Um, welcome to uh the February 3rd uh budget and finance subcommittee meeting. Chair statement. This meeting is being recorded by the budget and finance subcommittee. If any other persons present are also recording, you must notify the chairperson at this time. It is 11:40.
Call roll. Call to order. >> Sure. Call. >> Yep. >> Member Webb, I am here. member >> and vice chair >> child. Yep. >> I don't know if we should do it that way, but you know. Hi. >> Okay. Oh, it looks like we because well,
it says if numbers are online real quick. Oh, that's just for all of the voting. Sorry. Public comment. We have no public in the room and we have no public on Zoom. So, if any public were to show up, I would >> reopen public comment on
>> Y. >> Uh, next up is the approval of the December 8th uh subcommittee minutes. Did you get a chance? >> Second. >> Okay. All in.
>> Okay. So, now Zoom has had its regularly scheduled temper tantrum. We have unanimously voted to approve of uh the December 8th minutes. So now moving on to the next uh the main event, our budget update.
>> I think you you had had earlier circling around the calendar. >> I don't know if that's something you would mind showing for a minute. So we have a budget calendar that was kind of based not kind of based
on last year's budget calendar basically just kind of rolled over in that sense. I've talked with the mayor and mayor's aid >> and calendar is being pushed back in terms of the city side for a full month. So, for example,
>> I think it's >> um for example, in this calendar that we have right up there, you'll see it says April 1st, mayor's proposed budget, city budget released. >> She'll be doing that by May 1st. >> Okay.
So my point in some of this and this is somewhat new and they're they've talked about this with the city council is my understanding knowing that numbers are being released later and later each year whether they're governor house senate you know
all that type of stuff getting back preliminary cherry sheets which just came out so in keeping with being a little bigger city doing things I don't say later but later in the fiscal year >> versus doing them so early.
>> I think before I'm seeing it was March 11th. >> Yes. >> Oh, for us for the mayor. >> What do you want? Last year's >> Yeah. >> So when you what we probably
not have to do but could do and should do obviously here with for your your blessings and stuff is pushing things back >> for that. Sure. So, for example, it would show that we would have a budget. We were somewhat under this assumption, maybe wrong, but that we
were going to kind of do this anyway, that we were not bringing like to the school committee next week a budget knowing that it would be the next month because the mayor had already really said we don't want to see that like capital improvement was I just met with capital improvement last week.
>> So, those were pushed off on purpose is the point being in that sense. So, what we can do is I can have You're fine with that. Um, Becky, go through this and kind of look at dates and slide things off where appropriate. That's fine with
you. >> Sure. >> Um, do you think we should make a motion for that update? >> I think so because we voted on this. >> So, can we have a motion? >> So, moved. >> Okay. Okay. And the text of the motion is >> is to move um our submission, our FY27
budget submission to um align better with the mayor's um budget probably midappril. >> Okay. So, the motion is indeed to direct Becky to update it to reflect our
reality. >> Um do I have a second on that motion? Um, what I wrote down was move R 2026 to align better with the city budget. >> Okay. >> Which in turn, just for your
information, would be almost like one. >> Yes. >> Should we add that to motion or no? >> No. >> We don't need to. That's justeneral so that we understand what >> second. >> Okay. All in favor? I. It passes unanimously.
Then um thank you. In terms of the budget itself, we have Andy, I be superintendent Sullivan have met with all our principles, all our department heads to go over their
requests. So we're compiling those right now. We were fortunate to Andy has rolled over and I say rolled over. I know some you may not want to see this or hear this, but we will go through line by line. But if you were to take this year's budget and add in the raises
that were already negotiated, we also have some four upcoming units to negotiate right now that will take effect potentially for July 1st. They are the custodians, the cafeteria
workers, the bus drivers, and administrative assistants clerks in schools. So that'll be happening some point this spring. If you were to take all that, roll those up people over with raises, steps, you know how people move down steps, etc.
And I'll just give the basic list of Thunder >> Andy, >> but the if we come to a 7.2% increase and that is $1.7 million. >> 1.7.
>> Yeah. So that is without that is not adding anything new. What was the raises? >> What was the percentage again? >> 1.7.2.2 >> 7.2% >> 1.7 million. >> Okay. >> Oh, maybe I misspoke a little. The only
thing added I say only is spent tuition of >> we have if you remember we had several movement that have resulted in more operational services
tuition rate increase also >> and that was about USD So barring the increase of move in people who moved in and attending out of district placements in that increase there. There were no other right now
positions added or increases to lines etc. only those I think that when you look at that right at 7.2 2% increase in $1.7 million. I
think we probably can assume maybe incorrectly, but probably correctly that we will not be getting that money from the city side and it's not any of our first rodeos doing this. So, we we know that. But you do have to when I say the
word start even if it's a loose start there just so people get an idea hey this is the budget that just is rolled over barring a couple of ads right there but not even adding new
bodies that people think they want or new paper or >> so would this be level service >> level service Okay. >> Wait, say that again. >> OSD, which is >> operational service. >> So, they set the rate as a state agency
that sets the rate for students who are attending a special day approved day schools and it's 34 >> 3.04% that those rates went up. So that number went up in the line and then the
additional move in people which were so 400 some >> yeah I heard that >> so we we did it as I mentioned we met with all our department heads principal etc. Some are asking for things. I don't
think there's a lot of big asks, but we're now calling them. We're running numbers of class sizes. >> That's a question. >> Yes. >> I don't know if this pertains or doesn't pertain. I don't think it's going to make the number move as much as I want to think it is. Do for the people who
are retiring, do we have any people retiring? And is their budget line dropped down or is it staying the same? I would say just a little depends on if they're retiring, we could assume they're maybe at one of the top steps. >> Yeah. I'm just making sure that if we do
have people retiring or leaving district to our top tier people, we are like >> bringing allocating them back down when we're rehiring to a realistic level. >> Gives us balance. Do you hire say inexperienced want to hire the most experienced you
know person that's available to be applying for jobs the $75,000 placeholder for any retired so that looking at the high about 20 grand savings if you will on that placeholder with what it is that retire
that's the so in a perfect world yes >> I just didn't know if we were bringing them back down to like >> no so I'll address that though so somebody retire hires at let's say $80,000. Why do we put 75 in there? Because if I put 52 and I'm looking for a physics
teacher and there's one applicant in the entire Western Mass >> and they're they have a doctor from New Mass, we're going to pay $80,000 for that, right? in different subjects. It does sometimes you have a little more play in some of
those subjects whether they might be some of your elementary teachers sometimes in the past it had been at secondary level English and history teachers were a little more abundant. Um they're all starting to get less abundant now but um but they are a
little more abundant than a chemistry teacher or a physics teacher or a calculus teacher. >> Well, I guess I didn't think it would be like a drastic decrease but I just want to make sure. I mean, $5,000 is $5,000. It still is $5,000. >> It's a couple buses. >> Yep.
>> So, do we have any ideas on where we could find savings to compromise with the town and not get the 7.22% we need, but try to keep as many of our people as possible? because I know that
we've been running on a lean budget for years and years. So, >> so there there are things that next uh there are some vacancies that we have carried over. Uh and the question now becomes similar to those that were here
and those that watched uh after the redistricting was pulled off. you know, the administrators went back and looked at how it is that we were doing things that resulted in some vacant positions no longer needed. And so, we're able to
get back into the level funded amount that we received from the city. That exercise is going through again now. So, there are there are vacant positions we have that we carry over. It's just a matter now with the program directors whether or
not Those are needed andor then we'll look at our mobility enrollment numbers but here you know different grades vary as you you've seen as I I might have mentioned I believe at times we generally run two grades at
each school or two class two classes of per grade of teachers and in many of those cases that works out fine. There are a few anomalies where you probably have just just over enough for one teacher in some places where
you're having a second hired. We've talked about this is not going to end up having happening now. I know that in terms of any type of restructuring, not even redistricting, but restructuring of grades. For example, if you were running two
second grades in each school, so there six second grade teachers, the numbers would probably truly dictate if you house them all in one building. And I say that, but that this is future thinking down the road, you could probably minimally have five, maybe you
could even get them into four depending on where you thought the comfortable classroom size was, right? done but because they're spaced in that sense you don't have that efficiency and it's not a perfect world right because then schools would have to be busted you wouldn't have neighborhood
schools etc there's all pros and cons to all that trade but we are looking at all of that >> so in the past we were if we had a bubble >> a bubble group that you know principles were given the
I don't know the directive that they could do like a two three combo to kind of even it out. And we did that really well. Um, and teachers were okay with that. We worked really hard to put kids together that we thought were
should be together. So, we sort of evened out our numbers um by doing a combination because there were those bubble groups that went through. Um, we did it all the time. I mean, sometimes it was um a one, two,
sometimes it was a three, four. It depended on >> depending on where your number above or below is right and we'll be looking at >> so I just that's another way we were flexible with that. Um >> is that feasible with the way we've been standardizing our curriculum? This goes
beyond budget and finance. I don't know if that's a valid question. >> No, that's something that's something I'm talking about with the principles and with assistant superintendent Sullivan as you mentioned with the curriculum with the testing right the progress that we're trying to make. Obviously, two of our schools right are under we're under working with the
statewide system of support SSOS. You've probably heard that acronym at times and that's the high school and Newton right now. >> So, as much as we we listen, we are going to look at everything still in return. There's that tradeoff, right? Do we combine yet we're getting pressure
that kids aren't reading as well or doing as well as standardized testing? What are we giving them? So, we'll have reports for you and I'll have Not we do we do not have it today but I'll have projections for next year in each grade in each school and I hear many times
from school committee members and I've heard this going to city council meetings Mel one time with me and a few others have gone as well too where people have concerns about class sizes and what's high is is always um I guess debatable
in life right what's what we what we all consider high right is is from where we came from what we've seen what we wanted for our our neighbors, for our own children, etc. is I'm joking with you. Is 24 high in an elementary classroom? Is it 22? Is it 20? Is it 18?
And and where? But I'm saying where is it? And wherever that number is and we h we have so many teachers, right? Then we know that equals the budget a lot of times. >> We had a practice but not policy
>> and that practice was 18. And the minute we went over 18, we advertised. That was a practice. It wasn't a policy, right? And it was for many years. >> Does GPS have a policy in place like that now? >> I don't know. I I don't think so because
the policy manual was done by MASC. So I don't think it got personal, >> right? >> Like like local sort of like the laws, but it was definitely a practice. and parents, we knew parents looked at class size was critical.
>> Um, so where do the convers and I'm just looking for clarity, not um where like if we have some things we know we want added and I know that's a horrible word to say in this this fiscal year, but
when does that conversation happen? >> That would happen now. Like if you I know you did listening sessions. A lot of the school committee members went out and listening sessions with whether it was schools, PTO's um pack groups, that type of scenario >> and if there are different things we've
heard, obviously we'll take all those into consideration. >> Okay. And then just find out how much that would cost us to look at it. >> Right. >> I mean it's just Do we want to make the list now? >> Well, I think we did the list a little bit, right? Yeah, I think
>> I feel like it is in your last meeting >> and we'll start adding a cost to those. >> So, it gets to be >> Go ahead. >> I don't want to say it gets to be easy. It's not easy, but it does get to be somewhat black and white with numbers where things equal this and oh, we
either have money or three pairs equal a teacher. I wanted a teacher. I had to give up three pairs. I've lived this. Cut 26 teachers because you built a new school and now you don't have the staff to put in it. Yeah. No, >> I get it. But I think there's some things that need to be taken care of
that >> would bring some goodwill from people, >> right? Incredible costs, >> right? >> Right. But goodwill might bring money back. I mean, >> oh, yeah. No, there's that trade-off, right? Keeping people in the city and not going to whether it's other private
schools, school choice, charter schools. So, one of my one of my big concerns, and it's been it's been going on forever, um it goes back to whenever they reopened the elementary schools, is at four corners, there's a pair in each
classroom. And we always were told that was because ACES was there. There are special ed programs and disabled children at each elementary school. So I really find
at this point in my life and as somebody who's lived Greenfield public schools and I listening to all these parents and teachers too, there's an equity in staffing in Greenfield and I would like us to look at um a parent in each
elementary classroom. Federal Street has a behavior program which can be intense. Newton has um seeds which is the children um you know, who have de developmental needs. And it's still a struggle. It's
still a fight between the three schools because nobody wants to take a new kid from another school. That fight is still there. I hear it. And with our special ed numbers of 20 some odd percent,
it makes sense to have supported classrooms. you know, the the class size versus supported classroom. I kind of want to >> look at that, >> okay? >> Because one of the things um when you look at
all of the research around improving literacy and you know lowering our special ed numbers, um creating supported classrooms, um and then the other thing is more reading specialists at each elementary
school. We have to do something different for reading and it really has I think has to do with staffing. Um right now there there used to be one reading and one math. I don't know if they're paid out of title one or if they're regular budget. Years ago they
were title one, but they've been shoved into classrooms when teachers are gone like they're subs. Um so kids haven't gotten those services that that need to have services. It's happened year after year and then that's just because we don't have enough people. Um and I'm not
criticizing that because but it's bottom line is a good strong reading program takes reading specialists. If we could hire two more reading specialists, it's definitely for Newton because it's the most underperforming. Probably federal
and I don't know how high Four Corners is scoring, >> but at least two more for each of those schools. And then you have supported classrooms. The teachers really I think it would take off. >> We put in a new reading program. It's a
core and there's no magic core. Um, a lot of money was spent on it, but what really needs to happen is to give the teachers the support they need. And everything I'm hearing is class size is up. We don't have enough paras. Kids
need more support. Behaviors, you know, again, more support for the behaviors. Um the high school also um feels they're vocal about it that they don't have support pair of support in the eighth grade which they had for those kids when
they were at the middle school. So I think there's it would lower our ratio adult per child. Um, but it also might also solve a sub problem by putting a parent in each classroom because we know at Newton
there were two third grades that just didn't have a teacher all year because people were out for different reasons. >> And then then we're looking at their scores and saying you're underperforming but you didn't have places. Right. >> Right. So, it's kind of like at least
with a parent in that classroom, there's some consistency, some routine for those children when instead of all of a sudden >> and would you eliminate a building based sub? >> I don't know if that's ever been effective because the original plan because
>> I mean there is a building based sub, you know, and >> so like if I if you're >> Do they really exist? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Oh, yes, >> they do. >> Yep. >> No, I wouldn't. Well, we have to look at all this. >> But every time we turn around, we use an
IIA for something that's not supporting a child. They're at recess. They're in the cafeteria. They're subbing. Meanwhile, the little child who needs somebody to say to them, the words of a child at the middle school, I just didn't know what a word meant. I need somebody to help me, but there was
nobody there to help me because the teacher was busy with that's straight from a kiddo. I know at the high school when I sat there and I knew how hard it was for her to learn to read because I was her elementary principal and here she is at the middle school going really
succeeding but she just needs a little so I think I think that's what I'm hearing now what it costs I don't know I think it needs to all be laid out to look at um because
we've cut teachers as we've had planning enrollment and I get that, but we've added a lot of other things and I'm not sure those other things really make a difference to a child. I want to make sure the money is going to the children. >> I still need to understand
transportation. I don't I mean I just had to park with the vans and they're all sitting there. Um, I want to I think the last time I saw a list of like and I don't know if it's up to date how many people we are hiring and the last time I
saw that there were more van drivers being h working for us than there were elementary teachers at one school. That bothers me. We're here to teach children and I agree transportation is important but I don't think we should be in the
transportation business. On transportation note, didn't we at one of the meetings ask for that uh company to >> you will he will be coming to your mark meeting. >> Oh, wonderful. >> The transportation director.
>> This is um some we're going to look for a report for transportation >> efficiencies. So that would be finding what we're doing with our transportation and how we can get more savings. >> What about questions? If we just canned transportation, how much would we save? >> Well, so I would think we will. I don't
know if we'll get the exact answer, but we'll find that out. So, I did talk to Chair Son last week. >> Yeah. >> And we put him on being Rick Re, the consultant coming in for the March 11th meeting. >> Cool. I love you so much. >> I miss you. >> Yeah, he's almost wrapped up. He's
almost wrapped up because we um wouldn't quite be ready for next week. um we've talked but um it'll be ready and he will he plans on coming in per in person. Worst case we did say he could come in but >> is that one of the questions he'll
answer is how much we're paying total >> we know how much we're paying. Oh, okay. >> That's >> okay. >> Issue use a phrase that Steve member commented presenting the fact of doing our transition on our own. They were they
described it worth I would never have described the way that it would be self-sport, >> right? I remember >> I would never have been never said that. I mean, so And admittedly I have also shared that um based on their projection that they
were talking about I will give ed to the transportation director Jake Wilson at the time that they they did grow the the revenue generating where we you know they were estimating like 200 grainers there have been some years we've actually doubled as far as generated.
So, um, the and then and I don't they didn't say they didn't believe it, but when you look at what Greenfield spends for transportation offsetting what it is that we collect on the revenue for both the way Desi takes it from regular and sped transportation, we are right in the
middle as our total cost for regular and sped transportation most of our communities. Those are the districts that Desi compares us to. So, does that include the salaries and the and the health benefits for 19 people or 20? >> All of them. Whatever benefits are that
would be >> is that included in that? >> Um, no, it's not city. >> It's on a city side. >> I know. >> Yeah. >> For everybody. >> Yeah, >> we can I mean I would add it and >> I mean we are solar
point but we are solidly recommending the total cost. We are not exorbitant by the statute. >> And for context, talking to people from other districts, transportation cost increases going up is a problem that is universal to Western Mass right now, it
seems. And we are legally required to provide a lot of this transportation. So the question is whether or not it's cheaper to contract out versus run inhouse. And I believe that is the question that the report that we're
receiving is really addressing >> buying both bus actually looking at that even though we didn't necessarily ask but he's doing it anyway. >> Wonderful. >> Um and then uh this fed transportation both what it is that we currently do ourselves um and also because of the
fact that we don't have the capacity to the problem. So what we have to outsource with so >> I don't I don't think we outsource that much. >> You have to worry that much. I don't mean outsource.
>> I understand we do outsource. I'm saying it's not like we're talking like 20 vehicles we're outsourcing. Probably a handful be my guess. I could be wrong. >> I send a lot of pickup lines. >> So a lot of pickup lines. >> I guess I'm just questioning the
efficiency. I just parked and there are 10 vans sitting in the parking lot in the church >> and as somebody who you you know our taxes just went up major. Um we all got hit. And so when you see vans sitting in a parking lot
not doing anything, you wonder like is there another way? Could GCC be using them? Could FRTA be using them? The senior center be using them? You just wonder. And then you see a a van that's only got, and I'm a Honda girl, so you see a Honda that's only got 20,000 miles
on it needing repairs because it's just sitting somewhere. Um, you know, >> that's, you know, don't get me wrong. I mean, these things get, you know, I I we were talking about it earlier. It's like the vehicles that we use for the
transportation, even though I understand they're sitting also time of day, >> you know, nobody's leaving school, you know. So, um there would be a reason why they would be sitting there at this whether or not they could use alter. There are some legal things regarding the fact that we are have the school bus
signs on the school busy on it that I know and because we tried to do that was our buses for private things and time state police said that it is not appropriate to use it for anything other
than 70 transportation etc. So, we're checking in if there's a vehicle, what do the people want us? But at the same time, um it's no different than I mean, how many times a year do when when the police vehicles come? >> It's part of the capital. I think at
least two two police cruisers are on a replacement cycle. We don't have a replacement cycle. we beat these to the left >> and so and then also we were just talking here whether or not we whether whatever comes out of Rich's report does
the pendulum swing to fully outsourcing or does the potent pendulum swing to bringing it all in now I don't think we all have the the appetite to do in the house I'm with you I don't want to busting through this either um but at the same time I just signed a purchase
order increase because or vehicle repairs because the DPW he who's supposed to be doing our vehicles don't have the capacity. So, we have to bring our vans to a private contractor to do the repairs on our vehicles because the garage here,
>> right? >> And and we don't have a um one of the thing we also it's not a revelation but there is no because you are in the business until you're not in it, right? There is no regular rollover. So, for example, we
have roughly 12 vans, be 13-ish, but call, you know, realistically with the amount of miles they put on these vans, every two every year, you should almost be replacing two just for a cycle. So, every six years, six to seven years, you're getting replacement because after
six years, I would bet those vans are going to be close to almost 180 200,000 miles on them in that sense. that there is no, you know, you talk about strategic plans and long-term plans. There was no plan in place that we found none that every
two years we're going to buy or every one year we're going to buy one vehicle or every two. There's zero of that. This will get flushed out as well in that report. >> Yeah, I I'm thinking that our discussion is a little premature because I think we need to have that report in front of us.
And it sounds like Just wondered where we were with that. >> Yeah. >> My only question like with the vans I I know again it's premature. We're still talking prematurely here. Is like >> are we using the vans or the buses like
to the full potential we could be? You know, are we able to use them like for a field trip, you know, instead of paying koscus? Are we able to use them for after school, you know? Um, are we able to use the vans maybe for middle school
sports um who don't play the same time JV and varsity do? I know JV and varsity need a little bigger of a bus for all that equipment. Um, but I'm just cur like I'm just like I'm like >> my understanding that it should seem to be addressed on the report. >> Okay, cool.
>> Right. But even we do for like small drive. >> So these passengers are there seven passenger vehicles. >> Well, I mean I'm talking about like the yellow the yellow school bus for like after school for middle school
>> that like you know I sometimes see again I was here yesterday for dismissal of after school. Um, you know, and I saw about like I mean there could have been more. I didn't say the whole time, but like five kids got on the big yellow bus. I mean, they could have gone to the high school after. Again, I I'm
speculating here. >> I guess that leads to the next question. Will he in his efficiency report look at the riders >> like Oh, good. >> Yes. Okay. >> In in routes >> because I know our buses a lot are in the afternoon very empty and they're
full in the morning. And that's always that's always tough from a um I spent my career at secondary level basically. It's tough because you have to have the seats for those who are eligible to ride >> 100%. >> And because when it's sunny days out and kids want to ride their bike to school,
I'm joking. Ride with their friend. But on a winter day or when it's raining and their parents car breaks down and they they're eligible for a seat, you got to have that seat. Similarly, the after school part, you all know this, but you run into the >> Well, there's nothing like this. I can say again, I only can speak for middle
school, only my personal experience. I've never filled anything out. Like I know my child stays after this day and this day, but I've never been asked if I need a late bus. So, there's nothing really official saying like there we
know that we need x amount of seats because there's like 20 kids on student council and they all need a bus ride home. >> I'm going to defer that to the club thing. We know we know where you live. We know that if you ride home on the traditional yellow >> correct
>> bus, >> but I'm saying like on the after school bus, we don't have any. >> There's nothing I filled out saying I need. >> I do think we're getting a little far away from the budget and finance. >> I believe they call, but we'll we'll check that. >> Okay,
>> back on topic. Sorry. >> Yeah. And I think I asked silly computer. >> We need to get one of those really long pointers on a stick. >> We might want to
Well, we'll Okay. Yep, we're back. And the record uh little thingy is still next to So, we should be good. Um, where was I? I think after the March 11th report, we'll be able to discuss this in more detail with
better data. So getting back to the budget update, I suppose my question would involve looking at the calendar again to figure out um roughly because we originally had
it that early February would be the publication of the proposed budget. So are we looking at that early March instead or or April? >> Um I'm going to talk to Aaron. Sorry, Aaron. They just they make it
>> on the website. >> They say they chief staff or however politely this morning and she was generally told me right about a month but that she'll have better fig dates >> uh soon and she was traveling when we spoke this morning
in the area but we'll get me what the mayor's calendar is so we can kind of flush that through. >> Okay. So what we're looking at is likely early March publication and then >> within the two week period or whatever
the required period is our special meeting to approve the budget. Um let's see. >> Well that special meeting potentially go to April. >> Oh yes that's right. April. >> So if you took the the blue February if you kind of see that blue February.
>> Yes. And just transpose it down. Yes. um almost I don't want to say um February jokingly could be March >> and if we were just pushing it back one month we'd almost just say those are that's what's happening. So in March, we
would potentially present, right? Maybe we would have a subcommittee meeting. We've always been early. Most districts, I mean, South Haven's Mother's Day, May every year, right? >> Front of town.
>> Um, and you just don't know what the feds or the state or anybody's doing anymore. But I think if we were to we being sub here I don't want to tell you what to do right but we guide you late
February early March like even this week in March the week before the school committee if we were to come back we would have better figures for you some things. >> Sure. >> Yeah. Um then we right you um was similar that Monday or Tuesday of the
week prior to our school committee could deem whether we're ready to go or you just mentioned oh we just got numbers from the mayor not that number but dates we're still really early tinker around for another month we'll bring it to the April meeting. >> Yeah. So I'm thinking our next meeting
does sound logical to be roughly a month from now, beginning of March to see. >> May I have your attention, please? The school will now be conducting a lockdown drill. Please go into lockdown mode at this time.
This is only a trip. Yes, we are going into lock down >> or you know we're almost done. >> Yeah, we're almost done. >> Yeah, >> we're locked. >> Yeah, so >> unlocked. I get it. That door is locked
and the other one outside locked. >> Good job. I'm just saying. So why the door? >> But yes, so it seems like our our plan of action right now is to meet again beginning of March to go over more detail
that and we've already we're already going to be updating the budget calendar. We voted on that. So, are there any other budget update questions or things we need to know
right now? >> Anyone look at the chapter >> we are now back to receiving just the minimum amount that per people because our foundation is more went down by five. So our chapter spending increase
is only 122,325 and then on top of that our choice and charter sending uh choice went up by 20 students or to the tune of $458,188
and the charter went up by four students but that because of their formula that increase charter spending is $210,170. So why did that choice >> setting in or out? >> Out. >> Out. >> Okay. Don't worry. >> So the total
>> it's a loss. >> Okay. Make sure everybody knew >> total coming off the top is 668,35. >> So right there is like over half. Yeah, >> just covering that. >> It's going to be brutal.
>> Yeah, come on in. >> Everybody releasing you from the lockown to come see us. >> Yes, we love Frank. Nobody comes out till the budget's set. >> Okay, we have to come up with a budget
really fast. >> Yes, comfort dogs in every class. >> There's something to >> So, yes, you got a lot of money for going out. We know that. So I'm going to present some things to you in the future about choice charter privacy.
>> So >> when I knocked on a lot of doors in the hotel >> and I asked why of parents who took their children out for one reason was class size. Two was boulder. So those are the two things and class size has
been big in Greenfield since long as I've been here. I mean they all talk about how many kids are in their classes. Um there was a question parents um at the middle school there was a social studies class of 29. I don't know if that ever got fixed.
>> Um and then just basic question is science and social studies yearl long at the middle edition. >> Thank you. I just >> just have one one >> that is a gold star for Roland. >> That's year long
>> one. Yeah. They each have the whole seventh grade 100ish kids. Okay. Of one science teacher and one social studies teacher and one math teacher, which if you ask my child, she's very happy. Just to be very clear. >> That is excellent news.
>> Was one of my And then so Andy had said to me that in last year's budget stuff, they had staff list. So, I went back, I saved everything and I found the list and and the middle school listed 10 more
teachers than the high school. So, what was just >> that's that listing is redistricting. >> Okay. >> It's going to be undone. So, we >> Oh, that was with the four extra teachers that were to be hired.
>> We have post not redistricting but change that to the mayor >> because that didn't make any sense to me. I mean 10 high schools usually have more staff because they are doing AP and stuff. >> Okay. So I think based on what I'm
hearing everything we present about increase we need to explicitly link to the people and the class size. I think that is the only way we can frame it for people to really understand the consequences and
>> what the human cost will be if we're not able to >> make things better for children. >> Yes. >> But it shouldn't be shaming either. >> No, it shouldn't be shaming. It's just more of >> shaming. No, that >> and everything that was awful. So just
can't that again think >> it was bad. >> Well, no. And also the mayor does not have a money tree that she's ever revealed to me. >> She's got nine grandchildren. She is the first mayor to really I'm going to tell
you like sits at the table with us. Okay. Most of them never even showed up at the table. And actually you can see her what was it the fire panel? I could see her head going doing the math and she said I I got that
people were still arguing with her and she just said she was paying for it because that was important. >> Well, it I think it so from a nonshamy I think the framing is just like we are asking for this money and this is why
this is the impact for the kids. This is these are the people whose jobs we can save. So I I think keeping it framing framing everything on people not shaming. >> Exactly. >> And with all of us going in eyes wide
open that the state aid isn't where it should be. Who knows what's happening with federal aid. Um we are digging ourselves deeper into a pit with choice and charter. And we're not the only district having these exact same issues. the town health
insurance. All sorts of towns all over Western Mass are having to make cuts that they can't afford to make because they have to pay their health insurance bills. So, we we don't need to shame people for being in the same impossible situation that we
are in. >> Said out loud. >> Yes. >> Yeah. We're we're all going to be civil and nice to each other this year. Yes, maybe. >> Um, >> you want to look at your calendars for maybe that first week in March? >> Um,
>> oh, I apologize. >> Are we having a meeting next week? >> Next, well, not this subcommittee, but the full committee. >> Okay. >> So, we can either or because usually the scheduling happens for Becky for beginning March, but early March. Um,
>> like Well, I'm Well, that's the question. Do we would it make more sense for us to meet before or after the March 11th transportation study? >> After hearing >> would because it's budget season would
would you guys be amendable to meeting both before and after? >> Absolutely. Okay. >> So, we will schedule very early March and then schedule >> would we have Roland's budget sort ofish by then to go over before the meeting and then have
>> Yeah, I would like to do that. the transportation and then have the transportation presented >> little fine finetune I wouldn't say be final tune but the final tune budget >> prior to the end >> regarding the whole trans whatever comes
out of this report quite honestly he's not going to be able to address that by 27 because if indeed let's play out the hypothetical that he's saying we need to contract out we do have an existing and when that is done you need to bargain that bargain that out for whatever
because that's what's it's been done when school districts be the easier one when they contract out switch from self operating food service management to going with the self operating food service to a food service management company you have to bargain
>> which we're transportation is up for bargaining this this year >> so that's just a thing as far as >> this this report is going to be valuable but it is not going to be up by 27 just Unfortunately, so you know
>> I wouldn't be surprised if it comes in like mixed messages to be honest with you. >> Yeah. I mean like because a lot of the challenge I say and as much as I don't want to say that I sound like to give or saying let's go get in the transportation business. um when you
look at the I'll say the foundation that they potentially lay with what it is that we are looking to do and what it is that those that have come after in the transition have grown into one of the challenges that tree center currently have is is the staff you know is to be
able to get enough drivers so that we're not contracting out even on the you know what we pay our staff internally versus what it is that we're paying for a contractor is less >> I mean and it jobs, >> right? >> You know, there are people who may not be a good fit to be an IIA, but we are
still employing people within our community. >> We're still paying them more than we are pair professionals with children. That was so the context of when they started this and I remember Northampton was about to go belly up because of
homeless transportation and we had just got 50 CH homeless children and I'm the one who had them going or so many vans in front of my school like it was just open a door check the driver because we had
it was a horrible time because all of a sudden Western Mass Northampton was in big trouble. Um, and that's when this was all discussed to keep us from being as bad as where Northampton because they were having out of
>> because that's when the sweet started two guys in a van sweet transportation. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think we're going to have to see what the report says from there. I mean, we can we can discuss this so we're blew in the face, but it's not going to get us >> March 2nd or 3 that Monday or Tuesday.
Those are the days, right? >> Okay. >> I like this time on Tuesday. >> Okay. This time on Tuesday. So, do we want to check with Becky to see because of the way the month shook out uh March 3rd. So, pretty much just changed the
two to a three and we've got the scheduling done. >> 11:30. >> 11:30. Yep. Okay. or >> you said March 3rd possibly. >> March 3rd. >> 11:30.
>> Yep. 11. >> Wonderful. Okay. Um in that case, unless someone has anything that they need to say or something they want added to the agenda for that one, uh we would have a motion to adjurnn. >> So second.
>> All in favor? >> I. And we are adjourned at 12:33. Uh, thank you for this amazing, entertaining broadcast. Come back next month for the cliffhanger resolution.