1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:02,480 call to order the Frontier Regional 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:04,720 School District School Committee meeting 3 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,200 at 6:02. Um, I will just be upright that 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,559 I'm uh upfront that I'm making sure that 5 00:00:12,559 --> 00:00:15,040 folks who are joining remotely from the 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,279 school committee have the links and so 7 00:00:17,279 --> 00:00:19,520 if I'm if I'm doing that, that is 8 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,160 exactly uh what I'm checking in on. I 9 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,519 think we have one member check in. Um, 10 00:00:25,519 --> 00:00:27,920 and I just got an update that Celia will 11 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:32,870 be here shortly. 12 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,360 I'm going to start with the operational 13 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,160 goals, which is especially important 14 00:00:38,160 --> 00:00:41,040 today as we talk about budget. Um, the 15 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:42,320 school committee's primary 16 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:44,239 responsibility is to establish those 17 00:00:44,239 --> 00:00:46,640 purposes, programs, and procedures that 18 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,239 will best produce the educational 19 00:00:48,239 --> 00:00:50,640 achievement needed by our students. The 20 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,239 committee's charge accomplishing this 21 00:00:52,239 --> 00:00:54,239 while also being responsible for wise 22 00:00:54,239 --> 00:00:56,719 management of resources available to the 23 00:00:56,719 --> 00:00:58,719 school district. The committee must 24 00:00:58,719 --> 00:01:00,320 fulfill these responsibilities by 25 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,079 functioning primarily as a legislative 26 00:01:02,079 --> 00:01:04,799 body to formulate and adopt policy, by 27 00:01:04,799 --> 00:01:06,400 selecting an executive officer to 28 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,799 implement policy, and by evaluating the 29 00:01:08,799 --> 00:01:10,880 results. It must carry out its functions 30 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,200 openly while seeking the comments of the 31 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:14,799 public, students, and staff in its 32 00:01:14,799 --> 00:01:17,840 decision-making process. 33 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,560 The first order uh of business today is 34 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,000 the public hearing uh on the proposed 35 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:29,759 fiscal budget for uh 2027. 36 00:01:29,759 --> 00:01:31,600 This has been a a tough year if you've 37 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:33,360 been to any of the previous meetings. 38 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,680 So, just want to commend Shelley for 39 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,560 helping to guide us and making uh 40 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,240 striking a balance between making the 41 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,200 right decisions about 42 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,680 helping to keep the school financially 43 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:51,200 viable and having the least impact on 44 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,000 staff and services and students. So, 45 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:55,600 thank you for all the work on that. I 46 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,479 know none of this is easy. 47 00:01:58,479 --> 00:02:00,880 We have some folks in I don't know did 48 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:02,640 that was that able to get circulated 49 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,960 around if have a list. 50 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:06,560 >> Yeah, I'd like to just try to keep 51 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,920 track. Uh I think we have a lot of folks 52 00:02:09,920 --> 00:02:12,160 online and some folks here in the 53 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,319 audience and I just want to keep track 54 00:02:14,319 --> 00:02:16,160 and remind folks that we are going to 55 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,120 try to keep the time limit to we all 56 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,000 made it in here. I'm not sure. 57 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,200 Uh thank you for braving the weather 58 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,120 and I just want to keep time to a 59 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,080 reasonable limit. So 3 minutes per 60 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:31,599 speaker 61 00:02:31,599 --> 00:02:34,000 and if do you have a 62 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,360 >> So we're gonna we were going to open up 63 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,280 with a presentation and then after the 64 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,680 presentation open comment on the agenda. 65 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,920 >> Do you want to if people want to talk to 66 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:44,080 have them comment in the 67 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:45,760 >> So we'll do that at that point. 68 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:46,319 >> That's fine. 69 00:02:46,319 --> 00:02:47,680 >> So when we get to that I'll 70 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:48,959 >> that's fine. I just want to keep track 71 00:02:48,959 --> 00:02:51,280 of things for this and Shelley is gonna 72 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,519 start with the presentation and then the 73 00:02:53,519 --> 00:02:54,879 comments in this public hearing are 74 00:02:54,879 --> 00:02:56,319 going to be solely focused on the 75 00:02:56,319 --> 00:03:00,550 budget. 76 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:05,910 » All right. 77 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:08,319 So the uh budget that we're discussing 78 00:03:08,319 --> 00:03:10,080 at the moment is the budget that was 79 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,000 presented at the January school 80 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,280 committee meeting. Um, we had made a a 81 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,640 move to move forward with a 3.94% 82 00:03:18,640 --> 00:03:20,080 increase, but I'm actually going to take 83 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,400 us back a little bit um, and talk about 84 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:24,239 what the process is in the budget 85 00:03:24,239 --> 00:03:26,720 building uh, timeline as well as what 86 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,239 goes into the budget and the different 87 00:03:28,239 --> 00:03:29,760 iterations. I'm going to move through 88 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,440 some of it pretty quickly because we did 89 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,879 do a very lengthy meeting in January. 90 00:03:34,879 --> 00:03:38,080 Um, if you want, you can in February, 91 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,319 you're right, in February. We did in 92 00:03:40,319 --> 00:03:42,400 January as well. We did a very lengthy I 93 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:43,760 think we've done this twice. 94 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:45,840 >> Um, which can also be found on our 95 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:47,280 website. So, if you wanted to go back 96 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:48,640 and watch any of that and get the 97 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:50,879 greater detail on on chapter 70 funding 98 00:03:50,879 --> 00:03:52,480 and those pieces, there is additional 99 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,120 information online. Um, but for today, 100 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:56,799 I'm going to get us started talking 101 00:03:56,799 --> 00:03:59,680 about how the budget is developed. Um, 102 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,400 so we start the budget process off. I 103 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,319 recognize that this is really small on 104 00:04:04,319 --> 00:04:07,200 the screen. This was part of the I think 105 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:12,070 this is gonna 106 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,799 um this was part of the packet that went 107 00:04:14,799 --> 00:04:16,400 out to school committee tonight and will 108 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:18,560 get uploaded to our website tomorrow. So 109 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:20,400 you can access the slideshow on our 110 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,960 website. We start off the process in 111 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,040 November, late November, early December. 112 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:26,880 The administration takes a pass at the 113 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:28,800 first draft. So I start us off by 114 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,120 looking at level services and then we 115 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,199 take feedback from the principal on what 116 00:04:33,199 --> 00:04:35,840 might the new needs be in the building. 117 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:37,919 Uh we come forward in January and 118 00:04:37,919 --> 00:04:40,160 present the first draft to the 119 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,320 subcommittee. Uh and then school 120 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,800 committee typically does not review that 121 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,800 first draft in January because usually 122 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,600 it is before the governor has released 123 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,000 um the state budget and we don't 124 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,000 necessarily have all of our information 125 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:55,840 on our expenditures such as Franklin 126 00:04:55,840 --> 00:04:58,080 Regional Retirement Assessment. However, 127 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,080 this year we did have our preliminary 128 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,800 conversation in January pretty in depth 129 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:04,479 um more than we would in other years 130 00:05:04,479 --> 00:05:05,759 knowing what was coming down the 131 00:05:05,759 --> 00:05:07,280 pipeline particularly with the health 132 00:05:07,280 --> 00:05:09,840 insurance changes. February school 133 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:12,160 committee continues the deliberation. 134 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,160 Here we are today in March at our public 135 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,039 hearing. Uh Thursday there is a vote 136 00:05:17,039 --> 00:05:18,720 there's another meeting to vote to adopt 137 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:20,639 the budget and then our towns meet 138 00:05:20,639 --> 00:05:23,120 between the months of April and June for 139 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:25,039 their annual town meetings to finish up 140 00:05:25,039 --> 00:05:28,160 the process. We take into consideration 141 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,160 uh a needsbased and student centered 142 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:31,680 budget while balancing fiscal 143 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,919 responsibility. We start by looking at 144 00:05:33,919 --> 00:05:36,560 level services and also cons consider 145 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:38,400 new needs and initiatives and then look 146 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,960 at um our supplemental funds. So that 147 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,120 includes grant or revolving funds. 148 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:46,560 It's good to have an understanding of 149 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,039 the different budget types. Um I 150 00:05:49,039 --> 00:05:50,960 mentioned level services a couple of 151 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,680 times on the previous slide. So with a 152 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,680 level service budget, you're copying 153 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,759 over your programs and your services, 154 00:05:57,759 --> 00:05:59,680 which includes all of your staffing that 155 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:01,520 exists in the current year budget. 156 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,600 You're modeling that over in the new 157 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,840 year. Your services stay the same. 158 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:07,360 You're not looking for any growth at 159 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,600 that level service budget, but there is 160 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,280 always budget increase which is 161 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:13,919 primarily uh connected to contractual 162 00:06:13,919 --> 00:06:16,800 wage obligations for any union contracts 163 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:18,720 you have and then wage obligations for 164 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,840 non-UN staff as well. A level funded 165 00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:23,759 budget is very different than level 166 00:06:23,759 --> 00:06:25,520 service. It's good to understand that 167 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,000 distinction. In a level funded budget, 168 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,319 the dollar amount stays the same as the 169 00:06:30,319 --> 00:06:32,560 prior year, which means that you are 170 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,720 seeing some service reduction because 171 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:36,960 you're always having growth for what 172 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,440 you're paying um primarily for wages 173 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,000 out. But in order to keep that budget 174 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,240 number the same, you have to make some 175 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,039 cuts along the way. A reduced budget is 176 00:06:47,039 --> 00:06:49,520 similar. Um although the budget doesn't 177 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,120 stay the same, the budget actually 178 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,600 decreases because you're cutting um 179 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,520 services or programming more 180 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,440 significantly. We're going to talk about 181 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:59,039 that later because that is what we're 182 00:06:59,039 --> 00:07:00,960 presenting here today is a good use 183 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,520 budget. And then the other um option for 184 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,919 a budget is have an increase. Typically, 185 00:07:05,919 --> 00:07:08,160 we do have some type of requests here 186 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,000 from the principal's office as he talks 187 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,000 to other folks on the ground in the 188 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,160 building. Um however, this year there is 189 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,160 no request for an increased budget. 190 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:17,840 there was no new needs at the school 191 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,720 level. 192 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:22,400 I'm not going to go over the details on 193 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,400 this slide, but each of the categories 194 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,039 that is included in our budget stems 195 00:07:27,039 --> 00:07:28,960 from Desi's chart of accounts. So the 196 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,599 state sets the categories in which our 197 00:07:31,599 --> 00:07:34,080 expenditures are reported to them. Um 198 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:35,440 there's breakdown of district 199 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,000 administration, instruction, pupil 200 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,160 services, uh physical plant and 201 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,080 operations and maintenance, benefits and 202 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,639 fixed charges, and then other um out of 203 00:07:44,639 --> 00:07:46,720 district programs where we send students 204 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:51,270 out of district. 205 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,039 This is a really minimal breakdown of 206 00:07:53,039 --> 00:07:54,960 how the budget is funded. Last month, we 207 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,280 got into this at greater detail. Please 208 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:01,440 watch that reporting from last month if this is of interest for you. But 209 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,240 there are um these five sort of 210 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:05,919 different pots of money that come in to 211 00:08:05,919 --> 00:08:07,759 fund Frontier's budget. The first being 212 00:08:07,759 --> 00:08:10,800 chapter 70 aid which uh is the funding 213 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,039 from the state but also sets the minimum 214 00:08:13,039 --> 00:08:14,879 required contribution for our member 215 00:08:14,879 --> 00:08:17,039 towns. So that is what the state says 216 00:08:17,039 --> 00:08:18,879 that our member towns can afford to pay 217 00:08:18,879 --> 00:08:21,360 towards our budget. Typically there is 218 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:23,520 an additional assessment to fully fund 219 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,199 our budget that our member towns are 220 00:08:25,199 --> 00:08:28,240 paying. We use excess and deficiency as 221 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,560 well to decrease our assessments. uh 222 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,200 excess and deficiency is similar to free 223 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,320 cash in a municipality. We apply state 224 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,399 transportation reimbursement and then we 225 00:08:38,399 --> 00:08:40,399 consider other special revenues such as 226 00:08:40,399 --> 00:08:43,440 revolving funds or grants. 227 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:44,959 The next slide shows you what that 228 00:08:44,959 --> 00:08:47,279 breakdown is by by percentage point and 229 00:08:47,279 --> 00:08:49,120 I think that this is important for 230 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:51,440 people to recognize how much of our 231 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,760 budget is funded by our member towns 232 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:55,519 between the combination of the state 233 00:08:55,519 --> 00:08:57,279 required contribution and then the 234 00:08:57,279 --> 00:08:59,440 additional to fully fund. You can see 235 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:00,959 that's in the red and the yellow here, 236 00:09:00,959 --> 00:09:04,160 the 36 plus the 26%. The other 237 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,560 percentage of the pie uh is primarily 238 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:09,120 funded from chapter 70 and then a 239 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,279 significant portion from our special 240 00:09:11,279 --> 00:09:15,200 revenues revolving funds and grants. 241 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:16,800 All right, so let's get to the meat of 242 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,880 it and talk about fiscal year 27 now 243 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:20,720 that you know some information about how 244 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,880 the budget is drafted, the different 245 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:26,480 budget types and the types of revenues. 246 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,120 So, at first pass in January, we 247 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,200 presented a level service budget of 248 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:32,880 6.95% 249 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:35,680 which was slightly over $900,000 over 250 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:38,720 fiscal year 26. There's two pieces of 251 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:40,560 this that we looked at in that January 252 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:42,399 conversation. We looked at wage growth 253 00:09:42,399 --> 00:09:44,720 and then non-wage growth. Wage growth 254 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,640 stems from our contract. So, anyone 255 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:48,320 that's on the teacher contract or the 256 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:49,920 instructional assistant contract, we 257 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,800 take into consideration there what the 258 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,200 step changes are. And then we also look 259 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,040 at anyone else who's building based. So, 260 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:58,480 principal's office, secretary, 261 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,399 custodial, as well as central office 262 00:10:00,399 --> 00:10:02,800 staff. Take into consideration what all 263 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:04,959 of those changes are. This is not wage 264 00:10:04,959 --> 00:10:07,120 growth for adding any new staff. This is 265 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,120 strictly level services, taking every 266 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,120 employee who's currently employed here 267 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,160 and rolling it over into the new year. 268 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:16,800 If all we were looking at was a $300,000 269 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,480 increase, we'd be in a really positive 270 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,000 position. We wouldn't have needed any 271 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,040 further discussions. $300,000 is roughly 272 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:24,959 where we land every year. It's about a 273 00:10:24,959 --> 00:10:28,240 3%age point increase on our budget over 274 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,640 the prior year. However, we did have 275 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,040 some significant changes in the level 276 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:34,959 service budget in regards to health 277 00:10:34,959 --> 00:10:37,920 insurance costs. And then we had uh some 278 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:40,079 adjustments for revolving funds and 279 00:10:40,079 --> 00:10:42,880 grants that we were making. The health 280 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,760 insurance alone of that 620,000 was 281 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,320 around $500,000 growth over the prior 282 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,640 year. That's a significant number when 283 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,720 you're talking about budget growth of 284 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,630 $900,000. 285 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,440 That budget um based on the assessments 286 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,200 that we discussed in the February 287 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,760 meeting did not feel like it would pass 288 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,000 at our member uh town annual town 289 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,160 meetings felt like we needed to do some 290 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:09,680 work behind the scenes to bring our 291 00:11:09,680 --> 00:11:12,560 budget down. So, we did present um a 292 00:11:12,560 --> 00:11:14,640 reduced budget option. However, we did 293 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,560 not get into the specifics of that in 294 00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:20,000 January February. of saying that um we 295 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:21,600 did not get into the specifics in 296 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:23,600 February. We were not prepared yet fully 297 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,920 administratively to get into what the 298 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:27,600 nitty-gritty of those discussions will 299 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:31,360 be. Um however, we did recommend that we 300 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,760 would make reductions with as minimal 301 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,800 impact as possible to student learning 302 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,800 and our staff members. So, we're trying 303 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,200 to balance with our budget reductions 304 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,440 fiscal responsibility with educational 305 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:45,279 excellence. It was really important to 306 00:11:45,279 --> 00:11:47,440 the administration and the school 307 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,120 committee to make sure that we were not 308 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,399 sacrificing um essential programs and 309 00:11:52,399 --> 00:11:55,120 essential learning for our students. So, 310 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:57,440 what that looked like uh in the February 311 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:02,150 meeting, we talked about 312 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:06,000 a $400,000 reduction um which would come 313 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,720 from uh application of rural aid funds, 314 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,079 which is a grant of $100,000 and then 315 00:12:12,079 --> 00:12:14,959 reduction of positions of up to four or 316 00:12:14,959 --> 00:12:18,320 $300,000 for a total budget reduction of 317 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,279 400,000. This would bring our budget 318 00:12:21,279 --> 00:12:24,800 around um 3.94% 319 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,160 uh instead of the 6.95% for fiscal year 320 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,079 26. 321 00:12:30,079 --> 00:12:32,560 The next slide outlines what those 322 00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:35,040 position reduction recommendations are 323 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:36,480 based on the administration's 324 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,480 recommendations over the last month of 325 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,040 work that we've been doing. Um so we are 326 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,920 recommending that we move from a 327 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,680 librarian position to a library aid. Uh 328 00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:49,839 we are recommending that we reduce a 329 00:12:49,839 --> 00:12:52,079 building monitor as well as three 330 00:12:52,079 --> 00:12:54,639 instructional assistants. Uh we have a 331 00:12:54,639 --> 00:12:57,040 part-time school adjustment counselor 332 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:58,800 and then a special education teacher 333 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:00,639 that we're making a recommendation on. 334 00:13:00,639 --> 00:13:02,079 I'm going to talk about a couple of 335 00:13:02,079 --> 00:13:03,519 these because there's some financial 336 00:13:03,519 --> 00:13:04,800 things and then I'm going to turn it 337 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:06,959 over um to Darius and George to talk 338 00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:09,040 about the other positions if if needed 339 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,120 at this point. So, what I want to 340 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:12,399 mention with the part-time school 341 00:13:12,399 --> 00:13:14,560 adjustment counselor is this is 342 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:17,600 currently a grant-f funed position. Um, 343 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:19,279 and what we are talking about, it was 344 00:13:19,279 --> 00:13:21,760 just brought on two years ago, George, 345 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,959 is that correct? Um, for part-time 346 00:13:24,959 --> 00:13:26,720 additional support based on student 347 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,560 needs in the building, we are talking 348 00:13:28,560 --> 00:13:30,959 about reallocating an existing staff 349 00:13:30,959 --> 00:13:33,120 member to that grant. So, it brings 350 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,680 relief to the budget. um that part-time 351 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:38,959 position is also filled by someone who 352 00:13:38,959 --> 00:13:41,440 is retired from the public school system 353 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,920 and she came back into Frontier in this 354 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,639 part-time capacity. Um with the special 355 00:13:46,639 --> 00:13:48,480 education teacher, this is actually a 356 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:49,839 position that we currently have a 357 00:13:49,839 --> 00:13:52,800 long-term sub in. Um the teacher that 358 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,200 was in that role uh left the district 359 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:56,880 last year. It's been filled in the 360 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,279 current year with a long-term sub. So, 361 00:13:59,279 --> 00:14:01,760 um that position could potentially roll 362 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:03,680 back into 363 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:05,360 um an instructional assistant position 364 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:07,279 because someone was promoted within the 365 00:14:07,279 --> 00:14:09,519 building to cover those needs. Um so 366 00:14:09,519 --> 00:14:11,760 that's not necessarily someone actually 367 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:13,680 losing their job because we do recognize 368 00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:15,440 that with position cuts sometimes there 369 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,680 is attrition which makes the reductions 370 00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:19,760 easier but we are also talking about 371 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,800 people's lives and and losing their uh 372 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:24,959 livelihood. So the special education 373 00:14:24,959 --> 00:14:26,720 teacher hopefully can roll back into an 374 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,720 IIA position. the part-time school 375 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:30,480 adjustment counselor is a a former 376 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:32,560 retiree. Um, and then the three 377 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,079 instructional assistants, I believe 378 00:14:34,079 --> 00:14:37,120 George also has notice already of uh 379 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,600 resignations for next school year from 380 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:41,120 three instructional assistants. So, 381 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:42,480 those would happen naturally through 382 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,040 attrition without having to let go of 383 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,519 any positions within the building. 384 00:14:47,519 --> 00:14:49,760 >> Did I miss anything, George or Darius, 385 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,760 there as far as financial move? 386 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,519 >> Right now, there are two resations for 387 00:14:53,519 --> 00:14:55,440 IAS. The expectation is that there will 388 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,160 be I've heard that there will be a 389 00:14:58,160 --> 00:14:59,920 third. So once again those positions 390 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:02,959 will be reduced due to attrition. 391 00:15:02,959 --> 00:15:04,720 >> Any other comment on any of the 392 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:10,069 positions before we can go? 393 00:15:10,079 --> 00:15:13,199 » Okay. So the 400,000 reduction to our 394 00:15:13,199 --> 00:15:16,880 budget presents a uh 13.8 8 million 395 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:20,399 total budget or an increase of 523,000 396 00:15:20,399 --> 00:15:23,360 which is 3.94% over the prior fiscal 397 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,949 year. 398 00:15:26,959 --> 00:15:28,720 Let's next talk about what that means 399 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,000 for our assessments. So I'm going to 400 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:31,519 give a little bit of information about 401 00:15:31,519 --> 00:15:33,279 how the assessments are comprised and 402 00:15:33,279 --> 00:15:35,120 then we'll look at the actual numbers. 403 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:36,720 So there's four components of our 404 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:38,560 assessment based on our regional 405 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,800 agreement. The first piece is the state 406 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,560 required contribution that comes out of 407 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:44,480 the chapter 70 formula based somewhat 408 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,800 the state says that our our member towns 409 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,120 can afford to fund our budget. Then we 410 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:50,880 have that additional assessment to cover 411 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:53,199 the gap between our revenues the state 412 00:15:53,199 --> 00:15:55,600 chapter 70 number and then to fully fund 413 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,079 our budget plus a capital component and 414 00:15:58,079 --> 00:15:59,920 debt service. I'm not going to talk 415 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:01,279 about debt service again because 416 00:16:01,279 --> 00:16:02,800 Frontier does not currently have any 417 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,360 loans. If we did have money um out in 418 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,519 any bond anticipation notes or any other 419 00:16:07,519 --> 00:16:09,759 kind of loans, our towns would pay a 420 00:16:09,759 --> 00:16:11,759 portion of that debt service. That's not 421 00:16:11,759 --> 00:16:13,120 on the table tonight. So, we're just 422 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:14,480 going to talk about the first three 423 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:16,079 components. 424 00:16:16,079 --> 00:16:18,800 So, the state required contribution is 425 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,440 uh just shy of $5.8 million. This is 426 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,920 strictly based on the chapter 7 formula. 427 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,079 We have zero control over what this 428 00:16:26,079 --> 00:16:27,759 looks like other than to check the 429 00:16:27,759 --> 00:16:29,920 numbers and make sure that our member 430 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,040 towns are being um accounted for 431 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:34,959 properly in the formula. But according 432 00:16:34,959 --> 00:16:37,440 to the state, uh there is growth in our 433 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,600 member town required contribution of 434 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:41,279 $183,000. 435 00:16:41,279 --> 00:16:43,040 You can see that change all the way in 436 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,920 the far right column um of this slide 437 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:47,519 here that I just highlighted on the 438 00:16:47,519 --> 00:16:50,240 bottom. Sunderland uh is taking the 439 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,279 brunt of that with a $126,000 440 00:16:53,279 --> 00:16:55,839 rough increase there, which can be 441 00:16:55,839 --> 00:16:58,079 partially attributed to their growth in 442 00:16:58,079 --> 00:16:59,839 enrollment. So you can see that there's 443 00:16:59,839 --> 00:17:02,480 a positive change here of eight students 444 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,240 based on the foundation enrollment in 445 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,799 the chapter 70 calculation. 446 00:17:06,799 --> 00:17:09,120 This is also all relative though, right? 447 00:17:09,120 --> 00:17:11,120 So when one town goes down and another 448 00:17:11,120 --> 00:17:12,959 town goes up, it's all relative as to 449 00:17:12,959 --> 00:17:14,959 how much they're paying. But according 450 00:17:14,959 --> 00:17:16,640 to the state, our member towns can 451 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,439 afford to fund roughly $5.8 million. So 452 00:17:19,439 --> 00:17:20,880 that's the first component of the 453 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,679 assessment. The second component is that 454 00:17:23,679 --> 00:17:25,439 additional assessment to fully fund our 455 00:17:25,439 --> 00:17:27,839 budget, which is coming in at about 4.8 456 00:17:27,839 --> 00:17:30,080 million. You can see the breakdown 457 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,720 there. This is based on a cost sharing 458 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,039 percentage per our regional agreement. 459 00:17:35,039 --> 00:17:36,960 So in the regional agreement, there's a 460 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:38,720 five-year rolling enrollment that we 461 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:40,640 take into consideration for each of the 462 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:42,799 towns. And then that's broken down by 463 00:17:42,799 --> 00:17:45,440 cost share and percentage. Um, in this 464 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:48,160 year we dropped off 2021 and we added 465 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,559 2026 numbers because it's always from 466 00:17:50,559 --> 00:17:52,320 October of the school year that you're 467 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:53,760 in that we're considering for cost 468 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,720 sharing. There was a decrease of 49 469 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,360 resident students in the drop off of 21 470 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:02,559 and the addition of 26. Um, Sunderland 471 00:18:02,559 --> 00:18:04,320 is the only one seeing a positive 472 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:07,360 enrollment growth. Uh so their cost 473 00:18:07,360 --> 00:18:09,520 sharing percentage is going up pretty 474 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,360 significantly compared to the other 475 00:18:11,360 --> 00:18:14,000 schools. And then you have the totals 476 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,919 there. This is the um 4.8 billion. You 477 00:18:17,919 --> 00:18:19,919 can see the breakdown up above in each 478 00:18:19,919 --> 00:18:22,080 of these grows as to how that breaks 479 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:25,280 down by each town. 480 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:26,880 Third component is the capital 481 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:28,880 assessment. So, at the February meeting, 482 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:30,799 we did talk about assessing our member 483 00:18:30,799 --> 00:18:34,960 towns $110,000, which is 10% estimated 484 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,200 of the opinion of probable cost of our 485 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,600 parking lot renovation project. This is 486 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:41,200 broke down in the same way as the 487 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:42,960 additional to fund our budget based on 488 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,120 that cost sharing agreement. So, those 489 00:18:45,120 --> 00:18:47,919 percentages on the last slide here where 490 00:18:47,919 --> 00:18:51,039 Conway is 15.97, so on and so forth down 491 00:18:51,039 --> 00:18:53,840 until you hit Wakeley at 11.2, that 492 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:56,240 110,000 is broken down in the same way 493 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,160 here. This is what the capital 494 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,000 contribution would be for our member 495 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,480 towns based on the February 496 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:04,880 presentation. 497 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:08,559 So what does that mean? Towns as a whole 498 00:19:08,559 --> 00:19:11,440 having slid. 499 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:13,360 So looking at our reduced budget of 500 00:19:13,360 --> 00:19:18,400 3.94% or 523,000 over fiscal year 26. 501 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,480 You could see in this first column here 502 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,960 the state required contribution, the 503 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:24,880 additional assessment to fully fund the 504 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,440 budget and the capital assessment. Um, 505 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,600 and then the last column here shows the 506 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,160 assessment growth over the prior year. 507 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,000 So our total assessment including 508 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,600 capital is growing $530,100 509 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,960 over the prior fiscal year. 510 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,960 And I believe that that concludes the 511 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,160 public hearing conversation around the 512 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:53,750 budget. 513 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:58,549 » Um can we just go back? I just 514 00:19:58,559 --> 00:20:01,039 get my 515 00:20:01,039 --> 00:20:04,080 uh reductions. Yep. 516 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:05,600 >> Um 517 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:07,679 are there actual 518 00:20:07,679 --> 00:20:10,160 are there you just kind of go through 519 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,400 that again. Are there actual positions 520 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,000 people losing their jobs? 521 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,280 >> Yes. 522 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:20,400 >> So of the outline here we expect um 523 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:24,960 that there would be three people out of 524 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:27,039 what we out outlined here. The rest 525 00:20:27,039 --> 00:20:29,600 would be done through attrition. So, no. 526 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,159 >> And so, and with what George said, the 527 00:20:32,159 --> 00:20:35,679 AIS IAS, 528 00:20:35,679 --> 00:20:37,600 AIS, 529 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:42,480 it's not the IAS, they're voluntarily, 530 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:43,280 so they're not. 531 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:44,720 >> So, we have to be careful on that 532 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:45,919 because I haven't gotten letters of 533 00:20:45,919 --> 00:20:48,240 resignation yet, but it is understanding 534 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,240 that we have a level of attrition each 535 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,320 year where we do have people coming and 536 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:53,760 going at the especially in the AI 537 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,400 positions as it's 538 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:57,919 >> Thank you. 539 00:20:57,919 --> 00:21:00,159 got me right. So, um, so we don't 540 00:21:00,159 --> 00:21:01,919 actually have it, right? But, uh, it it 541 00:21:01,919 --> 00:21:04,320 does look as though, um, two, if not 542 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:06,720 three are that we already know of this 543 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,200 growing year, we can lose up to three in 544 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:10,880 a single year or up to five for that 545 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,320 matter. Um, so it is possible that, um, 546 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:15,919 someone will not be unemployed. But I 547 00:21:15,919 --> 00:21:18,720 think for 548 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:20,159 I think this committee could look at it 549 00:21:20,159 --> 00:21:21,440 as, you know, you are reducing 550 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,760 positions. So, so there may be loss of 551 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:25,679 employment there. We don't expect it to 552 00:21:25,679 --> 00:21:28,400 be all three. It could be one. Yeah. It 553 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,000 could be none. It could be we're hiring 554 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,280 five next year. You know what I mean? 555 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,000 So, we do have that kind of up and down. 556 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:37,520 >> The uh adjustment counselor say 557 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,400 mentioned that again. You said it's a a 558 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,320 retired person that came back. 559 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:44,000 >> So, they're not retired from this 560 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:44,559 district. 561 00:21:44,559 --> 00:21:46,240 >> They're parttime. Yeah, they're retired 562 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,000 from this district. They work part time. 563 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:52,470 They work two days a week. 564 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:56,159 And then right but all of that list 565 00:21:56,159 --> 00:21:58,640 you're anticipating it's I know it's all 566 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,760 the positions but it's actual three by 567 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,400 >> right the librarian is a reduction in 568 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:08,400 employment and the um the special 569 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,600 education position right now is 570 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,360 >> so basically right now special education 571 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:16,799 position we have right now uh filled by 572 00:22:16,799 --> 00:22:19,520 long-term sub the long-term sub which is 573 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:20,799 they took a 574 00:22:20,799 --> 00:22:23,120 their position as an IA, they would 575 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:25,360 return to their position as an IA and we 576 00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:27,440 would just keep that position. 577 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:28,960 Okay. 578 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:29,760 >> Thanks. 579 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:31,679 >> So, if I can say one more thing, Missy, 580 00:22:31,679 --> 00:22:33,600 before we go to other questions, I just 581 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:34,960 want to switch back to this slide 582 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:36,400 quickly. Um, 583 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,760 >> so the idea of reducing our budget is 584 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:41,840 never a positive thing, right? We we 585 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:43,760 don't want to take away services or 586 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:45,760 programs from our students. We also have 587 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:47,919 to balance that fiscal responsibility. 588 00:22:47,919 --> 00:22:49,840 And part of the reason this came up at 589 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,240 the February meeting and even in this 590 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,000 slide, you can see the significance 591 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,200 here. So the budget as presented at a 592 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,159 $900,000 growth was so dramatically 593 00:23:00,159 --> 00:23:02,320 going to increase what our towns had to 594 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:05,520 pay just for Frontier that it actually 595 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,760 would not pass likely at town meeting 596 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,159 without several of our towns having to 597 00:23:10,159 --> 00:23:12,880 do overrides. This slide here even 598 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,200 demonstrates how dramatic this is for 599 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,600 example for Sunderland. So our 600 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,400 assessment growth is $530,000 601 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,640 and Sunderland is covering almost half 602 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:24,880 of that just because of the way the 603 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:27,039 state required contribution worked out 604 00:23:27,039 --> 00:23:28,880 and the cost sharing because they're 605 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:30,640 seeing growth in resident students 606 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:32,880 attending Frontier. 607 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,919 Between this and the elementary school 608 00:23:35,919 --> 00:23:38,799 portion, school budgets already cover 609 00:23:38,799 --> 00:23:41,919 close to 70% of the town's budgets as a 610 00:23:41,919 --> 00:23:44,559 whole. these numbers were insurmountable 611 00:23:44,559 --> 00:23:47,120 and not going to pass at at the town 612 00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:49,840 level. So I just want to have that 613 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:51,760 context. I don't think I mentioned that 614 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,280 and it was an important part of the 615 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:54,559 February discussion. 616 00:23:54,559 --> 00:23:57,520 >> Great. 617 00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:59,760 Further context 618 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:03,840 um with two and a half% growth 619 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:06,799 um Sunland's 620 00:24:06,799 --> 00:24:10,320 um new growth is about $250,000 total. 621 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,000 That's so that's the amount that they 622 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,320 can. So this eats up the entire budget 623 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:18,080 for something. Police, fire, DPW, 624 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:20,080 library, senior center, elementary 625 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,400 school, all would have to cut just to 626 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:24,640 cover that. 627 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:27,600 >> And also, and we talked about this at 628 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:29,279 Frontier, you know, as we talked about 629 00:24:29,279 --> 00:24:31,919 the impact of insurance, all the 630 00:24:31,919 --> 00:24:34,400 elementary school insuranceances um have 631 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:39,039 gone up as well. And so the towns are struggling to make the ends meet in 632 00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:41,120 the elementary school and the elementary 633 00:24:41,120 --> 00:24:44,480 school budgets are all up um due to both 634 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,520 cola and other you know cost issues um 635 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,559 that are facing in schools. So it's a 636 00:24:50,559 --> 00:24:54,960 bad budget year you know and um don't 637 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,679 take any cuts lightly. We've also been 638 00:24:57,679 --> 00:24:59,039 fortunate to be in this district where 639 00:24:59,039 --> 00:25:02,000 we've haven't had to do cuts since my 640 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,240 first year as principal 18 years ago 641 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:06,320 where we had to we've done reductions. 642 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:08,480 We haven't had to specifically cut 643 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:10,240 someone off due, you know, loss of 644 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:14,000 employment due to finances. So, um it is 645 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:18,080 a very bad year and so just I put it 646 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:19,440 there's a perfect storm on multiple 647 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,200 fronts. And I was just going to echo 648 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,159 that that while this is our situation, 649 00:25:24,159 --> 00:25:26,960 this isn't the isolated piece that the 650 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,360 towns have to deal with, this is our 651 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:31,360 situation at Frontier, but we also have 652 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:32,880 each of the elementary schools that the 653 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,120 towns have to deal with and the impact 654 00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:38,000 of insurance that is hitting them just 655 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,559 as hard as it hits us. 656 00:25:40,559 --> 00:25:42,320 >> I just gonna make one further comment 657 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:45,120 really more to the select board and the 658 00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:46,960 audience 659 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,840 at least for the airfield. Um, you know, 660 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:54,320 I think it's good it's a good thing that deer that Frontier is doing its 661 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,360 part to try to make the necessary cuts. 662 00:25:57,360 --> 00:26:01,600 It's always, you know, unfortunate. Um, 663 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:04,159 but at least it's it's responsible of us 664 00:26:04,159 --> 00:26:06,559 to try to, you know, bringing in things 665 00:26:06,559 --> 00:26:09,520 that we need to. But also, I look at 666 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:12,080 just from a Deerfield resident, I've 667 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,880 lived here for 17 years, and I have 668 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:17,120 never once 669 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:19,279 uh I don't even think it's ever been 670 00:26:19,279 --> 00:26:21,760 discussed of a Proposition 2 and a half 671 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,720 override. And I think there are times 672 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:26,960 when it is necessary 673 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,320 to make the adjustments 674 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:35,279 uh so that we don't have to cut so much 675 00:26:35,279 --> 00:26:38,080 and I guess I want the select board and 676 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,720 the finance department 677 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,679 to hear that because I think sometime it 678 00:26:43,679 --> 00:26:46,640 is necessary. 679 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,840 >> You want to comment about Sunderland? 680 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:52,480 >> Uh yeah. So Sunland is going to be going 681 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:54,480 I think it's the fourth proposition when 682 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:58,400 we have to override my 12 years on um 683 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:01,440 school committee um the elementary 684 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,440 school. 685 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:05,200 So Frontier does not have to develop its 686 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:06,320 budget with an eye towards the 687 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,080 elementary school but it's really I 688 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:10,799 think beneficial that that we do at 689 00:27:10,799 --> 00:27:13,039 least take that into consideration. 690 00:27:13,039 --> 00:27:15,919 Southern Elementary's um 691 00:27:15,919 --> 00:27:18,159 uh budget has came in at like 18% for 692 00:27:18,159 --> 00:27:19,520 level services and they've already cut 693 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:22,080 down to 10%. Uh and then we're going to 694 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:24,159 have to go to Proposition 2 and a half 695 00:27:24,159 --> 00:27:25,440 override and we're already going to be 696 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,640 asking every town department to match 697 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,600 the cuts at the elementary school. So it 698 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:33,520 it's going to be extremely difficult 699 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:46,070 budget here for us. 700 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:48,559 Do we want to um do any other school 701 00:27:48,559 --> 00:27:51,760 committee members have questions 702 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:56,149 before open? 703 00:27:56,159 --> 00:27:58,880 » I'm driving. 704 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:00,640 >> Um 705 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:04,399 are there any other folks who have 706 00:28:04,399 --> 00:28:06,960 >> I know that there's a few folks 707 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,960 online. I can't tell. So I guess so if 708 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:13,440 you're if you are on so we have here in 709 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:18,159 the room uh three six nine 10 710 00:28:18,159 --> 00:28:19,520 um 10 people signed up for public 711 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:22,159 comment. Um if you are online and you 712 00:28:22,159 --> 00:28:23,520 wish to do public comment could you 713 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:25,520 please put your name in the chat and 714 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:30,480 I'll add you to the list. Um I'll add your list so that we will 715 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,240 get to you as we go through the list. 716 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:32,559 All right. 717 00:28:32,559 --> 00:28:34,720 >> Yeah. Just kind of wanted to get a sense 718 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:36,080 of what's actually happening. 719 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:37,520 >> Oh, okay. 720 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:39,600 >> Before we still 721 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,120 >> just want to try to keep pace so that 722 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:43,440 everybody has an opportunity to at least 723 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:44,240 have some 724 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,320 >> Andrea. Yes, you are on our list. 725 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:50,080 >> Ah, okay. I knew I didn't count. 726 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:51,360 >> Yeah, there's I know there's a few names 727 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:53,120 here that I imagine everybody in green 728 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:54,799 is also I can recognize your names 729 00:28:54,799 --> 00:28:57,279 online. So, um Levi, I have you're on 730 00:28:57,279 --> 00:28:59,200 list. You on the list. Melissa, I have 731 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:00,480 you on the list. Megan, I have you on 732 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:04,960 the list. Um they saw here 733 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:08,640 like Trevor those guys. So 734 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:15,269 okay so we have Tim Hilch 735 00:29:15,279 --> 00:29:24,950 Johnson. 736 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:27,760 Any others? 737 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:29,840 Okay. 738 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:31,360 Sorry to you. 739 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:34,240 >> Thank you. 740 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,000 Saw that number going up. I was worried 741 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:37,760 we might be good to 742 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:39,360 >> All right. 743 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:42,399 So Trevor, I see you and I know that you 744 00:29:42,399 --> 00:29:43,919 have a vest of interest in this from a 745 00:29:43,919 --> 00:29:46,240 few different spots. So go ahead. I'm 746 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:46,799 gonna 747 00:29:46,799 --> 00:29:48,880 >> Yeah. Thank Thank you for allowing this 748 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:50,480 to speak to here and I appreciate all 749 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:52,320 your work on the budget. It is a it is 750 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,919 very difficult year and here for Sun as 751 00:29:55,919 --> 00:29:57,360 well. It's really tough because I know 752 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,919 you have tried the prop two and a half 753 00:29:59,919 --> 00:30:02,480 overrides and sometimes they'll pass and 754 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,360 it's it's a struggle. Um it's been very 755 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:07,039 hard. I think you know I've been talking 756 00:30:07,039 --> 00:30:08,880 about a prop two and a half override for 757 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,200 a variety of reasons. um not just 758 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,159 education but um health insurance, our 759 00:30:14,159 --> 00:30:17,279 EMS. Um just you know in my time 10 760 00:30:17,279 --> 00:30:19,760 years on on the board we have um we cut 761 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,320 budget every year and a lot of times 762 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,880 it's education that that eats all of the 763 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:28,159 growth that we have. Um and so it it it 764 00:30:28,159 --> 00:30:30,880 is hard to run the rest of the town uh 765 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,240 as well. Um, but I appreciate you taking 766 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:35,840 a look at the cuts you're doing that are 767 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:38,480 never fun. But if you look at, you know, 768 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:40,640 we're about 100 students down in the 769 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:43,520 last 10 years or so. Um, and the staff 770 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:44,960 is kind of the same, but you know, 771 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,200 that's hard to kind of quantify because 772 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,520 you there are other staff needs. You 773 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:50,720 know, there's a lot more needs of 774 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:52,640 students, especially after COVID. So, a 775 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:54,880 lot more, you know, support services. So 776 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:56,799 it's not a onetoone kind of thing where 777 00:30:56,799 --> 00:30:58,960 you drop students so you must drop staff 778 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:00,960 but we're at that place where we kind of 779 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:03,600 need to do some of that and um so I 780 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:05,440 appreciate taking a hard look at that. 781 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:07,520 We still 782 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:09,840 do need to have capital investment in 783 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:11,360 parking lots that kind of thing to keep 784 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,240 our schools up so people are are are you 785 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,240 know interested in coming here living 786 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:18,159 here paying taxes here and helping 787 00:31:18,159 --> 00:31:20,559 support the the community. So I just 788 00:31:20,559 --> 00:31:21,679 really want to thank you for your hard 789 00:31:21,679 --> 00:31:24,880 work. not easy trying to cut a budget 790 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:27,679 and um I agree we do need a two and a 791 00:31:27,679 --> 00:31:30,240 half override. I've said it a lot. Um 792 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:32,320 but trying to get the rest of it down 793 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:34,080 along with it is kind of hard. You know, 794 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,159 everybody's taxes go up every year, but 795 00:31:36,159 --> 00:31:38,399 it's not because of we're raising taxes. 796 00:31:38,399 --> 00:31:40,880 It's just your values have gone up. My 797 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:43,360 house, you know, everybody's houses have 798 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:45,039 increased dramatically. So that just 799 00:31:45,039 --> 00:31:48,000 kind of drives that budget, but um in 800 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,480 person property taxes. So just thanks 801 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,960 for the hard work. really appreciate it. 802 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:56,080 It's It's tough. 803 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,830 >> Thanks, Trevor. 804 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:02,320 » I'm gonna go back in order. So, who's 805 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:05,669 Leech? 806 00:32:05,679 --> 00:32:08,480 » So, uh CW Leachch, uh Buckland, 807 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:10,159 Massachusetts, but uh I teach eighth 808 00:32:10,159 --> 00:32:12,880 grade English here at Frontier. And as a 809 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:14,320 middle school English teacher, one of 810 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:16,640 our primary goals is to foster a 811 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,440 lifetime love of reading. First 10 812 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:20,799 minutes of every class are dedicated to 813 00:32:20,799 --> 00:32:22,640 independent reading. 814 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:25,120 >> Choose their own book. 815 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:26,880 >> You come like just stand just so that 816 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:28,960 folks there's 44 people online. So I 817 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:30,559 want to make sure they can hear you and 818 00:32:30,559 --> 00:32:32,399 see you. So if you stand there that way 819 00:32:32,399 --> 00:32:34,080 the mic should pick you up. 820 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:35,840 >> So that way you're heard. 821 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:37,679 >> Thanks. U so the first 10 minutes of 822 00:32:37,679 --> 00:32:40,399 every class are dedicated to independent 823 00:32:40,399 --> 00:32:42,240 reading. Students choose their own book 824 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:43,840 building both engagement and ownership 825 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:45,600 of their learning. When they finish a 826 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,840 book, uh, they visit the library not 827 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:49,360 just to check out another title, but to 828 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:50,720 speak with someone who knows them as 829 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:52,399 readers. Our librarian provides 830 00:32:52,399 --> 00:32:54,720 individualized recommendations from 831 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:56,399 current, diverse, and constantly 832 00:32:56,399 --> 00:32:58,720 evolving collection. That personal 833 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:01,039 guidance is what helps many students 834 00:33:01,039 --> 00:33:04,159 might never find on their own. Uh, in 835 00:33:04,159 --> 00:33:05,919 the middle school, we often talk with 836 00:33:05,919 --> 00:33:07,919 students about optics, uh, how the 837 00:33:07,919 --> 00:33:10,080 message we intend can be overshadowed by 838 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:12,640 what people perceive. Our website states 839 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:14,640 that our library media center is meant 840 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:15,919 to be a center of collaborative 841 00:33:15,919 --> 00:33:18,480 learning, creativity, critical thinking, 842 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:20,399 and expanded representation of world 843 00:33:20,399 --> 00:33:23,039 communities. As we make it difficult as 844 00:33:23,039 --> 00:33:24,720 we make difficult budget decisions, I 845 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:26,159 hope we consider what message our 846 00:33:26,159 --> 00:33:28,640 choices send. Investing in a librarian 847 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:30,480 is an investment in our students growth 848 00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:32,640 as readers, thinkers, and members of a 849 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:34,960 broader world. My hope is that we 850 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:36,640 continue to align our decisions with the 851 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:38,320 values we so clearly express in our 852 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:40,640 libraries mission statement. 853 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:41,360 Thank you. 854 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:45,909 >> Thank you. 855 00:33:45,919 --> 00:33:51,990 Lori, 856 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,320 » I am Lori Prim Compton. I live in 857 00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:58,559 Deerfield and um again I want to echo, 858 00:33:58,559 --> 00:34:00,399 you know, how hard this is. This 859 00:34:00,399 --> 00:34:03,200 budgeting stuff is absolutely brutal and 860 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:05,200 you can go to a meeting about education, 861 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:06,640 healthcare or transportation, anything 862 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:08,480 else and have the same brutal 863 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:11,599 conversations. Um, Shelley, I thank you. 864 00:34:11,599 --> 00:34:13,359 It's an awesome presentation. It's so 865 00:34:13,359 --> 00:34:16,000 clear and I'm not here to argue any of 866 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:17,839 the numbers. It is what it is and we 867 00:34:17,839 --> 00:34:19,760 have to work within that. Um, and I 868 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:21,119 really appreciate everybody in this room 869 00:34:21,119 --> 00:34:22,399 being on the same team and trying to 870 00:34:22,399 --> 00:34:25,760 make those hard decisions. Um, 871 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:30,079 that said, I am urging um us to figure 872 00:34:30,079 --> 00:34:32,720 out a way to keep a school librarian. I 873 00:34:32,720 --> 00:34:34,800 am a licensed school adjustment 874 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,280 counselor and I've been an IIA in this 875 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:40,240 district. So, you know, I have skin in 876 00:34:40,240 --> 00:34:42,560 the game for various positions and I 877 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:44,079 understand the value of each and every 878 00:34:44,079 --> 00:34:47,119 one of those. And yet, I like it felt 879 00:34:47,119 --> 00:34:49,040 like a gut punch when I heard that there 880 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:50,879 was a library position, librarian 881 00:34:50,879 --> 00:34:52,240 position or media specialist, whatever 882 00:34:52,240 --> 00:34:54,159 you want to call it, on the chopping 883 00:34:54,159 --> 00:34:56,639 block. To me, the library is the 884 00:34:56,639 --> 00:35:00,400 absolute heart and soul of a school of 885 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:03,119 education. And I literally cannot 886 00:35:03,119 --> 00:35:05,839 imagine getting rid of that position. A 887 00:35:05,839 --> 00:35:08,320 library aid is great. Love to have 888 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:10,560 plenty of them. But that cannot replace 889 00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:13,359 the skill set of a librarian and 890 00:35:13,359 --> 00:35:15,200 everything that that person brings in to 891 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:17,440 our students on a daily basis, whether 892 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:19,280 it's in English classes or anything 893 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:22,079 else. Um, research online things that 894 00:35:22,079 --> 00:35:23,440 kids are doing to further their 895 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,359 education after high school. You know, 896 00:35:25,359 --> 00:35:28,000 this is just a foundation. And you know, 897 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:31,280 we talk about equity all the time. And 898 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:33,040 really, what could possibly be more 899 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:35,839 equitable than our school library? It's 900 00:35:35,839 --> 00:35:37,359 like literally the place that has 901 00:35:37,359 --> 00:35:39,680 something for everyone, every student, 902 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:42,960 every subject. I mean, I just I we just 903 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:46,000 have to find a different way to to make 904 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:48,960 these cuts. Um, 905 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:50,880 the other thing, you know, I I think 906 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:52,720 about is how many private schools that 907 00:35:52,720 --> 00:35:55,280 we have in this area, right? and all the 908 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,599 resources there and then our public 909 00:35:57,599 --> 00:36:01,359 school is not going to have a librarian 910 00:36:01,359 --> 00:36:04,160 and I just can't accept that like that 911 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:06,320 is just going to lead to further decline 912 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:10,480 in enrollment and this this creates a 913 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:12,240 two-tiered educational system. I mean, 914 00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:14,320 we are so far down that path anyway, and 915 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:17,599 I won't go off on that tangent, but when 916 00:36:17,599 --> 00:36:19,520 you're cutting like the heart and soul 917 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:22,480 of, you know, the person who 918 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:24,720 brings books and educational resources, 919 00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:26,960 the most foundational elements of 920 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:29,119 education, and we're doing away with 921 00:36:29,119 --> 00:36:32,079 that. I just feel like we got to find a 922 00:36:32,079 --> 00:36:34,720 different way. Um, I think too that, you 923 00:36:34,720 --> 00:36:36,079 know, we have to think about the message 924 00:36:36,079 --> 00:36:39,359 that this gives our students. again the 925 00:36:39,359 --> 00:36:41,440 heart and soul of place and something 926 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,320 for everyone and a librarian who you 927 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:48,960 know is somebody that all students look 928 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:51,200 to as like this fountain of knowledge 929 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:52,640 and if you don't have the knowledge you 930 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:54,320 can get the knowledge by going to this 931 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:56,640 person and what message are we sending 932 00:36:56,640 --> 00:37:01,200 by doing away with that entire position 933 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:03,760 again I'm not arguing the numbers this 934 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:05,839 is unbearable to think about all of 935 00:37:05,839 --> 00:37:08,240 these cuts I mean even a retired person 936 00:37:08,240 --> 00:37:10,400 not coming back. Three IAS, you know, 937 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:12,560 the employment aspect is horrible, but 938 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:14,480 the bottom line is what are we doing for 939 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:16,320 our students and what message is it to 940 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:19,280 not have a librarian in this most 941 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:21,680 essential place? So, please, we need to 942 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:24,160 reconsider what we can possibly shuffle 943 00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:26,240 because losing a librarian to me is just 944 00:37:26,240 --> 00:37:32,150 unacceptable and sad. Thank you. 945 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,800 Megan, 946 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:36,800 thanks for accommodating all the folks 947 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:40,079 who are remote by coming up. I 948 00:37:40,079 --> 00:37:41,839 appreciate it. 949 00:37:41,839 --> 00:37:43,359 >> So, I just wanted to say kind of the 950 00:37:43,359 --> 00:37:44,720 same things that everyone has been 951 00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:46,960 saying about um the importance of a 952 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:48,960 librarian. I have an eighth grade um my 953 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:50,880 name is Megan Tug. I'm from Southfield. 954 00:37:50,880 --> 00:37:52,560 I have an eighth grade student and a 955 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:55,920 10th grade student. Um and they use the 956 00:37:55,920 --> 00:37:58,000 library all the time. Um, I have a 957 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:00,720 daughter who is an AP student. Um, they 958 00:38:00,720 --> 00:38:02,800 use it for research. You can't do that 959 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:05,839 with an a library aid. Um, you need a 960 00:38:05,839 --> 00:38:08,640 librarian to be able to to find out 961 00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:11,920 where to do the research. Um, and that's 962 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:16,000 the way of the world now. You you can't use AI because your papers are 963 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:17,520 going to have to go through an AI 964 00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:19,359 detector and you have to have less than 965 00:38:19,359 --> 00:38:21,359 5% or something like that depending on 966 00:38:21,359 --> 00:38:23,520 your teacher. So you need to be able to 967 00:38:23,520 --> 00:38:25,440 go to a professional to be able to ask 968 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:29,200 where to find the informations to to to 969 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:31,520 do your own research. Um so I really 970 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:34,000 think the librarian is a much needed 971 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:37,599 position. Um and it's my understanding 972 00:38:37,599 --> 00:38:40,720 that she is also um a library media 973 00:38:40,720 --> 00:38:43,119 specialist um and some of our state 974 00:38:43,119 --> 00:38:47,440 funding is tied to that position. Um so 975 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:49,599 we might have to pay more money um to 976 00:38:49,599 --> 00:38:51,680 keep up some of the databases. So, I 977 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:52,880 think that's something that we should 978 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:55,680 also look into. Um, this is a brand new 979 00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:58,720 space. We've renovated it. Um, not to be 980 00:38:58,720 --> 00:39:00,400 able to use it to its full potential, 981 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:03,599 it's really disheartening. Um, and I 982 00:39:03,599 --> 00:39:05,119 just was the nurse on the eighth grade 983 00:39:05,119 --> 00:39:07,760 field trip and I met Zoe and she is 984 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:09,119 amazing with the kids and I can't 985 00:39:09,119 --> 00:39:11,280 imagine losing that service in the 986 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:14,560 school. And I did see there was another 987 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:16,240 um that's another human being that's 988 00:39:16,240 --> 00:39:18,400 losing their job. Um, you know, I know 989 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:20,480 the other positions, it sounds like it's 990 00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:23,440 not going to be um 991 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:25,040 a person that's going to be losing their 992 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:26,400 job. It's just going to be a position. 993 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:27,839 But I think we really need to look at 994 00:39:27,839 --> 00:39:29,200 that and see if there's anything else we 995 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:30,560 can do. I'd rather have a dirt parking 996 00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:32,960 lot than than lose a human. Um, so 997 00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:45,670 that's just it. 998 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:48,400 Hi, I'm the new guy, Blake Gilmore, on 999 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:51,119 the Deerfield board of select group. I'm 1000 00:39:51,119 --> 00:39:53,599 been learning through our finance 1001 00:39:53,599 --> 00:39:55,119 committee and in attending these 1002 00:39:55,119 --> 00:39:57,440 meetings here the difficulty it is of 1003 00:39:57,440 --> 00:39:59,760 trying to balance a budget and the 1004 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:01,359 things that you have to do in order to 1005 00:40:01,359 --> 00:40:04,640 make them happen. Um, my question was on 1006 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:06,400 the librarian. I didn't even think about 1007 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:09,839 this until I came into I was that is the 1008 00:40:09,839 --> 00:40:12,400 librarian just a the sole position of 1009 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:14,960 the librarian or is there something that 1010 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:17,359 you can do that would add to her duties 1011 00:40:17,359 --> 00:40:19,280 that would help to keep her here or 1012 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:20,960 whatever. I don't I don't know. That was 1013 00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:22,240 just something I was thinking about. And 1014 00:40:22,240 --> 00:40:25,520 it's not like I said I just I I realized 1015 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:27,040 that when you talked about getting rid 1016 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:29,040 of the librarian for the library, I 1017 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:30,960 said, "God, that's a tough tough tough 1018 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:32,320 call for you guys." 1019 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:33,760 I know that you have to make those 1020 00:40:33,760 --> 00:40:36,240 calls. I I understand that. As far as 1021 00:40:36,240 --> 00:40:38,240 the two and a half override, I'm getting 1022 00:40:38,240 --> 00:40:40,800 nothing but push back. So, I know it's 1023 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:42,240 basically, 1024 00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:44,000 >> you know, so that's the other side of 1025 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:45,599 the of the stick here. It's just 1026 00:40:45,599 --> 00:40:49,040 basically it's very very difficult to uh 1027 00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:50,720 try to figure out and come up with the 1028 00:40:50,720 --> 00:40:52,800 right formula here. But you guys, I 1029 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:54,480 really appreciate what you've done. It's 1030 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:58,240 been educational for me and uh I hope 1031 00:40:58,240 --> 00:41:03,990 that you can make this work. Thank you. 1032 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:07,040 Uh 1033 00:41:07,040 --> 00:41:11,270 is Levi. 1034 00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:12,880 » Okay, 1035 00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:14,800 >> perfect. 1036 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:17,280 Levi. 1037 00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:20,079 >> Hello. Can you hear me? 1038 00:41:20,079 --> 00:41:20,720 >> Yes. 1039 00:41:20,720 --> 00:41:24,560 >> Okay. Um uh thank you. Um my name is 1040 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:27,200 Levi Owens. I live in Conway, Mass. Uh 1041 00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:29,839 Conway. I also work in the building. Um, 1042 00:41:29,839 --> 00:41:34,240 and um, I I also want to thank everyone 1043 00:41:34,240 --> 00:41:36,560 here for um, doing this incredibly hard 1044 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:39,359 work. Um, it I I very much appreciate 1045 00:41:39,359 --> 00:41:40,560 all of the work that you're doing to 1046 00:41:40,560 --> 00:41:45,040 keep our uh, school running and um, 1047 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:47,359 trying to provide the best services for 1048 00:41:47,359 --> 00:41:52,079 our students. Um to that end um I also 1049 00:41:52,079 --> 00:41:53,599 really appreciate the effort that you 1050 00:41:53,599 --> 00:41:56,319 have given in um having the least impact 1051 00:41:56,319 --> 00:42:00,240 on people's lives and uh highlighting 1052 00:42:00,240 --> 00:42:02,400 that there are positions that are able 1053 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:05,839 to be cut uh due to attrition. Um and 1054 00:42:05,839 --> 00:42:08,160 I'm hoping that you have also taken into 1055 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:11,280 account uh another retirement that was 1056 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:13,680 announced uh this year of the curriculum 1057 00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:17,040 director. I she has other um 1058 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:20,560 uh capacities in the school as well. Um 1059 00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:22,640 it's another job that is less student 1060 00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:24,960 facing that has less immediate act uh 1061 00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:31,760 impact on the um the the everyday uh 1062 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:33,839 lives of our of our students and the 1063 00:42:33,839 --> 00:42:40,800 their their immediate uh education. Um 1064 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:43,920 so I um I'm just hoping that all all 1065 00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:46,880 possible uh options are are being looked 1066 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:49,040 at for for for all places where 1067 00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:50,240 attrition is happening kind of 1068 00:42:50,240 --> 00:42:54,960 naturally. Um and uh yeah, thank you for 1069 00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:58,079 letting me speak. 1070 00:42:58,079 --> 00:43:02,390 >> Thank you. 1071 00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:06,240 » And is Andrea also 1072 00:43:06,240 --> 00:43:08,880 >> Yes, I'm here. Okay, thanks. Sorry I 1073 00:43:08,880 --> 00:43:11,040 can't see everyone. 1074 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:13,119 >> My name is Andrea KS. I live in Vernon, 1075 00:43:13,119 --> 00:43:15,040 Vermont, and I work at Frontier Regional 1076 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:16,880 School as a transition specialist in the 1077 00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:19,040 special education department. I support 1078 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:20,880 students ages 18 to 22 with 1079 00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:23,040 disabilities. I also have a seventh 1080 00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:24,240 grade student that is currently 1081 00:43:24,240 --> 00:43:25,839 utilizing school choice to attend 1082 00:43:25,839 --> 00:43:27,920 Frontier Regional School. This community 1083 00:43:27,920 --> 00:43:29,839 means a lot to me and I invest in it 1084 00:43:29,839 --> 00:43:32,240 every day. I want to speak briefly about 1085 00:43:32,240 --> 00:43:33,839 preserving key roles that directly 1086 00:43:33,839 --> 00:43:36,319 impact our students. Our library is not 1087 00:43:36,319 --> 00:43:38,880 just an academic space like others are 1088 00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:40,480 have already talked about and will be 1089 00:43:40,480 --> 00:43:42,079 talking about this evening, but it is 1090 00:43:42,079 --> 00:43:44,560 also a vocational training site. Each 1091 00:43:44,560 --> 00:43:46,319 year, students in our transition program 1092 00:43:46,319 --> 00:43:48,480 gain real transferable job skills there 1093 00:43:48,480 --> 00:43:49,839 under the guidance of our certified 1094 00:43:49,839 --> 00:43:52,160 library media specialists. That work 1095 00:43:52,160 --> 00:43:53,440 builds independence and prepares 1096 00:43:53,440 --> 00:43:55,760 students for adult life. The expertise 1097 00:43:55,760 --> 00:43:57,280 needed for this position is simply 1098 00:43:57,280 --> 00:43:58,880 something that cannot be replaced by an 1099 00:43:58,880 --> 00:44:00,880 aid as they will not have the same level 1100 00:44:00,880 --> 00:44:02,560 and training that Zoe Keenan currently 1101 00:44:02,560 --> 00:44:04,720 has. Instructional assistants and 1102 00:44:04,720 --> 00:44:06,240 special education teachers are essential 1103 00:44:06,240 --> 00:44:08,400 to delivering legally required IEP 1104 00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:10,480 services. Whether positions are lost 1105 00:44:10,480 --> 00:44:12,319 through attrition or reassignment, the 1106 00:44:12,319 --> 00:44:14,640 impact is the same. Fewer professionals 1107 00:44:14,640 --> 00:44:16,000 supporting students who rely on 1108 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:18,480 consistent specialized instruction. This 1109 00:44:18,480 --> 00:44:20,800 work does not disappear. It shifts to an 1110 00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:22,640 already stretched department directly 1111 00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:24,400 affecting service delivery and student 1112 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:26,720 outcomes. Losing a part-time school 1113 00:44:26,720 --> 00:44:28,160 adjustment counselor increases the 1114 00:44:28,160 --> 00:44:30,160 burden on remaining mental health staff 1115 00:44:30,160 --> 00:44:31,920 who are already seeing record numbers of 1116 00:44:31,920 --> 00:44:34,480 students struggling each day. Although 1117 00:44:34,480 --> 00:44:36,960 the school the counselor is retired, she 1118 00:44:36,960 --> 00:44:38,640 returns specifically because of the 1119 00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:40,400 overwhelming mental health needs in our 1120 00:44:40,400 --> 00:44:42,640 community. Reducing support at a time of 1121 00:44:42,640 --> 00:44:45,359 heightened demand is deeply concerning. 1122 00:44:45,359 --> 00:44:47,839 Education is a public trust and reducing 1123 00:44:47,839 --> 00:44:49,520 the staff who directly serve students 1124 00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:50,880 with disabilities and mental health 1125 00:44:50,880 --> 00:44:52,800 issues undermines that trust. I 1126 00:44:52,800 --> 00:44:54,319 understand that difficult financial 1127 00:44:54,319 --> 00:44:56,319 decisions must be made, but if we choose 1128 00:44:56,319 --> 00:44:58,480 to repave a parking lot at the cost of a 1129 00:44:58,480 --> 00:45:00,560 librarian and other professionals, we 1130 00:45:00,560 --> 00:45:02,400 send a clear message about what we truly 1131 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:04,400 value. I urge you to prioritize 1132 00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:06,079 preserving critical student-f facing 1133 00:45:06,079 --> 00:45:08,160 roles and explore alternatives that do 1134 00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:09,920 not come at the expense of our students. 1135 00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:16,950 Thank you. 1136 00:45:16,960 --> 00:45:20,150 » Melissa. 1137 00:45:20,160 --> 00:45:23,839 » Hi. Um, my name is Melissa Steli and I 1138 00:45:23,839 --> 00:45:26,079 teach high school English language arts. 1139 00:45:26,079 --> 00:45:28,079 Um, and I want to thank everyone here 1140 00:45:28,079 --> 00:45:30,560 for all of their hard work under these, 1141 00:45:30,560 --> 00:45:32,160 you know, extremely challenging 1142 00:45:32,160 --> 00:45:34,240 budgeting circumstances. 1143 00:45:34,240 --> 00:45:37,040 Um, the Frontier LMC promotes learning 1144 00:45:37,040 --> 00:45:39,680 for all students by providing equitable 1145 00:45:39,680 --> 00:45:42,319 access to information, broadening 1146 00:45:42,319 --> 00:45:44,880 students information literacy skills and 1147 00:45:44,880 --> 00:45:47,599 encouraging lifelong love of reading and 1148 00:45:47,599 --> 00:45:49,599 learning. This is a quote from the 1149 00:45:49,599 --> 00:45:51,520 mission statement of our district's only 1150 00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:53,839 certified librarian. And if we eliminate 1151 00:45:53,839 --> 00:45:56,480 her, all of this equal access to 1152 00:45:56,480 --> 00:45:59,040 information and literacy will be 1153 00:45:59,040 --> 00:46:01,920 eliminated along with her. Anyone who 1154 00:46:01,920 --> 00:46:04,400 values literacy, critical thinking, and 1155 00:46:04,400 --> 00:46:06,880 democracy knows the value of a school 1156 00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:09,440 librarian. It should be no surprise to 1157 00:46:09,440 --> 00:46:11,599 anyone here that the library is the 1158 00:46:11,599 --> 00:46:14,240 heart of Frontier. Not because of its 1159 00:46:14,240 --> 00:46:16,800 physical space, but because of the 1160 00:46:16,800 --> 00:46:19,359 librarian, Miss Keenan, a position and 1161 00:46:19,359 --> 00:46:22,160 skill set no library aid could replace. 1162 00:46:22,160 --> 00:46:24,240 It is not unusual for a student to come 1163 00:46:24,240 --> 00:46:26,480 into the library asking about new books 1164 00:46:26,480 --> 00:46:28,640 that came in and then light up when they 1165 00:46:28,640 --> 00:46:30,400 see that Miss Keenan ordered something 1166 00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:35,040 of interest for them. That's um it's not 1167 00:46:35,040 --> 00:46:37,760 unusual also to have a student come in 1168 00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:40,640 and say, "I can't find a good book." Um 1169 00:46:40,640 --> 00:46:42,640 but who then comes in asking for the 1170 00:46:42,640 --> 00:46:44,560 sequel after they got an outstanding 1171 00:46:44,560 --> 00:46:47,440 recommendation from Miss Kanan. Literacy 1172 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:49,359 skills are declining in schools across 1173 00:46:49,359 --> 00:46:51,440 the country, but fostering a love of 1174 00:46:51,440 --> 00:46:53,200 reading is something that Miss Keenan 1175 00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:55,760 specializes in. And because of that, our 1176 00:46:55,760 --> 00:46:58,319 students are at an advantage. However, 1177 00:46:58,319 --> 00:46:59,920 what would happen if a student stopped 1178 00:46:59,920 --> 00:47:01,839 getting new books at the library or 1179 00:47:01,839 --> 00:47:03,760 didn't have a trusted librarian to help 1180 00:47:03,760 --> 00:47:06,240 them find something of interest? Well, 1181 00:47:06,240 --> 00:47:08,560 we know what happens. They stop reading 1182 00:47:08,560 --> 00:47:10,560 or the barrier becomes too large that 1183 00:47:10,560 --> 00:47:12,480 they don't develop the same passion or 1184 00:47:12,480 --> 00:47:15,280 interest. Not only that, but without a 1185 00:47:15,280 --> 00:47:17,760 certified librarian, all teachers and 1186 00:47:17,760 --> 00:47:19,760 students will lose access to over 40 1187 00:47:19,760 --> 00:47:22,800 databases. Schools cannot gain access to 1188 00:47:22,800 --> 00:47:25,280 these databases for free without a 1189 00:47:25,280 --> 00:47:28,000 certified librarian and would instead 1190 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:31,680 have to pay over $40,000 to gain access 1191 00:47:31,680 --> 00:47:34,160 to these databases. Our high school 1192 00:47:34,160 --> 00:47:37,040 students use these databases in their 1193 00:47:37,040 --> 00:47:38,800 high school humanities classes, 1194 00:47:38,800 --> 00:47:41,200 including AP courses, because they 1195 00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:42,960 provide peer-reviewed studies that are 1196 00:47:42,960 --> 00:47:45,119 credible and reliable sources for their 1197 00:47:45,119 --> 00:47:47,200 research, something that is harder to 1198 00:47:47,200 --> 00:47:49,680 find these days. You might be told that 1199 00:47:49,680 --> 00:47:52,000 some schools do without these databases, 1200 00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:54,560 which is true. Unfortunately, if they 1201 00:47:54,560 --> 00:47:56,160 had these databases, they could have 1202 00:47:56,160 --> 00:47:59,920 read a 2023 study by Lois G. line that 1203 00:47:59,920 --> 00:48:02,400 found that quote students who attended 1204 00:48:02,400 --> 00:48:04,240 schools with full-time certified 1205 00:48:04,240 --> 00:48:06,880 librarians score significantly higher on 1206 00:48:06,880 --> 00:48:09,440 math and reading tests than do matched 1207 00:48:09,440 --> 00:48:12,480 schools who attend sorry than do match 1208 00:48:12,480 --> 00:48:14,319 students who attend schools without a 1209 00:48:14,319 --> 00:48:17,520 full-time school librarian. I simply 1210 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:19,119 don't know why Frontier would choose to 1211 00:48:19,119 --> 00:48:20,960 do something that we know would lower 1212 00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:23,040 math and reading test scores. 1213 00:48:23,040 --> 00:48:24,880 Furthermore, Miss Keenan is the reason 1214 00:48:24,880 --> 00:48:27,200 our library is a safe and inclusive 1215 00:48:27,200 --> 00:48:28,720 space. 1216 00:48:28,720 --> 00:48:31,119 um that where as our library website 1217 00:48:31,119 --> 00:48:33,119 states students can develop their 1218 00:48:33,119 --> 00:48:35,680 critical thinking skills, appreciation 1219 00:48:35,680 --> 00:48:37,520 for literature and develop their 1220 00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:39,920 curiosity. She is beloved by the 1221 00:48:39,920 --> 00:48:42,800 students with the recent class of 2024 1222 00:48:42,800 --> 00:48:44,640 choosing to dedicate their yearbook to 1223 00:48:44,640 --> 00:48:47,440 her. Without a school librarian, without 1224 00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:50,160 Miss Keenan, the library would cease its 1225 00:48:50,160 --> 00:48:52,800 function and purpose. You were told at 1226 00:48:52,800 --> 00:48:54,559 the last school committee meeting that 1227 00:48:54,559 --> 00:48:56,880 these faculty and staff cuts would not 1228 00:48:56,880 --> 00:48:59,359 change quote the offerings to students 1229 00:48:59,359 --> 00:49:02,319 and to have the least impact as possible 1230 00:49:02,319 --> 00:49:04,800 and not hurt the appeal to school choice 1231 00:49:04,800 --> 00:49:07,440 students. This could not be further from 1232 00:49:07,440 --> 00:49:10,160 the truth. Removing the only certified 1233 00:49:10,160 --> 00:49:12,400 librarian and replacing her with a 1234 00:49:12,400 --> 00:49:14,960 library aid will remove essential 1235 00:49:14,960 --> 00:49:17,760 library services, remove access to new 1236 00:49:17,760 --> 00:49:19,839 books and recommendations, remove 1237 00:49:19,839 --> 00:49:22,480 essential database access, remove the 1238 00:49:22,480 --> 00:49:25,520 reason why so many students want to go 1239 00:49:25,520 --> 00:49:27,920 to the library and read books. It would 1240 00:49:27,920 --> 00:49:30,480 upend the part of the day many students 1241 00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:32,720 look forward to and would lower math and 1242 00:49:32,720 --> 00:49:35,280 reading test scores. I urge you to 1243 00:49:35,280 --> 00:49:37,359 prioritize keeping the heart of Frontier 1244 00:49:37,359 --> 00:49:39,200 Regional School, our essential 1245 00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:46,710 librarian, Miss Keenan. Thank you. 1246 00:49:46,720 --> 00:49:53,190 » Megan. 1247 00:49:53,200 --> 00:49:55,599 » Hi. Hi. Sorry. My name is Megan Lena. I 1248 00:49:55,599 --> 00:49:58,000 live in Bernardston and I'm a special 1249 00:49:58,000 --> 00:50:00,559 education teacher here and my work takes 1250 00:50:00,559 --> 00:50:02,880 me into almost every corner of our 1251 00:50:02,880 --> 00:50:05,280 building and I think that gives me a 1252 00:50:05,280 --> 00:50:07,280 unique and firsthand look at the 1253 00:50:07,280 --> 00:50:09,280 critical gaps that will be created if 1254 00:50:09,280 --> 00:50:10,800 you move forward with these proposed 1255 00:50:10,800 --> 00:50:13,200 staff reductions. First off, our 1256 00:50:13,200 --> 00:50:14,559 instructional assistants are not a 1257 00:50:14,559 --> 00:50:16,720 luxury. They're a necessity. They're 1258 00:50:16,720 --> 00:50:18,640 frontline staff ensuring that every 1259 00:50:18,640 --> 00:50:20,800 child's legal right to an education is 1260 00:50:20,800 --> 00:50:23,440 met daily, regardless of who resigns 1261 00:50:23,440 --> 00:50:25,280 this year. Eliminating these positions 1262 00:50:25,280 --> 00:50:27,520 will create an instructional vacuum that 1263 00:50:27,520 --> 00:50:29,359 will force special education teachers 1264 00:50:29,359 --> 00:50:32,559 into reactive triage mode. This along 1265 00:50:32,559 --> 00:50:34,880 with one less special ed teacher teacher 1266 00:50:34,880 --> 00:50:36,480 will make it impossible to meet the 1267 00:50:36,480 --> 00:50:38,960 requirements of IEPs and it compromises 1268 00:50:38,960 --> 00:50:41,440 the education for everybody, the quality 1269 00:50:41,440 --> 00:50:43,760 of education for everyone. Eliminating 1270 00:50:43,760 --> 00:50:45,520 our part-time adjustment counselor role 1271 00:50:45,520 --> 00:50:47,599 and the building monitor will stretch 1272 00:50:47,599 --> 00:50:49,280 our current adjustment counselor and 1273 00:50:49,280 --> 00:50:51,839 school psychologist even more. Between 1274 00:50:51,839 --> 00:50:54,240 dealing with daily crises and providing 1275 00:50:54,240 --> 00:50:55,920 regularly scheduled check-ins with 1276 00:50:55,920 --> 00:50:57,520 students who are entitled to support in 1277 00:50:57,520 --> 00:51:00,319 their IEP service delivery grid grids, I 1278 00:51:00,319 --> 00:51:02,400 can guarantee that many students are not 1279 00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:03,520 going to get the mental health support 1280 00:51:03,520 --> 00:51:06,240 that they are entitled to. 1281 00:51:06,240 --> 00:51:08,079 As everybody else has said here, our 1282 00:51:08,079 --> 00:51:12,720 library is the heart of our school. It drives our most innovative teaching 1283 00:51:12,720 --> 00:51:14,800 and our librarian is a vital 1284 00:51:14,800 --> 00:51:17,040 collaborator who elevates our entire 1285 00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:19,520 curriculum. What she contributes simply 1286 00:51:19,520 --> 00:51:21,680 cannot be done by a library aid and 1287 00:51:21,680 --> 00:51:23,520 cutting this position dismantles the 1288 00:51:23,520 --> 00:51:25,280 support for research and critical 1289 00:51:25,280 --> 00:51:27,760 thinking. It directly threatens our 1290 00:51:27,760 --> 00:51:30,000 ability to offer certain AP classes and 1291 00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:32,240 it removes essential accessibility tools 1292 00:51:32,240 --> 00:51:34,000 like Sora that students with 1293 00:51:34,000 --> 00:51:36,800 disabilities rely on. We can't claim to 1294 00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:38,640 offer a competitive education while 1295 00:51:38,640 --> 00:51:40,240 cutting the person who provides the 1296 00:51:40,240 --> 00:51:42,079 tools for those programs and supports 1297 00:51:42,079 --> 00:51:43,920 teachers in using these tools 1298 00:51:43,920 --> 00:51:46,079 effectively. 1299 00:51:46,079 --> 00:51:47,760 Lastly, we have to recognize that our 1300 00:51:47,760 --> 00:51:49,680 school's stability depends on us being a 1301 00:51:49,680 --> 00:51:54,559 destination. We rely on out of district students choicing in. But 1302 00:51:54,559 --> 00:51:55,920 families are not going to choose a 1303 00:51:55,920 --> 00:51:57,200 district that's cutting out its 1304 00:51:57,200 --> 00:51:59,040 backbone. They won't choose a school 1305 00:51:59,040 --> 00:52:01,280 that lacks a functional library. They 1306 00:52:01,280 --> 00:52:02,559 won't choose a school that has 1307 00:52:02,559 --> 00:52:04,640 unmanageable class sizes or programs 1308 00:52:04,640 --> 00:52:06,480 like innovation pathways that prepare 1309 00:52:06,480 --> 00:52:08,480 students for careers in healthcare and 1310 00:52:08,480 --> 00:52:10,720 trade or that has a gutted special ed 1311 00:52:10,720 --> 00:52:13,440 department. We will not recruit school 1312 00:52:13,440 --> 00:52:14,880 choice students with a sparkly new 1313 00:52:14,880 --> 00:52:17,920 driveway. We recruit them with a strong, 1314 00:52:17,920 --> 00:52:20,160 supportive academic program and a 1315 00:52:20,160 --> 00:52:22,400 commitment to every student's progress. 1316 00:52:22,400 --> 00:52:24,160 I'm begging you, do not take away our 1317 00:52:24,160 --> 00:52:25,839 vital colleagues who make our students 1318 00:52:25,839 --> 00:52:28,160 success and our school's reputation 1319 00:52:28,160 --> 00:52:39,750 possible. Thanks. 1320 00:52:39,760 --> 00:52:43,760 Hi, I'm Merlin. I am a former student at 1321 00:52:43,760 --> 00:52:48,160 Frontier. I graduated in 2019 and I went 1322 00:52:48,160 --> 00:52:50,960 on to uh study creative writing at 1323 00:52:50,960 --> 00:52:53,200 Emersonville College and now I'm back in 1324 00:52:53,200 --> 00:52:56,720 Deerfield and I work as a library 1325 00:52:56,720 --> 00:52:59,520 assistant in the Turus Falls Public 1326 00:52:59,520 --> 00:53:02,880 Library and I'm the teen librarian at 1327 00:53:02,880 --> 00:53:07,280 the Tilton Dial Public Library. Um, as 1328 00:53:07,280 --> 00:53:10,079 in both of these positions, I know that 1329 00:53:10,079 --> 00:53:14,160 you cannot replace the duty of an actual 1330 00:53:14,160 --> 00:53:17,520 librarian. You cannot do the same duties 1331 00:53:17,520 --> 00:53:20,079 as a library aid or a circulation 1332 00:53:20,079 --> 00:53:22,960 assistant that you can as librarian. 1333 00:53:22,960 --> 00:53:25,680 There are skills in education that you 1334 00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:29,280 need to have to be able to make uh uh 1335 00:53:29,280 --> 00:53:31,040 develop the collection, to keep 1336 00:53:31,040 --> 00:53:34,319 databases, to uphold this entire space. 1337 00:53:34,319 --> 00:53:36,640 that can't be done with the job of a 1338 00:53:36,640 --> 00:53:40,400 library aid. And so I strongly oppose 1339 00:53:40,400 --> 00:53:43,680 this decision to remove the librarian. 1340 00:53:43,680 --> 00:53:47,119 And I know that Zoe Keenan has the the 1341 00:53:47,119 --> 00:53:50,720 skills and the education to do this job 1342 00:53:50,720 --> 00:53:53,760 well. And not only that, but make it a 1343 00:53:53,760 --> 00:53:56,800 safe space for all of these students. I 1344 00:53:56,800 --> 00:53:58,800 know when I was a student, I wanted to 1345 00:53:58,800 --> 00:54:01,599 come here all the time. I went to Tilton 1346 00:54:01,599 --> 00:54:03,440 almost every day. I came here almost 1347 00:54:03,440 --> 00:54:06,240 every day. I have been raised on 1348 00:54:06,240 --> 00:54:09,920 libraries since I was 11 or 12 years old 1349 00:54:09,920 --> 00:54:12,800 and it's just not a job that you can 1350 00:54:12,800 --> 00:54:17,920 replace. Um there are so many libraries 1351 00:54:17,920 --> 00:54:19,520 around the country that are being 1352 00:54:19,520 --> 00:54:22,960 compromised and literacy is going down 1353 00:54:22,960 --> 00:54:25,680 and education is going down and we're in 1354 00:54:25,680 --> 00:54:28,720 Massachusetts and as a public school 1355 00:54:28,720 --> 00:54:30,640 there's no reason to be cutting this 1356 00:54:30,640 --> 00:54:33,440 position. We have the top liter literacy 1357 00:54:33,440 --> 00:54:36,559 rates and the top education rates and we 1358 00:54:36,559 --> 00:54:39,119 as a public as a public school should be 1359 00:54:39,119 --> 00:54:41,599 supporting that. There is not only 1360 00:54:41,599 --> 00:54:43,599 fiction books here, but there's 1361 00:54:43,599 --> 00:54:46,319 non-fiction. There's all the resources 1362 00:54:46,319 --> 00:54:48,720 and there's the opportunity for students 1363 00:54:48,720 --> 00:54:51,920 to come here and ask for books and 1364 00:54:51,920 --> 00:54:55,200 resources that they don't even know 1365 00:54:55,200 --> 00:54:57,440 exist yet without the help of somebody 1366 00:54:57,440 --> 00:55:00,480 who has the specialty to look those up 1367 00:55:00,480 --> 00:55:03,359 and find them and collect them for the 1368 00:55:03,359 --> 00:55:06,559 school. And that benefits everybody. So, 1369 00:55:06,559 --> 00:55:10,400 I really urge everybody to reconsider 1370 00:55:10,400 --> 00:55:12,960 this move to to take away the librarian 1371 00:55:12,960 --> 00:55:17,040 position because it is going to 1372 00:55:17,040 --> 00:55:19,440 strongly affect how the school looks and 1373 00:55:19,440 --> 00:55:23,280 how the school acts. I know that as for 1374 00:55:23,280 --> 00:55:25,200 people who don't work in libraries, it's 1375 00:55:25,200 --> 00:55:27,760 hard to understand what the librarian 1376 00:55:27,760 --> 00:55:29,520 does and the difference between a 1377 00:55:29,520 --> 00:55:32,000 librarian and a librarian assistant, but 1378 00:55:32,000 --> 00:55:35,599 it is massive. And an aid cannot do that 1379 00:55:35,599 --> 00:55:38,800 job. They can assist, they can look over 1380 00:55:38,800 --> 00:55:40,800 the space, they can take care of the 1381 00:55:40,800 --> 00:55:42,559 children or the students and make sure 1382 00:55:42,559 --> 00:55:44,400 that they're looked after, but they 1383 00:55:44,400 --> 00:55:46,800 cannot maintain an actual library. And I 1384 00:55:46,800 --> 00:55:48,480 think that's really important to keep in 1385 00:55:48,480 --> 00:55:50,319 mind. 1386 00:55:50,319 --> 00:55:52,880 And like other people have said, I have 1387 00:55:52,880 --> 00:55:54,880 not once ever gone to a school and gone, 1388 00:55:54,880 --> 00:55:56,559 "Wow, they have a really nice parking 1389 00:55:56,559 --> 00:55:59,200 lot. I want to go here." I'm considering 1390 00:55:59,200 --> 00:56:02,000 what what programs these places have. 1391 00:56:02,000 --> 00:56:04,160 You know, what they offer the libraries. 1392 00:56:04,160 --> 00:56:07,280 It's a huge thing. But students spend 1393 00:56:07,280 --> 00:56:09,760 five minutes in the parking lot. You 1394 00:56:09,760 --> 00:56:12,000 know, that's like it's this is something 1395 00:56:12,000 --> 00:56:14,079 that should not even be considered if 1396 00:56:14,079 --> 00:56:16,960 there are other budget cuts. Um so again 1397 00:56:16,960 --> 00:56:19,119 I strongly encourage you to reconsider 1398 00:56:19,119 --> 00:56:21,599 the cut to the librarian and other 1399 00:56:21,599 --> 00:56:23,599 seriously necessary positions in the 1400 00:56:23,599 --> 00:56:26,160 school to maintain 1401 00:56:26,160 --> 00:56:37,510 the the support of the students. Thanks. 1402 00:56:37,520 --> 00:56:46,230 » Phil has a request. 1403 00:56:46,240 --> 00:56:48,799 » Yeah. 1404 00:56:48,799 --> 00:56:53,599 >> Can can I um do you mind? Let's finish 1405 00:56:53,599 --> 00:56:56,160 up the rest of the public because this 1406 00:56:56,160 --> 00:56:58,000 is the space for the public to have 1407 00:56:58,000 --> 00:57:00,240 their comments and then we'll have a a 1408 00:57:00,240 --> 00:57:02,640 space for thank you for the committee to 1409 00:57:02,640 --> 00:57:04,640 have their comments uh as part of the 1410 00:57:04,640 --> 00:57:13,670 meeting. Thank you Tim. 1411 00:57:13,680 --> 00:57:15,520 » Good evening. Um Tim Hilchie from the 1412 00:57:15,520 --> 00:57:17,040 Deerfield Select Board. Sorry you're 1413 00:57:17,040 --> 00:57:18,400 hearing from all the Deerfield Select 1414 00:57:18,400 --> 00:57:21,280 Board members. Um, we 1415 00:57:21,280 --> 00:57:23,200 >> we appreciate that involving 1416 00:57:23,200 --> 00:57:26,000 >> we share your concern about school 1417 00:57:26,000 --> 00:57:27,760 budgets and the need to invest in 1418 00:57:27,760 --> 00:57:31,440 students and um I just want to thank 1419 00:57:31,440 --> 00:57:34,160 everyone for your thoughtful approach to 1420 00:57:34,160 --> 00:57:37,599 these issues. Um, I don't know what the 1421 00:57:37,599 --> 00:57:40,640 savings is related to a librarian versus 1422 00:57:40,640 --> 00:57:43,920 a library aid, but um, I will say that I 1423 00:57:43,920 --> 00:57:45,200 have a soft spot in my heart for 1424 00:57:45,200 --> 00:57:49,119 libraries um, and librarians because 1425 00:57:49,119 --> 00:57:54,640 they make a difference in my life. 1426 00:57:54,640 --> 00:57:56,319 The love of reading was something that I 1427 00:57:56,319 --> 00:57:59,760 learned in the library. So, um, it's the 1428 00:57:59,760 --> 00:58:02,240 key to self-education. 1429 00:58:02,240 --> 00:58:05,920 somebody who can read well can go a long 1430 00:58:05,920 --> 00:58:09,440 way to help themselves just by um the 1431 00:58:09,440 --> 00:58:12,319 skills that they learn in a library. So 1432 00:58:12,319 --> 00:58:15,680 um I want to also thank um Jessica 1433 00:58:15,680 --> 00:58:19,760 Corwin and Darius Matisto. We are 1434 00:58:19,760 --> 00:58:22,720 looking to uh a week of action for 1435 00:58:22,720 --> 00:58:24,960 trying to get the state to give more 1436 00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:27,200 money to rural and declining enrollment 1437 00:58:27,200 --> 00:58:30,720 schools. Um, so if you haven't um heard 1438 00:58:30,720 --> 00:58:32,480 about this, 1439 00:58:32,480 --> 00:58:36,079 you should talk to Jessica and uh get 1440 00:58:36,079 --> 00:58:38,960 involved. You know, we need to deliver a 1441 00:58:38,960 --> 00:58:41,359 strong message to Governor Healey in the 1442 00:58:41,359 --> 00:58:44,400 legislature uh to get rural school aid 1443 00:58:44,400 --> 00:58:46,880 funded at $60 million. That's not a 1444 00:58:46,880 --> 00:58:49,040 beall and endall, but it would move move 1445 00:58:49,040 --> 00:58:51,119 the needle enough so that some of the 1446 00:58:51,119 --> 00:58:52,480 things we're discussing tonight wouldn't 1447 00:58:52,480 --> 00:58:54,720 be necessary. 1448 00:58:54,720 --> 00:58:58,880 And um finally, I also want to remember 1449 00:58:58,880 --> 00:59:02,000 uh remind everyone that um if you 1450 00:59:02,000 --> 00:59:04,079 haven't seen the Franklin Technical 1451 00:59:04,079 --> 00:59:06,640 School presentation, 1452 00:59:06,640 --> 00:59:08,160 one of the things that we have to keep 1453 00:59:08,160 --> 00:59:11,760 in the back of our minds as um stewards 1454 00:59:11,760 --> 00:59:13,839 of the finances of the towns we work in 1455 00:59:13,839 --> 00:59:17,920 is that um Deerfield itself is looking 1456 00:59:17,920 --> 00:59:20,640 at a 700,000 1457 00:59:20,640 --> 00:59:23,359 a year increase if that school is 1458 00:59:23,359 --> 00:59:25,040 approved. approved. And that's not to 1459 00:59:25,040 --> 00:59:27,359 say that I have an opinion about whether 1460 00:59:27,359 --> 00:59:30,720 technical schools or academic schools 1461 00:59:30,720 --> 00:59:32,960 are the way to go. It's just a reality 1462 00:59:32,960 --> 00:59:37,200 that we're talking about tonight um some 1463 00:59:37,200 --> 00:59:38,640 adjustments that have been made in this 1464 00:59:38,640 --> 00:59:41,760 budget. And hopefully I think you will 1465 00:59:41,760 --> 00:59:44,559 maybe reconsider based on all the 1466 00:59:44,559 --> 00:59:46,000 conversations we've had about the 1467 00:59:46,000 --> 00:59:48,480 importance of librarians this particular 1468 00:59:48,480 --> 00:59:50,319 position. 1469 00:59:50,319 --> 00:59:53,760 But two or three or four years from now, 1470 00:59:53,760 --> 00:59:55,680 we're basically 1471 00:59:55,680 --> 00:59:57,760 uh you know looking at a situation where 1472 00:59:57,760 --> 01:00:01,680 every one of our towns is going to have an override. 1473 01:00:01,680 --> 01:00:06,799 And um so I just want I think that's 1474 01:00:06,799 --> 01:00:09,599 some of the context that you know Darius 1475 01:00:09,599 --> 01:00:12,960 and Shelley have been uh thinking about 1476 01:00:12,960 --> 01:00:16,319 and the the principles etc. So, uh, 1477 01:00:16,319 --> 01:00:17,920 again, I just want to thank everyone for 1478 01:00:17,920 --> 01:00:20,400 your thoughtfulness and hopefully we can 1479 01:00:20,400 --> 01:00:23,359 come to some solution to this librarian 1480 01:00:23,359 --> 01:00:25,280 issue because I do feel strongly about 1481 01:00:25,280 --> 01:00:27,520 that. Thank you. 1482 01:00:27,520 --> 01:00:30,240 >> Thank you, 1483 01:00:30,240 --> 01:00:33,510 >> Holly. 1484 01:00:33,520 --> 01:00:35,760 » Hello. I'm Holly Johnson uh from 1485 01:00:35,760 --> 01:00:38,880 Wheatley. Um, I have a a child at 1486 01:00:38,880 --> 01:00:40,720 Frontier, someone who graduated a little 1487 01:00:40,720 --> 01:00:43,760 while ago, and I'm going to echo what so 1488 01:00:43,760 --> 01:00:45,280 many people have already said, the 1489 01:00:45,280 --> 01:00:48,000 importance of having a librarian in the 1490 01:00:48,000 --> 01:00:49,839 school. I myself am a librarian at the 1491 01:00:49,839 --> 01:00:53,839 Tilton Library, and um there's it's just 1492 01:00:53,839 --> 01:00:55,280 the the rule from the Massachusetts 1493 01:00:55,280 --> 01:00:57,359 library system that if we don't have a 1494 01:00:57,359 --> 01:00:59,200 certified full-time librarian, we don't 1495 01:00:59,200 --> 01:01:00,559 have access. That's to all those 1496 01:01:00,559 --> 01:01:02,400 databases like Melissa said, and a lot 1497 01:01:02,400 --> 01:01:05,680 of other things. And I understand, you 1498 01:01:05,680 --> 01:01:07,200 know, a lot of hard work went into the 1499 01:01:07,200 --> 01:01:09,040 budget and I appreciate it. And as a as 1500 01:01:09,040 --> 01:01:10,880 a taxpayer, you know, I don't want to 1501 01:01:10,880 --> 01:01:12,640 have an override, but I think this is 1502 01:01:12,640 --> 01:01:15,520 really important. It's the it's such the 1503 01:01:15,520 --> 01:01:18,400 heart of Frontier. Zoe, I've heard so 1504 01:01:18,400 --> 01:01:20,079 many good things over the years from 1505 01:01:20,079 --> 01:01:22,079 multiple students about Zoe, the safe 1506 01:01:22,079 --> 01:01:25,520 space the that the library is. And in a 1507 01:01:25,520 --> 01:01:27,760 time when when so many kids are 1508 01:01:27,760 --> 01:01:29,440 struggling with mental health, to take 1509 01:01:29,440 --> 01:01:31,440 away 1510 01:01:31,440 --> 01:01:34,160 a safe space like that, um it's so much 1511 01:01:34,160 --> 01:01:36,240 more than just what she does as a 1512 01:01:36,240 --> 01:01:39,040 librarian that only a librarian can do. 1513 01:01:39,040 --> 01:01:43,359 Um and I've heard, you know, that we're 1514 01:01:43,359 --> 01:01:45,280 the parking lot, which I, you know, the 1515 01:01:45,280 --> 01:01:48,000 parking lot's awful. I hate it, but I'd 1516 01:01:48,000 --> 01:01:49,440 much rather have a librarian than a 1517 01:01:49,440 --> 01:01:51,920 pretty parking lot. Um, I appreciate all 1518 01:01:51,920 --> 01:01:54,079 the time and effort you put in and and 1519 01:01:54,079 --> 01:01:57,440 thank you for letting me speak. 1520 01:01:57,440 --> 01:01:59,520 >> Thank you, 1521 01:01:59,520 --> 01:02:04,309 >> Ashley. 1522 01:02:04,319 --> 01:02:07,520 » Hi. Thank you very much. Um, my name is 1523 01:02:07,520 --> 01:02:10,000 Ashley Dennis. I live in Greenfield and 1524 01:02:10,000 --> 01:02:11,760 I work at Frontier as one of the school 1525 01:02:11,760 --> 01:02:14,480 nurses. Um, thank you all for the hard 1526 01:02:14,480 --> 01:02:16,400 work you're doing. This is incredibly 1527 01:02:16,400 --> 01:02:18,720 difficult that I I imagine. I mean, but 1528 01:02:18,720 --> 01:02:20,960 for everybody being involved in this and 1529 01:02:20,960 --> 01:02:23,520 thinking about it, it's just so hard to 1530 01:02:23,520 --> 01:02:27,200 imagine that we're in this place. Um, I 1531 01:02:27,200 --> 01:02:29,040 want to first speak about the importance 1532 01:02:29,040 --> 01:02:33,839 of our librarian. The work that is done 1533 01:02:33,839 --> 01:02:36,720 in our library to support all of our 1534 01:02:36,720 --> 01:02:39,839 students by our librarian 1535 01:02:39,839 --> 01:02:42,319 can cannot be understated. It is so 1536 01:02:42,319 --> 01:02:45,040 impactful to each and every student. I 1537 01:02:45,040 --> 01:02:47,200 have a my own I have a child who 1538 01:02:47,200 --> 01:02:52,480 graduated a year ago. Um he was able to 1539 01:02:52,480 --> 01:02:57,200 participate in so many AP courses and um 1540 01:02:57,200 --> 01:02:59,920 online courses in the library with the 1541 01:02:59,920 --> 01:03:02,319 support of the librarian such that he 1542 01:03:02,319 --> 01:03:05,119 has managed to have an entire year of 1543 01:03:05,119 --> 01:03:07,680 college course credits 1544 01:03:07,680 --> 01:03:11,920 already under his belt. So I mean the progression that he was able to 1545 01:03:11,920 --> 01:03:13,760 achieve and the success and the love of 1546 01:03:13,760 --> 01:03:16,480 learning it cannot be underscored. And 1547 01:03:16,480 --> 01:03:18,640 my younger child who also was at 1548 01:03:18,640 --> 01:03:21,280 Frontier had basically his first work 1549 01:03:21,280 --> 01:03:23,200 experience in the library with Miss 1550 01:03:23,200 --> 01:03:28,640 Keenan. But even more importantly, the database re resources and learning 1551 01:03:28,640 --> 01:03:31,119 how to research and learning that all 1552 01:03:31,119 --> 01:03:33,760 that information is out there reliably, 1553 01:03:33,760 --> 01:03:35,440 not just through Google, but through all 1554 01:03:35,440 --> 01:03:38,400 these amazing ways to learn and dig 1555 01:03:38,400 --> 01:03:40,720 deeper for information, real information 1556 01:03:40,720 --> 01:03:44,400 is so important. Um, and the the the 1557 01:03:44,400 --> 01:03:46,480 recommendations for books, the passion 1558 01:03:46,480 --> 01:03:48,880 for learning, for reading, for finding 1559 01:03:48,880 --> 01:03:52,640 information cannot be undersold. And as 1560 01:03:52,640 --> 01:03:55,280 Megan uh or excuse me, Merlin was 1561 01:03:55,280 --> 01:03:58,000 speaking of the difference between an 1562 01:03:58,000 --> 01:04:00,880 aid and a 1563 01:04:00,880 --> 01:04:02,640 certified librarian and media 1564 01:04:02,640 --> 01:04:04,559 specialist. 1565 01:04:04,559 --> 01:04:05,839 It's something that I think we're not 1566 01:04:05,839 --> 01:04:08,559 commonly aware of the the vast 1567 01:04:08,559 --> 01:04:11,039 difference, but if we liken it to 1568 01:04:11,039 --> 01:04:13,359 nursing, we all know that like a nurse's 1569 01:04:13,359 --> 01:04:16,799 aid, like a CNA and a RN have vastly 1570 01:04:16,799 --> 01:04:19,760 different roles. And I think that 1571 01:04:19,760 --> 01:04:24,079 applies as an analogy. And I urge us, I 1572 01:04:24,079 --> 01:04:27,280 urge you all to really please 1573 01:04:27,280 --> 01:04:29,599 reconsider cutting a librarian position 1574 01:04:29,599 --> 01:04:33,280 because I can't imagine our school 1575 01:04:33,280 --> 01:04:36,079 without a librarian. I can't imagine our 1576 01:04:36,079 --> 01:04:39,920 school as the same draw um for school 1577 01:04:39,920 --> 01:04:43,119 choice and for supporting our students 1578 01:04:43,119 --> 01:04:45,760 at the beginning of the presentation 1579 01:04:45,760 --> 01:04:48,160 um that Shelley gave. And thank you. It 1580 01:04:48,160 --> 01:04:50,319 was very thorough and clear. One of the 1581 01:04:50,319 --> 01:04:55,520 first things said was that we want that you all want to make decisions um 1582 01:04:55,520 --> 01:04:57,839 difficult decisions that impact student 1583 01:04:57,839 --> 01:04:59,520 education in the most minimal way 1584 01:04:59,520 --> 01:05:02,000 possible. And I do not feel that cutting 1585 01:05:02,000 --> 01:05:04,640 a librarian position 1586 01:05:04,640 --> 01:05:06,400 achieves that. 1587 01:05:06,400 --> 01:05:11,200 Um, and I also want to speak to um, 1588 01:05:11,200 --> 01:05:14,000 eliminating the part-time 1589 01:05:14,000 --> 01:05:17,839 um, adjustment counselor because as one 1590 01:05:17,839 --> 01:05:22,240 of the school nurses, we are often who 1591 01:05:22,240 --> 01:05:23,599 catches, you know, we are those who 1592 01:05:23,599 --> 01:05:27,200 catch the overflow from the students who 1593 01:05:27,200 --> 01:05:30,160 are needing support. And the need at 1594 01:05:30,160 --> 01:05:33,760 present is so great. And even with our 1595 01:05:33,760 --> 01:05:35,920 part-time adjustment counselor, there is 1596 01:05:35,920 --> 01:05:40,240 not enough time in a day or week from 1597 01:05:40,240 --> 01:05:42,559 our mental health professionals in the 1598 01:05:42,559 --> 01:05:45,680 building to support all of the students. 1599 01:05:45,680 --> 01:05:50,000 And so reducing that time available is 1600 01:05:50,000 --> 01:05:51,760 going to negatively impact those 1601 01:05:51,760 --> 01:05:54,880 students which then negatively impacts 1602 01:05:54,880 --> 01:05:57,920 their ability to 1603 01:05:57,920 --> 01:06:00,079 um 1604 01:06:00,079 --> 01:06:02,720 be present for their learning to be open 1605 01:06:02,720 --> 01:06:04,720 to their learning time to achieve their 1606 01:06:04,720 --> 01:06:09,039 educational time. Um 1607 01:06:09,039 --> 01:06:11,039 and I could go on and on but I will 1608 01:06:11,039 --> 01:06:12,880 limit my time so others can speak. and 1609 01:06:12,880 --> 01:06:16,720 thank you so much for the opportunity. 1610 01:06:16,720 --> 01:06:19,599 >> Thank you. 1611 01:06:19,599 --> 01:06:24,150 Anything else? 1612 01:06:24,160 --> 01:06:26,240 » At this point, we'll close. 1613 01:06:26,240 --> 01:06:28,400 >> Yeah, I did. 1614 01:06:28,400 --> 01:06:32,470 >> That was gonna 1615 01:06:32,480 --> 01:06:33,440 go back. 1616 01:06:33,440 --> 01:06:36,160 >> Yeah, I can I could just go really 1617 01:06:36,160 --> 01:06:38,400 quickly. I I just want to echo what uh 1618 01:06:38,400 --> 01:06:40,319 Andrea, Melissa, Merlin, others have 1619 01:06:40,319 --> 01:06:42,960 said. Um, and you know, I teach eighth 1620 01:06:42,960 --> 01:06:44,720 grade science and I'm the department 1621 01:06:44,720 --> 01:06:48,160 chair for science. Um, but one of the 1622 01:06:48,160 --> 01:06:50,960 things that that I just, you know, being 1623 01:06:50,960 --> 01:06:54,160 in the building, being with kids that I 1624 01:06:54,160 --> 01:06:56,319 want to emphasize is that, you know, I 1625 01:06:56,319 --> 01:06:57,839 know we've said that the library is the 1626 01:06:57,839 --> 01:07:00,640 heart of our school. Um, it's also one 1627 01:07:00,640 --> 01:07:03,599 of only safe spaces for some of our most 1628 01:07:03,599 --> 01:07:07,280 atrisisk students. Um, 1629 01:07:07,280 --> 01:07:10,160 you know, that's where they go. that's 1630 01:07:10,160 --> 01:07:12,319 their safe space and having a 1631 01:07:12,319 --> 01:07:14,960 professional who is certified and 1632 01:07:14,960 --> 01:07:16,160 trained 1633 01:07:16,160 --> 01:07:21,200 >> and can support them and that space. 1634 01:07:21,200 --> 01:07:23,039 I just think that the risk to those 1635 01:07:23,039 --> 01:07:24,880 students just greatly outweighs the 1636 01:07:24,880 --> 01:07:27,920 dangers of a beat up parking lot. Um, 1637 01:07:27,920 --> 01:07:29,920 and I just want you to keep those 1638 01:07:29,920 --> 01:07:32,559 individuals in mind because there is a 1639 01:07:32,559 --> 01:07:35,839 subset of students that and it's not a 1640 01:07:35,839 --> 01:07:38,079 it's not, you know, it is a significant 1641 01:07:38,079 --> 01:07:39,760 amount. I mean one is a significant 1642 01:07:39,760 --> 01:07:43,200 amount but it isn't it is more um and 1643 01:07:43,200 --> 01:07:46,880 that space and having a professional um 1644 01:07:46,880 --> 01:07:49,599 is just really critical and you know I 1645 01:07:49,599 --> 01:07:51,119 would say the same for adjustment 1646 01:07:51,119 --> 01:07:53,520 counselors like I just they're so 1647 01:07:53,520 --> 01:07:56,799 critically important for students and 1648 01:07:56,799 --> 01:07:59,680 also for helping teachers to do the job 1649 01:07:59,680 --> 01:08:03,359 that we do um so that you know we can 1650 01:08:03,359 --> 01:08:06,000 have people kids can come to us and we 1651 01:08:06,000 --> 01:08:08,720 can send them to someone who is a 1652 01:08:08,720 --> 01:08:11,520 professional who can support them uh in 1653 01:08:11,520 --> 01:08:14,079 the way that they need. And um you know, 1654 01:08:14,079 --> 01:08:15,839 the library is one of those avenues 1655 01:08:15,839 --> 01:08:18,960 where kids trust Zoey and then Zoe can 1656 01:08:18,960 --> 01:08:20,719 connect them to adjustment counselors. 1657 01:08:20,719 --> 01:08:25,199 Um so both of those spaces are really 1658 01:08:25,199 --> 01:08:28,799 spaces that I see as critical. Um, as 1659 01:08:28,799 --> 01:08:32,239 much as a new parking lot um will 1660 01:08:32,239 --> 01:08:34,799 eventually one day be needed, I it just 1661 01:08:34,799 --> 01:08:37,040 doesn't feel like the cracks in the 1662 01:08:37,040 --> 01:08:40,159 concrete aren't as dire as 1663 01:08:40,159 --> 01:08:41,679 the world that we're kind of in right 1664 01:08:41,679 --> 01:08:43,359 now and the supports that kids really 1665 01:08:43,359 --> 01:08:46,159 need. So, thank you so much. And I know 1666 01:08:46,159 --> 01:08:48,400 uh this is a hard hard decision. So, I 1667 01:08:48,400 --> 01:08:52,319 appreciate you letting me speak. 1668 01:08:52,319 --> 01:08:58,709 >> Thank you. 1669 01:08:58,719 --> 01:09:01,839 I think we're good right 1670 01:09:01,839 --> 01:09:04,400 now. Uh we'll close the public hearing 1671 01:09:04,400 --> 01:09:07,920 and resume the school committee meeting 1672 01:09:07,920 --> 01:09:10,799 and we have a few things to go through 1673 01:09:10,799 --> 01:09:12,960 on our agenda, but we'll come circle 1674 01:09:12,960 --> 01:09:16,239 back around to to the budget in a 1675 01:09:16,239 --> 01:09:17,920 relatively short order. 1676 01:09:17,920 --> 01:09:19,199 >> Yeah. Right. So just kind of 1677 01:09:19,199 --> 01:09:20,560 explanations a lot of people on 1678 01:09:20,560 --> 01:09:22,480 watching. So the the way it works you 1679 01:09:22,480 --> 01:09:23,839 have you have a public hearing which 1680 01:09:23,839 --> 01:09:25,440 allows public to com do give a 1681 01:09:25,440 --> 01:09:27,120 presentation the budget the public to 1682 01:09:27,120 --> 01:09:29,759 comment and then we go into a regular 1683 01:09:29,759 --> 01:09:32,080 school committee meeting um in which the 1684 01:09:32,080 --> 01:09:34,400 budget is on the agenda at which that 1685 01:09:34,400 --> 01:09:36,000 time that the school committee discusses 1686 01:09:36,000 --> 01:09:38,960 whether or not there'll be changes um 1687 01:09:38,960 --> 01:09:42,159 recommendations and just debate um and 1688 01:09:42,159 --> 01:09:44,400 then um and what are they going to put 1689 01:09:44,400 --> 01:09:47,440 forward to the final for the final uh 1690 01:09:47,440 --> 01:09:49,920 budget number for later in the week. So 1691 01:09:49,920 --> 01:09:52,000 that's kind of the process. So when we 1692 01:09:52,000 --> 01:09:54,000 say we're closing the hearing, I just I 1693 01:09:54,000 --> 01:09:55,840 was kind of saying just 1694 01:09:55,840 --> 01:09:58,560 >> you haven't been through it a lot. Um so 1695 01:09:58,560 --> 01:09:59,679 um anyway, so we're going to go through 1696 01:09:59,679 --> 01:10:00,960 some of the regular business kind of 1697 01:10:00,960 --> 01:10:02,159 things that are on the agenda and we'll 1698 01:10:02,159 --> 01:10:04,480 come back to the budget 1699 01:10:04,480 --> 01:10:06,480 >> pretty quick. 1700 01:10:06,480 --> 01:10:09,280 Uh the first item on the school 1701 01:10:09,280 --> 01:10:11,600 committee uh meeting agenda is for 1702 01:10:11,600 --> 01:10:13,760 reviewing through the minutes of 1703 01:10:13,760 --> 01:10:16,320 February 10th. I I'll just kind of 1704 01:10:16,320 --> 01:10:18,640 clarify that because we have members 1705 01:10:18,640 --> 01:10:21,120 both here and remote. I'm going to go 1706 01:10:21,120 --> 01:10:22,960 through with a roll call for everybody. 1707 01:10:22,960 --> 01:10:26,480 We'll call I'm sure Jessica uh with 1708 01:10:26,480 --> 01:10:28,880 minutes as well. 1709 01:10:28,880 --> 01:10:30,640 >> Move to approve. 1710 01:10:30,640 --> 01:10:32,320 >> Thank you, 1711 01:10:32,320 --> 01:10:36,159 Jess. That's a motion from Bill and a 1712 01:10:36,159 --> 01:10:43,430 second on from Olivia. 1713 01:10:43,440 --> 01:10:46,640 Everybody moved on the screen. Um, 1714 01:10:46,640 --> 01:10:48,239 I'm gonna go around the table first and 1715 01:10:48,239 --> 01:10:50,080 then we'll go to the remote folks. 1716 01:10:50,080 --> 01:10:50,880 Olivia, 1717 01:10:50,880 --> 01:10:52,400 >> yes. 1718 01:10:52,400 --> 01:10:52,960 >> Mary, 1719 01:10:52,960 --> 01:10:53,679 >> yes. 1720 01:10:53,679 --> 01:10:55,199 >> Bill, 1721 01:10:55,199 --> 01:10:58,000 >> yes. 1722 01:10:58,000 --> 01:11:01,520 >> All right. Now, we've got Jessica. 1723 01:11:01,520 --> 01:11:04,159 >> Yes. 1724 01:11:04,159 --> 01:11:07,040 >> Back up the screen, which will help. Uh, 1725 01:11:07,040 --> 01:11:08,159 Bill. 1726 01:11:08,159 --> 01:11:10,560 >> Yes. 1727 01:11:10,560 --> 01:11:12,400 >> And Celia. 1728 01:11:12,400 --> 01:11:15,040 Yes. Uh, can you hear me? Yes, 1729 01:11:15,040 --> 01:11:15,199 >> you 1730 01:11:15,199 --> 01:11:18,480 >> can. Yes. Thank you. And Diane? 1731 01:11:18,480 --> 01:11:20,000 >> Yes. 1732 01:11:20,000 --> 01:11:25,189 >> Right. I think I've got everybody. 1733 01:11:25,199 --> 01:11:27,920 » We've got the financial statement and 1734 01:11:27,920 --> 01:11:29,280 warrants. 1735 01:11:29,280 --> 01:11:31,679 >> The only thing that I have for you is to 1736 01:11:31,679 --> 01:11:33,280 state the warrants for the record. So, 1737 01:11:33,280 --> 01:11:36,640 there were 26 warrants um totaling 1738 01:11:36,640 --> 01:11:41,430 2,38,979.56. 1739 01:11:41,440 --> 01:11:44,320 I did send you out the express reports. 1740 01:11:44,320 --> 01:11:46,080 There's no new changes since we last 1741 01:11:46,080 --> 01:11:47,840 met, but I'm happy to take questions if 1742 01:11:47,840 --> 01:11:57,350 you have them. 1743 01:11:57,360 --> 01:11:59,760 I don't see any questions about the 1744 01:11:59,760 --> 01:12:02,239 financial reports. I'm told that the 1745 01:12:02,239 --> 01:12:06,080 student council uh member has been 1746 01:12:06,080 --> 01:12:06,560 uh 1747 01:12:06,560 --> 01:12:07,920 >> we sent a message that was a long 1748 01:12:07,920 --> 01:12:09,040 meeting and they would not want to sit 1749 01:12:09,040 --> 01:12:10,320 through the whole public hearing part. 1750 01:12:10,320 --> 01:12:10,560 So, 1751 01:12:10,560 --> 01:12:12,640 >> okay. if they're on. I didn't see them 1752 01:12:12,640 --> 01:12:13,199 come on. 1753 01:12:13,199 --> 01:12:14,880 >> Great. And if they had anything to they 1754 01:12:14,880 --> 01:12:16,000 wanted to share with them, they asked 1755 01:12:16,000 --> 01:12:22,310 them to send it along. 1756 01:12:22,320 --> 01:12:23,360 » Do you want to do that? 1757 01:12:23,360 --> 01:12:25,440 >> I can. And I just a few quick updates 1758 01:12:25,440 --> 01:12:26,800 and I do want to just highlight the fact 1759 01:12:26,800 --> 01:12:28,560 that our student council there so we 1760 01:12:28,560 --> 01:12:30,080 have a number of um student council 1761 01:12:30,080 --> 01:12:33,920 members going to uh uh conference uh 1762 01:12:33,920 --> 01:12:37,120 tomorrow for three days uh in Delape. 1763 01:12:37,120 --> 01:12:39,360 Um, so they're going to be uh attending 1764 01:12:39,360 --> 01:12:41,280 uh keynote speaker sessions, learning 1765 01:12:41,280 --> 01:12:42,960 about leadership, networking with other 1766 01:12:42,960 --> 01:12:44,640 student councils. So this is our second 1767 01:12:44,640 --> 01:12:47,120 year uh that we're doing that. So I want 1768 01:12:47,120 --> 01:12:49,120 to give a a public uh thank you to 1769 01:12:49,120 --> 01:12:54,239 Melissa Stroky and to Kate Blair, our student adviserss for we're doing 1770 01:12:54,239 --> 01:12:56,239 that. We're really excited that our our 1771 01:12:56,239 --> 01:12:57,520 students are able to take advantage of 1772 01:12:57,520 --> 01:12:59,600 that. Uh today we did have a wellness 1773 01:12:59,600 --> 01:13:02,400 day for our high school students. Um and 1774 01:13:02,400 --> 01:13:04,080 basically so uh a lot of our high school 1775 01:13:04,080 --> 01:13:05,520 students were able to participate in a 1776 01:13:05,520 --> 01:13:07,199 lot of activities. Uh we did 1777 01:13:07,199 --> 01:13:09,120 cross-country skiing out back, had 1778 01:13:09,120 --> 01:13:11,360 Pilates, uh kids, some students went off 1779 01:13:11,360 --> 01:13:13,199 site and did snowshoeing, some students 1780 01:13:13,199 --> 01:13:15,679 hiked up Sugarloaf Mountain. Um and then 1781 01:13:15,679 --> 01:13:17,840 it culminated with a pep rally organized 1782 01:13:17,840 --> 01:13:19,440 by our student council. So thank you to 1783 01:13:19,440 --> 01:13:21,679 our student council for that. Um I just 1784 01:13:21,679 --> 01:13:22,960 want to let folks know that early 1785 01:13:22,960 --> 01:13:24,719 release days are starting again on March 1786 01:13:24,719 --> 01:13:27,360 6, which is this Friday. Uh this spring 1787 01:13:27,360 --> 01:13:28,960 we'll be going over, we've got uh such 1788 01:13:28,960 --> 01:13:31,199 topics uh coming up as anti-bullies, uh 1789 01:13:31,199 --> 01:13:33,040 we'll be doing servant practice again, 1790 01:13:33,040 --> 01:13:35,520 uh PLC's and curriculum development. Uh 1791 01:13:35,520 --> 01:13:37,120 and then once again, a reality fair 1792 01:13:37,120 --> 01:13:39,679 career fair is happening on March 25th. 1793 01:13:39,679 --> 01:13:42,000 Uh big shout outs for Steam Blue for her 1794 01:13:42,000 --> 01:13:44,320 organization this event. Uh and our 1795 01:13:44,320 --> 01:13:46,239 musical is coming up uh not this weekend 1796 01:13:46,239 --> 01:13:47,679 but next weekend which is going to be 1797 01:13:47,679 --> 01:13:50,480 Mary Poppins. So if you're if you're 1798 01:13:50,480 --> 01:13:51,760 around and you want to see a great 1799 01:13:51,760 --> 01:13:55,040 musical, big thank you to John Donna, 1800 01:13:55,040 --> 01:14:00,239 Max, Cheryl, uh and Janet Riley for for 1801 01:14:00,239 --> 01:14:01,679 working on that. So we're excited for 1802 01:14:01,679 --> 01:14:05,040 that. So that's what I've got. Thank 1803 01:14:05,040 --> 01:14:08,070 you. 1804 01:14:08,080 --> 01:14:10,880 » At this point, we have another section 1805 01:14:10,880 --> 01:14:12,880 for public comment. I will just make 1806 01:14:12,880 --> 01:14:15,280 clear that this is only for public 1807 01:14:15,280 --> 01:14:18,159 comment, not related to budget related 1808 01:14:18,159 --> 01:14:19,840 issues. So, if there's any public 1809 01:14:19,840 --> 01:14:22,719 comment on something not budget related, 1810 01:14:22,719 --> 01:14:27,910 this is your time. 1811 01:14:27,920 --> 01:14:30,000 I don't see any things or hands in the 1812 01:14:30,000 --> 01:14:33,199 air. So, I'm going to move on from 1813 01:14:33,199 --> 01:14:34,560 public comment unless you tell me that 1814 01:14:34,560 --> 01:14:35,679 you got up. 1815 01:14:35,679 --> 01:14:37,360 >> Okay. 1816 01:14:37,360 --> 01:14:39,280 >> All right. 1817 01:14:39,280 --> 01:14:50,310 Shel, are you ready to be on again? 1818 01:14:50,320 --> 01:14:52,800 Yeah, I'm a little bit un normally I 1819 01:14:52,800 --> 01:14:54,800 would just say there's nothing more to 1820 01:14:54,800 --> 01:14:57,360 talk about because our budget goes goes 1821 01:14:57,360 --> 01:14:59,520 through, but I'm not sure if we want to 1822 01:14:59,520 --> 01:15:00,880 talk additional school committee 1823 01:15:00,880 --> 01:15:03,360 comments before I get into the next part 1824 01:15:03,360 --> 01:15:05,040 of the presentation or if you want me to 1825 01:15:05,040 --> 01:15:08,000 present. It's probably important for the 1826 01:15:08,000 --> 01:15:09,760 next part to be explained because it 1827 01:15:09,760 --> 01:15:12,640 would be a repetitive of so we don't go 1828 01:15:12,640 --> 01:15:21,590 down and also if you share different 1829 01:15:21,600 --> 01:15:29,830 » oh 1830 01:15:29,840 --> 01:15:45,110 the cage 1831 01:15:45,120 --> 01:15:48,080 and 1832 01:15:48,080 --> 01:15:50,159 it goes back and forth. There's one one 1833 01:15:50,159 --> 01:15:52,640 page too. 1834 01:15:52,640 --> 01:15:55,280 >> Oh, because I'm not in slideshow, but I 1835 01:15:55,280 --> 01:15:57,520 can 1836 01:15:57,520 --> 01:16:02,310 >> I can go into 1837 01:16:02,320 --> 01:16:04,480 » Oh, if you go into that, it just will 1838 01:16:04,480 --> 01:16:05,520 fill up the whole screen. You don't have 1839 01:16:05,520 --> 01:16:07,440 to leave that. I didn't want to 1840 01:16:07,440 --> 01:16:10,320 interrupt us. 1841 01:16:10,320 --> 01:16:15,910 >> I share from the PDF and not 1842 01:16:15,920 --> 01:16:17,440 » Yeah. I feel like it's helpful to have 1843 01:16:17,440 --> 01:16:21,679 this piece before we discuss. 1844 01:16:21,679 --> 01:16:46,470 >> Yes. 1845 01:16:46,480 --> 01:16:48,960 Okay. So, we do have some additional 1846 01:16:48,960 --> 01:16:51,679 information since the last meeting um to 1847 01:16:51,679 --> 01:16:55,040 discuss that has budgetary impact. Um, 1848 01:16:55,040 --> 01:16:56,880 you all knew that health insurance rates 1849 01:16:56,880 --> 01:16:58,560 had not been set yet when we had the 1850 01:16:58,560 --> 01:17:01,520 last uh budget discussion. We had a 1851 01:17:01,520 --> 01:17:04,239 placeholder in the budget of 20% 1852 01:17:04,239 --> 01:17:06,320 increase for next year and we're going 1853 01:17:06,320 --> 01:17:07,920 to talk about where that landed with 1854 01:17:07,920 --> 01:17:09,600 health Hampshire County Group Insurance 1855 01:17:09,600 --> 01:17:13,040 Trust and what the um budgetary impact 1856 01:17:13,040 --> 01:17:34,790 is with that change. So, 1857 01:17:34,800 --> 01:17:36,960 All right. So, Hampshire County Group 1858 01:17:36,960 --> 01:17:39,440 Insurance Trust had their meeting uh 1859 01:17:39,440 --> 01:17:43,120 last week and had two options on the 1860 01:17:43,120 --> 01:17:45,840 table from their consultant who they're 1861 01:17:45,840 --> 01:17:47,679 working with to come up with the best 1862 01:17:47,679 --> 01:17:50,080 plans for all of the covered lives, 1863 01:17:50,080 --> 01:17:51,920 which is about 12,000 covered lives that 1864 01:17:51,920 --> 01:17:53,840 are insured with Hampton County 1865 01:17:53,840 --> 01:17:56,800 Insurance Trust. Uh the proposed options 1866 01:17:56,800 --> 01:18:00,159 included a 16% rate increase without 1867 01:18:00,159 --> 01:18:02,400 plan design changes, meaning the 1868 01:18:02,400 --> 01:18:05,360 existing plan that we would have um 1869 01:18:05,360 --> 01:18:07,360 moving forward would mimic what we have 1870 01:18:07,360 --> 01:18:09,440 now. So no deductibles, no changes in 1871 01:18:09,440 --> 01:18:11,600 co-pays. It would just be the change of 1872 01:18:11,600 --> 01:18:13,920 the 16% insurance rate increase or 1873 01:18:13,920 --> 01:18:16,880 premium rate increase. The alternative 1874 01:18:16,880 --> 01:18:18,560 option presented to the insurance 1875 01:18:18,560 --> 01:18:20,560 advisory committee of the trust was a 1876 01:18:20,560 --> 01:18:23,679 12.48% 48% increase with plan design 1877 01:18:23,679 --> 01:18:26,480 changes. We had in our budget as a 1878 01:18:26,480 --> 01:18:30,080 placeholder a 20% increase. The trust 1879 01:18:30,080 --> 01:18:32,800 did go ahead and present what those plan 1880 01:18:32,800 --> 01:18:36,159 design changes would look like. 1881 01:18:36,159 --> 01:18:38,320 You can see on the screen here there is 1882 01:18:38,320 --> 01:18:43,600 a uh HMO plan and a PO plan. Um HMO 1883 01:18:43,600 --> 01:18:46,000 allows you to be in network and only see 1884 01:18:46,000 --> 01:18:47,840 specialists with a referral from your 1885 01:18:47,840 --> 01:18:50,400 primary care physician. The PO allows 1886 01:18:50,400 --> 01:18:52,080 you to choose in network or out of 1887 01:18:52,080 --> 01:18:53,679 network doctors and you don't need that 1888 01:18:53,679 --> 01:18:56,719 referral. Um you can see the lighter 1889 01:18:56,719 --> 01:18:59,760 blue here in the second part of the or 1890 01:18:59,760 --> 01:19:03,830 the second column 1891 01:19:03,840 --> 01:19:06,719 learn something. Um so where it says 1892 01:19:06,719 --> 01:19:09,199 current those are our current plans and 1893 01:19:09,199 --> 01:19:11,840 the proposed are the new plans. So you 1894 01:19:11,840 --> 01:19:14,640 can see under the AMO and the PO the 1895 01:19:14,640 --> 01:19:18,000 proposal at the 12.48% 48% rate increase 1896 01:19:18,000 --> 01:19:21,040 did include adding a duct deductible of 1897 01:19:21,040 --> 01:19:25,520 $250 per individual or 500 per family as 1898 01:19:25,520 --> 01:19:27,120 well as some changes to office 1899 01:19:27,120 --> 01:19:29,440 co-ayments. So not to see your primary 1900 01:19:29,440 --> 01:19:31,440 care. Your primary care you can see here 1901 01:19:31,440 --> 01:19:34,080 is remaining the same. But then as you 1902 01:19:34,080 --> 01:19:37,760 go to specialist urgent care um those 1903 01:19:37,760 --> 01:19:40,400 payments were increasing as well as 1904 01:19:40,400 --> 01:19:43,360 changes to lab services, inpatient care 1905 01:19:43,360 --> 01:19:45,679 and outpatient surgical after 1906 01:19:45,679 --> 01:19:49,199 deductibles are met on the HML plan. The 1907 01:19:49,199 --> 01:19:52,800 PO would require that um people enrolled 1908 01:19:52,800 --> 01:19:55,760 in this plan do have to pay uh a 1909 01:19:55,760 --> 01:19:57,840 deductible for primary care visits 1910 01:19:57,840 --> 01:20:00,480 first. So you'd have to meet that $250 1911 01:20:00,480 --> 01:20:03,280 deductible per person or 500 per family. 1912 01:20:03,280 --> 01:20:05,600 Then your co-pays would kick in. That's 1913 01:20:05,600 --> 01:20:08,719 for all services for regular primary 1914 01:20:08,719 --> 01:20:11,280 care as well as uh specialists and 1915 01:20:11,280 --> 01:20:15,120 urgent care uh emergency room lab and 1916 01:20:15,120 --> 01:20:17,040 then inpatient care and outpatient care. 1917 01:20:17,040 --> 01:20:19,600 So these were the proposed changes. 1918 01:20:19,600 --> 01:20:24,239 These changes are still less than the um 1919 01:20:24,239 --> 01:20:26,880 GIC. So the state's group insurance 1920 01:20:26,880 --> 01:20:29,040 commission, we've talked about this at 1921 01:20:29,040 --> 01:20:30,800 several meetings of whether or not we 1922 01:20:30,800 --> 01:20:32,960 wanted to move that route. The plan 1923 01:20:32,960 --> 01:20:35,520 presented with the GIC, 1924 01:20:35,520 --> 01:20:37,679 it does have higher deductibles and 1925 01:20:37,679 --> 01:20:39,840 higher co-pays than what was proposed to 1926 01:20:39,840 --> 01:20:42,080 the trust here. The trust made a 1927 01:20:42,080 --> 01:20:44,880 commitment to make as minimal changes as 1928 01:20:44,880 --> 01:20:46,880 possible while keeping the rate increase 1929 01:20:46,880 --> 01:20:49,440 as relatively reasonable as it could, 1930 01:20:49,440 --> 01:20:52,239 which is where the $250 and $500 1931 01:20:52,239 --> 01:20:54,560 deductible and then the minimal plan 1932 01:20:54,560 --> 01:20:58,560 changes for probates came into play. 1933 01:20:58,560 --> 01:21:02,400 The trust did pass the 12.48% 1934 01:21:02,400 --> 01:21:04,880 rate increase with plan design changes. 1935 01:21:04,880 --> 01:21:08,159 It passed 55 to 27 of the um voting 1936 01:21:08,159 --> 01:21:10,640 members that were present. Um so from 1937 01:21:10,640 --> 01:21:13,360 here the plan will be changing in the 1938 01:21:13,360 --> 01:21:15,679 new year. Before we talk about the 1939 01:21:15,679 --> 01:21:19,040 budget changes of the 20% um placeholder 1940 01:21:19,040 --> 01:21:22,320 that we had in compared to the 12.48% 1941 01:21:22,320 --> 01:21:23,840 I want to give you some information 1942 01:21:23,840 --> 01:21:25,520 about what that means for us moving 1943 01:21:25,520 --> 01:21:27,679 forward because if you listen to any of 1944 01:21:27,679 --> 01:21:29,199 our meetings or attended any of our 1945 01:21:29,199 --> 01:21:31,920 meetings there is some negotiations that 1946 01:21:31,920 --> 01:21:35,040 has to take place with our unions um in 1947 01:21:35,040 --> 01:21:40,630 regards to impact bargaining. 1948 01:21:40,640 --> 01:21:43,840 So when we talk about negotiations, 1949 01:21:43,840 --> 01:21:45,840 uh, Frontier Regional School Committee 1950 01:21:45,840 --> 01:21:48,000 as well as we believe the other member 1951 01:21:48,000 --> 01:21:49,600 towns that are part of the trust, which 1952 01:21:49,600 --> 01:21:52,320 is Conway, um, Wheatley and Deerfield, 1953 01:21:52,320 --> 01:21:55,760 all adopted chapter 32B, sections 21 to 1954 01:21:55,760 --> 01:21:58,239 23 some years ago. Um, I can't remember 1955 01:21:58,239 --> 01:22:02,480 if it was 2017 or 18. Um, but what 1956 01:22:02,480 --> 01:22:06,560 chapter 32B sections 21-23 allows is a 1957 01:22:06,560 --> 01:22:09,120 municipality or regional school district 1958 01:22:09,120 --> 01:22:11,040 can make changes to the health insurance 1959 01:22:11,040 --> 01:22:14,480 plan up to the GIC. Which is why I was 1960 01:22:14,480 --> 01:22:16,320 mentioning that the plan changes that 1961 01:22:16,320 --> 01:22:18,000 were approved by the trust or less than 1962 01:22:18,000 --> 01:22:21,440 the GIC. You can make those plan changes 1963 01:22:21,440 --> 01:22:23,280 without having to bargain what those 1964 01:22:23,280 --> 01:22:26,000 plan changes look like. So if the GIC 1965 01:22:26,000 --> 01:22:29,280 deductible is $500 per person, as long 1966 01:22:29,280 --> 01:22:31,280 as the trust deductible is less than 1967 01:22:31,280 --> 01:22:33,360 that, we can go ahead and make those 1968 01:22:33,360 --> 01:22:35,280 changes as long as we've adopted this 1969 01:22:35,280 --> 01:22:38,639 part of MGL, which we have. What has to 1970 01:22:38,639 --> 01:22:42,000 be bargained is the cost savings. The 1971 01:22:42,000 --> 01:22:45,120 proposals presented a 16% rate increase 1972 01:22:45,120 --> 01:22:48,560 and a 12.5% rate increase. So the 1973 01:22:48,560 --> 01:22:51,520 difference in those um calculations for 1974 01:22:51,520 --> 01:22:54,080 what we would pay on premiums is what 1975 01:22:54,080 --> 01:22:56,239 has to go back to our employees capped 1976 01:22:56,239 --> 01:22:59,920 at 25% of what that difference is. So 1977 01:22:59,920 --> 01:23:01,280 this is the piece that has to be 1978 01:23:01,280 --> 01:23:03,679 negotiated. This is a much larger 1979 01:23:03,679 --> 01:23:05,679 conversation but I did want to make you 1980 01:23:05,679 --> 01:23:07,600 aware that the changes are coming into 1981 01:23:07,600 --> 01:23:09,199 place because there will be some steps 1982 01:23:09,199 --> 01:23:10,800 that school committee has to be involved 1983 01:23:10,800 --> 01:23:14,080 in as we go through that process. 1984 01:23:14,080 --> 01:23:16,880 I also want to make you aware of it 1985 01:23:16,880 --> 01:23:20,560 because it does impact what the net 1986 01:23:20,560 --> 01:23:23,360 savings is to the budget based on 1987 01:23:23,360 --> 01:23:25,520 mitigation. So you do have to give that 1988 01:23:25,520 --> 01:23:27,760 money back not only to your insured 1989 01:23:27,760 --> 01:23:30,639 union employees but any insured employee 1990 01:23:30,639 --> 01:23:32,960 throughout the district that capped at 1991 01:23:32,960 --> 01:23:35,520 25% savings and that is based on the 1992 01:23:35,520 --> 01:23:37,440 statute. So all of this is coming from 1993 01:23:37,440 --> 01:23:39,679 Mass General Law. Um we have been in 1994 01:23:39,679 --> 01:23:41,920 contact with labor council. Um, we're 1995 01:23:41,920 --> 01:23:43,520 also communicating with the towns to 1996 01:23:43,520 --> 01:23:45,679 support union 38 as well with their 1997 01:23:45,679 --> 01:23:48,000 negotiations and there will be some work 1998 01:23:48,000 --> 01:23:50,960 that this committee has to do as we go 1999 01:23:50,960 --> 01:23:53,440 through that process. 2000 01:23:53,440 --> 01:23:55,520 So, let's talk about what the actual 2001 01:23:55,520 --> 01:23:57,520 impact of the budget is. And the the 2002 01:23:57,520 --> 01:23:59,920 impact on the budget is we have a 20% 2003 01:23:59,920 --> 01:24:02,320 placeholder in for a rate increase and 2004 01:24:02,320 --> 01:24:06,480 the rate is increase is only 12.48%. 2005 01:24:06,480 --> 01:24:08,719 The savings being generated from that 2006 01:24:08,719 --> 01:24:10,880 change in the rate increase in premiums 2007 01:24:10,880 --> 01:24:13,840 is roughly $150,000. 2008 01:24:13,840 --> 01:24:16,560 So our budget as it stands right now at 2009 01:24:16,560 --> 01:24:18,480 the 3.94% 2010 01:24:18,480 --> 01:24:23,360 increase um is overstated by $150,000 2011 01:24:23,360 --> 01:24:25,360 because we can recoup some savings from 2012 01:24:25,360 --> 01:24:28,239 the premium rate reduction. Does that 2013 01:24:28,239 --> 01:24:30,480 make sense? 2014 01:24:30,480 --> 01:24:32,639 Yes. Okay. I just want that to be clear 2015 01:24:32,639 --> 01:24:34,000 for school committee before I keep 2016 01:24:34,000 --> 01:24:37,040 talking. So, 2017 01:24:37,040 --> 01:24:38,719 we've done some behind the-scenes 2018 01:24:38,719 --> 01:24:40,719 calculations of what those mitigation 2019 01:24:40,719 --> 01:24:42,960 costs are going to be. However, there 2020 01:24:42,960 --> 01:24:45,280 are some statutory requirements as far 2021 01:24:45,280 --> 01:24:47,920 as communicating with the union. So, 2022 01:24:47,920 --> 01:24:50,480 we're not able to talk about that number 2023 01:24:50,480 --> 01:24:52,320 publicly yet of what that mitigation 2024 01:24:52,320 --> 01:24:54,639 expense is going to be. But what I 2025 01:24:54,639 --> 01:24:56,719 wanted to point out on this slide is 2026 01:24:56,719 --> 01:25:00,320 twofold. So, the budget savings of 2027 01:25:00,320 --> 01:25:03,360 150,000 is the gross amount. there will 2028 01:25:03,360 --> 01:25:05,360 be a mitigation expense. So say that 2029 01:25:05,360 --> 01:25:07,920 expense was $50,000 and I'm just 2030 01:25:07,920 --> 01:25:10,560 throwing it out for easy math. The net 2031 01:25:10,560 --> 01:25:13,520 savings would be $150,000. That would be 2032 01:25:13,520 --> 01:25:15,440 what we could reduce our budget by 2033 01:25:15,440 --> 01:25:16,000 >> 100 2034 01:25:16,000 --> 01:25:19,520 >> I mean 100 yes sorry 2035 01:25:19,520 --> 01:25:21,280 >> I was trying to make it simple and 2036 01:25:21,280 --> 01:25:22,719 didn't make it simple enough for myself. 2037 01:25:22,719 --> 01:25:25,040 So a 100,000 would be our net savings if 2038 01:25:25,040 --> 01:25:28,000 we had 50,000 of the mitigation expense. 2039 01:25:28,000 --> 01:25:29,600 I think it's just important to point 2040 01:25:29,600 --> 01:25:31,679 that out as part of what this process 2041 01:25:31,679 --> 01:25:34,320 looks like. Frontier is fortunate in 2042 01:25:34,320 --> 01:25:37,280 that it have school choice funds or we 2043 01:25:37,280 --> 01:25:39,520 could use Oh, Celia, let me stop before 2044 01:25:39,520 --> 01:25:41,280 I keep drawing. 2045 01:25:41,280 --> 01:25:44,400 >> Oh, okay. Um I just Is the the 2046 01:25:44,400 --> 01:25:46,560 mitigation expense is that the that's 2047 01:25:46,560 --> 01:25:48,480 the 25% of the difference between the 2048 01:25:48,480 --> 01:25:50,800 12.48 and the 16%. 2049 01:25:50,800 --> 01:25:52,080 >> You got it. Exactly. 2050 01:25:52,080 --> 01:25:53,600 >> Okay. Thank you. I just wanted to double 2051 01:25:53,600 --> 01:25:54,639 check. 2052 01:25:54,639 --> 01:25:57,679 >> Great question. 2053 01:25:57,679 --> 01:25:59,679 Okay. 2054 01:25:59,679 --> 01:26:02,080 So, we are fortunate that we have school 2055 01:26:02,080 --> 01:26:03,760 choice funds available which we've 2056 01:26:03,760 --> 01:26:06,159 talked about sort of operates in a way 2057 01:26:06,159 --> 01:26:07,920 similar to our free cash because it is a 2058 01:26:07,920 --> 01:26:10,159 revolving fund. I could have also thrown 2059 01:26:10,159 --> 01:26:11,760 on this slide to use excess and 2060 01:26:11,760 --> 01:26:14,239 deficiency. The difference in END and 2061 01:26:14,239 --> 01:26:16,560 school choice is that END all of our 2062 01:26:16,560 --> 01:26:18,400 member towns have to approve the use of 2063 01:26:18,400 --> 01:26:20,080 that whereas school choice school 2064 01:26:20,080 --> 01:26:22,400 committee can access those funds. So 2065 01:26:22,400 --> 01:26:24,480 because we have those funds, I am 2066 01:26:24,480 --> 01:26:26,400 recommending that the mitigation expense 2067 01:26:26,400 --> 01:26:28,960 that is a one-time expense because it's 2068 01:26:28,960 --> 01:26:31,280 only based on the calculation of the 2069 01:26:31,280 --> 01:26:34,960 difference between the 16% and the 12.48 2070 01:26:34,960 --> 01:26:38,960 capped the 25% in the first year. So 2071 01:26:38,960 --> 01:26:41,199 it's a one-time expenditure. Rather than 2072 01:26:41,199 --> 01:26:43,360 inflating our budget by if it was 2073 01:26:43,360 --> 01:26:44,880 $50,000, 2074 01:26:44,880 --> 01:26:46,960 let's use an alternative funding source 2075 01:26:46,960 --> 01:26:49,199 to cover the mitigation expense and 2076 01:26:49,199 --> 01:26:52,159 fully recoup the budget savings into our 2077 01:26:52,159 --> 01:26:53,280 budget. 2078 01:26:53,280 --> 01:26:54,800 >> Does that make sense? Did I explain 2079 01:26:54,800 --> 01:26:57,360 that? I think I people could that number 2080 01:26:57,360 --> 01:27:00,639 while it's it's um it still has to be 2081 01:27:00,639 --> 01:27:02,719 determined and worked out, you know, I 2082 01:27:02,719 --> 01:27:05,199 think using the $50,000 is the would be 2083 01:27:05,199 --> 01:27:08,080 the very high end of that number. They 2084 01:27:08,080 --> 01:27:10,000 probably even more highly than that. But 2085 01:27:10,000 --> 01:27:12,400 so we're not talking about um you know 2086 01:27:12,400 --> 01:27:15,760 25% being $100,000 for those you are not 2087 01:27:15,760 --> 01:27:17,760 quick enough to do able to do the math 2088 01:27:17,760 --> 01:27:19,520 on that. But it's so it's you know it' 2089 01:27:19,520 --> 01:27:23,440 be under $50,000 but it is um I just 2090 01:27:23,440 --> 01:27:24,560 kind of want to throw that number out 2091 01:27:24,560 --> 01:27:26,000 because we do have to keep it general. 2092 01:27:26,000 --> 01:27:27,679 But I just want to have like a general 2093 01:27:27,679 --> 01:27:30,560 like ballpark idea what that 2094 01:27:30,560 --> 01:27:32,480 >> Yeah. It's not hundreds of thousands of 2095 01:27:32,480 --> 01:27:35,440 dollars. That 25% savings in the 2096 01:27:35,440 --> 01:27:37,840 difference of the two rates is not 2097 01:27:37,840 --> 01:27:38,560 astronomical. 2098 01:27:38,560 --> 01:27:40,080 >> If we were holding money aside, we would 2099 01:27:40,080 --> 01:27:43,520 hold that we pulled $50,000 aside 2100 01:27:43,520 --> 01:27:44,000 less. 2101 01:27:44,000 --> 01:27:48,080 >> Yeah, exactly. Okay. Any other questions 2102 01:27:48,080 --> 01:27:52,159 on those components before I keep going? 2103 01:27:52,159 --> 01:27:54,080 All right, hearing. 2104 01:27:54,080 --> 01:27:56,000 So, let's talk about recommendations. 2105 01:27:56,000 --> 01:27:58,320 So, um, the administration behind the 2106 01:27:58,320 --> 01:28:00,480 scenes, as we do with all of our budget 2107 01:28:00,480 --> 01:28:02,400 process, is to make recommendations to 2108 01:28:02,400 --> 01:28:04,960 school committee based on what we feel, 2109 01:28:04,960 --> 01:28:07,520 um, balances that fiscal responsibility 2110 01:28:07,520 --> 01:28:09,120 and meeting the needs of our students 2111 01:28:09,120 --> 01:28:10,960 and staff in the building. So, we're 2112 01:28:10,960 --> 01:28:13,040 presenting you with two options here. 2113 01:28:13,040 --> 01:28:15,040 There are probably a million other 2114 01:28:15,040 --> 01:28:17,920 options. Um, but so as not to go down a 2115 01:28:17,920 --> 01:28:19,360 crazy rabbit hole, we're really 2116 01:28:19,360 --> 01:28:20,960 presenting you with what we think are 2117 01:28:20,960 --> 01:28:23,840 the best two options to move us forward. 2118 01:28:23,840 --> 01:28:26,080 So, uh, what we are recommending under 2119 01:28:26,080 --> 01:28:28,000 option A, and this will come back to 2120 01:28:28,000 --> 01:28:29,760 deliberation for school committee to 2121 01:28:29,760 --> 01:28:31,520 continue to have conversation, is that 2122 01:28:31,520 --> 01:28:34,159 we apply the $150,000 2123 01:28:34,159 --> 01:28:37,440 to reduce the budget. We also at the 2124 01:28:37,440 --> 01:28:39,600 same time maintain the position 2125 01:28:39,600 --> 01:28:41,600 reductions outlined previously, which 2126 01:28:41,600 --> 01:28:44,000 was a total of $300,000, 2127 01:28:44,000 --> 01:28:45,679 and then those positions that we showed 2128 01:28:45,679 --> 01:28:47,520 you in the first presentation for the 2129 01:28:47,520 --> 01:28:49,920 public hearing. We're also recommending 2130 01:28:49,920 --> 01:28:52,560 that we reallocate RO aid funds. At the 2131 01:28:52,560 --> 01:28:55,040 last meeting, we agreed to use $100,000 2132 01:28:55,040 --> 01:28:58,880 or $110,000 of rural aid to offset the 2133 01:28:58,880 --> 01:29:00,960 budget. We're recommending that we 2134 01:29:00,960 --> 01:29:03,600 reallocate that to the parking lot. Um 2135 01:29:03,600 --> 01:29:05,440 the purpose behind that would mean that 2136 01:29:05,440 --> 01:29:07,840 the capital expense gets offset to our 2137 01:29:07,840 --> 01:29:09,920 member towns, reducing their total 2138 01:29:09,920 --> 01:29:12,400 assessment. So, while the budget isn't 2139 01:29:12,400 --> 01:29:16,080 really coming down a ton, um we are 2140 01:29:16,080 --> 01:29:19,520 looking at not having a capital. So the 2141 01:29:19,520 --> 01:29:22,000 original reduction was a $400,000 2142 01:29:22,000 --> 01:29:23,760 reduction in the public hearing budget. 2143 01:29:23,760 --> 01:29:26,480 We used 100,000 of rural aid and 300,000 2144 01:29:26,480 --> 01:29:29,280 in positions. Option A recommendation 2145 01:29:29,280 --> 01:29:32,480 applies an additional $40,000, 2146 01:29:32,480 --> 01:29:34,000 excuse me, from the health insurance 2147 01:29:34,000 --> 01:29:36,560 savings, making our total reductions to 2148 01:29:36,560 --> 01:29:39,280 the budget 440,000 2149 01:29:39,280 --> 01:29:41,679 and removing the capital assessment by 2150 01:29:41,679 --> 01:29:43,920 applying rural aid. Does that make 2151 01:29:43,920 --> 01:29:46,639 sense? So ultimately we're reducing our 2152 01:29:46,639 --> 01:29:48,239 expenditures 2153 01:29:48,239 --> 01:29:52,400 um to our towns by 550,000. 2154 01:29:52,400 --> 01:29:55,040 Um really they'll see the most recoup in 2155 01:29:55,040 --> 01:29:56,719 that capital assessment. I'm going to 2156 01:29:56,719 --> 01:29:58,239 give you more information on what that 2157 01:29:58,239 --> 01:30:00,719 looks like moving forward um as we go 2158 01:30:00,719 --> 01:30:03,120 through. Let me get into um option B 2159 01:30:03,120 --> 01:30:05,760 quickly. So, an alternative 2160 01:30:05,760 --> 01:30:09,040 consideration would be to keep up to 2161 01:30:09,040 --> 01:30:12,000 $150,000 in positions based on the 2162 01:30:12,000 --> 01:30:15,120 administrative recommendation. So, some 2163 01:30:15,120 --> 01:30:18,080 portion of those um positions that we 2164 01:30:18,080 --> 01:30:21,199 recommended being reduced would be saved 2165 01:30:21,199 --> 01:30:23,600 for lack of a better word, not all of 2166 01:30:23,600 --> 01:30:26,560 them, but up to 150,000. 2167 01:30:26,560 --> 01:30:28,639 We would maintain rural aid on the 2168 01:30:28,639 --> 01:30:31,040 budget as an offset and maintain the 2169 01:30:31,040 --> 01:30:33,120 capital assessment. So with this option, 2170 01:30:33,120 --> 01:30:35,520 it basically means there's no reduction 2171 01:30:35,520 --> 01:30:37,360 to our budget and there's no change in 2172 01:30:37,360 --> 01:30:39,199 our assessments. So our budget would 2173 01:30:39,199 --> 01:30:42,320 come in at the same level, 3.94%. 2174 01:30:42,320 --> 01:30:44,080 We would still assess our towns for 2175 01:30:44,080 --> 01:30:46,239 their portion of the capital assessment. 2176 01:30:46,239 --> 01:30:48,560 Um and the budget would be it was like 2177 01:30:48,560 --> 01:30:52,239 $13.8 million for the general fund. Um 2178 01:30:52,239 --> 01:30:54,320 this results again just to repeat here, 2179 01:30:54,320 --> 01:30:55,600 make sure everyone understands the 2180 01:30:55,600 --> 01:30:57,760 differences in option A and option B. 2181 01:30:57,760 --> 01:31:00,159 Option A actually has an additional 2182 01:31:00,159 --> 01:31:02,560 reduction to the budget and a reduction 2183 01:31:02,560 --> 01:31:05,360 to our member town assessments. Option B 2184 01:31:05,360 --> 01:31:07,840 maintains status quo as presented in the 2185 01:31:07,840 --> 01:31:10,719 public hearing. 2186 01:31:10,719 --> 01:31:13,040 >> To comment on option A since it's it is 2187 01:31:13,040 --> 01:31:15,520 our recommendation. It I think where 2188 01:31:15,520 --> 01:31:18,080 it's keeping um consistent with is that 2189 01:31:18,080 --> 01:31:21,120 we do need our population has gone down 2190 01:31:21,120 --> 01:31:23,920 and we do need to shrink the budget. Um 2191 01:31:23,920 --> 01:31:26,000 we we don't need to it's our 2192 01:31:26,000 --> 01:31:27,760 recommendation that we that we shrink 2193 01:31:27,760 --> 01:31:30,960 the budget. Um and I think you know they 2194 01:31:30,960 --> 01:31:32,960 opened up this conversation. I know that 2195 01:31:32,960 --> 01:31:35,280 the dollar amount has changed but the 2196 01:31:35,280 --> 01:31:37,679 demand from the towns has has not 2197 01:31:37,679 --> 01:31:39,840 changed and it is very high looking 2198 01:31:39,840 --> 01:31:42,000 going across each of the towns. Each of 2199 01:31:42,000 --> 01:31:43,360 the elementary schools budgets are 2200 01:31:43,360 --> 01:31:45,520 higher than than what is normally 2201 01:31:45,520 --> 01:31:47,520 considered an acceptable range. There's 2202 01:31:47,520 --> 01:31:49,440 a they still have to take on the 2203 01:31:49,440 --> 01:31:52,320 insurance costs. Um, and you got one 2204 01:31:52,320 --> 01:31:53,600 town that's going to be dependent on an 2205 01:31:53,600 --> 01:31:56,960 override to pass the budget. Um, and so 2206 01:31:56,960 --> 01:31:58,800 I I I that's the one of the reasons 2207 01:31:58,800 --> 01:31:59,920 going through and I've heard, you know, 2208 01:31:59,920 --> 01:32:01,679 I listen to all the the, you know, the 2209 01:32:01,679 --> 01:32:03,280 commentary that, you know, was given to 2210 01:32:03,280 --> 01:32:05,920 us um, and ideas and thoughts from, you 2211 01:32:05,920 --> 01:32:07,840 know, from our teachers and and parents 2212 01:32:07,840 --> 01:32:11,199 and such. Um, and cuts are hard and 2213 01:32:11,199 --> 01:32:13,040 there's no there's no steering away from 2214 01:32:13,040 --> 01:32:15,920 that. Um and there are reductions in 2215 01:32:15,920 --> 01:32:17,840 services and we heard from different 2216 01:32:17,840 --> 01:32:20,000 members about each and every cut having 2217 01:32:20,000 --> 01:32:23,360 a different impact on this building. Um 2218 01:32:23,360 --> 01:32:24,800 and we did not take that lightly 2219 01:32:24,800 --> 01:32:27,040 bringing those cuts forward. Um I don't 2220 01:32:27,040 --> 01:32:29,679 want to get into 2221 01:32:29,679 --> 01:32:31,920 debate of you know what our 2222 01:32:31,920 --> 01:32:34,159 recommendations are. Um I I think that 2223 01:32:34,159 --> 01:32:36,560 would be unhealthy to you know devalue 2224 01:32:36,560 --> 01:32:39,280 positions or to counterpoint 2225 01:32:39,280 --> 01:32:41,600 um you know 2226 01:32:41,600 --> 01:32:44,880 usage of you know we'll say library or 2227 01:32:44,880 --> 01:32:47,840 um you know special education needs or 2228 01:32:47,840 --> 01:32:49,360 you know we are charged as 2229 01:32:49,360 --> 01:32:52,320 administration to advise based on what 2230 01:32:52,320 --> 01:32:54,320 we in the building and we see is going 2231 01:32:54,320 --> 01:32:57,760 to have the um 2232 01:32:57,760 --> 01:33:00,400 the the best the best impact in a 2233 01:33:00,400 --> 01:33:02,719 negative situation. And so, or that's 2234 01:33:02,719 --> 01:33:04,000 probably a terrible way of saying that, 2235 01:33:04,000 --> 01:33:06,639 but um the least amount of impact, but 2236 01:33:06,639 --> 01:33:08,560 it's going to have an impact. Anytime we 2237 01:33:08,560 --> 01:33:10,639 reduce services, we're going to have to 2238 01:33:10,639 --> 01:33:13,120 adjust. We're going to have to um you 2239 01:33:13,120 --> 01:33:14,400 know, move things around within the 2240 01:33:14,400 --> 01:33:17,040 building to do so. And so looking at the 2241 01:33:17,040 --> 01:33:18,639 reason why again Shel and I are looking 2242 01:33:18,639 --> 01:33:21,760 at um Shelley I and administration 2243 01:33:21,760 --> 01:33:25,280 looking at a as the um recommendation is 2244 01:33:25,280 --> 01:33:27,840 that if we pay for if we use that school 2245 01:33:27,840 --> 01:33:30,480 choice money as part not school choice 2246 01:33:30,480 --> 01:33:32,560 excuse me rural aid money to offset the 2247 01:33:32,560 --> 01:33:35,120 budget we start in deficit next year 2248 01:33:35,120 --> 01:33:36,960 unless we get full funding of ro a and 2249 01:33:36,960 --> 01:33:38,480 it was inconsistent this year where it 2250 01:33:38,480 --> 01:33:41,679 went down by 25% and so we will be just 2251 01:33:41,679 --> 01:33:44,639 kicking it down the road once instead of 2252 01:33:44,639 --> 01:33:46,159 rescaping stabilizing our budget by 2253 01:33:46,159 --> 01:33:49,840 shrinking it slightly. Um and and and I 2254 01:33:49,840 --> 01:33:51,600 kind of also wanted to, you know, I'll 2255 01:33:51,600 --> 01:33:52,719 hold on the parking lot because I'm 2256 01:33:52,719 --> 01:33:54,960 going over the park. So anyway, those 2257 01:33:54,960 --> 01:33:56,400 are the thoughts, our thoughts on the 2258 01:33:56,400 --> 01:33:59,280 EA. Um I'm sure there'll be a lot of 2259 01:33:59,280 --> 01:34:01,920 conversation. Well, yeah. 2260 01:34:01,920 --> 01:34:03,600 >> Um I just want to show you two more 2261 01:34:03,600 --> 01:34:06,159 slides. Um, 2262 01:34:06,159 --> 01:34:08,320 and I I'll make another comment back on 2263 01:34:08,320 --> 01:34:11,760 Darius is, you know, as your CFO, it is 2264 01:34:11,760 --> 01:34:14,159 my job to make decisions or 2265 01:34:14,159 --> 01:34:16,480 recommendations for you to you that are 2266 01:34:16,480 --> 01:34:18,080 most fiscally responsible while 2267 01:34:18,080 --> 01:34:22,320 balancing the needs of our students. And 2268 01:34:22,320 --> 01:34:24,719 as Sar said, with enrollment changing 2269 01:34:24,719 --> 01:34:26,560 and what you're going to see on the next 2270 01:34:26,560 --> 01:34:28,159 couple slides about the savings and 2271 01:34:28,159 --> 01:34:29,760 maybe hear some more about the impact to 2272 01:34:29,760 --> 01:34:32,320 our towns, um sometimes really hard 2273 01:34:32,320 --> 01:34:34,320 decisions have to be made that are that 2274 01:34:34,320 --> 01:34:38,480 are really based on finances. 2275 01:34:38,480 --> 01:34:40,480 Okay, so let's look at the assessment 2276 01:34:40,480 --> 01:34:42,639 change with option A. Um since that is 2277 01:34:42,639 --> 01:34:45,199 the administrative recommendation. Um so 2278 01:34:45,199 --> 01:34:47,120 this shows you what the reduction in the 2279 01:34:47,120 --> 01:34:49,840 town assessment would be with option A. 2280 01:34:49,840 --> 01:34:51,600 Some of these numbers seem minimal when 2281 01:34:51,600 --> 01:34:53,120 you look at, you know, think about the 2282 01:34:53,120 --> 01:34:54,639 grand scheme of things of the town's 2283 01:34:54,639 --> 01:34:56,320 overall budget. But when we break it 2284 01:34:56,320 --> 01:34:58,960 down by percentage points, Conway would 2285 01:34:58,960 --> 01:35:01,600 be seeing a reduction of 24,000, 2286 01:35:01,600 --> 01:35:05,360 Deerfield 70,000, Sunderland 39,000, and 2287 01:35:05,360 --> 01:35:08,320 Weightley um 16,000. I'm going to stick 2288 01:35:08,320 --> 01:35:10,000 with Sunderland since Keith brought up 2289 01:35:10,000 --> 01:35:12,239 their percentage point and already um 2290 01:35:12,239 --> 01:35:15,520 talking about an override. a $39,000 2291 01:35:15,520 --> 01:35:18,800 savings for Sunderland um equates to at 2292 01:35:18,800 --> 01:35:22,880 the elementary school um o over one full 2293 01:35:22,880 --> 01:35:24,960 position and over one full percentage 2294 01:35:24,960 --> 01:35:26,560 point which when you're talking about 2295 01:35:26,560 --> 01:35:30,159 reductions of 8 n 10% that is has a 2296 01:35:30,159 --> 01:35:33,120 significant impact. Um and Keith also 2297 01:35:33,120 --> 01:35:34,880 said this too it's I think you said this 2298 01:35:34,880 --> 01:35:37,120 it's not Frontier's responsibility to 2299 01:35:37,120 --> 01:35:38,560 carry the weight of the elementary 2300 01:35:38,560 --> 01:35:40,400 school's budgets or of the town's 2301 01:35:40,400 --> 01:35:43,280 budgets. Um, however, we all have a 2302 01:35:43,280 --> 01:35:44,960 responsibility. We're in this together 2303 01:35:44,960 --> 01:35:47,440 and we do have to make decisions um that 2304 01:35:47,440 --> 01:35:49,199 are most fiscally responsible and that 2305 01:35:49,199 --> 01:35:50,560 are going to move our budgets through 2306 01:35:50,560 --> 01:35:54,080 the budget process. Um, so overall what 2307 01:35:54,080 --> 01:35:55,840 that looks like in assessment wise, 2308 01:35:55,840 --> 01:35:57,360 there's a lot of numbers on the screen, 2309 01:35:57,360 --> 01:35:58,960 but you can see here for demonstration 2310 01:35:58,960 --> 01:36:01,199 purposes, the capital assessment is 2311 01:36:01,199 --> 01:36:03,360 zeroed out. Our assessment growth 2312 01:36:03,360 --> 01:36:07,840 changes from that 530,000 to 379,000 2313 01:36:07,840 --> 01:36:09,360 and you can see the breakdown 2314 01:36:09,360 --> 01:36:12,800 accordingly. Um so to easily look at uh 2315 01:36:12,800 --> 01:36:15,199 Sutherland and keep with that same theme 2316 01:36:15,199 --> 01:36:17,280 in the first iteration of the budget 2317 01:36:17,280 --> 01:36:19,120 their overall assessment growth was 2318 01:36:19,120 --> 01:36:20,639 $250,000 2319 01:36:20,639 --> 01:36:23,520 and at this um iteration for option A it 2320 01:36:23,520 --> 01:36:25,840 is only $211,000. 2321 01:36:25,840 --> 01:36:27,679 Again doesn't seem like a lot of money 2322 01:36:27,679 --> 01:36:29,120 when you're talking about the grand 2323 01:36:29,120 --> 01:36:32,000 scheme of a $2.8 million assessment, but 2324 01:36:32,000 --> 01:36:34,560 every dollar counts towards balancing 2325 01:36:34,560 --> 01:36:37,920 our member town budgets overall. and 2326 01:36:37,920 --> 01:36:39,600 Keith mentioned they're they've got 2327 01:36:39,600 --> 01:36:41,760 fire, they've got police, they have um 2328 01:36:41,760 --> 01:36:43,440 all of the other town departments to 2329 01:36:43,440 --> 01:36:45,679 manage and it is part of our 2330 01:36:45,679 --> 01:36:47,360 conversation as being a rural district 2331 01:36:47,360 --> 01:36:49,840 of how we balance all of the needs and 2332 01:36:49,840 --> 01:36:51,679 all of the different pieces of the 2333 01:36:51,679 --> 01:36:53,520 budgets. 2334 01:36:53,520 --> 01:37:01,510 >> I think 2335 01:37:01,520 --> 01:37:02,960 the option is just 2336 01:37:02,960 --> 01:37:04,480 >> I didn't it doesn't change the 2337 01:37:04,480 --> 01:37:06,239 assessment. So the option B is not 2338 01:37:06,239 --> 01:37:08,159 demonstrated. 2339 01:37:08,159 --> 01:37:10,080 The only difference with option A and 2340 01:37:10,080 --> 01:37:13,360 option B is how the $150,000 is applied. 2341 01:37:13,360 --> 01:37:15,280 So let's just go back to those slides. 2342 01:37:15,280 --> 01:37:20,000 So option A, the $150,000 is applied to 2343 01:37:20,000 --> 01:37:21,520 actually reduce the budget and we 2344 01:37:21,520 --> 01:37:24,800 maintain all the position reductions. 2345 01:37:24,800 --> 01:37:29,679 Option B um puts that $150,000 back into 2346 01:37:29,679 --> 01:37:32,400 positions and does not change the budget 2347 01:37:32,400 --> 01:37:35,199 as it stands as far as um general fund 2348 01:37:35,199 --> 01:37:40,470 or capital assessments. 2349 01:37:40,480 --> 01:37:42,639 So both options 2350 01:37:42,639 --> 01:37:47,280 um you're assessing the town for part of 2351 01:37:47,280 --> 01:37:48,239 it. 2352 01:37:48,239 --> 01:37:50,159 >> Option A there would be no capital 2353 01:37:50,159 --> 01:37:51,920 assessment. 2354 01:37:51,920 --> 01:37:53,360 >> Option B there. 2355 01:37:53,360 --> 01:37:54,320 >> Correct. 2356 01:37:54,320 --> 01:37:56,560 >> I think it's also it's important for 2357 01:37:56,560 --> 01:37:59,199 folks understand how when our budget 2358 01:37:59,199 --> 01:38:01,280 does go to the town the town figures out 2359 01:38:01,280 --> 01:38:03,360 how to fund that budget. So, they're 2360 01:38:03,360 --> 01:38:04,800 going to look at their increasement, 2361 01:38:04,800 --> 01:38:08,000 their increase in um their increases, 2362 01:38:08,000 --> 01:38:09,760 uh, you know, from taxes and so on and 2363 01:38:09,760 --> 01:38:12,239 so forth, their growth, and then they're 2364 01:38:12,239 --> 01:38:13,600 going to look at their free cash and 2365 01:38:13,600 --> 01:38:14,880 they're going to take you're going to 2366 01:38:14,880 --> 01:38:16,480 usually, unless they're going to go over 2367 01:38:16,480 --> 01:38:17,440 and stuff, they're going to take with 2368 01:38:17,440 --> 01:38:21,280 their free cash to pay that portion 2369 01:38:21,280 --> 01:38:23,520 when we when we assess them there. So, 2370 01:38:23,520 --> 01:38:25,600 it really is just freeing up that money 2371 01:38:25,600 --> 01:38:27,440 for them to apply either for the 2372 01:38:27,440 --> 01:38:30,239 elementary school or for other services 2373 01:38:30,239 --> 01:38:32,880 in Yeah. So one, you know, so it's like 2374 01:38:32,880 --> 01:38:34,719 it's important that it brings it down, 2375 01:38:34,719 --> 01:38:35,840 but 2376 01:38:35,840 --> 01:38:37,520 >> they're it's taking it's saving for 2377 01:38:37,520 --> 01:38:40,159 their pool of money. Does that make does 2378 01:38:40,159 --> 01:38:41,360 that make sense? Like could they explain 2379 01:38:41,360 --> 01:38:42,639 that? 2380 01:38:42,639 --> 01:38:44,400 >> Yeah, 2381 01:38:44,400 --> 01:38:47,119 >> I know that Phil asked a while ago. Do 2382 01:38:47,119 --> 01:38:48,639 you mind if I just check in and see if 2383 01:38:48,639 --> 01:38:52,239 Phil wants to hop in before I do 2384 01:38:52,239 --> 01:38:53,600 that in person? No, no, that's all 2385 01:38:53,600 --> 01:38:55,600 right. 2386 01:38:55,600 --> 01:38:57,119 >> Are you 2387 01:38:57,119 --> 01:39:00,880 >> Yeah, sure. Um so you know first of all 2388 01:39:00,880 --> 01:39:04,719 I I was just uh interested in since so 2389 01:39:04,719 --> 01:39:07,360 many of the public comments um sort of 2390 01:39:07,360 --> 01:39:11,040 made uh the inference that we were 2391 01:39:11,040 --> 01:39:14,320 pursuing a parking lot renovation at the 2392 01:39:14,320 --> 01:39:18,400 expense of people's jobs. Um whether 2393 01:39:18,400 --> 01:39:21,360 Darius you whether you could 2394 01:39:21,360 --> 01:39:23,840 uh discuss the rel the budgetary 2395 01:39:23,840 --> 01:39:26,800 relationship between capital projects 2396 01:39:26,800 --> 01:39:30,000 and uh you know the instructional budget 2397 01:39:30,000 --> 01:39:31,840 and how that looks at town meeting and 2398 01:39:31,840 --> 01:39:34,000 what that relationship is just so that 2399 01:39:34,000 --> 01:39:36,719 we could sort of dispel that inference. 2400 01:39:36,719 --> 01:39:40,320 Um, and then the second thing is that um 2401 01:39:40,320 --> 01:39:45,440 just with regard to uh uh Shel's 2402 01:39:45,440 --> 01:39:47,040 um 2403 01:39:47,040 --> 01:39:48,560 I guess I guess you would say that's 2404 01:39:48,560 --> 01:39:51,679 good health insurance news. Um less 2405 01:39:51,679 --> 01:39:53,760 horrible health insurance news is a 2406 01:39:53,760 --> 01:39:56,560 better way of putting it I guess. Um 2407 01:39:56,560 --> 01:39:59,040 yeah, that there's an option A and an 2408 01:39:59,040 --> 01:40:02,719 option B. Is there some 2409 01:40:02,719 --> 01:40:04,239 have have you contemplated sort of 2410 01:40:04,239 --> 01:40:07,040 something in the middle like an option C 2411 01:40:07,040 --> 01:40:11,760 where some or one position is retained 2412 01:40:11,760 --> 01:40:16,719 and the assessment for uh uh the parking 2413 01:40:16,719 --> 01:40:23,030 lot is lowered but not eliminated 2414 01:40:23,040 --> 01:40:24,159 you know 2415 01:40:24,159 --> 01:40:25,520 >> so all right so you asked a lot of 2416 01:40:25,520 --> 01:40:26,400 questions there um 2417 01:40:26,400 --> 01:40:27,600 >> yeah sorry 2418 01:40:27,600 --> 01:40:31,280 >> to go in reverse order. We kept it very 2419 01:40:31,280 --> 01:40:34,880 straightforward without creating um a 2420 01:40:34,880 --> 01:40:38,159 menu of things to choose from. Um you 2421 01:40:38,159 --> 01:40:39,920 know, in the sense of especially since 2422 01:40:39,920 --> 01:40:43,520 the fact that we our recommendation is A 2423 01:40:43,520 --> 01:40:45,840 and as Shelley said, this is A and B. 2424 01:40:45,840 --> 01:40:48,480 There could be a 100,000 different 2425 01:40:48,480 --> 01:40:51,679 versions coming off of that. And so it's 2426 01:40:51,679 --> 01:40:53,360 hard for us to then, you know, provide a 2427 01:40:53,360 --> 01:40:55,679 menu of options of things we don't want 2428 01:40:55,679 --> 01:40:59,199 to serve. So to kind of put that there, 2429 01:40:59,199 --> 01:41:02,480 but to go back to your your first So I 2430 01:41:02,480 --> 01:41:03,520 don't want to talk about that because 2431 01:41:03,520 --> 01:41:06,159 you had two completely different 2432 01:41:06,159 --> 01:41:06,480 >> Yeah, 2433 01:41:06,480 --> 01:41:08,080 >> I kind I don't want to just kind of roll 2434 01:41:08,080 --> 01:41:09,119 over the first part where you talked 2435 01:41:09,119 --> 01:41:10,239 about the parking lot because I do want 2436 01:41:10,239 --> 01:41:12,480 to comment on that. 2437 01:41:12,480 --> 01:41:13,199 Um 2438 01:41:13,199 --> 01:41:17,440 >> um well I mean sure the 2439 01:41:17,440 --> 01:41:19,679 agreed that there could be many 2440 01:41:19,679 --> 01:41:22,560 permutations, many different options but 2441 01:41:22,560 --> 01:41:26,960 um you know I I I go back to what we 2442 01:41:26,960 --> 01:41:31,760 always talked about as being the uh the 2443 01:41:31,760 --> 01:41:34,639 threshold for job elimination and it's 2444 01:41:34,639 --> 01:41:38,960 basically whether we really have to and 2445 01:41:38,960 --> 01:41:41,920 um make 2446 01:41:41,920 --> 01:41:43,920 Um 2447 01:41:43,920 --> 01:41:47,040 the the the 2448 01:41:47,040 --> 01:41:49,679 appearance of 2449 01:41:49,679 --> 01:41:52,480 you know uh additional funds to the in 2450 01:41:52,480 --> 01:41:56,320 the budget makes me wonder whether we 2451 01:41:56,320 --> 01:42:00,000 really have to eliminate 2452 01:42:00,000 --> 01:42:02,480 the librarian eliminate the you know 2453 01:42:02,480 --> 01:42:06,000 what the you know etc. Um it's you know 2454 01:42:06,000 --> 01:42:08,800 one thing one thing the the attrition 2455 01:42:08,800 --> 01:42:12,239 positions are one thing the actual jobs 2456 01:42:12,239 --> 01:42:15,440 being lost or to me always are in a 2457 01:42:15,440 --> 01:42:17,920 different category and what's the 2458 01:42:17,920 --> 01:42:21,119 budgetary impact of saving those 2459 01:42:21,119 --> 01:42:22,800 positions 2460 01:42:22,800 --> 01:42:26,719 and it seems like there'd still be some 2461 01:42:26,719 --> 01:42:30,080 reduction in the capital expenditure 2462 01:42:30,080 --> 01:42:33,440 um or the capital request to the towns. 2463 01:42:33,440 --> 01:42:35,199 Yeah, you're right, Bill. There could be 2464 01:42:35,199 --> 01:42:37,040 there there was a there was four 2465 01:42:37,040 --> 01:42:39,040 iterations that Darius and I talked 2466 01:42:39,040 --> 01:42:41,119 through um after talking with George 2467 01:42:41,119 --> 01:42:44,239 about uh priorities and how to navigate 2468 01:42:44,239 --> 01:42:46,800 all the pieces. One of them was put 2469 01:42:46,800 --> 01:42:50,159 $75,000 back in salaries, put $75,000 2470 01:42:50,159 --> 01:42:52,159 either back in budget or towards capital 2471 01:42:52,159 --> 01:42:54,480 because six and one does mean another. 2472 01:42:54,480 --> 01:42:56,480 Um so we did throw that out there as 2473 01:42:56,480 --> 01:43:02,629 well, I think. 2474 01:43:02,639 --> 01:43:05,910 Um, 2475 01:43:05,920 --> 01:43:07,840 I don't want this to come across as the 2476 01:43:07,840 --> 01:43:10,080 wrong way because I'm speaking strictly 2477 01:43:10,080 --> 01:43:11,920 from a financial brain. 2478 01:43:11,920 --> 01:43:13,119 >> Yeah. 2479 01:43:13,119 --> 01:43:15,760 >> Our budget is growing faster than our 2480 01:43:15,760 --> 01:43:17,199 towns can afford. 2481 01:43:17,199 --> 01:43:18,000 >> Yep. 2482 01:43:18,000 --> 01:43:20,639 >> That is the bottom line. And we're 2483 01:43:20,639 --> 01:43:22,880 having an opportunity right now where we 2484 01:43:22,880 --> 01:43:25,199 can because the health insurance is 2485 01:43:25,199 --> 01:43:26,880 coupled with that and it's growing our 2486 01:43:26,880 --> 01:43:29,199 budget. we have an opportunity where we 2487 01:43:29,199 --> 01:43:31,520 can take care of reducing some positions 2488 01:43:31,520 --> 01:43:34,000 based on attrition which do not impact 2489 01:43:34,000 --> 01:43:37,040 people's lives and make some other 2490 01:43:37,040 --> 01:43:39,600 changes based on enrollment and I think 2491 01:43:39,600 --> 01:43:42,719 we have to capitalize on that and do 2492 01:43:42,719 --> 01:43:45,600 what is most fiscally responsible 2493 01:43:45,600 --> 01:43:48,080 um I hear the library conversation I'm 2494 01:43:48,080 --> 01:43:50,719 not really involved in how that gets 2495 01:43:50,719 --> 01:43:53,119 organized I'm just coming from a um 2496 01:43:53,119 --> 01:43:56,320 fiscal perspective that it there is 2497 01:43:56,320 --> 01:43:58,639 going to be there does need to be some 2498 01:43:58,639 --> 01:44:00,960 change in the level of staffing that we 2499 01:44:00,960 --> 01:44:04,560 have um carried in our budget and what 2500 01:44:04,560 --> 01:44:06,719 that looks like, you know, comes from 2501 01:44:06,719 --> 01:44:08,480 the administrative recommendation first 2502 01:44:08,480 --> 01:44:10,719 and then comes back here. But I do think 2503 01:44:10,719 --> 01:44:12,560 we're at a point where we have to make 2504 01:44:12,560 --> 01:44:15,520 some changes. Our towns cannot continue 2505 01:44:15,520 --> 01:44:17,199 between the growth of Frontier and the 2506 01:44:17,199 --> 01:44:19,199 growth of our elementary schools. We're 2507 01:44:19,199 --> 01:44:22,239 growing faster just based on cola than 2508 01:44:22,239 --> 01:44:25,760 our towns can afford. 2509 01:44:25,760 --> 01:44:28,960 I hope no one will take that personally. 2510 01:44:28,960 --> 01:44:30,880 I love all the new teachers. You educate 2511 01:44:30,880 --> 01:44:33,119 my children and and all of you are 2512 01:44:33,119 --> 01:44:35,360 important. But there are some tough 2513 01:44:35,360 --> 01:44:38,560 fiscal conversations and decisions that 2514 01:44:38,560 --> 01:44:46,149 we haven't. 2515 01:44:46,159 --> 01:44:47,920 » Well, I was just going to speak for the 2516 01:44:47,920 --> 01:44:50,000 parking lot. U just want to point out 2517 01:44:50,000 --> 01:44:52,320 that the parking lot and and position 2518 01:44:52,320 --> 01:44:55,119 are not one to one changes. that they're 2519 01:44:55,119 --> 01:44:57,600 completely different revenue streams and 2520 01:44:57,600 --> 01:45:00,719 then even if we were to blow up the 2521 01:45:00,719 --> 01:45:03,520 budget and say we'll just take whatever 2522 01:45:03,520 --> 01:45:05,199 has been put into the parking lot over 2523 01:45:05,199 --> 01:45:08,080 years of planned and fund positions that 2524 01:45:08,080 --> 01:45:09,600 money disappears next year those 2525 01:45:09,600 --> 01:45:10,960 positions won't be funded the year after 2526 01:45:10,960 --> 01:45:14,239 that and the parking lot 2527 01:45:14,239 --> 01:45:17,040 it's not a one to one at all 2528 01:45:17,040 --> 01:45:18,880 >> yeah that's what I was asking Darius to 2529 01:45:18,880 --> 01:45:20,960 get that you know and it's a separate 2530 01:45:20,960 --> 01:45:24,159 vote at town meeting it's it's not you 2531 01:45:24,159 --> 01:45:25,760 know the the the parking lot is a 2532 01:45:25,760 --> 01:45:28,960 separate warrant article. People can 2533 01:45:28,960 --> 01:45:31,280 vote against the town the school budget 2534 01:45:31,280 --> 01:45:34,159 and for the parking lot and vice versa. 2535 01:45:34,159 --> 01:45:37,360 Uh it it it does not we are not robbing 2536 01:45:37,360 --> 01:45:41,840 Peter to pay Paul and uh I don't think 2537 01:45:41,840 --> 01:45:44,400 there would be approval on the school 2538 01:45:44,400 --> 01:45:47,679 committee at all to fund a parking lot 2539 01:45:47,679 --> 01:45:52,080 and fire instructional facing people 2540 01:45:52,080 --> 01:45:54,960 like it just wouldn't it it doesn't work 2541 01:45:54,960 --> 01:45:57,199 that way. of that. 2542 01:45:57,199 --> 01:45:59,360 >> Yeah, I I didn't respond because I was 2543 01:45:59,360 --> 01:46:00,639 kind of waiting. I was waiting that 2544 01:46:00,639 --> 01:46:03,600 first talk group. So, I guess you had a 2545 01:46:03,600 --> 01:46:05,360 compound kind of question there. 2546 01:46:05,360 --> 01:46:08,639 >> Um, we also, you know, and I know you're 2547 01:46:08,639 --> 01:46:10,239 right. Someone made a comment like we 2548 01:46:10,239 --> 01:46:12,639 have a gravel parking lot and and you 2549 01:46:12,639 --> 01:46:14,800 know, if we could save positions, but 2550 01:46:14,800 --> 01:46:17,679 that it's not a recur. We are already 2551 01:46:17,679 --> 01:46:20,320 using school choice money in the budget. 2552 01:46:20,320 --> 01:46:22,320 It's not this would be an addition to 2553 01:46:22,320 --> 01:46:25,760 that and and the the cost of those the 2554 01:46:25,760 --> 01:46:27,760 cap you know this building is an asset 2555 01:46:27,760 --> 01:46:30,400 that we have to maintain and then when 2556 01:46:30,400 --> 01:46:32,000 you put off projects it gets more 2557 01:46:32,000 --> 01:46:34,159 expenses it also when we start creating 2558 01:46:34,159 --> 01:46:35,760 liability issues with the level of 2559 01:46:35,760 --> 01:46:37,360 damage our parking lot is when we start 2560 01:46:37,360 --> 01:46:39,199 having potholes that are over you know 2561 01:46:39,199 --> 01:46:41,360 three inches deep it's liability issue 2562 01:46:41,360 --> 01:46:44,480 we spend $20,000 or $24,000 on the 2563 01:46:44,480 --> 01:46:46,320 repair let alone that's already falling 2564 01:46:46,320 --> 01:46:48,000 apart out there last year so we're 2565 01:46:48,000 --> 01:46:50,159 throwing you know good money to bad as 2566 01:46:50,159 --> 01:46:53,280 So, I understand that the parking lot is 2567 01:46:53,280 --> 01:46:56,159 the is an ugly kind of it's an ugly 2568 01:46:56,159 --> 01:46:58,239 project. It's, as I said the previous 2569 01:46:58,239 --> 01:47:00,239 meeting, it's not sexy. You know, you 2570 01:47:00,239 --> 01:47:02,080 wish you could do without it. Um, we 2571 01:47:02,080 --> 01:47:03,679 also have other projects that are lined 2572 01:47:03,679 --> 01:47:05,440 up behind this one, including another 2573 01:47:05,440 --> 01:47:07,760 roof section, which again, if you start 2574 01:47:07,760 --> 01:47:09,679 having leaking roof, then you have you 2575 01:47:09,679 --> 01:47:11,119 start you're destroying your asset 2576 01:47:11,119 --> 01:47:12,719 underneath it, including insulation, 2577 01:47:12,719 --> 01:47:14,400 then you have mold issues, and then you 2578 01:47:14,400 --> 01:47:16,800 you're increasing cost. So like we have 2579 01:47:16,800 --> 01:47:18,560 a plan and that's why we do a different 2580 01:47:18,560 --> 01:47:22,480 silo of it because if every year we had 2581 01:47:22,480 --> 01:47:24,159 deferred maintenance, it was deferred 2582 01:47:24,159 --> 01:47:26,719 maintenance, it we just build a problem 2583 01:47:26,719 --> 01:47:29,199 for the next um the next group down the 2584 01:47:29,199 --> 01:47:31,440 road even a couple years off. And if 2585 01:47:31,440 --> 01:47:33,600 there was a, you know, a single bailout 2586 01:47:33,600 --> 01:47:36,719 need that's different. But it really is 2587 01:47:36,719 --> 01:47:39,040 um and that's why towns do it as well. a 2588 01:47:39,040 --> 01:47:40,880 separate capital committee that meets 2589 01:47:40,880 --> 01:47:43,600 and discusses um you know the the the 2590 01:47:43,600 --> 01:47:45,600 improvements of their town outside of 2591 01:47:45,600 --> 01:47:47,840 their general budget because if you mix 2592 01:47:47,840 --> 01:47:50,239 the two together, the general budget 2593 01:47:50,239 --> 01:47:52,080 always kind of wins and then you're 2594 01:47:52,080 --> 01:47:53,760 stuck with more expensive projects and 2595 01:47:53,760 --> 01:47:56,639 liabilities and and you know um issues 2596 01:47:56,639 --> 01:47:58,800 with your your facilities and such. So 2597 01:47:58,800 --> 01:48:00,800 that's why it's kind of broken out and 2598 01:48:00,800 --> 01:48:03,040 this project's been we put it on hold 2599 01:48:03,040 --> 01:48:06,560 last year. Um, and so 2600 01:48:06,560 --> 01:48:08,400 it to do with the fire alarm system and 2601 01:48:08,400 --> 01:48:10,159 we kind of it's been it's been in the 2602 01:48:10,159 --> 01:48:13,280 works since 2018. Um, and I think, you 2603 01:48:13,280 --> 01:48:14,239 know, we've reached the end of the 2604 01:48:14,239 --> 01:48:17,920 patching life. So, um, anyway, that's 2605 01:48:17,920 --> 01:48:19,360 kind of the reasoning behind what you 2606 01:48:19,360 --> 01:48:21,280 were guaranteeing. I understand the 2607 01:48:21,280 --> 01:48:23,440 optics, but in operations, we do keep it 2608 01:48:23,440 --> 01:48:25,840 too separate. 2609 01:48:25,840 --> 01:48:33,600 >> Yeah. and and and as far as far as the what to do with the savings um from 2610 01:48:33,600 --> 01:48:35,760 the health insurance, I I personally 2611 01:48:35,760 --> 01:48:37,360 would be interesting would be interested 2612 01:48:37,360 --> 01:48:42,400 in uh you know looking further at split 2613 01:48:42,400 --> 01:48:45,119 splitting this doing some sort of split 2614 01:48:45,119 --> 01:48:49,199 7575 or something similar to that and 2615 01:48:49,199 --> 01:48:51,040 see what that looks like and what that 2616 01:48:51,040 --> 01:48:55,440 would accomplish. 2617 01:48:55,440 --> 01:48:57,520 Um, 2618 01:48:57,520 --> 01:48:59,040 >> and this whole conversation gets a 2619 01:48:59,040 --> 01:49:00,719 little cucked. Everybody keeps talking 2620 01:49:00,719 --> 01:49:02,639 about the savings. There isn't any 2621 01:49:02,639 --> 01:49:03,600 savings. 2622 01:49:03,600 --> 01:49:05,119 >> We're going to spend less. We're not 2623 01:49:05,119 --> 01:49:08,400 going to save a damn thing. 2624 01:49:08,400 --> 01:49:11,040 >> So, please stop calling it savings 2625 01:49:11,040 --> 01:49:12,239 because there isn't any. 2626 01:49:12,239 --> 01:49:14,239 >> You're right. 2627 01:49:14,239 --> 01:49:18,550 >> I label it savings. Sorry, Bill. 2628 01:49:18,560 --> 01:49:21,280 » Go ahead, Diane. 2629 01:49:21,280 --> 01:49:22,880 >> Yeah. I want to go back to something you 2630 01:49:22,880 --> 01:49:26,000 said, Shelley, um about, you know, we're 2631 01:49:26,000 --> 01:49:27,760 the our population is going down. We 2632 01:49:27,760 --> 01:49:31,119 need to cut something at our school. And 2633 01:49:31,119 --> 01:49:32,880 I guess I really want to understand 2634 01:49:32,880 --> 01:49:37,760 better the uh the the thinking about 2635 01:49:37,760 --> 01:49:40,560 making one of those the librarian in 2636 01:49:40,560 --> 01:49:43,360 particular which does seem as many of 2637 01:49:43,360 --> 01:49:46,400 the public comments said so core to the 2638 01:49:46,400 --> 01:49:48,719 school that it doesn't seem like a a 2639 01:49:48,719 --> 01:49:51,520 population decline sort of issue like we 2640 01:49:51,520 --> 01:49:52,719 need fewer teachers maybe because 2641 01:49:52,719 --> 01:49:56,159 there's fewer students but again a core 2642 01:49:56,159 --> 01:49:58,480 service at the school. So maybe I would 2643 01:49:58,480 --> 01:49:59,679 really appreciate some kind of 2644 01:49:59,679 --> 01:50:01,440 explanation about how that decision came 2645 01:50:01,440 --> 01:50:03,920 about. 2646 01:50:03,920 --> 01:50:05,199 >> It's not really a it's not really a 2647 01:50:05,199 --> 01:50:06,800 Shelly issue if you don't mind if I take 2648 01:50:06,800 --> 01:50:11,360 that D. It's Shelly. It's so you know um 2649 01:50:11,360 --> 01:50:12,880 I think you know we're looking at the 2650 01:50:12,880 --> 01:50:14,000 librarian and we're talking about the 2651 01:50:14,000 --> 01:50:15,199 librarian and there's other you know 2652 01:50:15,199 --> 01:50:17,199 there's another faculty member you know 2653 01:50:17,199 --> 01:50:20,080 although it's not being um lost a job 2654 01:50:20,080 --> 01:50:21,679 position which is special education as 2655 01:50:21,679 --> 01:50:23,040 well. And so I don't want to get lost 2656 01:50:23,040 --> 01:50:25,360 that both of those are extremely I mean 2657 01:50:25,360 --> 01:50:26,800 they're all valuable positions but those 2658 01:50:26,800 --> 01:50:29,360 are the probably the highest um the 2659 01:50:29,360 --> 01:50:31,920 highest number of savings in the 2660 01:50:31,920 --> 01:50:34,320 reduction. There's there's an alignment. 2661 01:50:34,320 --> 01:50:36,960 So again, I guess I'm going to justify 2662 01:50:36,960 --> 01:50:39,360 what the reasoning is, not debate. I 2663 01:50:39,360 --> 01:50:43,040 don't want to debate um the reasoning. 2664 01:50:43,040 --> 01:50:45,840 Um it's we're looking at the allocation 2665 01:50:45,840 --> 01:50:49,280 of resources and the amount that the 2666 01:50:49,280 --> 01:50:52,239 library is used in comparison to what it 2667 01:50:52,239 --> 01:50:55,679 was years ago. Um research base is not 2668 01:50:55,679 --> 01:50:58,159 um booking is not um hardcovered books 2669 01:50:58,159 --> 01:51:00,719 as it once was. We've made an effort to 2670 01:51:00,719 --> 01:51:03,280 be one-on-one with Chromebooks where it 2671 01:51:03,280 --> 01:51:05,119 no longer was the, you know, the library 2672 01:51:05,119 --> 01:51:09,119 used to be a hub of for um computer use 2673 01:51:09,119 --> 01:51:11,520 and research. You'd go to the library to 2674 01:51:11,520 --> 01:51:16,159 use the computer to do research. That's very minimally happening in in 2675 01:51:16,159 --> 01:51:18,560 comparison to where it was years ago. Um 2676 01:51:18,560 --> 01:51:21,440 and so when I look at that and it's when 2677 01:51:21,440 --> 01:51:23,840 I look at those kind of things and we as 2678 01:51:23,840 --> 01:51:25,840 administrative team look at that, we 2679 01:51:25,840 --> 01:51:28,800 look at impact on student learning. But 2680 01:51:28,800 --> 01:51:30,239 while many of the statements that people 2681 01:51:30,239 --> 01:51:32,080 made are true that those things will be 2682 01:51:32,080 --> 01:51:35,920 lost. Um what do you want us to trade 2683 01:51:35,920 --> 01:51:38,719 out instead? Do we want to have larger 2684 01:51:38,719 --> 01:51:41,920 class sizes or of direct instruction? Do 2685 01:51:41,920 --> 01:51:44,480 we want you know that is the next level? 2686 01:51:44,480 --> 01:51:47,440 And so that is where the priorities were 2687 01:51:47,440 --> 01:51:49,760 within the the making of this this and 2688 01:51:49,760 --> 01:51:52,080 again this is our recommendation. this 2689 01:51:52,080 --> 01:51:54,560 is your budget um and the values of the 2690 01:51:54,560 --> 01:51:56,480 school committee and such um you know 2691 01:51:56,480 --> 01:51:59,199 apply you know make those decisions when 2692 01:51:59,199 --> 01:52:02,800 it comes to budget. So um 2693 01:52:02,800 --> 01:52:05,679 I so I I guess I kind of I'm looking 2694 01:52:05,679 --> 01:52:07,040 through my notes just make sure I kind 2695 01:52:07,040 --> 01:52:09,840 of hit on things. Um you there's less 2696 01:52:09,840 --> 01:52:11,599 scheduled classes being done in the 2697 01:52:11,599 --> 01:52:15,040 library. Um there's less uh research 2698 01:52:15,040 --> 01:52:16,639 that's using the library instead of 2699 01:52:16,639 --> 01:52:18,960 online materials. 2700 01:52:18,960 --> 01:52:22,320 the access of libraries online um and 2701 01:52:22,320 --> 01:52:24,880 it's being done by our a lot of our um 2702 01:52:24,880 --> 01:52:26,800 AP level classes are doing are going 2703 01:52:26,800 --> 01:52:28,719 that route and so the the the 2704 01:52:28,719 --> 01:52:31,440 utilization has gone down so it's we do 2705 01:52:31,440 --> 01:52:34,000 need to redefine what does a library 2706 01:52:34,000 --> 01:52:38,239 space look like um and how do we utilize 2707 01:52:38,239 --> 01:52:42,080 you know a you know that resource which 2708 01:52:42,080 --> 01:52:46,560 is a expensive resource and so and so we 2709 01:52:46,560 --> 01:52:48,000 have to make sure that if if we're not 2710 01:52:48,000 --> 01:52:49,119 using it to 2711 01:52:49,119 --> 01:52:51,360 That's what brought it to um the table 2712 01:52:51,360 --> 01:52:54,550 of reduction. 2713 01:52:54,560 --> 01:52:57,920 » So if I can ask a followup to that, if 2714 01:52:57,920 --> 01:53:00,639 we did plan B, 2715 01:53:00,639 --> 01:53:03,199 which of those what did those position 2716 01:53:03,199 --> 01:53:05,360 cuts look like? How would you prioritize 2717 01:53:05,360 --> 01:53:08,639 the um the changes in the position cuts 2718 01:53:08,639 --> 01:53:12,310 that you would make 2719 01:53:12,320 --> 01:53:14,080 » through our discussion? We we would 2720 01:53:14,080 --> 01:53:15,679 prioritize the special ed position, 2721 01:53:15,679 --> 01:53:19,119 special education position first. Um and 2722 01:53:19,119 --> 01:53:21,440 then um 2723 01:53:21,440 --> 01:53:24,000 following that I would probably 2724 01:53:24,000 --> 01:53:25,199 depending on you know you're looking at 2725 01:53:25,199 --> 01:53:28,400 the so it's I guess you know I guess I'm 2726 01:53:28,400 --> 01:53:30,800 trying to work through like I don't want 2727 01:53:30,800 --> 01:53:33,119 to value positions but I guess I have to 2728 01:53:33,119 --> 01:53:35,440 give thinking this out loud in my head. 2729 01:53:35,440 --> 01:53:37,920 Um I have to give where the values that 2730 01:53:37,920 --> 01:53:39,360 the administration applied to these 2731 01:53:39,360 --> 01:53:42,159 cuts. um mental health, you know, we'd 2732 01:53:42,159 --> 01:53:43,440 have to have another conversation with 2733 01:53:43,440 --> 01:53:46,560 our mental health um providers in the 2734 01:53:46,560 --> 01:53:48,719 building about whether or not that that 2735 01:53:48,719 --> 01:53:50,719 two-day position is going to have that 2736 01:53:50,719 --> 01:53:52,639 drastic effect and balancing that out 2737 01:53:52,639 --> 01:53:55,360 with the library position. 2738 01:53:55,360 --> 01:53:57,040 So, that would be, you know, there's 2739 01:53:57,040 --> 01:53:59,119 probably a tie for second place within 2740 01:53:59,119 --> 01:54:02,159 that. They're very different in costs um 2741 01:54:02,159 --> 01:54:05,199 within within that number. So, um but 2742 01:54:05,199 --> 01:54:06,480 you know, we'd have to kind of go back 2743 01:54:06,480 --> 01:54:08,880 to drawing board. These cuts were 2744 01:54:08,880 --> 01:54:12,239 brought as a package, not in a ranking 2745 01:54:12,239 --> 01:54:14,960 order. Um, because we tried to pick from 2746 01:54:14,960 --> 01:54:16,880 different, as you can see, didn't all 2747 01:54:16,880 --> 01:54:18,800 hit one area of the building. We kind of 2748 01:54:18,800 --> 01:54:20,480 tried to do it to have the least amount 2749 01:54:20,480 --> 01:54:24,400 of impact on delivery of services and 2750 01:54:24,400 --> 01:54:26,719 looking at what, you know, what members 2751 01:54:26,719 --> 01:54:29,599 of our staff were um were leaving. So 2752 01:54:29,599 --> 01:54:30,639 that, you know, that was kind of worked 2753 01:54:30,639 --> 01:54:33,599 in there as well. So 2754 01:54:33,599 --> 01:54:35,520 >> no, I I definitely respect that and I 2755 01:54:35,520 --> 01:54:37,280 know this has been a hard, you know, 2756 01:54:37,280 --> 01:54:39,199 discussions to kind of come up with 2757 01:54:39,199 --> 01:54:41,760 these packages. It's just that you're 2758 01:54:41,760 --> 01:54:43,920 asking us to choose between two options. 2759 01:54:43,920 --> 01:54:45,599 One of which involves fewer position 2760 01:54:45,599 --> 01:54:48,080 cuts and so it's not a package all of a 2761 01:54:48,080 --> 01:54:50,320 sudden and you know we need to take that 2762 01:54:50,320 --> 01:54:53,760 into consideration as well. And 2763 01:54:53,760 --> 01:54:59,280 >> so um could I so you you know you you asked what what else what in what 2764 01:54:59,280 --> 01:55:01,040 other location what other place could 2765 01:55:01,040 --> 01:55:04,080 cuts be made and um the one person there 2766 01:55:04,080 --> 01:55:06,960 was one suggestion of of all the public 2767 01:55:06,960 --> 01:55:09,760 comments um to take a look at the 2768 01:55:09,760 --> 01:55:11,599 curriculum position the curriculum 2769 01:55:11,599 --> 01:55:14,960 director position the um you know the 2770 01:55:14,960 --> 01:55:18,719 secondary curricular uh position and you 2771 01:55:18,719 --> 01:55:21,199 know and in in all my years of school 2772 01:55:21,199 --> 01:55:23,360 committee whatever it's in 15 or 18 or 2773 01:55:23,360 --> 01:55:26,639 whatever. Um the in all the discussions 2774 01:55:26,639 --> 01:55:28,880 with school committee members from other 2775 01:55:28,880 --> 01:55:33,440 districts, um I always got comments like 2776 01:55:33,440 --> 01:55:36,159 you're so lucky to have 2777 01:55:36,159 --> 01:55:39,119 um a separate curriculum directors for 2778 01:55:39,119 --> 01:55:43,599 elementary ed and secondary ed. Um 2779 01:55:43,599 --> 01:55:48,000 uh and and I you know but but I and I 2780 01:55:48,000 --> 01:55:49,920 don't know statewide what the statistics 2781 01:55:49,920 --> 01:55:51,599 are but I was sort of led to believe 2782 01:55:51,599 --> 01:55:56,239 that we were outside of the norm in that if that I know that there's 2783 01:55:56,239 --> 01:55:57,599 districts that function without a 2784 01:55:57,599 --> 01:55:59,920 curriculum director at all and there 2785 01:55:59,920 --> 01:56:01,520 seems to be a lot more that just have a 2786 01:56:01,520 --> 01:56:05,599 single K through 12. Um and so and I you 2787 01:56:05,599 --> 01:56:06,960 know and I wondered what what your 2788 01:56:06,960 --> 01:56:09,199 thoughts are about that and whether it's 2789 01:56:09,199 --> 01:56:11,679 you know if we could address that one 2790 01:56:11,679 --> 01:56:16,239 suggestion um uh you know and is is 2791 01:56:16,239 --> 01:56:18,159 there something to be said for a 2792 01:56:18,159 --> 01:56:20,960 part-time curriculum director or so I I 2793 01:56:20,960 --> 01:56:25,920 don't know but um it seemed like a it's 2794 01:56:25,920 --> 01:56:27,760 an idea that I I hadn't I hadn't thought 2795 01:56:27,760 --> 01:56:30,400 of that idea till it was brought up. I'm 2796 01:56:30,400 --> 01:56:32,000 sure you have, but I just wonder what 2797 01:56:32,000 --> 01:56:34,320 your thoughts are, 2798 01:56:34,320 --> 01:56:35,520 >> Darius. 2799 01:56:35,520 --> 01:56:37,119 >> Sure. 2800 01:56:37,119 --> 01:56:39,280 >> I don't think it's a wise decision. I 2801 01:56:39,280 --> 01:56:43,599 think the um director of education um 2802 01:56:43,599 --> 01:56:45,679 does something has a skill set and does 2803 01:56:45,679 --> 01:56:49,040 something that um moves, you know, all 2804 01:56:49,040 --> 01:56:51,599 of our teaching forward. And the fact 2805 01:56:51,599 --> 01:56:54,800 that we put a lot of emphasis on that is 2806 01:56:54,800 --> 01:56:57,840 what keeps us um in my opinion ahead of 2807 01:56:57,840 --> 01:57:00,320 a lot of other districts that we uh put 2808 01:57:00,320 --> 01:57:02,639 a lot of time and effort into designing 2809 01:57:02,639 --> 01:57:04,719 you know professional development. We 2810 01:57:04,719 --> 01:57:06,639 don't we dedicate a lot of time with all 2811 01:57:06,639 --> 01:57:07,920 those early release days. The calendar 2812 01:57:07,920 --> 01:57:09,760 is on their schedule you know a little 2813 01:57:09,760 --> 01:57:11,360 bit later the first you know rendition 2814 01:57:11,360 --> 01:57:13,040 of it and you can see we see that we 2815 01:57:13,040 --> 01:57:14,800 spend a lot of time trying to do 2816 01:57:14,800 --> 01:57:16,480 professional development for our teams. 2817 01:57:16,480 --> 01:57:18,320 Um and we recognize that as an 2818 01:57:18,320 --> 01:57:21,599 importance without a director to oversee 2819 01:57:21,599 --> 01:57:26,000 that um or in a part-time basis or 2820 01:57:26,000 --> 01:57:28,080 having other administrators take that on 2821 01:57:28,080 --> 01:57:32,800 is going to um I think um very much um 2822 01:57:32,800 --> 01:57:36,880 diminish the the value of those um 2823 01:57:36,880 --> 01:57:39,760 trainings because it is a lot of work to 2824 01:57:39,760 --> 01:57:43,520 them. Um, and I think when you look at 2825 01:57:43,520 --> 01:57:46,320 while we have two, um, I look at other 2826 01:57:46,320 --> 01:57:48,080 districts out east, I know we can't 2827 01:57:48,080 --> 01:57:50,000 compare out east, but out east, they 2828 01:57:50,000 --> 01:57:51,440 have multiple assistant superintendent. 2829 01:57:51,440 --> 01:57:52,239 We don't have any assistant 2830 01:57:52,239 --> 01:57:53,920 superintendent, right? So, we have a 2831 01:57:53,920 --> 01:57:55,920 cheaper model of a curriculum 2832 01:57:55,920 --> 01:57:58,080 coordinator is nowhere near the 2833 01:57:58,080 --> 01:58:00,560 assistant superintendent level, but in 2834 01:58:00,560 --> 01:58:02,159 very much acts like an assistant 2835 01:58:02,159 --> 01:58:06,320 superintendent um, in curriculum. Um, 2836 01:58:06,320 --> 01:58:08,239 when you look at the elementary schools, 2837 01:58:08,239 --> 01:58:10,080 that's the the fact that we have the 2838 01:58:10,080 --> 01:58:13,360 split position is the penalty we have 2839 01:58:13,360 --> 01:58:17,119 for the way our system is set up because 2840 01:58:17,119 --> 01:58:19,280 Laura doesn't care that position is has 2841 01:58:19,280 --> 01:58:22,560 to run all around town to coordinate the 2842 01:58:22,560 --> 01:58:24,880 multiple buildings, different districts, 2843 01:58:24,880 --> 01:58:26,719 different, you know, you know, we do 2844 01:58:26,719 --> 01:58:28,000 presentations, all the other kind of 2845 01:58:28,000 --> 01:58:30,560 thing. It is, it really is the part of 2846 01:58:30,560 --> 01:58:35,119 our inefficiency. Um, but 2847 01:58:35,119 --> 01:58:36,400 I would say there would be a greater 2848 01:58:36,400 --> 01:58:39,199 value loss on student and instruction. 2849 01:58:39,199 --> 01:58:41,040 The impact, you wouldn't see it in the 2850 01:58:41,040 --> 01:58:42,880 first year, but you would see it the 2851 01:58:42,880 --> 01:58:44,400 years after. Who's supporting new 2852 01:58:44,400 --> 01:58:46,480 teachers? Who's, you know, moving all 2853 01:58:46,480 --> 01:58:48,960 the different initiatives along um you 2854 01:58:48,960 --> 01:58:50,880 the launching of our integrated pathways 2855 01:58:50,880 --> 01:58:53,040 was completely um built out of that 2856 01:58:53,040 --> 01:58:55,119 office. Um not completely in working 2857 01:58:55,119 --> 01:58:57,199 with you, but you know, it was the the 2858 01:58:57,199 --> 01:59:00,239 hard work and such. So, um I disagree. 2859 01:59:00,239 --> 01:59:03,040 So, and um I'm shocked that a 2860 01:59:03,040 --> 01:59:04,800 neighboring district decided to do that 2861 01:59:04,800 --> 01:59:06,880 route. Um I think they're they're going 2862 01:59:06,880 --> 01:59:09,040 to have um long-term it's not what I 2863 01:59:09,040 --> 01:59:10,080 would do if I was in that leadership 2864 01:59:10,080 --> 01:59:11,679 position. 2865 01:59:11,679 --> 01:59:13,119 >> I was just going to say just for a 2866 01:59:13,119 --> 01:59:14,560 clarifying thing for people who might 2867 01:59:14,560 --> 01:59:16,400 not know what you were saying about our 2868 01:59:16,400 --> 01:59:17,920 penalty is because we're not truly 2869 01:59:17,920 --> 01:59:20,000 regionalized is why we need to have 2870 01:59:20,000 --> 01:59:21,760 those two. But just in case people 2871 01:59:21,760 --> 01:59:23,920 aren't aware about if they don't live 2872 01:59:23,920 --> 01:59:26,639 here know that um that we're a 2873 01:59:26,639 --> 01:59:29,440 superintendency not regional and the 2874 01:59:29,440 --> 01:59:31,679 four elementary schools operate on their 2875 01:59:31,679 --> 01:59:33,440 own which is why Laura has to run around 2876 01:59:33,440 --> 01:59:35,360 like a mad one and we she can't do these 2877 01:59:35,360 --> 01:59:38,470 jobs. 2878 01:59:38,480 --> 01:59:41,040 » Um when Sarah interest me when Sarah 2879 01:59:41,040 --> 01:59:42,080 announced her retirement that was 2880 01:59:42,080 --> 01:59:44,800 something that had crossed my mind and I 2881 01:59:44,800 --> 01:59:47,440 think it's a worthy conversation but the 2882 01:59:47,440 --> 01:59:49,199 that work does need to be done. there 2883 01:59:49,199 --> 01:59:50,560 was a valuable work there and most 2884 01:59:50,560 --> 01:59:51,679 likely would fall on the department 2885 01:59:51,679 --> 01:59:54,800 heads and would have to ask them if 2886 01:59:54,800 --> 01:59:56,159 they'd be willing to take that work on 2887 01:59:56,159 --> 01:59:57,679 and then that would be a change in job 2888 01:59:57,679 --> 01:59:59,119 description as well and it probably have 2889 01:59:59,119 --> 02:00:01,599 to be negotiated and come at additional 2890 02:00:01,599 --> 02:00:03,360 costs. 2891 02:00:03,360 --> 02:00:04,960 So it's it's I thought it was a worthy 2892 02:00:04,960 --> 02:00:06,800 conversation but that work would fall on 2893 02:00:06,800 --> 02:00:08,560 other people 2894 02:00:08,560 --> 02:00:10,880 and it's a lot of work. But and again, 2895 02:00:10,880 --> 02:00:13,920 we we circle it back around to the the 2896 02:00:13,920 --> 02:00:16,800 many financial penalties we suffer from 2897 02:00:16,800 --> 02:00:19,599 not being fully regionalized. And and I 2898 02:00:19,599 --> 02:00:21,679 know it's a discussion for another day, 2899 02:00:21,679 --> 02:00:24,000 but um I I don't I don't think the 2900 02:00:24,000 --> 02:00:25,520 select board and finance committee 2901 02:00:25,520 --> 02:00:28,000 members are aware of just how many 2902 02:00:28,000 --> 02:00:29,920 hundreds of thousands of dollars of 2903 02:00:29,920 --> 02:00:33,440 state aid and state funding we do not 2904 02:00:33,440 --> 02:00:35,920 get because we are not fully 2905 02:00:35,920 --> 02:00:42,470 regionalized. 2906 02:00:42,480 --> 02:00:44,639 I'm wondering if you can speak a little 2907 02:00:44,639 --> 02:00:46,400 bit to some concern that was raised 2908 02:00:46,400 --> 02:00:48,239 about grants that are tied to the 2909 02:00:48,239 --> 02:00:50,080 library position. 2910 02:00:50,080 --> 02:00:52,320 >> I'm not aware of any grants that we 2911 02:00:52,320 --> 02:00:54,480 received based on library position. We 2912 02:00:54,480 --> 02:00:57,760 make a note to look into it. 2913 02:00:57,760 --> 02:00:59,840 I'm not aware of any specific grant 2914 02:00:59,840 --> 02:01:03,840 state funded or otherwise connected. 2915 02:01:03,840 --> 02:01:06,639 And are either of you guys aware how 2916 02:01:06,639 --> 02:01:15,350 lots of resources for students to access 2917 02:01:15,360 --> 02:01:17,840 » right without a a certified librarian we 2918 02:01:17,840 --> 02:01:23,440 wouldn't have um um the term 2919 02:01:23,440 --> 02:01:25,119 would lose access to MLS 2920 02:01:25,119 --> 02:01:27,920 >> we wouldn't have access to MLS um inter 2921 02:01:27,920 --> 02:01:31,599 library loans um require a certified 2922 02:01:31,599 --> 02:01:36,390 full-time library 2923 02:01:36,400 --> 02:01:38,480 Um, 2924 02:01:38,480 --> 02:01:41,920 I don't know if the positions are 2925 02:01:41,920 --> 02:01:44,480 interrelated or not or one's, you know, 2926 02:01:44,480 --> 02:01:48,400 one's school and one's like a separate 2927 02:01:48,400 --> 02:01:51,119 type of librarian. I I forgive me if 2928 02:01:51,119 --> 02:01:54,239 they're different. Um, we have a brand 2929 02:01:54,239 --> 02:01:57,920 new library that's like a two-minute 2930 02:01:57,920 --> 02:01:59,760 walk right down the street. And I don't 2931 02:01:59,760 --> 02:02:02,239 know what type of resources they have 2932 02:02:02,239 --> 02:02:04,480 and if there's any 2933 02:02:04,480 --> 02:02:06,159 uh 2934 02:02:06,159 --> 02:02:08,800 day if there's any time in a day that 2935 02:02:08,800 --> 02:02:11,280 can be worked into kids schedules and if 2936 02:02:11,280 --> 02:02:12,719 they do still need to seek out 2937 02:02:12,719 --> 02:02:14,320 resources, 2938 02:02:14,320 --> 02:02:16,080 if there's an opportunity to get those 2939 02:02:16,080 --> 02:02:19,280 resources at the town library, that is a 2940 02:02:19,280 --> 02:02:22,639 huge new building. Yeah, I think you 2941 02:02:22,639 --> 02:02:25,199 talk about MLS and if students wanted to 2942 02:02:25,199 --> 02:02:28,080 get certain books for research um you 2943 02:02:28,080 --> 02:02:29,840 know majority of research projects now 2944 02:02:29,840 --> 02:02:32,480 are are are not are not book based. You 2945 02:02:32,480 --> 02:02:35,040 know to sign up for a book to be 2946 02:02:35,040 --> 02:02:36,960 delivered a couple days later um just 2947 02:02:36,960 --> 02:02:38,719 not how the speed of um things are 2948 02:02:38,719 --> 02:02:40,320 working. But you're absolutely correct. 2949 02:02:40,320 --> 02:02:43,040 You know that is a loss. Um but the 2950 02:02:43,040 --> 02:02:44,480 other side is they could walk down the 2951 02:02:44,480 --> 02:02:45,920 street use the librarian and do their 2952 02:02:45,920 --> 02:02:48,159 office. you know, it's, you know, it is 2953 02:02:48,159 --> 02:02:52,400 again paid by our budgets um down um and 2954 02:02:52,400 --> 02:02:54,239 so forth. And it's just another another 2955 02:02:54,239 --> 02:02:56,159 avenue, but it's not convenient. It's 2956 02:02:56,159 --> 02:02:58,639 not it's a loss. It's not what they have 2957 02:02:58,639 --> 02:03:03,030 now. 2958 02:03:03,040 --> 02:03:05,840 » Did you have your hand up? Yes, I I just 2959 02:03:05,840 --> 02:03:07,440 I went back down, but I wanted to check 2960 02:03:07,440 --> 02:03:08,080 in with you. 2961 02:03:08,080 --> 02:03:10,639 >> Yeah. Just I wanted to reiterate my 2962 02:03:10,639 --> 02:03:12,400 position as a member of the budget 2963 02:03:12,400 --> 02:03:13,920 subcommittee and it you guys have heard 2964 02:03:13,920 --> 02:03:15,920 this before but you guys haven't 2965 02:03:15,920 --> 02:03:17,599 stopped. 2966 02:03:17,599 --> 02:03:21,990 Bear with me for a minute. 2967 02:03:22,000 --> 02:03:24,639 We just kind of when we looked at all of 2968 02:03:24,639 --> 02:03:26,960 this, we just kind of thought as a 2969 02:03:26,960 --> 02:03:29,199 budget sub subcommittee have to look at 2970 02:03:29,199 --> 02:03:30,719 it all that it was kind of front of each 2971 02:03:30,719 --> 02:03:34,000 turn to step up because we have had 2972 02:03:34,000 --> 02:03:36,320 charter made the point we have 100 100 2973 02:03:36,320 --> 02:03:39,760 less kids run around than we had prior 2974 02:03:39,760 --> 02:03:42,560 to co we haven't had a budget year 2975 02:03:42,560 --> 02:03:45,760 that's been zero only in the cos never 2976 02:03:45,760 --> 02:03:47,599 had a budget decrease but we've had an 2977 02:03:47,599 --> 02:03:50,719 enrollment increase decrease. 2978 02:03:50,719 --> 02:03:54,159 over and over and over and it is it's 2979 02:03:54,159 --> 02:03:58,639 our time it's Frontier's turn to help 2980 02:03:58,639 --> 02:04:04,800 dear son because they have big problems that we we've said it in 2981 02:04:04,800 --> 02:04:07,520 here and the educational component in a 2982 02:04:07,520 --> 02:04:11,040 town budget is enormous. 2983 02:04:11,040 --> 02:04:13,520 These guys at that end of the table and 2984 02:04:13,520 --> 02:04:15,119 this end of the table they're 2985 02:04:15,119 --> 02:04:17,440 professionals. when they come to me with 2986 02:04:17,440 --> 02:04:19,599 advice and tell me this is what we can 2987 02:04:19,599 --> 02:04:23,920 do and not hurt the program, 2988 02:04:23,920 --> 02:04:26,239 I have to I have to take that on faith 2989 02:04:26,239 --> 02:04:27,920 because that's what I pay them to tell 2990 02:04:27,920 --> 02:04:30,719 me that we can do this and they've said 2991 02:04:30,719 --> 02:04:32,880 it. We can pull this up. No, it's not 2992 02:04:32,880 --> 02:04:35,440 nice. Nobody wants to do it. Everybody 2993 02:04:35,440 --> 02:04:37,199 wants to be able to have everything they 2994 02:04:37,199 --> 02:04:40,239 can that they want in a school. Towns 2995 02:04:40,239 --> 02:04:43,040 can't afford it. I've been here a long 2996 02:04:43,040 --> 02:04:44,480 time. Some a lot of people probably 2997 02:04:44,480 --> 02:04:47,360 saying too long, but I can tell you for 2998 02:04:47,360 --> 02:04:49,920 sure that the towns cannot afford it. If 2999 02:04:49,920 --> 02:04:51,840 we stick with if we stuck with the 3000 02:04:51,840 --> 02:04:53,920 original budget, it would have failed. 3001 02:04:53,920 --> 02:04:55,920 And that's a scrum that you do not want 3002 02:04:55,920 --> 02:04:57,920 to be part of because I've I've been 3003 02:04:57,920 --> 02:05:00,159 part of that. And this we thought this 3004 02:05:00,159 --> 02:05:02,639 was a good compromise. 3005 02:05:02,639 --> 02:05:04,480 Not everybody's going to be happy. A lot 3006 02:05:04,480 --> 02:05:06,159 of people are going to be very unhappy. 3007 02:05:06,159 --> 02:05:08,639 But you're going to be more unhappy if 3008 02:05:08,639 --> 02:05:11,840 this whole thing crashes. And I just I 3009 02:05:11,840 --> 02:05:14,320 have to trust the people that I hire to 3010 02:05:14,320 --> 02:05:16,239 make these decisions for me. And as a 3011 02:05:16,239 --> 02:05:18,239 budget subcommittee member, that's why 3012 02:05:18,239 --> 02:05:20,400 we made the recommendation that we made. 3013 02:05:20,400 --> 02:05:21,679 This is the way we think that the 3014 02:05:21,679 --> 02:05:27,589 committee ought to go. 3015 02:05:27,599 --> 02:05:31,910 Celia, did you have 3016 02:05:31,920 --> 02:05:34,000 » um 3017 02:05:34,000 --> 02:05:37,679 Yeah, I So, um this is my first time 3018 02:05:37,679 --> 02:05:40,320 going through this budget process and um 3019 02:05:40,320 --> 02:05:41,840 I feel like this is a little bit of a 3020 02:05:41,840 --> 02:05:45,199 trial by fire year. Um 3021 02:05:45,199 --> 02:05:50,320 uh because this is this is hard. Um and 3022 02:05:50,320 --> 02:05:56,639 um but I I guess it just so I I am um I 3023 02:05:56,639 --> 02:05:59,440 hear the point about how kids could use 3024 02:05:59,440 --> 02:06:04,960 resources that are at um that are at the new Tilton, which is um so such a 3025 02:06:04,960 --> 02:06:07,520 beautiful new building. Um but I also 3026 02:06:07,520 --> 02:06:11,119 feel like there's um there's like Okay, 3027 02:06:11,119 --> 02:06:12,560 I think there's two pieces that I want 3028 02:06:12,560 --> 02:06:14,400 to say about like I think what a 3029 02:06:14,400 --> 02:06:18,800 librarian does has shifted. And so when you're saying that like the sort of 3030 02:06:18,800 --> 02:06:20,560 like numbers are down or sort of you 3031 02:06:20,560 --> 02:06:22,960 know like sort of access is down, I 3032 02:06:22,960 --> 02:06:24,880 think that like some of the metrics that 3033 02:06:24,880 --> 02:06:28,480 we use to think about 3034 02:06:28,480 --> 02:06:31,520 what a library serves as have shifted a 3035 02:06:31,520 --> 02:06:33,280 little bit. And like you're I don't 3036 02:06:33,280 --> 02:06:34,960 think anybody would argue that book 3037 02:06:34,960 --> 02:06:39,520 circulation is down. Um, I just but I I 3038 02:06:39,520 --> 02:06:42,800 think that what a librarian does has 3039 02:06:42,800 --> 02:06:45,760 also has like kept pace um and has 3040 02:06:45,760 --> 02:06:48,400 shifted from helping kids check out 3041 02:06:48,400 --> 02:06:51,280 books and um you know injure library 3042 02:06:51,280 --> 02:06:53,199 books to get them to arrive in time to 3043 02:06:53,199 --> 02:06:57,440 do research before a paper like that era I think is kind of mostly gone 3044 02:06:57,440 --> 02:07:02,320 by. Not entirely but mostly. And um but 3045 02:07:02,320 --> 02:07:05,920 that like the the sort of the like 3046 02:07:05,920 --> 02:07:08,159 Anyways, I just I sort of feel like 3047 02:07:08,159 --> 02:07:10,000 that's there's like looking at the 3048 02:07:10,000 --> 02:07:12,880 numbers on book circulation is like not 3049 02:07:12,880 --> 02:07:14,880 quite the right way to capture what a 3050 02:07:14,880 --> 02:07:18,239 library does. Um, and also I I also 3051 02:07:18,239 --> 02:07:22,629 think that um, 3052 02:07:22,639 --> 02:07:24,239 okay, I I need like a little bit of 3053 02:07:24,239 --> 02:07:26,320 permission to um, speak in first draft 3054 02:07:26,320 --> 02:07:27,679 on this one, but I feel like there's 3055 02:07:27,679 --> 02:07:29,360 sort of like we're in this AI bubble 3056 02:07:29,360 --> 02:07:38,239 right now where um, there's there's a really powerful search engine. 3057 02:07:38,239 --> 02:07:40,079 Is my audio still coming through? 3058 02:07:40,079 --> 02:07:40,880 >> Yes. 3059 02:07:40,880 --> 02:07:44,239 >> Okay. Um, I there's a really powerful 3060 02:07:44,239 --> 02:07:47,760 search tool that's available in AI. Um, 3061 02:07:47,760 --> 02:07:50,880 and 3062 02:07:50,880 --> 02:07:54,239 but I think that in the pretty near 3063 02:07:54,239 --> 02:07:57,840 future, um, a lot of what's available 3064 02:07:57,840 --> 02:08:00,239 and what's currently available, helping 3065 02:08:00,239 --> 02:08:01,760 kids search the internet more 3066 02:08:01,760 --> 02:08:03,760 effectively in free AI is going to 3067 02:08:03,760 --> 02:08:06,719 disappear. and that having the hard 3068 02:08:06,719 --> 02:08:10,719 skills that a librarian has to help kids 3069 02:08:10,719 --> 02:08:12,639 like that's all going to be monetized 3070 02:08:12,639 --> 02:08:14,960 and and whether the school has access to 3071 02:08:14,960 --> 02:08:16,960 that or not is like I I just don't know 3072 02:08:16,960 --> 02:08:19,199 what's going to come for that. But I 3073 02:08:19,199 --> 02:08:21,440 think having some of those skills about 3074 02:08:21,440 --> 02:08:23,280 how to access things is going to be 3075 02:08:23,280 --> 02:08:26,560 incredibly important when that shifts. I 3076 02:08:26,560 --> 02:08:27,679 don't know when that's going to shift. 3077 02:08:27,679 --> 02:08:29,520 That could be, you know, like I don't 3078 02:08:29,520 --> 02:08:31,119 know. I'm not paying enough attention to 3079 02:08:31,119 --> 02:08:32,800 AI to know when that shift is happening, 3080 02:08:32,800 --> 02:08:34,159 but I think it's going to happen. And I 3081 02:08:34,159 --> 02:08:35,360 think everybody's saying it's going to 3082 02:08:35,360 --> 02:08:37,679 happen. And I think that when that 3083 02:08:37,679 --> 02:08:39,679 happens that kids are going to lose some 3084 02:08:39,679 --> 02:08:41,599 of the and I don't mean using AI to 3085 02:08:41,599 --> 02:08:42,719 write papers. I'm not talking about 3086 02:08:42,719 --> 02:08:44,719 generative AI. I'm talking about using 3087 02:08:44,719 --> 02:08:46,639 AI to do more effective searches because 3088 02:08:46,639 --> 02:08:48,159 I think that's a really powerful tool 3089 02:08:48,159 --> 02:08:52,320 right now. Um so um anyways that's just 3090 02:08:52,320 --> 02:08:53,840 like another concern that I have that 3091 02:08:53,840 --> 02:08:56,800 feels a little bit um 3092 02:08:56,800 --> 02:09:00,870 uh 3093 02:09:00,880 --> 02:09:02,639 anyways that those are a couple of 3094 02:09:02,639 --> 02:09:08,550 thoughts that I had 3095 02:09:08,560 --> 02:09:10,880 » Jessica. 3096 02:09:10,880 --> 02:09:13,840 >> Yeah. Um so 3097 02:09:13,840 --> 02:09:15,360 I'm also speaking in first draft. Thank 3098 02:09:15,360 --> 02:09:21,440 you for that phrase. Um, Celia, uh, this question about the librarian and 3099 02:09:21,440 --> 02:09:24,000 the other positions, um, is really 3100 02:09:24,000 --> 02:09:26,960 heartbreaking. I listened to every 3101 02:09:26,960 --> 02:09:28,719 public comment. I'm taking minutes. 3102 02:09:28,719 --> 02:09:31,040 Every single public comment has been, 3103 02:09:31,040 --> 02:09:34,639 um, documented for the record. Um, and I 3104 02:09:34,639 --> 02:09:37,920 need to speak very directly to my school 3105 02:09:37,920 --> 02:09:41,360 committee colleagues that, um, Frontier, 3106 02:09:41,360 --> 02:09:43,280 you all know, does not exist in a 3107 02:09:43,280 --> 02:09:46,960 vacuum. Um, these are heartbreaking cuts 3108 02:09:46,960 --> 02:09:50,639 that we are considering. Um, and 3109 02:09:50,639 --> 02:09:52,560 Sunderland Elementary is looking at much 3110 02:09:52,560 --> 02:09:56,880 more severe cuts than a librarian. Um, 3111 02:09:56,880 --> 02:09:58,639 last night Keith and I attended a joint 3112 02:09:58,639 --> 02:10:00,480 meeting of the Sunderland Select Board 3113 02:10:00,480 --> 02:10:03,440 and Finance Committee. Um, the 3114 02:10:03,440 --> 02:10:06,159 Sunderland Elementary budget 3115 02:10:06,159 --> 02:10:09,440 is um, our needs-based budget is an 3116 02:10:09,440 --> 02:10:11,760 18.31% 3117 02:10:11,760 --> 02:10:14,560 increase. 18% which is absolutely 3118 02:10:14,560 --> 02:10:18,239 unheard of. We've had um a wonderful 3119 02:10:18,239 --> 02:10:20,320 influx of New Town residents with high 3120 02:10:20,320 --> 02:10:22,000 special education needs. And because we 3121 02:10:22,000 --> 02:10:23,840 are a small town, we can't just absorb 3122 02:10:23,840 --> 02:10:27,679 it. Um the conclusion of last night's 3123 02:10:27,679 --> 02:10:30,320 meeting was that um Sunderland 3124 02:10:30,320 --> 02:10:33,679 Elementary is being asked to target a 3125 02:10:33,679 --> 02:10:35,679 budget of a 10% increase. So we are 3126 02:10:35,679 --> 02:10:38,320 looking at cutting 8%. 3127 02:10:38,320 --> 02:10:40,719 We don't know yet. We don't yet know 3128 02:10:40,719 --> 02:10:44,960 what we are how that will happen, but 3129 02:10:44,960 --> 02:10:48,159 there's no way to cut 8% 3130 02:10:48,159 --> 02:10:51,760 um without reducing far more positions 3131 02:10:51,760 --> 02:10:54,480 than we're talking about for Frontier. 3132 02:10:54,480 --> 02:10:57,679 Um Sunderland enrollment is a quarter 3133 02:10:57,679 --> 02:11:00,000 the size of Frontiers. 3134 02:11:00,000 --> 02:11:02,800 Um we 3135 02:11:02,800 --> 02:11:05,840 so aiming for that 8% reduction from our 3136 02:11:05,840 --> 02:11:08,800 needs-based budget. uh it still requires 3137 02:11:08,800 --> 02:11:11,599 an override. We are trying to aim for an 3138 02:11:11,599 --> 02:11:13,280 override level that has a chance of 3139 02:11:13,280 --> 02:11:15,920 passing and if it doesn't pass I don't 3140 02:11:15,920 --> 02:11:18,639 know how we will provide 3141 02:11:18,639 --> 02:11:21,599 an acceptable education to central 3142 02:11:21,599 --> 02:11:23,679 elementary children 3143 02:11:23,679 --> 02:11:27,040 um who are future frontier students. So, 3144 02:11:27,040 --> 02:11:28,719 I apologize to everybody whose hearts 3145 02:11:28,719 --> 02:11:31,119 are very, very much with the librarian 3146 02:11:31,119 --> 02:11:35,040 and the special education. Um, and 3147 02:11:35,040 --> 02:11:37,199 Sunderland needs every possible 3148 02:11:37,199 --> 02:11:39,760 reduction made so we can still have a 3149 02:11:39,760 --> 02:11:45,830 functional elementary school. Thanks. 3150 02:11:45,840 --> 02:11:48,639 » Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. 3151 02:11:48,639 --> 02:11:57,109 Don't know how slippery it is. 3152 02:11:57,119 --> 02:12:02,239 Can I bring focus in uh pass forward 3153 02:12:02,239 --> 02:12:05,760 here that uh 3154 02:12:05,760 --> 02:12:08,719 what we decide on to move forward to 3155 02:12:08,719 --> 02:12:10,960 Thursday's budget. I'm just going to 3156 02:12:10,960 --> 02:12:14,159 kind of lay out a few paths and you can 3157 02:12:14,159 --> 02:12:15,840 tell me 3158 02:12:15,840 --> 02:12:19,520 uh what this looks like that we could 3159 02:12:19,520 --> 02:12:22,400 decide to move forward with the budget 3160 02:12:22,400 --> 02:12:25,360 as stated with option A, recommendation 3161 02:12:25,360 --> 02:12:31,199 A. We could which is recommended by the 3162 02:12:31,199 --> 02:12:34,239 finance committee. 3163 02:12:34,239 --> 02:12:37,280 Uh, we could also move forward with 3164 02:12:37,280 --> 02:12:41,280 option B or what would something look 3165 02:12:41,280 --> 02:12:43,679 like if we put forward 3166 02:12:43,679 --> 02:12:45,520 some other recommendation? I'm just 3167 02:12:45,520 --> 02:12:47,199 saying that because we've had other 3168 02:12:47,199 --> 02:12:48,400 thoughts out here and I think it's 3169 02:12:48,400 --> 02:12:50,800 important for everybody to see what what 3170 02:12:50,800 --> 02:12:54,400 each of these things would look like 3171 02:12:54,400 --> 02:12:56,400 because if we put forward something 3172 02:12:56,400 --> 02:12:57,360 else. 3173 02:12:57,360 --> 02:12:59,599 >> I mean, you've heard the you have the 3174 02:12:59,599 --> 02:13:02,239 general gist of numbers, right? I mean 3175 02:13:02,239 --> 02:13:07,840 um 3176 02:13:07,840 --> 02:13:09,520 I mean you can ask questions on that 3177 02:13:09,520 --> 02:13:11,280 rather than ask if you have questions 3178 02:13:11,280 --> 02:13:16,470 about so you know what kind of 3179 02:13:16,480 --> 02:13:18,480 we need to go so let's go backwards we 3180 02:13:18,480 --> 02:13:20,480 need to go into next meeting with a 3181 02:13:20,480 --> 02:13:23,360 budget number to vote on 3182 02:13:23,360 --> 02:13:25,760 um and so that's kind of where we and I 3183 02:13:25,760 --> 02:13:28,079 don't know if you do 3184 02:13:28,079 --> 02:13:29,360 I don't know you know everybody's kind 3185 02:13:29,360 --> 02:13:30,480 of processing so I don't know where 3186 02:13:30,480 --> 02:13:32,560 people sitting right now, you know, be 3187 02:13:32,560 --> 02:13:35,520 good. I fear about spending 10 minutes 3188 02:13:35,520 --> 02:13:36,960 talking about an adaption to where 3189 02:13:36,960 --> 02:13:38,320 people are kind of like we're kind of 3190 02:13:38,320 --> 02:13:42,320 leaning, you know, toward a or maybe we 3191 02:13:42,320 --> 02:13:43,440 should be talking about, you know, 3192 02:13:43,440 --> 02:13:44,639 adaption. Maybe we should start there 3193 02:13:44,639 --> 02:13:46,000 and so we have an idea of where people 3194 02:13:46,000 --> 02:13:48,079 are at before we spend 20 minutes and 3195 02:13:48,079 --> 02:13:50,719 then like why, you know, you you get a 3196 02:13:50,719 --> 02:13:52,239 straw vote of like where people are 3197 02:13:52,239 --> 02:13:52,639 feeling. 3198 02:13:52,639 --> 02:13:53,840 >> Yeah. Go ahead. 3199 02:13:53,840 --> 02:13:56,000 >> You want straw vote because that was 3200 02:13:56,000 --> 02:13:58,480 >> I was just gonna to move forward as 3201 02:13:58,480 --> 02:14:02,719 heartbreaking as all this is and it's it's hard, but the numbers are the 3202 02:14:02,719 --> 02:14:05,280 numbers. So, I'm just making a motion 3203 02:14:05,280 --> 02:14:08,000 for the proposed budget, the 3204 02:14:08,000 --> 02:14:09,520 administration's recommendation of 3205 02:14:09,520 --> 02:14:11,119 option A. 3206 02:14:11,119 --> 02:14:13,840 >> Second, 3207 02:14:13,840 --> 02:14:18,639 >> Jessica, we have a a motion from 3208 02:14:18,639 --> 02:14:22,320 Damian and a second from Bill. 3209 02:14:22,320 --> 02:14:28,079 I'm going to go around the table unless there's any 3210 02:14:28,079 --> 02:14:30,639 other discussion. And this is to put 3211 02:14:30,639 --> 02:14:33,520 forward option A for Thursday night as 3212 02:14:33,520 --> 02:14:33,840 well. 3213 02:14:33,840 --> 02:14:35,760 >> Option A for Thursday night's vote. 3214 02:14:35,760 --> 02:14:37,679 >> And just for clarity, if it doesn't pass 3215 02:14:37,679 --> 02:14:39,360 that you have to go back to discussion, 3216 02:14:39,360 --> 02:14:41,280 come up with what the number is going. 3217 02:14:41,280 --> 02:14:42,719 >> This is the path that I just wanted to 3218 02:14:42,719 --> 02:14:42,960 make sure. 3219 02:14:42,960 --> 02:14:46,079 >> So no, it's not a versus it's a versus 3220 02:14:46,079 --> 02:14:48,079 going back and having a discussion, 3221 02:14:48,079 --> 02:14:49,520 >> right? We're just going to put something 3222 02:14:49,520 --> 02:14:52,480 forward and then we go 3223 02:14:52,480 --> 02:14:54,000 back 3224 02:14:54,000 --> 02:14:56,079 >> and you can still have discussion. 3225 02:14:56,079 --> 02:14:59,669 >> Yeah. Right. 3226 02:14:59,679 --> 02:15:02,480 Can I ask a point of process? I'm just 3227 02:15:02,480 --> 02:15:04,480 confused about this. So, we wouldn't be 3228 02:15:04,480 --> 02:15:07,599 voting on A. We would be voting to put A 3229 02:15:07,599 --> 02:15:11,360 forward to Thursday to then vote whether 3230 02:15:11,360 --> 02:15:12,880 to approve A. 3231 02:15:12,880 --> 02:15:15,760 >> That is correct. 3232 02:15:15,760 --> 02:15:19,520 >> And can we put more than one thing 3233 02:15:19,520 --> 02:15:20,719 forward? 3234 02:15:20,719 --> 02:15:21,440 >> Yes. 3235 02:15:21,440 --> 02:15:23,679 >> To Thursday. 3236 02:15:23,679 --> 02:15:28,709 >> Okay. 3237 02:15:28,719 --> 02:15:31,840 So, let me just clarify because we vote 3238 02:15:31,840 --> 02:15:36,320 on this motion as stated, but if Diane 3239 02:15:36,320 --> 02:15:38,560 wanted to put forward another motion 3240 02:15:38,560 --> 02:15:42,800 with another option that could also 3241 02:15:42,800 --> 02:15:44,480 >> because 3242 02:15:44,480 --> 02:15:47,119 so you're voting on Yeah. You need to 3243 02:15:47,119 --> 02:15:50,159 give Shelly directions. They say she 3244 02:15:50,159 --> 02:15:52,560 like to do all the work on it and get to 3245 02:15:52,560 --> 02:15:55,040 fine-tune all the numbers so that when 3246 02:15:55,040 --> 02:15:57,040 you do a budget vote on Thursday, it's 3247 02:15:57,040 --> 02:15:57,760 correct. 3248 02:15:57,760 --> 02:15:59,840 >> That's why motion though that I just 3249 02:15:59,840 --> 02:16:00,239 presented. 3250 02:16:00,239 --> 02:16:03,679 >> Right. So, right. So, that's right. So, 3251 02:16:03,679 --> 02:16:06,880 you could ask Shel to put together 3252 02:16:06,880 --> 02:16:09,119 multiple 3253 02:16:09,119 --> 02:16:10,960 use the word multiple, but um other 3254 02:16:10,960 --> 02:16:12,800 options as well that you want to have 3255 02:16:12,800 --> 02:16:14,560 both options in front of you to discuss 3256 02:16:14,560 --> 02:16:16,639 on fair. So, you're absolutely correct 3257 02:16:16,639 --> 02:16:18,320 that you don't have to do the final vote 3258 02:16:18,320 --> 02:16:19,440 tonight. 3259 02:16:19,440 --> 02:16:21,199 moving it forward. D was a good catch 3260 02:16:21,199 --> 02:16:22,800 because it feels like it that was doing 3261 02:16:22,800 --> 02:16:25,760 that. Um it's just that we need 3262 02:16:25,760 --> 02:16:28,320 direction to what we we need direction 3263 02:16:28,320 --> 02:16:29,440 from you. There's no way you're getting 3264 02:16:29,440 --> 02:16:31,679 out of it without voting to to I would 3265 02:16:31,679 --> 02:16:32,880 say a measure give us 10 different 3266 02:16:32,880 --> 02:16:33,439 votes. 3267 02:16:33,439 --> 02:16:34,960 >> But you do have a motion and a second. 3268 02:16:34,960 --> 02:16:35,519 So 3269 02:16:35,519 --> 02:16:37,200 >> So we have a motion and a second and we 3270 02:16:37,200 --> 02:16:40,319 can discuss the motion before the vote. 3271 02:16:40,319 --> 02:16:43,840 One of the things that um I would just 3272 02:16:43,840 --> 02:16:47,920 put forward there for you Diane is that 3273 02:16:47,920 --> 02:16:51,920 you could uh you could put forth a 3274 02:16:51,920 --> 02:16:55,280 request for an amendment to the motion. 3275 02:16:55,280 --> 02:16:57,200 You would then have discussion and vote 3276 02:16:57,200 --> 02:16:59,200 on an amendment to the motion if you 3277 02:16:59,200 --> 02:17:02,000 wanted to clarify other pieces of the 3278 02:17:02,000 --> 02:17:03,679 puzzle that you'd like to ask. Shelley 3279 02:17:03,679 --> 02:17:08,309 bring forward 3280 02:17:08,319 --> 02:17:10,399 » then. I think yes. I would like to move 3281 02:17:10,399 --> 02:17:12,559 to amend that to put both of those 3282 02:17:12,559 --> 02:17:15,840 options forward with some detail for 3283 02:17:15,840 --> 02:17:18,960 Thursday because I well that's my 3284 02:17:18,960 --> 02:17:21,439 motion. I don't need to say the because 3285 02:17:21,439 --> 02:17:24,319 >> so I'll I'll second that and and I'll 3286 02:17:24,319 --> 02:17:26,639 also make a further motion for another 3287 02:17:26,639 --> 02:17:27,599 amendment 3288 02:17:27,599 --> 02:17:30,639 >> which hang on just got to pause because 3289 02:17:30,639 --> 02:17:32,399 we're gonna get too far down the rabbit 3290 02:17:32,399 --> 02:17:34,639 hole with this. Um I'm already keeping 3291 02:17:34,639 --> 02:17:38,559 track of where we are with motions and amendments. So, we're going to stick 3292 02:17:38,559 --> 02:17:41,920 with the first motion. And I'd like to 3293 02:17:41,920 --> 02:17:43,840 clarify this both for Jessica and the 3294 02:17:43,840 --> 02:17:46,639 committee that Diane, what you're asking 3295 02:17:46,639 --> 02:17:48,800 is for 3296 02:17:48,800 --> 02:17:53,599 the motion that Damian put forward to 3297 02:17:53,599 --> 02:17:57,040 include both the recommendation on 3298 02:17:57,040 --> 02:18:01,760 option A and B for what that looks like. 3299 02:18:01,760 --> 02:18:03,200 >> Yes. 3300 02:18:03,200 --> 02:18:06,319 >> Point of order. I I made a motion to 3301 02:18:06,319 --> 02:18:08,960 move forward with the budget as 3302 02:18:08,960 --> 02:18:10,960 presented with option A. 3303 02:18:10,960 --> 02:18:13,200 >> Does he have to accept the amendment? 3304 02:18:13,200 --> 02:18:16,160 >> His motion. 3305 02:18:16,160 --> 02:18:18,080 >> He doesn't have to accept the amendment, 3306 02:18:18,080 --> 02:18:21,040 but that would be a friendly motion, but 3307 02:18:21,040 --> 02:18:23,120 we do have to have discussion on an 3308 02:18:23,120 --> 02:18:25,760 amendment that has been seconded. 3309 02:18:25,760 --> 02:18:27,280 >> You want to amend it? Then you vote 3310 02:18:27,280 --> 02:18:34,629 Damian's motion now. Then you amend it. 3311 02:18:34,639 --> 02:18:35,439 you can 3312 02:18:35,439 --> 02:18:38,800 >> for discussion. I would 3313 02:18:38,800 --> 02:18:40,559 not support this amendment going 3314 02:18:40,559 --> 02:18:42,399 through. I would prefer that if there's 3315 02:18:42,399 --> 02:18:46,240 a I would rather vote on this option A 3316 02:18:46,240 --> 02:18:49,439 and if there is 3317 02:18:49,439 --> 02:18:51,359 motion within the committee to explore 3318 02:18:51,359 --> 02:18:54,000 other options to put forward an 3319 02:18:54,000 --> 02:18:57,280 additional uh motion with clear 3320 02:18:57,280 --> 02:18:58,960 direction to Shelley about what that 3321 02:18:58,960 --> 02:19:01,200 should be and vote on that in a separate 3322 02:19:01,200 --> 02:19:02,160 motion. 3323 02:19:02,160 --> 02:19:03,840 >> Call a question madam chair. 3324 02:19:03,840 --> 02:19:06,000 >> Yeah 3325 02:19:06,000 --> 02:19:08,080 the amendment. So the first thing that 3326 02:19:08,080 --> 02:19:10,000 we we're calling to question the 3327 02:19:10,000 --> 02:19:12,000 amendment. 3328 02:19:12,000 --> 02:19:14,319 >> No, you call I made a motion to call the 3329 02:19:14,319 --> 02:19:17,200 question. He has the question. You got 3330 02:19:17,200 --> 02:19:18,559 to vote now on whether we're going to 3331 02:19:18,559 --> 02:19:20,800 call the question and debate is over and 3332 02:19:20,800 --> 02:19:22,399 we vote on the question. 3333 02:19:22,399 --> 02:19:24,800 >> That's where the words 3334 02:19:24,800 --> 02:19:26,880 >> Bill's right. 3335 02:19:26,880 --> 02:19:28,160 >> The amendment. 3336 02:19:28,160 --> 02:19:31,439 >> No question. 3337 02:19:31,439 --> 02:19:32,880 >> Vote the question first and then the 3338 02:19:32,880 --> 02:19:35,040 amendment. 3339 02:19:35,040 --> 02:19:36,240 All 3340 02:19:36,240 --> 02:19:37,359 right, we're going to go around the 3341 02:19:37,359 --> 02:19:38,880 table. 3342 02:19:38,880 --> 02:19:39,679 >> Olivia, 3343 02:19:39,679 --> 02:19:43,910 >> yes. 3344 02:19:43,920 --> 02:19:45,359 » Mary, 3345 02:19:45,359 --> 02:19:47,920 >> this is to put option A for 3346 02:19:47,920 --> 02:19:49,439 >> Can you please clarify? I'm sorry. I 3347 02:19:49,439 --> 02:19:50,720 don't know what I'm what we're voting 3348 02:19:50,720 --> 02:19:52,160 on. 3349 02:19:52,160 --> 02:19:55,120 >> So, Bill called a question without 3350 02:19:55,120 --> 02:19:57,760 further discussion on the amendment that 3351 02:19:57,760 --> 02:20:01,359 we call a question Damian's 3352 02:20:01,359 --> 02:20:06,790 motion for option A. 3353 02:20:06,800 --> 02:20:09,439 Yes. 3354 02:20:09,439 --> 02:20:10,880 >> No. 3355 02:20:10,880 --> 02:20:14,070 >> Yes. 3356 02:20:14,080 --> 02:20:16,880 » Diane. 3357 02:20:16,880 --> 02:20:19,760 >> Yes. 3358 02:20:19,760 --> 02:20:22,319 >> Celia. 3359 02:20:22,319 --> 02:20:24,080 >> Okay. I just want to clarify. This is 3360 02:20:24,080 --> 02:20:28,160 just voting to move option A forward as 3361 02:20:28,160 --> 02:20:30,880 a consideration for Thursday. 3362 02:20:30,880 --> 02:20:32,080 >> Correct. 3363 02:20:32,080 --> 02:20:35,270 >> Yes. 3364 02:20:35,280 --> 02:20:37,359 Jessica, 3365 02:20:37,359 --> 02:20:39,200 >> this is not an amended motion. I'm 3366 02:20:39,200 --> 02:20:40,880 sorry. I that was not clear to me at 3367 02:20:40,880 --> 02:20:42,720 all. 3368 02:20:42,720 --> 02:20:43,760 >> It is not a 3369 02:20:43,760 --> 02:20:44,720 >> not amended. 3370 02:20:44,720 --> 02:20:46,800 >> Just to move option A forward to 3371 02:20:46,800 --> 02:20:47,760 Thursday. 3372 02:20:47,760 --> 02:20:49,600 >> Option A forward. 3373 02:20:49,600 --> 02:20:52,800 >> I'll vote yes. 3374 02:20:52,800 --> 02:20:54,240 >> Bill, 3375 02:20:54,240 --> 02:21:05,270 >> yes. 3376 02:21:05,280 --> 02:21:08,080 It feels that there's feels like there's 3377 02:21:08,080 --> 02:21:09,600 unresolved 3378 02:21:09,600 --> 02:21:16,000 um questions that folks may like Shel to 3379 02:21:16,000 --> 02:21:19,200 work on, but I'm not sure 3380 02:21:19,200 --> 02:21:20,640 are in this. 3381 02:21:20,640 --> 02:21:22,720 >> Then you got to get a motion to pass 3382 02:21:22,720 --> 02:21:24,640 direct Shel to do that. And if you don't 3383 02:21:24,640 --> 02:21:27,280 get it to pass, well, go home. 3384 02:21:27,280 --> 02:21:29,040 Go ahead, Sage. 3385 02:21:29,040 --> 02:21:32,319 >> Okay. So, do um I would I would like to 3386 02:21:32,319 --> 02:21:34,080 request and maybe I need to make a 3387 02:21:34,080 --> 02:21:36,560 motion. Um do Yes. 3388 02:21:36,560 --> 02:21:39,520 >> I would like to request a version of the 3389 02:21:39,520 --> 02:21:42,240 budget that involves keeping a 3390 02:21:42,240 --> 02:21:44,720 librarian. 3391 02:21:44,720 --> 02:21:46,560 That's the option C that I was talking 3392 02:21:46,560 --> 02:21:48,560 about. 3393 02:21:48,560 --> 02:21:50,800 >> There is no option. 3394 02:21:50,800 --> 02:21:53,040 Well, that that was that that had been 3395 02:21:53,040 --> 02:21:54,479 cont that Shel had said that they 3396 02:21:54,479 --> 02:21:57,920 contemplated the 7575 split that and 3397 02:21:57,920 --> 02:21:59,520 that would be what an option C would 3398 02:21:59,520 --> 02:22:00,720 look like. 3399 02:22:00,720 --> 02:22:02,319 >> Um 3400 02:22:02,319 --> 02:22:06,080 clarify if I can 3401 02:22:06,080 --> 02:22:07,760 >> Oh, sorry. Sorry. 3402 02:22:07,760 --> 02:22:12,240 >> That's okay. The alternative option 3403 02:22:12,240 --> 02:22:14,319 >> wasn't necessarily specific to a 3404 02:22:14,319 --> 02:22:16,720 position. It was still being 3405 02:22:16,720 --> 02:22:19,680 >> right the administration's discretion 3406 02:22:19,680 --> 02:22:22,160 because I believe when that was brought 3407 02:22:22,160 --> 02:22:30,150 >> us 3408 02:22:30,160 --> 02:22:31,680 » we we can't hear all the side 3409 02:22:31,680 --> 02:22:33,040 discussions that are going on in the 3410 02:22:33,040 --> 02:22:34,720 room. All we can hear is like the person 3411 02:22:34,720 --> 02:22:36,000 speaking. So I 3412 02:22:36,000 --> 02:22:38,880 >> I just would there was no option C 3413 02:22:38,880 --> 02:22:40,960 presented. So I would rather that 3414 02:22:40,960 --> 02:22:44,640 someone would be clear in their in their 3415 02:22:44,640 --> 02:22:47,280 um in a motion to what they want us to 3416 02:22:47,280 --> 02:22:49,520 do because obviously wasn't brought 3417 02:22:49,520 --> 02:22:51,040 forward. We did discuss that we looked 3418 02:22:51,040 --> 02:22:53,520 at other options and didn't bring them 3419 02:22:53,520 --> 02:22:56,319 forward. So if you want option C, 3420 02:22:56,319 --> 02:22:57,840 propose what it is so that we have a 3421 02:22:57,840 --> 02:22:59,760 clear understanding what is not what you 3422 02:22:59,760 --> 02:23:02,720 think we may have talked about. 3423 02:23:02,720 --> 02:23:03,760 You understand what I'm saying? Like it 3424 02:23:03,760 --> 02:23:07,429 just can get too messy. 3425 02:23:07,439 --> 02:23:10,720 So I would like to move forward because 3426 02:23:10,720 --> 02:23:12,080 I thought we were going to vote then on 3427 02:23:12,080 --> 02:23:14,319 the amendment once the motion for the 3428 02:23:14,319 --> 02:23:16,399 other motion passed but I guess I was 3429 02:23:16,399 --> 02:23:18,160 incorrect there. So I would like to move 3430 02:23:18,160 --> 02:23:20,880 that we move that Shel also prepare 3431 02:23:20,880 --> 02:23:23,680 option B before we talk about any C or 3432 02:23:23,680 --> 02:23:25,120 anything like that but the one that was 3433 02:23:25,120 --> 02:23:27,040 already the secondary the one that was 3434 02:23:27,040 --> 02:23:29,600 already approved um for Thursday as 3435 02:23:29,600 --> 02:23:31,200 well. 3436 02:23:31,200 --> 02:23:35,190 second. 3437 02:23:35,200 --> 02:23:39,040 » You get to discuss this before. 3438 02:23:39,040 --> 02:23:41,439 >> I feel like in the slideshow, option B 3439 02:23:41,439 --> 02:23:43,280 is already all laid out. We already have 3440 02:23:43,280 --> 02:23:44,720 all those numbers because nothing 3441 02:23:44,720 --> 02:23:46,160 changes in the allocations. 3442 02:23:46,160 --> 02:23:46,560 >> Correct. 3443 02:23:46,560 --> 02:23:49,040 >> But it keeps $150,000 worth of 3444 02:23:49,040 --> 02:23:50,640 positions, which I really think is the 3445 02:23:50,640 --> 02:23:52,080 crux of the conversation. 3446 02:23:52,080 --> 02:23:53,439 >> Okay. Okay. 3447 02:23:53,439 --> 02:23:55,990 >> Right. 3448 02:23:56,000 --> 02:23:58,880 But to clarify that option B, there is 3449 02:23:58,880 --> 02:24:01,920 no designated what that position is and 3450 02:24:01,920 --> 02:24:04,800 it's still up to administration where to 3451 02:24:04,800 --> 02:24:07,680 use that 150,000. 3452 02:24:07,680 --> 02:24:12,160 That question was asked of you earlier 3453 02:24:12,160 --> 02:24:14,880 and you were reluctant to put priority 3454 02:24:14,880 --> 02:24:18,800 on positions but you were leaning or you 3455 02:24:18,800 --> 02:24:22,319 maybe indicated that the uh adjustment 3456 02:24:22,319 --> 02:24:23,840 counselor 3457 02:24:23,840 --> 02:24:26,160 was 3458 02:24:26,160 --> 02:24:28,720 special education was over priority 3459 02:24:28,720 --> 02:24:31,120 librarian. So then if option B was 3460 02:24:31,120 --> 02:24:34,720 asked, it would still come down to 3461 02:24:34,720 --> 02:24:38,080 what you deem is what you feel you want 3462 02:24:38,080 --> 02:24:40,160 to make where you make the cut. So it 3463 02:24:40,160 --> 02:24:42,640 doesn't necessarily save librarians 3464 02:24:42,640 --> 02:24:44,560 position. 3465 02:24:44,560 --> 02:24:50,160 >> But what it does though is it it would 3466 02:24:50,160 --> 02:24:52,800 require the administration to hire and 3467 02:24:52,800 --> 02:24:55,439 replace positions that are being lost by 3468 02:24:55,439 --> 02:25:00,080 attrition, which I don't 3469 02:25:00,080 --> 02:25:01,840 You know, I don't I don't support that. 3470 02:25:01,840 --> 02:25:06,230 I mean, I don't 3471 02:25:06,240 --> 02:25:08,000 » Did I miss something? Did we just not 3472 02:25:08,000 --> 02:25:12,399 vote like 10 minutes ago 9 to1 to bring 3473 02:25:12,399 --> 02:25:15,520 forward option A for Thursday night 3474 02:25:15,520 --> 02:25:17,120 >> and then someone made a motion and 3475 02:25:17,120 --> 02:25:19,840 seconded it to bring forward motion B. 3476 02:25:19,840 --> 02:25:21,680 So, I think whether we'd like it or not, 3477 02:25:21,680 --> 02:25:23,920 we have. That's what I was trying to 3478 02:25:23,920 --> 02:25:31,270 clarify that I don't know that I'm I'm 3479 02:25:31,280 --> 02:25:35,200 » sorry option one to one choice of the 3480 02:25:35,200 --> 02:25:36,880 committee to bring 3481 02:25:36,880 --> 02:25:39,200 >> let's bring option 3482 02:25:39,200 --> 02:25:42,640 >> but that's misstating what 3483 02:25:42,640 --> 02:25:44,720 >> just because I voted to bring forward A 3484 02:25:44,720 --> 02:25:47,040 doesn't mean I don't also want B I want 3485 02:25:47,040 --> 02:25:49,120 two days to think about this 3486 02:25:49,120 --> 02:25:50,640 >> and for the committee to think about it 3487 02:25:50,640 --> 02:25:52,479 this is a very big decision 3488 02:25:52,479 --> 02:25:54,399 I'm learning all this stuff on the, you 3489 02:25:54,399 --> 02:25:57,200 know, today when I read the slides. I 3490 02:25:57,200 --> 02:25:59,040 certainly want some more time to make 3491 02:25:59,040 --> 02:26:01,520 this very important decision. So, I 3492 02:26:01,520 --> 02:26:03,359 personally would like both of these to 3493 02:26:03,359 --> 02:26:06,080 come forward fleshed out details. I 3494 02:26:06,080 --> 02:26:07,200 understand that it's not going to 3495 02:26:07,200 --> 02:26:09,040 include a decision as between the 3496 02:26:09,040 --> 02:26:10,479 librarian options or the special 3497 02:26:10,479 --> 02:26:12,000 educators. 3498 02:26:12,000 --> 02:26:14,080 I think those are really hard decisions 3499 02:26:14,080 --> 02:26:16,479 that should be probably will be and 3500 02:26:16,479 --> 02:26:19,520 should be made in house. But which 3501 02:26:19,520 --> 02:26:21,920 direction to go with that 150k seems 3502 02:26:21,920 --> 02:26:23,040 pretty important to me that we bring 3503 02:26:23,040 --> 02:26:26,870 that forward. 3504 02:26:26,880 --> 02:26:29,040 » I'm just going to clarify that we can 3505 02:26:29,040 --> 02:26:32,399 bring forward more than one number 3506 02:26:32,399 --> 02:26:36,240 >> for uh more than one plan for our 3507 02:26:36,240 --> 02:26:38,560 discussion and vote on Thursday. So 3508 02:26:38,560 --> 02:26:40,960 right. So what we did in the 3509 02:26:40,960 --> 02:26:44,000 organization of this is that years ago 3510 02:26:44,000 --> 02:26:46,479 they would have the public hearing and 3511 02:26:46,479 --> 02:26:48,880 they would vote it that night and and 3512 02:26:48,880 --> 02:26:50,000 they would just that would be the end of 3513 02:26:50,000 --> 02:26:53,600 it and people felt that um you know 3514 02:26:53,600 --> 02:26:56,319 there should be a process time and so 3515 02:26:56,319 --> 02:26:58,720 you said okay we will in two days later 3516 02:26:58,720 --> 02:27:03,120 do a virtual meeting um and because 3517 02:27:03,120 --> 02:27:04,399 everybody else again another night 3518 02:27:04,399 --> 02:27:05,920 second night of the week do a virtual 3519 02:27:05,920 --> 02:27:08,319 meeting for the vote. So you do whatever 3520 02:27:08,319 --> 02:27:10,479 you want in that virtual meeting. You 3521 02:27:10,479 --> 02:27:12,160 can have five different options. You can 3522 02:27:12,160 --> 02:27:15,040 have you know you know the assumption of 3523 02:27:15,040 --> 02:27:16,800 the of one vote and that's what we've 3524 02:27:16,800 --> 02:27:18,720 done the last few years is it got 3525 02:27:18,720 --> 02:27:20,800 through you know public hearing. There 3526 02:27:20,800 --> 02:27:22,319 wasn't a whole lot of you know it wasn't 3527 02:27:22,319 --> 02:27:24,960 contested of any sort and it was kind of 3528 02:27:24,960 --> 02:27:27,359 a let's just make sure we get a quarant. 3529 02:27:27,359 --> 02:27:28,800 So this time you know you're you're 3530 02:27:28,800 --> 02:27:31,280 bringing forward two. That's fine. 3531 02:27:31,280 --> 02:27:33,760 >> I just want to pass that and and so 3532 02:27:33,760 --> 02:27:34,640 forth. 3533 02:27:34,640 --> 02:27:36,240 >> Yeah. So, I just want to clarify that 3534 02:27:36,240 --> 02:27:38,399 this that this would be continuing that 3535 02:27:38,399 --> 02:27:40,319 discussion into Thursday to bring 3536 02:27:40,319 --> 02:27:45,120 forward option B. If there's any other 3537 02:27:45,120 --> 02:27:46,800 discussion on whether or not to bring 3538 02:27:46,800 --> 02:27:50,000 forward option B, uh 3539 02:27:50,000 --> 02:27:51,600 >> well, there's a motion and a second. 3540 02:27:51,600 --> 02:27:52,000 It's 3541 02:27:52,000 --> 02:27:55,840 >> there is a motion and a second. So 3542 02:27:55,840 --> 02:27:59,120 >> we'll move to to a vote on whether bring 3543 02:27:59,120 --> 02:28:02,000 forward option B 3544 02:28:02,000 --> 02:28:04,640 or vote the the budget with the 3545 02:28:04,640 --> 02:28:09,040 recommendation B. Olivia, 3546 02:28:09,040 --> 02:28:13,429 that's it. Yes, Mary. 3547 02:28:13,439 --> 02:28:15,200 » Is option B going to look different than 3548 02:28:15,200 --> 02:28:17,600 it looked on that slide? 3549 02:28:17,600 --> 02:28:23,030 >> That's option B up on the screen. 3550 02:28:23,040 --> 02:28:23,760 No. 3551 02:28:23,760 --> 02:28:25,040 >> No. 3552 02:28:25,040 --> 02:28:28,790 >> Yes. 3553 02:28:28,800 --> 02:28:30,000 » Diane. 3554 02:28:30,000 --> 02:28:36,800 >> Yes. 3555 02:28:36,800 --> 02:28:38,479 >> Jessica. 3556 02:28:38,479 --> 02:28:40,640 >> No. 3557 02:28:40,640 --> 02:28:41,920 >> Bill. 3558 02:28:41,920 --> 02:28:43,680 >> No. 3559 02:28:43,680 --> 02:28:45,040 >> We have to wait. 3560 02:28:45,040 --> 02:28:46,479 >> I know. I was just trying to do the 3561 02:28:46,479 --> 02:28:47,200 math. 3562 02:28:47,200 --> 02:28:50,080 >> May. May I recap that? I got all those 3563 02:28:50,080 --> 02:28:51,520 votes right for the roll call for the 3564 02:28:51,520 --> 02:28:53,760 minutes. It was Missy, yes. Olivia, yes. 3565 02:28:53,760 --> 02:28:57,280 Bill, no. Mary, no. Keith, yes. 3566 02:28:57,280 --> 02:29:00,479 >> Jessica, yes. Keith was a no. 3567 02:29:00,479 --> 02:29:03,120 >> Jessica, yes. Diane, yes. Cecilia, yes. 3568 02:29:03,120 --> 02:29:07,429 Damian, yes. Phil, no. 3569 02:29:07,439 --> 02:29:09,040 » I voted. Thank you. I'm trying to 3570 02:29:09,040 --> 02:29:10,160 multitask here. 3571 02:29:10,160 --> 02:29:10,960 >> Okay. 3572 02:29:10,960 --> 02:29:13,280 >> So, that is five to five. 3573 02:29:13,280 --> 02:29:15,280 >> And Damian was No, 3574 02:29:15,280 --> 02:29:17,920 >> Damian. Okay. Six to four. Uh, four to 3575 02:29:17,920 --> 02:29:20,800 six. It the motion failed. 3576 02:29:20,800 --> 02:29:23,680 So, and and I'd like to make a motion 3577 02:29:23,680 --> 02:29:27,359 for an option C to be considered, which 3578 02:29:27,359 --> 02:29:30,479 would simply and to carve out from there 3579 02:29:30,479 --> 02:29:34,160 the cost of the librarian 3580 02:29:34,160 --> 02:29:39,280 and uh with the balance being reducing 3581 02:29:39,280 --> 02:29:41,120 the assessments 3582 02:29:41,120 --> 02:29:46,080 uh you know u as set forth in option A. 3583 02:29:46,080 --> 02:29:51,590 uh 3584 02:29:51,600 --> 02:29:57,030 » the balance of the 150. 3585 02:29:57,040 --> 02:30:00,000 » Do you have that clarified for a motion? 3586 02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:02,960 Jessica. 3587 02:30:02,960 --> 02:30:03,920 >> Say it again. 3588 02:30:03,920 --> 02:30:06,399 >> I think close enough. 3589 02:30:06,399 --> 02:30:08,560 >> Okay, let's restate it so that we know 3590 02:30:08,560 --> 02:30:10,800 what it is we're talking about and 3591 02:30:10,800 --> 02:30:11,680 voting on. So, 3592 02:30:11,680 --> 02:30:13,760 >> yeah, be my guest. 3593 02:30:13,760 --> 02:30:16,960 It it sounds to me and Jessie you can 3594 02:30:16,960 --> 02:30:19,680 tell me if this uh doesn't sound like 3595 02:30:19,680 --> 02:30:21,760 this is what was said or Billy you can 3596 02:30:21,760 --> 02:30:23,040 tell me what this doesn't sound like it 3597 02:30:23,040 --> 02:30:26,160 was said but the motion would be to put 3598 02:30:26,160 --> 02:30:29,280 forward the budget as stated with a 3599 02:30:29,280 --> 02:30:33,680 third option uh for 3600 02:30:33,680 --> 02:30:36,319 uh saving the budget of the librarian 3601 02:30:36,319 --> 02:30:38,080 and that would be specifically stated 3602 02:30:38,080 --> 02:30:40,800 that that would be for the librarian's 3603 02:30:40,800 --> 02:30:43,349 salary. 3604 02:30:43,359 --> 02:30:44,319 And 3605 02:30:44,319 --> 02:30:44,800 >> yeah, 3606 02:30:44,800 --> 02:30:46,800 >> I mean that would be the the question. 3607 02:30:46,800 --> 02:30:52,630 Do you want that stated in there? 3608 02:30:52,640 --> 02:30:56,080 » The uh that would be the intent of the 3609 02:30:56,080 --> 02:30:58,560 motion whether or not the the 3610 02:30:58,560 --> 02:31:00,479 administration feels that that's the 3611 02:31:00,479 --> 02:31:03,439 best way to phrase that. um or whether 3612 02:31:03,439 --> 02:31:07,040 that whether the amount um uh uh you 3613 02:31:07,040 --> 02:31:17,280 know I'll leave that to others, but the intent of the motion would be to of the balance of the $150,000 3614 02:31:17,280 --> 02:31:20,880 um to use part of that for the librarian 3615 02:31:20,880 --> 02:31:23,920 position and the balance of it to go to 3616 02:31:23,920 --> 02:31:30,389 reduce the assessments. 3617 02:31:30,399 --> 02:31:32,240 And so that's the motion. We would need 3618 02:31:32,240 --> 02:31:42,070 a second. 3619 02:31:42,080 --> 02:31:50,469 I'll second that. 3620 02:31:50,479 --> 02:31:55,030 Any discussion? 3621 02:31:55,040 --> 02:32:00,080 So, the problem I have with that is when 3622 02:32:00,080 --> 02:32:02,720 honestly to administration who I think 3623 02:32:02,720 --> 02:32:05,760 probably has been over every scenario 3624 02:32:05,760 --> 02:32:08,720 there is if it's the only way to get to 3625 02:32:08,720 --> 02:32:11,040 a budget that we can work with is 3626 02:32:11,040 --> 02:32:14,160 personnel. It has to happen. 3627 02:32:14,160 --> 02:32:17,439 That's my opinion anyway. And um so if 3628 02:32:17,439 --> 02:32:19,600 it's not the librarian 3629 02:32:19,600 --> 02:32:21,439 school, is it a science teacher, a math 3630 02:32:21,439 --> 02:32:23,439 teacher, is it the school nurse, is it 3631 02:32:23,439 --> 02:32:25,760 one of, you know, is it the school desk 3632 02:32:25,760 --> 02:32:28,160 counselor? It has to be somebody. And so 3633 02:32:28,160 --> 02:32:31,439 I'm just knowing the time that they have 3634 02:32:31,439 --> 02:32:33,760 put into this budget season. I know they 3635 02:32:33,760 --> 02:32:36,479 have looked at many many scenarios, 3636 02:32:36,479 --> 02:32:38,880 curriculum, coordinator, all of it. And 3637 02:32:38,880 --> 02:32:40,720 I have to trust that they have come up 3638 02:32:40,720 --> 02:32:43,520 with the best. 3639 02:32:43,520 --> 02:32:45,600 So 3640 02:32:45,600 --> 02:32:48,240 I understand your option seems to know, 3641 02:32:48,240 --> 02:32:51,520 but I designating a librarian and 3642 02:32:51,520 --> 02:32:54,560 splitting things up I think is confusing 3643 02:32:54,560 --> 02:32:57,760 and hard 3644 02:32:57,760 --> 02:33:00,800 >> and you know I I I I 3645 02:33:00,800 --> 02:33:03,439 you know I I I agree with everything 3646 02:33:03,439 --> 02:33:06,720 that you're saying. I the the to me the 3647 02:33:06,720 --> 02:33:09,200 circumstances have changed slightly in 3648 02:33:09,200 --> 02:33:13,520 that um there is uh we're spending less 3649 02:33:13,520 --> 02:33:16,240 on health insurance than what we thought 3650 02:33:16,240 --> 02:33:18,960 and um so 3651 02:33:18,960 --> 02:33:20,880 there just seems to be considerable 3652 02:33:20,880 --> 02:33:23,920 public sentiment um there seem to be 3653 02:33:23,920 --> 02:33:26,720 considerable sentiment on this board um 3654 02:33:26,720 --> 02:33:29,200 to save that position and I think that 3655 02:33:29,200 --> 02:33:31,040 it's worth talking about further and 3656 02:33:31,040 --> 02:33:33,840 seeing what the numbers look like um and 3657 02:33:33,840 --> 02:33:35,200 you know see seeing what the numbers 3658 02:33:35,200 --> 02:33:37,600 look like seems like a worthy endeavor. 3659 02:33:37,600 --> 02:33:40,319 I'm not saying everybody support you 3660 02:33:40,319 --> 02:33:42,080 know or change their mind from A but 3661 02:33:42,080 --> 02:33:48,550 just to see what the numbers look like. 3662 02:33:48,560 --> 02:33:52,000 » Yeah. As as much as I wanted the B 3663 02:33:52,000 --> 02:33:54,880 option, I I don't want this because I do 3664 02:33:54,880 --> 02:33:57,120 want to leave it to the administration 3665 02:33:57,120 --> 02:33:59,040 to decide is between these two very 3666 02:33:59,040 --> 02:34:02,720 vital sets of of services of special ed 3667 02:34:02,720 --> 02:34:05,920 or librarian. Um, and I would find that 3668 02:34:05,920 --> 02:34:08,399 very hard to evaluate that because I'm 3669 02:34:08,399 --> 02:34:12,560 not there on the ground. Um, and so that 3670 02:34:12,560 --> 02:34:14,479 that's why I'm I'm not actually in favor 3671 02:34:14,479 --> 02:34:19,429 of option C. 3672 02:34:19,439 --> 02:34:22,640 It's just it's just a bad idea for the 3673 02:34:22,640 --> 02:34:25,200 11 of us to say cherry picking line 3674 02:34:25,200 --> 02:34:27,120 items in the budget after these guys 3675 02:34:27,120 --> 02:34:28,720 even prepared the budget. It's just a 3676 02:34:28,720 --> 02:34:32,000 bad idea. They've given you the best 3677 02:34:32,000 --> 02:34:34,080 advice that that you could that you 3678 02:34:34,080 --> 02:34:37,920 could ask for. And for us to be cherry picking line items, let's put 3679 02:34:37,920 --> 02:34:40,479 this one back. Let's take that one out. 3680 02:34:40,479 --> 02:34:42,720 That's bad. 3681 02:34:42,720 --> 02:34:44,000 >> I'm just saying I want to see the 3682 02:34:44,000 --> 02:34:45,520 numbers. 3683 02:34:45,520 --> 02:34:47,120 Um, 3684 02:34:47,120 --> 02:34:55,429 see see what that decision looks like. 3685 02:34:55,439 --> 02:34:59,280 » Go for it. Olivia. No. 3686 02:34:59,280 --> 02:35:00,080 >> No. 3687 02:35:00,080 --> 02:35:01,920 >> Bill. 3688 02:35:01,920 --> 02:35:03,040 >> Yes. 3689 02:35:03,040 --> 02:35:04,720 >> No. 3690 02:35:04,720 --> 02:35:06,399 >> I'm sorry. Missy, can I do the roll 3691 02:35:06,399 --> 02:35:08,479 call? I think that for the minutes. 3692 02:35:08,479 --> 02:35:09,840 Thank you, Missy. 3693 02:35:09,840 --> 02:35:10,720 >> Yes. Yes. 3694 02:35:10,720 --> 02:35:12,800 >> Missy is a yes. Olivia, 3695 02:35:12,800 --> 02:35:13,520 >> no. 3696 02:35:13,520 --> 02:35:14,960 >> Bill. 3697 02:35:14,960 --> 02:35:15,680 No 3698 02:35:15,680 --> 02:35:16,880 >> Mary. 3699 02:35:16,880 --> 02:35:17,520 >> No 3700 02:35:17,520 --> 02:35:18,720 >> Keith. 3701 02:35:18,720 --> 02:35:19,840 >> No 3702 02:35:19,840 --> 02:35:22,240 >> Jessica. No Diane. 3703 02:35:22,240 --> 02:35:23,280 >> No 3704 02:35:23,280 --> 02:35:24,720 >> Celia. 3705 02:35:24,720 --> 02:35:25,920 >> No 3706 02:35:25,920 --> 02:35:27,280 >> Damian. 3707 02:35:27,280 --> 02:35:28,319 >> No 3708 02:35:28,319 --> 02:35:30,479 >> Phil. 3709 02:35:30,479 --> 02:35:33,359 >> I I I like going along with the crowd, 3710 02:35:33,359 --> 02:35:35,200 but I made the motion. I feel like I'm 3711 02:35:35,200 --> 02:35:39,510 constrained to say yes. But 3712 02:35:39,520 --> 02:35:46,070 » thank you. 3713 02:35:46,080 --> 02:35:48,240 Unless there's an option D floating out 3714 02:35:48,240 --> 02:35:51,600 there, please let's not add that in. 3715 02:35:51,600 --> 02:35:53,439 >> Uh we'll move to the capital 3716 02:35:53,439 --> 02:35:55,520 recommendation from uh the capital 3717 02:35:55,520 --> 02:35:59,910 supplement. 3718 02:35:59,920 --> 02:36:01,280 » This is on a parking lot, 3719 02:36:01,280 --> 02:36:04,160 >> right? So the um 3720 02:36:04,160 --> 02:36:06,479 there's the change in that is to move 3721 02:36:06,479 --> 02:36:09,040 forward um 3722 02:36:09,040 --> 02:36:11,760 you know basically a motion of you will 3723 02:36:11,760 --> 02:36:13,680 we move forward with the doing the the 3724 02:36:13,680 --> 02:36:14,640 parking lot 3725 02:36:14,640 --> 02:36:15,520 >> tabled that best. 3726 02:36:15,520 --> 02:36:15,920 >> Yep. 3727 02:36:15,920 --> 02:36:20,399 >> Yeah. Um and to basically not approving 3728 02:36:20,399 --> 02:36:22,399 amount but you know the motion that we 3729 02:36:22,399 --> 02:36:23,920 kind of constructed would be to move 3730 02:36:23,920 --> 02:36:25,280 that the school committee authorize the 3731 02:36:25,280 --> 02:36:26,640 superintendent proceed with the bidding 3732 02:36:26,640 --> 02:36:29,200 proc for the parking lot for the parking 3733 02:36:29,200 --> 02:36:31,280 lot renovation project and upon review 3734 02:36:31,280 --> 02:36:32,880 of the acceptance of bids fund the 3735 02:36:32,880 --> 02:36:35,359 project using school choice funds and 3736 02:36:35,359 --> 02:36:37,200 amounts to determined based on the final 3737 02:36:37,200 --> 02:36:39,600 bid award. 3738 02:36:39,600 --> 02:36:41,040 >> I think we need to move to put it back 3739 02:36:41,040 --> 02:36:42,640 on the table. 3740 02:36:42,640 --> 02:36:45,359 >> We do what we do with it. 3741 02:36:45,359 --> 02:36:48,950 That's true. 3742 02:36:48,960 --> 02:36:49,120 Move 3743 02:36:49,120 --> 02:36:51,359 >> to put it back on the table for 3744 02:36:51,359 --> 02:36:53,120 discussion. 3745 02:36:53,120 --> 02:36:57,190 >> Second. 3746 02:36:57,200 --> 02:36:59,120 » So, Jessica, what happened was because 3747 02:36:59,120 --> 02:37:01,600 it was it was put it was tabled. You 3748 02:37:01,600 --> 02:37:04,160 have to vote to take it off the table. 3749 02:37:04,160 --> 02:37:06,080 So, this is a vote to take it off the 3750 02:37:06,080 --> 02:37:07,840 table and put it forward for discussion. 3751 02:37:07,840 --> 02:37:09,359 >> Put it on the table. 3752 02:37:09,359 --> 02:37:11,520 >> Yes. 3753 02:37:11,520 --> 02:37:12,560 >> Great time. 3754 02:37:12,560 --> 02:37:15,600 >> Thank you. Who motioned and seconded? 3755 02:37:15,600 --> 02:37:19,040 >> Bill motioned. Mary second. 3756 02:37:19,040 --> 02:37:24,550 Would you like to roll call? 3757 02:37:24,560 --> 02:37:26,960 » Yes, please give me 10 seconds. 3758 02:37:26,960 --> 02:37:28,240 >> Think about it being difficult for you 3759 02:37:28,240 --> 02:37:30,319 to keep track. 3760 02:37:30,319 --> 02:37:31,760 I I don't know how much this is being 3761 02:37:31,760 --> 02:37:34,160 made harder by me being remote and it's 3762 02:37:34,160 --> 02:37:35,600 two and a half hours of looking at my 3763 02:37:35,600 --> 02:37:38,640 screen and sorry 3764 02:37:38,640 --> 02:37:42,399 >> to unt. Is that the verb? 3765 02:37:42,399 --> 02:37:43,200 >> That'll work. 3766 02:37:43,200 --> 02:37:46,160 >> To put it on the table. What? What? 3767 02:37:46,160 --> 02:37:50,960 >> It's to take it off the table. 3768 02:37:50,960 --> 02:37:52,560 >> We tabled it. 3769 02:37:52,560 --> 02:37:59,190 >> Okay. 3770 02:37:59,200 --> 02:38:03,280 roll call vote. Missy, 3771 02:38:03,280 --> 02:38:04,240 >> yes. 3772 02:38:04,240 --> 02:38:05,840 >> Olivia, 3773 02:38:05,840 --> 02:38:06,399 >> yes. 3774 02:38:06,399 --> 02:38:07,439 >> Bill, 3775 02:38:07,439 --> 02:38:08,000 >> yes. 3776 02:38:08,000 --> 02:38:09,120 >> Mary, 3777 02:38:09,120 --> 02:38:09,600 >> yes. 3778 02:38:09,600 --> 02:38:10,880 >> Keith, 3779 02:38:10,880 --> 02:38:11,439 >> yes. 3780 02:38:11,439 --> 02:38:13,439 >> Jessica, yes. Diane, 3781 02:38:13,439 --> 02:38:14,000 >> yes. 3782 02:38:14,000 --> 02:38:15,359 >> Cecilia, 3783 02:38:15,359 --> 02:38:16,000 >> yes. 3784 02:38:16,000 --> 02:38:17,280 >> Damian, 3785 02:38:17,280 --> 02:38:18,000 >> yes. 3786 02:38:18,000 --> 02:38:19,680 >> Bill, 3787 02:38:19,680 --> 02:38:20,240 >> yes. 3788 02:38:20,240 --> 02:38:30,950 >> Thank you. 3789 02:38:30,960 --> 02:38:36,070 All right. Is now off the table. 3790 02:38:36,080 --> 02:38:40,309 We need to discuss 3791 02:38:40,319 --> 02:38:43,840 the parking lot. 3792 02:38:43,840 --> 02:38:46,800 >> So the question is um basically the next 3793 02:38:46,800 --> 02:38:50,479 step is to um you know approve the 3794 02:38:50,479 --> 02:38:52,640 funding source with the school choice. 3795 02:38:52,640 --> 02:38:55,359 um we can work out that last detail of 3796 02:38:55,359 --> 02:38:57,760 whether or not depending on how the next 3797 02:38:57,760 --> 02:39:00,000 vote goes, whether or not we will apply 3798 02:39:00,000 --> 02:39:01,760 rural aid to it or not. We have school 3799 02:39:01,760 --> 02:39:04,240 choice that could that could cover the 3800 02:39:04,240 --> 02:39:06,399 whole thing. So I think we can make that 3801 02:39:06,399 --> 02:39:09,520 amended later on but to proceed the 3802 02:39:09,520 --> 02:39:11,680 bidding process. So we would put that 3803 02:39:11,680 --> 02:39:14,000 out to bid as you know as we had put 3804 02:39:14,000 --> 02:39:16,000 together that bid would then come back 3805 02:39:16,000 --> 02:39:18,800 to school committee to approve. So, we 3806 02:39:18,800 --> 02:39:20,000 can't move forward with the project 3807 02:39:20,000 --> 02:39:22,000 without your approval, but it would be 3808 02:39:22,000 --> 02:39:25,439 that we uh put funding sources aside, 3809 02:39:25,439 --> 02:39:27,520 which is the school's choice money and 3810 02:39:27,520 --> 02:39:30,319 move forward with the bidding process. I 3811 02:39:30,319 --> 02:39:31,920 would I don't want to hold this off 3812 02:39:31,920 --> 02:39:34,000 another month because we want to get 3813 02:39:34,000 --> 02:39:37,439 this process going as um contractors are 3814 02:39:37,439 --> 02:39:39,840 it's a summer job and um they're 3815 02:39:39,840 --> 02:39:41,200 starting to fill up their schedule for 3816 02:39:41,200 --> 02:39:44,870 summer. 3817 02:39:44,880 --> 02:39:47,200 » I'll make that motion. M I'll second 3818 02:39:47,200 --> 02:39:48,399 that. 3819 02:39:48,399 --> 02:39:50,640 Did you catch Bill and Olivia? 3820 02:39:50,640 --> 02:39:53,439 >> Okay. 3821 02:39:53,439 --> 02:39:55,200 >> Jessica, we'll send you the the wording 3822 02:39:55,200 --> 02:39:58,870 I read. 3823 02:39:58,880 --> 02:40:01,120 » Uh the full thing I I have Mr. Smith 3824 02:40:01,120 --> 02:40:03,760 moved, seconded by Ms. Leone to approve 3825 02:40:03,760 --> 02:40:05,200 the school choice funding source and 3826 02:40:05,200 --> 02:40:06,479 instruct administration to move forward 3827 02:40:06,479 --> 02:40:07,840 with the bidding process for the parking 3828 02:40:07,840 --> 02:40:10,160 lot project. Is that adequate? Sounds 3829 02:40:10,160 --> 02:40:10,720 great. 3830 02:40:10,720 --> 02:40:15,429 >> Okay. 3831 02:40:15,439 --> 02:40:21,590 » Whenever you're ready. 3832 02:40:21,600 --> 02:40:23,520 Okay. Missy, 3833 02:40:23,520 --> 02:40:24,560 >> yes. 3834 02:40:24,560 --> 02:40:25,840 >> Olivia, 3835 02:40:25,840 --> 02:40:26,880 >> yes. 3836 02:40:26,880 --> 02:40:28,960 >> Bill, 3837 02:40:28,960 --> 02:40:30,080 >> Mary, 3838 02:40:30,080 --> 02:40:30,720 >> yes. 3839 02:40:30,720 --> 02:40:31,920 >> Keith, 3840 02:40:31,920 --> 02:40:32,640 >> yes. 3841 02:40:32,640 --> 02:40:34,880 >> Jessica, yes. Diane, 3842 02:40:34,880 --> 02:40:35,520 >> yes. 3843 02:40:35,520 --> 02:40:36,800 >> Celia, 3844 02:40:36,800 --> 02:40:37,280 >> yes. 3845 02:40:37,280 --> 02:40:38,560 >> Damian, 3846 02:40:38,560 --> 02:40:39,200 >> yes. 3847 02:40:39,200 --> 02:40:40,399 >> And Phil, 3848 02:40:40,399 --> 02:40:41,120 >> yes. 3849 02:40:41,120 --> 02:40:49,110 >> Thank you. 3850 02:40:49,120 --> 02:40:51,600 have reading on that second. 3851 02:40:51,600 --> 02:40:53,840 >> So we are on the second reading of the 3852 02:40:53,840 --> 02:40:58,160 parent observation um policy KIB. Um the 3853 02:40:58,160 --> 02:41:00,080 two there was a couple changes that were 3854 02:41:00,080 --> 02:41:04,080 submitted. One was um uh to have 3855 02:41:04,080 --> 02:41:06,720 stronger language on that parents would 3856 02:41:06,720 --> 02:41:09,920 sign a confidential confidentiality 3857 02:41:09,920 --> 02:41:12,080 prior to visit. You're required to sign. 3858 02:41:12,080 --> 02:41:15,520 I think before it said May sign. Um and 3859 02:41:15,520 --> 02:41:18,880 um the teachers association asked if I 3860 02:41:18,880 --> 02:41:22,160 would include that um we would not do 3861 02:41:22,160 --> 02:41:24,080 observations the week prior to a 3862 02:41:24,080 --> 02:41:26,000 vacation. 3863 02:41:26,000 --> 02:41:31,200 So um there's if you can imagine that um 3864 02:41:31,200 --> 02:41:34,000 so um we added that under scheduling 3865 02:41:34,000 --> 02:41:39,280 considerations it says under ordinary circumstances um class 3866 02:41:39,280 --> 02:41:40,560 visits will be strongly discouraged 3867 02:41:40,560 --> 02:41:42,560 during the first week of school and week 3868 02:41:42,560 --> 02:41:44,160 prior vacation. So it could technically 3869 02:41:44,160 --> 02:41:46,560 happen in our booing agreement but uh 3870 02:41:46,560 --> 02:41:48,800 you know that we would be 3871 02:41:48,800 --> 02:41:51,120 strongly discouraging. So looking to 3872 02:41:51,120 --> 02:41:58,710 vote to move this policy forward. 3873 02:41:58,720 --> 02:42:01,280 Olivia made a motion. Bill made a 3874 02:42:01,280 --> 02:42:03,040 second. I totally uh 3875 02:42:03,040 --> 02:42:05,120 >> Sorry. Phil or Bill? 3876 02:42:05,120 --> 02:42:09,120 >> Uh, thank you. Bill seconded. 3877 02:42:09,120 --> 02:42:12,160 >> Tell me last name, please. 3878 02:42:12,160 --> 02:42:13,359 >> Mr. Smith. 3879 02:42:13,359 --> 02:42:16,160 >> Thank you. That's how unclear the sound 3880 02:42:16,160 --> 02:42:17,760 is. 3881 02:42:17,760 --> 02:42:19,200 Are we ready to vote? 3882 02:42:19,200 --> 02:42:20,560 >> Sorry. 3883 02:42:20,560 --> 02:42:21,439 >> Yes. Go ahead. 3884 02:42:21,439 --> 02:42:23,600 >> Okay, Missy. 3885 02:42:23,600 --> 02:42:24,080 Yes, 3886 02:42:24,080 --> 02:42:25,439 >> Olivia. 3887 02:42:25,439 --> 02:42:26,000 >> Yes, 3888 02:42:26,000 --> 02:42:27,280 >> Bill. 3889 02:42:27,280 --> 02:42:27,840 >> Yes, 3890 02:42:27,840 --> 02:42:28,960 >> Mary. 3891 02:42:28,960 --> 02:42:29,520 >> Yes, 3892 02:42:29,520 --> 02:42:30,720 >> Keith. 3893 02:42:30,720 --> 02:42:31,280 >> Yes, 3894 02:42:31,280 --> 02:42:33,439 >> Jessica. Yes, Diane. 3895 02:42:33,439 --> 02:42:37,040 >> Yes, Damian. 3896 02:42:37,040 --> 02:42:37,840 >> Yes, 3897 02:42:37,840 --> 02:42:38,880 >> Phil. 3898 02:42:38,880 --> 02:42:39,680 >> Yes. 3899 02:42:39,680 --> 02:42:45,190 >> Thank you. 3900 02:42:45,200 --> 02:42:47,200 » Yes, that's 3901 02:42:47,200 --> 02:42:51,200 not not big deal. Two seconds. 3902 02:42:51,200 --> 02:42:53,520 We have this calendar to school. Yeah. 3903 02:42:53,520 --> 02:42:55,040 Jump right into it. School 3904 02:42:55,040 --> 02:42:57,760 calendar. So, um you know that was sent 3905 02:42:57,760 --> 02:43:00,800 out as part of the packet right now. Um 3906 02:43:00,800 --> 02:43:02,560 as you know the contract says that if we 3907 02:43:02,560 --> 02:43:04,479 were to start before the last Wednesday 3908 02:43:04,479 --> 02:43:07,120 in August that we need to um get 3909 02:43:07,120 --> 02:43:09,439 agreement from the associations. Um we 3910 02:43:09,439 --> 02:43:12,080 did get an agreement to start the new 3911 02:43:12,080 --> 02:43:13,920 teacher orientation be the Tuesday the 3912 02:43:13,920 --> 02:43:18,479 25th with the first day of school um 3913 02:43:18,479 --> 02:43:21,920 the 26th. Okay. Um again, the the 3914 02:43:21,920 --> 02:43:24,479 teachers association in conversation 3915 02:43:24,479 --> 02:43:27,840 with them said they um 3916 02:43:27,840 --> 02:43:30,960 they could trade that day to have um 3917 02:43:30,960 --> 02:43:33,520 Friday the 4th off for a long Labor Day 3918 02:43:33,520 --> 02:43:35,120 weekend. 3919 02:43:35,120 --> 02:43:38,640 The thought behind that to again um like 3920 02:43:38,640 --> 02:43:41,200 why are we just trading those days off? 3921 02:43:41,200 --> 02:43:43,200 I believe it's important in talking with 3922 02:43:43,200 --> 02:43:45,359 educators especially in the younger 3923 02:43:45,359 --> 02:43:48,319 grades a five day week right out of the 3924 02:43:48,319 --> 02:43:51,600 gate. um for you know first, second, 3925 02:43:51,600 --> 02:43:53,600 third graders is a lot. There's a lot of 3926 02:43:53,600 --> 02:43:54,960 energy that goes into the excitement of 3927 02:43:54,960 --> 02:43:57,359 the first day of school. And um they 3928 02:43:57,359 --> 02:43:59,439 were saying that even a 4 day week after 3929 02:43:59,439 --> 02:44:02,240 a three-day week um would give some kind 3930 02:44:02,240 --> 02:44:05,439 of um 3931 02:44:05,439 --> 02:44:08,479 it helps um at at the at the lower at 3932 02:44:08,479 --> 02:44:10,160 the lower grade levels. It also we're 3933 02:44:10,160 --> 02:44:12,479 also starting early enough um at the 3934 02:44:12,479 --> 02:44:15,120 secondary level which folks oversee you 3935 02:44:15,120 --> 02:44:17,840 know athletics start the week before on 3936 02:44:17,840 --> 02:44:19,920 the 17th. So you know kids are for the 3937 02:44:19,920 --> 02:44:22,319 most part with the um are already 3938 02:44:22,319 --> 02:44:24,240 invested in coming back to school. So 3939 02:44:24,240 --> 02:44:27,439 starting in August that early um date 3940 02:44:27,439 --> 02:44:30,319 doesn't have um huge effect. The the 3941 02:44:30,319 --> 02:44:32,240 early release days are you know 3942 02:44:32,240 --> 02:44:34,240 scattered throughout professional 3943 02:44:34,240 --> 02:44:36,000 development day happening on election 3944 02:44:36,000 --> 02:44:40,160 day um as we have done in the past and I 3945 02:44:40,160 --> 02:44:43,120 think everything else is kind of falls 3946 02:44:43,120 --> 02:44:45,600 with the last day of school um being 3947 02:44:45,600 --> 02:44:47,760 June 9th. 3948 02:44:47,760 --> 02:44:49,680 snow days, 3949 02:44:49,680 --> 02:44:51,520 >> right? I mean, you get if you had two 3950 02:44:51,520 --> 02:44:53,439 snow days, you're now the 14th. So, it 3951 02:44:53,439 --> 02:44:54,640 just kind of jumps quickly when you 3952 02:44:54,640 --> 02:44:56,640 throw the weekends in there. So, 3953 02:44:56,640 --> 02:44:58,560 >> um, just going back to the first day of 3954 02:44:58,560 --> 02:45:01,040 school, you know, the weekends. In past 3955 02:45:01,040 --> 02:45:03,040 years, maybe that's what you were 3956 02:45:03,040 --> 02:45:04,160 talking about, I can't remember. 3957 02:45:04,160 --> 02:45:05,520 >> It's the Labor Day weekend, the 3958 02:45:05,520 --> 02:45:07,439 following because Liberty is so, 3959 02:45:07,439 --> 02:45:09,439 >> right, but instead of having Friday the 3960 02:45:09,439 --> 02:45:14,000 4th off, was it discussed to have Monday 3961 02:45:14,000 --> 02:45:17,279 the 31st off? So, it's it's three days 3962 02:45:17,279 --> 02:45:20,960 of school, a three-day weekend. 3963 02:45:20,960 --> 02:45:22,000 It would still only 3964 02:45:22,000 --> 02:45:23,439 >> Yeah, it was the long it was a long 3965 02:45:23,439 --> 02:45:25,680 Labor Day weekend. 3966 02:45:25,680 --> 02:45:27,439 >> People they would like to continue that 3967 02:45:27,439 --> 02:45:27,920 tradition. 3968 02:45:27,920 --> 02:45:28,720 >> Yeah. 3969 02:45:28,720 --> 02:45:30,319 >> I mean, I suggest it's not all that I 3970 02:45:30,319 --> 02:45:34,319 suggested it, but um you know it is 3971 02:45:34,319 --> 02:45:36,080 >> and that's really that's a community 3972 02:45:36,080 --> 02:45:37,840 decision, right? You guys just decide 3973 02:45:37,840 --> 02:45:39,439 that you know is that a value 3974 02:45:39,439 --> 02:45:42,000 >> whatever the consensus is. 3975 02:45:42,000 --> 02:45:44,080 >> So, again, you can talk to people. This 3976 02:45:44,080 --> 02:45:49,750 is the first reading. 3977 02:45:49,760 --> 02:45:51,279 Okay. Any question? It's just for 3978 02:45:51,279 --> 02:45:52,560 questions, you know, doing a voting and 3979 02:45:52,560 --> 02:45:54,160 such. And then the school committee 3980 02:45:54,160 --> 02:45:56,640 count is in there. Again, we moved away 3981 02:45:56,640 --> 02:45:58,240 from the pairings that we tried this 3982 02:45:58,240 --> 02:46:01,760 year and went to backtoback meetings um 3983 02:46:01,760 --> 02:46:05,600 outside of the budget season. Um 3984 02:46:05,600 --> 02:46:09,600 that's kind of the major change. Um 3985 02:46:09,600 --> 02:46:11,760 well, you know, we have, you know, 3986 02:46:11,760 --> 02:46:13,680 again, it's a tentative schedule, so 3987 02:46:13,680 --> 02:46:15,840 people can get on the calendar. I think 3988 02:46:15,840 --> 02:46:17,920 many of us have had to move around due 3989 02:46:17,920 --> 02:46:20,560 to um unforeseen scheduling issues and 3990 02:46:20,560 --> 02:46:22,960 that kind of stuff. Uh especially at the 3991 02:46:22,960 --> 02:46:25,760 elementary level, Frontier usually seems 3992 02:46:25,760 --> 02:46:27,520 consistent, but the elementary does move 3993 02:46:27,520 --> 02:46:31,429 stuff around. 3994 02:46:31,439 --> 02:46:33,840 » I just feed back on the two of you since 3995 02:46:33,840 --> 02:46:36,319 this was how we uh organized it. I mean, 3996 02:46:36,319 --> 02:46:37,920 I presume that you're in support of this 3997 02:46:37,920 --> 02:46:39,520 with 3998 02:46:39,520 --> 02:46:41,040 what you put. This is going to put you 3999 02:46:41,040 --> 02:46:43,439 guys back in a space where you're in a 4000 02:46:43,439 --> 02:46:44,160 rough spot. 4001 02:46:44,160 --> 02:46:46,080 >> Well, the split meetings, I think the 4002 02:46:46,080 --> 02:46:49,520 backto back versus split. Um, I think I 4003 02:46:49,520 --> 02:46:51,200 agree. While I thought the split was 4004 02:46:51,200 --> 02:46:52,399 going to have a little bit more magic to 4005 02:46:52,399 --> 02:46:54,240 it in the sense of having two groups of 4006 02:46:54,240 --> 02:46:55,600 committees together that were similar in 4007 02:46:55,600 --> 02:46:58,000 size to be able to kind of share. Um, I 4008 02:46:58,000 --> 02:46:59,200 think people felt like they just really 4009 02:46:59,200 --> 02:47:00,560 couldn't get a voice and couldn't really 4010 02:47:00,560 --> 02:47:03,680 dive into their committee work. So, um, 4011 02:47:03,680 --> 02:47:07,439 and I kind of felt that, um, as well. 4012 02:47:07,439 --> 02:47:09,840 So, 4013 02:47:09,840 --> 02:47:11,359 yeah, 4014 02:47:11,359 --> 02:47:14,000 >> that's fine. I'm just conscious of 4015 02:47:14,000 --> 02:47:16,160 trying to make sure that we're 4016 02:47:16,160 --> 02:47:18,000 continuing to figure out a way to make 4017 02:47:18,000 --> 02:47:21,359 this a viable path forward for you guys. 4018 02:47:21,359 --> 02:47:22,560 Follow your footsteps. 4019 02:47:22,560 --> 02:47:27,190 >> Appreciate that. Yeah. 4020 02:47:27,200 --> 02:47:30,479 » Do we have uh 4021 02:47:30,479 --> 02:47:31,920 do we have to do anything different with 4022 02:47:31,920 --> 02:47:34,240 this uh retainer? 4023 02:47:34,240 --> 02:47:41,040 >> So um I do the um frontier oversees the 4024 02:47:41,040 --> 02:47:43,840 central office and central office as a 4025 02:47:43,840 --> 02:47:44,960 committee. This doesn't go to all the 4026 02:47:44,960 --> 02:47:46,640 committees. You guys are in charge of 4027 02:47:46,640 --> 02:47:49,040 that. Um the Dupra law offices have 4028 02:47:49,040 --> 02:47:52,160 increased their rates been bas based on 4029 02:47:52,160 --> 02:47:59,120 use and I guess market. So and if you could I sent the uh the change on to 4030 02:47:59,120 --> 02:48:03,279 you. Um you do need to vote to um accept 4031 02:48:03,279 --> 02:48:06,640 the new contract and that direct chair 4032 02:48:06,640 --> 02:48:09,600 to sign. Um it is with you not with me 4033 02:48:09,600 --> 02:48:12,720 as your attorney. And 4034 02:48:12,720 --> 02:48:14,240 so I just was looking to update the 4035 02:48:14,240 --> 02:48:18,469 retainer. Um 4036 02:48:18,479 --> 02:48:36,550 the small 4037 02:48:36,560 --> 02:48:38,080 » Yeah. I just had a question about why 4038 02:48:38,080 --> 02:48:42,950 the retainer doesn't cover special ed. 4039 02:48:42,960 --> 02:48:45,600 We use a uh we use a different attorney 4040 02:48:45,600 --> 02:48:46,960 for special education. 4041 02:48:46,960 --> 02:48:47,359 >> Okay. 4042 02:48:47,359 --> 02:48:50,319 >> His office does do special ed. Um we 4043 02:48:50,319 --> 02:48:54,080 have kept the two separate um kind of on 4044 02:48:54,080 --> 02:48:56,000 preference. I guess special education 4045 02:48:56,000 --> 02:48:59,920 has a lot more um 4046 02:48:59,920 --> 02:49:03,359 has a lot of contact points that are 4047 02:49:03,359 --> 02:49:06,240 we use him for labor for the most part. 4048 02:49:06,240 --> 02:49:09,120 Um labor HR that kind of thing. special 4049 02:49:09,120 --> 02:49:11,600 education is a you know his firm does it 4050 02:49:11,600 --> 02:49:12,960 his brother kind of takes the lead on 4051 02:49:12,960 --> 02:49:20,150 that but we use testing 4052 02:49:20,160 --> 02:49:24,160 yeah um for for that so 4053 02:49:24,160 --> 02:49:26,000 >> great thanks 4054 02:49:26,000 --> 02:49:28,240 >> um his emails that we're based on the 4055 02:49:28,240 --> 02:49:29,760 review of our workflow district we're 4056 02:49:29,760 --> 02:49:31,600 requesting a $100 per month increase 4057 02:49:31,600 --> 02:49:34,720 from 88 850 to 950 the actual amount 4058 02:49:34,720 --> 02:49:36,720 should be around 4059 02:49:36,720 --> 02:49:38,560 175 per month but I know you're facing 4060 02:49:38,560 --> 02:49:40,319 financial difficulties here, please let 4061 02:49:40,319 --> 02:49:42,560 me know it's not is acceptable. I added 4062 02:49:42,560 --> 02:49:44,160 language about the special municipal 4063 02:49:44,160 --> 02:49:46,560 employee status and clarification 4064 02:49:46,560 --> 02:49:51,349 um and court exclusion language. 4065 02:49:51,359 --> 02:49:52,960 So 4066 02:49:52,960 --> 02:49:57,279 >> So we do need a vote on this. 4067 02:49:57,279 --> 02:49:59,520 >> Yes, we do need a vote to direct the 4068 02:49:59,520 --> 02:50:03,279 chair to sign on the agreement. 4069 02:50:03,279 --> 02:50:06,399 We need a motion 4070 02:50:06,399 --> 02:50:07,920 second. 4071 02:50:07,920 --> 02:50:10,000 >> Jessica, in case you aren't able to 4072 02:50:10,000 --> 02:50:12,800 hear, this is Olivia and uh again, Mr. 4073 02:50:12,800 --> 02:50:20,550 Smith 4074 02:50:20,560 --> 02:50:23,760 ready to vote. Any discussion? 4075 02:50:23,760 --> 02:50:25,359 >> Okay. Missy, 4076 02:50:25,359 --> 02:50:25,920 >> yes. 4077 02:50:25,920 --> 02:50:27,359 >> Olivia, 4078 02:50:27,359 --> 02:50:27,920 >> yes. 4079 02:50:27,920 --> 02:50:29,359 >> Bill, 4080 02:50:29,359 --> 02:50:30,000 >> yes. 4081 02:50:30,000 --> 02:50:31,040 >> Mary, 4082 02:50:31,040 --> 02:50:32,880 >> yes. Keith, 4083 02:50:32,880 --> 02:50:33,439 >> yes. 4084 02:50:33,439 --> 02:50:35,439 >> Jessica, yes. Diane, 4085 02:50:35,439 --> 02:50:36,160 >> yes. 4086 02:50:36,160 --> 02:50:37,439 >> Celia, 4087 02:50:37,439 --> 02:50:37,920 >> yes. 4088 02:50:37,920 --> 02:50:39,279 >> Damian, 4089 02:50:39,279 --> 02:50:39,680 >> yes. 4090 02:50:39,680 --> 02:50:40,880 >> And Phil, 4091 02:50:40,880 --> 02:50:41,600 >> yes. 4092 02:50:41,600 --> 02:50:46,870 >> Thank you. 4093 02:50:46,880 --> 02:50:49,760 » I'm stretch, folks. 4094 02:50:49,760 --> 02:50:51,840 >> Don't distract me. 4095 02:50:51,840 --> 02:50:54,080 >> Let's get them out of here. 4096 02:50:54,080 --> 02:51:00,870 >> All right. Uh, any committee reports? 4097 02:51:00,880 --> 02:51:02,319 Go ahead, Jessica. You want to talk 4098 02:51:02,319 --> 02:51:04,000 about the week of action 4099 02:51:04,000 --> 02:51:05,840 >> a little bit about rural aid? Yeah, 4100 02:51:05,840 --> 02:51:08,240 we've been fighting for years um to get 4101 02:51:08,240 --> 02:51:10,240 rural aid fully funded to the level that 4102 02:51:10,240 --> 02:51:11,920 was recommended by the legislaturator's 4103 02:51:11,920 --> 02:51:13,760 own um commission on the fiscal health 4104 02:51:13,760 --> 02:51:16,399 of rural schools. Um there's finally a 4105 02:51:16,399 --> 02:51:17,680 little bit of movement in the right 4106 02:51:17,680 --> 02:51:20,000 direction and we are trying to 4107 02:51:20,000 --> 02:51:22,319 capitalize on that. We are organizing um 4108 02:51:22,319 --> 02:51:24,080 a rural schools week of action which is 4109 02:51:24,080 --> 02:51:26,479 March March 9th through 13th. Um, the 4110 02:51:26,479 --> 02:51:28,399 idea behind this is that we have been 4111 02:51:28,399 --> 02:51:30,240 peti petitioning the legislature for 4112 02:51:30,240 --> 02:51:32,800 years with letter campaigns, email 4113 02:51:32,800 --> 02:51:34,479 campaigns, phone call campaigns. We have 4114 02:51:34,479 --> 02:51:36,319 testified. We have passed resolutions. 4115 02:51:36,319 --> 02:51:38,640 We have done all of the very polite and 4116 02:51:38,640 --> 02:51:40,560 contained things that we're told to do 4117 02:51:40,560 --> 02:51:42,560 in order to influence the legislators. 4118 02:51:42,560 --> 02:51:44,240 And those who do not represent rural 4119 02:51:44,240 --> 02:51:46,880 districts find us very easy to ignore. 4120 02:51:46,880 --> 02:51:49,279 So, we are transitioning to try to 4121 02:51:49,279 --> 02:51:51,680 harness the power of visual imagery. And 4122 02:51:51,680 --> 02:51:54,240 uh we have something like 30 districts 4123 02:51:54,240 --> 02:51:56,319 across the state uh rural school 4124 02:51:56,319 --> 02:51:58,160 districts who are um going to contribute 4125 02:51:58,160 --> 02:52:00,319 to this holding events. Frontier is 4126 02:52:00,319 --> 02:52:03,920 going to hold an event on March 12th um 4127 02:52:03,920 --> 02:52:08,319 to uh create photos and videos. Um there 4128 02:52:08,319 --> 02:52:10,720 will be stories, there will be data. Um 4129 02:52:10,720 --> 02:52:12,399 and we're getting local coverage of all 4130 02:52:12,399 --> 02:52:14,000 the local events. And then we're going 4131 02:52:14,000 --> 02:52:15,680 to repackage all of the media that these 4132 02:52:15,680 --> 02:52:18,160 produce to deliver to the governor, the 4133 02:52:18,160 --> 02:52:19,920 lieutenant governor and legislative 4134 02:52:19,920 --> 02:52:22,000 leadership. Um the Boston Globe did a 4135 02:52:22,000 --> 02:52:23,680 major article on rural aid and the 4136 02:52:23,680 --> 02:52:26,080 plight of rural schools um just last 4137 02:52:26,080 --> 02:52:28,960 week I think. Um so we've got some 4138 02:52:28,960 --> 02:52:31,760 momentum um and our district is very 4139 02:52:31,760 --> 02:52:33,439 actively participating. I am meeting 4140 02:52:33,439 --> 02:52:36,080 tomorrow with the um executive team of 4141 02:52:36,080 --> 02:52:39,680 the union 38 the teachers union um 4142 02:52:39,680 --> 02:52:40,960 because they're going to do their own 4143 02:52:40,960 --> 02:52:42,960 event in addition to Frontier with the 4144 02:52:42,960 --> 02:52:46,160 students doing one. So, um, fingers 4145 02:52:46,160 --> 02:52:48,240 crossed. We're trying to get more money 4146 02:52:48,240 --> 02:52:49,920 so that we won't end up in this budget 4147 02:52:49,920 --> 02:52:52,640 position again in the future. That's my 4148 02:52:52,640 --> 02:52:54,000 update. 4149 02:52:54,000 --> 02:52:56,160 >> Thank you so much for all of that work. 4150 02:52:56,160 --> 02:52:58,080 Always. 4151 02:52:58,080 --> 02:53:00,319 >> Yeah. I want No, really. 100%. 4152 02:53:00,319 --> 02:53:03,279 Seriously. Seriously. 4153 02:53:03,279 --> 02:53:04,560 >> You're not going to make fun of me for 4154 02:53:04,560 --> 02:53:05,760 thinking it might work. 4155 02:53:05,760 --> 02:53:08,080 >> No, I mean, I think it's it's that much 4156 02:53:08,080 --> 02:53:09,760 more difficult by the sudden and 4157 02:53:09,760 --> 02:53:12,240 surprised resignation of our House rep. 4158 02:53:12,240 --> 02:53:12,800 Um, 4159 02:53:12,800 --> 02:53:14,479 >> oh, a year with no representation in the 4160 02:53:14,479 --> 02:53:15,680 state house. Yeah, we got to do 4161 02:53:15,680 --> 02:53:16,560 something. 4162 02:53:16,560 --> 02:53:18,319 >> Yeah. 4163 02:53:18,319 --> 02:53:21,439 I'm also presenting at the MASC 4164 02:53:21,439 --> 02:53:22,880 day on the Hill. They're giving us 20 4165 02:53:22,880 --> 02:53:24,720 minutes to talk about rural schools. Um, 4166 02:53:24,720 --> 02:53:26,640 and the the message we are trying to 4167 02:53:26,640 --> 02:53:28,640 deliver is that if MASC wants to retain 4168 02:53:28,640 --> 02:53:31,279 its credibility on equity issues, rural 4169 02:53:31,279 --> 02:53:32,720 schools have been on fire for years, 4170 02:53:32,720 --> 02:53:36,160 they need to put us out front. So, 4171 02:53:36,160 --> 02:53:38,960 pulling out everything we can. 4172 02:53:38,960 --> 02:53:40,640 >> Thank you. 4173 02:53:40,640 --> 02:53:43,670 Anyone 4174 02:53:43,680 --> 02:53:45,279 want to know about the collaborative? 4175 02:53:45,279 --> 02:53:46,399 >> There's a meeting tonight. 4176 02:53:46,399 --> 02:53:48,560 >> Oh, you're right. 4177 02:53:48,560 --> 02:53:59,830 >> Keep going. 4178 02:53:59,840 --> 02:54:03,830 that they're probably still there. 4179 02:54:03,840 --> 02:54:06,240 » I'll hop on. 4180 02:54:06,240 --> 02:54:09,920 >> All right. Well, someone 4181 02:54:09,920 --> 02:54:12,560 >> I'm I'm sorry. It's me. I just Okay. I'm 4182 02:54:12,560 --> 02:54:14,240 sorry. This is my my first time through 4183 02:54:14,240 --> 02:54:17,040 the rodeo. I'm really sorry. Um but I 4184 02:54:17,040 --> 02:54:18,479 just I want to make sure I'm 4185 02:54:18,479 --> 02:54:20,720 understanding. So, we have we have just 4186 02:54:20,720 --> 02:54:23,520 moved forward one budget proposal and 4187 02:54:23,520 --> 02:54:25,600 that's proposal A and that's the only 4188 02:54:25,600 --> 02:54:27,279 one that we're going to vote on on 4189 02:54:27,279 --> 02:54:28,479 Thursday. 4190 02:54:28,479 --> 02:54:30,080 >> That is correct. Yep. 4191 02:54:30,080 --> 02:54:34,319 >> Okay. That's hard. This is hard. 4192 02:54:34,319 --> 02:54:35,760 >> Then you vote against it. 4193 02:54:35,760 --> 02:54:38,240 >> Yes, it is. 4194 02:54:38,240 --> 02:54:40,880 >> Would you also like to make a motion to 4195 02:54:40,880 --> 02:54:43,910 adjurnn? 4196 02:54:43,920 --> 02:54:51,830 » Sure. I make a motion to adjurnn. 4197 02:54:51,840 --> 02:54:54,720 » All right. No, the dog can't second. Are 4198 02:54:54,720 --> 02:54:54,960 you 4199 02:54:54,960 --> 02:55:03,349 >> I'll second it. Second, Jessica. 4200 02:55:03,359 --> 02:55:05,120 Technically, we need a roll call. This 4201 02:55:05,120 --> 02:55:06,399 is silly. 4202 02:55:06,399 --> 02:55:08,080 >> Yeah. Missy, 4203 02:55:08,080 --> 02:55:08,720 >> yes. 4204 02:55:08,720 --> 02:55:10,080 >> Olivia, 4205 02:55:10,080 --> 02:55:10,640 >> yes. 4206 02:55:10,640 --> 02:55:11,840 >> Bill, 4207 02:55:11,840 --> 02:55:13,680 >> no. I'm staying. 4208 02:55:13,680 --> 02:55:15,760 >> Congratulations. Mary, 4209 02:55:15,760 --> 02:55:16,880 >> yes. 4210 02:55:16,880 --> 02:55:19,040 >> Keith, 4211 02:55:19,040 --> 02:55:21,359 >> Jessica, yes. Diane, 4212 02:55:21,359 --> 02:55:24,160 >> yes. And get home safe, everyone. 4213 02:55:24,160 --> 02:55:25,120 >> Thank you. 4214 02:55:25,120 --> 02:55:26,880 >> Yes. Damian, 4215 02:55:26,880 --> 02:55:28,640 >> yes. Phil. 4216 02:55:28,640 --> 02:55:29,200 >> Yes. 4217 02:55:29,200 --> 02:55:30,560 >> Phil, how would you like to be recorded 4218 02:55:30,560 --> 02:55:33,439 in the minutes? 4219 02:55:33,439 --> 02:55:36,080 >> Are you yes or no for adjournment? 4220 02:55:36,080 --> 02:55:38,800 >> Yes. 4221 02:55:38,800 --> 02:55:43,269 >> I'm very literal sometimes. 4222 02:55:43,279 --> 02:55:46,399 » Thanks everybody. My husband better be 4223 02:55:46,399 --> 02:55:48,240 careful. 4224 02:55:48,240 --> 02:55:51,680 Praise the Lord with him.