So, in light of that, uh, Robin, if you would, uh, take the notes on what happened, um, so that we can memorialize that. Am I good to proceed? >> Yes, please. >> Okay. So, as far as FY26, you know, and
a lot of this should not come as a surprise. We are starting uh to encounter or have been encountering for you know at least the last few weeks um some issues around class size um as as well as some of our special education
subseppparate programs at the elementary level. Uh that has resulted in myself um and Dr. Ree spending a considerable amount of time at Varnenbrook to help with support um in that building. Um and we have we have reached a point where we
have had to take um some action around addressing some of the um staffing issues in the building. So we have posted two additional behavior techs in that building. Um currently there are two um and they are not able to um
address the number of issues that arise over the course of the day. Um they really it's not even um it's not even an argument really. um they definitely need to be doubled um in our estimation at this point and we are also in the
process of looking at adding um potentially another administrator to the special education department. Um, one of the issues that we're facing with special education now is the state for all intents and purposes has required that special education um,
administrators chair um, meetings which has created a situation for us again where we're um, getting close to 30% in special education where our three special education admins are in meetings all day um, making it extremely
difficult for them to address issues in the district and in some um, some ways do their job. Um again, it's another unfunded mandates as far as I'm concerned um from the state. Uh but in particular, uh that change has had a
significant impact on Varnbrook and the special education programs. We're in a situation where we have several um relatively new teachers in those programs that need some support as well as support for the students and even
some support for the administration as well. Is uh you know this is not something um that you know essentially school leaders and in in many cases even prospective teachers get in their schooling. So, we want to make sure that we're providing the right amount of
support, not just for the students, but for the staff in that building as well. And we are looking at moving one of our special education administrators into a role that she was in last year for the first quarter of the year where she was very hands-on in the programs um
and was assisting again the teachers and the students all day long um on instructional practices, on deescalation techniques and things of that nature. The issue is is that if we move that individual back to that position,
that opens up um a situation where we do not have anyone supervising the middle school subsparate programs which are are not as complicated or as needy as the elementary school programs, but also um the person's ability to handle the
outofd case load which is also fairly significant in the district having to attend a lot of meetings in some cases travel to those sites. So that would require us to backfill that position to make sure that we are in compliance and
following again the IEPs being able to attend the meetings um and so forth. So that's a situation we are in now where we're looking to add three positions. I do not see this as a situation where this is an ad for the year. I see this as really a permanent situation most
likely because again IEPs are binding legal um documents at the federal and the state level. So, we have to make sure that we're doing everything we possibly can. And it's one of those things again where we're looking to bring students back into the district from private placements um where there's
an increase in staff and it's not always quickly realized um how it's positively impacting our budget as we bring students in because we have to develop those programs and really get to the point where families are seeing the
programs within North Middle Sex are strong enough so that we do not have to place students out. So, it's not a it's not a quick turnaround, but it does show quickly and add to our staff. Um, but over time, if we strengthen our programs, we will be able to bring more
students back into the district. Um, which will be a cost savings. So, that's where we're at right now. >> Okay. So shortterm estimate on the impact unexpected to the 2026 budget
about what do you anticipate that to be >> financially um without benefits about um I would say about 150,000 um actually I'm sorry about uh 70,000
without benefits. Again, we're not sure if they will take benefits or not, but it would be about 170,000. The behavior texts are around 30 um and the administrator is around 100. Ballparking that. So, we'll be on it.
>> That's um appreciate that ballpark. Um I'll have some followup, but I want Lisa to to ask her a question. I see her hand raised. Um, so at the elementary level, because I have never been through an IEP
process, um, how long do those take to write? And like if you can just give an estimate because it does take a lot of time and I think that's a part that's missing sometimes. People don't understand.
>> So, so we don't have um, Miss Upton on the meeting. I'm not sure if if Dr. Reese is here because he was a special education teacher. Um I I do not see him on on the meeting. Um >> he he was here and he went to see the
other meeting. So I'm I'm trying to reach out to him now and ask him to join us. >> It's okay. It's Brad, if you just get back to us and give us like a little >> So I I I guess I I can respond in a manner just because I deal with it
personally at home. uh is that's what my wife does. Um she's an evaluation team chair in another district. So I can speak to uh the amount of time that she spends um IEPs themselves to write. Um once they're actually completed, I would say take a few hours just to write the
IEP. Um it does eventually have to be approved. It does generally speaking. Um, all three of our special education administrators, I would imagine if they're, you know, again, just looking at what happens in my own home, are working nights and weekends to get those
done because they're all timeline sensitive. They all have timelines attached to them again that are legally binding. Uh, so that takes a considerable amount of time and the meetings take a considerable amount of time that the administrators have to sit in on. Um, so they actually have to
chair the meetings. The meetings uh are generally one to two hours in some cases longer. It really depends on um the nature of the meeting and whether or not there are special education advocates or attorneys from both sides in those meetings, but they can certainly take a
considerable amount of time, but I would say on average for an IEP meeting, um probably about 90 minutes just to just to run the meeting. Then you have to de develop the IEP from there and then the IEP has to be approved
>> and the process involves the teacher specialists within like special education. >> So >> So what does it all involve? So the the team meeting itself is generally the um the special education administrator, the
liaison, the special education liaison, at least one um one of the students teachers, which again at the elementary level is is easier because you're getting the comprehensive look at the student because it's self-contained um for all subjects. Um oftent times one of
the school administrators, school psych, school guidance counselor. So and then the family. So, it's a team of people that actually sit in on these IEP meetings, which makes it lengthy because everyone gets talking time and you're looking at again providing the the least restrictive environment for the student.
But the meeting itself is is time consuming due to the fact of the number of people that are on the meetings. And that's without including if there's an advocate in the meeting, if there are attorneys from the school district and from the family. If generally speaking, if the family brings an attorney, the
school district will also bring an attorney in turn. So, it's it it's a long process to go from um eligibility um team meeting, drawing up the IEP, and getting the IEP approved. So, it's it's
very timeconuming >> and most of this happens at the elementary level. Correct. So the the meetings happen ac across the district but I would say at the elementary level the meetings are probably more time consuming. >> Okay.
>> But they get developed so they get developed at the elementary level and carry through but there's meetings like reoccurring meetings that happen. >> Yes. >> To update the IEPs. That's >> Yes. I'll let Gary has a stand up so I'll let where he has some background in
it. I'll let him speak to it. So most of the time student eligibility determination is made at the elementary level but there are situations where students are getting referred for testing um either through the family or
based just based on the student performance or how the student is presenting. So we do have times that students have that initial eligibility determination meeting happening at the middle school. It's less likely to happen at the high school, but it does happen at the high school. Um, but in
general, once a student's found eligible every year there's the annual team meeting, um, which as Superintendent Morgan said can be timeconuming and then every three years they have to do a re-evaluation or a reel determination
and so that that's when they go through the entire testing process again. >> Okay. Thank you. and and we have in the district over um we're approaching 800 students on IEPs.
So that that's a lot of meetings when you're talking annual reviews, three-year reel meetings um that that our special education administrators have to be a part of. >> Right. And I don't I came in late so I may have missed it whether
Superintendent Morgan said this but there was just a recent change in the state regulations which require the administrator to be at more meetings than they would have had to attend in the past. >> So this is this is a new regulation that has come up this year.
>> Um thank you for that feedback. Um I want to get to Kenan's question too. Um if you could just kind of pull that in. um to the the budget component. So once once the pieces
um of the staffing are in place, this would be all inclusive, right? So these additional pieces, do they have any additional budget impact or is that all under that sort of rough order of magnitude that you gave me,
superintendent, of what the district needs to do to kind of write the the ship um so to speak. So you you'll hire those staff. These tasks will be inclusive of that. So that number that you gave will cover all of
these pieces. Yeah, it um so it would roughly cover the pieces minus the potential um benefits impact and >> and the other pieces, you know, something that we are looking at is potentially the redistribution of some
of our programs next year because the premise had always been will house them in PEPL because the majority of the programs, the majority of program students are from PEPL and at least one of our programs now that shift has has
that is shifted to Townson. So we may actually be moving one of the programs which was a large program to Townson next year which will help you know balance and you know the distribution a little bit in the district of these
programs but that would not eliminate the need for the position the positions that are being added because they will likely be shared um between Pepper and Townsent >> and then what you're saying longitudinally impact on the budget is once
this is in place. The feeling is that more students will come back to the district which saves the very costly out of district placements. So the impact will be now when you um
I want Kenan asks this question but be thinking about while he's doing that um for the Q1 budget that we've just gone through um do we have any any savings potentially that offset it and is there any of the outside money that helps us with this process or will this all
impact the um allocations that we've been given by the town. So Kanan, go ahead with your question. Thank you. I always feel like I'm asking the catchup questions here. Um just for for context, uh the we we we need these
three um to hire these three positions in order to keep up with our current load. What what changed from last year to this year to make this necessary? Was it an influx this year of um people entering the special education
programs or was it as a result of consolidation um from the closure of Ashb? Like where where does this necessarily stem from? >> So um and I'll let I'll let Dr. Ree respond as well. Um we have had some students come back into the district
which is which is really great news for the district. Um, but on top of that, something that we're starting to notice is is that we are having students move in to the district who have significant needs and they are currently not on
IEPs. Um, so they are having a a a direct impact on inclusion classrooms in general education settings because the issues that they came to us with were not addressed in their previous
district. Um, go ahead, Dr. Ree. >> Yeah, I I think that's a really good point and I think we're just seeing in general in education an increase in students that are demonstrating more complex social, emotional, and
behavioral challenges, particularly at the elementary levels. Um, and this is something that it's not just unique to North Middle Sex, but we're seeing across the state and I would I would bet across the country as well. um you know and some of that I would imagine is
related to just postcoid and just experiences for students and learning. Um and then from the administrative standpoint I think again the the shift in the regulation in terms of who needs to attend the meetings and be part of it and that put an additional um
administrative burden that hadn't been in place last year um on on our administrators to be at more meetings. Thank you. And just a question for the two behavior texts. Are those FTEES or are they like 0.5s?
>> They're full-time FTEEs. >> Okay. Okay. Thanks. >> That's all I had. >> Miss Craven, could you could you um >> um Dr. Reese, uh I see your hand is still up. Is that from before? Did you want to add something more?
All right, it's gone. Um, so thanks for kind of capturing the why and the budget impact. Um, so you know, one of our, you know, obviously you're the superintendent, it is your budget um to um administer the day-to-day as as
needed, but knowing what the changes are and the impacts is really important for us to stand understand. So with with the needs that you have and the the budget allocations that were provided, um do you have other resources
from from grants or the supplemental that is going to help you with that? Um or are we going to have to cut back in any other areas? Any anything that we need to be aware of um globally on the the longer term budget impact for this
fiscal year? Nancy, do you want to address a portion of that? I know that as far as this year goes, we do have money within the salary line um that that's remaining. We're actually in pretty good shape there, but that can again that can change with
leave requests um whether it be FMLA or paternity maternity leaves. Uh but right now we're in pretty good shape overall. Nancy, I don't know if you want to address any of the um any of the the situation around special education out of district and
how that shift is positively impacting the district. >> Um yes. Uh sure. Uh so yes, I agree. Um there has been some again this was a kind of an unusual year far as staffing goes with all the changes that happened at the beginning of the year. So right
now we feel like we're in pretty um decent shape on the salary side. These shouldn't this shouldn't affect any town assessments or anything along those lines. Um we have had some difficulty in hiring certain staff and therefore um in the
budget where we have contracted uh for those positions. Um there's quite a few actually. So, if in looking at the contracted services lines, um you'll see some some fairly large increases and those will have to be offset with um
staffing staffing costs that we planned originally to hire but were unable to. Um right now um we we you know periodically check the out of district placement costs and we are running pretty um sort of lower than we were
projecting. So that's actually good news on the uh special education. Those things change obviously over time. So we'll continue to watch that month after month and uh if they they continue um staying where they are at the level they are that's that's good news. It'll be good news for this year and potentially
good news if we're projecting for next year. So is that um I don't know if there's questions about that or specifics, but it's really just where the placements ended up that um drives that. I I did just want to add too that um
again this is this addition is not just to support students but staff as well. Um and I will say that um that it goes beyond providing the the the least restrictive environment or or even instruction. Uh these positions are
being put into place first and foremost due to maintain a safe learning environment for our staff and students. um that is what is required at this point in time because many of the um situations that we're dealing with are
behavioral um within some of our programs. So, we have to make sure again that um that we're coaching up our staff to the best of our ability um with the right person doing that, but also making sure that um that staff members all or the staff
members are able to actively engage with the students as well. >> And Mrs. Craven, from a financial standpoint, as you asked earlier, while um Miss Haynes addressed the staffing piece of it, we are pursuing grants to help support the professional
development for staff. So, as Superintendent Morgan said, this is about building the capacity of our staffs and to provide that safe environment. So, we are looking at grants. While they won't help with the staffing piece, they can certainly support us around professional
development for staff. >> Thank you for that. very much appreciated. Um, so again, you know, superintendent, the day-to-day operations and what you need to run the schools um, under the budget that's been approved, you know, I do do uh, 100%
defer to you and your expertise there and that of your staff. Um, we just want to make sure from the budgetary perspective that we're, you know, keeping on top of it. sounds like um it's well within um the budget allocation that you're looking for
outside resources. So that's really helpful. Um on on the flip side um on the the Oh, Kina, did you have another question on this topic? Sorry, I just saw your hand. >> Yeah, I I I might as well ask it now. We can address it later if it's more appropriate for the for the FY27. Um, I
just wanted to know that considering that we saw this in or we're we're seeing this change now where we're needing three more positions due to I what I'm gathering is mostly an influx. Um, is this something that we're is this like a do we think this is going to turn
into a trend where we're going to need to keep expanding the program or >> So, I'll try to answer that the best I can. Um when I first came to the district, we would um I would always try to keep about a quarter of a million
dollars in discretionary funds um for special education movement. And the reason I I was doing that, we do not do that any longer. Um so there is very little flexibility. Um and we don't often realize our flexibility until
we're done hiring. um you know based if teachers retire and come back and we hire new staff at a lower rate. We don't realize that until usually the beginning of the school year, but we usually did have a little bit of money set aside to deal with this. Um, it's something that
we always are prepared for, or at least I shouldn't say prepared for, we know what's going to happen because the district itself has a number of foster families and DCF regularly places students into all three towns and
generally speaking, those students are coming to us um on an IEP um or requiring some level of services if they're not on an IEP when they when they arrive. So just the simple fact that we have a lot of foster families in
the district which DCF places into generally impacts us every year. So that is something to be aware of. And I just I just did want to go back, you know, we try to be as careful as we possibly can
when adding positions. Um but speaking for myself and Dr. Ree can certainly add. Um right now um we're at a point where one of us is at Varnum almost every day. And that's great that we're there. We're there. We're able to be
we're visible. We're with the kids or with the staff. But it is it is having a significant impact on our ability to do our other jobs or other perform our roles that we're required to do um to keep the district moving forward. and it's just not something that we can
sustain um for the remainder of the school year just because you know I had that issue last year with the high school where it was extremely difficult to balance both um and I feel as though I was able to do it but um it does come
at a cost and we have to make sure that we that we're able to move the district forward and we can't do that if we're giving up multiple days a week each um to help support a building which short-term we can do it. Long term it's
extremely difficult to move the district forward that way. >> Thank you for that. And sorry for the interruption, Kim. >> No, no, no problem. Um, so on the on the opposite side of that
for Q1, has there been anything um that you had planned on on spending that that hasn't gone through? Um any you know unexpected things that were not needed that we might need to know of? Um you just just general changes and if there's
not that's okay. anything? I I don't have anything, Gary, unless you do. >> Okay. >> No, nothing specific for this year. >> Okay. Um, one of the things that we had talked about um, a while back was once
we got into October and the hirings, which I know is now still changing, um, if we could, uh, try to get a consolidated uh, look at what positions you were able to hire for. Nancy, I know you said some had to get contracted out.
Um, if if for our next meeting, we could just see that what that looks like budgetarily, that would be helpful to us. And I I know full well you can't predict year to year what positions you're going to be able to fill, what you have to do creatively. Um but it's just some information that we can uh
look at as we uh begin to delve into the the 2027 and see what you know we might need to do in those areas. Um the other thing um that would be helpful and I know you know it's just closing
out fully the the first Q1 um when you have a chance um any updated information year-to- date budget um that we can take a look at um would be helpful um so that we can you know see where the the things are tracking and we know that there are
so many things that haven't been probably touched yet you know because of of weather and timing. Um so anytime we could take a look at that um between now and our next meeting would be great. U Lisa, you have a
question. That's I was going to ask when you want this information, Kim, or um to distribute it to the whole committee or just a subcommittee. How do you want that? So I would say could review in
subcommittee >> um first and discuss before it goes to the whole committee. I mean trying to keep keep our regular meetings as short as possible but still get the business done that the full committee has to do. um if we start bringing
finance committee subcommittee work to the full committee um you know kind of putting more on the regular um members on all the members so I think we need to do the work here first to to take a look at it just my opinion Ken I don't know
if you have any other thoughts or Lisa you I just my thought keeping it in the subcommittee not that they can't look at it but I don't think we need to bring it topically to the full committee at this point >> yeah I think My my opinion is pretty clear on how long our full meetings are
or full committee meetings are. So >> yeah. >> Yes. >> All right. And they will have access to the rest of the committee will have access to the information. But first it goes through. >> I have no problem with them having access to it. But I think for discussion point we need to keep it in the subcommittee.
>> Sounds good. Thank you Kim. Um, okay. So, obviously, um, looking at the 2026 is important. We're just ending, you know, the Q1, um, figures on that. So, once we
start to look at it, we we will have a little bit of a clearer picture um, of what that looks like and and how we can compare that to past years. Um but if no one has anything else on the uh 2026, I'd like to just take uh 10 minutes here
and start talking about um 2027. Superintendent, I see your hand. >> Yes. I just wanted to add that um something the finance should be aware of is that policy the policy subcommittee is also looking at um establishing policies around the use of uh reserve
funds in the district but also um how END is used. So that could um you know there could be you know some potential um changes coming from policy as well that um that just wanted you to be aware of it that that right now we don't have
anything really around around how some of our reserves are used and I would say the same goes uh for END with regard to how END is used moving forward. I think that um you know that we all agree that we can't continue using all of our END
every year um because eventually um it won't be replenished. So just making the committee aware of that. >> Thank you. Um guess we'll look forward to seeing that when the policy committee brings it to our attention so that we can discuss that and any implications
for sure. So um if there's anything else I would say let's move on to the um discussion of of 2027. Um so
on that um topic um we did receive a letter from the municipalities that seems like um you know level funding um with a 2 and a half% increase is the preferred um ask um but I also
see that there's additional asks from the municipalities ities to shift and um I'm not sure if that is for future budgets or current budgets that that ask is being made. Um I don't know if you have any additional information on that
uh superintendent what you had sent over um and any um input from the town administrators meeting that they called in which they had invited the chair of school committee and um myself as chair of
finance and Kenan did go in in my place. Um but any anything from that meeting for the subcommittee to be aware of um implications on the 2027 budget? >> Sure. Um I can start and I'll let I'll
let Nancy um fill in as needed. So we did have we did have our meeting on Monday. Um all three town administrators were there and you know very similar to last year um the ask of keeping the assessment at 3% um in looking at it I
would imagine it's going to be very similar to last year that a 3% assessment would likely would likely be um extremely difficult for us to get to that point. it may end up at um you know a situation where where it's level
funded not level serviced again possibly below level funded. I think one of the the bigger concerns was was that it appears the towns and estimate are going to have about 1.1 $1.2 million to dedicate to education. And if um what
they're saying about health insurance is true and that we may have to absorb a 20% increase in health insurance um our estimation is is that 1.2 or $1.1 million whatever it happens to be. Um again it's a it is a guess at this point
will basically go to health insurance and there will not be anything left for anything else. And we are looking at collective bargaining agreements that are already in place. We're looking at transportation. we're looking at really in increases across the board which
again is a a sign of a flawed formula as I will continue to say and that we um I I think the only benefit with this year's budget is that unlike in years past it looks like all um school districts in the Commonwealth not just
the ones that have been identified um by project 211 or whatever it is at right now I think it's 238 it looks like all districts are going to be negatively impacted this year and it's going to be a struggle for everyone. Um you know I' I've just being transparent with this
group. Um we are not at a point where we can reduce any more staff. Um our class sizes um are already high and it's going to be a challenge. So we may have to look at um reserves and END again. We
may also have to look at the potential of um and I don't believe we have the ability to do this. Um it would require um again more more work for us to look into around capacity but the potential of closing a second building um which
was discussed last year. But that process would require um us having to look at the grade configurations in the district um change the grade configurations. certainly impossibly redistrict in some cases. Uh
but it would it would leave us with little to no room for growth at all. Um it's something that we could probably do for a year. Um but you know, there's continued talk of increased housing uh
in Peril, which could bring upwards of 60 students to the district again across all grade levels. But closing a second school would be um something that um would be extremely difficult for the district to absorb um and to make work
again. It would leave little to no room for growth at all. Um but we're not at a point where we can reduce staff again. Um because the class sizes will get to the point where it's unbearable. And as I've said, as I said in a previous
meeting, the middle school uh situation, especially in grades seven and 8, is already um to the point where they cannot possibly have um larger class sizes than they already do. And the same can be said for some of our high school classes. Same can be said for some of
our K classes in the district. We just cannot keep going down the road of cutting staff. So, it's it's going to be a challenge. Um and it may require um again the use of our reserves and it that's something that is recommended
against uh just because reserves um you know we always talk you know if a roof uh caves in that's what that money really needs to be used for. Um you know a one-time cost not an annual um not an
annual budget item. So Nancy do you want to add to that? I just think the 3% I I do understand where the towns are coming from. Um but a 3% assessment is um correct me if I'm wrong. That's pretty
close to a 0% increase I would guess for the school district. >> Yeah, it's not not quite that bad hopefully, but um some of this depends on you know I I did include a an early revenue projection in the packet which is um again it's just a scenario. It's
not uh we don't have numbers yet um for the state. We don't have um official numbers on uh like minimum contributions for the towns and we haven't met we haven't made a determination if we're going to use any END for the budget. But
what was included in the packet is 3% for um a budget increase of 3% for school district and what that looks like given those assumptions that are in that um scenario. So it's it's just a one
pager. Um we will be you know obviously working we've been working on the FY27 budget. We're requested our departments submit their budgets before Thanksgiving. So, we should have, you know, right now we've really just been rolling over a level funded in most lines,
but if there's any changes based on the department's request, we would get those by by um Thanksgiving and then have a really a real draft uh official draft. Um and then at that point, it's kind of a hurry up and wait till the state comes out with the um official numbers. Also
in the packet is a um enrollment projection. Um that's just our guess of October one numbers with uh an adjustment for choice out students. Again, that is certified by the state in the end of January. So, it's not final.
Um right now those projections for enrollments look uh relatively difficult for towns in because uh Ashby lost uh a number of students not lost um has a lower enrollment and we did look at that
and in extensively um or fairly extensively and the the exit of students from grade 12 and a and it was a larger class going out and a smaller class coming in. Um, so anyway, those impacts you you really can't tell a town by town
impact on that until you have the minimum local contributions. So, for instance, um, Ashby has a lower enrollment, but they may have a high minimum local contribution, which would give them a bigger percentage of the pie. So until they actually have that um
but this this one pager does show that um you know given those scenarios if they give us $30 a student for revenue and uh everything else relatively being equal using the same amount of END we used last year um ends up being about
$4.49 for the town. So that's obviously above where they want us to be right now. I I just wanted to add um just to clarify when I'm talking about a 3% assessment and that being essentially um no increase for the school district that
is moving away from END um which is the point I think we need to get to um because END really should not be being used um to run the budget every year. I I do think that that is a and I will continue to say I think that that is a
dangerous practice to have in place because you run the risk of not being able to replenish it at the level it was at the previous year and eventually that money deteriorating. So um I just wanted to be clear on that. That would be not using um END at the level that we have
been um in avoiding the use of reserves as well um in operating the budget um the way that I think that we need to um moving forward. But obviously you know this year may not be possible. Again, >> I just wanted to add I don't know if I
mentioned it at the last meeting, but the other thing that we might be dealing with um or we will likely be dealing with is that two years ago, did I did I talk to this group about uh the private uh special education tuitions in the last meeting?
I can tell you quickly uh statewide there was a 14% increase two years ago at private school placements across the state. Um now it looks like they are looking to increase anywhere from um 12%
to upwards of 40%. In some of these um special education schools. So that is something that the Mass Superintendent Association is paying attention to. Um they I I know they are pushing the state to step in, but they are private schools, so I I'm
not entirely sure that the state is going to be able to do much, but that could certainly um have an impact on us and how we use circuit breaker depending upon the placement of our students in the district. um which which at times is
outside of our purview to have a tremendous amount of choice in that based on um the level of uh disability student needs and also again when you're dealing with advocates and and attorneys on top of it. Sometimes that can be very
difficult um to you know send a student to a particular placement over another >> Kenan. >> Yeah. So, um I know we had mentioned, uh I believe at the last meeting how, you know, when we're dipping into these
one-time funds to fund the budget, um I I believe it was the the school choice fund that, you know, we're we're burning at a higher contribution rate because, you know, we have a lot less school choice going on right now. In terms of END,
what um I don't know like what percentage of our budget did we like fund from END this last year or like maybe just in numbers term, how much did we use from END to fund the budget for this year? And how does that compare to
our history? >> You can take that one, Nancy. Yeah. So, we we did we used um and let me just get it in front of me so I'm looking at it. We did use uh 1 million87226 last year to support the FY or current
this current budget year I should say. And that was 100% of the certified END. The um so it's it's out of the 67 um million budget 1.872 872 has been supported. Um 1 million872 is supporting
it. So it's not a huge percentage for as far as the um history. I have the history available. I'm happy to just send it out to you guys. It's um something we update uh each year. Right now the END for FY20 like the results of
the FY25 fiscal year is not certified yet. it's been submitted to the state and um we we basically wait our turn for them to review it and um issue the certification on it. Um and we have I we have not um so so I don't know what the
total percentage of the FY this this next round is going to be but um again the the decision on the revenues that we want to utilize for um FY27 is something that we is will be discussed and this is this is a scenario that's in the packet.
It's really not the final for sure. And um again, I think some of this dubtales to the policy because they really would like to set a um minimum requirement that is left in reserves or or a range that's left in reserves. So um you know,
typically it's like something like 3 to 5% you want in reserve. So um that might come up um as far as what amount of END is used for this next year's budget. Um, as soon as we have the certificated certified number, I'll update the spreadsheet, but I'll I'll
send that out to everybody so that you have that as well as the history. >> Thank you. And a followup to that, um, like I I wasn't here last budget cycle, um, when it was being discussed what you
know that we were going to use END for this FY26 budget, what was what was the alternate scenario if we didn't? Was it was it like option four, close another building? Like would would that have filled in the hole or would additional
staff needed to be um eliminated to fill that 1.872 gap if END wasn't used? I'm not I mean Brad, I'm I'm not sure. One one of the issues that happened with
the FY26 budget process is that the END certification came down about 800,000. So the the prior year we used 2 million6 and then we moved to 1 million8. So it was a instantaneously reduction in revenue.
>> So I I would >> I think the alternatives weren't really we were sort of in the midst of uh the building closures between one building, two buildings. um we never finalized like if we didn't use this what would happen. It was just yes we are going to use this. So
>> yeah and I would only say that that if we did not use the money if we did not um have END at our disposal um I I it would have entailed the closure of another building and the reduction of more staff um because that the 1.8 8
million is a substantial amount and even closing Ashby um all in was around a million dollars between the operational costs and the staffing costs because they were redistributed throughout the district. Um so closing Squan Cookook
andor Spalding um that would not have filled a $1.8 million gap. It would have been um it would have been likely a combination of the closing buildings um and or closing another building and the reduction of more staff. And that's in some ways
that's a situation that we could be in this year um if um if if things don't improve or you know if we're given the same amount of money from the state again. you know that it we're in a situation where it's it's going to be a challenge and right now
you know certain things are looking good. Our you know our staffing line looks okay. Our out of district line looks good. Um but those things can all change um over the course of the year based on students coming into the district. Um staff needing to take
leaves. you know, those in those current, you know, black areas that we're dealing with right now in the budget could change between now and June. >> Thank you. I appreciate >> part of part of your question, Kenan, that I think we didn't really talk
about, and that's um for FY, we've been carrying a a balanced of around 450 um from school choice and utilizing that for health insurance when we need it. So, it was sort of like a buffer. Um, I think we we don't we don't bring in 450
anymore. We're bringing in less than that. I want to say it's around 200 300 depending on the the year. My my feeling for next year's revenue projection, you can't see it in this particular version, but I I think my we do have some more because we have more services being
provided. We have higher we've had a higher run rate on the Medicaid reimbursement. Um, we've also had higher in interest and earnings on our investments. So those two lines, my my thought process for FY27 revenue would
be to bump those up and reduce the school choice. And that's kind of what you're seeing on the zero carried forward for district um those lines. So it was just a way to slowly wean off of that um so that we're not using more than we are creating. Um having said
that we did get a re that return of the funds from minimoba. So the school choice money is there and um it's you know it's the school committee's decision on how that's utilized. But um it's just a conversation another conversation regarding revenues to be
had about um how much of that needs to be utilized and how to avoid it being a one-time use so we don't go forward with an issue in a couple years from now. >> Thank you for that. I appreciate that. Lisa,
>> so Nancy and I know that we've talked about health insurance going up. Um, do you or Kevin could you create a chart that shows like this is a run our current numbers of health insurance and this would be a 10% increase over that,
a 15% and 20%. so that people can actually see the impact that health insurance is going to have on us since that's one of the big drivers. >> Yeah, we were working on that actually I think a little bit yesterday. So finally, yes, that's not a problem.
>> Yeah, and sometimes the visual so that the public understands what an impact this takes on >> our staff. the other the other larger um as far as health insurance not our active employees but our retiree in insurance numbers. So when our teachers
retire they end up in the the group insurance commission program or GIC and that uh program at the state levels had some significant deficits. Um so we're not sure that we wouldn't get and that's a that's also a large chunk um under the
benefit section of the budget. we probably will should also include that as far as projections on that. So just a guess on my part, but I think that's going to be a significant increase because of those deficits. Um the supplemental budget last year from the state actually shured up um the deficits
for FY25, but um kind of guessing that they're also unless they're changing plan design or something else in regards to that program that their costs there are going to be significant. So that yes, we'll put that together. No problem. And if you can include the
retirees too, that would be great to see that because if it's going to have an impact, it's good to see it. Thank you. >> So, I know that we are um coming up um we've been on on for an hour. I know we had to
do a little switching special education kind of placements that is um sort of an unknown out of control for the school. you could have more students coming in, but you're trying to address that with um the staff
that is ultimately needed right now um in the 2026 budget will carry over to 2027, but longitudinally it helps us because it builds the capacity of the district, meaning fewer out of district placements.
um looking at a potential worst case scenario. Um while not an optimum, we do have to have eyes wide open on potential implications of not utilizing another school in the district and
consolidation. Um I don't know if if we want to have you start going through that exercise now um as as a potential scenario. Um, I think we we might need to show that to the community of, you know, sort
of an if then. Um, and I know that consolidation would require money just for moves and reconfiguration. Um, so that it's not like it's um just a cost savings. There's some cost implications if if that were to happen.
um and that you know obviously we don't um fully have a good picture until the state gives us some some guidance on what they're going to contribute um but we need to be holding to um the the 2 and a half% because 3% doesn't seem like
it it will be a reality. Um so that said um looking towards our our 2027 seems like it's going to be really tight year. So I think anything that we can do to look at
um any little bit of cost savings because as as everyone has pointed out you know you've already cut a bunch of staff really can't go um take staff away at this point. Um any other summations u Lisa Keenan that we should be um adding
for the horizon for 2027? >> Um I'm sorry I didn't raise my hand. We probably should look um at I know that a facilities review or how we've done it in the past, Nancy and Brad. Um just to
make sure that the projects are moving forward or not moving forward, you know, that kind of thing that or with Jeremy um just some kind of review in finance that we need to do with that part of the budget as well. Um
I know um Nancy and Kevin were always asking you to produce more documents. I'm so sorry about that. Um but um you know we'll we'll look at those in between um now in our next meeting whenever you have those available. So that is sort of the assessment of of
staff um as it was projected as it stands now and the changes that you have to make with um the um contracting versus the employees just so we see what that looks like. Um the the year-to-ate spend knowing that there's um things
that would be happening throughout the year. Um so that we can't just totally rely on the the current spend rate, but just so that we can take a look at that. Um, and then we'll keep marching forward um,
with planning out that 2027 budget. Lisa, I just say you can't go back up. >> Yeah. My question is to Kevin and Nancy. Is there documentation that you think that would be helpful to the committee
or charts or anything that would be helpful because you guys live with it dayto day. um that would be helpful to the committee and get our story out to the public to what our budget is sitting at
if there's any anything like that. I know Kevin, you're new to it, but maybe you have ideas about new charts, too. And Nancy, and so just a thought. >> There was uh we did have a conversation,
Kevin, feel free to jump in if you'd like about um trying to create a different look, a different view. I mean we have the FY26 detail in there right now um as to where it stands today staying moving moving all the time but a view that's sort of a one pager so top
level maybe it has a you know has an original budget has the f the prior year's budget and then the spending to date and again it show things like salaries um contracted services lines just a top level view of those types of
things all on one page we haven't generated it yet but we talked about it. So, I I don't know if that could be helpful where it's not, you know, I think it's hard for people to weed through a 26 page, you know, of detail and understand what's happening. Um, so I'm
open to considering that. In fact, I could we could do a draft and try to get that to you so you can see what it would look like for FY26. >> Yeah. Anything like that. Yeah, >> that what you guys would think that gets our message and that we can understand
and that the public can understand would be helpful. Thank you. >> Yeah, I've been playing around with two different things. One is a version of of what Nancy is talking about. One was even more visually with with graphs. Um I don't love them yet, so they're not anything that I think is super helpful
yet. I think they're in process. I'm just kind of as the months go by adding to it and seeing how it looks. Um, but it's a definitely like something we've been talking about about how we can uh be a little bit more current with with some of this information for people. So, we're working on it, but like I said, the things that I've I've built I don't
love yet. So, I wouldn't feel comfortable putting them out. >> Thank you. >> Understood. Um, right. Um, so we did um move to put uh the public comment at the end. Um, I do see there's a few people
in. Do we have any requests for for public comment at this point? >> I don't see anyone raising their hand at the panelist. Sorry. >> All right. >> Yeah. And we didn't have anyone who signed up to speak either.
>> Okay. Um so then we would um need to set our um next meeting. Any thoughts on one you would like to meet again? >> Pulling up the calendar here. Are we going for a one month increment here or
like three weeks? We did three weeks this time. No, I lied. We did one month. >> Um the school committee meeting is on the 18th. Did we want to do one? Will there be new information before the
18th or a need to meet before the 18th? >> Nancy, what's the date the town manager um PPL was asking for their um it's it's before our school committee meeting. They have a town meeting. >> November 3rd is their town meeting.
>> Yeah. I mean it it >> or are you talking about the summit, Brad? >> No. No, I'm talking at the Prollestown meeting. Um, >> yeah, that's on the third. >> Um, >> yeah, I think I I believe and just
correct me if I'm wrong, Brad. I I think they were considering like some kind of a revenue projection for the school district or um I think or a five-year projection, something like that. >> Yes. >> Um, we have a five-year projection. And
it's just the issues around the 5-year projection are that that use of END and and other revenues. Certainly the state we can make an assumption on. Um some of the lines we can make assumptions on, but that that's really a school committee's decision. So I don't want to
release something without I mean maybe that's a conversation we have at the next meeting. um do we release do we release um an estimate on that or is there because I know there's definitely conversations happening especially in policy related to how we're going to
utilize that those funds. So uh I don't want to have it be you know Nancy said this is how much END we should use really should be a conversation. Mhm. >> I think that if we can get the policy
committee to provide us with the policy so that we can see any budgetary impacts that would be helpful. Um I don't know Lisa if that will be ready for us at the next meeting. I I believe and don't quote me but I believe the 19th the is
Wednesday the 19th um the joint committee between towns and border Sacramento and towns in Fincom. So that might give us a little bit of information on what they're thinking. Um I and I would say we could meet the next
week. However, the next week is Thanksgiving. Do you want to try to meet the week after Thanksgiving? That would give us time from our school. >> I think that makes sense. >> Yeah, we would be able to look at any of
the tapes from the town meetings. um give uh Nancy and Kevin more time to work on their pieces. Nancy and see that would give us time to review the the five-year projections, be ready to discuss it at the next
meeting and see um you because you said you don't want to release something prematurely. Um once it is in draft form though, it would be releasable to to the community. So just make sure that it's really stamped working draft um so that If if there's a foyer that
nobody thinks that that's a final document in any way. Do we want to aim for a Monday or a Tuesday? Monday is coming right off the holiday. So maybe Tuesday
>> the 2nd, December 2nd. >> I'm going to work backwards from your schedule. Um, >> yeah. So, I'm I'm looking at my calendar. >> If we could do Monday, that would be great. The second and the third um are difficult because we're doing uh school
visits on those days. And on the fourth, I have both collaborative meetings in the morning. >> Are you looking at December, Brad? >> December 1st. Yeah. >> December 1st. >> Yes. Monday, December 1st.
I at 8:30 the same time. >> I can make that work. >> I can as well. >> Lisa, does that work for you? >> That's okay with me. I think it works for me, but I don't
know know for sure. But schedule it. I might be on an airplane. I'm not I don't know when my flight >> coming back. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um All right. Well, that does bring us another point. I believe it's
November 8th that the pepper person will be appointed. >> Not November 5th. >> November 5th. Okay. Thank you. Um, yes, the ETH is a Saturday, so I'm not sure why I said that. Um, that
when we get up to full strength on the school committee that maybe we'll have someone else join our committee because we did have departures. >> No. So, >> so by the 18th um on the 18th it is on the agenda
already that we will elect um people to the committee >> or I will take another round of committee appointments subcommittee appointments. >> Okay. And so we will um meet on that day. If
you could let us know earliest, Lisa, >> I will. if if we have to shift because the only other option would be that Friday before the Thanksgiving break um early >> I would just go ahead and schedule it now. Just schedule December 1st and
>> Okay. All right. Well, once again, I appreciate everyone from the administration um keeping us informed, up to date, talking about these things, you really in real time as they're happening for you so that we can help with um as much
as we can. You know, we don't have um a magic um bucket of money, but to try to be there to to help you work through these things um as you do the best for the kids in the district. So, appreciate you taking the time and and walking us
through some of these things. Look forward to the additional information that you'll be providing. So, if we don't have anything else, entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> And I'll second it.
>> We'll call Lisa Martin. >> Yes. Keenan Prince. >> Yes. >> And uh Kim Craven. Yes. >> Thanks everybody.