June 23, 2025 LASD Board Meeting

001Miss Heather, Mrs. Carrie Sitler present. Miss A Walker here. Item 1.5 presentations recognition. It doesn't appear that we have any item 1.6 which is public comment on the approval of the agenda. Oh, there's two on the approval of the Yes, the approval. Okay. Item 1.7. Do I hear a motion to approve the agenda as presented? Second. Comments or questions? All those in favor? I oppos. Sorry. opposed abstensions. The eyes have it. Item 1.8 would be the traditional um public comment. Uh Walter's long switch here. Okay. um on the agenda item for an alternate budget that's put on um after the last meeting. I've missed a few meetings, but the last meeting was that the current business administrator presented a budget with a five-year projection that we would be broke. And now I'm looking at this

002alternate budget that you guys want to reduce taxes. How is that going to work out later on for us taxpayers? If you go back and look at history, when this was done once before, we paid for it. So my question is how are you going to make up for that in the next five years when we're already supposed to be broke? Do we not trust him? Is he not professional enough to create a five-year projection or just whose idea is the alternate budget? We'll talk about that when we get there. You're not going to answer me. Yeah, it was my idea. Okay. So you're smarter than him or you have more knowledge about budgets that he does because he has this broke in five years and now you want to do a refund. Yeah. Okay.

003That has nothing to do with the election results either. No. Okay. I just want to make sure you're not trying to buy votes. No. Thank you. Great. James, good evening. Um, I was going over the budget and I just have a question about one of the items. Um, there's an item in under instruction that says adult education programs and $189,000. It's listed right after um teacher instruction um the different types of instruction instruction um prek kindergarten. I was just wondering what what exactly is that? It's very confusing term. Does anybody I believe it's related to tuition and reimbursement for professional faculty in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. So our teachers need to get continuing continuing graduate credits once they are teachers. They're they're in level two and retain their certification and is a negotiable

004end of every contract. And so teachers have up to a certain number of credits for which they can be reimbured in the district that pays the tuition for them. That makes sense. Sorry. That's a great question. What says not see the student board reps? Jason, do you have a report? I do have a brief one which will serve more as an introduction to other things later in the evening but I will go over that. Um the first thing technical technical support. Okay. So the first thing that we have is the NWA assessment tool. is the NWA assessment tool, which we'll speak later about as as a separate item that's on the agenda tonight. Um, that is a norm reference assessment tool which will allow us to in real time track our students progress. Um, in

005terms of norm reference, which means against peers their same age with the same amount of time in instruction, uh, it's kind of a critical component to a solid assessment system in the academic setting. And we currently at this point in time do not have a cohesive consistent way to do that in ELA across the district. We are hopeful that the board will support uh the purchasing of licenses for the NWA map growth tool which will allow us to do that. Um we'll talk more about that later. Like I said, uh the elementary facade project, I am happy to report that Sher has concluded uh their on-site work for phase one of the RFP that they are fulfilling and have accessed all the documentation if necessary related so that they can now compile a report. Obviously,

006now we await the report. Phase two would then be a design um of remediation that is necessary. Site Logic. I I want to be clear. Site Logic, you'll see final contract approvals later on for both facility study and the grant writing agreement on the agenda tonight for approval. Please know that a couple months ago, the board passed those items as pending solicitors final approval. I assure you that when I tell you site Logic has been on-site and done all of their on-site work in terms of taking the 360 degree pictures, doing the inventory of all of our fixed assets and facilities that we had final solicitors approval before they used to put on our property. We also had certificates of insurance on hand. Um, excuse me. they have completed the initial the initial information gathering

007and now within 90 days uh we will have access to a our full comprehensive facilities maintenance planning guide which is a pretty fantastic tool that we will look at publicly for the first time and and be able to actually use that to extrapolate what our needs are in terms of capital projects into the future. You'll also see a brief reproduction to a three-year strategic plan which coincides with a comprehensive plan. Uh I don't want to squash the idea of a comprehensive plan for the district. I think it's critically important, but what it doesn't do is outline the day-to-day needs and the week toe and month-to-month projects that have to take place for us to move forward the way that we want to move forward. I do hope that the strategic plan that you will get

008a glimpse of tonight, I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time on it tonight. I will tell everybody it will be posted on the website publicly for review. Um it's not something that has to be voted on. This basically guides our work as a district over the next three years as we complete that comprehensive planning. Uh the strategic plan goes all the way down to specific responsibilities. who is responsible ultimately for what. That's critical because it helps focus and frame people's day-to-day jobs. We know what goals we have to set. We know what we need to accomplish. We know who else has been involved. And you will see that it this is not uh this is not a document that's created over the course of the weekend. This is something that has been

009in development for the past four months. So, I hope that everybody does take some time outside of this meeting to review that, to look at it. I I feel as if it is pretty comprehensive in terms of where we need to go as a district for the benefit of our students. If I have some upcoming information in July, we would probably late July this meeting a comprehensive presentation of our 2025 spring PSSA results. We have an early peak at them right now. However, that is not the that is not the final result report, which I believe is coming out this week. There could be some changes to those preliminary statistics, although they're usually not too drastic. We'll be looking at that in July. We'll also be looking at the professional development plan for the 2526

010school year which outlines all mandated trainings as well as district initiatives to be delivered again by either late July or early August. That's all I have for super [Music] business office on budget this past month which is on the agenda for tonight along with your work tax in preparation for their tax collection for the upcoming tax bills that we issued. Thank you. Good evening. Elry held its commencement at the PPNL Center on May 21st. Uh this year, we used an AI generated name calling for each graduate. In the past, each student would have a card because there's 600 students. And as they walked up to the stage, they'd hand a card to the announcer. They'd read the name. The cards all had a QR code with their names on it and we had a scanner

011and they just scanned it and it read with an artificial voice. It read the name and it was amazing. It went so so much smoother and um a lot of those names down in Allentown are very difficult. They're like hyphenated and four names. I mean it it was a struggle in the past to do it. So we got through our uh graduation in record time. I think it was just under two hours which is amazing. Very well. Uh the students behaved very well. A few little celebrations but no, you know flag waving or or disruptions of any kind and all the students stayed there. Um I think I mentioned right after CO because we didn't have commencement. uh the commencement we had right after co the first one the students went up walked across the

012stage got their diplomas and just walked out and I thought you know the first couple were going to the restroom or something so place was half empty you you'd assume they go back to their seats but it just out of that routine and so it was a great graduation um we had 22 Lee heighten former Lee heighten students that graduated ated uh in December 24 and then we had another 22 that graduated in May, a commencement we just had. And then there are 14 pending August graduates from Lake Heiden. 10 of those 14 are in the early college program. So they'll be getting their Elroy senior associates and they're already got their high school diploma. So, we're we're pretty well represented considering the size of our school and number of students and um pretty proud

013of our our group there and I know our guides do a good job. Do do we have do you know the number of of the high currently high school students who are enrolled in any summer classes with El TC? I could get that. I would be interested to know. Um, one of the things I'm interested in is very interested in I think as a district is, you know, what school outside of the normal parameters of what we think about an opportunity. I I know we've had them in the past do enrollment in the in the early college as well, but are taking summer classes, I believe. So, you know, some of the students who were unable to finish scholar program may be completing their program. Yeah. They didn't receive their diploma. I mean that would

014be some of those pending I'm sure there there was one who there was nine that completed in May. There was one who did not. I was told she was not ready to complete because she was still not placed in the university. Um and the college scholar program starts at 11th 11th grade. Correct. So beginning of 11th grade they basically get four semesters worth of early college. So I guess my my question is what if a student is interested but doesn't want to go full boore but between junior and senior year they might take two classes. Yeah. So our current policy they can take two per semester um which was changed last year. So they're allowed to take two the fall juniors and seniors which would be 46 they could take Yeah. They've always had that

015option to get credits. Oh yeah. just not the early college that that was right once they started doing that they came up with that program right so the program was implemented the first graduating the first group that went through was the 2017 and they graduate 2019 as the two-year program um those students are fully immersed for the two years the end of the we start that kind of put that out with formal meetings in like January sophomore year for them to enroll they come on LIC will come on site they have to do the admissions test um to see if they meet the criteria as well as there to be proficient or advanced on all keys before they I think I'd like to get up to uh the CCTI sometime too I think we we

016have a few there but I think with the work training and uh certification programs that we're looking at credentiing now um and kind of abbreviating thumb and and allowing more flexibility. There might be some opportunity. I know CCTI grads, most of them, if they're in a particular court, they do get their credits or accreditation, but this might give them a jump start. And also I think it's worth mentioning that if they go to LRYC versus like Lincoln Tech to get a credential, they have credits that will carry over if they ever decide to go on to a four-year college or go further. They'll have the same education that they get at Lincoln Tech basically, but they'll have those college credits. So, it's it's definitely an advantage to uh to go to LRYC. Um, couple other

017items. Our preliminary enrollment numbers for this fall are are looking positive and that's the first uptick we've had in I think three years. I mean, we bounced back from COVID, but not all the way up and then it's been flat or fluctuating or slightly down. I mean, most of the community colleges have been probably double digits drops. I mean, at least we've been pretty strong and pretty flat. So, we're encouraged by that. Um, and then we do a lot of outreach for that with the guidance and advertising and things like that website. and I will be providing information uh a summary of all of our capital projects at LYC uh of all the campuses that have been done over the past few years at a future board meeting. We had we had some discussion at

018our last board meeting recently um to get that put together. And what's going to be noted is that all this work has been completed uh basically utilizing grants or our budget funds or cost savings without increasing uh any contributions from the sending schools. Um as I've mentioned before, it's been flat for 10 years. So our costs have gone up. So your percentage has actually dropped because the cost from the schools have been flat. And we have a facilities master plan that we started back in 2023. It's a 10-year plan and that's what kind of guides all of our activities on. I know you guys have had discussions on that. And you know, if you you get the specs on a boiler and it's, you know, it's scheduled to be at last 20 years, you you

019put that in your plan that you're going to change that out at 20 years whether it's broken or not. uh versus you know just in time uh crisis replacements which t which tend to cost a lot more money. So we're seeing positive results from that and that's all I have to report this evening. Thank you. I'll get that answer to you. Yeah, this month's meeting was mostly a celebratory meeting um culmination of a successful year followed up by the graduation ceremonies throughout the area. Uh static behind the area students graduated from the CLI program. um they watched the video often that it was I think it's been on their website or at least on their Facebook page with their board. It was really nice to see Joy and those kids uh as they walked across

020the stage. So uh the other thing was transportation director uh Randy Kerry after 10 years was retiring. So we kind of you know gave him a send off and then there was a presentation on an adaptive jeep which you know some of the average students like the front and everything like that. So the LCTI students modified mischiefs to make it easier for them to uh be able to steer and control. So that was pretty cool to watch too and they actually brought it in the meeting. So that was pretty neat set but that was it. Um, I'm sure we had an update of the golf tournament just held last week and I believe it was as usual was successful at that even though it was raining I'm sure. So we'll hear about that as my

021CCTI is currently advertising for a science teacher and a math teacher position. The CCTI non-traditional chime was held this past week. 70 students from fifth through 8th grade attended. We hyped 97 students there. The students rotated through 11 technical areas for hands-on activities designed to engage passion and curiosity in the career and technical education fields. Um that's this concludes my report. Hi. Um I don't really have a report because I was here last week last month instead of there. But I would like to take this time to thank um the businesses that sponsored the cost of our tent for the um Christmas in July celebration which will be held Saturday, July 26, 2025. Um also we are seeking baskets if anybody would like to donate. Um that would be wonderful. Um and we are starting

022our summer speed classes and stuff with the kids. Um, just go on the website and you can look it all up. There's a lot of dates there. That concludes my report. Thank you. Item 10. Do I hear a motion to the 274 meeting? Second. Questions? All those in favor? Oppose oppose abstensions the eyes. Moving on to part two, item 2.1. Do I hear a motion to approve consent agenda items 2.2 through 28? I'll make that motion question. My question on the motion is items 2.9, 2.12, and 2.18 all appear to be for cyber security. Somewhere along the line, I'd like a complete report on what we're paying throughout the different departments for cyber security because these three line items total $82,000. I will certainly get that. The one thing that I will point out that

023for 2.9 and 2.12 those are part of the cyber security pilot program which is through like rate. So of that 80ish,000 we're paying 10% of it and then 90% is essentially grant funed. And I remember that from the from the workshop meeting and stuff, but it started to make me think when I'm looking at these things. We might also be named for cyber security for throughout the system and perhaps when we start digging into the numbers, there's something we can do better. Thank you. Sure. Thank you. Unfortunately, Dwayne, with the emergence of cyber threats, that budget's gonna actually I know you understand that stuff a lot more than I do. I have this lovehate relationship with technology. You know, there's ransomware. There's ransomware shutting down businesses, big businesses, not just little school districts all across

024right now. Yeah. So, cyber security is going to eliminate other questions. Do I um there's two items on here that I would be voting no to. The rest of them are yes for me. Do I just vote no? You either have to vote no or you have to make a motion to pull them out. Okay. Can I clarify? Sure. Okay. Other comments or questions? All those ins. Yes. Mr. Joint Delegate. Yes, with the exception of item number 24. It has to be a yes or no. Okay. It's going to be yes. But I still don't like paying TSA $16,000 for membership. Mr. Mr. Sean Blaze. SH consent to consent item 2.1 consent agenda. Sorry, Mr. Jeremy Clash. Yes, M. Heather N. Yes, Mrs. Carrie Settler. Yes. Miss April Walker. No. And only because of 2.3

025and 234. Mr. Yes. 7. Yes. Let's see. budget. Um so Mr. Wovich asked about alternate final budget to make the comment about um the budget we discussed at the workshop meeting. um let people know what I'm thinking and then um we see so at the last workshop meeting we talked about um balance budget or not raising or lowering taxes and um you know Dwayne made a comment and um you know he was kind of very passionate strongly talking about it and um very supportive of all board members especially those who kind of delved into things and um and you know they're super passionate about them. I don't want to put anybody's fire away. And I got thinking about what Dina had said and you know we talked about overt taxing the community and talked about

026um fun balance size of it and um and he said that he wasn't going to vote in favor of holding the taxes low and um you know when I spent some time thinking to myself I thought I I believe that the fund balance is going to increase again this year and I actually believe that the fund balance this is going to increase uh next year. That's that's where I believe based on my personal observations and I thought if I'm going to be authentic with myself um you know I believe that right now we are over taxing the community that's how I feel and I wanted to be transparent and about that um you know we had like Mr. Paul Kistler comes here already. You know, he who follows the fair funding lawsuit and stuff like

027that. And our district has been flagged at the state level. They have a calculation that actually agrees that we're over taxing our district. Um, and as a consequence, we received additional church funding um because of that. And I thought, you know, are we being uh honest with the uh community if you know, we received extra funds from the state because they think that we're overburdened in the community, we got those extra funds and then we didn't pass those savings along to the community. So, um so those are kind of the thoughts that I had to my self. So, um, that's why I've kind of, um, you know, moved from a position of being okay with holding the taxes steady to kind of like agreeing with PL that um, a decrease uh, makes sense. So, I'm

028going to make some comments um about uh, about my thoughts. You know, the first one was, you know, the question that you brought up, Domain was like, what what's the correct fund balance do we actually want to carry? I mean, we've never even thought about it. You know, we just kind of hope it doesn't go down. And for three years, we were told that we were in a deficit, but instead of a fund balance increase. Um, and I think we're really happy to have um we're really happy to have $16 million right now, which is about 32% of our expenditures. Um, just to kind of remind people, like 8% is the maximum that we're allowed to hold in fund balances and be able to raise taxes. I remember when um Ed was with us um

029he had cited an example and I didn't go back to see where it came from but there was um for government agencies um some uh group that he was following might have actually been Haswell that they had recommended that 18% was a good was a good amount of fund balance for government agency and that would uh $9 million. So, you know, I I did some of my own number crunching and you know, just to be transparent and and address some of the things that Wall-Ally said, like I I think Matt Lance is fantastic. I think he's possibly the best business manager that we've had in the eight years that I've been here. So, I'm not at all disparaging any of his only been here about eight months. So, you know, so I said to myself,

030you know, if our fund balance is actually $17 million high and our expenditures grow by, um, you know, 3% a year, um, and our revenues stay flat, that $7 million will last us four years. Um, that's a lot of gifts. Yeah. I want to be careful, you know, like I go from 16 to 17. You said 16 before and then you said 17. Oh, that was a mistake. 16 million. Sorry. Oh, no. I said I said if if it's 7 million high. So, I took 16 and I minus 9 off of it. Um, in any event, um, so I went back and I looked at, um, some of these, so I had an updated version of this. I don't know if you have it. Oh, you know, that's okay. It's kind of like a small

031It's kind of a small difference. So, um, so what I did was I looked at where we were eight years ago and I looked at the budget where we're at now and I completely ignored John during CO which was where we received extra funds and where we cut services here and and you know you know it's kind of what an engineer would do you know like do you want I think the updated version. Oh, you do have the updated version. Yeah. So, um Yeah, but we haven't seen that because it hasn't been on the website. I I know. I just So, how are we supposed to look at it? I mean, we all walk up to the screen. So, what's the point of the updated? Okay. The only ones we can speak to is the

032one they fine and so um that's totally fine. So um so the only difference that I did was I made a correction for the fact that taxes were raised in some particular years. So the main difference is my calculated average growth went from 3% on the revenues down to 2 and a half% which still exceeds the growth of the expenditures and our enrollment. So PBE only had these latest enrollment numbers but you know goes down 1% every year and so the surpluses are flat. So um my my point is that when I look at the trends um the board doesn't want to project the the new and study it and that's totally fine that that was my thought it's a small difference so it doesn't really matter and I told you what the differences were

033so um you If we have a balanced budget right now and and admittedly the balanced budget has conservativism in because um you know the revenues are being predicted a little bit on the low side and the expenditures are being predicted a little bit on the high side. So the growth rate of 2 and a half% is actually slightly better for the revenues and the growth rate of the revenues or um expenditures is slightly uh less than that. So um I feel completely comfortable um you know when you had suggested the 2 mil decrease that was too aggressive for me. I do feel that, you know, the um fund balance has been growing for three years and uh last year we were brave enough to approve a $4 million deficit without a tax uh increase. And

034this year, um, the one mill decrease budget has only a $400,000 deficit, which I believe the conservativism in those two $50 million um uh estimates will probably make that actually uh go away. So, you know, I only have to be 10% as brave this year as I was last year in improving a $4 million deficit. And um and I don't mind if the fund balance decreases by a half million. I'm completely uh confident for that. I um I wasn't going around the table. Are you okay with that? I was just going to try to make it fair and journey like I would start with you or would you rather not? Yeah, I' I've done a considerable amount of research. numbers don't lie. And what we have is that the audited fund balance for year end

0352024 was $15.5 million, which was $9 million higher than the $6 million projected at the end of the year, which is kind of interesting. project and I handed this out at the last quarter for the workshop meeting. Projected revenues reflect modest increases of 1% or less each year. Audited numbers reflect a three-year average of nearly 4%. Projected expenses reflect increases of anywhere from 1 and a half to 327% when our actual expenses reflected a three-year average increase of over 4%. But the overall pro projected versus actual so projected versus the audited numbers for 22 23 and 24 were 7 8.8% and 9.3% off from projected to audited numbers and I think that those numbers should be brought closer together. I'm saying just take a look at our bank statement. We're gonna have another surplus this

036year. We have over $20 million in the bank. And this is the latest report. Why do we have over $20 million in the bank when our budget, which is only projected numbers, showed that for year end 2025, we will have 6.9 million in the bank. 6.9 versus 20 million. Here isn't over yet. Numbers don't. Even if that's here is an over. No, that's not true. You have to reconcile all kinds of stuff, especially cyber school. That comes in at a lot of money at the end of the year. That has to be reconciled and that doesn't come through often until August or September. Is it going to be $14 million for down to six? Based on that average, we are 6.8% off on our projections versus our actuals every year. That's just the average. I'm

037taking that at half of that, three and a half% and I'm showing five years out, we're still going to have $22 million in the bank. So for the for this year, at the end of this year, I believe our fund balance is going to go from 15 and a half to 16.6. So you're right, Barb. This $20 million will look down probably because of the numbers that you're expecting. Then for the year end 2026, I'm showing we're going to grow again. 27, we're going to grow. 28 we're going to grow. But then in 29 and 30, we're going to decrease. And that's just based on half of what we were missing. Projections versus actuals. We've got way too much money in the bank as far as I'm concerned. This is taxpayer money and we're over

038taxing them. They want to pay down our debt. That's a great idea. That's much instead of sending me 50 bucks because it was free 150 bucks. So I paid them in debt. It also did everything that the board needs to consider is um the brand new elementary center and then the refurbishing of the high school and the refurbishing of the middle school. Are we just going to disre the first five years of being home? I mean, that's where you use that app. Let's go back. There was a meeting that you missed where we were looking into paying down the debt and apparently before law, most of our debt were not allowed to actually pay us down. Correct. Like only two, three million. When bonds are issued, there was call. So, you can't pay them until

039they're up for call. They do that um for a number of reasons regulations. So there's a limited amount to to pay down and those that do would be eligible to pay down or those that are not necessarily at an interest rate that paying them down makes sense because if the board was to hold on to those funds, they would earn more interest at the market rate right now because of interest rates than what they're paying off for the interest rates. It would be a loss of interest earnings. So he chose not to pay down balance because of the debt because of the whole debt in a savings account and when it does come you're gaining interest on that money and you have more money to pay down the debt with it proactively. I'm trying to

040remember was there a conversation too about grants? I'm trying to remember the conversation was at this. So if you apply for a grant for something, do we have to disclose that we needed a tax reduction but I want free money and then do they say wait a minute this school over here just had to increase taxes on our community to keep up because you guys don't give back to your community does that affect grants neither have I. What's the possibility the state looks at our fund balance and says you don't deserve any grant money you got? I can't remember what was the conversation and if we weren't if we weren't taxing our our community we wouldn't get that money or something. So the fair part of I think maybe what you're referring to is part

041of the fair funding formula that has gone out there in competitors essentially what the tax burden is of the local on the local community and if the tax burden is deemed this high they are basically funneling more money to those schools. So that is part of the formula of the money that is the new money that is coming through the ready tolearn block grant at least last year and anticipated as such this year. If that same formula is used and you reduce taxes you you may get a reduction in what the state funds is the best understanding I have about it. [Music] Start with you. I think I could totally get behind tax reduction. um our our business manager is a forward thinking business manager. Our group is a forward thinking group and we're looking

042at actually, you know, hopefully applying for more competitive grants. And I think once we start doing that, we see that we probably fit into some certain niches and get those competitive grants. um if we make sure that we focus on that. We have a facilities management plan that we're coming up with that's you know psychologic I believe is what we're using for that and um I think once we do that we're going to see some savings there too. So I really believe that this could be the plan that it's handled right and handling it right is staying on top to agree with that because I do have a set I where's great so when we did the projections future years assumptions so we have to look at what um the benefits go up for example

043in this nobody nobody knows um but for example goal healthare wise the timelines are dated this year three individuals to take medication that's going to approach $400,000 by the end of the year. Um so those items are to that as a a percentage increase um that you know we took a 10% estimate. we don't know if those individuals would still be on our plan, if more individuals on the plan that that would decrease uh for that um as an example. So we looked at the base assumption with regards to to those costs also with regards to revenue. Um there was no tax increases that were on there for revenue. Um there was limited increases uh for state funding. Um we do get some estimates of reimbursements for retirement and social security that is a percentage

044of what salary costs are um for those years um you know with that with that projection um and it also assumes the same staffing compliment that they have now um in those in those projections but you're not seeing like it's not it's not against you I'm just so what's your what's your suggestion as a business manager should they do a reduction I mean the decision to set taxes decision. Well, no I don't. I'm saying put it as a financial call or I think I can better rephrase that question. Matt, do you see anything flawed in my evaluation or Joyy's evaluation? I think the consideration is you're referencing cash and one of the clarification has been just to on's point is all of these factors for expenses hit as we get out of the fiscal year.

045So when you're paying teachers for the summer that actually goes back to the prior budget year for health insurance purposes that's a delayed claim. So, for example, somebody could have had a claim for a drug that's still getting bounced around and hasn't actually hit and that could be, you know, any um amount of of a number there uh for that. So, explain to me then why the year end budget projections for 2024 were $6 million in a fund balance and audited was 15.5 million. So, it wasn't a part of it. I'm looking for I think I think again the consideration with how those budgets were were developed and the approach that you know Mr. Rose and I have used for the administration this year is literally looking at person by person to make sure that

046that's all that's put in the budget, looking at the benefit pieces. And so that's where I do have an uncertainty with regards to any changes there. You know, again, you have somebody who has a life event that qualifies now for medical. Each one of those is a $20,000 hit, right? Um to that piece. And so it's very uncertain on those expenditure pieces um you know where where those are the charters what happens with the the rate of natural estate piece too not knowing that because you could set a budget prior to knowing that that's going to land at right I think we have the most um the most accurate budget this year than we had the last which was three years absolutely I think well probably for the last and probably the last three I've

047studied more extensively than the past 10. So that's why I reference those and um so I think the numbers are really great. I think they're super accurate. I think it's what makes them a good a good data point for studying. Um so I think if you keep going around the table yes I think there's too many unknown variables. I think we're going to get hit with costs that we're not predicting because that's just height and way and that's just our curse and I think we should listen to our business manager that um we spend quite a bit of money on to get his opinion and that's how I feel. Okay, a couple points. You said we're overt taxing our residents, which is why we got extra money from the state. We did not get tax

048equity money from the state, which is money from the state when you're overt taxing your stakeholders. We got adequacy money, which meant that the state was not supporting us at the level they should be. And I believe that came out to somewhere around $3 million or four million over seven years or whatever that number is going to be. But we did not get tax equity money which would have been we were overt taxing. So the state doesn't think we're overt taxing. Bob Kler said that I would say I've read the articles. I've done the research. Okay. He said you should still be at your school boards. In other words, don't let them raise your taxes. We got $849,000. We keep taxes low. But tax equity is what the state was given. I'm trying to remember

049the name of the school district. I think it's it's easier. got $5 million tax equity because they were over the the tax rate was so high for their constituents, for their stakeholders. That's a different thing. Um, well, do the research, read the information. Don't just notify. Okay. And I saw that, too. Um, one thing you're not considering there, um, and I can talk about your numbers here because I don't know how you got to these, especially in your graph down at the bottom there, but um, you're not thinking about movies and credit rating or credit rating finally went back up a little bit and reducing our food by $400,000. I think they're going to take that as a very poor decision. That's what I think. I don't know. But let's look at where we were.

050I mean, we had almost no funds. Mhm. They took out in uh the 2020 2022 school year budget they did away with transportation. What do you think is the appropriate fund balance still? Do you think we should think it should be 20 million 30 million? No, I think we're fine where we are but we need to use this fund balance wisely. We are doing this like logic thing where they're looking at all our assets and then they're going to predict when we have to replace stuff. So you think 16 million is the perfect number to have? I don't say it's perfect. So if it goes up next year then we should I think that once we're another year past not getting all that federal funding we'll have a better idea where we are. you're going

051to be negotiating two contracts in the next couple years. Um, that's going to be a concern in the 2324 year at the end of the year. The reconciliation we had to pay, I think it was $440,000. It was closed for over 4,000 $400,000 to the health insurance. That was the first time we have not gotten a rebate at the end of the year. All those things have to be planned for. When you um took out your COVID revenues here, did you take out the um the extra revenue from the interest? that we got because we had that money. There's a lot of things that came through that. In the 2021 2020 2021 school year, we got an extra $2.5 million for bandon because it had not been applied for in the previous years. That's not

052included. That doesn't say it. Just says cover revenue. It's not fair to simple things. Yes, but it's too simple. You cannot look at this. I don't know where your numbers came from. I really don't. Except for the ones on the AFR. So, and I think you really need to consider we're doing a site logic study now. We won't know for 90 days what the results of that are. If my fun if the fund balance goes up in another year, then you feel good about that. What I would say to do, and this is conservative and mind looking forward and never wanting to get back to having no fun ballots again. I think that one of the things we should do, and I know it's on the um agenda for tonight, is put 2.8 million in

053uh for repairs and stuff. Okay. I would like to see that go to three to four because I think we may have some I know we're going to have some big big expenses. We're going to have to replace the turf on the track. That's a million endings right there. We have to do the stupid traffic light. Um we have to replace the middle school generator. And now, well, that's already going. We already know what that's going to cost. And there's some um insurance that cut that cost some, but we don't know what the boilers are going to be. We don't know what their condition is. Every year there's going to be so we'll never be able to. So, next year the fund balance will go out and people say, "I'm still scared." So, well, and

054here's another 7 million higher than I think we need to be. Here's another point. Last meeting, you pulled the board and the majority of this board keeping taxes level not rebate yet. You'll be our again because you haven't agreed with it. I would support effort because he had an interest in delving into these voices. Let's hope there wasn't an election here. Yes, I disagree with that. I guess it a big mistake. That's fine. And people, everyone has to do it. Now, let me just give you some numbers. I wrote it down at the median assessment value of $46,500 with the balanced budget, which we've not seen. I don't think we've ever had a balance budget to be honest with you. The tax burden for the school would be $2,45364 under your reduced taxes for that

055same assessment would be $2,41149, which is a savings of $42.15. But we'll take a chance with the Moody's, which is our credit rating, to give people back $42.15. And if I remember correctly, most of the properties fall under that valuation. Is that correct? Under the median, and I might be remembering that from a previous median is right. middle. Oh, okay. So, there's Okay, gotcha. Sounds good. So, I don't think that we should take a chance. This is the first year we're not getting those extra millions and we don't know how the millions were in the previous budgets. It's not our current and our current budget has the correctance. So, I'm not going to debate or have you said your Well, I just I'm just I think it's fantastic. We actually have a balanced budget and

056you're willing to unbalance it. [Music] I'll get 32. Sean Sean, do you want to make a comment? Yeah, I mean I don't have much to contribute that has already been said. I think covered pretty well. Um and I'm in favor of uh reducing the taxes. Okay. I 100% not in favor of reducing the taxes. I think we should all focus on the success of our students, providing the best educational opportunity we can here at Leighton and focus on bringing our students back from homeschooling, PHA, and charter schools and investing more into positions that we've already taken and the opportunities we've taken from our students in the past. Thank you. Um I was very tenuous last time to reduce taxes. I feel more comfortable now with what you presented. Um, it's going to lean more towards

057sex protection. Can I make a suggestion? Don't p us anymore because if you're going to p us and then pull this stuff later on, it's a bunch of crap. You don't care about our opinion, don't poll us anymore. They'll run for options. Every other time we've been send them. So, um, so we're going to take a vote on, uh, item 219, and that is, um, to hold the taxes steady. Okay, wait just a second. I wanted to point everybody to the image that was on with that where the last time they reduce taxes. And I I don't know what the information was surrounding it because I don't have the budgets that go back to 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Thank you. So I mean, can you bring that? There you go. They reduced it by

0582 ms. Then they did reduced it by.3 ms which comes to 2.03. Then they upped it by 2.03 which is what they just reduced it by the previous two years. And then they updated another three mills the following year. That's what happens when you give money back. Or it's just that previous boards weren't created or business administrators weren't created. No, I'm just saying, you know, we do actually have a different type of board here and there are things that are being investigated to bring in more revenue. That doesn't include tax. You're talking about grants, but when you when you get grants, you can't use grants for things that are going to be ongoing expenses. I understand that. And some of the things Yes, I do. Thank you. And some of them can be covered. Some

059of the things can be covered like construction and such. You got to look for competitive grants. You can't just say, "Oh, look. I'm just going to get low hanging fruit this year and do nothing else." And this prior it is a lot of gifts, but if you're aggressive enough about it, you can get that. You know, prior to we didn't have a great person to go about getting our grants. They really failed at their duty. They were too busy doing other things while they were at work. But I don't know about that. I wasn't here. I let anyone's choose to change anyone's mind. Explain. So, I'm going to hold I just I had forgotten I had this on there and I wanted to say it. I appreciate that. So, if it happens again um okay

060so item number 219 um to be clear is to vote for the budget that holds the taxes steady. So a main vote would be to hold the taxes steady and the main vote would be to move on to the item 220 which would be the alternate budget. Um when I ask the question because it's a budget does it have to be a vote? I was just going to ask for vote. This is the one that this is not here. Yes. Correct. The original the balance but Mr. Green Deler, no. Mr. Sean Glee, no. Mr. Jeremy Blush, no. Miss Heather Nef, yes. Mrs. Carrie Sitler, yes. Miss April Walker, no. Mr. Richard Bell is absent. Miss Barbose, yes. Miss Joyce, no. So you respect your business. Well, then maybe when the movies does go down and

061we have our money, do I hear a motion to approve the 25 to 26 alternate general fund budget? Second. Great. I don't think we need further discussion because it's happened. Um, we'll vote. Mr. Sean Lee, yes. Mr. Jeremy Clash, yes. Miss Heather, no. Mrs. Carrie Sitler, no. Mrs. April Walker, yes. Mr. Richard Belt is absent. Miss Barbose, no. Mr. Deller, yes. Mr. Yes. I'm gonna say something, Wall-E. That's that's not appropriate. If you go through these types of professional business manager was using numbers that were not accurate. So, you're saying he's not doing his job? No, I'm saying he was using numbers that were not accurate. They were based on He's not doing his job properly. No. It's only been here slightly longer than I have. Right. And there are people who are looking at

062this budget that have been here years longer than you guys. Yeah. But then those people look at all these numbers and find all those numbers. Well, then you should have been able to clearly see that that we are over. Why do we have to take money from people that we're not using? We're sitting on some bank. are collecting over a million dollars a year in interest. That's taxpayer money. Yes. And that interest is almost three mills that we don't have to raise taxes two years from now. And that's a point that I'll concede. But that just proves that we're over taxing our residents. It is far more complicated than just looking at the numbers. Item 221 needs to be recalculated. Correct. Yeah. We'll disable 2.21 21 farmstead resolution because those calculations have to be done

063on the past budget. So do we need a motion to table? Do I have 221 second? Comments or questions? Stupid. All those in favor? Opposed? Extensions. eyes have it one day. That's why item 222. Do I hear a motion to approve a transfer in the amount of $2.8 million from the general fund to the capital reserve? So move. Second. Comments or questions? Got a question. All right. So, we have a list of projects totally $1.5 million out of line item 840, which is the assigned fund balance. So, we're going to increase that by another 2.8 million. Is that correct? Sorry. It'll be taken out of the unassigned fund balance unassigned and restricted or assigned. So, so we'll add to that and so one and a half million plus the other 2.8 million now. Correct. No,

064it would be just the 2.8 million. I would like to see that go higher. I would like to add another 1.2 to that and make it four or close to make a motion. No, I wanted to discuss it first. I'm I'm comfortable with this number that Jason calculated. I mean, at a future meeting, if you want to recommend making it higher, you should make an exhibit and have like whatever you want anyway. Yeah, I heard that. I I think in terms of more money in the future going into the capital reserve, I think it will be very helpful once site logic is completed with the facilities assessment and we have a better which is why I didn't want to understand what we actually need to do. So I think uh while we may say that

065I I don't right now I'm comfortable comfortable with the recommendation of 2.8 knowing that what is on the table is 50% of that and that's in one year's time. What's not on this list are a couple of things that we have talked about. One of those, one of those is the middle school generator replacement. That's a non-negotiable. We we're going to have to do that. We we should have probably done that 18 months ago. Uh another one is paving projects specifically at the middle school. Middle school parking lots are literally were disastrous. That should have been done probably four years ago. And we have the middle school shoppering which have been discussed as an additional thing. um in terms of added programs down the road. Uh so that's that's not included in here at all.

066So the reality of 1.4 for being exhausted this year and that's being very conservative with where the traffic claim is. Quite frankly, by the time we get to that because of obstacles that we face, that may be closer to the million dollar mark. In all honesty, the $860,000 was the estimate when I received it here in December of 24. So, why is probably already higher than the estimate that's on the sheet? Any more questions about the 2.8? All those in favor I summions on item 223. Do I hear a motion to approve it? And I heard a motion to approve the purchase and installation of 38A cameras from Paris Technology at the EC in the amount of $98,6136. It's been paid out of next year's technology budget. Second question on the motion. So, we're going

067to spend $2,500 per camera. I read the quote. It's going to cost us $2,500 per camera. We can't find a better price than that. Is that with installation, too? Yes. They also Yeah. So, it's 25 It's not per camera. It's that includes installation. And they also have to work with our system. Correct. Well, it's it's five years of licensing. This is essentially working towards being on a new system. So, this is phase three of what I'm hoping will be a fourphase process. Um, the first two phases were paid out of PCCD grant. We can't necessarily rely that we're going to have that coming in. So, I did put $100,000 in the original tech budget um to cover this cost. And so, again, this puts all of our interior cameras in all three buildings would now

068be on this platform. Um, it allows for offsite access to our cameras, which on the old platform, Genitech, we did not have. So, our our own school police officers would be able to access it offsite. The bureau police would easily be able to access it as well as any administration would would be able to. Um, it it's quite amazing what this type of platform will do in terms of if you need to track a car in a parking lot, it can do so. um anybody within the building, god forbid there be somebody who doesn't belong in the building, you can track exactly where that person moves from second to second within the building. Safety and security issues. I believe you said that the training on how to use this is included as well. Yes. Oh

069yes, training is a big thing and again five years worth of licensing then as well which is huge. everyone's your feeling on the feeling is that's really not a bad thing especially the fact all the little perks that it has and allows you to do in this day and age we need that for our students that other questions all those in favor I guess contract oil sorry Mr. Jeremy Clash, yes. Miss Heather, yes. Mrs. Carrie Sitler, yes. Miss April Walker, yes. Mr. Richard Belts is absent. Miss Barbara Bose, yes. Mr. Dan Deliver, yes. Mr. Sean Leaves, yes. And M. Yes. Item 224. Do I hear a motion for approve of the three-year contract the puzzle for the athletic program that cost us $16,000 for next year 17250 next year and then 17,250 the third year

070some questions I have a question on that last meeting Kyle was going to open to see if they could teleise our I'm sorry record our graduation do we have an update on I have heard an update on that. I will make sure. Thank you. Other questions. We'll call Miss Heather Kn. Yes. Miss Carrie Sler. Yes. Miss Walker. Yes. Mr. Richardson. Miss Barbost. Yes. Mr. Dwayne Gallagher. Yes. Mr. Sean Cleaves. Yes, Mr. Jerry Blush. Yes, Mr. Jes. Yes. Item 225. I hear a motion to approve a vote for M growth to include, 1250 students, grades 2 through 8, as well as virtual professional learning, select administrators, and teachers. Total cost of $23,5 to be paid out of this year's curriculum budget. Second question, you wanted to follow. Yeah, I will I will try to be brief

071on this. Uh, macro is kind of gold standard ding reference assessment system which allows uh schools to basically over time longitudinally collect data on where students are at academically. It it ties to um state standards in terms of projections out. It is a remarkable tool because it is systematic throughout the course. So right now one of one of my goals coming in was to make sure that there was a a sound viable system of assessment that included not only criterion reference assessments but also norm reference assessments. You know what we very early on found was that we don't really have a systematic norm reference assessment for reading in all the way through K through eight. We have K through threeish is used and then that drops off and it's kind of a mishmash from from

072that point on. What we were suggesting here is that this will tell us true growth of students because norm reference means it is percentile rank results are compared against students the it's the same the same age would receive the same amount of instruction and that is how you know whether or not students are truly growing. Benchmarks can change the state can change cut scores the change can the state can change standards. Those do not actually tell us where whether or not our students are closing gaps where a norm reference assessment does. This is critical. This provides critical information to our teachers, to our administrators. What I like about Mac growth is that it is in no way, shape, or form tied to any curricular resource. They're not selling a curricular resource. They're not saying we

073give the instructional materials that you need. They are saying we'll tell you if the instructional materials you have, if your curricular frameworks, scope and sequences, and if your instruction is on point, we will tell you. You'll be able to know those things. When curriculum and instruction are working well, it relates to increased assessment results. If you see stagnant or decreasing assessment results, it means you are off somewhere else. Whether that is in in terms of the curriculum, what is being taught or instruction, how it's being taught. I refuse to believe that we are not that our teachers are not instructing to the best of their ability. What I truly believe is we have not provided the best information for them to make instructional decisions into their hands. This system of assessment will do so. Uh

074the other thing I want to point out is that the data that is retrieved one year when I said it's longitudinal, three years from now, you will be able to see a second grader's results in second grade. And you will be able to see those three assessment points from second grade while they're in fifth grade and every year in test in between. And what that does is it's easy to say when a student one time goes down on an assessment, it's easy to say, "Oh, that's just a blood." It might be, but you don't really know that until you have multiple data points. And so this system uh this system does this. It is I want to point out the professional development. We will use the train the trainer model in which our professional development

075will be received by our administrators and our lead teachers in specific areas who will then turn key and go in and provide the professional development ourselves to our teachers on site here. So the teachers will be providing these assessment the information from the assessments using NWA and they will hopefully by the time the assessments come out know how to explain the results. We will have professional development prior to the first session. Absolutely. Um, we will also, if you look at the assessment calendar, there's more reference assessments on there. And we have specifically placed those assessment dates close to our professional development days. So teachers actually will have scheduled time to sit down and look at the data and make some decisions around how they're going to use it in the near future. Now, now does

076this program track over the years like really track the students progress over the years? Yes. Yes. Um, do they have any samples of data that they print out that, you know, they might be able to look at? I understand it's up for a little right now. Sounds like great program. I'd like to see, you know, possibly some of the results that spits out that we can take. I would be happy to run through a demonstration. Uh, I've I actually spent tonight in voluntary meetings. Mr. Lush made a comment about how it was amazing that that, you know, the the turnout that was there. Um the reality is is you know there were some voluntary meetings today for teachers who are interested in understanding what this is. I actually logged in showed them what the reports

077look like. It it provides both class profiles meaning I'm a teacher of third grade. Here's my class of 20 students. It shows that I can go in and look at full grade level. So third grade class. So that allows you to travel with a cohort of a kind to see if that particular class is making adequate progress along the way. And it also allows individual student profiles where uh in terms of interventions when you think about we want to set we want we want to set targeted goals for our students who need more support. So it actually allows you to set that goal in there progress monitoring tab that will be plugged in so that you can actually see how that's going. But I would be happy to show a presentation. I need to get

078my hands on a legitimate password. That's right. It sounds then that the teachers were involved in choosing this and and as usual, I'm not going to say the teachers were involved in choosing this. What I will say is that there was a result here. This is honestly probably something we started having conversations with teachers back in April, May. uh we were probably going to hold off, but the early release of our PSSA results, quite honestly, could not be ignored. So, they were just an agreement that a system like this was needed to help out. I think that one of the conver the conversations I've had and the conversations that happened today, everybody kind of said, "No, this this looks good. It makes sense." It's not an overwhelming web. It's a half hour three times a

079year. And it's I think they're going to like that. And the data that it gives actually as a classroom teacher is because of the way that it actually disagregates the data within the system is as a classroom teacher it will form my small groups and instruction and tell me exactly what they need on the learning continuum period. So that is less time that the teacher has to take to try to organize exactly where students fall on those on those continuums and they have that information provided to them and that teachers get to do what teachers are best at doing which is directly instructing kids. That's great. I look forward to seeing the results of this. Other questions for Jason? I had actually talked to Jason about this and I had asked um because this is

080not my realness. I don't know anything about it. I had asked that we um we have a lot of assessment policies and down you know going down the road that as they come up to be reviewed that we make a determination are they still needed so that we're not being overly redundant or using tools that aren't as good or even worse complicating it for students. Well, that too. Or teachers. Yes. Contract. Miss April Walker. Yes. Miss Barbos. Yes. Mr. Jordan Beller. Yes. Mr. Sean Lee. Yes. Mr. Mr. Jeremy Bosch, yes. Miss Heather, yes. Mrs. Terry Setler, yes. Miss Joy Beers, yes. Item 226. Do I hear a motion to approve a one-year agreement with SU project IQ to perform a facility assessment in the amount $26,163 and a one-year subscription to my site IQ in

081the amount $3,800? Second comments or questions? Think we've talked quite a bit about this. All those in favor. Mrs. Terry Settler. Miss April Walker. Yes. Mr. is absent. Miss Barbose. Yes. Mr. Joy Gallagher. Yes. Mr. Sean Glee. Yes. Mr. Jeremy Bouch. Yes. Miss Heather M. Yes. M. Yes. Item 227 to approve the one-year contract with site logic IQ because it's site logic for grant writing advocacy and consulting services at a commission of 4% of grants awarded to the district through contractor's efforts. Move second. Questions also talk about this roll. Mr. Carler, yes. Miss April Walker, yes. Miss Barbose, yes. Mr. Diver, yes. Mr. Shan Lee, yes. Mr. Jeremy Bosch, yes. Miss Heather Neck, yes. And Mr. Yes. I have a motion to approve the proposal from Alert for replacement generator at the base school in

082the amount of $116,145 with an additional $16,500 should gas line be required in a supply chain charge as of May 7th versus $6,500. Second, I have a question. Well, I I shouldn't say a question. I should say a statement. Co-stars is not the end all to getting low prices. So, something like this in the future, we may want to go out on a big way. Mr. Deler, I can tell you that we are no longer accepting. We are no longer practicing where we say we're just taking the co-star. We are we are looking for at least three electric Mrs. Carrie Settler. Yes. Miss April Walker, yes. Miss Barbose, yes. Mr. Joy Deler, yes. Mr. Sean Leaves, yes. Mr. Jeremy Clash, yes. Miss Heather, yes. Mr. Yes. Item 2.29. Do I hear a motion to accept

083the seller's amendment agreement to extend services for a term? So move. So this is to uh extend our online benefits management for our employees. Isn't it basically a name change merged with another doesn't cost any money? Any questions? Roll call. Mrs. Kler, how about who's first? We had to make some copies. So, we didn't have enough copies of the board. Anyway, promise it's not. The eyes just don't move. April Walker. Yes. Moses. Yes. Mr. Dwayne Deler. Yes. Mr. Sean Glee. Yes, Mr. Jerry. Yes, Miss Heather Nette. Yes, Mr. Yes. 30 a motion to accept the following donations and local grants. Um saw a couple of these. There's a new one. Urban County mini grant $10,000 to use for the grape pan. Zimmerman's dairy, three cases of lemonade, two cases of iced tea, and one case

084of diet iced tea. for the district closing ceremony and David Krauss uh this is a new one for me on camera to be used uh by the high school photography department comments or questions other thank you all those in favorions we hear Sean I no Um, okay. Moving on to item 2.31. Do I hear a motion to approve the 24 to 25 unpaid lunch balance write offs the amount of $1,736.95 for unpaid graduated students? I have a question. I'll make a motion to second question. What happens? Why? I mean, granted, it's only $1,700, but why isn't it collected before they graduate? My question is this. Since everybody eats for free and everybody else has to have an account with money in it to get the outart stuff, how do we have unpaid balances? That was

085my question. I was assuming it was all occurred. Yeah, because sometimes it does. If say my daughter actually had I believe 50 cents uh in the negative because she went and bought an ice cream or something like that. They don't mind the kids the food of course you teach your kids to to not Yeah. And but that's only out of cart. Is this on your juices? I I I'll be honest with you. I'm not sure exactly what it could be inclusion. Yeah, it's pro probably mostly on part because I know what happens under CBP. If if a student doesn't take something, it doesn't count under CP. So you have to take everything that is provided in the lunch or else they have to randomly. So a lot of times these extra or due negoti their

086money legally have a right to withhold their graduation diploma for they well I compared to the ones we used to have from years ago before we had the free lunch this is not right but I was just wondering now how to end It is a federal requirement that for any deficit balances that have been paid, it has to get covered by the general fund. It can't be scooped out through any other means of settling up this requirement to zero that out at the end of the year. And since we have C, we're actually coming out ahead each year where we used to lose a couple hundred,000 each year on the launches. Other questions? They take that away. Go back to the old way. All those in favor I oppose abstensions on item uh 22032. Do

087I hear a motion to make the following transfers from the general fund to the food service fund as for the reverse from the commonwealth? Second. Comments or questions? All those in favor abstensions have it. Item 233. Do I hear a motion to approve the area school and area middle school activity funds for comments or questions? All those in favor? opposed abstensions. Do you guys have it? Do you hear a motion to approve the June exemptions from per capita andor occupational tax? Some second comments or questions. All those in favorions. The eyes have it. Item 235. Do I hear a motion to approve the following refunds of per capita and or occupational tax? We have one person. Thank you. Comments or questions? All those in favor? I have abstensions. Have item 236. So I hear a

088motion to approve the following reports for Manny condensed board summary expenditure revenue traum second comments or questions. All those in favorions have items. Do I hear a motion to approve the following payment of bills for June in a total amount of 4,942,22568? Second. Comments or questions? All those have a comment. I want to thank and recognize Stanny Gumper because she found a bill that had sales tax on it and she put a posted note on it saying do not pay sales tax and wrote the total that was supposed to be sent. And I'm sure other people have found other things, but because it had that post-it note on there, I knew who it was and I want to thank her. Other comments? All those in favor? I I opposed extensions. The eyes have it. Moving

089on to three programs item 3.1 slow. Do I hear a motion to approve consent agenda items 3.2 and 3.3? Some of comments or questions? All those in favor? I opposed abstensions. The eyes have it. Item 34. One thing I can say is I went through this today. It's very nicely presented. I'm sorry. I am trying to There we go. So I have to give the credit to uh who formatted the document and did a fantastic job. If you just scroll through here and again this will be on the district website tomorrow you can see it lays out if we start scrolling through here it has really a focus on four areas academic performance financial management climate and culture and human resource management and each of those gets broken down if you just go into academic

090performance and go to assessment these controlling you can actually see uh what the tasks are and on the left hand column and then on the right hand column responsible persons and you have the primary responsibility ultimately who does it land on and then you have your contributing responsibility whose support do they need in order to get it done. So there's little confusion left in terms of what our roles are across the organization regardless of what your position is. And you can see uh like I said I don't want to go through each and every one but if you use the arrows up above you can scroll through it that way. And again, yes, the formatting I give Janine a world of credit. She did a fantastic job of bringing this to life. I am very

091much a I'm going to write it on a document and it's going to be text and maybe some boxes, but there's not going to be any formatting, but she did. She truly that helps does really help bring it to life. Um, it really was nicely put together. Yes. And I want to I want to thank, you know, administration who have been looking at drafts of this. I have uh I shared with them asked for feedback. We charged this together and I think that uh it it certainly is a culmination of my first six months in tenure of really where are we at, where do we want to go and how what do we have to do in order to get there. Um what I will say is this is a great looking document but this

092has to guide our everyday work or else it's just a document that looks and so I want everybody here to understand both the public and the board that these are the standards by which I expect to hold not only myself accountable but other as So I encourage you to take some time to look over it. I don't want to spend any more time right now. Uh but if there anybody has any questions any questions for participants there. Do I hear a motion to approve the following 24 to 25? Is that true? It is correct because we have to submit to PBD what our actual act dates were for this this recent school year. Understood. School year act 80 days for the purpose of curricular planning teacher training strategic planning and for questions. All those in

093favor? I I opposed abstensions. The eyes have it. Item 3.6. Do I hear a motion to approve the grave camp to be held at the EC Tuesday through Thursday during weeks of July 8th to July 24th to be funded through the county commissioners? Second comments or questions? All those in favor extensions have it. Item 3.7. Do I hear a motion to approve the sponsor to sponsor agreement with the Shine after school program and meal contract to provide food service at $4.50 per student for the 25 to 26 school year? So move. Second comments for questions. Not I think it's a roll call vote. Mr. Beers. Yes. Miss Heather M. Yes. Mr. Jeremy Glash. Yes. Mr. Sean Glee. Yes. Mr. Dwayne. Yes. Miss Barbara Bose. Yes. Miss April Walker. Yes. Mrs. Carrie Sler. Yes, good. Item

09438. Do I a motion to approve the data sharing agreement between item and showing LRYC as attached effective uh September for the next school year? Second. Comments or questions? Roll call vote. Mrs. Carrie [Music] Walker, yes. Miss Barbose, yes. Mr. Dreer, Mr. Sean Ble, yes. Mr. Jeremy Lash, yes. Miss Heather Ne, yes. Miss Joy Pierce, yes. 629. Do I hear a motion to approve the following school enrichment requests? We may have one through the PTO. Second. Comments or questions? All those in favor? I opposed abstensions. Have it. Item 310. Do I hear a motion to approve the use of property for the following requests? Items one, two, three. Comments or questions? Those in favor? I oppose abstensions. The eyes have it. Item 311. Do I hear a motion to approve the disposal of the attached

095unneeded surplus unusable and or obsolete property district that is this necessary consistent valuable storage space according to policy 706.1 second comments or questions? All those in favor I opposed abstensions pass this floor 4.1 I hear a motion to approve consent agenda items 4.3 uh 4.2 two through 410. Second comments or questions of the workshop will be a roll call vote. Mr. Bears, yes. Miss Hanette, yes. Mr. Jeremy Blush, yes. Mr. Sean Glee, yes. Mr. Join Delica. Yes. Miss Bart Beers. I'm not related. Sorry. Sorry. Miss Bars. Yes. M. April Walker. Yes. And Mrs. Carrie S. Yes. Item 41 to hear a motion to approve the affiliation agreement area school district and university purpose of providing experential learning for qualified students for the 25 to 26 26 to 27 and 2728 school years. So move second

096question. Mrs. Carrie Sitler, yes. Miss April Walker, yes. Miss Barbose, yes. Mr. Dwayne Dela, yes. Mr. Sean Glee, yes. Mr. Jeremy Blouse, yes. Miss Heather Nef, yes. Miss Troy, yes. Item four requ language to because you can't change 24 hours a second that public comment. Yes, the public in general. Can I can I make mention of something first before? Um, we still had the confidential secretary to the assistant to the superintendent on it. Shouldn't that be changed to confidential secretary to whatever Gretchen is now? Yes. That and and what I will say is language 3 does allow us to change titles. Oh, that's true. So, so yes, that will be an update. It was something that we discussed. Um, but we don't have we didn't actually change a job description yet, right? No, I get

097it. So, I change the job description to mention it sooner was because there was no motion. So, I figured it was just a discussion. So, is there any public comment on adding this motion to the agenda? Hearing none special motions. This is just adding the motion. All right. All those in favor. I opposed abstensions. Um now I will make the motion. Do I hear a motion um to accept the act 93 agreement as presented years 25? Second. I I I just want to thank the administrators for a wonderful meeting and we we accomplished in what half an hour was a really really good productive meeting. Thank you. Mrs. Carrie Sitler, yes. Miss April Walker, yes. Miss Barbose, yes. Mr. Dwayne Beller, yes. Mr. Sean Graves, yes. Mr. Jeremy BL, yes. Miss Heather, yes. And M.

098Yes. candidates for employment demand a motion to approve the following candidates for employment in accordance with the respective contracts. So move second. and in Jason they need to kind of I think most of these are internal employees but there's one exception yeah most of these are transfers I would like to Brian Suck is on here as a new school police officer but I know in the audience tonight this this is Trisha Foster is here um she will be if this vote goes the elementary principal back chief intervention uh starting on July one so I'd like to welcome roster as hope as this vote goes Uh I will tell everybody this was a quite a rigorous process from start to finish. We went through four rounds of interviews which I believe every round was slightly different

099and we were able to build consensus along the way that that really kind of landed at Mrs. Foster being an exceptional candidate and we are we are lucky that that she is coming here and we're excited to have you and welcome you to the area school district. any more nervous comments or questions? I mean, many of the board members sat through the final round of interviews and clearly Trisha excelled. Agreed. We have great plans for you. All those in favor? I opposed. Oh, sorry. Abstensions. The eyes have it. Congratulations. All right. So, housekeeping 414. Do I hear a motion to dissolve the director of instructional technology and curriculum development in the assistant to the superintendent positions effective July 1st? Second. comments or questions. All those in favor? Opposed? Abstensions? Item 415. Do I a motion

100to approve the following candidates as department heads for team needs in accordance with their respective contracts? Second comments or questions? All those in favor? I opposed extensions. The eyes have it. Item 416. Do I hear a motion to approve the following extracurricular activity advisor candidates as contracted rates? Any necessary paperwork? Some second. Comments or questions? All those in favor? I opposed extensions. The eyes have it. Item 417. Do I hear a motion to approve the following requests for athletic coaching manager candidates as per contract and pending necessary paperwork? Second. Comments or questions? All those in favor? I I opposed abstensions. The eyes have it. Item 418. Do I a motion to approve the following request for pre-approval of courses programs of study for employee continuing education? Items 1 through 14 busy summer. Comments, questions. Yes,

101please Jason. I'd love to see a report on the class for employee 1105 item number 12. Just curious. Okay. Other questions? All those in favor? I opposed extensions. The eyes have it. Item 49. Do I hear a motion to approve an uncompensated leave for employee 1208 from September 8th through November 30th? I'm uh can't really comment. So all those in favor I have abstensions have it. All right. number five, miscellaneous. Um item 5.1, do I enter a motion to accept the resignation of Sha leaves as the school board treasurer contacted uh today? So second, comments or questions? Sean, have you ever looked at one of the bills? Sorry. Ask them. Can't hear. She said, "Have you ever looked at any of the bills?" Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Other comments or questions? All those in favor? Opposed?

102Abstensions? I have it. Item 5.2. Uh do I hear a motion to appoint Zoe Deler as school board treasurer effective today to complete the remaining term until June 30th uh say as well as serve um for the next board trader term of July 1st through June 30th 226. I see. Yeah. Yeah. I see. Okay. Do I hear a motion or a second? So second comments or questions? All those in favor? I I and I'll see I don't think I can vote for myself. That's all it is. But I've been thinking an awful lot. just try to wrap up these last few items. So, 523 is the special counsel investigation. Uh Jason and I didn't make much more headway in finding a candidate. And our concept was to create an RFP. And so, if the board's

103okay with that concept, Jason and Matt will work on an RFP. I think we need parameters first. Uh that's what'll be in the RFP. No, I mean parameters for what this person is going to be doing. Let's not like what happened. Let's not put the card before the horse. Let's put the horse first. Special investigation. just talked about that at the workshop meeting and it was to address um community concerns for a certain potential criminal um complaint. So we don't have a school police or a department police or state police. We're going to spend tax dollars to do an investigation. That's what we discussed. So um So my suggestion is to have an RFP and and then once we have a person uh available to us then discuss what items we may not decide to

104do any type of investigation you think about having Jason put together to find person I have to agree that to put on our page. We have enough grand of what we're exactly looking for. So, I mean, if we could, are you saying that Matt and Jason would come up with what they're trying to accomplish? I mean, I mean, if you wish, we can discuss this in executive session. that would be the appropriate place to talk about the sorts of complaints that he and then begin have have parameters arise that was I I I think a potential way to go on this is rather than an RFP more of an RFQ to please jump in if you think I'm going astray here but in terms of an RFQ you're looking at a request for qualifications and

105so if you land on a spot where you have somebody with a skill set that matches the job that you want to hire them to do. You can engage with them as a board in terms of you can literally request qualifications usually includes not only their background, their information, but also then a potential interview setup where you would come in, they would you would interview. And really what you would kind of be looking at is somebody that you could then go into contract to contract for whatever purposes the board deemed they wanted to engage with that. and essentially get their cost, their hourly cost, whatever that might be, their project cost, uh that they would kind of go at probably, but they'll probably look very similar like a solicitor's proposal where, you know, certain work

106will cost X amount, special types of work might cost more. Um, but that RFQ process then isn't down to one specific project. It's more of an engagement with somebody for professional services. I think that makes a lot more sense. Um, and I think Joey probably be a good idea to when you do go to executive session, then you do kind of sell it out to the board. I think I have an idea, but it's just my ideas. So, I'd like to hear what your ideas. Okay. So, you're in the executive session? Yes. I'm not in favor of it. We have school police, we have local police, we have state police that we're already looking for. I think you're double dipping and we're in charge of the community for something that we're already paying. If you're

107still concerned about getting money back, why are you taking money for this? Because I think I don't think so. I think that's only the um the um example that was given at the last meeting where this was discussed was the Hazen incident which was investigated by local police. There was a judge involved. There was court involved. There was a judgment involved which nobody knows because it was juvenile so it's confidential but everything was investigated so and it was criminal so I don't see where that applies. Um, I'd like to know exactly what you're talking about cuz we hear from you all the time. Well, a community member community member, but until the board knows, it's nothing but hearsay and there's a reason why hearsay is not acceptable in Florida. So, you can put forth forth

108anything you want. Say having a community member say it. I think it's a good idea to have this resource available to us with limited usage. So, I'm in favor of moving ahead. Uh yeah be discussed and detective but I mean overall favor I'd like to see the murders before the discussion motion. old business Jason still waiting to coordinate some dates to set up that meeting that was discussed with the bureau uh obviously that I'm able to get members of two different governmental entities together and although I'd rather be in here right now than outside so 105 degrees out there earlier or something like that so great traffic light Yeah. So, we were actually approved in for a grant and in pre-scale was approved. So, that means it'll move forward to the next step to try

109to secure some funding to offset the cost of the pending traffic signal. So, um just what what what happened there is we we have to describe the pro the scope of the project etc etc. We received letters of of support uh both from Senator Senator Arville and from Representative Heley. I want to thank them. This is obviously something that we're trying to find a way to help offset the cost of that project. Uh and the full the next step of the of the grant is due on June 30th. So we are currently in the works of making sure that we get that taken care of at least submitted and hopes that we will receive some money to offset the cost of that of that traffic signal that is not essentially out of the district's pocket.

110Good news though on the first step getting approval into preschool. I think that goes back to what I was saying before that as long as we stay on top of trying to get grants. Jason, do you know is this a grant? I don't remember. There you go. There you go. Has there been any discussions with the state as far as a stop sign? There's a state highway 895 Arizona that has a four-way stop sign. It is a 25 mile Arizona. They can't put a four-way stop in for a couple hundred bucks. Unfortunately, Wally, it's the burrow that's requiring it as part of the land development approval package scanner if you recall. I'm sorry. state. No, it's actually the state. It is actually the state. That's request plan. Well, so the district made a problem based

111on a pend study and and the project was based on a pend study. There were several different options, but that was the one that we said we were going to do and committed to. We otherwise were deemed uni. But wasn't that all part of the solo process through the burrow? Yes. Okay. Yes. But the burrow has I mean we made equipment to the burough to pay for it but it wasn't the bureau's require requirement. It was it was through pendot and now all of our obstacles in getting the job done which would have cost $350,000 a couple years ago are all out of Harrisburg. It's a quiet to the legislative. So um the way that this works is that if uh the night wants to uh make suggestions that change the legislative platform, I think

112that later this week we have to use their online um uh you know can I interrupt you for just a second here? This has been discussed several times. You sent an email saying you were going to send us the information and didn't send us the information on it. Correct. I've been quite busy and this has fallen towards uh the bottom. So um you know what I was going to do was describe the two concepts and if uh people are okay with it you know Jason and I will use the portal to bring the concepts forward and if you're not comfortable with that like not seeing it in writing you know then you know you can you know express your displeasure. Um, the two concepts that I was going to bring forward was to ask them

113to add to their legislative platform and to modify it to be in favor of eliminating global property taxes. And so, um, I'll I'll hold for one item. Uh Jeremy, you favor us doing that or Yeah, I'm not going to get help because someone would work if that's what I had. Pennsylvania state constitution says Pennsylvania's responsibility to provide a quality education to our youth, yet they only fund schools about 25%. So, I'm in favor of getting PAB to add that to their legislative agenda. Now, there's no reason that we're holding a perpetual mortgage on people's problems. [Music] Great. Uh, I don't have questions on those. Okay. Um, you know, the other one was the charter school thing. I think that's more controversial and a charter school thing. I don't like that they're um attacking charter schools

114and trying to push them out entirely. They what they want to do is they have hundreds of millions of dollars in their fund balance and we are concerned about 16 million here but you're okay with charter schools buying vehicles buying cyber charters buying buildings and renting out office space. they don't have the same um transparency that we have to provide. So I just said we're not bringing that up. So moving on. So we talked for quite a while but I would prefer that you bring that up to them that there should be um well they already have it's all legislative is it I haven't read it. I sent this document to the entire board, their legislative agenda that they have in force right now. Okay, I'll have to look again for you. I think that

115was Yeah. So, moving on to the visioning meeting. Um, when would people like to have a visioning meeting or maybe who don't want to have a visioning meeting at all? Okay. So, um I will propose uh a week from today. Your thoughts? The concept is for the board to come up with a vision. You know, Jason and the administration, they have a vision and you know, like I can't there's no way I'm going to do that without getting somebody sleep. So I can't take a week. You can. What days do you have available say next week to give people some time? July 2nd. Um I know next week is correct. July second. What about July 3rd of next week? Yeah, I'm not available. All right, I'm getting too tired and I'm not available. So I

116think we'll just as long as you can try to have it sometime somebody could discuss it at the next workshop meeting and try to find another date. Um the grant rating that's just the ongoing effort to um find a private grant where you're a bit more blessed with competitive grants and I know you were involved in two. Yeah. So the plan here is now that the psy logic agreement is fully is fully executed. I will fully explore what potential services they need to be able to offer at that 4% of the commission. I don't know that's necessarily tied to construction technologies uh and then bring additional at least two uh additional potential partners to board. Questions for Jason? 8.1 director's concerns for Okay. Does anyone want to propose a new visit? All right. Director's concern

117is my concern. If we have so much money in the bank, why would we give FBLA extra money? Do you guys have the answer? No, they didn't. They voted for it, but they um argued against it. That's true. And why why don't we fund raise for brilliance instead of taxing the parents over and over and over and over and over and over and over again for all these extracurriculars fundraising. Let's start making motions for them for real. We can bring motions forward and have them put on the agenda and we can I mean we do advertise the school does. They ask local businesses to sponsor the walls to put their banners up. I mean we have all this money. Why aren't we taxing the taxpayers for all this other stuff? Why aren't we learning about

118I mean I I just saying listen you got other concerns just that I I have one thing I was just wanted to give kudos to our technology and curriculum department for doing a great job managing their budget. On the other hand, on the other hand, our special education department needs to do a better job. I'll be watching that closely. I I I will just say one thing to consider, special education is the hardest area to actually accurately budget for because it can get it can get crazy really quickly. But I just have to remember it's in only the second year of rebuilding what was I guess changing making changes fixing correcting a lot of mistakes. So I really think that it will get better over the next couple of years. Sandy seems to have seems

119to have great public comment at the very end. People out in technology land say this is not working this evening. It's terrible. It's horrible. Um don't know if that's intentional or not. I'm making accusations it is, but I know there's some controversial things this evening, but this evening it doesn't seem that you're working. It's watching you a lot. Yeah, I just I see. Those are not That's not the camera. It's just eyes. They can be turned off. The camera's actually on the top and it's been swiveling all night. Because I know Gretchen, you had some people watching it when we were first transitioning and they said that. Yes. And it was great, right? And that's the only way that it's like that's how it's being live streamed to the public tonight. Um Mrs. Carperitz and

120I were a little bit on a whim with Miss Cartenio not being able to be here kind of last minute and so we didn't know the password to use the VR spot which was still being used so we pivoted to that. Um and I've been watching like there I mean I have it on but obviously I don't have the sound on because I'm hearing it live and there have been anywhere from four I think it was below up to maybe eight people that have been watching it throughout the evening but obviously I'm not getting the feedback that you are that's what I got from the feedback. I mean, if it was early in the meeting, we could have known that and we could have tried to fix it. So, my job to fix it, Jeremy,

121you're a board member. Thank you. I just want to say also that it's very disappointing. I won't use the word shade. believe they're mean to offend you, but I'm very very disappointed that this board at the last meeting agreed to a budget that enjoyed years behind the scenes convinces four views to switch a vote this evening to get money back and take away from our kids and put us in financial um peril possibly later on as history has predicted. So, I find that very upsetting. As far as it's going to save you a lot of time to instead of the vision meeting, you should just bring your vision uh visions to the four people that keep voting on you and you can have whatever you want. Why would you involve a whole board at a

122meeting for visions when it's all going to be your vision or behind the scenes is what you do, which is exactly why I quit because this is what you do behind the scenes. Um I just want to make a small response to that. Wally, if I am wrong in my projections, I will be the first one to say so when the audit for year end 2024 comes out in January, but I believe we will have a surplus, not a deficit that was predicted in the last budget. So, we'll see. If I'm wrong, I'll be the first one to apologize, but I don't think I am. All right. Do I hear a motion to adjourn the meeting? Second. All those in favors abstensions. The meeting is adjourned at 9:23. If anyone is interested in talking uh

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