We'll call the meeting of the school committee to order. It is 50:02. This meeting is being both audio and video recorded. Um and I would ask that everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, roll call. Samantha, if you can start, secretary. >> Pamela Blair, assistant superintendent
for business. >> Antela, >> Gordon Smith, superintendent of schools. >> Gregory Thompson, William Strother, >> Carrie Tzowski, Heather Brown, the superintendent for teaching learning. >> Okay, thank you all. We have minutes for
approval. I would take someone to move to >> I move to approve the January 5th, 2026 regular session meeting minutes. >> Motion made by second by William. Discussion all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed nay.
>> That carries 40. >> I move to approve the January 15, 2026 superintendent interview minutes. >> Motion made by Intel. Second. Second by William. Discussion. All in favor say I. >> I. I. Those opposed? Nay. that car 0 committee and subcommittee
communications would like to start >> I don't have anything >> okay William don't have anything and Carrie >> just a reminder that the gala is coming up tickets are on sale till Friday >> gala >> February 7th >> are you going
>> can't go >> I thought you were my >> 31st annual >> hurry's not going either >> it's up to you if you want to give me a check and you have to pay a fee me that the first time I'm missing it next week. I told you my husband had
>> hip replacement surgery. >> Okay. >> Well, we're going to have a blast though. >> Yeah, we are. >> Some selfies. >> I know. I know. I know you guys will. >> Okay. On that note, opportunity for visitors to address the committee. Seeing none.
And moving forward, we have an update on the East London High School building project. >> Okay. Up on the screens and in your packets, uh, we have some slides, but um, I did update the date. I was going to say this was dated for yesterday. No,
now we've moved into the 27th. So, here's our update. January 27th, 2026. This is where we began back in the days when we didn't have snow. This is where we're going to end up. And thankfully, we continue to remain on
schedule and on budget. I'm sure uh some of our folks are >> panicking a little bit because I've called two snow days now. Um but right now, we're on schedule and on budget. >> Good. How am Can you remind me how many snow days will put us in a
>> stressful situation? >> Stressful situation. >> Yeah. Everybody has two. >> I think depending on who you ask. >> We're already there. >> Yeah. So, we'll we'll probably have some discussion with the high school to see if if there's any interest in maybe
doing a vacation day um or to gain back one or two snow days, but they would have it just be the high school. So, we'll see. And they don't it's no pressure on them. Um but certainly the there there's stress
anytime a snow day is called on my end on the contractor's end and so forth. Um this was if you remember when we did an update it was actually in December but this was a picture taken in the fall. Gives you a good aerial of the
entire campus uh how the lots are currently. It gives you the building behind the existing building and um the start of been that upper right corner where they started to uh actually um
level fields and start the um process of getting our athletic fields online faster than they had expected. That's good. >> This gives you an overview in December. Um, and it gives you four different looks in terms of um the new building uh
north view uh overhead site view with um everything we just described. It's a little harder to see than the one in the fall, but uh it gives you an idea of where we are as we've turned the corner into winter. Uh rooftop view and then the pool area specifically. You haven't
closed the pool yet? >> It is now. Is it going to be over? >> It is now. This was back in December. It has a retractable roof. >> Swimming in the snow. >> Was that an option? >> Uh, anything could be done. >> There are a lot of different
discussions. >> There are currently no convertible pools that I know of, but I didn't think possible. >> Building a dome. Um some of the more recent activity, we have uh the slab actually placed out there to build our new press box at the
stadium, which that's really exciting. That press box uh has seen better years. Um this was early January, right? Am I early January? Yep. Mr. Thompson and Mr. Macarini from the high school took a
bunch of our high school students who may be interested in going into the trades uh and they had a tour of the new building and um had a chance to discuss different things with Mark Hogan from Fontaine Brothers. >> It was great. Mark was great with the
students. He answered a lot of questions. We had Danielle and Lynn with us as well and uh they really got a lot out of it. I really believe that. They've been a really supportive team, right, for the whole district. >> If you remember last year, Fontaine not
only had um a couple of our tech classes go out, but then came in and had a meeting with those same classes that tooured the um the site at the time and then just walk through the whole process, which is pretty cool.
And here are some things that are going on inside. So, that's the control booth, which is an elevated control booth. Uh, not similar to what we currently have in the current school. Starting to see the walls going up.
Taping and mudding. A-wing is where the auditorium is. Um, our arts will be, um, and so forth. Fire protection starting to be installed in B-wing.
Electrical rough in for the culinary arts room. That's exciting. It's really interesting to see how many of these things are um done offsite and then they bring in the whole um whole plumbing
unit, if you will, or electrical unit uh and then set it up in the room. >> Wow. That's the culinary arts room. >> Y >> it's pretty exciting. >> So the culinary arts teacher had asked to get into the building to see to her space and uh starting next week for two
weeks uh 12 at a time staff members will go after school. There's six days that we've scheduled for them to take groups and so they can all see their spaces that they'll end up in and then see the whole building as well. So first two first two weeks of February >> and they're they're making incredible
progress. These are now 2 weeks old. Gives you an idea of the curtain wall. This would now be above the C-spine is that um that line basically comes through from front door to back door and picks up the cafeteria at the back of
the building. This is above the cafeteria where you're looking out back of the building. >> Is this just a hallway? >> It's a hallway above the cafeteria. So, you're going to get all that natural light into >> that space open. You look down to the cafeteria. >> Mhm. And then that's the south side. So that's that field that Gordon was
talking about that we're going to get online right away. Y >> elevator is actually further along than this picture shows. It's it's in and it's um they're finishing that off.
>> That's a science classroom. That's a science lab. So imagine that compared to the science rooms we currently have. It's pretty impressive. >> It looks so Is it really this big? It feels much bigger without any any desks or science tables in the middle. They're
good size rooms, >> but they're good size. Far bigger huge >> than any of the labs we have currently. >> The windows make it feel large. Plus, there's interior windows. >> It's so nice. >> Yeah, it's really nice. >> They're painting in all wings, but this
just happens to be a picture of um classrooms being painted in D-wing. Were there were there colors that they stuck with for all of >> So each wing each academic wing has certain accent colors. Yes. Helps you sort of navigate if you will and then so
each of the rooms will have those accent colors in it such as you can pick up uh the green and the yellow. Really? I think that should probably be green. So maybe that's not painted yet. Maybe that's just daylight. >> One of the many decisions in the school
building committee. >> Yeah. you get to see um the wall tile that will be in the in the uh hallways. So, it'll be tile up to that point and then obviously paint and sheetrock above.
And then this is old, but it just gives you an idea of timelines once again. And although originally cuz this came out in August, they were looking at possibly in the pink they are taking more than just central office and this whole annex in
April, but we've come to the agreement that um it will just be central office, LCAT, uh student support services which is part of central office and then the classrooms down the hallway here. So small gym over there.
>> The the pool will go offline so that they can start working on you know different things there in terms of draining it and so forth. But um they're not going to take the small gym and the gym at the same time that they're taking the annex. >> So we'll end up moving central office
student services payroll. We're going to rent a space probably at Cardamoni for 5 months and move the whole annex. We have we are hiring professional movers to move there and then to move back to the new school once it's ready. >> So it's proposal um a request for
proposal that's being put together to moving companies because you really have two very specific moves and in that there's a lot of moving parts. There's no pun intended. Um, you know, there's moving to storage. There's moving to
office space for central office and then moving back. There's, um, moving the rest of the school in June. Most of that's going into storage and then moving it from storage into the new building. So, there's there's quite uh it's going
to be interesting when those bids come in. Just on this picture, Gordon, the the black line delineates um the first day of school to the right of the black line will be demolished and the to the left with the classroom wings will still be up when we open the school building. >> Last day of school,
>> no, the first day of the new building that >> Oh, purple area will still be up. >> Okay. >> And it's going to take another year to knock that down and put in the rest of the fields on the right side, >> right? >> Yeah. No, you're right. Yeah. No, I I thought you meant in terms of because
they're they want to take that green area quickly. >> Oh, yeah. Day after school. >> Last day of school. >> We do there is an auction. We're going to have an auction for all the um furniture and anything that's sellable and things will be sold in lots basically all the desks together, all
the chairs, the kitchen equipment and um Scansa has coordinated with a auction company and they will host the auction. before the end of school and then the winners of the uh bids for the lots will
have to come on basically the day after the last day of school to come pick it up. They'll have a one day window to get everything out. >> And interestingly enough, we did have the middle school interested in taking some things and all of that was fine. So, we'll work on getting that over to the middle school, but the East Public
Library is interested in a bunch of our library furniture, which is pretty cool. So, they're going to take the I believe the circulation desk, a bunch of the shelving, and they may actually take uh some of the tables and chairs. So, we just have to work on getting it over to
them in a timely manner. >> Were there any pictures of the library done? >> The new library? >> No. Um >> there's not much to it >> because right now it's just it's just Yeah, it's just a big space. >> Curious with that. So, when what are
when are we trying to move out of here? for the pink >> over April break. >> Over the April vacation. Yeah. >> So during April break, they will literally move everything out and then we'll hand it over and then they're going to build a wall at the end of that hallway
>> to start building here. >> Then they'll demolish it once they >> demolish it. >> So February break, we're going to be quite active. We're already active, but we're trying to consolidate things. We're trying to anything that can be
shredded and taken out of storage because we have storage in these offices. We have storage um across the hallway here. We have storage in student support services. So, as much of that as can be consolidated, we're going to do
that before April break. And then the movers will take what we need to use on a daily basis over to wherever we're going. The athletic hall of fame is going into a kiosk. So, it'll all be electronic. All those um plaques are going away.
They'll go back to the athletes. >> They'll be touchcreen so you can get into and see. >> We're going to itemize all the trophies, all the old trophies cuz we're not going to bring all the old trophies with us. We'll bring some, but so that'll all be in that kiosk to look up electronically.
>> No more trophies. >> We'll still have trophies. We still Yeah, we'll still have some. So, I'm sorry. to bring them all would be a lot to We have I believe we have more space now than the new one has. >> We do. >> We have more space. >> We have to bring less than we have. >> And we currently have some that are not
displayed. They're in storage already. >> We're not bringing us. We're >> No, no. We're gonna What we hope to do is one um maybe work with the historic group in town and also um with the
athletic hall of fame is purchasing that touchscreen and they're going to get their information in, but we can add so much more. So, we can put some of that into the touchcreen so people could call up, oh, uh did we win um Western Mass Championship in 1975? You can have
championships. You can categorize it however you want. >> Sorry, I didn't mean to. >> What about all the banners? I was just thinking >> the banners we're moving to. We're going to try and streamline them, although most of them will probably end up going,
but yes, they will be up in the gym and the swim ones will go up as well. We're getting a new scoreboard for the swim records. Uh, I've asked that we've asked that we get the old ones so we can give those to the swimmers that are up there.
I've already had a family ask for some of them. So, yeah. Run away. >> Okay, moving right along then. Thank you for that. We have an FY25 end of year financial
report. >> Well, this is not nearly as exciting as the new high school, >> but it is very important. Yes, exactly. So, every year um I think you all hear me talk in the month of September. I'm very busy doing the financial report for
the prior um fiscal year. Um all the expenditures for the school from all funding sources are compiled into this report. It's the school's operating budget, the town's operating budget, grants and revolving accounts. Anything that buys anything for the school
department needs to go into this report. Um we're mandated that every year it then um has an independent accountant um audit. So that's what this is. Scanland is the company and their job. This is a new format for um some of you like Carrie. I don't know if you had seen
this before. It never looked like this. So for the others, um this is a whole new format that Desi has done. Um I asked our Joanne who does the audit. I said, "Oh my gosh, this is totally new." And she said, "Oh, I did it so soon last year. They actually changed it last year, but we were still on the old
format because we did the audit pretty quickly." So that's why um we didn't see it. But this is the new agreed upon um procedures. And what they do is they go through every single one and they double check and um which is their job, right? And find any kind of errors. and they
did find a few. Um, I have to get information from the town on on expenditures and like what what uh that number is for um retire retiree insurance for active employee insurance and we have a formula that they're supposed to comply with in our agreed
upon um uh agreement between the town and the and the school and uh they didn't use the correct percentage so it wasn't reported accurately. So what happens then is errors are found. I go in on an amendment um form on Desi's website, update that and then that
updates the end ofear report. So what I did give to all of you is a copy. It's an electronic copy. It's not a hard copy because it's many many pages, but electronically you have a copy of that updated end ofear report and there is a lot of um very good information in there to know. Um again you you hear me talk
about DOE codes. I love the DOE codes. Um it's my life. Um it's broken down by DOE codes. So you can go in and you can look at just the teachers, just um you know, psychologists, just the nursing staff, just things like that. So we can really um further analyze where are our tax
dollars going, where are all the grants going, how much um does it take to really run the district. So I encourage you to look that over. Are there any questions? Okay. I just need you to officially approve the accept the um the audit.
I move to approve the fiscal year 2025 end of year financial report audit. >> Motion made by intell discussion. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed nay. Carries four to zero. >> Thank you. And I apologize. I'm a little under the
weather tonight. So got my tissues and my things. You want me just go right into the next >> uh the 2026 second quarter report. Yep. So, uh, this is, as you just said, the, uh, quarterly report as of December
31st. Uh, and looking at the budget spreadsheet on page five, which is where we always go to. Um, all of the salary accounts are on the top section of the page. Most salaries are encumbered at the beginning of the year. At this point in time, 96% of salary budget has been either expended or encumbered. However,
you will see balances remaining in the salary line items. Typically, this is due to hourly employee salaries that do not get encumbered. And in addition, there are vacancies and leave of absences that have created a surplus in some of those line items. Um, I do want to hone in on the only one that I'm kind
of looking at is the substitute line. I'm seeing that uh we had a total budget there of 270,000. We've already expended 23,000. Of course, those um are daily rates, so they're not encumbered. So, that only leaves us $66,000. Um what I do want to bring to your
attention is um doing a little research before uh the meeting today. There are eight long-term subs covering leave of absences and that's part of of what you're seeing here. So if you go up two lines for where the teachers are and you see a balance remaining there of
156,000, those really do correlate with one another because you know uh we're the subs have to I have to code them um differently and a daily sub is code differently from a long-term sub, but they're both in that line item there for substitute. Um does that make sense what
I'm saying? So, I'll just keep watching this line and um as the year goes on and if there are remaining uh balances like in that teacher line, it would then offset the substitute lines and I would request uh transfers later on in the year. Uh the pair of professionals, that's the
only only other line item I'd like to just mention. There's been a lot of turnover with paras. I think I mentioned um at the last meeting or a few meetings ago that about a third of our paras, it's a constant turnover. this is just the way it is every single year. Um just
so um you know we're trying to fill those holes and and uh get those paras in the positions but it is a little bit of a a struggle sometimes. Are there any questions on the salary side? And down the bottom are your uh the expense side of the budget and um these
all seem to be in target to where they should be. uh you you see the vocational tuition that has a larger balance than uh normally would have and that's because I think I had mentioned to you before at the end of last year was able to do a $225,000 prepaid. So therefore
and of course at the time when you put a budget in place you don't know what your year end is going to be. So you don't know about prepays to be able to budget differently. So that budget there that 297,000 I believe that is a real number that we'll be able to um allocate elsewhere that might be needed. Can we
use that to prepay and offset the >> Yes. >> Part of that one one >> uh say that again. >> Part of the deficit. >> Can you prepay a deficit? >> Prepay the prepay and then >> yes you can offset our deficit >> correct. Yes.
>> Oh >> you can always prepay uh special education uh >> special education >> a month three months. >> Uh I believe it's three months. Yes. We realize we realize the whole >> or collaborative you can pay collab at collaborative. Those are the only prepays that are are legal,
>> right? >> It will help. >> Y you're jumping ahead a couple of years. >> Yes, it will definitely help because we talked about the school choice and how that's covering supplies. So, you know, any monies we can save in school choice rolls over, right? Anything here goes back to the general fund. So, it's a
balancing act to try to uh utilize the funds best possible for the school department. So, I I think we're on target here. That was the only one that I really wanted to bring to your attention just to remind you about that. Are there any other questions on the expense lines?
The next page are your grants. Uh we've gone over these before. They're um same ones, the entitlement grants that we get every year, the special ed, the early childhood, title one, title two, and title four. Um DPH grant, the mechco grant. We have that new one, fair share,
which is the uh what we've allocated for bleachers. That is still a work in progress. I checked in with Kevin uh today on that and we should know more information in the next few weeks. So he's working out. >> No, I don't. No, there's there's not. So I think there's still some research being done. So again, I don't have as
much information as I was hoping to have today, but um I should have probably reached out sooner to him and I didn't. So >> that's not on a statement list, is it? No, this is under um No, it's under already. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, I misunderstood your
>> I was checking into it and I I don't think that they are. >> Okay. >> Um but I I'll I'll revisit that and have more info to give you next time. And again, I just want to remind you that these grants, as I put at the bottom here, are anticipated as part of the budget development process, meaning that
the positions, services, tuitions funded through these grants are not included in the general budget. And I don't I don't put anything in there, they they're taken out, you know. So when we talk about uh the budget, which is going to be very soon, none of these items are are part of that operating budget.
They're already taken out. Some people's salaries. Um I allocate, you know, like $800,000 from the idea grant for tuitions out of district uh tuitions. So I just wanted to remind you about that. Your last page is your revolving accounts,
which are all in um good shape. Uh going down, you see your athletic revolving um school rental accounts, the insurance programs, those are all good. The tuition revolving um it's 165,000. Um circuit breaker. So right now you only
see an $86,000 balance there. Uh we did receive the first and second quarters. That was 514,325 each quarter. So although you only see $86,000, we're still due another million dollars. There's still the third and fourth quarter payments.
that will come there >> that won't all roll over though necessarily, right? >> Not it depends on when it comes and yes exactly and how much we have to expend there. >> So the circuit breaker is what we use to offset the special ed.
So depend it depends on what's what's happening because things are always changing right on on how much we have to go into uh the circuit breaker in addition to the operating budget and the idea grant. >> And that tuition revolving does that continue to grow
>> over the rest of the year. >> It it will continue to grow because these people pay monthly. The pre Yeah. Some some people can pay upfront. Um but only a few do that. >> We carry it over 244 and we're at 165. Do we anticipate we'll get that high? >> I don't anticipate we're going to get
that high. I don't. >> Okay. >> For a myriad of reasons. Um >> yeah, sometimes uh people >> are a little slow to pay and then we have to have conversations with them. Sometimes they turn into an IEP um student, so they're they're no longer paying tuition. Um yeah, those kind of
things happen. Renee is always on top of that and works with um the funds are actually collected in the student services office right across the hall. Um, and then Laura deposits them uh weekly, but most people pay uh monthly. It's 10 payments, okay, for the, you know, the whole amount that we spread it
out for them. >> Uh, transportation. So, I just wanted to bring to your attention, I am seeing that $98,000 there. So, that's a possible place that maybe we could uh also, if we needed to. I always leave money in there to help offset the
transportation budget, obviously. But, this is revenue that is not for next year yet. I we we collect it in uh May and June before school ends. So there that's going to raise up I guess is my point. So we could might be able to use that this year if we needed to or we
could offset transportation with a higher amount for next year. There's two possibilities. Depends on what's happening here. Does that make sense? >> 137 include the May and >> correct does. Yeah. >> Exactly. >> So it's not really a carry. Well, it is a carryover because we took it in, but
it's for the next year. >> Yes. Exactly. Exactly. Gotcha. >> Um, school food service. Um, she did do those. Um, oh, I meant to bring pictures. I'll bring that to the next meeting. She sent me some pictures of the new cafeteria, the lines, and they
look really nice. They're much cleaner and just brighter and just more efficient. You could just see it. So, I'll bring that next time. School choice account. Um, I did want to let you know, I think I put it in the write up that we are at 51 students. I think last time I told you that I had an incorrect number
there and that I would need to revise it. So 51 students are how many school choice students we have. The monthly uh payment now is 27,254 because it did raise up from 18,000 to 27,000 in October. However, when I was
just looking at the account, I noticed that for the last two months only 18,000 has come in. So I've dropped an email to the town um treasurer because I I don't know why it's not 27,000. It comes in with a chapter 70 money on a monthly basis. So, they have to then allocate it
to the appropriate account. So, I'm thinking there might be an error there. Um, so I'm checking on that for you >> because my records did indicate that it was increased to the 27,000. So, I'll stay on top of all of these. Um, you know, it's imperative to remember that the balances provided are a snapshot in
time and things are changing constantly. Does anyone have any questions? Thanks, ma'am. >> You're welcome. Thank you. >> Um, do we accept those two? >> Yeah. >> Yes, you do.
>> Thank you. >> Take a motion, please. >> Like to make a motion to accept the fall 2025 commission check from Brin and Barrett. >> One before? >> No, the one before quarter. Oh, >> just accept. >> I thought you were talking about >> You do that next, but >> roll your chair.
>> Um, I move to approve the fiscal year 2026 second quarter report. >> Motion made by Intel. Second. Second by William. Discussion. All in favor say I. I. >> I. Those opposed n. It carries 4 to zero. Go ahead. Intel. >> I move to approve or accept the fall 2025 commission check from Gran Barrett
in the amount of $2,188.65 65 to the Mebrook school gift account. >> Motion made by Antel second. Second by William. Discussion. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed, nay. That carries four to zero. >> Um I move to accept the fall 2025 commission check from Gren Barrett in
the amount of $1,28.75 to the Mountain View School gift account. >> Motion made by Anilla, second by William. Discussion. All in favor say I. I. >> I. Those opposed, nay. That carries 4. >> Thank you. We'll get those deposited tomorrow. >> Thank you. You're welcome.
>> Big year for uh pictures, huh? >> Yeah. >> You take hits every other week. >> Yeah, I know. >> I know. I feel like >> one of the schools. Well, cuz they trickle in, so they're not all coming in at the same time. >> Oh, >> okay. Moving right along. We have FY
2027 budget development discussion. >> Do you want me to start right on this one? >> Sure. So, what I did, what I've been working on, as you know, I never want to give a percentage until I'm feeling very confident on where we're at. So, what
did I do? I moved everything back to the operating budget for FY27 so that we could see the real picture. Uh, what did that mean? I moved all the staff up on salary scales or the percentages that were in their contracts. um added back in professional
development, the guidance counselor 5 days, uh the curriculum renewal, the supply money that is being covered by school choice this year, put it all back into the lines, put it all into Munice, and then I ran the report so that this is typically how um Kim does it on the
town side when the budget is presented. So, it's put into um these categories. So, what am I seeing? Um, I'm seeing that in order to keep level services, if everything were to be in the back in the operating budget, we would need a 6.25%.
We don't know for sure, but in having preliminary conversations with the town, a 3% was mentioned. Um, so I wanted you to know what what does that really mean? We really need 2.3 million. We're probably going to get 1.1 million. We're
still going to be short $1.2 million. So, I wanted to bring that to your attention. There are still some moving pieces behind the scenes that certainly could change. Um, we uh the collaborative, there's a couple of positions there that they're looking to get. I don't have an exact dollar figure
on if those positions were voted down. Uh, it wasn't given to me, but I kind of did some calculations and I'm thinking it's probably about $25,000 that if they did, because remember the seven districts split the cost and you split the benefits as well. So, you have to take all that into consideration. So,
again, it's not an exact number, but that's my guess. Um, they also there's an HR person that they're extending from 204 days to 260, I believe. I might be off on the days, but something very similar to that. And, um, again, uh, I
don't know the exact number, but thinking maybe 5,000 for for that. Um, what else do we want to talk about? You know, um, things that we did last year. Um, may I jump in? >> Oh, of course. >> Um, so what we have in the middle of
this document, these are things that obviously we'd like the school committee to consider as we look to close that deficit before we have to go to reducing positions. >> Um, and so a lot of this, just as Miss Blair was about to say, these are
strategies that we did or utilized last year. Um and so it's uh looking at freezing again curriculum renewal and that 80,000 really just so people are aware if we freeze it again what it the
80,000 is for is that we had been operating basically on a 5year cycle uh with different um content areas in that um fiveyear cycle. And so when they had gotten to the point where they've done
their um self-study, they've looked at um how they align currently with um the DESIE frameworks and standards. They're at the position where they can utilize some of that 80,000 to purchase new
curriculum. Um last year we chose to freeze that. Um so the the cycle's somewhat frozen. what we've been utilizing. Uh, Miss Brown has been excellent at looking at where does DESIE provide us grants? How can we start to
utilize it? Doesn't give you as much choice because their grants come with certain stipulations, but they do a pretty good job of vetting highly um high quality instructional materials. Yeah, our elementary ELA and math
curriculum through 8th grade was primarily funded through Desi, >> right? >> Grants. >> So that's one item where we could freeze again and we would go that direction staying more along the lines
revamping our cycle so that what is DETI offering where where do we have needs in terms of curriculum renewal? Um last year we did two memoranda of understanding with the ELA. One was
around counselors extra days. Um guidance counselors and adjustment counselors work extra days at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year. And one was um regarding individual reimbursement for professional development which is within
the contract um people can be reimbursed up to $650. I don't think that there's much of a um much interest to do the counselor one again. Mhm. >> There might be some interest given that $130,000,
you know, should we have to get to reducing positions would save one if not more positions. Um so that's something that we would hope the school committee would pursue. Um we've talked a lot about choice. Choice
helped us immensely in this year's budget. Um we are in a situation where right now our enrollment has gone down. We have room um bringing classrooms to
uh an untenable class size. So you could expand. Last year we expanded 20 slots. They were at grade six and grade nine. Given that those tend to be grades that families look for. They look for those transition grades where they're going to be going to a new school anyway, they
might be looking to move into town. Um or if they're not looking to move into town, they look for school choice options. Um so that's that can be increased, that can also be decreased. That's up to you. And then the last um
item was utilizing existing uh I think two reports ago, two meetings ago, we talked about the possibility of rolling over about 290,000 of school choice money. We certainly do not want
to um ever utilize all of that because if you do that in one given school year, you're going to take a while to get it back. It took us >> over five years to build up to the point that we had built up a few years ago and we started to use it uh with incredible
discretion. Uh we did a lot of um one time only type projects and then last year obviously we've used it for closing the deficit. Um so this is a look at using it but not using it as much as we relied on it this year to close the
deficit. Some positive news which just came out of that quarterly report. You could have a balance in vocational tuition which could be then applied to a prepaid which would be fantastic because if you're prepaying then you can reduce the vocational tuition line item and so
there's your savings that was over 200,000 297,000 I think it was >> um did we prepay last year? Did you say >> 225? >> We didn't have it as a strategy though because we didn't know if we were going to be >> but didn't we didn't take it out of our budget and so that's why we have it >> correct because the budget was already in place. Right.
>> But this year we're proposing we could potentially take it lessen the budget line item by that much. >> Yes. >> I wouldn't go all the way to 297. >> I agree. >> Because now we have to make it up for next year as well. We have to find it again. >> Yeah. So there is Yes. >> There's always risk. Yes. >> Which is the problem we're running into
this year. Yeah. >> Okay. So you're taking away my optimistic. >> Thanks, Greg. >> There's nothing optimistic about this. >> No. anything that keeps staff here I look as as an optimistic point. Um so
but certainly you want to be cautious with any one of these moves. >> Um so you don't go to 297,000 but as you >> and and nothing's up for a vote right now in this meeting. This is all just to bring certain ideas
>> to all of you to think about. Um the other piece that's not on here is um Mrs. Blair and I had gone to at their request and invitation gone to the financial oversight committee in late
April last year. Um they make a the final recommendation to the town council. Um also in late April before the budget is finalized by the town council in May. Um at that meeting as we were presenting
different things about the school department budget, we talked about the fact that um the joint ways and means committee, we felt we're going to in June when our budget is done, meaning the town's budget and therefore the
school department's budget, um probably going to increase the amount of money per pupil that um districts were guaranteed to receive for chapter 70. If you remember, we received the bare minimum. Originally, it was $30 per
pupil. I think it was something like 185,000. >> Um, so our increase chapter 70 last year was projected at being about 185,000. >> As of June, it doubled. So, we received
another 185,000. What we had asked um the financial oversight committee to consider was that should that happen, would they make a motion or recommendation to the town council that that money then be um retroactively
provided to the school department budget. Ultimately, they decided not to make that or voted against making that recommendation. But there was discussion where as they were about to go to vote, it was stated that if the school department needs money, they can come to
us like any other department. I would say we need some money. So that might be something to consider. And that 185,000 didn't get budgeted into any one fund. So it just goes into free cash, which is very healthy right now. So it's not a
question of asking for, hey, make us whole. we need 1.1 million from free cash. We know that's not realistic, nor would it be something that I would recommend. However, I think it would be worth asking for the 185,000 um because it wasn't budgeted in any
line item. Correct me if I'm wrong. So, ultimately, it just flows into free cash, >> right? So, what what happens and this is what I'm passing out right now. Governor Healey just came out with her uh preliminary budget and it's an increase to East Long Meadow of $176,625
I believe which I believe is the minimum which is $30 per student. And so this is what we're talking about as the year went on last year further into the uh the budget I think it was in June that there was lots of talk that that they
were going to then increase the minimum from 30 to 60 which is exactly what they did. So, we ended up getting 185,000 initially on the cherry sheet just like you're looking at right now. But then at the end of the year after the budget was already in place, they gave another
$185,000, the other $30 to make it 60. And that's what Gordon and I were trying to ask them to let us have so that we could have less of a deficit, but they ultimately voted no that they wanted it. Um, and so that's this is where the
budget is right now. um preliminary and that certainly could change. Um I'm not hearing anything yet. It's a little too soon, but we wanted to be sure that you knew um that this did come out. >> This is based on the governor's state of
the state address last week. So we would be receiving, as Mrs. Blair said, um the minimum required per pupil increase is about $30. >> $30. And so the only other area that we just
we were never a fan to bring it forward, but we do always have to talk about it is the athletic program. So you do see those numbers there in the middle. We just wanted to make sure that you knew what does it cost to run our athletic program. $740,000.
the operating budget is $584,000 plus $125,000 in fees, you know, that we collect and um the student fees, the athletic fees, and then another 31,000 in gate receipts. And that's that's how we fund um athletics. So, I did reach
out to and what I wanted you to know that's right is that in this number um and and what I put into the budget is a request from uh Kevin to increase $20,000 for travel because he's just not being able to keep up with with the cost
of that and $20,000 for additional supplies. So, I did put that in there and wanted to make sure that you knew that. Um you know, he came back uh with some different proposals. Um we asked him you know um what about freshman sports and and so he did give us some
information which I also have here um to share you know none of us are fans of right of not having sports but there are there are a few as you'll see on this list that um the freshman boys soccer uh
coach uh fall of 2022 was the last time they fielded a team um freshman girls Soccer. Fall of 2024 was the last time they fielded a team. Freshman girls uh basketball or is that basketball? Baseball has to be basketball. Yeah. Uh
winter 2023 was the last time they fielded and freshman baseball coach. Um the spring 2022 was the last time they fielded. So again, you know, we're not a fan of getting rid of these, but we do need to >> stay into the athletic revolving. >> Say that again. Aren't they just in the
It doesn't stay in the athletic revolving account. >> Well, this you would uh no longer pay a coach. >> We budget for them now. >> Yes. >> We don't pay anybody. So, the money stays in our athletic revolving account. >> Well, no, because we pay um salaries out of operational revolving account. We try
to pay >> But then we transfer it out of operational and we use it for something else. >> When we don't ex we don't expend it, we don't uh encumber it, >> then it would be used elsewhere, right? We we always encumber uh the >> But my point is we cut it. So I'm sorry.
>> Yeah, that's okay. >> So you're saying if we're not already using it, why? Right. >> We are using it though. We just use it somewhere else. >> Yes. >> So why would we cut it out of the >> which is why he's really not proposing that and that's why the first line on there you're going to say you're going to see says eliminate the supplemental
athletic insurance. So currently um the athletic account pays for $8 $8,500 um insurance liability like insurance for the students. So he's proposing to do what other districts do and they charge the parents. He said he in his own
children like they pay $35 at the sport to to carry the insurance if they need it rather than the if they need it >> if their family doesn't have insurance. Is that what it is? >> I know. Why do they need this insurance? >> It's supplemental. Um I >> yeah so it picked up um if um your your
medical insurance may not cover >> this is kind of like Affleck >> in addition good way to describe it. >> I mean have we used it a lot? Have the kids used it a lot? How often? >> I I'd have to go to find out. Yes, it has been used. I don't think it's been used a ton
>> once, >> but it has been used. >> No, it's more than once. But I I'll talk to Kevin. We can talk to Kevin about that. And >> but the alternative is charging families. >> Correct. Correct. That's correct. >> Only that need it. >> No. No. Anyone can buy it.
>> It would be if they choose to have the supplement. >> Would anybody choose to buy it? >> Would anybody Is that what you're asking? >> Well, he chose to buy it for his own students, his own children, >> right? >> I would think if you're in a context for, >> right, that you would want that. Yeah. >> And it's a small fee to
>> even if you already have a health insurance. Yeah. Because unless you hit your deductible, right, you're going to end up having to pay for if it's a serious injury or you need surgery. >> I mean, it's going to >> and your deductible. >> I mean, it's the same as I would think a
parent is looking at like the tech insurance like it's 35 bucks, you know, like what is that if I end up a year? >> Yeah. Season I feel like that's that bad either. versus deductible for hospitalization
$500 deductible for you know ambulance ride might be >> you know so those things add up. >> Yeah. So right now this supplemental insurance we pay for and we cover the kids extra. >> That's correct. >> Yeah.
>> And it's an $8,500 line item for the athletic budget. >> And is it one of those things where if it's used like any other insurance it goes up? >> No. >> Okay. It's been it's been uh that amount for quite a number of years. >> Okay.
>> So, these positions we're not we are not hiring these coaches. Obviously, >> these are these are cont uh all listed in the contract. What he's basically saying is that since the fall of 2022, we have not had enough 9inth graders to
field a completely 9th grade boys soccer team. But there are ninth graders that play JV, >> right? But so then this freshman boys soccer coach, >> we could field the freshman boys soccer team if we have enough players. That's why it's still in there. It these are
>> I know, but I'm just asking where does that money go? >> It goes to balance increasing expenses that we have. So it's been used is what they were saying. So cutting it isn't going to help us. It It won't problems. They're still hiring the coach.
>> You'll utilize utilize it for other athletic expenses. Yeah, >> that's probably how they've been offsetting a lot of their transportation costs. >> Yeah, we have 9% just not on athletic transportation. >> Let's see if you look at his in in the
middle here of what he wrote on that sheet. He he says um in pre excuse me in previous years when the above freshman teams did not have enough freshmen and to field a team the athletic department used the money to help support teams that needed extra support. For example, last year we hired two extra varsity
tennis coaches due to the shortage of courts or when we hire a new varsity coach that may need an assistant coach support or when numbers are really high in a team and we need extra supervision. So he's keeping it there in >> so is going to other coaches ability to do that.
So he would he would talk to us. >> Remember we asked him to do it for the tennis. >> Okay. >> Because >> because of the situation >> because the situation that was going on and that's how he justified that we continue to have practices go on three courts and in order to do that he had to rotate
>> uh a variety of practices. >> Okay. In terms of the you're probably going to get to the other things that are suggested like we just talked about the insurance uh increasing athletic fees like we we'll benchmark that against our sort of
peer districts to see like where we are price-wise and if that makes sense. >> And we just increased our athletic fee last year like for this year. We just went from 149 to 199 >> which is the first time in 20 >> and do we know what our neighboring districts are?
>> We can get that information. We're not above what neighboring districts are charging. Um >> and we still would have that fund for families who we know have demonstrated need. >> Correct. We never um expect to bring in through user fees. you know, if we have
850 athletes participating, we know we're not going to get 850 user fees because we use uh free and reduced lunch as a barometer in terms of what we charge, if we charge at all. >> I also feel like I mean that was just
last year that they needed the extra coaches for tennis, >> correct? >> So, some of these coaches we haven't needed >> for three or four years. So, where did all that money go? He would utilize it for transportation costs. >> Exactly. Transportation.
>> The first time he's asked for a transportation increase, but we know transportation >> overall every year has gone up. >> But does he tell you guys do you guys get documentation about that? All right. This money is going towards this.
>> Yes. >> There are conversations. >> Pam, one more question. So, >> Sure. We were saying that these ex these coaches that we don't use that goes to supplement something else. So this increase that he's asking for is on top
of this. That's correct. Just to supplement our >> Yeah. So pulling those back just >> doesn't make a whole lot of sense. >> Right. We still need >> Mhm. >> So I'll find out more information about the 8500 that uh insurance. We'll find
out what our neighboring districts do regarding that topic as well as the athletic fees. Um, >> also curious about gate fees, like what do other districts charge to get into games? Are we like on par with that? >> I think we're pretty on target because we recently changed our system. It's the
electronic system now. And Kevin had done a lot of research. Do you remember that? Yeah. He brought it to the school committee last year to one get approved for using uh electronic um ticket sales and then two he was utilizing
comparative amounts that he sees at Long Meadow Ham and Wilberham I think he had Lello uh Westside but we'll get all that info. I'll bring it back for you. >> I think it's just easier to justify our increases if we benchmark >> you see. Yep. Um, is it also comparable?
I know that there's groups of people that we also don't charge to go to our games. Is that correct? Is that also in similar districts or >> we do a little bit more I think than other districts because I think uh the school a few years ago
>> I had it on one of my financial athletes citizens >> seniors seniors >> and then athletes in season >> in season right >> home athletes. >> I thought that was all that. >> That's it. Home athletes were always >> Yep. >> during their season.
>> So, it's the seniors that are different. >> And I think it was school that encouraged that it was right. Okay. Trying to >> Yes, it was. I remember that >> participation and make it more families because we were up in the athletics and >> Yeah.
>> Sorry. Um, our school district uses a there's different fees depending on the sport, >> right? >> Other districts they scaffold it. >> Usually hockey is your top. No, I take that back. Skiing probably be your top. >> Hockey >> and then hockey.
>> For this, it's hockey and then skiing and then football. >> But we have one user fee across the board for all. Right. >> So those are ideas certainly. Um, as we continue to discuss budget development,
we'll try to build that area in the middle because having a number larger than 460,000 would be helpful so they can offset the 1.2 almost uh that we're looking at as a possible deficit. >> Gordon, is our our is our transportation
fee the same as all the other LP VC schools or >> That's a good question. Who you find? When you say our bus fees that we >> charge 270 it's on the list as something we could increase. I'm just curious like just >> are we all charging? >> Yeah, I can find that out. >> Data. Yeah.
>> And that's only for students that are 2 miles and >> right there criteria that >> anyone within the two miles in >> right of their school. >> I did go over that um to put closure to that topic. I I believe
>> a few meetings ago I had mentioned that the collaborative had taken away a bus for next year and although it's good because the price is lower but I also was I just want to make sure that our numbers and what I wasn't taking into consideration or was forgetting temporarily was that the utilization so
the budget that they're creating now for next year is utilizing our numbers now and our enrollment has gone down for transportation as well. So we are not utilizing all of the buses. So that's that's why. So, I'm okay with that. I just wanted to let you guys know and I
did have that conversation that now the the what if like what if all of a sudden our enrollment goes back up and we have a you know an issue with the bus and um and they would work with us on that. So, >> so our assessment is lower than lower. >> Yes. Which is which is good, but I
wanted to make sure. Yes. >> I mean overall >> plus is running around nice. Overall, it was like 120,000 increase though with the collaborative >> with those positions >> with the positions and union things. The board has to vote on on those positions.
>> Absolutely. >> 120 per district. >> Uh our our district >> It's based on your enrollment. >> Yeah. So there it's different for each of us, but it's probably not too far off from district to district. Um >> so >> yeah, there's work to do still.
>> Yep. There's there's work to do and no decisions need to be made now. There's still some moving pieces behind the scenes like I said. Um some uh some of the software we have uh you know um amounts in there that I'm still we're still working on getting like exact quotes. So you know things can change a
little bit and I'm always looking at special ed and um so this is where I see us right now. Okay. So, as we continue um budget development discussions, we'll we'll continue to build strategies there. If you have
other ideas, please feel free to send us thoughts because we'll bring you the information so that we have, as you're saying, benchmark um information just so that we're seeing what other districts do. So, that's you know, there's no need
to reinvent the wheel. Um, the quarterly report was exciting, at least from my vantage point. Maybe not so much from Mr. Johnson's vantage point. We'll at least add a recommendation there and then unfortunately we'll have to start
building a strategy for potential positions as well. >> There are eight retirements. Uh, so we always look at those first to see if you know potential. I we'll bring that list, but I don't think you're going to be able to utilize eight, >> right?
>> I think they're and I I'd like to show the leadership team the the eight, but um you certainly can utilize some >> and there'll be some savings because those folks are obviously a higher >> but I budget she's already she's already budgeted.
>> I budget a master's aid. So I budget 76,167 and we've >> so the savings already >> the savings is already there. Yeah, >> it'd be great if they could generate more savings and then they hire like masters 2, but it's little. That would be like, you know, like an $8,000
savings versus $50,000 savings. >> There's also a couple of long-term sub positions that are just in there for the >> year. So, we can look at those as well. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. At what point do you have those
conversations with building principles to >> um last year we had them throughout this whole process and we've started not looking at positions but we've started this same discussion with them. Um now
that we have a better idea of what is level services, what is the potential deficit, we'll bring those same numbers to the team and then what I want to show them and have done in the past is okay
here are your retirements and we go through you know what are sort of crucial needs. Well yeah you have to replace that one and they're well no we might be able to get through without replacing that situation. Um then they have some creative ideas because there certainly in each building there are
different things that they're seeing that may or may not be a savings or may or may not be a need because we also have that in terms of hey have we thought about this this is something that's coming whatever that may be. Um and so we have a lot of different
discussions and then we bring their recommendations to all of you. Um, in some cases there's been agreement on that in some cases. And last year's process was was an even bigger deficit that we had to close. Um, took us all
the way into really the middle of April, I believe, if not late April. Um, and so there were a lot of different scenarios run. Uh, most of that cuz you're talking about positions and people are in those
positions we do in executive session. >> Yeah. uh so that we're not making it any more anxiety producing than it already is. >> Mhm. >> That's why if I can build that center area of this document, >> yeah,
>> that's what I'm going to do. >> Okay. Any other questions on budget? This will certainly come up again soon. >> Yes. >> Okay. Excellent. Thank you for that discussion. And we have our final item for tonight,
the new superintendent contract that was discussed in executive session. There's any questions or if not, we would take a motion to approve. Please. >> I'll make a motion to approve the new
superintendent contract. >> Second one motion. Uh for Dr. Manard >> for Dr. for the uh just the years which would be >> for the 2026
2027 2028 in 2029 school year. >> I'll take that motion made the right 27 28 28 29 >> Okay. Sorry. Sorry. >> William seconded. Yeah.
>> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed nay. The motion carries 4 to zero. Excellent. Thank you all. We're on our way and uh on my way. >> That's it. That was the last thing. >> That's it. If there's no other business, I would take the move to move to
adjourn, please. Antella has to get to dinner. >> Motion made by William. Second. >> Second by Antonella. Antonella. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. Those opposed? Nay. That motion carries four to zero. Thank you. We are injured. All right.