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002{ background-color: black; } ::cue(c.bg_white.bg_semi-transparent) { background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5); } ::cue(c.bg_green.bg_semi-transparent) { background-color: rgba(0, 256, 0, 0.5); } ::cue(c.bg_blue.bg_semi-transparent) { background-color: rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.5); } ::cue(c.bg_cyan.bg_semi-transparent) { background-color: rgba(0, 255, 255, 0.5); } ::cue(c.bg_red.bg_semi-transparent) { background-color: rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.5); } ::cue(c.bg_yellow.bg_semi-transparent) { background-color: rgba(255, 255, 0, 0.5); } ::cue(c.bg_magenta.bg_semi-transparent) { background-color: rgba(255, 0, 255, 0.5); } ::cue(c.bg_black.bg_semi-transparent) { background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); } Starting at about 2 minutes here. All right, I just need motion to come out of executive session and 6:32. From Melissa. And I'll second that all in favor, my motion carries. Thank you a motion to recommend the public session at 6:33. I'll make the motion to see a second all in favor, aye motion, carries, we will stand for the function. Of the United States of America. All right, um,
003so we have 2 speaking sessions, the first 1 would be meeting. The board will be voting on anything else for school. Business is the second session. So is there anyone that would like to speak on anything? The board will be voting tonight. Not seeing any. Uh, we will jump in to our first presentation from our friends at Spruce Elementary. Hello, good evening. I'm Lindsay Turner. I'm the proud principal of spruce Elementary. And I have with me, 3 of our wonderful students. We had a fourth, my friend will is missing this evening, so my lovely ladies are gonna fill in for him, each month, it's Bruce Elementary, our third grade students are voted for lumber leaders and these 3, lovely ladies, Olive ariela and Paisley are a lumber leaders for the month of March. These students
004demonstrate respect kindness and leadership in all month long. They have been doing the announcements and they are absolutely adorable. They lead us every single morning and they've been doing a great job. So I told them that I was presenting to the board at the beginning of the month, and I asked them if they wanted to join me, they were so excited. They even wrote me a letter about how they were going to dress up like me and that they were going to be ready to go. So super excited that they are here. And just goes to show what a great Community we have at Spruce and how healthy I am to be able to work with these young people every day. So again, 1 of our friends is not here today but the lovely ladies
005are going to fill in so miss Paisley. Can you start us off telling us about something that you have done so far this year that you have loved? I like to talk about life cycle, learn how animals grow. We also learned about plants and their life cycles, About my favorite character. In my book, she is brave and honest. Paula's going to read for Mr. Will who couldn't be here tonight? Thank you. And I really like them because they are different and I can run around in gym. This year, my favorite project has been an experiment with M&M'S. We won. The chocolate underneath is slowly dissolving due. To its fat Khan. Content, the M&M is made from paper and doesn't dissolve in water so it floats to the surface. It was fun and we got to
006eat some and at the end, we would love to show you. A video of our awesome School. Over to the side. There, everybody watch. Consider our Discovery Den with 1 of our kindergarten classes working on a robotics lesson. Discovery death. Christmas Avery. What are you working on? And can you explain what you're doing? What are you doing with your hand? Amazing, how are you moving in? This is a moment too. That is so cool. And you're covering it because the movie be activated. How do you how do you move it? Honey, do you do it again? With your hand, very cool looks like you come. This is the thing you were right. What are the 2 black kids doing 1? Yeah, sensing your. first grade class, I hear And I'm doing a branding brand. Welcome
007to come. Yeah. I'm gonna move. last that you guys are learning about the We're making a car. Okay. Now Lumber leaders would love to tell you something that they're really excited for for the rest of this year before they close out. Their Career at Spruce and head to knee. So we're really going to miss them. They want to share something that they are excited about towards the end of the year. So, go ahead, Miss Paisley, how much excited Brookfield trip. I really hope my mom can come last year. We went to the museum this year. We are going to the gardens. They are beautiful. I am excited for the butterflies. I am most excited for what I was thinking. I love to get dressed up and can't wait to do my hair really fancy. I
008am most excited for our end of the year field day. There are so many games coming up that moving popcorn. Thank you. That was from our friend will and Miss Allah. What are you most excited for? It's going to be some be so much fun. I can't wait to see See me, my friends. We are each allowed to bring 1, adult, And I am going to invite my mom. We will have so much fun together. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We're so appreciative for you, allowing us to share all the wonderful things that are happening at Spruce. And I want to give a huge shout out to my fabulous. Lumber leaders myth Olive, Paisley, and ariela, because it takes a lot of Bravery to come stand in front of anybody. And to be able
009to do that at 8 years old is pretty amazing. So just goes to show how wonderful. Again, our Spruce students are and how blessed I am to be a part of such a wonderful community. So, thank you very much for letting me. Right. That's a tough act to follow but thank you to our friends at Spruce. Um, next up, we have, um, a presentation on our, um, School appointment City. Good evening, everyone. It is tough to follow. Thank you, Mrs. Burner and olives, and Paisley, and ariela did a great job. Um, so at our March, 5th board meeting multiple parents, and students spoke about bullying and safety at our schools. Uh, we believe that every student should feel safe in our schools. And if they do not, we need to make adjustments. Tonight, Lieutenant Herbert,
010and I are going to walk or talk about school, safety and climate in our schools and we will look at what we do in some data from this year. And we know that there's always room for growth and we are committed to continuously improving school safety and creating a welcoming environment for all of our students. So the um, objective tonight is to look at what we do in our schools to help students feel safe supported and welcome. some of the things that we do for physical security in the district, we have school resource officers in, um, for the buildings are rotating. Uh, so we, we all military schools and also in the middle school and SRO and NTI, and then myself and the high school, we have a building security guards in every building. Um,
011but help with any security situation. In a rental place where nasro is in at 1 of the out uh is at 1 Elementary there's um guards at the other 2 rooms um and then he's not rotated at that. Uh all exterior doors are locked. Do you all? School, building interior next year within the system, the new weapon detection system, uh, this training at the middle school and high school Raptor for any visitors that come in District and Building Safety plans and administrative presence in the office. Some of our programs and resources that we have to address bullying and promote student safety. These are K12 programs or some are at the elementary level and some are at the middle school and in high school bullying. Prevention assemblies, like, super me, chant comes in and does assemblies.
012We had Jared Campbell in our Middle School. Many of our schools do community circles. Uh, we have social emotional learning lessons with counselors and our social workers, uh, restorative approaches and mediations, and our nyer County Sheriff All-Star program and our elementary schools. Um also our discipline referral form has restorative components to it. Um, we have individual and group check-ins with our students um ideally parent Communication Communication in all the situations that are negative or positive. Um, middle school and high school programs, including rise, reach and rebound, for our at risk students. um, Some of our programs and resources that promote welcoming and a belonging environment including our belonging Committee in the elementary schools. Our community circles, our Lunch Buddies program building wide incentive programs, Our Family Resource Center. That's available to all of our families,
013uh, morning messages and mindful activities, uh, monthly and quarterly character celebrations at our elementary schools. Um, the inclusivity team at our, uh, ENT at NTI Spirit weeks, including TNT week, and our pep assemblies, student, artwork and creation displays, uh, student staff activities. Our celebration of Champions at the high school school, orientations at each building and Unified sports which uh certainly brings together a lot of our students with our students that have special needs to really bring them together and promote an inclusive environment. Uh, Community Service events at our high school, like huddle for Hunger, blood drives, and polar plunge, our Lumberjack Fridays for staff and students at the high school, um, showing their school spirit concerts musical sports clubs and extracurriculars. Because we know so many students come to school, not specifically for the academics,
014but for music for sports, for clubs for extracurriculars. They want to be there for those events as well. And our Tri-City partnership with Niagara Wheatfield. And Niagara Falls has been a great Success moving forward with our relationships with those communities as well. in October, we had um, many of our students grades 4 through 12, take a belonging survey, um, and I took out the results, just for our secondary students, uh, grade 7 through 12, we had a thousand ten students, uh, participate that's about 70% of our secondary students. Um, and so, here's some information about how they belong to our schools, or how they feel. So I feel like I'm a real part of my school. 80% said, yes, I feel proud of belonging to school 81% and said yes. Most teachers at my school
015are interested in getting to know me 81% said yes. There's at least 1 teacher, I can talk to if I have a problem 88% said yes I'm treated as much with as much respect as other students 79% said. Yes. And my school. Promotes a culture of inclusion and belonging 86% said, And I can really be myself at school 73% said yes. So a lot of positive there. Um ideally though we want to see a 100% and everyone of those categories. So it just shows that we do have work to do but many of our students do feel like they belong in our stew in our schools. They feel like they're included in our schools. They feel like it's a welcoming environment, but it's always something that we want to work on and move forward. To
016be better at Uh, investor support in our schools visible presence, uh, at at arrivals. And dismissals assistance student conversations. The presence in the hallways and the cafeteria classroom lessons. Safety team member counseling staff and we're on the pro assessment team. We could like talk. Obviously we could talk about each of these like more in depth but just like on the classroom. The last thing part a big part of the ass row program dating back to about 2 years ago. Was you know we we wanted we were asked, part department was to teach in the classroom and so last year we did, um, 14 of the Freshman experience classes. We taught when we were taught, you know, but instructed, 15 of the freshman's experience classes, and this year we have a 2 week. So 10 days,
017um, students from Moses for law enforcement internships. So the first 4 hours of the next of this week or next week. Uh, you know, shadowing and showing them about law enforcement maybe so they can get their voice experience. Um can support our schools uh attendance exporting events, that concerts and any big events. This is like a big 1 because um, last year, we had about 600 hours of after after school events, you know, a problem graduation, not just 48 months. So it's not just during the day, but we've got to be at all the after school events. Um, for the actual layer of security a raise on making the police department on school when there are complaints, Uh, positive informal students and assist with your mediation relationship with the security officers. Um, so just just
018like, you know, we do the scheduling for the security officers, we try to like recruit for security officers, because most of them are retired or off duty police officers, so we cannot have their relationship with them home business when needed. That's not a big 1, we've done. Like 60 so far this year, um, between the 420 on the year. So, obviously, there was some attendance things that we wanted to address. So we made the owner list, uh, a huge part of this year and, and they're still working on it and then provide referrals to the wrap program, which resources for adolescence program and the Youth Court programs. And then this is just kind of what I just wanted to explain. Um just so kind of just the community, the school district, everybody's on the same
019page with 1 of what happens my my when there's an incident involving emails. So prior to taking uh, this job, I was asking you the detective and I handled these services. So I was like a juvenile agent. So for 4 years, I, I basically all the criminal victims and suspect cases in our city. I went through our office. So this is how, um, this is, how it works in New York state, I can play your style, right? And when I can play style, it's either filed by the school district or by a parent Then once the complaint is filed by 1 of the 2 parties, like let's say there's damage to property. So obviously, something's broken the school district. Let's say there was a fight. Someone gets her parents going to file that in the
020morning. Once a complaints filed with the Department, the asteroids, take those complaints, we send them to ask for you, we work with us for you to figure out what happened and investigate. Um, and we do this alongside the school district as well. So to determine a victim. And if that's under actions So if we investigate and it leads to, we'll just use the word law enforcement term Mutual responsibility, Mutual combatants in a fight Mutual responsibility often. No action is going to be taken by the police department. Due to the parties ages and mutual conduct. So if we investigate something and it seems like it was usual, a lot of times, it just ends there. But if we can determine the victim in a suspect after we investigate the sus suspect is held accountable through diversion
021programs. And this is her New York state law, right? So New York State requires police departments because of juveniles agents to to refer them to Diversion programs which would be the rep program or youth order. In addition to that. if there's a fight and let's say someone was victimized the victim of that fight is not always going to know the consequence to the person to the juvenile, who's the suspect because we legally can't call, um, the victim and say, Here's the consequence and assessment of that because of the Rage, that's super frustrating. I it it, I get it. It's it definitely doesn't seem fair on the times the legally. We can't tell you, uh, tell that person what happened um, with the suspects, who's underage? In more serious cases. So now we're talking like felony
022cases like something like very egregious like assault with a weapon things like that. Then they're going to be referred to negro County Probation and or family. So in those cases that goes to the county or um and those you see more serious consequences there. Um, drug testing, ankle, monitor curfew. Um, and then, depending on what's under the underlying factors are sometimes, there's placements Um, but that's kind of like the whole system of what happened to the juvenor in their city and they're just, you know, an engineer. So we also said that we would look at disciplinary referral data. So we're looking at the high school in a comparison of last year to this year through March 14th. Um discipline referrals last year at the high school, there were 1,219 this year through March 14th. There
023were 1293 so an so an increase in referrals um and those referrals are in 47 different categories and we're not going to go individually through each category. So I lumped them into categories that um hopefully make sense to everyone. So the first category is actually a largest increase in referrals where there are 806 so far this year and it's Drew into school late to class late to school and leaving class without permission. So, um, that is a very large number, but the high school is keeping track of that a little bit differently this year, which is causing it, um, that number to increase. So, um, it's a significant number and it is a problem because obviously, we want kids in class in school, um, but these are generally not the things that are causing bullying
024as incidents or violence or anything like that, but it's a significant number and certainly something that we are looking at very closely as it is, 1 of our board goals to be looking at attendance Uh the next 1 is the use possession. Sale of drugs alcohol or base. This shows there's been 34 incidents and 30 of those being made incidents so, um, down a little bit or half of last year. Um, you know, and none of those are good situations obviously, um, but definitely want to bring that forth in 1 category. The next 1 is bus. Misconduct cafeteria misconduct disrespectful Behavior disruptive behavior um inappropriate language insured Nation horse Blake things. That of course we don't want to see things that are very disruptive in our schools but generally are not related to bullying and
025things like that. Um, 295 incidents of that this year down from 332 last year and our last category, I think this fits in more to what we're, um, talking about, at our, March 5th meeting, these will be our altercations, which is fighting assault, bullying, intimidation harassment menacing. Threat of violence and endangerment. Um, currently this year, there are 28 incidents or 28 referrals of that happening. So these are the things that are definitely the most worrisome. Um, when it comes to bullying incidents and things that are going on within schools, so things that we are, you know, absolutely looking at and wanting to address, um, because I think we would all want this number to be at zero. That would be the ideal number for these types of incidents. So the actions that we take when
026those incidents are recorded to us. Um, for us, it's really important to get eyes on the students during the day, will escort them with security guards or other people. If necessary, it's important to contact, parents in those cases, many times there's pure Med mediations trying to eliminate the the threat work through the problem. Um, follow up and check in and trying to be proactive in those cases. So, um, sometimes things just happen. But often times if we're aware of it, there's a lot of things that we can put in place to make those things happen. But what we've noticed and certainly what was said at the March 5th meeting phones, social media things like that. They cause a lot of these things to be heightened, they caused these things to change right away. We think
027we fixed the problem. Next thing, you know, on social media or um, you know, through communication on their phones things change very quickly, um, which can obviously escalate the situation as we move forward. You know, we continue to try to be more restorative as a district. Um, but when it comes to restorative practices, there has to be a willingness on the people that are involved in these incidents to take responsibility and accountability for the actions and behavior. If you're now willing to take responsibility, it's very, very difficult. Practically impossible to be restored. There has to be responsibility um, when people that pause these problems. So and even when there are restorative practices in place, there's still disciplinary consequences, whether it be suspensions tensions, you know, going to superintendent hearings those things can still happen as
028well. It's not all just hey, I said I'm sorry it's going to you know, we're going to move on and there's not going to be consequences So it's really trying to find that balance a restorative practices and the consequences and I know something that actually Eric just mentioned too. It's incredibly frustrating to sometimes kids and most of the time do parents but that we can't tell you what those consequences were for these other students. That's not us saying we don't want to tell you. It's the law we're not allowed to tell you those things. And as we move forward, the goal in all of these situations, knowing that it is our job to educate. All the students that come to us is to change the behavior. I know 1 of the things that we heard
029last time is, you know, especially some of our younger students. Maybe at NTI, you know, the goal isn't to throw the book at them and get them out of school, for months, and months and months. It's to change the behavior. And, you know, that can be more challenging as they reach high school because we might see the behavior over and over and over again and change. It can be challenging but that's always the goal is to change. The behavior have them in school because we know school is the best place for them to be. so, moving forward, you know our goal is to continue to work with families in the best interest of all kids and certainly in the end we want all of our students to feel like they're safe at school supported at
030school and then welcome in our school as well. So you know, are we there? No, there's always going to be work to be done but that is our goal that we're going to continue doing this on a daily basis. I know I had, um, phone calls with many of the parents that were here on March 5th. I know Mr. Walsh did I know Mrs. Maranto did talk to those parents and then did we fix the situation? No, there's no way that we absolutely fixed those situations, but opening those lines of communication, I think is incredibly important because, you know, as we work with parents, as we work with families, we can be better with having them feel safe in school because that was certainly my biggest Is concerned after the last meeting was when parents.
031And kids come to a meeting, come to me, come to a principal come to a teacher and say, I don't feel safe at school. That's the last thing we want to hear. But we need to hear it because we need to fix those issues when they do that. So, um, you know, moving forward, that's, you know, I think it's always been our goal and we will continue to be, you know, proactive to make those things happen. It's what we want, for all of our kids, for them to feel safe. So supported and welcome in all of our schools. Any questions on the boards? I do have a couple, um, In the belonging survey, any plans for something this school year. Um, and I think it goes kind of the second piece. I know we talked
032earlier in the year around the mental health survey from the gentleman from Oswego. Um that we thought the convention around those kids that are falling for the cracks but they're not the ones that rated 80% in or, you know, those high scores to identifying those and that might be something um, to really identify those kids that are falling, you know, through cracks. Right. It. So, I don't think we have anything in place at this moment to actually identify aside from the conversations that we have with kids, um, but it has been a regular part of our, uh, Dei meetings. Um, You know it really made them more about welcoming and belonging that we've had District level meetings about that. In all of our buildings, now have committees too that are are really working on that
033to to really Reinforce the importance of developing that sense of belonging and community in a welcoming environment because we know that's the way to get kids to school. We really coupled it with our um attendance goals. Of you know, if the kid doesn't feel safe they don't feel like they want to, you know, they don't belong somewhere, they're not going to go. So really, that's been what we've been focused on this year. Having them feel that way. So they attend school, knowing it's the best place for them to be. Okay I think just for me the 1 thing they really just follow on call right flag. Spoke to me, was. During your survey they're all. And so you probably respectable scores considering like, yes, we want to be at 100. Will we ever get there?
034I'm not sure. Right. It's just, I don't want to say it's impossible, but the last 1 is, about being really being myself or being able to feel like myself at school is 73% and it wasn't in line with the of those scores, right? So I would just say that's a that's a telling staff right? Where A lot of them said, yes I feel sorry for someone. I can be to talk to the belong in school, right? But yeah, they don't feel like they can be themselves at their school, so Um I just it's an area of opportunity and we want to really really look at what important, right? Because it's just it kind of contradicts what the rest of the survey Center. Absolutely. I think I think that's 1 of the most important ones because
035if you feel like you can be in yourself, if you're that comfortable, then you can be exactly who you are. Um, clearly that you're a a place, you're in a great place when it comes to welcoming and belonging. So clearly, that's what we would want all on our campus to feel and it's, it will be something that we continue to work on. Will you be the administrator in the survey in the future? Um, so we didn't actually talk about re-administering, but I think it would be incredibly beneficial that do it yearly because it it's really only takes the kids about 5 minutes to take a survey like that. And the information is very valuable. So You know, seeing where we are in the future to see, you know, are we improving? Are we regressing? Where
036where are we at? I think it would be incredibly important is we didn't talk about it if we're going to administer it yearly but certainly it wouldn't be a difficult thing to do and I would absolutely support that. Um, I just want to thank uh Lieutenant Herbert for being here. Mary Allen Parish as well. Um all of our sros the the the work that they do in our buildings. Absolutely fantastic. So, um, they're always there to support us with what's going on in our schools. So, All right. Next up is our 1 of our it to the end the final budget presentation. You have some good news for us today. Okay. Last time we got some pretty good news. Get better at the time. Also, when you're not following the students, the immediately after it's
037slightly easier, Dr. Jack Luker taking care of that 1. Um, so we'd like to present, um, our balanced budget, uh, tonight as you know, that New York State requires schools to have a balanced budget. Part of the challenge, is our budget needs to be set, but not necessarily the state's budget needs to be set. Even though they're supposed to have their budget set every year on April 1st not in April Fool's Day. So it does present some challenges for us to move forward because we do not actually know what all the financial picture might be. And all the implications that we're going to have to address next year but we need to plan like we do know. So as always, we want to use our fiscal resources on the most responsible manner, to ensure that
038our student outcomes are sustainable next year and it's in 10 years from now. Um, I this is a new slide, just wanted to have it in case. Some people are joining us a little bit later, linked, all of the previous presentations, including the technology and transportation, just to see how everything flows together in case. Um, some individuals are asking or wondering how did we get here? I missed something. We just wanted to make sure they were conveniently linked in 1 spot. So, they're all right there as well. So we're going to give some state budget updates uh and the balanced budget on the expense side, the revenue side, and the tax levy scenarios of how do we get to a balanced budget or possibly a new working budget cap, so, our state budget update, The
039state is supposed to have their budget set on April 1st. Um, that has not happened. Historically, I'm dating back to 2019 2020. That was the last time a state budget was on time. Uh challenging uh and then every year pretty much since, uh, the state budget has been delayed and delayed and delayed and delayed, we're still waiting for the state budget right now. Um, just to highlight the challenges, we need to have our complete budget wrapped up newsletter, budget, statements to Pioneer printing this year. It's on April 18th and using the state deadline last year of April 20th, we would have to get all of our things to the printer, ready to go, 2 days before the state even says our budget's done. So that is a chance. Not just for North Carolina, but any
040school district. so, um, The combined, legislative budget was supposed to typically happen. We even heard from nisba anticipated, hearing that on the first. Um, but when we look at the different priorities within the 2 that still hasn't happened yet. So the anticipated legislative budget of what we are expecting. They're going to bring forth to the governor versus what the governor's budget has. Um, that really has not changed as much. Um, the foundation Aid, approximately 1% increase from what the governor has, uh, proposed. Um, both seasons and CTE Aid, increasing over time, a retiree earning limit increasing. So some of our retired individuals not just for schools, but any public sector area can continue to work? The school meals seems to be 1 area of still supporting Universal School meals. The capital outlay provision for some
041lower level building improvements. Increasing that has been a request for years. I'm not holding my breath that that will happen but would be nice to see that happen. Um some possible changes for zero emission busing and then also a the student use of the smart devices. Um adopting more of a local approach that seems to be wavering every day every week of which way we're going on that still no clear indication So and the last um the last meeting there was still about 180,000 Gap um to close. And the last piece is the of K12 tutor positions and the benefits associated with that. So that would be about the 180,000 that would close that Gap. And as we look at every everything we talked about throughout this entire budget process K3 would be the reductions
042of Matt as specialist support in lieu of reading, instruction flexibility and K3 per DN AIS, Subs 4, to 6 likes, adjustment and music lessons, sizes and frequency, uh, 78 adjustment in eighth grade backs program, uh, family and consumer science from semester based to quarterly potential adjustment in music lessons, sizes, and frequency. And in 912, shifting 1 counselor to k6 for Equitable case load and you'll see the next slide, what that is, uh, higher elective course, enrollment counts for some subjects. Um, potentially shifting, a lower enrolled, elective classes do in every other year model, uh, shifting of math. Lab supports to a targeted areas model for primarily focusing on Algebra 1 and reduction of the tutor position which was the previous slide. And responsibilities being absorbed by other positions. Um, when we look at that counseling
043supports, um if you look at the ratios this year uh Drake has 1, counselor, Ohio has a 0.5 counselor Spruce has 1 counselor. NCI is 1.5 counselors. The middle school is 2 and uh the high school has 5 counselors so shifting next year. Um 2526 to add a full-time. Counselor at Ohio, which would make the ratio 1 to 368 students and adding uh, going from 1.5 counselors to 2 counselors at NTI making that ratio 1 to 300 361. And then the high schools ratio with the reduction of 1 counselor moving to that position would go from 1 to 1899 students, to 1 to 236 students. Um, all within that, that high school, that secondary guidelines underneath the, um, National Counselor ratio, right? Recommendation of 1 counselor to every 250 students. So, when we look at
044the program continuation of the final net changes, this is where maybe for those who are joining, um, would want to see some of those reductions over time from last year to the SubCom school year. The employee salaries would be up about 260,000 employee employee benefits which includes a retirement attrition, uh, the retirement incentive and Healthcare. Is up approximately 1,600,000 instructional supports and equipment is up approximately 76,000. Some of those supports have been shifted to bosies to drive additional Aid. The following year in 202627 are both used supports are actually down on the net in total. And then our debt service, which is the biggest reduction of, also, our state aid, the debt service is down 2,250,000, approximately we have that is where we also see the reduction in the building Aid as well because some
045of the projects have been paid off. So in total from last year's budget to where we are right now, a reduction of 510,000 at this point. when we look at some of the revenues and tax levy implications, this is a quick review of all the state revenue. Uh, none of those figures at this point have changed from any of the previous conversations there is the possibility. We could have an extra 1% in state Foundation aid, but that's a known at this time, so none of those figures. And again, The Debt Service, the building Aid going down, almost a mere dollar. For dollar difference in there, that is why in general, our state aid is down year-over-year. When we look at some of the local revenues on the left that's how it was presented. Last year
046was just the tax levy and just other local revenues for a little bit more transparency this year. Breaking out all the different local revenues into more distinguishable categories. So we can see some of the drivers 1 of the biggest fears in the future future Mr. Schneer, when you mentioned like what's the threat to, some of our revenues would be interest earnings. Just wanted to make sure we can show that over time. Um, some of those areas. And then, when we look at some of the appropriated fund balance and reserves, this is where you're going to see some of the additions, uh, while we've been bringing down expenses at this point trying to have a balanced budget. Introducing some potential, new revenues uh workers compensation adding about $40,000 on Employment Insurance 7,800, the employees retirement system
047reserved the teachers retirement system reserved. So in total about 600 or 460,000 dollars of reserves being used for this year's budget, a lot of these reserves are reflective of the interest earnings of Reserve Reserve earns over time the controller. Ideally would like to see you regularly use reserves because they're not just piggy banks. They are for a rainy day per se, but also the use of reserves is 1 time in nature. If you have to use your reserves so it's not sustainable to carry on programs. It's to try to even up highs and lows in terms of Of unanticipated expenses. So, the total budget on the revenue side is 83 million. And that assumes the uh, recommended Levy that we've been presenting throughout the entire winner of 2.74%. And then we see there, we have
048our balanced budget between expenses and revenues of 83 million. So if we go through, this was uh brought up at our last meeting some of the different tax levy scenarios versus our budget Gap. Um if we were to go, we've been proposing which is tax levy compliant. Uh no further programmatic programmatic impacts, if we were to have a levy of 2.49% that is going to uh, create a new gap of about 80,000 dollars. So that's going to be a reduction of supplies equipment, contractual services, or further, adjustments to Staffing. And then the other 1 was 1.99%. That's about a 233,000, uh, Now, new working Gap. That's a likely reduction of instructional FTS and further district-wide adjustments to supply equipment and contracted services. So, where are we at? If we decide to adopt a 2.74% levy
049increase, no additional steps are needed. We can bring the property tax report card to our next meeting. Um, if we do recommend a lower tax levy we would need to bring forward on April 9th. What those reductions would be to you. With that, any thoughts? once the start, I guess I will. Yeah. Um, I'm still getting my heels in that. I don't think we should go with the 2. 7 4 9. Have we ever taxed to the absolute capital? I'm sure we do. I look okay but it's been Quite some time that we've done that. Um, I'm sure that with everything that's with inflation going on right now. Um, I'm sure there are some people that would be okay with it, um, but I am still sticking with the 2. I would feel more comfortable
050compromising if the 2.4 2.49 as well. I did check with Stephanie. She was 1 of the weather today. Um and she was good at the 2.74 um just again worried about the additional programmatic Cuts if We were to go lower and I am still in the that same boat of 2.4 as long. Um yeah I'm also at the 2.74 rig. Was the future and the implications you could have and see the budgets. And Melissa. And also at the 2. 7 4. I just feel. Our schools Opportunity Services for too many people in the community. And I, I just feel like this is it is it is I I have to go on record saying that it is incredibly difficult, right? Times are hard for everyone, including my family and I still feel like this is
051All right. Um, so I guess from you guys, I mean, we have a Um so what we can do is either we can convince you or we we could bring It Forward at the next meeting. Um, for the vote would be, the would be at the next meeting for the you're welcome V. I am fine to yield to the majority because I agree. I, I just don't think. You know. Applying what's going on. Right. So all the plan would be then bring forward the tax report card again, the growing we can do that. Any other questions comments? On their presentation. All right. Thank you very much. All right, so we will roll into our agenda. We'll start with 8.1. It's recommended more to education. Improves. The agenda order is presented, are there any additions to
052leave things or changes? Not hear any interesting emotion. Repeat, and I'll second that all in favor. I I any post Motion carries. And we will go down to 9.29. So recommend the Board of Education approves. You can send a gender as recommended by the superintendent of schools or seen a motion. So move from Gavin. I'll second it all in favor. I any opposed. Motion carries. Uh, we'll go to 1 0. 1 9. Motion from Bowie and a second. Second from Gabby all in favor, I any opposed motion carries all right, and that was the review. I just did to do a 1124. Yeah. Uh so it's recommended Board of Education. Approves all Personnel items in section 11 is presented same motion. From Gabby, second from Melissa, all in favor. I any post motion carries All
053right, and we do have looks like 2 retirement and I'll let Dr. J. Read those off here. Once we get done, that will be on the spot. Um, it's recommended the Board of Education, approves. All retirements in section 12 is presented. I'll make a motion to see a second. from Chloe, all in favor, I any post motion carries congratulations to Trisha golak who has been a teacher aide in our district since October of 2002, congratulations, Patricia, and also congratulations to Linda Pearson. For time, as a school monitor in our district, since November of 1998. Congratulations. Right now. All right, and it looks like a capital outlay for Capital update. So for the capital project we are working on a continued work of phase 1A for this upcoming summer as you recall, the original capital capital
054project had 2 phases. We decided to take the first phase to split it in half to try to drive additional building Aid. That was the category. That went down 2.2 million dollars faster. In the future. Um, all completely paid for with reserves so we won't have any borrowings for the first year. So some of the expected summer work that we are planning on doing is some Roots repairs and replacement over the high school, cafeteria over part of Drake, the transportation center and a new gutter system at the transportation center. Um when important with some of the roof work, we made sure. We uh, spec out a product that would have less of a lingering smell over time because some of the adhesives can be very powerful where you want to be like air quality testing,
055making sure that work is done. As soon as school is over with into the later, half of June July. So when September starts that would not be an issue and even if work was delayed due to the poor, whether the impact compared to some of the other products that could be used would be minimal and then at NTI and Spruce, there would be some brick repointing worked on, um, and we are taking into consideration some of our summer programs and Where those locations will be because of this project work. We are expected to our work and call the page Turner meeting which is a um a forwards May to the state for phase 1B. That's some of the work at our Elementary, classrooms classrooms some sidewalk repairs um doing some of the windows, some of
056the pool Renovations at NTI that is anticipated to be happening in April and early May with the goal of getting State approval by October. And then we could do bidding. Ideally would be around November when we expect competitive bidding, We have been, we were very fortunate with the third party review of our first phase to get extremely favorable and competitive pricing on our roofs. Uh, that was We were ecstatic with the pricing, we got. Um and we've worked with some of these companies before and we know they do great work. So we are happy on the pricing extremely happy on, who's doing the work. That is our Temple Project. All right. Thank you, sir. Um, and next, I wanted to talk a little bit about the board selfie Veil and going into the um evaluation
057that we have coming up because it's already April which is wild. Um, you so this will be new for us. Super Evil is the tool that we're using. Um, so we do have an action in there to do our board self email. Um, so if you, if everyone is everyone logged in yet, or gotten the link to it in the past? Yes, no, maybe check for email. probably hasn't so definitely probably have to get access because I don't think she's listed in there, okay? Um, so once we do that, my plan would be if you think within the next 2 to 3 weeks, we can get that knocked out. That way, we can have that ready to go. So we can have a conversation around ours and then Um, we'll move into the big guy
058here. So uh um evaluation which we normally try to do um before the new board members take their seats, that way it's based on this Forge feedback. so, Just I'll, I'll put out a reminder, but just want to make sure that we get that on everyone's radar. So we can get rolling with those. Questions on that. All right. Would you mind grabbing that? See we have, do you mind call out the first 1 on the list? Sarah gav again. All right. Yep. We just asked that you state your name, um, and address and just keep your comments to 5 minutes. Sure can I like, No, make sure I know we have the insurance. Okay. All right. I am giving you guys awesome data that my department has put together. Um, about lead. Um, math labs.
059Um, so I know that in that budget, proposal the math Labs were looking to shift to more of an AIS model and I just wanted to let you guys know that we've been there. We've done that. We did that years ago. Our solution to that model. That did not work was math Labs. Our math labs are working. Um this is full of data. Um I'll get there in a second that um numbers that show how much our scores have gone up. um, currently in Algebra 1 geometry and Algebra 2 Are um scores are above the state average by far, I'll show you that those when we get there. 1 of the key things I wanted to point out was that our AP Calculus numbers, this year are for next year, are double that of what
060we've had in years prior and that can be directly linked back to those labs. Those kids that are that would be the first year of Algebra 2 labs. They aren't burnt out. They feel like they know the material and they feel like they can handle that upper level math double. um, with the displacement of 2 of our finest Math, teachers, Ashley and Samantha pre-cloud, senior class and Ashley you name it. She does it. Um, What that does to our numbers is on paper. It looks like we can provide labs to all Algebra 1 students. It looks like it should work when you put it into a schedule and put people on those teaching lines. It doesn't fit. Um, we've tried to go around and I've worked with my whole department, trying to figure out the
061different ways that we could make it fit. Um, having there are 7 teachers with 2 teaching 6 classes, which we can through our contract. It doesn't fit. Um, 8 teachers will allow that to fit Um, if you look at the back um I did show a sample. This isn't what it's going to be for sure, it's just what could happen but to show you that the things could fit in there. Um with a teachers every student, every region student will have access to a lab that will service hundreds of students. Um, students are asking for these Labs, um, we did a quick brief survey, if you flip to page 9. If you go to page 9, this is the I started with the algebra 2. These are the older kids more serious students. They really
062appreciate what they are giving, um, ninth graders. You know how they are, right. But the 1011 even 12th graders, um, 95 students, um, said that Labs have helped them this year. They wouldn't have done without well without a lab 92 students said that Um, we can look at that data. Everybody thinks that, um, Labs have helped them, um, we did have them write in. We said, tell us anything. You want about Labs, whether it's good, bad or ugly? Do you think it helped you? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Whenever out of everybody who um, current students, 312 345 negative comments. The rest from page. Um, 1112131315 are all positive comments from current Albert 2 students. That think that they are vital. We have so much curriculum to get through um it won't
063happen to the depth that our students are able to get it without these labs. Um, um page. 16. These are the current 3 Cal students. These were last year's Algebra 2 students. The first year of lab um, out of all the negative feedback, there was 2 negative comments. Um, and the rest was um, positive comments saying how much they love and appreciate labs. Geometry labs are new this year and our geometry teachers are always jam-packed. With curriculum, geographically. Curriculum is very challenging, 131 geometry. Students 89% of them said that having Labs has helped them in Geometry this year. Um, Is that it okay, um, it's moving, um, past that is the LG 1 Lab surveys. They are the younger kids. So take that with you when you will but still 80% of them said they
064do light and appreciate the labs. Um, I did want to show you the data. um, the Elder Regents exam on page 1, um, these numbers show that AIS model and 201316 and our current model, you can see compared to just Lockport I sent that data website that you can download everything and through through this, I just um collected it for you guys. Um we have um outpaced Lockport um for Mastery 49% of our students get Mastery on the algebra 1 in Lockport it's 36% before labs in our AIS model. 23% of our students got Mastery. Whereas 29% in Lockport game Mastery. We were below them and now we've we far surpassed them. Um, the geometry, I want you guys to look at that data. When you get our geometry, kids are going to Rocket this
065year. I know Regents exams are. You know, kind of out of fashion, but the algebra 2 Regents exams. You can see from last year, um, 2 years ago to our last year, first Labs, how those numbers increase? Um, that's from everybody, our whole department, not just the lgbtq teachers but also um, moving up in our courses. Um, Mrs. Lift and Mrs. F Brook. Um, Appreciate that when they get to pre-cal and AP. Um, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. I know I said it was the last 1. Probably. So there you go. If you have any questions, let me know. Thank you very much. on their Roche. I live in 2546 Joanne Court. I am a, we filled resident, but I've Been a North Town. Along the person graduated from Northtown
0661. I've been teaching here since 1995, um, I am a geometry teacher and I just put some stuff because it's the first year for us to have geometry live to put some things together. Just to give you an idea of what I'm seeing in my classroom from happening. These Labs. I know that you know it's like coming together and said we talk of the AIS model and how that um changes from what we're doing in the classroom. But I just think compiled some stuff this year because I knew You know, getting the labs, it was amazing. And I knew that possibly, this could come down to this, where, you know, you do it for a year and budget constraints are, you know, putting them in jeopardy. So it says um myself I have 3 sections
067of geometry. That includes 1 honor section with 23 students in it. Results to date on unit tests for all 3 sections of geometry. So this includes my, you know, 10th graders versus my ninth grade honors. My students have taken the total of 729 tests this year, for all the students of those 394 of those tests, the Mastery 85% or higher, that's an average. In all 3 classes of 54% of the Region's geometry, students, achieving of these 729 tests, taken 67 tests were failed. Although, this sounds like a lot that equals 9% failure rate on unit tests. This means 91% of my students are passing their unit tests. Course results to date, all but fee. And I just finished averages for third Market period this afternoon. Before I typed this up, all but 5 students are
068passing the course here to date of those 5 2. Join the class this month from other districts to have not been in school since September or October and the 1 other student failing has a 41% attendance rate of the students. Passing only 3 have averages between a 65 to 69% the rest. Have a 70% or higher, and honestly, there's aren't even that many in the 70s. They're like, 80% or higher, the labs are working. The students are successful. They like having Labs. I asked them. This question, I say to them. What do you guys think every other day you have math for 84 minutes? What do you think? And they're like, we like it. Their heads. Not this is great Mrs. Brochet. Every time we take a test, every time you take a quiz, you
069are 1-on-1 going over the results with us. We're learning from our mistakes. We're not making the same mistakes again and we're doing well, and they like it, they're not complaining, they're not walking in my door and got to do this again, they get it. Um and as, as Sarah said, what this is doing is building confidence and getting our kids to go on to those higher level math skills. That you're not you're not getting it. So you know, these kids would not be doing this well without a geometry lab. Um, so the labs are working, the students are successful. They like having labs. They plan to stay on track for the Region's Algebra 2 in the advanced Regional program. I'm highly concerned for my geometry students, that there are not Algebra 2 Labs next year,
070I'm concerned for the algebra students coming. Into geometry, if they're not Labs next year because they're not going to do as well. Um, They're they're being successful and that's amazing to see and it's great to support. You know, your stem programs and your, you know, your mass in your science, in your engineering and all that stuff to get these kids to do those higher level courses and be successful in them. um I included in that the second page there and I'm not going to read that out to you because it's very long and I only have 5 minutes on the ticker but um I just highlighted a couple things because I said what what did geometry um Look like when you had to teach it prior to having Labs. We topped out the valve. We
071rarely had time for the students to begin homework in class. I personally never had time to go over quizzes or tests with the students. I told them to see me outside of class if they had questions. We didn't. I'm just skipping down for what I highlighted here. We didn't review for tests in class, I didn't have time to do it. I gave the kids a review sheet and I told them to check their answers that I posted online if they had any questions to come and see me, I couldn't afford the days. There's so much content to be covered in. That course, um, we've finished the year with about 2 and a half to 3 weeks to review. This was with us, scrambling in the last few chapters to see what we could condense and
072make up time. We were constantly, trying to see how we could get the units completed while working around snow days after calendar days off a soundbody square dance contest, uh, field trips. Um, that doesn't even take into consideration if I had a conference to attend or if we got sick because we don't have mad Subs who can come in and our and teach our students. Um, I never had time to go over the CFA results or the midterm with the kids. I didn't have time to reach things if they didn't understand them. There was no remediation. Um the level of student honestly that we're teaching is rapidly declining. Uh, they just don't have the skills that they had years ago. I've finished a lesson the other day and when I was done teaching how to
073complete the square in order to find the equation of a circle. A kid said to me, how do you do 3 squared? He's in 10th Grade. So I am teaching this higher level demand to kids that can transfer a number. Um, the course requires a lot of memorization in 1 unit, we have 17 formulas and none of them are on the formula sheet. So the kids have to remember 74 messages from 1 unit, out of our 11 units, um, What's the benefit of labs? We have time for further explain things. We have time to go over tests quizzes cfas individually 1 on 1. We have more students taking geometry and passing and heading on to those um, Advanced diplomas. And in summary, our department puts 100% into our teaching and preparation, we could use the
074continued inconsistent support of our district for our department and please stress the importance of mathematics and help our students succeed. I thank you for your time. Thank you. Yeah, anyone else would like to speak on any school business? Yes, sir. Her name for the record. Not false. Been a teacher here for 26 years. I really enjoy teaching in this District. I saw the numbers you guys have. I recognize that you know, Financial issues are concerned. A lot of it's not caused by anything that can be done. Something's are? I do know the students that caused any of this. I look at what is done to different programs and I understand you guys have some tough decisions to make. I would advocate for restoring as many programs as you can and keeping what we have. I
075look at the science department. Last year we lost the teacher, not lost 1, but 1 retired. We didn't replace them this year. 3 teachers are retired. We are cut very close classes are filled. We are 1 of those departments that is running 1. Every other year as far as an AP program These are programs that a lot of our good kids, you know, take advantage of get college credit for a cap class is being produced to 1 Section. I know that we can get it done if we need to, but I just would hope that you would restore anything that you possibly put in there. I know it's a very tough decision that you have to make when you do this and I appreciate any consideration you do. Um, I do know that. No matter
076what the teachers in North Tanana will get it done because they're professionals and I am proud to work with all of them. Thank you. Anyone else? All right, I'm seeing any Um, we will go around and see what the board has. They've already got for us today, sure. So understand this difficult to put a monetary value um, Proficiency in the child's education, but um, I speak proudly for the student body when I say, we really love our teachers, really love our programs, Um, we need both. We go together. I encourage us to find a solution for that. Um, congratulations too. For our retirees. And thank you for our longer leaders at Spruce Elementary. Um, I just want to say thank you for giving us all the information. I know that we will look into it
077as a board. Um, So just know that you are. um, congratulations to the retirement, that's always exciting and to bigger and better things. Um, and thank you for Spruce for coming. They're so cute. I'll just also say that, you know, it does not fall on deaf ears, we do listen. When people come to the board meetings and talk to us and express their concerns. So we appreciate What you have said and the data and we will really you know, think hard about it. We can promise that and thank you for the presentation on safety talking about. Um, the restorative practices that we're trying to implement and how they go hand in hand with Consequences and I appreciated. The slide that really broke down what happens when a complaint is made. I think that that was
078very important, um, to say to the public and I think that's it. Yeah, I just I mean this time is always tough for everybody, right? You can't. You can't make a decision while impacting someone else. And, um, the data is unbelievable and we take it, very serious. I also know, I want to say that we We've gotten creative and examining team and Dr. G. And then, a lot of leg work. Around how do we probably rest possible experience without impacting our students back? That includes layoffs? and, I think we're able to do that, right? Um, I think with everything that's been talked about and addressed to be honest, Dr. G zero lineups. Zero instructional Labs. So so we, um, I love the passionate right on how you're passionate about your students and our school district,
079we are the same way and for us it's tough to do to kind of manage the citizens, the students and the faculty. And I think we've done a pretty good job in doing that collectively as a team. So, um, it does not fall on deaf ears, but know that, um, we do try to have the best interests of all parties. Echo. A lot of the things that were already said, so I won't belabor those points but I um, you know, I'd be Earnest not to say the passion that had brought forward by this advocacy is So like I just sits with me and it brings me so much joy and someone that wasn't raised in New York state school. And I really appreciate this level of energy that you're bringing. Because I think ultimately the
080goal that we all share in this room is that we care so much about the student experience and that just makes me happy even though the decisions are hard, and all of it is hard, that's still true. Um, so that was great and then I want to totally unrelated, but I went to the NTI Invention, Convention and was just totally dazzled by our students creativity. So spread the word that that's definitely worth going to when they do it again next year. And I wanted to give a special shout out to Spruce and the presentation earlier. My son goes there, all good things to say. Lovely presentation. Thank you. um, I think we're side. Sure. I I would like to thank all the great music. Um, 1 of the donations, that was accepted tonight was approximately
08110 thousand dollars in instruments. So absolutely, would like to thank them for doing that. And certainly, thank you to Christine and Sarah and Bill for speaking good. Having those opportunities to go into the schools. they do an amazing job as you all of our teachers, they all of our teachers in every single Department, you know, our mental health staff. It's it's incredible to see what they do and it's the challenge they have every single day. So I appreciate what they do, what all of them do? Um and I do appreciate the board. Um on Friday last week attending um going to NCI, going to the middle school. Going to the high school to see what is going on in our schools, they absolutely appreciate doing that. Thank you. Yeah, that was a a super exciting.
082Um, time. We have to go and pop in the classrooms and see what's going on. I think that, um, is, was good to see. Um, I try to make the rounds a couple times a year, so I think, you just to see, you know, we, you know, pop in the cafeteria, is it during passing time and just to see, you know, all the good things that are really are happening popping into the band they played for us and just it was just a great um a great visit and good to get up there. Um but again you know thank you to everyone that took the time to speak and I think again everyone said that data points are super important and it's something that we you know, really look to. And when we make these
083Tough decisions. Um, so I appreciate that from everyone. Um, so with no further business to come before the board, we just need a motion to adjourn at 7:49. So from getting the second, the second all in favor I motion carries, thank you everyone.