GASD School Board Study Session/Voting Meeting - 3.2.26

001Hello. Good evening. We're going to get started. Welcome to the people in the audience and uh board members at the table and our GAE reps at the end of the table. Um, the purpose of this meeting is to conduct the business of the Gettysburg Area School District. Board of directors meetings and committee meetings are open to the public, but are not public meetings. All school district residents who wish to make public comment should sign in prior to the start of the meeting and request to speak during citizens participation. School district residents wishing to speak to the board shall do so only during the citizen participation section of the meeting. Public comment is welcome and all issues will be referred to the appropriate board committee or administrator. Comments will be summarized in the official board minutes

002which are available by contacting the business office. Please take a moment to silence your cell phones and other electronic devices. Prior to the start of this meeting, the board conducted an administrative session. Um this is our our first uh work study session with our new structure in place um kind of functioning as our new uh committee structure. So, um, we're welcoming, uh, Karen Roer over there as our GA rep for this evening to participate in those discussions. Thank you for coming. Um, and we will continue to do this on the first, um, board meeting of every month to make sure everyone's getting all of the information. Looking forward to that. Um, in terms of attendance for this evening, all of our board members are accounted for except Mr. Dickerson is excused this evening. And, um,

003Oh my gosh. Hello. There you are. Right in the nick of time. Hello. Okay, that is all. All right, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Well, we are going to kick things off um with citizens participation. Dr. Moyer. >> Thank you, Alice. And good evening, everyone. Uh we have uh three people who have requested to share with the board this evening. Uh all on the same topic, I believe. Uh first up, uh Pat Furlow. Hello board. Uh, I'm here to present my personal view of the board and the board members I voted for. I really do feel sorry for

004the mo for most of the school board based on the b proposed budget I listen to online. You are inheriting a school district that has budgeted without concerns to revenue for the years now by board members that are not all here to be held account. I believe the purpose of the school board is to make sure students in the district receive the best education the district can afford. That means operating within the revenues you collect. I do not. If you do not, you are teaching students that when you leave high school, you need not worry about how much money you earn. You can always use credit cards to cover your bills. That is until you're in bankruptcy. We voted you in to manage the budget. That does not mean follow the lead of previous boards,

005but making hard decisions to the budget to stay within revenues collected. If this means cutting positions, not replacing teachers or administrators, combining classes, delaying or cancelling projects, and thinking outside the box, that is what we expected of you. The board is not a jump off point for those with greater ambitions or a place to let lucrative contracts to friends, administrators, teachers. And I'm not accusing anyone of this. It's only my personal opinion of what I expect in the board members I voted for. operating within the revenues you collect and only raising tax as a last resort to provide for students is what we voted for. Thank you for your time. Let me expressing my views. >> Thank you, Pat. Uh next, uh we have Richard Schultz. >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is

006Richard Schultz and I live in the district of Gettysburg schools. And I'm here this evening because um as we all done in this room, we start preparing for federal income taxes and state income taxes and this tax and that tax. And it hit me like a lead balloon. I spent $500 a month on the school district tax. That's $6,000 a year. I'm retired. Someday, maybe some of you are retired and you got to live on a fixed income and you'll realize how much $6,000 is. I um tried to prepare myself for this evening's comments by reviewing the last two sessions. I learned a lot. I learned I heard a lot of encouraging things such as this year on the budget we realized by because we're in this together we have a problem a major financial

007problem but I was glad to hear that everything is on the table and I hope that means everything. I was impressed with the presentation that the young lady from the accounting department gave with her charts and graphs. Unfortunately, I watched that presentation again this morning on my cell phone. Kind of tough to see all those little digits and stuff, but boy did they add up. Now, I heard and I'm I'm going to refer to some notes that I made while reserving these two and I'm going to work backwards if I may. on your um 22 meeting of 26 there was a um item 6.1 was this team observation deck and pathway and you had to vote on either option one which the administration recommended due to safety and security concerns or you had option two,

008the higher dollar for an observation deck. Now, I've been paying school taxes over 50 years. Yeah, I'm that old. But what or have all the options been explored? I asked myself. Why do you need is this the Taj Mahal where you go to a football game and you're ushered up to the observation deck and you look down at the field to see the running back or is it a a wish list for somebody in power? Is it a true necessity? Was the idea about watching a game from the field from the ground level was that explored? I don't know. I don't have all the answers. These are just my opinions, my interpretations. I voted for some of you. Some of you I didn't vote for and I know why. Trust me. But um a pathway

009and view platform. One of the most important things that this school board is charged with along with the administration is the safety and security of its students, faculty, and support staff. I don't know about you, my life's work was in law enforcement. And I heard this representative here, union representative, you guys were reviewing these um terms of different sections about handguns. One board member asked very intelligent questions about replica handguns. Let me tell you what, I have over 40 years of experience as a police chief. And if you come at me with a handgun that's made out of makebelieve cardboard or plastic, you still make me doodoo in my pants. How do how does a victim feel? What are we doing for the victim? I bring this up because I heard one gentleman say on

010a disciplinary action, we have to trust our superintendent and our school principles and the decisions that they make. And that's right, because you hire the best possible candidates. I think 62% of your staff has master's degrees. They're highly educated. They're supposed to know what they're doing. You entrust in them the ability to make decisions. But yet, when they recommend no to an observation deck and a sky path, the board chose to override. Why? That doesn't make sense to me. How can you have it both ways? How could they be okay for this but not okay on spending a million plus extra dollars? >> Rich Richard, you have 30 seconds left. Thank you. All right. In conclusion, if I may, I have a lot more notes in the last meeting. I'm going to give you an

011option of trust on my behalf. I think that you this board wants to do the right thing. I wish you well and uh I'll be watching. I won't attend every meeting. I don't need to. But I I I just have faith until you prove me wrong. But uh thank you for your time. Have a good night. >> Thank you, Richard. And finally, we have Ken. And Ken, I'm struggling a little bit with the last name. Is it Calibrizzy or Oh, wow. Uh I'd rather be lucky than good sometimes. >> Okay. Uh so, uh thank you for uh having these sessions where we can uh express our opinions. Uh first of all, I wasn't able to attend last time because I was at a nonprofit meeting. I watched it on YouTube. It was almost like being

012here. So, I will tell you it the the quality of the sound and everything. You couldn't quite see all the graphics, but I think the I think the job on the the budget presentation, it was like going to the doctor. Do you want to do you want to do you want to do you want to understand what the problem is or do you want somebody to just say, "Yeah, you'll be okay." So, this was you got a problem. You're facing it. Either face it head on or not. Um, somebody made the comment about being a hero for a minute. Okay. And, uh, you know, your responsibility here is make the tough decisions. I think been a lot of what I observed here for a minute continues to dig the hole and dig the hole and

013dig the hole. Let's not maintain our car. Let's pass that. Let's pass that. That then you know three or five years down the road all of a sudden you ask for a 10% budget or some significant budget increase because every year you haven't gone up by a little. And if you wanted my opinion a little bit of in between the comments that you've heard is, you know, a lot of these people on social security, they're going to be on social security. You know, to limit the impact on anybody to no more than the increase in social security. Uh the last thing I would say that I believe I believe I understand this correctly, some of the inequity is uh the uh assessments haven't been done I believe since 2010. So, so the hero for a

014minute are the people that say, "I haven't redone the assessments." So, those people that have been here since 2010, whose house at that time was $200,000 and today it's worth half a million dollar, guess what? They're being taxed at $200,000 versus the house that was just built yesterday, it's a half a million dollars. So the inequity is, and this is hero for a minute, is okay, we're not increasing your assessment. We're not reassessing your house. We know it's worth more. So you're going to be advantaged by the fact we haven't done that. And then as you kick the can down the road, somebody is going to have to be the bad guy and say, "Now we're going to do the reassessments." And guess what? Your taxes are going to double. Okay? Because everybody was kicking

015the can. they couldn't make the hard decision. So, make the hard decision, whatever that is, you know. Uh, thank you for your time. Appreciate it. >> Ken, thank you for your insight. Thank you, everyone. >> Excuse me. Okay. Um, we are moving on to routine approvals. Um, so, traditionally, our first meeting of the month will have fewer voting items moving forward, um, having it be our our work study um, session. um excuse me. But this evening, uh due to it kind of being our first meeting in that format, we're we're catching up with some of the um items in routine approval and board action that that we uh are carrying over from from last meeting. So for routine approvals, I'm looking to take 51 through 58 in one vote, unless there's a need to separate

016from any board members. That would be 5.1, the agenda. 5.2, the regular board meetings from February 2nd. Um the minutes 5.3 the minutes from February 17th a lot of drivers that's exciting uh Jacobe transportation drivers 5.4 5.5 Clowny transportation drivers 5.6 the Hoffman transportation drivers 5.7 a list of graduating seniors very exciting 5.8 8 human resources recommendations. >> So, so moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any comments or questions on the routine approvals? >> Yes. Thank you. I may say her name incorrectly when I don't know how to pronounce the name. I just say it in Italian because I speak a little Italian. So, but I really do want to congratulate Amanda Petrocha, English teacher at the high school for her 33 years of dedicated service to our district. and I know we all wish

017her well in retirement. Thank you, Kathleen. Any other comments or questions on um routine approvals? All right. Uh I will just give a congratulations uh an early congratulations to our list of graduating seniors as well. I'm sure we'll get another chance to uh congratulate them moving forward. All right. We'll take it to a vote. Hearing no other questions. Kathleen, >> yes. Justine? >> Yes. Donna, yes. Dave, >> yes. >> Al, >> yes. >> Ryan, >> yes. >> Tim, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. Moving on to our items for board action. We have two. Uh, these two were on as information items at our last meeting. 6.1, the York Adams Academy general operating budget. Um, we approve it because we have students who attend that academy. Um, could I get a motion for 6.1?

018>> So moved. >> Second. Any questions or comments for 6.1? Go ahead, Dave. >> How many students do we have in the program? >> Uh, we have four currently. >> Four. >> Actually, it might be three. We just had one recently graduate. >> So, our our out of pocket is the 17,000. >> Uh, yes, I believe that's correct. >> Okay. >> And we have we have How many seats do we have? >> We have four total seats >> and we're using them all. >> Correct. >> And that's Belinda, correct me if I'm wrong. That's what we're anticipating for 2627 as well. >> Yes, the budget has four seats available to us. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions on 6.1? >> I just have one as a point of clarification because I'm I was trying

019to look into them a little bit, but I I don't quite understand if they're designated as a charter school or or what is their structure within um education. >> They have an interesting designation. They're not a charter. They're more of a an agreed upon jointly operated school similar to ACTI-ish where it's jointly operated by a conglomerate of different districts for the specific purpose here of credit recovery sort of like a so that's why you buy the seed because the students may be rotating in and graduating and then you rotate another student in. It's not really a charter. It's recognized by PTE. I can I can look it up for you, but it's not a typical sort of school entity designation that we know of. >> But they do confer then like GED or or equivalent.

020>> Oh, I think you they they're from Gettysburg the Gettysburg. Yeah, they they get the the diploma from the Gettysburg Area School District, but through sort of a an agreed upon credit recovery process. Yeah. And my understanding is this is for older students age 17 to 20. Is that correct? >> Yeah. Right. Like 16 to 21 or something like that. >> Believe. So, Mr. Lust, can you I know he's hiding back there in the corner. >> Students actually earn a York Adams Academy diploma and our students that we send then have a Gettysburg school district seal or stamp applied to it. So it is a different diploma than the students who graduate um with our requirements. Um we allow the students who graduate from York Adams to walk in our ceremony. Um it's just right

021for some students. Um students need to have 10 credits before they're able to start there. Um so they have some foundation. Um there's a different credit requirement um set for York Adams compared to ours. Um it meets all the state guidelines obviously, but it is a diploma and um and again it has our seal or stamp of approval on it. Did I miss any of those questions? >> Thank you, Mr. Lusk. Any other questions or comments on 6.1? Okay, hearing none. Uh, we will vote on it. Justine, >> yes. >> Donna, >> yes. Dave, >> yes. >> Al, >> yes. >> Ryan, >> yes. >> Tim, >> yes. >> Kathleen, >> yes. And I vote yes. Moving on to 6.2, our illustrative math K5 curriculum resource uh that has been made available to us um

022by Dr. McFarland to take a look at and peruse at your leisure. So, could I get a motion for 6.2? >> So, move. >> Second. Any comments or questions on 6.2? I'll just say again, I'm I'm excited that uh that everyone agreed upon one. That can be hard sometimes. So, I'm glad that you came to find one that that the teachers uh liked and are excited to apply. So, uh let's take it to a vote. >> Donna, yes. Dave, >> yes. >> Al, >> yes. >> Ryan, >> yes. >> Tim, >> yes. >> Kathleen, >> yes. >> Justine? >> Yes. and I vote yes. All right, moving on to uh the bulk of our meeting this evening are information items. Um this is going to be you know presentations on these things andor questions available

023to be answered um but this is our first kind of information about them. So um 7.1 is our asphalt repair and seal and stripping um for Franklin Township Elementary and James Getty's Elementary in the admin complex. Um, I know that Kevin is here to answer questions if needed for that. Uh, does anyone have any comments or questions for 7.1? >> Madame President, I do I'm just curious the finance and facilities committee, do you have any reservations about this recommendation? >> That's true. So, this is again coming off of our old structure. So, this was reviewed, it says at the finance and facilities last committee meeting that they had on the 19th. >> I'll repeat my I'll repeat my question. >> Yeah, I will repeat my question. >> You were doing this to them. Sorry. >>

024So, yeah. Sorry. >> We're we're we're getting used to the new format. It's okay. So, um just curious, does the finance and facilities committee have any reservations about this recommendation? No, it was on the capital improvement plan. So, it's been on there for quite a while to get that maintained and taken care of. Anyone else have any questions for uh 7.1? Great. 7.2. Uh Belinda, we have our uh preliminary budget additional information. Continuing to be informed. Thank you. Oh, that's colorful. Look at that. >> Just a a little diff little additional format since last meeting, the PowerPoint. So, I wanted to provide an update to the board as where the budget currently stands. And um for those that are in the audience, there is a handout on the back page if you're interested in one

025of these. This will also be posted on our website and it's also posted in board docs. So, um, to give you an update as to the budget, bear with me a second here. What you see before you is um a snapshot um of changes made. So, our local revenue listed there of course is 54.8 million, state revenue 24.6, and federal 1.1. If you can scroll up for a little bit, please. These are GL graphs, of course, representative of where we are currently at um in comparison to the 2002, excuse me, 2026 budget. If you scroll up a little bit further, please. Um here's a breakdown of the local revenue sources. As you can see, the current real estate pack tax portion. Again, this is this is development of the budget based upon 0%. At this

026point, we did not include increases in discussions of where where we want to land at uh in terms of balancing the budget. Again, revenue equals expenditures. So, in this particular point, we can see that uh the percent change in current real estate taxes is now 4.3 3.7%. And a total local uh percent change is 4.25%. State revenues a change of 410 and other federal is 22.08. Now again smaller number bigger change um from what uh was budget to um current proposed budget. So total revenues of 80 million 80.5 million uh for 4.35% change. That dollar change equates to local sources an increase of $3.3 million increase. Now just so we'll review the expenditure side and then we'll talk about the changes more in depth. Uh there's just a little snapshot of you know comparison of

027what that number looks like compared to the prior year as the insight. And then here's the expenditure side. So salaries and benefits 48.8 8 million purchase of services 20 million and then supplies and equipment 4.3 million uh graphs are representative comparison to the prior year budget if we scroll up a little bit more as I mentioned in the previous budget presentation the majority of our budget budget we are service industry we service our students so if you scroll up a little bit more you can see where our salaries and benefits the majority of our budget lies um 2.99% increase. We have seen a reduction in employee benefits terms of the health care and some other insurance changes as a result of um negotiated contracts. So it is a slight difference. We're not a lot but

028we are taking advantage of some of that. uh purchase of service 6.53% um this is technically the area of um the IU and other transportation services all other purchase of services um other than salary and benefits supplies and equipment are listed there along with our debt and other financing uses so our total expenses is 4.57% otherwise a $3.6 million change from the previous year. Now our revenue if you'll um if you remember in the previous uh slide as before scrolled we have a 4.35% revenue and a 4.5 excuse me a 4.5% expense change of prior year. So while we are not a revenue and expense equalization at this point we are have gotten a lot closer since the last budget presentation. So the question is what changed? So, we were able to look at the

029budget. We um contacted the county assessment office, gained additional revenue, um point to looking at the duplicates and so forth. Uh we also took a look at what basic ed uh subsidy and um special ed subsidy is. Uh so we were able to from the last budget presentation increase revenue about $886,000. It's great. That's wonderful. Um we will have another opportunity to look at uh local real estate uh once May comes we will know what the homestead farmstep number is appropriation. So then we can of course apply that underneath our scenario as well. In terms of expenditures we did have quite a bit of reductions. Um we had a reductions of $3.1 million. Now you'll ask well how is that possible? So we examined positions that we will not fill. We took attritional savings from

030retirement. We also looked at the tuition of outside placements. We also looked at the special education budget and specific to autistic needs um because that's one of the driving forces. We did increase another social worker because our goal and our concept is to service our students. We like to transition from family navigators to social workers. So that was an increase in expenditures but by far that was included in the whole um number of reduction amount that I changed. So it was we had some positive changes and some negative changes for reductions in addition to the special ed and autistic support services. We had um the cyber charter rates once the new PD 363 rate was developed. Mr. Moyer had mentioned one of the previous meetings if there's going to be a reduction. We took a

031look at what that rate change is, multiplied it by the number of students that are serviced in the cyber cyber world and so we were able to reduce additional funds expenditures in that aspect as well as we removed the budgetary reserve number that we have historically put into the budget. Um and so that all of those changes and resources and so forth came up with the reductions of 3.1. where we go from this point forward is of course we're not balanced yet at 0% um even at 0% increase not keeping in mind of the ACTI's portion but if we did a 0% increase we would still need to find $1.9 million so we're not out of the woods just yet um some items that I can be on the topic on the discussion question for

032the board and for consideration is what do we do with that capital reserve transfer? Currently in the budget to fund the capital plan, we have a $1 million in the budget to transfer over to fund the future needs for capital reserve. That number could change, that number could come down, that number could stay. And so there's a decision that needs to be made as we move forward with the capital improvement plan of how we're funding that. Um do we want to continue funding it the method in which we have been funding it in terms of the budget or do we want to remove those um planned expenses in hopes of we have a gain in fund balance and then appropriate those dollars uh to the capital reserve. That may delay projects uh until we get

033on a new cycle to do so. Um but that's an option. We may be able to look at increase numbers from earned income tax. On the revenue sheet, you can see that the earned income tax is the very same as what it was the year before. I'm very hesitant to increase that because it's still subjective as to what people are earning and being taxed and our portion of that tax. So, you could see the current five act 511 earned income tax is listed as budget is 9.1 million. Our actuals came in in 8.9. So, uh, I'm not too ready to jump into the waters yet to incl. But that's an opportunity for us maybe to further look to additional revenue. Um, as I mentioned before, we can look at the May county estimates to see

034if that'll drive out more. Um, and then of course in the board I think we need to discuss where we're comfortable with a tax increase, if a tax increase, and what that looks like. So, for example, if we have a 0% tax increase, we still need to search $1.9 million. If we have a 1% which is to help support ACTI because ACTI's funding for future debt is in the budget, um then we're looking for a shortfall of $1.5 million because 1% really only gains us a little over $360ome,000 of revenue. So at least a recommendation would start off at 1% of a tax increase. and we the board has been funding 1% for the last two years for ACTI's purposes. Um our maximum index is 4.2%. Do we need to go there? Um at first

035initially I thought yes there's only one way. Um but further examining this I don't think we need to land at the maximum. I think we can land somewhere in between um two and a half to three and a half% somewhere around there. Um, I'll go a little further to say 4.2% as the budget currently stands, which is the maximum, we would only need to look at a little under $300,000. If we are looking at somewhere in between a 2 and 1/2 to 3 and 1/2 um a 3 and 12% would get us we would still need to search for about a half a million dollar and a 4% would still need to search for about $300,000. So within the range I think we can be there and with maybe with some additional changes. I don't

036think we should be lower than 1% by any means, but the 1% was servicing ACTI for two years. We were not addressing the normal mode of operations with any sort of new revenue in any fashion. The 1% was clearly acti while our salaries were still increasing. contractual terms also with transportation and our normal cost of business is going up just like households normal cost of business. So we were not addressing any new revenues associated with the normal cost of business outside of ACTI. So in my recommendation it would not be lower than 1% 1% is for ACTI. I think we need to land at least 2 and a half to three and a half% but not the index. um I can report back to the board as on a continual basis, but the majority I

037think is where the decisions lie now with is what do we do with the capital reserve transfer and where are we going to discuss as to what rate to increase taxes recommendation we need to increase taxes is just what rate that we feel most comfortable with. Um, and we can wait for that discussion until the homestead farmstead numbers come out in May. But I would think that's probably about the time frame um that we would have a little bit more knowledge as to if that number is increasing or decreasing in terms of u providing that back to the taxpayers. Um, so we are not revenue equals expenditures yet, but we're much closer than the previous budget. As I mentioned the last time around, that was the worst case scenario that we were in because I

038really truly need to take time with our our administrators and review the budget more in depth. And we did do that and found some areas that we could reduce. Um now will some of the non-replacements be plea will people be pleased with? Probably not. But um we need to start somewhere. um and um cutting supplies is not necessarily an area that's going to get us a large dollar value to move forward with. So um if there's any questions with the budget, I'll be happy to entertain them, but at this point, this was your update for >> Yeah. Thank you, Brenda. Um, this is a lot of very good information and and I think you know I'll speak for the whole board in saying that we really appreciate the work that you and the rest of

039the team are doing on that because this is uh significantly better to look at albe it's still uh room to work and and keep doing that. I I'll ask a couple very quick questions and then I know I see some other people that have them too. Um, one is just a wondering which you may have addressed at the last one, but I'm looking at it again and just curious on the revenue side of things. There's the largest uh percent ch negative% change uh negative 96.82% for other financing sources. What um what went away >> from other financing sources? >> Uh the capital the budgetary reserve number we reduced. >> Got it. So that's where that reduction is shown in the percentages. Okay, cuz that obviously jumps out as a big number um in in a

040you know a good way. So um and then my other question was that question. So what does that mean then if there is no budgetary reserve number? Um how could that potentially impact the budgeting? No fund balance to use moving forward. that the fund balance reserve was minimal at best in terms of and let me quantify this minimal at best in terms of of an $80 million budget. It was $400,000. But even if $400,000 as a change shows the biggest percent change, that $400,000 was the keepsake in order if an particular account was overexpended, we would pull funds from the reserve to take care of the balance. Um if you recall when I reviewed the um end of the year audit we have overexpended our expenditures by $27,000 that would have came from the budgetary

041reserve. Um so in order to have that available so of course then um the terms and conditions that you're not to you're not permitted to overspend your budget but of course we had those funds available that it should not be an issue or a problem. um where and if um if everything were to the crystal ball and uh everything comes in exactly where it is, we wouldn't have a need for the $400,000. Um but with some of the changes in tuition and and some of the changes that are coming more and particularly with the special education and autistic the as services I am a little worried. The only thing that I can say is that we run the risk of using more fund balance and less is available to Hughes to help balance a budget

042moving forward. >> And this this was already lower because of not giving because of the last two years not not funding normal operations. We were pulling more from the unassigned unassigned fund balance already to balance it. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I'll I'll open for >> Belinda. Thank you very much for uh uh better news tonight. you certainly got our attention a couple weeks ago. Uh uh I I'm part of the advisory uh team for pupil personnel services and and uh over the years the family navigators have really become uh very valuable to us in a district where last time I heard we have around 60 kids that fall under the McKinley Vento uh definition for being homeless. and and I know that uh Tara and Rachel help those families out and and

043connect them as many as well as many other kids and families with community services with going to the social worker over the family navigators. Does that mean are we eliminating family navigators? >> Our concept is to move and transfer the work of family navigators into a broader range of social worker. Um now obviously they come with different levels of certification and different levels of duties but those two social workers would become a part of GAA as a professional employee. And so if we move in that direction then yes the family navigator contracts are transitioned to a employee. We would post and hire uh interview and hire for the social workers. So obviously the family navigators would be encouraged to apply. >> Okay. >> But we would still follow through our processes of just as we

044do with any other new new potential hires into the district. >> So we would be eliminating the independent contractors called the family navigators and going to one social worker. >> Two social work. >> Our board our board meeting prior had one. And in this proposal I'm including an additional one >> to meet the need. So, we'd have two social workers. >> If I could do a cartwheel, I would do it right now in the middle of the floor here. >> Hey, I'd like to see that. >> All right. Uh I I I do believe I I I don't know where everybody else is at. Uh and Tim certainly can share a lot more as our our Joocc rep on the ACTI, but my understanding is is that we're making some real progress there towards possibly

045land acquisition and things like that. So, uh, I I think it's shameful that our county doesn't have a career in tech, uh, with, you know, 13 or 14 programs that were limited, but I think what we are doing, we're doing well. And and, uh, I'm I I would really and I would I'm going to guess that Mr. Sigman's going to uh, support uh, that we would continue to support career and tech and whatnot. Uh and then also with the capital reserve transfer, I I'd be interested in uh your recommendation as well as Dr. McFarland and Dr. Matzer uh on that. And then also with our fund balance, I know we have by policy we need to keep a certain percentage there. Are we going to are we going to change are we going to revise

046that policy a little bit? Are we going to go we're going to be a little under what we would typically uh have there? Does that does that cause us issues? Are we going to have to take some action there? >> Historically, um up until a few years ago, the board was at 8%. Um we are running at 6% now and no less than 6%. Even with the budget proposal as well as the updates, we are still um around 6%. So the concept is there's no utilization of fund balance for next year. >> Okay. >> So we need to find other means other than the utilization of fund balance to balance the budget. >> And then my my final question is as we uh digest this a little bit more and we get more information down

047the road. Uh in the past I know you all have invited us in even like to come in one-on-one or whatever and bring questions to you. Are you all still open to that? >> Yes, absolutely. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Yep. Dave, go ahead. >> Mine's going to take a little while. A couple of items. The gentleman that said that we kicked the can down the road, we we not only kicked it, we punted it for the last several years. Um Kevin, are we funded for general repairs and maintenance each year? 100%. I think it runs around 867,000. >> Yes. >> Okay. We have a we we put money away for that. Do we do that now? is underneath the general fund. Yes. That's not technically part of the capital reserve plan. >> Okay.

048So, so we keep that in there cuz uh uh let's see. Property services, is that what it's called? >> Yes, it's underneath there. >> Okay. But that's at 780,000. >> Yeah. Um we put h it's almost like a half half type of situation to where some is in the budget and other is in the capital improvement plan. >> Okay. Yeah. But in order to replenish that improvement plan, you have to keep the money coming into it. >> Correct. >> So, so if it's 867,000 is needed each year, then you're deferring maintenance somewhere. >> So maybe I'm not explaining that correctly. Sorry. >> You're taking it from here to put it over here. Yes. the differential >> the budget which is in other financing sources is has a million dollars in the budget to go to

049the capital improvement plan. >> Okay. >> That'll fund some of the annual work um which is um when the review was done that is the proposal for the 2627 year of needs. Um that includes items such as in addition to the normal operations, tree maintenance, regular maintenance and repairs of the facilities. That's general fund. This is all uh building envelope repair. So it's additional level of what the general fund does not cover. So the capital reserve is building envelope repair. Um building finish repairs and replacement some sign LED sign. You have some concession work consideration. Uh parking lot seal um magnetic door holds. Terzo all the items that were reviewed at the cap the at the facility and finance committee meeting the the plan itself. That first proposed year is basically um a part of

050the capital plan. It's smaller in nature and also is combined with what the general fund operations are. >> Okay. >> Next question. Uh the budget for current real estate taxes was 36 million.4 in 26. Mhm. >> If you extrapolate to today to get the end of June, what do you anticipate that to be? Can I get back to you on that simply because uh I don't know where the county is going to fall with the May duplicates and the May updates. Like we when we reached out, Mr. Forom is very uh integral in this portion. He reaches out to Mr. from at the county to find out exactly how many permits are in in place so the billing can hit as of July uh for the tax bills. So I'd rather reserve that comment until

051I know a little bit more detail from what the county is providing us. Um I think the fact that we have historically brought in more is a benefit. um not the point that we're underbudgeting it, but we're being more conservative on that number simply because a permit may be issued. In this instance, a permit may be issued. We may be calculating a percent of those permits, but it truly may not hit until far later of when those tax bills need to go out. >> Okay. It's interesting you brought that up. >> So, I had the county do an assessment and analysis for me. >> Mhm. your net assessment value after uh appeals. Uh new buildings, the buildings out at Aldi, um out at out at uh Amblebrook and different places and different developments. Um, looks

052like you're going to have a net 6 63.5 million increase, which is going to take your county assessment of land in your district to 3 bill475411,300, which if you extrapolate it to the current millillage of 11.45 change, you should be coming in at 39.9 million in revenue. Well, like I said, we reserve >> I already have it. >> Yeah, >> they gave it to me. >> And um you have that information to share simply because the information we have obtained is maybe a little bit differently um and or >> maybe the um permits that were actually mentioned are uh not provided one and the same in terms of when they are actually hitting the roles. >> Okay. Well, >> I'll be interested in seeing that. Yes, >> I'll send you a copy. >> Yes, absolutely.

053But so the point is if you did if you did 4.2% your millillage would go to 11.96 it generate you 41.5 million of revenue. You don't need that much. Uh I don't know that you're going to depending upon how your extrapolation works out to the end of June. You may not need any at all. So it's kind of important to get that forecast within the next 30 days if you can to try to figure out where we are. The other thing is from a maintenance standpoint and taxes, what was the average was 67 is what you raised taxes over the last eight years >> per year. You're underfunded by 1.33%. Every year and that is the fault. And I don't know why the previous boards did that and why our business department wasn't jumping up

054and down off the ceiling because now you're putting the burden on future people rather than keeping it over a level playing field year by year. So don't make the mistake again because right now if you do it again as a board, you're going to be underfunded for a long time. So you have to keep your maintenance up. You have to keep your your capital up for projects. You got to build that in on an annual basis. It may not happen for 10 years, but it's going to happen the 10th year. And that's what school boards do. They wait and then they borrow instead of figuring it out ahead of time. Uh you wouldn't do that at your home. So why do we do it here? It's time to think things different. Start running it like

055a business. Okay? Stop running it like a public entity because you got yourself in trouble. Couple other things. Uh let me look here. So what on other revenue, local revenue, what's that constitute? It's on your sheet that you gave us today. It says all other local revenue. >> Yeah. I'm trying to look all their other sources typically our other sources are sale of assets. >> Okay. Sale of assets. Yes. Define >> sale of assets. when we go put on items for public sale. >> Okay. When we're going to sell $5 million of our public assets. >> Uh that's a combination of something. I'm sorry. So I have to >> I mean what would we sell that's $5 million other than a school? >> It says all other local revenue is $5 million. That's not assets.

056I'm sorry. You were asking and I did not hear the question correctly. So, all other local revenue includes items such as um here, let me pull my other data sheet. >> We can certainly continue to ask like detailed questions this evening, but I was going to say I also want to give you time to collect those documents. Um, >> no. I I mean, we're we're looking at a budget deficit. We're looking at we're looking at past >> past negligence of fiscal policy. >> Sure. >> So, it might as well get it out in the open while the public's sitting here and looking. >> We can absolutely talk about it publicly. I'm not suggesting we don't. >> I just have a couple more questions. That's all I have. Let me let me just mention that I

057think, you know, I want I want you to acknowledge that you're not the only one who is frustrated that this is a situation we're in, but I also do feel that it's important to acknowledge that the decision made to bring us to this point was um the board of nine uh over the last few years. Um, so that does that does include the fact that our administrative team is providing information and giving recommendations that may not be followed. Um, but you can continue to ask those questions and we'll make sure that what she doesn't have available this evening right now that we that we bring it to. >> So page 18 of your audit. >> Okay. So you want to back up for a second answer your all local revenue. >> So all local revenue

058consists of current real estate taxes, interim real estate taxes. I'm just going down the list of local revenue. current interim public utility. >> I'm talking all other local revenue. >> Yeah. You have your delinquents, you have your admissions, you have delinquent earned income, you have earnings and investments, gain and losses and investments. You've got gate receipts, student fees, um federal pass through money, IDA, you've got um some of the student like rentals. You have contribution from private sources. There are donations. You have tuition, private paid, uh let's see, we have community service activities, uh parking, magistrate restitution, fundraisers, fees, copies, and other miscellaneous revenue. >> Thank you. That helps. So, on page 18 is your balance sheet within your audit. >> Okay. And I've asked to have uh a meeting of everybody to learn how

059to decipher your balance sheet because I don't know that everybody knows how to decipher that balance sheet including myself which I do a lot of balance sheets cuz I like to know where the money came from and where the money goes to that are in those accounts. And I think three of us have asked for that and based on special meeting requirements if three people have asked it in writing it is to be implemented. special. >> I think it was on the agenda, not necessarily a special meeting. I can check on that. I I don't know off the top of my head. I can look. I was I can certainly look not something on my head. I'll look. >> Sure. And I'll go ahead and and mention too, Dave, because I know that obviously you're

060looking into >> It's right here. >> You're looking into the details here, which is great. It's important. >> Yeah. I know I have to pull up the policy. I'm going to let >> Yeah. I'm going to I'm going to give you give you a little bit of time to do that, Lee. Um that yeah, this this budget cycle is a good time to be finding out these things. We don't want to delay for the sake of >> delaying, but um I do think that to a certain degree some sometimes things do take time. So, this is something that we can 100% get more information on and meet as a board to talk about. >> We we will we will find the way to do that in a future meeting since we don't have the materials

061here right now. Um, just to give our team time to prepare information for us. >> Well, I'd recommend that we do it in before our next meeting. >> Well, you mean for our next meeting? >> Do it in the preme a premeating before our next meeting administration open to the public. >> That is one way we could that is >> so that we can learn the details on your budget because because in a couple of months and 60 days after that, you're going to ask us for a decision. >> Sure. Um some correct me if I'm wrong. Um some of the some of the tr challenges I I you know we we could do this. Yes. Some of the challenges that present themselves to meet as a additional meeting outside of our scheduled meeting um

062times is is first of all finding time that we're all able to do that. Um, and second of all, >> right before our next meeting. Right before it. >> Administration. >> Like it's administrative meeting, but open to the public. >> Oh, an hour. >> Got it. I thought you were calling for meeting at a different time. >> Scheduled night. >> Yeah. Or scheduled night. We're not not another time. A scheduled night. And then go over that balance sheet on page 18 of the audit >> and ask where's the money come from and where does it go to and where's the earnings go to? because you have one account that has what 17 17 million in it. So where is the earnings off of that and what does it apply to? Does it apply back into

063a special account? If all the money came from general revenue of taxpayers, then technically all the money is general revenue. So the question is if you have a dire need to reset yourself fiscally, can you pull that back and get yourself started over again and do it the correct way? So you're asking for a a six o'clock like a prior to 7 o'clock meeting um which would be a session >> on like on the data sheet and and reading financial >> before today but that was 15 minutes. >> Sure. But this being a specific intent of that um I guess >> what we did say was also not open to the public. You're saying it should be open to the open to the public. Let them hear about it. So, this would then mean that

064we would need to make sure it's something that we can prepare for next meeting, but also that we'd follow the appropriate um ways to >> we don't have to call for a special meeting, which according Yes, I hear what you're saying. Yeah. >> According to procedures, the three people asked for it, we need a special meeting. I'm happy. >> Right. But you still have to advertise that there's going to be a special meeting and there's a 72hour. Yeah. >> So, this is why I'm making that up if that's possible. Um, >> so I would just like to learn about this. >> Yep. find out what it what it is. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Thank you. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Dave. So, Lee, according to um that time frame that you and

065I are both thinking about, but I can't remember um what what would that look like um for having a meeting that then was advertised? >> I mean, I don't the time frame is I mean, it is three people and that is sometimes a local decision as to how many people can call a special meeting. So in the policy you have um three school directors can call it but a special uh meeting as doc as blind knows has to be called within 72 hours or advertised within 72 hours which can be more difficult because our newspapers of circulation may I I don't keep up with all of them but sometimes they're not necessarily 72 hours ahead of time. So we just have to keep that time frame in mind. I think within the next two weeks

066that would be enough of course time to put something up for 6 pm >> need a specific purpose to for the special meeting. >> Yeah. And the per Yeah. Ex. Exactly. So like and then that is another point to make. So that meeting that we call is only for the specific purpose as advertised. Yeah. >> Okay. Um so my next question then would be since this is something that you know is our is our discussion meeting for the most part. Uh we don't have all of our board members here this evening. So, we'd have to check in as well with Mr. Dickerson, but we would of course want that to be something that all of the people at the table not only are interested in learning about um which, you know, I think we all

067are um is are available for um which would be on the >> 16th. Thank you. >> Same day as the meeting. I just am looking because I have to look at calendars on the 16th um at 6:00. Madame President, is this something that we would make a motion on tonight? >> That's also a good question. I don't have an answer to. I think we can. >> You don't need to necessarily vote as sort of a consensus as to whether the time frame is agreed to. And I don't know if we're going to specifically comply with with policy 006. Are there specifically three members that have already expressed an interest or do we have enough people here that generally constitute three people? We move forward from there. Yeah. >> Sure. Yeah. So, I guess it's more

068of the the general question of this is something that we would like to learn more about. Um, if not, you can tell me no. But also, um, if you're available for such a thing. >> Yeah. I mean, I I will say to to be prepared to make an educated decision that impacts our district and our taxpayers. I absolutely would appreciate having this administrative session that's open to the public. >> Cool. Okay. I see I see lots of nods. Um and and availability on that day at six o'clock. That's the time we would be looking at um on that on the 16th. >> I would just Belinda does an hour give you enough time to educate us on the balance sheet on >> I think it's more of a we're going to give you an hour

069and then if we need to continue and do more uh we can do that. But I think knowing that will give you kind of a >> if we're focused just the balance sheet is what I'm hearing we're saying which is page 17 or 17 18. >> Yep. >> Page 18. >> Understanding how to read read that balance sheet financials. >> Understand where it comes from and where it goes. >> Page 18 where it comes from and where it goes. >> Okay. >> I'm up for the challenge an hour less. >> Thank you so much. Um, and then so I suppose then you I don't know who needs to know. I guess the people who need to know that are in the room. So we'd like to do that and I I can uh I can

070send an email if needed just to to circle back >> and your specific purpose for advertisement >> meaning what it is for >> to review the balance sheet financials. Yeah. >> Once you state it there's no other business being correct. Yes. This is what the intent of that meeting is. Thank you for reminding us of that as well. >> We will make sure it gets advertised. >> We will stay focused so that we can learn all we can in one hour. >> Okay. >> I do have one >> please. Yeah. Go ahead, Donna. >> So when you were Belinda, when you were going through the list of things that you have looked at and where we can make cuts, is that is that somewhere where we can read it because you went through that pretty

071quickly and it I would love to see exactly where those were. >> Yeah, I don't have it documented in terms of a a PowerPoint because all of the information went into this. Um, so I didn't create another spreadsheet other than just reviewing the the addition additions and changes to our software that we made. >> Okay. I would just we went through them very quickly and I would just love to read down through those. Sure. >> If we can. Thanks. >> If you want to list, I can prepare that for the >> Thanks. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions on um 7.2? >> I I do have a question. Okay. Um I think it might be an easy one though. So, I know an earlier board approved a 1% annual tax increase to support ACT

072and we are currently in our third year of a five-year commitment. Is that correct? >> Yes. Thank you. Thanks, Kathleen. Um, so this being the third year in that budget. Yeah. >> Yep. I see him. Tim, go ahead. >> Um, I have a couple questions. Um, well, Dave, you could probably help with this as well. So, and it'll help answer one of the gentleman's questions in the back uh as well. So, um and I appreciate the information you got from the county. It's great, but we still got about two more months to three more months to add to that potential permits coming out for potential funding. Not to mention, as Belinda stated, uh there will be permits of course after that that will contribute later on as we go, which will be prrated for that

073year. >> Um yes. And then the other thing too to note gentleman's question was you know how uh somebody whose house might be worth 500,000 but they're only paying 200,000 because they haven't had the thing which is true until somebody buys it. That's when it changes because when I bought my house 3 years ago soon as I bought it they came out and reassessed it. >> Not all but when the county knows about it the countyy's doing it. Well, it it has to be triggered by something and then your your reassessment is based on the common level ratio which is a whole different course and it has to reach a point above and has to reach a point below and that's why it took 40 years or so to get it reassessed the last time

074and and that's why it's not being reassessed now. But if you do a reassessment and Belinda will probably agree to this, your millage changes to neutralize it to where it started. So in other words, if your millage is 11 and then they reassess reassess the district, you don't automatically get that increase in taxes because then it's re-equalized. You start over so that so it doesn't change your tax revenue for that year. >> That's correct. >> So your meal rate may go from just for example a 15 to a 10. >> Correct. >> But it's equal equalized out. So your taxes will remain what your taxes are, right? just equaling out the whole revenue portion of it. >> Right? >> So, I'm confused about that because if somebody like me buys a house, >> right, >>

075and the original value of that house was X, the taxes were X, I buy it, now the value went up and now my new taxes are higher. The school district doesn't get any of that. >> They will get some if the assessment changed. >> That's what I'm saying. Yeah. So, but I'm saying if you're taking a house that's worth $200,000 >> since in 2009 or whatever and somebody buys, they reassess it, it's going to be worth over $200,000. That's a >> guarantee. Purchase doesn't trigger the reassessment always. >> Not always, but they're pretty adamant about it that >> very little does it does this purchase re-trigger. It has to do with permit pulling permits and things of that nature. >> True. So, so >> and even those aren't are they in those assessments as well

076for the Adams County thing? So, like somebody just built an addition on their house. >> We're pulling >> not in here. This So, the main the main focus of these the main focus of this analogy that I had them do provide me analytics was on a lot of the larger projects. Okay. Such as I call it the Aldi project. It's the apartments that are in the back there. You're not a couple of those aren't going to come on to assessment until probably past July 1st because they're finished. They're starting a new building right now. But the ones that are coming on are in here. Um the anticipated uh absorption rate of Amblebrook is in here of of um uh Courtney Meadows uh Meyers which is called uh Cumberland Crossing. So the the big bigger developments

077they're in here and then the the additional uh part of uh the links which is I don't know what they fa called that in a phase. So that's the absorption that they're anticipating based on the absorption currently. >> And and just another question too cuz I don't know. So when a commercial property comes up so like Popeye's supposed to go Waw Wa and Chick-fil-A or whatever uh cuz they they pay a higher rate than residential property taxes. Correct. >> They pay a higher assessment value. >> Yes. Per dollar >> when they come in. Of course, that'll help. But the the and I get that that figure with those people purchasing these houses and and you know it helps with this budget but ultimately doesn't really help us in long term because because if you have

078say for instance the what was the what is going to be the change this year from uh the cost to educate a student from last year to this year? What what's the difference? Do you know? >> Um >> it was like 17 or 18. >> Yeah. Is it going up? >> Uh, our tuition rate is what you're referring to. It is. Let me hold on just a second. >> And and we'll get that. But the point of it is is >> you have somebody that buys a house, they're paying I'm just throwing numbers. $3,000 property taxes, but they have two kids. Well, that property now cost us $36,000. So, it helps us now, but it actually hurts us later on down the road. >> Revenue >> other than Amberbug. >> Yeah. Well, yeah. you have

079certain type of categories of revenue positive assessed values and it's the ones in here that that I targeted is the positive revenue assessed values. Okay. Um, we don't have a lot of developments going in right now, uh, currently, which is going to change. Um, the rental stat stature is going to change some of your student population, okay? Because people are going to move here, still work elsewhere, um, but they're going to have families um in the new buildings on Old Mill and uh, Dietri Drive and then the new 150 units at Aldi's. Okay? So, that's going to produce some projections of new student, which is going to create overhead for you. Um now the positive revenue the positive revenue is the development out the commerce center of what's going to happen in that strip >>

080uh which is going to happen next year. So you're going to have an additional positive revenue growth probably um similar to what we're having this year possibly next year if that development gets off the ground. >> Tuition rate calculation for elementary is 15,489 and secondary is 15,771. And then did that go from I'm sorry. Did that go from last year? >> It did. Yes, absolutely. Um, how much? >> About 2 and a half%. >> Okay. Um, and then the other question I have and I I always try to point this out every year because you know these are ginormous numbers and but at the end of the day a lot of those are fixed categories and there's only a certain percentage and I'm not speaking uh picking um specific items that we can differ but

081you know 75 80% of this budget is we can't touch. So we only have a small portion. So I I just like to point that out to people like you know they look at that number it's $80 million and you guys could cut that to six. Well that's never going to happen because there are fixed numbers contracting obligations that kind of stuff and then the cost that we associate. So just because um your your stuff goes up at your house. gas prices go up, everything goes up, then our transportation costs go up. Um, all those things, food cost us more, supplies cost us more, the same as everybody else. Um, and I agree that there should have been incremental increases uh in the tax over the time. And and I know specifically the last two

082years because we added the 1% for ACTI, nobody wanted to do it because you already added the one. Nobody wanted to make it a 2% increase. Even though one was going, it it was just in the same people that you have coming here. Oh, you need to add a little bit two years ago. People's like, you need to have zero increase. We don't want any. So, it it's it's the pressure and it depends what situation you're in with boards here. The people come in here and kind of uh say their peace, which is fine, but then people do different things depending on who's coming in and who's complaining about what they want to do. I agree. We should always have uh a half a percent or at least a 1% increase every single year or

083you're going to end up with a four, five, 6% increase. Eventually, it's going to it's no different than anything else. If if you're paying more for teacher salaries and insurance and everything else where you have to raise this and eventually you run out of money. You have to >> Yeah. Thanks, Tim. Um >> any other questions or comments? Yeah, go ahead. >> Point of clarification. I think that it was said that the average over the last 3 years is a 67 correct percent. Is is that correct? But um and and so you said that you know we're take that away from two and that's how much we're we're basically not catching up. >> Uh that would be for more than just three years. >> But I mean if I just pulled it up I mean

084the 2024 inflation rate was 2.9. 2022 was 4.12. 2022 was 8% for the US. So >> that uh denominator is is is off in terms of the 2% catching up. But then also that I think the 67 and correct me if I'm wrong is including our commitments to acti. Correct. That that then means that it's not coming in you know to any usable fund but only so maybe for the folks trying to keep up at home like it it does look like we're much further behind than the 67 or a 2% inflation would suggest. >> Right. Effectively for the past two years, we've had 0% increase to our general operating budget. >> It's probably four years >> if not more. Yeah, that's a good point. I was just thinking about the ACTI once point if

085you did >> to Ryan's point and I just did a quick calculation. I would be need about 9.18% to balance the budget through total a tax increase which you can't do >> correct because of act one index. >> Correct. >> Can't go above 4.8%. and that was to catch up for the deferred fiscal policy. >> Belinda, >> yes, >> maybe the information that you're going to share from Donna's question is what I'm looking for as well. But losing um the LIU services, >> how many positions is the district picking up? Do we know that? Is that being sh is that in here as well? the the transition. Um, we're still going to be needing the IU services just to what degree we'll be using them. I I don't know that I have a specific number

086to say how many are coming on our payroll. Um we are like from the last from the last presentation um the whole comprehensive plan um and staying committed to the comprehensive plan means we need to address services for as LS um let me think here let me pull that slide back up here a minute that is also listed on our comprehensive plan documents on the website as well. Correct. >> And I guess just to hers I would like to make clear like this is the the reason for the comprehensive plan and the reason why um the comprehensive plan has over a longer period of time to make these adjustments and these changes. We had no say in uh some of the changes the IU is making and saying that they were getting out a certain

087level of services. So therefore, we're advancing our plan, comprehensive plan, what by two years, gentlemen. Is it two years? >> Yes. Correct. >> Yeah. Um >> to whatever degree we're we're doing that though, is it does it come out as a wash or is it costing us more money to supply teachers and get out of using LIU? Does it >> what does the cost difference pro? It depends simply because if we were to bring on an IU teacher, our salaries and benefits would probably be less than what we're paying the IU. Um, but of course, uh, it's not a fair comparison. I cannot pick just an IU employee out and say, "Oh, I'm going to save because now you're with us." That's not necessarily the case. um and or the savings could be more or

088less using an outside service placement than us doing it here. Um so um so with the special ed plan changes um still not on the right side. So with the changes in special item you you may or may recall from the previous uh presentation um this is seven positions we added four this current year without planning a budget and I I will indicate there were four positions added we did not plan for because we were not aware at a particular point in time that IU was changing the level of services. So if you look at four positions of salary and benefits, you're easily in the $120,000 range easily. So that was four. We need to anticipate three more for next year during this budget and that's included in these presentations. The we're to support as

089life skills learning support. They're all required. As well as we asked for a social worker, but since the budget initially presented itself, now we're asking for two social workers to move the family navigators into a social worker type position. So, um, yes, eventually the services may be less than the IU, but again, I will say this with a grain of salt, more districts who pull back services are going to make the cost of the IU services higher for any needs that are are needed particular districts. So while it may appear to be less, it could be more in the long run simply because when you do need the level of services from the IU, it's at a higher rate simply because um you need the service for one, you're not able to provide it, two,

090and three, um because other districts have pulled back, it has brought the the rate higher for the IU um level. So will there be a savings? It may very well be in the range of three to 500,000, but we're not at this particular point in time to say that's what the savings is going to be. >> Does that answer your question? >> Yes, fine. I just want to pick that up. >> Sorry, Jesse. Does that answer yours? >> Any savings or if it was going to be a wash? You know what I'm saying? That's all I want to know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Donna, go ahead. I I'm when I heard you say where you made cuts, you talked about not replacing retirees, but now I'm listening to Dave and summarizing all this new building

091going on. Are we looking at student projection and not replacing those people is going to be okay? >> We Yes, we're looking at our enrollment numbers all the time. >> Okay. Yes. Okay. All right. >> That is a new discussion that we are having in terms of budgeting. >> Can we in comparison to the past? >> Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you for that question. Um, if I've been keeping track, I think we've all asked at least one question. Does anyone have any more questions about 7.2 this evening? >> You can you can go ahead, Ryan. >> Not going to make any friends with this one. I I And really I I I have been thinking about how to put this so that I mean, I think the absolute last thing we want to do is

092to um disserve students. Um, but at the same time, it it's pretty conspicuous and and I just don't know. I've been trying to just get my head around the growth that we've seen in special education enrollment being over twice the state average. And like that's the type of thing that is just so much of an outlier. This maybe is like was was there facilities shutting down in the area or are we an attractant for for because of the quality of our schools? I I just don't really know what accounts for that and I don't know if the administration's looked into it at all. I I can tell you um in a conversation at our cabinet level um our director of student services told us that she has heard that we are getting families moving into

093our district that have special needs students because of the services that we offer >> to some level that's great. I think that's great and and also yeah a very good question because um it is it is a higher average for sure. Any other questions on 7.2 I know we are certainly far from done with questions uh about the budget and and continued work on that. Uh thank you Belinda and team for for your work on presenting tonight. Um very informative very good questions from the board. Looking forward to um our meeting on the 16th for more information uh before the other meeting. We're going to move on. Wow, we did it. Uh there's many more things. So 7.3 is the high school gym uh equipment upgrades. Uh this was also an item that was reviewed

094at the final finance and facilities committee meeting that happened in February. And um are there people who have questions about that is general maintenance and safety um upgrades? >> Go ahead, Kathleen. >> Yeah, thanks. I do. I'm just curious to know which upgrades are safety related and which are general maintenance related. >> That would be Kevin. >> Yep. >> Yes. Um good question. The uh the hoops basically um they elevate and lower from the ceiling. Uh they've been operating fine for 20 plus years, but uh cables break, motors break, things need maintenance. So those are the safety concerns mainly right there. and the wall padding is starting to deteriorate around the ex exterior of the interior of the room if that makes any sense. Um, and so it it while it is aesthetic is also

095a safety uh safety component there. Um, and the bleacher uh move, we're bringing it back. We're adjusting the spacing and the footwells of the entire stack so that it provides more room behind the players as they sit at the field, which as they sit at the basketball court, which is a huge safety concern in that we've in the past had people walking in front of them onto the playing field to get to the other side of them and onto the bleachers, which is unacceptable. So, those are the main safety concerns. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions about 7.3? All right, we're moving on to our policies. Um, we first have 7.4 policy 122, our extracurricular activities. This is a revised policy, so the changes are in red. Comments or questions on 7 4. >>

096Just a quick one. It looks like there's an emphasis in this for extracurriculars related to athletics. And I I it said that there's a list of um board approved uh student groups and I just don't know where we could find that list. I'm just wondering if there's other extracurriculars. >> Uh there where can you show me? I I've got both versions up. So >> I'm looking at the red underneath definition for purposes of this policy. Extracurriculars shall refer to programs which may include athletic but also curriculum related student groups that are sponsored approved by the board. >> And yeah, and you'll see down below um that there so this is policy 122. You're going to see that there's on the agenda a policy 122.1. And so in particular when Yeah. I don't know do uh

097Dr. master like where you might have your list of approved extracurriculars in athletics. It is a version of like um there's usually like in polic in the 200 policies there's like a list or like there's a yeah like I think it's like throughout the year we're not we but you guys as a board are constantly improving and then the key is with 122.1 that is for under uh equal access act you know we we may not as a district be officially approving the I don't know rainbow rainbow making club after school or the ribbon making club after school, but it might be a group of students who want to have a ribbon making club and we can't tell them no don't have one. And so that's what 122.1 is. So I I'm going well beyond

098your question, but I I don't know where that list is, but there should be like I don't or like I'm I don't know generally speaking is like on the website probably of like >> Yes, that's what I was gonna say on the on the website. I know like again as um Dr. Dr. Mo said we, you know, the board does approve all the extracurricular stipens every year in our contract. So, >> question. >> If you if you need help finding that, um, we can direct you that way, too. Go ahead, Dave. >> Yeah, Dr. Master, do you designate uh, WellSpan as the person to diagnose the concussions and everything? Is that a given? >> Um, I'm not 100% sure, but I'll find the answer to that out. >> Okay. because just wonder who's taking care

099of that that part. Okay. >> any additional questions on uh policy 122 as it stands right now? We'll we'll circle back to 122.1 in a moment. >> Yes, I do. Two questions, but I think um you answered this for me. So, thank you. We removed the Equal Access Act verbage and I think that's because it went into policy 122.1. Yeah, it was a little iffy when you look at this policy as written. It was basically saying the principal has to or the superintendent may have to approve them, but then it was also talking about maybe activities you wouldn't want to necessarily approve as a different district activity. So, we created a separate one to create that distinction. Yeah. >> All right. Thanks. And then um so we have here that no student may participate who's

100not been in attendance on the day of the activity, event or practice for the hours required. We are not saying that the student has to be in school that day. It's just that they have to be at the activity, event or practice. So, does that mean a student who calls in sick on any given day can still participate in the activity later? >> Well, where is that? I'm What? >> Yeah, I was going to say where is that? >> Um, it is number four here. I'll pull this up. Um, in 122. Yeah, I'm in 122. It >> it does also say attended school regularly, although I can see that that's not quite the same thing, right? That's just being a consistent student in the school district. >> So, it's under authority >> for >> the

101authority section number four. So, those are all options in brackets. So, I think that is actually up to those of you guys here to determine. So when it's in those brackets one through six, those are really options for the board to say yes, we want four, so you know, >> choose it. Um, that's how PSBA operates if it if it's sort of offering an option but not requiring it and I any of these are sort of certainly >> up to the discretion of the board certainly. So you could um make number four requirement. >> I was can I ask a We don't see brackets on what we're looking at, but I do see the list that Kathleen's talking about. I guess my question would be um kind of a followup to that that I know

102we have I'm going to direct this question towards Mr. Lusk because I feel like sometimes this is more at the building level in terms of our expectations. um you know, extracurricular world lives predominantly at the high school that that I would assume there's some sort of attendance requirements to be able to attend after school activities across the district, >> the athletic department. >> I'm so sorry. Thank you. Hello, Cody. Back there. >> Um we run attendance daily. So, um you know, if there's an like funerals, things like that, we do make exceptions for those, but if they're homesick, they're not they're not participating that day. >> Got it. Thank you so much. I apologize. I I didn't see behind Mark in there. Um yeah, Karen, go ahead. >> Would it just help with clarification? Um

103just been in attendance at school. >> At school, I was going to say the same thing >> and then that would clarify that >> just to make sure we don't have it like counteracting it in the policy >> or just cuz she said, you know, you could read it just in the attendance of the event or practice and but if you just said at school, well then that takes care of that whole part that >> and I believe Mr. L or Cody correct if I'm wrong. It's for at least a half day. Is that >> Yeah. And there's a time requirement. Is is it 8:45? 8:45 right now. So I don't know if in policy it should read >> as outlined in building and athletic handbooks which are approved annually. So we always have that

104in both. >> Um so again if you whatever language you want in the actual policy it might allude to those handbooks that are approved annually. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think the >> because sometimes as as sorry, >> I was going to say the only thought I would have on that is normally when we when I at least when I review handbooks, I make sure that the policy itself has the main language. So, okay, >> as as long as your handbooks have the language that you're talking about, we can >> we usually refer to policy. >> Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm saying. >> But the only thing I'm thinking right now off the top of my head is sometimes like those times shift a a little bit depending on, you know, bell schedules and things like

105that. Um, and we try to be consistent across the board, you know, even with middle school and if we're running on the same type of schedule. Um, so, >> and if we add in here been in attendance in school on the day of the activity, event or practice for the hours required, that kind of takes you back to the handbook for the hours required. >> That sounds great. >> But it does say at least it would be in school. So, Brooke, if we can add that in >> adding in >> been in attendance in school >> on the day of the activity, event or practice for the hours required. >> Got it. >> So, we're just adding the in school piece. >> Wanted to clarify. That's right. >> Got it. >> I got it. >>

106Thank you, >> Kathleen. I I feel like maybe that was the first of two questions, but I can't remember. Did you get your questions? >> The first one was answered, right? >> Yes, that questions answered. Thank you. Anyone else with questions on policy 122? All right. Uh, moving on to policy 123, intercolastic athletes. Um, this one is also a revised policy. So, the changes are in red. Questions, comments, thoughts on this one? Well, I think we can do the same update to this because we've got the same language in this policy uh related to being in school on that day. >> Yep. Number four. There it is. >> Yep. Number four. >> I got it. >> Thank you, Brooke. >> But I do have a question now about that. So, this policy is a little

107bit different, of course, than the other one. In this one, you know, we open our inter Scholastic athletics to students who are not enrolled in the district. um how do we monitor whether they have actually participated in their relative school day on that day to be eligible to participate in the intercalactic activity? >> That's a good question. >> Cody, I'll turn that over to you due to the co-op with Fairfield. >> Sure. So, for the co-op with Fairfield, for that example, they run attendance, but obvious for a home student or a cyber student, we're going off of what they're telling us. Um, we do have them send send us their grades for eligibility, but we have no way of actually checking if they were in school, but we go off what they're being they're telling

108us from from home. >> I mean, if it was a child that was doing our cyber charter that >> Yeah. Right. Our own our own cyber charter accountability. I have a question about the delegation of responsibility section being the building principal. Shouldn't it be the athletic director at the high school and middle school level? >> I don't know. That tends to be a PIAA thing. >> It's it's a PI according to the PIAA athletics falls under the principle. >> Okay. technically. >> So, our policy reflects that and then you're a part you're a part of it here. >> Okay, great. Cool. Good question. Any other questions on this policy? Okay, seeing none, uh, moving on to policy 126, class size. This is again a revised policy with changes in red. Kathleen, go ahead. I I'm

109expecting it. I'm just looking and waiting. That's totally fine. This is good. >> I'm going to be in shock when I don't have a question. >> I might be. Yeah, but um I'm trying to do my due diligence here. So um in the in in authority class size shall be determined by the board of school directors etc and consultation with the superintendent etc. So I'm just curious to know is there a specific month the board makes this determination. >> So that is a question for you. I do not believe that there is a specific month that we would make that determination. Um I that's a good question. I'd have to look into that a little deeper >> or or I guess just the practice in general of like >> yeah determining this. I would imagine

110you do it pretty annually though when you think about when we're talking about projections, enrollment projections and and and teachers you meet and need and I just don't know when you normally would do that but I think yeah like if that's I mean the policy is very 27 years old. >> Well I guess and honestly where my head is at with this why is the board making this determination at all? I mean this I don't know. I feel like Dr. Master, you and your team, you are the experts in this. You make the determination. You could advise us. I >> Well, again, I think it I think it >> it's a >> I think it happens as as Lee said, is kind of like ongoing as you know, if we are looking at, you know,

111situations where our class sizes are that large that we need to hire another position or our class sizes are small that we can, you know, if somebody leaves, we don't replace them, you know, that's we would, >> you know. So yeah, I think this this just so everyone knows this policy is not a required policy. It is a policy that the district had in place um last revised in 1999. >> Every so so um it's certainly not and I think more pertinent to our previous discussion from today is when you talk about budget, you're figuring out what your classes are going to be, your your your teachers and whatnot. It may be somewhat of an antiquated policy. It's not a required policy. It's optional to have and maybe it's not one we need or you

112need as a >> Dr. Matzer, do you remember and in and historically there was a time if unless I dreamt this, we we used to get uh the enrollment for each of our buildings and for each grade level we were given a student toteer ratio. I I always thought that monthly information was helpful to us. And of course, it would be a red flag if we saw that there was 24 kids in a kindergarten class. Uh and and again, if it comes down to a budgetary issue or things like that, that's something where we would I I always appreciate it being informed on that. I don't know if that's >> we still do get monthly enrollment numbers uh at least at the district level and we certainly can pass those on to the board each

113month as well. Yeah, I think the distinction is whether you want to put into a policy a shall approve of a class. saying shall be determined I think is the part Kathleen was pointing to to me implies that we vote on that at some point and I don't know that we do aside from discussing and voting on you know needs of um >> right staffing right so >> correct >> and I believe implicitly you do it through the budgetary process you already have policies on that so like you know more linked to budget >> completely optional policy Well, >> well, it's an optional policy. However, if you keep that in there, then you got to vote on it. My opinion is that is our team's decision to make, not our decision to make. As far

114as class size, when it comes to the budget, they're going to say they need an extra teacher or they don't. So, I would rather see that eliminated to say we're going to make the decision and let it up to Dr. Matzer and his team. >> Amen. >> Yeah. So, are we looking at Just taking ourselves out of that sentence. >> Retiring the policy. >> Oh, okay. Because then you would just use this in your own team's work. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, we can certainly make a note of that to retire 126. >> And just we would then vote potentially on that after this is ourformational round and then we'll >> correct. Yeah, good question, Ryan. That would be on um the next meeting >> next month. next month's meeting. Correct. Correct. >>

115Because they need 30 days. So, you would vote on this at the second meeting in April. >> Yes. With this structure. >> Yeah. >> Um are there any other concerns or thoughts about the you know moving moving forward with um retiring this policy as a potential for the future looking into doing that? No. Okay. Great. And also I'm just glad, you know, glad to know that you guys are thinking about this all the time. It's important. We we trust you to do that. Uh I'm going to move on. Policy 7.7 uh 122.1 was referenced earlier by Lee. Um it's kind of the addendum to the extracurricular activities. Um it's more specific to the non-school sponsored student groups um for making sure that it's um >> yeah, there was there was a case in State College

116about a school district school area school district on the right of the school district to have >> an after school program that wasn't specifically sponsored by the district and that was the outgrowth um there was a decision that became uh the policy so >> great and this then um but this is also revised so it's not brand new to us it's >> we revised what PSBA sent us so this is a brand new policy but but we on our end sort of you know and then there's the note in there that we don't need to I mean it's just like a note as you as you as a board review it. Um but otherwise I think those are the only changes to remove the beginning part. >> Um aside from what Lee mentioned about this

117earlier, are there any other questions or thoughts on one point uh 122.1? I I feel like your explanation earlier helped me understand how it fits into 122. So, I appreciate that. >> Like it's it's it's the student right to have the program, but not the district saying we want to have this program. >> Great. Student rights for the win. >> All right, moving on. Uh 7.8 policy 805.1, relations with law enforcement agencies. Questions or comments on that? Kathleen, go ahead. >> Yeah, I'm just curious about something. Um, so training. The district shall invite representatives of each law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over school property to participate in district training related to subjects that enhance understanding of and build positive relationships with students. So my question is, is attending this training something we can require?

118My guess is probably not. But can we strengthen the language to something like shall invite and strongly encourage? I mean, I think it would be pretty fantastic if this training is had. >> Well, I would like to say first that I already conduct that training with officer Bivvens and his staff already. This is relationship with our outside law enforcement entities, not our district operated law enforcement entities. So I I love like every year I'm getting the request to come in students with disabilities and other students that we we me as an educator and and law enforcement sort of have that conversation. Um we can't we I don't think we can make outside um officer law enforcement officers come in. We have our safe schoolsou under our chapter 10 regulations that that require us to have

119relationships with the pens you know PSP and other you know um state police and local police regional police u but we can't really make them attend the training but it is really great to have it in the policy that we can we we shall invite but we can't make attend but we we do already have this training on an annual basis which internally I think is a great um idea Yeah, thank you. Sure. >> I had a quickie. Um, just we removed the definition of incident. Um, >> and it seems like we still refer to incident within the policy a couple times without it being defined. >> Let let me Brooke I think on there and when I looked at my word track track what is it? Word changes the track changes there were two

120definitions. We deleted one and we kept one in and I think you delete. So there is a def the definition that is deleted should be the definition that does remain there. Yeah, we had there were two different and that's I I wanted to make a point of that we had changed incident and the reason we changed it was because of this new reporting requirement about reporting incidents with weapons and so we were really clear to parallel the reference and the definition of incident from the new law so that we were making sure we're reporting it based on the new law and then also based on um input that we had from officer Bivven. No, that deleted definition should is the one that we want in there, Brooke. It was a previous one that we deleted.

121Yep. No, not a problem. But I just I'm glad you pointed that out cuz that was a comment I wanted to make. >> So, we can get that one added back in and then we'll resend this out so everybody can see >> it. It is what is written underneath the strike words, right? It's >> correct. Yep. It's an instance of involving an act of violence. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And I guess I sorry, but I just >> that's okay. the um act of violence. I I mean in reading it and without it being defined, I just couldn't help but thinking if it were broadening out the categories and if things like cyber um violence or acts of bullying or whatever or you know some of these things are actually you know newer

122concerns and would be captured within this definition or if you know in your legal opinion were safe. Uh, and I don't know if you have any and I know you had some input and I'm but I know you also don't have it in front of you so I don't want to like you have >> the definition that's there that's lined out is the original one that was specific to the PTE definition. >> It covers just what is goes into at the end of the year. >> Yeah, that's that's correct. That that's the reporting requirement. Yeah. I don't I'm not sure which definition you want in there. This is the more broader one. >> Okay. >> That covers things like he's speaking of or in the event that there's an accident or something where we have

123to notify like after hours or whatever, we notify law enforcement, do an investigation or non traffic death or some type of injury accident or something that occurs. Um, which would be covering this >> with the last line of that where it says >> conduct that constitutes an off an offense listed in the school safety security provisions of the school code. Would that cover >> kind of what Ryan's talking about? Like those things would fall under that? >> Those would Yeah, >> those things aren't covered in that code. >> Yeah, it does. it becomes a question of is this what we're because again it's reporting to PTE and norm not every district has their internal police that's doing it and so that's why >> um but I mean what would you what would you that's one

124of the reasons you know in your opinion would you want the definition to be broader >> because it creates a shell around that >> it doesn't this kind of restricts what we're saying >> right we're going report to an outside agency when they're on duty or not. Um whereas if it's broader then when something needs to be reported people are going to understand if we're going to call them report >> right >> so that >> so you'd prefer broader yes >> with that la so I think that last sentence that you just added >> right >> or conduct that constitutes an offense listed >> so that then leaves it open to like this is saying you must report those things. But then if that is something that you like cuz I still feel like that

125didn't really answer your question. Like if you're able to and want to or need to report some instance of cyber bullying that's taken further or something like that that you're still able to. You're just not required to. That's how I'm reading that. But maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying. >> It's that's been the that's been the overall I don't want to say elephant to the room. That has been the overall challenge with this is like making sure that we're requiring the reports that are required and are leaving to the discretion of the non >> I think I understand um I just >> wasn't quite sure if that's what >> I think the definition here the I mean at least through the definition there's no shall within the definition right and so I think right in

126that in the definition of incident it doesn't say like and there's nothing about shall reporting it's throughout and It goes to um Ryan's point about throughout the policy the things that we're required to do based on that definition and making sure the definition isn't >> Got it. Got it. >> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. I mean I I feel like I can't quite get my head around what's going to make students safer yet. A broader narrower definition. And obviously that should be the goal. >> Yeah. It's great that um that it was edited with our school school uh officers there. >> So, which definition are we actually using >> cuz are you combining them? >> I don't I don't the the uh the one that I sent, which I'm I'm pretty sure that the word >>

127Yeah. There's the definition. There's there's two definitions. There's >> the first occurring one and the second occurring one. >> The first occurring one is the one I would >> believe that we would adopt which is the one that I see in >> that IDF the PDF that even though it's struck out. >> I just want to make sure cuz we're referencing both of them. Okay. >> Yep. >> Yeah. We don't we don't have the other one. They only see the one. Yeah. We only see they only see the one. So the one that is struck out should be unstruuck. I just want to clarify. Mhm. >> Yeah. >> But isn't that the one that Jim, didn't you just say that that's not the broad one and you want the broad one? It says that constitutes

128a school offense provisions of school. I mean, it says it has that last sentence that says or conduct that constitutes an offense listed in the school and safety security provisions of the school code. I guess I mean is that going to be cyber bullying and some of those? I mean, Right. I mean, >> it is in the school code. It's under But maybe not in the section we're referencing. Yeah. >> Yeah. In their definition, and I'd have to look at that whole list. >> I would have to look at that whole list of what they have, but there's a lot of things that you would report that don't fall under the list that they have in there. >> If that makes any sense. the list and that who has where that that that like we

129have in the policy. >> Yeah. Between what is it 10.2 or >> right the safe this the the chapter 10 regulations on safe schools. Yeah. >> The the definition that they have there and the list that they have. There's a lot of things that you would report um to law enforcement that are not listed. It's not that's a very specific list that they have as to the types of what the incidents are that you're required to report based upon that regulation. However, there's a lot of things that go on that require law enforcement to respond and would require us to notify PSP Cumberland Township or Gettysburg Burough to come out and do an investigation that we're not including in this. I mean, if you want it specific to what we have to report back in

130in June, then your definition completely covers that. But if we're looking at the broader um requirement of you know the relationship with law enforcement and what we're expecting people to to report to them I don't know you know that's that your interpretation whether it covers it or not I don't know >> yeah well because when you look when you when you look to the list under the chapter 10 regulations when you look to the list under the safe schools MAU there are mandatory reports and there's discretionary reports and I would just say like this policy is just supposed to be like an outward caption of what's in the safe schoolsou that I'm sure you probably I know like we have to issue them every year. It's supposed to be sort of an outline of what

131our our our reporting is. And so if if there are changes in how you report and my only caution would be we don't want to put in policy things that are currently discretionary that now we're going to make mandatory that we have to to report all the time. So, can can I make a suggestion just because I'm getting >> I know I'm in the weeds here, but that's >> I'll tell you what I think and then you can tell me if I'm wrong. Um, what I'm hearing I keep thinking that I'm understanding it and then I keep getting confused again. And I think part of the reason is because the thing that you guys are referencing is not something we're looking at. >> And that's my point, >> which is yeah, >> a problem for

132understanding. Um, but also we don't see the other option. So my I I I guess I I feel like if you guys are on the same page with what is better for being broader and needed, I'm cool with that. I just am not convinced right now that that's what's happening. So I wonder if we could could we look at it again? Could we just look at it again? >> Can we just make sure it has the right definition on there for what is needed broadly speaking? So my my question is is why wouldn't you just put in there that uh anything that needs reported that has to be reported will be reported all others will be discretionary reporting. So you've covered what he has to do and what he wants if he needs to do

133anything else instead of >> making it specific. >> I'm not opposed. I'm not and I'm not opposed. We have been working for like two months. So this isn't >> Yeah. I don't disagree. Uh, we can reconnect. I don't I don't We can reconnect. I mean, I have no problem with the definition unless there's a problem with >> I'm gonna make Yeah, I'm gonna make Unless this is a apologies for kicking it back, which is what I'm trying to suggest. Um, because I know you have been working on it, but just for a couple of reasons, right? It's struck through and it's confusing. So, we can fix it and have what we need there that we know is right. Um, and then we'll know that it's something you guys agreed on. If if it seemed like

134you were both saying the same thing right now, then I would say, yeah, we're clear on what it is you're talking about. But you're referencing two things we're not looking at. So, if I believe that you have the same idea, I just would, I think, like to be clearer about what it is we're voting or what it is we're going to be voting on if if that makes sense. >> So, we're going to revisit the definition. We will rework it in this policy and then we can send it back out for the board to review. Yeah, that would be awesome. I think we're all in agreement that we'd like it to be something that works functionally for you for your for your team, you know, not to be to be all-encompassing and not to be

135constrictive, but I'm just not sure I am looking at that yet. >> So, this will come up again as an information item at the first meeting of our next committee, the whole >> Yep. >> Does that make sense? >> Yes. >> Got it. >> Thank you. >> Moving on. >> Yep. We're moving on. 7.9 draft of the capital improvement program 5-year plan fiscal years 2627 through 3031. Comments, questions on that. You can start. >> All right, buckle up. I have a few. Okay. Um, >> and this is what these meetings are for, right? Correct. That is correct. All the information. >> All right. So, um, I support safety related expenses. Safety comes first. So, I have a few questions on some of these expenses that are not safety related. Um, so the grill and exhaust

136hood at Warrior Stadium for $50,000. I'm curious, has this been requested by someone or some entity? And if so, has the requester provided any kind of proforma projecting increased vending sales? Because I think the point of this is to increase vending sales. So where did it originate? And what performer do we have to say that sales will increase? We project anyway by this percentage. >> No, I I'll throw you under the bus over here. No, I'm just kidding. No, it it got brought in finance committee because uh most people don't know that when the stadium was built, it was supposed to have a hood and gas and whatever it got missed, however that happened. And the people who use the concession stand for Warrior Stadium are struggling getting stuff prepared. They're bringing stuff from home

137and preparing. It would make a whole lot more sense if that was done. Now, in saying that, it is a want, not a need. And I think it was put on there as a future look into not necessarily it's on the agenda. So that's why. >> All right. Thank you. And I know based on our conversation earlier this evening, I think we we probably are less interested at this point in wants versus needs trying to look at the future budget. But this is good information. So um also the Lincoln Middle School parking lot resale and stripe which is at about $47,000. Is this routine maintenance or are there problems there? >> I believe it's routine, but Kevin can associate more with that. >> Yes, it's routine just like the rest of the campus uh campuses

138Gettysburg wide. Um every now and again we need to top them up so that we don't tear them up in the winter time. >> Try not to have our parking lot like Pennsylvania state roads. Is it something I mean we talk about the tragedy of deferred maintenance. Is this something that would be a tragedy if we did defer this maintenance? >> Um I think it could be you know if you don't do this kind of thing and you push the road down and now you're tearing up the whole parking lot and repaving the whole parking lot which would be astronomical in cost. >> Yeah, that's a good question. This is also the same thing that came through as an information item. Like that's an um the same thing we just looked at earlier for Franklin

139Township Elementary and James Gettys and the admin just for a different building. So it keeps them on track across the board. >> And generally speaking, I'm really not a fan of deferred maintenance because I agree with you. I think that we ultimately end up cost, you know, costing ourselves a lot more money down the road. But always good to ask the question. Um the running track resurfaced for $90,000. We're doing it to um eliminate compromised areas. I'm just curious where are the compromised areas? >> Well, that's the original track to the high school. So, it's lasted 20 how many 20 years now? >> Yeah. 20 23 or four. >> Yeah. It's the original track. It's really seen its life. It's it's past it prime. >> Yeah. If you walk up there and and you just

140look around a little bit, you you'll see some some damaged areas there. It's nothing terrible, but it it's at this point now where it's becoming it's beginning to become a a safety issue as for trips and falls and such. >> So, what do we say it's it's really toward the end of its life cycle then? >> Nearing for sure. >> It's nearing >> 1998. >> Yeah. So, 20 27 28 years almost 28 years old. >> Yeah. And you don't want to wait till it's completely failed to replace it. Oh, and the other option of replacing with a different type of product was in the $500,000 range. Just just for >> No, this is this is great information. So, the difference between resurfacing and replacing is about $410,000. >> I mean, let's just right. Let's call

141it what it is. So, resurfacing at $90,000 will ultimately save us $410,000 in a couple of years if we have to replace it. Is that fair to say? >> That's the goal. Yes. Correct. >> Thank you. Um, all right. These LED message signs, I think they sound so lovely to have at the admin building and the high school. Um, $40,000 each. That's $80,000. And I've got to tell you, my dear grandfather taught me such a valuable lesson as a child. Here's what he used to say to me. He would say, "A person who can't save a dime will never save a dollar." So, I want to ask you, I mean, are they really like $80,000? Do we need to have them at a time when we're really, you know, kind of nervous about our budget?

142>> Um, I don't remember. Does all that money coming out of capital funds or was there some other monies for that for the LED signs, Blinda? I don't remember. >> I think it's the plan is to come out of capital funds. um as this came up during facility and finance committee meeting. >> I just I couldn't remember where the funds come. But we the I know the point of those were to um I mean we do have a Facebook page but if you don't look at your Facebook then you don't know what's going on it. But it does help school today school closings you know hiring substitutes the plays going on. There's a basketball game. They're getting people involved and being able to see it. that if you don't have a kid in the district,

143you're not looking at Gettysburg's schools Facebook page and that's pretty much the only way you're getting information anymore. >> Yeah, I hear that. And with this, unless you're driving by, you wouldn't get the information either, right? >> True. But they're pretty high traffic areas. It's not like it's Franklin Township and nobody's driving by it. >> Yeah, this this one gives me heartburn, I've got to say. Just putting it out there. Are there other comments or questions on uh the capital draft? Capital projects draft. >> Do I want to say anything? >> I was just asking. I thought you reaching for the button. >> I'll defer. >> Okay. >> Um any other comments or questions? >> Okay. Um, so just just thinking to what Kathleen's talking about here for this, um, it says it's a draft

144and then this would would this this would still be following the um format of moving to an action item next meeting um to vote through this draft. Correct. >> Yes. Now I have a question. >> Okay. Go ahead, Dave. >> This is the cart and the horse in my opinion. How do you approve the capital plan unless you're going to budget money in each year for capital like it should be? And how are you going to approve this when you don't have the budget yet and it's not in the current budget or is all of this in the budget? >> All of it is in the current budget. >> You recall that's the million dollars that I was mentioning about. >> So it's already in the budget. >> It's already in the budget. >> Okay.

145Okay. So now our options as a board is to remove the funding from the general fund budget, reduce the number to balance the budget and find another alternative to fund the budget. >> But if you approve this before you do that, >> if you approve this before >> the cart is before the horse. >> Well, if you approve this, this is determining that these projects are of need. So we would then find a way to minimally fund the $660,622 minimally. Now remember, I have a million dollars in the budget, >> right? And and I think the annual average is 800 and some thousand a year. That's correct. Correct, Kevin? >> So I mean if if otherwise you're going to get to the deferred maintenance issue. So we might not need the million. >> Correct. >>

146But we need 867,000. Yeah. >> Annually. >> And simply Yeah. Now keep in mind even though you approve a plan this is not something that's set in stone because all these items still need to come back and have an approval okay process even after before or after the budget. So the budget would need to be passed next >> in order for the the funding to be accurate as well as then any of these projects that are on here that above bid thresholds need to come back and have an approval level by the board to do the project. So you're saying the LED lights and the those all need to be approved. >> We're not This is the scope of the capital. >> Just like we just trying to approve the patching and seal coating of

147the parking lots. Same, >> right? This is just saying that this is what we would be looking at as the overall projects for that span of time, which also keep in mind it's the span of time from the 26 27 school year through the 3031 school year. >> Okay. This plan will change yearly. It does change annually, by the way. >> Yeah. >> So, so if we next time if we approve it and the million dollars is kept in the budget, not necessarily is each project approved. >> Correct. >> Okay. As long as that's the case, I'm okay with it. >> Okay. Great. Any other questions on 7.9? >> All right. Moving on to 7. >> I'm sorry. Can I go ahead? So, if we approve this at the next meeting, we're approving an expenditure

148of roughly $662,000. But it doesn't mean that we will approve these individual items. >> It's a it's the >> approving the plan. The concept of doing these items in the plan. You're not necessarily approving each one of them as you approve next meeting if this moves for an approval. You're approving the plan. You're not approving each and every project at that point. those each and every project will come back for a board vote upon getting further estimates. It's likely going to be all over bid threshold. So you we will be approving the items as fit as as needed and as required by their bidding thresholds. >> So the items for discussion, maybe this is where I got confused at the finance and facilities meeting. the items for discussion, the wait room, the fieldhouse, the turf,

149the lighting at Warrior Stadium. When does that come into discussion? Does that need to be on here if we want it to be for the 5-year plan? >> The finance and building committee would discuss that. And if >> we don't have that anymore, I >> correct. This is it. That's where I'm concerned because >> that's going to be a problem. But um >> it is uh but you would have everybody here would then have to agree to even put that on to discuss it to bring it on to that to add that to a >> and that's my question because now we're a committee of the whole which shouldn't be because that defeats the purpose. >> All right. So >> of all of it because that's why you have a board and you have a

150committee. They're separate. >> Yep. So, we we still in this structure have the ability to have subcommittees to help put things forward and do extra work on the side as needed. Um, that being said, I did send an email out to everyone about this structure saying that you're still >> Yes, you did. >> We did. You may not have been there, but we did as a board agree on this structure. Um, so we we had we have the ability to add things to this meeting and have it function as a committee meeting. So after the meeting, how did I write that? after the me after next Monday's meeting ne two Monday's meetings um on after the 16th if there is something that you are looking at that you're hearing about that you're thinking about from

151what we've discussed that you say yes that's something that we should talk about in our information items on this part of the meeting um then you can email that to us and it can be something that goes into the um creation of the agenda right so this is basically our combined committee meeting. >> Correct. >> Right. So, I think my question is like for this capital improvement program 5-year plan. >> Yeah. >> If any of those items for discussion were to be added, that can still happen before this gets approved. We would have to delay the approval of this >> because one, we'd have to find estimates to give you an estimated number as to what it's going to cost for whatever your desire is to add to this plan. >> So if you're I

152don't >> and the desire to add to the plan has to be board voted. >> Well, it would like they're going to vote on the plan as to when to do that. Right. Right. Like so if that's within the first year 2627 you're going to need to add it to the first year of the 5-year plan um and get estimates on approximate number. So instead of 660,000 and maybe more to include the additions or you may say well let's get estimates but let's put it on year two of the plan. Um and we will again try to find estimates but put it on year two and you can see that that that number of course then would be adjusted according to those estimates that come in. But we would want to know what these items

153are and kind of estimating it out approximation of number of value so we can honestly say this is the number that's going to be budgeted >> to transfer over to capital reserve to pay for these items. So my request needs to go to Alan Alice. >> Your request needs to come up in a public meeting since this is the the committee meeting. >> Correct. >> And the board can decide. >> Yep. >> Yay or nay. >> So I think one of the one of the hang-ups here in in I understand your question. Um the way that the structure functioned before was that committees would give recommendations, right? But it was never voted upon anyway. So this also is not a voted item. This would be a general consensus of saying this is something that now

154we want to put on this and then the voting would happen at the next meeting just like committees also didn't vote on things they talked about it they recommended something and then it came before the whole board to vote but this is how this particular meeting would function then right so I guess your question right now is what you're saying is that those items you have an interest in some of those being put into the capital improvement plan expansion, >> right? As a um as an item to get an estimate on um which we're looking at it on there but not on the actual planned four items, >> right? >> Okay. So, what is you can talk more about that which one were you looking at? So, at the finance and facilities meeting, I had

155talked about the the wait room expansion, and I know budget-wise not a good time to want to talk about it, but I think it's important. And I know um Oh, sorry, Justine. It it is on Oh, the FIP. It is not in the first year, but it is for um future projects. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, >> thank you, Dr. M. I saw you looking away like to to point that out over there. Thank you, Belinda and Dr. Mc. Oh yeah. Um and and and you're mentioning something that's important to remember that this also came through our last iteration of the old committee structure. So people who were at the finance and facilities committee meeting in February have looked at this already. Um >> FIP items. >> So that regular >> Belinda, can you give

156us a page number? >> It's page page six of 25. Yeah, >> that's I >> still moved into a different category. >> Yeah. So, I guess the question is it's listed there for items discussion and I think what Miss Sig saying is how do we get that on year three or a a proposed not just item for discussion. We have an estimate there of 1.2 which we discussed at the finance and facility meeting that I believe they did change for inflation and things like that as well. So, we do have the estimate there. I think what we're trying to do is can we get that on agreed upon year 2, three, four in this plan. >> I see what you mean. >> Yep. >> Well, can I add to this conversation? So, let's say we

157decide, yeah, you know, we want to remove that from items for discussion into the plan itself. And then could we take a look? I mean, if we don't do the grill and exhaust hood, if we don't do the two LED signs, there's there's almost that cost, then we can in fact expand the the exercise and weight room. And isn't that kind of what we should be doing is looking at this and saying, "Hey, let's take this off the menu so we can put this more pressing need on the menu." >> Well, >> how are the um >> 1.2 million though? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Now, >> sure. It's not the same amount. >> It's um each LED sign is $40,000. >> That's 80. >> Oh, okay. Well, thank you. I don't know these these late

158night meetings. >> If you if >> I'm glad there are many of us here. >> If you add the observation tower, you can cut 200,000 out. >> Um let let me ask a different question than looking at the way that those are parsed out between the different years they land versus the items for discussion. Of course, all of these came up at some point to be talked about when we're building this plan. Um, it's my understanding that the recommendation of how those roll out are coming from the departments that have those needs, right? Or that conversation with our whole team. So, this recommendation of the five plan, five-year plan and having those things as items for discussion came from the the boots on the ground in terms of seeing what those needs are and and

159prioritizing them. Correct. Correct. >> One thing. So of the of the items of information. So if we as a group would say tonight, let's move that to the 5-year plan, it could happen on the wait room. It would have to be Well, so we could move it, but it would ha if we agree to move it, we in theory could move it, but I think Belinda was saying that would change the like budgeting planning of it all. So, I don't know if we would be able to vote on it immediately. It would probably have to come back as an information item. >> Well, I think you could move the area to a year in which you would like to do it. >> Oh, okay. Correct. And then we would put it in the year that

160it could be accomplished and that way we could plan more appropriately on the budget appropriation of dollars. >> Okay. With year three makes sense >> because I can tell you from practicality of being in that weight room for the last two years. It is totally overused. You have weights on it on the walking track up above. You have weights down below. You have weights over here, you have apparatus everywhere, and you're splitting your groups up and and supervision becomes an issue sometimes because you got to spread out everybody. >> So, if I just heard correctly, you're all recommending that be moved to year three. >> Correct. >> I'm just going to ask one more question, not for any other reason than understanding. Um, it does say on the document as well next to that item

161that the board declined it in 21. So, this was already something that was attempted to come through as was it did it make a plan and then get voted down or was it just on for information and they decided not to add it into the plan? >> It was a part of the high the the high school renovation. >> It was part of the HVAC project for the high school alternative to the bid and the the board chose not to do the alternative to the bid at that time. So, it was part of an FIP project. >> Um, which that's one of the things I was just going to point out is sometimes if there's a a project you want to do that cost quite a bit of money, it might not just be able

162to be slapped into the five-year plan. You might actually have to sort of plan for that with another project and borrowing and stuff like that. But if you can do it in the five-year plan, that's fine. But just that's why there's a list of FIP items in the back >> that it might co end up costing more. Tom, is that what you're saying? Or >> Yeah. I mean, this one is 1.2 million. So that those kinds of projects can be accommodated in the five-year plan, but um if it would >> Yeah, I don't know if that I don't know how you know that would h like the way that it was designed before. I know there's at least one board member that didn't care for that. So uh um you know whether it has to

163be done a different way could end up costing a different amount of money. I mean we don't really know have to be a lot of investigation for that. >> I I just had a quick logistical question because you know the planning aspect of design bid build is is a little vague to me still in terms of when we provide input. Um, and so if we approve this plan, it comes up to a vote, we like the structure of it, then is it on an annual basis or on a project by project basis before we send things out to bid that we would go through like an iterative process of reconsidering what we want in the design aspect of design, bid, build, >> right? So our our procedures are that if we approve a project that

164then we are like it would come up as an as an item to um to vote on going forward with getting the design like if they have people to do that that then we would be voting on that. And then the bids um the bids they would go out for bid without us voting and we would we would find back what that lowest bidder was and vote on that. Does that answer your question? >> Am and am I correct? That's my understanding. >> Yes to both. It's exactly we we research what you guys want. We get a design team to tell us how to build it. Then we take it out to the public out to the contractors for bids. We report those to you guys >> and we go from there. That was my

165most concise 9:20 on a Monday. So, thank you Kevin. I appreciate that. >> And but just to be Jin clear like this is not this document is not exactly what we want just yet. This is the plan before the the design process. >> Correct. And you should also take into the fact that you know we've got the tariffs have loomed over our heads since 2021. So I mean that number is just that. It's just a number. >> So this plan is basically a rolling document. >> Yes. That's all it is. >> Correct. >> So, you're not approving anything to be built. You're just approving the ideology that this is in the rolling plan. And in two years, you could say, "Well, we don't have the money for the wait room. Put it down." >> Correct.

166>> Two more years >> and or included at a bigger project. >> Bigger project. This is a rolling. >> It's a rolling plan. That's why it comes back every year. strategy to give the department the op to look at these things, cost them out and plan appropriately. So after all of these comments and questions and the item on item for discussion that we're that is under discussion presently um the next kind of step would be if there's a general consensus that people would like to move that um then that could be something that we we ask for before voting uh next meeting on this draft. >> Right. >> Okay. So, this is the weird thing of general consent. Like, we don't have to vote on it. It's just saying like it it sounds like what

167I'm hearing from the room unless you say something different is that we'd like to see the exercise weight room expansion um moved to year three of this plan as it's written right now. >> Okay, great. Well, let's do that then for the document for >> We'll pick the document and bring it back for approval then. Thanks, Belinda. >> Thank you to everybody for helping work through this uh this process. Good questions, Justine about moving things around. Um okay, we are moving on to 7.10, which is the rejection of the Warrior Stadium team room bids. Um just requesting that we uh we as a board um well this is information so this is something that would come up for next meeting to vote on but the request is that the board discuss rejecting the previously approved

168bids for the worry team uh room project because they expired and because they're no longer um no longer able to be bid in that way uh since the last time because of the timing of that project. So that would then um that would then give our team the ability to rebid and come back to us um for that same project. Again, this is already an approved project. So this just that process like Ryan was asking. Um we do have to vote on rejecting the bids. So any questions about that item? It will come up for a vote next meeting. Madam President, just to confirm, um, the invitation to bid will be the exact same invitation to bid as originally went out. Is that correct? >> Yes and no. The timeline is what's changing, of course.

169So, um, but yes, the bid that will go out will be asking for the same information and receive that information returned to us. >> Any other questions on 7.10? 10. Okay, good work everybody on our information of everything. Um, we have two real quick updates for board committee reports. I'll start with Tim for the Joocc board. >> All right. Thank you. Um, so the ACTI has um hired a new director uh Dr. Anthony Payne. He is scheduled to start around April 27th depending on what date they can get out of his existing contract. He will be overlapping duties with Dr. Sean uh Echenro so they can get all their stuff and he will be our um director going forward. Um great guy uh was completely everybody on the committee completely agree with that person. So

170it wasn't uh a bicker of who was he he was the standout. Um I um and then we did have some um an executive session about some lands that are still talking about land. Just waiting for ins and outs and pluses and minuses from um was it um Crabtree um giving them the details of some of these properties. So that's where we're at. >> Thank you. Um, we also have a board committee report from Al for the PSBA legislative committee. >> I will make this quick. Uh, House Bill 41 is being supported by over 130 public schools. This is something that has been around for a long time and it uh many times around this time of year during the PIAA playoffs if is when it came comes uh to be very important. What it

171does, it separates the playoffs or there's a proposal to separate playoffs in districts and state playoffs to separate the boundary from the non-boundary schools and to try to level the playing field uh somewhat. This has been attempted uh times in the past. Uh the PIAA doesn't seem to be real motivated in this area. So the many of the schools uh and they've got a ton of signatures and again 130 schools that are on board with this are going through uh our friends in Harrisburg uh at the House and then the Senate which then would possibly force the PIAA to do something uh about that. uh as a uh former coach in small schools, I would be 100% for it and at some point I will fill you all in on their progress and if we

172decide to do a resolution or you all would decide to support that, that would be great. Not to steal the thunder from Dr. Matzer, but while I got the mic, uh Shrek the Shrek the musical was amazing uh this weekend. I have to say that because uh partly my daughter co-directs uh Kate Sainer and Megan Kubal did a fantastic job. Uh Christa Creel did an amazing job. We had a wonderful orchestra there. A ton of volunteers who especially with the strike and take down. We did not have as many volunteers in setting up this uh these props which were uh I was afraid someone was going to lose their life. these props were very heavy duty and the physics it didn't seem like uh I don't know uh the physics were going against what I

173consider physical law but uh but a big shout out to Brody Granger who played Shrek Maddox uh GL Glass who played the donkey I think he was my personal favorite the Eddie Murphy character uh Kaden Miller Farquore and Audrey uh tracks Fiona amazing voice they did a great job sorry Jeff >> that's quite All right, >> go ahead, Dr. Manster. >> So, I'll keep it quick because I have to talk about half of what I was going to talk about. Um, but I will second what Dr. Moyer said. I did get a chance to see the musical on Friday. It was fantastic. So, congrats to everybody who was involved in Shrek at the high school. Uh, the only thing I want to mention is I would just like to wish good luck to our wrestlers

174who are still competing in individual wrestling championships that take place in Hershey on March uh 5th through the 7th. I believe we have eight boys and three girls going for individual titles. So, congrats and good luck to all of our wrestlers. >> Dr. McFaren, go ahead. >> I'd like to thank the board uh for approving our illustrative math materials. We're going to work on getting some training scheduled for the early dismissal in April and hopes to get all of our materials here prior for teachers leaving for the year. Excited for that. Um from the elementary level, our kindergarten readiness nights, we've had them at James Gettys and Lincoln Elementary. Lincoln had over 30 families who attended and James Getty's had over 40 families who just attended. Franklin Townships will be uh two weeks from now

175on Thursday and registration opens for next school year on March 16th. Oh boy. All righty. Awesome. Thank you for those updates. Um great. If there are no other items from the floor, thank you for sticking with us. To the people that are still in the room, dedication right there. Our next meeting uh will be our meeting on Monday, March 16th. And uh there will be normal meeting at 7 PM in the boardroom. We're also going to be advertising our uh special meeting at 6 to discuss that balance sheet. All right. Can I get a motion for adjournment? Thank you.