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Okay, great.

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If people been let in doing,

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Can we exit the recording thing

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so I can see when people raise their hands?

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Alright, it is six o'clock.

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I'd like to call this special meeting

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to the Barry Unified Indian School District Board to order.

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Our first item is additions or deletions to the agenda.

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Are there any additions or deletions from board members?

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Hearing none. I would entertain a motion

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to approve the agenda as presented.

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Move. So moved by Jeff, seconded by Jackie.

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Discussion. All those in favor say aye. Aye.

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Opposed? Alright.

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Next is public comment for items not on the agenda.

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Before we begin, I want to remind everyone

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that public comment is limited to two minutes per speaker.

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This portion of the meeting is an opportunity for the board

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to listen and hear from the public rather than

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respond directly during comment.

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I understand that sometimes this can sometimes feel

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impersonal, but please know we genuinely welcome

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and appreciate your feedback and participation.

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So do we have any public comment

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for items not on tonight's agenda? Paul?

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I do. What I'm trying

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to understand is you have moved all three

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of your committee meetings to exactly the same time

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at the same night.

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What I don't understand is how do you expect the public

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to weigh in on more than just one subject,

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which is a question well, you guys haven't answered

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because it's not really my call community engagement.

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So all the meetings are recorded and open to the public.

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So if there's a meeting, if you want

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to attend more than one meeting on the same night,

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you will still have an opportunity to watch the meeting and,

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and there are plenty of ways to communicate with the board.

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And just as a reminder, Paul, these are advisory committees.

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They're not decision making bodies

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decisions lie with the full board.

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I understand that but

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that's exactly precisely right point.

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They are advisory and if you want any kind

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of advisory opinions coming from the members

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of the community, you yourself could not be at three

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meetings simultaneously if you had three items

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that you want to talk about.

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This doesn't make sense. Okay,

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I've seen it done in my 45 years.

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If that's a situation that comes up, we'll note

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that when we reconsider the format.

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Thanks so much Paul. Anyone

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else for public comment?

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For items not on the agenda.

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Nancy, I'd like to

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Follow up to, I'm just thinking about what you said

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and I believe I sent an email

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To the whole board.

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The, the meetings are really meetings for the public.

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So it gives them an opportunity to come

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and share their concerns to

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have engage in conversation with board members.

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If you can't attend all three then you're outta luck

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to eight even having a conversation.

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So to me it's kind of contradictory of what you're trying

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to do and this is just my opinion,

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but if it's a meeting of the public,

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you certainly are going in the wrong direction

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and you're minimizing

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and you're kind of eliminating people from attending

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and voicing your opinion

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and it kind of feels like that's what you're trying to do.

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I'm not saying that's your intentions,

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but unintentionally you're trying to limit

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the public from participating in these committee meetings

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or even having a chance to

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say anything. Thank you.

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Thank you Nancy. I will remind folks

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that there is public comment available

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during the committee meetings

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and they're not conversations,

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they're business meetings held in public.

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The public has an opportunity to comment on them.

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I'd also like to note as chair of the policy committee

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there are approximately zero members of the public that came

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for any of those meetings.

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Alright, moving on to current business.

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Oh, thank you Rachel.

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Still muted. Muted? Yeah,

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still muted.

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She on mute? Oh she's got, There we go.

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This is on one of those.

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Still muted.

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Rachel, how about I have you email your comment

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to the full board and so I can move on with the meeting.

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Alright, so under current business item 4.1 is FY 27 budget

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revote discussion as we begin this conversation tonight,

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I wanna provide a brief overview of

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where we are in the process.

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The first budget vote was held on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026,

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and proposed an overall budget increase

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of approximately 3.36%.

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It was not approved by voters.

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The second vote held on Tuesday,

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May 12th, 2026 proposed an overall increase

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of approximately 2.73%.

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It was also not approved.

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While what ultimately matters is the cumulative vote,

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it is worth noting that our most recent May revote was

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supported by voters in Berry City

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and opposed by voters in Berry Town

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creating a more complex path forward for the board

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as we consider another revote in a way that is thoughtful,

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inclusive, and considerate of the many perspectives

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that exist across our greater community.

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The May Revo also saw approximately 2,665 total voters

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participate between both the city and the town.

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According to the November 20, 25 voter information published

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by the Vermont Secretary of State,

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there are approximately 12,565 are disturbed voters

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between Berry City

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and Berry Town, meaning turnout

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for the May re vote was approximately 21%.

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So before we begin this discussion tonight,

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we'll have a series of prompts for that we'll give

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to the board before opening it up to public comment.

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But Joanne, I wanna turn it over to you

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because I maybe also have some information for the board.

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Sure.

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So I've been asked to clarify some information

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that had been published in the Times Argus or

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after the last finance committee meeting.

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And I, I must say that I found some

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of the information a little confusing myself.

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I did not, I was not interviewed,

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I was not asked any questions about the year end projection

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that was provided in the packet to the community that night.

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I do wanna confirm that.

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Yes, in that report it indicated that we had a estimate

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of $170,000

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that would potentially end the year in a, in a deficit.

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However, I wanna remind everyone that

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that report was completed on April 30th.

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We still have several months to go.

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As we end our year, we get a better handle on the,

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on the received revenues as well as projection

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projected expenditures.

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And so I cannot confidently say that we will end the year

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with a deficit at this point.

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Please remember that the district always monitors very

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closely the revenues and expenditures closely

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and we will provide updated information to the board

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and the community when it is appropriate.

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So that is all I have to report about the article.

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Okay, thank you Joanne.

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So as I stated, we will have a series of prompts

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for board members and we'll go around to each board member

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for each of the prompts.

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Once we are completed with the prompts, we'll open it up

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for the public to weigh in on their thoughts

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and reflections from the revote.

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So prompts for discussion tonight first.

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And also one of the prompts at the end will be

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anything we didn't cover in these prompts.

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So please don't feel like there'll be an opportunity to,

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to share your thoughts about the budget.

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You're not just restricted to specific prompts.

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First, what specific concessions

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or modifications are stakeholders requesting?

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And are those requests something we can

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reasonably accommodate?

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We like to start with who would like to start

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and then we'll go around in order

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or I'll pick someone one I can start.

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Sure. I haven't heard anything. Okay.

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So you know, I, I think

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that information would be helpful if, if you feel

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that the district is spending too much, we need to know on

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what, I haven't heard anything here.

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Emily.

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I, I agree.

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I think maybe we need a another to communicate with

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the community of

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what they are requesting.

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We had a very limited response with our survey

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and we did adapt our

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second budget proposal based on those responses.

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But it either wasn't enough

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or people didn't respond to the survey.

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I suspect much

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of it is about taxes, it's about money.

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And there, as our budget process evolved,

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the yield changed, which improved our tax,

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the projected tax rate.

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You know, it was reduced by four more cents.

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So there a lot of things had happened that we weren't able

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to fully communicate with people.

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But yeah, maybe it's good to ask people again like

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what are they

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requesting with this?

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No vote

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Steven.

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So yeah, with the conversations that I've had

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and the feedback I've received from the community,

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I haven't heard anything regarding concessions.

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All I have heard is I, the tax, the taxes are too high,

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I wanna pay less money in taxes.

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And when I ask, well what outcomes are you looking for?

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It's, I want better student outcomes.

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And I, and then like, okay, what specifically?

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And I'm never getting any specifics

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and so I'm willing, so that's been a point of frustration.

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Like I'm trying to do the best best I can,

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but I'm not getting the feedback

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that I need from the community.

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Or at least I don't feel that I'm

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Lindsay, I'm

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hearing a lot of the same.

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I guess one thing I've heard is

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with enrollment going down that

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some folks are looking for a reduction.

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The staff.

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I think that from what I've seen for the enrollment data

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by grade

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and what we have for teachers is it matches our policy.

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So we got rid of teachers,

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we might be outta compliance with our policy.

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And I've also heard they wanna see their principals.

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So sorry I didn't catch that.

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Principals, we wanna see rid of principals. Okay.

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Hey Jeff.

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Like Lindsay, I've heard that come from

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the community as well, that there's a lot

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of administrative staff in our district

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and when cutting budgets,

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you know, staffing is a real challenge.

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I mean what, what's at stake?

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I haven't heard anybody talk about cutting programs,

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athletics or arts.

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I haven't heard anybody in the community bring those up.

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You hear a lot about taxes

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and how taxes are crippling a lot of folks

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and reworking that formula needs to happen

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sooner rather than later.

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But when it comes to us making any changes,

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that's all I've heard.

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It's Jackie, I mean I've, I've heard the same,

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it was voted down 'cause people pay a lot in taxes.

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As far as specifics, I would echo

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what everyone here has said.

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I would call it sort of a hopeful narrative.

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So when people, from what I can tell the, the sort

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of root cause of this is they feel like costs are out

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of control and they are, I mean it's labor costs are a

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response to the costs at large.

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The cost of groceries, the cost of healthcare, everything.

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So in that sort of mind space, I've heard a lot of these,

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again, hopeful narratives.

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There must be too many administrators,

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there must be too much spend here.

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There must be, you know, something going on

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that we can point to or

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or the, you know, at the enrollment I've heard the

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enrollment too, even though a lower population density is

266
00:14:22,005 --> 00:14:23,285
always more expensive.

267
00:14:23,345 --> 00:14:25,085
But again, it's this hopeful narrative

268
00:14:25,925 --> 00:14:28,325
because I think people feel kind of out of control

269
00:14:28,835 --> 00:14:30,965
with the costs and we all do.

270
00:14:31,785 --> 00:14:34,245
So I mean as far as what we can accommodate,

271
00:14:34,265 --> 00:14:35,445
we can't change the economy.

272
00:14:35,545 --> 00:14:37,285
So I don't think we can accommodate it.

273
00:14:40,565 --> 00:14:43,165
I also, I wrote a note, you know, speaking

274
00:14:43,185 --> 00:14:45,445
of finance committee, I think it would be a,

275
00:14:45,625 --> 00:14:47,885
and also in response to what Joanna said,

276
00:14:48,005 --> 00:14:51,305
I think it might be helpful for finance to, to,

277
00:14:53,355 --> 00:14:55,335
to go into how to read these budgets.

278
00:14:55,595 --> 00:14:56,975
You know, these are predictions.

279
00:14:57,675 --> 00:15:01,175
You can't count your eggs before they ha

280
00:15:01,175 --> 00:15:02,575
or your chickens before they hatch.

281
00:15:02,585 --> 00:15:05,375
Right? And and how does that look in a budget?

282
00:15:05,575 --> 00:15:06,895
'cause they're, they're complicated

283
00:15:06,895 --> 00:15:11,015
and I, I think, I think people are looking for the solution

284
00:15:11,115 --> 00:15:13,775
and it's, we're doing our best to find it.

285
00:15:16,105 --> 00:15:17,125
Thanks Catherine.

286
00:15:18,795 --> 00:15:21,925
Yeah, a lot of what I hear is, is the same

287
00:15:23,965 --> 00:15:27,065
that's been mentioned already with the budget survey.

288
00:15:28,245 --> 00:15:31,245
A lot of those points were brought up even though it was a

289
00:15:31,245 --> 00:15:34,445
small sampling of people, it was the, the largest

290
00:15:36,065 --> 00:15:39,095
categories of what concerned people the most

291
00:15:39,635 --> 00:15:42,975
was overall spending administrative costs

292
00:15:44,345 --> 00:15:47,365
and between staffing levels and unsure.

293
00:15:48,285 --> 00:15:52,065
And I think it's that unsure part that is interesting to me

294
00:15:52,065 --> 00:15:55,745
because what we have is a community that has

295
00:15:56,525 --> 00:16:00,865
doubts about how this is being

296
00:16:01,445 --> 00:16:03,825
put forward and,

297
00:16:03,925 --> 00:16:06,265
and without addressing the doubts

298
00:16:06,265 --> 00:16:08,505
that the community has about our budget,

299
00:16:09,985 --> 00:16:13,905
I don't think we're going to be able to connect

300
00:16:13,905 --> 00:16:15,105
with those folks

301
00:16:15,415 --> 00:16:17,985
that have re reservations about voting

302
00:16:18,125 --> 00:16:19,265
yes on a school budget.

303
00:16:20,705 --> 00:16:25,665
And I think what they're looking for is the school board

304
00:16:26,005 --> 00:16:29,225
to take an active role in going through the budget

305
00:16:31,115 --> 00:16:32,125
with administration

306
00:16:33,225 --> 00:16:34,525
and coming out with something

307
00:16:34,915 --> 00:16:37,575
that we have gone through embedded.

308
00:16:46,295 --> 00:16:50,465
Let's see. I echo what a lot

309
00:16:50,465 --> 00:16:51,705
of folks have said here.

310
00:16:51,765 --> 00:16:54,145
The primary thing that I heard was

311
00:16:56,945 --> 00:17:00,865
a concern about, I would say the value of education.

312
00:17:01,285 --> 00:17:02,425
And I think that leads back to

313
00:17:02,425 --> 00:17:04,585
what Ian was saying when he heard from folks about

314
00:17:04,585 --> 00:17:05,865
better student outcomes.

315
00:17:06,525 --> 00:17:07,825
And so I translate that,

316
00:17:07,845 --> 00:17:09,105
how does that line up with the budget?

317
00:17:09,305 --> 00:17:12,955
I think people are, are pushing the value.

318
00:17:13,615 --> 00:17:17,555
So how do we speak to to that, that might be more in

319
00:17:18,235 --> 00:17:19,515
a future outreach question,

320
00:17:19,615 --> 00:17:24,265
but those were specific, specific questions I had.

321
00:17:24,445 --> 00:17:26,745
I'm gonna continue to move through the prompts.

322
00:17:26,825 --> 00:17:31,145
I I don't and there'll be a chance to speak

323
00:17:31,965 --> 00:17:34,785
on generally outside the prompts after.

324
00:17:39,305 --> 00:17:42,445
So for the second prompt,

325
00:17:43,185 --> 00:17:46,925
should additional tax stabilization money be used?

326
00:17:49,805 --> 00:17:53,745
So Catherine, if I could start with you this time,

327
00:17:54,665 --> 00:17:55,905
I don't think additional tax

328
00:17:55,905 --> 00:17:57,385
deposition money should be used.

329
00:17:58,345 --> 00:18:02,345
I think that takes away from the work that we need

330
00:18:02,345 --> 00:18:03,345
to be doing and

331
00:18:03,445 --> 00:18:05,185
and ensuring that the budgets are

332
00:18:05,315 --> 00:18:06,665
where they, they should be.

333
00:18:07,205 --> 00:18:11,925
It kind of use an overused verbiage picks the can

334
00:18:12,515 --> 00:18:16,235
down the road and I think

335
00:18:17,835 --> 00:18:20,295
we need to really work with what we are dealing with

336
00:18:20,435 --> 00:18:22,535
and the tax stabilization should be there

337
00:18:23,615 --> 00:18:25,835
for future use if needed.

338
00:18:26,015 --> 00:18:30,195
But we've been using a lot of that in the past few years

339
00:18:30,455 --> 00:18:32,555
and if

340
00:18:32,555 --> 00:18:35,475
that's not there then you really have a problem to deal with.

341
00:18:35,535 --> 00:18:36,675
So I'd rather deal with it

342
00:18:36,675 --> 00:18:41,365
and have it than not have it Jackie.

343
00:18:42,465 --> 00:18:46,905
So I mean we fiscally we probably should leave it.

344
00:18:46,905 --> 00:18:49,545
However, I don't think it's entirely up to the board.

345
00:18:49,775 --> 00:18:52,385
It's up to the community and they've spoken pretty loud

346
00:18:52,385 --> 00:18:53,545
and clear that they want more

347
00:18:54,925 --> 00:18:58,665
and I think if they saw any sort of surplus that we didn't

348
00:18:59,405 --> 00:19:01,465
tap into or use a good amount of,

349
00:19:01,745 --> 00:19:04,425
I think they would lose space in that we were listening to.

350
00:19:05,125 --> 00:19:07,575
We have to. Jeff,

351
00:19:11,285 --> 00:19:14,945
I'm unsure whether we should or shouldn't

352
00:19:15,485 --> 00:19:20,045
and I'm still rolling it over.

353
00:19:20,045 --> 00:19:22,595
Thanks Lindsay.

354
00:19:31,725 --> 00:19:35,685
Oh, I would have to do some math

355
00:19:36,545 --> 00:19:39,325
on what would still be left in there

356
00:19:39,385 --> 00:19:43,125
and what's the percentage of that

357
00:19:43,785 --> 00:19:46,525
of our budget because are we only supposed to I think

358
00:19:48,555 --> 00:19:51,975
5% or something in the fund?

359
00:19:53,835 --> 00:19:58,695
So I would have to look into it more,

360
00:19:59,745 --> 00:20:04,635
but I think it's supposed to be used to reduce the tax

361
00:20:07,325 --> 00:20:09,175
like 5% last year's budget.

362
00:20:11,075 --> 00:20:12,075
Fine.

363
00:20:13,205 --> 00:20:17,855
That would actually be a board policy or expectation.

364
00:20:18,495 --> 00:20:21,855
There are districts that keep 1%, some keep more than

365
00:20:21,855 --> 00:20:24,535
that in a reserve for that to happen.

366
00:20:25,475 --> 00:20:28,055
But we have not really talked about what our goal is

367
00:20:28,635 --> 00:20:30,215
at the board level and I think

368
00:20:30,215 --> 00:20:31,935
that's a discussion we need to have going

369
00:20:31,935 --> 00:20:32,935
Forward.

370
00:20:32,935 --> 00:20:36,535
Yeah, that's something like the limit is 5%,

371
00:20:36,585 --> 00:20:38,015
Maybe that's the limit. Okay.

372
00:20:38,475 --> 00:20:40,895
So I guess I just, I don't know what the math is

373
00:20:41,275 --> 00:20:45,635
of the top of my on what we have left in there.

374
00:20:45,975 --> 00:20:49,285
So it's less than 5%

375
00:20:51,045 --> 00:20:52,605
I think we can keep it there

376
00:20:53,245 --> 00:20:56,065
For, but if it's more Than 5%

377
00:21:00,275 --> 00:21:02,615
It, so

378
00:21:03,395 --> 00:21:05,455
For me personally, the answer would be no.

379
00:21:06,835 --> 00:21:08,935
But with that there is a caveat

380
00:21:09,405 --> 00:21:10,455
with members of the community.

381
00:21:10,455 --> 00:21:14,255
I've spoken to the, a lot of the individual, a lot

382
00:21:14,255 --> 00:21:15,895
of parents and care

383
00:21:16,235 --> 00:21:19,335
and those who have students in our schools, they have said

384
00:21:19,335 --> 00:21:22,955
that the higher taxes is a, the effect of life that yeah,

385
00:21:22,955 --> 00:21:26,075
it's unpleasant, but that's the cost of living in society.

386
00:21:27,035 --> 00:21:30,915
However, the most vocal people have been most vocally

387
00:21:30,915 --> 00:21:33,035
against the budget have always have been asking

388
00:21:33,055 --> 00:21:36,675
for lower taxes without stating how to do that.

389
00:21:36,815 --> 00:21:40,375
So in order to appease 'em, they don't know

390
00:21:40,375 --> 00:21:43,575
of any other way short of to fulfill their wishes other than

391
00:21:43,915 --> 00:21:45,895
to dip into it because they haven't given

392
00:21:45,955 --> 00:21:47,975
and given any other meaningful guidance.

393
00:21:50,525 --> 00:21:54,835
Emily, In the past

394
00:21:55,695 --> 00:21:57,635
we have committed to using a lot

395
00:21:57,635 --> 00:22:00,755
of tax stabilization dollars in past budgets

396
00:22:02,125 --> 00:22:04,835
under the rationale of saying we're giving the money back

397
00:22:04,835 --> 00:22:07,155
to the taxpayers, this is taxpayer money

398
00:22:07,335 --> 00:22:08,515
and they would like it back.

399
00:22:11,455 --> 00:22:13,795
And I think that still is true.

400
00:22:14,145 --> 00:22:16,875
This, this is taxpayer money, it is intended

401
00:22:16,975 --> 00:22:19,595
to provide relief for our tax bill.

402
00:22:20,435 --> 00:22:24,355
I think that it is a bandaid that doesn't solve the problem,

403
00:22:25,255 --> 00:22:26,705
but we don't have the tools

404
00:22:26,725 --> 00:22:29,705
to solve the problem at our, on our local board.

405
00:22:31,085 --> 00:22:34,545
So I think we have to look carefully at the numbers of

406
00:22:34,545 --> 00:22:37,505
how much money we're going to use, what the impact

407
00:22:37,775 --> 00:22:41,705
that is on our budget and how to use it most effectively.

408
00:22:44,445 --> 00:22:46,765
Okay. Juliana? I'm split.

409
00:22:48,765 --> 00:22:53,365
I I would say in the past I would definitely say we need

410
00:22:53,365 --> 00:22:57,435
to hold onto it, but in

411
00:22:58,035 --> 00:23:02,075
previous years I think we've been reckless on how we

412
00:23:02,945 --> 00:23:04,515
used it for tax stabilization.

413
00:23:05,495 --> 00:23:06,715
The chunks were much larger

414
00:23:07,335 --> 00:23:12,075
and now we're dealing with a smaller pool of money that

415
00:23:14,605 --> 00:23:16,455
will help but really

416
00:23:17,305 --> 00:23:19,255
won't help in the larger scheme of things.

417
00:23:20,155 --> 00:23:21,295
So I'm, I'm I'm torn.

418
00:23:25,485 --> 00:23:29,135
Yeah, for me, I I echo that too.

419
00:23:29,615 --> 00:23:32,905
I think it's always better to have

420
00:23:35,465 --> 00:23:36,655
money saved up

421
00:23:36,795 --> 00:23:40,485
for when we need it.

422
00:23:42,085 --> 00:23:45,645
I also hear what people are saying with how do we

423
00:23:46,575 --> 00:23:48,505
help lower the burden the taxpayers.

424
00:23:48,565 --> 00:23:53,195
So, you know, I I would lean towards no,

425
00:23:53,295 --> 00:23:56,155
but I I also feel conflicted about it.

426
00:23:59,525 --> 00:24:03,905
Do you feel you got All right.

427
00:24:04,195 --> 00:24:09,145
Third, what should our community

428
00:24:09,545 --> 00:24:12,705
outreach and communication plan look like moving forward

429
00:24:12,805 --> 00:24:14,105
to ensure transparency

430
00:24:14,965 --> 00:24:17,545
and help rebuild consensus before the next vote.

431
00:24:18,695 --> 00:24:20,635
On that same note, are there additional pieces

432
00:24:20,695 --> 00:24:22,435
of information we should be presenting

433
00:24:22,435 --> 00:24:25,715
to help the community better understand the request

434
00:24:26,095 --> 00:24:29,835
before them and repeat

435
00:24:29,835 --> 00:24:31,275
that if anyone needs it?

436
00:24:32,185 --> 00:24:36,165
Yeah. What should our community outreach

437
00:24:36,825 --> 00:24:39,525
and communication plan look like moving forward

438
00:24:40,385 --> 00:24:43,685
to ensure transparency and help rebuild consensus

439
00:24:43,685 --> 00:24:44,845
before the next vote.

440
00:24:46,375 --> 00:24:50,075
And is there any additional pieces

441
00:24:50,135 --> 00:24:52,515
of information we should be presenting?

442
00:24:58,905 --> 00:25:00,735
Wanna start? Sure go too.

443
00:25:02,695 --> 00:25:06,695
I think we need to explain it

444
00:25:07,595 --> 00:25:11,455
so that our kids understand what's going on.

445
00:25:12,925 --> 00:25:14,575
Yeah, I think it should be broken down

446
00:25:16,635 --> 00:25:17,975
in simpler terms

447
00:25:18,325 --> 00:25:20,575
that they can understand why we're doing this,

448
00:25:21,435 --> 00:25:24,895
why the process is so confusing and hung up.

449
00:25:25,735 --> 00:25:27,855
I think if we can do that, we might actually

450
00:25:27,855 --> 00:25:29,895
reach more people.

451
00:25:38,275 --> 00:25:40,275
I think we need help with communication,

452
00:25:42,825 --> 00:25:46,555
sending out flyers, sending out text

453
00:25:46,555 --> 00:25:47,915
and emails to people.

454
00:25:48,025 --> 00:25:51,765
It's not working. I wonder what kind

455
00:25:51,765 --> 00:25:55,205
of resources the VSBA could point us in.

456
00:25:56,325 --> 00:25:59,365
I wonder what kind of resources other districts could share

457
00:25:59,365 --> 00:26:01,845
with us to help us with the communication plan.

458
00:26:03,805 --> 00:26:05,425
One that involves all

459
00:26:05,965 --> 00:26:08,865
the communication tools in the district's disposal.

460
00:26:11,295 --> 00:26:14,985
I, I think, I think we need to look at someone

461
00:26:15,095 --> 00:26:17,785
outside coming in to give us some advice there.

462
00:26:20,785 --> 00:26:23,125
Thank you. So

463
00:26:23,635 --> 00:26:24,725
With the outreach, I

464
00:26:24,735 --> 00:26:27,565
Agree with Emily that we probably should bring in external

465
00:26:27,885 --> 00:26:28,885
resource to help us with this.

466
00:26:30,645 --> 00:26:32,785
One other variable is,

467
00:26:33,645 --> 00:26:36,305
and I just wanna stress the importance

468
00:26:36,305 --> 00:26:38,185
of the entire board being on a,

469
00:26:39,385 --> 00:26:40,825
maintaining the same message publicly

470
00:26:40,825 --> 00:26:45,605
because that for our community.

471
00:26:48,325 --> 00:26:49,075
Thank you Lindsay.

472
00:26:54,095 --> 00:26:58,715
I agree with having Make

473
00:26:59,075 --> 00:27:02,545
Somebody from the outside has stuff come in.

474
00:27:11,505 --> 00:27:14,055
Anything else? Okay Jeff?

475
00:27:19,945 --> 00:27:24,255
Yeah, the feel like we've

476
00:27:25,525 --> 00:27:29,785
had a lot of and used a lot of diligence to get the word out

477
00:27:30,085 --> 00:27:35,025
and it just didn't seem to work outside.

478
00:27:38,085 --> 00:27:39,575
Yeah, it might be helpful

479
00:27:44,425 --> 00:27:45,425
Jackie.

480
00:27:46,395 --> 00:27:50,885
Yeah, I agree Juliano, I think some kind of simple

481
00:27:51,395 --> 00:27:55,415
sort of all encompassing talking points, videos,

482
00:27:58,255 --> 00:28:01,105
something that can be shared at little

483
00:28:01,125 --> 00:28:02,585
to no expense to the district.

484
00:28:02,945 --> 00:28:06,545
I think that backfired us trying to communicate.

485
00:28:08,525 --> 00:28:13,385
So yeah, I, I agree with Juliano about having some very,

486
00:28:13,415 --> 00:28:15,465
very simple concise messaging.

487
00:28:15,775 --> 00:28:16,775
However

488
00:28:19,255 --> 00:28:19,955
You, Catherine,

489
00:28:26,285 --> 00:28:28,445
I think community outreach should not be

490
00:28:29,005 --> 00:28:33,085
a perennial exercise that comes around every budget season.

491
00:28:34,085 --> 00:28:38,005
I think community outreach is an obligation of the board

492
00:28:38,665 --> 00:28:40,245
all year every year.

493
00:28:40,985 --> 00:28:43,045
And that when we get to the budget time

494
00:28:43,185 --> 00:28:46,515
and we lose a vote that that is screaming

495
00:28:46,515 --> 00:28:48,875
that we are not communicating throughout the year.

496
00:28:50,895 --> 00:28:55,315
The community comes to talk with us to people try

497
00:28:55,315 --> 00:28:56,315
to share things with us.

498
00:28:57,135 --> 00:29:01,225
If we are shutting them down regularly, they're,

499
00:29:01,225 --> 00:29:02,345
they're not going to want

500
00:29:02,345 --> 00:29:05,865
to participate in when we decide they wanna

501
00:29:05,865 --> 00:29:07,065
participate when they decide.

502
00:29:08,015 --> 00:29:11,955
And I think that as a board we need to be more open

503
00:29:12,495 --> 00:29:14,835
to receiving feedback

504
00:29:14,975 --> 00:29:18,275
and input from the community all year.

505
00:29:19,415 --> 00:29:21,795
And I think that will make everything go smoother

506
00:29:22,215 --> 00:29:26,085
and we won't need any special help to get that out there

507
00:29:26,085 --> 00:29:28,405
because we'll have those connections

508
00:29:28,785 --> 00:29:31,405
and relationships all the time.

509
00:29:37,685 --> 00:29:42,565
Yeah, pretty

510
00:29:42,565 --> 00:29:45,925
much everyone here, I do agree about simple talking points,

511
00:29:45,985 --> 00:29:50,305
simple graphics, explaining points of

512
00:29:51,755 --> 00:29:55,265
where we are in the process, what we control versus

513
00:29:55,295 --> 00:29:56,545
what the state controls.

514
00:29:56,665 --> 00:29:59,545
I think there's some people whose minds we won't change on

515
00:29:59,545 --> 00:30:02,545
that, but if we can get the right information out

516
00:30:03,195 --> 00:30:05,305
still that's important.

517
00:30:06,545 --> 00:30:09,305
I agree with having an outsider perspective

518
00:30:09,375 --> 00:30:10,585
that would be refreshing.

519
00:30:11,525 --> 00:30:14,465
And I agree with Catherine.

520
00:30:14,525 --> 00:30:17,705
My old role or my old major

521
00:30:17,705 --> 00:30:20,625
before working in libraries was communications and pr

522
00:30:21,045 --> 00:30:23,665
and the first rule is you have to do it all the time.

523
00:30:23,845 --> 00:30:27,185
You can't just do it when you want someone to do something.

524
00:30:28,205 --> 00:30:31,665
So maybe reaching to service clubs,

525
00:30:31,665 --> 00:30:34,425
having a process at some public meetings like that.

526
00:30:37,035 --> 00:30:40,425
Barry is hard because Barry, what's unique about Barry is

527
00:30:40,425 --> 00:30:42,425
that there's so many different groups and perspectives,

528
00:30:42,485 --> 00:30:43,945
but the challenge is there's a lot

529
00:30:43,945 --> 00:30:46,105
of different base to cover.

530
00:30:46,245 --> 00:30:47,905
So it's, it's definitely a challenge

531
00:30:47,925 --> 00:30:50,105
but it's a good challenge to get out there and,

532
00:30:50,605 --> 00:30:52,505
and meet folks who are there at and hear from them.

533
00:30:52,605 --> 00:30:56,745
So I, I keep thinking of service clubs like Rotary,

534
00:30:57,625 --> 00:30:59,065
which one is going away?

535
00:30:59,135 --> 00:31:01,425
Come on, whatever. Two are still around.

536
00:31:03,125 --> 00:31:06,785
And, and there are, there are other groups behind those,

537
00:31:06,845 --> 00:31:09,305
but those are what are coming top of mind right now.

538
00:31:10,285 --> 00:31:15,235
Go to these people. There are

539
00:31:15,235 --> 00:31:19,375
things we just don't see in our feeds.

540
00:31:19,525 --> 00:31:22,335
It's easy for things to get lost digitally.

541
00:31:23,115 --> 00:31:25,855
So I think we do need to go to people

542
00:31:25,855 --> 00:31:28,615
however we can to cover all of our bases

543
00:31:28,615 --> 00:31:29,855
and it's, it's gonna be hard.

544
00:31:29,855 --> 00:31:31,215
It's a lot of, it's a lot of work.

545
00:31:34,315 --> 00:31:39,225
Let's, so before I go around to kind of

546
00:31:40,495 --> 00:31:43,985
give everyone a chance to say what's on your mind beyond

547
00:31:44,095 --> 00:31:46,835
what were the prompts, I'll also remind

548
00:31:46,835 --> 00:31:49,595
that this won't be the last chance to speak about

549
00:31:51,175 --> 00:31:52,635
the budget revote that we,

550
00:31:53,735 --> 00:31:56,155
our next agenda item is about timeline

551
00:31:56,295 --> 00:31:58,875
and that we have a meeting in less than a week and,

552
00:31:58,895 --> 00:32:01,795
and the budget will be on the agenda again.

553
00:32:01,975 --> 00:32:05,555
So this is not your last, this isn't the last chance

554
00:32:05,735 --> 00:32:07,315
to, to weigh in.

555
00:32:08,295 --> 00:32:13,055
So with that said, is there anyone

556
00:32:13,055 --> 00:32:16,055
that would like to start with final thoughts

557
00:32:16,155 --> 00:32:18,705
or I can just pick some point?

558
00:32:26,495 --> 00:32:29,985
I'll go. Alright Ian, just

559
00:32:29,985 --> 00:32:31,625
with the budget vote Revo.

560
00:32:32,495 --> 00:32:34,185
I'll admit it's been frustrating

561
00:32:36,395 --> 00:32:38,775
but I think this is something we

562
00:32:38,775 --> 00:32:43,215
Can get through that there are just a lot

563
00:32:43,215 --> 00:32:46,215
of competing priorities going on right now and a lot of,

564
00:32:46,755 --> 00:32:49,015
and a lot of information that we're waiting on from the

565
00:32:49,015 --> 00:32:52,615
state that even the state hasn't clarified the

566
00:32:52,615 --> 00:32:54,515
yield and everything.

567
00:32:54,615 --> 00:32:57,195
So admittedly I understand the community, it's hard

568
00:32:57,195 --> 00:32:59,835
for the community to make a decision on vote when

569
00:33:00,535 --> 00:33:01,755
we don't have all the facts.

570
00:33:01,975 --> 00:33:06,815
So I wish we were in the situation, but we are

571
00:33:06,875 --> 00:33:09,675
and we're gonna do the best we can to get through this.

572
00:33:18,085 --> 00:33:22,675
So I don't think that we need to

573
00:33:23,545 --> 00:33:26,555
necessarily even go to these special groups

574
00:33:26,735 --> 00:33:27,835
to communicate with them.

575
00:33:28,595 --> 00:33:32,195
I, there's plenty of times people come here to talk to us

576
00:33:33,575 --> 00:33:37,075
and we never are able to have a dialogue.

577
00:33:37,775 --> 00:33:40,915
And I, and I know we can't do it at every board meeting,

578
00:33:41,695 --> 00:33:45,655
but we need to have a dialogue with the community.

579
00:33:45,725 --> 00:33:47,895
They come here, they've spoken

580
00:33:47,955 --> 00:33:49,895
to the board on multiple occasions

581
00:33:50,675 --> 00:33:52,775
and we don't have a dialogue with them.

582
00:33:53,835 --> 00:33:57,645
So I think we need to have a meeting.

583
00:33:58,265 --> 00:34:02,165
It needs to be on a more regular basis, not just budget time

584
00:34:03,055 --> 00:34:05,245
where we do have a back

585
00:34:05,245 --> 00:34:10,115
and forth with the community to engage on.

586
00:34:10,495 --> 00:34:12,235
And then, you know, if we,

587
00:34:12,425 --> 00:34:14,595
there's other opportunities that would be great.

588
00:34:18,415 --> 00:34:23,325
I, and I am concerned

589
00:34:23,975 --> 00:34:28,945
about the financial stuff from

590
00:34:28,945 --> 00:34:30,025
what it looks like to me.

591
00:34:30,135 --> 00:34:35,115
It's just not, we're down in the

592
00:34:35,315 --> 00:34:37,395
business office and it's showing

593
00:34:38,405 --> 00:34:42,985
and I don't know what the plan is to rectify that situation

594
00:34:43,955 --> 00:34:48,015
and it's not doing us any favors when it comes

595
00:34:48,035 --> 00:34:50,525
to the budget phobe, you know,

596
00:34:50,525 --> 00:34:52,685
we just had the article in there and I think that's

597
00:34:52,685 --> 00:34:57,265
because things are not current in there

598
00:34:57,885 --> 00:35:02,265
or we don't have somebody available to explain to us.

599
00:35:02,565 --> 00:35:06,825
And I don't think they put in correctly or something.

600
00:35:07,385 --> 00:35:11,025
I just, I I feel like something may be off there.

601
00:35:11,925 --> 00:35:16,315
And there's other reductions that we have heard of

602
00:35:17,705 --> 00:35:18,835
outside of the budget

603
00:35:19,345 --> 00:35:22,595
that I don't know why they're not reflected in the budget,

604
00:35:25,615 --> 00:35:30,375
why we're not talking about those reductions.

605
00:35:32,475 --> 00:35:37,045
So it was like last year we lost summer

606
00:35:37,125 --> 00:35:38,365
school, nobody knew it.

607
00:35:38,825 --> 00:35:41,175
And there's, I believe that there's

608
00:35:42,425 --> 00:35:46,075
similar things happening in the budget this year

609
00:35:46,665 --> 00:35:47,595
that we're not aware

610
00:35:47,595 --> 00:35:52,595
of Jeff.

611
00:35:54,235 --> 00:35:55,365
Yeah, there's a few things. The,

612
00:35:55,425 --> 00:35:57,645
the vote wasn't terribly far off, right?

613
00:35:57,705 --> 00:36:00,085
It passed in the city, it didn't pass in the town.

614
00:36:01,025 --> 00:36:04,515
And I feel like part of the

615
00:36:05,075 --> 00:36:06,795
misunderstanding about school success

616
00:36:06,815 --> 00:36:08,915
and student like student outcomes

617
00:36:09,535 --> 00:36:11,235
is a little bit misrepresented.

618
00:36:11,295 --> 00:36:12,595
And I'm just thinking out loud here

619
00:36:12,595 --> 00:36:14,475
because I've heard this from the community

620
00:36:14,475 --> 00:36:17,515
and I'm listening to everybody talk about some ideas why,

621
00:36:17,615 --> 00:36:20,355
but think about the, it's, it's a pretty small margin

622
00:36:20,585 --> 00:36:21,835
that it didn't pass by.

623
00:36:21,975 --> 00:36:25,255
And there's some folks who have a misunderstanding

624
00:36:25,475 --> 00:36:27,055
of student success in school

625
00:36:27,285 --> 00:36:29,495
regarding student outcomes based on like

626
00:36:30,015 --> 00:36:32,455
standardized state testing and how that's published

627
00:36:32,515 --> 00:36:37,495
and we're like looked at in a poor fashion for

628
00:36:37,795 --> 00:36:39,015
so many different reasons.

629
00:36:39,315 --> 00:36:41,415
But just because numbers suggest

630
00:36:41,415 --> 00:36:44,775
that we're not out competing different cities in our state,

631
00:36:45,835 --> 00:36:47,215
the metric is flawed.

632
00:36:47,275 --> 00:36:48,615
It is an important data point,

633
00:36:48,675 --> 00:36:50,655
but I will say it out loud, it is very flawed

634
00:36:50,655 --> 00:36:52,615
and it's misrepresenting of how we're doing here.

635
00:36:53,395 --> 00:36:56,095
And I feel like if we change a little bit of the tone,

636
00:36:56,475 --> 00:36:59,255
how we talk and think about our schools in the community

637
00:36:59,755 --> 00:37:02,535
to be proud of them, to continue to highlight

638
00:37:02,535 --> 00:37:04,175
and look at the things that we're doing well,

639
00:37:04,305 --> 00:37:06,175
which we are already doing as a board.

640
00:37:06,275 --> 00:37:08,095
I'm just saying like all of us could continue

641
00:37:08,095 --> 00:37:10,775
to do it even more frequently, even more loudly,

642
00:37:10,775 --> 00:37:14,095
even more assertively because we are doing amazing things.

643
00:37:14,255 --> 00:37:16,215
I talk to the kids in my neighborhood all the

644
00:37:16,215 --> 00:37:17,735
time, they're jazz.

645
00:37:18,375 --> 00:37:20,055
I mean the fill the bowl

646
00:37:21,375 --> 00:37:23,175
fundraiser the other night I wasn't able

647
00:37:23,175 --> 00:37:24,775
to be in attendance, but I heard it was awesome.

648
00:37:27,115 --> 00:37:29,415
The, the musical performance coming up in the city

649
00:37:30,355 --> 00:37:33,335
by Andrew Cek is, is really exciting and awesome.

650
00:37:33,895 --> 00:37:38,335
I feel like having only 2,500 people vote out of 12,000

651
00:37:39,315 --> 00:37:41,775
was like a little bit of an embarrassment.

652
00:37:42,335 --> 00:37:44,255
I don't know why we can't get people to the polls

653
00:37:44,475 --> 00:37:47,855
to vote yes for our budget because our students deserve it.

654
00:37:48,555 --> 00:37:52,255
And I think if we continue to change that conversation

655
00:37:52,315 --> 00:37:55,415
around state standardized testing and how we are looked at

656
00:37:55,795 --> 00:37:59,055
and judged negatively, maybe

657
00:37:59,055 --> 00:38:01,015
that might help change the needle on, you know,

658
00:38:01,015 --> 00:38:02,055
getting people out to vote.

659
00:38:03,705 --> 00:38:08,055
Ms. Jackie, you know, I'm glad you said that Jeff

660
00:38:08,435 --> 00:38:11,375
and I was thinking, you know, with some of these comments

661
00:38:13,705 --> 00:38:18,435
there's a lot of sort of fear and mistrust and how, I mean,

662
00:38:18,455 --> 00:38:22,755
before you spoke I was thinking how scary it must be

663
00:38:22,775 --> 00:38:24,595
to look at something you don't understand

664
00:38:24,775 --> 00:38:26,715
and be afraid of it and turn against it.

665
00:38:26,765 --> 00:38:31,195
Right? And then I realized, you know, with

666
00:38:31,195 --> 00:38:33,315
what you're saying, which is true by the way the the

667
00:38:33,555 --> 00:38:37,245
standardized testing is, is good for very narrow range

668
00:38:37,305 --> 00:38:38,565
of judgment.

669
00:38:41,525 --> 00:38:43,345
We just need to focus on what we're good at,

670
00:38:43,345 --> 00:38:45,225
which is educating, I mean,

671
00:38:45,225 --> 00:38:47,805
and that's you're an educator, you know,

672
00:38:47,805 --> 00:38:49,325
look at something you don't understand

673
00:38:49,545 --> 00:38:51,285
and embrace it and try to learn more.

674
00:38:51,425 --> 00:38:54,445
And if we, excuse me, if we could bring that energy

675
00:38:55,265 --> 00:38:57,565
to the community, I don't think we'd have any more

676
00:38:58,185 --> 00:38:59,505
because a lot of what

677
00:39:00,075 --> 00:39:03,185
we're hearing is this mistrust based on

678
00:39:03,185 --> 00:39:04,305
a lack of understanding.

679
00:39:05,505 --> 00:39:08,245
And if we could just learn to embrace that lack

680
00:39:08,245 --> 00:39:12,285
of understanding as just the first step in understanding

681
00:39:12,425 --> 00:39:15,365
to understanding, I think we have a lot more success.

682
00:39:17,645 --> 00:39:20,115
Catherine. Yeah.

683
00:39:22,975 --> 00:39:24,035
Couple different things.

684
00:39:24,505 --> 00:39:28,555
There's the, the plan

685
00:39:29,425 --> 00:39:33,715
that we should have as a board as to how we're going

686
00:39:33,935 --> 00:39:38,295
to go about ensuring that we're doing our job

687
00:39:39,495 --> 00:39:44,475
in, in looking at things from education, from test scores.

688
00:39:44,875 --> 00:39:47,195
'cause unfortunately we don't have any other metrics really

689
00:39:47,195 --> 00:39:50,035
to go by at this point other than the test scores

690
00:39:50,175 --> 00:39:52,235
and every other state in the country uses it

691
00:39:53,075 --> 00:39:54,175
for better or for worse.

692
00:39:55,625 --> 00:39:57,525
We have to have something that's standard.

693
00:39:59,065 --> 00:40:03,535
That's our standard. Are there other things

694
00:40:04,045 --> 00:40:08,255
that make up a person that make up an education

695
00:40:08,285 --> 00:40:09,415
that make up a life?

696
00:40:09,675 --> 00:40:13,695
Yes, of course. But that's not really all of it.

697
00:40:14,255 --> 00:40:16,615
I think that when people bring that up

698
00:40:16,615 --> 00:40:19,175
during the budget discussion, that's a part of

699
00:40:19,175 --> 00:40:21,135
what they're worried about.

700
00:40:21,755 --> 00:40:24,255
But the budget discussion is about the budget.

701
00:40:24,525 --> 00:40:25,695
It's about what we're spending.

702
00:40:26,755 --> 00:40:30,175
And I think that we really need to look at like,

703
00:40:30,375 --> 00:40:32,615
I agree a hundred percent with what Lindsay said with our,

704
00:40:32,645 --> 00:40:33,655
with our business office

705
00:40:34,555 --> 00:40:36,335
and the numbers that are getting put out.

706
00:40:36,815 --> 00:40:40,855
I know in the Barry town annual report

707
00:40:42,015 --> 00:40:44,695
I got, I was made aware that

708
00:40:46,785 --> 00:40:50,275
published numbers in there were, were higher, they were not

709
00:40:51,035 --> 00:40:53,435
accurate numbers for what the teacher salaries were.

710
00:40:53,495 --> 00:40:56,315
And I know a lot of people will take that annual report,

711
00:40:56,425 --> 00:40:58,275
they'll, that's one of the first things they turn

712
00:40:58,275 --> 00:41:00,875
to is salaries and they go and look at it

713
00:41:00,895 --> 00:41:03,015
and those were not accurate.

714
00:41:04,875 --> 00:41:08,735
Is that from a business office oversight? Is that from that?

715
00:41:08,815 --> 00:41:13,375
I don't know, but I know that when information gets put out

716
00:41:13,375 --> 00:41:17,415
to the public, we've gotta do everything we can to make sure

717
00:41:17,415 --> 00:41:20,295
that it's accurate and up to date

718
00:41:21,455 --> 00:41:22,715
and that it's clear.

719
00:41:23,535 --> 00:41:25,915
And that goes along with what Juliano said earlier about

720
00:41:25,915 --> 00:41:28,955
making things simple and easy to understand for people.

721
00:41:32,245 --> 00:41:36,455
I also think we should really look at the decision

722
00:41:36,455 --> 00:41:39,255
that we made about changing our annual meeting to May.

723
00:41:39,405 --> 00:41:40,935
Because here we are in May

724
00:41:42,385 --> 00:41:44,805
and we, we still don't have a budget

725
00:41:45,385 --> 00:41:48,405
and I don't know as if I really wanna be here

726
00:41:49,105 --> 00:41:52,535
any other years doing this.

727
00:41:52,855 --> 00:41:54,615
I think we might wanna reconsider

728
00:41:55,315 --> 00:41:58,645
whether we don't keep our annual meeting in March rather

729
00:41:58,645 --> 00:42:02,125
than May because I don't really see where the benefit

730
00:42:03,025 --> 00:42:06,005
of waiting till May would come from at this point.

731
00:42:07,955 --> 00:42:09,885
That would be a discussion for a different day.

732
00:42:09,885 --> 00:42:12,365
But that just came to my mind as we were discussing.

733
00:42:14,185 --> 00:42:18,885
And once again, I, I agree

734
00:42:19,725 --> 00:42:21,455
with what you had said earlier, Garrett,

735
00:42:21,665 --> 00:42:24,455
about communication is something you do every day.

736
00:42:25,135 --> 00:42:27,035
And that that's what we are here for

737
00:42:27,455 --> 00:42:31,825
as the board is we are the liaison from the community

738
00:42:32,005 --> 00:42:36,345
to the school and our job is

739
00:42:36,345 --> 00:42:40,455
to represent both to each other the best that we can.

740
00:42:41,445 --> 00:42:43,545
And that's something that is going

741
00:42:43,545 --> 00:42:45,825
to require much better communication than

742
00:42:45,975 --> 00:42:47,625
what we've been having going forward.

743
00:42:51,515 --> 00:42:54,815
The information that I read in the newspaper,

744
00:42:56,375 --> 00:43:00,335
I just don't even know anymore whether like that's that's

745
00:43:00,365 --> 00:43:01,855
what we can rely on or not.

746
00:43:01,855 --> 00:43:05,845
Because if that's the case, you know,

747
00:43:05,885 --> 00:43:09,645
I it it sounds like if we think that we have some sort of a,

748
00:43:09,805 --> 00:43:11,685
a windfall of money that we don't have

749
00:43:11,685 --> 00:43:15,845
to look at the budget, it's we can just, we're we're okay.

750
00:43:15,845 --> 00:43:17,005
We have a little cushion in there

751
00:43:17,065 --> 00:43:18,165
and I don't think that's

752
00:43:18,815 --> 00:43:21,225
what the public really wants to hear either.

753
00:43:22,085 --> 00:43:26,625
So when are we as the board going to sit down

754
00:43:26,885 --> 00:43:31,025
and, and do the work of taking care

755
00:43:31,025 --> 00:43:32,665
of the finance part.

756
00:43:38,195 --> 00:43:41,795
Juliana? I'm still trying to wrap my head

757
00:43:41,795 --> 00:43:45,435
around less than 10,000 people didn't show up to vote.

758
00:43:47,715 --> 00:43:49,165
Yeah, I pulled into the parking lot

759
00:43:49,425 --> 00:43:51,405
and it's packed with cars.

760
00:43:53,025 --> 00:43:56,125
It, they're not here to listen to us.

761
00:43:56,125 --> 00:43:58,765
They're not here to give us information on

762
00:43:58,765 --> 00:44:00,885
how we should spend their money.

763
00:44:00,955 --> 00:44:03,365
They're here for athletics.

764
00:44:05,975 --> 00:44:07,745
What are we doing that's wrong?

765
00:44:08,575 --> 00:44:11,385
Yesterday we celebrated memorial day

766
00:44:12,725 --> 00:44:14,585
and the sacrifices that people made

767
00:44:14,605 --> 00:44:17,665
and those sacrifices are, you know,

768
00:44:18,045 --> 00:44:19,425
the, the opportunity to vote.

769
00:44:19,805 --> 00:44:23,145
And we fall really short on that

770
00:44:23,645 --> 00:44:26,065
and that leads to less information that we have.

771
00:44:26,885 --> 00:44:31,025
And how are we supposed to make decisions on our students,

772
00:44:31,085 --> 00:44:34,125
students, our children when we don't have the information

773
00:44:35,995 --> 00:44:38,405
when more than 2000 people stated their

774
00:44:38,405 --> 00:44:40,245
opinion, that's not a lot.

775
00:44:41,105 --> 00:44:42,725
So what do we do with that?

776
00:44:43,105 --> 00:44:47,125
We just guess and the, the, the loud majority,

777
00:44:47,125 --> 00:44:50,525
whether it's yes or no of rules today

778
00:44:51,225 --> 00:44:53,485
and I find that pretty upsetting.

779
00:44:57,555 --> 00:44:58,555
Emily. Emily,

780
00:45:00,555 --> 00:45:01,555
Yeah.

781
00:45:01,555 --> 00:45:03,005
I really feel that juliano

782
00:45:03,385 --> 00:45:06,005
and this disengagement

783
00:45:06,185 --> 00:45:10,325
and indifference from parents is really hard.

784
00:45:10,885 --> 00:45:13,045
I know that there's, we're all busy

785
00:45:13,345 --> 00:45:15,485
and a lot of things on our plate,

786
00:45:16,345 --> 00:45:19,605
but that's something that we really have to wrap our arms

787
00:45:19,605 --> 00:45:23,685
around and work hard to, to change.

788
00:45:25,865 --> 00:45:28,965
And the other thing that's really strikes me in our

789
00:45:28,965 --> 00:45:31,125
community too is that there are people

790
00:45:31,305 --> 00:45:35,325
who are actively working hard so

791
00:45:35,325 --> 00:45:38,885
that our budget fails and they're celebrating when it does.

792
00:45:40,335 --> 00:45:41,795
And that hurts us all.

793
00:45:42,185 --> 00:45:43,995
It's, this is our seventh

794
00:45:44,975 --> 00:45:48,115
failed budget since I've been on the board, this is

795
00:45:48,765 --> 00:45:50,275
maybe six or seven

796
00:45:50,415 --> 00:45:52,715
and this is the beginning of my fourth year.

797
00:45:53,775 --> 00:45:56,435
And that's not a good reputation for our community

798
00:45:56,665 --> 00:45:59,795
that we can't support schools.

799
00:46:00,335 --> 00:46:04,335
And I see so many homes right now for sale

800
00:46:04,435 --> 00:46:07,855
and I think, well who is gonna come here and

801
00:46:08,155 --> 00:46:09,935
and say Wow this community can't,

802
00:46:10,845 --> 00:46:12,095
they can't afford their schools.

803
00:46:12,165 --> 00:46:14,575
Like families aren't coming here, kids aren't coming here.

804
00:46:14,575 --> 00:46:19,535
It really hurts us. So I have some questions

805
00:46:20,285 --> 00:46:22,455
that these prompts brought up,

806
00:46:22,455 --> 00:46:23,495
which I thought were really great.

807
00:46:27,125 --> 00:46:29,145
How much admin is too much?

808
00:46:29,765 --> 00:46:31,585
That's what I wanna know when we're talking about

809
00:46:32,505 --> 00:46:34,705
having too much admin, what does that mean

810
00:46:36,195 --> 00:46:39,665
right now admin makes up 9% of our staff.

811
00:46:39,925 --> 00:46:42,905
Is that a top heavy percentage? I don't know.

812
00:46:42,905 --> 00:46:47,195
Like I would like to find out more about that in terms

813
00:46:47,375 --> 00:46:49,435
of commun our communication plan

814
00:46:49,815 --> 00:46:52,355
and positive things that we could talk about.

815
00:46:52,555 --> 00:46:55,635
I think that we don't talk enough about our continuous

816
00:46:55,635 --> 00:46:59,035
improvement plan and we're seeing some really good progress

817
00:46:59,035 --> 00:47:02,155
there in growth in our staff and our te in our students.

818
00:47:02,175 --> 00:47:03,755
So I would like to talk about that more.

819
00:47:05,935 --> 00:47:08,915
And I agree standardized testing is really hard.

820
00:47:09,715 --> 00:47:11,515
I asked for the data of my student

821
00:47:12,775 --> 00:47:15,955
and just even across all of the data

822
00:47:16,015 --> 00:47:18,995
and the tests that I received, the results were so different

823
00:47:20,015 --> 00:47:23,875
in, in one test he is performing above proficiency

824
00:47:24,055 --> 00:47:26,315
and in another test he is not.

825
00:47:26,575 --> 00:47:30,125
So it's really hard even to know what that means

826
00:47:30,125 --> 00:47:32,125
and how we're inter like using that data.

827
00:47:33,625 --> 00:47:36,575
So thank you,

828
00:47:39,585 --> 00:47:43,935
Thank you to everyone for sharing your

829
00:47:44,815 --> 00:47:48,255
thoughts and entertaining those prompts.

830
00:47:50,555 --> 00:47:52,455
I'm gonna open it up to public comments.

831
00:47:53,335 --> 00:47:57,535
Ian, I'm gonna ask you if you could keep the time for us

832
00:47:57,755 --> 00:48:01,775
and then the next agenda item will be the, the timeline.

833
00:48:02,035 --> 00:48:04,535
So just throw that out there

834
00:48:04,535 --> 00:48:09,095
before we open it up for public comment on

835
00:48:09,925 --> 00:48:11,015
what everyone just heard.

836
00:48:12,795 --> 00:48:15,225
Would anyone like to go? Paul

837
00:48:15,795 --> 00:48:16,795
Might as well go.

838
00:48:19,325 --> 00:48:20,465
Am my clock ready to go?

839
00:48:20,465 --> 00:48:23,945
Because yeah, long as I'm on speed track,

840
00:48:24,105 --> 00:48:26,065
I just don't want you people ought to hear it.

841
00:48:26,955 --> 00:48:29,745
First thing. What I noticed within the budget,

842
00:48:29,745 --> 00:48:32,785
within the audit report, our sped

843
00:48:33,745 --> 00:48:34,785
expenses were down this year.

844
00:48:35,655 --> 00:48:38,665
It's interesting because our facilities budgets were up,

845
00:48:39,605 --> 00:48:41,545
see quite a bit over budget on that.

846
00:48:42,485 --> 00:48:44,865
The student population has been trending down

847
00:48:44,965 --> 00:48:47,265
and the forecast is gonna continue to trend down.

848
00:48:47,935 --> 00:48:49,505
Test scores are not top flight.

849
00:48:49,855 --> 00:48:53,185
Anybody can see that there's a real shift there, there,

850
00:48:53,185 --> 00:48:54,905
there wasn't any real shift in the budget,

851
00:48:54,935 --> 00:48:56,865
what you presented the first time for the second time,

852
00:48:57,265 --> 00:48:59,345
a couple positions move back and forth across the line.

853
00:48:59,345 --> 00:49:01,225
It's not really a budget cut

854
00:49:01,605 --> 00:49:03,705
and you use a little bit more of the front balance.

855
00:49:04,315 --> 00:49:07,225
Using those fine balances up is gonna put you in a real

856
00:49:07,415 --> 00:49:08,465
dire place next year.

857
00:49:09,425 --> 00:49:11,345
'cause right now what's happening in the legislature there,

858
00:49:11,345 --> 00:49:12,945
there is not gonna be a tremendous amount

859
00:49:12,945 --> 00:49:16,265
of monies coming in to education and,

860
00:49:16,325 --> 00:49:18,025
and our highway departments and everything else.

861
00:49:18,085 --> 00:49:21,465
And also equally effect. That's the scramble right now.

862
00:49:23,005 --> 00:49:25,825
No, this comes out of philosophy of, of, of,

863
00:49:26,005 --> 00:49:27,665
of problems that we have here.

864
00:49:28,065 --> 00:49:30,305
I just heard Mr. Reynolds say that, you know,

865
00:49:30,455 --> 00:49:33,185
there's a divisiveness in in what she presented.

866
00:49:33,655 --> 00:49:35,705
Certain people champion defeated the budget

867
00:49:35,765 --> 00:49:38,065
and then people, you know, want to want

868
00:49:38,065 --> 00:49:40,065
to see the budget succeed.

869
00:49:40,245 --> 00:49:41,625
That's, that's divisive talk.

870
00:49:41,895 --> 00:49:43,545
What we have to deal with is the real numbers.

871
00:49:43,615 --> 00:49:46,585
There's a thousand lines or more of budget

872
00:49:46,765 --> 00:49:48,345
and I don't believe every one

873
00:49:48,345 --> 00:49:50,185
of the board members here has actually gone

874
00:49:50,185 --> 00:49:51,385
through every single line

875
00:49:51,565 --> 00:49:53,905
and compare that over the course of say two or three years.

876
00:49:54,165 --> 00:49:56,105
If you'd done that, you would've found the same things

877
00:49:56,375 --> 00:49:58,665
that we were able to find in passports.

878
00:50:00,445 --> 00:50:02,345
The information we used to send out,

879
00:50:02,345 --> 00:50:05,385
and this is one of my big problems, the information we used

880
00:50:05,385 --> 00:50:09,265
to send out before Act 46 when we were three schools,

881
00:50:10,245 --> 00:50:12,985
we had publications that were 25 pages long.

882
00:50:13,545 --> 00:50:16,905
I still got them now you send out a postcard,

883
00:50:16,905 --> 00:50:18,905
it has about one inch of data

884
00:50:19,525 --> 00:50:20,945
and some of that wasn't even accurate,

885
00:50:20,945 --> 00:50:22,465
but that's just one inch of data

886
00:50:22,725 --> 00:50:26,025
and you wanna know why the public doesn't quite understand

887
00:50:26,025 --> 00:50:27,485
what it is you're trying to transmit.

888
00:50:27,785 --> 00:50:28,885
You might start with that.

889
00:50:30,185 --> 00:50:32,165
You know, the best kept secret to

890
00:50:32,545 --> 00:50:36,885
to passing a budget is just getting everybody engaged in

891
00:50:36,885 --> 00:50:39,965
what that budget is and what is it being used for.

892
00:50:40,455 --> 00:50:42,325
Those publications I spoke about

893
00:50:43,155 --> 00:50:44,965
lent itself directly to that.

894
00:50:45,945 --> 00:50:48,125
We have, we have issues

895
00:50:48,125 --> 00:50:50,125
where you wanna engage the community,

896
00:50:50,865 --> 00:50:55,745
but you have things that Joanne, you said we shouldn't

897
00:50:56,335 --> 00:50:58,185
read the article and there's a lot

898
00:50:58,185 --> 00:51:00,065
of misstated facts and that I did

899
00:51:00,065 --> 00:51:02,265
Not say that Paul, I I did not say that.

900
00:51:02,605 --> 00:51:05,545
If the article's right, there'd be this commentary in here

901
00:51:05,545 --> 00:51:07,905
that really hurts people in the public.

902
00:51:07,975 --> 00:51:10,625
Yeah, and I I will express those real quickly.

903
00:51:11,365 --> 00:51:13,665
We shouldn't be picking winners in those.

904
00:51:14,075 --> 00:51:15,785
We're talking about educating our kids.

905
00:51:16,415 --> 00:51:19,985
There's nobody saying that's your time.

906
00:51:27,365 --> 00:51:27,905
Anyone else?

907
00:51:28,605 --> 00:51:29,945
Yes, Nancy? Yes.

908
00:51:30,585 --> 00:51:34,665
I wanna kind of talk about communication as you,

909
00:51:34,665 --> 00:51:37,505
you're looking for ways to communicate with the community.

910
00:51:38,725 --> 00:51:40,465
I'm gonna go back to your committees.

911
00:51:40,465 --> 00:51:43,465
You're not making it welcoming for people to come here

912
00:51:43,605 --> 00:51:45,905
and want to engage in conversations with you.

913
00:51:46,005 --> 00:51:47,825
So you hear what they have to say.

914
00:51:48,285 --> 00:51:49,505
You're saying you want to,

915
00:51:49,805 --> 00:51:52,625
but yet your actions are saying just quite the opposite.

916
00:51:53,865 --> 00:51:56,265
I have a lot of people tell me that they don't come here

917
00:51:56,265 --> 00:52:00,585
because you tell them that they got one minute or whatever

918
00:52:00,725 --> 00:52:03,065
or they, you just don't wanna hear or they don't get answers

919
00:52:03,365 --> 00:52:05,425
and they're not eng they're not allowed

920
00:52:06,005 --> 00:52:08,705
to engage in just a simple little conversation

921
00:52:08,765 --> 00:52:10,745
or just ask a question to get an answer back.

922
00:52:11,965 --> 00:52:15,425
You've done a great job of taking, telling the community

923
00:52:15,655 --> 00:52:18,505
that we're here, we wanna engage with you but don't show up.

924
00:52:18,645 --> 00:52:20,385
And if you do, we're only gonna allow

925
00:52:20,385 --> 00:52:21,425
you to attend something.

926
00:52:21,845 --> 00:52:23,185
So I think there's a long ways

927
00:52:23,185 --> 00:52:25,625
that communication can be worked out

928
00:52:26,045 --> 00:52:28,785
and to spend money on getting somebody in here

929
00:52:28,845 --> 00:52:31,785
to tell you just what we're all seeing is kind

930
00:52:31,785 --> 00:52:33,145
of a waste of taxpayer money.

931
00:52:36,685 --> 00:52:38,025
The other thing is,

932
00:52:38,265 --> 00:52:40,825
I think you might wanna have a conversation with the

933
00:52:41,525 --> 00:52:43,305
Zoe Sanders secretary of Education

934
00:52:43,305 --> 00:52:46,145
because she's out there basically telling everybody

935
00:52:46,575 --> 00:52:50,025
that the test scores, the student education is declining

936
00:52:50,125 --> 00:52:51,145
and it's continuing.

937
00:52:51,605 --> 00:52:53,585
So I don't know the answers, I don't know why,

938
00:52:53,725 --> 00:52:55,585
but that's a huge reason

939
00:52:55,685 --> 00:52:57,385
and that's what I hear is

940
00:52:57,385 --> 00:52:59,905
that the education is not being given

941
00:52:59,925 --> 00:53:01,385
to the students that they need.

942
00:53:02,125 --> 00:53:03,945
Now I don't, I don't know much about it,

943
00:53:03,965 --> 00:53:07,145
but I do know what I hear from the secretary of education

944
00:53:07,565 --> 00:53:09,705
and I think that needs to be recognized

945
00:53:09,885 --> 00:53:12,305
and I think that needs to be taken into consideration.

946
00:53:12,765 --> 00:53:14,865
People putting their houses up for sale

947
00:53:14,865 --> 00:53:16,945
because they can't afford to live here anymore.

948
00:53:17,655 --> 00:53:19,745
It's not for anybody going around trying

949
00:53:19,745 --> 00:53:20,905
to defeat the budget.

950
00:53:21,215 --> 00:53:23,385
They can't afford to live here because of the taxes.

951
00:53:24,005 --> 00:53:26,805
And if they were getting, if you had a school,

952
00:53:27,585 --> 00:53:30,845
the test scores or the education was top-notch

953
00:53:30,905 --> 00:53:32,845
or even up to where it was supposed to be,

954
00:53:32,855 --> 00:53:34,365
you'd probably have people moving here

955
00:53:34,625 --> 00:53:36,005
and be willing to pay the taxes.

956
00:53:36,745 --> 00:53:38,605
But they're not getting, they're getting overtaxed

957
00:53:38,605 --> 00:53:39,685
and the education isn't there.

958
00:53:40,205 --> 00:53:43,165
I hear a lot of students, a lot of parents say

959
00:53:43,365 --> 00:53:45,205
that when their student's graduating, they're having

960
00:53:45,205 --> 00:53:47,965
to do remedial classes at universities and colleges.

961
00:53:48,245 --> 00:53:49,485
I have a niece, I have to do that.

962
00:53:51,545 --> 00:53:52,605
You know, I think that

963
00:53:52,855 --> 00:53:55,725
until you guys start having those hard conversations about

964
00:53:55,725 --> 00:53:57,805
being realistic about what really is going on,

965
00:53:58,095 --> 00:54:03,005
about getting a budget passed and,

966
00:54:03,185 --> 00:54:06,165
and I agree communication is, is

967
00:54:08,165 --> 00:54:10,785
you're not very welcoming on that at all with the community.

968
00:54:11,315 --> 00:54:12,315
Thank you.

969
00:54:12,785 --> 00:54:15,525
Thanks Nancy. Rachel?

970
00:54:17,305 --> 00:54:19,205
Hi. Can you hear me? I think I got it.

971
00:54:19,385 --> 00:54:21,685
Yes, I switched my phone. Thank you.

972
00:54:22,685 --> 00:54:26,565
I really agree with so many things that were said earlier.

973
00:54:27,785 --> 00:54:30,325
One of them being Catherine brought it up

974
00:54:30,325 --> 00:54:31,525
and Garrett you echoed it,

975
00:54:31,555 --> 00:54:34,485
that this communication really needs to happen all the time.

976
00:54:34,645 --> 00:54:38,645
I think about the students, we don't, you know, we try

977
00:54:38,645 --> 00:54:40,685
and have, I forget what the best ratio is.

978
00:54:40,695 --> 00:54:42,605
Eight positives to one negative.

979
00:54:43,845 --> 00:54:47,405
I don't want community to think the only time that

980
00:54:48,625 --> 00:54:52,365
the board is reaching out is when we need to pass a budget.

981
00:54:53,005 --> 00:54:54,365
I don't think that's the reality,

982
00:54:54,465 --> 00:54:56,845
but I do hear that's some of the perception.

983
00:54:58,345 --> 00:55:01,605
So I think having ongoing communication, meeting people

984
00:55:01,615 --> 00:55:05,205
where they are, it's great.

985
00:55:05,405 --> 00:55:07,605
I think about the concerts in the park.

986
00:55:07,845 --> 00:55:10,685
I remember I've gotten pop popcorn before there

987
00:55:10,705 --> 00:55:13,645
and sunglasses I think from the district a couple years ago.

988
00:55:15,485 --> 00:55:20,285
I think the communication is an example of some

989
00:55:21,255 --> 00:55:24,125
court excitedness for example, we used

990
00:55:24,125 --> 00:55:25,845
to have a communications director.

991
00:55:25,945 --> 00:55:29,845
So we are, not that I'm saying we necessarily need that,

992
00:55:30,025 --> 00:55:32,765
but that was one way we made that investment.

993
00:55:33,025 --> 00:55:37,205
And then there was a lot of positive communication about

994
00:55:37,205 --> 00:55:38,485
what's going on in the district.

995
00:55:39,605 --> 00:55:41,525
I, one other meeting someone mentioned,

996
00:55:41,545 --> 00:55:42,565
why didn't we get grant money?

997
00:55:42,715 --> 00:55:43,965
Well we cut the grant writer.

998
00:55:44,065 --> 00:55:45,565
So I think that's really important.

999
00:55:45,705 --> 00:55:50,085
We need to think not just what, what dimes can I save today?

1000
00:55:50,555 --> 00:55:53,125
What is really gonna be an investment for our community?

1001
00:55:55,245 --> 00:55:58,165
I think the task scores going down that is not,

1002
00:55:59,375 --> 00:56:01,285
Barry is not the only place that's happening.

1003
00:56:01,675 --> 00:56:04,085
Yeah, Barry is one of the only places

1004
00:56:04,155 --> 00:56:05,685
that still hasn't passed a budget.

1005
00:56:06,485 --> 00:56:08,765
A couple years ago we were the last to pass the budget,

1006
00:56:08,825 --> 00:56:10,845
the only ones to go past July 1st.

1007
00:56:12,185 --> 00:56:14,365
One thing I do know that spending less money

1008
00:56:14,915 --> 00:56:17,085
does not mean you're gonna have better test scores.

1009
00:56:18,045 --> 00:56:20,885
I know that for sure. I think about the different positions

1010
00:56:20,915 --> 00:56:22,125
that other schools have.

1011
00:56:23,575 --> 00:56:26,045
Other preventionists I'd love to have.

1012
00:56:26,725 --> 00:56:28,845
I think the other thing is the outcomes of our students.

1013
00:56:29,045 --> 00:56:33,285
I see all the time in the community as I used to work with,

1014
00:56:33,345 --> 00:56:34,365
worked on my car,

1015
00:56:34,965 --> 00:56:38,245
I saw another student working at a a creamy place.

1016
00:56:39,545 --> 00:56:40,925
We outcomes.

1017
00:56:40,985 --> 00:56:42,725
And I think we do have to look at test scores,

1018
00:56:42,785 --> 00:56:44,285
but we also need to look at other things

1019
00:56:44,425 --> 00:56:45,765
and what are they're doing

1020
00:56:45,955 --> 00:56:48,045
because they're more than a test score.

1021
00:56:49,705 --> 00:56:50,805
So thank you.

1022
00:56:50,945 --> 00:56:55,005
And I'm hearing also from people that they're frustrated

1023
00:56:55,005 --> 00:56:56,925
with some of the information coming out

1024
00:56:57,145 --> 00:57:00,485
and the division that this is creating.

1025
00:57:02,605 --> 00:57:04,925
I think I'll feel welcome sometimes

1026
00:57:09,605 --> 00:57:10,605
saying, don't feel welcome

1027
00:57:10,665 --> 00:57:13,405
to comment in front Porch Forum about supporting the budget.

1028
00:57:14,175 --> 00:57:16,365
Don't feel welcome coming to meeting.

1029
00:57:18,975 --> 00:57:23,365
Thank you. Rachel Ellen.

1030
00:57:23,645 --> 00:57:26,765
K Hi Ellen. K Berry City.

1031
00:57:27,935 --> 00:57:30,045
Thank you for this discussion tonight.

1032
00:57:31,125 --> 00:57:32,125
I wanna say first of all,

1033
00:57:32,245 --> 00:57:35,845
a bo a budget is a moral issue is a moral document.

1034
00:57:36,675 --> 00:57:38,645
It's a statement of values.

1035
00:57:40,265 --> 00:57:42,685
Our budget has gone down every year that I,

1036
00:57:43,315 --> 00:57:45,405
that I can remember having been here.

1037
00:57:45,405 --> 00:57:47,205
And I don't know if it's all the years I've lived here,

1038
00:57:47,225 --> 00:57:49,005
but certainly for the past few years,

1039
00:57:49,455 --> 00:57:50,925
lower and lower and lower.

1040
00:57:50,985 --> 00:57:54,445
And I echo what Rachel says, lower per pupil spending

1041
00:57:55,195 --> 00:57:57,245
does not improve education.

1042
00:57:57,915 --> 00:57:59,445
It's never gonna improve education.

1043
00:58:00,285 --> 00:58:02,245
I also wanna bring out what Juliana or

1044
00:58:02,265 --> 00:58:05,525
or what Jeff actually Jeff talked about, which is

1045
00:58:05,525 --> 00:58:09,685
that a tiny percentage of our voters voted this down

1046
00:58:10,065 --> 00:58:14,165
and half of those voted it down, the other half voted it up,

1047
00:58:15,035 --> 00:58:17,205
roughly half right, not enough to win.

1048
00:58:17,865 --> 00:58:20,205
And it's divided as it often is

1049
00:58:20,835 --> 00:58:22,765
between Berry city and Berry Town.

1050
00:58:23,845 --> 00:58:27,885
Berry City being lower income, higher poverty.

1051
00:58:29,105 --> 00:58:33,325
And yet we understand, the majority of us understands

1052
00:58:33,325 --> 00:58:35,165
that we need to fund our schools.

1053
00:58:35,275 --> 00:58:37,805
It's the thing that brings kids out of poverty.

1054
00:58:40,465 --> 00:58:42,645
So I I just need to call out

1055
00:58:42,645 --> 00:58:45,165
that we are spending an inordinate amount of time

1056
00:58:45,225 --> 00:58:49,405
and energy listening to the small majority of people,

1057
00:58:50,955 --> 00:58:55,045
many of whom are not poor, many of whom want to keep

1058
00:58:55,045 --> 00:58:56,565
that money in their own pockets

1059
00:58:57,385 --> 00:59:01,365
and not give it to poor kids, to pull us all up,

1060
00:59:01,385 --> 00:59:02,605
to lift all boats.

1061
00:59:03,745 --> 00:59:05,845
And I just, that needs to be said out loud.

1062
00:59:06,285 --> 00:59:08,285
I don't know, there's some funny background noise here

1063
00:59:08,345 --> 00:59:10,725
and it's not coming from my speaker.

1064
00:59:11,125 --> 00:59:14,285
Maybe somebody's unmuted. It's distracting.

1065
00:59:17,135 --> 00:59:20,605
Sorry, I could somebody, could somebody figure out where

1066
00:59:20,605 --> 00:59:21,820
that noise noise is coming from and

1067
00:59:21,875 --> 00:59:22,885
It's not coming from here.

1068
00:59:23,755 --> 00:59:25,085
It's not, it's not coming from here.

1069
00:59:25,755 --> 00:59:28,085
Yeah, I just, it's like impossible

1070
00:59:28,085 --> 00:59:29,365
to keep my train of thought.

1071
00:59:29,625 --> 00:59:31,725
So hope you'll give me 10 more seconds

1072
00:59:31,865 --> 00:59:33,165
or something so I can get it back.

1073
00:59:35,715 --> 00:59:39,725
Yeah, I, I just, I am, I am concerned that we are catering

1074
00:59:39,945 --> 00:59:42,805
to a small and vocal majority.

1075
00:59:43,385 --> 00:59:47,525
The answer is to get those voters out who care about schools

1076
00:59:48,945 --> 00:59:50,045
and get back on track.

1077
00:59:50,625 --> 00:59:53,485
But if we cut, we undercut our schools over and over again.

1078
00:59:54,025 --> 00:59:56,045
It is by definition defunding

1079
00:59:56,905 --> 01:00:01,045
and our community will be much the poorer for it

1080
01:00:01,105 --> 01:00:02,245
and already is.

1081
01:00:02,745 --> 01:00:04,245
We need to support these kids.

1082
01:00:04,965 --> 01:00:06,005
I don't make a lot of money

1083
01:00:06,145 --> 01:00:08,725
and I am happy to pay what I have to pay

1084
01:00:09,105 --> 01:00:11,885
to keep our schools afloat and keep them thriving.

1085
01:00:13,185 --> 01:00:16,205
So I would ask you, all of you people who may be listening

1086
01:00:16,205 --> 01:00:19,565
or maybe in the room who do have the money to think about

1087
01:00:19,735 --> 01:00:21,245
where you want that money to go.

1088
01:00:21,825 --> 01:00:23,365
Do you want it to go to your next vacation?

1089
01:00:23,425 --> 01:00:25,005
Do you want it to go to your next car?

1090
01:00:25,065 --> 01:00:28,005
Do you want it to go to whatever luxury thing

1091
01:00:28,265 --> 01:00:29,485
or, or the schools.

1092
01:00:29,695 --> 01:00:30,695
Thank you

1093
01:00:31,715 --> 01:00:33,405
Lisa Lita.

1094
01:00:34,895 --> 01:00:36,285
Thank you. Thank you Garrett.

1095
01:00:36,465 --> 01:00:39,605
And thank you for providing this forum for us to come

1096
01:00:39,785 --> 01:00:41,205
and make our comments known.

1097
01:00:41,685 --> 01:00:42,845
I didn't prepare a statement

1098
01:00:42,865 --> 01:00:44,925
but I, I wanna just, I jotted down some notes

1099
01:00:44,925 --> 01:00:48,165
and I wanna respond to a lot of things I heard here tonight.

1100
01:00:49,325 --> 01:00:51,885
I hear a lot of complaining about test scores

1101
01:00:52,585 --> 01:00:55,405
and I also hear a lot of complaining about the budget.

1102
01:00:56,065 --> 01:00:57,845
And those two things have gone hand in

1103
01:00:57,845 --> 01:00:59,005
hand in these meetings.

1104
01:00:59,225 --> 01:01:01,685
And the analogy that comes

1105
01:01:01,705 --> 01:01:04,645
to my mind is the beatings will continue

1106
01:01:04,815 --> 01:01:06,205
until morale improves.

1107
01:01:07,065 --> 01:01:10,765
And I believe money significantly

1108
01:01:11,725 --> 01:01:14,085
improves educational outcomes.

1109
01:01:14,505 --> 01:01:16,565
And if we're concerned about the test scores

1110
01:01:16,665 --> 01:01:19,205
and how well our students doing are doing,

1111
01:01:19,945 --> 01:01:23,205
the school has gotta be well funded.

1112
01:01:24,585 --> 01:01:25,645
It just has to be.

1113
01:01:26,265 --> 01:01:30,205
And Emily is spot on when she said there are people

1114
01:01:31,045 --> 01:01:35,445
actively working in this community to drag down the budget

1115
01:01:36,055 --> 01:01:40,125
every single time and it will never be low enough for them.

1116
01:01:40,505 --> 01:01:43,125
And I just wanna acknowledge that 'cause I've heard them

1117
01:01:43,545 --> 01:01:46,085
and we all have, and I believe it was Paul

1118
01:01:46,225 --> 01:01:48,045
who called her out on something like that.

1119
01:01:48,265 --> 01:01:49,925
And it's absolutely true.

1120
01:01:50,905 --> 01:01:55,685
The second thing is I want Barry, both berries to be a place

1121
01:01:55,685 --> 01:01:57,205
where people wanna live.

1122
01:01:57,235 --> 01:02:00,005
They wanna raise their families, they wanna start families,

1123
01:02:00,005 --> 01:02:02,645
they wanna come here because we have great schools.

1124
01:02:03,585 --> 01:02:07,405
And When we have these board meetings where there's

1125
01:02:07,405 --> 01:02:09,805
so much bickering and complaining

1126
01:02:09,945 --> 01:02:12,285
and mistrust of the administration,

1127
01:02:13,145 --> 01:02:14,845
it doesn't do us any good.

1128
01:02:15,445 --> 01:02:16,485
I believe the budgets

1129
01:02:16,485 --> 01:02:19,685
that have been prepared are fair and reasonable.

1130
01:02:20,325 --> 01:02:24,205
I trust our superintendent, I trust our administration

1131
01:02:24,905 --> 01:02:28,325
and this nitpicking of every single line item in a budget.

1132
01:02:28,505 --> 01:02:33,045
And suggesting that you guys do that again is ridiculous.

1133
01:02:33,575 --> 01:02:35,805
Let's just pass the budget.

1134
01:02:39,255 --> 01:02:40,565
Thank you Lisa. James.

1135
01:02:43,065 --> 01:02:46,365
Hey, thank you. The feedback is coming from your meeting.

1136
01:02:46,465 --> 01:02:47,605
I'm not sure what's going on with the mic,

1137
01:02:47,625 --> 01:02:49,885
but that's where the microphone is, is messing up.

1138
01:02:50,345 --> 01:02:52,205
So just to kind of piggyback on what a lot

1139
01:02:52,205 --> 01:02:55,645
of people are saying, I think the biggest takeaway here is

1140
01:02:55,925 --> 01:02:59,285
that the outreach needs to happen well

1141
01:02:59,285 --> 01:03:01,085
before any budget comes to pass.

1142
01:03:01,745 --> 01:03:04,005
And how that outreach happens is not,

1143
01:03:05,155 --> 01:03:06,165
it's not rocket science.

1144
01:03:06,365 --> 01:03:09,245
I think if the community saw all the good things our schools

1145
01:03:09,245 --> 01:03:11,885
are doing and increased test scores,

1146
01:03:13,895 --> 01:03:17,165
there would be any question about is 9%

1147
01:03:17,165 --> 01:03:18,885
or 10% admin too much money?

1148
01:03:19,565 --> 01:03:21,725
I think the question comes into play is are we getting

1149
01:03:21,725 --> 01:03:23,445
what we're paying for with that money?

1150
01:03:23,905 --> 01:03:26,805
And as much as, as a teacher, I hate that idea of teaching

1151
01:03:26,805 --> 01:03:29,525
to the test that hits the road.

1152
01:03:29,825 --> 01:03:34,725
And so what is, what are our admin at age school doing

1153
01:03:34,825 --> 01:03:36,725
to make sure that those test scores reflect

1154
01:03:36,725 --> 01:03:37,765
our students' tru ability?

1155
01:03:39,065 --> 01:03:41,205
And then what is the school doing to make sure

1156
01:03:41,205 --> 01:03:44,605
that all the great things that our schools do is getting

1157
01:03:45,185 --> 01:03:47,605
put out to the community year round.

1158
01:03:49,505 --> 01:03:53,565
So just kind of, I think this is a low enough budget.

1159
01:03:53,685 --> 01:03:54,965
I don't think we need to get any lower,

1160
01:03:55,145 --> 01:03:56,405
but if the community's speaking

1161
01:03:56,825 --> 01:03:58,765
and they are either through a no vote

1162
01:03:58,785 --> 01:04:01,805
or through apathy, The idea that only

1163
01:04:01,825 --> 01:04:03,085
so many people came out to vote, well

1164
01:04:03,085 --> 01:04:04,725
that just tells you the rest of the voters don't.

1165
01:04:06,265 --> 01:04:07,285
And so we wanna make sure

1166
01:04:07,285 --> 01:04:08,645
that we're putting forth the school

1167
01:04:08,645 --> 01:04:10,725
that the community can be really proud of

1168
01:04:10,905 --> 01:04:14,085
and that they know all the great things our school does

1169
01:04:14,385 --> 01:04:16,165
and that our kids are performing really well.

1170
01:04:16,265 --> 01:04:17,685
And I don't think that's too much to ask.

1171
01:04:17,745 --> 01:04:20,925
And so I'd like to see our board stick strong on this budget

1172
01:04:20,925 --> 01:04:23,285
amount, but really hold the admin's feet to the fire

1173
01:04:23,305 --> 01:04:27,245
and say, listen, our community's who has decided

1174
01:04:27,245 --> 01:04:29,325
to speak has spoken loud and spoken.

1175
01:04:29,665 --> 01:04:31,165
We need to see improved test scores.

1176
01:04:32,425 --> 01:04:35,645
We wanna see all of the great things we're doing year round,

1177
01:04:36,145 --> 01:04:37,925
not just when we're asking for money.

1178
01:04:39,585 --> 01:04:40,585
Thanks for your time.

1179
01:04:42,375 --> 01:04:44,845
Thank you James. Garrett.

1180
01:04:47,985 --> 01:04:49,485
Hi. I can't raise my hand

1181
01:04:49,665 --> 01:04:51,725
so when you're ready will you call me please?

1182
01:04:52,425 --> 01:04:54,245
Yep. You, you're at the floor.

1183
01:04:55,705 --> 01:04:58,525
Oh, okay. Thank you. Hi, this is by Rose.

1184
01:05:00,605 --> 01:05:02,365
I don't know why my name doesn't show up.

1185
01:05:02,365 --> 01:05:06,325
But anyway, I wanted to

1186
01:05:07,145 --> 01:05:10,605
add on to something that James just said about highlighting

1187
01:05:10,875 --> 01:05:14,605
what we're doing really well and after visiting school

1188
01:05:14,625 --> 01:05:17,085
and participating in school, there's so much, much

1189
01:05:17,085 --> 01:05:18,725
that I see every time I go.

1190
01:05:19,765 --> 01:05:22,725
I see kids who are learning kids who are not just learning

1191
01:05:23,685 --> 01:05:26,205
things and facts and how to do math and read,

1192
01:05:26,265 --> 01:05:29,565
but they're learning how to be together, how to be social.

1193
01:05:30,645 --> 01:05:32,245
They're learning about the culture of school,

1194
01:05:32,835 --> 01:05:35,205
they're learning to play together, they're learning

1195
01:05:35,205 --> 01:05:37,445
to respect each other, they're learning

1196
01:05:37,465 --> 01:05:38,725
to work collaboratively.

1197
01:05:39,225 --> 01:05:41,565
And those are things that are really hard to test for.

1198
01:05:43,085 --> 01:05:45,925
I really love going to the empty bowls

1199
01:05:46,585 --> 01:05:50,125
and seeing several groups of teachers

1200
01:05:50,225 --> 01:05:53,765
and to all the parents and family nights.

1201
01:05:54,305 --> 01:05:56,485
And I would encourage more community people

1202
01:05:57,025 --> 01:06:00,405
to show up when school's having functions like this so

1203
01:06:00,405 --> 01:06:03,445
that they can be a part of the excitement of learning

1204
01:06:04,305 --> 01:06:08,205
and to volunteer with something like everybody wins

1205
01:06:08,385 --> 01:06:10,045
or one of the sports teams.

1206
01:06:10,615 --> 01:06:12,085
There are just a lot of ways

1207
01:06:12,585 --> 01:06:14,725
and they don't have to take up a ton of time,

1208
01:06:15,985 --> 01:06:20,085
but highlighting all the good things that our,

1209
01:06:20,225 --> 01:06:24,405
our students are doing despite really huge challenges

1210
01:06:24,425 --> 01:06:27,205
for some of them in their home lives and in their community.

1211
01:06:28,025 --> 01:06:31,325
So that's what I'm, I'm here to just say is more

1212
01:06:31,525 --> 01:06:32,565
of the good stuff folks.

1213
01:06:32,655 --> 01:06:33,655
Thank you.

1214
01:06:34,815 --> 01:06:36,245
Thank you Bern. Justin?

1215
01:06:39,745 --> 01:06:42,645
Yes. Thank you. I I just wanted to say briefly, just

1216
01:06:42,645 --> 01:06:43,725
to piggyback on what a lot

1217
01:06:43,725 --> 01:06:47,685
of other people are saying here is that I agree that

1218
01:06:48,635 --> 01:06:50,205
test scores are not mutually

1219
01:06:50,205 --> 01:06:51,525
exclusive with student outcomes.

1220
01:06:52,065 --> 01:06:56,285
And my first thought, people that are, you know,

1221
01:06:56,285 --> 01:06:59,965
against the budget citing those things is always

1222
01:06:59,995 --> 01:07:03,245
that it makes no logical sense to me to,

1223
01:07:04,385 --> 01:07:06,965
to not give schools money if, if you're trying

1224
01:07:06,965 --> 01:07:09,005
to increase performance that just doesn't,

1225
01:07:09,125 --> 01:07:12,165
I haven't seen anybody advance an argument that the best way

1226
01:07:12,165 --> 01:07:15,165
to do it's to take money away from schools if they think

1227
01:07:15,165 --> 01:07:16,765
that the students are underperforming.

1228
01:07:17,235 --> 01:07:19,165
That just doesn't make sense to me.

1229
01:07:19,505 --> 01:07:22,645
And I think that, you know, I've tried to look always for

1230
01:07:24,195 --> 01:07:25,765
agreement and consensus,

1231
01:07:26,185 --> 01:07:29,005
but I would be remiss if I didn't say that I think

1232
01:07:29,005 --> 01:07:31,165
that there is a vocal minority of folks

1233
01:07:31,305 --> 01:07:36,005
who are very loud loudly celebrating defeat of the budget.

1234
01:07:36,545 --> 01:07:37,925
And as a property owner,

1235
01:07:38,245 --> 01:07:41,085
I don't wanna pay more property taxes than anyone else.

1236
01:07:42,025 --> 01:07:43,605
But schools are important.

1237
01:07:43,605 --> 01:07:45,125
There are, there are public good

1238
01:07:45,185 --> 01:07:48,805
and I think that there's a lot of folks who for,

1239
01:07:48,985 --> 01:07:51,045
for their own reasons don't want

1240
01:07:51,045 --> 01:07:52,205
to contribute any of their money.

1241
01:07:52,305 --> 01:07:55,205
As somebody said, I think there is a, a shared attitude

1242
01:07:55,825 --> 01:07:57,045
of some folks.

1243
01:07:57,145 --> 01:07:58,805
I'm in Berry Town. I think there's a shared attitude

1244
01:07:58,805 --> 01:08:00,925
of some folks here that it will never be low enough.

1245
01:08:01,385 --> 01:08:02,805
And to me that's just crazy.

1246
01:08:03,965 --> 01:08:06,365
I think that we, you know, the social contract is

1247
01:08:06,365 --> 01:08:08,165
that we need to support our public schools

1248
01:08:08,165 --> 01:08:10,445
because it's a public good And I think that

1249
01:08:11,345 --> 01:08:14,445
the school board focusing on student outcomes I think is

1250
01:08:14,445 --> 01:08:17,925
definitely a great way to get more folks, you know,

1251
01:08:17,925 --> 01:08:20,165
year round is a great way to get more folks

1252
01:08:20,785 --> 01:08:25,285
to realize the good that the schools are doing and, and

1253
01:08:25,305 --> 01:08:26,765
and how the students, you know,

1254
01:08:26,865 --> 01:08:29,325
are coming out in a great place for the community

1255
01:08:29,845 --> 01:08:31,045
and what they're doing for our community.

1256
01:08:31,045 --> 01:08:34,805
So more year-round outreach I think is a great,

1257
01:08:34,945 --> 01:08:37,485
is a great idea and to focus on those outcomes

1258
01:08:38,845 --> 01:08:42,285
I think is very important. That's, that's it.

1259
01:08:42,955 --> 01:08:45,645
Alright, thank you so much Justin. Nathan,

1260
01:08:47,705 --> 01:08:48,705
Hi this is Nathan.

1261
01:08:50,005 --> 01:08:53,245
I would just like to echo what Justin said

1262
01:08:53,345 --> 01:08:55,725
and I believe Lisa

1263
01:08:55,905 --> 01:08:58,045
and by as well apologies if I got that wrong.

1264
01:08:58,045 --> 01:09:01,445
That if you're going to worry about the,

1265
01:09:03,075 --> 01:09:05,965
whether about the outcome of students, whether you want

1266
01:09:05,965 --> 01:09:09,405
to use test scores or some other metric, those are not going

1267
01:09:09,405 --> 01:09:12,285
to improve by continuing to decrease the budget

1268
01:09:12,905 --> 01:09:14,645
and fail the budget over and over again.

1269
01:09:14,825 --> 01:09:19,645
So if that is truly the concern from the people

1270
01:09:19,645 --> 01:09:23,125
who are voting no, then maybe find another solution

1271
01:09:24,105 --> 01:09:26,005
or come up with

1272
01:09:26,005 --> 01:09:27,685
with a positive solution rather than just

1273
01:09:27,685 --> 01:09:28,725
saying no to everything.

1274
01:09:32,655 --> 01:09:34,165
Thank you Nathan. Christie.

1275
01:09:37,865 --> 01:09:40,605
Hi there, this is Christy Amodio from Berry Town.

1276
01:09:41,685 --> 01:09:42,765
I had a couple thoughts.

1277
01:09:43,185 --> 01:09:47,885
One being that it was spoken about

1278
01:09:48,555 --> 01:09:51,765
like simplifying language so students can understand

1279
01:09:52,465 --> 01:09:55,725
and the topic of like doing what we're good at in education

1280
01:09:56,825 --> 01:09:59,445
and thinking about using that as a tool for

1281
01:10:00,315 --> 01:10:01,765
getting more people to understand

1282
01:10:01,765 --> 01:10:06,405
or educate like maybe some vid like a video presentation

1283
01:10:06,425 --> 01:10:10,405
or something of the budget and like the strengths

1284
01:10:10,425 --> 01:10:12,965
and breaking it down in ways in plain language

1285
01:10:12,995 --> 01:10:14,805
that more people can understand.

1286
01:10:14,805 --> 01:10:16,285
Not just the students but everyone,

1287
01:10:16,305 --> 01:10:19,285
not everyone's in finance or might understand all the things

1288
01:10:19,285 --> 01:10:20,445
and they just see these big numbers.

1289
01:10:21,785 --> 01:10:22,885
So I think simplifying that

1290
01:10:22,985 --> 01:10:25,525
and doing it in a way that it could break it down

1291
01:10:25,545 --> 01:10:27,365
and some, especially the pain point areas

1292
01:10:27,535 --> 01:10:30,245
where people wanna attack could be helpful.

1293
01:10:32,065 --> 01:10:36,645
And then my other thought was we're talking about

1294
01:10:36,765 --> 01:10:38,605
spotlighting outside of test scores.

1295
01:10:38,805 --> 01:10:41,045
'cause I don't take a lot of stock and test scores myself

1296
01:10:41,325 --> 01:10:42,365
'cause I never tested well

1297
01:10:42,465 --> 01:10:45,445
but I'm successful is

1298
01:10:46,065 --> 01:10:48,365
my old high school does like alumni

1299
01:10:48,895 --> 01:10:50,285
spotlights that I see posted.

1300
01:10:50,785 --> 01:10:53,565
So they, you know, are students

1301
01:10:53,565 --> 01:10:54,925
that aren't students there showing

1302
01:10:54,925 --> 01:10:56,365
success stories and stuff like that.

1303
01:10:56,385 --> 01:10:59,045
So maybe something like that could be helpful.

1304
01:10:59,625 --> 01:11:01,765
But those are just a couple of thoughts that I had.

1305
01:11:01,765 --> 01:11:02,765
Thank you.

1306
01:11:03,175 --> 01:11:04,725
Thank you. I Always get yourself.

1307
01:11:09,355 --> 01:11:13,165
Alright, Scene

1308
01:11:14,305 --> 01:11:17,005
no other hands for public comment.

1309
01:11:17,305 --> 01:11:20,885
I'm going to move on to agenda item

1310
01:11:21,555 --> 01:11:24,045
4.2 FY 27.

1311
01:11:24,065 --> 01:11:25,765
Budget revote date.

1312
01:11:27,185 --> 01:11:31,965
And at this point I will turn it over to Joanne

1313
01:11:32,065 --> 01:11:36,285
to go over what was attached in our packet.

1314
01:11:38,065 --> 01:11:43,045
So yes, I wanted folks to know that we consulted

1315
01:11:43,045 --> 01:11:46,005
with the town clerks around availability

1316
01:11:46,145 --> 01:11:47,685
and it really did not seem

1317
01:11:47,685 --> 01:11:50,605
that there was an appropriate June date for us

1318
01:11:50,625 --> 01:11:54,045
to have enough time to decide about a revote number

1319
01:11:54,305 --> 01:11:56,325
and to get out a community engagement plan.

1320
01:11:56,945 --> 01:11:59,845
So if the board wants to follow what you did

1321
01:12:01,065 --> 01:12:03,245
in my first year, when parents

1322
01:12:03,385 --> 01:12:04,685
and people are back from vacation,

1323
01:12:05,265 --> 01:12:07,405
it seems like the second Tuesday

1324
01:12:07,865 --> 01:12:11,165
of September might work.

1325
01:12:12,465 --> 01:12:15,805
We do have a primary in August.

1326
01:12:16,625 --> 01:12:18,165
My worry is that a lot

1327
01:12:18,165 --> 01:12:19,685
of folks are still gonna be on vacation

1328
01:12:20,225 --> 01:12:22,445
and we'll, we have potential to get loan numbers

1329
01:12:22,505 --> 01:12:26,045
unless we can get a lot of absentee ballots out there

1330
01:12:26,065 --> 01:12:27,605
and people voting.

1331
01:12:27,745 --> 01:12:30,765
But certainly the dates are up to you just wanted

1332
01:12:30,765 --> 01:12:32,245
to give you some background information

1333
01:12:32,465 --> 01:12:34,005
and so that you can make a decision.

1334
01:12:34,385 --> 01:12:37,325
And from that decision we can make a backwards design plan

1335
01:12:37,455 --> 01:12:39,885
concerning what we need to do to make any changes.

1336
01:12:43,085 --> 01:12:46,745
Any questions from the board? Thoughts for the

1337
01:12:46,745 --> 01:12:47,745
Board, Jeff?

1338
01:12:48,715 --> 01:12:49,965
Well, I'm just wondering about,

1339
01:12:51,565 --> 01:12:54,805
I mean the primary might be the best way to get people

1340
01:12:54,805 --> 01:12:59,325
to the ballots because there's other things on the ticket

1341
01:13:00,665 --> 01:13:04,525
and I, I don't know if waiting till November, of course

1342
01:13:04,915 --> 01:13:07,685
that sounds like way late, that's crazy's late.

1343
01:13:08,225 --> 01:13:11,645
But it might be our best opportunity to get people

1344
01:13:11,645 --> 01:13:15,685
to the ballots even despite it being August

1345
01:13:16,705 --> 01:13:18,725
and people might be out of town or something like that.

1346
01:13:23,285 --> 01:13:26,865
So with the primary, I'm leaning towards September

1347
01:13:27,225 --> 01:13:29,265
'cause we wanna have as many of the, as much

1348
01:13:29,265 --> 01:13:30,585
of the community, at least for me,

1349
01:13:30,585 --> 01:13:32,545
what I'm thinking is we wanna have as much

1350
01:13:32,545 --> 01:13:33,545
of the community present.

1351
01:13:33,805 --> 01:13:36,585
And August is prime time for people to be on vacation,

1352
01:13:37,005 --> 01:13:38,185
to be hanging out at their camp.

1353
01:13:38,885 --> 01:13:41,425
And if they're at a camp that's up towards,

1354
01:13:42,045 --> 01:13:43,825
up towards the border or elsewhere in the state

1355
01:13:44,375 --> 01:13:46,145
that driving down here, driving here

1356
01:13:47,085 --> 01:13:50,465
on a Tuesday when they're away, they're not gonna do that.

1357
01:13:51,125 --> 01:13:52,865
And sure they could do a mail-in ballot,

1358
01:13:53,045 --> 01:13:54,865
but that's a lot of work too.

1359
01:13:56,095 --> 01:13:58,355
So what I'm thinking is, at least for me,

1360
01:13:58,515 --> 01:14:00,955
I think September 15th is probably where it's at.

1361
01:14:01,155 --> 01:14:02,675
'cause we'll have as many of the parents here

1362
01:14:04,615 --> 01:14:06,275
and since school's already there,

1363
01:14:06,425 --> 01:14:07,595
it's already on their mind.

1364
01:14:10,665 --> 01:14:12,245
Just so Lindsay knows,

1365
01:14:12,245 --> 01:14:16,165
we're on 4.2 now about the budget revote timeline.

1366
01:14:16,185 --> 01:14:17,325
You don't have to comment now.

1367
01:14:17,365 --> 01:14:21,485
I just want you to know where, where we're at in agenda.

1368
01:14:21,695 --> 01:14:22,695
Emily.

1369
01:14:23,245 --> 01:14:26,605
I support September 15th as a Revo date.

1370
01:14:29,385 --> 01:14:32,525
Jackie, I just Googled the

1371
01:14:33,315 --> 01:14:34,725
Vermont turnout

1372
01:14:35,505 --> 01:14:38,445
for the primary elections was 8 13 20 24.

1373
01:14:38,515 --> 01:14:40,925
City had a 14.73%

1374
01:14:40,985 --> 01:14:45,725
and town had a 17.3% turnout, which was less than our 21.

1375
01:14:45,825 --> 01:14:50,085
So I would not suggest doing it in August.

1376
01:14:50,405 --> 01:14:52,245
I would, I would support September.

1377
01:14:53,325 --> 01:14:54,925
I mean I, I could look up November,

1378
01:14:55,185 --> 01:14:58,325
but I feel like people would get overwhelmed if it was

1379
01:14:58,565 --> 01:15:01,325
tacked on to the main ballot.

1380
01:15:02,305 --> 01:15:04,205
So yeah, I would, I would support September

1381
01:15:04,395 --> 01:15:05,485
just based on those numbers.

1382
01:15:05,605 --> 01:15:07,605
I don't think we're gonna get the turnout for the primary

1383
01:15:08,975 --> 01:15:13,905
regardless, unfortunately. Yeah.

1384
01:15:14,415 --> 01:15:15,425
Yeah. Make a comment.

1385
01:15:16,285 --> 01:15:17,545
As you remember, last year

1386
01:15:17,805 --> 01:15:20,865
or the first year that I was here, we did

1387
01:15:21,545 --> 01:15:22,545
borrow money from the bank.

1388
01:15:23,205 --> 01:15:25,225
We were not, we did not have to use it.

1389
01:15:25,425 --> 01:15:27,665
Therefore we did not have to pay the interest.

1390
01:15:28,245 --> 01:15:31,145
If you did go to a November vote, I would guarantee

1391
01:15:31,145 --> 01:15:35,105
that we would have to use some of the from borrowing

1392
01:15:35,285 --> 01:15:38,465
and be paying the interest just for a point of information.

1393
01:15:42,795 --> 01:15:44,905
Thank you. I'm,

1394
01:15:45,765 --> 01:15:49,345
before I ask anyone for a motion, I wanna make sure

1395
01:15:49,655 --> 01:15:52,305
that there's people that aren't

1396
01:15:54,005 --> 01:15:57,255
feeling strongly about Lindsay.

1397
01:15:58,275 --> 01:16:00,495
Is there a reason that we don't wanna do the vote

1398
01:16:00,515 --> 01:16:04,095
before July 1st? We can't,

1399
01:16:04,475 --> 01:16:06,335
So, so what do you mean we Can't?

1400
01:16:06,375 --> 01:16:08,095
I only saw two dates in June

1401
01:16:08,095 --> 01:16:09,535
that we could and one was a Friday.

1402
01:16:10,675 --> 01:16:11,895
Unless that was a typo.

1403
01:16:11,955 --> 01:16:16,495
It was a typo. Is there any, it would have

1404
01:16:16,495 --> 01:16:18,295
to be warned by the 29th

1405
01:16:19,275 --> 01:16:20,275
For what date?

1406
01:16:20,755 --> 01:16:23,215
For June 30. For June 30th.

1407
01:16:23,215 --> 01:16:25,255
Because it has to be a 30 day. Yep.

1408
01:16:25,255 --> 01:16:29,175
Morning. And we don't have the numbers yet, so,

1409
01:16:32,225 --> 01:16:34,685
but I don't know, how are we gonna come up

1410
01:16:34,685 --> 01:16:36,565
with a budget to vote on?

1411
01:16:40,855 --> 01:16:42,375
I feel like car course.

1412
01:16:42,595 --> 01:16:44,775
Oh, I mean, we'll still come up with a budget

1413
01:16:44,845 --> 01:16:47,215
that we'll send to voters. It's just gonna happen.

1414
01:16:47,675 --> 01:16:49,055
But if we only have one more meeting,

1415
01:16:53,555 --> 01:16:55,575
You, you, you will have several meetings over

1416
01:16:55,575 --> 01:16:56,695
the summer if it's September.

1417
01:16:57,795 --> 01:17:00,815
So I guess what we're kind of doing is working backwards.

1418
01:17:00,955 --> 01:17:03,295
What's our date we want to pick?

1419
01:17:03,495 --> 01:17:05,255
'cause that will determine when we need

1420
01:17:05,255 --> 01:17:07,295
to warn a budget by Right.

1421
01:17:07,355 --> 01:17:10,485
And then that, so how much, I guess

1422
01:17:10,485 --> 01:17:11,685
that's kind of the question for the war.

1423
01:17:11,705 --> 01:17:15,815
How much time? Also, you know, we're talking a lot about

1424
01:17:16,495 --> 01:17:18,255
specific dates and turnout, which is important,

1425
01:17:18,315 --> 01:17:20,495
but how much time do we need?

1426
01:17:20,835 --> 01:17:24,135
So for September 15th we'd have to warn it by August 15th

1427
01:17:25,305 --> 01:17:25,655
About

1428
01:17:28,825 --> 01:17:31,675
Juliana September's fine.

1429
01:17:31,955 --> 01:17:35,435
I just kind of find it amusing where we're talking about how

1430
01:17:37,545 --> 01:17:40,755
getting votes and people on vacation when it's too

1431
01:17:40,755 --> 01:17:42,155
expensive to support schools.

1432
01:17:43,655 --> 01:17:46,235
So September's fine. Let's do September.

1433
01:17:54,955 --> 01:17:56,975
Is is there that that was, that was my motion.

1434
01:17:57,635 --> 01:18:02,055
So yeah, there's motion's by Juliano to,

1435
01:18:05,475 --> 01:18:10,015
for September 15th, 2026 to be our budget revote date.

1436
01:18:10,175 --> 01:18:12,815
Seconded by Emily Discussion.

1437
01:18:13,805 --> 01:18:15,855
Yeah. Do all board members have the opportunity

1438
01:18:15,855 --> 01:18:18,975
to weigh in if they felt inclined they wanted to?

1439
01:18:19,085 --> 01:18:20,175
Well there's a motion on the table

1440
01:18:20,195 --> 01:18:21,375
and we're in discussion.

1441
01:18:21,375 --> 01:18:23,575
So if anyone would like to weigh in

1442
01:18:23,575 --> 01:18:25,055
before I open public comment.

1443
01:18:29,375 --> 01:18:30,375
Emily,

1444
01:18:30,765 --> 01:18:33,925
I support moving to September 17th.

1445
01:18:34,635 --> 01:18:36,925
17th or 15th, sorry, 15th.

1446
01:18:37,075 --> 01:18:38,485
Also the 18th is my birthday.

1447
01:18:38,485 --> 01:18:42,725
So I'm planning ahead to,

1448
01:18:43,905 --> 01:18:47,325
to warn a budget to vote on in June would require us

1449
01:18:47,385 --> 01:18:50,165
to approve a budget by Friday.

1450
01:18:51,785 --> 01:18:54,005
And I don't think we have time for that.

1451
01:18:55,105 --> 01:18:57,555
So I think that

1452
01:18:58,255 --> 01:19:01,355
the SEP voting again in September makes sense for us.

1453
01:19:03,315 --> 01:19:06,395
I hope that we get the same outcome as a new superintendent

1454
01:19:06,575 --> 01:19:07,675
and then a new budget.

1455
01:19:08,115 --> 01:19:11,955
Hopefully that works. I'm worried that people will start

1456
01:19:11,955 --> 01:19:13,155
to think that's our new normal,

1457
01:19:13,615 --> 01:19:15,235
but maybe it, maybe it will be.

1458
01:19:15,655 --> 01:19:16,655
So

1459
01:19:17,945 --> 01:19:19,485
Any other comments from the board

1460
01:19:19,485 --> 01:19:22,165
before I close discussion?

1461
01:19:22,165 --> 01:19:23,245
Open up public comment.

1462
01:19:26,325 --> 01:19:28,455
Hearing none, I'll open up public

1463
01:19:28,455 --> 01:19:29,775
comment. Starting with Paul.

1464
01:19:30,455 --> 01:19:33,335
I have to say that I agree with, the word

1465
01:19:33,355 --> 01:19:35,575
to look at is September 15th day

1466
01:19:36,115 --> 01:19:38,615
you're gonna have information this week coming out from the

1467
01:19:38,645 --> 01:19:40,175
legislature on what's gonna happen

1468
01:19:40,175 --> 01:19:43,735
with the education funding bills itself and yield

1469
01:19:43,795 --> 01:19:45,415
and so forth is part of that.

1470
01:19:45,435 --> 01:19:48,335
And that that's a great conation on itself.

1471
01:19:49,615 --> 01:19:54,335
Secondly, the citizens of Perry City will have in hand,

1472
01:19:54,765 --> 01:19:57,015
without guessing their actual tax

1473
01:19:59,325 --> 01:20:03,495
evaluations as well as what their expected taxes would be on

1474
01:20:03,495 --> 01:20:05,695
what that CLE impact would be.

1475
01:20:07,085 --> 01:20:08,405
I don't know how that's gonna go down.

1476
01:20:08,475 --> 01:20:10,365
It's gonna be a great curiosity piece.

1477
01:20:11,165 --> 01:20:12,805
I I think it also gives you time

1478
01:20:12,865 --> 01:20:15,565
to actually look at this budget in detail.

1479
01:20:16,115 --> 01:20:18,365
From my knowledge in all my years that've been involved

1480
01:20:18,365 --> 01:20:19,605
with this, both on the board

1481
01:20:19,605 --> 01:20:23,165
and off the board, I've never seen a budget that was

1482
01:20:24,095 --> 01:20:26,165
lower than the previous year's budget ever.

1483
01:20:27,255 --> 01:20:30,075
So we've been hearing comments that we're reducing budgets.

1484
01:20:30,215 --> 01:20:32,235
That's not the case. You may be reducing the,

1485
01:20:32,735 --> 01:20:33,795
the increase in the budget,

1486
01:20:33,895 --> 01:20:35,395
but you've never gone underneath

1487
01:20:35,505 --> 01:20:36,755
what you had in the previous year.

1488
01:20:38,055 --> 01:20:41,005
Not in my 40 years anyways. Thank you.

1489
01:20:41,535 --> 01:20:45,235
Thank you Paul. Any other public comment?

1490
01:20:48,945 --> 01:20:50,595
Garrett? Bernadette here.

1491
01:20:52,575 --> 01:20:54,275
Is it Bern or Rachel? That was first.

1492
01:20:55,115 --> 01:20:56,435
I also go with you first bene.

1493
01:20:57,145 --> 01:20:59,235
Okay. I'm so sorry, but I can't raise

1494
01:20:59,235 --> 01:21:00,355
my hand for whatever reason.

1495
01:21:00,615 --> 01:21:05,155
That's okay. I heard someone say that

1496
01:21:06,035 --> 01:21:10,835
they thought about doing mail, doing

1497
01:21:13,945 --> 01:21:15,315
mail-in ballots for everybody.

1498
01:21:15,975 --> 01:21:19,275
And I think that August,

1499
01:21:19,895 --> 01:21:24,595
the August date is a state primary

1500
01:21:25,415 --> 01:21:28,555
and those ballots will be going out to everybody

1501
01:21:29,335 --> 01:21:33,515
unlike the earlier local elections, which you have to apply

1502
01:21:33,615 --> 01:21:34,715
for an absentee ballot.

1503
01:21:35,055 --> 01:21:37,435
So if that makes a difference to anyone, is

1504
01:21:37,435 --> 01:21:39,155
that the August primary

1505
01:21:39,985 --> 01:21:43,475
will be balloted from paid for by the state.

1506
01:21:44,015 --> 01:21:46,635
And I think there must be a way for us to piggyback on

1507
01:21:46,635 --> 01:21:47,955
that, but I'm not sure.

1508
01:21:47,955 --> 01:21:48,955
Thanks.

1509
01:21:51,725 --> 01:21:53,075
Thank you. Burn Rachel.

1510
01:21:54,655 --> 01:21:57,475
Thanks. I definitely agree

1511
01:21:57,475 --> 01:22:01,355
with Paul's earlier statements about having

1512
01:22:01,955 --> 01:22:03,515
Berry City will have more information.

1513
01:22:03,655 --> 01:22:07,275
So that's a good thing. And sorry Mr.

1514
01:22:07,515 --> 01:22:08,795
Gravy's interrupting me

1515
01:22:10,455 --> 01:22:12,395
and oh, there was another point he brought up.

1516
01:22:12,435 --> 01:22:14,475
I agreed with, oh, knowing

1517
01:22:14,475 --> 01:22:18,235
what the legislature is gonna do, we should know by then.

1518
01:22:19,495 --> 01:22:22,795
And then also I, I'm hearing that some people

1519
01:22:24,445 --> 01:22:27,475
might have, might appreciate having

1520
01:22:28,185 --> 01:22:30,755
someone new come in and look over the budget.

1521
01:22:31,015 --> 01:22:34,515
So that would be another plus.

1522
01:22:34,735 --> 01:22:35,795
And the, again,

1523
01:22:35,875 --> 01:22:39,715
I think our last time we voted in June turnout was not

1524
01:22:39,715 --> 01:22:41,275
great, so thank you.

1525
01:22:41,315 --> 01:22:43,555
I think it was Jackie who had shared some voter data.

1526
01:22:43,675 --> 01:22:44,675
I think that's really helpful.

1527
01:22:48,665 --> 01:22:53,075
Alright, Thank you. Last call for public comment.

1528
01:22:56,055 --> 01:22:57,355
All right. Hearing none.

1529
01:22:57,765 --> 01:22:59,955
Sorry Paul, you already had your public

1530
01:23:00,195 --> 01:23:01,275
comments. I'm gonna close

1531
01:23:01,615 --> 01:23:04,115
Second opportunity once everybody was heard.

1532
01:23:04,415 --> 01:23:06,325
No, that's, that's never been the rules.

1533
01:23:07,665 --> 01:23:09,085
No, that's, that's never been the rules.

1534
01:23:10,945 --> 01:23:13,845
I'm gonna close public comment. Yeah, that's fine. Yeah.

1535
01:23:14,625 --> 01:23:16,925
Do you have anything you want to add before the vote? I do.

1536
01:23:17,205 --> 01:23:21,045
I would, if the board pleases, I would like

1537
01:23:21,045 --> 01:23:26,005
to withdraw my motion if the board would like to find out

1538
01:23:26,785 --> 01:23:30,725
if what Bernadette said was true.

1539
01:23:34,035 --> 01:23:37,135
Oh boy. Is it true? I, I I don't know.

1540
01:23:37,415 --> 01:23:39,015
I have not heard that I might be able to solve this.

1541
01:23:39,285 --> 01:23:40,295
Okay. So

1542
01:23:40,595 --> 01:23:42,855
The, the exceptionally low rates

1543
01:23:42,855 --> 01:23:44,975
of turnout include absentee ballots.

1544
01:23:45,205 --> 01:23:48,255
Yeah. Okay. So it's, it doesn't, so it's okay. I, Emily,

1545
01:23:49,235 --> 01:23:53,095
The secretary of state mails out ballots in all primary,

1546
01:23:53,775 --> 01:23:56,135
not primary in all general elections in November.

1547
01:23:56,315 --> 01:23:58,935
But that does not include primary in August.

1548
01:24:00,235 --> 01:24:02,175
It doesn't, It does not. Okay.

1549
01:24:02,195 --> 01:24:04,455
So the motion is on the table still

1550
01:24:05,075 --> 01:24:08,775
for a September 15th, 2020 second revote.

1551
01:24:09,835 --> 01:24:12,975
All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed?

1552
01:24:13,795 --> 01:24:18,055
The motion passes before we

1553
01:24:18,405 --> 01:24:20,135
adjourn our next say 15th

1554
01:24:20,135 --> 01:24:21,495
Or 22nd. 15th.

1555
01:24:21,835 --> 01:24:23,695
I'm sorry. That's okay. I was like,

1556
01:24:23,695 --> 01:24:24,775
I thought I heard 22nd.

1557
01:24:27,055 --> 01:24:31,815
I think I said the 15th. I hope so. Okay. Okay.

1558
01:24:31,875 --> 01:24:36,375
So before we adjourn, our next meeting is next Monday,

1559
01:24:37,045 --> 01:24:39,855
June 1st at 6:00 PM However,

1560
01:24:39,945 --> 01:24:42,215
there will be a location change

1561
01:24:42,245 --> 01:24:43,855
because there is a t

1562
01:24:44,485 --> 01:24:47,695
this board meeting will be held at Berry City Elementary

1563
01:24:47,755 --> 01:24:49,295
and middle schools library.

1564
01:24:50,375 --> 01:24:52,695
I repeat, the next board meeting will be at Berry City

1565
01:24:52,985 --> 01:24:57,375
Elementary and middle schools school library due

1566
01:24:57,375 --> 01:24:59,175
to a conflict of an art show

1567
01:24:59,195 --> 01:25:01,255
and a concert happening here in miss

1568
01:25:01,255 --> 01:25:02,855
quality and high school library. Lindsay,

1569
01:25:03,405 --> 01:25:05,455
Will there be a sign for me to know where to go?

1570
01:25:05,455 --> 01:25:07,135
Because I don't know where the library is.

1571
01:25:07,255 --> 01:25:09,255
I know where the multipurpose room and the gym is.

1572
01:25:09,595 --> 01:25:11,535
Yes, there will be. Yes.

1573
01:25:12,915 --> 01:25:16,735
And with that, is there a motion to adjourn? Move by Ian?

1574
01:25:17,215 --> 01:25:21,775
Seconded by Jackie. All those in favor say aye. Aye.

1575
01:25:21,775 --> 01:25:25,095
Opposed? We are adjourned at 7 26.

1576
01:25:25,785 --> 01:25:26,215
Thank you.