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Welcome to the February 25th uh school
committee meeting. I'd like to call this

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meeting to order. And would you all
please stand for the pledge of

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allegiance?

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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The mission of the Danas public schools
is creating a supportive environment

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where all learners thrive. This meeting
is being broadcast on Danis Community

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Access Television. Is anyone in the
audience um recording the proceedings?

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» And in anticipation that I will forget
later, our next meeting is March 9.

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Tonight's meeting is focused on our
budget. Um but outside of that, is there

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anyone in the audience that's looking
for public comment?

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Is this on? Yeah,
>> it is.

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» Hi everyone. Uh good evening. I'm I'm
happy that we're all back after extended

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holiday uh or extended vacation. Um and
I am just following up on the community

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letter that I just had a chance to send
you right before this meeting. So I

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understand if you haven't had a chance
to take a look at it. Um but encourage

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you to in the next few days to take a
look at um especially the comments that

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we got from parents on the impact that
special education has had for their

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families, for their child's education.
Um it was very uh moving to read

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comments about um special education
being one of the reasons that their

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child's attending college um or that
their child's now speaking words. um and

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you know how their child's now on track
to um higher education where they

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weren't before in part because of the
services they received. Um I always like

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to tell my own son's story. Um and that
he David's um autistic and dyslexic and

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we were we did get the option of going
out of district and looked out of

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district and did not want to go and just
waiting that year. That funding you all

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put in place, you were able to hire a
Wilson certified teacher at Thorp and he

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was able to stay and is just thriving.
And I think you know his comments always

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coming home, I'm dumb. I can't read. I
just look at the pictures. And in the

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first probably month of school this
year, he came home um and he was like,

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"Mom, do you know I can read and I'm
really good at it?" And he literally he

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reads out loud to us now. And it's that
shift, that shift in confidence. That's

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everything. It's not only a savings in,
you know, an out of district placement,

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but think of just the mental health
toll. We know students with dyslexia

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suffer from anxiety, depression at
higher rates than um students without

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learning disabilities. Having that
confidence is going to be everything for

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him going forward, allow him to stay in
the system. So, I mean, that staff

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member is a direct investment from um
those increased funds. So, we hope that

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you can take a look um at those
comments. They're really touching. Uh we

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also were able to collect 60 signatures
from the community in support of um you

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know, continued investments in special
education. I hope um the school

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committee and the town can figure out a
sustainable, intentional, strategic way

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um so that these programs are
institutionalized and the funding

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because we all know, you know, we're all
not going to be here someday, but other

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people's kids are. And so, you know, we
want to make sure that it's a long-term

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vision and a long-term funding plan as
well. Um, and I have

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if anybody needs handouts, I brought
them as well. I'm happy to provide them.

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» Thank you very much.
>> Do any other

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um information? Oh, I thought you going
to wait for the budget, but that's okay.

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Go, please, Mark.

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I should never assume.

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Thank you. Uh Mark Zubreck
and I'm a resident of Danvers and uh I

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do not have any children in the school
department, but I have grandchildren

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that I could think of.
The reason I stand today before you is

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because I was watching this meeting
because this is the only public hearing

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uh regarding the budget
and uh I was watching that since last

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week and has been delayed what three
times

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understandably
but I think what you see today is you

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don't see anybody here from the public
because they're worn out with the storm

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and I
I expected this meeting to be postponed

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till next week so it can actually be
discussed with the general public as

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well. So that's my whole point here. And
the other one is I know you're going to

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be going through the budget, but I like
I have not seen this before

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and I am ex I'm anticipating some good
explanation because I think that's what

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this needs for the general public.
Uh the last thing is that I was told

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before this meeting
uh began uh is that DAT or Comcast has

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issues with televising this program as
well. So I already inquired but I'm just

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looking at it from the standpoint of
general public participation.

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Thank you very much.
>> Thanks.

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any uh piece
information of interest for the

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superintendent.
All right, seeing none, let's move on to

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new business.

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» Thank you, chair.
Thank you for all the flexibility.

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Obviously, this was scheduled for the
first time on Monday and unfortunately

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with the weather, you know, we postponed
and were able to have it tonight. And

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fortunately it is being transmitted via
DAT successfully which is important. And

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just as a further note that we will post
all the documents on a web page as we

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always do after the year right because
the next step from tonight is to present

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there the school committee um makes a
decision and votes and then it moves

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forward to the select board which we
know is March 7th. So the presentation I

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have is really just kind of a summation
of the work we've been doing. there's

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been additional work and um first of all
before I begin though I want to

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recognize uh members of our team that
are here tonight Chris Anderson our

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assistant superintendent who spent lots
of time and crunching numbers and

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working with grants and coming up with
creative ideas to save and to be able to

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move programming forward Pamrum who
spent all last week she did not have a

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break because she was working uh
feverishly to make the adjustments as we

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have throughout to bring forth uh we
feel a respons responsible budget that

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meets the needs of our students.
Christina Ryan, our director of student

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services, who um has been working all
along, not only not only ensuring that

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our programming is moving forward, but
also coming up with creative solutions

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to ensure that our students and families
are all supported as well as our staff.

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And I also have to recognize our
administrative council who they're not

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here tonight. I asked them not to come
because they've been a number of

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meetings. uh but their input and work um
building this budget to where we're at

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tonight I think deserves recognition on
their part.

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So just to kind of go through the the
feedback um because this is a whole

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process right where we had our budget
workshop we had our subcommittee

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meetings um I think the bottom line is
being able to move forward with

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specialized programming and we heard
just through public comment and also

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we've received lots of information in
terms of the success of the programming

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for all students. uh think outside the
box in terms of when we're faced with

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the challenging financial situation
which all the units within the town and

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certainly within the Commonwealth are
prioritizing specialized programming

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phased in approach if needed. We know
that we have a lots of priorities but we

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know that we can't do everything at once
and we try to be uh look for priorities

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and do the best that we can at this time
but I think in red I put up there find

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non- studententf facing ways to save
money and help with budget offsets. So,

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what can we find that would be within
our budget that would be um non-facing

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such as budget lines, such as transport?
What are those areas that we could do to

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maximize that to keep as many people in
front of our students? And um that's why

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that's in red because that was a lot of
feedback from the last subcommittee

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meeting. Um our town goal uh has not
changed obviously is sustaining progress

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with special education and other
essential programs, but also advancing

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academic excellence and innovation,
right? and and all that we've discussed

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over the last few meetings. It's
happening in our schools. Um but we

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really feel that the specialized
programming is so important to talk

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about because it's not just special
education. It's not about innovative

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practices. It's all in one. We have
multiple groups of students and

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different backgrounds and different
ability levels, but it's really it's up

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to us to make sure that we meet the
needs of all of our students and support

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our staff to move that forward. Um so I
think that's important to note, too. So,

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in this budget, there's a lot of items
that are in the budget. Many of them

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will be on the asks, but some of these
are reallocations

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um that we've talked about, which I
think when you look at this list, it's a

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lot, which I think it is because our
administrative team has done an

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outstanding job in moving pieces that
fit the needs. For example, we know that

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the stride and embark programming, the
SOP and the IAS, we know that we've

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talked about that's the ask. But in
terms of the special educator in the

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sore programming, that's a reallocation
from one building to the next. Uh in

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terms of the rise programming, again,
that's a BCBA coming off of contracted

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services back into our line, which we've
had, and also the secondary teacher

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moving from one building and the IAS
that we need to staff the program

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appropriately. So personnel, uh reading
teacher is there, that's just moving off

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the grant into our budget, which we've
had. Our ELLL teacher, same thing. and

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the van driver from the savings in our
transportation will save further with

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auto district transportation. So these
are all things if you get into the

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administrative needs, the team chair at
the high school is in need. That's the

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ask. But department chairs, the director
of strategic initiatives, innovation,

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and pathway directors aren't costing
anything. That's moving pieces within

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our puzzle to make that happen. Um, and
the curriculum piece, I feel very good

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about this where our team has worked
very hard to increase or advance

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placement programming for students
excelling as well as curriculum across

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all levels. and um a lot of work has
been done to move that into our grant

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funds. So that's supported and then
being one of the first schools in the

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area to have an advanced placement
program and diploma uh at the end of

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next spring I think is impressive. So
we've done all these things and we have

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some of these are asked but a lot of
these are within our um reallocations.

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So Christine and team talked a lot about
successes of specialized programming.

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Um, basically the bottom line it comes
down to, you know, what's the return on

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investment? And I think it's hard to say
that when you're dealing with humans as

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we talked about, but ultimately when
you're talking about costs for students

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going out of district, what can we do to
create programs that keep them in

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district? Um, so the extended evaluation
referrals are huge because those are

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ones that the more that we can do in
district, that's money that's not going

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out of district. And we know when
students go up for the extended

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evaluations, they probably will go out
of district placement generally

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speaking. So those numbers are down. If
you look at our overall placement of

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students without district placements,
that's reduced. Although the tuition

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costs we know have gone up as everything
else. But at the end of the day, I think

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we can demonstrate even more detail the
success of our programming, which we're

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very proud of. Um, and I think that
hearing the anecdotal feedback from

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families just really makes us feel good
as a as a community for supporting all

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programming because this supports all of
our programming in our schools.

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Again, if you look at the actual
placements, the number has gone down.

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Um, and and that's no that's no small
feat. That's a lot of hard work right

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there.
When you look at the priorities, when we

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break it down in terms of our special
education, the specialized programming,

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we've already gone through this. And
this is also to show that we're using a

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phased in approach where we know that
many of these items in year two we're

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asking for. Some are reallocations. We
know there just some things we can't

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right now is just not the right time
that we know in a year based on our

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projections that, you know, through some
reallocations we can make that happen.

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So, I want the committee as well as the
public to know that we're very

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thoughtful in terms of, you know, there
are a lot of needs to build the

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programs, but we we've and I think we've
done this all along where we've used the

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phased in approach, which I think is
important because we are part of the um

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of of the town budget. We're a
substantial part, but we know that we

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have to work well for all services for
the betterment of our community.

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And if you look at our priorities at the
high school, we're trying to reimage

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this to push rigor and um and outcomes
in a different place and re reimage

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meaning providing opportunities for all
of our students with pathways so they

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get real world experience. Right? So we
need people to to do this. The director

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of strategic initiatives innovation and
pathways director again not asking for

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new that's reallocation. We need people
to drive this work. um EMT

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certification, which we're looking
forward for in a year, as well as the

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early childhood pathway. By the way, if
we receive chapter 74 funding for these

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specialized programmings, that's money
that we will receive from the state in

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addition. So, that will that will
actually help support the programming

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that's coming. Early college, you know,
the early college program is thriving

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and we're looking to create an
associates pathway um within a year. In

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terms of the curriculum, again, uh we
offer a lot of advanced placement

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offerings and we're pushing for more
participation amongst all students. Um

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and the professional development and
team department chairs that's going to

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be there. Um and again, a lot of that's
happening because of grant funding and

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Kristen's hard work to to move things
around and as well as Pam and

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Christina's work too and and really our
whole team. and the interventions to

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work to improve students that have need
that may um struggle in school such as

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an afterchool program that can provide
education but also provide work study

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opportunities uh as well as an ACE
program to or targeted and we're looking

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at those that that is actually a small
investment that we're not quite there

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yet and we're looking to defer that to
hopefully maybe by the end of the year

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with some uh increased revenue look to
improve that.

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So when we talk about revenue
possibilities, we know that we have

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choice and that program I believe has
been successful this year. We we have

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students in the district. We receive
tuition from other towns. Um and we have

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the capacity to do so. And honestly
going forward, you know, we know that we

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have um a meeting next month to talk
about choice again and looking at the

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amount of seats if we can tuition in
students into our specialized

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programmings. Again, not to not to
create a a situation where we overload

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our existing, you know, students and
stuff, but looking at way very sensible

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ways. All districts are, by the way, are
going this route because it's it's less

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expensive and oftentimes a better
program for students that might be

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placed out of district if we use in
district. We have opportunities possibly

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there by finishing our programs. Um,
user fee increase, we're looking at

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modest increases. we haven't increased
in over 12 years. So, we understand the

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the issue with, you know, it's it's a
tight budget for everybody, but we need

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to be realistic here. And then we're
looking at an early incentive uh

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retirement program for teachers. I know
that we're working on the final stages

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of that. And once that is actually going
to move forward, I'll come back with the

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committee for a final approval to move
forward to see if it's worth our while

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to offer the early retirement incentive.
That's deferred annuity over time. So we

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feel that that piece may save us by
those at the top step because we have a

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high number of teachers in our district
that are at the higher step. Although

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there's a riskreward with that you have
a lot of talented very experienced but

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at the other end you know if teachers
retire and they're very close bringing

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in a teacher the mid way can save money.
So, can we save these deferred funds at

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this mo at this number? That's possible.
But we have a plan moving forward that

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if everything falls into place, we would
be in a better place that might allow us

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to if we were to continue if we had the
funding. Again, not asking the town for

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more money, but looking for ways to add
that assistant principal team chair at

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the elementary, right? We've talked at
at great length for that. Um, if we're

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improve the programming work study and
the ACE program at the high school,

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right, then that's a small investment.
um the lunch recess monitors which would

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free up our IAS instructional assistants
that should be working directly with

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students. Um and again that that is a
way we might be able to fund that

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00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:05,200
outside of our budget a math specialist
and a digital literacy specialist

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possibly grant funded. So these are
things that we are looking at this if

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00:21:07,120 --> 00:21:12,159
possible without adding to the bottom
line of the town ask. So I think we're

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00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:17,120
trying to be as creative as we can
without putting an additional burden on

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the town. Um, and we know off off in the
horizon, we know the need for assistant

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00:21:18,799 --> 00:21:23,760
principles at the elementary are
important, but we're just not there yet.

244
00:21:22,159 --> 00:21:27,600
Um, so that doesn't mean that the need
isn't real and the priority is not

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00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:31,280
there. It is. Uh, in terms of the school
psychologist, uh, we know that would

246
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help our programming, but we can wait
for a year for that at the high school.

247
00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:40,400
Um, actually the 0.5 Smith nurse is for
the specialized programming we have

248
00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:44,400
there with students with medical needs,
but we we have that, but we're using

249
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that right now with substitute money. uh
and digital digital literacy specialists

250
00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:52,240
as well as math specialist are things
that you know we'd like to be able to

251
00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:57,200
add that may be grant funding over time
but we're not quite there yet.

252
00:21:55,200 --> 00:22:01,440
All right. So I want to move into
basically what what are the nuts and

253
00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:05,840
bolts. So looking at the obligations,
these are basically the non-negotiables,

254
00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:11,600
the responsibilities that we have in
terms of salary, um contractual

255
00:22:08,559 --> 00:22:16,559
increases, steps and lanes, and we see
that's almost at 4%. Right? We have the

256
00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:21,360
non salary, student services, district
tuitions, transportation, contracted

257
00:22:18,559 --> 00:22:25,520
services. We anticipate an increase for
the uh consortium tuition. That's not

258
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:30,000
finalized, but we're trying to prepare
for that. We we've we know that that's

259
00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:33,919
more likely going to happen. Um and then
the non- salary others such as

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00:22:31,679 --> 00:22:39,360
curriculum adoptions, our bus contract
is up this year. The AED devices which

261
00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:43,039
are were up and expired, but we we need
to move forward and replace them. Vape

262
00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:48,240
detection the middle school. So that's
right at an 8.8%. Right? So that's a

263
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substantial amount that um we have to
fund these. We're obligated to do that.

264
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when you look at offsets now what are
ways that we're able to offset the

265
00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:04,400
actual uh obligations I think one of the
areas you know the non- salary reduction

266
00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:10,400
we do have an out of district placement
adjustment in our favor um we have a

267
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non- salary reduction other so the the
the reason those numbers are in red is

268
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because the committee asked us to go
back forth and look for ways we can

269
00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:22,799
reduce the budget with non- studententf
facing ways so for example we know that

270
00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:27,600
the lease at the middle school for the
one one will expire. We will not renew.

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00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:32,320
We're looking for a way to reconfigure
that with existing devices.

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00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:38,400
We know that the bus fee we're were
proposal at 50,000 over the course um

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00:23:36,799 --> 00:23:44,000
one fewer bus. We're looking to reduce
one bus off there. So those are almost

274
00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:48,400
the equivalent of teacher salaries.
Excuse me. Kristen's done an outstanding

275
00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:52,720
job again moving the curriculum to title
one which allows that to come out of the

276
00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:56,400
operating budget. Um, we're going to
suspend the voluntary professional

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00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:59,280
development that takes place at the end
of the school year and the beginning of

278
00:23:57,679 --> 00:24:02,799
the school year. It's very important
that we have this because it offers

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00:24:01,679 --> 00:24:06,400
professional development opportunities
for teachers that are able to attend.

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00:24:04,799 --> 00:24:10,960
But since it's voluntary and we know
that the cost is at least 75,000, we

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would rather best use that to reduce the
budget and we've already talked with the

282
00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:18,480
union and and again they're great in
understanding that. uh the operating

283
00:24:16,559 --> 00:24:23,440
line budget reductions. Again, looking
across the different budget lines and

284
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and what are areas that we can reduce
without really impacting operations, we

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were able to find about 100. It was
117,000. So, um, we wanted to show this

286
00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:38,640
because if you look at that number, you
know, 500,000, that's several teachers

287
00:24:35,919 --> 00:24:45,360
front facing that through our hard work
here, um, we're able to make these moves

288
00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:50,240
and certainly save staff, but also allow
us to improve specialized programming.

289
00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:55,360
Right. I think the next piece that's
important is that we do have staff

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00:24:51,679 --> 00:24:58,960
reallocations. Um, we have retirements.
We have people that may have left the

291
00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:03,520
district that are not going to return.
Um, we have situations where we may have

292
00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:07,600
some non-professional staff that we may
need to make moves because of enrollment

293
00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:12,320
changes or reorganization. And right now
at this time, you know, we have 10.6

294
00:25:09,919 --> 00:25:15,919
FTEEs, unit A, which are teachers. And
that varies across the elementary,

295
00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:20,960
middle, and high school.
We have IAS and BTS that are nonprogram,

296
00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:24,880
non-specialized that will make
reductions. Um, and that's yet to be

297
00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:28,640
determined who these individuals are.
But these are areas that we need to

298
00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:32,400
reduce and central office will take a
substantial reduction as well. And

299
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:36,240
that's that that's part of it because
we're all in this and we know that in

300
00:25:34,159 --> 00:25:40,559
order to make it work to keep moving our
programming forward, we need to make

301
00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:44,799
some some reductions. And we look at
reductions that will not impede the

302
00:25:43,679 --> 00:25:49,600
progress of our students and
programming. Right? very strategic, very

303
00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:53,600
calculated, never easy, but we need to
make these because we're at a position

304
00:25:51,120 --> 00:25:58,320
where um something has to give in in the
budget in order to make our programming

305
00:25:55,679 --> 00:26:03,120
and keep building, right? Sal salary
obligation. Uh there's an adjustment

306
00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:09,279
there. Um preschool tuition, some of the
increases for the two-year panin that uh

307
00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:12,880
came into play. uh stipens for the
middle school and high school curriculum

308
00:26:10,559 --> 00:26:17,039
leaders will fall off because we've
developed a department scheme team share

309
00:26:15,279 --> 00:26:21,200
model that will not require those
stipens. So you look at that number is

310
00:26:19,039 --> 00:26:26,640
pretty substantial in terms of that
reduction. Circuit breaker is another

311
00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:31,120
area that quite frankly we're going to
take take more out of that which is

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00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:34,880
reimbursement from the state to offset
special education, tuition and

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00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:38,799
transportation at a larger amount. And
we have to give the town a lot of credit

314
00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:43,840
for working with us to allow that number
to go up. And that is important because

315
00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:47,679
if that number, you know, you get to a
point where you do have to keep some

316
00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:52,799
cushion to make this move for unexpected
expenditures, but it's there to to keep

317
00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:55,919
us moving. Um, and when you take that
all together, that offsets our non-

318
00:26:54,480 --> 00:27:01,200
salary reductions, student service
obligations. Um, that's a pretty healthy

319
00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:04,720
total that we work really hard to offset
the obligations.

320
00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:08,880
The thing that we're very happy about is
that we are showing no changes from the

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00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:12,799
budget workshop in terms of improving
our specialized programming by the

322
00:27:11,039 --> 00:27:16,400
instructional assistance that we already
have that we want to keep in the budget

323
00:27:14,799 --> 00:27:21,520
that were primarily funded through the
EA grant and other funding mechanisms as

324
00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:25,200
well as the speech language pathologist
and as well as the team chair at the

325
00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:28,480
high school. So that addition goes in.
And when you take a look at the

326
00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:31,840
breakdown,
quite frankly, the bottom line is you

327
00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:36,640
take the obligations, you subtract the
offsets, the specialized programming

328
00:27:34,559 --> 00:27:42,000
additions, and we get to the bottom line
of a 4.05 increase, which um I think

329
00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:45,760
through the uh reductions and and
continuing the programming. I'm very

330
00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:51,360
proud of the fact that we're at a
position where um we're able to continue

331
00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:54,640
improving our special education program
and specialized program and very proud

332
00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:58,640
of the fact that the investment that is
being made. We need to continue this.

333
00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:03,200
We're at a point where the returns are
showing and we need to fi finalize this

334
00:28:01,039 --> 00:28:07,919
to bring further returns not only to
help students and families but we need

335
00:28:05,120 --> 00:28:13,279
to look long range financially
because if if we do not continue funding

336
00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:16,960
this we can't go backwards because the
cost will continue to go up in tuitions.

337
00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:20,880
Even though we can demonstrate that
fewer students are going out and more

338
00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:25,279
extended valuations are in those costs
keep going up. So we need to look not

339
00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:30,399
just this year but these cost and
changes are are really

340
00:28:27,679 --> 00:28:35,760
steps were taken to protect future not
only the the schools but to help the

341
00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:43,080
town as well. So the recommended budget
um is a 4.05 increase um and it's 56

342
00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,080
million151,63.

343
00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:49,919
When you take a look at the pie chart
that we accompany, we know that

344
00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:54,480
primarily the salaries themselves are
the biggest portion of the school budget

345
00:28:51,679 --> 00:28:58,880
and generally most municipal budgets. Um
that is down a little bit. Um our

346
00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:02,720
special education and costs are up just
because the increased tuition and

347
00:29:01,039 --> 00:29:06,080
increased transportation. The
transportation to and from school we're

348
00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:12,080
able to shave off a little bit there,
but really 95

349
00:29:08,799 --> 00:29:15,360
95.9% of our budget is fixed. Um and we
know that the smaller percentage of the

350
00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:20,640
4.1 is curriculum material supplies and
equipment. Um we are a little bit below

351
00:29:17,679 --> 00:29:26,880
the per pupil expenditure from the
state. Those are the latest numbers. But

352
00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:33,799
when you look at the piece over time,
you know, we have a for I put the

353
00:29:28,399 --> 00:29:33,799
14-year average in excuse me,

354
00:29:33,919 --> 00:29:40,320
you know, at a 3.865%
over 14 years. And when you put the

355
00:29:38,159 --> 00:29:44,640
4.05, hopefully my math is correct. you
know, that brings us down to 3.7, which

356
00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:48,080
um you know, when you look at time and
all the things that we're doing, all the

357
00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:51,360
things that we're asking, again, we're
so appreciative of the town support.

358
00:29:49,919 --> 00:29:56,399
We're so appreciative of the effort of
our educators, our administrators, and

359
00:29:53,919 --> 00:30:00,960
their students, uh quite frankly. So,
bringing this forward, um I think it's

360
00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:04,720
important to note that, you know, the
steps that we're taking is we've done a

361
00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:07,520
lot of work on this, and I'm and I
wanted to say thank you to the school

362
00:30:05,919 --> 00:30:11,440
committee for the work and support
you're showing. the subcommittee

363
00:30:09,279 --> 00:30:16,640
meeting, the school committee meeting,
the workshop, the recommendations,

364
00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:21,440
uh the budget book, the hard work that's
been on that, um the budget hearing

365
00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:26,240
tonight. So, the the whole idea is the
time is is important because we have to

366
00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:29,679
present uh our budget to the select
board by March 1st in order for them to

367
00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:34,960
have an opportunity to review for the
March 7th uh budget meeting at the

368
00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:38,000
select board level. So that does
accelerate. You know, the meeting was

369
00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:42,240
supposed to take place on Monday.
Unfortunately, the weather um you know,

370
00:30:40,559 --> 00:30:46,320
played havoc with that, but we have to
have this meeting this week so we can

371
00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:49,919
stay on a timeline with the town. Um
which I think is fair. And then we know

372
00:30:48,399 --> 00:30:53,760
that once it leaves the select board,
depending on how that goes, then the

373
00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:59,360
fallout meeting is actually April 15th
with the fincom and then the town

374
00:30:55,200 --> 00:31:08,679
meeting is May. So if I go back um the
recommended budget um for school year 27

375
00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:08,679
um is the 4.05 increase 2,187,872.

376
00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:17,279
So I'll stop there. I think I probably
um I'm open for any questions. Um and

377
00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:20,279
our team is available for questions as
well.

378
00:31:27,679 --> 00:31:35,039
First of all, Dan, uh, thank you and the
team, the entire team for the work that

379
00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:39,760
was done on this budget. Um, so I think
when we had our very first meeting and

380
00:31:37,039 --> 00:31:44,960
the um the different schools presented,
different levels presented. I think that

381
00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:49,279
the the we knew it wasn't going to be
the ask, but I think it was like 8% or

382
00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:53,760
something that if you did everything we
wanted to do and but we knew that wasn't

383
00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:59,600
going to be it. And then the the
iteration that we saw I think initially

384
00:31:56,640 --> 00:32:05,919
a week or so ago was around
4 and a half% I think. And

385
00:32:03,679 --> 00:32:11,440
my suspicion is it's tougher to go from
four and a half to 4.05 5 than it was to

386
00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:17,039
go 8 to 4 because you sort of know what
you're looking at, know what is

387
00:32:13,279 --> 00:32:21,760
reasonable, but now um I think the real
work was in getting this budget down to

388
00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:28,240
where it is now and really making those
final um priority choices. So, I think

389
00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:32,000
you've laid out essentially some of the
uh the things that we are going to

390
00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:36,159
defer,
but I'm pleased to see that we're able

391
00:32:33,919 --> 00:32:42,960
to continue to move ahead on the special
education piece that we've been working

392
00:32:37,919 --> 00:32:47,840
on. Um I don't see any fat in this
budget as I look through it. It is what

393
00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:51,200
it is and it is what's needed and uh I
think we've worked closely with the town

394
00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:59,360
to arrive at a number that works for
everybody. um you know when it comes to

395
00:32:55,360 --> 00:33:03,200
uh I think all districts are um having
similar issues to us and I will say I

396
00:33:01,679 --> 00:33:07,120
think that we're in some ways in a
better position. We have ongoing

397
00:33:05,519 --> 00:33:12,960
contracts settled, so we're not going to
have to worry about that for a couple of

398
00:33:09,679 --> 00:33:17,519
years. Hence, um, we're fairly stable
here in terms of what we're doing. And,

399
00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:22,320
uh, it was funny, I read, I think there
was an article in the Globe today about

400
00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:27,360
special education, transportation, and,
um, you know, talking about people

401
00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:32,320
looking for changes to the formula for
reimbursement, which always is a year

402
00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:38,559
behind. So we get reimbursed in fiscal
27 based on what we spent in fiscal 26.

403
00:33:35,279 --> 00:33:42,799
Sometimes it just doesn't match up. Um
so but I get the sense um you know from

404
00:33:41,039 --> 00:33:47,679
looking at the lay of the land so to
speak that um a lot of districts are

405
00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:51,679
finding this a tight budget year. A lot
of municipalities are there have been

406
00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:57,440
changes in federal funding which impact
the ability of the state and grants and

407
00:33:55,279 --> 00:34:02,240
all sorts of things. So, I think to get
to where this budget is has taken a lot

408
00:33:59,519 --> 00:34:06,480
of work. Um, I'm pleased with it and I
think it does allow you to move forward

409
00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:12,760
with the things that you want to work on
next year. So, no objections from me.

410
00:34:13,119 --> 00:34:22,079
» Thank you. [clears throat]
>> Thank you, chair. Um, one I I just want

411
00:34:19,919 --> 00:34:27,200
to applaud like the work that you did
coming out of the uh budget

412
00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:32,000
subcommittee. Um, we we definitely had a
spirited conversation in regards to

413
00:34:29,839 --> 00:34:36,800
looking at the budget and you did
exactly what was asked. How can we

414
00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:42,159
create some offsets that did not have a
direct impact on students? Um, so very

415
00:34:40,639 --> 00:34:46,960
grateful for that. Really really
appreciate that. Um when I look back at

416
00:34:44,639 --> 00:34:54,240
the budget and I think about what was
passed I believe in 2025

417
00:34:49,919 --> 00:34:58,960
we made a big jump there over 6% to set
the stage to give us the ability to

418
00:34:56,079 --> 00:35:03,440
start right sizing where we were short.
Um

419
00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:10,560
I I think the impact on performance and
the improvement for all the students in

420
00:35:06,240 --> 00:35:14,960
Danver has been marked. Um and it just
it it will continue to get better. I

421
00:35:12,720 --> 00:35:21,760
mean, every year we we identify places
where we can do better. Um, I'm really

422
00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:28,800
excited about the team chairs coming on
board so we can specifically address our

423
00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:32,480
student needs on site. Um, disappointed
that we can't get the assistant

424
00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:38,320
principles, but that's, you know,
further downstream. But, I mean, to

425
00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:42,960
Eric's point, going from 4.5, which was
the expectation, and coming back and

426
00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:47,280
seeing 4.05 5 given the economics and
the challenges that we're seeing in the

427
00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:52,880
town, I think are incredible. Um,
specifically calling out

428
00:35:50,240 --> 00:35:57,200
the impact that the investment in
special education has made with the out

429
00:35:54,880 --> 00:36:01,119
of district tuition. You know, you keep
a student in Denver, you're also

430
00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:04,800
eliminating the cost for transportation,
but you're also keeping that student in

431
00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:07,520
the community with their friends, with
their family, and they get to

432
00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:12,640
participate.
you you you almost can't put a price on

433
00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:17,839
it, but we've been able to save money
and and put more investment where it

434
00:36:15,119 --> 00:36:21,359
needs to be. So, you know, being on this
committee for so many years and, you

435
00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:28,000
know, being here from day one and seeing
the work that you and your team are

436
00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:32,480
doing, I I I can't applaud it more. Um,
and that's it. I mean, I I I think it's

437
00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:40,480
incredible work, incredibly responsible
budget, a really great number. um to be

438
00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:45,760
able to continue to progress
and and make all the other changes. The

439
00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:50,320
retirement the early retirement offer,
you know, other communities are making

440
00:36:47,839 --> 00:36:54,720
some drastic cuts, working with our
union to make things like this work.

441
00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:58,960
Kudos. So, I I definitely want to
applaud everyone who's been involved in

442
00:36:56,880 --> 00:37:03,839
this. Um and I know we've had many
conversations about the budget and all

443
00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:10,440
that other stuff, but um it really makes
all the work worth it. So, thank you.

444
00:37:07,119 --> 00:37:10,440
That's all.

445
00:37:11,599 --> 00:37:19,760
» I think the gentlemen on either side of
me would have hit uh just about every

446
00:37:17,599 --> 00:37:24,720
point. But, uh one thing that I do want
to applaud is the fact that with

447
00:37:22,720 --> 00:37:29,920
bringing that uh number down that we saw
last month, we are not focusing on one

448
00:37:28,079 --> 00:37:34,000
set of students. We're focusing on every
level from top to bottom. So, every

449
00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:37,359
student, no matter who you are, there's
something still there for you and we're

450
00:37:35,599 --> 00:37:42,000
not backing off of anybody. We're still
pushing for the best of everybody we

451
00:37:39,599 --> 00:37:48,680
talk about. So I that's the one thing
aside from these guys I definitely

452
00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:48,680
noticed. So I appreciate that.

453
00:37:51,520 --> 00:38:00,800
» I I I wholeheartedly agree. working in
public education for as long as I I

454
00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:06,640
have, you hear a lot of different
stories of different problems. And right

455
00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:13,040
now, district districts uh all having
the same problem of deficits and and a

456
00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:18,240
lack of resources.
And it wasn't so long ago, and I told

457
00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:23,920
you we were in a meeting and I heard
somebody say something about the focus

458
00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:28,240
on one set of students. And I was
confused because

459
00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:33,839
I understand the programming that's in
place or that was in place for all

460
00:38:31,839 --> 00:38:38,160
students. And we do want to take care of
our high achievers and we want to take

461
00:38:35,839 --> 00:38:43,760
care of our most vulnerable and and meet
the needs of everyone else in between.

462
00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:49,440
That's what a good public uh school
district does. Not only do you do that

463
00:38:46,720 --> 00:38:53,599
here, but that program has been
expanded.

464
00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:59,520
We've we've stayed true and you've
stayed true to your commitment to

465
00:38:55,359 --> 00:39:05,280
special education that started over what
two years ago at least.

466
00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:10,400
That's now um you know paying dividends
and we're seeing a lot of positive uh

467
00:39:08,079 --> 00:39:14,560
responses from our families on that. But
we're also, you know, there there are

468
00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:18,400
other untold stories of kids having
difficulty with their education, getting

469
00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:21,680
in the buildings, staying in the
buildings, you know, reaching

470
00:39:19,680 --> 00:39:25,920
graduation. And there are programs now
in place to help those people realize

471
00:39:24,079 --> 00:39:31,440
their potential.
And with 26 APs,

472
00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:34,640
um, possibility of having an associates
degree when we come out of here, we're

473
00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:40,880
helping those families that maybe can't
afford four-year college education.

474
00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:45,920
there's not enough accolades to to
bestow upon all of you for the work that

475
00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:52,400
you've done to get to 4.05 for where we
were. Um,

476
00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:57,520
so as an educator,
I'm incredibly impressed as a member of

477
00:39:54,240 --> 00:40:01,119
this of this committee.
I am just grateful that I can be part of

478
00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:05,400
the work that we're all that we're all
doing. So, thank you very much.

479
00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:12,079
We good? Does anyone in the audience
since this is a public meeting, does

480
00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:17,200
anyone in the audience have any
questions about the budget or need

481
00:40:14,400 --> 00:40:21,560
clarification on anything that you've
seen tonight? Please mark.

482
00:40:31,839 --> 00:40:36,920
Thank you, [clears throat] Mark Zuber.

483
00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:47,520
Uh, I just took a few notes and I'm just
looking at I haven't looked at the

484
00:40:43,359 --> 00:40:57,920
numbers before intentionally.
However, I have some questions that

485
00:40:52,480 --> 00:41:03,160
this increase is from 56 million now. I
think it was 47 or 48 before.

486
00:41:04,079 --> 00:41:14,160
Okay, I'm going to look that up. But,
uh, last year's budget was also

487
00:41:09,680 --> 00:41:17,800
increased by 6.4% at that time.
So, I heard

488
00:41:19,680 --> 00:41:25,440
» that was actually two years ago, the 6
point.

489
00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:29,359
» Okay. Well, it was increased that that
time definitely

490
00:41:27,359 --> 00:41:33,119
» and then the following year was also
increased

491
00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:38,160
» and this year we're going for another
4.05%.

492
00:41:36,079 --> 00:41:45,359
Uh, one of the questions that I just
noted to myself just listening to your

493
00:41:42,160 --> 00:41:52,240
dissertation about the budget,
uh, state aid, has anybody looked at

494
00:41:49,119 --> 00:41:59,520
what the condition of state aid is going
to be this year?

495
00:41:54,640 --> 00:42:04,960
Uh, has it increased, decreased, or are
we going to be holding the bag again

496
00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:10,319
just like we did a few years back?
So, the thing is, you know, it's it may

497
00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:14,400
be a great thing. Could you put back the
previous one? That's the one I'm looking

498
00:42:12,640 --> 00:42:21,599
at.
That's okay. Um, state aid is still

499
00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:28,319
undefined.
And what we're going to do is the town

500
00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:33,359
is going to be subsidizing the school
department because state aid is going to

501
00:42:31,119 --> 00:42:37,599
decrease.
Um,

502
00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:44,000
I heard a references
I guess to my uh

503
00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:50,880
tiraate that I had three years ago in
regard to your special education

504
00:42:48,560 --> 00:43:01,359
uh priorities.
And my intent at that time was we cannot

505
00:42:57,040 --> 00:43:07,839
focus on special education only. We need
to focus on the general population

506
00:43:04,560 --> 00:43:14,000
because that's 95%
or even more of the students that we

507
00:43:10,800 --> 00:43:19,440
have in this uh community.
the number of students has that

508
00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:27,200
decreased I I didn't see what the number
is right now but uh what is the student

509
00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:35,160
count this year and how is it been
performing whether it's going down or

510
00:43:29,839 --> 00:43:35,160
it's going up and what is the

511
00:43:36,079 --> 00:43:46,960
inclusion of this
budget how is tech

512
00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:53,599
being accommodated because those are our
students as well.

513
00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:58,480
The thing is that we ignore that because
we anticipate the state is going to pick

514
00:43:56,079 --> 00:44:02,319
up some of that cost but the town is
going to pick up another four to5

515
00:44:00,400 --> 00:44:11,599
million.
So, but that's an unknown number yet.

516
00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:16,560
So, how does does this budget with an
increase of 4.05%

517
00:44:14,319 --> 00:44:26,720
56 million,
how does that improve or ex

518
00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:32,240
improve our general population?
And I know that we have a priority about

519
00:44:30,079 --> 00:44:38,000
uh special education,
but that's an item that's been talked

520
00:44:34,240 --> 00:44:46,240
about right along. And I don't know,
maybe I'm reading wrong, but does that

521
00:44:41,839 --> 00:44:51,119
include more than 10 students
or less than 10 students?

522
00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:55,040
» Sorry, that's not clear.
>> I don't get the question. I was just

523
00:44:53,359 --> 00:44:59,520
looking at your uh
>> district placements for one year.

524
00:44:57,839 --> 00:45:04,720
Yes.
>> So I I don't understand that and I'm

525
00:45:02,319 --> 00:45:10,480
just wondering how has that been
incorporated into this budget because

526
00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:18,160
every year we're going for more and
more. Some of it is obligations.

527
00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:24,319
I understand that. But you have not
taken a a

528
00:45:21,280 --> 00:45:31,359
general review of the staffing because a
lot of communities in the Northshore are

529
00:45:28,480 --> 00:45:38,640
finding that they have overextended
themselves and they're reducing staff

530
00:45:35,680 --> 00:45:45,440
and I I don't know what what is is this
the offset that we're talking about?

531
00:45:41,920 --> 00:45:51,760
So we're eliminating what? Person
personnel circuit breaker and non-

532
00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:56,640
salary. Most of that $3.8 million is
from the circuit breaker that the town

533
00:45:54,160 --> 00:46:02,960
is is providing.
Isn't that true?

534
00:45:59,280 --> 00:46:11,359
So I I think you know we can't be doing
this uh you know um and I hate to use

535
00:46:07,440 --> 00:46:17,680
strange terms charades but I think we
need to clarify that because that

536
00:46:15,520 --> 00:46:20,640
» the town doesn't provide the circuit
breaker the state does and it's provided

537
00:46:20,160 --> 00:46:27,520
specific
>> no no circuit breaker comes from our

538
00:46:24,240 --> 00:46:33,200
investment of the town from the prior
years and it comes back to our budget,

539
00:46:30,880 --> 00:46:35,680
» but it's supposed to be for educational
purposes.

540
00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:36,640
» Yeah.
>> Okay.

541
00:46:36,240 --> 00:46:40,960
» Okay.
>> And it comes from the state. Um,

542
00:46:38,960 --> 00:46:47,119
» it does not come from the state. It's
all our money that was invested. Come

543
00:46:43,599 --> 00:46:53,760
on. Let's let's be serious. We need to
look at the

544
00:46:49,440 --> 00:47:00,880
taxability or taxing of our residents.
And, you know, it's just part of it.

545
00:46:57,119 --> 00:47:05,760
The thing is, how has this budget
improved

546
00:47:02,960 --> 00:47:10,000
other than special education for our
students? That's that's the question I'm

547
00:47:08,480 --> 00:47:15,760
asking.
Do we have an answer for that?

548
00:47:11,839 --> 00:47:20,960
» Yep, I certainly do. Um, and that's why
when you take a look at um under the

549
00:47:18,800 --> 00:47:24,079
high school, right, the advanced
placement program that we have at the

550
00:47:22,480 --> 00:47:28,000
high school, I don't think you'll find
another school in this area that has as

551
00:47:26,319 --> 00:47:34,400
many advanced placement courses that we
have. We're adding to that and adding an

552
00:47:31,680 --> 00:47:38,319
AP diploma this year is unbelievable in
terms of the pathways that we're looking

553
00:47:35,920 --> 00:47:42,560
to. We already have pathways. We have a
number of other science programs that we

554
00:47:40,400 --> 00:47:46,400
have that we're increasing. So the
curriculum changes for math is

555
00:47:44,640 --> 00:47:51,440
outstanding this year. So that will
impact all students. That's built in and

556
00:47:48,960 --> 00:47:56,000
that's no extra cost because Kristen's
work really hard in adding that to our

557
00:47:53,119 --> 00:48:00,480
grant um in terms of being able to
create um these early college

558
00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:03,280
opportunities. These these programs are
helping all students in terms and

559
00:48:02,240 --> 00:48:06,400
there's a lot of other curriculum
development that's not even in here that

560
00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:11,760
that's not even part of the budget
because it's been grant funded. So in

561
00:48:08,960 --> 00:48:15,440
terms of that piece, um I do question
the fact that and I understand that

562
00:48:13,680 --> 00:48:19,599
asking the question to me in terms of
where we are improvements, special

563
00:48:17,680 --> 00:48:22,960
education has been improving, but all
education's been improving here. We've

564
00:48:21,119 --> 00:48:27,280
been providing these programs. Our
enrollment is relatively stable, which

565
00:48:25,040 --> 00:48:30,400
is a good thing. The state aid, the the
chapter 70 funding has come in. We have

566
00:48:29,040 --> 00:48:34,880
those numbers. The town has those
numbers and they're working through

567
00:48:31,760 --> 00:48:38,160
that. So, um, in terms of that piece,
um, you know, I'm really proud of the

568
00:48:36,400 --> 00:48:42,079
work that that we're doing to look for
all students because that's been our

569
00:48:39,920 --> 00:48:46,720
focus. But we have to get special
education under under control as we said

570
00:48:44,559 --> 00:48:50,640
because of the fact the costs keep going
up and that will impact and I don't know

571
00:48:48,559 --> 00:48:54,079
if you saw the slide here, Mark, but in
terms of the like we are made there are

572
00:48:52,960 --> 00:48:57,520
some reductions here.
>> That's the one I was looking at that

573
00:48:55,760 --> 00:49:01,440
there's 10 students.
>> No, no, there's 11.

574
00:48:59,119 --> 00:49:05,920
» There's at least there's 10.6 six
teachers. There's nine F uh FDES for IAS

575
00:49:04,160 --> 00:49:10,079
and BTS being reduced. There's some
central office a significant central

576
00:49:07,599 --> 00:49:14,240
office position being removed. So that's
that's substantial and I know that's

577
00:49:12,160 --> 00:49:18,720
that's right there that's in the first
upper U where you might be facing at the

578
00:49:16,319 --> 00:49:21,760
right hand corner. So we are reducing
those pieces. So just for my own

579
00:49:20,800 --> 00:49:25,920
edification,
>> so we haven't just added positions and I

580
00:49:24,480 --> 00:49:30,480
know you didn't use the term willy-nilly
and I know you wouldn't say that, but I

581
00:49:27,920 --> 00:49:34,800
the insinuation is that we've been very
careful in calculating like I agree

582
00:49:32,800 --> 00:49:38,240
there has to be some positions that we
have to move and there are reductions

583
00:49:36,480 --> 00:49:41,520
here. So we're going through that
process.

584
00:49:38,960 --> 00:49:43,520
» That's I was very I was very happy to
hear that

585
00:49:42,160 --> 00:49:47,520
» and I think that's just being
responsible and as you said that many

586
00:49:45,119 --> 00:49:52,319
communities around us are in significant
reductions. Um, and I would also point

587
00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:57,359
out that, you know, in terms of the
enrollment and also the IEP, in terms of

588
00:49:55,359 --> 00:50:01,839
students and percentage, I think it's
about 22% in our district, right? Or so.

589
00:50:00,160 --> 00:50:04,480
But again, that doesn't matter to me.
What matters to me is all students get

590
00:50:03,440 --> 00:50:08,800
what they need. I think your point's
well taken. And that's why our focus has

591
00:50:06,559 --> 00:50:11,520
been not just in one area, but across
the board.

592
00:50:09,520 --> 00:50:14,880
» That's that's the whole point three
years ago. And I got very I rateated

593
00:50:14,079 --> 00:50:21,839
that time.
>> I know. and I did not come back until

594
00:50:18,559 --> 00:50:27,440
this year because I think we need to
have you have some time to make the

595
00:50:24,720 --> 00:50:33,040
adjustments and that's what I wanted to
hear and I didn't hear that at all. So

596
00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:40,160
that's something that you need to uh
present. Um, one of the things that I've

597
00:50:37,359 --> 00:50:46,720
noticed, and that was even three, four
years ago, is that we've had some

598
00:50:43,760 --> 00:50:54,640
federal funded teachers
uh through COVID and all that stuff. And

599
00:50:50,400 --> 00:51:02,240
then we have uh state funded positions
by grants. And then well

600
00:50:59,520 --> 00:51:08,880
at the end of the day we convert them
under our own budget because that budget

601
00:51:05,440 --> 00:51:14,319
runs out after two to three years and
all we're doing is multiplying the

602
00:51:11,520 --> 00:51:21,760
number of staff whether it's
administrative or teachers we had you

603
00:51:18,160 --> 00:51:28,400
know increase the number of staff and I
I didn't see what is the total number of

604
00:51:24,800 --> 00:51:33,599
staff from last year to this year. I'm
I'm going to study this a little bit

605
00:51:30,160 --> 00:51:42,400
more, but I I don't know if I can get an
answer out of you guys right now. Um

606
00:51:38,000 --> 00:51:52,319
the other item that I noted for myself
is will this early retirement incentive

607
00:51:48,880 --> 00:51:59,119
ultimately reduce the number of staff
that we have

608
00:51:54,559 --> 00:52:05,200
funded under this budget because usually
that's the intent of an early retirement

609
00:52:02,240 --> 00:52:11,040
uh function
And I didn't hear anything in regard to

610
00:52:09,119 --> 00:52:15,280
that. I mean, you know, why are we doing
early retirement if we're not going to

611
00:52:13,200 --> 00:52:22,000
reduce the staff?
The staff has been increasing every year

612
00:52:18,079 --> 00:52:28,319
because of these uh grant functions.
And it's great that you get the grants,

613
00:52:25,200 --> 00:52:34,400
but how are you going to be able to
support those under the budget? We we

614
00:52:32,000 --> 00:52:40,400
have constraints on the budget and
you've seen, you know, the new town

615
00:52:36,880 --> 00:52:46,720
manager squirming already in the papers
and the thing is I don't think she knows

616
00:52:43,680 --> 00:52:54,240
what what we're in for yet.
And you're just going along because

617
00:52:51,839 --> 00:53:00,160
you're allowed to do that and the town
has not put any pressure on the school

618
00:52:57,680 --> 00:53:07,920
and education budgets.
So will the early retirement

619
00:53:05,520 --> 00:53:14,079
um
evolve into a staff reduction in in the

620
00:53:11,440 --> 00:53:18,960
future.
>> The let me talk about that a little

621
00:53:16,880 --> 00:53:23,119
» the object of the earth.
>> Excuse me one second.

622
00:53:20,880 --> 00:53:27,280
» The one thing that I noticed sitting
back there is when you don't speak into

623
00:53:26,160 --> 00:53:32,079
the mic
>> I can't hear you. Maybe I'm going deaf.

624
00:53:29,920 --> 00:53:35,599
I don't know. But I have
>> Well, let me How's this?

625
00:53:33,119 --> 00:53:40,800
» I have selective hearing. You know that.
>> You always have. Um

626
00:53:38,720 --> 00:53:45,200
the question in in terms of early
retirement or whatever grant positions

627
00:53:43,359 --> 00:53:52,559
end up moving to the budget through the
years is always based on the number of

628
00:53:49,839 --> 00:53:55,839
persons that are necessary to provide
the programming that we think is

629
00:53:54,319 --> 00:54:00,319
important. Well, you can shake your
head. But I'm telling you that because

630
00:53:57,760 --> 00:54:05,599
we don't not every position, for
example, that is grant-f funded for two

631
00:54:02,960 --> 00:54:10,880
or three years ends up becoming a
permanent position. The ones that help

632
00:54:08,960 --> 00:54:15,760
the program, yeah, if we can fit them
into the budget, we certainly do that.

633
00:54:13,119 --> 00:54:20,960
The purpose of early retirement is not
to reduce the overall number of

634
00:54:18,480 --> 00:54:27,680
teachers. You know, we're not here to
try and increase class sizes. Um, but

635
00:54:24,240 --> 00:54:31,599
the early retirement benefit,
those teachers who are replaced, and it

636
00:54:29,680 --> 00:54:35,839
won't be all of them, but those teachers
who are replaced will be replaced with

637
00:54:33,520 --> 00:54:40,640
teachers who cost less. You're looking
at a budget this year, this pointed out,

638
00:54:38,240 --> 00:54:46,559
that has a reduction of the full-time
equivalent of about 10 teachers and

639
00:54:43,280 --> 00:54:49,920
about 10 aids. So, we're not just, you
know,

640
00:54:47,280 --> 00:54:55,359
» that's in somebody's [snorts]
perception. I I perception I don't know

641
00:54:52,559 --> 00:55:00,880
what the number is. I haven't seen it.
>> You saw it on the slide. A reduction of

642
00:54:58,240 --> 00:55:04,880
rough that FTE is full-time equivalent
position.

643
00:55:01,599 --> 00:55:12,240
» My question was will this early
retirement incentive in some way

644
00:55:09,119 --> 00:55:18,160
materialize in reduction in staff.
>> It'll it'll save money and it'll reduce

645
00:55:15,520 --> 00:55:20,400
staff if it's appropriate to do so. We
have we have people that are retiring

646
00:55:20,000 --> 00:55:25,280
this year.
>> Can you speak to the mic?

647
00:55:22,079 --> 00:55:28,960
» We have people retiring this year that
their positions will not be filled.

648
00:55:27,440 --> 00:55:33,520
» That's the way it should be offered
>> because it's not necessary to fill them.

649
00:55:31,119 --> 00:55:38,400
If it were necessary to fill them to
keep programming for our students and

650
00:55:35,520 --> 00:55:42,880
our families, it probably would be
replaced.

651
00:55:40,160 --> 00:55:48,000
There's been a very
direct and intentional

652
00:55:45,839 --> 00:55:53,359
um effort that has gone on to get to
4.05%.

653
00:55:50,079 --> 00:55:58,799
While maintaining the efforts that
started with the 6.41 because special ed

654
00:55:56,400 --> 00:56:05,440
needed that those things have been
continued over the last three years

655
00:56:02,799 --> 00:56:09,440
ultimately to save us money from
students going out of district.

656
00:56:07,359 --> 00:56:15,839
» I understand that.
Additionally, programming has been added

657
00:56:12,480 --> 00:56:19,599
for all students of all abilities in our
buildings

658
00:56:17,359 --> 00:56:21,760
because they all matter, not one group
over the other.

659
00:56:20,319 --> 00:56:27,520
» That's my whole point.
>> And in doing that, we've come in with a

660
00:56:23,839 --> 00:56:32,960
very lean budget of 4.05, which I think
is incredibly fair in this day and age.

661
00:56:30,799 --> 00:56:36,720
If the town has a problem with that, I'm
sure they're going to tell us that. But

662
00:56:34,640 --> 00:56:40,880
you have to understand at this point,
this team has been working

663
00:56:38,319 --> 00:56:45,440
collaboratively with the town
>> to get to this number.

664
00:56:43,040 --> 00:56:51,520
» And I understand that it's very
difficult to come up with a reasonable

665
00:56:48,799 --> 00:56:59,520
number. But I think what the school
committee and the superintendent need to

666
00:56:54,880 --> 00:57:06,960
realize that budgets are not infinite.
I mean, they are limited to how much

667
00:57:03,359 --> 00:57:15,359
money can be allocated because what we
see here, you're saying 56 million, but

668
00:57:10,960 --> 00:57:22,559
then you add all of the town
department allocations to the schools,

669
00:57:19,200 --> 00:57:29,040
to the buildings, to the fields, and you
get another 20 to30 million on top of

670
00:57:26,000 --> 00:57:34,400
that. So our budget right now for the
schools if it's done the same as in

671
00:57:32,640 --> 00:57:40,720
other communities
is probably in the 80 $85 million range.

672
00:57:39,200 --> 00:57:45,440
» You think guessing at that number is
fair right now? You actually believe

673
00:57:42,720 --> 00:57:49,200
that that's a fair statement to make.
>> You don't know what that number is?

674
00:57:47,119 --> 00:57:52,319
» Well, I've se I've watched it every
single year and last year

675
00:57:51,040 --> 00:57:55,680
» and you showed up without a number.
You're guessing at that number. I'm I'm

676
00:57:54,799 --> 00:58:00,640
telling you that
>> you don't even know what that number is

677
00:57:58,000 --> 00:58:03,920
yet. You're committing to that number to
this to this board.

678
00:58:01,760 --> 00:58:12,000
» It's in the town meeting warrant
articles and they have that in there. So

679
00:58:07,599 --> 00:58:16,880
every year that is a percentage that's
reflected for the commitment of

680
00:58:14,880 --> 00:58:21,839
» those I've seen those town warrant
articles because I'm a town meeting

681
00:58:18,240 --> 00:58:25,200
member. Those numbers don't ring a bell.
Well, then

682
00:58:22,480 --> 00:58:31,119
» so it's offensive that you come in here
and you and you throw these accusations

683
00:58:27,599 --> 00:58:37,040
out like you're doing. Asking questions
is not a problem. Getting clarification,

684
00:58:33,920 --> 00:58:44,799
not a problem. Are you coming in here
insinuating that things are not

685
00:58:39,920 --> 00:58:50,720
transparent, things are hidden, that
that that numbers are inflated, that we

686
00:58:47,760 --> 00:58:56,000
continually add staff in a needless
fashion? That's offensive.

687
00:58:53,680 --> 00:59:03,920
Well, then that's a position that you're
in. So, you might as well start getting

688
00:58:59,359 --> 00:59:08,240
used to it because the other item that I
have noted on here is staff

689
00:59:06,240 --> 00:59:14,000
reallocation.
This really came in at the same time as

690
00:59:10,640 --> 00:59:20,960
the retirement uh you know uh early
retirement uh criteria staff

691
00:59:17,760 --> 00:59:28,000
reallocation. That to me means that
you're shifting people from different

692
00:59:23,359 --> 00:59:35,599
positions which is very appropriate.
And the thing is that that does not

693
00:59:31,760 --> 00:59:42,960
reduce any budget.
It shuffles the deck to different uh

694
00:59:39,200 --> 00:59:48,799
departments or different uh functions.
So, one of the last things that I would

695
00:59:46,480 --> 00:59:52,240
like to discuss, and I don't want to
offend anybody.

696
00:59:50,799 --> 00:59:58,640
This is not
>> it's not a uh offensive uh posture here.

697
00:59:56,640 --> 01:00:07,280
This is questions and answers. That's
all I'm looking for. The

698
01:00:02,640 --> 01:00:13,440
Essex Tech has become a political
football basically last uh five, six

699
01:00:10,880 --> 01:00:18,079
years.
has the

700
01:00:15,440 --> 01:00:24,960
school department
because we went through some

701
01:00:20,960 --> 01:00:31,839
questionnaires and uh surveys and things
like that to find out why our students

702
01:00:28,400 --> 01:00:36,920
are going to SXT.
Has that materialized in any way?

703
01:00:38,240 --> 01:00:46,079
» Okay. So, what have we found out?
because that's going to be the next four

704
01:00:43,520 --> 01:00:51,599
or5 million budget item that's going to
be hitting us. So this slide right here

705
01:00:48,640 --> 01:00:56,160
Mark can demonstrate pathways when you
see EMT which we know that's mer medical

706
01:00:54,240 --> 01:01:00,640
technician pathway that's a very
specific technological way the pathways

707
01:00:59,200 --> 01:01:04,240
that we have in engineering medical
science

708
01:01:02,319 --> 01:01:09,119
I'm sorry is that better
>> well now I can hear you

709
01:01:05,680 --> 01:01:13,839
» okay the pathways are those pieces where
students we want to create relevant

710
01:01:11,359 --> 01:01:17,520
programming right that prepares our
workforce for the future or college

711
01:01:15,920 --> 01:01:20,640
readiness and And that's what the
pathways are. We've already had some

712
01:01:18,880 --> 01:01:24,000
pathways in our schools. We're looking
to enhance them further.

713
01:01:22,240 --> 01:01:26,960
» Do you know what pathways are, Mark? I
want to make sure that we're not

714
01:01:25,119 --> 01:01:30,319
throwing terms out that you don't get.
Do you know what pathways are?

715
01:01:28,720 --> 01:01:34,319
» Sure.
>> Okay.

716
01:01:31,599 --> 01:01:39,520
» But the thing is what I'm looking at is
>> so I just want to say something that we

717
01:01:36,640 --> 01:01:43,760
we work we work with Essex Tech. So we
understand the statement that you made

718
01:01:41,440 --> 01:01:47,520
earlier. I didn't point out, but the
fact of the matter is that all of our

719
01:01:45,119 --> 01:01:50,880
students in Danvers, you know, we we are
here to serve our students. If they

720
01:01:48,880 --> 01:01:54,319
proceed to Essex Tech, that's wonderful.
They have outstanding opportunities

721
01:01:52,240 --> 01:01:57,760
there, but we have opportunities at our
high school, too, that are outstanding

722
01:01:55,920 --> 01:02:02,480
that might meet a different niche of a
student. And it's our job. So your point

723
01:02:00,400 --> 01:02:05,599
about finding out what students need is
that we've been digging in and and I

724
01:02:04,240 --> 01:02:08,400
don't I you know I should have brought
over that open house sign to your house

725
01:02:07,280 --> 01:02:12,960
because I wish you would have attended
the open house to see the programs that

726
01:02:10,960 --> 01:02:17,200
we offer and what we're trying to do to
show our students and families that back

727
01:02:15,440 --> 01:02:21,359
in the day maybe the community high
school was the option. We know families

728
01:02:19,200 --> 01:02:24,799
have many different options. So it's up
incumbent on us to show like we have

729
01:02:23,119 --> 01:02:28,559
these opportunities where you can
graduate from Danver High School and

730
01:02:26,880 --> 01:02:31,839
become an engineer. You can graduate,
become a nurse. You can graduate and

731
01:02:30,160 --> 01:02:36,000
become a technician. You can do all
those things at our high school that you

732
01:02:33,680 --> 01:02:39,280
can do at Essex Tech. And we support and
we work with Essex Tech as well. So,

733
01:02:37,520 --> 01:02:43,119
it's not it's not a political football
for us. So, that's that's not true with

734
01:02:42,319 --> 01:02:51,280
us.
>> But the point was to find out why these

735
01:02:48,480 --> 01:02:58,960
students were leaving.
And I understand that they have a u um a

736
01:02:56,319 --> 01:03:08,640
lottery system for selecting students.
Now there's no um

737
01:03:03,280 --> 01:03:17,359
uh you know special uh selections.
However, did we ever find out why the

738
01:03:12,880 --> 01:03:23,520
students left? We had 260ome students
that went into the uh Essex Tech from

739
01:03:21,119 --> 01:03:28,240
Danvers and I don't think that number
has changed recently either.

740
01:03:26,559 --> 01:03:30,880
» There's been a reduction over the last
couple of years. It's come down

741
01:03:29,359 --> 01:03:34,240
slightly. Um
>> very little

742
01:03:31,760 --> 01:03:37,599
» but yes, I think there's a lot of not
enough information on our end where

743
01:03:35,760 --> 01:03:40,799
students can achieve what they're
looking for for terms of career

744
01:03:38,880 --> 01:03:45,440
readiness and opportunities. And that's
one thing that when we had the surveys,

745
01:03:43,520 --> 01:03:49,359
we've talked with families understanding
that we have opportunities here. Um, and

746
01:03:47,839 --> 01:03:53,599
the lottery system, as you know, was put
in by law, was passed. So that changed

747
01:03:51,520 --> 01:03:57,520
the whole admissions process to Essex
Tech into all technical schools across

748
01:03:55,359 --> 01:04:01,440
the Commonwealth. So with that being
said, that certainly we look for the the

749
01:04:00,079 --> 01:04:05,599
amount of applications actually have
gone down from Holton Richmond this past

750
01:04:03,760 --> 01:04:08,880
year. I'm not saying right or wrong
indifferent. I'm just saying that we

751
01:04:07,039 --> 01:04:12,960
have to do a better job of showing that
we have the programs here and also

752
01:04:11,280 --> 01:04:17,039
develop the programs. So at that point
is well taken. So

753
01:04:14,640 --> 01:04:23,359
» that was the whole point when I worked
with your u

754
01:04:19,760 --> 01:04:29,680
principal of the high school and he's no
longer here but uh he and I have had

755
01:04:27,039 --> 01:04:33,039
long discussions in regard to what kind
of a survey question can you put out?

756
01:04:31,680 --> 01:04:36,160
» I would invite you to come in to meet
our current principal. I think you'd be

757
01:04:34,400 --> 01:04:41,839
very impressed with what he's done this
whole DHS 2 2030. That's a lot of his

758
01:04:40,000 --> 01:04:44,799
hard work and sweat and I I would invite
you to come in. Please reach out and

759
01:04:43,359 --> 01:04:47,039
I'll set up a meeting with you to sit
down with our principal. I think you'd

760
01:04:45,920 --> 01:04:52,880
enjoy meeting with them.
>> Gladly anytime.

761
01:04:49,440 --> 01:05:00,839
Uh the final question
is how is the school department or the

762
01:04:57,599 --> 01:05:00,839
school committee

763
01:05:01,119 --> 01:05:11,280
responding
to the Essex Tech students?

764
01:05:07,839 --> 01:05:14,280
Are we making any
um

765
01:05:15,680 --> 01:05:24,079
conditions that will attract them back?
And how do we settle on the funding? I

766
01:05:22,240 --> 01:05:28,720
mean, that's that's the big deal. You
know, my position about the funding is

767
01:05:26,799 --> 01:05:34,319
that it should be reduced from the
Denver school department and put towards

768
01:05:32,240 --> 01:05:38,640
the SX Tech because that's where it
really belongs because those are our

769
01:05:36,559 --> 01:05:43,920
students.
and we need to service all of our

770
01:05:41,440 --> 01:05:48,720
students.
>> Okay, one more time.

771
01:05:46,319 --> 01:05:52,400
» We we've actually received a number of
students back from Essex Tech. In fact,

772
01:05:50,799 --> 01:05:57,280
three recently.
>> Um the only thing I'll say about the

773
01:05:54,480 --> 01:06:01,520
reasons why is I think it has to do with
our 26 advanced placement courses. I

774
01:06:00,160 --> 01:06:06,400
think they're looking they're looking
they were looking for more uh

775
01:06:03,520 --> 01:06:11,119
opportunity with advanced placement
which we had. Um and so they've come

776
01:06:09,280 --> 01:06:16,319
back to us.
Um other than that we had some earlier

777
01:06:14,160 --> 01:06:21,119
in the year as well. So maybe five to 10
students have come back this year.

778
01:06:18,319 --> 01:06:22,799
» So it's a revolving door between the two
schools.

779
01:06:21,440 --> 01:06:25,920
» Well, you know, you get over there and
you think you're going to get something.

780
01:06:24,160 --> 01:06:29,599
It's not really up to your expectations.
So you and we take obviously we have to

781
01:06:28,319 --> 01:06:32,640
take them back. we would happy to take
it.

782
01:06:30,799 --> 01:06:37,039
» And also, as you know, the town pays the
assessment to Essics Tech as well as all

783
01:06:34,480 --> 01:06:40,240
17 member communities. So, if that that
number goes up, obviously that's less

784
01:06:38,480 --> 01:06:44,480
available for our schools, too. So,
that's the balancing act. So, the town

785
01:06:42,640 --> 01:06:48,720
does support that through the assessment
every year. So, even though our numbers

786
01:06:46,400 --> 01:06:53,119
may have gone down, the cost of doing
business has gone up. So, that would

787
01:06:50,799 --> 01:06:58,799
account for an increased assessment
>> and that is supported by both the town

788
01:06:56,640 --> 01:07:05,440
and the state.
And the problem is is that the state is

789
01:07:01,440 --> 01:07:10,400
not funding enough of it. For other
communities, it does, but for us, for

790
01:07:07,760 --> 01:07:17,119
some reason, can't get them to do it.
And we're the host community.

791
01:07:13,760 --> 01:07:23,039
So, I want to thank you for at least
listening. And don't get offensive or or

792
01:07:21,280 --> 01:07:27,440
offended.
You can get offensive, but that's okay.

793
01:07:25,039 --> 01:07:30,559
» You tell me what I can and can't do now.
Oh, no.

794
01:07:29,911 --> 01:07:36,480
[laughter]
No. You we can play this game for a long

795
01:07:32,880 --> 01:07:40,880
time. No, but I appreciate the time, but
uh the one thing that I'm really

796
01:07:38,880 --> 01:07:47,920
concerned and like I mentioned in the
beginning is that this meeting

797
01:07:44,640 --> 01:07:52,319
is to a audience of three or two three
people.

798
01:07:49,839 --> 01:07:57,119
Is that what I think, you know, our
school system deserves? I think it

799
01:07:54,240 --> 01:08:02,720
deserves a heck of a lot more.
So, I don't know. Maybe uh this

800
01:08:00,880 --> 01:08:08,480
I don't know. Maybe it'll raise a lot
more questions at the board of

801
01:08:04,400 --> 01:08:12,880
selectman. And uh uh well, finance
committee is going to do their own

802
01:08:09,839 --> 01:08:17,040
thing. All right. Thank you very much.
And uh

803
01:08:14,880 --> 01:08:20,480
no offense.
>> Thank you.

804
01:08:18,239 --> 01:08:24,120
» You're so sensitive. That's what my wife
tells me all the time.

805
01:08:26,400 --> 01:08:29,400
Please

806
01:08:43,600 --> 01:08:52,400
want to approach this, you know, part of
the conversation with a lot of

807
01:08:48,080 --> 01:08:57,920
compassion. Um, these are really complex
budget times and special education

808
01:08:54,400 --> 01:09:02,960
funding is really complex. Like, um, Dan
had said, we're dealing with human

809
01:08:59,440 --> 01:09:07,120
beings. It's it's not an easy thing. Um,
and it's not it's not easy either to get

810
01:09:05,120 --> 01:09:11,120
up and ask questions that might not be
popular, but it's a really important

811
01:09:08,480 --> 01:09:16,000
role. So, um, I thank you for coming
here and doing that. Um, I did just sort

812
01:09:14,239 --> 01:09:21,920
of write down some thoughts that for us
to think about. Um, and it's true,

813
01:09:18,799 --> 01:09:26,880
budgets aren't finite, are not infinite,
but neither is childhood. And we have to

814
01:09:24,960 --> 01:09:31,120
keep that in mind. And, and it's such a
hard job that you all have to balance

815
01:09:28,560 --> 01:09:35,679
that. Um, but it's the absolute truth
when we're talking about humans and

816
01:09:33,279 --> 01:09:40,480
trying to make up that time that's lost
and those skills when it when you're

817
01:09:37,839 --> 01:09:45,600
trying to recruit them so much harder.
We know that it's the proactive

818
01:09:42,960 --> 01:09:51,520
investments where we can intervene early
and get services that are going to help

819
01:09:48,239 --> 01:09:55,520
our students thrive um and ultimately
reach their full capacity. And which

820
01:09:53,199 --> 01:10:02,000
gets me to my my next sort of
observation is that the programs that

821
01:09:59,040 --> 01:10:06,960
we're talking about AP courses um early
college special education students are

822
01:10:04,400 --> 01:10:14,239
in those programs and doing so well.
They are very capable. they are high

823
01:10:09,520 --> 01:10:19,280
achievers and we cannot continue to
undercut that and pretend like they're

824
01:10:16,320 --> 01:10:26,480
not part of it. That's a bias. That is a
bias that is common. Um and that was

825
01:10:23,440 --> 01:10:32,159
part of what I have seen underlying some
of you know discussions and when I I

826
01:10:29,280 --> 01:10:37,760
think people don't um you know think
about disability in a new way that I

827
01:10:35,440 --> 01:10:41,840
often I'll get my son David people will
say he doesn't look autistic and it's

828
01:10:39,920 --> 01:10:47,280
not it's just a new concept. He is
though he doesn't look it but he is and

829
01:10:45,120 --> 01:10:52,560
there's disability everywhere that we
don't see. Anybody can come become

830
01:10:49,760 --> 01:10:57,920
disabled at any time. It's true. Go to
Spalding Rehab.

831
01:10:55,120 --> 01:11:03,360
So, I really commend this committee. I
think if we could get more consistent

832
01:10:59,920 --> 01:11:07,199
engagement from the public, um you've
discussed many of the issues that were

833
01:11:04,800 --> 01:11:12,800
brought up in length at these meetings.
Um and you know, that information is

834
01:11:10,000 --> 01:11:18,560
there. Um I think dialogue, you know,
act happening proactively can can really

835
01:11:15,679 --> 01:11:25,280
add a lot um instead of just at this
point right now. uh and that you know my

836
01:11:21,520 --> 01:11:29,280
worry for long-term special education is
that

837
01:11:26,880 --> 01:11:36,239
um not so much with this committee and
in in Danverse public schools but town

838
01:11:33,199 --> 01:11:41,920
my concern is that it's a very volatile
type of funding that we continue to

839
01:11:38,800 --> 01:11:46,800
reactively rely on what's like a longer
term plan. We know this is always going

840
01:11:44,560 --> 01:11:52,719
to be here. health care costs and
special education costs are always going

841
01:11:49,360 --> 01:11:56,640
to be part of this. And so we're in sort
of this predicament now because of the

842
01:11:54,800 --> 01:12:02,159
investments that weren't made 10, 20
years ago. And what that looked like is

843
01:11:59,520 --> 01:12:07,760
parents tell me now there was, you know,
the conditions that their kids were in

844
01:12:04,480 --> 01:12:11,199
were really this town would be if if
they could hear those parents and those

845
01:12:09,120 --> 01:12:15,440
students talk about that, they would be
very embarrassed and ashamed. That's not

846
01:12:13,199 --> 01:12:20,080
how people should be treated. Do we want
to go back? No, of course not. So, I

847
01:12:18,719 --> 01:12:24,719
think we really do need to start
planning more for a longer term future

848
01:12:22,800 --> 01:12:30,239
of what's this look like in five years.
We can't just continue to patch things.

849
01:12:27,360 --> 01:12:36,000
Um the the question I had was about that
PD funding, the $75,000 for optional. Um

850
01:12:34,320 --> 01:12:39,440
it seems like they I don't know if your
staff is able to, you know, opt into it

851
01:12:38,000 --> 01:12:44,320
for like two days or something and get a
stipend. Um

852
01:12:42,480 --> 01:12:49,360
uh I think you know one of the things we
hear from families is that more PD is

853
01:12:46,880 --> 01:12:52,400
needed. Um especially around some of the
concepts that I just you know talked

854
01:12:51,120 --> 01:12:57,440
about that would really benefit
everyone. Um so you know I hope that we

855
01:12:55,440 --> 01:13:02,000
can figure out a way to to get more
training into the hands of educators who

856
01:12:59,280 --> 01:13:06,239
I know really want it. Um and just thank
you all. I appreciate everybody's time.

857
01:13:08,880 --> 01:13:14,040
I'd entertain a motion to close public
comment.

858
01:13:14,320 --> 01:13:22,199
» Motion to close public comment.
>> Second.

859
01:13:18,880 --> 01:13:22,199
» Any discussion?

860
01:13:22,239 --> 01:13:28,239
Seeing none, all those in favor, please
say I.

861
01:13:24,560 --> 01:13:32,239
» I. Opposed.
>> And now I would entertain a motion in

862
01:13:30,000 --> 01:13:37,679
regards to either accepting or not
accepting the budget.

863
01:13:34,719 --> 01:13:45,800
I would move, Mr. Chair, that we approve
the uh proposed FY27 budget in the

864
01:13:40,719 --> 01:13:45,800
amount of 56 million $151,63

865
01:13:46,000 --> 01:13:54,159
to be passed on to the select and
finance committee for consideration.

866
01:13:52,320 --> 01:13:59,440
Second
any discussion, further discussion

867
01:13:57,360 --> 01:14:05,719
hearing none. All those in favor, please
say I. I. I.

868
01:14:01,280 --> 01:14:05,719
» All opposed. Congratul

869
01:14:12,000 --> 01:14:19,199
um at this time I would I just remember
our next meeting is March 9th. I'll say

870
01:14:17,600 --> 01:14:22,239
it one more time and I would entertain a
motion to adjourn.

871
01:14:21,040 --> 01:14:26,640
» Motion to adjurnn.
>> Second.

872
01:14:23,600 --> 01:14:31,480
» All those in favor please say I.
>> Thank you Damas. Good night.

873
01:14:28,320 --> 01:14:31,480
» Good night.