it level, that's the worst case scenario. Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir.

136I just want to double check your forecast is based on expenditures over time being equal to the 211 or did you increase that by a percentage every year? Based on the contracts that we have in place, right? It's based on a three and a half% wage increase based on the the benefits going up. uh benefits going the health insurance going up 10% each year as well. It doesn't factor in any staffing reductions just due to attrition. Correct. There's no just basing it specifically on what we have right now. Right. There's no Yeah, there's no there's no attritional savings or um staff replacement like with senior people retiring being replaced with with younger people. Yeah. With entry- level people. So there are there are say there are abilities to save money in here. This is absolutely

137the worst case scenario, but I'm looking at the revenue side needing to catch up at least somewhat to the expense side. I think the really important thing here to know is that if you're looking at this through 2030, our the majority of our bonds don't go away until 2031. Like that actually like almost go down to like $1 million. then will start have that money to I don't I wouldn't I don't I I I I'm not a big fan of districts going or any municipality going debt free because you always need I'm saying that okay just so you know at that point those bonds disappear right the you're at the highest level of your of your municipal debt as well so by that point I mean you're going to need school buses as well you're

138not buying any school buses this year but but that's not 16 $18 million no no but I think but I think you're going to need I mean there's there going to be capital needs you're going to have. Yes. And I also believe that you have there's a great administration team here and it's going to look to reduce expenditures where they can and we don't the board does not spend and this is for the public consumption but the board doesn't spend every dollar that it has budgeted. That's why you never I mean that's it's not it takes a it takes a village but it also I mean you ever hear that saying it really does and that's why you don't spend every dollar that's that's there. It's not just one person doing it or an administration

139team doing it. It's everybody that does it. So, whatever the board decides to do, um the taxpayer dollars have always been very well served in this district for for a very extended period of time. So, I'm going this is the comparison option. Uh this is a very important chart here. This is I think the last one. This shows a summary of all four options, the deficit and the monthly increases for each option. Um, so it does show the monthly increases for for each one. Um, so this good opportunity. I'm going to I'm going to try to get this up on the website for you guys for the public consumption so they can see this. Um, so this will go on there so anybody from the public can see it as well. And this goes to

140show you the what the projected deficit will be with each option and the monthly increases. In May, the finance committee will make the recommendation of which budget to move forward. Uh we'll present the preliminary final budget to the board for consideration and approval. And in June, the final budget will be voted for and approval. If you have any questions, please reach out to me or my email address and I will sure to reach out and and uh and I'll answer any questions you guys have or schedule a meeting and I'll be happy to meet with anybody that has any questions. Any other questions? Thank you. Okay, we are uh going to move on to public participation. And just a reminder for anyone uh who will be commenting, we are limited to comments on this agenda

141by residents and taxpayers of the school district. We do set a threeminut uh time limit for those comments. So is any public participation Anthony, anyone online? No one online. Okay, seeing none, we continue. Um, any unfinished business from the board. Okay, then we'll move. We have a motion to adopt the board policies that are listed. Second questions. I just want my just to make it easier with the delay. If if if I vote if I don't answer, I'm voting yes and if I vote no, I'll vote no. Is that acceptable? Yeah. Yes. All right. Thanks. Okay. So, uh, all in favor? I opposed. Motion to approve the revised organizational chart attachment 008 prepared by the superintendent as presented to clearly designate the relationships of all employees within the district. Second. Questions? All in favor? I

142opposed. Motion to approve the special education plan report of the East Straburg Area School District. The comprehensive plan as submitted. The East Straburg Area School District special education plan report will encompass July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, uh, 2028. Second, questions. I just want to say thank you for all the work to get this done. I know we had some hustling to do, but we got it done as a team and I appreciate everybody on the board as well as the the staff that helped with it to get it done. Thank you. And Mary is present. She's the director of secondary uh special education. Thank you. Appreciate Thank you. Okay. All in favor? Opposed. Um oop, sorry, I moved too fast here. Motion to approve the settlement agreement and release between the East Railsburg Area

143School District and the parents of the student with case RSA 20250428A. Second. Questions? All in favor? Opposed? A motion to approve uh the author, excuse me, a motion to authorize the field trips that are listed. Second. Questions? Yes. Good luck to our students who are going to be competing. Mhm. Good. All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the facility use of agreement as presented with Club Exploria LLC for use of its golf course for practices and matches by the high school north and high south golf teams per the terms of the agreement. Second questions? All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the recommendations to modify expulsion requirement agreed upon expulsion waiver of school board hearing and release agreement for the case listed in substantially the same form as presented at this meeting contingent upon the

144receipt of any manifestation determinations indicating the fractions were not manifestations of a disability were applicable subject to final review by the school district's administration and legal council. So move. Second. Questions? All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the following position descriptions. They are listed there. Second questions. All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the separation agreement and release with Brian D. Badock as presented. So moved. Questions? All in favor? I I motion to approve the revised act 93 compensation plan for 2425 through 2829 as presented. Second. Questions? All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the compensation plan between the East Straburg Board of Education and the school police officers for 2526 through the 2930 as presented. So second questions. All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the following affiliation agreements with the East Straburg Board

145of Education as listed there. Some move. Second. Questions. All in favor? I opposed. Motion to approve the following notice of charges. Questions? All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the following memorandum of understandings and they are listed. Second questions. All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the employment actions listed in accordance with the associated applicable policies, procedures, and contractual agreements. So move second. Questions? All in favor? Opposed? Uh I would just like to say that one of our newly appointed people, our director of secondary curriculum, Amy Paul Malter is with us and congratulations Amy. Uh we look forward to all of the world. Amy and I were the dynamic duo when we were together at the south. So I know I know of all well except when we were at JT jealousy for the principal

146over there. I was the OG. Yes. Yeah, congratulations. Congratulations. Yeah, we are truly excited to have you in that position uh joining the the really fine team we have in curriculum now. Thank you. Okay. And now I totally lost my place. Okay. How about this one? Sud. Let's try this one. Let's do that one. Motion to approve the agreement for school business consultants LLC as presented for budget review and preparation services as set forth in the agreement. Second questions. All in favor? I opposed. Motion to award items A through J in accordance with the recommendations from the finance properties and facilities and education resource and program committee. Second questions. I have a question. I have a question. Item E, the microphones on that bid on that um estimate. It said the prices were good through

147April 14th. As someone checked with B&H to make sure the prices did not go up because uh Shore has had some price increases uh recently and I have another price increase in May. Anyone? I can't I can't speak on that directly. If there was an increase, we would bring it back to the board. So, so that is the maximum that we will spend. If there is an increase, we will be bring it back to finance committee and go through that process again. Thank you. Okay. Okay. All right. Good. Yep. Favor. Opposed. Motion to approve the following item in accordance with the recommendation from the finance committee and property and facilities committee. Questions? All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the payment of bills and unudited treasurers report listed in this agenda for the 2425 fiscal

148year in accordance with section 687 of the public school code recent directives from the department of education and interpretations made by the auditor general. So moved. Second. Question. I have yeah I have to um abstain from page 16 check number 0000009737 out of the general fund and check number 0000001142 out of the student activity fund. Okay, got it, Keith. Thank you. Anything else? All in favor? I oppos. I motion to approve the payment of the following invoices for services rendered and application for payment number three. Second questions. All in favor? I opposed. Motion to approve the request to establish a special activity fund for the Lehman intermediate volleyball. So move. Second. Questions? All in favor? I opposed. Motion to approve the request to renew the already established special activity fund for the high school North

149Wrestling. Second, questions. All in favor? Opposed? Okay, moving on to um motion to approve the revised 2425 East Straburg Area School District calendar as presented to reflect two snow days and establishing May 30th, 2025 as High School South's graduation and May 31st, 2025 as High School North's graduation. Second questions. I can't believe they're graduating. Yes. here. All in favor? I opposed. If I can just interrupt really quickly, included in this are two days of professional development at the end of the school year. And part of the last day is going to be about building a community within our district. And we are hosting a giant picnic lunching lunch in itself for everyone. And it is in conjunction with our support staff union is funding it. Our professional staff union is funding it and our district

150is funding it. This is truly an event that is going to show we are together united as a district north south and our unions are supporting everything we're doing. Is this at the South Stadium? This is at South Stadium June 5th from 11:00 a.m. to 100 p.m. And I believe there is going to be entertainment from our very own Mr. Ragna. You're going to be busing from north. We are going to transport everybody. Awesome. And it transportation will start at 10:15 and everything will kick off at 11 down here at South High School. Yep. I think that's exciting. It is so exciting. That is truly amazing. Really amazing. So, thank you for voting on this calendar. It allows us the opportunity to come together as one. Excellent. Thank you for the organization. That's just amazing.

151Okay, moving on. Motion to approve the 2526 East Straburg Area School District calendar as presented. So moved. questions. Yes. I would like to start Easter Monday. Um it's always traditionally been a day that we uh we have so that families can move back because of the holiday. They can spend the holiday together. And uh I know this moves that out. So, if we could take a day from the week before and stick it back on the Monday, that would be a regular type of thing that our families expect. If we take a day from the week before, um that means that our students are only coming in one day that is typically something that we try to avoid because one day in a week is a lost day for our students. So, I am happy

152to pivot back to the old model. We liked that we were giving a families two weekends with a week in between. We thought that it would actually be a full spring break of the weekend, the week, and then the weekend and then come back on Monday. If the board wants Easter Monday, I'm happy with it, but I would probably pivot back to Thursday, Friday, Monday as spring recess. That way we can get school days in and it's not just one day in a week. I would agree. School. The other question I had too if you want to was on in November we have we go to we're we're in school Monday then we're off Tuesday for the development day. That's kind of like weird a weird breakup of the week as well. I don't understand

153what you mean where we're in school on Monday. Well November 3rd they have school. Yes. Then they're off. It's election day. Yeah. And that that is something that we have bargained. Yeah. With election day. Yeah. just I I it's a weird breakup of their week. So you might have So my thought was the rest of the rest of the week. Yeah. So here's my thought. I was just thinking as I was thinking about what Debbie said. So if you took move the 31st to the 6th and gave them a longer weekend and then took the 30th and gave them the third, you could move those two days around to make it well. So would the association agree to give back the election day in order to do well we need election day in case we

154have people coming into the building too. That's why we did that originally as well. It had nothing to do with collective bargaining. It was safety with a lot of our buildings being um election sites. So just so you know the process for building a school calendar. I met with our administrative teams. We talked about this. We've been working on this calendar since I started in December. Um, I met with the professional staff union. I met with the support staff union. We talked about it for two straight months. This is the calendar that everybody as a whole has agreed on. If you want us to go back and make adjustments, I'm happy to do it, but just know this wasn't just Maggie threw a calendar together and said, "Ah, that looks good." But it's the first

155time we're seeing it. Yes. Do you typically do you typically see calendars for a two-month span? We see calendars for the year, but mostly No. No. So, so, so we run calendars almost like we run a policy that you see it once and then you approve it the next month. Not necessarily because we haven't jostled things around. Okay. We've also had to fix errors in the past years. Yeah. Yeah. We've had errors with wrong days off and things like that. If you remember last year absolutely so that's why we've always seen it discussed it and so should we vote on this and then if you don't you know people are unhappy we vote that down which would then put a process to have a new calendar presented is that the right that would be the

156right process I don't want to cut any discussion though any more discussion on the calendar then we'll take no it'll go back for more discussion how crazy if we get two weeks off for Christmas break in a out. Mhm. I have one question about e the Easter Monday. Could that be could that be could that be considered a religious day for people that are celebrating Easter with their family as one of those days that can be excused if they can't make it? No, that is not a that is not a religious holiday. Easter Monday. It is. Easter Monday is a real holiday. Some some some place it is. Well, I mean that would be the case. people can also get a it would it would be the same that would follow any religious holiday. Um

157I'm not sure when Passover falls. Yeah. Just just try to help them out. Uh George three weeks in the school year one one day and then what's the end of the next week? The following week then school end on on Monday June 8th. That would be weird to be able to come Monday. which what is what I'm trying to avoid with spring break of just bringing students in for one day. I guarantee you, I would bet my mortgage that if we did Monday, June 8th as the last day of school, attendance would be less than 50%. Okay. If there and no other comments, we'll take our vote and then move on from there. Well, let me let me I I apologize. No, sure. That's fine. uh days in which we would take if we were

158to have snow days if we exceeded the number and then we use our fib days and so on. Uh we will not be applying for fid days this year. No. So it's very very interesting when you look at code and the law if you apply for fid days you're only allowed five, right? However, there is unlimited use of virtual days. Okay. So how many did we use this year? Zero. Correct. So if we then begin to utilize days beyond that, what what is our plan of using days that are built into the calendar? Do we have any days built into this calendar that we would remove in order to not extend the school year? Yes. So I have extra instructional hours. So I don't have extra days. I have extra instructional hours. Okay. So we

159meet that and that's you only need to meet one of those. Correct. And there there is padding in it. Okay. Also, we did not use fid days this year because it's my understanding that it was communicated out that the first five snow days would be snow days. Everything after that would be fid. That will not be the case moving forward. I have a very very scientific method, okay, for calling fid days or virtual days. If you can make a snowman or make a snowball and sleigh ride, we're going to cancel school. If it's icy and garbage, we're going to do virtual and keep the day moving. Okay. My concern is only I just want to make sure we didn't build into days and start pulling because most of the time other districts were from spring

160recess. Correct. And I want to make sure I want to make sure we're not that and not giving correct. Yep. Absolutely. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Maybe we'll do a roll call since so we'll have an accurate number. Is that good, Patricia? Okay. Debbie Kulick, no. Rich Lameus, no. George Andrews, yes. Rebecca Bear, I'm going to say yes. I trust your judgment. I appreciate that. And Catrell, I'm going to say yes because you said all of the associations agreed to it. Thank you. Mike Catrello, yes. Jason Golstrren, yes. Keith Carut, yes. Wayne Roner, yes. 72. Okay. And thank you for the discussion on that. Okay. Moving on. Motion to approve the contract listed for their specific services, rates, and effective dates subject to the review and recommendations of the solicitor and approval of

161the administration regarding the terms and conditions of any final contract other than price. Mr. President, Mr. President, you missed um item C 805, emergency preparedness. I did. Okay. We never want to be unprepared for emergencies. Called, Mr. President. Thank you. Yes. No, I don't want to be called. Motion to approve the memorandum of understanding with busy bees. Can't forget the busy bees. For the use of Middle Smithfield Elementary School as an emergency evacuation site as presented with the appropriate indemnification provisions approved by the solicitor. So move. Second questions. All in favor? Opposed? And now motion to approve the contracts listed for their specific services, rates, and effective dates subject to the review and recommendations of the solicitor and approval of the administration regarding the terms and conditions of any final contract other than price or

162cost. And you could see them listed there. So move. Can we discuss the Coca-Cola contract? I know Keith had a bunch of questions in regard. Okay. So that's the next one, isn't it? Yes. Yes. Is that this one? That's not this one. So we want to vote on this one first. Um all in favor of this one. Opposed. I need to abstain from the two that relate to Bush. Correct. Okay. Extension noted. Okay. Then we have the motion to award items A through C with the right with the recommendations of the property facilities committee and finance committee. And that is the uh A is the five-year agreement with Arada Coca-Cola with an estimated revenue of listed there. Second. Okay. Now discussion on the that one. Okay. Sh want to go first or can I go?

163Go ahead Keith. Okay. I would like to uh discuss this and and really I know it's getting late but this is very important. this contract. I don't understand why we need to even go with any type of exclusivity contract with any kind of soda vendor. Uh first off, soda's unhealthy if you look at it that way. Uh and we profess health and wellness for our students. Um if this there's too many uncertainties in this contract. Um there there are some things that concerns me. Um we we've been t we've been told uh that I think it's 123 where is it? Let me see. How much are we going to get? 128,427. That's not guaranteed, ladies and gentlemen. That is only if they get sold soda vending and they get their percentage. The the only the

164only amount we're going to achieve out of this is $35,000 over five years and $5,000 over five years with a one-time uh sponsorship of $10,000. That's not a lot. And and I If you look at these numbers and if you look at what they're charging, I mean the the the water the cost of water is about 50 cents a bottle. Uh you can get uh other waters on sale for 10 cents a bottle. Um and and the case price of soda that they're going to be selling to our our our folks, our parents, our PTOs, our fundraising folks. Um it's like $12 for a large. It's it's it it's not that much cheaper. I mean, they can get it a lot cheaper on sale at Shopright and everything else, which is what these parents are

165doing. My concern is, yes, we're going to maybe venture to get about $120,000, but how much of that money are our parents going to have to pay in uh in extra costs at at chorus concerts and and band concerts and and plays and at the stadium? and how much are our teachers going to pay at the uh at the the soda machine. What I'm asking us to do is maybe either table this for future discussion or or actually just not accept it. Um as any just something to throw on the table, you know, you can buy a vending machine for $4,000 and and and if all we're getting this for is to make it easier for the vending machines, I mean, we could look at other options. I mean, our our um our 12 plus

166program, we can think about how we can incorporate that into another business opportunity for our students to be involved in in helping. There's too many options here. We're just concerned with the money and I'm just concerned with the fact that either way that that the taxpayer and parents are going to pay for this and I don't think this is a fiscally responsible move. That's just my personal opinion. I look forward to hearing anyone else's opinions. I just want a point of clarification. We are not selling soda to the children during the school day. So it does not violate our health and wellness policy. So well I I just use that as a as a a reference that soda is not healthy. Knew that that it's not for student consumption during this movement. And and the

167other thing what and you actually make me I'm sorry I said I wasn't going to speak anymore, but I have one more thing. If you read this contract, they have a lot of restrictions on on on signage and and and advertising and things that I didn't did our solicitor really look at. Did Chris, did you look at this to see? I mean, they're locking us into what we have to do. The other thing is is they protect themselves if our if our enrollment goes down. If they can't make their money, they're out of here. You know, they're not helping us if we don't make money for them. If you read their contract, if our if our sales go down or our attendance goes down at school, they're g they're they could they could pull out.

168That's not a that's not an agreement of a partnership if you ask me. If they can pull out if they want to like that, just my opinion. Great. Thank you, Keith. Anyone else questions? I guess I have the same question that I have of so if PTO's need to order, they just there's like a form they fill out in advance of their event and they can get it and they're they can the PTO would then write the check to you because usually they maintain their funds differently. They're not school funds. Correct. So how it'll work is and I'll and I'll help coordinate this um before my departure. So the the part of the part of this that works is there'll be an app that the PTO's will have access to and they can order what

169they want through the app. Okay, they pay and then they'll write their check through to the school district and the school district will do will pay the bill then we'll coordinate that through the bill. So that's how it'll work and it's it's much easier than what happened with the Pepsi contract that we just that the Pepsi was just u uh that we just got out of June 30th, 2024. Well, with the Pepsi contract, no one had to buy through Pepsi. They just they if they did, they didn't do it. Yeah. It wasn't enforced. I just want to make sure it's easy in because to me as a former PTO parent and person who was in charge of buying refreshments, this sounds much easier to me than having to go to BJ's by myself and run

170and get a cart and then lug back out to my car and making sure before every movie night, every school dance, every little thing I did for Jessica, this to me if it's cost effective which it it's without a sale it's all right it's not great but for the convenience of the parents who who work who are involved all they have to do is go through an app if it works the right way it could be good convenience I mean time is money too so I mean having been an adviser and same thing it's a lot easier just to do it this way and having been involved in many fundraisers in myself in in our schools and beyond. I would much rather make more money for my organization if it had to take a little

171extra time. I think I I think a lot of parents would do that. Rebecca and And I I think money talks something else doesn't you know something else walks so to say but I mean the other Go ahead. You don't please table this again. We we've been talking about this agreement for months. So, so my request is that you vote on it as a board and make a decision and then we move on one way or the other. That's my request. One other question I forgot. What What's the What's the What was the final outcome with Gatorade? It has to be power. So, the Gatorade there's a there's an exclusion in this deal for the nutritional Gatorade that's part of our St. Luke's deal. So, there is a there is the um exclusion in there

172for the Gatorade for the nutritional piece of our St. Luke's deal. And that met the solicitor's um I I'll put words in his mouth. He's sitting right next to me. That does meet the new the the solicitor's review. But they're 12 oz bottles and most most events serve the students the 20 oz larger Gatorade bottles like I think 12 oz bottle that there's they're fine. I'm sorry. They're fine. You get two. Yeah, we did. Well, okay. Are we still are we any other discussion? Hey, and let's just Okay. Sorry. No, I I apologize. I'm not sorry. I just wanted, you know, going back to what Keith said about regard to uh product signage um of any other competitive products. Um Coca-Cola is a large company. I just want to make sure that we understand that

173anybody who might want to buy signage or advertising within the district at this point um might not because of the how big Coca-Cola is and it might be a direct competitor of Coca-Cola but we don't realize that. Uh, and the other thing is that it says mutually agreed upon, but I just want to make sure that we at no point ever um advertise adult beverages that Coca-Cola sells and their parent product or company. So, I just want to make sure that we we are in agreement with that before that ever came forward because they do own and control the adult beverages as well. So, I just want to make sure that that never even comes up for a discussion or conversation. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any other comments, questions? Then we'll take the vote. All

174in favor? I opposed. I Okay, move on then. A motion to approve the resolution presenting endorsing the American 20 250PA program. So move. Questions? All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the pre-ol agreement with Lacarana College as presented. Second questions. All in favor? Opposed? Motion to approve the Colonial IU 20 operating budget for the 2526 school year in the amount of $4,431,923 with the East Straber School District's amount being 39,532 as previously distributed and presented to the board. I have a second questions. All in favor? I opposed. Okay. Next area is enrollment. We will have that report. Just the enrollment report has a little bit of a different look if you notice it. Yes, that was so under each school. The bottom col row has how many students are in a saka in each school.

175That was information that you had requested and I just wanted to make sure I'm drawing attention to that. Um we also gave you other information just so that you know. Okay, good. It looks like then, so for example, if we looked at High School North, there's 64 seniors that are in a Saka, but that bottom number 232 includes that 64 in that number. Yes. Correct. Okay. So, make sure I understand. Good. And I do say I appreciate good. Yeah. I mean, it Thank you. Yes. That is great to have. Thank you. Okay. Motion. Thank you. Motion. Second. All in favor?