001to evaluate and evaluate in the context of the broader macroeconomic environment and the broader economic environment in the town, right, with all the different challenges [clears throat] that they've got going on with their budget with revals and everything else. So, it's an interesting picture. I think there's a lot to talk through, a lot of paperwork to go through anyway. Uh, so that I think we'll turn it over to Steve and the team and they will walk you through the material. Unless Diane, you have anything you want to say as we begin? >> I do not. >> All right, Steve. Floor is yours. >> All right. >> Welcome everybody. >> Um, as you saw, the beginning of the the meeting was pretty brief. So, we're off now to the meat of the meeting with the budget
002presentation. So, we have you've had a a little bit of time ahead ahead of time to look at the documents, but certainly uh we want to produce those for you tonight so you have a hard copy in front of you. Let's see. Sheena will bring um and so we'll just start off with a few slides here. This is the the schedule meetings. I may be optimistic that we'll get through this in a couple. We can certainly uh do more if needed. Um if that tonight's meeting and then uh at least a couple of more and then we'll we'll go from there. See where things are. So we don't want we don't want to give the impression that we don't want to meet more than three times. But uh those are the meeting all the meetings
003we have for the remainder of the year that are schoolboard meetings, but we can certainly look at others if need be. Uh the agenda is as you're kind of used to. I've got a few preliminary remarks, a few uh big picture budget items to go through, and then we'll hear from building principles and and heads of department. Budget uh philosophy and priorities. This was updated several meetings ago. They haven't changed much from prior years. Staff compensation still high and Matt alluded to that already. Uh that's important. Um this is the slide or the point number five was was edited by the board for this year. Again listing them out remembering that certainly Lakeway front and center but we do have other buildings uh facilities that we have to pay attention to as well as as
004we look at our budget and our programming. [clears throat] Okay. than recent budget amounts and even I can't read that >> this eye it test you know just this doesn't help but bottom bottom line is the uh the baseline general fund budget uh that we we start with tonight or present tonight it's about 2.6% 6% increase and the default budget is over $100,000 less uh than our proposed general fund budget. And again, going back, we've been pretty pretty modest increase each year under the rate of inflation. As this slide clearly shows, we're well below the inflationary rate. Now, granted, we have fewer students. That always comes up. So we uh we will come to that in just a minute. [clears throat] So a few highlights of the budget uh increasing health insurance, you know, our
005professional agreements, uh special education, we have some out of district tuition, special education, uh regular education, our proposed budgets, and this is with the capital uh deposits. Again, I'm going pretty quickly through this because we'll get look at these a little more detail. uh shows the increase. So we did we have reduced personnel there. These are these are positions that are sitting in the current year's budget that aren't in next [clears throat] year's budget. Um so uh we reduced transition transition counselor. Uh we we still doing those services but doing them with a we had a we had a transition counselor separate position. This this year, our middle school counselor spends one day a week at Lakeway uh getting to know the sixth grade class and getting them, you know, kind of helping them as
006they prepare to come here for seventh grade. It's a great great idea. We thought it was important to continue it. Director teaching and learning uh uh is in this year's budget. We didn't fill that position uh this year, nor nor the transition council. So, they're sitting in this year's budget. the money is uh but they're coming out of the 27 budget. Middle school math we moved to interventionist position there is paid for out of title one um ESOL we reduced that position in total. Uh so and this a lot of this work was done last spring as we started we got we got some retirements we got some resignations we really looked at the classes we really looked at the schedules we spent lots of time looking at the number of kids in classes and
007was there a more efficient way we could staff the high school so some of this is some of this is happening we're able to reduce some of these positions by using our staffing more efficiently I think every one of our CTE teachers teachers is teaching a a class that for high school credit I mean the reg I should say the other you know other high school credits in addition to their CT sheet classes so we've gotten some synergy there uh high school science with a a teacher we hired for career tech ad to teach health science at 610 we had a high school teacher resign in science and we moved the 610 person up to full-time didn't fill a high school position so just some things like that that we we've done to uh try
008to try to prepare for you know already for fiscal 27. Now what will be different in fiscal 27 which is listed there uh also is the dean of students that position of course is in this year's budget and is and is being staffed this year but will be staffed differently next year. We regretfully say that we were looking at the residency program and I guess our experience with it recently at this point which certainly open to discussions. We we we really uh value the program. We value the support and understand the budget committee gave uh however uh that is one of the reductions we're proposing in this this year's budget. >> You'll explain how the dynamic may or may not have changed. Um, you know, I think I think that uh our our participation was
009down is down. We went from six residents to four residents to two residents, you know, and I think it's I think it's a great program, but maybe it's run its course, at least for us at this point, >> down because of interest. >> Yeah. >> On behalf of the participating future educators. >> Correct. It's a great deal, but it's still it's still a you know, they don't they don't they don't make a lot of money. I know that they're getting a lot of benefits. It it's it's designed to a very specific niche program. And the fact is that there such these teachers in such demand. We we had several candidates who would have been excellent candidates. We got we ended up with two very good candidates. We had several candidates we just lost because you
010know they were going to come and then now they want to be a part of them but they got jobs in pretty significant sign on bonuses and things like that [clears throat] and >> didn't think they needed a transition year so to speak. >> Well that and you know I mean because they're getting you the great thing about the program is they're getting master's degree out of it that's paid for. You're getting special education credit credentials is paid for and so on. But on the other hand, they they can get right in and get their careers going. And so that was part of our thinking. >> In college, that's how they find assistant athletic coaches. >> Yeah. Probably you have interns. And that's true. >> I would just like to stress before John's um uh
011jumps in that this proposed reduction um is the administration's proposal. It's been reviewed with the board. The board has not as of yet indicated >> right >> uh support for removing the residency program from the budget if history passes prologue. There's certainly some board members that I'm sure are in favor of it, others that aren't, but we haven't talked about [laughter] that as a specific one item yet. John >> Yeah, just one more question. [laughter] >> I promise just one is is the experience in Littleton reflected in the rest of the state of this decline or is it not? Well, you mean in terms of this kind of a program? >> Yeah. Yeah. The decline in the number of participants and >> in teacher ed. >> Yeah. >> I don't I don't know about that.
012I you know I don't think there's any other programs like this in the state to compare it to in terms of you know I said little less interest like I can't answer that question to be honest. Yeah. question. >> Uh, have we hired any of these um, uh, residency program students on as full-timers? >> We have two of them. >> This is over the years. >> All the years. >> Yep. >> Craig Middle Crystal two. Correct. Yeah. We think we went what we went six44, right? 14. We've had others we would like to have kept. Didn't work out. But, you know, there's some that are they're I always went back to the the big the big picture for me with this program has always been, you know, well, they may not work in Littleton, but
013somewhere they're helping kids. Some well, somewhere a kid with who has special needs is getting a highly qualified teacher who's had a definite jump start on teaching special ed over someone who simply took the classes and then went into teaching. >> They're spending a year basically doing a lot of the work that special ed teachers do, at least at least experiencing So that was a reduction a little over 600,000. Um then we came back into 26 27 and tweaked some things. Um we we have a behavior specialist uh that we have to to this year's working with seventh and eighth graders. Our hope is that person can expand to 712 next year. And then we had a high school math teacher who we were able to hire like literally days before school started. And we
014left that position open all last last year, last summer. And I said several times the board, we're leaving that open that we can stag an extra math teacher. We're going to do it. We have money in the budget being this year plenty of money in the budget to pay that. So [clears throat] that that position continues to be in the budget for 2627. that allow that gives us a little backup, gives us a little more flexibility, but also uh in the future will allow us to teach all our math classes in house versus having ver virtual classes and some other offerings. So before we get into then the we so we reduce the we reduce the budget about $438,000. In other words, we you'll see here in a while it's going proposed budget goes up
015right at 500,000. So we were you know we had made these reductions. We've been looking at $950,000 increase. Now people always say so what? Your budget's flat or going up very little but your your enrollment's going down down down. in it. Our enrollment uh yeah isn't uh certainly isn't going up. Uh it's it's kind of plateaued here the last few years, but uh you can see the numbers there. 710 down to what five five2 um projected for 2027. >> SK through 12. Everything we hear from time to time is, yeah, you're losing your kids, you're losing kids, you still have the same number of staff. wrong. We don't there's a there's a number of staff we have from 1920 to 2627 ratio is is roughly the same. We had a we had a stack uh
016student ratio in 19 1920 to about 4.2 26 27 will be about 4.0 give or take depending on the number of students we end up with. This is always a always an interesting this gets asked often. I need to make a slide. I need to go in. Uh so this is the the student teacher ratios. I picked a few mostly north country schools. I picked a few um you know kind of one to a few schools I guess or was part of our cost of education study. Milton being one of them. But you kind of see where we are. Visa be the uh state average. I don't pick those groupings. Uh that's how the state takes all the numbers they get and this is how they group them. So yeah, we don't have a 58
017school. Obviously, I'm not sure how many school the state have a 58, but that's how that's how the state groups the student teacher ratios. Okay. Then we get into comparative budget summary. >> Yeah, I think so, Dale. In case anyone's watching, they can they can see. I appreciate that. This is the uh this is the the document that Patty always prepared right here. You have you have a hard copy. I'd suggest you do what I just did and tear the last page off so you can keep right off the last page. But the last page of this part of the document, page three, if you have to get the page three, you got the letters on page three line up to the letters and call the far column on on this page. Is there an
018extra copy of this? >> Yes. >> Passing out. You looked at his and thought that was >> I'm actually approaching the space here. Okay. Um so you see there first of all salaries salaries line is actually cost for salaries actually down uh for 2627 compared to the current that's a fact driver for that of course is we've reduced positions even though uh the cost of individuals are going up because thankfully the costs are going up because we're paying them better and we hope to retain in them. Um the overall cost for employee salaries is going down a little bit. >> Yes. >> So was there a contract negotiated this year? >> No contracts this year. Next year will be support staff and then the following year will be following after that year will be teachers
019teachers again with several years. >> And again this budget proposed assumes full-time principal at the high school full-time superintendent >> right >> at district HQ. >> It does. It does. Yep. Okay. Health insurance. You know, there it is. It's ugly. >> And Steve, if I'm not mistaken, that is a projection. >> That is that now is is the number. >> Oh, that's the number. >> Yep. That is the number. >> I guess that's two weeks ago. That was a >> Yeah, >> estimate. >> Yep. That is the number. We had some differences uh in our our health insurance. Some of them some of them went up more than others. Uh but you know our lowest cost plan went up 26%. So you know there's so much for that. That's our high deductible orange plan. That
020gives it as employee has about an $8,000 exposure on that one. It went up quite a little bit. >> Yeah. >> Excuse. >> No, I can't help it either. It comes in. [laughter] Um [clears throat] is sir I know a lot of a lot of private companies will self-insure >> and then insure for big tax rights right and and usually doing that they save money >> y >> and I don't know if we can even consider it a public institution but tell me about what do you think >> if Patty were here and she will be here next time but she You say we already are self-insured in a sense. >> Is it that the pool that you're in is like a larger self-insured pool? It is >> as opposed to regular health insurance. >>
021It is. >> And I assume it worked out really well for you for a while and now it's biting you. >> Yeah, it is. But because because you're right, most of our I mean our health insurance rates will go up and down. Most our own our own claim history is the driver there. Having said all that, we are working with a uh with a company that uh that does brokers health insurance plans for all kinds of entities and we have given them all of our information from school care, our usage information, so on and so we're starting there. We're putting this out for have them to look at it and of course they'll turn around and put it out for bids to various carriers. So we're hoping for a miracle. It's a It's like a
022Hail Mary, but got gota try. >> In your absence, he made a run at that. >> Yeah. >> And on both the town and the school side. >> Yeah. >> And basically on both the town and school side, they didn't want to hear it. >> Well, this time >> we asked we asked it. We asked for it, so of course we want to hear it. >> But yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we I reached out. I had a had an email one one day. It was like six six eight weeks ago and and this was shortly after we got hit with the uh with the search charge, $375,000 search charge. I think they probably I don't think the timing of that email was was coincidental that it came out right after school care did what
023they had to do. Again, they did what they had to do that we that's an member owner or memberowned entity. It's almost like a co-op in that sense. But anyway, I got this email about this firm that does does this work and so I said, "Yeah, come see us." Patty and I met with them. So, we'll we'll see what comes to that, but we're trying. >> One other question. >> Yeah. >> Is the split between what the employee shoulders for premiums and what the the district shoulders for premiums, is that contractual? >> It is 15 and 85. >> And there's no 15 on the orange one. >> Correct. Correct. Yeah, we pay 100% anyway. >> Question. Fine. >> I was just I just want to flag to you, of course, that remaining competitive in the
024employer space, right, is one of our biggest challenges and our most acute needs, right? So, even if there even if you're going to crack open the health insurance stuff and see what our options are, that's playing with fire, [clears throat] right? as plan of fire because you could have a competitive uh salary schedule steps and this that and everything and if you you're on the wrong side of the health insurance equation right >> but the format that you see in in out in the world in general is a degree to self insurance where you know let's say there's a $8,000 deductible and the school system in this case would cover the employee for the first $3,000 and the employee would be responsible for the next $3,000 deductible and that the have a donate so to
025speak and then the last $2,000 of the deductible the school system would kick ban in and recover that. So the employees exposure is only $3,000 and it isn't the first $3,000. So that is that has worked for 20 plus years uh in industry in general and that's the program that we supported many times over the years whatever that uh you know so and and truthfully most people who've had that that your exposure you end up paying less than half your exposure. >> So what I'm suggesting is there are multiple sides to the equation. We have a qualified teacher who's between us and a neighboring district and our salary schedule is essentially the same and but the health insurance is significantly different. I mean the the building admins in the back can tell me if I'm
026wrong and correct the record but it would be a major issue, [laughter] right? It would put us at a major competitive disadvantage and that yeah you have potentially le fewer expo less exposure on the healthcare side then you can't keep teaching. I think what he's saying though, this is some this is a different approach than just saying, well, we're paying 85% schools paying 86. >> It's a different approach. It could be potentially more appealing for everybody. >> Yeah. Most people don't get out of the first $2,000. They never get that second. So, but obviously they have to get to a comfort level on that. And that's to Diane's point over the years. This is a very difficult thing to negotiate as part of >> your your contract. You know, it really needs to be done
027separately because everybody needs to get to a comfortable law where they feel confident that it's a win-win situation for everybody. Our >> our current our current system, unless an employee takes it orange, that's a different deal. But if they either are yellow plans, they're still employees still going to bear $4,000 of expenses one way or another, whether that's through co-ay or deductible. So there is there's a significant amount on the front end. It's similar to what you said and then of course it, you know, it at some point goes to where the insurance is paying 100% of anything after the the uh the orange is is a whole different deal. But the exposure there is about 8, but the employee pays nothing for you know that's but you know that's a a topic all of
028its own. Okay. So, down the rest of the rest of the document here, um, pretty much you see a little little increase here, a little decrease there. You'll see we'll see some details about some of those as we get into the individual building and program presentations. Um, any any questions so far? >> The disposal [clears throat] services because when I read the C note and I'm understanding it correctly, it's saying NHRS rates for 2527 fiscal years employees 123. >> Yes. >> Oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah, obviously that's a mis mislabel. That should be up uh right under should be in lines five and six. >> Six and seven. >> Yeah. >> Dale's going to cover that detail when he gets to the facility section of the presentation. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> Yeah,
029John. You're right though. It's incorrectly labeled. >> Sorry about that. It's really a question from a couple of years ago, but a big uh change in trip costs. >> Can you elaborate on that? >> The build I'll let the building principles talk about that in their reports. >> Talk field trips. Let's just do it now. Let's just do it so we don't forget about Mary's asking about field trip fees being a little bit or expenses a little bit higher uh over the past few years. >> Actually, they're going down next year, but they've gone up a little bit looks like. >> Well, consider between 24 256. >> Correct. >> So, we didn't take >> [clears throat] >> So it went pretty high there first. We didn't do field trips for a while first year after.
030So we slowly started building back and my field trips haven't changed over the last few years. Transportation sometimes a little bit higher but not by a lot. [snorts] [clears throat] >> Most of the cost really is transportation that has Bless small group [clears throat] if we're going if we're discussions being led by Dale Scrolling. I have a question on G. >> I'm just scrolling trying to make myself useful. >> I'm like, before you scroll away from G, but >> yeah, the $100,000 for [clears throat] students. That's correct. We've had we've had some students that in best interest placements um are attending another school outside of Littleton. that gets into I would say a very specific state law >> and you can't talk about the specific children but >> no >> how did we decide what
031school to place them in I think I'd asked you >> they they have a they have a choice any any school that's within the area public or private uh they have a choice to to which one to go to and that whole that whole process unless it goes before a appeal process for the state board of education. That's the only time when that would be considered differently. >> Steve, is the law is the law on that? Is it [clears throat] how is that amount determined? I guess is my question. >> It's based on the on the receiving school tuition rate. >> Okay. I I know having having in the past been on the school board in Vermont >> right >> over there. what St. Johnsburg did all specifically they they would um pay the average
032of the state tuition for kids who wanted to go to well so if some kid wanted to go to exit let's say >> right >> they would give the kid a check for the amount of average high school tuition in the bride >> so I don't know if that's a good idea but if it's state law we can't about it. >> Yeah. And I think, you know, I don't want to get too far into the weeds on open enrollment, but that's I mean, that's something we all definitely budget committee and the whole community as a whole needs to be very much aware of. >> That that hasn't been enacted yet, has it? >> No, but it's it came within a committee vote of being being passed last year. And just to clarify on this topic,
033state law is so specific >> that the board has no say on the placement itself or on the dollar amount. So the board gets simply notified by the superintendent. Cannot overrule, cannot appeal on cost. The only when Steve referenced an appeal [clears throat] that only goes into effect when the parents or guardians of the student seeking a best interest placement disagree with the superintendent's ruling at which case there is an appeal first at the local schoolboard level and then if they appeal again at the state board of ed level. So in this case, not only can we not talk about the particulars, right, but I just want to be clear to the budget committee that the board um not only was not a part of this decision, but legally cannot be a [clears throat] part
034of this decision. >> So this is regular education too, right? >> I mean this is just >> just want to rather go to high school meetings. >> It's not just Yeah. It's not a matter of pure preference. Of course, there's a lot of things that govern it and the superintendent has to go through an evaluative process and and again, we can't get into the particulars, but it's not just someone raising their hand and saying, "I would like not to go here. There has to be a claim basically and manifest hardship that the family believes the student can no longer go to the school and there's a whole process." >> True that our school is a negative situation and another school would be more positive, right? >> Really? The oneoff makes sense, but four. Do we
035have any has there been any followup on to why four students out of >> was this out of the >> something? So, I'll stress again, even the board the board legally has no right to even know who those students are and has not been briefed at all on the particulars surrounding the best interests, designation, and placement. And I don't want to get into it public, but I will just say we've talked extensively with council to make sure our understanding of state law and our understanding of board rights is correct. I will say that what the board does know about it and it legally is allowed to know, we've had a number of conversations with the superintendent um expressing our thoughts on the matter and talking through how we think we can um ensure that the
036district doesn't find itself in this position again. >> So much for local control. >> It's a horrible law. I mean flat out it's a horrible law. Uh and and that's my opinion not speaking for the board but I s I suspect they might agree it's a horrible law. >> But John to your scenario but so in St. J scenario instead of sending the $22,000 picker figure to St J Academy they sent that $22,000 to Philadelphia. >> Right. There always a few kids that did something >> right. So there there wasn't any additional cost to St. J for it. They just the money went to a different price. So it was the same academy that had to deal with not getting as much money for one more kid. >> With us, we're already paying for the
037kid here. There's no reduction in cost [clears throat] somewhere else. >> And I'll just point CJ Academy was not governed by the school board. What the school board was to K through eight, but not the academy. >> That's right. >> All we did was tuition kids to the academy. >> Right. Do you still receive any funding for that student that has transferred out? >> We get state aid. >> Do you get state aid for >> we get the funding still? >> So you still get that which is not very much. What is it like? >> But I was just wondering where that went. So >> I try to be respectful because you're all going through the same stages of shock that we went through. But it's I I'm not trying to be rude, but it's
038literally pointless to talk about because we can't talk about the particulars. We can't we don't even know. So, it's just one of those things that like >> All right, Dale, are you still scrolling? >> I'm [laughter] the super >> What's the next letter? >> And [laughter] if it's something like you have a terrible bullying situation, then I assume that separately you would uh try to address that without discussing individual students. That's a correct statement. >> Yes, that's a correct statement and and and that's what I was alluding to, Mary, too, some of the conversations that we've had, but again, I think that that sits beyond the perview of the budget, you know, discussion, so on and so forth. So, >> we just want to know that you're following up on as much as you can
039legally. >> Okay. Questions on page two? Unless there's I guess we down on page one. >> Is this scrolling? >> K is the bottom of page one. >> This is page two. >> No, K is the go back. >> Yeah, there you go. [clears throat] Big the big big item on on this page to me is the interest on the bond goes down another $14,000. >> That's retirement of bonds. Is that what that is? >> Yeah. >> Close. >> And as a for example, audio visuals down quite a bit. Is that just because you've got the equipment you need at the moment? It's just one of those years. >> Yeah. It spiked and then it went back down. >> Yeah. Software. Dale Dale will you'll talk about that a little bit. >> Yeah. I [clears
040throat] can speak. I don't know what Patty puts in that category. So >> all of the all of you are going to be presenting your departments, right? So if we have questions on this, it will come out in those presentations. >> A question on the furniture and equipment. Um, is that just are you doing as repairs and replacements as needed or are you having a program where you're going and you know based on the age buying new furniture? someone speak to how that money is spent in the budget because I know a few years ago there was talk that you you know you were really going to you know do a large scale replacement of some uh furniture and equipment furniture and then for whatever reason you you re rethought that and and it it
041did not spike. So is this how is this line item um spent yearly Is it a pirate program? >> Some of that I'm assuming will come from Dale, but in in the building report, but but it has it has gone down quite a bit from 2425 as you'll see there [clears throat] and you know down another 10,000 from this year. I would I would guess you're right then about the the rotation that it was in is has reduced the expenditure quite a bit and another significant expend or reduction for quote for next year's proposed budget. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> I noticed that heating oil is down and gasoline for transportation is up. Uh so I presume that means you're making more trips. Since the cost of gas would be down in line with
042the cost of heating oil, >> we're using we're using the vans quite a bit and I'm sure that's part of the part of the math. I want to know that's part of the math there. >> Is that part of the having to send students to other schools like for math classes and that will go that will decrease or is that just not related to that? It's not it's not so much of that, but it's just other I mean we do use the vans more and more for student activity trips and different things just because the transportation you see our transportation budget will be will be going down. We'll see how much it goes down but what we're paying for our providers is probably going to go down even from what's in this budget because >>
043yeah we've already lost one bus route this year. John, [snorts] >> um, the bottled gas, was the bottled gas also for the heat? [laughter] Is that the giant tanks out in the parking lot essentially? >> Yeah, >> those are new this year or >> Last year. No, last year. So, it looks like you're getting a good deal based on usage of last year. >> Well, we finally have some data to use, right? Winter. So, yes. So, is that replacing some of the heating fuel that was being used? >> Yes. >> And so, that the 6,500 saved on heating fuel was somewhat replaced by propane before. >> I'm not sure what is in her line for $139,000. I don't know like what buildings. I can tell you that [snorts] the buildings use about a $100,000 of
044heating oil. Um, or actually, I'm sorry, we use about 60,000 gallons of heating oil at $3 a gallon. So, that's $180,000 in heating oil, which is obviously not reflected in that line. It's in the presentation or it's in the facility's budget, but I'm not sure where that number is going. Okay. So, could we ask for a follow up on that? >> Yeah. >> What are you paying for propane a gallon? >> Um, I can get a dollar 38, I believe. >> A gallon. >> So, per BTU? >> Yeah. I mean, it's it's basically one It's 1.66 gallons of propane to one gallon of number two fuel. So, The other question I had, I haven't seen anything on um what we give to the parks and wreck for taking care of the fields. You guys, >>
045we have an ammo with the parks and wreck. We don't pay. >> Well, you have coming out of your budget. >> Um they also use our facilities which comes out of our budget which we made an agreement >> five years ago. >> Yeah. So they use that for the summer program and >> every day after school like for their after school program. >> It's like a personal >> Yeah. summer program. No sense to >> give money and not collect money. So >> they benefit you benefit. >> Yes. Right. >> That's good. >> Yep. We're working together. >> So the last page is the estimated tax rate. What does the budget have? >> Yeah, sorry. [clears throat] Other other documents they can do. >> So, Steve, what's your um ratio for teacher first to student? What's
046>> um it was in a >> previous slide, Bill. Um >> I think >> yeah I think we've got a >> one of the very first slides we did we got the student teacher ratio >> not in the high school the state doesn't present those but although I could actually do the math fairly easy >> the high school >> it's the one that has green on it. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> So Steve if you want to go ahead and get the presentation started because I know we'll have questions as they Go through. >> There you go. See, you're right where you are. >> There's my presentation. There's that slide. Um, yeah, whenever you're ready. Uh so technology um I shared with the board at the last board meeting um a decrease of roughly 46,000
047and I can tell you that the two main drivers um in the decrease were software licenses. The district spent a lot of money using er funds to purchase software um for various reasons. Uh we did an evaluation in the spring um and if there wasn't a justified use uh the software is coming out of technology currently um will not be purchased after um the current school year. Uh and the second driver is we are making a transition from power school um student information system to alma next year. Um over the years that the district's had power school, uh we've added a lot of um plugins, add-ons, so forth, there's a significant financial difference in the in the CIS program itself, but also being able to eliminate a lot of those add-ons saves us about $20,000
048in that one um package alone. So that's the the two numbers together basically get us to the to the 46,000. And of course those are all every year costs now or or I mean you know you can't buy software anymore and keep it. >> No they're all they're all yearly license unfortunately you are you are correct. I mean, the positive thing is I think we've seen a a plateau with technology pricing, um, computers, um, Chromebooks, so forth. They've, um, kind of stayed steady now for the last two years. Um, and don't envision, um, any any additional increases, which if you have the specific line item budget, you'll see that the amount is is identical um, in that category. Questions about technology? And you do and you do have individual budgets for each of the apartments
049and or areas as well as buildings. There may be something certainly that will be more maybe more useful next time. It's there for you tonight. Yeah. >> So, operations um you know, not not a significant increase at 2.2. Um I think our team did a really good job of um going line item by line item. Um you know, we did make some some upgrades. For instance, the parking lot or the driveway at the academy and the sidewalk um was repaved this year. Um that's obviously not in next year's budget. So there was $13,000 savings there. Um but we're seeing a a pretty significant increase in disposal, aka trash removal, um and also supply line items. Um we've worked internally at trying to uh find some vendors. One of the challenges in any school is storage.
050So, you can only buy so much stuff that you can store away. Um, but we are trying to find um different vendors where we can purchase and they ship as needed. They do the storing for us to see if that saves us a little bit in supplies. Um and then our plan will be in the in the spring to do an RFP on disposal costs just to get some comparisons to Waste Management who we currently use um as our disposal company. Yes. >> Has the volume changed? >> No. >> So just it's just rate increases with the same volume. >> Yeah. The biggest increases are um um fuel oil and the number of trips like it's all since 2022 the cost for them to come here just the that one line item has basically doubled.
051Um the the trash has probably gone up 25% you know over the last two years for removal. Um total um the biggest drivers is fuel oil and destination cost. And what was the questions from the because the next slide's not going to help me with that, but you guys had questions about the fuel oil. Um, again, I can't answer specifically, but we'll we'll follow up. We do have one full winter now of having propane at this building. Um, that we're using those numbers uh in the next budget uh next year's budget to hopefully show a savings. Um, this slide here is um, it might be further along. It's further along. I I noticed Steve didn't move this slide. He moved the other two for me, so I >> I moved. That's okay. It's further It's
052further in the presentation that you have printed. >> I missed that. Yeah, >> it's something that I started to do last year and it's just to show a comparison um of what we what we spend on each building roughly from a maintenance um uh salaries, benefits, so forth. Um and as I pointed out to the board, you know, for the last >> from the end. >> Yeah, it's clear from the end. >> Yeah, sorry. Sorry. >> No. Um you printed them all out before. Um, you know, for instance, you know, Lakeway, you know, over the last year alone, you know, 1.01 million, um, versus the high school building campus, it's 1.15 million. So, a building roughly half the size of of this campus. Um, we're spending almost dollar for dollar um to to to do
053necessary upgrades um to that building. Um, but that's just part of the challenges that we face on a on a building standpoint. um that we have to put money into a building. Whether it's because of for whatever reason you want to say deferred maintenance or