Oh, yeah. Good evening everyone. The time is 7 o' and we're going to begin. Um, I'm calling this school meeting, this special school committee meeting to order this Wednesday, June 25th at 7 p.m.
Please note, we are live streaming on our YouTube channel and the recording will be available on our YouTube channel afterwards. I would like to introduce our school members and in attendance this evening. On my left, I have Mrs. Mayfield, Mr. Gothro, Miss Thomas,
Superintendent Powers. On my right, I have Mr. Mrs. Davenport, Mrs. Conto. Um, Mr. Lo should be here in a moment. We also have an attendant, assistant superintendent, and Natalie has taken over this evening.
And I am the chair. Please join us as we rise to the United States of America to the republic for it stands nation indivisible with liberty and justice for
all. Um, I know they were handing out agendas. Um, I did want to make a note the most recent agenda that we did update on June 23rd does have public comment at the beginning and the end. I wanted to make sure we gave um, community members um, a time to come up
and give public comment if they would like to. Um, so that is first on the agenda today. Can I make a motion just to take items three and four out of order real quick so that we can dispose of them? Uh yes,
Mr. Gibbons. And actually item four is a is not going to be on the agenda. That was actually under the consent agenda. So we can disreard that one. It is just item three. Actually I will modify my motion. Thank you. Uh so Mr.
has made a motion to take um item three out of order. Do I have a second? Any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Um so item I'm sorry
I'm sorry it was item four. I apologize. Um, item four is the appointment of the school position. Item five is the I have a different agenda. Sorry, I think you were looking at the one. I was looking I'm looking to take
appointment of school position. Okay. Do you withdraw your last motion? Yes. I'll make a motion to take appointment position no matter what number it is. Thank you. I appreciate that. Sorry for the confusion. We have um a motion on the table by Mr. Do I have a second?
Any discussion? All those in favor? Um so this is just a housekeeping um for the appointment of the school position for Mass General Law Chapter 71 section 53. Um as Miss Brandon indicated as a main meeting the current district
appointed position is retiring as of June 30th. Accordingly we need to consider and vote on the new appointment Dr. Daniel Muse prior to July 1. Um we did have it on the last agenda but we did not have a copy of the signed contract yet. Um so I do have that um
which I will sign. Um so we do have his contract and resume which was in the um accordingly I will entertain a motion to appoint Dr. Daniel Muse at the new Bridgewater Ranham Regional School District position. So moved
by do we have a discussion or questions on this? Um, it was, but I think it was in the June the last meeting because we tabled that did not act on it at the time. So, it would have been in the June 11th.
It was a copy of his curriculum dag and a copy of the contract which I have signed today. Do you want me to give my copy to this guy? Okay, thank you. Does anyone else have a question?
I'd appreciate if those down at the end of the table could speak up so I could hear them. Thank you. Yes, discussion is on the table. We have the motion on the table questions. Yes, the school physician is appointed to do that on an annual basis. So
certainly if we were to have any issues uh with Dr. Muse, not that I anticipate any because he is well regarded. He works with all of our local police and fire departments as well as uh some of the local public schools. Uh but certainly that is something that can be taken up on an annual basis.
Does anyone else have any questions? Seeing none, all those in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Um, back to our agenda. Item two, public comment. The school committee welcomes
information, concerns, and opinions from those attending the meeting. In order to give those wishing an opportunity to speak and share compliance with open meeting law and other legal obligations and avoid disruption of the meeting, the committee will not engage with the speaker or with one another in deliberation on comments as they are
presented during comment periods. At its discretion, the committee may schedule issues raised by a speaker for deliberation at a future meeting. To reiterate, this is a time for the members of the public to voice comments and concerns regarding agenda items and the committee is not able to respond in any way at that time. If you would like
a personal response, please email the committee or support directly following the meeting. The chair will now open up public comment for a period of 12 minutes per policy and would ask anyone who wishes to speak to please approach the microphone and
provide your name and address and please limit comments to three minutes. Madam Chair, could we wave the policy on 12 minutes and a little bit more leeway on that at your discretion? I'd make that as a motion. Thank you. We have a motion by Mr. F that's given. Do I have a
second? Second by Mr. Lo. I think that's a great idea. We have a lot of people here who I'm sure want to be heard and have a lot to say on this matter. So I would agree with Do I have any other questions or comments on that? All those
in favor? Any opposed? We will now go to public comment and we will wave the period of 12 minutes. Um but I do ask that if you have repetitive comments to try to keep those to a minimum um to allow people to speak that would like to. Um so if anyone would
like to come up and speak for public comment, please come to the microphone um and state your name and address. I don't think it's on. Thank you. Orion 15 road. Excellence and education for all.
Excellence doesn't happen by accident. Excellence in education for all. That is the mission of the VR regional school district. That mission doesn't live in words. It lives in action. Excellence doesn't happen by accident. And it doesn't happen when we are forced to settle. Excellence requires investment,
integrity, vision, courage, and commitment even when it's hard. I'm awesome plans and one with a night on an IEP and a special education advocate who works with families across the state. I'm here tonight because I am deeply disappointed not for our school district but in the
failure of the recent override vote. I'm disheartened by the low voter turnout, the spread of misinformation and what appears to be a lack of transparency and unity and leadership across both channels. Some members of government pushed personal agendas that did not reflect the best interest of our children or our community. But I want to
be clear, the results of that vote are not a reflection of the value or necessity of the school weather that was proposed. That budget was developed carefully and intentionally to meet the actual needs of our students. And now more than ever, I'm urging you committee to stay the course. Do not step back from advocating for the resources our
students need and deserve. I saw residents accuse the district of fearing, mismanaging funs, or the district students just to check boxes and receive more funding. I saw people point to classrooms of fewer students and assume incorrectly that this was a waste or manipulation. These statements
are not just untrue. They are deeply disrespectful to the administrators, educators, service providers, and families who are working every single day to support the needs of each student. The truth is students needs have changed. The number of students requiring intensive supports is growing.
The cost of replacement is rising. The demand for specialized staff such as care professionals, reading interventionists, ESL educators, and support personnel is urgent. And the reality is that federal and state funding do not come close to covering what is legally and adequately required to meet the needs of all students. Our
district is not fearongering. It is telling the truth. And as someone who spends her career in this space, I can tell you that what is being asked for in this budget is not extravagant. It is necessary. I also want to speak to the many disparaging comments made by educators over the past few weeks. While teacher
contracts were recently negotiated, that fact has been used unfairly and in bad faith to turn the community against those who are showing up every single day for our kids often spend more waking hours with our children than we do during the school year. Supporting our teachers is not just about pay. It's about recognizing their time, their
effort, and the emotional labor they carry with them well beyond the school day. They deserve the respect and gratitude, not resentment. So to them, I say thank you. I urge you, the school committee, to continue pushing forward. The outcome of the vote does not change what is right. We cannot fulfill our mission and we cannot provide excellence
and education for all to scale back, water things down or accept good enough. Now is the time to build district capac capacity, not dismantle it. Now is the time to invest in our students, not walk away from them. And now is the time to lead, not to lower our expectations. This moment calls for true leadership,
not retreat. It calls for commitment to the school's mission, even when the path forward isn't easy. We cannot build strong our schools by cutting away at their foundations. We cannot create a better future for our town by shortchanging the very people who will one day lead it. I came here tonight with my children because I want them to
see what it means to fight for your community. I want them to know their school is worth it, their teachers are worth it, and their future is worth it. Please continue to stand behind the budget you already determined was necessary, the one built around real needs, real goals, and real values. Show
our students, our teachers, and our community what it looks like speaking with integrity. The vote may have failed, but our students did not. Let's not fail now. Keep moving forward. Thank you. Elizabeth, 1000 South Street. Can you hear me? Okay. Yes. I'm here tonight to
quickly remind every person here or watching, whether you voted for the override or not, that this field override means our The district remains the seventh lowest funded school in the state of Massachusetts and now falling.
We are number 281 out of 288 regular school districts in Massachusetts for funding per student. That is not a statistic to be proud of or to keep fighting to hold the title of. Do any residents really want to live in a town
that can claim the title of seventh lowest funded school in Massachusetts? No. So now let's work together. Officials from both towns, the school committee, the parents, and the residents to figure
out how we're going to move forward now to raise our budget so that we no longer claim the title of seventh lowest funded school in Massachusetts. Thank you. Make sure everybody can hear the test. All right. Good evening, Madam Chair,
members of the school committee and superintendent. It's good to see you guys again. I told you I would be mad. And to the newest members of two months late, but congratulations and good luck on your first time. I'm here this evening to continue my advocacy for the children of our
communities. The budget that was approved on March 26th is what our children deserve and desperately need. Let's take a little history lesson.
Back on March 8th of 2023, Mr. Dolan proposed the budget that if my notes are accurate was of around 98,750,420. Then on March 26th, this body backed off the proposed budget after speaking with
the towns to maintain staffing levels in addition so that they didn't but that we didn't have to cut. By doing so, the approved budget was lowered to 88,123,271 with a statement by Mr. Dolan that the towns can only meet the assessments that
they can meet and other committee members saying it is what it is unacceptable as I stated that meeting. Okay. The last budget, the proposed budget was 96,820,460. Approved total budget of 90,756,859
and a loss of 24 positions. Now on the just so I have a decor March 26th he put forth what was approved which is necessary and what the schools
deserve. I implore you stay strong. This is what is right. What's doing right is not always the easiest path but it is necessary. I hope that you will certify this budget
and that we move forward and get the students what they deserve and desperately need. Thank you. Ashley Mard Park, I'm tired. I'm sick again. Probably after the 12 hours of Mr. Fitzgiven
as we waited at the polls on Saturday to the disappointment that a handful of us stood and waited around the floor. Not every town counselor was there though and I didn't see a select board member sitting here waiting on rains
vote. But I saw school committee members. I saw school committee members and I saw a handful of town members who worked their butts off for the last six months solid and we still failed
and we didn't have the support of every single person even sitting up there and we didn't have the open support of town council members and I would argue some town council members working against us actively
in fact so actively it created vicious attacks on staff, on myself directly, on some of the staff members here. It took only a few of you a few times to speak up and I appreciated that. But this created a divisive community,
not the community that we want to bring up. And I actually am not really saying this to you. I'm saying this to the Bridgewater Rank and town leaders is if we want our community to be better, we have to taking care of those who need
help for their future. You have to take care of those who cannot vote. And taking care of the innocent children in our community is how we do that. And that takes true leadership.
And whatever that number is that you come up with tonight, I advocate that you push to protect the children. But whatever that number is is going to require an override in the future again.
And it can't be on the backs of a handful of parents and the reputation of the teachers in this community because this was exhausting to do alone. And it somehow still didn't get it
across to every parent that they needed to come out and vote. We did a successful debt exclusion for Mitchell. The advocacy and the amount of meetings and the months and months and
months of meetings that were prepared is what we're going to need to educate the community and educate some of our town counselors so that they understand how school systems work. And if that means they need to come in and visit a classroom that's oversized or visit a
special ed classroom with the assistance of the superintendent standing there next to them, they might need to see it because when I see someone post on Facebook, well, my class had 33 kids in it in 1998, the times have have changed and people in the community,
specifically our leaders, need to be able to advocate for the children. And if they're not educated enough on what that means, we need to do that for them. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Do I have anyone else that would like to speak right now?
We will have another public madam chair. Yes, Mr. I may ask, did you invite Ms. Riley and Mr. Loretti to come down to speak to us? I did, Mr. Thank you. Um, seeing no other members of the community that would like to speak, I'm
going to close public comment at 7:22 and there will be another opportunity to speak following um at the end of the meeting as well. But thank you so much for everyone to speak so far. Um, next on the agenda, which is why
everyone is here and why we're here and have been talking about this Mrs. Mard said um is the fiscal year 2026 budget which is the main point of this whole special meeting. Um I have a lot to say
um which is my prerogative as chair. It's one of the few good things um one of the few bad things was my stomach ache all night um thinking about this burden on our shoulders. Um I know how everyone in the community feels, how our
staff feels, how parents feel. So before we begin, I would just like to say how deeply disappointed and disheartened I am by the override failing in both of our communities. I'm worried about our students and K through eight who might struggle now in a
classroom of too many peers to get individual attention. Our most vulnerable special education students at our special as our special education staff will struggle with increasing case loads. Our classroom teachers were already overloaded with curriculum to teach and will have even more students
in their classrooms to connect with. Our high school students have hoping to put themselves in position for the best college admissions place with a lack of AP classes. Our high school students with a huge lack of electives to fill their schedules. I worry about our staff
that are facing uncertainty of having to look for a new job if we cannot bring back all of those 96 positions we gave pink slips to. The weight of all this is on my shoulders, the shoulders of the rest of the committee. We have tried to be as transparent as possible during this process and all of our budget
documents have been made available on our website. We've hadformational meetings. We've tried to get the the information out there. This is not mismanagement. It is simply just like at home. The amount of revenue increase each year is not keeping up
with the expenses of services we are required to provide. I understand the override failed in both towns and the majority of those voters who have decided that they do not want to increase their taxes to fund the school district. And maybe they voted no for a
number of reasons. But please know even if you do not have children in the district, the education of our children is something that everyone should care about for the sake of your community. And our budget and the town budgets are not household budgets. We can do our best to cut costs and find different
health insurance collectives. our contracts and consolidate buses, but we're providing a service to the community. And that huge majority of how we do that is with our staff. Losing positions is going to impact how
we do that. More importantly, unlike a household budget, we can't downsize our buildings, refuse students who enter the district, refuse services or transportation. We're mandated by the state to provide all these services. And unfortunately, the state leaves the
majority of that to our local towns. We have been advocating for more from the state for more special education reimbursement, more transportation reimbursement, more chapter 70 funding. Many school committee members here have been doing that. I know the BA and many
of town council have been doing that. But we need the support of towns right now to fund us. And just like was stated at public comment as of 2023, the last available data and now it's even worse. BR fell near the very bottom of per
pupil expenditures in Massachusetts based on our operational budget divided by how many students we have. We are not spending enough on our students even if the perception is we are overspending. When a school system thrives, so does
the community as a whole. So, I want to thank our parents, community members, and staff members who worked tirelessly to support their students during this budget process. We appreciate everything that you did to support this regarding tonight's process going forward to
clarify because I know there's been some misinformation out there. I have confirmed this with Jessie um with NASC our legal council and reviewing the laws myself of how we proceed from here and
what our options are. Um for the 15-day extension that we have from Desi right now this evening prior to June 30th um the school committee has to reconsider amend or reertify our budget based on the failed town overrides that occurred
this week. We have to approve a budget that the towns also approve by July 1st. If we do not have a budget by July 1st, Desi will step in and work with Miss Babalova, our director of business services, superintendent powers, and the
business office to create a 112th budget. A 112th budget is a fisc year 2025 budget with only slight increases in revenue from the district and chapter 7 money allocated. Desi then takes that budget, divides it
into 12 equal amounts to disperse and the state will fund those monthly amounts and the towns will also be directed us to fund via a monthly assessment. As you can imagine, that will not nearly cover our expenses. In the interim, we must work with our
towns to approve a fiscal year 2026 budget by December 1st, or we are locked into that 112 budget until the end of fiscal year 2026, June 30th of 2026. Miss Babalola has been working with Desi
to prepare all of these documents. Regarding this evening, we have several options and scenarios that we can reconsider, amend, or reertify regarding our fiscal year budget. Superintendent Powers present several options that we have worked through and budget scenarios
for your review and consideration. If we accept the 3% from Rahham and 4.67% from Bridgewwater that the towns have already approved in May, we vote to amend our budget to that amount and certify that to DESIE and we will have an immediate budget before the July 1
deadline, thus avoiding the 112th budget. Superintendent Powers will speak to the implications of that budget which we had discussed at previous meetings. If we amend our budget that we approved in March 2025 and approved any other budget this evening because the
overrides failed and the towns have not appropriated any other money above the 3% and 4.67%, we must send that amended budget to the towns as a second chance to approve. They will then have 45 days to either approve or disapprove that budget. We
then go to a 112th budget with Desi as it will be past the July 1st deadline while we wait for their decision. If the towns disapprove that amended budget, we by statute because we have not been able to approve a budget after two attempts go to a joint town meeting. We will have
to publish a warrant in both towns with a budget article, obtain a moderator, a large venue to host the event such as the high school football stadium and voters from both towns would be invited to show up and vote such as similar to the Rainham town meeting. Um going back
to Mr. Fitzgiven, um I did invite both um leaders from Mrs. Riley from the select board of Ringham as well as Mr. the president of Bridgewater County Council um to attend tonight's meeting and speak at public comment. Um and I did have a very good conversation with
Mrs. Riley regarding tonight and what our thoughts were. Um but both did decline and we're looking forward to what our decision was going to be um forwarding to them. Um I hope that answers a lot of questions about the procedural aspect of tonight. Um and Mr.
Powers is going to walk us through a presentation of the different options that we will have to consider um as well as if other members have other options they would like to discuss. Mr. Chocolate bottom button.
Good evening. Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the school committee. And again, I want to thank every for showing up tonight. I do want to first start by saying eching many of the comments that have been made here tonight that you know I too am disappointed. Obviously we're very hopeful they will override
the pass. It's disappointing that they do not but they did not. I feel as though this is a step backwards for our school district. But what I am confident in is the staff that we have to face this challenge. So, I want to acknowledge them and applaud them for all their efforts in the past and
obviously going forward. I'd also like to take this opportunity uh to thank our amazing parents. You know, always trying to find silver lining and things. And what I walk away from this experience is that we are truly as a community surrounded by parents that made the
right decisions, advocate for the right things. And so to all of those individuals, I I know there were many and I certainly tried to connect with as many as I could. I didn't want to just publicly Uh this evening I I do want to provide again some general overview. Some of this information will be repetitive.
This information seen multiple times heard talked about multiple times in different forms. Uh but obviously I wanted to be able to provide the context as well. So as you know uh and again some of this has already been covered both
proposition overrides were placed on election ballots in both towns June 21st and June 24th. Unfortunately they both failed. So as Mrs. King went over the options school committee must determine their next steps first to reertify their current proposed
budget with $16 million operating budget. Send it back to the towns. Um at that point uh we have seven days and the towns are 45 days from sending it to them to approve or not approve. Uh school committee could
obviously reconsider or amend the current proposed budget to a lesser amount and again send it back to the town for their approval. Obviously the district would have seven days to certify and the towns would have 45 days to not approve or three as king said
school agree to the start a proposed budget based on the available funings. I know there's been some questions around well you know with some recent developments how is that going to impact the budget? So I wanted to just provide some information. Again we're going to
try to provide that context as we go forward. So we do initially uh have some cost savings. However, I'm going to show you in the next few slides where that cost savings is you know slated to go. Uh so as you know we originally quoted 20%
increase in our health insurance. Uh thankfully through our efforts of our human resources department and business department we were able to lock in 15%. We had to do some concessions and change some of our plans. Uh but that is a you know projected savings about $57,000.
We did ratify one of our two contracts that uh we currently negotiating school is currently negotiating for potential savings at least for the first contract of up to 300,000. So obviously we're looking at 800,000 plus. However, as
you'll see in future slides, that money uh will depending on which scenario we go with uh go directly to try to offset some of the shortfalls that we may be presented with. Um and so that savings really will not exist. question was asked about uh access and efficiency. Uh
the school districts regional school district version of what the town commonly referred to as a precach balance uh is 2.1 million. We are projected we have another warrant another payable warrant for ending your expenses but we are
hoping to be able to have 2.2 million in to be able to put it that school committee has already voted to allocate from FY26 $2 million out of END. So looking at what our current balance is, looking at what we're going
to put in and then take out, we should have a again projected balance of up to $2.3 million. Certainly could be a little bit less, certainly could be slightly more depending on how the next few days This week question was asked about what
the other available funding could be for the district in the way of grants. Uh unfortunately the department of elementary secondary education they don't release their grants until the summertime. Uh so we really don't have a sense of what we're going to get grant funding. You've heard obviously a lot of
uh discussion and debate at the federal level. As you know some of our grants coming from the federal level title one and And so we're not really sure what those going to look like. We'll have a better idea come the summertime. And obviously,
as you know, the state has not approved the FY26 budget yet. I know there's some talk potentially maybe even as early as tomorrow. There was discussion, but obviously, you know, we don't have any confirmation of that. So, we really have to wait and see what the state does.
And obviously, I just wanted to kind of point out a few things. This is the FY26 cherry sheet that the state puts out. You can see here the different amounts. We build our budget based on the governor's proposed budget which which comes out first typically in January. So
you can see our numbers there that we use for revenues and obviously some of our expenses and then the house takes the budget under consideration and they propose a budget and then the same thing happens with the senate. The reason why we don't fluctuate our budget as it goes is
because you can see depending on whose budget uh we're looking at. If you look at the governor's budget, total budget there or net seems to be 36 million change the house budget although slightly higher is not significantly higher and then the senate budget is
actually lower. So again, we stick with the governor's budget and then obviously the conference committee is typically the final final recommended budget for the state has to be approved by the governor which hopefully will be soon. Again, just to review some of the budget
numbers that we have put out there uh to the community and obviously in this form in school committee and online. uh back in the end of March at the March 26 meeting, these scenarios were shared with school with the public. Uh obviously just to kind of review the numbers and you can see the the
colorcoded corresponding key down the bottom. The first gray bar is the 90 million plus budget. That is what FY25 was. These are all operating expenses. The second uh is the
town available funded budget or the town approved budget for FY26 coming at $96 million change uh level services budget which we have talked about. So there would be no negative impact or positive impact but all staffing and services will remain
consistent going into FY26 was 102 that was initially presented uh to the public at the public hearing and then based on feedback reconsidered that and proposed$ 106 million plus dollar budget and obviously that number was the number that went forward to the towns it was
approved and was placed on the ballot for the special election and then just to remind everybody the FY26 recommended budget budget by the superintendent was $109 million. So you can see the different scenarios that we have already discussed throughout the process and throughout
the the spring. Uh and you know I want to be able to go into greater detail as to what potentially our scenarios may be. Um and just to kind of recap obviously all scenarios are still on the table because school committee needs to make a decision of what budget they will
move forward with. I'm going to focus on three different scenarios tonight. That's not to say that others are not on the table, but I was asked to prepare a third scenario. And just to show it in context uh for school committee and obviously the general public. So certainly level services is on the
table. The 106 that was presented is certainly on the table. You know, superintendent budget certainly on the table and then obviously a different proposed. You see three scenarios before you. Two you're going to be very familiar with
because you've seen them multiple times. You've heard me talk about them multiple times. Uh the first is the town approved budget of 96 million plus. And obviously we showed there the corresponding uh assessment percentage increase the dollar amount what the FY26 assessment
would be to the towns plus what our uh anticipated uh state funding through chapter 70 the educational funding 71 the transportation re uh reimbursement and then other vendors such as you know local contributions through EN like uh
the town approved budget as you know we've heard me say would result in a $6.4 4 million shortfall. Where do we come up with that number? Obviously, we're looking at level services as our baseline. How do we maintain all of our services? So, if we take that level
service number of 102 and uh you know reference it against the town approved budget, we are faced with a 6.4 mill. Level services is also a number that you've seen. Mrs. King presented this budget to you at the public hearing. And
so, again, you can increase for Rainham, for Bridgewwater, a dollar amount increase for both the assessment to the towns and then the corresponding state funding. There would be no changes to current staffing services. We would maintain all of our current staff and be
able to provide all of our current level of services. The new option I was asked to uh prepare this evening was something uh potentially in between those two. Uh reflective of trying to hold on and maintain as many positions as we possibly could. Certainly it would still
result in the loss of some positions because as you can see if we were to go to what you know this is referred to as the post election option we would still be 4 million plus in uh in short just so you know what I've tried to do
the next few slides is take each one of these scenarios again some of this is repetitive but just to show you the uh implications of the impact I start with level services um obviously because this as we talked about the one that really we won't see any changes either way. We
will be able to maintain again current staffing and our current level of services. So there'll be no reductions in staff. All of our retirements would be filled. Our average class size uh certainly would is still high in this scenario. 26 to 32 at the elementary and
middle school level. And then the high school level again depending on the section we're looking at 25 to 35. uh special education which certainly has been an area of concern throughout the school year of school committee in mind and certainly the community at large. Uh
but we are start projected to start the year in compliance which is obviously what where we want to be. Um and obviously our current election of the high school being maintained as well as extracurriculars and athletics. The $96 million town budget kind of going from one end to the other
and I'll talk about the post election budget in a minute. Uh you've heard me go through this and the implications and the impact this is going to have on our district. Um, again, some of this I I you although I planned for it, I I have
it all on paper. I've talked about it, I'm not really sure I can really wrap my head around what this is going to look like in September when school opens, but we we are ready to um go through this. We are uh you know currently looking at
as I stated a $6.4 million shortfall. We are looking at obviously reduction in staff 40 plus positions across the board. as teaching positions, that's support positions, that's administrative positions, facilities, uh positions, no area of the district was left untouched.
Uh obviously, if we've talked about this, obviously the more positions we're unable to bring back and that we have to eliminate, we then sometimes have to eliminate even more to cover the cost of unemployment, which I'll get into in a future slide. We have retirements that will be filled.
Average class size K to 8 will be 30 to 36. Obviously depending on uh you know these numbers are also based on current enrollment moving up. As I've shared in the past a recent trend has been plus 100 students to open school the last uh
two to three years. I I have no reason to believe that that's not going to happen again just based on past trends. So these numbers could look different come September. I know Miss Cohen and her team in central registration continuing to update us on students
moving in new enrollments and and you know that's something that we're taking a very close look at. We're worried that uh we may start the school year out of compliance in multiple programs and in terms of service delivery. Obviously, you know,
we have every intention of trying to bring back as many of our student services positions as possible and making that a priority because we need to be in compliance. As I've shared before, uh, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, uh, on three occasions this past year had intervened
after complaints were filed by parents because they didn't feel as though the programs their children were in were in compliance. And the department filed that we were out of compliance several times. We did have to add staff as the year goes on. Um, again, looking at the needs of the students coming into next
year, there is a possibility that we may begin the year out of compliance. Uh, especially when we look at service we look at case loads, it's it's almost impossible for some of our service providers, you know, they have 30, 40, 50 students on their case load to
actually provide for the required minutes. So that this is a you know distinct possibility obviously I've shared with you the loss of electives at the high school. We're looking at you know approximately 40 electives lost and uh again you know decision the school
committee will have to make in terms of fees for athletics or U whether or not they become selfunded to raising fees for extracurriculars in athletics or the potential of uh having to make the decision myself whether or not we have to reduce them or even eliminate.
Again, this is not a scenario that we want to open school with. Unfortunately, at this point, what we currently just to kind of walk through because we have to the $6.4 million shortfall. This is what we've been planning for. So,
just to give you a sense and unfortunately, you know, it's going to see at the end that it just comes down to people and majority of our savings. Unfortunately, it is you know, it's people. Uh we have worked with both towns um to establish the
possibility of using some of the capital funds that would have been allocated for capital projects to go to operating costs for one year. Obviously, we cannot use one times for reoccurring cost, but we know just to try to uh stop the the uh you know damage that we may be
faced with, we would reallocate some of that capital funding. Uh as I mentioned, the savings that we have from our health insurance would go to the $6.4 million. So any savings that we saw is now gone. Uh we had offered a early retirement incentive uh to our teaching staff. We
allocated $200, I'm sorry, $200,000 for that. Uh we only had three staff take advantage of that. So, we did have money left. We were going to our intent is to use that money to preurchase items for next year, thus freeing up $140,000 in next year's budget. I talked about the
possibility uh of of at a minimum increasing sports fees to $600 per student per sport. That would bring in again based on the current enrollment, the current number of athletes, a projected $546,000.
Certainly we'll have that discussion. I know mention this in a future budget sub that number could be higher which obviously would reduce the shortfall even more. Uh retirements again depending on looking at how many we may be able to fill not
fill. We have 16 retirements now slated where we'd like to be able to fill some of those but potentially not all but we're looking at 1.3 for retirees. those positions. So savings there. Uh
obviously as I mentioned we've reduced administration we reduce facilities support positions uh central office staff positions and so that savings is 581. when you asking again what's the difference in that dollar amount. Some of these positions
uh you know some of our teachers retiring you know retiring at you know approximately $100,000 after you know 35 years some of these position that we have reduced $4,000 you can see that that's where
comes in those retirements are scale unfortunately these reductions are at lower uh we've already made reductions to technology teaching and learning for next potential savings through negotiations.
As I mentioned, there was a potential savings of of up to $300,000. Uh that savings will now go to mitigate this shortfall. So, we're looking at a remaining shortfall of approximately $1.4 million. The only other place that we really haven't touched is, you know,
active employees. So you can see we're looking at u right now uh 21 teaching positions. This is not obviously I just shared with you in other positions that were eliminated. We're looking at 21 teaching positions
being eliminated. Now when we look at what the shadow would be for next year the cost of benefits that's approximately $1.6 million. So we you know in essence have mitigated that shortfall. However, as I mentioned in in
previous uh previous previous presentations even this evening, looking at those 21 positions and the other positions that we're potentially looking to eliminate, we're anticipating about $600,000 in unemployment costs. Now, obviously unemployment costs as
individuals find uh employment other places th those costs may be reduced. But what I do want to point out is regardless of what happens, we are already appointment cost these individuals. Uh our teachers, as you know, received letters already. Uh and
so any teacher that was nonrenewed or the position was eliminated while we are going through this um new process, they are eligible for unemployment. I can assure you that all if not many have already filed for employment. So
regardless of what happens, what scenario that we decide on tonight or school decides on tonight and then next action, we are going to be having unemployment costs at least for uh certainly as some of those individuals may again take employment in
other districts and I can certainly understand why they would, but I I hope they haven't, you know, we will have that. We did for FY26 again, we just did our general budget. We had budgeted $300,000 for unemployment. So you can see that you know remaining shortfall
exists there. Now obviously there there's some potential savings because of the amount of teaching positions eliminated the 1.6 versus the 1.4 but just to show you what the unemployment cost would be versus what we budgeted you know there is a shortfall. How could
we potentially make that up? Obviously some of this additional monies or you know potentially again this would be decisions looking at you know excess efficiency taking additional funds out there if necessary the post election scenario is really not
much different than what I just went through the only difference between the town approved budget the post election scenario is we could look to maintain these 21 positions. So adding
$1.6 million to $96 million budget, but all of these other reductions, not building retirements, making these other reductions, increasing sports geeks, um any other potential savings that may have been established, those would all
still go to eliminating this shortfall. So the only difference really is we would try to maintain these 21 positions. Now obviously we're going to have to look at you know these 21 positions and make sure that first and foremost
opening school with complant special education programs. Uh we've also made a commitment I made a commitment I know has talked about this several times parents have spoken about this that they would love to be able to see lower class size especially at the primary level. Uh so we'll certainly take a look and make
that a priority. And then looking at uh enrollment levels and trends, you know, as we have a better sense of students moving into the district, you know, we may have grade levels that we didn't anticipate. Now all of a sudden special education programs because we don't want to just offer the bare
minimum. want to be just comp certainly we want to do that from a regulatory standpoint. We want to be able to provide our most students with the highest quality of education. So that's a priority for us priority for me in terms of advocating for that. And then obviously reducing
class size where we can certainly focus on the primary level but again class size projections right now based on our current enrollment moving up. So that really is the difference when
you look at the 96 versus the 97 plus we've added that 1.6 million. So you're still going to be facing a shortfall. We're still going to be reducing positions. Obviously we have other support positions that we're reducing. We have retirements that potentially may
not be filled. Average class sizes will still be high even with you know trying to prioritize some of those lower class sizes. These are ranges because you know we could have one class but looking at projections we're going to have some classes that that are high school really won't make any significant
impact there still class size of 30 to 45 we will again project in compiance because commitment of using some of those 21 positions to do that but we still see the significant loss of electives at high school and then
obviously having extracurriculars and athletics at the middle school and high school. So, just to recap, these are the three scenarios I was asked to share with you this evening. Again, these are not the only three scenarios that exist. Uh, but the others that we've already talked
about, I know you're well first and well aware really was focusing on this post election option as a possibility. U so again just to review next steps it really is uh you know the school committee must determine how they want to proceed this evening they're either
resertifying the current budget they are reducing or amending the proposed budget to a lesser amount or they That's my All right, questions for
we can jump right into discussion. Try again. Try again. My question is in light of the failed override votes, what do you interpret as the core message from the community and what strategies will will the administration implement to address
these concerns and secure different? I don't know if that's directly to Mr. Powers. I'm sorry you have to repeat that. In light of the failed to override votes, what do you interpret as the poor message from the community? And what
strategies will the administration implement to address these concerns and secure a different outcome if we ask them to vote again? Well, I think obviously what strategies we'll I just review obviously where you
know if need be, we'll make reductions where we can obviously on you know the direction school committee wants to take this evening will really dictate what we do next I think obviously we want to be able to continue to be transparent we've
shared every ounce of information that we have you know been open and honest with all of our documents with all of our budget answering difficult questions along the way and I've said this several times I I I welcome those questions because I want
the voters to You want them to get their information from a reliable, accurate source. And you will continue to work with both towns. Obviously, we will continue to work with those that have questions that may be
against or those that you know are in support. My job is to make sure voters are educated. I think we did as much work as we possibly could. groups echoed everything that we put out
then follow suit. Madam Chair, Mr. If I may, um, Mr. Powers, it's not the administration's job to advocate for or against an override. Correct. That's correct. It's your your job is to
provide information. Provide the information. Yes. Thank you. Mr. Powers, I know there's a lot of different scenarios which could um obviously you can't present them all. Presented several just now. Uh one wish you didn't elaborate on would be the impacts of a 112 budget on staffing as
we head into September. Obviously, if there's no budget in place, you outlined what the steps are. Maybe a 112 scenario. Could you talk a little bit about what staffing would look like at the start of the school year on a 112 budget and then realistically be to have
a better budget approved before that December 1st deadline. How realistic is it to be able to then properly staff up and adjust mid year through the school uh year um to implement that new budget with hiring and where teachers are middle and whatnot. And then I guess the last point would be to maybe talk about
what the impacts of a full year 112 budget uh would be. Sure. Great question. So we're actually in the process and I know Mrs. mentioned this that has been working with Jesse to provide all the documentation. They actually they're the ones that have
established that budget amount. Although we have a sense of what it may be, we haven't actually seen that figure yet from them. So to be able to give you a concrete number, I really wouldn't be able to do it. I think uh you know moving forward knowing
that uh you know we're going to be obviously airing on the side of caution because I I don't want to bring staff back then have to turn around and lay them off. Um you know if if that's the case then so be it. But I I don't want to intentionally do that. So we would
you know proceed uh as we you know going forward really looking at the the impacts of what that talent improve budget would be that $96 million budget and until we kind of get a you know definitive number from the state we're
operating on under that assumption unless you know we hear differently because we know regardless of what school does tonight uh you know if they reertify or less they're going to be some time. So, we know there's going to be some positions that we may be able to
bring back now that we know for sure which direction. But, you know, sending out almost 100, you know, nonrenewals, we're going to be very conservative in terms of we started to connect some of our
professional teaching positions that we had to um lay off that to start. But again, that's a very small number. So, we're going to kind of take it in smaller chunks. Obviously,
you know, once we have that number, we'll be better. Madam Chair, Mr. Just to clarify with the superintendent, if we don't uh resolve the budget ourselves by December 1st, the commission of education takes over the
finances of the district. Is that true? Uh that is correct. That 112 budget will remain in effect for the remainder of the district. But the commissioner of education will take over the finances of the district if we're not if we don't figure it out by December. I guess
Thank you. Thank you. The reason why I asked the question I did um if the senses that the community lacked information to vote yes then thinking about which of these options
give us more time to educate the community. If the community felt that it was too much then that would inform or decision to determine reducing the ass. So that's that's the behind why I asked
what was the take away from the over um in line of that I was curious and I don't know if this is appropriate or not which of the three scenarios would you recommend and if it's not appropriate no that I mean we're here to discuss and that is appropriate to ask and so if you
could share which of the three scenarios you would recommend and why that would be sure um like I said I can't begin to speculate Why the community at large? Well, let me just say only a portion of the communities voted. A very small
amount, maybe 30% of each community voted, which on a tax implication is outlandish to me because it affects everyone's taxes. Whether you have children in the district or not, it affected everyone, renters, property owners, everyone. Um, but the people
that did vote, the majority of those people said no. And what I heard from people was they didn't increase their taxes for whatever reason. Um, a lot of it was they felt that we should live within our budget. Again, we do not fund ourselves. We create a budget, but we
don't fund ourselves. We create a budget based on the needs of our students. Um, and then we ask the towns to fund that budget. And this year, they said, "We cannot fund that budget with the needs that you have. That's fine." So, the community has said, "We're not going to
foot the bill for that." fine. If the community wants the towns to support the within the budget, then I think that's what we need to look at this year. Next year, it's we're going to be back here again. But I think the community needs
to know that this is not just an education or a children only issue. It's a townwide issue. As much as I hate to say this because I want everything like Mr. Dia Marino has been our staunchest supporter for getting the everything
that they deserve. The public has said they don't want to do that. And I feel like we need to show the public that this isn't just a school thing. It's not just if I have kids at the middle school and high school, it affects me. I think they need to see
that we're going to maybe put for forth this post election option and say we will take some cuts. We understand we need to do better with our expenses, but also we expect the towns to look within their own budget of where they can pull
additional funds right now. Maybe they need to make cuts. Maybe they need to take free cash. I think we all need to share in this responsibility right now. And that's that's how I feel. There's seven of you else here. I tried to give everyone options. Um do we stay with the
town one and have an immediate budget? That's going to be painful option because the kids are going to feel that. The teachers are going to feel that. The towns are not going to notice if they don't have kids. Um reertifying, I don't know that the towns will have
the appetite for another override, the same thing. I don't know if our parent community that was out there every day like standing out there. I don't know if they'll have an appetite to be able to do that again and get failed again. So, I feel like right now we go for the post
election option and see if the towns can find the money, can maybe put some layoffs and show them that they show us that they have a stake in it. And we all need to get working with the towns immediately and figure out what going forward is. If it's like Mrs. Mal said,
do we do constant education, constant outreach between now and next year to try and get people on board and to try and bring us up to a level where where we need to be because we definitely need people not looking at Facebook for information. Um, we need
people to have real information and know that it's affecting everyone. I'd like to know what everyone else is thinking or where people are thinking. I'm one of seven or one of eight rather. So I want to know what everyone's think
I will just start that say I'm incredibly in our community. 30% of people to vote is just outrageous. Um I have kids at the high school or will be at the high school where is the biggest hit is going to come and kids crying at home because they're afraid of what's
going to happen to them next year. Um, and what it means for their education. Um, I will just say is coming in here tonight as let's shoot for the middle. Um, there's going to be pain all around. I guess where I'm just
so troubled by this is last year we cut 20 positions. This year we're going to potentially post election option, 21 more positions plus other things. At this point, I have not seen either town take a hit. And that to me is
unacceptable. Manage to stay within a budget and take the cuts. Neither town is looking at their own staff and their own programs and reducing um um you know sometime in my head too I also
like excuse me I'm like screw them let's just go for the go for the 312 budget and like fight this but I know and talking to people the people the parents that have supported this over the last three six months
They're exhausted. Um, some of them are already fighting more. Um, you know, they stood out 100 degree weather 12 hours 100 degree weather 12 hours yesterday to support this. Um, and I cannot thank them enough. Um, it is a
fight. Um, so right now I I just trying to be very transparent. I I'm somewhere in between the post and the initial 312 budget. I there is no way and heck that I can support the town
supportive budget. There is no way and our special education kids. I cannot imagine what that would mean to them and we would put us in significant compliance. Um all right. So I I did speak with um the
Ringham Select Board too just to kind of get an idea on their budget for the options we were presented. Um some facts I do want to share is Ringham's entire budget went up 4.2% while the district went down 5.65%. The police budget this year went down
2.1%. The highway department went down 5.3%. Assessors went down 2.5%. Rainham eliminated its town hall maintenance position. Highway has five unfilled full-time positions and they rainham has enacted hiring freeze. So,
while you know I I I appreciate everyone's frustration, I do believe that Ringham is taking cuts and where they're able to. Um, and I understand the disappointment and frustration many are feeling. However, both towns voted
in a decisive manner that at this time there's no appetite for no. I, for one, have had sleepless nights just watching the division increase in both towns, as we approach these anticipated votes. I've lived Since 93 I went to these
schools. I heard many say that folks who voted no do not care about our children, our teachers, and our community. Do you honestly believe that? At our March meeting when we voted on the budget that that was going to require an override, I mentioned that it was assured to me that
if an override does not pass that we can then come back and pass a budget that is affordable to the towns at the time. I promised I would honor the will of the voters and I graciously asked everyone to accept it as well. Well, here we are. I encourage my fellow committee members
to do just that. I also stated that regardless of the outcome of the vote, I promise to continue to work diligently along with my other school committee members as well as super superintendent powers and his team to assure we providing the best possible education and experience for our students that is
within our means. As everyone can imagine, getting the money would make things a lot easier. But that's not the position we're in. Our community has spoken and has challenged us to go back and continue to scrutinize the budget line by line and ask any and all questions. I for one am up to this
challenge of the that the towns have presented us with and I encourage my fellow committee members to step up to this challenge as well. In the meantime, rather than causing additional tension and division between neighbors, I would love to see everyone bring this energy to the stairs of the state house. I for
one would definitely join in. Perhaps we can get in touch with other towns that are facing similar challenges and bring them along for the ride and make our voices heard to fear together. Miss Danny, if I may, just a question or two from this town. Could you give me
the numbers again on the uh Rainham police and fire that they went down? How much? Police I don't have anything for fire. It was just police budget went down. Police budget went down 2.1%. And does that include any um pay
increase they're going to be getting soon. They're still in the middle of so that doesn't that their budget does not include a raise for the police officers. I I don't have that in front of me. Will that will that will that um raise be retroactive work they've already done?
These are questions I have to follow. Okay. I'm just checking just asking questions. That's all. Thank you. more I mean we agree with this what the town is completely unacceptable
we can't take this long the gap will increase and the voices that come up here tonight I expressed what what the people want. It's amazing how we didn't have anybody come up here during public comment who voted no and why. It
speaks volumes. I think we do have another option that I do plan to put out there looking at the cost savings looking at potential increases from ED uh also with some raised uh fees that relate to noninstructional activities that will
still make the 16.2 to uh to mark another option out here that will lessen the burden on the both towns people but also both towns are already speaking about free cash. This would have been to
put that out there and the lack of presence is absolutely m question really trying to get a sense of how you know how informed is of the
desires of the community. Um since being on this in the seat as chair we've received two different petitions from the community. One as far as how the superintendent um the process
superintendent and two on the the class sizes. Were you ever able to reach out to anyone in those petitions? I I asked because having that connection and reaching out to engaged community members might have um opened a door to
educating them on life. So my question is did you use those petitions as a form of outreach to community members? for the FY26 budget. No, just the the two petitions received um the
appointment on your appointment as well as class sizes. Those petitions included the names, addresses, and phone numbers of community members. I I I've had conversations with some. I certainly won't say I reached out to all on that list.
As far as class size, I think you've seen that come through time and time again. We talked about our budget scenarios. School's talked about it. I've talked about it. You community members reflects that. So in terms of taking that feedback, I think it's evident that we not feedback, it's
around the relationship with the community, not necessarily the feedback, but reaching out when they reach out to us to have that um outreach engagement so that we could tie into it um and have that level of trust and credibility when
we ask. So just I would just put up to the community if anyone because of you know lack of relationship or lack of trust in me. I'm happy to have those conversations. I think when again I take the feedback from the community, we hear them come to public comment or they
email you and we turn around and develop a budget that's reflective of that. Again, we held a parent community night process. So the feedback that night I again I think you know having individual conversations when appropriate certainly have done that
hope members of the audience will attest that we've had those conversations. I guess I'm not maybe not following your logic on this short I mean specific to this issue I know Mr. Powers like he did the parent
information night but we also he and I attended several sessions in Ringham and Bridgewater at different locations in the communities um also did a broadcast for Ringham to try and get the information out. it was somewhat attended but it was only a handful of
community members that came to each one um ones that we see at every event like this. So, it's very difficult to engage the community um if we go through this process again, which potentially we will. Any ideas to engage more of the
community are welcome. Um but I know he's always been very responsive as chair I'm CC on almost everything. I know he responds immediately and tries to get the information to people and we did try and do information nights at different locations, especially in
Bridgewater, um to try and get the right information out there to do presentations. So, I don't know how we could force people to attend that if they're not engaging. Which of the three scenario approves whether it's a town meeting um
through town council, however they vote. I'm not an expert on town council government. Mr. Fitzgiven might weigh in on that. Um but any of them if we 3% 4.67% we send that to Desi. They have the
appropriated funds already. We don't go into a 112 budget. Any other reertifying or any other option we send that to the towns and it's 45 days for them to approve or disapprove or whatever way they need to go through that process. So
that that process is lengthy other than accepting that they will approve. Yes. I would just like to say is the administration ethically are not allowed to advocate. It is on us as school committee members
to educate our community and advocate for what we want. We are residents of this town. I know some of us have been out there and and advocating for the budget and advocating for the override, but ethically, I mean, Mr. Powers is a
resident of Random. As a resident, he can do whatever he pleases, but as a superintendent, his job is to put the information out there, but not to advocate because he is not allowed to honestly. And I would just what was our responsibility as school
committee members as residents of this community to educate people and put the information out there. I just want to make um one other comment. I know Mrs. Dport didn't say about the will of the voters and Mrs. Riley did bring that up during our
conversation. Um, and I appreciate that. Um, I read it that the will of the voters was they don't want to increase their taxes to fund this. It is not that they don't care about the schools, care about children, etc. They didn't want it on them to do this. So, the will of the
Ber voters was not to do an override um to pay for this. So, it's on the towns right now. So, if we have to share the burden with the towns, I feel like that's still within what the voters have stated. Um, I don't want to devastate
other town departments. Um, obviously we need all of our town services, DPW, police, fire, all of that. But I feel like we all need to share some sort of burden and we can't shoulder again losing a ton of cuts after a year of 24.
So just I have one other comment. Yeah. You know, I I was just going to say that's what I believe the school committee has been advocating ever since uh November or December of last year that we
although have been asked to do more with less for too long and we as a school district uh departments as as parts of the of the town have been asked to do more with less. We certainly didn't want to take from any departments from either town. uh nor did we want the departments
in either town to take from us. We all wanted to have a rising uh sea level and so I feel it's a pretty appropriate if everyone feels a similar um
set of pain then that that makes sense to everyone. But if you keep coming back to us, what's going to happen next year is we're going to be back in the same position and it's just going to keep going like rap dog day unfortunately.
Thank you. No, I agree. Um and also I mean even yesterday the fire department was here with the cooling station. They have worked police and fire are always working as partners with us. So this is not anything to cut any other department. We just cannot bear to lose
so many cuts again. Um, also my only thoughts regarding the level services budget, we presented that March 12th, as much as that was one of the budgets that we put put forth, that still requires an override. I do not
believe the towns have a 15 to 16% level service funds available. Um, that would still require an override. I believe I don't think they can make enough cuts or have enough free cash to And if we're going to put out another
override, even if it is a very small amount to cover that, that's still asking parents again to campaign and help us support an override for something they're not going to see any return on. It is going to be the same
education and services and staffing for nothing better, but more taxes. So, if even our parents that supported us are not going to see any return, definitely community. I don't see support. So
that's why I my that's my big concern with the local services at this point. Madam Chair, would you be looking for a motion to approve something? We have any other members that want to question?
Yeah, unless a question is more comment and I think I think a lot of the points that have been raised on the stage today are all very valid. Um, you know, I think what we're seeing here is an outcome of passive government management
where we're being asked to say this is this is the pool and this is what you have to And this is what other by the way fire police and other departments have to live in and live with it. Um right meanwhile in terms of powers right an average new students every year
coming into the district right um yet the towns are taking very little maybe no efforts to maybe slow that down. I think when I've talked with a lot of folks over the last couple months uh first when I made the decision to get involved in school committee which by
the way were unos despite everything that's going on it's actually a little disheartening right I hope that we have more involvement right and um you know but as I as I talked with folks making the decision to get involved after getting involved as come up to these votes the last couple of days um you
know the folks that are against this override I guess yes it is about protecting their own money but a lot of it also is about discontent with how our times are run. Um, right. And I think whether before the override or against the override, that's something that we all have in common. Um, and I think, you
know, regardless of what we walk away from at the end of tonight, whatever steps ahead of us, I think we need to try to figure out together what are things that we can do that are mutually beneficial. How can we slow down that influx of 100 new students coming to our district every single year?
There should be a conversation about that. Should be at the select board. console leveling board level. What are things that we can do that if we're going to let developers come into our towns and development, how do we get something out of that as towns?
We're going to build the rules and the building codes allow for someone to come in and build 100 minutes. Let's use our opportunity as citizens at town meeting for Bridgewater and collection to as residents put forth measures to put some
controls in place. You want to come build 100 new units $15,000 per fee per unit on top of everything else which will come to the schools or come to police or come to fire or come to water and bridge which are all a mess. Right? There's creative ways that the towns
can do a little bit more and be more proactive than to just say, "Hey, it's March. and here's our tax receipts and this is what you're going to get which should put everybody not just the schools but all of the departments across both towns in a better financial
state so again regardless of you know what what we decide at the end of this meeting I think that's what we need to think of that's what we need to focus on you know I think I think you know we talked a little bit about leadership in the beginning of this uh meeting you know I think I think Jess shows real
leadership being able to, you know, say, "Hey, the voters have spoken. The voters have spoken." I wrestled a lot with this very very sneeless night. Um, right? There's there's what's right and then there's what, you know, I was elected to do, which was serve the will to the
voters to a certain degree. Um, but we all need to remember that it's our it's our town leaders for the random finance committee at the town meeting to sit there and say we can't recommend, right, more money because they don't think it's a responsible ization, right? Their job
is to make the most of the tax money we do have. That's not finance committee that I want in my town as as expenses are increasing. The planning board, you know, good job on the Walmart zoning thing in Rain, that was actually very smart, but other than that, you've all
seen development run up. Um, right, we need to encourage those boards and others outside of this committee and outside of this room. We should take that 1,800 people that are in that advocacy group, right? been so active over the last couple of months and let's turn that um enthusiasm in a way that
can continue to have an impact that's outside of just talking about polariz because as we said we're going to be right back here next year if nothing changes right we need to have real change within our community we need to change the way our communities are run if we want to make sure that we're not here next year and the year after year
after this for you yes Mr. Mr. Mr. Guthro I just make an observation that if we actually the eight of us that represented uh all the voters in the town, five of us will
not choose to vote on this budget. I'm just telling Thank you. No, and Mr. Goth makes a good point. Um we definitely need to push our towns to look at growth of population and increasing revenue. I've gone to town
council meetings and they're not pushing increasing revenue. There's great ideas out there and they don't want to hear it and right now needs to do the same. Think about how do we grow revenue um without the population growth. We need
more revenue because the the expenses are just increasing twofold every year. Stop and shop has been vacant on 44 since November. We knew last July a year and a half that they were closing that building. there's development in Lakeville and Ton4
is a very active economic development chairperson who's excellent right and we are just letting things happen to us instead of controlling what happens in our community that is what actually needs to change um I was attending the budget sub meetings prior to being on school
committee and I learned a lot um I fully stand behind the budget that we put forward in front of the voters that is the needs of our student staff as in everyone involved. Um I don't know how on school committee we can advocate
for less than what our kids deserve. Um I totally agree with the consensus. It's a revenue problem for the towns. I don't the town supported budget doesn't support the school system. Um we need more. So, it's a tough poll, but I don't
see how I could do anything other than ask for what we fully need and deserve. M just thinking about the revenue. I know on one of our ad bucket meeting meetings like at the beginning when we set it up
um Miss Hammerland came and she had brought some ideas. I didn't know like we've like looked into those any further you know in regards to maybe revenue that we can create here at the school. She brought some good ideas.
Oh went I'm sorry. Yes. Sorry. Sorry. Yes. Yes. 100% she was standing before I can't remember what those ideas were in terms of
I know Mr. Chucka like I mean I think one of the things was like their utilization right fees for some of our homes and I think you were getting that site up and um you know like sponsoring maybe the fields you know if we can get some business there like we I think we need to start moving in that direction
too so we're not relying just like on the for an overgrade with the money like we have we have opportunities just within our school district to get more revenue and as well as the town. So and and Sarman if you're listening I totally apologize for
misquing you. You know, I think one of the things I know that's being talked about in the community is um they're concerned about sports. And one of the things that's being thrown around right now, and I don't know the exact number, is there there's a lot of actually fundraising that happens at the high school if you
don't have kids there. It is a ton. And FOBRA does a phenomenal job. And you know, that is one of the things that's being talked about is is how do we work with FOBRA to help support our schools? They do a lot now. Um you know, the system at the football field was paid
through FOBRA. Um if you have had kids at the high school, the first meeting they go to as a sports is a sports meeting is let's fundra. Um it's kind of disappointing actually when that's all that kids are doing is fundraising the very first time they make the team. Um
but it is part of what happens now. So I I do think that is an avenue we can think about. I don't think it's going to solve a lot of our problems and maybe solve some of the sports problems. Um, but I know some of I know particular a parent that actually fundraised for the
tennis courts and there are now sponsors banners on the tennis courts because that's how they're paying for stuff. Um, so some of that is happening not I think full scale but um it is definitely out there and happening. I feel like all over the place and I
have several motions I can put on the table, but I'm not sure. Oh, Mr. I'd like to propose a motion for an amended budget of 105,200,849 and increase allocation defunds from 2
to 2.8 million. In reviewing this, this will do decrease of 1.8 million which covers the 800,000 in savings we've had. also with an increase in EMD funds also allow us to
do adjusted rates for sports uh not as high impact as currently proposed with uh the service or funed budget. I'll second that's fine. We will need to have a
discussion about the it has to be separate motion. So it can't be entire motion. So do you want to amend that to just do the discussion
first based on the budget itself? I'm going to have to do a motion to recess for a minute and figure out the five minutes to talk to. Did you have something regarding that?
Motion a second. Uh he's going to put on the table action to the budget to ition. 105 200,84 and I'm I'm okay talking about it, Madam
Chair, but I believe we need like all the voting language correct otherwise we can't send it. So, if we adopt this, I I just suggest we recess the meeting till tomorrow night to get the language right with Miss Babalola and whatnot because I
don't want to vote something that's incorrect when it is to language and then have it all disallowed. Miss Babalola, would you figure out all the calculations? I'm okay waiting. I mean, we still have plenty of time. I I just want to make
sure if that's the will of the committee that we understand. We can't just do it that way because there's very specific language that has to be sent. We are going to do that. discussion because the END would build into
Mrs. King for me would be helpful to understand and I don't know if we have the ability right now. So it's on the floor if we want to have a general discussion that's on it. I cannot vote on it about the particular numbers but we can have a discussion on it
clarification. Yes. I just for me I'm trying to understand the numbers the percent for each town and that's what I would like to see right now is what what that would mean. So again if I do you
mean what the potential increases would be or the% towards each town is what the percent going towards each town the increase the percent going toward each town. So I'm assuming it's somewhere in between. So if you take the 1.5 Mr. Mr.
Physical to you if you take the 1.52 and then minus the 2.5 million right 2.8 million sorry 2.8 million. Um, what does that come up to approximately 104? What? No, it wasn't.
Oh, it's only Mr. If I may ask, what's the difference in top that you just down and your number? Overall, it would be 1.8 million. So you're suggesting we take 800,000 from
that from. So again that we the district take on 800,000. Therefore a million would be left to the towns that they could cut from the vote that we just lost and that would be roughly
650 650 350 600 400. And so So if we cut 400 that would be a 10% drop% increase
I promise not to do math okay so whatever whatever it was, let's say it was close to um but whatever it was just a couple less it would be certainly less than it would certainly be much more
right so that just on the school at least the range somewhere level service and what was not I suggest we just talk about we want that top line even and if we can't get to six votes on that
which by the way is getting correctly if I'm wrong we need It does need to be 23. Yes, 2/3 need to agree on the budget. So, we can't get to and that's also needs to be a motion
regarding another,000. Well, I I would say we could ask Mr. motion and just say I'd recommend 105,000 105 million topline and add 800,000 from
we're going to have to continue this to tomorrow anyway if that's the will of six people on this committee but we get at least now we can be done and move on if it's not the will of six people then we can move to another
option do we want to take a vote if That's what I'm motion. I'm just trying to give everyone their option. I'm still trying to understand the figures come from a little hard to down this end of the table. Exactly.
Right. I know we have to figure out the impact to you know the community but like the reference and having to understand how much of one time we're dipping into potentially next year. So this is the basic way to keep all the
proposed options we had 106 million mark, right? Noticing the current district savings or the recent negotiations around the health insurance and the retirements, right? Incorporating that number. Then also looking at like we will need to increase some fees around uh current sports. It
won't be as drastic as some of the other proposals we'll have to make if we went in terms of level service at town funded. Um and then also looking at increasing our allocation for EMDU. Uh right now I think we said we about uh certainly superintendent correct me about 2.2 million we'll have for next
year which which will leave us with 1.4 million which will still keep us in good shape if we have any sort of you know major issue in the school. Um that's really what we're looking at keeping those funds in reserve for um that's a
you know one of the most feasible ways to keep us at the recommendations to meet students needs and what we recommended back in the original propos proposed budget but also incorporating current savings and doing a larger allocation from END to still meet needs
yet try and lessen the burden on on the taxpayer and as I noted before you know hopefully that the town's really serious about it and they want to cash has been mentioned many times. Hopefully they come forward as well. So this hinges on taking another
$800,000 out of which would only leave us 1.4. Every year consistently we've dipped into that number. It was 1.4 1.5 2 million 2 million um since I've
done budget to leave us with 1.4 million going into next year which I don't see the financial outlook being better or probably even worse. That makes me nervous because if we're cutting
everywhere we can right now, we're not trickling down very much to Indie and We're not going to be having another 2.8 million. That makes me nervous to take that much out.
If we're proposing a budget that meets students needs, right? And we're looking to continue to make progress in that direction. the proposed budget we're looking to really better our students necessarily than what we currently are. I don't know why we would then see a
decrease in the projection moving forward. Right now we're just looking at taking the savings are looking at increasing so we'll start at a lower point but there are districts everywhere that only consistently keep anywhere from you know say six to 600,000 to a
million in their END just because that's what they choose to do. I do I think it's good practice we keep more. Sure. There are certainly things we could h we can see happen that are unforeseeable. A boiler could go at the high school and we need to replace that is a significant amount of funds. Kids move residential
placements of funds. Again, however given the current situation, this is a means to meet the voters in the middle. put something out there that is certainly more more and still look to really meet our kids needs and head in that same direction. And if we're
proposing a budget like we did this year and we 2.2, I don't see why we could be able to be in that same position again. Thanks, Mr. putting this proposal together. I just had a couple questions. So, anything other than the town
supported budget would go to our town leadership and then it could result in another override. I'm not seeing how this I appreciate your you know, we do want we do want to make an effort to meet the needs of our students and get
what's best for them, but if we result in another override this year with this proposal and we're setting oursel up for an override the following year. I just we're making progress and maybe I'm wrong, so please correct me, but I don't think this
situation gets us out of more than a one-year plan for funding. Well, part of it also put in place with the district's 5year sustainability plan, also looking at proposal increasing positions is one of the means to keep us within budget and also make
sure we're not exceeding it nor having to look at layoffs again. So, that was one piece that was put forth earlier by uh superintendent powers to make sure that you know we're going to have to go backwards. Also looking to keep salary increases in mind in that position as
well. And what I'm really proposing here is let's just incorporating the current cost savings that we've identified and looking at much less increase in fees than what we would be at the other two levels the level service or the town proposed and keeping in line with what
we still propose for the need. So, in theory, we're still meeting that 106.2, but we are making uh cost adjustments. Mrs. I I don't know if Mr. Fitzgiven or Mrs. King or I could call someone out in the audience, but maybe I don't want to do that. My question is, do we have any
understanding of the free cash that is available in Bridgewwater and in Rain? Because at one point I thought, and I could totally be making this up, that Rain had like three to four million cash. I could be wrong. So I do not know
the amount of bring free cash. However, I do know they they allotted they appropriated a large amount of free cash um to their public safety stabilization account um in anticipation of that project. So I
do not know how much they have right Because part part of me is I would love to know how much free cash the towns have. They're sitting on a lot of cash. Like if we're going to use our END and go down to 1.4 million and we're pulling from all kinds of things and making cuts, but the towns are sitting on all
this money and they don't want to use their own free cash. That is a problem for me. A big problem for me. Mrs. seeking everyone's help here. I am struggling to understand how the will of
the people will change if we put forth proposal that requires an override. I'm just needing help to get there because all these arguments are really really strong, but I cannot get over that the people have said no to
both overrides and we don't have a sense as to why. And if we don't know the why, we don't know our proposal will go through and get a yes. I'm really just looking to get some perspective on if we
choose something that requires the town to vote again, what will we do different to get a different outcome. And so those that's why I asked the questions I asked, not to indicate that Mr. Powers
needs to be an advoc advocate or anything. is just to understand who we have a sense of why the community said no because if it has nothing to do with if it's not pertaining to
the amount reducing it won't won't get us to the yes. So just really wanting to get perspectives on options that require an override and how will we get a yes? I don't know. And I don't think if we
send them anything that's going to require another override that it would be any different than it was. And that's my concern even with taking END if I additional END if I would be in favor of that and the cost savings. I
think anything above that post election, I don't know that either town would be able to support that budget without some sort of over. I don't want bad between the district and the towns and the people. I want
them to know that they're heard. We need we need a budget and we need to retain as many staff as we can. And I appreciate Mr. Lo has advocated so much to services and staff don't
put and I think we need a different option to share the pain across both towns and try and keep as many staff as we can and still get a budget as fast as we can do the post
maybe the post election option those there. Do we think the towns can fund those budgets without an override? Is that the assumption? I think so. For Rainham, it's an extra $713,000
over and above the town supported and for it's an extra 849,000. So, we could reduce the capital like Mr. Patterson said we they could have free cash. They could cut people within different
I think the numbers are attainable without potentially override um however they want to do that. I think that's the only option that I see that is not what they have proposed and
could mitate some of the damage to I'm not saying it's a good choice. I know it's not a good choice. Um, but if we ask for an override right now and it doesn't fail, that's terrible. If
we ask for an override and it passes, it's not going to be enough to keep us afloat and get us where we need to be either. So, I don't want to go back to the towns after them again and say, "Hey, thanks last time, but like it still wasn't enough."
Not really any great options right now. Mr. Can you just elaborate on where the 6.4 and 7.24 for the post election option came from? Is it just sort of gut and what we think based on conversations or is that grounded in some type of a measurement?
I guess those those numbers are based on the assessment formula that we use. So we take obviously the budget and then allocate the assessments to the town. So those those percentages there that you're referring to I think is what you're referring to. It's all based on enrollment. So we look at our student
enrollment that drives the assessments that go to the town. So that's where the percentage So, Mr. Lo has this potential 105 million on the table right now and Mrs. Conra seconded it. I'm going to get take a vote if we want to proceed with this
one. If so, we'll have to recess so I can figure out probably tomorrow so we can get accurate numbers. This budget is very particular and lengthy. Um, and So I had that.
So I just want to recess. All right. Mr. has made a motion um for a budget of 105 million and a second with that. I'm taking a tenative motion to proceed with this
budget um pending a recess to get the current figures. All those in favoritiven Mr. Pitg I'm sorry I didn't hear you. Sorry we're going to do a roll call vote to see if we proceed with this one and if it is the will of the committee we
will recess to calculate until tomorrow. If not, we will move on to another alternative that someone would like to. I'm in favor of a different alternative, but I'm always willing to listen. So, we should vote yes, but I'm going to vote no.
Mrs. Dport, no. Mrs. Conra, no. Mr. Lo, Mrs. No, Mr. Bethro. I appreciate Mr. Lo's enthusiasm, but
unfortunately I'm not. Mrs. Thomas, no. And the chair. So, thank you, Mr. Lo. Tell me this, right? I would make a motion to adopt the post
election option, but I actually would like to um increase the amount by $800,000 that I don't know what the dollar amounts are that um so instead of a deficit shortfall.
or the $4 million recess tomorrow. So if we're just uh I will take a second just to put it on the floor for discussion. So Mrs. has the motion. Mr. Fitzg has a second.
Um, I need one moment to just talk to I'm going to tell them what you said. That's why my Yeah. Yeah. No, I don't. Well, I can't stop the live stream, so I can't stop the pointed that way. You can't really hear us.
Thank you. Appreciate it. and she was second kind of wish. The one on the pul I pulled up a couple hours ago. Oh,
thanks for telling me to Nobody knows. I know my Please. Yeah. Well, that's This is the government. Unicorn so much. So bad. Am
I actually doing that? Take Time alarm's about to go off. I have mom. They're a bit by accident. Occasionally you'll find one or two everything.
Exactly. Yeah, I have them like I have them label a lot. Most of them are labeled. I started writing a lot. Yes. Look at that. I saw that. I think we need it. Could be the people.
That way you tell somebody. It was my first time. Exactly. Wonderful. Thank you. Are you I'll give them the football.
My sister Yeah, she's going to Oh, no. That Maybe it's I actually think this time Yep. So, I have I mean Yeah,
I think I don't know why. Did anybody get that? Good. I know that name. Good. So they like Wonderful. All right. Thank you everyone so much for
um letting me have that quick recess. I thought that would be quicker, but thank you for your patience. So, we're coming back from recess at 9:19. So we just did the calculated calculations based on
um is the post election option but instead of the 2 million in she would like to as discussed earlier 2.8 I will entertain a motion then to
approve the trans. This is several motions that we need to go through for each particular piece of it and we can discuss and vote. Um I will entertain a motion to approve the transfer of 2,800,000 from the district's fund to support the
fiscal year motion by uh discussion and questions on that. Can you reach the please? 2,800,000. So we had originally said we're going to
do 2 million. Um Mrs. Conto is again like talked about pulling another 800,000. So it would be 2 million 800,000 to contribute towards the budget of the
postction option. So that would reduce. So 7 million. So adding an $800,000 would be $98 million,000. I think that was my hope that our shortfall would not be 4.8 million. It
would be$4 million. Okay. No, I'm assess So we can just rearrange the calculation. I misunderstood. Yeah. So the whole discussion while Mrs. Yes.
Yeah. The EMD is on the table so she can work out what the calculations what that means. Madam chair. Yes. Mr. Let's get it. At the end of the day, with the numbers you have in front of you, having just worked them up because I didn't see
them, is the assessment to each town the same assessment as what's being labeled postelection option. Those assessments did not decrease. Correct. So the way I took it, yes, the assessment would decrease slightly
because we were adding that 800,000 towards the Madam Madam Chair, I I really don't want to do this, but I I'm very nervous we're going to get this vote wrong. I I'm going to make a motion to recess to tomorrow if that's it. So let's do the preliminary vote again to
see if we want to do it. Recess till tomorrow to get the vote right, though. Just my opinion. Mr. So, do you want to does someone want to second that? Well, I'd just like to see if Okay. I'd just like to see if we're
going to Okay. be in favor of this option with six people with it. If not, there's no reason to continue discussing it. I mean, unless it's five to three, then maybe we do continue discussing it. I guess
I think I think that the assessments would stay the same. We're raising it up to 98,500,000 whatever. But the only number we're raising is that district number by
800,000. So the the revenue from the town would stay the same, the other revenues would stay the same. It would just be the district's throwing in more. The top line is increasing more. Correct. There's no there's no decrease in what assessments the town was my
interpretation. Yes. Yes. Yes. The town number would change by 800 increase by 800,000 and then the overall top correct me if I'm wrong on this but just my understanding is in order for the
assessments not to change because they're based on enrollment ratios we would have to keep that $97 million number that we have there to keep the assessments what they are currently. But school committee in addition could vote
to allocate an additional $800,000 from END to reduce the shortfall. If we add the 800,000 to the total budget, it will now change the assessments. So, so
we can apply the $800,000 to the deficit but not change the numbers if you will the taxes. What Mr. Yes. So I I believe and again to correct me if I'm wrong the way the motion is
written is that we would use currently $2 million from EMD towards this 97 million. Those assessment numbers would then stay the same as they currently are calculated. Well, so then the 2 million's already in there,
but again, because we're offsetting the budget with additional uh END, it does change because it's all part of the local revenue. It does change the assessments towards the time. So then what we would have to do it in addition
to the $2 million separate from the operating budget, school committee would then have to uh vote to approve to use another $800,000 towards that $4.8 million shortfall. So that that's
how you would be able to do it without changing is my understanding without changing the assessment numbers. If we if we change the top number it's going to impact the assessment. So just so I'm clear, Mr. Powers, when you say talk line 97796,
right? 97.8 million. What are the numbers that comprise that 97.8 million? I get 223 from Rainham, 355 from Bridgewater, which adds up to 578,
right? And then add another 2.8 from chapter 71 which gets us just a little north north of 600 I mean 60 million sorry and then add 342 which gets us just a little north of 94 and then add
2.97 other revenue which gets us to in my mind to the 978. What it was Miss Conrad Lberto's intention to do was to bring that 978 number up to 986. That was my understanding.
So I don't understand if we're just going to keep the same 978 as the proposed budget how we don't end up defeating the intention of Miss Conrad Lorento's
motion. And that's why that's why I don't want to do math on the fly. That's why I strongly urge we recess this meeting. Do it right tomorrow morning. come back and if if it's the will of the committee, if we find out that it's six to two against
this, then fine, let's move on to the next thing we can talk about. But if this is the will of the committee, let's do it right. Let's not do it, you know, on the fly with five minute recess. It's just my opinion. That's fine. If that's the motion that
you intended, Miss Con, we can recess and come back tomorrow. I would have to do the recalculation. I took it as taking this 97 million um and putting another 800,000 up from not raising the
bottom line up to 98 by969. So if you want to do that, so the the 977 if you can just please help me understand the 2 million from END is not in
or is it? So my intention was to raise up to 978 and make the entire right sorry 9% was to raise it to 986 um and include that
And if someone has a better suggestion on how to do this, I'm all open for it. But I maybe back to Mr. Gibb is this concept are people willing or people agree with this concept before we even try to like
the numbers. I'm just I'm just trying to wrap my head around This would All right, I'm going to do another um roll call and see if there's interest in continuing with this budget. If there is we can do a recess until tomorrow.
So what I was shown during the break and it could be totally wrong something different from what's on the state certified website for town as of seven or maybe it was last year I don't know um it looked like $3.5 million again
it's what's certified $3.5 million and um rain funds whatever I can't remember stabilization fund and and rain had like four something million something was
certified on the state's website. So I'll be askreased amount. I I mean I don't I mean I think we can ask the towns, but I don't know if they're going to give us an answer by tomorrow because I don't know if it has to go to their town council and their
select We can have informal conversations with their town managers, but they're not going to give us a definitive answer on what the will of their committees are as to whether they would decide to go and take out the cash. Just I mean I would
personally say sure we would take 2 million out of no problem like if someone asked us. So I don't know they would confirm what they have but I don't know if they answer without having a meeting to question.
Yeah. I'm just trying to understand, are we I don't want to get into a situation we have a recess, we come back tomorrow and then someone says, "Okay, well, what about 600,000?" And now we're just talking about different numbers, right? And we're just arbitrarily throwing out sums of money, right? As we kind of do
the break glass in case of emergency option. Um, so I guess I'm trying to understand is the spirit of this extra $800,000 from EMD. Is it, you know, are we trying to show the towns that we're willing to put more skin in the game if we're going to ask Random to go from 3%
to 6.4% and and Bridgewwater they go from 4.67 to 7.2 to say, "Hey, Random, you throw in 650, whatever it is, Bridgewwater, you throw in is it 7 something and we'll throw in 800 of our own." Is is that the spirit of what we're trying to do? And then we get that 4.8 million down to now it's down to 4
million. Is that ultimately what we're trying to accomplish? I mean, I think for me that's what I'm trying to accomplish. I think if we can get that deficit down, that that shortfall down as much as we can and live with it, not live with it, but good
faith. That that is my hope that and that the towns can fund and not have to vote over and with that 800,000 that would still leave approximately 1.4ish in the ENT fund for future unexpected
expenses. So I can I can start and see what the committee feels. I'm trying to wrap my head around tenatively what a 98596 693 budget would look like. Um and I
Conto's intention. I think if we add in the 800,000, it brings up the amount of the budget. So, we're still going to have to recalculate assessments. It's not totally going to be just to the district to use
the I don't know all the calculations, but if we raise the if we raise the whole budget, it's going to all the calculations. It doesn't come off the top, but
we're getting more. Yeah, it would raise theirs maybe a little bit or adjust them a little bit, but not not huge dollars. What I mean, I don't So ju just again, I I don't want to belabor the point. If we we take the total budget, so let's say we're talking
about the 97 million budget, we less estimated receipts. So, chapter 771 and then it also includes district contributions. If we're including more in district contributions, it actually
lowers the the number that gets sent to the towns, thus reducing their assessments. So, I'm not disagreeing with you. I think you're trying to raise the overall budget to 98 and change, which I understand. But if if we agree initially
to take 2.8 more out of END, it's going to show up in the estimated receipts which will then lower the assessment to the town. That's why the assessment numbers of the towns are initially going down.
That's not my right. Uh, just in case everyone watching on YouTube isn't asleep by now, I'm going to I'm going to put them all to sleep with these questions. So, Mr. Powers, um,
let's talk about my favorite thing to talk about ever in the world, the statutory method. And and so what what we what you've just described in the budget is kind of halfway there, correct? Because we start out here's the
number we want to spend. And I believe what Miss Conor Lorento has asked that it is our intention to spend 97.594 million. That's what she's suggesting the school committee's intention would be. We then reduce uh that 97 by chapter
70, chapter 71 other revenues including another 800 that the town uh that the school district is going to put in. Correct. Yes. So far therefore therefore the rest left over has to be picked up by the towns. However,
however the state tells each town what their minimum contribution is. Correct? So then you take the the the number that you had subtract each minimum contribution correct and then you're left with one more leftover number. Then
you take that number divide by total students and allocate it out to the two towns. So that in fact that's why um if you look in the in the town town approved budget Rainham's going up only
3% and Bridgewater is going up 4.67 67 because the state told Bridgewwater that in fact they could afford more in their in their required state contribution to the district in as an increase than Rainham could afford. Right? And that's
why there's that difference to begin with and why it carries through, but it gets smaller going forward as we're asking for more and more because that slight difference from the beginning gets overly magnified by how we're
overwhelming it with extra spending which is done on a per pupil basis and not according to the requirements of the state through net school spending. Correct. Yes, that's exactly true. So that that first number, the minimum contribution isn't just based on
enrollment where all the other assessments, the transportation, the uh operating assessments are all based on that enrollment formula. The minimum contribution does factor in enrollment, but it also factors in as you mentioned the wealth of the community. So it's
it's not going to be significantly different than the enrollment formula. However, it it won't necessarily match because it does factor in the well. And in fact, I'm sorry, one just one other thing just as a as an observation. Uh the dollar assessment increase to
Bridgewater in the town affords budget of 1.5 uh million is very very close to actually what the minimum increase in contribution was. not from net school spending I'm talking about not what they actually increase
there's plenty of room uh under net school spending but if if if you if you look into the formula I believe the required increase for net school spending for grid is about 1.3 or 1.4 million something like that so
just an occupation I guess miss king maybe I'm asking for your recommendation or Mr. Visk or anyone on the committee here. I would love to be able to contribute more from
and get that short $1 amount down. How we do that? I am open for suggestions. What is the easiest best way to do that? I think again I don't want to also then subtract
the town's numbers from here. Then I think at that point we look to certify the post election option and the application. So we need to go to J3. So I need to do two motions.
All right. Regarding the separate 800,000 We have a different motion and a second on the table. Do we want to motion and then we'll go back to this other motion? Sure. We do not have any motions. Mrs.
Do you have a discussion that you would like to I I I am very uncomfortable voting on any uh anything other than what you have a vote prepared for tonight. I I I will vote no matter what
it is. I'll just say that. Okay. I missed it. that is to finalize anything. I'll vote in favor of concepts, but we need to have
I can be here Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. if necessary. I cannot discuss and I don't know if people yet um if we voted to approve the post election option the 9796 what is
actually here we could then vote to use $2.8 million $2.8 million of and right two is already is two already included in here. So, so and then it
would be another motion to include $800,000. Yes. So, I have based on what we had discussed and presented I have motions available for the post election option which includes $2 million in END because
that had been a previous discussion. Um if we want to have those votes available and I have those calculations if we also want to do a separate thing to add in totally separate over and above that 800,000 from
Mrs. Be has said that can be a separate vote and that would be separate from these budgets but that has to be done but that has to be done by June 30th anyway. Yes. So, we're going to have have to
come back and meet on a separate vote on that. Regarding the 800,000, right? I I I just don't I just don't understand like what's the difference? So, I'm lost and that's unfortunate.
That makes me want to know. I'd rather you ask questions than Could you explain this 800,000? Labor, and if I'm wrong, please tell me, wants to do post election option,
how do we separately vote an extra 800,000 to come off to add into this to make up this difference. But not changing the assessment, etc. How would that a separate vote and how how would that work?
All right. Thank you. Let me start by saying this. If we are going to increase the 97 million by the 800,000, it would definitely change the assessment to the towns.
That's one. But according to what um Laura said if we are just looking for only to reduce the assessment to the towns then the 800,000 from END will do
just that because once we bring in additional 800,000 it will reduce the assessment to the town. But there the other uh way to look at it is if we increase the total budget by 800,000
and also increase END to by 800,000 it will be a part of what we currently have the assessment to the towns will not change. That's what you want. So that means that the total budget would go up by 800,000
which will be like the 98 million you were talking about but then we have to bring additional 800,000 from the EMT to offset that. So that mean the assessment to the towns remains the same. Are we still on the same page with that?
So if that is so so can I just Okay. if that is your intention. Those are different calculations. So, we would have to recess until tomorrow. So, I could take a vote to see if people are interested in proceeding with that. I I don't think that's necessary. I
think you have the right vote in front of you. You just have to you just have to add 800 to the 97794 and say offset five up above and the two and then it becomes 3.7.
I can't do air math like that. Yeah. Oh, the revenue. No, I mean I'm I don't feel comfortable. Yeah. No, I'm fine. If you don't feel comfortable, please don't revenue becomes 3.7, right? And so it's offset and then to Miss Babalo's point, everything else remains the same. Yeah.
Thank you. If you would like to recess shortly, I can talk to Tala if I can get those. Otherwise, we would have to recess till tomorrow. No, but nothing changes. Yeah. second. like 25 minutes later.
Yeah. And there's a And then they pull out. I know. I know. It's still as blue, right? We pay $300. I can't see if it was actually
something else. Bridgewwater rain school district. Number 17. It has to happen. She wants to take not And you know what? You know why people? Me too. I know.
I brought my two kids that had graduated. What's your husband's name? Um, yes, my dog actually. Yeah, my daughter. Oh, I think she was a teacher. Yeah. Yeah, she graduated two years ago.
Okay. Yeah. That's not That's not Devastating. It's absolutely fantastic. Hey, how are you? What' you say?
Oh, back. We have to go in. We had to wait. So I like coming back at 9:5. All right. Um, we did calculations with Mrs. Beal and what Mrs.
explained and explained that did work out. It changed it up the bottom line of the post election to 800,000. It did not change the assessments. It just changed the bottom number where the shortfall was. So it would be
rather than So that was your intention. Correct. Thank you. Thank you for bearing with us. All right. Um based on those calculations, um do we want to go and take tenative vote to see if we would like to go
forward with this and then read off the population numbers? Is that how we want to speak? Um so this is I will entertain a motion to do a tenative vote on the calculations. this goes forward
motions which is the amount assessments and then capital sorry um it's just going to be a tenative motion for to put Mrs. motion on the floor which is the post
election plus 800,000 raising the bottom line of that budget for 98,596,695 um adding in an extra 800 based on the calculations doing that we added money so the short
will be taken off the bottom So the assum we added to it's just we want to proceed and go through all of these calculations. If not, we'll move on to Mrs. H.
Mr. Hi. Mrs. Thomas, no. Mr. Mrs. Conrad, Mrs. Mr. So, madam chair,
I may suggest your tenative motion passed, but it didn't pass six to two, but I believe there are some voted one way, some people voted some people voted no
would like to go one way and some people voted no would like to go another. And that's fine. That's their right. But if we're going to arrive in the budget tonight, we need one of those votes to change as he reading. So I'd
make I'd make the motion to and if it fails 5 to three or fails 5 to three again, but let's go with the motions you have in front of you. Yes. And to your point, we need six people to vote on budget or we move on to another. So that tenative did So I will read
these these if they do not pass like I said we will move on to a different discuss that budget again the post election option with the increase $800,000 these are the motions for that
when I'm done that will be a vote I will entertain a motion to approve the transfer of $2,800 from $800,000 from the district's END fund to support the fiscal year 26 budget.
So motion by Mr. Fitzgiven and second by Mrs. Do we have a discussion and questions on the 2.8 million? I'd just like to say this is again money
that doesn't come back and we're going to be in the same position next year. I don't want anyone to think otherwise. We're not finding money. There isn't a magical pot of money out there. Um,
we're basically uh putting a plastic band-aid on an arterial wound, but let's kick the can another year. Why not? No, I agree. It's just depleting all of our savings. After
28, Mrs. Con, Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Gothro, Mrs. Mandel. Hi, Mrs. Mr. Given. Hi,
and the chairs. That would be in favor of the Andy. Um, next is regarding the um assessments and total of the budget. I entertain a motion
to recommend that subject to review and verification by the district treasurer, the school committee will vote to approve the final budget for fiscal year 2025 2026 excluding debt and capital costs in the amount of 98,596,693.
the final budget figure of 98,596,693 to be reduced by anticipated revenue totaling 37,985,22 and an END appropriation of $2,800,000 leaving the amount of 57,8118 57,811,671
to be paid by the member towns as follows. Aortionment of said cost is to be the state's required minimum contribution of 21,396,255 plus the non-discretionary charges of 937,313
for a total two from Rain in the amount of 22,333,568. Bridgewater's aortionment of said cost is to be the state's required minimum contribution of 33,970,677 plus the non-discretionary charges of1,57,426
for a total due from Bridgewater in the amount of $35,478,13. The enortment and non-discretionary charges are based on enrollments of the Bridgewater Regional School District as of October 1st, 2024. I will entertain that motion. Did you
want to I'll make that motion made by Mr. discussion and questions on I just I just put it out there. Nobody's happy with this. I'm not happy with this either, but I I think we need
a pathway in a lot needing to happen in the next 12 months to be able to get us or where we need to be to get a better budget. Our deficit in like two weeks before the presentation went from 6 million, one of our budget presentations to I mean went from 3 million to 6
million. is when we found out about the health insurance. Do we have other comments or questions on this budget? Mrs. multiple conversations with the towns. What is the level of confidence that they can
assess increase without need for an overs? So, like I stated before, I I don't want to go with the town supported. I don't think anyone up here will vote to approve that. The post election option that we're talking
about, I think they can find that within their operational budget or within their cash. I do not I I'm not on the board of sele meetings on both sides of the district. I've been to town meetings. I've been to
board selection meetings. I've been to town council meetings. I cannot speak for other committees. agree to do with their budget, but I think it's possible based on what I have seen for their members. I I will say, Mville, just
based on my conversations and like Miss King, I'm not going to speak for either the selection of the town or the town council of Bridgewwater, they can speak on their own when they meet and they do their thing. Um, we're not members of that and they're not members of this. So, um, I don't want to speak for them.
I just get a general sense that All of the selectmen and all of the town council want to do the best they can for the school district and but a lot of them were very concerned about having an override especially an override as large
as uh what was proposed in each town and I believe that uh being people of goodwill we can all act together to try to get to an answer that makes sense and get uh folks to support this post election
That's my hope anyway and and my belief based on everyone's expressed opinions to me personally and then so sorry. So, it's my belief that they it is possible. It's within their realm of possibility to fund this
out of their what they have. To your point, if they disapprove it and it does not get approved within the 45 days that they have to do that um and they send it to an override to fund and it fails, we go to a joint town meeting
as other members stated. That's a statute. We go to a town meeting if we don't fail a budget. I we don't approve a budget um at a joint town meeting which I discussed earlier that's like a giant rain town meeting where all voters who
would like to attend would show up and the voters themselves agree on a bunch of discussions are they have said they can afford the town supported budget that's what theyed
improved. Could they potentially do more? Potentially, as are we discussing here, we could potentially do more. So, I can't speak for them. I'm trying to advocate for a good faith budget as
are other people here that is not totally devastating. Mrs. Thomas, just where you said that we could do more. It's clear to people we didn't find fat trim. We're pulling from That's not going to be there next year
when we're facing another. Yes. We're not magically finding money. To your point, we're pulling out of our savings, which makes me extremely uncomfortable leaving only 1.5 million in there because if we have an emergency, that's what it's for. But if
we have that money, I mean, I feel like we need to put in as much as we can. And I'm hoping to do the same. And to Mr. Lo's point, we're we need to do something else because this is not
working year after year. And just just to point out, the the president of the Bridgewater Town Council communicated earlier tonight and urged us to pass the received leveling that we
But we have always since I've been here before. It is likely that even though we as I believe Miss K. Yes. And this is a vicious cycle we get
caught in as many bill is that yes, we do we do run a surplus generally on expenses because I believe the superintendent shuts down all general expenses after September 30th and only
quote unquote emergency spending happens after that for general expenses. And so, and that is to drive um a surplus in those lines because we need it for the next year. We shouldn't keep having to roll over money from last
year to next year. We should allow money to stand by itself and hold a little bit every year and put it aside till we have an appropriate amount in END and then run all the time at the same number. If we if we if we keep relying on the two
million now we're going to rely on 2.8 million. We've got to find 2.8 million in recurring revenue somewhere next year if we don't want to rely on it next year to do the same thing. So it's it's a vicious cycle unfortunately. I also want
to clarify so as a regional district we're in a precarious or unique situation. We are a town department just like police, fire, DPW, but we're our own department outside of that. So they
still fund us as a department as they fund the police as they fire, but we create our own budget. We have charge of our own budget. So we ask them for the money and they give us what they give us, which this year has been this um but
they give us a lump sum. The state gives us a lump sum. We cannot go over that. We are not police, hey, we need a little bit extra. We're running in the red. We need to be conservative. We need to have a surplus at the end of the year or get as close as we can. We cannot go our
budget because we are technically a separate town. So, they give us our money and we spend it and we be as conservative as we can. Um, so yes, we do try and keep that 2 million or as close to that as we can.
anything runs over and special education goes crazy and don't get reversed. That's a huge problem. We will get into trouble with the state. So every month at budget, we look at every line item by line to make sure we
are trending where we need to be. Are we cutting? Are we freezing the budget? So we look at that every month to make sure that the subline the staff the salary lines transportation utilities keep all of those things that we're going to be okay
so people are just a quick followup the surplus that's uh generated at the end of the year doesn't necessarily always come from unspent funds it comes from uh unanticipated revenues so for example I showed the example of the chair machine and because we always go with the
governor's number to build our budget, that final number may be higher. And so when you look at last year's number, it was we received additional funding, but the budget had already been approved. So that money uh automatically washes down to ED and that was I want to say in the
range of 8 to $900,000. So when we put $2 million aside, half of that was basically from unanticipated revenue. So it's not always um you know on spending money that's been included in the budget. It really is coming in
anticipated from a process perspective. If we go back to the towns with this post election budget, they made the decision whether or not to grant those additional funds. Um, is it is there a step between where they make
a decision yes or no and whether they decide to send it for another override or do we just go to them and they look at it and go over? How does that process work? Does anyone have I know has any been sent into that? So once we certify it, we send it to the towns and they
approve it however their government is. If they can find it within their operational potentially town council, I don't know if they have money within their operational budget that they can be able to just
I think the point I guess what I'm what I'm wondering about is right and and we talked about this a little bit earlier is both towns have already sly said no to all the right ones. You know I don't know again we all know the right thing is a local services budget right
we all know the right thing is actually more than a local services budget right to to grow the district grows but um you know I'm also just wondering right if they say no right I don't know that having over vote is the right option either. Right? So I'm wondering if
there's a way if they say no then we'll go okay we'll we'll come back and look at something else as opposed to an override vote for it. So if once we submit it once we send it to them it's out of our control. So if they disapprove it it triggers.
All right. The motion for the selection option with the increase. So the 98 by969 693 is on the table which I read off this will be a Jessica Thomas
Mr. Yes, Mrs. Conrad. Mr. Lo, Mrs. Mr. 10:30
just in the room right now. We are not going to get the town approved budget is not pass. I don't think we're going to get six. I would make a motion to adjourn and come back tomorrow. Recess. The recess
contin I if we can't get this post election I don't think we're going to get the town either. I don't know what options are I would just like to get their thoughts and so to be fair we are a town department
but we don't ask them for permission Oh, I totally get that. But like with the situation that we're in, I think we need to be good partners. I would like to know that and then so I would I would be up to do this. So I mean I'm more
than willing to I just caution any select winner town council member about creating a serial deliberation by doing that violating the read it was. So I don't know that. So my issue is and I
understand what you're getting at. So they cannot affirmatively tell you what their council or their board is going to do without having a meeting and a deliberation. So that's why I said we're we're on a unique situation where yes, we're department and the police
chief could go in and say, "Hey, um you know what do what do you think about me getting a 10% increase?" and they can have a discussion but we are a separate entity. We have to vote on our budget and give it to them and then they have to vote on it and say yes or no. So um
we're not asking permission for them respectfully. Is there an oper option to submit it with the caveat that if they're going to send it for override vote that we withdraw it and consider something else. So they either approve it or they disapprove it. We don't know how they're going to fund it and we
don't have a say how they fund it. If they say we're going So either they come up with the funds or they don't. Can we specifically request the funds come from their stabilization funds? Again, we cannot say how they fund it. We don't have any control over
what they discuss or how they want to fund it or if they're going to fund it. Question. Yes. If this goes to Bridgewater or Rain and they say no, it doesn't go to an override. It actually goes to a joint town meeting. There is
no overpar. That's if they approve it to go to an over disapproving it. If they disapprove it, it goes to joint town. If they approve it, then they have to figure out where they get their money from. So whether
that's free cash or that is a separate process. If it's no, then it goes right. So I guess I guess that's what I'm saying. That's fine. But again, I caution select and
town counselors from deliberating on if that would make you feel comfortable and they would want to talk to you about it because they As of tomorrow, you may talk they may be able to say we have this much in ED, but they can't say how to fund it because they all together collectively have to
vote yes in an open in an open meeting. I I mean, I'm open to another conversation here of a budget, but I don't know if we're going to come to agreement because I I don't think we're going to come to town. I don't want it to be pending. having a conversation
with the select like an informal conversation with them because that's not them saying yes we will agree to that but it's not actually focus on what we are actually in power
of and not what's out of our control you could have conversations tomorrow. That's just three conversations. Correct. But I guess you could possibly swing my vote. I understand what the precautionary is and they might not do it, but maybe it would make me feel
comfortable with my vote if you would like me to vote on the post election. I guess otherwise I'm on the town approved what I said in March. I'm just sticking by my word. So I'm just giving you an option if you guys want to move this budget. Yes, that's all I'm saying.
Miss King. Yes. Could you just remind the folks who are left in the committee uh what happens if we don't approve a budget or send a letter to the uh
the commissioner saying we've resubmitted a budget to the towns by June 30th. Then then what happens is is the budget as presented by the towns deemed approved. If we don't certify another budget, we
have by June 30th, we have to reconsider, amend or reertify our budget. If we don't, whatever the town has approved is our budget. I can confirm with Michelle. Yeah, if you can do that for tomorrow and then I just like that is my understanding. That was
my understanding. We miss our deadline. We have the original budget approved, right? And then I'd just like to time certain on the uh recess motion 7 7 p.m. here again. Well, and I'll just say Mrs. King whether this helps people or not. You
can go on the math and where it lists every single town and Bridgewwater has 3.5 million. Rain have like four something. I mean that is what certified what they have public knowledge it's all there so does that make amends
a motion to recess until tomorrow do I have a I just don't know what we're accomplishing. I believe you had a positive vote. I believe we're excessive. Yes, we have three motion.