--------- So, let's open up tonight's meeting. Air Shirley Regional School Committee on Tuesday, February 3rd. Um, those attending tonight's meeting should be aware that the meeting is being audio and video recorded by Air Public Access and ASRSD. Any audience members who wish to record
any part of the meeting must inform the chairperson who will announce the recording. This is to comply with the mass um wire tap statute. The listings of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and
other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent per permitted by law. Per the air regional school committee policy behind the school committee is the citizens opportunity to express an opinion on issues of school committee business.
Citizens will have three minutes to express their views. Any staff members addressing the committee are reminded to reminded of their obligations under the state and federal student records laws with respect to maintaining the confidentiality of student record information and refraining from
discussing any personal identifiable information regarding students. With that, um please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, Michelle, do you have a roll call? >> Mr. >> Here, Mrs. Bard >> here. Mrs.
>> here. Mrs. Re >> here. Miss Um, okay. Um, our high school representatives, thanks for for waiting for us. >> Okay. So, I haven't done all too much since the last time I met with you guys.
But, um, with the upcoming next semester and the half year of getting into half year of the transition next semester, so February through June, I've basically been just refocusing my independent study um on focusing what we can do for
the next half of the year, the next remaining of the half of the year. Um, basically we just focused on looking at maybe including social based aspects to our STEM based like study. We're hoping to integrate using pamphlets and other
information systems for hospitals to maybe focus a little bit more on the prevention sides of prosthetics and also um on the cause and signs of why amputations happen. I shadow in a infectious disease office and a lot of the patients there are um usually on the
older side and have like a lot more um like helping like health complications of more like diabetics and like a lot of those like problems that could lead to amputation. So I think it would be really beneficial to have like pamphlets and like little information snippets
there for them to read. Um, I've also been trying to just figure out what I want to do with my summer this this upcoming year since junior year is pretty important. I've been looking at possibly doing summer programs. Um, been looking at one at BEu and one at TUS.
Um, they're both medical programs, so I would be really interested in applying for those and then also seeing if I could possibly get an internship maybe at a local biotech company. Um, apart from that, I've been really enjoying my classes so far. I have the opportunity to take RAD, which is a defense class
with Miss Kendall. And so far, I've been really loving it. It's it's the one chance in the school year where I have um an all girls opportunity to have a class with that cohort. And I think it's really just a fun class and I'm really sure I'll get to love that class. So,
yeah. >> Any questions? Do you get to uh attack as well as defend in red? >> Yeah, we do. >> That's good. >> Yeah, it's really I'm really excited because I saw some of my friends's um attack videos and it was just really um inspiring to see that cuz it was like
they were full padding. They spent the whole day um and it was just really cool. So, I'm really excited to get to that in June, especially like it'll be hot outside and it'll be really nice. I'm excited for that. >> Well, I would say that was a lot for someone that said you haven't been doing very much. Um so you mentioned a couple
of um is is some of the work that you first mentioned um both through the school internship program as well as it sounds like are you doing some work on your own? >> Yes. So through the school I have the opportunity to have um the independent study the bio like the prosthetic
independent study with Mr. Moore. I take that um every block. So I have that throughout the whole year and then through that I also shadow outside of like outside of school at a infectious disease office. Um it's like close to the show but it's still in those
doctor's offices and that's outside of school but I do that every Wednesday 2 hours a week and that's pretty good. I really like the environment. It's a really cool experience to get like medical um experience in like as a high schooler. So >> yep. Is that kind of a field you think
you might go on to study after high school? >> I definitely think so. I think it's just really cool because I know not a lot of people like get the chance to actually explore things that they say they want to do. And I think like being there like actually being able to like screen patients and like actually being able to
like document and like look at charting like it's really cool. I think that's a really cool thing to get the chance to do. So >> that's awesome. So, my daughter Isabelle just did the internship with the um fire department >> and she loved it. >> Um so, maybe another one you can look at
coming up next. >> Yeah. Y >> like with the EMTs. >> Yeah, she was she went with the EMTs >> and she said she learned a ton and >> she Yeah, she thought it was outstanding. >> You really do like get the chance when you get to actually have like an inerson
experience like you really do change up how you want to do it. >> Yeah, she Yeah, she loved it. Is there any uh awareness or any events planned in the high school for the Winter Olympics? That was always like I don't know how it is now, but back in
the day that was the big deal. >> It's um I know all I can really say is that I know there's indoor track and you know that's a really big thing. A lot of my friends are um trying to get to leagues. So, I think that's kind of the biggest thing that could be like with the Winter
Olympics. I would say it's not really I wouldn't be any >> not really anymore. >> No, no, no. Italy, nothing. >> That would be really cool. >> That'd be a nice field trip.
>> Great. Thank you very much for that. Yeah, for that recap. That was great. >> Thank you. >> Hope Colin feels better. I think you said he wasn't feeling well. >> Yeah, not feeling great today. >> Yeah, there's lots of that going around. >> Okay, so next on our agenda is um public
comment. I don't know if there's any public comment in the room. Michelle, do we have >> anyone? No. Okay. Our consent agenda for a vote. Um we will we're um approving the January
21, 2026 regular session meeting minutes for release and our warrants as listed for our AP warrant dated 116206 and our payroll warrant 15 dated 123
2026. Um, I would make a motion that we approve the regular session minutes as well as the um, AP and payroll warrants listed. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I
>> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Approved. Um, our new business. Uh, the approval of the 2627 high school program of studies. Uh, Mr. Christie.
Thank you so much for having me tonight. Um, tonight really kicks off the beginning of our scheduling process at the high school. Uh, so I'm excited to get this underway. Uh, we do have some new uh, new programming coming up this year. Uh, we are going to be adding uh,
AP US history. The cyber security course is going to be changing from what has been just regular cyber security to AP cyber security. uh and our AP seminar course is now going to allow a pathway for students to take an AP English
course in 10th grade. One of the things we've been looking at in AP honor role is they've added a new section um by how they judge criterias for high school on the first two sections which they've had all along. We've struck no lower than
silver which is fairly competitive. Unfortunately, in this new section, which they've added this year, um it asks how many students in the high school have taken five or more APs during the the duration of their high school experience. Um we struck at 3% uh
which struck us in the bronze category. Uh to bring us up to silver, we would need to raise oursel up to 5%. We believe that with some of the new additions we have coming in, we're going to see this hit fairly quickly. Um and
so ways in which we are doing this uh we are going to be eliminating our humanities 1 and two programming and moving to English in history 9 and 10. With the movement in this we can now create a pathway for AP US history in 10th grade and AP seminar in 10th grade.
So that gives us both a English and a history course which students can now take in the AP uh selections. Uh we also have a new electives we're going to be offering which is called what we owe ourselves. It's a really interesting
thoughtprovoking um elective course uh which is going to be led by Mr. Gil um who's demoed this in the college level who's hoping to bring this into high school. Um we've made a few changes to our program of studies. Uh we've streamlined
our elective process for 9th graders. we are really hoping to to lure them into specific pathways. Um, and so what you'll see uh in the sheet in front of you are buckets. Um, we felt like the best way to to show off ways where we
can start to to lead students towards either art, um, engineering or computer science electives are really through giving them broad uh, exposure in their freshman year. Um, which may lead them down a a particular area of passion and
interest. And we have a few course title changes questions. >> Yep. >> Um so looking at the um elective pathways for grade nine. Yes. >> How does that change from what they
could have done before? >> Sure. We're we're really looking at streamlining our process. So, previously students had had access to probably somewhere around twice the size of these electives, but what we really want, we want our students to gain knowledge in
specific areas before they move on to to other areas. Um, and so for us, we're where we're looking at at where students can start to meet some of our mass core requirements, um, and gain strength in some of our our really key areas. um we
feel like really streamlining this process down into a few separate um specific courses makes a little bit more sense for us at this time. >> So that 10 credits is for the whole year. >> Correct. >> Right. Okay. >> Correct.
>> And then um the So are any of these half year? >> Yes. Yes. >> So like if I don't know any I'm terrible but I try brand can I do band for the first half of the year and then decide that I can't play worth you know what
and I can take chorus the second year because maybe I can try to sing. >> So so you sure could. I I I would say if if you're going in the the band or chorus uh those tend to be fullyear courses and students tend to come up from the middle some idea of what they
want to do. But but in in your case, yeah. Yes. I would say if a student walked into band and it wasn't for that, we could certainly look at capping it as a halfyear course and moving them into chorus. >> Yeah. So, um, and the, um, question that
hunches up becomes when I get down to group two, >> um, then, um, I see something here that looks that is basically current events. >> Yes, >> that doesn't seem really to fit in.
Well, it's up there, too. Okay. So, you can switch those around. >> We have current events in both our our group one and group two. categories. We recognize that many >> new >> I'm sorry. >> Is that an addition? >> No. So, this is a course we've offered um at least for the duration of my time
here. So, eight years, but I would guess it's probably been a little bit longer. >> Um it's a course that's taught generally through our history department, but really allows students to talk about what's going on in their world. Um we felt that that was an important one to keep for 9th graders. uh knowing that
that with the kind of changing world that that surrounds them, we wanted to give them an outlet to be able to discuss uh what's happening in their world >> and is there any chance that with the number of students that we have so um
kind of melding some of these one into the other so if I'm looking at principles of engineering for example to me uh having computer science essentials is essential to do the engineering Uh so they are two different courses of
study. Engineering really takes a look at um structures, how things are made, principles behind um different structural elements. Uh computer science essentials ultimately starts students on block coding >> um and understanding
uh the technology behind which computers run. Um so for us computer science essentials really starts to lead students down one path. Uh the computer science course can lead students to um computer science principles which for us
is an AP course or even going further into computer science A which tends to be a little bit more math-based. Um cyber security then becomes a kind of a further extension of that. Robotics is a tiein with this. Um and then we have some Python um language courses as well.
>> They all go into the same >> Yes. >> over description. >> Yeah. So th those really start students down one avenue. Principles of engineering one does lead us to principles of engineering 2. I think within the next few years what we're hoping is to add at least a principles
of engineering three if not a four. Um so that we can really start to give students more experience in engineering than they previously had. So, I know for quite a while there's always been the humanities. So, with the humanities breaking apart, um I kind of
have a two-parter question, so feel free to answer however works for you. First, from my own experience and even hearing my daughter's experience, the nice thing about coming in ninth grade is you're kind of learning about high school or if you struggle with one subject or the
other. With those two being married, it was very helpful if you kind of felt lost. So, I'm curious about how you perceive or may project, you know, breaking up, you know, humanities and having them, you know, separately. And then the other part is from the perspective of the teachers. what is
going to be put on the teachers or uh not even put on them, what's going to change regarding that, right? Because obviously the teaching time and effort that's put into that with them, you know, um essentially working together kind of. I'm just curious like what does that look like? >> Sure. For me, I think about this as an
opportunity. >> Um right now I think what we've tended to have are silos of te team teaching where one English teacher works with one history teacher. I think what we're looking to do is to broaden the horizons a little bit and have two departments
work together. Um so I don't necessarily see all of the elements of humanities fading away, but I do see that the two departments now working more closely together. Um there certainly is a budgetary element to running humanities that I think becomes difficult as we continue to move forward and I think
there have been struggles with finding English material that relates to history at all times. Um and so at times there can seem to be a mismatch um with some of the work that's been done in there. So this really allows uh the revision of some of the English textbooks um and
approach to teaching. But but I think you're absolutely right and what has been nice about the humanities department is giving kind of a a warm welcoming environment uh for students. We don't anticipate that changing. Um we just anticipate the teams now becoming
more departmental and and working together. Y is um is this the first time we're offering possible AP selection for sophomore? Was that normally just a upper classman? >> So what I think we're finding with AP courses is they they are reaching down
further and further. Um so we do have sophomores which take AP courses. Um but we're expanding our options. um we found greater desire from both students and families um to look at at the selection of APs earlier and earlier. I think that
the course that tends to be offered most frequently to sophomores, we haven't had the ability to offer and that's AP US history. Uh AP US history tends to be kind of the gateway for students in um but with us having had the humanities department um that really locked up
sophomore year to not make that a potential. Um, and so what we've done is we've planned over the last two years, um, where Mr. Gubalini and Miss Ochap right now have all of the, uh, honors level humanities one students, they've
already started integrating into their curriculum some AP questions to prepare students for what it would look like next year. >> Um, I've given up my annual request for the Bible as literature course. I know we we've not gotten anywhere that night
is a white, which is okay. Excuse me. Apparently, somebody is cold. >> Mr. Quinty, it's funny you mentioned that. That was one of my favorite courses in high school as well. Um I I certainly think it's something we've discussed a number of times. Uh the the challenge with it is approaching the
Bible as a work of fiction versus a work of non-fiction can be challenging for some folks. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's a that's and I can understand how some teachers might be writing that but I'm wondering if you take a different tact um and maybe um let's see
acrimonium among nations a religious perspective right so you can bring you have Myanmar you have Afghanistan you have Iraq versus Iran all I mean no greater good no greater evil happens than the name of religion you know and I think that perspective you don't have to
Okay, can all of that stuff comes into play. But I in most discussions I have people that have no understanding of the background and why these things are so intractable. I think at some point here some perspective like that would give
them a big leg up as soon when they leave here they'll be voting right and they should understand more of that and most people don't understand any of that you know. So I think, you know, maybe that from a history
perspective may give us a leg up there. >> Deuteronomy 5. >> Why not? >> So I think Mr. Clearary might be quoting the Bible over here. Uh certainly there's some illusions that that I don't
think you can get away from within literature. Um and so currently they're being taught, I would say, out of sequence. Um, so where a specific story or or a specific chapter of a biblical verse will be taught to give students an understanding of what's happening. Um,
so Job tends to be a fairly common one that runs throughout the world of literature. Um, but but I point taken. I it certainly is something with an understanding of the the overlap between religion um and our everyday world that that we could certainly take a look at
broadening our teachings. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, I'll just u make a comment on the AP courses at the sophomore level. I to me going through the college application process right now um and with the uber competitive
schools that kids apply to I believe one of the disadvantages that we can see is schools absolutely look at rigor and how and they count how many AP classes students take. One of the disadvantages I think that we have and I understand
why but larger school systems are most of them are offering AP at least at sophomore levels and so that is something that I know we've been having to call out through the application process that the reason why you know like some kids didn't take the same numbers because they weren't available.
So the the more we can add that I think the more it will help some of the the kids through that college application process. Thank you. We agree. >> Yeah. Yeah. But I understand why it's difficult, right?
>> All right. Yep. >> Can you clarify the math flowchart? I feel like I thought I had internalized our math offering and maybe I haven't. >> Sure. >> Are we do I don't think we're doing
algebra 1 in 8th grade. >> Is that correct? >> Correct. We are not. Is that something that's changing or is that if students are coming into districts? If I'm looking at the pro on page 18, it has that flowchart that starts. It
looks like algebra or eighth grade. You're either in eighth grade math or algebra 1. Yep. That's >> not accurate. Okay. Correct. >> It is a graphic which we have to update. >> Okay. Not a problem. I was just like I wasn't sure if things were changing or if I just hadn't internalized correctly.
Okay. >> Are you talking about mass core? >> The math flowchart. >> A flowchart. >> Oh, I didn't get that. >> Um, no, that is fine. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't um >> Yeah, that graphic was done in 2024. So, okay, >> we have to update that.
>> Yep, it does stand for what we have in graduating classes of 27 and 28, but we need to >> that. Okay, that >> another addition to it. >> Yeah. >> Um, so it's not that it's inaccurate, but we need one more to to kind of >> Yeah.
>> This is where my reading comprehension if I had paid attention to the words class of as opposed to for like school year. I was thinking of those as school years 27 and 28. Um, no, that is that's great. >> No, thank you. And and we will have an updated graphic.
>> And again, this isn't wrong for those classes. It's just the classes after would have a different flowchart. >> Yes, >> Joyce. >> So, is US history broken down into up to a certain date and after a certain date? >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. I'm assuming.
>> Uh, correct. Uh, US history one I apologize. I can come to the page and actually give you a more specific year. >> I didn't go that year, >> but it tends to be a question off the top. uh Jackson era to World War I in US
history 1. Um and then when we get into the US history 10, it's from the 1920s to present or as close to present as they can get. >> So earlier than Jackson is in middle
school. >> Correct. >> Fifth grade and eighth grade predominantly. >> Fifth through 8th. >> Fifth and eighth. fifth ending. >> Yeah. >> What are we doing in six and seven? >> Six and seven is kind of a ancient civilization's process
>> through the dawn of time. >> And I'm just asking this dumb thing because I just finished watching the whole Revolutionary War thing. >> And we're not teaching history right in school because I'm like, if we had se had this in school, we would have liked history and we'd remember it, you know.
So that's why >> one of the nice things I constantly hear from our students is they're a long history. I I think we we have we are very lucky >> and that we have some really great history teachers at school. >> Oh um >> always the best teachers in school are always the history teachers because they
love >> well as a former English teacher I might disagree with you slightly but but I think we're we're blessed to have some really good teachers in district. >> No I just wondered what the scope was. just and I know from from speaking with Aluchcci, history is not her favorite
subject, but having Mr. Prescott teacher um AP Euro is is a course she is she's loving and she's thriving in I think in large part because of of the the nature of the teaching itself >> and the AP history courses would cover
like AP US history will cover the breadth of US history >> from 8 from start sixth >> no no the the course of AP history that you can take starting 10th in 10th grade. >> Oh, in 10th grade. >> Um,
>> would cover the breadth of US history. >> Pretty hard in one year. >> Yeah, that's why it's advanced. >> It moves. It It's a challenging course. It does move. Um, but I think >> I signed up for it. I'd like a refresher. >> Really enjoyed it.
>> Could be a new initiative where school committee members audit >> courses. Can we all audit courses? >> I come in a course. I'm sure we can arrange it. >> It's a new revenue stream. We'll start charging school committee members to take AP courses, >> but it's limited to school committ.
>> Sure. >> The difficulty would be telling who's in the classroom. >> Yeah. >> Pardon? >> The difficulty would be telling who's who in the classroom. >> This is true. >> This group, >> we would all be much more vocal. >> He pulled that off with a very straight
face. >> Actually, I think you'd love the courses that we offer here. Um, one of the pleasures I have as a principal is getting to go into the room >> and actually see some of the the really wonderful courses we teach. Um, I can tell you walking down the hallway when I
hear history of rock and roll, I'm like, "Oh, great. The Beatles are on today." Um, or I hear a teacher just full throat talking about something that they're passionate about. Um, so passing by Mr. Donovan's room and listening to him talk about multicultural literature. Uh it
really is wonderful to walk back into a classroom through the perspective of an adult who now uh understands everything that that's being taught and and really they >> particularly if you don't have to pass the test. >> Yes, absolutely. If you're notated on it, even better,
>> you can enjoy it. >> Yes. And we have some wonderful courses. So if you'd like to audit a course, please let me know. >> I mean, you shouldn't say that. Okay. Any other questions?
>> Um, so this does require a vote. >> Um, I would make a motion that we approve the course of study as presented. >> Second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I. >> Now, this comes back to us actually in
the handbook again because when we approve the handbook, we're reapproving this, right? >> So, Mr. Mr. Clear, I don't know if you want to jump in here. They're they're actually two separate documents. >> So, our program of studies will we'll put out relatively soon because we want
to get this in the hands of our students and families right before they start to choose their courses for the year. >> The handbook tends to come up for review in July, August. Um, and I know Mr. Clary works with the principles of every school to kind of come up with a a more uniform book uh that then has specific
sections for say the elementary school, middle school, and high school. uh as well as for athletics and and the um our technology departments. >> But but you're absolutely right. There are elements of the program of studies that are referenced within the handbook.
>> I just want to complete that vote. So um look, >> she second it. >> You seconded. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Sorry. >> Yep. That's right. I just wanted to make sure it's on record.
>> Thank you so much. >> Yep. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Okay. Up next, we have approval of grants received to date. Dr. Rendo, >> thank you. Mr. Clear is actually going to present that. >> Sure. You have a memo from Jay Mooney, our grants coordinator. That's in the
packet for approval for 1, two, three, four, five different grants. The Mass Broadband Institute uh technology grant. Uh we haven't received the financial award yet in terms of the number, but this grant was to uh increase our number of Chromebooks uh that we had. The Maya
risk management grant was for $10,000. That's to support GIS mapping for schools. This was something that came from uh chief of police, Chief Gil had brought this forward to the safety committee. Uh and we sought out grant funding to support the implementation of this to increase our safety um processes
in the schools. Uh PLTW expansion grant. You heard Mr. Christy talk about um expanding project lead the way principles of engineering courses uh at the high school. So we had applied for a grant for that and received we have a very good relationship with the 18 foundation and received a $10,000
expansion grant. Uh there's a continuation grant for uh the PE and health and wellness curriculum for $25,000 uh to align with the new frameworks. And then finally we have a uh safe and supportive schools grant for $10,000. Uh
it says that it's to support the work of the equity imperative. This has been updated to support the work of the Lynch Leadership Academy uh to support the work that we're doing. So we ask humbly for your approval for these grants. Um this does require a vote um so that we
can process them and then follow through on our uh requirements. >> I make a motion that we accept the grants that were just outlined by Mr. Clary um from u four u well four grants
that have money the other one no offense but the Chromebooks >> that's actually pretty good. How come they don't put a value on that? >> Because the market value is changing. So we're ordering directly from the Mass Broadband Institute is actually purchasing the materials. >> They're going to purchase it.
>> Correct. >> And when are when is that coming through? >> Hopefully shortly. >> That's a good answer. Yeah, I in terms of the I I don't remember when we we got this approved probably about a month ago in terms of the application process and finalizing and got the approval. Uh and
so we're waiting on shipment of materials. Yeah, >> that's a good amount of money. I motion I will make a motion that we accept those five grants as outlisted out outlined by Mr. Clary. >> Second. >> All those in favor?
Any opposed? >> Thank you. None opposed. Thank you. Um, and next we have our superintendence report. >> Thank you. We have a revised last day of school. We've had one snow day so far this school year. It's going to it's I'm
positive it's going to be the last snow day that we have. This makes the last day of school now, Tuesday, June 16th, and it is a half day of school for students. Uh, we have an update on on demand conferences. Um uh since we have implemented this since the last school
committee meeting um middle school teachers have expressed the desire to have some input on um what would trigger a an on demand conference uh for them to initiate that with parents. Um so principal will be working uh I believe
with his IoT instructional leadership team to outline uh some of that and we will input uh we will update school committee as that work continues. Uh I am excited that they um want to have some input on this. I think it shows some great initiative on their part. Uh
we have a sports update submitted by our athletic director, Mr. Kendall. Uh the winter sports season is quickly approaching the end and several teams are doing quite well. Both track teams will compete for the league championship on Saturday, February 7th at Fitchburg High School. The event starts at 2 p.m.
The boys ice hockey team is already qualified for the state tournament with a 94-1 record. Dylan Gibbons, Colin Holland Brook, Jason Turner, Johnny McGrath, Brody Knox, Evan Gibbons have all been playing well for the Blue Knights. Freshman Matt Pond got his first varsity win the other night.
Lauren Gdet has been a key player for the girls hockey team, which has played a difficult schedule and is ranked in the top 20 in the state and should qualify for the playoffs. Boys basketball is one game under 500 with five to play. They need to win three
games to reach the state playoffs. We will host an annual general home in memorial tournament. President's Day weekend, senior night for the boys will be February 12th. And uh Elena uh Lamb captured a couple league championships for Brownfield swim team last weekend. Girls basketball has improved
dramatically since the beginning of the season. The Panthers are a young team and have been putting in a lot of work and have maintained a positive attitude. Thank you to seniors Kelsey Peterson and Elise um Urbily and for their leadership. Our middle school basketball
teams will wrap up its season next week with home games on Tuesday and Thursday. Winter sports recognition night will be held Tuesday, March 10th at 6:30 at the high school. There is nothing new to report for college acceptances. And that is all for the superintendent report.
Um, great. There are no chairperson's notes. I'm sorry, I skipped way down. ongoing business. >> Um, >> make it short. >> Yeah. How are uh our topics? I know these are um going to be standard
topics, but updates on the FY26 budget. Dr. Rendum. >> Uh, Mr. Plec was not able to make the meeting tonight because of a family emergency. So, I'd like to table that to the next meeting if possible. >> Okay. And is that for A, B, and C for the >> We are able to um to present the
preliminary budget. Um, >> okay. So our next topic FY27 preliminary budget and discussion uh with Dr. Renda. >> Uh thank you uh Mr. Clair. We will be uh I'm sure assisting and hopping in on this as needed. Uh as as you know we are
we had just left the select board meeting where we did present the preliminary budget um to the select board and of air. Um this has been uh to say this has been a difficult budgeting season is an
understatement. Uh what you're going to notice is a a bit of a different approach to our typical budget presentation. Uh tonight we hope to clarify what the required local contribution is. Show some of the process that we go through to typically bring down or help bring down the
assessment for the towns. Highlight what the challenges are, why this has been so difficult. And and to be quite honest, it's not just this year. it's really been the past uh two years. Um and discuss our next steps uh what we're going to continue to do to try to uh
make this a reasonable number for both both towns. So the required local contribution for air is 11,283,655 and for Shirley it is $6,672 and uh $672,346.
Um from this point on we won't have this presentation just uh to clarify is tailored to for the select board in air. We are presenting to the select board in Shirley next week. So we will update some of the Shirley numbers at the next school committee meeting.
So the required local contribution is a number that the state calculates yearly for each uh for each town. It is part of chapter 70. Um they take into account what they um property values uh income
levels and student needs. um the required local contribution plus state aid equals net school spending and this is the foundation of the formula for the state budget and for local tax decisions. Uh there really three uh cost sections
here. It's the operating expense profile that is what it costs us to run the schools including teaching support services and building operations. Um and then the next really the the the major 70% or higher of of the budget is is compensation. Um, and then there's
student centered uh domains. It's student support services including special education, transportation, utilities, and enrichment programs. And what you're going to see tonight is some of our uh pre-adjustment work and post adjustment work. You know, the number that we actually need to be level
serviced and then how we can try to bring that number down into an a reasonable range um for our towns. So part of the issue that we're having and and it's not just in fairness, it's not just Air Shirley, but uh municipalities uh and and regional
districts across the state is higher cost in transportation. Fuel prices um um longer routes have increased our transportation cost um in really in an an unreasonable way. um just our out of district special education
transportation costs are $70,000 a month. Uh higher insurance costs, our insurance rates have gone up um every year. Last year was a 12% increase. This year it's looking like it's going to be a 14.4% increase. Meyer has released the
range. It's anywhere from 3 to 14.4%. So we are budgeting at 14.4 right now. It might be lower. Um, believe it or not, this is a bit of a relief. We were expecting anywhere from 20 to 25%. Uh, the reason that it's down, we believe
that it's down to 14.4 is the elimination of covering the GLP-1 medications. Um, and that is really part of the the reason for the drastic increase. Um, two years ago, that cost the district about $50,000.
It was up to um $200,000 last year uh in just these in just these medications. Um we have much higher utility costs. Electricity and water are way up. I believe I had had shared this at the last school community meeting. We're spending about $65,000 a month. That's
on average. Some months are higher, some some are lower on average on electricity. Um and we're receiving less less Chapter 7 aid. Um Mr. clearly has gone through this uh several times, but we're about a million dollars down the past five years, seven years
>> in title funding. Um >> eight years. >> Eight years. >> Yep. >> Uh and there's fewer ways for us to offset these costs uh than there has been in the past. Uh so what you're you're seeing here is when we met with the town managers last
week, we had we had told them um what we need to level fund is about a 17% increase. That is extraordinarily high than what we have presented in the past. Now um we have been working on that number. We we do um we did present we
did there it is um we did have a week less to massage these numbers and we typically have the governor release the budget about a week later than than it typically is. Um but what you're seeing here and this is usually the the last
slide um in the presentation. Uh, and it will it actually will be again, but what you're looking at here is um 11.9% assessment for air and a 14.7% uh assessment for Shirley. Again, these are these are preliminary numbers. There
were a few years ago that we we presented maybe something similar the first time that um we presented these numbers, but um we are well aware we need to get these down um to a more manageable range. However, it is fair to
say that what we have been able to do in the past isn't going to work quite quite as much this year. These are some of the leverage that we have used in the past to help bring down that assessment. Uh circuit breaker funds. Circuit breaker is a state reimbursement for special education
costs and it can help reduce towns need to pay and we have used it in that way in the past. Um we are uh probably certainly going to use uh most if not all of that to do that. Um these are not guaranteed funds. It depends on what our
reimbursement is and then uh so what we can submit for and then what the how the state is going to fund that and it's not um always completely funded. Uh we have used END in the past. We used $350,000, I believe, two years ago in the budget
to help bring down the assessment costs uh for the towns. Um the issue with doing that is we we're we're really kicking the can down a road, so to speak. It it that cost then really should get passed back to the towns the following year. We tried to absorb it
this fiscal year um without success. Uh which is why we we did have which is part of the reason why we had the shortfall. Um, again, we also had a shortfall going out of last year where some END funds um did need to be used uh for for the shortfall which Mr. Plunkett
had presented about um earlier this year. We also had migrant shelter funding last year. This was funding that the district received for the migrant shelter that was in air uh for the past two years. Um this money again was used um for part of
uh the shortfall from last year. Again, it it this is a uh something that we're happy to do when we can to keep that assessment down, but again, it's one-time money, and when we do that, we're not really solving that problem, but yet just kind of postponing uh the
inevitable. We have been very successful the past few years at receiving competitive grants. Uh we will continue to do that. Uh I believe we're well over $2 million since we've hired the grant manager. Um the problem with competitive grants is there are many stipulations on
them. They need to be managed and the um the public doesn't necessarily understand that when we receive a grant for for instance the cop safety grant which is a significant grant that we can't just simply use that to kind of
offset cost. There's we have to we have to do what we said we were going to do in the grant when they ordered us the money. >> Yeah, it comes with you know it comes with um um with um I can't think of the word
>> stipulations. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Stipulations. Thank you. uh in building rental revenue. We often or always use building rental uh to help offset the cost in the general fund, which in turn will bring down the assessment. So, this will have less of an impact
this year. Um we have been successful at using these um to lower the assessment impact and to protect protect staff and and services that we are providing to students. The issue is and I I have mentioned this already, these are one-time funds. they're not guaranteed from year to year and all of our other
cap costs have increased so uh dramatically that it's not having the same impact to bring down the assessments that that it has in the past. So some of the things that we are doing to try to either create some revenue or
keep money in district to help bring down those assessments. Uh we have contacted our special education transportation um to see if they can redesign routes or or anything just give us a a a discount if we are um if we
consolidate to one to to one company um to try to bring down some of those costs. And to their credit, they are looking at that to see if they can do that for us. We're also looking at contracting with individual parents for out of district placements. An example of this is there's there's one route
that costs about $500 a day for us to transport a student to an out of district placement. That's that's two $2,500 a week. If we can contract with a parent to do that for 50% of the cost,
um we could save um $1,250 a week over the course of the year. That is significant. If we can do that with a number of out of district students, this could be significant cost savings. Um, as of now, we do not have anyone uh uh
who is willing to do that, but we have uh many more phone calls to make. We're hoping some families will take advantage of that. And really, you know, $1,250 a week could could be very helpful to a family. Um whether it is a parent or a grandparent or someone else in the
family that can can um drive that student to school. Quite honestly, I would almost prefer to give that money to parents rather than a um van transportation. We are talking to three different solar
companies right now um to to try to get some solar in the district. We there's there's kind of two avenues that we can do with this. We can purchase which is much more complicated and timely um but there's more savings involved. there's
significant tax incentives that we can we can get to offset the cost and we would receive all of the credits from the electric company. There's also I believe it's a PPA where it's would be a lease agreement. The advantage of this is it is nothing out of pocket to us. Um
and we can see anywhere from a 20 to 30% savings there. So significant savings either way. Um, part of the the lease that is really kind of um why we're entertaining that also is if
there is a problem with the roofs, they can actually make those repairs and include that in the lease agreement so that we could pay for those repairs over over an extended period of time. The other part that is very interesting is um they can build uh parking canopies.
So covered canopies for parking in our parking lots. They won't have to touch the roofs. We don't have to pay for the canopies. Um and there's actually an additional incentive if if you do that. The state really wants people to look at the um canopy parking.
>> For anybody who hasn't seen those, um Carl school system is totally canopies on their thing. Um, the Discovery Museum in Actton is total canopies and they're they're nice to park under actually because your car doesn't get hot
>> or it doesn't have snow in it. So, >> yeah, they're a great option. Um, we're hoping to get some solar project on the books before next year. I would like for it to be all four schools. That's I don't know if that's reality. Uh some of our older schools
have have um a bigger issue with their roofs and and also some some limitations in their parking lot for for covered canopy parking. Um the high school um parts of Page Hilltop, parts of the middle school really don't as far as the
canopy if if those are options. Um and again that could be significant savings for us. Uh, one thing that we are absolutely doing is we are ex we are starting this says expan an expansion now but we are starting an 18 to 22 year old program so that we can keep some of
our um students in special education who require additional servicing from 18 to 22 in district. Right now what we do for those students is they are an out of district it's an out of district placements. Many of them stay in this high school and they're part of Keystone and it is a great program. However, it
is $80,000 per student. We believe we can provide that service at a much lower rate. And the reason that this is an expansion is it really would part of it would be an expansion of the program that they are in now. And we would include um some
community engagement with that and hopefully internships. So to keep the good news flowing, um the federal funding is still very uncertain. Um, we we at this point believe we will receive some federal funding.
The amount of the federal funding or when we will get it is the question. We have no update for you of of any of that. Um, we don't know. Uh, we're getting kind of conflicting reports from who we talked to. Um, state uh believes
that we will be funded. They're not sure at what rate, but there are parts of um different literature and and information from the federal government that's saying that we we may not. So, we we don't know where we stand. We think we're going to receive some funding. We
don't know how much or when or who will be delivering it. It makes it difficult to plan. So, uh the realities of uh this budget season is uh cuts may be may be needed uh to get a budget passed. Um we are
continuing to explore some cost-saving efforts. We are looking at uh obviously energy savings. We're looking at smarter purchasing, group purchasing, and combining services with other other districts when possible.
If we do, if we end up in the situation where we are making cuts, uh any reductions will focus on preserving teaching and learning core programs and required student services. Now, I could uh pause for questions
about this part or go right into our what is our typical budget presentation with with the numbers >> choice. So, um, very, very, very good presentation by the way to the finance committee. >> Thank you.
>> It's fantastic. Um, I don't think I could talk that fast in that coordinated very much. Um, so what jumps out and it's around in everybody's back back mind is health insurance now. >> Yeah. And um
we have staff who could be on a single health person but because of cutting they need to take the insurance away from their spouse, significant other whatever and put it on this.
>> Is that a feasibility? >> That's possible. >> Yeah. I mean there's an open enrollment period and if we have someone who is a single has a um a single member health insurance if they get married or if their spouse decides to join theirs that's that is part of the benefit
package and and um that that is a possibility. We don't think that would happen to such a degree that it would be uh much more of a significant impact than what the increase >> already the big insurance programs being cut. >> Yeah. There are also I mean I think the
the other factor is there's probably going to be other people that are on our insurance whose spouses get a different job and maybe have a better insurance and actually leave our insurance. So that that's probably going to be a wash. >> We hope. >> We hope. Um but if it's not, I I doubt that would >> feels fluid.
>> Yeah. It it it I don't know if that would impact us much more than the $650,000 that the increase is going to be roughly. But it is it is it's huge. I mean 14 14.4%. >> Last year was um 12 in change. So we're
looking at a 26% increase in two years. It's in it's it's it's massive. >> It's broken for everybody. >> Yeah. It's for everybody. And it's it's broken. This is it's unsustainable. >> I mean uh you know the the $2 million increase that we are looking for which
we presented tonight and we'll get to I mean 700,000 of that is insurance. Any other questions thus far? >> Thank you. Sure. >> So, what you Let me continue. >> Yep.
>> Yeah. So, what you're looking at in this slide is the preliminary cherry sheets. This could change. Um, this is based on the the governor's budget and um it typically does change. Uh, right now we are being funded at um, let me go I'm
getting ahead of myself. Let me go through this. So you you'll notice that our chapter 70 for this year is $9,120,383. That's $127,000 increase. That is because we are a minimum aid district. We are uh right
now receiving $75 additional per student. So the state is telling us our towns can't afford to pay more and um calling us a minimum aid district. Our charter tuition reimbursement um is down about
$20,000. Our regional school transportation is up about $14,000. Uh that essentially is is a cut. I know it's an increase, but it does not even it's not even close to combat the rise in costs. Our school's choice receiving
is down about $35,000. So, our total estimate receipts estimated receipts are 10,413,443. Then going back going down to our estimated charges, our school choice sending out is up about $80,000
at um 702,56 and our charter school sending tuition is down about $6,000. um for a total estimate estimated charges of $1,745,127. So our net receipts for chapter 70 is
$8,668,316 $10,000. That is only a $10,000 difference from last year for chapter 7. 10,000 Uh what you're looking at here is our
budget drivers and projections. So our chapter 70, as we just went over, um we're at minimum aid. Uh and when you look at both the charges and receipts, it's only $10,000. This doesn't show that. This is uh this is showing at the
127 the $75 additional for each student. Our transportation reimbursement is down $95,000. Our charter reimbursement is down $20,000. Our Medicaid is up 52 almost 53,000. Our depository interest is up 52, excuse me, our Medicaid is up
52. Our depository interest is up 29 and local receipts interest is up uh 300. Um some of the budget drivers, health insurance, which we've talked about, it's up we're projecting 14.4. That may be lower. Um right now the $677,376
our regular transportation is only going to increase um $37,625. That is because we are on the last year of our contract. >> Um we will be going out to bid next year. We are expecting a 20% increase in
that line next year. Charter tuition out is up 46,000. out of district collaborative day uh special education tuition is only going up $3,546. We're thankful for that. Our choice up
is uh up $72,000. Middle sex retirement is up $38,000. Our spread transportation, this looks like it's down 532, but that is because we have applied 500,000 from circuit breaker to that to help bring down the
assessment. Our contracted salaries increase is 993,136. So a total impact to the general fund budget of $743,76. Um school choice is relatively flat.
It's down $8,000. Our circuit breaker, this is a um luckily a a a wellunded circuit breaker. Uh we have 1.4 4 million that we received for circuit breaker. Um we have already applied 500,000 of that to special education
transportation. This is the fiscal year 27 foundation enrollment. Um you're going to notice that um we are down 65 students total. Air is down 88 students and Shirley is
up 23. Um 30 of the students that we were down in air were in the migrant shelter. Somewhere it's somewhere between 29 and 35. Uh for students who are in the migrant shelter, we did have many uh a higher percentage of seniors from last year or air residents. And
then our kindergarten class this year in air is is smaller than usual which um is tells most of the story of those those 88 kids. Um and again we're up 23 um students and Shirley.
This is the fiscal year chapter uh 7 summary. So our prior year chapter 70 uh aid was 8,993,333. Jeez, this seems to be getting smaller. Oh my eyes are getting more tired. Um,
we are a minimum district, so we're receiving $75 per student, which is $127,50, which brings the subtotal to 9,120383 uh dollars for our uh chapter 70 allowment. Oh, lost it.
My apologies. PowerPoint just closed. Let me reboot that. That's pretty. This is why we use slides usually. Okay. So the chapter 70 determination of a town uh total required contribution.
This is for air. Um we will present Shirley's at the next budget. So we're going to focus on specific lines here. I'm going to look at line 10, line 13, 14, 15, and then lines
21, 22, 23, and 26. Uh and I'll I'll go through this slowly. So line 10 is $12,99,111. That's the target local contribution. That's the amount of money that the state believes the town should should be able to afford and the amount that we
need to run the district coming from air. And then when you look at line 13 where it says the fiscal year 26 required local contribution, that was the amount of money that air was required. There's no no debate on this. That's the amount
of money that air had to pay. The the the required local contribution that was 11,440,441. What the state does is they take that amount and they multiply it by the growth factor, the revenue growth factor determined by the department of revenue.
That was 6.71%. That brings that number to 12,28,95. Then they take line 15 and they subtract line 10 from it. And that is the shortfall. The shortfall
is line 21. $700,916. That shortfall is 4.48%. Because it is under 7 and a half% errors only um I guess penalized 1% increment towards target. So that is $114,44.
Last year for air that was a 2% increment. I believe for Shirley last year it was a 1%. I I might have that reversed. >> So that increment is added to the number of the um 1220895
to come up with the required local contribution for air which is 12,332,322,499. Now that is split between airy regional school district and no >> yeah so the way that is calculated
is the aortionment of the local contribution it is done by your enrollment the enrollment of air students in um asd and the number of air students in nosha 91% of total air students who are in either nosha
or air shirley we have 91.57% %. So we received 91.57% of that funding. The show receives 8.5 >> Governor National Industries receives 1,38,844 a total of 12,32499.
Okay, this um my apologies. This slide uh needs to be updated. There are some mistakes in here. I had said that at the um uh select board. Um I I was not in a position to I I did not want to um interrupt Mr. Planket today to do this.
Um we will get this updated and sent out to you as quickly as possible. We can do this presentation without this slide. um and we'll do that. So, this is this is the really the operating assessment in and the debt payment. So, we did go over
this um earlier in this presentation. Um we're looking at right now an 11.9% assessment for air and a 14.7% assessment for Shirley. Um the budget will not pass at these percentages. We're we're well aware of
that. There is work that we will continue to do. We've had a week less than we typically have to massage these numbers and get these down. We think we can. Um what we don't think we're going to be able to do is get these get them down to where we we we typically do. Um
for instance, last year we were able to get the assessment for Shirley at 2.7 and for air at um 6.5. That that is that that's not a reality.
In fact, um we we have part of the issue that we're having uh in all honesty is that we have always gotten these numbers down drastically and it is we're at the point now where it's it's catching up, right?
So that the uh what we've been able to do in the past to get these numbers down using some revenue streams, using um um some END uh using circuit breaker, the costs have risen. so dramatically that they're not having as much of an impact.
Uh they're they're we're we're in in need of one or one or two things or both. Uh either a correction um cuts or both. Um it's probably a combination of of the
two to to get to a number where we can get this passed. um if it's of any um comfort, we are not going to be the only district uh in this in this situation. Um in fact, I think we're we're we're probably in a little bit better shape
than in a lot of our uh surrounding districts. Um, we do believe that some of the work that we're doing, uh, both with with the solar and transportation and and starting the program as well as possibly joining a purchasing
collaborative can help us fairly significantly u bring that down to what we believe will be a manageable number for the towns. It might not be um as low as they would like us to go. Um, but part of the reason that the assessment
is as high as it is this year is because we have for for at least the five years that I have been here and I believe looking at the assessments for since 2017, we have often made it work. Um, it's just at the point where it's not
going to work as well as it has in the past. We're happy to answer any questions that we can. If there are some questions that are that we can't and Mr. plunket um is more suited for. We'll get you those answers um as soon as we can. >> Yeah, I
wish us all luck with this year. I I believe that we we'll find a way to get through this year, but I also think um it's an opening cell where we're going to have to get a little bit more education exactly what's driving this. I mean when you
have you know anything that looks like this and you're trying to can you know we see it all the time so like we can look at that and we're looking at particular things and that's fine but people that never see it that is just glazed over. >> Yeah. >> So um it's going to take some chartsmanship that has to be in the presentations and and the things that
immediately propped mind for me is title one and chapter 70 uh funding overlaid with the percent increases over like the last 8 to 10 years. and you'll be able to see, you know, we've been able to do this and that's
that money's been able to do this. That that's a big one there. Health insurance cost won't be a big surprise to anybody. Transportation, electrical costs, especially >> for for energy stuff and all that on each one of those overlaid with what
we've been able to do for the last 8 to 10 years. I mean, it's it's astounding what we've been able to put forward for increases for the last 8 to 10 years, especially given the growth that we've had, but a lot of time will have to be spent that so people understand that
this isn't just a one-off one day. There are some there are severe structural things that have to be taken care of. >> And the sooner we start the education process with explaining that to everybody, the better off we're all going to be in the long run. But it has
to be, you know, you're looking at, you know, bar charts and pie chart things that are visual because that's what people will see and that's what they'll understand. This won't work in in moving the needle. >> Yeah.
>> Well, I'm glad you're saying I think that's that's mine and Mr. Clar's least favorite chart on there. But we will I mean this this is this is going to take some effort to get past. um even after we can we're we're certain we can get that 11.9 and 14.7 down um it's not
going to be no one's going to be in the twos and and with the the title one and chapter 70 stuff you also have to put in there is that a part a big part of that is that we are a victim of our own success if you chart over the same time what property values have done in this
area over that time period it will become very apparent why those funds are no longer available And that's not going to get better, >> right? We're still on the upswing here. >> And those are the types of messages that have to get out.
>> Um, so I had an idea. Hopefully I think it still works here. So, one of the things that um had been working um in the areas um that I've worked in is when you have the enrollment generally in like November time frame, we actually
had um either the HR representatives or um people at Mass Health that would actually sit down with our staff and review what the healthcare connector plans are because oftentimes and even, you know, working in healthcare, behavioral health care, Um I when I
looked I was astonished through Health Connect I was getting the same you know if not better um services care needs for um medical vision and dental it was half the price and mind you mine was for a family it was half the price than what
my job had and I'm wondering even if we did that to kind of combat the health care costs um for the staff might be a good thing. I don't know if there's like a PD or a time frame that maybe you could bring it in like November, but I think people would be astonished by it because it's very simple. You can just
have your payub in front of you and you plug in the numbers. You can set up and the staff is there typically to help set it up because most people the biggest hurdle is getting online and doing it, but it takes no more than 15 minutes. And it was amazing the amount of people that ended up opting out of our
insurance plan and going onto Health Connector. Um, and then if there is a change um, and you know, we're hoping that there isn't, but if there is a change um, here or they're no longer here because they're on the Health Connector plan, it automatically adjusts
to what their current pay rate is, yet they get the same services. And it does include things like TUS um, and other private um, insuranceances or well-known insuranceances, not just Mass Health. And I think a lot of people didn't realize that. they didn't realize that they would get the same services um and
and all of those things. So, I don't know if it's possible, but I would just throw that out as a as a suggestion because that was a huge change for us. >> That that's something we'll look into. I'm not I don't really this is not my area expertise. Um I would be curious if
educators are there oftent times educators are not um eligible for for for um certain things because of the collective bargaining and we have my negotiating essentially for us but that's something I can find out very easily
>> and if it's uh if it's less of cost I'm sure some people would would absolutely choose that if it's if if it's they can save money >> when we regionalize We had to put together, we had different
health um plans in each district and we brought in um insurance advisor and sat down and had people look at what they wanted >> and when they laid some numbers out of
the on the table like um uh a year of hospital care. Well, who that cost a lot of money, but how many people are going to need that, you know, and some of the emergency room stuff and stuff that really didn't hurt your going to the
doctor, doing what you do 99% of the time. So, it was extremely interesting because the discussion um was people realizing that they were paying for stuff that >> Yeah. >> didn't impact it. >> Yeah. And I I think we have that now, but it's it's it's not significant
numbers. We have I I believe this is just two choices, the HML and the PO. >> There's only eight people on the PO, >> right? >> Yeah. So, I mean, we would um we we could reach out to them directly and have have conversations with them. >> That was before mass didn't exist then,
>> right? I know when I looked at it, I mean, know that was 5 years ago. It didn't make much sense for me because it provided essentially the same service and all my doctors were in network anyway. Mhm. >> Um but I for some people that is going to be because they're going to make that choice because their doctor isn't. Um
but we should absolutely revisit that because things change and if we can get everybody into um the HMO, there would be some some actual savings there. So that's it's a good suggestion. And it only being eight people, we can have individual conversations with each of them. Mhm.
>> Have we had any preliminary conversations with um or are you aware of what the show is looking for this year? >> Um I I don't have an exact dollar amount, but I know that um
Superintendent Pigeon is uh has the same concerns I do about the budget. >> Correct. >> We talked on Friday. you know, if if our increases are in the same percentage from where we're starting, that's a good place to be. >> Yeah. I I would say in the same if not if if theirs is not more.
>> Yeah, we're in the same boat, >> right? Um, is there so once you kind of you do hopefully some more magic on the assessment numbers, um, is there another visit to the selectman and finance committee? Can you remind me or is it
really just >> We've done that in the past, but but typically we would send that to Robert and he and he would update them. He he does a um he does a nice job keeping them in the loop. >> Um, but we would be happy if they would like that, we'd be happy to go back and and present the the newly formed
numbers. I believe they will I believe these numbers will probably be different before we present to Shirley next week. >> I think they actually had probably all their finance committee there tonight. >> That was a nice >> So that was good. >> You know that that you had your
presentation going to everybody. So um I mean apparently they didn't really introduce who they were but looked like the seats they were taken >> and we know um probably because it hasn't really changed. Those are very familiar faces we have met. We we
>> the three of them on the side were but the other one I hadn't hadn't met him before. >> That could be why. Okay. No other questions. >> Thank you, Dr.
Clearing. Um is there any update on the five-year uh strategic plan? >> Well, there is and it's a very quick one. We are uh beginning that work uh tomorrow afternoon with the Lynch Leadership Academy and uh we will have a more thorough update after that uh first meeting. Actually, I believe we'll have a couple of meetings before the next
school committee meeting. So, we will update you at that point. Um and there will be we will be reaching out to you um for some input on the strategic plan outside of a school community meeting to do so.
>> Okay, great. Thank you. Um moving on, I can now say that there are no chairpersons. notes if I'm reading this correctly at this point. Um, are there any other topics for discussion not reasonably anticipated uh 48 hours in advance of this meeting? >> Not at this time.
>> No. Um, communications. >> All right. Thursday, February 5th, Paige Hilltop has a PTO meeting at 700 p.m. at Paige Hilltop. Thursday and Friday, February 5th and 6th, there will be a 90
minute early release for grades 6 through 8th, lunch will be served. Dismissal time is 12:45 p.m. On Monday, February 9th, there will be the ASRSD FY27 budget presentation to the Shirley
Select Board and FinCom. Is that correct? Is it both or just the >> No, it is. I updated that. This is and the fin is going to be there on Monday >> on Monday. >> Okay, sounds good. >> Okay. And that'll be at the Shirley Town Hall at 6 p.m.
>> On also on Monday, February 9th, the music boosters are having a meeting at 6:00 p.m. at Air Shirley Regional High School. Tuesday, February 10th, there is a ASPTO meeting at 700 p.m. at Laura A. White. Did I say that right? Okay.
Wednesday, February 11th, there is a school committee meeting at the middle school at 6:30. Wednesday, February 11th, there is an ASAP meeting at 700 p.m. at the high school. On Monday, February 16th, there is no school in observance of President's Day. And
Tuesday, February 17th through Friday, February 20th, there's no school because of February vacation. That's it. So, we should all go to Florida where it's snowing. Um, great. Thank you, Erica. And I think Are we going to have an executive session tonight?
>> Yes. >> I make a motion that we adjourn the meeting to go into executive session to return only to um dismiss the meeting. >> Ajournment. >> Ajourn. Thank you. >> I second that motion. All those in
favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Part: 2
Welcome to the select board meeting. Today is Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026. This meeting hearing of the air select board will be held in per sorry will be held in person at the location provided on this notice. Members of the public are welcome to attend this in-person
meeting. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and/or participation via Zoom is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast unless otherwise required by law. Members of
the public with a particular interest in a specific item on this agenda should make plans for inperson versus virtual attendance accordingly. This meeting will be live on Zoom and Channel 8. The public may access the proceedings by joining Zoom meeting ID number
978-772-8220 or by calling 9292056099. For additional information about remote participation, please contact Carly Anteneellis, assistant town manager at atmair.mma. us or 978-772-8220
extension 100 prior to the meeting. If I could ask everybody to please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Are there any amendments to tonight's agenda? >> I have none. Okay. >> All right. Uh make a motion to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded. All
those in favor? >> I chair says I. The agenda has been approved. Any announcements for tonight. Okay. All right. Anyone here for public input? Okay.
All right then. Well, Chief Brian Gil from the Air Police Department would please come on down. Good evening everybody. I know we have a busy meeting tonight, so I'll keep this really quick, but I thought uh everybody would like to meet the newest member of the Air Police Department tonight. So,
without further ado, I'd like to bring up the newest member. >> Please do. >> I'd like to bring up Officer Mike Nicolo, who's partnered with new member, K9 Maverick, our new comfort dog. >> WOW. SO, UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT REAL QUICK,
UH, he's partnered with, uh, Mike, who Mike Nicolo, who's our school resource officer up in the air campus of the Air Shirley Regional School District. Um, and he is a, uh, 2-year-old English pocket beagle. Um, and he, uh, he was
born, uh, he just had his second birthday a couple weeks ago. was born on January 14th, 2024, and all of his siblings were slated to be service dogs uh in in all the all the different fields. Um he started his official training in September uh with a
group called Elite Dog Training and it's approximately 24 training hours, which is uh about nine months of full training. And uh in a couple weeks, Mike, he's going to be doing his practice test. >> Yes. And uh and then he'll be going h for his full test up at the air high school, right?
>> Yes. Correct. >> And then he will be an official certified uh comfort dog. Um so he uh he started as a home pet and Mike came to us with the idea of he'd like to start looking at if we could bring on a comfort dog program for the air police
department. Um it's uh in in his travels and in his network, he's found that a lot of the school resources in in our area, school resource officers um had comfort dogs and they were a huge success in the school resource program and just making the connection with the
kids um up there. Um and I'll let Mike talk a little bit more about that. Um but as you can see, Maverick is is small. He's not a puppy. He's 2 years old. He comes in at about 20 pounds. Yeah. >> Um, but what he makes up for in height, he has a huge personality. Um, and, uh,
he's he's often seen walking around the halls of the Air Police Department, uh, owning the place. >> Good job. >> Sit on any chair, jump, you know, and see anybody there. And I think the same is up with the school. I'm going to let Mike tell a little bit about the school and how some of the little impacts that
he's had up at the schools. >> Um, yeah. So, he is with me every day. Um he walks with me around the halls. Uh it used to be officer Nickel. How's it going? Now it's Maverick. Like I'm not there. Um we dress him up for Halloween.
Um he goes to all the classes I teach. Um and it just bridges the gap. Um a lot of kids that haven't talked to me, I've been there for four years. All of a sudden now come up and talk to me. We
have conversations. It's um a way that gets them to loosen up with me. Um we've used him a few times already um at the school with kids in crisis. Um and it
was it's a great success. >> Yep. And uh he's uh he really does he has a calming behavior and and we find that with with the comfort dog programs that they just they they bring, you know, just a different kind of level of of service that we can provide. And and
so we're very excited and we're just so happy to finally be able to introduce Maverick and uh and all he's going to be doing for the town and the school. Right, buddy? >> And you said he's a pocket beagle. >> Yes, he's a pocket beagle. >> Yeah, I've never seen a pocket beagle before. I had a beagle once years ago.
Wonderful dogs. >> Yeah. So, uh I had a pocket beagle previous. Um he was 35 lbs and that's what we thought we were going to get. But, uh 20 lbs is fine with me. Um he's small enough where
I I can help with disabled kids. I can hold him or he can go on their laps. Um I can pick him up when a bunch of elementary school kids get so excited and they circle them. I just pick him up and they all can pat him. Um, and we can
keep him calm that way. Um, but yeah. >> Any questions about uh Maverick or the program in general? >> I don't know. Does Maverick want to say any words? >> No. >> Did you have anything? >> My only comment is my girls are up at
the high school and they know Maverick very well. When I mentioned Maverick was going to be at this meeting, they were all excited. So, >> perfect. He's very well known. >> Yes, he's a staple now in the schools. >> Well, welcome Maverick. You're adorable. Well, you can come to our meetings
anytime. >> Absolutely. >> Well, thank you and thank you for think. >> Yes, Pauline. Very quickly, very thankful, Chief Gil, for bringing this forward. You know, I've been advocating this for years, and I'm so
happy that we finally have um a K9 pup, even just at the high school, to help the kids, because whatever we do for the children is going to make the community better. So, congratulations and thank you so very much.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Well, thank you again. Thank you very much. >> I know I know it's all downhill from here now. >> That was the highlight of the meeting people.
All right. So, at this time, I would like to invite the finance committee um to come to the table to join us for a joint session. But you because we can get a little more >> when we bring up the school too. So
>> the youngest member >> that is the role even at the dinner table. The youngest or the smallest, you know. >> All right. I'll allow you to uh call your committee to order. >> Good evening. My name is Kurt Prescowski. I'm chairman of the finance
committee. Uh, I'd like to call um the finance committee um to order for the presentation on the Earl, excuse me, error Shirley Regional School District budget. Okay. All right.
And at this time, I'd like to invite Dr. Adam Renda, the superintendent schools to present the FY27 Air Shirley Regional School District budget. >> Thank you. >> Hi. >> Assistant Superintendent Charlie Clear is going to join me. Okay, no problem.
>> Sir, you that's fine. You're good. You're gonna be here a long time. >> All right. Thank you. >> Be a moving target. >> Dr. Do you want to use your laptop or just the slides you sent? >> The slides are fine. I I can see better from here. >> Got it. Yeah, no problem. >> I appreciate that.
>> Uh, thank you for having us tonight. We're happy to >> Hold on. Oh, never mind. Go ahead. Sorry. >> We're happy to to be here to present the preliminary budget. I want to stress that this is preliminary. um to the select board and the finance committee tonight. I did want to preface
this with uh William Plunkett, our finance director, was not able to make it tonight. Um he had a family emergency that that pulled him away. I believe Mr. Clearary and I should be able to answer most if not all of your questions, but there may be some questions that we will want to bring back to Mr. Punket for
clarification and we will get you to those answers as soon as possible. >> Well, I hope whatever the emergency is, everything turns out okay. So, we are here tonight to um introduce the preliminary school budget, but and it's been a very difficult
budgeting season. Uh but in order to do this, this is a little bit differently than what we've done before. We want to explain kind of what goes into the required local contribution, some of our process of what we've typically done to help bring down the assessments for the towns, highlight the challenges that
we're facing um more this year, but have been facing actually really the last several years um and then discuss our next steps to hopefully make this a budget that we can present that will be palatable to both towns.
So this um is the understanding of the required local contribution. The required local contribution for air this year is 11,283,655. This is a calculation that the state comes up with each year. It is required under the chapter 70 laws and and this
is the calculation for air with some adjustments based on local conditions. Essentially, um, this is the amount, uh, that the state says you have to pay. This is this is the non-negotiable. It's based on what the state says is the town's ability to pay. Again, that is
the state. That is not the school district making that determination. It uses factors like property value, income levels, and student needs. So, it is the required local contribution plus state aid that equals net school spending. And that is the foundation for the school
budgets and the local tax decisions. So some of our cost factors what goes into this is the operating expense profile for the schools. So this is what it what we need to run the schools. It includes teaching support services and building operations. Uh personnel and compensation is by far the biggest
bucket. Um there's a there's a difference there between the compensation and teaching. So the teaching under the operating expense is like the number of positions that we need. Um and we can have the same position for a teacher that are paid at
very different rates based on the next would be the student centered services domains. This includes students uh supports of special education, transportation, utilities and enrichment programs. And then there is the pre-adjustment and post adjustment benchmark. So these are the numbers that
show the initial cost before any savings or adjustments are applied. We often have a meeting with the town managers and we say, "Hey, this is the number that we need for level funded to be level funded." But then we work we try to work uh with the towns to keep that number in range of what the towns can
afford and we have done that for for several years. So some of the variables um that are making that this more difficult this year is higher transportation costs, food prices and longer bus routes have increased busing expenses especially for
our special education out of district students. We are spending se around $70,000 a month to transport students who are in out of district placements uh to their schools and that is uh that is just one part of our transportation
cost. Uh we have much higher uh insurance costs. Our insurance was increased 12% last year. Uh this year we just received the range from Maya. We're budgeting for a 14.4% that that is the high end that could possibly go down. Um
and believe it or not, we are relieved at the 14.4%. We originally were budgeting for a 20 to a 25% increase in insurance. Um our utility costs have increased at an unbelievable rate. um electricity and water. Electricity
though being uh much higher. Uh currently the district spends around on average $65,000 a month for electricity. All of these increases come with less chapter 70 aid. Uh the state is providing less aid and they are saying that the towns should be able to cover
the cost of that locally. Again, this is messaging from the state uh not the district. Uh the other problem is some of what we have used in the past to offset the costs and offset the assessment um are one-time funds and
aren't always available. Um and as you'll see in a few slides, how we've used those in the past and why they will have less of an impact this year. You usually see this slide. It's usually the very last slide. Bill likes to close with this. It tells you um as of right
now what the assessment will be. This is a preliminary number. I want to stress that again. But before we did some of our preliminary work, when we met with Robert last week, we told him we need 17% to be level funded. I think after he um we checked his pulse and and made
sure he didn't have a heart attack. Um >> remember we don't have a hospital anymore. >> We talked Right. Right. We talked about how we can we can get that down. So, one of the ways that we t one of the things we typically do to help bring down that assessment is we use circuit breaker money from the state to help bring that
down. Circuit breaker is funding that we get. It's a reimbursement from the state for special education costs. We cannot necessarily rely on it's not the same number every year. It's not going to be funded the same every year. Um, so it's risky. It's worked um but it's risky to
do. These are some of the other levers that we use to help offset the assessment to the towns. There are circuit breaker funds, um, excesses deficiency. I think you'll remember, I believe it was two years ago, we used $350,000 to help bring down that assessment for the
towns. We also had to use 600,000 of of excess and deficiency funds to overcome a shortfall from last uh last year's budget. Um, we had migrant shelter funding uh last year. If you remember, there was a migrant shelter in air. We
did receive some funding from the state for that. All of that funding or actually not all of it, 90% of that funding was used to address a shortfall from last year's budget. Um, we have many competitive grants. We've brought
in over $2 million in the last three years in competitive grants that supplements the general fund. And we often use building rental revenue. We can rent the field which is rented out pretty much as often as possible. Um auditoriums and gymnasiums throughout
the district and we can use all of this revenue or grants to help offset uh the costs of the towns which has worked I believe rather successfully um the past five years and beyond. But there is a problem. So though that
we have been able to lower the assessment and the strategy has helped reduce the tax um the tax burden for the towns and save teachers and services. They're onetime funds and they're not guaranteed. So our our END has gone from
about 1.5. We were about to get reertified. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say that number before. It's still fairly healthy. It's under a million dollars. Um it's going to be under a million dollars. These funds aren't guaranteed. Uh there is no more shelter. there was no more shelter money. Um, we
we're continuing to try to to to apply and receive competitive grants. Um, quite honestly, I don't know our capacity to manage many more grants. We are bringing in uh many grants and there's a lot of grant management and the stipulations on those grants. So, we're at the point now if we continue
we're going to have grants competing with each other which means we're not going to receive those grants. Um and then the costs which we had gone over before have increased so dramatically that the use of these onetimes funds really are going to
address the shortfall that we're seeing. So we are trying to do some other things to try to bring in some money and bring these assessments down for the towns. Um, we have contacted our special education transportation to see if
there's any type of of discounts or cost savings they can give us. Uh, to their credit, they're looking at that. They're looking at to see if they can optimize riding uh put more kids uh kids on more than one van. We are also considering and we're going
to try to contract directly with some parents. So we are able now instead of contracting with a van company, if a parent wants to drive their own child to to an out of district placement or a grandparent, we can contract directly with them. I'll give you an example. We
have one out of district placement where we're spending $500 a day to transport the student to school. Uh that is $2,500 a week. There may be a parent or a grandparent that would do that for $1,250. That is a significant savings over 10 months of the school year. If we can get
multiple families to do this, we could save possibly a couple hundred thousand dollars. We are considering to do that. Um we have not yet secured that for next year. Uh but we're trying. We're in talks with three different solar companies to try to reduce the amount
for our utilities electricity. Um we're considering purchasing, we're considering leasing. Um, but at $65,000 a month, if we can get anywhere from 20 to 40% discount, depending on the company that you're talking to, there's lots of different promises there. That could be significant savings. One thing
that we're absolutely doing is that we're going to start an 18 to 22 year old program for students who are in special education who are seniors but continue to need services until the age of 22. This is something that we have now, but what we do right now is all of those students go to an out of district
placements typically to Keystone. Many of them stay right at the high school in that Keystone program. That's at a cost of $80,000 per student by starting our own program. It costs a little bit money for additional support staff, but we can save um next year there's a possibility
of saving $160,000. So, that is absolutely happening. We're hoping to get something done with solar and we're hoping to either work with our transport special education transportation provider or contract individually with parents to save some money there. All three of these added up
could be somewhere um between 200 and $500,000. There's more good news. There is uncertainty about federal funding. We do not know what is happening with our entitlement grants. ones 234 IDEA and 240. We believe they
will be funded to some degree. Uh to what degree they will be funded, we don't know how we will receive those funds. We're not sure yet. There's been no guidance out of the federal government. Um we don't know if there will be a department of education uh by the time school starts next year and it
makes it incredibly difficult to plan. Anything to add to that? So we understand that an 11.9% assessment is the largest assessment at least since I believe it's the largest assessment since the district the region
has been formed. We understand that that there is a possibility that cuts will have to be made. We are going to continue working on some costsaving efforts including the three that I mentioned but also group purchasing um and combining services with other districts when possible. Um
the I guess the good news is we're not in this kind of predicament alone. This is going to be a common theme at um select board and thinkcon presentations throughout the state. Um one thing we do want to reassure everyone of is if we do
have to make cuts or reductions, we will focus on preserving teaching and learning our core programs and required student services first. Uh before I move on and and go on to the typical kind of budget presentation where we introduce the cherry sheets and some of the numbers. Any questions on on
what I just presented or would you rather hold questions? >> Well, somebody has a question. I think we're we'll hold till the end. >> Okay. So, what you're looking at here on this slide is the uh preliminary fiscal year 27 cherry sheets. What you'll see
is that our increase in chapter 70 is about $127,000 from the prior year. Our charter reimbursement is down about $20,000. Regional transportation is up about $14,000. That's essentially a cut for us with such such a limited
increase. Um school choice is down about 35,000 uh which brings our total estimated receipts to 10,413,443. And for our estimated charges, our school choice sending tuition is up about $80,000 and our charter
school sending tuition is down about $6,000. So our total estimated charges are $1,745,127. So our net receipts for chapter 70 funding is $8,668,000. Uh $668,316. Next is our fiscal year budget drivers
and projections. You just saw the chapter 70 an increase of 127,000. Our transportation reimbursement is down uh 95 uh 95,000. Our charter reimbursement, as we just said, is down 20. Some good news, our
Medicaid is up 52,000 and our depository interest is up 29,000 and local receipts is up 300. Uh what you'll see next is the the budget drivers uh health insurance at 14.4 this could go down um
is going to be $677,000. Regular transportation is only going up $37,000. Uh this is because we are on the last year of the contract and this is fixed. We are going out to bid next year and we are expecting a rather large increase in that cost uh next next
fiscal year. Charter tuition out is up 46 almost $47,000. Our outer district collaborative costs. This is uh we're very happy with this. It's only up $3, $3,500.
And our choice out is up 72,000. Uh middle sex retirement 38. and our trans transportation. This looks like it's down uh to uh $532,000, but that is because we have applied 500,000 on our circuit break there to
help bring down the assessment. So the in our the contract salary increases for all staff is at 993,136, which brings the total impact of the general fund to $743,76. What you see below that is some of the
uh revenue. You see we're going to receive about $8,000 less in school choice, but that will still be $541,944. And our circuit breaker um which is a this is a very healthy circuit breaker for this year. Uh 1.4 million 500 of
that uh we have already applied to special ed transportation. This is the fiscal year 27 foundation enrollment. So you'll notice air is down 88 students uh this fiscal year. 30 of those
students were in the migrant shelter. So they have moved on to other districts uh with their move. And then the other really there's there's some, you know, students move away, but really what you're seeing with the other 50 students or so is a larger graduating class of
air students and a smaller kindergarten class than typical. And then of course, we always have kids moving in and out. That's really where we're seeing the um the difference in 88 students. Conversely, Shirley is actually up 23 students and this is how the uh the
change for that. Uh we are a minimum aid district. So we are receiving $75 additional per student um for chapter 70. So that breaks down the change for air is $647,951. And this is the chapter 70 summary.
The fiscal year 26, chapter 70 was 8,993,333 with the minimum aid of $75. That could go up. Uh the governor started last year's budget at at minimum aid of $75. Ultimately, it turned into $150. We're
hoping that happens. If that does happen, that 127 will double. So it will be just over $250,000. We're hoping that happens. Um, we won't know until the um the state's budget is is finalized. Um, so you take
last year's the prior year's aid, the the $75 per pupil. Um, when you add that together, uh, that gives us the 9,120, 383 for our chapter 7 funds. What you're looking at here is the
chapter 70 determination of the uh town total required contribution for air. We're going to focus on some very specific numbers here. Um you're going to look at line 10, line 13, 14, 15, and then um
21, 22, and 23. And we we'll go through that. So line 10 is 12,99,11. That's the amount of money that the state believes air should be able to pay and what it would take for air airly regional school district to run the
school. Um line 13 at 11,440,441 is the amount that the town is required to pay. That is the non-negotiable number. The state takes line 13, that 11 million, and they multiply that by the department of revenue growth factor,
which is 6.71%. And that gets the preliminary contribution, which is 12,28,95. If you take line 15 of the 12,28,000 and subtract line 10 from it, you are
left with a shortfall which is line 21 of $700,916. That is 4.48% which is under seven and a half percent which is good because we're air is only being charged a 1% increment towards that target and that target is line 10.
So that is an additional $114,44. If you remember last year it was a 2% increment that air was charged towards that target. So that it's good we're getting closer to that target. But when you take all of these and when you add that together is where you get the
required local contribution uh for air of $1,2322,499 clearly anything on that? >> No, you're good. >> Okay. What you're looking at here is the aortionment of the local uh required
local contribution between airy regional and the tech. So that 12 uh,322,499 is split between the Shobet and Air Shirley Regional School District and it's based on the percentage of students
that go to each school. Air uh, Air Shirley Regional School District have has 91.57% of the students going to our school district. So we received 91.5% of those funds which is 11,283,655. The show has 8.43%
which is138,844. You add those two together, it's your total required local contribution. Okay, this slide um actually shouldn't be in the presentation uh as of yet. Uh there are some mistakes in it. We meant to take it out. So, I apologize for
that. Um, what you'll notice uh for for the mistake is if you look under the assessment towards the bottom, it's in teal. It says the change from fiscal year 26 is 3.358. It's actually 3.258. And then we needed to make some changes
with the health insurance at the 14.4. I know we have that note in there, but we haven't made that change yet. So, we're going to update this chart and get this to uh Robert to get this out to you updated um and correct. So, my apologies for that. That shouldn't have been included. But
we're back on on this page. And this is the really the uh the page that is telling uh the towns what they're going to to be paying. This we do understand this is a large assessment. The required local contribution for air is 11,283,655,000.
the operating assessment which is part of the original agreement. Um right now the aortionment is 5745% for air and 42.55% for Shirley. That's an additional 3,87,261. Then you include transportation in that
at $96449. That brings the total to 16,51,365. So you'll see on the next line if you take fiscal year 26 with the increase of 1.9 that's a 13.8% assessment then we have to have the excluded debt uh from
the fields project which is1,80,339 for a total operating assessment and debt of $17,131,75 or 11.9% assessment rate. We're happy to take any questions. Again, I want to stress again, this is preliminary. We're going to do our best
to get this down. Um, but the the reality is part of the reason this assessment is so high is the work that we have done in the past years to keep the the assessment down. um the not tricks, but the the ways that we have been able to do that in the past, just
simply not working the same way because of the cost increase um that we're seeing in in all of our utilities and insurance and um transportation as well as other costs. >> Yeah. Um couple questions.
So um you had mentioned the drop in enrollment um being the migrant shelter was a big driver of that. Um I see you know air dropped 88 students which 30 was attributed to. Um but the
the town grew about 2.2% over that time. So is this a trend do you think that you know we're going to be dropping in students? Is that something I mean I'm not asking you to predict the future but you know we're looking at this year and
I'm also thinking down the road um you know if you're as you're looking at these younger classes the kindergarten classes and such um do you have a feel? >> I was surprised to see that we have we've been rising since co uh there's
been some dips but it stayed pretty it's been pretty steady. We've been somewhere between 650 and 1750 uh for the past 5 years. And I believe we're right around 1,700 right now. So I I don't it's too early to say that it's a trend. Uh I was
surprised to see that we were down 88. Uh when you factor in the 30 students that we lost because of the migration shutter, it's it's it's more palatable. We're down about 25 total between the two towns, which is happens from year to year. Um but it's something that we're
looking at. I I I don't think so. Um we're getting more requests for school choice in and that is something else we're going to look at. We have been we have set our caps pretty low for a few reasons uh for that. We have we have
noticed in the past that um educating students who school choice in costs a lot more than the money that we receive. So we received about $5,000 from the state. So it the the the the juice hasn't been worth the squeeze, so to speak. Um, we're going to reexamine that for for multitude of reasons. One is we
could use it, right? I mean, it's it's tight. Um, but the benefits of that is we've been able to keep class sizes small for the town's mayor Shirley. So, we we're going to have to if we can increase class sizes slightly to get some revenue in and have less cuts.
That's something that we obviously need to do. So, we will be re-examining that. Ultimately, school committee will set those numbers. we will give them a recommendation. But right now for K and one, we're at we cap at 20. That doesn't mean we can't have more than 20 kids in a classroom. That means if we have 20
kids in a classroom, school choice is closed for that grade level. Okay? If there are if we have the kids who live in Aaron and Shirley and they make that class size 24, that's fine. Um but if we get to 20 in K1, we we close school choice. For the rest of elementary, it's
22. And I believe uh for all the middle all the middle school it's 25 and then we've never had school choice open in 10 11 and 12. We only open it for freshman year for for many reasons. We're going to reexamine that but I
believe our cap at the high school is also 25. >> Um the split between Aaron Shirley the 57.45 45 and the 42.55. Is that uh you know a contract or is that does that slide?
>> So it's a fiveyear uh average of um admission of student enrollment. So that does that that will change. You won't see a drastic change this year even though that's it's more than a Shirley going up 25 and air going down 88 is
it's rare. >> Well, yeah, that's obviously what I you won't see. Yeah, you won't see that. If that trend continues, you would see that and uh it would affect that probably in a year or two >> because of that fivey year and they they put that in so that's not a drastic a drastic change for each town. Now we're
having a drastic change. >> Um anyway, not based not based on that but but that is why that is like that. Okay, because that does come out to be one and a half% you know that that's a change which is not insignificant but it's good to know that it does it it
does adjust um just see um because you did answer a number of the questions that I did kind of have um so the grant revenue
it looked like it dropped 5.4% 4%. >> Um, which, um, so that's I think what you're looking at is our federal entitlement grants. >> Okay. >> So, we don't really have I want to make sure though. Let me >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So, those are
>> Yeah, by all means, jump in. >> So, if over the past several years, I presented this to Fincom. I think Kurt I was we had this conversation a couple years ago. I think we talk about title one, two, three, and four expenses. Um, and I'll use myself in the time that
I've started an air surely versus where we are now. When I started, titles one, two, three, and four were funded by the federal government at approximately $800,000. So that was in 2018. So now, for comparison's sake, we're
down to 300,000. So over that span of time, it's been a $500,000 cut. And that amount of money has been, if you look at that as a cumulative loss, it's pretty significant because it didn't all happen in one year. It was 100,000 each year. And so that number that's in there with
the grant reduction of 5.4% reflects the change from last year to what is proposed or estimated going into next year for those grants. Uh, and the I like the electric that you're looking into that. Um, and the
benefit you did kind of answer the question, which was 65,000 per month across the district. Um, so if you could get that to drop, you know, again, I'm not looking for exact numbers, but I had a I forget what it said, like non sign
uh insignificant amount. Um, is there anything more that you could explain about looking into that? I mean, you said like you were le looking into leasing. I It's going to be a capital project. So, is, you know, you're looking for debt service to
>> possibly that. >> That's one of the possibilities. The other possibility is that we lease these and it there's no out-of- pocket costs. The the um >> so the amount of savings depends on the company that you're talking to. I'm I'm smiling because it's they're they're so different. Right.
>> Right. And so one uh we we are right now I I think we're probably leaning towards one company and and I won't name them but they have done local projects for other for other districts and they can provide um canopies for covered parking which would actually be at no cost right
but we would so we would essentially be changing our electric company to this solar company. Um it would be a significant savings over over national grid. Um that's probably the easiest way to go. We can save significantly more money if we purchase the agreement, but
then there's also significantly more headache. We would have to have a servicing agreement with the company, but we don't have anyone that can service solar. There's going to be problems with that. Our roofs would have to be in good enough shape that we would be able to put them on without any
capital project to repair the roofs. We have enough space. Each each school has enough space where we could be essentially energy independent. we could be would never be off the grid because we're not allowed to, but we would essentially not have an electric bill unless there was some type of weather
event where the sun wasn't shining um for for all four schools. The other part of that is that there are tax incentives, right? So, we would get significant tax incentives to um pay off some of those loans or uh we could
possibly use some of that to address um any shortfall as as one-time funds. You know, whether or not that's a good idea to do. Um again, I think what we're doing if we if we we can do that to help if it works, we could do that to help bring down the assessment. But
essentially, it is kicking the can down the road for a budget issue the following year. But we could make it there's a possibility um where we could kind of do this in stages and we we have attempted this with with funds in the past and that did work. Um what we weren't expecting is our costs increase
as drastically as they have. >> Sorry, but you I think you may have just partially addressed what I was going to ask. Given there's different no schools at different ages and whatnot, would the solar be something that would have to be
implemented essentially all at once for the district? Could you just put it online school? Again, thinking of Yeah. ages of schools. >> All that I'm sorry to interrupt. All of that's an option. So, I would love to be able to do this at all the schools that would have the most immediate savings. Um, but it depends. Uh, the high school
roof is the newest. It's probably in the best shape. Um, we could only do if we can only do one school, we would do that school. The other um benefit of leasing is uh one of these companies will put into the lease the repairs to the school. So that we would be paying that
over the we'd actually be paying for the repairs over the term of that lease. it would still probably be significant savings um than what we're paying right now at $65,000 a month for 12 months is, you know, that's that's probably
$100,000 a year. >> So, >> yeah, all of all of those options are on the table. We're looking at all schools. If it can just be one, if it can be two. The middle school is a little different. The middle school, it's not actually National Grid. It is through Devon's
energy. I might have that wrong. it's it's provided by Mass Development. Um, so that's a whole different issue. Uh, none of these solar companies have worked with Mass Development before, so they're reaching out uh to find out if
that is even a possibility. >> Thanks. >> Sure. >> Where's the 65,000 come from >> energy cost? >> That's from that is from the National Grid and Devon utility bills.
>> Okay. I would assume I would see that reflected in this budget over the last couple of years. Right? If I add up the paycheill top, well, there's four schools on here. If I add those up, I got 330,000, right? And 65,000 a month is almost what? 800,000.
So, I just I don't know what I'm missing. >> You're on page eight. >> I'm on page eight. >> So, you're looking at the >> there's four electricity lines. >> Yep. You add those up and you get 330,000 uh from the previous years and 371,000
for 27. So if you can figure that out for me, we will what we can do is um I actually have the last 12 months of all the utility bills sitting on my desk. So what I will do I I don't know why that number is wrong. I can tell you
that the number I'm telling you is is the correct number. So I'll have to speak with Mr. one can see where that went wrong. But what I will do, and I already have this scanned, is I will send those utility bills to Robert so you can see those. Um that should reflect accurately, especially since we've been talking with utility
companies um for the past two months. >> I the only reason why I ask is I'm looking at the bottom line, right, which is and I totally believe you, but I'm looking at this for 26. score to 31,000 >> which is you're saying the electricity
alone is double that. So there seems to be some sort of issue. >> Right. So can we fix that? >> Thank you for pointing that out. >> Um and not to get into the weeds about you know electric projects and all that.
It's more of a broad question leading to, you know, I don't want to make kind of this we get through this year and then next year we get hit with a 15% and then next year at the 17. >> So I'm just trying to figure out the
general sense of where we're going. So if we I'm sure we can all work together and figure this out which year is going to be next year it's going to hit the same issue. And again, do you have a sense for >> Well, I I I think it depends on where we
end up. We we we're fairly certain that we can get that 11.9 down, but if we get that 11.99 down to to five or six where where the assessment has been, we're looking at significant cuts to the school district and we're looking at that that can essentially been kicked
down the road >> because what's going to happen inevitably is we're going to have student needs that are legalities that are going to come up that we have to pay for. Um and we will not have any funds available. There won't be any circuit
breaker. There won't be any school choice funds available. There'll be nothing that we that we'll be able to tap into to take care of that which we will end up uh essentially in a shortfall uh which will become a deficit and that will go into the next next
fiscal year. Now, we do have um our END is is still fairly healthy, but at the rate that we've had to use it the last couple of years, it's not going to last. So, we're looking to address this problem now, not kill all of our
reserves. We're using 400,000 of capital stabilization reserves this year um to to to address the shortfall that we're having we're having from this year. Um, you know, we we did bring in a consultant uh retired um finance
director because some of our part of the problem that we had is our projections were off. We thought we knew it was going to be a tight year. Uh we planned for it to be a tight year. We did that purposely to to kind of help with the tax burden. Uh we didn't realize it was going to be as tight as it was. So,
we've brought him in to to see why were our projections off, what do we need um going forward so that doesn't happen again. So, he's been a great help. He's actually going to be at the school community meeting after this. Um um I should have had him come come here tonight. Uh but essentially, yes,
depending on how how much we have to cut. Uh I I think it can be addressed so that we're not looking at double digit assessments in in the coming years, but it depends on how much we cut how much we cut this year to get it to a you
know, I think Robert correct me. We were six% last year. >> Yeah, I'd have to have to check. >> Yeah. >> To get it to to five or six, it would be It would probably be devastating. It would be devastating cuts to the
district. We'd be cutting We'd be increasing class sizes. We'd be probably cutting um sections. Uh but we we don't we don't know that we need to be there yet. We are we're confident that um we can get that 11.9%
down so that it's probably manageable. And it's every every change that we make, we will be giving Robert an update so that he can then update it. >> Go ahead, Kirk. >> Hi. >> Robert's got a question. >> Oh, go ahead.
>> You want to go? Um, >> so um a couple questions, doctor. Um, so the one big driver is the health insurance increase. Okay. Which is >> Yes.
which was 15% I was here. What do you think it was over the past year is the increase maybe? >> It was 12% last year. 12 point 12 point 12 and change. I'm not not sure exactly. It was 12% last year. So, you know, we're talking, you know, 26% over two
years. It's that's >> And then previous years you think was less though. >> Um, it was less but it was I think it was maybe I can get that. Okay. It was less but it still hurt. Okay. I'm just I mean I'm just you know looking ahead is
you know >> may since we've seen such big increases. Yeah. >> But that's I mean I'm >> and you know the reason I think it's down from 25 20 to 25% to 14.4 is the elimination of the GLP1s.
So, as of July one, those won't be covered. And that those costs have gone. If from from two years ago, it was $50,000 to $200,000. Now, it's well over a million. >> TLP one was the weight loss.
>> Oh, gotcha. Gotcha. Oh. Oh, yeah. Oh. As far as health insurance in general. Yeah. Yeah. That Yeah. Um >> Okay. So um so that's I mean so the biggest things that I see are the health insurance um what other big expenses are
we just >> well the largest expense is is compensation >> okay so all right so health insurance and comp and stuff like that and then on the flip side is the obviously lost in title money and everything so we've had
>> big the loss of of chapter 70 funds so that's state state funding has gone down significantly and uh and federal funding has gone down. >> So cost costs are are drastically dramatically increasing and then what we're getting from the state and the
federal government has gone down drastically and and their expectation is that the the taxpayers of of Aaron Shirley come up. >> Okay, good. But yeah, I was just trying to summarize
sort of >> perfect storm term has been used often. Um I think you might have the first one that brought it up. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> I I appreciate that the state think you
know says that the town of air can handle this. >> I'm going to take that part as a compliment. I would also invite them to come here and actually see things on a ground level. Uh Robert, you had a question. >> Yes, Madam Chair. Thank you, Dr. Render.
Um thank you. Uh I appreciate at least us getting from 18.8 to 11.9. Now we just have to go a little bit further. Um Madam Chair, I just wanted to offer just a couple of um observations. And I know
that this is a a process and this is the prelim preliminary part of it. Um >> we did lose a week. >> Pardon? >> We did lose a week. So we're a week out from where we typically are because of the the the governor took about an extra week to to get us our numbers. So this
is typically massaged about another week. >> Yeah. So um just I I can't believe I'm going to say this, but this is my 15th budget since regionalization. In fact, I think I was the only person around this
table when regionalization happened and the range you are correct that the assessment we've always made it work and I think the highest up to this and I know this is the final number was around 9% one year there was a spike
um the perfect when I come to see you in November when I brought the perfect storm and I was hoping that we would be I mean I didn't create the storm but in in that I the town so obviously I know you know this that the 11.9%
is a nonviable non-star and that's for air surely as you know and that's perhaps one of the structural issues with the regional agreement is we always end up even lower than what what surely would be but in looking the implications
just because we're talking about the 11.9 and I will that will change with That means for air. So, as you know, and we dis discussed this back in November, our target to raise the municipal budget was by 5%. That'd be a million, you
know, a million dollars off over FY26. And part of that reason is over the last 10 years, the average budget in air has been increasing by 5.2%. It varies. Last year it was 5.9. But over the long term, a million dollars every year, the
municipal budget, for the sake of argument, it's gone up almost $10 million in 10 years is not sustainable, right, for the taxpayer who's footing the bill and the capacity. And this is before this perfect storm rolls around.
And so we looked at a target for 5%, that number comes up largely because we do have the limitations of Proposition 2 and a half, right? and looking at the ability to pay. So in in our modeling, we assumed a 5% for the
town um and a 5% for the district and I mean we don't have authority on that but for planning purposes and um so why the 11.9% is not viable or sustainable. We've already begun to reduce the municipal
budget starting in November and departments have prepared a scenario that we're hoping not to use taking into account a more catastrophic but at 11.9% conservatively we'd have to reduce the town of a budget by another million
dollars which would be personnel and as you're saying and I don't take it lightly you've said to me you're looking at a million to two million The way I see it is there there are um two issues and and a big challenge is is time. So
the two issues is is there's a structural issue that there is a structural imbalance that goes all the way back and you can identify it as Shirley's ability to pay um state aid and affordability. There's
a structural problem. So obviously a structural solution I've heard people say well just we need an override. Well an override is only as good as it can pass. The last override for school related matters and air that passed and it was a much small one was in 1993 and
I can't speak for surely but I bring that up because I hear oh we have to have an override and that that and I know you we've talked about this it's easier said than done. So there's a structural problem in all of this and the and I think as select Mavaris and we
can all agree this is a multi-year issue and I know you and you have a much more optimistic view. I think we're in year one of a five-year storm. You're hoping we're in year three of year three. I do. Right. >> So the issue is the health insurance is broken, right? And you and I know that
if they didn't get rid of the GLP, the health insurance would be 20%. because 6% according to Meyer was that we were 15% last year, we're going to be 15% this year. So to think that health insurance is going to improve in a year
based on the federal and state situation, right? The addition is the federal government and the state government are completely broken as you highlighted and if anybody thinks that either of those have any money. So um and we have to look at this at at the
long term. Um so there's a structural issue and there's a sustainable sustainability issue. I mean this is not sustainable for any of us. You us surely and across and there's no there's no real help on the way as you said the the federal
government nothing the state government nothing. Um so final point my other concern is an issue of timing. So, as you know, you have 45 days from the first town meeting to submit a a a certified budget for our consider.
That's approximately around March 17. Do you feel that I mean if cuts of that magnitude and we have to make cuts that gives us like a month to do that um have you given any thought to that?
>> We Yes. I mean, we if if we if we have to uh make cuts, which we believe we're going to have to make some, but depending on what cuts need to be made, we have already had those discussions with buildings >> have to cut. >> Yeah.
So, but my final point, Madam Chair, thank you and I appreciate the time and it's it's a problem for us to to solve with Shirley in a very rapid time to get the short term for this year, but then the long term is going to require um an
extreme effort and potentially some structural issues that are out of even our hands. Um I think that the final uh point on on that front is just from my chair as the town manager I've shared
this with you to quantify this from the air side. Ideally it would be 5% but I know the challenge there is surely would be higher at 5%. And I don't know if they can even do 5%. I'm not going to speak for Shirley.
six to 7% for air we have to really tighten it and then after seven I it as I've shared with you we're getting in um to some tough territory um so Madam Chair I just wanted to
quantify I know things are going to change we'll keep things updated but >> it's very real it's very tight and it's not a one-year blip right it's not >> so I mean We will um we're going to
continue working this. Like I said, we're about a we had about a week last is when the governor released the budget we're expecting on the 21st, the 28th. So, you know, I I think we'll probably have we're presenting in surely next week. My
guess is these numbers will be different by then. Um we will sh obviously share that that with you. Um, but we are all of our all of my job right now and and most of if not all of Mr. Claris and and Mr. Plankus is to try to make this
doable for both towns. So, we are um working around the clock to try to do that. Uh what we want uh is to make no cuts at all. That's what we we want to come up with solutions. So, we are level service and we're providing the services that we are providing this year to all
of our students. um if that is not a possibility, we're we'll be very strategic with the cuts that we have to make. Um but in order to do that, we know that there's going to have to be some type of intervention uh from the outside, meaning
savings in utilities, um grants, competitive grants. I mean, we are we're going to do that. Uh, one of the reasons we're presenting this tonight, this is this is an actual number of what we need. Uh, we've done that in the past. This is the number
that we actually need and then we we find other ways to help that that get down. We're going to do that, but we wanted to to be show the reality of this um how we're typically able to drop that number rather significantly. um it's probably
not going to be as significant, but as you saw the 18 or I thought it was 17, but maybe it was 18 um 18.5 >> 18.8 >> 18.8. It's down to 11.9. Um so well, we we'll give us some time and we'll see uh
what we can get back to. >> Madam Chair, thank you. >> Um you mentioned also, you know, the older buildings and whatnot. That's going to be a continued problem. So, I mean, not trying to be sarcastic, but do we
need to all go to Home Depot and get plastic wrap for the windows? I mean, what are we doing is is basically what I'm asking because that's going to be continued a problem. So, you know, how are we going to help alleviate that so that'll help bring down these other costs, these utility costs, everything?
>> Well, one of one of the I mean, one of the best ways to do that would be a new building project. Now, it would be a cost to the to the towns, but there would be significant savings in utilities and and probably personnel if if we regionalize the elementary school.
Now, that is not a decision that I get to make. Um, that would be um school committee and and the the the voters to some degree. Mass development would have would have a big say in that. That is an option that they would absolutely make us look at. that looking at that option in the feasibility study would
absolutely have to happen just because of the size of the schools combining the two elementary schools. It would be a large elementary school but it wouldn't be larger than than some that surrounding that to happen. Um that there'll be significant savings there. We have a statement of interest for a
new building project that is ready to be submitted. We are holding off. Uh we held off last year. It looks like that mass development has provided some funding for feasibility a mini feasibility study. Um we feel with that getting done our application our sign of
interest will be much stronger. So we hold off there. I know we're Roberts and I and and um Mr. Sawyer and I believe Harvard is part of that. Yeah. >> Um just because they're part of the feasibility study. It would be it would be separate projects. Um, so that will
happen relatively soon and we're ready to submit a statement of interest this year. We could submit actually today. We had it ready to go to submit last year. That would be the best way to address it. Other than that, we are assessing and repairing as needed. That's that's
essentially what happened. We had a pipe burst this weekend at page 12. >> And then I don't think anybody's asked this. Forgive me if someone didn't. And I'm repeating, um, were any of these positions, um, grant and now they're
part of the budget. >> Um, we have had positions in the past that were grant funded that had turned permanent, but nothing anything as of late, even last year. >> So, nothing new. They've already been there. Okay. >> Yeah. No, we had had new new positions.
Typically, most of our new positions um are grant funded, so it's not part of the general fund, but we have had new positions as far as um support staff. We've had many students move in um that come that are in special education that are coming in requiring a pair of
professional. >> Um we don't have a choice, right? A student is coming from another town with that uh new IEP, we have to provide that service. That's that's cost of about $40,000. we have no control over uh over
the past three years. That's at least 20. I I can get you an exact number, but I want to say we've we've added maybe 20 pair professionals because of special the needs of some of our our students in special education. So, that's a significant increase in cost and many of
those are are moving. >> Anybody else have any questions? We are happy to be able to bring everybody's mood up to this evening. >> All right. Well, um >> we will we will keep in touch and uh >> if you can bring it down a lot, that'd be great.
>> We'll do our best. >> Like a lot a lot. Um >> that will work. >> So, but uh >> to do that. >> So, all right. Well, thank you. Keep us posted. Um, >> Robert Robert with us. We do feel like
this is a good partner. We're going to do our best to get >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Kurt. I'll invite you to uh adjourn your committee. >> The uh I move that the finance presentation will adjourn.
>> I I will second your motion. I move your motion. >> All those in favor? Well, thank you gentlemen for joining us. It was a pleasure to see you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Little bit behind >> that one. There it is. Okay.
All right, settle down here. Next up, we have a public hearing. >> Chris, um, do we have the
>> I appreciate it. Um, okay. Um, this I would like to open um a public hearing. the um air select board uh regarding out of town ser uh sewer service connection uh public
hearing. The Air Select Board will be conducting a public hearing on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Air Town Hall, One Main Street, Air Mass regarding an application by Greg Ganley, Graten, Mass to connect to the town of
Heirs sewer system uh for property located at 434 Old Air Road, Gren Mass. The select board in their legal capacity as the town's water and sewer commissioners will hear testimony regarding this request and will make recommendations pursuant to town of air
regulations chapter 435 section 2.2. If recommended by the select board, the application will be placed on the April 27th, 2026 annual town meeting warrant. Zoom meeting ID is 978-772-8220 and call-in number is 929-205-6099.
For more information, please contact atmirair.mma. us or 978-7728220 extension 149. >> What? >> Okay. All right. All right. Do we have who?
>> Come on down. Hey, Greg. >> Oh, hey, >> Dan. >> Nice to meet you. >> Yeah, nice to meet you in person. >> Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. >> All right. >> All right. >> Why don't Yeah, Greg, why don't you explain what's your um your application and I can jump in from perspective.
>> Yeah. >> Thank you so much. First of all, thank you for having me. I'm here with my wife Heather. Uh we live over in a Rotten on Pacer way. Um we basically own a property at the end of Pacer Way. It's uh 434 Old Air Road. Um my family and I,
we've actually lived in um the Graten Air community for over the last 22 years. And our intent in this request is try to remain here uh while planning responsibly for the next stages of our lives. I'm submitting this uh request to pursue an out of town municipal sore
connection um to support potentially a construction of a single family home um on this property at 434 Oldair Road. The property lies entirely in Grten, but it's located directly next to the Airtown line. Um it's and um the
property has a private well and it's um it's it's it's um has its own curb cut and it's directly across from the Autumn Ridge uh connection. um and um which has sore municipal uh from air uh connecting
it. So um the thought was is to you know meet with air and uh apply for this to see if we can try to make this current lot uh buildable. uh at president is not and so before I talk with the town of Groten I wanted to talk with the town of air um and pursue perhaps a sore
connection um just to make the overall lot more amenable to uh potentially buildable um at this time I don't I haven't really sought any building permits or anything I'm again just bringing this forward to just try this aspect of of of of looking
at the at at the lot so I see you have the diagram up I could walk through that if uh folks would Sure. >> Okay. As you can see, you have Paceaway on the right hand side and then that has Old Air Road at the base. Um, and the
structure already has an existing 10x10 building. The the the lot used to be um in an AT&T property. Uh, and so I purchased it off of AT&T. Um, it was part of the long-distance telephone system. Um, and so the the building is there today and it has existing
electrical and I I have a well, water well in there as well. So the idea is that is that if we were to build a house on the lot potentially uh we could have a sore line that would go out to the corner of the lot and potentially tap into the existing sore uh the sore line
that is there. I pasted out it's roughly 60 ft from the sore cap to to the corner to the actual edge of the property. And on the next um diagram, it actually shows um actually I think there's one more.
Maybe it's not in there. Oh yeah, that's Yep, that's the one. >> Yeah, this particular one I was sharing with the DPW department potential options to connect to um the shoreline. Uh because it's my understanding that the road was recently paved. Uh so it's
a beautiful road at this point and and if we could avoid cutting into that that would be amazing. Uh and so that's potentially turns out the neighbor's house there is a white pipe marker with an existing shoreline already like under the fresh road. So that could potentially be an option A that if we
could somehow work the side of the road uh uh to connect into the soore therefore we wouldn't have to cut the road at all. Option B would be perhaps uh to try to minimize the amount of cutting on the road and that would be a direct perpendicular cut which would uh
be option B. And then option C um I think you were you mentioned you were talking about potentially extending the sore mainline itself uh and then do a perpendicular cut closer to the corner of the lot. >> I guess any questions?
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, so I did I had included a memo from public works. So Greg's been working with myself, Matt Hearn, and Kimberly Abraham from from my office. Um, and so really when you look at the application, there's a few signoffs. There's water and sewer availability
review by the town engineer, public hearing, and then select board approval before we're go to town meeting. So water and sewer availability, it's a single family home, three-bedroom house. It's really insignificant in the grand scheme of our our water capacity, I mean
our sewer capacity. So that we do not have an issue with um some things I brought up in the in the memo are potentially our our billing because it is out of town and we came across this with a property in Littleton. We
technically would need an intermunicipal agreement with Grten. So, this would be a step that would have to happen um in order. So, say there were unpaid bills and we need to collect on the property. We've done leans in the past, but we can't do that in another town. So, you need to have that that coverage. Um
and then just I think Greg was kind of talking about the proposed connection, which really should be between him and DPW, which is really the town engineer approval signoff in my opinion. And what we, you know, if we were to do an an extension of a sewer line and a connection and doing it the right way that we normally would, we would extend
the main that we have and then tie in at the at the property line with a new manhole. So, you know, working with my staff, that's what we would recommend. And and really, I had a a sketch in here. I think it's the next plan down, Carly, a GIS plan map put together.
Really, you can see, so the parcel, it's, you know, across the Air Graten town line and it's down the street a little bit. So, um, so ideally you would extend that main to that property and then tie in that way rather than cutting across potentially another property or
diagonally across a road. Um, now one thing I mentioned in the memo that comes with that, you know, if and this is what the select board really has to consider potentially town meeting. If we start extending into Grten, is there are we setting a precedence? What if some more
people might want to start tying in? Um, and one other thing we as public works would want to see is an engineered plan, which I I relate to Greg that as well, just of, you know, is it going to be low pressure sewer? Are we going, are we talking about gravity? Um, you know, exact dimensions on a on a plan, not
just like a sketch with with some dimensions that look okay. But yeah, um, and yeah, Greg did mention the recently we recently paved Groten Road, so there'd be requirements there. So, so Groden obviously needs to be approached mentioned um we're in their roadway. We
the town of air would need an intermunicipal agreement with them for the um the sewer there uh on that property to be able to uh collect leans. Um and I think those are all the main points I had from from my memo. So I
think really at this point this is the public hearing portion of it. So, is the select board, you know, I think the question is, is the select board, you know, in on board in favor of moving this to town meeting? Does the select board want Greg to work with my the DPWM
Graten more and kind of um push the hearing um until there's more info from that or um and and continue with the work um that we're doing now? Um those are kind of the two questions I think we got to discuss.
First of all, no water, right? It's just sewer. We're just talking sewer. Okay. I just want to make sure that's clear. Um I mean I I think that you're going to have to have more month more information anyways for town meeting. Are would you think that you would even be ready for
April 27th town meeting or would you be thinking of fall? because it sounds to me like there's a lot to do and I would think that it would be more fall town meeting. That's how I'm feeling it right at the moment. >> I was shooting for April. I've actually talked with the local uh company
involved uh for an engineering plan and those folks said they could they could come up with a plan within a week. It's fairly quickly. >> Yeah. So, I was shooting for April. >> I think there's still, you know, it depends with Graten too and dealing with them and our councils working together on an IMA. that still may be an
outstanding item which doesn't necessarily break the bank but I think getting a plan together that's acceptable is probably probably doable but but the IMA with Groten I think that might lag >> we already have well
>> it's a different one yeah yeah yeah >> so that brings the question if we if this went ahead and you create that IMA and then other people came forward wanting to connect they would already there would already be that IMA so we wouldn't have to worry about that part or would it have to be an IMA with each
individual person that came forward? >> Um, we'd want council's opinion, but I think you'd probably want it to do each individual. >> Okay. >> property because each individual request is >> Okay. Okay. Because that would be something that could be potentially asked at town meeting too since it was
discussed here. So, that kind of answers that question. >> Yeah. So, I mean, yeah. I mean, you know, from DPW's perspective as far as the engineering of it, we can that, you know, that's something that can be done and figured out. the water and sewer availability it's it's only one it's a single family house not significant so
you know those things aren't tough it's working with grot and getting through town meeting those are kind of the bigger challenges I I believe >> um my first question without engineered plan is why is septic not feasible
>> um at this point I'd prefer sewage just just in general um you think about like from environmentally notions uh you know sewage would flow to a tree treatment facility where a septic is get issed on the site and um I'm not
an engineer in that regard so I'm not really sure but I I we could pursue um a septic uh but my first thought was try why not uh start with sewer to begin with >> okay so it's not a hardship it's just >> exactly >> preference okay
>> um and is that lot buildable is there an ANR I mean is there >> no no Yeah. So, no, it's presently it's not. Graten has two acres zoning. Uh, and so it's pleas presently not. So, my thought was to first just peel out the sewer connection notion. Um, and then I was going to engage with an attorney on
the grton side and start down that road. >> Um, yeah, because if you do an engineered plan and um, you know, I assume that would be soil testing, Dan, like that would would that be part of if they did an engineered plan to see if that's even feasible? you know,
>> if they were going septic, >> if they're going septic, >> I'm just trying to figure out, like we said, is there a hardship? And if they do this plan and they find out, yeah, the soils aren't, >> you know, appropriate, then you have to go with sewer. Um,
I kind of echo what Janice was saying. It just seems like there's a lot of questions right now. I understand you coming. Um, you know, no fault in that, but you know, there's there's a lot of kind of unknowns right now. So,
can we do this? Robert Carly, um, and of course, if Chris agrees, is can we like recess this public hearing? >> Have them come back when they've got more info if they want to be on the April 27th
town meeting. >> Yep. Madam Chair, we could just continue the hearing. We >> That's the word I was looking for. >> Yeah. Need to pick a time and date, sir. And so, Uh maybe next meeting might be a little quick. Maybe the first meeting in March. We just have we have to
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. We just have to have a date and if we had to continue it again. >> Okay. So All right. So even if we pick the the first in March, if they don't they don't have enough, we would maybe recess it again. >> Yeah. >> Um so do we want to pick that first date
or would we want to pick the second date? >> Let me ask. And then Danny has a question. Yes. >> Um I think the So one question I would have is based on the you said that it's
twoacre zoning and that law doesn't meet that >> correct. >> So you would need to get a variance through the through MCA. Um I think that's a that would probably be the first step you might want to do because um you'd have to go through the process
of proving hardship and all of that >> and Initially, it's probably going to be a tough initial cell to the CBA. So, I think for the town before the town wants to um go into the whole process of town meeting, I think that needs to be the
first step that needs to be done. >> Yeah, I thought about it's kind of a chicken and an egg thing, right? Because Grant might say, well, maybe talk with air about the soore because my thought was is because the lot's small and if you put a septic system in, then it even makes the lot even smaller. So I was thinking maybe I went in with sore makes
the lot kind of more amenable to so but to your point I could definitely look at both see it both ways. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Um so what about March 17th and which is our second meeting in March and
that should give you guys enough time to figure out which way you're going. >> Sounds good. That one works. >> That work for you? >> Yeah. I mean it's certainly not a no. It's just I just need to >> Yeah. I think I just think there's needs to be more because you're going to get you would get asked it at town meeting anyway, so you might as well get asked it now. So,
>> um Okay, then then I'm going to make a motion that this public hearing be recessed until March 17th >> at 15 6:15 p.m. >> I second that. >> All those in favor? >> I chair says I we'll see you on March
17th. >> Just one quick followup. So, the goal there is to bring this engineer plan to the meeting at that time. whatever he says you need to have. >> So, yeah. So, >> yeah, let's connect down. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. We'll we'll kind of leave that. He'll just guide you and
everything. >> Thanks so much. I appreciate that. Okay. >> I'll make a motion to close the public hearing. >> Oh, no. >> No. Oh, sorry. Sorry. I already did that. Sorry. Did that. Nope. Nope. No. >> I know. >> I was already thrown off in the beginning, so
Okay. Okay. So, we're continued until March 17th, 6:15 p.m. >> All righty. And Okay, Dan, >> you have a change order. >> Yeah. So, um the sewer system rehab project we've been doing on Main Street,
which the lining is is substantially complete. There's one segment left. Um we'd like to when we're doing that segment of lining, we'll be shutting down our force main from Central Avenue. So, it's an opportunity to inspect that pipe. And so we we've uh put together a change order to do that as well as
increasing our our t time extension as well because of the winter shutdown to be able to to do um we have two excavation repairs in the spring. Um so that's what this change order is for. It's $9,500 for signature by the chair. Any questions?
>> I have none. Uh then I'll make a motion to approve change order number two for the fiscal year 26 sewer system rehabilitation project in the amount of $9,500 and to extend the contract time for
substantial completion by 100 days. >> Seconded. All those in favor >> I the chair says I. >> All right. >> Tonight thank you. >> Where's Maverick? >> I know. Bring him back.
at the end. >> Request he'd be at all. >> He was so cute. >> I thought it was funny cuz he at one point his mouth was partly on the microphone. I'm like, "Oh my god, that would be Can you imagine if he had decided to bark right then and there."
All right, Robert, you're up next. >> Madam Chair, members of the board, um, good evening. Uh, you have the town warrants that have been approved since the select board last met in your packet. In terms of the administrative update, just a couple of quick things.
Um, as the board is aware, last Wednesday, uh, the DPW on January 28th, uh, had a public information session on the West Main Street Bridge. I thought that it was well attended online and in person given the temperature out there
and uh, we'll get that presentation if we haven't already out there. But I think that the DBW has a has a good um plan and a good outreach plan for this important project which should be starting in March. Right. >> That's the plan weather.
>> And then I also just want to thank uh the department, the department of public works, the fire department, the police department as always for all of their efforts in the last big storm that we had since we met and their ongoing uh efforts. Um they do everybody does a an
excellent job. So, it's most appreciated on that front. Um, the senior center uh building uh committee would like to come uh not the full committee but the chair and the vice chair um just to give a
brief update to the board on February 17th as to where they are in the project. there's a lot of uh work going on um and they want to give an update uh on that just brief um at the next meeting if possible. Um, and related to
that, uh, the IT manager, uh, John Maxwell, myself, and Katie Patrasi are submitting a a IT grant on Thursday, um, for about $150,000 for all of the IT uh,
needs of the main room of of the building. So hopefully that uh will be successful and that would help offset on that front. Um really the whole focus is on the budget and I just have two brief updates in the interest of of time
related to that and then if there are any uh questions um from the board. So I just have a couple of quick slides uh keeping with the budget update uh on the status of draft one and the major uh
budget drivers. So the first slide so this is showing that the budget drivers this is as of today that evolution. So the December 10th in the middle is January 14th and then February 3rd where
we are today. So some good news and some concerning news. The good news is on the health insurance front during the storm uh as mentioned Maya announced that there will be a cap at 14.4% 4% on the
insurance. It can't go any higher than that when we get our final rate. So, um that was uh significant uh in reducing the health insurance um increases of 391,000 as opposed to 653,000.
So, that's favorable. We'll get the final if the official rates actually the end of this month, which they've also confirmed. And as mentioned, they were able to shave off six percentage points down from 20% by not covering the
discretionary use of the GLP drugs as of July 1st. The concern is that worked, you know, for this year. The issue we take it one year at a time. So that was favorable. The debt service continues to go down. A special thanks to Barbara uh
the finance manager and departments on that. We started actually before December 10th at about 285,000 and we're at about 84 uh,000 through a lot of work there. The contract negotiations, the clerical contract is
on target to conclude for February 14th. Uh, so we'll have uh numbers there as same with the the three non-union uh personal service contracts. I would like to if all goes um if everything's teed up if the board would consider a brief
executive session on the 17th uh for the purpose of ratifying those if if they are um completed. the fixed costs uh staying sta stable and as I learned unlike in unlike the schools to our
facilities department uh credit uh on the energy in in fuel front which is a piece of that uh doing some great job now the two concerning uh pieces obviously and I won't belabor it but the the school assessment we have been look
assuming a 5% placeholder keeping that in line with the omnibus goal goal at 11.9 that would be a over $1.8 million increase um for us to the budget and the other one which
we'll get some more information on the Nohova Valley Technical High School school assessment originally Dr. Pigeon was projecting or estimating about $100,000 increase it looks like it's going to be about $250,000 because of
some things with the state formula and so forth. There's actually a emergency meeting of the school committee tonight to further drill down and understand this because they have to release their number actually this Thursday on February 5th. So that would be the
maximum. We're hoping that would come down. So the drivers unfortunately with the the school sitting at 11.9 would be just under a $3 million increase. Next slide. So just where we are is February
3rd. So at the top is the FY26. That's the omnibus budget last year. Our target and as the board is aware and appreciate the board's support. We put this whole strategy together back in November um to
plan ahead the 5% target. So there's the on January 16th we were at 5.8%. So we're 161 162,000 over target. draft one just with the switch on the health insurance from
the 25% to the 15% is significant. We're now sitting at $4.6% or about $83,000 under target. However, there are three outstanding omnibus budget drivers. The clerical contract, the non-UN personnel,
and the non-union COLA. Those the first two are under negotiations. that's an estimated um impact and on the cola we'll be coming on February 17th uh to discuss uh the recommendation based on
the financial policies and you'll have all that info assuming that that would total 110. So if you added that in, we would draft one and that would be at just over 21 million or at 4.7 million
4.7% or $26,000 over target. And there's some additional adjustments. So that will come down. So on the omnibus side, and I appreciate all of the work of the of the the departments and especially the
finance manager and and really drilling down on this. Um we're going to be in good shape on the omnibus side to get that number to be below 5% and to continue to work to keep that sustainable. Last slide, please. So
after in preparation for tonight though, what the issue is. So, as you can see in the red is the draft one and then in the highlighted in the blue um which is a good news we're sitting at about 4.6%. Then if we add those omnibus drivers
those three that we know there'll be something there but just as estimate we're still at 4.7% or 26 just about 26,000 over target. Now, the ASRSD assessment at 5% that would give them approximately $765,000
more dollars than last year. That was our proposed target where they came in tonight and I know it's moving and the superintendent said it would come down, but using that information, that'd be a $1.8 million increase. And their assessment, as I
mentioned, when the superintendent was here, they're about 6.9% over our target of 5%. And looking at this, if we were if that were to hold, we would need to reduce the omnibus budget by at least
another million dollars, which would definitely move the omnibus budget into the realm of uh some service impacts and personnel, which we're not there yet, and we have a lot of work to do. Um, but
I just wanted to give um a a snapshot uh on that and the other pieces we heard tonight and board knows Shirley is a variable in it because Shirley's ability to pay um based on the agreement they're always higher than than we are. So
there's still a lot of work to do. My frustration if I may to the board is starting with your support right in the beginning of November we've been really you know proactive on that and I expressed to the superintendent it would
be ideal to be in the position now with a more defined um number because 11.9 is not going to work five would be the ideal that would mean Shirley's would be higher six to seven, we all can work our
magic, but as you get into that seven and so forth, it it'll push us back into that point. So, we will keep you updated. I think the next benchmarks is Thursday. We'll get the Nshoba Valley Tech assessment. The good news is on the
health insurance front helps and we have a lot of work to still do with the schools in Shirley and I'm just concerned too because March 17th it's got to come together um because it has to be certified to come down here. Last
thing back on the packet. Are there any questions on the budget? I have just one last slide on the free cash. I know it's sort of >> the >> in the packet. >> Yeah. Yeah. So on the packet just briefly in the interest of of time I did
meet with the finance committee Barbara and I last Thursday and usually around this time year we start the discussion with the board and the fincom about the recommended uses for um free cash and I
do have a slide in the packet. >> Ketchup sorry >> it's on mine. Yeah, >> I know. I'm watching you and I'm like >> so as we as we're just getting that up as the board is aware of it for the public's um benefit. So the these is to
start the discussion on the recommended recommended uses of free cash. Ultimately the select board will approve warrant articles that will encapsulate the uses of that free cash. Free cash is subject can be used for any lawful
purpose subject to town meeting approval. Um historically, um the town has been building up its reserves, um for preparing for different, um things. >> I'm telling you,
>> I think it's because you got >> presentation mode. >> Okay. >> So, if you take it out of presentation mode, you ought to be able to toggle back to the PDF. >> Wow. >> Maybe sounded good. We're We're trying to get
it on the the screen for the >> There we go. >> There we go. Hey, >> so this is just Barbara and I's first pass at it from our perspective. It's a conver conversation. There are many options. So just in a nutshell, as the
board is aware, we have just over 2.9 million in certified free cash. This is the second highest year. Last year was 3.2. We anticipate though we don't have a crystal ball. The average for the town average is usually about 1.3
to 1.7 in their average. So it's higher. What we're proposing is a small amount $20,000 to the compensated balance fund that's was created by town meeting in 2020. That's a fund that we can use for uh what retirement separation from
service. we can fund out any of the lawful things that are owed to employees. The benefit of that is it doesn't hit the departmental um budgets. The current balance is about $62,000. The do benchmark on that is about 50 to
60,000 as a balance, but we're anticipating looking at there are going to be some um significant um retirements in the next uh couple years that would just want to keep that fund, you know, to be able to to effectively um absorb
those. The forward funding of the pension, which we've been doing for the last several years at 300,000 at considerable savings. So if you look in f the draft budget, the the pension assessment is about 6% this year. If we
weren't forward funding the pension, it would probably be, you know, probably double that. So there are significant savings by doing that. The OPED, as the board knows, per the financial policies, we put a total of 300,000
each year. Um the meals tax makes up 175,000 of that and 125,000 from free cash then on UDAG and capital and and there's some there's some room here as the board knows um the board authorized
$1 million for the senior center project from UDAG and as we presented some time ago one payment option on the low side would be at $200,000 a year and take five years to pay it off or higher given
in the higher than average sort of free cash. We're proposing uh to pay back 500,000 of that. Again, something to think about these numbers. Obviously, there's a lot of options on capital stabilization. The balance right now is
6.1 million. That's after the 2 million that town meeting authorized for the senior center. Um, we're proposing again here there's an opportunity you could put up to a million towards that as opposed to the again on the low side was
about 200,000 a year or 500,000 a year. There's an opportunity there based on the free cash to accelerate that stabilization. Uh, the balance is about 5.4 million. These balances are as of December um proposing to put 620,680.
And then one last slide and through the chair if there's an objection Barbara could just come up to the to the table. The last thing is um in looking at this Barbara has identified an opportunity in which um there could be some budget
savings as well as some removal from the tax impact and that's to pay down three uh ban projects. Um if for 346,830. Um next slide. And this is the last one.
Um did I Okay. Yep. So there were three projects that Barbara identified. The police department, furniture, DPW sidewalk, tractor, snowblower, and road paving. There's a borrow term. There's the principal, the interest, and the
total. and she has identified that uh by paying down these three projects with the 346,830 it would reduce the debt service budget res resulting in that amount not hitting the tax rate and is estimated we would
also save approximately 61,830 in interest if the board uh were to support this. This of course would be an article at town meeting would be subject to town meeting um approval, but I think it's a
very um creative opportunity to maximize savings. So Weldon, did you want to add anything on that? >> No, just that we're saving the interest, but we're also removing those principal payments from the omnivous budget by doing this. And these are one-time
purchases, so it is something that is seen as positive in the do's eyes. and um standard in S&P's eyes when doing our rating post versus having it be a recurring item. >> So, I know that it's late. I appreciate
the time. There's a lot to think about. Um you know, the FinCom is going to think about it as well and we'll bring it back up again as we get, you know, closer to the processes to what on the on free cash. Cheers.
I got nothing. Sounds so far like we have a nice plan going. >> Thank you. And unless there's any questions um from the board on any matters, I appreciate the time. And that concludes my report. >> So there's no new business or select board
member questions. Did you have anything that popped up? No, I just want to echo what Robert said about, you know, that last big snowstorm and really appreciating the DPW and the first responders and the amazing work that you do. Um, you know, I hear it
from so many different people driving through the different surrounding towns coming into air. Um, it's like night and day. I know how difficult that is. So, thank you for all your hard work. >> Yes, Molly. very briefly and I will not take any
time. I'm going to follow up with you, Robert, on a couple of questions regarding free cash and your other presentations tonight about budgeting. >> Sure. >> Uh but I want to echo what Chris just said.
We have the best DPW in in the area and I can't wait to see all that snow gone in the morning. >> That's great. >> All right, you all have a great night. Thank you so much. You, too. >> All right. Well, okay. So, I know you
weren't here, but did you I didn't see anything uh wrong in the January 20th. Did you see any spelling errors or anything? >> I didn't see anything that was glaring. Nope. >> Okay. >> So, I'll make a motion to approve the meeting minutes from January 20th, 2026.
>> Seconded. All those in favor? >> I chair says I. Meeting minutes are approved. >> Madame Chair, >> yes. >> I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Seconded. All those in favor? >> I. The >> chair says I. Good night, everybody.