1 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,240 like to call the meeting of February 2 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:17,840 10th, 2026 to order at 11:02. 3 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,400 First first thing is the review improve 4 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,119 the minutes from January 2nd or January 5 00:00:23,119 --> 00:00:25,039 7th. 6 00:00:25,039 --> 00:00:26,240 >> Move to approve. 7 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:30,720 >> I'll second it. All in favor? I 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,040 do. We do anything with Henry's vote. Is 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:34,800 it like two steps? Okay. 10 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:36,079 >> So, it's just two. 11 00:00:36,079 --> 00:00:37,680 >> Um, 12 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:39,520 you're next or do you want to 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,079 >> I can just quickly talk about 26. So, 14 00:00:42,079 --> 00:00:43,680 uh, 14 warrants were signed 15 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,840 electronically since the last meeting 16 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:50,549 totaling $100,685.86. 17 00:00:50,559 --> 00:00:53,440 The only item that I want to mention um 18 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,760 that I'm keeping an eye on is the 19 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,960 utility bill here in the building. So, 20 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,760 um, delivery charges are up for 21 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,879 Eversource and our supply usage is also 22 00:01:04,879 --> 00:01:06,240 up, which we think is probably 23 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,320 attributed to the mini splits. So, the 24 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:09,920 combination of those two things has our 25 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,840 bills presenting significantly higher 26 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,000 than prior years. So, I'm just watching 27 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,360 the budget to make sure we're going to 28 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:16,880 have adequate funds to take care of 29 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:18,000 that. 30 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:19,119 >> Piggy bank. 31 00:01:19,119 --> 00:01:21,200 Yeah. 32 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,080 >> Do we use the mini splits for heat? 33 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,640 >> No, we're using the building heat. 34 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:27,520 >> Okay. it. 35 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,520 >> I didn't know if somebody got cold at 36 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:30,640 >> Well, there have been 37 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:31,200 >> times 38 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,600 >> the way that the heat works, that wind 39 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:35,759 gets good heat and that wind does not. 40 00:01:35,759 --> 00:01:37,119 So, there may have been some of those 41 00:01:37,119 --> 00:01:38,880 colder mornings where one of the 42 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:40,960 classrooms down there put on the the 43 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:43,119 heat as a as a supplement. 44 00:01:43,119 --> 00:01:44,479 >> That's why 45 00:01:44,479 --> 00:01:46,079 >> and you can see in the kilowatts used 46 00:01:46,079 --> 00:01:49,759 when we look at the um data like you 47 00:01:49,759 --> 00:01:52,079 know late August, September, October the 48 00:01:52,079 --> 00:01:54,000 kilowatt usage was higher. November it 49 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:55,280 drops down because we weren't running 50 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,759 mini splits, right? So no AC was needed 51 00:01:57,759 --> 00:01:59,520 in November. So you can see that 52 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,880 significant drop. Um 53 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:04,799 and I think the other side of it is 54 00:02:04,799 --> 00:02:06,799 delivery charges are just way up. I mean 55 00:02:06,799 --> 00:02:08,399 I've looked at the bills. We're locked 56 00:02:08,399 --> 00:02:11,760 into our kilowatt hours or um cost 57 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,920 because we contract. So we put that out 58 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:15,680 to bid, but we can't control the 59 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,080 delivery fees. So those are regulated by 60 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,000 the state and the feds and Eversource 61 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:21,440 can make changes. 62 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,599 >> What is the uh I didn't think about this 63 00:02:23,599 --> 00:02:26,319 ask you earlier, but the gas 64 00:02:26,319 --> 00:02:28,239 Is gas gone up or down? 65 00:02:28,239 --> 00:02:29,040 >> Um, so 66 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:30,400 >> I know the price is I know the price is 67 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,319 going to go up eventually, but the the 68 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:34,160 usage because one of the other thing 69 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:35,840 about the mini splits is is that we can 70 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,519 run them through October without firing 71 00:02:37,519 --> 00:02:38,400 up the boiler. 72 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:38,800 >> Right. 73 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:39,920 >> So, I didn't know if any of that was 74 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:40,400 occurring. 75 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,000 >> I haven't looked at 76 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:42,800 >> that. Okay. 77 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,680 >> The gas consumption here 78 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,519 >> um to see if we're down at all. I'll put 79 00:02:47,519 --> 00:02:49,280 it on the list of things to take a peek 80 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,360 at. We are locked into a rate for that 81 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,040 as well, so at least the rate won't 82 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:54,480 fluctuate. 83 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,480 Um, but I can look and see what 84 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:57,599 >> because part of the problem was that we 85 00:02:57,599 --> 00:02:59,360 have to fire up the boiler on the cold 86 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:00,959 October days and then by mid morning 87 00:03:00,959 --> 00:03:02,080 it's warm outside and then you got to 88 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:03,440 open up the windows. The boiler's been 89 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,280 boiling all day long. So hopefully that 90 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,040 you we're trying to move away from that. 91 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:08,959 >> I'll take a look and see. Maybe the gas 92 00:03:08,959 --> 00:03:11,440 is down and the electricity's up and you 93 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:12,959 know they'll somewhat offset each other 94 00:03:12,959 --> 00:03:13,440 but 95 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,159 >> no but I saw western mass gas was going 96 00:03:16,159 --> 00:03:18,400 to go up 23% or something like that so 97 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,959 next year. So everybody's fighting for 98 00:03:20,959 --> 00:03:21,599 that. 99 00:03:21,599 --> 00:03:22,879 >> Yeah. 100 00:03:22,879 --> 00:03:24,319 >> Terrible. 101 00:03:24,319 --> 00:03:25,360 I'll let you continue. 102 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:26,800 >> No, that was all that I had. I just 103 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:28,640 wanted to make you aware that I was 104 00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:31,040 keeping an eye an eye on that expensive 105 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:31,360 house. 106 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,000 >> Okay. Principal's report. 107 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:34,400 >> Um, 108 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:35,760 >> since last month. 109 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,000 >> Sure. Not a whole lot. We had I had 110 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,080 spoken about the Mass Cultural Council 111 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:41,840 grant that we had gotten to bring 112 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:46,319 Playful Engineers here. Um, so the the 113 00:03:46,319 --> 00:03:48,319 man who runs Playful Engineers is Jay 114 00:03:48,319 --> 00:03:50,879 Manita and he was here for about two 115 00:03:50,879 --> 00:03:52,959 weeks. Um and every class had two 116 00:03:52,959 --> 00:03:55,519 sessions, either the morning session or 117 00:03:55,519 --> 00:03:58,560 the afternoon session. Um and they 118 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,319 received a little instruction um all 119 00:04:02,319 --> 00:04:04,159 things mechanical and then they were set 120 00:04:04,159 --> 00:04:08,000 loose to sort of build um artful 121 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:09,760 mechanisms is what it was called. They 122 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:11,840 had kids had a good time and it was a 123 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,480 good thing to have in January when we 124 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,199 had several days when we couldn't go 125 00:04:17,199 --> 00:04:19,600 outside. Um, 126 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,240 on January 2nd, I took all the students 127 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,000 kindergarten through grade six up to 128 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:28,639 Jaduk to see the performance of Frozen 129 00:04:28,639 --> 00:04:30,960 Jr. This was the first time bringing the 130 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:32,880 whole school. I wasn't sure how the 131 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,520 fifth and sixth graders would um 132 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:36,240 >> behave. 133 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,400 >> Well, no, not behave. They they were 134 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,160 great. Everyone was great. Just I didn't 135 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,440 know if seeing Frozen would be kind of a 136 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,759 bummer for them, but um they seem to 137 00:04:45,759 --> 00:04:47,919 enjoy it like from the 138 00:04:47,919 --> 00:04:49,440 performance perspective and there's a 139 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:50,960 fifth grader who was in it. So, 140 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:51,520 >> Oh, wow. 141 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:52,320 >> that helped too. 142 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:53,759 >> Wow. Where did you go for that? 143 00:04:53,759 --> 00:04:55,759 >> Um, Jaduk Performing Arts Center. 144 00:04:55,759 --> 00:04:56,400 >> Okay. 145 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,680 >> Um, and because I felt horrible that I 146 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,040 was bringing kindergarten through sixth 147 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:02,320 grade and leaving the preschoolers 148 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,479 behind, um, it's difficult to take them 149 00:05:04,479 --> 00:05:06,320 on field trips because we get into 150 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:07,919 transportation issue and car seats and 151 00:05:07,919 --> 00:05:09,759 all that. So, I brought a puppet show 152 00:05:09,759 --> 00:05:11,919 into to school. So, Talking Heads 153 00:05:11,919 --> 00:05:13,440 Theater came and put on a puppet show 154 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,199 for them here in the library. 155 00:05:15,199 --> 00:05:17,680 >> Nice. Um, and lastly, I want to thank 156 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:19,280 Garrett Barry and his team at the 157 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:21,120 Wheatley Highway Department for donating 158 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:22,880 their time to build a sledding hill for 159 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,520 our kids in the in the field across the 160 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:25,759 island. 161 00:05:25,759 --> 00:05:26,560 >> That was pretty cool. 162 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:27,600 >> Yeah, 163 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:29,280 >> the kids were up there when I when I 164 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:30,800 pulled in there. They were up there 165 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:31,520 playing. 166 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:32,639 >> Yeah, we don't have a whole lot in the 167 00:05:32,639 --> 00:05:34,080 way of hills around here. So, 168 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,120 >> yeah, I remember one year the uh when I 169 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,240 was on the uh Lions Club, we bought a 170 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,240 dozen [clears throat] slits. I'm not 171 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:43,919 sure if they were plastic. I think there 172 00:05:43,919 --> 00:05:46,000 were plastic ones and they would use 173 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:47,919 them on the little hill out the door 174 00:05:47,919 --> 00:05:49,919 over there a little bit, but that would 175 00:05:49,919 --> 00:05:52,240 be even better over over there now. So, 176 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,000 >> yeah. Well, we had a parent who donated 177 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:55,039 sleds and 178 00:05:55,039 --> 00:05:56,720 >> that was sort of what 179 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,479 >> Lola was saying, you know, a long time 180 00:05:58,479 --> 00:06:00,560 ago they came and they built a hill and 181 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,560 like we've got plenty of snow now. So, 182 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:03,120 >> Oh, yeah. 183 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:04,880 >> Garrett came right down and asked what 184 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:06,720 we wanted and the next morning they were 185 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,360 here building a mountain. 186 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,680 >> Wow. That's good. Got a lot of snow to 187 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:12,319 build that. 188 00:06:12,319 --> 00:06:13,440 >> Yeah. 189 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:14,240 And that's it. 190 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:20,950 >> Okay. Uh public comment. 191 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:22,880 » Okay. 192 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,400 Uh unfinished business. 193 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:32,790 We'll continue discussion. 194 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:34,720 » All right. 195 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,520 >> I'm sorry. One second. Unfort Did you 196 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,400 print the Is this a revised one from the 197 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,080 last time? This is new. Did we Wait. Did 198 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:43,440 we print any or? 199 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:44,080 >> No. Okay. 200 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:46,400 >> No. So, I'm gonna email it out to the 201 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,240 group after the meeting and then I will 202 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,479 have Raquel print one that you can have 203 00:06:50,479 --> 00:06:52,000 for yourself. Do you want a print copy, 204 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:52,479 too? 205 00:06:52,479 --> 00:06:53,520 >> That would be great. Thank you. 206 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:54,160 >> Yeah, that's fine. 207 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:55,360 >> Perfect. Thanks. 208 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:57,600 >> Okay. So, some of this is repeat from 209 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,360 last month. I'm going to go over what we 210 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:00,960 talked about in January and then we're 211 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,120 going to talk about um what the changes 212 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,880 potentially are. Oops. 213 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,870 Why isn't it 214 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:12,880 There we go. All right. So, in January, 215 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:14,639 we talked about the level service budget 216 00:07:14,639 --> 00:07:16,000 first. So, we're going to review that 217 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,160 now. Uh with the level service budget, 218 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:19,840 we're basically taking all of the 219 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,599 programming, staffing, and services we 220 00:07:21,599 --> 00:07:23,440 provide to our students in the current 221 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,080 year and putting it into the new year to 222 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,000 start with. Uh we take into 223 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,000 consideration any increased costs that 224 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:31,840 are based on level services, which is 225 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,560 primarily related to wages. So any 226 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,199 contractual wage obligations as well as 227 00:07:37,199 --> 00:07:39,840 adjustments for non-wage expenditures 228 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,720 that we anticipate. Um insurance in 229 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:44,400 particular is going to come up this year 230 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,240 as a topic, but also looking at our 231 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:47,919 transportation contracts and things like 232 00:07:47,919 --> 00:07:50,479 that to um ensure that we have adequate 233 00:07:50,479 --> 00:07:53,440 funding. So that put us at an initial 234 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,759 discussion of 8.96% 235 00:07:55,759 --> 00:07:58,319 for level service going into fiscal year 236 00:07:58,319 --> 00:08:01,440 27. You can see the budget total for 237 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,639 general fund is 2.4. 4 almost 2.5 238 00:08:04,639 --> 00:08:07,360 million and about $23,000 239 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,319 increase over fiscal year 26. We're 240 00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:11,520 going to break that down a little bit 241 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:13,280 further in the next few slides and take 242 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,280 a closer look at what's that that is 243 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,080 comprised of. Last month in January, I 244 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,080 talked about these expense categories. 245 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,039 So, these are classified by Desi. They 246 00:08:23,039 --> 00:08:25,599 put each of our expenditures into these 247 00:08:25,599 --> 00:08:28,639 different pots. um this column that says 248 00:08:28,639 --> 00:08:31,440 FY26 shows the total of each of those 249 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,760 categories from the prior year and then 250 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:35,519 what we're proposing in the new year and 251 00:08:35,519 --> 00:08:38,000 then you can see the budget growth here. 252 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,479 Um all of these categories with the 253 00:08:40,479 --> 00:08:43,440 exception of benefits and insurance has 254 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,240 some type of wage associated with it. 255 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,080 Benefits and insurance is exactly what 256 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:49,360 it sounds like. There really shouldn't 257 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,519 be any wages there. [clears throat] 258 00:08:51,519 --> 00:08:54,560 Looking at that a little bit closer, 259 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:56,800 um non-wage growth presents in the 260 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,959 budget, uh which again is about a 261 00:08:58,959 --> 00:09:01,920 $23,000 overall increase. So about 262 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,600 67,000 of that is not wage is not wage 263 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,200 related. So $37,000 increase on 264 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,320 transportation, which is not actually an 265 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,800 increase on our costs outside of our 266 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,440 cola, which is only 2 and a.5% on our 267 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,519 current contract. However, when we look 268 00:09:19,519 --> 00:09:21,920 at level services, we look at revolving 269 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,800 funds and grants. And rural aid is not a 270 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,440 stable funding source for us. In the 271 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,600 current year of 26, we are using rural 272 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:31,440 aid to help offset our transportation 273 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,600 costs. So, when I do that first pass of 274 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,279 the budget, we add that back in as if 275 00:09:35,279 --> 00:09:37,760 that funding source didn't exist. The 276 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:39,920 benefits and insurance is a true 277 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,800 increase in the new year. So, our health 278 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:44,800 insurance for the town of Wheatley, 279 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:46,320 which is not taken into consideration 280 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:48,080 here, but the town also saw that 281 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,640 increase. Um, and Frontier's insurance 282 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,040 went up as of October 1st as well. There 283 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,240 was a 20% change and we have budgeted a 284 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,959 20% increase for fiscal year 27. So, 285 00:09:58,959 --> 00:10:01,440 these are true costs and it's hitting 286 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,839 double in the budget in 27 because it's 287 00:10:03,839 --> 00:10:06,880 unbudgeted in fiscal year 26. So, we're 288 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:08,399 going to have to recoup that money in 289 00:10:08,399 --> 00:10:10,480 the current year and then it gets added 290 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,399 to the new budget. So, that is an actual 291 00:10:12,399 --> 00:10:14,640 increased expenditure. 292 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,279 So, the remaining percentage um comes 293 00:10:17,279 --> 00:10:19,839 into wages. So, wage growth is about 294 00:10:19,839 --> 00:10:23,120 $100,000 of the 203,000. 295 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:24,560 You can see the breakdown here of 296 00:10:24,560 --> 00:10:27,600 non-union to union. So, non-union staff 297 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,440 um is anyone that's building base that's 298 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,240 not on a contract. So, secretaries, uh, 299 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,040 cafeteria, custodial, um, anyone that 300 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,519 falls in those sort of hourly positions 301 00:10:37,519 --> 00:10:39,519 and then administrative contracts as 302 00:10:39,519 --> 00:10:42,320 well. And that considers anyone who's on 303 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,399 a stated contract or anyone who's up for 304 00:10:44,399 --> 00:10:47,200 renewal um, to be negotiated. It also 305 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,120 includes central office administrators 306 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:50,560 and then your principal in this 307 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:53,200 building. Um so it could be you know 308 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:54,720 facilities directors taken into 309 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,040 consideration IT superintendent business 310 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:01,279 office um principal and so on. On the 311 00:11:01,279 --> 00:11:02,800 right hand side of this slide you can 312 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:04,399 see the union increase which is 313 00:11:04,399 --> 00:11:07,200 primarily stemming from uh unit A 314 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,880 changes. Uh unit C are down although 315 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,040 that's really because we're not taking 316 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,279 advantage of an IIA that we added last 317 00:11:15,279 --> 00:11:17,040 year. We ended up not needing that extra 318 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:18,720 position. So that's been removed from 319 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:20,560 the budget. um which is why they're 320 00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:22,160 seeing a decrease. But you can see the 321 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,360 breakdown of the cola. Top step gets 4% 322 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,920 in the new year. Everyone else who's not 323 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,880 stepping is seeing 3% plus their step. 324 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:32,320 And then we have teachers who have 325 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:33,760 advanced their degree. So they're going 326 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:35,600 to see column movement which changes 327 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,399 their overall percentage increase. All 328 00:11:38,399 --> 00:11:41,279 of our IAS are moving up. Uh we added a 329 00:11:41,279 --> 00:11:43,519 new step is 2 and a half and then the 330 00:11:43,519 --> 00:11:46,000 step equals 3%. And we did add in 331 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,040 $10,000 for summer stipens. Um, I think 332 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:50,560 we talked about this a little bit last 333 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:52,560 month, but just as a quick refresher, 334 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:54,640 Weightley has not had summer programming 335 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:56,720 here at the school in several years. 336 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:58,480 Students that needed services were going 337 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,720 over to Deerfield. That changed this 338 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:02,399 past summer and we did have students and 339 00:12:02,399 --> 00:12:04,000 staff on the ground. So, we need to 340 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,560 account for that in the new budget year. 341 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:08,320 There's one more piece of the puzzle for 342 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,399 Weightley that we've separated out into 343 00:12:10,399 --> 00:12:12,320 a different slide and that is our sick 344 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,000 buyback which is a contractual 345 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,560 obligation for anyone who's being paid 346 00:12:16,560 --> 00:12:19,360 out retirement payments. Um, and that is 347 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,160 estimated at about 40,000 for next year. 348 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,399 That equals 1.77% 349 00:12:24,399 --> 00:12:27,680 of the 8.96 growth that we're seeing. 350 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:29,920 Historically, the town has funded this 351 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:31,760 type of expenditure under a separate 352 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,160 warrant article or with an alternative 353 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,000 funding source. When the town was 354 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:37,839 receiving ARPA money which was related 355 00:12:37,839 --> 00:12:40,399 to COVID, they helped us in those years 356 00:12:40,399 --> 00:12:42,240 pay for this expenditure out of that 357 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,800 type of funding. Um, but as a starting 358 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:46,480 point, we do look at it because if the 359 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,240 town didn't have another pot of money to 360 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,560 pull that from, uh, we would have to 361 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:52,880 incorporate it and it is technically a 362 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,480 school expense. However, they pay for 363 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,880 it. It's still a cost for school 364 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:58,803 expenditures. 365 00:12:58,803 --> 00:12:59,440 [clears throat] 366 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,240 So, just to bring us back and recap, um 367 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:05,360 about 203,000 over the current year, uh 368 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,760 just shy of 9% level service budget 369 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,160 increase. Breaking that down, non-wage 370 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,880 expense, wage expense, and then that 371 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,200 additional 40,000 for sick buyback. So, 372 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,320 that's what's comprising the 8.96. 373 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,120 Any questions before I keep going? 374 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:22,480 Great. 375 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,639 So we're going to look at our total 376 00:13:24,639 --> 00:13:26,240 budget which will include revolving 377 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:27,920 funds and grants and then what the cost 378 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:29,519 to educate based on our current 379 00:13:29,519 --> 00:13:31,760 enrollment. So grants and revolving 380 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,000 funds here you can see there's actually 381 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,000 demonstrating in this slide a decrease 382 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,560 from fiscal year 26 and that is because 383 00:13:38,560 --> 00:13:40,639 we're not using rural aid yet in this 384 00:13:40,639 --> 00:13:42,480 level service budget. So you can see 385 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:46,720 rural aid is in here at zero. Um whoops 386 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:48,480 I went I had to I don't know if I can go 387 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,600 backwards. Can I Darius? 388 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,480 Yes, I can. You've been controlling this 389 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,959 for me. So, I know I know I jumped right 390 00:13:56,959 --> 00:13:58,000 on. 391 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,720 >> Um, [clears throat] so all of the other 392 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,120 increases in these funding sources is 393 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,199 strictly uh wage related. So, you can 394 00:14:05,199 --> 00:14:06,639 see there's minimal growth in each of 395 00:14:06,639 --> 00:14:08,320 the categories. That just accounts for 396 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,399 any staff that are paying from those 397 00:14:10,399 --> 00:14:12,480 other funding sources and their cola or 398 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,800 step increases. 399 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:16,160 So, what does that look like for our 400 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:18,320 total budget? So top line shows general 401 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,560 fund, then we have revolving funds, and 402 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:22,639 then our overall total budget, which is 403 00:14:22,639 --> 00:14:26,560 that $2.95 million. 404 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,519 Breaking that down per student at 141 405 00:14:29,519 --> 00:14:31,519 students, which does include our school 406 00:14:31,519 --> 00:14:33,760 choice enrollment, we're just shy of 407 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,720 $21,000 per student on our level service 408 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,829 budget. 409 00:14:39,839 --> 00:14:40,880 Next, we're going to talk about 410 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,600 principal requests. 411 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:45,760 So each of our principles as part of the 412 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,240 budgeting process gets to have input as 413 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:50,639 to new needs or initiatives in the 414 00:14:50,639 --> 00:14:53,120 building. Uh the request is minimal at 415 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:54,320 Weightley when you look at the dollar 416 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,240 amount of 12,000, but it's also at the 417 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:57,920 same time a half a percentage point. So 418 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,320 it does have some impact on our budget. 419 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,959 So uh we are requesting $3,000 420 00:15:02,959 --> 00:15:05,440 additional for the current uh certified 421 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,839 occupational therapy assistant to 422 00:15:07,839 --> 00:15:10,560 increase OT services for our students. 423 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,040 That bumps that position up from 5 hours 424 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:14,880 a week to seven hours a week, which is 425 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:16,880 one full day. So, it's currently not one 426 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:18,959 full day a week. And then we had a 427 00:15:18,959 --> 00:15:21,600 request for $9,000 under general 428 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,279 supplies and textbooks, which is 429 00:15:23,279 --> 00:15:26,959 primarily consumables. Um, one in part 430 00:15:26,959 --> 00:15:29,199 because of our new curriculum. Um, and 431 00:15:29,199 --> 00:15:31,199 then also the cost of supplies is going 432 00:15:31,199 --> 00:15:33,040 up. So, we added some increased funds 433 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,279 there. Uh, you can see that brought our 434 00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:38,320 total budget to 9.49% 49% or almost 435 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,240 $215,000 436 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:40,639 over 437 00:15:40,639 --> 00:15:43,600 >> the textbook specific subject area like 438 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:44,480 replacing 439 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,480 >> ELA and math geta 440 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,079 >> they've got consumables for both of 441 00:15:48,079 --> 00:15:50,720 those. 442 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,199 >> All right. So from here the next piece 443 00:15:53,199 --> 00:15:54,639 that we're going to talk about are 444 00:15:54,639 --> 00:15:56,720 administrative recommendations to reduce 445 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:01,120 the budget. It feels like um 9.49% 49%. 446 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,839 While we have some minimal needs, the 447 00:16:03,839 --> 00:16:05,920 level service budget really needed some 448 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:07,759 attention to try to bring down those 449 00:16:07,759 --> 00:16:10,240 numbers. Um, we brought in a pretty high 450 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,639 budget last year and a little bit high 451 00:16:12,639 --> 00:16:14,079 budget the year before, which we're 452 00:16:14,079 --> 00:16:16,480 going to review a in a few slides moving 453 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:18,800 forward. Um, but we felt like to be 454 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,120 fiscally responsible and try to balance 455 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,480 the town's uh various pots of money and 456 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,639 how much the school is being funded with 457 00:16:26,639 --> 00:16:28,800 town funds that we wanted to make some 458 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:30,560 recommendations to reduce the budget at 459 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:32,320 this point. 460 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,279 There um reductions that don't have a 461 00:16:35,279 --> 00:16:37,600 significant impact on the budget. So, we 462 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,160 are recommending applying rural aid. Our 463 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:42,480 rural aid did come down slightly from 464 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,360 the prior year, but it's about $32,000, 465 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,079 which is over one percentage point. So, 466 00:16:48,079 --> 00:16:50,800 we have added that into the um 467 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:52,959 configuration of our revolving funds and 468 00:16:52,959 --> 00:16:55,920 grants. We are recommending that we pull 469 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,360 off the $9,000 for curriculum needs that 470 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,000 we requested, but that we keep in the 471 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,319 3,000 for KOD because that is student 472 00:17:04,319 --> 00:17:05,919 specific and we need to meet the needs 473 00:17:05,919 --> 00:17:08,559 of our IEPs. And then we are 474 00:17:08,559 --> 00:17:10,559 recommending that we propose the sick 475 00:17:10,559 --> 00:17:12,880 buyback be paid under a separate warrant 476 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,199 request by the town. 477 00:17:15,199 --> 00:17:16,240 So none [clears throat] of these 478 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,959 recommendations at this point have any 479 00:17:18,959 --> 00:17:22,160 changes to um staffing, student 480 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,079 services, or programming. It's really 481 00:17:24,079 --> 00:17:26,000 just looking at our other pots of money 482 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:27,679 and where we can sort of tighten things 483 00:17:27,679 --> 00:17:30,160 up a little bit. So with those changes, 484 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,799 it's about a 3% change. So it would 485 00:17:32,799 --> 00:17:34,559 bring our general fund budget which 486 00:17:34,559 --> 00:17:36,400 still is essentially level service 487 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,960 funded to 5.95% which is about 135,000 488 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,400 over the prior year 489 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,280 questions about that. 490 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:49,760 Okay. So next we're going to look at 491 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,840 some historical information and then 492 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,000 just some uh timelines and things like 493 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,799 that. So historically 494 00:17:56,799 --> 00:17:59,919 um outside of 2020 our budgets in the 495 00:17:59,919 --> 00:18:02,720 years following that you can see were 496 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:04,080 you [clears throat] know what I think is 497 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:07,520 reasonable that 2.5 to 3.5% 498 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,559 um about a 50 to $60,000 increase a year 499 00:18:10,559 --> 00:18:13,280 for the town that felt like you know we 500 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,280 were in a good spot. Towns didn't ask us 501 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,280 to reduce and we were getting what we 502 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:18,240 needed. 503 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,360 >> Um 25 and 26 the story is a little bit 504 00:18:21,360 --> 00:18:23,440 different. Uh we had a level service 505 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,320 increase in 25 but our transportation 506 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,320 contract went out for bid and renewal 507 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,320 and there was significant growth there. 508 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:34,240 So you can see we came out at 5.57% 509 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:36,880 in fiscal year 25. You can see the big 510 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:38,799 jump what that means dollar-wise. 511 00:18:38,799 --> 00:18:40,880 Sometimes the dollar dollars are more 512 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,200 important to look at than the percentage 513 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:44,960 um because the town doesn't necessarily 514 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,360 have a lot of new revenue growth to help 515 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:50,480 us cover this expense. Last year we went 516 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,000 in with a 10.11% budget and it was um 517 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,760 supported by the select board and 518 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:57,360 finance committee and did get through 519 00:18:57,360 --> 00:18:59,600 annual town meeting. You can see it's 520 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:01,600 about $28,000 521 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,720 over fiscal year 25. There were many 522 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,280 factors attributing here. It was a level 523 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,320 service budget. We added an IIA based on 524 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,320 anticipated one-to-one needs for 525 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,360 students in the building. And then uh in 526 00:19:15,360 --> 00:19:17,520 the prior year we had added a half-time 527 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:20,000 math interventionist position and used 528 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,160 esser funding which was available during 529 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,360 co uh esser funding closed out and that 530 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:27,120 was no longer available. So that added 531 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:29,200 $40,000 to our budget because we wanted 532 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,919 to continue on with that position. 533 00:19:31,919 --> 00:19:34,240 >> How long is the transportation contract 534 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:34,720 for? 535 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:38,080 >> It's a 5-year renewal. Um currently the 536 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,240 only growth would be 2 and a half% based 537 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,240 on cola. 538 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:43,360 So [clears throat] we won't see that 539 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:43,840 big. 540 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:45,120 >> They did a bump in the first year and 541 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:47,039 then two and a half after that. So we 542 00:19:47,039 --> 00:19:48,320 got hit in the first year. 543 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:49,840 >> Yeah. Wheatly I mean all the 544 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:51,200 elementarymentaries got hit where the 545 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,000 high school really didn't get hit with 546 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,000 the new transportation. 547 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,960 >> I mean we it was significant for us. I 548 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:00,960 mean 549 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:02,160 >> it was significant for [clears throat] 550 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,000 pretty much everybody outside of 551 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,000 Frontier. Frontier had 552 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:07,679 >> um [clears throat] 553 00:20:07,679 --> 00:20:09,919 >> is there much competition with contracts 554 00:20:09,919 --> 00:20:10,400 or 555 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,640 >> No. Zero. I was going to say 556 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,080 >> one. Yeah. I mean, we put it out, but 557 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,320 >> um Grio was the only bid received, 558 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:19,679 >> but to be fair, they are at market 559 00:20:19,679 --> 00:20:21,679 value. So, you know, it's not like 560 00:20:21,679 --> 00:20:25,120 they're um we're still less than our 561 00:20:25,120 --> 00:20:26,960 northern Franklin County what they're 562 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:28,720 paying per day per bus. 563 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:30,799 >> Um but so when they made a market 564 00:20:30,799 --> 00:20:32,799 adjustment, it was a fair market 565 00:20:32,799 --> 00:20:34,159 adjustment of what other people are 566 00:20:34,159 --> 00:20:37,120 paying in the area. So, um, so they're 567 00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:39,120 not you're not take I don't want to put 568 00:20:39,120 --> 00:20:40,559 a bad name out there for them in the 569 00:20:40,559 --> 00:20:42,159 sense of that they're not gouging us 570 00:20:42,159 --> 00:20:44,720 because they can. They're keeping it at 571 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,559 what is reasonable, but their costs are 572 00:20:46,559 --> 00:20:50,240 going up and so Okay. Yeah. So, 573 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:51,760 >> I would say it's fair. I mean, we always 574 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:53,360 wanted to be cheaper and make it more 575 00:20:53,360 --> 00:20:56,240 fair for us, but it was a fair overall 576 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:57,039 on their end. 577 00:20:57,039 --> 00:20:58,640 >> Yep. [clears throat] 578 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:00,640 >> Um, the next slide and shows you 579 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:02,960 enrollment data. This is just based on 580 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:05,120 projected kindergarten and preschooler 581 00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:06,960 estimates. You can see the total there 582 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:09,760 at the bottom, 138, roughly the same 583 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,000 amount of students. We're at 141. We 584 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:13,600 could hit that same number depending on 585 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,679 what happens with school choice. So, um, 586 00:21:15,679 --> 00:21:18,000 we're seeing, you know, sort of stagnant 587 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,320 enrollment, not growth or decline at 588 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,159 this point. 589 00:21:22,159 --> 00:21:22,400 >> And 590 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,400 >> how many how many applications did we 591 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,080 get for kindergarten 592 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,400 >> so far? It's early. Um, 593 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,679 >> yeah, I I was curious curious. I mean 594 00:21:31,679 --> 00:21:32,080 that 595 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:36,240 >> we have um five applications and 596 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,440 six anticipated openings for school 597 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,400 choice for kindergarten [clears throat] 598 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,720 >> and you know your number is going out I 599 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:46,320 mean it's next year so what's the number 600 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:48,559 going out for school choice? 601 00:21:48,559 --> 00:21:50,640 >> Oh for your sixth graders 602 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:52,559 >> to pull that number are we paying for 603 00:21:52,559 --> 00:21:53,360 someone 604 00:21:53,360 --> 00:21:56,240 >> No what is our sixth graders going out 605 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,000 >> eight. So [snorts] we're going to take a 606 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,960 small loss there. No, it's always been 607 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:02,159 my goal to try and 608 00:22:02,159 --> 00:22:03,360 >> You try to keep it level. Yeah. 609 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:04,880 >> Yeah, we'll try to keep it level because 610 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:06,480 we really don't want to lose any more 611 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,520 school choice um revenue or students, 612 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:11,360 but it'll just be a matter of what other 613 00:22:11,360 --> 00:22:13,440 grade levels you get applications for? 614 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:14,159 >> Yeah. 615 00:22:14,159 --> 00:22:16,159 >> You don't have any projections on birth 616 00:22:16,159 --> 00:22:17,679 rates and 617 00:22:17,679 --> 00:22:19,200 >> survival or anything like that? 618 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:20,320 >> We do. Um 619 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:25,039 >> down the road. So based on the census 620 00:22:25,039 --> 00:22:28,640 um we can look and see that there are 12 621 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:30,880 weight residents who will be eligible to 622 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:32,320 come to kindergarten. So that's 623 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:33,200 >> for next for next year. 624 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,720 >> For next year that's where my um my 625 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,280 number of six uh school choice openings 626 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:40,240 comes from. Okay. 627 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,520 >> That we wouldn't want to make that class 628 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:45,840 much larger than 18. But 629 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,400 >> but can you look beyond that? Say two 630 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:49,679 years down the road, three years. Do 631 00:22:49,679 --> 00:22:50,640 they have that data? 632 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,120 >> Yeah. accuracy by the time they they get 633 00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:54,880 here is a little bit off. Last year it 634 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,120 was quite a bit off. The census um did 635 00:22:57,120 --> 00:22:58,559 not include [clears throat] there were 636 00:22:58,559 --> 00:23:00,400 five or six surprises. 637 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:01,200 >> Yeah. 638 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:01,840 >> Good surprises. 639 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:03,360 >> A small number. It wouldn't take much to 640 00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:04,000 shift it. 641 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:04,880 >> Yeah. 642 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:06,960 It's exactly that. It just hasn't 643 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:08,480 been dependable because it's the numbers 644 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:09,679 are so small. 645 00:23:09,679 --> 00:23:11,840 >> You know what I mean? Like you know when 646 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:13,039 >> a couple feeling go you know they want 647 00:23:13,039 --> 00:23:15,039 to go to private or if they you moved in 648 00:23:15,039 --> 00:23:16,640 town, moved out of town, you know that 649 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:18,640 you know we just don't have that. Okay. 650 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:21,280 So, 651 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,480 >> all right. So, the last slide uh just is 652 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,360 sort of next steps and some reminders. 653 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:31,600 Uh 1% budget increase is almost $23,000. 654 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,000 Uh level service plus principal was 655 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,880 9.49. The reduced budget, which is 656 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:38,880 actually not reducing any programs or 657 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,360 staffing, but instead looking at other 658 00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:42,880 funding sources for some of our 659 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,080 expenditures, brought us down to 5.95. 660 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,480 and we will request that sick buyback on 661 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:50,880 a separate warrant for the town. And 662 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:52,640 then I just listed out future meetings 663 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,400 so that you can see what the timeline 664 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,360 looks like. And what I will say is that 665 00:23:57,360 --> 00:24:00,640 Wheatly has time to make decisions. Um 666 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:02,559 the town did request a meeting with us. 667 00:24:02,559 --> 00:24:04,320 Is that just with finance or is it 668 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:05,919 finance and select board? 669 00:24:05,919 --> 00:24:06,720 >> It's joint. Yeah. 670 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:08,320 >> Okay. [clears throat] So that is on the 671 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:11,679 25th at 5:00 pm at the town office with 672 00:24:11,679 --> 00:24:12,640 town officials. 673 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:14,400 >> So we will post that because it's a 674 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,240 joint meeting. So we'll post that for 675 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:18,799 you folks as well. So 676 00:24:18,799 --> 00:24:20,640 >> technically we are scheduled for the 677 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,200 public hearing on March 7th and then our 678 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,760 budget vote on March 26th. However, if 679 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:27,440 we weren't ready for either of those 680 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,600 pieces, meetings could be changed and 681 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,120 you know we could continue discussion 682 00:24:31,120 --> 00:24:33,039 into April given that town meeting is 683 00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:35,600 not until June. So that's a hugely 684 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,679 beneficial move I think in regards to 685 00:24:37,679 --> 00:24:39,760 the elementary budget for us to have 686 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:41,279 more time um 687 00:24:41,279 --> 00:24:43,279 >> between the 7th and the 26th. Is that 688 00:24:43,279 --> 00:24:45,520 what you're thinking? more time for 689 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:47,760 >> well I'm just saying if we needed to 690 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:49,679 continue talking in April we could do 691 00:24:49,679 --> 00:24:52,720 that we don't have to be set to 692 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,640 >> what's when how many days ahead do we 693 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:55,440 have to put the warrant 694 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:56,799 >> so that's what I was about to say so 695 00:24:56,799 --> 00:24:59,360 Dave the way it works in in 696 00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:02,640 there sorry but the is that the um 697 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,679 whatever you put on the public hearing 698 00:25:05,679 --> 00:25:09,200 you can't go up from that number so 699 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:10,720 whatever number we go to public hearing 700 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,440 on in March you can reduce the bud 701 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:14,880 budget actual public hearing, but you 702 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:16,799 can't increase it. That's the way the 703 00:25:16,799 --> 00:25:18,559 Massachusetts law works. Or you have to 704 00:25:18,559 --> 00:25:19,840 repost the public hearing and have 705 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:21,760 another public hearing. Um, which is, 706 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:22,799 you know, it's a small fee because you 707 00:25:22,799 --> 00:25:23,840 got to put in the paper and that kind of 708 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:24,799 stuff. So, it's not the end of the world 709 00:25:24,799 --> 00:25:27,200 if we had to do that. But, so we might 710 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:28,880 go to public hearing with this higher 711 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:30,080 number 712 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:31,520 >> and have basically have the same 713 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:33,840 conversation we just had right now as a 714 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:35,919 public hearing. And then if the town's 715 00:25:35,919 --> 00:25:37,440 saying you need to reduce that, then we 716 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,080 reduce that afterwards. So, um, but we 717 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,799 do have more time. Um when we go into 718 00:25:42,799 --> 00:25:45,679 frontier are you about the Woodies? 719 00:25:45,679 --> 00:25:47,679 >> I only to wrap up I just wanted to make 720 00:25:47,679 --> 00:25:49,760 sure that everyone um school committee 721 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,720 wise was okay with the 5.95% going into 722 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,279 the meeting with the town um and the 723 00:25:55,279 --> 00:25:56,799 reductions that we've made. So pulling 724 00:25:56,799 --> 00:25:58,720 off the 40,000 of the sick buyback to 725 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,840 warrant applying our rural aid and then 726 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,120 eliminating the 9,000 for consumables 727 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:07,679 for curriculum and textbooks. 728 00:26:07,679 --> 00:26:09,919 It's your budget. So we've made the 729 00:26:09,919 --> 00:26:11,840 recommendations. I've done the math, but 730 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,039 I want to make sure that we're 731 00:26:13,039 --> 00:26:14,320 comfortable with that number. 732 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:15,440 >> Is there any grants out [clears throat] 733 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,320 there for textbooks? 734 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:19,360 >> Yeah, I mean, we're going to look into 735 00:26:19,360 --> 00:26:19,679 it. 736 00:26:19,679 --> 00:26:20,559 >> Okay. I'm just 737 00:26:20,559 --> 00:26:21,200 >> We're always 738 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,200 >> If we need them, we, you know, 739 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,799 >> Yeah, we It's not as if taking those off 740 00:26:26,799 --> 00:26:28,640 means that we're not going to get them. 741 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:30,159 We just have to look at what's 742 00:26:30,159 --> 00:26:30,960 available. 743 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,360 >> Okay. Um it is one of those things if 744 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:34,720 you're having a reoccurring expense 745 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,320 every year now with a new curriculum 746 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:37,760 it's best to put it in the budget as 747 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,000 best practice rather than stealing or 748 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,080 depending on those other things but um 749 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:43,919 you know we do have some other pools 750 00:26:43,919 --> 00:26:45,520 grant monies that we could use for 751 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:47,919 curriculum stuff you know um that we've 752 00:26:47,919 --> 00:26:51,039 used for other things. So um for example 753 00:26:51,039 --> 00:26:55,440 we have a um what am I thinking of rural 754 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:56,400 it's not rural aid it's 755 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,159 >> ree 756 00:26:58,159 --> 00:26:59,120 which comes from the federal government 757 00:26:59,120 --> 00:27:00,799 for rural schools from at the federal 758 00:27:00,799 --> 00:27:03,520 level and we usually use that toward PD 759 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:04,799 and then we'll take a couple thousand 760 00:27:04,799 --> 00:27:07,120 out of that PD line from there and then 761 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:08,159 have to change what we're doing for 762 00:27:08,159 --> 00:27:09,840 program to pay for those material. So 763 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:11,120 there's other ways of moving it around. 764 00:27:11,120 --> 00:27:13,760 It's just it's best practices is put in 765 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,360 the budget what you're spending. 766 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:15,600 A 767 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:17,679 >> and alternatively, if we felt like we 768 00:27:17,679 --> 00:27:19,600 wanted to make that shift, it is if it 769 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,279 is going to be a recurring expense, we 770 00:27:21,279 --> 00:27:23,120 could add the 9,000 back in and present 771 00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:24,640 that to 772 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:25,440 >> to the town. 773 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:27,120 >> Yeah. I try to keep that number under 774 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:27,679 six, though. 775 00:27:27,679 --> 00:27:30,618 >> That's right. That putting that in 776 00:27:30,618 --> 00:27:30,720 [clears throat] 777 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,400 >> it will put us over six. So, it'll be 778 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:32,960 like 779 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:36,000 >> 6.02 or 6 780 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:38,640 08. you know, it's not huge, but I think 781 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:43,120 the, you know, just optics of it, 782 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:46,960 >> the uh 20 uh March 20 Yeah, March 26 783 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,640 meeting, is that just a vote? 784 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:51,039 >> Yeah, 785 00:27:51,039 --> 00:27:53,520 >> as it stands right now, yes, it is just 786 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:55,919 a vote. 787 00:27:55,919 --> 00:27:58,159 >> Can we do it? I know Frontier last year, 788 00:27:58,159 --> 00:28:00,159 we did it a day apart from our public 789 00:28:00,159 --> 00:28:02,799 hearing and voting on the budget. 790 00:28:02,799 --> 00:28:05,279 >> So, so Frontier is very different. So, 791 00:28:05,279 --> 00:28:08,159 Frontier has to vote the budget 45 days 792 00:28:08,159 --> 00:28:10,559 out from the first town meeting. And the 793 00:28:10,559 --> 00:28:12,159 first town meeting is in Sunderland 794 00:28:12,159 --> 00:28:13,919 during 795 00:28:13,919 --> 00:28:15,279 vacation week. It's the only way I know 796 00:28:15,279 --> 00:28:17,360 what week it is. Is that like really? 797 00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:18,159 >> Friday of vacation. 798 00:28:18,159 --> 00:28:20,159 >> The Friday of vacation week. Um, so it's 799 00:28:20,159 --> 00:28:22,880 like the 22nd or something like that. 800 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,559 >> 28th, I think. 801 00:28:24,559 --> 00:28:28,080 >> Or is it later than that? It's the 24th. 802 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,840 So, we back our budget out. 803 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:34,640 Frontier budget gets backed out 45 days. 804 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:36,640 We put a couple buffer days in and then 805 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,720 we made both the hearing and the voting 806 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:40,000 that same week. And that's why we did 807 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:40,559 that. So, 808 00:28:40,559 --> 00:28:41,440 >> okay. 809 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:44,320 >> Realistically, what weight could do is 810 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:46,080 not do a double meeting in the month of 811 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:47,279 March. 812 00:28:47,279 --> 00:28:48,720 >> Put it on the 813 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:49,200 >> April. 814 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:51,120 Well, April is a joint meeting. 815 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:52,880 Um, you could even put on the May 816 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:54,720 agenda, 817 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:56,480 you know, especially if you know, 818 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:57,760 especially if we're in communication 819 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,320 with the town that we're not moving it. 820 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:01,600 You know what I mean? You understand 821 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:02,480 what I'm saying? Like, 822 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:04,880 >> but we won't be do we won't be doing 823 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,200 anything different because we already 824 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,840 had our public meeting. We can't go up. 825 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:10,880 >> We can always go down, 826 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:14,640 >> right? And so, as they figure out, the 827 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,120 more time helps because we start to see 828 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:18,880 kindergarten enrollment starts to become 829 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:20,559 more real. School choice enrollment 830 00:29:20,559 --> 00:29:23,360 starts to become more real. Although 831 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:25,279 those numbers are not going to sometimes 832 00:29:25,279 --> 00:29:26,480 we're looking at enrollment, we're like, 833 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:28,559 "Oh, we're going to have to do we have 834 00:29:28,559 --> 00:29:30,240 too many or we have to split a class or 835 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:31,279 you know that you know those kind of 836 00:29:31,279 --> 00:29:32,640 things." That's not happening in this 837 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:33,760 budget. So it is 838 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:35,120 >> you're right there's probably no reason 839 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,760 to delay. Um but you do have that option 840 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:39,760 is what I'm saying like and the most 841 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,760 important thing is that the town knows 842 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:42,930 where we're coming in at. 843 00:29:42,930 --> 00:29:44,000 [clears throat] And so after we have 844 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,200 this meeting with them in two weeks, you 845 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:48,399 know, we'll be able to see they'll be 846 00:29:48,399 --> 00:29:50,720 able to show us hopefully, you know, 847 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:52,399 what their revenues are. They're not 848 00:29:52,399 --> 00:29:53,279 going to look at percentage, they're 849 00:29:53,279 --> 00:29:54,559 going to look at their overall costs, 850 00:29:54,559 --> 00:29:56,559 right? They will also have Frontier's 851 00:29:56,559 --> 00:29:58,559 number at that time. So Frontier is a 852 00:29:58,559 --> 00:30:00,480 meeting tonight. You know, obviously 853 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:02,480 Shel and I have, you know, information 854 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:03,919 behind the scenes in the sense of what 855 00:30:03,919 --> 00:30:06,720 we're going to be presenting um to where 856 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:08,799 it could end up. If Frontier ends up to 857 00:30:08,799 --> 00:30:10,720 where we're kind of projecting it, 858 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:12,960 Wheatly is not going to get a big hit. 859 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,440 So they're going to have I would say an 860 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:18,000 acceptable range for the for the 861 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:19,600 secondary which will help with the 862 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:21,840 elementary being a slightly higher if 863 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:23,440 that makes sense. But the frontier I 864 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:24,640 mean I can't project I can't give you 865 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:26,080 the numbers because they have to vote 866 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:27,440 that out and they got to approve there's 867 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:28,720 reductions involved and that kind of 868 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:30,000 stuff. So they're going to have to 869 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:33,039 approve that. But um 870 00:30:33,039 --> 00:30:34,720 the way it looks is that frontier will 871 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:40,799 not be um its assessment will not be so high that it makes the elementary 872 00:30:40,799 --> 00:30:42,960 have to offset the is working and vice 873 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:44,640 versa for this community. Other 874 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:45,360 communities are [clears throat] 875 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,440 different. So um because the assessment 876 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:51,360 changes from community to community 877 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:52,320 >> if that makes sense. 878 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:54,399 >> You want to do you have value thin outs? 879 00:30:54,399 --> 00:30:54,799 >> Nope. 880 00:30:54,799 --> 00:30:56,399 >> Oh I thought I thought something about 881 00:30:56,399 --> 00:30:59,520 frontier. I said I was just I was only 882 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:00,559 saying that 883 00:31:00,559 --> 00:31:02,080 >> you know again Frontiers tonight and 884 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:03,600 that you know that their assessment 885 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,559 could be um you know if if it all they 886 00:31:06,559 --> 00:31:08,080 follow recommendations to move forward 887 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:08,880 on that 888 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:13,279 >> which you'll be a part of um it should it should help kind of 889 00:31:13,279 --> 00:31:16,080 balance out the overall schools budget. 890 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:17,840 >> Sounds good. 891 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:21,360 >> Okay. Some new business. Vote on some 892 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:23,440 school choice 893 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:25,840 slots spaces. 894 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:27,919 You said six. 895 00:31:27,919 --> 00:31:30,399 >> Um, no, six for kindergarten. 896 00:31:30,399 --> 00:31:30,799 >> Okay. 897 00:31:30,799 --> 00:31:33,039 >> And I think, don't we just vote whether 898 00:31:33,039 --> 00:31:34,559 or not we want to? 899 00:31:34,559 --> 00:31:37,279 >> So, essentially, so just again to um 900 00:31:37,279 --> 00:31:41,120 keep David up to speed here. So, school choice in Massachusetts, they 901 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:42,559 require school committee to annually 902 00:31:42,559 --> 00:31:45,440 vote to be a school choice school. Okay. 903 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:48,960 Some communities the the uh the uh 904 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:50,480 school committee will get so much and 905 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,080 approve what's going to happen, what 906 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:55,200 grade level. We basically ask for a 907 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:57,039 school choice and then Chrissy gives the 908 00:31:57,039 --> 00:31:59,120 presentation of where she sees 909 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:00,640 possibility 910 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:02,799 um but leave some discretion to the 911 00:32:02,799 --> 00:32:04,240 principal because we get down to such 912 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:06,559 finite numbers where I got two kids who 913 00:32:06,559 --> 00:32:08,799 left you know you know moved out can I 914 00:32:08,799 --> 00:32:11,120 take two more you know so we we say 915 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:13,200 based on the information provided at the 916 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,120 discretion of the principal um to create 917 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:18,320 those final numbers um and so and then 918 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:20,320 it goes to a based on the amount of 919 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:22,799 applicants will go to a lottery system 920 00:32:22,799 --> 00:32:25,840 um if a lottery system if it's the 921 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:26,960 demand is higher than the the 922 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:30,240 placements. So um so tonight we are 923 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,240 looking so I was going to try to bring 924 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:34,559 up that so they can see that. Um 925 00:32:34,559 --> 00:32:35,919 >> do you have it? 926 00:32:35,919 --> 00:32:37,039 >> Did you bring it was a part of the 927 00:32:37,039 --> 00:32:37,600 packet? 928 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:39,039 >> I don't think so. 929 00:32:39,039 --> 00:32:40,080 >> Can you just share it with me right now? 930 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:40,960 Is on your screen? 931 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,600 >> Amy's got it. I'll have her share it. 932 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:45,360 >> Okay. 933 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:47,360 All right. So why don't you just kind of 934 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:49,120 go through then just verbally give kind 935 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:50,480 of an overview of what you're looking 936 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:54,630 at. 937 00:32:54,640 --> 00:33:12,870 She shared this with me. 938 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,279 » There's some textbooks right there. That 939 00:33:15,279 --> 00:33:17,120 >> is true. 940 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:18,960 >> Could be used for that. I just sent it 941 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:20,393 to you. 942 00:33:20,393 --> 00:33:21,279 >> [clears throat] 943 00:33:21,279 --> 00:33:24,640 >> Give me one second. We're moving files 944 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:29,750 around. 945 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:34,159 » So, last year, um, we had to change our 946 00:33:34,159 --> 00:33:35,519 what we thought we were going to be able 947 00:33:35,519 --> 00:33:37,519 to accept for kindergarten school choice 948 00:33:37,519 --> 00:33:41,840 because the census was so off, um, that 949 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:44,720 we we ended up not being able to have 950 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,360 any school choice in kindergarten. And 951 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:49,519 that hurts because people typically are 952 00:33:49,519 --> 00:33:51,120 looking 953 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:51,519 um 954 00:33:51,519 --> 00:33:52,480 >> long term. 955 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:55,840 >> Yeah. To to make that um decision for 956 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:58,320 kindergarten. So they'd stay here 957 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,200 throughout. 958 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:03,600 >> Um so 959 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:05,600 kindergarten remains the class that will 960 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:07,760 have the biggest uh school choice 961 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:10,960 openings. Um kindergarten can be tricky 962 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,520 because we also want to account for the 963 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:16,480 level of need within any given class. 964 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:18,320 um which is sort of how we get to the 965 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:22,720 target size. Um 966 00:34:22,720 --> 00:34:24,800 first grade has no openings because 967 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:26,800 that's the current kindergarten. Um then 968 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:29,200 we've got one to two openings in second, 969 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:33,119 third, and fifth and sixth grade. Um 970 00:34:33,119 --> 00:34:35,599 the total anticipated would be 10 to 15 971 00:34:35,599 --> 00:34:38,560 for the school. And as Darius mentioned, 972 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:44,079 we've got eight sixth graders who are leaving. 973 00:34:44,079 --> 00:34:45,040 Sorry. 974 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:46,399 >> Looking at one screen trying to use my 975 00:34:46,399 --> 00:34:47,919 mouse on it. 976 00:34:47,919 --> 00:34:54,069 >> Let's get [snorts] on the other one. So, 977 00:34:54,079 --> 00:34:55,919 » so basically what it looks like on the 978 00:34:55,919 --> 00:35:01,510 right, we have eight openings probably 979 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:04,880 for school choice. If that if it's 131 980 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:09,430 and you can do 139 981 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:11,680 number of kids. Now, that's the target 982 00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:14,560 size. And you know, when I was going 983 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:16,480 through this with um 984 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:18,640 >> Amy, 985 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:22,160 we try and keep the lower grades at 986 00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:25,040 18. Um, 987 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:26,960 however, depending on how things shake 988 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:29,839 out in other places, we may go up to 20. 989 00:35:29,839 --> 00:35:31,760 It would depend on the particular class 990 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:35,920 and also um whether I'm getting close to 991 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:37,200 that. 992 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:40,720 >> When do we have to let 993 00:35:40,720 --> 00:35:43,200 any of the school choice kids, you know, 994 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,520 are they automatically in? If if you had 995 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:47,359 openings, you are they automatically in 996 00:35:47,359 --> 00:35:49,599 or do you call them and say, "Yeah, 997 00:35:49,599 --> 00:35:52,560 you've been chosen for kindergarten or 998 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:54,720 first grade or whatever grade?" 999 00:35:54,720 --> 00:35:58,800 >> Yeah. So, we'll um the closing for the 1000 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:00,320 first round of applications is the last 1001 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,000 week in March and then we'll be sending 1002 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:05,454 out decisions on April 1st. Um 1003 00:36:05,454 --> 00:36:07,119 [clears throat] what typically happens 1004 00:36:07,119 --> 00:36:10,800 is if we have a spot and an application 1005 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:13,920 then um the child gets the spot. If we 1006 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:15,680 have more applications than spots the 1007 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:20,480 PTO comes in and they um pull names. 1008 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:23,200 >> The uh and also understand that many 1009 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,680 school choice folks are choosing 1010 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:27,520 multiple elementary schools in our 1011 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:30,800 district in the 38. So, so sometimes 1012 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:32,079 there's there's some shifting going 1013 00:36:32,079 --> 00:36:34,640 around um you know depending on where 1014 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:36,880 they're um so they if they don't get 1015 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:38,320 picked up here they can maybe they get 1016 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:40,480 picked up in Deerfield or you know that 1017 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:42,079 >> the four elementary schools send out 1018 00:36:42,079 --> 00:36:43,200 decisions on the same day. 1019 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:44,960 >> We do it on the same day so they we we 1020 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:46,720 don't allow inner fighting. 1021 00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:49,440 >> Well so so [laughter] a family has all 1022 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:50,960 the information right 1023 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:52,400 >> they need to make the decision. 1024 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:54,480 >> Right. And do they have to get back to 1025 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:56,000 you by a certain date too? 1026 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:56,320 >> Yes. 1027 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:59,589 >> Okay. 1028 00:36:59,599 --> 00:37:01,599 All right. So, you're looking for a 1029 00:37:01,599 --> 00:37:03,680 approved to be a school choice school 1030 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:05,119 following those principal's 1031 00:37:05,119 --> 00:37:06,320 recommendations. 1032 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:07,680 >> So moved. 1033 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:08,160 >> Second. 1034 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:11,910 >> All in favor. 1035 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:18,310 » Okay. 1036 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:21,200 Yankee candle donation. 1037 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:22,560 Did we hear about this last time? 1038 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:23,680 >> Yeah, I thought that was on there last 1039 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:23,920 time. 1040 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:26,000 >> So, it was on the report last time, but 1041 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:27,680 we hadn't received the check yet. I 1042 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:30,079 don't think so. I don't think we voted 1043 00:37:30,079 --> 00:37:31,280 on it. 1044 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,920 >> It was in her report. It was not on the 1045 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:36,320 agenda. So, it has to be on the agenda 1046 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:38,160 for you to formally accept it. So, 1047 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:39,359 that's what happened. So, you heard 1048 00:37:39,359 --> 00:37:41,520 about it, but and Chrissy gave a thank 1049 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:43,599 you at the meeting, but you formally 1050 00:37:43,599 --> 00:37:45,200 have to accept it as the school. 1051 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:46,480 >> How much was it? Four 1052 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:47,599 >> 4,000. 1053 00:37:47,599 --> 00:37:49,839 >> Here's some textbooks. 1054 00:37:49,839 --> 00:37:52,560 >> Could be. 1055 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:54,480 >> So moved. 1056 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:54,960 >> Second. 1057 00:37:54,960 --> 00:37:58,160 >> All in favor? Okay. 1058 00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:02,320 And we have policy KIB or K1B. 1059 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:03,280 >> KIB. 1060 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:03,920 >> Okay. 1061 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:06,720 >> So basically we do not have a policy 1062 00:38:06,720 --> 00:38:09,040 about classroom visitation for 1063 00:38:09,040 --> 00:38:11,040 non-special education for parents and 1064 00:38:11,040 --> 00:38:14,720 guardians. So, um, 1065 00:38:14,720 --> 00:38:17,200 normally it doesn't happen a lot, but if 1066 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:18,720 you know, we would we've been using the 1067 00:38:18,720 --> 00:38:20,720 special education, 1068 00:38:20,720 --> 00:38:24,800 um, language for it, but, um, 1069 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:26,160 you know, through experience in in 1070 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:28,160 another school, we just really need to 1071 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:30,640 have kind of clear guidelines of when 1072 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:32,640 parents can visit, how they can visit, 1073 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:35,040 how they get set up, and what they're 1074 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:36,880 allowed to do in the classroom. And so 1075 00:38:36,880 --> 00:38:40,480 this policy kind of breaks down um you 1076 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:44,240 know it breaks down the 1077 00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:45,920 what they should be doing there how 1078 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:47,359 their behavior should be there you know 1079 00:38:47,359 --> 00:38:50,640 they can't record they can't you know where they sit in the classroom 1080 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:52,000 how often they can do it and that kind 1081 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:53,440 of thing. So kind of just basically and 1082 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:56,800 I took um you know multiple ones from 1083 00:38:56,800 --> 00:38:59,119 MASC's which you know policy would be 1084 00:38:59,119 --> 00:39:00,880 found there and I did a this particular 1085 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:03,200 one is spells it out very clearly 1086 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:05,280 because in this particular policy I have 1087 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:06,880 a feeling parents would be reading it 1088 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:09,280 more than so I took a little bit more 1089 00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:10,960 time to kind of outline this is what you 1090 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:12,960 can and can't do in the classroom should 1091 00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:15,200 you be observing um 1092 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:16,720 >> do all the elementarymentaries have the 1093 00:39:16,720 --> 00:39:17,920 same policy or 1094 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:19,040 >> exactly okay 1095 00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:21,040 >> so what h and this is where kind of gets 1096 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:22,880 tricky in our district is that. So, I'm 1097 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:24,160 bringing this to all 1098 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:25,920 >> I'm bringing it to all five committees. 1099 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:27,680 If one committee wants to make a change, 1100 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:29,040 then I bring it back to all the other 1101 00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:31,359 five do that kind of stuff. So, um and 1102 00:39:31,359 --> 00:39:32,880 there's only like one or two in the 1103 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:34,320 whole policy handbook where one school 1104 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:35,057 is different than the other. 1105 00:39:35,057 --> 00:39:35,760 [clears throat] 1106 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:37,680 Um but for the most part, unless it's, 1107 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:39,280 you know, someone sees something that's 1108 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:40,560 why we so this today we're doing a 1109 00:39:40,560 --> 00:39:42,560 reading. So, if you give me, so let's 1110 00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:44,320 say you find error, you're like doesn't 1111 00:39:44,320 --> 00:39:46,000 make sense there. Um you let me know and 1112 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:47,200 then I bring it to the next meeting and 1113 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:49,280 I say, "Oh, you know, I got feedback. 1114 00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:50,800 This the small changes we're making." 1115 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:52,880 So, we try to stay consistent across the 1116 00:39:52,880 --> 00:39:54,480 board. Legally, you don't have to. You 1117 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:55,680 can do say, "No, we're going to do 1118 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:56,720 something different." But it 1119 00:39:56,720 --> 00:39:58,240 >> makes operations so much easier. 1120 00:39:58,240 --> 00:39:59,599 >> Exactly. Exactly. 1121 00:39:59,599 --> 00:40:01,839 >> Okay. [clears throat] 1122 00:40:01,839 --> 00:40:04,160 >> I don't have anything. Uh, how about the 1123 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:08,000 collaborative? Anything new there yet? 1124 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:10,640 >> Are you the collaborative? 1125 00:40:10,640 --> 00:40:13,280 >> Do we have you have to do a vote on the 1126 00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:14,079 first reading or anything? 1127 00:40:14,079 --> 00:40:15,040 >> No. No. Okay. 1128 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:17,520 >> No. So, you just 1129 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:19,200 >> Okay. Sorry. 1130 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:21,040 So Henry was a collaborative. 1131 00:40:21,040 --> 00:40:22,240 >> I don't know. Is Henry the 1132 00:40:22,240 --> 00:40:23,200 collaborative? 1133 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:24,880 >> Well, neither one of you have a report 1134 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:27,440 then. He certainly knows. [laughter] 1135 00:40:27,440 --> 00:40:30,079 >> Yeah, but I'm the guy who's not here. 1136 00:40:30,079 --> 00:40:31,599 >> Yeah, Henry, [clears throat] how come? 1137 00:40:31,599 --> 00:40:33,119 >> Um, I can just give you the update there 1138 00:40:33,119 --> 00:40:36,320 is that they are in negotiations for a 1139 00:40:36,320 --> 00:40:38,560 new they've they got down to their 1140 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:40,640 finalists and they're in negotiations 1141 00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:43,760 for a contract for a new um executive 1142 00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:47,599 director. That's the most I know about 1143 00:40:47,599 --> 00:40:48,720 because I hear it at all the other 1144 00:40:48,720 --> 00:40:50,560 meetings. What's going on? 1145 00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:52,720 >> Do you have anything for us today? 1146 00:40:52,720 --> 00:40:56,319 >> Um, nope. 1147 00:40:56,319 --> 00:40:57,040 >> I don't. 1148 00:40:57,040 --> 00:40:59,839 >> Okay. Make a motion to journ. 1149 00:40:59,839 --> 00:41:00,480 >> A second. 1150 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,880 >> All in favor?