2026-03-10 School Committee Meeting

001Good evening. Welcome to the Cherho Regional School District's School Committee meeting for Tuesday, March 10th. Thank you all for being here. We're going to reconvene open session. I recommend closing and sealing the executive session minutes as they pertain the acquisition of real property for public purposes wherein advanced public information would be detrimental to public interest. >> So move. >> Okay, we have a motion. Do we have a second? >> We have a motion and a second. >> All in favor? Looks like unanimous. >> I recommend closing and sealing the executive session minutes as they pertain to the privacy of students and their records. >> So move. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor. Unanimous. Okay. I'm going to ask um our clerk, district clerk, Angela Brazil, to disclose the

002executive session votes, please. Thank you, Angela. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. There were four votes tonight in the executive session. The first was a vote taken on property. There were uh one abstension amongst our our public here uh and the rest were all approved. We had an approval of the executive session minutes from February 10th, 2026. Again, one abstension, Mr. Low. We had an approval for homeschoolers and that was a unanimous vote. And a move back to open session, also a unanimous vote. >> Thank you, Angela. And speaking of Mr. Low, I want to welcome Ed Low from Hopington as our new school committee member. Ed, welcome. All right, recognition. We have several areas of recognition this evening and as usual, I have asked members of the school committee to participate in that recognition this

003evening. So, first I will turn it over to Diane Teft to read the recognition for sports. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> You're welcome. Sports indoor track state meet 21426. Lydia Taber set school records in the 55 um meter and 300 meter uh at 41.47 run. Meridian Meridan Algae state championship in the 100 meter run. boys 4 by 800 relay teammates Isaac Graham, Gus Fre love, Ethan McCain, and Leo Haxton are state champs and qualified for nationals. Boys swim division championships also 21426. South County swim co-op finished fourth in the state. Charot swimmers are Benjamin Levante, Dominic Gdano, Ian McInness, and Jameson Kulie. Girls swim division championship to 1526. Westerly Charo girls swim co-op finished third at the division 2 championships after coming off an undefeated regular season. Special shout out to Sonia Beasley for earning

004second place in the 200 and 500 yard freestyle. And congratulations to our first place relay teams on both the 200 and the 400yard relay teams. Alexia McCabe, Olivia O'Neal, and Sonia Beasley. On the 200yard relay team, Payton Help me here. >> I'm sorry. >> Petrosa. >> Petrusa on the 400yard relay team. Avery Lamb. Okay. And Cher High School state prosttart competition. Senior students Natalie Bernan, Rachel Gillis, Madison Newit, Ava O'Brien won second place in the competition and were awarded $12,000 each in a scholarship to JWU. Junior students Logan Berdos, Liliana Jano, Madison Nuiki, and Rosie Spasado won first place and were each awarded a $20,000 scholarship to JWU. Congratulations to all the students and their teachers, Donald Fair, for these amazing accomplishments. >> Excellent. Thank you. Okay, Jesselle will now recognize um the poetry out

005loud contest. >> Okay. Um Cher host Cherho school level poetry out loud contest this year was won by Holly Challe. Holly will represent Cherho in the poetry out loud state competition on Saturday 37. I guess she already did at the Providence Public Library. Congratulations to our runners runners up, Kelly Drake and Lillian Hall. We are very proud of all the students who participated in this year's competition by memorizing and reciting a variety of poems that celebrate America's 250th anniversary. We also thank our judges, Rebecca Burns, Johan La Fountain, Regan Clark, Tatiana Sullivan, and Jasmine Lerner. All right. And our school committee member, Linda Lyall, will read the Rhode Island Art Anchor Awards. Linda, >> good evening. Please join me to congratulate the following students on their awards at the 2026 Rhode Island Art Anchor Awards.

006The following were winners. Sonia Ble Beasley, grade 11. She won best in category for her ceramics uh a piece called Downward Spiral of Coral Bleaching. Khloe Burns, grade 12, won an anchor award for photography for her uh photo of Cupcake. Talia Lodge Lodge, grade nine, uh won an award for visual art studio pathway, which was an anchor award in printmaking for her piece crowd. Um Glowy Peas, grade 12, uh won the social justice wave award for you are what they eat, which was a sculpture. Grace Reynolds, grade 12, uh won an anchor award for mixed media for the flower for a flower tptic. And Lydia Taber, grade 12, was best in category in the film video area for her film video on it was called Baking. The following students were honorable honorable mentions. Finley Butler,

007grade 11, for in the area of photography for the photograph Cooper. Carissa Conroy, grade 12, for in the area of photography for the photograph Bumblebee. Michael Finch, grade 10, for a photograph called the little big lady. Anthony Tony Gigglon Giggly Mo, sorry, Tony, grade 12, uh, for a sculpture called The End of the Record. Li Lillian Hall, grade 10, one for a drawing called Christmas Diet Coke. Uh, Ada uh, grade Cater, grade 10, for a drawing called Latundra Foot. Uh, Reagan Organ Marsh, grade 11 for a photography, Strength in Stillness. McKenzie Mcnite, grade 12, for the area of ceramics, um, for a piece called Flowers Bloom. Uh, Sadi Mikowski, grade 12. It was a mixed media piece. uh was called Red Super Giant Tptic, which are a set of three photos. Uh Emily Murphy, grade

00812, for a photograph, a photography in a a piece called Untitled. Sasha Rogers, grade 12, for a drawing drawing called Good Boy. And Sophia Wala, grade 12, for a mixed media piece called Whitney Brings Joy. Congratulations to all these students. Thank you, Linda. >> The exhibition is the there is an exhibition currently on display at the Alex and Anani building at the Rhode Island College through March 17th. We encourage you to join us for the closing reception on March 15th from 1:45 to 2:45. And I believe some of these pieces photographs of the pieces online and they're amazing. The students are just amazing what they can produce. Thank you. >> Thank you, Linda. >> You're welcome. >> All right, we're going to move on to public forum. And there are some people signed up for

009public forum where it says the topic for discussion budget. So I am going to ask for those of you that signed up for public forum with that topic that you you wait until we get to the budget section of the agenda. Um I do have some comments before we start public forum. So if you'll indulge me. Members of the public, I appreciate you being here tonight as we consider very important issues that will impact the future of the Charo School District. I realize that there are passionate people who represent various viewpoints that are here tonight. With that being said, I'm going to reinforce that we must hold ourselves to the highest standards of decorum and civility this evening. That means please refrain from shouting, yelling, booing, interrupting, or engaging in any action that disrupts a

010public meeting, this public meeting. I spoke with our district attorney today, John Anderson and Chief Elwood Johnson, regarding the unfortunate incident at last week's financial town meeting, and ask for their input on steps that I could take as chair to keep our meeting tonight civil and productive. Attorney Anderson suggested that if someone from the public disrupts our meeting, they be given one verbal warning. If that same individual is disruptive a second time, then I will direct the Richmond police to remove you from the auditorium. Chief Johnson also sent me a state statute that the Richmond police relies on for public meetings. That statute is chapter 11-11-1 entitled disturbance of public assembly which generally states and I quote every person who shall willfully interrupt and disturb any town or ward meeting any assembly of people meeting

011for religious worship any military funeral or memorial service any public or private school either within or without the place where the meeting or school is held shall be imprisoned for one year or be fined not exceeding $500." I'll remind you that that is the statute, not my rules. I'm hoping that the police will not have to engage in removing anyone from this meeting. So, this is the public forum portion of the agenda. Those who signed up to speak will be asked to come to the podium and state your name and town that you reside. You're welcome to speak during public forum about items not on the agenda, which I said earlier. Per our public forum policy, the speaker who makes a public statement has the responsibility to be accurate, present facts, present information based upon

012personal knowledge, not hearsay, and be considerate and allow others to speak without interruption. I have to be mindful of ensuring decorum and also being uh mindful of time management. With that being said, I'm asking our community members to refrain from cheering, clapping, booing, shouting, and disrupting the speaker who has the floor. Okay. Per policy, public comment is not to exceed 30 minutes. So, we do have a number of speakers tonight. So, again, there were a number of speakers who signed up for the budget. So, I'm just going to say out loud the items for discussion that referenced the budget. And that was Helen Sheen of Richmond, Carara Tiololis of Charles Town, Barb Cardardoza of Richmond, Carrie Anne Coleman of Hop Hopington, and Jennifer Sylvia says budget and technology. Scott Sunderland says budget. So again, if

013it's a budget related comment, I'm just going to ask that you um just wait until we get to the budget section of the agenda, which is right after our business. Okay. So, we have a number of speakers here tonight and each of you will be given um I'm going to say two minutes to speak. I'm going to ask Polly Hopkins to keep the time. Laura Chapman is not here this evening, so I'm going to ask Polly to keep the time and I'll I'll give as much latitude as I can because I know that many of you are here because that you want to express your opinions and your views on various topics. We do have two very substantive agenda items tonight that I think is going to um run us into potentially several hours. Um

014who knows? But I'm going to ask um those folks um to keep your remarks succinct. All right. So, moving on. Public forum. Kyla Martin from Charles Town. Kyla, >> how are you? >> Good. How are you? >> Good, thank you. >> Um, can I start? >> Yes, you may. >> Uh, good evening. My name is Kyla Martin and I'm a ninth grade student here at Cherho High School. I'm speaking today about the transfers of teachers and the impact it has on us as students. I don't believe that teachers should be moved in the middle of the school year because I feel that it disrupts students learning and removes the stability that many students rely on. In many workplaces, transitions are handled carefully so that people affected have time to prepare. Um, when decisions like this

015are made, it can feel like the effect on all students learning is not being fully considered. Moving teachers during the school year may solve a staffing issue, but it creates a new problem for the students who suddenly lose an important part of their support system. Schools should always prioritize students. When decisions like these are made, the question should not only be, "Is this allowed?" But also, is this what is best for all students? Um, in many other districts, anyone in a teacher role does not have their position changed until the end of the school year in order to prevent disruption to students learning and to maintain the important bonds that develop between students and their teachers. If other districts understand and acknowledge the value of consistency and stability for students, why don't we? According to

016a study by Gary T. Henry and Christopher Readings, leaders in professional education, they found that losing a teacher midyear was linked to a loss of anywhere between 32 and 72 instructional days and a significant loss in English and math scores. They stated in their study, teachers who depart from December through April have the most harmful effects on achievement. If we want students to feel supported, we must make decisions that reflect that promise. So, I'd like to end by asking an important question. Is the goal truly all kids all of the time, or has it quietly become some kids some of the time? Thank you for taking the time to listen to me. Thank you, >> Dylan Strauzi and Joselyn Vander from Hopington. There's no subject. Okay. Okay. Thank you. When we get to the budget,

017um, just raise your hands and I'll be happy to recognize you. Thank you. Greg Avdian from Hopkin. >> Good evening. Uh I'm going to be very brief. I just have really a question for the chair. Um uh given uh past situations, um I just want to confirm that each of us will have an opportunity to speak on particularly the budget and the bond language. Um I know in the past sometimes uh discussion has been limited. Um so I just want to get confirmation from you that that everyone here will have an opportunity to speak to these issues because I feel they're they're very important. >> Sure. So after the members have a chance to weigh in. I will certainly recognize the audience. If we get to 10:00 though or close to 10 o'clock, there is

018you know a rule. You know, one of our rules is that the majority of the school committee members have to vote to go beyond 10 10 p.m. Okay. So, I don't know if we get there what what will happen at that juncture. >> And I my response would be a having been someone who has voted on several occasions and not to extend the meeting past 10:00 when I sat where you are. Um, I think uh I would strongly encourage the the the members of the school committee to to go beyond it. Believe me, I'm not happy about being here um uh past 10:00. I have to get up rather early in the morning to go to work. But um uh like I said, I I think the issues are far too important um to to

019to limit everybody's ability to speak to the issue. >> Okay. Noted. Thank you. All right. So Helen has Helen Sheen um referenced the budget. So we'll get back to that. Roseanne Tid um there was no subject under um your name Roseanne. So if it's an item not on the budget this evening, you're more than welcome to come and speak during public comment now. So it wasn't it was an item on the agenda. Okay, we'll get back to you. Okay, no worries. Okay, Mark Raot from Richmond. Mark Ray John Richmond. I just want to say last week's uh display of rudeness by Mr. Moff was uncalled for and I believe he owes anybody he talked to or was involved in the incident a public apology. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Cara Tolas from Charles Town.

020Oh, Cara, you had written down budget. So, can we get back to you? Okay, thank you. Bob Cardoza from Richmond. Bob, you wrote down budget. So, can we get back to you on that? Okay. Justin Bentley from Hopkin says, "Voting on items." >> Okay. Thank you, Justin. >> Kianne Kerianne Coleman from Hopington says budget. So, Kerianne, can we get back to you? Um, is that okay? Okay. Thank you, Jennifer Sylvia Hopinson. Budget and technology. So, Jennifer, did you want to talk about technology and forego your budget comments until we get to the budget? >> What you got to do? >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Scott Sunderland says bud says says budget here. Scott, are you here? There you go. Do you want to wait until we get to that item? Okay. Thanks, Joan Kent

021from Richmond. Good evening, Madame Chair and Superintendent and all the school committee members. Before I address a serious issue that transpired last week at the school meeting, I want to give you a news flash. South Carolina had seven inches of snow and Florida got some snow too and their temperatures dropped down 20 to the 20s. Also, their school is totally subsidized by their lottery in South Carolina. They pay for everything. Now, on to the other issue. Now, on a more difficult and serious issue, we all need to face and contend with Mr. Moffett constant verbal attacks on Chair Dinsmo and his outrageous offenses, remarks that are disrespectful, heartless, and shameful, and his dis deplorable behavior to incite violence against Mr. Mckendle is totally unacceptable, indefensible, and should not be tolerated by members of the school

022committee or the public. Sadly, Mr. Moffett continues to attack by other means of communications in the community. I have addressed this type of univilized behavior, verbal attacks at last year's school committee meeting. Evidently, what I said has fallen on deaf ears. Where is our dignity, our respect, our kindness towards our neighbors as well as the respect for ourselves? How do you expect your children to have respect for and dignity for themselves, for anyone else or anything? Sadly, our dignity and respect for others has lost is lost and has been replaced by hatred. >> John, I'm gonna have to ask you to wrap it up and >> Okay. Can I just leave this last word? I'd like you to think about this. >> Thank you. >> Hate breeds contempt. Contempt breeds disdain. Disdain breeds anger. Anger

023breeds aggression. Aggression breeds an act of violence. Violence causes death and destruction. God bless all of you. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Okay. Um Paul Erdos does doesn't say the time to the budget. Okay. All right. So that concludes public comment. Now we are going to move on to eight which is business AA discussion and vote on fiscal year 27 budget adoption. >> Madam chair >> yes >> to establish a baseline. I make a motion to adopt the budget as submitted at 4.99% which includes state aid. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion on this? Mr. Hello Ed and then Jess. >> I just wanted to talk about understanding statements and data that were provided at the last school committee meeting on the 3. Um the presentation I was

024uh referring to was a top level summary of the budget and it made a number of statements including is in the top 10 of the Rhode Island high school rankings. Cheraho continues to outperform state, national and global averages and this performance is sustained and not accidental. The statement was also made that Charo is recognized for strong assessment results combined with a strong return on investment and we are delivering a top tier education while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Then a graph was presented that compared the uh per pupil expenditure with the percent of students who met expectations as evidenced by the rycast standard test scores in 2024 2025. And that graph was split into four quadrants. The top leftmost quadrant was labeled as quadrant one and it was labeled as uh evidence of strong achievement and high

025return on investment. And in that quadrant, Charaho was ranked according to those two variables. the per pupil expenditure and the score or number of students percentage of students who met expectations throughout the district the average of both ELA literacy as well as math as a single data point in 2024 and it was approximately 46% of the students met expectations in those two subjects across the entire district. If you dig deeper into those numbers and you look at not just that single year average but more of a a a number of years approaching a decade seven years let's say you look at the data from 2017 2018 through 2024 2025 what we see is that the rycast scores in mathematics have not the rycast scores in mathematics districtwide started off in 2017 2018 44.9% of the

026students met expectations in mathematics and if we advance all the way through 2024 2025 45.4% 4% or approximately half a percent more of the students district-wide met expectations in mathematics. So it's essentially a flat line. There's some perturbations in there as a function of time for the testing results of the individual years that fall in between. So between 20 2018 2019 202 23 21 22 22 23 23 24 and 24 and 25. Um but essentially we ended up at the end of that seven-year time frame. essentially the same percentage of students met expectations districtwide, all grades at the beginning of that time frame and at the end of that time frame, half a percentage point difference and half a percentage point increase. That was that's that's pretty disturbing that there's been with the money that's

027been spent that we have that type of performance. If you look at that same time frame, those same seven years, and you look at the ELA and literacy um scores, uh we started off at 54% of the students met expectations the in 2017 2018. The very next year it jumped 4% up to 58% of the students met expectations. But then at the end of that seven-year period, we'd fallen below where we were at on a student body basis. all grades throughout Cheraho. >> Thank you. >> For ELA and literacy. >> Say again. >> Nothing. We just we have some sidebar conversations going on at the end of the table. So, let's give Ed our attention, please. At the end of that time frame, that seven-year time frame, we'd fallen back 7% such that only 47%

028of the students met English and language arts and literacy uh expectations uh at the end of that time frame and that regression again let me let me go back and say that you know in between there the numbers did fluctuate so there were perturbations in between but now we're seven years later and only 47% of our students are meeting expectations and that's even more disturbing. So when we look at it with respect to the the you know in the top 10 Rhode Island high schools that we're achieving above average performance um both statewide, nationally and globally. And we look at the the statement that it's um that the performance at this level is sustained and not accidental. I come away with a much different view of that data than those statements would lead me to

029believe if I just looked at those slides. So I think that the state of education in Rhode Island is in serious serious trouble and by and I think that the state of education here is is similar when to achieve a ranking in the top 10 throughout the state. Half of the students still don't meet the expectations at grade level in either English or in math. And I don't see that there is a path forward that's addressing that deficit in the students meeting that those expectations that's going to achieve the performance that we need to achieve in order to allow a much more significant number of students to meet expectations. >> Ed, I um if I may interrupt for a moment, >> I'm done. >> Okay. Thank you. Um the super I know the superintendent would

030like to respond to that and then after that I think Jess did you have your hand raised? >> Um and then Karen. >> So our budget is an investment in our students and our students are much more than a test score that happens in March and April and as a parent as a teacher as a superintendent I am very proud of every student in char and the growth that we have seen. Dr. Camela gave a presentation back in November. the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns and the RA data, right? Rhode Island has the highest level of standards in the nation. That's why our standards are much much higher than most. And I can tell you that when we look at growth and accountability, I stand by every statement in that presentation. And not

031only do I stand by it, I welcome anyone into any one of our classrooms to look at our amazing young people and the work that they do every day and our amazing educators and the work that they do every day. Dr. Dr. Camila will tell you that when you take a state test, a state test is not made for accountability of a budget because it's about student needs, not about one moment in time. Our kids are more than that and they show that to us every single day. And when we look at one presentation or we look at data that has multiple tests, so for example, 2017 it was a completely different assessment. So, I ask that anyone that's going to crit criticize the district around their their due diligence, around the data, the graduation

032rates when I got here were 86%. They are 97% and that's because of the hard work of our students and our educators. If any member of the public would like to go to the annual report that I present to all of the towns every year and I present to the school committee in August, that is a compilation of the work, not my work, not this team's work, but the work of the entire district to ensure that every student has made the success that they make. Every baseline is different. We all grow at s at different rates. The only thing that puts us in a classroom is our age and our birthday. But I don't know about you, that doesn't tell anybody how smart they are. A scar on a test tells you what they did

033in a moment in time. And sometimes we have bad days and sometimes we have great days. But when you look at their data and say that it's not growing, that is incorrect because by the end of the year, when we look at all of our assessments, local and state, we are absolutely proficient at almost 85%. And I'm going to let Dr. Camela share the actual data so that I can speak to that as well if you would like me to. Okay, let's let the speaker speak. Dr. Camella, would you like to um give that data? >> Sure. I'll just I'm pulling data from the presentation um from back in the November school committee meeting. So, >> and then excuse me, Dr. Camela, and then I think we're going to have to get back to the

034particulars of the budget, right? >> Yes. >> Um just to address the math data first. So, um well, Mr. Low is correct. Um, prior to COVID, our our scores were um in the 50s um in terms of student achievement. Um, in 2021, our our district was at 29.1% for math and we're now at 45.4% for math. That's quite an increase um considering the known effects that students missing um you know not only the last three months of the 2020 school year but also you know the disruption in the learning in 2021 although credit to the superintendent and the district um for being you know um in school having all kids in school still offering the hybrid option um but having the majority of our students um on a day-to-day basis Mr. T Mr. any can

035testify the challenge it was to group students and to get them. So that was a clearly disruptive year. Um and then for ELA for English language arts. Um sorry skip to science. Um so at postcoid we were at 41.7%. We're now at 47.1%. Um so again matching actually not as quite as big as increase in math. Um we have farther to go in math um but we are approaching the pre-COVID levels um um as the data shows. Thanks, Dr. Camela. I appreciate that insight. Um, so we had Jess and then Karen. >> Okay, so we've been discussing this budget since January. Um, but since this is our final meeting, I did want to reiterate some statements and um, read from something I had prepared. So, in recent years, Chair Ho's budget has seen local lower

036local town contributions while state aid has increased. But this year, Richmond has the highest percentage increase to the district due to a projected decrease of $331,64 in state aid. Um, Charle Town's also set to lose 59,000 and Hington is gaining a million due to fluctuating student enrollment and changes in how the state calculates their contribution. Some are saying that because of the higher percentage in Richmond, we should reduce the budget. But reducing the the increase for one town affects the entire district. To make a significant impact, it would take a reduction of at least a million dollars. And I don't think that's a cut that Cheroo students and schools can afford. Reducing funding does not eliminate the need. It only weakens our ability to respond to emergencies and implement long-term planning. The school committee and

037chero administration have had to repeatedly rely on the fund balance to meet district needs, including our request tonight to cover increased snow removal. I don't think it's responsible to base the entire budget on the fluctuation of a percentage that is not the final number. I have explained on multiple occasions that each town's percentage increase to the district is not the same as the increase the school budget creates to the town. While 7.82 is Richmond's current percentage increase to the district, that figure does not directly translate to the percentage increase to the town of Richmond. To determine that percentage, I use the dollar amount of the local increase in combination with the town budget amount, which shows an estimated 4.2 10 increase to the town. If Richmond state aid is restored to last year's level and

038we get that 331,000 back, the percentage increase to the district after state aid would decrease to 5.75%. Which would result in an estimated 3.02 increase to the town, which is likely to be offset by additional revenue at that level. When I examine town budget increases, which include local char contributions across all three towns, I find that the average percentage increases are well below the rate of inflation. They are also lower than the percentages shown in cherho budget documents because of how the school increase is offset by revenue in each town. In Charles Town, the 5-year average town tax increase is 1.756. In Hington is 2.154 and in Richmond is the lowest at 1.052. These figures illustrate that our regional school district and our towns are working well together and operating in a fiscally sound and

039responsible manner. Don't get me wrong. I know that life has become unaffordable in all areas of necessity. In our Richmond home, we have plenty of bills and none of them have gotten lower in the past year. We work hard to provide for our family, to take care of our kids and the house, to volunteer in the community, and to be good good neighbors. With two growing children who are cheros students, our schools are always at the forefront of my decisions on the school committee. I was elected on a platform to prioritize students. I don't feel comfortable with additional cuts tonight, whether they be small reductions that are not strategic or large reductions that will severely change the trajectory of our successful schools. I have heard from many residents who are depending on the school committee

040to protect our shared assets and investment in the future. And I agree that further cuts would be risky at best and detrimental at worst. That being said, there are some ideas that have been brought up that I'd like to share or reiterate. Um, things that we could do now that are not cuts to the budget that could help with the overall budget picture. Um, we need to advocate to have our state funding restored. There are 16 districts that are projected to have reductions in state aid. As the superintendent has mentioned on multiple occasions, there's also ground to be gained in the area of the funding from state the state for high-cost special education. And she's working to make the voice of rural and regional school districts heard at the state house. There is a bill

041which could provide additional aid to rural districts. Uh 6% regional bonus on state aid which would be close to a million dollars in Jer. Uh state aid there's also um this has come up multiple times but right now the state aid goes to the towns and the towns have to account for that the millions of dollars in their town fund balance. If the state aid came directly to Chero the towns could reduce their fund balance which would decrease their overall budget that is needed. um future ideas that have come up. Um when I was a parent few years ago, I sat at that podium and I talked about maybe doing 2:1 for K1 to K12 K1 or second grade classrooms. Um right now it's one to one. That has come up multiple times this year

042about reducing the reliance on technology. Um I also think we could have teachers switch to Chromebook Chromebooks instead of MacBooks, which would save $550 for each device over a four-year period. Uh, I think we should continue to increase preschool revenue and expand the options for preschool with a unified elementary school. And I think we should implement a three-year rolling average for the local contributions to help flatten the curve of fluctuations. >> Thank you, Karen. >> Good. >> Okay. Um, I I do have a comment on the budget and I have said publicly that um I will not support passing this fiscal year 27 budget, especially because Richmond has a significant increase in front of them. Um, Jess, I appreciate your comments. You know, I just wrote down a couple of talking points from your comments

043and you always come prepared and you're always very thorough. So, I appreciate your due diligence and always coming prepared. You know, one of the things that you said was likely to offset, you know, advocating for state aid to be restored bills at the state house that could or couldn't impact our budget. These are all possibilities, not guarantees. And that concerns me. So, um, as we're, you know, discussing our fiscal year 27 budget, I I do want to acknowledge something that we all share in the room. Everyone here cares very deeply about our community. Whether you are a parent, a student, a staff member, a taxpayer, or a town official, or a member of the community, we all want what's best for the students that we serve here in our district. We also recognize that many

044families and residents are experiencing financial pressures. Rising costs for housing, utilities, everyday expenses are affecting households across our region. The school committee, I think collectively, and I speak for myself, but I think I could say collectively, understands these concerns and takes seriously our responsibility to balance fiscal responsibility with the educational needs of our students. Approximately 80% of this district's budget supports the people who work directly with the students every day. Adjustments to a budget often translate into changes students and families experience in the classroom, such as staffing levels, class sizes, etc. Tonight's conversation is about how we potentially could move forward in a responsible way. Under Rhode Island General Law 16-2-9, the school committee is responsible for the care, control, and management of the public schools. This responsibility includes identifying students educational needs and adopting

045a budget to meet them. Additionally, Rhode Island law requires municipalities to support their public schools at no less than the prior year's level of local funding unless a statutory ex exception applies. This requirement is known as maintenance of effort. Maintenance of effort applies to the local contributions to the towns, excuse me, local contributions from the towns, not to other sources of funding such as state education aid or federal grants. But because Cheraho is a regional district, the total contribution from the three member towns, and we know they are Charles Town, Richmond, and Hopkin, must be considered together when reviewing the district's operating budget. Another important factor in this discussion tonight is the district's financial reserves, also called the unassigned fund balance. Last year, our committee approved returning approximately $3.1 million from the district's unassigned fund

046balance to the member towns. As discussed during last year's deliberations, the fund balance serves as a financial reserve that helps school districts manage unexpected costs such as transportation changes, special education placements, facility issues, and other operational fluctuations. Following that dis decision last year, the district's remaining unassigned fund balance, as of the time we approve the transfer to cover the cost of the recent blizzard, and that's on our agenda later, our unassigned fund balance will be approximately $1.4 million for a se a $71 million organization. 1.4 million. Based on current estimates, this represents less than one month of operating expenses. Maintaining an appropriate reserve helps ensure the district can respond to unexpected events without creating financial instability during the school year. With this context in mind, one option the committee may wish to discuss is continuing

047to work collaboratively. We all talk about collaboration and partnerships with our municipal partners to explore solutions that support both students and taxpayers. For many years, our towns have maintained municipal fund balances to provide financial stability and respond to changing fiscal conditions. Based on the most recent public recent publicly available information, this is again most recent publicly available information and I think these numbers are accurate. Hopington maintains a fund balance of approximately $6.8 million. We have a fund balance of about 1.4 million. Richmond maintains a fund balance of approximately $6.7 million. Charles Town maintains a fund balance of approximately $6.2 million. Town leaders have noted that maintaining these reserves helps municipalities respond to changes in the state funding formula, enrollment shifts, and other financial uncertainties. One option our committee may wish to consider discussing is whether

048the towns might evaluate whether a portion of their municipal fund balance could be used to offset the local education contribution for the taxpayers while maintaining the educational programs and staffing levels that support students. Aren't we all in this together? For example, if a town were to allocate a portion of its municipal reserve towards its school contribution, it could reduce the immediate tax impact on residents while allowing the district to maintain the staffing and programs that serve students. This type of approach could help us move toward a shared outcome, protecting student programming and staffing, reducing the tax impact on local residents, supporting long-term financial stability for both the towns and the school district. This is simply an idea for discussion. Any discussion regarding municipal fund balance would ultimately be made by the respective town councils through

049their own public processes. If our committee wishes, it could consider directing the superintendent to draft a letter to the towns outlining our commitment to maintaining educational opportunities for students while continuing to work collaboratively with our municipal partners. We also recognize that additional work remains ahead, including reviewing the district's recent transportation audit and continuing to advocate at the state level regarding education aid. Of course, I want to do all these things, but we're in unchartered territory here. These increases are increases that we have never seen before, especially to my my town and the town that I represent is Richmond. The school committee's goals remain the same, working together with our communities to support the students of our district while being mindful of the financial realities facing our towns. Our goal tonight is to continue that collaboration

050and find a responsible path forward that supports both students and ensures fiscal responsibility. Personally, I would like to ask the Richmond Town Council, knowing the town contribution will increase in fiscal year 27 by 1.252 million and as a result in a 7.82% 82% increase to consider helping to close the gap and utilize a portion of Richmond's fund balance to soften this budget impact for the taxpayers of Richmond. If we're truly collaborators across the aisle and across public bodies, let's make this happen. Members of the Richmond Town Council have publicly advocated to support our district in the past, and I appreciate your advocacy. Let's now put the verbal support into action to support CHO in supporting whatever budget we vote on for fiscal year 27. Thank you. Other comments. No other comments. Okay. So now we'll

051go to the public. All right. So those folks who signed up for public forum who wanted to speak on the budget, I will now recognize Dylan Strauzi and Jocelyn Vandervir. Are you here? And would you like to speak on the budget? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Please make your way down to the podium. How are you? >> Good. You want to speak right into that microphone? Okay. >> Good evening. I'm Jocelyn Vander and I'm Don Strauzi. >> We are in fifth we are in fifth grade at C at CMS and before this we went to Hope Valley Elementary School. Last year we lost our librarian and because of that we lost high seat and we had a substitute teacher for library for the rest of the year. >> I was looking forward to high seat all

052year and when it was canceled there wasn't anything challenging anymore. >> Um if theater also gets cut it would be devastating for us. I did the high school play and it was amazing for me. >> I'm in the middle school play right now and it would be I would be very upset if it ended. If other enrichment classes too were cut, clubs and sports uh like clubs and sports, a lot of people would be disappointed too. Spanish got cut in first grade and we had to relearn everything this year. We don't want to lose anymore. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. They deserve to be acknowledged. All right. So, next is um Helen Sheen from Richmond. according to the proposed budget for the town of Richmond, they are expecting to have

053an increase responsibility to the school department of $950,14 almost a million dollar increase in one year. So if Hopkin has a similar increase, close to a million dollars and let's say Charleston has half of that, it's $2.5 million increase in one year. That is way too much increase in the budget. So I I don't know if Hope Valley is still open or not, but we sacrificed that school to save money. It's not open. So we're still paying for Hope Valley. So, Helen, if I may, I don't know um what the numbers that you're referencing, but according to the numbers that we referenced last week during the financial town meeting, the local contributions only, not including state aid, Richmond goes from 16,17,696 to 17,270,325. 5 which is an increase of 1.252629 7.82% increase not including state

054aid. So those are the numbers that were read off last week during the financial town meeting. >> So I just want to be accurate. >> I'm working for the town of Richmond proposed budget and those are their numbers. $950,000 increase for us in one year. >> Okay. >> So that's too much. Okay, thank you. Roseanne Tid, you're good. Okay. Um, Carara Tiolis from Charles Town would like to speak on the budget. Carara, >> thank you. >> I'd like to hand her the microphone because it's very hard to hear what people are saying. So, if you hold it, people can hear. >> I'll do my best. I've never done this before. So, >> welcome. >> Thank you. Thank you for having me. All right. I'm here to express my support for the proposed school budget as

055written. Our schools play a critical role in the success, safety, and well-being of the students in our district, and maintaining the resources outlined in this budget is essential. As another taxpayer and concerned parent wrote a letter already and sent to the school committee stating that reducing the budget by cutting staff positions or eliminating sports or extracurricular programs would have a significant lasting impact on students. I do not wish to repeat her entire letter. However, I greatly agree with all of the points Mrs. Gillette made. I feel that as an it's an absolute disgrace to try and cut back any more services for the children, the children of our future. What do we intend to build without the tools to build it? It's impossible. Take a look at what you're doing to your teachers and support

056staff. Everything is already at bare bones and it's unfair not only to the teachers but to our children. The reason why we're here, why is this committee here if it's not to benefit the children? Then why be here? My suggestion would be first, can cuts be made to a superintendent or administration level that isn't already isn't that where most of the money goes? I'm new here obviously, but just my opinions and if there's so many students that need additional support, is that Kala building at capacity? Is it fully staffed? I think we should look at making sure we have all the essential and necessary positions filled before we go trying to cut more positions or things that help and benefit our children. Isn't that what you do? You work for the greater good of children

057and education. I mean, look around. So many wonderful people have had to step away or have been displaced. Does anybody wonder why? I know I have my opinions. Thank you for giving me a few minutes to speak my peace and have a wonderful night. >> Thank you. Thank you, Bob Cardardoza from Richmond. Thank you. Bob Cardoo Richmond. May I also address the gentleman's concern over there during public >> as long as it relates to the budget because that's the agenda item right now. So if you want to talk about >> also he also spoke to the uh where this where we rank as far as the schools in the state of Rhode Island. Can that be addressed? Yes or no? As long as it relates to the budget, >> it does. >> Okay. >> I'm

058looking for a budget reduction of $500,000. This will bring it down from 4.75 to 3.76, which is something that most of us can start to live with. All of our towns also have budgets that have to be proposed and voted on. This becomes part of the overall amount that comes out of a family's checking account. Regarding us being the number 10 school in the state, let's not compare ourselves to Central Falls, Providence, Pucket, and Windsocket. You want to have the number two school in the states, Bington, and we're number 10. That's eight, right? It's not. It's 2000. When you look to see where we stand in this in the country, we're none. We're in the 2000s. No, we're not in the top 10. Bington's in the top 200. So, when you start to look at

059these things, start to look at reality. >> We need to cut our budget. >> Thank you. Just to respond to that, um, the motion on the floor right now that we're discussing and we're having public input on is to adopt the budget as is. So, it doesn't look like this motion will give the school committee members the opportunity to suggest any reductions at this point. >> Hold on. Come on up. Come on up because we can't hear you. And then the people on the TV can >> I believe my motion was to cut the budget by $500,000. >> That would need a second. >> Richmond might want to do it. He can't make Yeah. Okay. Bob, just so you know, this isn't the district financial meeting. So So you can't make a motion. Only the

060school committee members can. Okay. But I appreciate your input. All right. Um let's see. Carrie Coleman from Hopkin. Did you want to speak on the budget, Kerianne? Okay. Please make your way down. And then Jen Sylvia is here. Jen would be after Kerianne and then Scott Sunderland. My name is Kerianne Kumman. I am from Hopkin and just like everyone else, I do not want my taxes increased, especially significantly. However, I also do not want our schools underfunded. I totally understand that. It's a hard place to be and there are no agency answers. Gutting the budget, reducing it any more than it already is is only going to cause more problems not only for our kids who won't get the services they need, but for our communities. I did um a little bit of research and

061found that all three towns have programs for property tax relief. It seems like putting in effort for some outreach would really help the people who need this get the support they're looking for. It was said enrollment issues are impacting funding. As a newcomer to the newcomer to the Cheraho school system this year, we enrolled our child in first grade. I seriously considered other school options, not due to rankings or teachers, but because the school uses Chromebooks starting in kindergarten. It also doesn't help that they have well, my son wanted me to say only 20 minutes of um recess. In truth, Ashway Elementary has been great for my son. His teachers and IEP team are incredible. He's thriving and comes home proud and excited. A huge thanks to the school for that. I was very worried.

062I am concerned we would lose these vital services and great teachers because of budget cuts, and our kids really can't afford to lose the support they need. I know you're probably tired of hearing this, but the screen issue is a real problem. I heard that going back to books costs three times more. But can we actually look at hard numbers? Even starting by removing screens in kindergarten, first and second grade would be a start. I know the budget has already stretched thin and this may feel impossible, but is it? Can we get creative and find solutions together? We all know tech is bad for kids and the studies keep proving it. Cognitive neuroscientists say that this is the first generation to be less cognitively capa cap capable than their parents and links to and this

063is linked to screens in classrooms. Imagine new families Imagine the new families this would bring to our district. Parents are paying for private schools that aren't screenheavy. Again, we almost didn't enroll here because of this and it's why we may not we may not stay. again. Um, that's why we didn't. Having Chromebooks is supposedly cheaper, but is the cost to our kids worth it? Thank you. >> Thank you, Jen Sylvia from Hopington. >> Hello, my name is Jennifer Sylvia. I'm a resident of Hopington. I don't want to take time away from the bulk of tonight's priority, which is the budget. Um, but I do want to express my overwhelming concern with the district's reliance on technology to deliver a bulk of our children's educational needs, specifically in our elementary Aaged students. um studies are showing

064and I have references that I'm happy to share with the committee um that prolonged use of digital devices demonstrate a significant negative impact on children to include decreased physical activity, sleep disturbances, behavioral issues, lower academic performance, socioe socioeotional challenges and eye strain. Some studies are hypothesizing that excessive screen time during brain development will increase risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in adulthood. Um so that would be referring to our elementary aged students. With these negative impacts in mind, I would propose that the school committee and district consider removing the one-to-one Chromebooks to all elementary age children, grades 1 through six, with a much higher prevalence of book related learning, pencil and paper, and focusing on the basics to save money to improve learning for their educational foundation while also improving our children's overall health.

065to set them up for the most successful future future encompassing their mind, body, and spirit. Um, thank you so much for your time. Uh, I'm also a an employee of the Cheroo School District. I am the active kids, active minds coach, and I would gladly consider continuing this program at Richmond Elementary School next year without pay and volunteer my time. I love the kids, but I do need think that we need to find ways to save money. It may be a bit of more of an investment, maybe to instill the textbooks, but in the long run, I do believe that it's going to help our children in their future and and make sure that they have a more healthful um life. Thank you. >> Thank you, Scott Thunderland. Okay. Paul Erdos. Good evening, committee members.

066We know that education is the greatest financial investment in our community. But I hope that each of us can honestly acknowledge that every person's presence here, whether in the audience or to serve on the committee or as educators and administrators, proves that each person is valid in this process. We are supposed to speak our reservations or disagreements and voice our concerns and not be made to feel like just a legally required frustration. Cheroo families have dutifully paid their hard-earned dollars towards these efforts at a higher than average rate and have proven that they do pay and are willing to carry this burden. Teraho schools have fared well academically and we all take pride in that and so we must acknowledge the good efforts of the administration the administrators and educators over the years and they've

067served our community to benefit but there's certainly room for improvement and it doesn't necessarily follow that more money equals better outcomes. Additionally, the tragic increase in name calling and ideology posturing and virtue signaling has turned simple processes, though they involve hard decisions, into devaluing each other as neighbors and necessary partners in this endeavor toward what is good. Last meeting's display of the repre reprehensible behavior which included physical aggression, threatenings, and attempts of intimidation towards the chair and towards members within the audience cannot be tolerated especially by individuals who are in direct roles of leadership or coaching as representatives of these cheroo values. Any characterization of persons who oppose this budget as being somehow uncommitted to the greater good is ungracious at best and dishonest at worst. We are cheroo proud and that should unite us.

068I think this budget needs more work. So I hope that we can turn down the temperature and turn up the cooperation and come to a better proposal. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So does anyone else want to speak on the budget? Yes. And if anyone else wants to speak on the budget, I would just ask that you come down now so we can um just keep it moving. Katherine Juicy Hopington. Um so I am confused and I don't know if you're all similarly confused. Um so over the last year you've added about $600,000 more to this budget than was originally proposed and I understand why. Um you negotiated Mrs. Teft to Mrs. Mrs. Dinsmore and Mrs. Pulot and Mrs. Chapman negotiated a teachers contract with a 3% raise over the next three years for teachers

069and I understand why but that also adds to the budget. Um you voted against the reduction of a foreign language teacher um at the even though it was recommended because of decreased class sizes. So, you've painted yourself into a corner that way because I don't understand how a committee could say, "We are okay with having a foreign language class with less than 10 students, but kindergarten classes with more than 24." So, you're kind of in a pickle. And I don't understand why you're sitting up there and you're not making any recommendations for reductions, but saying you're going to vote against the budget. This is literally the job that you signed up for. you're supposed to be making reduction suggestions if you can't support this budget. I don't understand why that's confusing to you and I

070don't know if it's truly confusing to you or if you have decided to just wash your hands of the process because you don't want to look like the bad guy. You are in fact the bad guy. Sometimes you make difficult decisions. That's what you signed up for. You can make an amendment to this motion and suggest cuts to the motion to reduce it. If you don't tonight, I don't know who you're serving, but you're not serving anybody well. You're not serving the forgotten taxpayers Wells who would who installed you to cut the budget. You're not serving Chero well, and you're certainly not representing yourselves well. >> So, I will just say that um there is a motion and a second on the floor to adopt the budget as is. So, I think that the um

071You're good. So I think that the um intent was to listen to the public and then if other members of the school committee wanted to make amendments to that motion then they are free to do that. Is there anyone else? Yes. Come please come forward. Good evening. Thank you, Madam Chair. Good evening, school committee. My name is Jim Pomano. I am a member of the Richmond Town Council. I'm not here representing that entirety. Uh just representing my opinion. I'm also a proud parent of a graduate of Shero and a current student. Um, I don't want to repeat what Miss Juie said, but I would just like to understand from the school committee members who are feeling they are not going to support this budget. Have they already sent in recommendations or do they have thoughts

072on cuts that they would propose for this budget? In about 3 weeks, Chair Dinsmore, you and other members of the community will be standing in front of me as a town council member asking me to make the hard decisions on our Richmond budget. You will expect me as an elected official to make the decisions that are in the best interest of the people I serve, which is Richmond. Those are not always easy decisions to make. And you know that. I know you know that. I look at all of you as school committee members and I hope that you would make the decisions for the best interest of the students. I'm not expecting you to make cuts. I think that there have been references to other communities that are better performing. If you want to look

073at East Greenwich or Bington, look no further than the investment they make in their students each year. There is a connection there. And for the record, I grew up in East Greenwich. I went to Catholic school. Never once did my father say to me, "I'm not paying my local taxes because you go to Catholic school." He understood that you support your community. So, those are the investments I'm looking for. Just show of hands, how many people who are voting no have come with suggestions on cuts for the budget tonight? One of you, maybe two and three. Good. So, perhaps we'll hear those and then as it was stated, there is the option to propose an amendment to the existing motion and you decide what's best to do. I do hope you fund the school system

074and support the budget. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Jim. Okay. Is there anyone else? >> Yes, Mr. McCabe. >> Good evening. Jim McCabe, Charles Town. Uh, I have to say I speak for myself personally, not on behalf of any organization or committee. Um, I kind of had prepared comments, but I do have to respond to Mr. Low. He started off the budget conversation here. Um, a couple couple things you pointed out were uh talking about being uh consistent without any blips or or accidents. And I think you made your point that over the past 7 to 10 years, whatever it was, we have maintained our excellence. This is despite level funding and budget cuts in recent years. And you talked about perturbations in our performance but failed to mention that was during

075COVID. This was a global health crisis that put our education system at risk. That was not a standard deviation or perturbation. What we heard from the actual results was more like going from 25 to 30% back up to 40 to 50%. I understand your comments about 40 to 50% not being acceptable, but let's recognize that we have maintained excellence through hardships both through global financial crisis as well as the funding lapses, which again, as I've heard, those schools and communities that we would like to um envision ourselves as are getting the support they need from their towns. Aside from that, I I do want to say I've heard quite a few conversations about how can we cut administration, especially at the upper levels. I I want to add I have two children that have gone

076through the Cheroke school system, are still in the school system as a middle school and high school. We've seen turnover in principles and support staff. Um due credit to uh Superintendent Bard for navigating us through that. Uh but we have to realize in the same situation as East Granch and Bington um being superior in their performance but getting the funding they have the more we cut the more our support staff the more our teachers the people that are looking out for our children will seek greener pastures. So I think you should consider that as well. Um the the final point I want to make is I am proud of seeing this much better uh attendance from the towns than last week. Uh especially from Charle Town. Thank you. Um but I want to point out

077that we are surrounded by adults, taxpayers in our districts. We are talking about the taxing of our districts, the funding formulas, the state laws. Let us please ensure that for our children, our community, for my children, we are not forgetting them. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Okay, if you can come down please and then I think there was a hand raised in the back so if you want to come down too so we can just minimize the time in between speakers. Thank you. Okay. Yes, Miss Davis. Okay. third in line. Thank you. >> Hi, good evening. Um, I am speaking here tonight as a mother in the district and the mother of an autistic child. I'd like to first address technology as we've spoken on that before. I do know how important

078it is to prepare kids for a digital world. But I am really worried that we've swung too far towards screens, especially in early grades. I want my child and all of our youngest students surrounded by books, paper, pencils, and real life hands-on learning. Reading physical books, turning physical pages, seeing words on paper, and writing by hand are foundational skills. Screens cannot replace that. They should be a tool we use occasionally and not the main way our kids experience school. Too much technology, as spoken about previously, at such a young age, makes it harder for kids to focus, to build deep reading habits, and to develop the patience and attention span that real learning takes. For my autistic child, the constant presence of devices is overstimulating and distracting. A calm classroom with books, clear routines, and

079simple materials is often much better for regulation and learning. My worry, my second worry is what happens if the cuts land in wrong places for kids like mine. The fiscal 27 budget and the elementary capital plan are going to shape what services are actually available for disable disabled students for years to come. When I hear talk about trimming, counseling, school psychology, social work, par professionals, or related services, I get scared. Those aren't extras for my child. There are things that make it possible for him to be in school. If you take away those, it doesn't just look bad on a spreadsheet. It shows up in my home as meltdowns, school refusal, regression, and lost learning for real kids. Families will start, like mine, will start looking at homeschooling, not because they want to leave, but

080because they feel like the system can't meet their child's basic needs. I don't want that for my community. I don't want that for my family, and I don't want it for this school district. I'm bringing this up because when services cut are cut too close to the bone, parents will do what they have to do to protect their children. That can turn into complaints that can turn into hearings and that is stressful and expensive for everyone. It seems so much smarter to protect those core services upfront. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Was there someone else that came down in the front? Yes, please. Thank you. >> I'm Amanda Overin. I represent Char I'm live in Charle Town. I am a mother and also an alumni. My parents went to school here. My aunts and

081uncles, they still all reside in the town. So, we talk about the students, but remember when we talk about investment, we're talking about contributing members to our community who can get good jobs, do good things. Um, I didn't prepare something, so I'm sorry, but >> I support the budget. I feel if you had to cut those extracurriculars, you lose a lot of what the kids do. We talk about ci civility, respect, being able to have conversations. A lot of those skills are learned in those extracurricular activities and not necessarily always in the classroom. The kids can be divided by um what kind of course they're in CP, they're in honors, they're in this. they don't always get together the way they can in extracurricular on a sports team where they're learning tons of things about

082competition and sportsmanship and I think that's important as we talk about becoming adults and all of those things. So, thank you. >> Thank you. You did a great job, Miss Davis. >> Sharon Davis with Hopkin. I have spent a lot of years um pushing the school committee to reduce their costs and uh today's budget proposal that has a 2.11% increase for Hopkin I can support. Um, I really think that public schools should be available for all children and they should be at the highest level possible. I also know that we need to try to balance um the costs to the the taxpayer at this 2.11%. I think Hopington can afford that this time. >> This time. >> Okay. So, I'm supporting the budget. >> Okay. >> I want you to know. Thank you. >> Thank

083you. >> All right. I don't see any I don't see any other hands raised. Um so, at this time, are there any proposed amendments to the budget? >> Larry, >> like to uh make an amendment to >> cut line. >> Sorry. >> You have a motion and a second. >> I got amend. Right. >> Okay. Well, if he makes an amendment to this, he's ask you're asking for members to amend this motion. We can't make a new amendment. If you >> No, that's what I said. Recommend a motion to amend to his motion >> to the budget. Mr. >> But he can request Mr. Lozan to make correct. >> Okay. John, >> I'm John. Am I correct? He has to Mr. Luzan has to. >> So, it's sounds I I don't know. So, it sounds

084like Larry would like to ask Mr. Luzan to make an amen an amendment to his motion. >> Larry, go ahead. >> Like ask Greg make a motion to his amendment or his motion. Excuse me. >> John, I I I specifically said 4.99%. >> And if any anybody I'd have to either a take back my motion because we have a hard number there. Um, I don't see how it can be amended because you can't reduce 4.99 because it's 4.99 >> and >> made the statement >> and again the budget is more than a number. The budget is all the things that make it up. So that if Mr. Phelps wishes to make an amendment and there is a second, there will be a vote on it. So, John, does that mean that we are not voting

085on Craig's original motion? >> There's there's been an amendment to the original motion made. I haven't heard a second, but there has been a motion to amend made. That's what I heard. >> Say what the amendment. So Larry, do you want to articulate what the amendment is to see if anyone wants to second that? >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. I'd >> like to make a amend Greg's Greg's motion that'll be cut line item 5046, which is virtual classrooms of 34 or 5920. We don't seem like we use it. Um we had a good opportunity three weeks ago to use it and we didn't. So, I don't think we need to have that funded. >> Um, okay. Hold on. So, there So, there is a a potential amendment to the motion. Is there a second

086to that? >> Okay. So, there's a motion and a second >> discussion on this. >> So, I just need clarification because virtual high school is an opportunity for high school students and it actually does save us money because instead of hiring a teacher for the coursework, we have we have an online class and that teacher by law we have to have supervision. But virtual high school is an opportunity for students to access courses that we don't offer, which by the way is in every high school and they often have multiple teachers. We have one. >> Okay. And >> and again, it's high school. So I just need to make sure that the committee understands in high school you you can leave and and have opportunities at other high schools. So for I would be remiss

087if I didn't caution you that a virtual high school is typically something that has your AP students who want higher level college courses and can't access because we we're doing our our our basic needs for be for the the common average typical peer and the best that we can do. But the virtual high school allows us to allow opportunities for high school students to excel. I just need to make sure everyone knows what that is. >> What's that? >> So, >> yeah. >> So, virtual. >> Okay. So, I I just have a I have a question. I have a clarifying question on the virtual classroom superintendent card. So, you're saying that um these students are taking virtual classes and not coming in not coming into school or they're taking certain classes virtually in addition to

088classes in person. So virtual high school they come to our high school to do that. >> Okay. >> Gentlemen, >> Simon. >> May I? >> Yes. >> Uh first, Madame Clerk. Um may I >> name? Jamie Dams. >> Yes. Say your name. Simon Man. I'm from the town of Hopington. >> Uh Madame Clerk, could I have you repeat the line number of the line that uh Mr. Phelps's amendment to the motion has proposed? >> Ask I was going to ask him the same thing. He was speaking 5046. 5046. >> And that is for virtual classrooms. >> Virtual classrooms. >> And uh madam superintendent, you say that is the uh virtual high school. >> Address it to the chair, please. Madam Chair, um could I have the superintendent confirm that that is the uh virtual high

089school program that our students can enroll in? >> That's what you >> Yes. Uh so yes, in the program of study, it's under e-learning in our program of >> Got it. Um then just to clarify this is effectively students who attend our high school and are taking classes at our high school can take I did this when I was in school here can take a class that we do not offer. Um for me it was uh AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C classes that we don't offer because there just isn't enough student interest in them. Nobody's going to take them. So I what I did and what each student in this program does is they have a block set aside where they will go to a designated classroom usually their advisory or um A6

090with Mr. Whitaker and they will they will take the class online instruction from a teacher somewhere else and they will take that for credit here. This is not virtual classrooms as in our teachers here will teach their usual classes to their usual students virtually in the event of school being closed which I believe some people um some people's statements have given the impression that that's what they thought it was. Um, so this is a specific program mostly for our high achieving students. This is not a replacement for our current classes. >> Okay. Um, Jess. Okay. This is going to be a long night if we keep clapping and we're we're I'm really trying to um you know be considerate of your support here, but we we're we need to move on and if there's going

091to be this interruption every single time that somebody makes a comment, we're going to be here for a while. >> So, Jess, did you have your hand raised? >> So, just to say out loud, the amount for this line item is $34,45920. This is a line. just talk right into the microphone because Gina can't hear you. >> I heard you. I just was the soft >> the the amount of this line item is $34,45920. This is something I had asked about. Um it was a provided updates because there was an increase in not quite $10,000 this year. Um I'm not in favor of cutting $34,000 when the calls for cuts are much more. I think I said in my statement, I'm not in favor of lots of small cuts and I'm not in favor of

092a big cut. So, I wouldn't support this reduction, especially because it would eliminate the program. Okay. So, we we do have an we do have an amendment and a second. Is there any other discussion on this? >> Polly on that. >> Is there is there any more discussion on line item 5046? So, I appreciate the um my my colleagues comment about this particular line item that does represent almost a 43% increase over last year. So, a 43% increase over last year is about 10,ou a little over $10,000. So, I mean, we have to start somewhere if we're going to be making reductions. So, there is a motion and a second on this. Um, is there anyone that wants to move this question and vote on this? >> I have an amendment >> but I don't

093know how they stack up. >> So, so hold on. So, PY has an amendment, but is it is it an amendment related to 5046? >> No. >> I don't chair. I take a motion to move the question. >> Okay. So, the question is moved. So, if the question is moved, that means we have to vote immediately. So, um, Madame Clerk, can you can you restate the motion, please? >> Mr. Phelps would like to make an amendment to the motion from Mr. Luzon to say that we would reduce the budget by line item 5046 in the amount of $34,459.28 for virtual classrooms. >> Okay. >> Map. Okay. So, all those in favor. >> So, just to clarify, we'll be approving the budget with a $34,000 cut. That's fine. I know I just said I don't want

094to cut it, but if that's the only cut, I'll do it. Is >> that the only cut? >> If that's the only cut, we're doing it. That's what this motion is. Yes, it is. >> Yes, it is. >> All right. Ready to vote? >> All in favor? >> So far? >> So, wait a minute. >> No, she's the motion was to approve the budget without cuts. He made an amendment to make this one cut. Now, we're moving the question. The question is approve the budget with a $34,000 cut for virtual high school. That's fine, >> John. >> That's what he said. >> Well, that I don't think that that was his intention. Well, that's what happened. >> That's the That's what I >> Come on, guys. Order, please. >> Trying to warn you, >> Miss

095Purcell, could you repeat the question, please? >> Repeat. >> My question is not a question. It's um a statement just to clarify what's going to happen, which is that there was a motion to approve the budget without cuts. Larry amended the motion to make this cut to virtual high school. It's $34,000 and I think we're Diane said move the vote. So we're we're moving to approve the budget with a $34,000 cut. >> You're moving No, you're moving the respectfully you're moving the amendment. >> What about the original motion to approve the budget? >> And the answer to that is there's an amendment on the table and you have to vote on the amendment. You have to approve the amendment first. >> You have to approve the amendment first. I also do want to remind everybody

096when somebody moves the question, you're supposed to take a vote on moving the question >> immediately. Great. Okay. So, >> excuse me, John. In reference to that, doesn't the chair have to rule first and then I could appeal? Let's say I move the motion and and and then she I can appeal. >> You could any member of the committee can move the motion. If the somebody moves the motion, the chair needs to take a vote im there has to be a second and there has to be a vote immediately. If the motion to move the question is adopted, then the motion before the committee, which at the moment is an amendment, has to then be voted on immediately. >> Okay. >> And is that a twothirds vote? >> A motion to move the question. Um

097my my recollection is no. It's a majority vote. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Gina was speaking in my ear. So, what was the answer to that question? Does it need Does it need a two-thirds vote? >> No majority. Okay, >> Dr. Camela, did you want to offer something before this um vote is taken, please? >> Yeah, I don't have the actual enrollment, but we have several um a significant number of high school students that do take advantage of this program. And um sorry, like Mr. Manov said earlier, as someone who was in there, this does benefit um several of our students who can take AP courses that we don't offer because of enrollment. Okay. Thank you, >> clerk. Was there a second on Dian's motion to move the vote? No. I'll second that. >>

098Thank you. >> We'll keep everything orderly. >> Karen, >> Mr. Dr. Kella, if um if we eliminate this, do you think students would then go to other schools in order to access these highle AP classes? >> I I can't make that prediction. I just know that we we would lose access to courses that we don't offer y >> um and that are specialty courses. >> Okay. So, uh all those in favor of removing purchase services virtual classrooms line item 5046, please raise your hand. >> Chair, you have to make you have to vote on her point of on her moving the John said you you have to vote on Mrs. Miss Miss Tap's moving the question, right, John? >> Yes. >> Okay. Sorry, Mr. >> You just You just said, if I'm correct me if

099I'm wrong, that you have to take a vote on Miss Te's moving >> the question. >> That is correct. >> Okay. >> I seconded that. You do not need vote, right, >> to move the question. Okay. So, all those in favor of moving the question, >> Madame Clerk, do you have those hands raised? Thank you. Yes. >> Okay. All those opposed to moving the question. So, Linda, Jess, Karen. Thank you. >> Okay. So, the eyes have it. Okay. So, all those in favor of eliminating line item 5046, purchase services for virtual classrooms, raise your hands. >> Thank you, P. >> All those opposed. >> Okay. So the the nose have it. >> Okay. So can I >> any any Hold on. >> Wait a minute. Are there any Were there any obstensions? >> Oh, >>

100okay. Holly, >> I'd like to make an amendment to the budget as well. Um I personally would like to cut K through sixth grade computers, onetoone computers. That's too big of a >> And I know Jean is going to have some comments. Um I requested this in a public meeting, the figure of how much it would be to condense the amount and find out how many how much it's costing us for computers for K through sixth grade one to one the licenses fees and everything. Um I haven't gotten that. I sent a reminder email on February 11th requesting that information. You can't tell through the budget packet what's assigned to what. Um, so I don't really have a figure and I suspect that there are a few teachers who would like to retain some computers

101within their classrooms for certain things, science and such. Um, it seems like a deeper a deeper question for the school district. Uh, and some research needs to be done with those teachers on who would like to keep a certain amount in their classroom. That being said, I've had three children go through this school district and I did not pick sixth grade lightly. I have seen their real interest and real use start to bloom around seventh grade up until through sixth grade. They're bringing them home. They're playing video games on them every night. There are some very good math applications, but those could I think can be done in the classrooms. Um, so I'd like the school committee to consider cutting computers one to one from K through sixth grade. >> That's actually not a budget

102item. So I just need to I just need to clarify if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> So the school committee has a onetoone policy and you have a contract with the teachers union that tells them that they have a say in their curriculum. So what what you're saying is something that has to be done first through policy and practice because you're you're going to be violating your own policies that exist. So when you remove and to be clear, I mean I would welcome I think members should see instruction in kindergarten and first grade because I think it sounds like they're on their computers all day. We don't have to send the creme books home. That's a school improvement team conversation. That's actually not part of our curriculum. It does not say that. So,

103I would recommend that the committee go back to their policies to review prior to um well, I don't know what you would be cutting because you'd have to actually add to the budget. So, I'm not I'm a little confused, but to just clarify the request and I think that I sent all school committee members an email. I do not work for individual members. Miss Hopkins, I I've they stated to you several times you have to make your motions in public so that the No, you did not. You went back. You asked for a future agenda item, but there you did not ask for a vote from the committee in order for me to do a job per your rules of conduct. The majority of the committee must act so I can do the job. You

104never did that. I I I'm I apologize. My responsibility is to the students. While I will always help my school committee members, you have to come meet with me to do that to meet me to assist you. And I'm more than happy to do that, Member Hopkins. But it's been four years and you have yet to come to see me once. Okay. So, we have um a motion. Do we have a do we have do we have a second on this? >> So, there's no there's no >> there's no number. There's no line item number. >> Okay. >> It's not how it >> Okay, Karen clarification. There is no motion. >> No motion. >> Right. Second. >> Okay. >> You're good. >> Okay. So, um because I'm the chair, I can't make motions. Um, but

105can I make a motion? >> Can I move the question? Craig's original motion to approve the budget. >> Okay. >> Um, so do we have a Let's take a vote on moving the question. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. So, all those in favor of adopting >> the question fiscal year. >> No, no, no, no, no. Moving the question. >> I'm sorry. All those in favor of moving the question, >> moving the question to actually vote on Craig's motion of approving the fiscal year 27 budget without any more substantive discussions on potential reductions. See? >> Okay. >> Um all those opposed. >> Okay. So, it looks like the the eyes have it. So, um, now we're going back to the original motion that, um, to adopt the fiscal year 27

106budget as is. So, all those in favor of adopting the fiscal year 27 budget. >> All those opposed. So, the nos have it. So, that means that the fiscal year 27 budget is not adopted. >> so now what? No. >> Is that is that >> excuse me, >> chair? It means my motion is not adopted. >> That your motion is not adopted. Okay. So now, oh my goodness, this is confusing. Um, all right. So then we will go to further discussions on potential reductions. Pat. >> Yeah, I had requested and to the best of my knowledge, I did not get information about the costs of the sporting sports programs, what each individual one cost. And I I know you're very busy, Gina. I don't know. >> It's the same address, the same response pot. So,

107in order for me to do work for a school committee member, you all have to it's the will of the committee, not individual. So, the motion has to be made. That's why and I I know you missed um you were unable for personal reasons. I apologize. I and I know that's hard. Um so as of February 10th just to clarify the process. So the budget season starts for us in October where then myself, Mr. Jenny and the team finalize it and bring it to the school committee. I bring my recommendation in January, the first week of January. I give my presentation at the first school committee meeting. the school committee has from my presentation up until the third week of March to make and adopt a budget as of February 10th. Well, that's when I

108sent the meeting and I know Pat you were unable to attend. I said I need direction or action. There was no action taken at any meeting at any budget workshop or at any meeting. So therefore, I am unable that's why I sent that email and I know um I reminded everybody this week that in order for me to have to make a um to do work for the committee, I need a vote and an action in the public because the public is required to know what you're asking me to do and I have to work for the majority. >> Okay. Okay. So, um, seeing no other hands raised, I cannot make motions as the, uh, chair, but I would like to suggest, um, some potential reductions, and maybe somebody around the table might be willing

109to make that motion. So, if you look at line item, um, row 275, salaries K through 12, social worker psychologist. So, this line item has increased between fiscal year 24 to fiscal year 27. And I'm just going to round round these figures so I don't have to be um you know super specific here, but you'll get the idea. The fiscal year 24 line item was approximately $662,000 and that now has increased to $1.21 million since fiscal year 24. So, would anyone like to make a motion to reduce this line item um to potentially remove uh one social worker/ psychologist from the budget? >> I make a motion. >> Okay. Um >> one social worker. >> Okay. >> Do we have a second? >> We have a motion and a second. >> Okay. So, um >>

110Yeah, you have to. So typic typically um I'm going to be so the school committee has already um my recommendations came with those cuts already. So what best practice would be is u and I would recommend to the committee if you want a dollar I would say that because you're unaware and we have not been able to do our due diligence about what that impact would be. My suggestion is approximately because we'll have to pay unemployment if I have to cut a staff member. Unemployment's about what 10 12,000. So it would probably about I would say if you're cutting a certified teacher that's about 98,000 because um you have to red have we have to reduce for the unemployment. And if you're cutting a non-certified uh par profofessional then that's about 60,000 because well 54

11152,000 because of unemployment. Oh again this is rough off the top of my head based on my last review. So it is not in our best interest to say a position because I have not been able to review the services of the students in comparison to the request. >> Okay. So then um my recommendation would be can um we reduce the line item for line item number 275. >> It's not line item budget just it's overall just salary. >> Okay. Well, okay. So >> you don't have to say line item >> to um reduce that line item to the fiscal year 26 >> adjusted budget figure from 1.217 217 million which was proposed for fiscal year 27 back to the fiscal year adjusted budget level of 1.045 million. >> Can I I I apologize but

112the line item is based on numbers for the that is an example of the current budget as if nothing changes when you cut a position then things change. So I just need a dollar amount. >> Okay. So >> so maybe add up all of your >> reduction. You don't need the line. Just tell us the dollar amount. >> What's the amount? So to reduce that line item by >> not just that line item everything you have >> I just say like you want to reduce non-certified staff salaries >> by by what amount >> certified. So >> I mean certified or non-certified. >> So you you would like us to just give a just an overall number and then you will then decide on what the reductions may be based on a figure that we're giving

113you this evening. So it have because I don't and I don't know that that that I agree with that because you know we're hearing well I'm just saying >> but by law I have to make sure the services are provided to the kids. >> Okay. But the feedback that we received tonight was um you know and the emails that that I received was I don't want sports cut. I don't want this cut. I don't want that cut. So then what what can come back to this committee is you know sports and things of that nature. So, I mean, I had, you know, I was asked last week at the financial district meeting to come with specific reductions, and now I'm ready to make specific reductions. So, now I'm getting like mixed messages here. So, with

114all due respect, your may I say? >> Yes. Um while I understand the frustration and and this being your second budget season um what I want to explain is that I have typically the reason why this has never happened before is because I have always come and you may remember there's a budget sheet because you have asked me in public with a vote of what you wanted me to do and I do that research so that I can inform you of what that would impact because we have not heard from the committee as a whole about the will of the majority. we are we're unable to bring that to you. So, right now we're working off the top of our heads to the best of our ability. But what I can tell you is when

115we talk about specific line items, I have I have to check enrollments. I have to check um kids transcripts in high school because if we take one step wrong, you can impact >> IEPs 504s. I can't when you say you have we have no idea what the enrollment is. I there's a lot of information that goes into that. >> Okay. So it is in the best interest and that is my recommendation to just say the dollar amount. What's the number you would like us to cut and just give us that number. Okay. And then we'll do our best to provide >> you what that would look like and then >> All right. So if I may finish, can you give us an update before I make a recommendation? Can you give us an update on

116the transportation audit that was that you received a draft of last week? So that's my first question. Yes. So, uh, myself, Mr. Dr. Camela, and Mr. Zenian all met with the, um, it's the services that did the audit. It's in draft because we have we're in the part where we have to now, Mr. Zeny and I are reviewing it. Um, we are need to set up a meeting with Ocean State to have some conversations. Uh, right now it's very preliminary. The good news is we want very efficient busing. The bad news is we want very efficient busing. Um so but we do believe based on some of the conversation that there is but again this takes work and time and collaboration. I don't have that for you today because we just had that meeting on

117Thursday Mr. Zenian with with the the draft and actually Dr. Karina was excellent. He made sure that we had access. We were the first district to have access even though we went at the tail end of the audit. And um our anticipation is if we go back and again with transportation I have to review IEPs. I have to review their you know transportation needs. Mr. Jenny and I feel like we once we get all the information we may be able to say save one bus with our local contribution and then myself uh Mr. Aronakus and Mr. Mr. Padza for statewide are going to be meeting to discuss how we can um condense our statewide to be able to save there, but it's potentially about 200,000 if all goes well. Um again, I'm trying Y I'm

118also at the state house tomorrow night. I'm at the state house Thursday night. Megan Carter has put in additional um she's also pulled in for housing and property tax relief for Richmond and actually all the state of Rhode Island so that we can alleviate some of that. But um there's still transportation work to be done. Uh we know it doesn't fit the timeline of the Chaho Act budget or the town's budgets like it does for doesn't for any district. But we do believe that there's opportunities with our transportation to get some savings. Our our Ocean State partners have been excellent. When when we call them and ask them, they typically do a very good job of giving us efficient runs. >> Excuse me, Gina. Let's give let's give the superintendent our attention, please. Thank you.

119But it looks like we could tighten up some procedural stuff to ensure that there's um criteria around how we're distributing certain transportation which we're why we think we could possibly get one bus from our local and then another one from statewide. >> Okay. Are were there any other potential opportunities for either I know revenue is not your job, but any other other potential opportunities for revenue or um assistance from um the uh state legislators up to this point? Yes. So, right now the Department of Education allows for un universal prek. It's not something that Charahor has looked into, but we've been working with our our um partners in EWG that uh that that have just moved to universal prek about a year ago and I am in communication with them about that um that kind

120of work that they've done at in this rural area. I have expertise in that in both North Providence and Providence. And we do think that however if cuts are made tonight, I I won't be able to do this. But we would be thinking about looking at our pre-K enrollment and shifting a certified teacher into an opportunity for prek where we could go where universal prek that's not your prek where you're thinking of right now we only service um our students grades three through five um and we only and then we only their typical peers. So um there's a certain number that the law allows us to do that so that we don't provide universal prek because it's at the cost of the parent. So, um, that's something that, but again, I didn't I I would

121have to come in front of this committee to do that. You would have to do that, but it is something that we're looking at for universal prek to offset costs for our prek. >> And you said that that is different than what we considered >> um a few weeks ago in increasing the prek tuition. >> Right. Universal prek comes in and I would have somebody from the department of ed explain some of that so that you could ask the questions, but it comes with the lot coventry move to that if anybody's familiar with that where the state does like a lottery. So it's not like I would pick the students. It's based on a lottery similar to how charters would do like a spot in a classroom and then we would offer that you know

122in the morning prek to to about whatever number the committee desires because again you there's a there's a a limit because then it can raise cost. So you have to be mindful of that. So um if that's something that the committee is interested in then Mr. Jenny and I would do our due diligence if you made the motion to ask us to pursue that. the other opportunities that we can discuss and we started this a few years ago myself and the former chair ju um we and and then chair Lyall and as well as um I'm speaking to the attorney is many of our parents that I have interviewed that either have homeschooled or that have going into um charters they're looking for before and after school care not something we have been able to

123provide um more than a few you know 20 30 minutes we do our best but in the end that comes at a cost but if you um put it out for a vendor there's opportunities. So for example in North Providence as a school can remember there my one of my colleagues presented the proposal and we offer um we offered up an RFP request for proposals and we got bids from after school and before school providers and then that they come in and that company runs it but but because you're regional you wouldn't have to do this extra step. What we did instead um was we went to the town council and asked for all the money that was brought in by revenue from the um before and after school daycare go right back into the

124elementary school uh facilities plans, capital plans so and make sure that we could continue robustly um do our schools and then it gave us enough money for our capital planning projects. >> Okay. And then I do have a question for Mr. Zenyan. So, I know last week at that financial district meeting, we talked about, you know, the what was the what was a number that could um soften the impact to the town of Richmond relative to the local contribution. And um when I asked about um lowering that contribution, um we had talked about 1.5 million. And if that if those if a reduction of $ 1.5 million were to take place, what would be the impact to Richmond with a $1.5 million reduction and then can you give us the reduction percentage for 1 million

125and then potentially the reduction for $750,000, please? >> Yes. >> And I don't know if we need to like take a fivem minute recess here or Okay. Lynn, did you just run this, too? Okay, so correct me if I'm wrong, please. A $1.5 million reduction would bring your overall budget to 1.61% with Charle Town with a 2.22% increase, Richmond with a 4.3% increase, and Hopington with a negative 1.6%. >> Okay. And um and that is the local contribution only, right? >> No, it's does it include state aid or not? >> Yes, that's the overall budget. >> That's with state aid. Okay. And then >> I'm just trying to make sure we verify >> please. That's with state aid. >> No. Okay. Stand by. Hold on. >> That's okay. It is without state aid. >> That

126is without state aid. Okay. So that would be the local contribution. Okay. without state aid. Okay. And then um what about a $1 million reduction, please? >> One second. >> Thank you. So, a $1 million reduction would bring the overall budget to 2.74%. Am I correct, Lynn? >> Yep. We're good. I can see >> Yes. >> Okay. Um Charles Town would go to 3.15%. Richmond to 5.48%. And Hopington to negative 37.37%. >> Negative.37%. Okay. And um is that with state aid or just the local contribution only? >> That's local only. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And then is it possible to run the figures for $750,000 reduction, please? >> Yes. Do you want to hear it with state aid before I change it? >> Yes, sure. You mean with the million? >> So the million

127with state aid would bring your o overall budget to 3.07%. Lyn, am I correct? Okay. And that would bring Charles Town to 2.38%. Richmond to 2.43% and Hopington to 4.1%. >> Okay. Thank you. >> 750,000. >> Yes, please. At $750,000, your overall budget would be a 3.3% increase. Charles Town would have a 3.62% increase. Correct, Lynn? Richmond would have a 6% and Hopington would have a.25%. That's without aid. If you include state aid, it would be a 3.49% 49% increase with Charleston at 2.8%. Richmond at 2.85% and Hopington at 4.53%. >> 4.53%. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, are there are there any other hands raised? Jess, >> so to be clear, no one in this room has asked for that. No one in this audience that commented came to that podium and said, "I want

128you to cut between 750,000 and 1.5 million." >> I'm aware. >> Okay. Thanks. Okay, somebody had their hand raised. Committees started the budget in October. You've had six months. Um whether it was a is a good budget or a bad budget, this is what you've got. So, I mean, to to to randomly pick dollar amounts uh without knowing what they're attached to, I think is dangerous. In my mind, you the committee has done all the work they're going to, at least up until this point. Approve it and send it to the voters. Let the voters decide. >> Okay, Linda. Chair, I just can't help to I mean I don't a $750,000 cut has to be staff andor programs affecting kids. So I don't understand where you're going with this. I I'd like to understand that

129because I I said it at two meetings ago. you if you're going to cut this budget because I think the budget was presented to us pretty bare bones by the superintendent and I know other people have said we looked at this with a fine tooth comb and there's really not that much to cut other than staff programs for kids andor sports >> buses. I mean there's just I don't I don't know where we're going to get $750,000 to come. >> Thank you. >> Um Gina, I'm sorry. Um sure. Yes. >> So um one of the questions that have come up in both uh some some questions that we think would be helpful for maybe some of the members is that um why state aid means that in an increase for Hopington because sometimes um I'm

130going to let M the budget person do it but then if you have questions please come to the podium because this is an important conversation and I want to make sure that um everyone's informed. If you don't mind Mr. Zaniel your mind button. Um, so your state aid is what the state gives to you that you absolutely have to spend on education. You don't have a choice. Somewhere along the line in charo, people decided they wanted to know the numbers before and after. And I've only been in this job for about 16 months. So, um, um, I would like to change certain things now that I have over a year under my belt. And I realized that um you know depending on the year the numbers were picked that sounded the best to the public.

131So some years the number sounded better for you state aid and some years it didn't. The bottom line is your bill is your bill and then you reduce state aid from it and that's what the towns have to pay. And then the following year, for example, Hopington is getting $1.1 million more in state aid than it did last year. So before state aid, it looks like Hopington's paying more, but once they get their aid, they're paying a lot less. Now, before June 30th, the governor takes a half million from Hopington, they're they're going to feel it, just like Richmond is feeling the $330,000 that was taken from you this year. um you're relying on state aid to balance your local town contribution to education and that's not what it's for. So, um and I have

132been a community I live in one of the three communities for 26 years and I've worked for this district for 23 of my 30 years in education. And I've heard members here and retired school committee members say for years that you're kicking the can down the road. Mhm. >> Um the can f went off the road years ago. I don't know where the can is with what you're kicking, but um it at some point you we're going to have to look at it and say what do we want? And if we don't want to educate our children at a high rate and you know you don't want the buildings of 21st century, then you're going to have to speak up at these meetings and make decisions. But um we are responsible as a school district

133to supply a budget, which we did. And then there was very little input on it. Um and what we're not hearing is um $2.5 million was already reduced from this budget. Um this budget did not come to you with what was asked for. Um the superintendent along with administrators sat down and said, "Okay, these are the wants, but what are the needs?" And 2.5 million was already reduced. you want to reduce more, you have to make those decisions. Um, but I need numbers and then we'll go from there. >> Go ahead, Gina. >> So, I I do want to explain to the public that um there's been some comments made about local contributions versus the federal contributions and the state contributions. The Department of Education along with the Rhode Island League of Students and Talents

134have worked very hard together to get digital dashboards, financial dashboards which are available to every member of this public. The school committee has received presentations both in budget subcommittees as well as they had in um here as a committee member seated at this table um about a year ago. That digital review shows that our local contributions have net not kept up with state aid. We have received more state aid than ever before for the last three years. Previous to that, yes, myself um and many of your reps and senators have had to advocate to get complete regional transportation bonus. Uh Rep. Carter has put in a bill to increase that bonus as well for being regional. Um and I'm at the state house every week. I would love to see some of your faces there.

135um um because it matters. But in the end, what's incorrect is that you know when people say this is too much to Mrs. Zia's point, I I have done my history homework. I love education. I'm a bit of a geek, but if you go back back to the 1950s and look at the way that we're funding, I would question that the fact that when the school committee gives back $3.1 million in a fund balance to offset member contributions, they're trying to lower the the tax rate or the or the give from the taxpayer. But our job is to sub use that those dollars for education. And if you go back to the meeting last year, I explained we probably wouldn't need to be sitting here having this conversation, but again, what I what I want

136to tell you is history repeats itself and this feels like Groundhog Day in budget season. But I want to say thank you to Miss Davis. Councelor Davis has come to meet with me every year. Not only has she come to meet with me, but she calls me and I said to myself this year, Miss Davis did not hand me her piece of paper and cuts. But I I'm not going to speak for her. But what I can tell you is uh myself and Mr. Dunny were having this conversation today. Miss Davis, I want to thank you for your service to our kids, to your town, to your members. Um because I know it's not easy and I know sometimes it's hard to be on the side that where where people are are always talking about

137cutting, but Mr. Dennian is not wrong. Barry Richie sat in the seat and before him John Penny and before that, I forget the name. So maybe Craig remembers, but that that it's always the same thing. Cut, cut, cut. And I'm going to tell you, I'm an advocate for students and I understand that that can that can seem off-putting sometimes to taxpayers, but I'm a taxpayer. I pay state taxes and I can tell you I feel very strongly that the budget in front of you it is it the best we can do? No. For kids, we can do better. But I knew if I came in higher that was not possible. But when we give back $3.1 million to offset every year, we give back dollars. We do it every year. And the fund balance policy,

138we've been told by auditors that it's too low. It should be anywhere from seven to 15%. Don't get out of your chair, Miss Davis. I promise I didn't I'm not doing that tonight. Um the two two and a quarter. I mean, it's like a if you if you drop it anymore, one I'm one blizzard and it's coming according to everybody else maybe March 18th away from catastrophe. And I'm we're not a local town. We're not a district school committee. We're a regional district, which means I don't have anybody to go back to. So, if a budget passes that's lower than the 4.9 based on preliminary state aid, and Mr. Anderson, please correct me if I'm wrong, I have to notify the auditor general that I do not have enough cash flow to be able to

139pay my bill as of July 1. >> Thank you, Craig and Karen. >> Madame Chair, is there a motion on the floor? >> No. No. At this time, I make a motion to approve the budget including state aid at 4.99% minus $100. >> Second one. >> Okay. All those in favor? All those opposed. So the nose have it. So Karen, >> this is the budget that was created by the forgotten taxpayers. It started with level funding. It's been through years of cutting. It's been cutting the fund balance. And now you're seriously looking at cutting sports and programming that will cause our kids to go to other districts that we will pay for. >> Okay, we had a motion. We voted on it and now we're going to move on to the next line item. >>

140We don't have a point of order. >> You need to explain what happens if you don't adopt. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. >> Um, Mr. Hold on, Mr. Cardardoza. I have not recognized you, so hold on one moment. >> Wait right here. >> Thank you. >> So, John, what will happen next as a result of this motion that was just voted on not to adopt the fiscal year 27 budget? I have in front of me the charho act and section 153 of the charaho act says not later than the third Tuesday in March in each year and subsequent to the public hearing at the annual regional school district meeting on the proposed budget. The district school committee shall adopt a final proposed budget. The word there is shall. And I want to remind everybody

141on the school committee when you were all sworn in, you agreed when you raised your hand to uphold the constitution and the laws of the state of Rhode Island. The Charo Act is a law and the law is that you shall do this by the third Tuesday which is next Tuesday. So the clock is running. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Well, we >> Okay. So, we we voted on the on the agenda item. So, I think at this point we're going to move on to the next agenda item. >> Well, what? >> You have an alternative, don't you? >> I'm sorry. >> It's your This is a bottom line budget. It is not a line item budget. Find a bottom line you can agree on and then let the administrators figure it out. >>

142Scott Scott Sunderland Hopping uh chairperson does earlier you had said that each town has $6 something million in their fund balance. >> Yes. >> And if each town if each town would give $500,000 out of each fund balance, we wouldn't be having this discussion anymore. Well, we as you said, we need to we need to have 1.5 million off the table originally. So, if you could recommend superintendent writes a letter to each town council about them giving that half a million dollars from each from each fund balance towards the budget, this conversation will will end if they'll do that. >> Okay. So, do we have um Jess? >> With all due respect, you're just shifting the responsibility to the towns. It's the same taxpayers. It's all in the same bucket. I get it, but it

143it's not solving the issue at hand, which is that we're a school committee tasked with adopting this budget. We approved a budget on February 10th. I would think that if we can't adopt a budget tonight, the budget we approved on February 10th is the one that would go to the voters. If we miss that deadline, >> look, I'm just I'm just looking for other ways to keep the money in in the budget. >> It's it comes from the same >> the way it's go the way it's going right now. It does not look like this budget's going to pass >> to give to give to us. >> So, this is this is one way that we could possibly solve this problem is if >> Gina can write a letter to them and get it done

144maybe tomorrow and try to going to it's going to have to be expedited power responsibility another body. >> Thank you. Um Mr. Anderson, >> you know what I've often said to you, my job is to make sure that you don't step into a pothole >> and you're I'm very concerned that you're about to step into the biggest pothole you've ever stepped in. The Charo Act is very clear that you shall adopt a budget. What that budget is is up to you, but you shall adopt it. Okay? It's not some budget, with all due respect, that was voted on in the past. It's the budget people have been told all along, this is going to be the meeting where the budget is voted on. So, you need to adopt a budget. I want to be very

145clear so that you all understand the consequences of not adopting a budget. If you don't adopt a budget, there is nothing to present to the voters, the voters will have no say in this process. In addition to that, pursuant to state law, the amount of local contribution will be exactly the same as it was last year until such time there is a budget. The problem though is you will have missed the train. The train leaves next Tuesday. Under state law, you can only spend 11 12th of that money in each month. So in preparation for this meeting, I asked Mr. Zenyion if you can make payroll under that system. So if I understand the correction the question correctly, you would basically say that we if they do not approve a budget tonight and they we

146do not remance of effort which would be another 2.2 something million dollars reduction in this budget. I do not believe we would be able to make our 12 monthly cash flow payments next year. So if that is correct on July 1st, I would notify the superintendent and the state that you're operating in the red. >> We would have to I'd have to actually John, correct me if I'm wrong. I have to notify the minute. I understand that I'm going to be >> Yeah, I'm not waiting. I'm My advice to you is not to wait till July 1st. I think that if next Tuesday comes and goes without a budget, you need to notify the auditor general that you don't have a that you will not >> you will operate in the red and then the

147auditor general will come in, not the voters. Okay. The auditor general will come in. >> Okay. Thank you for that clarification. Gina, did you want to >> John second? I think it might be helpful. I apologize if the chair would allow. >> Go ahead. John, if you could explain so um the difference between my responsibility because who determines the maintenance of effort once the auditor general gets here. I think it's important the committee understand the title 16 opportunity. >> Kate law says the maintenance of effort is the amount that the community did uh provided the pri the prior year >> and that is in the budget year that we're currently in. >> You though make the decision in terms of whether or not you can operate. >> That is not a school committee decision. That

148is a superintendent responsibility. That state law says the superintendent has to write the letter. The letter will get sent to the Hopkin Town Council, the Charles Town Council, and it also will be sent to the auditor general, and the auditor general will come in and try to straighten out this mess. And but again, the result will be the voters don't have a say. >> Okay. Um, so thank you for that clarification, Attorney Anderson. So I do have a a clarifying question or or really a comment. This is not easy and I recognize that and I'm sure you know there are many frustrated people tonight. Samantha, I see your hand so just give me a moment. Thank you. >> Um, so we also are going to be faced with a bond for one new elementary school

149in the fall. >> The next budget item. Yeah, it is the next budget item, but I am commenting on that. So, don't interrupt me when I'm speaking because I I'm not interrupting you. Okay? You've always said that to me before. So, I am I'm not finished yet. When I'm finished, then you could speak. >> So, Oh, I'm sorry. Um, so with that being said, the priority is we have twofold priorities. We have budget priorities and we have bond priorities. I don't know how much the taxpayers can bear for both priorities. And I understand that we have to balance that responsibly. >> I am can I if I can finish then anyone on the dis can speak I will recognize you. So with that being said there my opinion is reductions further reductions need to be

150made to the budget. So if you're saying that we're going to step in a pothole, John, I respect that and I recognize that and I am willing to work with people on the dis and the superintendent and her administration to make some reductions. But to say that we're going to approve the budget as it is without giving them a figure, >> I want to be I want to be very clear. It's not my role as the attorney to tell you what the budget should be. I know >> it is not my role as the attorney to whether you have virtual learning or soccer teams at the middle school. That's not my job. >> Sure. >> My job though is to say that you have a deadline in the charo act. I will address the bond

151the bond. The bond does not have to be decided tonight. The general assembly is sitting into the end of May, early June. So you've got time. >> Okay. And I appreciate that having two items on this agenda is a a big order and you might consider putting the bond off to the April meeting. Okay. >> Because I I'll take responsibility that that's not stepping into a pothole. >> Okay. Thank you. >> But the budget I will I stand by what I've said. >> Okay. So, let me recognize um Samantha Wilcox. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Thank you so much. Um, again, Samantha Wilcox speaking on behalf of myself. I am the Richmond Town Council president. So, I just wanted to share a little bit of procedure. Um, if you're going to be sending a letter

152to the towns to ask us about dipping into our fund balance, then we would need that letter by 4 p.m. tomorrow so that our meeting we can meet at March 17th and throw it onto an already very heavy agenda. Our council does not usually make quorum for special meetings. Um, so that's not going to be an option for us. I'm just going to throw that out there. >> Thank you. This is a school committee responsibility and it's decisions that are hard that need to be made. And when I was here the other day at the school for the civic center, the civics meeting, one of the kids asked, "What is the most difficult decision you made?" And my answer was taking away raises for my staff. That was the most difficult decision I've had to

153make. Um, and that was something that, you know, respectfully you put on us to do. So, I think that tonight you need to make decisions so you don't step in a pothole. And I do want to remind you that chairs can make motions. I I I do them all the time as town council president. We see chairs do them all the time. And there's no Robert's rules that I found against it. So, if there is a Robert's rule you're aware of, I'd appreciate the number so we can look it up. Um, so >> please just move forward carefully. >> But also, we've had a lot of time to handle this. And if you wanted, none of you want we all want more collaboration. So I think the time would have been again the omnibus to

154discuss it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um did someone have their hand raised on the dis? Larry, >> did you skip Jess? Did you that comment? >> I'm sorry Jess. Yes, I did. My apologies. Jess, please. >> No. Did you Did you want to make a comment? >> Uh my comment was just when you were talking about the bond that that wasn't the agenda item we were on. >> Okay. >> It was just in a greater context. Um Larry, did you have your hand raised? Um, I'd like to make a motion that we accept this budget with a $750,000 cut >> with a how much? I'm sorry. >> $750,000. >> Okay. Do we have a second for that? >> $750,000 reduction is the motion. >> Pat seconded it. Okay. Did you have a comment, Gina?

155>> Not yet. No. >> Okay. All right. Okay, Katherine. I'm interested to see how this vote goes because if you do not adopt a budget by next Tuesday, you're going to be in court and there will be lawsuits and that will cost taxpayers money. I know you have your marching orders to vote no on this budget because it was all over Facebook and social media. So, we know that you have your marching orders >> to vote no, but it is not in your best interest. >> Maybe not you, Pat, but other people certainly have. Um, so hopefully you do your due diligence tonight because you're going to find yourself in a lawsuit. >> Um, if you want to come down, please. I'm sorry I can't see you. Uh, and Mr. Burns. Yep. So, the the

156the young lady first and then Mr. Burns. Thank you. >> Oh, and Sharon. Okay. Sharon third up. I'm sorry. Yes. And then Jen. Robert Barren Hoffington, town council vice president. I am here on beyond myself though. Um on bipartisan two sides I have voted and elected and appointed some of you to this table. Okay. Most of you have had much time to sit at this table and come up with a number for them to cut. Okay? I've heard all over social media. I've heard from you guys personally on some of you about the budget. Do I agree with the budget? No, I don't. Okay. So, this may piss off some, the other hand's going to piss off the rest. I'm very well that good at it, and I'm okay with it. I got the thickest

157skin in this room. However, you've had plenty of time to come up with something. Put the vote forward to the voters and stop this BS. Enough of this. Enough of wasting your time. Enough of wasting our time. This is your body. You are elected for this position as to where we are on council to make our tough decisions. Put this to the voters. Let the voters cancel this out or approve whichever they feel they must. However, do not push this to the town councils, okay? to take out of their fund balance because the only thing you're going to do there is rob Peter to pay Paul from the original taxpayers. That was the most absurd thing that I heard. Okay. Sorry. You can't take from one person robbed from this person to pay this person

158to put it right back. It's coming from the same taxpayer. Whether the dollar comes this direction or that direction, it's the same tax dollar. I will have you know if that letter does come to town council and I say this publicly, my vote is no to take from the fund balance. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um Sharon. Okay. Sharon and then this young lady. Thank you. >> I also want to say that uh the town of Hopkin with whatever you had the last time uh we were at 3.94 or whatever for our town budget. We're and and we can't go over four. So to go any higher, forget it. And there's no way that I would vote for taking any money out of our fund balance. Thank you. >> Thank you. This young

159lady, I'm sorry. What was your name again? >> My name is Karen Fritz. I'm a Huffington resident. >> Yes. >> Um I want to say respectfully, like the last two people already have, that you have had plenty of time to do this. This is the last Tuesday. you have one more week to throw something together. If you haven't been able to do it in 3 months, um I don't have any faith that you will come together and figure it out in a week. Um if you're not sure if the residents can handle an increase in taxes or if they can pallet it, then your job is to put it to the residents and let them vote. And that tells you can they pallet it or can they not. but sitting on it and shuffling things

160around because you don't agree and you want a $750,000 cut, which as someone said earlier is programs and staff, you cannot lose that because your numbers for enrollment will tank. No one will come to Charo. Charo will not be a high-rated school because learning will suffer the consequences. Put the vote to the people. Thank you, Jen. Did you have your name? I do agree that we need to vote on this tonight one way or another, but I did hear Paulie ask for a cost estimate on what the technology costs for the onetoone computers are for kindergarten through 6th grade. I publicly heard that. I would be very interested in knowing that number and what it would look like in the school budget if we were able to get the onetoone computers out of the elementary

161school grades. It's distracting for the children's education. It's not promoting the best quality learning at those age levels. Their brains are not wired to handle it. It would really really benefit out the quality of our education to get that out. We need that number. Yes. So, they can say lots of things in session, but the law says they have to take a vote. So, Miss Hopkins needed to make a motion. Someone needs to second it and then then they need to agree that that's the will of the committee. >> Can that happen tonight? That's up to them. >> Can somebody make a motion for that, please? >> They She does it at the end and then they decide that at the end. So, the same thing with Mr. Anderson, if they want Mr. Anderson to

162do a legal review, the same thing for Mr. Anderson. That's how that works. >> So, somebody could potentially make a motion for that tonight. So, >> a future agenda item request. >> So, somebody would have to make a a motion to get that on a future agenda item >> and that that they want the that that's the action they want the superintendent to research. And I because I need the specific motion so that this group agrees. And with all due respect, that's that number isn't >> this number is not going to affect this budget. I understand that. But I do believe that maybe for next year's budget that could be investigated if a motion were made tonight to put it on a future agenda item, right? >> Correct. >> For a few Yes. >> Well,

163it depends on what the motion is. >> Yes. But in order for me to get the information from for a member, the committee has to say that's where they want me to spend my time because that means it's pulling. >> I hear what you're saying. So could you specifically could you specifically without making it confusing for the committee members and the public? Could you clearly state what somebody would need to say and if it could happen tonight? Well, you you heard the motions. I make a motion. So, when I'm a school committee member, I say I make a motion and this is what I want. Am I going into a policy? What do you need me to do? And then the committee decides yes or no. And they ask questions of each other. It's not

164as easy as just saying it because then they have to have a conversation. They have a responsibility. >> So, this could be investigated. Your point can be investigated potentially go to the budget subcommittee to work with Mr. Zenya on analyzing that. But a motion would need to be made tonight. >> Correct. >> For a future agenda item for like for April or May potentially >> anytime an agenda it so for example because we're talking about the budget this is not technically a budget item because it involves policy. So because it's off item because the one to one request is a policy. Then Miss Hopkins would say she wants to review the onetoone initiative policy. But again, that's I get one example, but there's a little bit of legs in there, right? So, I can't tell

165you. I don't know what Miss Hopkins is thinking, so I need the motion to come from her. So, I clearly understand what she's asking. Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. So, um, so we do have a motion and a second to reduce fiscal year 27 budget by 750,000. Are we ready to vote on this motion? >> Uh, chair. >> Yes. Right after he made the motion, people from the audience were allowed to talk, but we weren't. >> Okay. Did you have your hand raised? And did I miss? >> I We didn't get chance. >> Okay. Well, >> so so can we entertain members? >> Of course. Okay. Discussion. Yes. >> Uh first of all, we've had months. I've mentioned it every single full committee meeting. we should be working on this and

166we've kicked the can. We've kicked the can. I had to say that my motion basically and I said uh this is the the baseline because I knew it was going to happen tonight and no, I'm not in favor of $750,000 and I agree with what some people have implied. >> Thank you, Craig. Anyone else from the members? No other hands raised. Okay. So, we do have a motion in a second for a $750,000 reduction audience members that have their hands raised. >> More. Okay. Yes, sir. >> Hello. My name is Andrew McCoy, County Richmond. to arbitrarily pick a number. Say we're going to >> to reduce the budget by 750,000 or 750 million or whatever number you want to say is the height of your responsibility to pick a number and then fit the budget

167to it without knowing what you're cutting. It it doesn't make any sense at all to say, you know, we're going to cut $750,000 and it's required that you do it, but we're not going to set any guidelines as to what needs to be cut. And >> at this point in your tenure as on the education committee, this should have been discussed a long time ago. This is supposed to be the final resolution for the budget. This isn't supposed to be, hey, let's see what if we should have soccer for middle schoolers because that should have been discussed in February or March or January. Wrong way. Uh so, you know, the you guys are are picking stuff that doesn't make any sense for what this meeting is supposed to be about. >> Thank you. >> All

168right. So, are there any Yes. >> I'll be brief. >> Uh, Jim McKay Popkin or excuse me, Charlestone. Um, it's already been said several times. I just want to ensure before the vote occurs, should we go through with some sort of a flat fee decrease that before referendum, I don't know if you can make a motion, there has to be something where the school committee represents what those cuts are. We have to know as the public any cuts exactly what's being cut. We can't just put a number out there. So, I hope the school committee makes a motion or does their due diligence should this happen to communicate that to the public before the referendum. Thank you. >> Thank you. do want to make one comment as well. >> Um, yes. So, I'll I'll take

169comments from the members first, Jess and Linda. >> So, so as I said, no one in this room asked you for $750,000 of cuts, and that was what was proposed. And I think that's because for some people, this is not about the money. They say it's about the money year after year, but we saw 15% uh extra bonuses for our school project be denied and expired because um people didn't want to spend. They said it was about the money, but we could have had between 28 we could have spent 28 to $36 million on new schools. Now we're looking at spending 43.75 million on one school. So not about the money. Um, last year in Richmond, as Miss Wilcox pointed out, the town increase was 0% and it was voted down at 0% because it's

170not about the money. There are people that will never approve the school budget. And right now, we're seeing them on the school committee voting to make an arbitrary cut that is a large amount of money that will have a huge impact on our students. And I want to know when is enough enough? When do we lose enough that this becomes unacceptable? Linda, >> uh just to answer um the gentleman that I think that this the second to last one at a $750,000 arbitrary cut from this budget will be staff programs. I mean there is just no other >> other I'm sorry and buses. Thank you. Transportation. So all of our kids and our staff will be impacted. So that to answer your question, I don't see it coming from any I don't know where they're

171going to cut $750,000. I approve the budget as is. It should just stand. I agree. It should go to the voters. >> Okay, we have a motion. >> Sorry, one more comment. >> Um $750,000 is about the amount of money that this school committee voted to add back to the budget. >> Yes. >> And now you're asking to cut it. So, under pressure up here on in public, we voted to uh approve a negotiation to appro increase the teacher salaries and the teacher negotiation contract. Um, we funded a playground, >> world language. We reinstituted those cuts. So, you're basically asking now the administration and the taxpayers to bear the brunt of what we already approved to be into the budget. >> No, what you spent without approval. >> What we spent without approval. Well, what

172we spent that was not on the budget beyond the budget from last year. So, we know that emergencies happen. We know that there's money that's needed. I don't know why reality is not squaring here. >> Okay, are we ready to take a vote here? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, Simon. >> Um, I believe that this number of $750,000 is being thrown around a whole lot without context, and I would like some. So, >> if if I'm I'm hearing cuts to teachers, cuts to programs, is $750. We're talking we're losing one art teacher. Are we talking about we're losing art art teachers? Are we talking about we're gonna lose art teachers throughout the district? Is that which one of those approximately is the burden of $750,000 being cut? >> Chair, >> I can mention >> that

173would have to be I guess left up to the administration to determine that what's it and then you're going to you're going to leave it up. Okay. recall. >> As I said earlier, I had line items that I was going to go through and it's now quarter to 10. So, we can't have it both ways. No, I'm not going to do it now because it's quarter to 10. So, sorry. All right, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor of reducing >> question. >> No, I'm I think we've had enough. I think we've I think we've had I think we've had enough public discussion on this. So, >> last question or last comment. >> Hi again. My name is Cara Tolas and I'm from Charles Town. And I just have to say

174I am definitely appalled with the way that some of you people treat each other and the towns you're supposed to be working for. This is disgusting. What do you think? Why are you here? Why? Really think about this. This is disgusting. >> Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we have a motion in a second. All those in favor of reducing the budget by 750,000. >> I just have one question. That's okay. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> So, I know you're but I the next question to the point of public is I would have to come back. I I'm I have to do what you asked me to do. Um I think it's appropriate that I have some guard rails. So I understand because obviously I gave you my recommendation and there's $750,000 that you would like me

175to cut. I've explained that a certified teacher because we'd have to do unemployment is approximately, you know, about 98,000 and a non-certified support staff secretary and custodian that's about, you know, 60,000. Uh well with unemployment 52 and then are we doing middle school sports, high school sports, extracurriculars? What what I just want to make sure I understand when we come back the will of the committee is to start where is it just people first? Is it programs and curricular? I just want to make sure I understand. So while I know it's getting it's 9:49 I I have to look at these faces and these people tomorrow and I I have to make some very difficult decisions. But I I need to understand because what I don't think it's fair to the public is if I

176come back and then you all don't agree with you know somebody wanted a because just to be fair Miss Pulat you mentioned some sports. So this is why I just want to understand the will of the committee if this gets passed those that say they want to cut it. I just need some guard rails please. >> Lots to cut. >> Yeah that's that's why I had and I didn't realize protocol. That's why I had asked a breakdown of the costs of in participation in sports events. >> In my head, Pat, I know that like middle school sports, Greg, I don't know. It's >> $112,000. >> I was he probably knows it. It's about $112,000. If if that's every middle school sport um uh after school transportation before I came um superintendent Richie cut you know

177buses for after school which means that kids who want performing arts and drama have a hard time getting to opportunities uh you know am I looking at depot stops transportation um what are the kinds of things um is there enrollment on athletics and as you can see many of our districts are co-oping We do that with hockey. We do that with swimming because high school is about opportunities for students to try and enjoy their passion and that learn how to build teams and learn how to work together and learn how to collaborate. And it is the one thing that gets them out of their screens. And I I agree with a lot of uh what our parents say, which is why I want to make sure we do our due diligence. But I don't I

178think when with those guardrails, I need you to make motions after this vote that tell me those guardrails so that I'm clear at the will of the committee. So my suggestion for potential guardrails are >> I got to vote first. >> Okay. >> You're assuming that the vote is going to pass. You know it is. >> I don't I don't know, Linda. But I mean we we've talked about this before and I see that there is a majority of people that want to see their have reductions be made. So I never pretend that I know what's going to happen on this dis because I don't. So people where because the people in the audience have all accepted the budget >> the majority these people >> now excuse me excuse me Karen I appreciate that but

179you don't have any idea how many emails and phone calls and text messages No I'm not finished I've not finished you don't have any idea how many emails phone calls and text messages I've received about reducing the budget especially from Richmond taxpayers who have said that we need to be mindful of what the >> priorities. >> I haven't had a chance to >> Okay, here we go. Okay, so I'm doing it now even though we have a motion on the table. >> Madam Chair, Madam Chair. >> No, I'm making the suggestions. So if somebody want >> Madam Chair, I make a motion to go beyond 10:00. >> Okay. >> Do we have a second? >> There's a motion on the floor. the motion of >> we have to Okay, we have we have to wait

180and u So I'll be mindful. >> We can't go beyond. >> Okay. >> So, we have a motion in a second to cut 750,000. They're at the audience is asking me where I would prioritize reductions. I have a list because we have a motion in a second now. I'm not going to be able to prioritize or or give any guard rails or suggestions. I tried that earlier in the night, but I wanted to hear from everybody. So >> I >> Larry has something to say. >> Larry, I'll send my motion. >> I'm sorry, Larry. >> I'm sorry. I didn't hear you, Larry. >> My motion. >> I I cannot hear because people are yelling from the audience and it's very hard to hear up here on the dis. So, Mr. Phelps, can you please repeat

181that? >> I will resend my motion. >> Okay. Is this is the um second rescended? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so >> now, Madam Chair, I make a motion to go beyond 10:00 after we have a 3minut recess. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor of going beyond 10 10:00. >> Yep. After a three-minute recess. >> After three minute recess. >> We have bills to pay. >> I realize that. >> Yeah. Well, >> I don't know. >> No, that's what I mean. I thought I know your bills. So that was Craig, Karen, Louise, Pat, I'm sorry, Jess and Linda, all the nos. Polly, Diane, Larry, Pat, and um Ed. So, the motion fails. So, that's 1010. >> I make a motion to move to the district business that needs to happen

182tonight. >> We move I think we should move the agenda to do what they need to do. >> They have to pay bills. the consent agenda, please. >> I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> So, there's a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. >> There was there was already a second. >> Okay. Amen. It's just the budget that we need before. That's the one. >> What are we doing? >> Okay. So, all those in favor are are there any consent agenda items that need to be pulled? Seeing no hands raised, um, >> all those in favor of approving consent agenda items, >> you might want to see if there's all minutes and stuff. >> Um, A1, two, three, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. >> All

183those in favor. >> Unanimous. >> Ed's going to abstain, I think. >> No, I'm abstaining. >> Mr. Lo, >> I'm sorry. Um, Ed is abstaining. Sorry, it's really hard to see up here. I make a motion to approve the transfer of $125,000 from the fund balance to ground services account. >> Second >> as requested by Mr. Zenyan discussion. >> So there's a motion and a second. >> Um any discussion on this >> right here? >> Yes. >> And this is for snow removal. >> This is for all the work we've done yet. >> Additional snow removal that we didn't budget for. >> This is for the blizzard of Charles Town's paying $30,000 towards it. Yet we we plow our own. I just had to state that. Thank you very much. >> Most of it's from

184the campus. >> Well, that's about 24% of it. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. All those in Yes, we have a motion. Jess, >> no. Sorry. I'm wait voting. >> Vote. So, we have a motion and a favor. All those in favor of transferring 125,000 from the fund balance to the ground services act. All those okay that that is unanimous. >> Okay. All those opposed. Mr. Luzon. Okay. And there are no obstensions. Okay. >> The only thing is >> well and the and the bond. >> So the bond John said we could we could table. >> Okay. But we need a motion to table that. I have motion to table the bond. >> Okay. Motion to table the unified school construction capital improvement bond language for legislation. >> Second >> table

185that. There's a motion and a second already. All those in favor of tableabling that >> table. >> Uh anybody opposed? >> Anyone abstaining? >> Could you repeat? >> Yes. The motion, Ed, was to um table the discussion on the unified school construction capital improvement bond language for legislation. approve. >> We're gonna Okay. So, yes. So, that is unanimous. Then, Madame Clerk, did you get that? >> Okay. And >> I make a motion to table uh business C discussion and vote of the waiver for school days. >> Okay. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor of tableabling that request for waiver for school days. That is unanimous. Linda, your hand was raised. >> Yes. Okay. Unanimous. >> Okay. How about a motion to approve D the transportation bid from Ocean

186State Transit? >> Second. >> Okay. I I would like some discussion on this. Um so can why why can't we? >> Oh okay. So um the transportation bid from Ocean State Transit. So this is related to the budget but it was also a question about the contract. So, is there any stipulation in the Ocean State Transit budget, excuse me, Ocean State Transit Contract to re-evaluate um how many riders are on the bus at some time during the school year because we are being mindful of transportation costs and I'm wondering if that can be included in this um contract. >> It's part of our policy. it's part of your policy and I do request um attendance from Ocean State. So if you like you me to request at different times more frequently you just have to

187tell me that >> and in the audit it actually also um part of the audit shows us our wrership. So we were able to compare the numbers from Ocean State which matched the numbers from the ridership and then like that's what we had said we could do the procedures to work with um Ocean State to be able to think through some alternatives without um hopefully impacting a majority of students but but yes we already have that in your policy. All right cuz I am >> Madam Chair may I raise a point of order? What are you doing? I what happened with the budget? You are all over the agenda. This is a violation of the open meetings act. You just can't arbitrarily change agendas. We have no idea where this budget stands. Will you be

188voting on a budget tonight? >> Yes. So, the there was a motion to take a um extend our time beyond 10:00 and take a threeminute recess. >> It's failed. >> It failed. >> It's Well, that's what I'm saying. We have no idea what is happening here and we're all over the agenda. We can't follow anything. Would you please get control of this meeting and get a budget adopted tonight? Enough is enough. >> Okay, John, if if if I was in the wrong, I I apologize. It's there's a lot going on right now on this DAS and in in this room. So, and it's close to 10 o'clock. So, um we're not >> I you were working on the budget. I think you should really finish the budget discussion >> because the train is leaving. >>

189I can't hear you. >> Sure. I'm sorry. >> Um, you are working on the budget. The budget has to be done by the third Tuesday of the month. I can't guarantee you there you will have another meeting. You really need to get the budget done and present something to the voters. And I may I change? >> Yes. I just declare the rule of 10 o'clock while that is not law. That is a policy. It's it's a rules of conduct um policy among the committee which often as you see has a conversation. So you're not violating the law by going past 10. You're you you are doing what the school committee is saying is you're you're sort of saying, okay, you know, you're all adults. We we are here and if we have to say 10

190o'clock, I think we heard from um many of your constituents that they've asked us to adopt a budget to to to just tail off Mr. Anderson. Legally, it's the charho act and the adoption. The 10:00 rule is a is a committee rule. Okay. So I just want to make a comment before we move on to the budget is I I cannot hear up here if there's sidebar conversations and I'm really trying to make sure that everybody is heard from the audience and the dis. Okay, we'll get back to the budget. Jess, >> so I I do want to apologize. What we were doing was trying to get through the business of the agenda to make sure we did it before 10:00 because a majority of this body did not vote to go beyond 10:00. So

191that's what was happening. Um maybe if if we're gonna be flexible with the rules, um we should finish the transportation bid, I think, because we are talking about that right now. >> John, your your go >> with all due respect, you need to do a budget today. >> Yes, I agree. >> Okay. You need to do a budget tonight. You don't have to do a consent agenda or transportation or bonds. You need a budget done tonight. >> Okay. >> So, we'll we'll I have a question. Can we move Hold on. Can we move move back to the budget, please? >> And then we'll get to the Ocean State Transit >> unless that unless it's stabled, >> John. >> So, basically, we need a budget tonight is what you're telling. >> So, >> the law. So

192then it would be safe to say that if somebody made a po a motion to level fund the budget, that would be a budget. >> Is that what you're saying? >> And I what I'm saying is that would be a budget that would get you to the voters. However, >> however, that also would be kicking the can down the road because the superintendent needs to know where the cuts have to come from. But the issue, the first issue is getting a budget to the voters. >> Exactly. A >> and I'm going it to suspect that the voters are going to want to know where the 750,000 is coming from, but that is between you and the voters is not a legal question. >> You need to get a number to the voters to approve. >>

193Okay. Thank you, Gina. No, I was just going to say um the I I want to when we use terms like level funding and maintenance of effort, I need both Mr. J and I need to be clear what you mean by that because people are using those terms interchangeably. >> Okay. So, I think at this point um in hearing the feedback from the audience and hearing feedback um from my colleagues around the table um the voters should be heard. So, um, I would acquies and, uh, you know, vote to let the voters decide on the fiscal year 27 budget >> reluctantly. >> He did. He did. He did. >> So, we need a motion. Okay. So, we need a motion then to adopt the fiscal year 27 budget as >> what, guys? Please, I am

194trying to listen to 10 other people at the table and then you who want to run the meeting. I'm doing we're doing our best here to try to come to some sort of a resolution. So, just give us I know you've been patient with us, but we can't have people shouting. I I can barely hear people on this DAS because there's 17 different sidebar conversations as well. Okay. Next. >> We do we have a motion. >> I make a motion to adopt the budget as submitted at 4.99% which includes state aid. >> Second. >> No, that doesn't include state aid. 4.99% does not include state aid on this sheet. Correct. >> Which sheet? >> The sheet that we were given last week. >> A sheet that says >> it does. >> Well, I don't have

195a sheet that says it does. Our >> eliminate which includes state aid. Mr. Zenian, could you just please tell the numbers let for everybody to just clarify because it's getting late and I understand Mr. Zenian will read with state aid and without state aid. Please do with state aid first and then without. >> Thank you, Mr. Zen. >> So, I just want to say before you read it >> that Karen just illustrated my point that there's a lot of moving parts. There's a lot of numbers that we are trying to analyze and try to make decisions on. So, a veteran member of the school committee just read that incorrectly. And I'm not trying to admonish you, Karen. I get it. It's late. So, we have to make sure that, you know, we're giving the right

196information. >> Do you want it broken down by town? >> No. >> Okay. >> No, hold on, Craig. Um, Greg, thank you for your input. The input has to come from up here. Thank you. You're not running the meeting. We're on the school committee. Do we want the numbers read? >> I'll amend my motion. I make a motion to approve a budget increasing 4.99% after state aid based on superintendent recommendation and preliminary state aid information. >> Gina Karen, I know it's late. >> I know in in our world as an English teacher after makes sense. >> Um, >> but it's without. Just if you could please just say so it's very clear. Okay. without >> without >> stating >> without stating. >> Thank you >> because I think that's what you're saying. You want it

197local contributions, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. And that Greg, you have the floor. >> So the local contributions without state aid is 4.99%. That would have Charles Town at 5.02%, Richmond at 7.82%, 82% and Hopkin at 2.11%. Okay. All those in favor? All those opposed. Thank you. Do we have um we have three? Well um school calendar I just want that will be coming in front of you again. It looks like the general assembly falling microphone to add that to the budget. Sorry. >> Literally a mic drop at this point. >> I think you're going to win an award for most >> Are we doing the >> Are we tableabling? >> Um, ladies and gentlemen, >> I'm sorry. >> Um, is there a motion to table the contract for Thank you, Gina, for reminding me.

198transportation bid from Ocean State. Can we have a motion to table this till the next meeting? >> Okay. Do we have a second? We don't have a second on this. >> Second. I'm sorry. >> Okay. All those in favor of tableabling the transportation bid from Ocean State Transit. All those opposed. All those you opposed. Polly. >> Yeah. >> Polly and Jess opposed. >> Anybody abstaining? No. Okay. >> Go ahead, Gina. Reports, please. Yeah. So, the school calendar potential changes, just to let you all know, we will most likely once the general assembly and the senate uh officially pass it, we have heard that the primary day is going to be moved based on uh Labor Day being after the Tuesday. So, it looks like uh the state is looking to move primary day to Wednesday,

199not Tuesday. Once I have the official confirmation, I will be coming back to the committee. Um, and with that information, the civics engagement summit, our second annual civics engagement summit was absolutely amazing. I was once again not only impressed by our students and our staff, but our community officials and community supporters who came to speak with the students. We had uh town managers, council presidents, uh, sec uh, secretary of state uh, senators and representatives. And I want to thank them for another wonderful event. And I will have more in the e update for you in April. And for artisy, we hope you all en uh come and uh take a look at the e update. Our arty where we celebrate our performing arts, our visual arts, our industrial arts, and our STEM opportunities to be

200able to show you what our students have done um throughout the year. And that's one of my favorite events. It's PK through 12. And it's an amazing time and all community are welcome. Bring your grandma, your grandpa, your your grandkids, and your friends. And thank you. >> Thank you. School committee requests for future agenda items or legal opinions. me. >> Okay, Craig had his hand. >> Go to her first. >> Polly, then Craig. >> I have two that the policy for the onetoone computers. >> So, you have to make a motion. You can't do a request. >> I'll make a motion that the policy subcommittee review the one:1 policy for school computers. >> So moved. >> Okay. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Anyone abstaining? Okay, we have

201an abstension from from Ed. Okay, I also would like to make a motion for the school committee to investigate the cost of having one to one computers for grades K through six and also to inquire to the classroom teachers. So you have to direct the superintendent. >> Yeah. Okay. So >> just make them you have to say um so just make a motion to direct the superintendent and what the work you want the team to do so that >> she said >> so that I don't want to put words in your mouth. I want to make sure I'm clear because >> I want to get all the pieces in there. So I would like to make a motion to direct the superintendent >> to >> Investigate the cost and everything attributed to grades K through

202six onetoone computer usage licenses and so on and so forth. I would also >> that's our thoughts. So does this I have license >> I don't know what else is behind all of that stuff. >> Okay. So then then just make so a comprehensive investigation on the cost. >> So for example are we saying we don't want when we use onetoone are you looking to remove it from all English all math you don't know I I need to understand I I want to make because again I can't make assumptions based on what I think. I can I I know how to do that, but in the end often times we're not um calibrated. So I just want to make sure right now is there is it every we're looking for Chromebooks K through six, iPads,

203um headsets, all all of the because the technology is beyond a Chromebook. Um K don't K sometimes they use iPads >> computer usage that the kids have >> one. So it's but is it >> that they bring home? Is it no technology >> or is it you want us to investigate because then I have to get textbook cost, content cost, which contents, which are >> another motion. >> Okay. So this is just how much we we pay in Chromebooks. >> What? Yes. For K through sixth grade. >> Okay. So the motion is >> and the licenses that go along with that. >> How much the technology cost us, the licenses, and if we turn to textbooks only. >> Well, >> yes. Yes, sure. >> We need to we need to know the difference. So just

204And I want everybody to keep in mind that the kids now they have workbooks too. I know they're not all the textbooks that would replace but they do have workbooks. >> So just state the motion so that this way I we go because what happens is that Angela because it's it's I I I'm really good but it's what time at night? I want to make sure >> I'm listening. So >> comprehensive. >> Angela and I both need to make sure that we can give the direction so that we can work with the team to get what you need. >> So go ahead Kelly. I want to make sure uh Craig So hold on Angela repeat just state to Angela what your motion is so committee can make sure we have John John >> pole pothole

205alert >> on that pothole alert is that you also will need as part of that process to be in touch with RIDE because RIDE administers statew state assessments >> by computer Which means if you have kids who walk in and have never seen a computer and then they're told you're taking the state AT test, talk about your scores going in the toilet. >> Yes. >> Because all the grades um start they don't use it then they don't have >> your scores then go in the toilet. The state will intervene in the operation of your schools. And remember it's also we have to also the contract is says that your teachers are involved in your curriculum and there's a curricula a direct a district uh curriculum team. So this has a lot of legs. This is

206so I just want to be sure that this is not like oh I can get this done and we'll all have we'll all know what to do next. This is going to require some and I I'm happy to put a list together of other options but I just want to make sure I come back with what the committee wants me to come back with. So Paulie, can I ask would you be willing to amend your motion to not go up to sixth grade and maybe go Kuggest? >> Yes. >> Can I make a suggestion? >> The request should really be to have a committee put together to investigate the options because there's a domino effect from looking at the onetoone policy that will impact state testing the way attorney Anderson brought up. >> Um because

207there is, you know, going paperbased testing does impact will potentially could impact scores. Um and then also um our the superintendent Detroit we have a policy in place where our teachers uh have a we have a curriculum task force where they choose the curriculum. >> It's in your contract. >> It's in right. So we so there's I I would suggest putting a committee together to investigate all of the different aspects first and then we come back to you with the process. That sounds very wise. And and I did and I did um I did say that I recognize there are going to be teachers that want to have them for their classrooms for the students to use and access and stuff like that. So there are going to be cases, but I think the parents

208overall are they just don't want the kids bringing them home and especially at the very young. So it a committee would be a good idea. >> So should we vote to form a Make a motion for agenda item. >> Yeah, let's make a motion for an agenda item. >> Let's make an make a motion for an agenda item to discuss, please. >> Thanks. >> So, so >> this is a future agenda item. So, we're not making a motion on this tonight, right? >> Right. Yes. Okay. Craig, you're up. >> I make a motion to go past 10 o'clock. second. >> Madame Chair, after hearing >> what great fund balances that the three towns have and being part of this school committee years ago when at one time we used to have a 4% fund balance

209which allowed us to eliminate days like today where we could have offset some costs. But the town councils were so adamant that we get it down to basically they want it zero but at least we're we stuck at two and a quarter because it allowed us a quarter% to cut. But like I said with 4% just think you could have cut to 1.5. Uh but you'd have to build it up over time. So at least discussion in the future for a future agenda item >> on balance policy. >> Okay. Well, I was going to ask the superintendent to write a letter to the town councils articulating the um points that I made earlier about this is we're a regional school district. We have a a million4 in our fund balance. There are more robust fund

210balances in other town coffers. And I don't see where a letter can hurt or can spark discussion. I mean, I've heard lots of feedback from uh my town council in Richmond um about supporting Cher and we we want to support Cheroo and it's it is it is a shared responsibility. So, you know, I would I would love for Gina to draft a letter to the town councils. Um but I don't know that I would want to put that as a future agenda item because that's something that we can talk about tonight. Uh John and because it's because the chair mentioned it during the budget and it is about the budget because we have we have the budget on the agenda and her questions about the budget. She would make the motion to do that and

211they would they would vote to approve or reject >> about sending a letter to the town council >> if it's about the budget. >> Sure. >> If it's about the budget. >> Yeah. It's it's tied to the budget item. >> I mean we're hop skipping around the agenda and I know that doesn't make people happy. I don't think it's a violation of the open meetings law by the way. >> Okay. >> But I, you know, the answer is the budget is on the agenda and if you want to write them a letter, the committee wants to write them a letter asking them for, you know, to pass the hat and give a contribution, go for it. >> Okay. So, do we have a motion um to um empower the superintendent to write a letter to

212the three town councils asking the town councils to consider shared responsibility in um investing in the district with an investment from their fund balances? No motion. >> I make a motion. >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> No second. Okay. Is there >> second? >> Yes, you'll second. Okay. All those in favor? One, two, three. All those opposed? One, two. Motion fails. Okay. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? >> Sorry. Motion and a second. >> Can I just um Well, yeah, we have a motion and a second to adjurnn. All those in favor? >> All those opposed? >> Okay. Good night.