WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=56oGdtC-dqM Part: 1 1 00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:17.840 Good evening. Welcome to a meeting of the Mountainside Board of Education. In accordance with the state sunshine law and state regulations, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by mailing a notice of the time, date, location, and instructions for accessing the meeting 2 00:00:17.840 --> 00:00:34.960 to the Union County local source and the Westfield leader. filing the same with the burough clerk posting the notice at the main access door of Mountside Board of Education building and on the Mountside Board of Education website. These meetings are reserved for board deliberation and for review of items 3 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:51.440 contained within the agenda. The board reserves a right to vote on action items. The board welcomes participation of interested individuals. We encourage questions about specific school practices, incidents, or events to be brought directly to school administration. Public comment will be 4 00:00:51.440 --> 00:01:06.320 permitted at the beginning of the meeting for agenda items only. Each participant is asked to give his or her name and address prior to making the statement. In addition, time will be allotted at the end of the meeting for public comment on any item. Speakers shall limit their comments to three 5 00:01:06.320 --> 00:01:22.640 minutes. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan >> here. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin >> here. >> Dr. Dana Pierre. >> Mr. Jordan Heyman, >> here. >> Mrs. Vivian Puo >> here. >> This is Candace Shiano >> here. >> This is Lauren Wargan 6 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:36.960 >> here. >> I would like a motion to go into executive session. It's 601. >> So moved. >> Second. >> We will return in an hour and a half, approximately 7:30. All those in favor? >> I opposed. 7 00:01:36.960 --> 00:19:38.039 >> Motion carries. See you in a bit. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Thank you. 8 00:30:08.559 --> 00:48:18.520 Washington Yeah, we get shifted. Andrew's up there next to Jerry. >> Yeah, just it's just this meeting. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. 9 00:55:53.040 --> 01:42:00.000 Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. We are returning from our executive session at 7:41. Can we please stand to 10 01:42:00.000 --> 01:42:22.320 salute the flag? I pledge algiance 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, we're going to go right into our 11 01:42:22.320 --> 01:42:55.119 budget presentation. Good evening. This is the 2627 budget proposal for Mountainside School District. I just want to say since starting in January, it has been a pleasure to see the commitment and passion 12 01:42:55.119 --> 01:43:12.000 that for the students learning here at Mountainside. What is a budget? A budget consists of our revenues and expenditures. Revenues, which are expended funds, expected funds coming into the district, 13 01:43:12.000 --> 01:43:27.679 and expenditures, which are expenses planned for the needs and priorities of the district. We're here tonight to look at the 2627 budget was which was approved by the county on April 7th. 14 01:43:27.679 --> 01:43:43.880 Even though funds are allocated for specific line items, transfers can be made during the 2627 school year if needs end up being in different areas than predicted. That's why it says it's a living document. 15 01:43:45.600 --> 01:44:02.480 How did we get here? We hit the ground running when Mr. When I started in January, every department was given this year's line items and the allocations. Mr. Kenny and I met over multiple meetings with the department heads to go over the needs of each line 16 01:44:02.480 --> 01:44:19.280 item for next year. This included obtaining quotes for vendors such as curriculum, technology, and specific supplies. The majority of the budget consists of fixed contractual costs that have that are out of our control. This includes 17 01:44:19.280 --> 01:44:36.199 the union contracts for employees and benefits, our send receive contract for our students to attend high school, and special education out of district placement costs. We then looked into our revenue sources. 18 01:44:39.600 --> 01:44:56.560 As you can see from the chart, 85% of revenue is from the district taxes, 9.2 in state aid. The state aid figure was given to the district after the state proposed their 2627 budget on March 10th. Before that time, we were told to 19 01:44:56.560 --> 01:45:11.679 plan for equal or less state aid from this year. Mountainside fortunately received an increase in transportation aid as well as extraordinary and security aid. a slight decrease in special education aid, but overall an 20 01:45:11.679 --> 01:45:29.600 increase in state aid. Special revenue on this chart refers to federal aid. We did not receive title one funds this year and we will not receive them next year. We planned for 75% of this year's title 2 funds to receive 21 01:45:29.600 --> 01:45:51.159 next year as well as our IDA funding which is a total of $138,61 fund balance is the accumulated financial surplus at the end of the year. Based on the 2425 audit, the district has $589,899 22 01:45:51.840 --> 01:46:07.840 to use in the 2627 budget. We are required by the New Jersey DOA to use the fund balance in excess of 2% to reduce the general fund tax levy in the 2627 budget. Those are our expected revenues. 23 01:46:07.840 --> 01:46:25.360 Miscellaneous revenues consist of subscription busing, preschool tuition, facility usage, and interest on investments. We are constantly looking for additional revenue sources to help, such as the many grant opportunities out there, and 24 01:46:25.360 --> 01:46:44.239 of course, Mr. Kenny's potential filming opportunities. >> I'm not. >> Now, let's look at our expenditures. Over 80% you can see from this chart of the budget is expended to contractual 25 01:46:44.239 --> 01:47:01.280 obligations. We have our instructional support which are those employee salaries, our employee benefits, our send receive contract, special ed tuition, leaving us with 20% to maintain 26 01:47:01.280 --> 01:47:22.239 facilities, instructional supplies, professional services and technology. These are our current 2526 reserve account balances. The fund balance as I mentioned earlier where we are limited to the 2%. 27 01:47:22.239 --> 01:47:38.400 Our tuition reserve which we will be using that 60,000 in the 2627 budget for tax relief. The capital reserves that can be used for capital projects. It's allocated to use 170,000 of that 28 01:47:38.400 --> 01:47:53.920 375335 in the 2627 budget for security upgrades and our maintenance reserve fund. Once the 2526 audit is completed, we can look at fund balance to hopefully 29 01:47:53.920 --> 01:48:12.000 replenish these accounts, mainly the tuition reserve due to the upcoming new send and receive contract. On this slide, you can see the increases and decreases from this year's budget to next year's. 30 01:48:12.000 --> 01:48:29.080 There is an significant over a million dollar jump in health benefits. Health benefits are a national crisis which have trickled down to the state which unfortunately is putting onto the districts and the taxpayers. 31 01:48:29.280 --> 01:48:44.800 The state provided a healthcare waiver in order to increase the local tax levy without a vote. We will see if we get any relief in the 2728 year, but they are still predicting cost to continue to increase by 30%. 32 01:48:44.800 --> 01:49:03.920 You can see the decrease in transportation and tuition due to the decrease in out of district placements giving a total increase to the general fund of 763,831. This slide shows the comparison by 33 01:49:03.920 --> 01:49:25.639 dollar amounts. Tuition is broken out to see our send receive went up but our out of district went down. The bottom line, the burrow provided the average assessed home value at $636,774. 34 01:49:27.199 --> 01:49:45.119 Based on that amount, the average homeowner in Mountainside will see an increase of $186 for the year, which is a 2.86% 86% increase from this year. 35 01:49:45.119 --> 01:50:02.239 >> Now Chris will speak on how the 2627 budget will be utilized. So one of the things you probably see in the news is districts cutting staff which unfortunately happens when you do have an impact in the loss of state aid. 36 01:50:02.239 --> 01:50:16.800 Fortunately for us, we're increasing staff. You'll notice that we're adding a teacher and a paraprofessional to the ABA program that we're developing at Deerfield. We're maintaining existing staff without a reduction in this 37 01:50:16.800 --> 01:50:33.600 budget. Um, we have to in this budget put in for an enhancement to our existing curriculum as well as the new cursive writing curriculum that kids are going to get. Yes, kids. Do we know what cursive writing is? You're going to know 38 01:50:33.600 --> 01:50:50.560 it after next year. and also increasing mental health and behavioral supports which is extremely important. Um you know we always are looking at ways to not only increase the amount of hours but obviously the personnel that we have helping our 39 01:50:50.560 --> 01:51:07.119 students in those areas. One of the things that we're using part of our uh capital reserve is replacing some HVAC units. Um the ones that are really really bad uh right now this past year alone and we're not done. We really 40 01:51:07.119 --> 01:51:21.440 haven't gotten to the air conditioning season. Uh we've already spent $60,000 close to $60,000 in repairs to the HVAC units. Uh so much to where in the fall because you cannot have a classroom in 41 01:51:21.440 --> 01:51:39.360 uh in a 62 degree or below atmosphere. We've had to relocate preschool. We've had to relocate several other uh classrooms because the HBAC units are aging and those are the ones that we're trying to look to replace through uh the 42 01:51:39.360 --> 01:51:56.560 capital reserve funds adding security measures to strengthen the building which the buildings excuse me which is very important and as always making sure that we have our protection of our class 2 officers in both schools which is again in this 2627 budget. Let's talk 43 01:51:56.560 --> 01:52:11.520 about future considerations in years to come. As Miss Berick mentioned, health care cost increases. Um having a meeting with our broker, we do know that there could be an impact in January. So that's 44 01:52:11.520 --> 01:52:29.599 when new rates come out for next year. Um but right now they're currently up all around the state around 30%. That's why you see a lot of the staffing cuts in districts. They just can't handle the amount of increase. that is a fixed cost. You cannot offer health insurance 45 01:52:29.599 --> 01:52:46.560 to people, right? Um so we're hoping that by analyzing some of the new rates and also our rating as a district, we may be able to go into different platforms and groups that might have a a less costly plan uh for both the 46 01:52:46.560 --> 01:53:03.440 employee and the district, which could help contract impact. So we mentioned about our send receive contract that is coming up in 2728 where we have to have a new one. Um currently right now we'd be uh remiss and foolish not to explore 47 01:53:03.440 --> 01:53:19.520 other options given the fact that we want to make sure that we're providing both the best programming possible but also maintaining fiscal responsibility and that includes at looking other at other districts for high schools. Not to say that, you know, Governor Livingston 48 01:53:19.520 --> 01:53:34.000 is not going to be our, you know, high school in the future, but being that we're in a negotiation period, we're talking about a significant increase in 2728 that potentially could be a significant 49 01:53:34.000 --> 01:53:51.679 impact that would have class size at Deerfield and Beachwood increase. You would have staff cuts in 2728 simply because of that amount of increase in the send received contract. Revenue sources. We always look to 50 01:53:51.679 --> 01:54:07.440 explore additional revenue sources. If you haven't watched Netflix big mistakes, it's a little plug. Make sure you watch it. I hear that it's renewed for a second season. So, that might be good for us. Uh, but we do have other revenue sources as well. We're looking at every possible scenario from the land 51 01:54:07.440 --> 01:54:24.000 that we own to some of the land that nobody knew we owned. Yes, we do have hidden patches of land all around Deerfield that we didn't know we owned until somebody and a neighbor said, "Hey, by the way, that's your tree. You got to take it down, but that's not our 52 01:54:24.000 --> 01:54:40.880 property." They're like, "Yeah, it is." So, we're looking at potentially selling off some land that we really don't use, potentially gaining revenue to help out, like I said, with that 2728 increase. That's going to be, you know, a real 53 01:54:40.880 --> 01:54:56.880 impact on the budget for the the uh upcoming 2728 year. >> Talk about the budget timeline. >> Uh well, we're on track with our budget timeline. We approved our tentative budget in March. We submitted it to the 54 01:54:56.880 --> 01:55:13.920 county. We got approval on the 7th. We advertised and here we are at the public hearing. Does the board have any questions? >> I do. What is your the cost savings for creating an ABA program at Deerfield or 55 01:55:13.920 --> 01:55:32.560 sending out? >> We haven't looked into that. >> Well, you have uh one of the out district students being brought back. you're not paying for that tuition. U you also have a student that's staying in district that you're not sending out of district. So you have not only the 56 01:55:32.560 --> 01:55:48.400 cost savings of saving a tuition but not spending another tuition and also the transportation that it takes to bring students to that out of district placement. >> Did that answer your question? >> Generally a follow up on that. Is there 57 01:55:48.400 --> 01:56:03.840 any possibility of gaining revenue from that? tuition students. When we're looking at >> reaching out to districts, I believe the feelers are already out there for two additional students. >> Okay. >> In neighboring districts, um, one of the things that you have to be careful of 58 01:56:03.840 --> 01:56:21.199 that often is a uh uh a little bit of a a misnomer is the fact of you could make up whatever tuition that you want. You know, if you bring in a student like, "Ah, it's $80,000." But that's not how it works. there's a calculated cost that Miss Burick has to 59 01:56:21.199 --> 01:56:38.320 do to give to a district who's going to come and send their kid here. So, there is a formula to do so. >> Thank you. I've asked it before, but um can you Chris, can you share just over strategy on um transportation um what we've done 60 01:56:38.320 --> 01:56:54.719 to mitigate I know we're voting tonight on uh on Durham, >> but but also just some of the parent strategy to try to keep this keep this number flat to going our way. >> Well, we could talk about the parent 61 01:56:54.719 --> 01:57:10.800 transportation contracts and how they're laid out. a little bit of >> we did take on yes parent uh contracts to transport their own children which has saved us >> throughout a district right is is that a I think we started that 62 01:57:10.800 --> 01:57:26.880 maybe a year or two ago um it I don't I don't know the numbers but is it something we feel like we can grow or continue or is that it where we are right now is basically the we've realized our maximum savings what's the what's the sense there 63 01:57:26.880 --> 01:57:42.639 >> I I Well, since we're not sending any more kids out of district at this point in time, >> the current ones that are available and taking up the offer, >> take that, we're pretty much at where we're at. >> Okay. >> Um, to answer your other question 64 01:57:42.639 --> 01:57:57.119 regards to, >> you know, overall transportation, you >> you know, Brooke and I always try to look at the contracts and whether or not we can get something a little bit better. So, we've had discussions with Durham. >> Yep. 65 01:57:57.119 --> 01:58:15.199 uh we're able to keep that as a 2% increase that >> which right now could have been a 3.175 increase >> along those lines um health benefits obviously being the biggest increase this year um are there any options for 66 01:58:15.199 --> 01:58:30.159 next year and future years knowing that that probably will not go down um and could potentially continue to bust our budget and continue to go up. What other options do we have to look uh for health benefits? >> Talk about our meeting. 67 01:58:30.159 --> 01:58:47.040 >> We just met with our brokers on that matter. Um there are other companies out there besides the state health benefits as long as we look at we have to do a analysis of our claims to see if we 68 01:58:47.040 --> 01:59:02.480 could fit into those companies. But we are looking to get that done this year. Um, like I said, the state provides this health waiver. That's their incentive to help, but they 69 01:59:02.480 --> 01:59:17.040 haven't said they may do other relief programs in the future. >> This came what, a year or two after just starting this new health benefit program. >> Yeah. I mean, when we talk to our insurance brokers, 70 01:59:17.040 --> 01:59:34.080 the real increase comes in medical terms, tepatides. Goi, right? There's an increase in health insurance because of the increase in people that are on those particular 71 01:59:34.080 --> 01:59:54.639 products which are newer on the market being used a lot more often by a lot more people. >> I asked last time too, but just to confirm any changes to the the estimate number of students that will be a GL in this budget. Are we intact from uh a 72 01:59:54.639 --> 02:00:10.239 month ago? Essentially, no. No updates on that. >> No updates. >> Okay. And do you know what the number is off hand of? What? Uh >> how many students? >> Yeah. What are we >> 232? >> Okay. Okay. >> But I think your question is is did they owe us any 73 02:00:10.239 --> 02:00:26.639 >> Did we overpay >> last year for kids that we thought were going to show up and never did show up? >> Right. Right. >> Okay. Right now we still have >> that would be determined. We still have I just got a uh >> I just got a a student today coming back from a private school going to GL 74 02:00:26.639 --> 02:00:41.599 starting Monday. >> Got it. >> So that's not accounted for, but we're going to have to obviously fill that into the formula. >> Um so what that means is that we're we we've already agreed to pay them for 232 students that are going to be there. At 75 02:00:41.599 --> 02:00:59.239 the end of next year, we will do account and see is it higher or lower? And then we may owe them more money or they may owe us money back. >> But we've agreed to the 232 students for next year. >> Correct. >> Okay. Do you mind going back to the slide that's comparison of budget lines? 76 02:01:02.800 --> 02:01:17.840 >> That one. >> Yeah. So guys, you know, I love to talk about this topic and I have the pleasure of sitting on both boards and I sat through the the Governor Livingston Berkeley Heights uh budget, right? So, um, we have, this is the last year where we 77 02:01:17.840 --> 02:01:32.080 have the luxury of being able to forecast how much our tuition at Governor Livingston is going to be. We have a contract in place. It's been in place for 10 years. It's a 2% increase year-over-year over year, and that's what's expiring. So, at this point, we have no way of anticipating what the 78 02:01:32.080 --> 02:01:47.920 next year's tuition will be. I will say when I dug into the math of all public records, uh they calculate what basically what a tuition would be for a student like ours to be about $5,000 more per student, right? So we just said 79 02:01:47.920 --> 02:02:04.960 232 about $5,000 more a student. Um you know that number adds up to about 1.2 million, right? Where somewhere between that zero and 1.2 is what we're dealing with at the moment in terms of where are we going to find that next year? Right. 80 02:02:04.960 --> 02:02:22.080 Um, and I think what we just talked about was there only so many ways to gain revenue and there's only so many of these items that are available to be changed. Right? We're not going to change the teachers contract, but there are certain fixed costs. The 1.2 million is going to have to come out of things that are going to be very very difficult 81 02:02:22.080 --> 02:02:37.199 decisions for for us. I'm not saying it's 1.2. I'm using it as a just a guide at the moment um as we as we work through it all. Right. So, um, we talked about in the comment like, you know, some of the things are out of our control, but this is one we're really going to have to work on for the next year. And I think it's got to be a top 82 02:02:37.199 --> 02:02:52.639 priority of ours of whatever, uh, district we decide to go with next year is to understand what our tuition rates are going to be there or else we're not going to be able to plan or else we're going to be sitting here next year in shock, right, of what happened, >> right? 83 02:02:52.639 --> 02:03:08.880 And and I'll add that it's it's the it's the first year number in a new contract. And then what's the increase? So we've had predictable 2%. But that's the other part of the conversation. That's that's the multiplication of math every year. >> Well, and is it sustainable? So if we 84 02:03:08.880 --> 02:03:24.480 don't have that 2% and that's a variable number, >> yeah, >> in the contract, >> will we even be able to budget for it year-over-year? >> And and what's the impact on the educational environment? Like I said, you know, there's only so much increase you could do to class size before it 85 02:03:24.480 --> 02:03:40.159 gets, you know, unmanageable and you're going to see a true educational impact via student performance, >> right? >> At the Deerfield Beachwood >> school specifically, right? Yeah. >> So, just a little bit of a warning, right? We're 86 02:03:40.159 --> 02:03:54.800 we're here now. We know we have a clear line of sight, but we also know that as soon as we leave here tonight, it's a qu it's a big question mark. Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you guys. >> Great job. >> Thank you. 87 02:03:54.800 --> 02:04:33.920 >> Thank you. >> Okay. At this time, does anyone have um would like to come up for comments on our budget? No. Okay. Seeing none, um can I please have a motion to approve our minutes from last month? >> So second. 88 02:04:33.920 --> 02:04:49.840 >> Any comments or questions? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan, >> yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin, >> yes. >> Dr. Dana Guided Cierra, I >> I believe I have to abstain. Was I Was it last I missed? >> Were you up here? >> Just abstain. 89 02:04:49.840 --> 02:05:04.320 >> No. >> I can't remember if I missed this one or the >> Mr. Jordan. >> Pass. Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Candace Shiano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lauren Morgan. >> Yes. >> We do not have correspondence. Um, 90 02:05:04.320 --> 02:05:20.159 >> let's move on. Public participation. If anyone would like to come up to the podium, state your name and address on and discuss anything that we're voting on, please come on up. Seeing none. Okay. I do not have a president's report. I'll move on to our 91 02:05:20.159 --> 02:05:36.400 superintendent report. >> All right. Thank you guys. We're going to start off with some very, very not worthy accolades. Um, as you could see in the next slide here, we had participants in our Union County Dental Society annual 92 02:05:36.400 --> 02:05:52.560 poster contest. So, we have several teachers. Miss Bronco, our nurse, Miss Tisha, the art teacher at Deerfield, they coordinate um the particular uh you know student participation in this program. Uh the 93 02:05:52.560 --> 02:06:09.520 theme was this year forever in my brushing error. Uh so we have tonight two finalists that we're recognizing coming up, shaking hands, taking pictures, getting recognized. All right. and we're going to show you kind of what 94 02:06:09.520 --> 02:06:53.040 they did. So, Bel Gton, come on up. And Millie >> coach of us. We're just sitting here for >> Okay, moving on. So, we have some more great experiences and accolades. Kindness matters, another contest that 95 02:06:53.040 --> 02:07:09.360 our students participated in. I'd like to thank Miss Tisha and Miss Candle for helping spearhead this as well. Uh the theme centered around kindness grows in Mountainside. And with that, Miss Tisha sponsored the art competition with a 96 02:07:09.360 --> 02:07:26.400 $275 donated gift card prize prizes, excuse me. So again, winning designs. You're going to see them coming up. We're going to call them up and recognize their great work. So we'll go ahead and congratulate Khloe Duca, Isa Philippu at 97 02:07:26.400 --> 02:07:53.599 this time. Come on up real quick. Congratulations to that. And congratulations, third place $50 gift card, Kennedy Goodway. >> Come on. >> You don't want get in. Go get 98 02:07:53.599 --> 02:08:17.280 >> Exactly. I mean, you fix you fix the prize. Don't give me a >> Can't share the cash with dad. It's your money. >> Congratulations, candidate. >> Congratulations. Second place, we have 99 02:08:17.280 --> 02:08:56.320 Amelia Lee. >> Congratulations, Ameilia. >> First place, Ava Peter. Good job, Eva. Outside. Congratulations to Kennedy Moore, Union County Teen Arts, whose artwork was 100 02:08:56.320 --> 02:09:11.440 critiqued. It's a strong word, but it was critiqued at the Union County Teen Arts Festival. Her work is going to go on tour around Union County for the next year with artwork with 70 other teens in the county. This is a well-deserved honor. So, congratulations, Kennedy 101 02:09:11.440 --> 02:09:28.400 Moore. Okay. Excellent. And there is the artwork that's going to be displayed. >> It's really nice. >> Goldfish and mixed media. >> Oh, wow. >> Right. Mixed media means you do it in different types of formats and with 102 02:09:28.400 --> 02:09:45.199 different types of uh uh materials. Correct. There you go. I know a little bit about her from my daughter. So, thank you again, Miss Tisha, Miss Candle, Miss Lel for helping bring this program to recognition. Uh we appreciate every effort that you 103 02:09:45.199 --> 02:10:02.079 do to have our students get recognized. So, thank you very much. And we're going to move on. Um no display there. So, you guys could have a seat. Okay. uh Mountainside Trailblazers. Every month we ask our teachers and our 104 02:10:02.079 --> 02:10:19.280 administrators to recognize and really take a deep dive in pointing out and grabbing the person that displays in each school the pillars of character. Um tonight we have two fabulous individuals with us and I'm so happy to be able to 105 02:10:19.280 --> 02:10:36.000 recognize them tonight. A little bit about our Deerfield Trailblazer of the month. This particular individual h is the best classroom community helper. Always helps other kids in class uphold their end of the bargain, right? 106 02:10:36.000 --> 02:10:51.760 In every kind of way. She is a leader in the classroom. She helps it run smoothly as being a helper. And she really deserves what this particular individual that nominated her a citizenship award. 107 02:10:51.760 --> 02:11:13.360 Although we call it a trailblazer, we look at citizenship as being one because she's helping her fellow peers. So for that tonight, we recognize Vanessa Garbadian. Garbadian. Garbadian. >> Gabian. >> All right, let's take a picture. 108 02:11:13.360 --> 02:11:34.400 >> Good job, Vanessa. >> Congrat and our Beachwood Trailblazer of the month. Kind, respectful, thoughtful member of the community. This person truly shines in every way they treat others each and 109 02:11:34.400 --> 02:11:50.719 every day. Not only helps others, he naturally guides them. Think about this for a a young individual. Um he's supportive. He is such a special quality in himself. He puts others before 110 02:11:50.719 --> 02:12:07.760 himself. So think about that again for a young individual. He leads in a quiet quiet humble way. And I'm not quite sure he really does realize the positive impact that he makes on others. And for that we want to recognize him. It sets 111 02:12:07.760 --> 02:12:54.000 himself apart from the others in the building. for this month. Our Beachwood Mountainside Trailblazer is Ezekiel Whan Spanola. Come on. >> One more. Just a couple other updates. Our 112 02:12:54.000 --> 02:13:09.920 Deerfield sewer line work is on schedule to finish May 11th ahead of schedule, which is great to hear. Um, if you haven't already done so, parent surveys out there, okay? Last day to fill it out is Friday. It's closing up on the facilities. Make sure your opinion is 113 02:13:09.920 --> 02:13:25.119 heard. If you know other people that haven't done it right now, I mean, I'm pushing 400 responses. So, that's a great great parent response. I I really do want more. I want, you know, to hear from as many parents as possible that have students in the district. There's a 114 02:13:25.119 --> 02:13:40.639 community survey that went out. It's on our website. It's on our Instagram. It will be on the burrows. So this is for non Deerfield and Beachwood parents. So if you know relatives, if you know upand cominging parents, I want their opinions 115 02:13:40.639 --> 02:13:57.920 as well. We want to hear from them. So, please make sure that they fill that out because you have 7,000 residents and I know that I'm not going to get 7,000 responses because take away the parents right now, but I would like a good amount that's going to give the board some great valuable feedback on where 116 02:13:57.920 --> 02:14:13.760 we'd like to take the district when it comes to facilities. Um, and one last thing, if you didn't know, now you know. Congratulations to the Beachwood Bears. Every year they participate in the Kids Heart Challenge and this year they had a 117 02:14:13.760 --> 02:14:29.199 successful fundraising effort raising $28,000 >> for the Kids Heart Challenge. I What is the actual total? I mean, they keep it's got to be up in the hundreds of thousands, I believe. So, it's it's 118 02:14:29.199 --> 02:14:45.599 really amazing over the years what they've done. And this is all in efforts to not only the staff there but the kids and the parents as well. So we thank you for that effort. So >> that's what I have tonight my report. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations. 119 02:14:45.599 --> 02:15:06.920 Congratulations. Um at this time you can leave unless you want to stay here and be part of our whole entire meeting. We'll let you go. Run. >> Thank you. Bye. Thank you. Congratulations. 120 02:15:07.199 --> 02:15:28.480 >> Bye. >> Bye. Take care. >> Okay, we'll move on to our business administrators report. >> None. Okay. Berkeley Heights leaison. >> Sure. 121 02:15:28.480 --> 02:15:42.960 >> Guess what? We had two meetings since the last time we met. Yeah. No, we got a lot. So, um, yeah. So, two meetings, uh, if I have it right, the March 16th and no, our last meeting was March 16th. Yeah. So, two meetings. Um, we did our 122 02:15:42.960 --> 02:15:59.679 preliminary budget. Um, at that time, um, all in the taxes for Berkeley Heights were going to go up 2%. Uh, so taking the max and then an additional 1.03 for their referendum. Right. Um, what I wanted to call out here is is 123 02:15:59.679 --> 02:16:15.119 that just make sure we're we're considering this. It appears that they're making the first referendum payment on May of 2027. And I know we owe or we will be responsible for a portion of the debt. So, just given it 124 02:16:15.119 --> 02:16:29.599 was May whether it is or is not in our budget. I know originally we said it wasn't, but I wanted to bring that to light for you guys just to potentially double check. Um uh good news. Um 125 02:16:29.599 --> 02:16:46.880 the press box um at Governor Livingston at the uh Turf Athletic Fields is officially going to be the grand opening will be next Wednesday. >> You guys have all been invited. >> Oh yeah. >> Welcome. >> I did open the event. Did I miss the date and time? It was on 126 02:16:46.880 --> 02:17:03.359 >> It's on there. It's on the photo. >> So it's Wednesday. >> It's not It's a week from today. Um, but the real grand opening is tomorrow and Friday, uh, Governor Livingston is hosting the Union County, uh, track and 127 02:17:03.359 --> 02:17:18.399 field championships. >> Um, so, >> uh, a team mom that I'm aware of was up there testing the PA today, um, making sure everything was all right. So, if you have nothing else going on, uh, track and field, all of the schools from Union County, both public and private, 128 02:17:18.399 --> 02:17:34.880 will be there. It is utter chaos. It's something to be seen. Um, lots of runners, discus, javelin, chop put. Um, it's it's it's fun, right, just to see the hill uh pack like that. Um, so, uh, >> and if the wind blows, no one's going to get hit with the press box falling over. 129 02:17:34.880 --> 02:17:50.880 >> And if the wind blows, so they actually talked about, so at my last meeting, you know, again, I mentioned Jordan's big head on this, too. They wanted to thank him specifically for all the hard work he did. So, I I suggested that they name one of the the the pillars after you, you know, because you were so worried about the thing falling down on other 130 02:17:50.880 --> 02:18:07.040 people. Yeah. >> Right. But it is it is beautiful. So I went back at one point I started looking at old photos and I couldn't find a time when this sing box >> wasn't there. So it's it's it's ancient. Right. So um it's a great upgrade to the school. Um the other part that may or 131 02:18:07.040 --> 02:18:22.719 may not be relevant for us um that turf field is coming to an end of a life. So now we got to figure out what what they're going to do to replace the actual turf there um and whether or not it'll be grass or not. So that was a topic of conversation in one of our last meetings as well is it's got one more calendar year. So we got to figure out 132 02:18:22.719 --> 02:18:38.240 and it wasn't in the referendum. So we got to figure out what didn't I >> that wasn't in the referendum. >> It was not. Yeah. So they specifically the community surveys wanted to dep prioritize. So everything athletics. Uh so no lights were in the referendum. No no turf was in the referendum. So um 133 02:18:38.240 --> 02:18:54.960 that is a topic for the person who replaces me as the leazison up at Governor Livingston uh to figure out what they're going to do with that. Why look at me? >> That spot. One of you, whoever. I'm not picking anybody yet. If you'd like, I will. But no, we'll ask volunteers first. >> A lot of anti-turf up there. So, look 134 02:18:54.960 --> 02:19:10.559 out. >> Just saying. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Publicly. Yeah. >> Um >> also, um at our you know, again, there's always negotiation part. So, they did reference our send and receive uh negotiations 135 02:19:10.559 --> 02:19:26.319 going on. Um I think I'll I'll share you guys will share it. But from their perspective, uh communications continue to happen at the lawyer level. Um there was a ask um maybe to get our lawyer a little bit more involved, right? I think they were waiting for some communication back from us. Um but that's it. That 136 02:19:26.319 --> 02:19:43.040 that's the uh the end of my uh x leazison report. >> Okay. Thank you. Moving on. Can I please have a motion to approve under administration items one, two, and three? >> So moved. >> Second. Any comments or questions? 137 02:19:43.040 --> 02:20:00.800 Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan, >> yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin, >> yes. >> Dr. Dana Gidi, CPR, >> yes. >> Mr. Jordan Heyman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Vivian Poop, >> yes. >> Mrs. Candace Shiano, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lauren Wart, >> yes. May, please have a motion to 138 02:20:00.800 --> 02:20:19.520 approve under budget and finance items 1 through 14. >> So move. Second. >> Any comments or questions? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan, yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin, yes. >> Dr. Dana Wedi Pierro, 139 02:20:19.520 --> 02:20:35.600 >> yes. >> Mr. Gordon Heyman, >> yes. >> Jordan, >> also yes. >> You can name the press box post after after Gordon. >> You said I'm all in for I'll even site it. 140 02:20:35.600 --> 02:20:54.800 You said >> funny. >> Can I please have a motion to approve under uh personnel items 1 through nine? >> So move. >> Second. 141 02:20:54.800 --> 02:21:11.600 >> Any comments or questions? >> I just wanted to congratulate uh Miss Gallon on her retirement. Um, thank you for your 25 years of dedication to our students. You will definitely be missed. I hope you enjoy your retirement. 142 02:21:11.600 --> 02:21:28.240 >> I I want I echo that. My daughter currently has her right now. And you know what? The one thing being a fellow English teacher, she holds kids to very high standards and expectations. >> Um, >> and even though my daughter may not like that, I love that. So, I think that's 143 02:21:28.240 --> 02:21:44.560 fantastic. Um, so I just wish her uh the best. Um, and I don't know if she's let the kids know this. >> I don't think so. >> I don't think she's let them know. I don't know. So, I've been keeping this under wraps. >> The faculty is is aware. Okay. >> The faculty. Okay. So, I don't know. But 144 02:21:44.560 --> 02:22:01.040 she's a really great tomorrow announcement. >> Both my kids. >> She is wonderful. She is such a a a huge support to the students and encourages them to be better >> be better people. Um, I'm really upset that she's retiring before my third get 145 02:22:01.040 --> 02:22:16.720 has her because both my two out of three children had her and they she's one of both of my boys favorite teachers. >> So, I wish her the best of luck and she will truly be missed. >> Great. >> Will we do something in in June or >> Yes, I'll for for everyone that's Yeah. 146 02:22:16.720 --> 02:22:33.840 Okay. >> Any other comments or questions? >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin. Yes, >> Dr. Dana Guidi Pierro. >> Guys, yes, >> Mr. Jordan Heyman. 147 02:22:33.840 --> 02:22:58.240 >> Yes, >> Mrs. Vivian Poopa. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Candace. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Lauren Wargan. >> Yes. >> May I please have a motion to approve on the curriculum just item one? >> Any comments or questions? Roll call, please. 148 02:22:58.240 --> 02:23:17.120 >> Mr. Bill Dylan, yes. Mr. Michael Goodwin, yes. Dr. Dana >> Guy CPro, >> yes. >> Mrs. Vivian Poop. Yes. >> Mrs. Candace. Yes. >> Mrs. Lauren Wargan. >> Yes. >> Can I please have a motion to approve uh under policy item one? 149 02:23:17.120 --> 02:23:33.520 >> So, move. >> Second. >> Any comments or questions? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan, >> yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin, >> yes. >> Dr. Dana Guided Catra. >> Yes. >> Oh, there you go. >> Jordan Heyman. Yes. >> Mrs. Divian Poopa. 150 02:23:33.520 --> 02:23:49.200 >> Yes. >> Mrs. Candace. Yes. >> Mrs. Lauren Morgan. >> Yes. >> That was a good one. >> That was good. >> Perfect. >> Uh, do we have any old business? >> I just want um the PTO spring fundraiser was last Thursday. >> It was well attended. Um, we did not we 151 02:23:49.200 --> 02:24:08.479 do not know the final uh amount yet that we made. Uh we I just want to thank all teachers, staff and community to for attending the event to make it such an a successful evening. >> Awesome. Uh new business >> committee reports. 152 02:24:08.479 --> 02:24:25.439 >> I can take a couple if you want. Um we've met uh I think twice uh at least on both fronts. Yeah. Um well, so that's a good point. So on on the >> start with with referendum uh on that end. So we I think we we came to the realization at least four or six weeks 153 02:24:25.439 --> 02:24:41.680 ago that we kind of needed to pick up the pace. Uh and so I mean thanks to Chris from a from a survey perspective, we're starting to to solicit feedback from both uh public that has that has students in district and then now the wider community. Um I think it's fair to 154 02:24:41.680 --> 02:24:58.560 say that we are trying to pursue an aggressive track um because there's a lot of work that needs to get done at both schools. Um and uh so I the message I think will be we we want to start better communicating with the public. Not tonight because there's only two left but um yeah there's there there is 155 02:24:58.560 --> 02:25:12.800 a lot we I think we're in the phase now essentially where we are trying to uh pick out our ones and twos. So, for anyone that saw or recall when we had uh the the uh the team in here to walk us through um all of the possible uh work 156 02:25:12.800 --> 02:25:28.560 that could be done um we which was what late last year at December, we've now gotten to the point where we are basically looking at every single possible item at at at both schools uh and discussing as a committee uh and and with with Chris and team um what what is 157 02:25:28.560 --> 02:25:44.399 really important, what we can afford uh and then the impact of that. Chris, I don't know if you want to share anything else in terms of the uh you know from a debt service perspective, but we are we are starting to get you know, >> right? We're also uh Thank you. We're also looking at the potential tax impact 158 02:25:44.399 --> 02:25:59.520 per $1 million. >> Um and we were able to meet with a financial our financial advisor to kind of get a gauge. This way when the committee does come up with their ones and twos, they obviously have to keep that in mind that there is going to be a 159 02:25:59.520 --> 02:26:15.680 price point that I think the committee itself is going to be comfortable with and uncomfortable with in order to go over that. Um, you know, with the architect, the ongoing discussion is you want to make the most of what's called debt service aid that the state gives 160 02:26:15.680 --> 02:26:32.640 you to offset the project costs. uh some projects that you do may not qualify for debt service aid. So you want to keep that in mind as well when you do want to put that into a referendum or maybe you don't because it's not going to qualify for that that debt servicing. 161 02:26:32.640 --> 02:26:48.880 >> So we'll continue to meet uh roughly every other week uh through the school year see where we are roughly you know end of June and then make a call from there. Y >> uh Bill covered a little bit of of uh foreshadowing on on on the send received front. Um >> we are no longer committee to committee 162 02:26:48.880 --> 02:27:04.240 at this point. Um we are attorney to attorney in terms of of conversation. Um we have on our end in good faith taken a good look at the existing contract and put forth uh what we would be comfortable with in a new contract. Uh we're awaiting feedback on that. So we 163 02:27:04.240 --> 02:27:20.720 hope to have that soon and obviously as >> as Chris shared um in the meantime we've started to at least gather a sense of what costs and opportunities could look like elsewhere just to just to get ahead of that from a taxpayer perspective. So, um I would I think it's fair to say that certainly at our next meeting and the 164 02:27:20.720 --> 02:27:37.920 next upper meetings this school year, uh we should have additional updates. >> Thank you, Mr. Heman. >> Just sorry to piggy back off something you said I meant to say before. Um what from a referendum perspective, I I know we get uh some relief, right, or state 165 02:27:37.920 --> 02:27:55.359 aid back, but I was great to see in our um in our budget for this year, there are certain projects that we didn't want to wait on, right? Correct. So at the same time where we're taking advantage of that capital reserve and putting together those security projects, it's only going to eventually remove some line items that would have been in the referendum, right? So the things I can't 166 02:27:55.359 --> 02:28:12.000 wait, right? Call them ones and twos, but these are, you know, even even above, right? >> Like you end of life HBAC units that are going to be budgeted for this year and not wait for. >> So it's a happy and it was, you know, great job by by you guys, right? taking care of those critical projects that 167 02:28:12.000 --> 02:28:26.720 can't wait, right? Um even if we would have gotten a little bit money back, right? But you know, we gota we gota pick and choose. But the benefit of that is in the long run, they won't it'll be less of a referendum when we have to go. >> Yes. And and keep me honest here, Chris. I mean, some of the things we're looking at referendum, we're also in the process 168 02:28:26.720 --> 02:28:44.960 still of saying, could we do that now? >> Oh, yeah. >> On a on a an even quicker timeline and and use dollars ahead of a potential referendum. And so we're not we're not done doing that. >> We're not done yet. >> Yeah. Thank you. Any other committee reports? 169 02:28:44.960 --> 02:29:00.640 Okay, we're moving on. Uh public participation at this time, if you would like to come up for any public comment, please come up to the podium, state your name and address on anything you would like to discuss. Seeing none. None. All right. >> Okay. We do not have a second, exec. Um 170 02:29:00.640 --> 02:29:13.240 so I think this is it. Can I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. Second. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Have a great evening. >> Thank you guys. >> That was loud.