WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=4YxRJC5j9TI

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: 4YxRJC5j9TI):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Call to Order and Flag Salute
- 00:01:54: Oath of Office Administered to Evelyn E. Barnes
- 00:04:20: Photo Opportunities with the New Board Member
- 00:10:01: Roll Call, Mission Statement, Open Public Meetings Act
- 00:11:58: Presentation on Preliminary Budget, State Aid, Healthcare
- 00:28:25: History of New Jersey School Funding Formula
- 00:49:54: District Operations and Revenue Budget Details
- 00:55:23: 2% Budget Cuts, Healthcare Adjustment, Tax Impact
- 01:03:35: Board Member Questions and Discussion: Budget Concerns
- 01:39:40: Public Comment Closed, Member Comments, Welcome to Barnes
- 01:49:08: Executive Session Discussion and Final Vote


Part: 1

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My mother. Everything is good. Welcome to the March 17th Committee of the Hall special meeting of the Clifton Board of Education. Would everybody please rise to To the flag of the United States of

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America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Welcome everyone. I we now have the pleasure of uh the oath of office being administered to our

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newest member Barnes. Um so please everybody just bear with us. We're going to move the flag so we can have it strategically placed and then she'll take the order. You >> like us? Thank you.

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>> Raise your right hand. >> Hi, Evelyn. I, of >> do solemnly swear or >> affirm >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey

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>> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. >> And I will bear true faith >> and I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments established >> and to the government established >> in the United States and this state >> of the United States and this state >> under the authority of the people

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>> under the authority of the people. I, Evelyn E. Barnes, >> I, Evelyn E. Barnes, >> do solemnly swear >> domly swear >> that I possess the qualifications >> that I possess the qualifications >> prescribed by law for the office of member of board of education >> prescribed by law for the office of the

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board of board of education >> and that I am not disqualified >> and that I am not disqualified >> as a voter pursuant >> as a voter pursuant >> to RS194-1 >> to RS194-1 >> nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime disqualified to the conviction of

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a crime >> or offense listed in NJS18A12-1 >> or offense listed in NJS 18A 12-1 >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> and partially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the duties of that office

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>> all the duties of that office >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability >> congratulations Yeah, I got like the Do you want me to zoom in? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Oh, you weren't able to see.

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>> Oh, man. Sorry. I have to meet my Come on, everyone. Anyone get started? for sure. >> Where are my parents? We're in the right

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here. >> I don't know. Awesome. >> My grandfather Grandpa behind you. Happy face. Okay. Ready. >> Look at

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your head down. >> Okay. >> Okay. No, the camera. All right. >> And last one. One, two, and three. Did we miss it? taking pictures. >> Exactly. We p

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Okay, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back. Proceed with our meeting. How would you like to be addressed? >> Okay, Mr. Roll call please for a full board.

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>> Mr. >> Mr. Paris >> here. >> Mr. Razel >> here. >> Mr. Siana >> here. Mr. Suarez >> here. >> Vice President >> here. >> Here. >> Thank you. Mission statement. Uh, Commissioner Razel. The mission of the Clifton School

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District and an open and reciprocal community partnership is to provide all students with the quality education to develop the skills necessary to become literate, lifelong learners who are responsible and productive citizens contributing to the democratic society in a never changing world.

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>> Thank you, Commissioner Rexel. Open public meetings act vice president Santiago. >> Thank you, President Vasper. The New Jersey open public meetings law was enacted to ensure the right to the public. Sorry, I was trying to see and to attend meetings of public funds at

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which any business affecting the is discussed or acted upon in accordance with the provisions of this act. The Clipton Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be publicized by having the date, time, and place thereof posted at the city clerk's office, Clifton Public Library,

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administration building, senior citizen nutrition center, on cable TV in the local press, on the district's website, and mailed to presidents of parent teacher organizations. This meeting will be tap recorded in accordance with policy 0168.

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>> Thank you, Vice President Santiago. Now it is our pleasure to ask administration to do a presentation um for our special committee and meeting of the whole on the preliminary budget.

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Dr. Roberty, the floor is yours. >> Do I zoom in on anybody? You're also welcome. question pick us up. Mr. McConey, is this microphone gonna pick us up? Okay. Good evening, President Bas and everyone streaming or watching the

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broadcast. I'm Mikey, the district's business administrator, and this is the committee of the whole preliminary budget hearing. Tonight, will discuss a discuss the resolution that will be presented to the board on Thursday, March 19th to approve the submission of the 26 27th preliminary budget to the

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Department of Education. Let me be clear, this is for compliance purposes only with the Department of Ed. Between now and May 7th, the May 7th board meeting, the board will be able to make changes to the budget. Real quick, I need to say this is the most difficult budget I've

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had to develop in the 15 years I've been in. We are presenting a few things tonight. A balanced budget at the 2% tax levy which requires significant reductions in programming primarily due to the astronomical increase in health benefits including medical and prescription al

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and also due to the excessive increase in the charter school budget. During the presentation this evening we will de demonstrate the significant increases while also presenting alternatives for consideration that would maintain all current programming and operations. So first things first Dr. Robert will begin

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presentation. >> Thank you, Mr. UI. Good evening, commissioners and members of the one Clifton community. It is an honor to be here tonight to present to you the preliminary budget. And first, let me give a warm and congratulatory welcome

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to our newest board member, Miss Eve Estri Barnes. and what an outstanding uh party she came out with tonight which is that's really wonderful because uh it just shows that you have a lot of support and it's nice to see four generations on and

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I think that was one of your family members at the window ladies and gentlemen u this is a big night this is an important >> but this is not the be all end all. Tonight we're going to discuss the

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preliminary. The purpose of the committee of the whole is because previously going back four or five years ago, this would be presented at the budget committee and then brought to the full board on

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Thursday evening and board members were wanted more time. presenting us with a preliminary budget. We need more time. So, what we decided to do a few years ago was to do a committee of the whole on Tuesday night. What's important to note is that you are

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not voting on this budget tonight. So, you have tonight to ask many questions as you would like and then you have 48 hours to review what we discussed and to come

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up with more questions on Thursday night if you have. So, don't feel any pressure tonight to uh to understand everything, but please feel free to ask as many questions as you would like.

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As a central administrative team, we are very cognizant of the fact that we are the stewards of the taxpayer money. Actually, you, the board of education, are the stewards of the taxpayers money. It's the administration's job to make

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that money that is allocated is spent efficiently and wisely. We have spent countless hours reviewing these numbers, preparing for this budget presentation, especially since last Thursday when we

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received our state aid numbers. So really from the time we get those numbers, everything that we plan before that is really just maybe and then on Thursday, last Thursday we get our state aid numbers

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and then we can begin planning. So let's talk about where we're at. We are not here. If you have watched the news, opened up a newspaper, people still read newspapers.

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read something online, you have seen these headlines. districts close to us throughout the state of New Jersey facing million dollar deficits, $25 million deficit in

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a neighboring district, $15 million in another neighboring district, $18 million school crisis. That's not This is also not Clifford. This is taken

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directly from nj.com just a few days ago. School districts including Hackinack, Montlair, Perth, Amboy, East Orange, Jefferson Township, Lakewood, and Tom's River have grappled in the past year or so with deficits ranging from $5 million to hundred

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million. Because of that, they'd have have to lay off administrators, teachers, nurses. They've had to ax programs, sell property, hike taxes, and make other controversial decisions. There are nine districts that are taking desperate measures to keep from going

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broke. There are seven districts that started this past year with fewer teachers after horrific job cuts. And that's even before the dramatic rise of healthcare that we're going to discuss. You've

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likely seen these headlines. It's a widespread crisis and it's forcing many of our neighbors to make difficult decisions. We have not been in that position. >> We are not yet in that position.

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However, some difficult decisions will need to be made. >> So, to be clear, the districts listed here are not listed, but their struggles are a warning of what may come. These shortfalls lead to teacher

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layoffs, program cuts, the programs that we love the most. may lead to property sales, people leaving town. We're working hard to avoid any cuts to our state and I

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will do everything as I said said this before publicly. I will do everything in my power to make sure that we do not ever let off any staff that are effective. So, last Thursday,

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I can't tell you how many people congratulated me on the good news. You know what the good news was? You got $6,293,000 in extra aid for next year. Congratulations. >> I got a call from a state senator.

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Congratulations. And an assembly woman. Congratulations. And I said, "Thank you, sir, to the senator so much for your support in in helping us achieve this increase. And please don't think I'm looking a

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gift horse in the mouth." But you have to know this. It is good news because we didn't get cut and we didn't get flat paid. But of that $6.2 million, 3.8 right off the top to the charter

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schools, we never see that money. And he said, "Really?" And I said, "Yes, perhaps you and I could sit down sometime in the near future and discuss this." And he said, "I would love to do that. We have a meeting scheduled next week."

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What he had an idea of but didn't understand the numbers was the projected increase in health benefits. He knows it's a problem throughout the state of New Jersey. what he didn't know was Clinton's particular number. So I said, "Sir, thank you very much for advocating

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for the 6.2 million, but with the charter school money going straight out the door and a projected increase in health benefits of $13.5 million, I'm rounding. >> We're starting the year with a deficit

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of $15 million. That's with a 2% increase. It's not an exaggeration. >> So this is what's happening. We have a state of emergency in New Jersey and I would dare say one in Clifton as

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well. And I don't say those words lightly because the health care costs are unsustainable. Some districts are saying premium hikes as high as 32%. Which leads directly to mass layoffs.

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The increases in state aid simply cannot cover the multi-million dollar explosion in insurance costs. So you see headlines like this. Thank you. That was a very important point. So

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thank you. You see headlines like this. Teachers could lose jobs in New Jersey school district because health benefits jumped $3.2 million. $3.2 million in Clifton is a little different than $3.2 million in a smaller district, but it's probably

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about R13 million. And other headlines, schools in Bergen and Ocean counties report health premium hikes up to 32%. Hikes threaten layoffs. Your child's teacher could be cut next. And that's a sensational headline meant to capture somebody's attention, but it

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caught my attention. Bergen County District may cut staff as healthcare costs rise. So, what are we looking at? I want to be very mindful that this is a projection because we won't know our

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exact cost of health benefits for another two weeks, maybe a month, but this is the projection and it's going to be pretty close.

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We're looking at an increase of 31%. In the 2526 school year this current year, you can see that we budgeted 43 million, almost $44 million,

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which was a $10 million increase from the year before. If you remember last year, I was saying this, but not as strongly. Now I'm saying it as strongly as possible. And next year we're getting another 30% increase,

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which means we have to budget 57.5 million for health benefits. We've seen our costs nearly double in four years.

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How can this sustain itself? And what is most bothersome is that this is not a problem we created. All those headlines in the previous districts about $15 million deficits.

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Some of that was negligence of the administration. Some of that was negligence of their boards. But as you'll see throughout the presentation tonight, we have not been negligent. We've done

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everything that we can do. We've always done it with less. Always done with less. And now we're facing this fixed cost. Why is it a fixed cost? Because we have to provide healthare. Not an option. Contractual obligation

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equal to or better. So, I want to be very clear about this. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, all we're asking you to do is to listen. On Thursday night, all we're asking you

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to do is pass the preliminary budget and a 2% tax levy increase, which is what the state of New Jersey expects in the funding formula. State of New Jersey expects us to go to 2% which is part of the fun. However, that's all we're asking you to

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do Thursday night. Send it to the county. They check a bunch of boxes and they say you're good to go. But then between Thursday night and May 7th, that's May 7th, we can go up, we can go down,

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we can do whatever we want with the budget once we've met with county approval. And so because of the skyrocketing health care costs, districts have been given an opportunity to make what's called a healthcare

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adjustment. And it will allow the board to increase the budget an additional 4% which is an additional six almost $6.5 million which means 2%

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plus an additional four this board can raise taxes. At my last Payic County Superintendent round table, we did a survey and the vast majority of districts in Pay County and I would dare say the vast

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majority of districts in the state are utilizing this healthcare adjustment because they have to. If they don't, they will be devastating cuts. Let me go back and repeat myself because it's very important. We're not asking

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you to do anything tonight. listen and ask questions. Thursday night, we're just asking you to pass a preliminary budget at 2%. And over the next six to eight weeks, at every committee meeting, at every board meeting, and every chance we get, we

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have to talk about this very seriously about utilizing this healthcare adjustment, which we're not uh which is not something that comes up every year. It's it's allowable because of the tremendous increases. So, for our newest board member and

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newer board member and as a refresher for our veterans, I'm a history teacher and I always like to talk about how we got to where we are today. So, give me give me 10 minutes to talk to you about what to many is a

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complicated thing, but really hopefully I can break it down enough so you can understand why we are where we are today. Not just in, but as a state. State of New Jersey, the Constitution says that we must provide a thorough and

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efficient education. Simple line of the Constitution. The United States Constitution doesn't say anything about education. United States Constitution doesn't have the word education in it. So therefore, education is left up to each individual state. That's why each state does its

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own thing. So in New Jersey, we are required to provide each student with a thorough and efficient education. And schools are primarily funded through property taxes. I pay property taxes. Many of you pay property taxes.

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I'm not one to to to say to you tonight, we have to raise property taxes because I get we live in a state where we have the highest property taxes in the nation because of the history. talking about >> just zoom in on one of the cameras.

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>> So in 1972 there's a famous case Robinson versill that said New Jersey you're not providing the steroid efficient education. So you have to provide state aid to local districts to make sure every student is getting an equal

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opportunity. Before 1972 there was no state aid. It was all property taxes. Robinson Bahill comes along 1972. The state starts giving aid to each district in addition to what they're levying in their property taxes.

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1975, the year I was born, which was a good year, New Jersey passed the Public School Education Act, introducing state aid to supplement local taxes. So that law came about because of the court case. And where did that money come from? Prior to

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1976, ladies and gentlemen, there was no state income tax. Anybody remember that? >> I don't. I'd like to remember a time where there was no tax.

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And then in 1981 started a series of cases like series. Mark, any idea how many advoc? >> Three. >> Three. which basically said, state, you're giving out this aid, but you're

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not doing it right, and you're you're not you're not following uh the law. You're not making sure that every student has an equal educational opportunity because some districts were getting a lot of money, some weren't, and it wasn't fair. So, 2008, finally,

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we passed the current formula, which is called the School Funding Reform Act. In 2008, >> I did. Yes, we did. In 2008, we did and we're still using it today. And despite what you may see from the fake news, and I'll explain that to you later, it's

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actually considered a very fair funding formula because it uses what we call a weighted student funding formula. It's weighted based on the number of students the district has and

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different categories of students. So, for example, you received a certain amount of aid for an elementary education student. Or a student in third grade, you receive a certain amount of money. A student who's in third grade who might have an IEP, you will receive more aid for that. A student who is a

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multilanguage learner, you might receive more aid from this. And so, it's weighted based on how many students you have and the category that those students fit in. And you'll get more aid for a student who is economically disadvantaged because we know it costs more money to educate a who's

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economically disadvantaged. It's actually a fair thing. And they created the state created what became known as the adequacy budget. And on October 15th of every year, we count

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up all our students. When a student is on your role on October 15th, you get aid for that student. If they leave on the 14th, you don't let them. you tell me I got to stay one more day so you can get the money.

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So when you add up the costs of providing the adequate education and New Jersey says for an elementary student the baseline is $14,972. That's what a school district should be providing for an elementary uh student

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between taxes and state aid. When you add up the adequacy budget, that total number, that total number, that sum of costs is your adequacy budget. It tells you how much your local district can afford, which is your local fair share.

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So, the difference between your local fair share, what your district can afford, and what the state gives you, >> excuse me, local fair share and the taxes is what how much the state a gives you. Let me say that again. the difference between

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take the sum of all the cost of the average 11,000 students in Clifton times this amount equals a dollar. The state calculates how much Clifton, the city of Clifton can raise in taxes and that's your local fair share. And

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the difference between what you can raise in taxes versus what your adequacy budget is what the state gives you a state. That make sense? Make sense? Good idea. Waited. That means no matter where you live,

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every district should be treated. Should be treated fairly, not the same, fairly because the money follows the student. But what happened was this law passes in 2008 and they realized that oh man, we've been screwing this up for a long time and there's some districts who've

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been getting a lot of money and there's other districts who we should have been giving a lot more money to. So, we don't really want to mess with this right now. So, we're going to do something called hold harvest aid. So, if you were one of

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these districts that was getting extra money all these years, we're going to continue to give it to you >> until such time you figure your stuff out. And 2009 come and all these districts kept getting more money and districts like

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and 2010 and 11 and 12 and 13 14 15 came and districts like Tom River That's a blatant example because it's similarly sized to us. Kept getting more money and Clifton didn't. So Clifton became what is known as an

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underfunded district. Tom's River an overfunded district. And that happened until 2018 when the legislature passed a law known as S2. And S2 said, "Okay, that's it. That's enough. We're going to take the

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funding formula and we're going to fund it. And whatever it is, it is. And we understand that some districts are going to lose money and we understand that some districts are going to gain money. So you got six years to figure it out. You got six years. And that first year they got more money.

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And every year for six years, we got more aid until last year, according to the formula, the state formula was funded to the equation that's in the law. And a district that was overfunded

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lost eight each year. And those are the districts who are crying foul now, saying, "Well, this funding formula is not fair. It was perfectly fair when they were getting a lot of money, but it's not fair now because they're losing money. Oh, and by the way, they had six

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years notice. It wasn't a surprise. Wasn't a shock. And so, this is what it looks like, guys. And for those of you who like pictures, you see the red, the red is all the money that we should have gotten that didn't. And I only go back to 2013. I love this slide because

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somebody always yells out, "Can we get that money back? I didn't even add this year because it it's it'll it would be the same column because as of 2024 the formula has us funded.

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But if you add up just from 2013, state of New Jersey owes us oh about a half a billion dollars. I'll take 10% of that right now. And then on the opposite end of the spectrum is um another district

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similarly sized to us that was overfunded. So you see they got more money more money more money. They had all that whole harmless aid. They're getting 11 almost $12 million a year more than they should have received all these years. So they're hiring more teachers. They're hiring more counselors. Their kids are getting

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everything that they need. But no in Clifton we're getting cheap. And then two passes in 2018 and you see their aid starts to decrease and they start saying, "Well, this isn't fair. This isn't right."

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Until this district last year tried to file bankruptcy. But what they didn't do, ladies and gentlemen, is when they knew that they were losing aid, they didn't raise taxes. They didn't lay off the extra staff that

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they had through attrition. When people retired, they shouldn't have been filling those positions. They didn't think ahead. They were told six years in advance that they were going to lose money, but they didn't plan ahead. Okay? We have been we have been planning

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ahead. We've been budgeting effectively. We've been doing everything that we could do in our power and this year we get rocked with health insurance. So now here's the other problem and this is a major problem. It's a major major problem.

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You take 11,000 students in Clifton, you multiply that by how much the state says it costs to provide a student with an adequate education. And that's your budget. Then they tell you how much your city

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should contribute towards that. And that's your local fair share. And the difference is how much they give us the state. our local fair share. The state of New Jersey says that the city of Clifton should be raising $198 million in taxes.

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We are raising with a 2% increase this year, $156 million. That means we are $42 million below our fair share. Let me repeat that.

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We are 42 million below our local fair share. Nobody wants to raise taxes. Nobody wants to raise taxes. But what the state keeps saying that sooner or later

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the the faucet's going to turn off. You got to contribute your share. And why are we here? I know why we're here. And there's very good reasons why we're here. We're here because there were several years, and I'm sorry for the small talk. There were sever several

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years where we did a 0% increase in our budget. Going back to 2017, we did less than a 1%. We did a 1%, we did a 1%, we did a zero, a zero, a zero three years in a row. Then we did a two and then we did a four

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because we had bank cap when we did almost a four and we did three last year. So for the last few years we've been trying to bring up our fair share. But what happened was those those few years a couple years of ones and three years of zeros that compounds and then you can't recoup that. There's no getting that back if you don't use the

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bank cap later on. So the multiple budgets of 0% or below 2% increases are why we are below our local fair share. Now there's nothing's about that now. I wasn't here in 2017 18 or 201819, but I was here those years. We did zero.

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And I know why we did zero because we were finally getting the say aid we deserved. And we wanted to give the taxpayer a break. And at the time, it was very well-intentioned and and the board and those of you who were on the board then, very well intentioned.

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Give the taxpayers a break. We're finally getting the aid we deserve all these years. And now it's come back to haunt us. Now we have to be able to control what we

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have control. What we have control over 2% and potentially use the healthare adjust Finally, I think it's important to note that I don't just talk about, you know, that we use our money wisely, that this board

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spends well, that the administration makes good decisions. There's proof. The proof is in the pudding. There is a document that anybody who wants can look up online and see, the 2025 taxpayer guide to education standard. And what it does is

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it takes every school district, all 600 in New Jersey, 600 school districts, and divides them into cohorts of life-siz districts. So you see, we are in a cohort of 96 districts

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with more than 3,500 students. So they take those 96 districts and they compare, how do you spend your money versus these other 96 districts? The higher the number, the more money you spend. So, if you're number one on that list, you spend the most money. If

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you're 96, you spend the least. Here's some samples numbers. Administration. Oh, well, superintendent, how does he have three assistant superintendents? I should have six. According to this, we should have

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more administrators. We're 74th out of 96. Oh, and by the way, I only have three assistant superendants. We change two titles per pupil. Guys, this is a very simple number. You take your total budget, you divide it by the amount of students.

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That number is your per pupil cost. 63rd out of 96. We're not even average in our spending. We're below average. Classroom instruction 65th out of 96. Extracurricular. We boast about our

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extracurricular. We boast about it because we've got fantastic programs because we always do more with less. But 62nd out of 96, we continue to do more with less. It's the Clifton way. We just do it.

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And that's not fake news. Anybody can look up that information. So I don't want to hear that we spend too much on administration. I don't want to hear we spend too much on education. We don't. because in a cohort of districts that are similar size and demographic,

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many most of those districts fit a lot more than us. And finally, I think it's important to note while we don't have any control over the city, the city portion of municipal taxes, everybody who owns a home in Clifton,

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you get a tax bill each year. And do they still put a pie chart on there or do they just break it down for you? So what they do is they break down your taxes, your property taxes if you own a home in Clifton go to state county go to the mal government and go to the school

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district. Ladies and gentlemen, every city town in the state of New Jersey, the portion of the pie that goes to the school district, it's always the biggest. It's the biggest because it has the biggest budget. We have the most employees

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because we're doing the most important, educating children. So why show this? Why? Because it just shows that this board and previous boards have been very effectively

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budgeting for a number of years because as you can see um our part of the pie is an average of 48%. Okay. When you look at

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The state average in most India is 52%. So we're below the state average in our portion of how much money we spend our piece of the pie and pan county we're lower in pan county.

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So yes, we spend more. Our budget is bigger than a municipal. Our budget is bigger than a county. But our piece of the pie compared to the rest of the state and compared to the rest of say county is small. Oh, and by the way, there's this monster

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called PCTI. And you see the county the county taxes are 21%. But very very little of that goes to our students. We pay approximately $10,000 a

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year for each student who attends county. Even though the citizens are paying county taxes and most importantly, ladies and gentlemen, the count Payic County Technical Institute is four times larger than any other

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county vocational school in the entire state. And our county contributes less to the education. The local school districts contribute more. It's the only county where this happens is Pay County. All

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the other counties are trying to be like the same county. They want the local districts to take on that burden. Well, the county is getting 21% of your tax bill. Where's where's that money going? How many people are going to the county commissioner meeting? I'm not I'm not even throwing money on the bus. I got worried about my kids in Clifton. I'm

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worried about getting money for my kids in Clifton. So, people got to start looking elsewhere and stop blaming the schools for their property taxes when we are being as efficient and effective as possible. Let me say that again. And and and for the record, we have no

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problem with any student who goes to PCTI because we believe that a parent has the right to educate and to direct the educational upbringing of their child. We especially like when children go to PCTI to learn a vocational training because we need them. We need plumbers.

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We need carpenters and others. We need them. But unfortunately, what it has become is not that. It is not a vocational school. It is a magnet school that recruits our most highly talented and motivated students. Oh, and by the way, now

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they're taking our athletes. That's not what it was ever meant to be. Ladies and gentlemen, let me circle back and repeat that tonight, not asking you to vote on anything, asking you to listen, asking

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you to ask questions uh later and asking you on Thursday night to pass a preliminary budget with a 2% tax, which will allow us to send that to the county for compliance purposes. And

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then by May 7th, will be coming to you and you'll all be involved in it with our final budget and it may still be at 2%. May go down, may go up, but we have to have some real

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serious difficult conversations over the next 6 to 8 weeks about what we're going to do for the future. At this time, I'm going to turn it over to Money Mike to get into a little more details about the money.

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mic. >> Thank you, Dr. I always like to start the presentation with a snapshot of the school district operations to try and put in perspective how big of an operation we are here in the board of education has 25 facilities

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for being rental properties consisting of 14 elementary schools with an elementary annex three preschools the early learnermies three middle schools the largest single campus high school in the state the administration building

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education garage stadium on a daily basis. We transport over 3,500 students in district with 78 buses and vans and contract for over a thousand students to be transported out of district through the educational services commission. We serve over 7,000 lunches and,200 breakfastes a day. The district employs

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over 1,800 full-time employees and has over 11,000 students. There are 28 different sports, 54 teams, over 100 coaches, two athletic trainers, and a part-time with over with almost 1,200 student athletes. Also, there are

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over 160 co-curricular activities and clubs throughout the district. The preliminary budget must be submitted to the Department of Education by March 27th. That's next Friday. Therefore, the board will vote on a bud uh the budget resolution on Thursday, March 19th board

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meeting. After submission of the preliminary budget, it will be approved by the county before April 20th and the public hearing on the final budget will be at the May 7th board meeting. Now, I will go over the main highlights of the budget. On the revenue size, the

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budget calls for a 2% tax levy increase or $3 million from the current budget year 26 27 school year. There is a state aid increase of 6.3 million or 6%. While this may seem like a significant increase in state aid, there was a dramatic increase in the charter school

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tuition budget line that I'll go further into um later on in the presentation. The budget calls for a withdrawal of capital reserve for three projects. Also withdrawal from maintenance reserve of 2.5 million which is a onetime revenue source. And lastly on the revenue side

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would be extraordinary aid of 3.5 million semi or the special education Medicaid initiative of 305,000 and miscellaneous revenues of 1.25 million which consists of interest, facility rentals, school fines, insurance

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dividends, prior year refunds, etc. On the appropriation side or the expenditure side, the budget does reduce through attrition some programming to maintain a balanced budget at 2%. However, administration will present other alternatives towards the end of the presentation to alleviate the need

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for any reductions. There are 21 special education out of district placements in private schools and county special services and 871 budgeted students at PCGI which is an increase from 791 students in the current school year. One

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of the bigger increases in any budget area is the increase in charter school tuition which is the projected enrollment budget figure that comes directly from the department of ed of 3.8 million or 23% from the current year. I will go into a fiveyear trend

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later on. And finally, budgeted salaries and employee health benefits that are contractual through collective bargaining. To reiterate from Dr. Roberts, here's a snapshot of our uh state aid increase for the 2627 school year. The district received 6.3 million, but 3.8 million

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went to the charter schools, leaving only a net of 2.4 million. Our district's total balance budget is $317,451,371 which consists of the general fund that contains the operating budget and capital outlay budget, the special

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revenues which are federal grants and state entitlements the district receives and lastly debt service which includes the recently completed referendum project. Here's a quick overview of the general fund revenue sources with a comparison to the

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current budget. As I stated before, the tax levy has a 2% increase from the current year and would stand at 156 million. State 6% extraordinary aid is accurately budgeted at 3.5 million. There's a budgeted withdrawal from capital and maintenance reserve for

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tenative projects. Um just to note, 55% of the district's total revenues is funded by the tax levy while 38% funded by state. Here is an overview of the general fund appropriations broken down into major categories of the budget. Without going

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through every line, the majority of every budget line has decreased depending on the departmental area to balance the budget with only a 2% tax levy. Be aware these numbers do show reductions in program. While the regular and special education areas show increases, that is due to contractual

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raises as long along with reductions through attrition. The benefit line shows an increase of 6.5 million only because of the reductions to meet the 10% taxity increase in regular and special education. That would have been another $6.5 million.

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>> Thank you. My apologies because this 2% budget that we're presenting already has cuts. already has cuts to bring that number down. So all that red are cuts and the only and and if you

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look at the increases, those increases for the most part are out of our control. >> Of course, thank you very much. So as Dr. Robert said, meeting a status quo budget from the 25 to 26 school year

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into the next school year would show an increase of $13 million on the benefit line. Also to put the total budget in perspective, salaries and employee benefits consist of nearly 80% of the total operating budget. Therefore, there is not much room for discretionary spending after you consider all

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tuitions, charter school, transportation, which accounts for another 10 or 15% of the total budget. Now, I'll show a 5-year trend of the charter school tuition followed by health benefits. Here's a 5-year trend of the charter school budget. 26 27

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budget numbers are projections approved by the DOE that the district is required to budget for compliance purposes. The actual enrollment counts are realized during the October 15th ASSA audit or the application for state school year. At that time the budget numbers may

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increase or decrease during the school year. Typically projected enrollment numbers are much higher than the actual enrollment numbers. However, in recent years have the charter schools have maintained high numbers. Over the past five years, the charter school enrollment has had drastic enrollment increases approved by the state with the

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budget increasing from 11.3 million to over 20 million for next year. Next, here's a few trend of the rising cost of health benefits. Um, as you saw from Dr. Roberts, in just four years, health benefits have went from around 29

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million to nearly 58 million and health insurance costs are bigger than just a collection problem. The capital projects that are planned for 2627 are locally funded projects through the capital reserve fund. They are going to include uh high school roof

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renovation, school 12 roof renovation and CCMS Christopher Palms Middle School and the high school parking lot expansion project. These projects do not affect the tax levy. the CCMS CHS parking lot expansion would have been where the trailers for the referendum

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were housed. We would receive a credit from the cont from the contractors instead of instead of them replacing the draft area. Then we would plan to expand the parking lots in those areas. Also, if there is unspent money in capital reserve accounts, the funds are reverted back to the capital reserve fund through

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the audit. So, they never touch the general fund. This could be caused by bids coming in lower than anticipated. The projects must be budgeted for at this point in time this part of the budget cycle because even if they have a possibility of being done next year because the district can't just withdraw

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capital reserve in the middle of the year borrowing emergency and getting county approval. Here's an overview of the special revenue budget which is our federal and state grants. These numbers are anticipated budget numbers of 80% less than current year as

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a projection. This already reflects federal reduction that took place in 2526. Historically, we are notified of our grant allocations after the school year ends in July or August. Here's an overview of the debt service uh budget for 2627. The district has one

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bond um that is paid for by the local debt service tax levy as well as a contribution from the state because it was a past referendum. And this bond doesn't mature until 4546. To put all that information into a tax impact analysis for the average flipping taxpayer, we take the actual net

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increase of 2627 um budget of 3 million, divide that by the approximate tax point provided by the assessor, then take the average assessed home value of $180,000 to get the annual school tax increase to be $105.95

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or $883 uh $883 monthly. That would be a 2% So this slide shows what the district needs to do to have a balanced budget with a 2% taxation. We will need to be forgoing 11 new positions, four special

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education teachers, six middle school teachers, one security specialist. That would be above and beyond what we our staff currently is in 2526. We would need to reduce that primarily through attrition of 37 certificated staff and

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12 non-certificated staff. Also cuts through other efficiencies across all departmental areas which would include a 10% reduction in all supply lines reduction in co extracurricular activities which would include field trips, assemblies, sports, clubs and

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other activities. >> Yes, of course. >> Ladies and gentlemen, those 11 new positions All 11 are for our plan for our um and I want to I don't want to cause

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panic. I know we have staff members here tonight. I know we have staff members that are watching live stream. We do not plan to cut any staff due to budgetary reasons. do not plan to cut any staff due to

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budgetary reasons to get this 2% balance budget we're talking about not replacing people who leave or retire. So what I'm asking you to do is to the best of your ability not worry. If you are an effective staff member and you

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love kids do not have to worry about your >> So having said that the district has the option to use what's called the healthcare adjustment. This increase the tax levy, but it's a mechanism for districts to alleviate significant increases in health benefits. Cling can

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increase the tax levy by an additional 6.4 million or approximately 4% over the 2% tax levy totally 6%. Through an informal poll, we found out that the vast majority of the state county school districts are utilizing the healthcare

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adjustment to maintain their operations because of rising healthare costs. For the average taxpayer, that would be a $3184 annually or $2649 monthly. That's a 6% tax increase.

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With a 6% tax levy increase, we would be able to maintain status quo a status quo budget from 2526 to 2627. Meaning we would be using the 2% tax levy along with the 4% healthcare adjustment. This would maintain all existing 2526 staff

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and programs. This would cover all current projections of healthare of the healthcare premium increases in medical, dental, and prescription. And finally, this does still forego the need for the 11 additional physicians outside the 2526 budget.

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All in all, as Dr. Rotosi stated, we are looking for the board to pass a 2% tax levy increase on Thursday. However, over the next 6 to 8 weeks, we need to heavily consider utilizing healthcare adjustment to raise taxes to 6% to maintain the status quo.

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As always, it's a great day to be in Mustangs. Thank you. >> We'll take questions from the base. Thank you. Thank you. >> I'm going to ask that we go around the room style. Everybody go one question then we'll go around. Uh we're going to start with Commissioner Bronier.

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>> Thank you, Madam President. Mr. >> Dr. Artosi, Mr. Thank you for the presentation. Just as he stated in the beginning, we spent countless hours over the past couple of months discussing leading up to this moment today. I want to let you

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know, I want to ask you to let everybody know um the increase in special education when I started on this board was 20% around 20%. Now it's up to 24% of our student population. There are

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significant costs associated with that and also the uh significant claims that we had discussed with our with our broker with our brokers for the health benefits and how much overage we are

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running on those and the significant costs associated with that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Commissioner Kova, do you have any questions? Um so on page 25 it shows that there's a

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3.6% increase >> between the regular age of education special education. Is this referring to contractual agreements? Is that what that cost >> I'm sorry the power

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>> there we talk about regular education and special education there's an amount of increases the one is 1.61% the other one is 2.03% >> right >> so those two added together are 3.6 So is that due to contractual obligations?

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>> Yes. >> Yes. So the more negotiated salary increases 3.6%. No. So if we were to hire have the same staff in 2526 going into 2627 that

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number you're looking at would be above 4%. It's because of the reduction of the staff. >> All right. So that question so negotiated the current negotiations with the same amount of staff that we currently have

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above 4% increase >> on% I on positions. I guess in every case we're cutting down this more so% we're foregoing of the 11 new positions

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for our middle school. >> Okay. in the middle school. I know you talked about how we're phasing in. So, we have just six years now. Next year will be six and seven. How is that going to work out with auxiliary music and arts and programs like that?

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Now, they're all one school. So, it's easier for teachers to teach those classes. When you put them in two different schools, they have to have a prep in the middle to be able to travel to those. How are we going to shuffle those things around those positions? >> In an ideal world,

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Most people think well you have two middle schools you just take some staff from this school and you put them in that school and it works out equally we know it's not that easy right so um really the only way to maintain all the existing programs is to hire those additional so what we're doing and I'll

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ask Mrs. M jump in here too she's involved in this um what it means is class size will be bigger um students will the opportunity to have their teachers. Um, but they just

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I think six of those positions were special. So, you know, it's all of these factors together that prevent us from from providing everything that our students and deserve. And we're not even asking for anything extra. We're asking

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to keep what we have. And at 6%, we can't even keep what we have. But speak a little more specifically to um the programmatic problems or changes. >> Yes, the um the core content will be

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moved from each school. We're taking one team just like we did last year, one team from Woodro, one team from Columbus are going to be teaching language arts, math, science, social studies. um we're able to share some of our um extra

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teachers, for example, the specials, the cycles, uh music, art, and so forth. Because we're now going down in a second year at each of the other two middle schools, that's been a little more uneven than than expected because Woodro Wilson houses so much of our

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self-contained special education population, and that population keeps growing exponentially. Um, however, we will be able to take a vis teacher from one of the middle schools to move over. And the goal is that once all three

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grade levels are at the new middle school, then we'll have a more even balance and there won't need to be as much sharing. However, there were still a handful of positions reflected in this 11 positions listed here that would need

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to be added between this year and next year. and six of those being special education because we had initially when we planned this we were moving some self-contained from Woodro to Maple Valley but the

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number of students needing self-contained special education services is growing so quickly instead of moving two classes from Woodrow we had to create two new ones this year and those two new are now moving up to seventh grade next year so by foregoing

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these positions it means we'll looking to tighten our belts in other areas to find the extra positions, not extra to combine some classes in one area to create a position that could fill some of these needs that are not just

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exclusive to Maple Valley. It's really related to the growth in special education. >> Mr. class size, there's only one way and that's teachers and

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from the taxpayer guide to educational spending. We don't we already spend and and maybe kudos to us for doing that, but there comes a time where we're

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questions. So since that's more of a I guess a national crisis definitely the state of New Jersey crisis. Do you foresee anything happening where they're going to give districts some sort of adjustment like they're allowing us to have this adjustment going to the

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taxpayer money. Are they going to provide any sort of aid to say here's a relief on health since we know they could increase it or are they inversely contact the health companies and say you know somebody comes in for a band you can't charge $1,000

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>> I would be very surprised if the state bails out the local districts because they've already said that they record amount of state and they did but as you can see what is notique to every

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district they got addition most it really needs to start though there Joe that the state may have to do something about the rising costs because it's my president it's not sustainable um it would be a miracle if the state bailed

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us out if the state said hey you see your increase don't 13 million here's 13 million we don't have to worry and we don't have to worry we get our 11 new positions we got our health benefits we got everything I don't foresee that I heard that. I haven't heard anything. If

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anybody else has, please please jump in. >> Thank you, Mr. Commissioner Canova. Commissioner Paris, >> there is nothing currently in the governor's address in the current budget that would indicate there's going to be any kind of gap funding for medical. Um,

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in fact, the state plan, which many schools are on, uh, has even higher increases than we're experiencing. is a self-insured district went a few years ago to that that actually been some of the great

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increases that we've seen um and just in general for the public I know Dr. because you touched on it. This concept of of local fair share. This is an integral part of the calculation for state aid provided by uh state to school

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districts. Whether or not we take this 2% which is what's allowed that's calculated in by the state. They are removing that amount of money from their aid to us with the assumption

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that we are providing that locally. So whether we go 2% to me is the absolute minimum. We know costs have gone up much greater than 2%. Um so I don't have any issues with the preliminary budget 2%

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increase as far as the the additional 4% to help offset healthcare spending. Um but it's really actually impacting programs. Can you provide us with a list of impact the programs

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uh the staff that this 4% influences? I know you had a slide up there with some generalities, but could you give us some more specifics, especially on some of the programs and things that affect our do that we won't be able to do next?

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>> We can, Mr. P. We were general in that slide for reasons that we didn't want any particular staff members to panic or worry. But we can be more specific. We gave the general areas of staff like you

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said through security through types of positions but we also it also means a 10% cut in all supplies. It also means a cut in field trips. Right now, the board funds field trips, at least the

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transportation for those field trips for every student. Um, that's going to be cut at least in half. That's that's something right there. I can tell you right now that that's something that will be all of us believe.

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But the short answer is yes, we can be more specific. We just have not done that yet. We will need a little more time to be more specific. Thank you and thank you both Dr. Robert and the student for a very thorough budget presentation.

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>> Thank you, Commissioner Paris. I'm going to move on to this member if you feel comfortable commissioner Barnes and making any comments or questions at this time. >> Understandable. Thank you very much, Commissioner uh Commissioner Ragel.

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>> So, first of all, thank you, Dr. Mosi. Um earlier we had this very very detailed budget and I went through it page by page and one of the key things and as a former just to confirm it there were so

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many decreases a lot more than increases and the only things that really increased like you guys touched on was really the salaries and a lot of those are probably contractual. Um I have a bunch of those specific questions that I think we can

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do off off the meeting. Um but I just want to confirm that at 2% school programs are being cut. Um and that 6% if I understand correctly um we're still not meeting exactly what

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we'd like to. >> That's exactly correct. 6% we can maintain current operations and staffing but we cannot provide the additional staff at 2% to get that balanced budget. That's

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where you saw those decreases and the increases that you saw contractual things that are out of our control. So you absolutely >> and I'm glad Mr. Paris brought this up but

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the 2% a minimum to make especially considering the fact that the state does their calculation based off the assumption that we take that responsible choice to do at least that. Um and then I think especially people at home should realize I think you said it was half a

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billion dollars that we should have had over the years but due to the state we're not working with >> only since 2013. Um I happened to speak to Musvich earlier too. We're not sure of federal aid yet. How does that in the future

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impact this? >> Defer to Mrs. Levage on that. >> So what the dollar amount that was put in there is called the 80% hold harmless. So that is 80% of what we received this year. What we received this year already reflects nearly

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$700,000 of cuts that we were unexpectedly hit with in August. because the federal government withheld previous appropriations that were already earmarked for the states. So that 700,000 reduction already hit us in

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August long after last year's budget was put to bed and being implemented. Um what we are projecting here is 80% but we don't even know if we're going to get that 80% because what is happening at the federal level has been quite

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unclear. We still have not been given clear detailed information about what to expect because an appropriations budget that clearly states what each district or state would get um has not yet come out. Um and unfortunately given last

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year's track record and previous years where we would hear in June or July last year we didn't find out until August. So those numbers, that 80% of federal aid that's in there could be even lower because some of the preliminary predictions were not even predictions.

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The big beautiful bill zeroed out many of the titles that we still put funds in. We believe that they are remaining, but we just don't know at what level of funding. Um there were some news stories saying that it will be flat, but those are news stories. that's not actual

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appropriations that are being delivered to the states to then be distributed to the districts. >> Thank you. And then finally, just legislatively, I know we have a legislative committee. Um I think it'd be beneficial for us to talk to our state representatives. Maybe I mean like

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you guys said multiple times, this insurance issue is something felt all over the state. And you would think that like the state government maybe could take some kind of action just I mean it's worth the conversation just to see if that can be done. Um and even legislatively maybe just some kind of

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communication to our congresswoman about the things that we are experiencing due to the federal administration to the department of education on that level. Um you know just communicating our our issues and the things that are happening on the ground and affecting our students especially the most vulnerable that we

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all know are impacted by that. Um so for now thank you so much. >> Thank you Commissioner Rexel. Commission, >> my favorite time of the year, isn't it? It was a thorough presentation. >> Thanks, sir. >> It's a good presentation. So, you know what I get out of this?

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Yes, of course. Health insurance is going to for everybody. Not just this district, not just the people working in this district, for every homeowner in this town. Health insurance is down. Our electricity bills are through the roof,

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right? Let's increase the tax to 6%. Don't put in front of me that you guys are going to go 2%. I'm above it. I know you're going to go higher than that. We're going to go this is >> no, but this is what we get, right?

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Because we do it. So, why don't we do uh field trips? We pay for field trips, pay for project graduation. I would love to see that fundraised. Saving us money and teaching valuable lessons. Stewards of the taxpayers money. I I hold that very dear to me. I also

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understand how, you know, costs are rising. Um I can understand getting behind and I would vote for the, you know, 2%. But I wouldn't vote for anything higher than that. I I couldn't vote for anything higher than that. >> Because you are a reasonable human being, Mr. C. >> It's not just that. It's because of

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fundraisers that I've done to stock the little pantry to clothe the young house for to get supplies to the school parents that can't buy supplies for the school children. All this stuff hurts

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them very badly. And you're going to see a flock of people leaving, especially with, and I've been saying this since I got elected, the rebates coming, the rebels coming rebell, and all your taxes going to go up because of that. You can't tell me in the last 30 years you didn't do your kitchen, you didn't do your bathroom,

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you didn't put in new windows, you didn't put on a deck, you didn't fix your stairs, there's you didn't do a roof. All that stuff is going to increase the taxes on your home. Um, so my question is, are there alternative alternative vendors or renegotiated

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contract terms with current vendors that could eliminate the need for the increases and have all of the opportunities across the board for cost savings been exhausted? Thank you for your thoughtful questions. Um, let me first say that if I know you

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don't have a lot of time just back documentation today, which is why we have this meeting. You'll have time to review the documentation that we sent you previously and you'll see Mr. you you will see significant amount of cuts in every area. Um

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so that just to get to 2% we're already cutting a significant amount of staff through attrition and programs. And I think it's important to know you brought up some very very good points

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and I respect the fact that you're a homeowner, you're a taxpayer and you care about the taxes. But just like everybody's electric bills have gone up, so have the school district. Everything that we pay for as a school district has increased.

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Everything, our electric bills, our gas, everything. And so I appreciate the fact that you said that you are good with at least a 2% increase. And I want to be very clear that is all we're asking for Thursday. And I'm not asking for anymore.

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But this board has to have a serious conversation. That's all. That's all I ask. And I appreciate your consideration. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner um Suarez. >> Thank you. Just a request for more. I know

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Commissioner for the 4% information. if you can also have more details for the%. >> Yeah, just if you to be more specific, yes, Mr. We need more time, but just to go from the 2% where we show you what what the cuts are and the 6%

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half of that if we're at four, it's it would be half. But to be more specific, we have a little bit more time and The reality is we don't know how many staff are leaving or retiring. Typically, this is the time of year uh

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staff are required to give us 60 days notice. So, around April 1st, we'll start getting retirements um and find out other people leaving for other reasons and then we'll also have a better idea, but as soon as we can, we will. >> That's fair. And both of you, thank you

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so much for the present. Um, and just just to make a comment about field trips. Um, PTO's already fund raise for field trips. You can only pay for one field trip per year with the support of the district of transportation. So, I just wanted to

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give perspective um that parents and families um are already doing fundraisers for one field trip a year with the support of schools. So just imagine that support um was taken away that effort may not be able to school

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not be able to have a field trip. That's all. Thank you. >> Thank you Commissioner Sorz Vice President Santiago. >> Thank you President Bford. Uh thank you Mr. Usi and Dr. again like I said for a thorough once

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again every every year we have very detailed particularly you know your explanation of the history of the funding is very very important for people to understand um you know I echo a lot of the questions that uh you know

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more more detailed list um commissioner Rdale we are going to have our first legislative committee meeting we certainly will be discussing that uh sounds like we to educate some of our legislators on how charter schools funding works. Um but certainly we'll

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we'll we'll uh invite people and start having those discussions. One question is in terms of the health care cost which has affected essentially every district right we know that this is um everywhere maybe generally speaking and since it's doubled over the

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last several years significant increases what are some of the the issues um what some of the reasons that those healthare costs have risen >> excellent question I don't want to put it all on weight loss drugs

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drugs increase in our prescription side of it. There are more people having more serious procedures. The general health of our district as measured by our experience rate is 100

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which means for every dollar we pay the insurance company they're putting out. So they're hence the 30% >> with the stockap is going up so much. >> Um but those who were on the budget

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committee um when when our our health broker gave a presentation last week if anybody wants to speak more to that those are just some of the reason but there are other there are other reasons just that they gave >> yeah Dr. Robert the catastrophic the

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catastrophic claims associated with with medical there were multiple there had to be probably about 10 last year where the stop gap insurance had to be utilized so just the stop gap insurance itself that portion of our self-funded insurance

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about 20%. I don't know if anybody remembers earlier this school year we had some issue with some substitute with Kelly's associated with Kelly services we had visibility on the claims that were coming in and we knew we had to do something drastic. So

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this is an ongoing process. When you take a look at the bud budget presentation today you just take a look at how insane the the costs are associated with this. So it it's accurate. What they're saying

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what they're saying in the presentation is accurate and we've already been doing everything we we can. So shout out to DA's off the administration and it wasn't pretty. That that was not pretty when we had to drastically cut Kelly services, but we still have to utilize

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them. It's just at significant decrease and unfortunately it decreases morale as well. it filled a hole for our staff, our our exceptional staff to help them out and we do not have that luxury anymore. So there are difficult

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decisions that have been made recently and it's going to have to continue for us. Thank you. Then last last question is um in terms of our per pupil cost and the cost of our administrators um uh the ranking that we are within the districts our

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size whether it be 64 or 70 whatever not for now but maybe you can give us a detail too who specifically are those districts right um just to kind of sort of prepare that thanks >> thank you Vice President Santiago um I

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have some questions Um, we have to maintain what we have, but it's going to cost 6%. Which is troubling to me. Looking at the decreases, it's a 3 million $295,139 decrease

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for maintenance, facilities, operation, grounds, and security. I I don't know what that entails, but I'd like to hear more about these decreases because the co-curricular athletics um this um the bilingual the student services just like

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Allan Commissioner Paris had brought up and administration is 1.99%. I'd like to know the details on those because you know the athletics and co-curricular some of our students in this district cling to things like extracurricular

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co-curricular athletics because it gets them out of situations that they can't face in their own homes or they don't have the opportunity in their homes to get those things. They they get they get opportunities with co-curriculars and the athletics. That's what I see. Um and

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we can't cut that to our students because they have opportunity. Look at our cheerleading squad state and and and national, right? If we cut that, will that affect the cheerleading squad? And I'm just pulling that one out of out of out of the group.

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All of our teams do exceptionally well. But I'm really worried that we need to figure out how we're going to balance this budget. And I'm going to ask my fellow commissioners now that we have a full board that we're going to have to if we have to need extra, we have to put the time in because we did it with the

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vacancy. We all came together. We all have to roll up our sleeves and put our thinking caps on. and how we're going to get past this because we also do uh Commissioner S have to worry about the taxpayer. It's the trinity the students the staff and the taxpayer that makes

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the triangle of of of every one of our decisions that each one of us make so we have to worry about that. would be looking at 23.17% of charter school increase. And you guys know how I feel about charter schools. I'm the first one to score because they

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do not they are not held to the same standard as our districts and they get your taxpayers dollars to do whatever they want with they don't even have to have certified staff. They don't even have to uh do any of the testing and all anything like that. We do and we we are

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held accountable and the first people that score are the people that How come the money's so high and this is where we rank? Until you sit at our or um Commissioner Esther Barnes, you just went through

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your onboarding part of it. You really don't know what we do until you hear everything we do from the experts that sit in this building or work in this building. There is so much that it takes to when that bell rings before the bell rings to when the bell rings at the end

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of the day to educate our students. You couldn't pay me enough to be an educator. I I I couldn't do it. I couldn't do what you guys do. It's a tough job and but you give to our children. So, we have to really come together. 31% 31.02%

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in healthc care raises. And I sat on that meeting and I heard some of the things that I don't want to call out because I don't want to embarrass anyone, but most of it's from um prescription drugs um cost of uh generic versus the regular drugs. Um And this administration is doing everything they

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can to work with the health um uh services um provider to figure out a way to you know sharpen our pencil and scratch the pencil and do whatever we need to do. Um so we are I'm going to

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task our our our board to sit with administration ask your questions in the next two days. We have a lot of homework come with questions on Thursday but we have to support the budget. so we can ship it off to the county so it can be looked at from that day forward. That's

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what we have to get working. Okay? So I I'm giving you my my word that you you have access to me and I will do whatever I can to support you and support this group. If we have to do like we did four and four with online learn virtual committees, we can do that and we will

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be cognizant of everybody's time. But I'm asking for your help with this one. This is a lot to ask of the community. Want to thank the board for your thoughtful questions comments. Thank you for listening. Ultimately,

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what happens is a lot of future decisions that we have to put on the spot. We got our state Thursday. Mike

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said when we sat down yesterday said Could you repeat what you said? Do you remember? >> I said something along the lines of I've been here 16 years. I've gone through a lot of budgets. This is the most difficult budget that to develop this

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budget. the most difficult budget and the shame of it that's because we not had the increase in healthion that's Senator sorry to put you on the spot but I think that that's 16 years ago is a long time.

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>> So I think we agree that our legislative committee is going to meet soon and >> the board is asking you to open your voices and to make them aware of what we're going through. Commissioner Rexel has a comment. >> Um I guess two main things. first

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administration. Can you because I know this isn't posted. Can you also for that next meeting just have those list of cuts because I think it'll be instrumental when people see the the decreases that have happened so far >> for Thursday or for May.

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>> Um you plan on having the information that's been requested? >> Yeah, it wouldn't it would be could not be by Thursday night but it would be as soon as possible for sure by by the budget. we will know well in advance but early Aprilish.

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>> Um and Mr. SC mentioned this a couple meetings ago because he mentioned the vendor cost a couple meetings ago. I tried to encourage the board to maybe either create a schedule for when we do our RFPs um or just do them every year. And I was told that the business that the finance committee does this

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regularly. So just a little comment on that to set the record straight because I know that was that was seen as a cost measure but when I tried to say about this I was it happened to the committee and everything's fine. >> So maybe we can we were talking about this in the beginning during reorg and

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um Commissioner Rangdale brought up a about doing a an RFP committee and then Commissioner Kenova said to do it mid year so this way our new board you know any new board members aren't going to get hammered in January and all of a sudden they're thrown they're thrust

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into this um this this fold. So, um, let's have some chats and let's have some conversation. Um, we can always talk about it and bring it to light. We have we have tough we have some tough days ahead of us. I told you in January this is going to be one of the hardest

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educational year because I was hearing it from people all over the state when I travel in my my little hub of the the county and the state. This is going to be a rough year. And I'm not kidding. We have look at it. I I write notes and I got everything circled because I I have

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to have visual in front of me and I always take notes but 23.17 in charter and 31 in healthcare. That's almost 50 something% right there. Um I'm sorry. Commissioner Est Barnes, did you have your hand up to speak? Oh, okay.

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Commission Commission Reg. Does anyone else have any comments, concerns, questions? I'm asking you if between now and Thursday before we actually have to vote on this. Um, if we can send them questions to the superintendent or Mr.

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and then you can send out a fact sheet um to the whole board. So, because we're not allowed to communicate via email because it's considered a violation of public meetings act. But if we all send them what the superintendent can do, compile them and then send them out to us that this is a question by someone,

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you know, you don't have to recognize who they were and just give us your answer. This way we can all be up to date. >> Just want to be clear that if one of you has a budget question, we're going to answer that. Make sure everybody gets that answer in case they have the same question.

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We'll have that as soon as possible. So if you do have questions, email myself and Please, >> I still think we should do a fundraiser with sumo suits >> for my adversaries and everybody else whoever on the board I think I could I

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me think I could raise the district for a lot of money. I have a lot of them out there. But it's just I'm just putting that out there. I would be willing to put a brace on a bad knee and go for it. But I I had to give a little levity. I apologize guys, but I'm just I thank I'm thankful to everyone here because I know

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together we'll make the right decision. Um anyone else? Okay, we're going to move on with the meeting. Um, the next portion of the meeting is open to um open public uh recognition. This portion of the meeting is open to the citizens of Clifton for the purpose of addressing

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any subject matter pertinent to andor in directly related to the operations of the Clifton Public School District. Residents are requested to sign the register provided for the purpose and to state their name, address, and subject matter. Comments are limited to five

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minutes per person. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and mindful of the rights of individuals when speaking,

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specifically comments regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged and will not be responded to by the board. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded to them by the laws of New Jersey. The board bears no responsibility, nor will

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it be liable for any comments made by members of the public. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of the legal rights of those affected or identified in the comments and be aware that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Would anyone like to address

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the board? You have five minutes. in public >> motion to close second question >> before we close. >> I was just wondering they're like I have a couple students here and some students

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who are watching from home and they have an assignment. >> Okay. So motion uh by commissioner Bruniac, second by Commissioner Paris. Roll call. >> Is there anybody online? >> There's not close.

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>> Motion by Commissioner, second by Commissioner Harris. All right. So now, um would you guys like to move forward member comments now before we go into executive session? >> Yes. Yes, please. We have people still here, which is amazing in itself. So,

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I'd like to give them a shout out before they bounce. >> I'm going to put our new member on the on the spot and let you have the floor for the very first time because this is your night. So, Commissioner Eid Estri, the floor is yours. Three minutes.

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>> I just want to thank all my family and friends who came out to support me and ultimately the district. I would love to thank the board as well. I really am so humbled and honored and looking forward for the students and a really good time

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to join. But again, I just really want to thank everybody for >> Thank you, Commissioner Estra. I'm going to just keep on moving around the room. Uh Commissioner Ragel, >> I'm going to save most of my comments for Thursday meeting. Um,

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>> yeah, I'll keep it short. >> Commissioner, >> I think I said what I had to say. I'll also say all the rest of my comments very soon. >> Commissioner Suarez. Uh, thank you, Commissioner Rexdale. Good idea, but I do want to say welcome aboard Commissioner Estri Barnes. It's a pleasure to have you and I look forward

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to working with you this year. But I'll save the rest of their day. Good night, everyone. >> Commissioner Bronio. >> Yeah, congrats to uh fellow commissioner Estric Barnes. I look forward to working with you and uh there's never been a better time of birth through fire. I want to give a shout out to everybody in

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the crowd today, especially these kids over here, straight up riers. That's an exceptional pedigree. None of them were even crashing out tonight and it's already 8:42 p.m. So, shout out to everybody out here. Thank you for your time. God bless America. Have a good night, everybody. >> Thank you, Commissioner Runak. Uh

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Commissioner Penovi, you got to follow that. Uh good evening. So first I just want to congratulate Barnes to see you here with your family. Loving family came out in in mass

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if you have any questions obviously feel free to reach out to any of us. Um and like all my fellow commissioners I'm just com to everyone address. I think we all need to go out.

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>> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Paris. >> Thank you. I too would also like to welcome Commissioner Barnes. Welcome. Um also, and you'll hear this again on Thursday. I remind all of you, our all city band uh concert is coming up on

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March 25th. That's next Wednesday, I believe. Um, it features all our elementary school, middle school, and high school musicians, the very best of the best of Clifton. Um, it's a phenomenal show. So, it doesn't cost anything. Come on out and take a look.

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Um, I also wanted to just comment about the musical that just we recently experienced. It was absolutely unbelievable in terms of the technicality and the amount of dialogue that had to be learned and sung. the talent of our students and the ability

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of our everything from the sets to the uh audiovisisual department. Kudos. Uh congratulations. Uh and lastly, and I was mentioned a little bit earlier, uh congratulations to our cheer team uh who secured both nationals and state for us.

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Yet again, I do believe we have a dynasty. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Harris. Vice President Santiago. >> Thank you, President Basford. Uh, welcome Commissioner Easter Barnes. We look forward to continuing to do good

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things and great things with your contributions. Um, happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone and um, yeah, we'll see you in a couple days. Thanks. >> U, thank you everyone. Commissioner Estric Barnes, congratulations and

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welcome to the fold. Uh, everybody has been welcoming to you. You all have her number. Look her up. um for the board. Um go out and have coffee. She's a very lovely uh viney um uh Commissioner uh

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Suarez is going to be her um um mentor um that we signed with the backup of uh Commissioner Paris. Um Commissioner Estri Bonds had her quite her quasi onboarding last week. I couldn't go. Tony couldn't go. So um Commissioner

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Paris stepped in. He was around. was like he pivoted and he um it was a it was you had a good good experience. So thank you for administration. Thank you for a very comprehensive well-d delivered on fire. Oh by the way you are on fire um presentation. I thank you

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very much. Um um I just want to say happy St. Patrick's Day to my family. My McBride family, my Lang family, you know where you are. My sister, thank you for looking all them up and going back generations. Uh Eron go bra. Um it's

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it's important to your roots to remember your roots and it's really happy St. Patrick's Day to all. See you all Thursday. Um the superintendent has one announcement. Dr. Roboti. >> Thank you. Just want to make a correction. Um Mr. Paris mentioned the

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city band. All city band is tomorrow night. All city orchestra is next Wednesday night. I'm sorry. It's for Um and all city chorus is April 1st. So the next three Wednesday nights we got the band

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then all city orchestra then of course just come out to all three. Very nice. Appreciate it. >> Also with uh everything going on I have to reassign some committees. We'll talk. We do have the fourth slot open so I can

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maneuver. I have to talk to the new commissioner uh to see where she's comfortable being put. Um I'm thinking policy due to her her uh field of work. >> Well, we'll talk and uh we um but people

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out there don't know that we meet every week. Tony and myself meet with the superintendent. So, we'll have a chat with everybody. Uh if anybody wants to move around, let me know. We got to repivot. And there's always that fourth seat that's available. Anybody can take

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it. Just got to let the chair know or me know that you want to fill in. And especially now with budget season or the budget questions. If anybody wants to get in, let me know. With that being said, we're going to go into executive session. Um we are going to be about I'm

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going to say roughly about two hours to the media staff in the back room. Do not put that on the the uh that we're in executive s. just put we're in an executive session because we may be out earlier and I don't want people in the general public say, "Hey, you said 10 o'clock and you're out at 9." I don't want to give anybody false. Um, we don't

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know how long it's going to take. Um, action may or may not be taken. It's about a uh action will be taken. It's about a personnel matter or >> attorney >> attorney client privilege. So, we're confidential and we can't speak about it. Motion to go into executive session.

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>> Motion. >> Motion by uh Commissioner Runiac. Second by Commissioner Harris. Roll call. >> Yes. >> Vice President. >> Yes. >> Yes. Five minute break for um everybody and then we'll continue executive

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session. Congratulations again. Good night folks. Daddy. All right. Um, good evening. This is uh the board president. It's 10:34. We're still in executive session. We should be uh

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extended about another hour, so probably 11:30. Thank you. You coming? >> You missed it. I'll be there. >> Oh, it's right. I'll put it right. Um, good evening. It's 11:12. We're returning from executive session. Mr.

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Usi Vocal, please. >> Mr. Bronzier >> here. >> Mr. Canva here. >> Miss Esther >> here. >> Mr. Paris >> here. Mr. Ragdale >> here. >> Mr. Siano >> present. >> Vice President Santiago >> here. >> President Bas here. We have a

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>> Could I have a a motion to amend the word in U executive number one? >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Ciano to amend the uh word um in the resolution. Second by uh

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Commissioner Brunak. Roll call on the amendment. >> Mr. Brun. >> Yes. >> Mr. Canola. >> Yes. >> Miss Barnes. Yes. Yes. Okay. >> Mr. Paris. >> Mr. Ris. >> Yes. >> Mr. S. >> Yes.

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>> Vice President Santiago. >> Yes. >> Yes. Motion to accept the resolution from exec one with the amendment. >> Motion. >> Uh, Commissioner Seattle, second by Commissioner Kenova. Roll call.

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>> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kenova. >> Yes. Mr. Barnes, >> yes. >> Mr. Paris, yes. >> Mr. Ragdale, >> yes. >> Mr. Tiano, >> yes. >> Vice President Santiago, >> yes. >> President Basker, >> yes. Motion. All in favor of a closing. >> No, no, no.

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>> Sorry. We have to have a a reading of a resolution. Sorry. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Sorry. Resolve that the Clifton Board of Education upon the recommendation of the superintendent hereby approves the settlement agreement regarding employee ID09-2025-26

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and authorizes superintendent and the board attorney to take the steps that are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this resolution and the agreement. >> Should say separation agreement. >> Separation agreement. I have not glasses on. I apologize. >> Okay. Motion to accept the separation

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agreement. Second >> motion by Commissioner Bransc. Uh seconded by Commissioner um Paris. Roll call. >> Mr. Brunac. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Miss Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Paris. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ragdale. >> Yes.

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>> Mr. Sienna. >> Yes. >> Vice President Santiago. >> Yes. >> President Baser. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Motion. All in favor of journeying. >> Anybody oppose? >> Good night. 11:14. to go.

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>> Happy Thursday. Thursday. >> Suck it up. >> All right. What's in there?